Equus of the Clow

by The Twisted Scripter

First published 11th of July, 2014

There was a time when two powerful walks of life held the land, the Equus (ponies) and the Jinn. The Jinn enslaved the Equus to their chaotic whim and the Equus cried out for a hero. Six answered the call.

Before the celestial reign or the Solar empire, two walks of life held the land. These were the earth-bound Equus (ponies) and the ethereal Jinn. The Jinn dominated the Equus with their chaotic powers, and the Equus neeled before them as slaves. On the brink of suffering, the Equus cry out for a hero. To answer the call, six heroes with immense magical abilities created a prison that could hold all of the Jinn known as The Clow ( an ancient book that bound the souls of the Jinn within its pages). Millennia have passed since it was used and the seal begins to weaken. In order to save the equus from subjugation, six more heroes must rise in order to save them.

The Sages of Old

Equus of the Clow
by the Twisted Scriptor

The Sages of Old
Part 1

It began as it would end, with a world, and a book. Before the time of the reign of the solar empire, the land was divided and shared by two walks of life. The simple Equus and the eternal Jinn. The Jinn were powerful and chaotic spirits that held great power, and the Equus were the terrestrial beings unfortunate enough to be subjugated by it. Both possessed power which connected them to the world they shared and gave each life, a power that would be deemed magic by its later wielders. The Jinn’s magic, however, outmatched any abilities or insights the Equus could ever hope to achieve. Because of this inferiority, the Equus existed as slaves to the will of the Jinn for an age. While most Jinn despised the insignificant Equus, few grew to cherish and love these mortal beings. The result was the half breeds. The vile abomination to the Jinn, and the praised champions of the Equus. These few were blessed with the power of the Jinn and the Equus combined, granting them immense ability and unbreakable spirit. They served as powerful leaders of those who wished to be freed from their malevolent masters. While they fought valiantly, the defeat of these brave souls was nothing short of inevitable. In the final effort to save the race they swore to protect, a group of the six most powerful half breeds drew forth their powerful magic and created an artifact that would lead to Equus victory, a book. A simple book…. and a powerful weapon. With all the might they possessed, they sealed the Jinn within the pages of the arcane tome. At the cost of their lives, they fused their souls with the book to served as its eternal warden. Though the seal is strong, the hearts of the Equus are not. Over time, the book fades from history to folk lore, then to legend, then to hearsay, and finally to simple bedtime stories. As the sacrifice of the sages are forgotten, the seals begin to wither and fail. Thus beginning the cycle again, as a grim reminder of how lost history tend to repeat itself. Though there is a bright side. With every cycle of the broken seal, the new order of sages will arise to protect the Equus as the sages before them did so selflessly; and it will begin again as it ended, with a world, and a book……

“ Are you even paying attention?”

“Umm… of course Grams”

“ Well then, what did I say?”

“That… we… should….. not…. be so forgetful?”

“........Lucky guess.”

Following the remark, the unlucky listener was met with swift retribution in the form of a smack from the older mare’s pipe. She was a rather aged, rather irritable soul; however, nearly 80 years of life earns you the right to be as cranky as you want. Her mane was a faded white with streaks of grey that did no justice in concealing her age. Her face, though, was not as feeble as her hair implied. She still kept an oblique resemblance to her younger years in her pale blue face and piercing green eyes. Adorning her head was what most would consider a brown witch’s hat. If you ever called her one, she wouldn’t waste a second in finding the optimal spot for smacking and would quickly use it. On her person she wore a brown cloak that covered a plain white blouse. The reflection of her attire was complemented quite bluntly by her bland house that was scarcely decorated and only served to keep her covered. The clothes and the house instilled one thought in an observer right away, she wasn’t concerned with vanity and she always meant business.

“Honesty Thomas, every year you personally ask me to tell you your favorite story as a tradition for the Sage’s Fair and this time you couldn’t be more distracted. Why are you so scatter-brained today? Do my tales of old bore you now?” the old mare remarked.

“Oh, no of course not!.... It’s just…. this fair is a special one. I’ve heard from the town that this year they will be allowing commoners into the castle and will be giving tours for one night only. I’ve always wanted to see the inside of it and now I finally have the chance. Aren’t you curious on what it looks like from the inside?”

“I know what it’s like on the inside. It’s probably just like the outside; fancy, function-less, and purely for show.”

“ But surely even you must wonder why the king is always so secretive of the castle? it could be a chance to really connect with the heart of the town. Even if it’s all just a show, it’s still a show worth attending, don’t you think?”

The old mare turned away in indifference and irritation.

“ I guess i’m just set in my ways, but I remember when that castle use to mean something. It is to be a means of protecting us from invaders. Now it stands as a spectacle for the town to romanticize about. The gift of life and security has lost a lot of meaning in the years that have past, even this fair is no longer seen as a tribute to the sages. Many have forgotten about its importance as a reminder to the young and the old generation of the victory from long ago over the oppressive Jinn and the strength the seal possesses when we all hold the truth in our hearts.”

“ Oh come on Grandma, the Jinn haven’t been around for two thousand years and there has been no sign of them in the years that we both have been alive. Do you even know what one looks like?”

A look of puzzlement crossed the aged mare’s face.

“Well, no.”

“Couldn't we be justified in saying that they truly have faded into legend and that’s where they’ll stay? All of the fear the Jinn reigned down on our kind has turned into whimsical fantasies mares tell their foals when they can’t sleep at night. I think we would enjoy the fair more if we didn’t let them scare us so mu..”

WHACK

“OWWW!”

“ Insolent child! Those ‘stories’ have kept the reality of the Jinn firmly in our minds and prevented the seal from failing for ages. You should know that better than anyone. After all, it is your favorite foal’s tale.”

“Ok, I understand. I just want both of us to be able to enjoy the fair for a change. Whenever we celebrate this day, you hide in this hut and sulk throughout the day. It simply breaks my heart the way you scorn this day while the others frolic and make merry in it.”

The mare face him with a look of slight irritation and a glimmer of empathy.

“I know you love this day a lot, and you’re always encouraging me to join in on the merriment. The problem is I simply don’t celebrate the way our neighbors do,-”

“Oh,” Thomas said crestfallen.

“-But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a good time. Tell you what, why not go have enough fun for the both of us.”

Thomas’s face began to brighten back up.

“Ok grandma, I will.”

“Hold on, not in those clothes. Put on something more presentable.”

“ hmm, yes mam.”

Though his tone reflected a sense of rebellion, he knew tattered clothing was not presentable anywhere. After exchanging his garment for a presentable brown and light travelers coat and slacks ( which were stylish but not restricting for movement), he brushed his curly brown hair that went flawlessly with his attire and his fur that mirrored his grandmothers except for the fact that his was a deeper blue. His eyes were a dark green and flashed a lot brighter than his grandmothers (partially due to the age difference). He carried a mystical look about him even though he was an earth pony. After he dressed acceptably, he left the shack with a hastened goodbye. As he walked out to greet the world, he saw that it was indeed merry and inviting-and why shouldn’t it be, the sage’s fair only came once a year.

Though the town (Salutem) was bright and exuberant, it was considerably small. The town itself was only ten square miles in perimeter (considering most cities were at least twice the size), and it was gated by an outer wall which often isolated the town from the rest of the world. Visitors were often scarce and everypony knew each other. In the center of Salutem was the inner castle. It was a tall square like structure that had only one gate that didn’t let anypony in. In the days predating the town, it served as an outpost that held back foreign armies during wars. Now it stands as a monument that flashes off its deep battle scars from its days of use. This castle was off limits to all commoners and not many knew what was inside. Some even speculated that the castle had been abandoned for years and the guards were only keeping the memory alive so they didn’t have to farm, this conspiracy was fed by the fact that there wasn’t a villager alive that formally met the royal family. Today would be different though. For one day only, the town would be invited into the monument to behold the rich history and spectacle the old fort had to offer.
Even though the castle was the main event that would crown the festival, it wasn’t the only thing that made the town stir with jubilee. every corner of the town was alive with street vendors of food and trinkets and musicians playing melodious tunes (this was considerably difficult with cumbersome hooves, so hearing wonderful music like this was considered a great privilege and a marvelous godsend). The cobblestone streets flooded with dancing and demonstrations of great feats like magic shows and mock swordplay. Every now and then you would see a partier who drank a little too much mead and made a fool of himself before the guards were forced to restrain him and a mare scolding her foal about standing up in public (this is a considerably large cultural taboo because it was often thought that the only reason one would use his hind legs in that manner was to pick a fight with others. If you and your friends were drunk enough, this would quickly become a reality. It isn’t wrong, but civilized fellows don’t do it). On one corner was a vibrant jester that was telling the story of the sages using hand puppets and colorful sparklers that pleased the onlookers of all ages. The smile on his face at the end of every play would return the laughter from the crowd with a feeling of mutual enjoyment. From the food to the games to the joy that ran through the spirit of everypony, it was clear that this was the best time to be alive. As a fellow reveler, Thomas was going to exploit this group vibrancy to the fullest.

What should I do first? Everything is just so amazing, he wondered.

As he contemplated and mapped out his day, a pale white swordspony demonstrator signaled him ecstatically.

“-Excuse me sir, would you like to learn the ancient and powerful art of the sword? You won’t be disappointed.”

“Who me, i'm not sure I should. My grandma always suggests against violence and I wouldn’t know the first thing about swordfighting.”

“Well she’s not here, is she? You shouldn’t always listen to the elderly, you know. They aren’t the most mentally capable.”

“ Well….I guess not.”

“Come here and I’ll show you the basics.”

Thomas approached the swords pony and took up the sword he provided. It was dulled for safety measures.

“ Now, in order to learn the way of the sword, you must learn the two basic movements. The thrust, and the parry.”

“What?”

“ Oh, sorry, the offense and the defense. the thrust or swing is self explanatory, you must move the sword to attack me in a thrusting motion. Try it.”

Thomas then threw a few weak swings at the demonstrator. To repose, the demonstrator deflected his first attack and held firm on the second.

“Now what I just did was the defense. This movement is a bit more difficult. In order to perform this, you must be able to find the best way to protect yourself and break the opponent's stance and disarm him.”

“Wait, you never said anything about stances.”

“Don’t worry.”

The demonstrator then shifted from standing to a bent position with his sword in the hoof closest to Thomas.

“ This is will be my stance. It allows my sword to defend me from blows and execute the offense more efficiently. Though there is a greater repertoire of stances to choose from, we will use this one for a demonstration. ”

Thomas mimicked him.

“Oh ok.”

“There see, now you can wield a sword. That wasn’t so bad was it.”

“No I guess not”

“-and your grandma is nowhere to be found. I think you’re safe. Now, lets see what you have learned. Try the basics and see how you do against my offense. It may take you some tries but I think you can do it.”

“Oh OK. Here’s a strange question. Are you a local, or are you visiting?” Thomas inquired.

“Actually, I hope to move here. Why?”

“Oh, you’ll find out.”

Thomas was many things, a trickster, a quick thinker, and a easily irritated spirit. Not much annoyed him; however, if you ever bad mouthed someone he cared about he would be very quick to anger then even quicker to violence. This was very unfortunate for the demonstrator because, among his other traits, he was one of the best swords ponies the town had to offer. Those in town knew this and didn't challenge Thomas at this. This demonstrator was not from around; however, and Thomas planned to introduce the demonstrator to himself in a very violent manner. As soon as the demonstrator began his offensive, he was met with an flurry of precise swings and styles that threw the demonstrator off guard and startled him immensely. After an incredibly fast and powerful swing, the sword pony was quickly disarmed and flipped on his back trembling at sword point.

“ Wow, I guess you were right. Maybe I shouldn’t always listen to grandma. She did tell me I have to work on my lying a bit, I guess that's not important to listen to either. Maybe we should try again later, i’m sure I could use the training.”

A look of worry shot through the sword pony’s face.

“ Oh, no,no,no,no,no….. You seem to be alright. I think you have it down.”

“Oh well, if you insist.”

In Thomas’s mind, he got what was coming to him.

After hustling the sword pony, Thomas noticed a hooded figure that was observing the spectacle. The hooded figure new Thomas was watching him. This became very clear when Thomas began to approach him. The figure darted away quickly and continued down the street, leaving behind a small bag with a faulty strap.

“ Must have fallen off. Guess I have a knew bag.”

Hands off that you vile foal echoed in his mind and the feeling of the smack across his face soon followed.

“Hmm, granny wouldn’t like that. Well, Looks like I better return it. To bad too, I really needed a new bag.” Thomas said with a grimmas.

He took up the satchel and proceeded to pursue the hooded figure. One thing was for sure when Thomas chased after him, he was indeed fast. On a number of occasions, Thomas almost lost him. Needless to say, he would have to work for it if he wanted to reach the figure.The figure then rounded a corner and vanished. Crestfallenly, Thomas search for him but he was nowhere to be found. With a heavy sigh, Thomas shrugged off the situation and proceeded to enjoy the rest of the fair. Before he could leave the alley, a sharp sound caught his ear and a stray glass jar rolled into the street.

“Wait….. are… they, oh I don’t believe it. They’re hiding from me! How dare they! Here I am trying to perform a civic good and they try to make it difficult on everypony. I can’t let that go unresolved.”

Thomas galloped through the alley at full speed, intent on catching the figure. After running through three streets, two alleys, and a garden ( Which caused the gardener to throw her tools at him), he arrived at a closed alleyway with two hooded figures standing in the middle of it. One was the figure he was chasing to return the satchel and the other was a little shorter.

“ Ok now I think it’s time I introduce myself to the--”
Thomas paused for a moment when he saw a marking on the wall. Two swords forming an “x” with a snake in the middle.

One of the many advantages of knowing everypony in town is knowing which ponies to stay away from. This alley belonged to a group of such unscrupulous character. More specifically, The Vicious Ten. This group was a collection of common riff-raff the city really didn’t want to deal with and criminal mavericks that the city really couldn’t handle. If you had the unfortunate luck of wandering into these sanctioned gang territories, you were a guaranteed corpse the minute the group found you. Thomas began to form a word of warning in his mouth but as soon as he began to speak, Raiders quickly surrounded the hooded figures. There was nothing he could do for them now, all Thomas could do was watch in horror.

The first criminal ( an earth pony with a gray coat and a mangled black and red mane) approach the two. His flank was bare save a large, gaping soar that (in Thomas’s opinion) would have covered a particularly violent mark. on face was tattooed the number one.

“How wonderful, we have some surprise guests for dinner tonight. I’m afraid we don’t entertain much, though. Needless to say, we are pleased to eat you.”

The tallest figure spoke up.

“Don’t you mean meet.”

“I could say that, but one must never tell lies to pretty mares.”

“Oh, you flatter me kind sir.”

“ You’re pretty foolish to be wandering the alleys when all the guards are at the fair. Tell you what, well go easy on you by having our way with you after you’re dead. If you’re smart, you’ll drop any weapons now or you’ll--”

“Are you almost done yet?”

“w--what?”

“You’re starting to bore me.”

“Oh, a feisty mare. I love it when I have to work for my meal. I think I’ll give you the pleasure of introducing you to--”

“Seriously, you’re still talking. Why do all the brutes we meet think we want to hear anything they have to say.”

“It’s a mystery dear sister.” The smaller figure remarked.

“are….you…..mocking me?”

“Oh,no no no, of course not. Well….. yeah.”

“ Ok, I think we’re done here. Cut them to mince meat.”

Numbers 2-5 charged the figures. The taller one flashed her cloak to reveal a large katana blade with a black hilt and gold finishing on the guard and the tip. with a flash of her hoof, she drew the sword and swung it at blinding speed though every attacker. With one solitary swipe, all four assailants fell to a bloody mess of groaning stallions. To describe this display of precision and style, we would have to compare it to one of the best swords ponies in town. While Thomas was one of the best, this mare would have handed his hide to him on a silver platter.

“ Sorry, I may have gotten a bit carried away. I don’t really do mince meat. Don’t worry, they’ll live.”

Undisturbed, the leader set his sights on the smaller individual.

“ Ok, forget the big one. The small one looks appetizing, waste her.”

Numbers 6-10 charged the little one. Thomas shuddered but the tall figure didn’t flinch.

“ take it away Yue.”

The smaller figure began to glow with a dark blue hue. a spark of lightning formed on her hoof. With a gesture, a blast of blue fire engulfed the raider gang and sindged their bodies as they fell before her.

“ Hmmm, terribly sorry. Don’t worry, the pain is more severe than the actual injuries. Wanna try again?”

The crime leader faced his attackers with an infuriated expression on his face.

“ Well, it seems that I have underestimated my-”

“ You don’t know when to shut up do you?”

“.....I won’t stand for being disrespected, especially from mares.”

“ Oh, a misogynistic little maggot that thinks he deserves respect. Isn’t that adorable. Almost like a foal who hasn’t been smacked in a long while.”

“Or maybe a drunkard dying to talk someone’s ear off.” Yue jeered.

“Shut up! I will make you regret ever meeting me-”

“ I already do.”

“ I will break your spine!”

He then threw down his knife and drew the weapon on his back to reveal a large jagged broadsword with a remarkable number of notches within the blade.

“ Oooo, that’s a lovely toy. Hope you don’t mind if I break it.”

With a swing, the leader attacked the two. The taller figure ran to meet him with a blade to divert the attack. the swords clashed with sparks emitting from each blade. The strength and ferocity of both attacks proved that the leader truly earned his title as the deadliest of the group, and that this tall cloaked figure was a considerable threat to that title.

“Hmm, aren’t you full of surprises. Yue, you ready.”

“Of course, Taiyu.”

Taiyu dashed towards the leader at blinding speeds and attacked with a flurry of swipes and jabs. To her surprise, the raider’s defense was impenetrable. His repose knocked Taiyu away and began working away at her defense. He was able to force his weight on Taiyu to pin her down.

“ Yue, put in some interference.”

A spark became visible on Yue’s hoof and then a flame. a powerful fire shot from her hoof and blinded the leader. He doubled back in pain and rubbed his eyes furiously. another spark flashed from her free hoof and flowed to the blade. The blade began glowing with an eerie and ecstatic aura.

“ All yours.”

To capitalize on the moment, Taiyu rapidly closed the distance between her and the leader. With a powerful jump, she bared down on the raider with her blade with all her might. The raider raised his sword to block.

Crack

With a powerful swipe, the raider’s blade split in two; and so did his arm. The leader’s reaction was that of stoned silence, followed by earsplitting screams of agony.

“ So, would you like to call it a day?”

In a hysterical mess, the raider was able to muster a head shake.

“ Good. Now, to avoid further complications, I suggest you disband your little playgroup and never show you faces in this city again so I don’t have to look at them. Also, maybe you should consider an apology to the city for existing in the first place.”

The leader nodded the best he could in agreement.

“ E-e-everypony run!”

In a matter of minutes, the disheveled and disfigured Vicious ten rapidly scampered away to safety. The alleyway was silent once again.

Taiyu turned to Yue and removed her hood to reveal a sleek white coat with a braided rainbow mane, bright violet eyes, and a unicorn horn. Her demeanor reflected a regal appearance with a hint of arrogance.

“Honestly, we can clean out this filth in a matter of minutes but the guards can’t be bothered to deal with them.” Taiyu stated.

“ You know, if you do their job for them, you’re only encouraging complacency among the guards.-” Yue retorted.

She removed her hood to reveal a dark blue coat with strait blue hair and blue eyes to match with a unicorn horn.

“-besides, this was your idea.”

“Well, if we get into trouble, you’re still sharing the blame.”

“ We wouldn’t have to if you didn’t go on vigilante crusades like this.”

“What would you suggest we do, stay home and let these barbarians have their way with the city?”

“Oh don’t start with the good of the city, you just do it to relieve boredom.”

“Well then, why do you come with me every time?”

Yue paused for a moment.

“Because I get bored too.”

“See.”

“Whatever, just clean up the mess you left.”

“What mess?”

Yue turned to the alleyway and gestured to a repulsive lake of blood that stained the walls and floor.

“Oh, that mess. Wait, why don’t you just magic it away?” Taiyu said indifferently.

“Because I refuse to constantly clean up your messes. Now I’ll ‘magic’ you up a mop and bucket and let you get to it. Also, clean off your blade before it rusts.”

“ughhhh, fine.”

“ah,ah,ah, none of the sas.”

“ Yes mom.” Taiyu rebuttled sarcastically as she began to sift the mop through the crimson mess. While she worked, her movements were slowed to a limp.

“ You overdid it again, didn’t you?”

“Why do you care?”

“Ugh, you can’t just rush enemies like that without stretching your muscles first. I thought you might have done that earlier and that might have explained why you were late in getting here, but your pain says otherwise. where were you?”

“I was watching a demonstration gone horribly wrong.”

“ Were you followed?”

“Don’t worry, nopony can match my speed. Whoever did follow me probably fell away a few alley ways back. Nothing to worry abo--”

A ping of excitement welled up in Thomas’s very being. It continued to build until Thomas couldn’t contain himself and had to fall to his knees and grovel at the feet of his new idols.

“ That….was….incredible!” Thomas said while galloping into the alley at full speed.

“huh” Taiyu started.

“Oh no.” finished Yue.

“ To think, you tore the most dangerous group of criminals in town apart and came out of the fight with only a pulled muscle.”

“Hey look Yue, we have a fan.”

“That’s not good”

“ I would do anything to learn that. If you could, would you teach me that? Oh please?” Thomas begged.

An impish smile crossed Taiyu’s face.

“ Sure, and the first lesson is mopping to build stamina.”

Taiyu tossed the etherial mop to Thomas.

“Ok Yue, our work here is done.”

“Not so fast.” Yue said while pulling her sister back into place with her aura.

“ We need to clean up, and as for you-” Yue said to Thomas while staring at him with aggressive eyes. They began to glow with a purple-ish hue.

“-don’t talk to us, don’t look at us, don’t even mention that we were here. If you value your life, you will not tell another living soul what happened here today.”

Thomas seemed puzzled.

“......a simple ‘not right now we are busy’ would do fine. You don’t have to threaten me.”

Yue’s aura vanished and a look of astonishment crossed her face.

“ What? but, but, that always works.”

“What usually works?” Thomas inquired.

“Nothing…. just, just be gone!”

The angered mare’s horn then began to glow a brilliant dark blue.

“ Wait, all I wanted to do was-” a flash of light enveloped Thomas instantaneously and spirited him away.

“ -return your satchel.”

In the next instant, Thomas was standing in the square of the town where the jester was packing up to call it a day.

“My satchel. Hmmmm, na. It looks to nice to get rid off.” said the jester cheerfully.

The square was rather empty while the party began to die down. As the sun started to set, the exuberant voices that greeted Thomas in the morning were replaced with whispers and shuffles of content festival guests. Once he regained his bearings, Thomas had a moment to reflect on the events that transpired in alleyway.

“......... Well that was rude, and here I was trying to do the right thing and return this to its rightful owner. Oh well, it can’t be helped. I didn’t see anything, and I found myself a new satchel.”

Thomas’s train of thought was interrupted by the striking of a large bell that adorned the top of the castle. The doors to the sealed monolith then swung open and droves of abled partiers swarmed in. For the first time in an age, the air-tight crypt in the center of town would be the epicenter of festivities to top off the day. At last, the splendor bound within the scarred walls would soon be revealed for all to see.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A mass of villagers gathered in front of an ancient and battle torn gate as it slowly and gallantly opened forth. Though it creaked rebelliously, the groans were ineffectual. Through the ancient gates was a marvel to behold, an inner castle that was as good as new. The walls were still clear and white as snow, complimenting the intricate and extravagant topiary that preceded the inner sanctum. Each garden statue was unfortunately uniform in appearance ( the figure of royal centurions adorned with regal armor that flashed the rank of inner garrison), but still a sight to behold. Surrounding the inner building on the other three sides were large fences that prevented sight into the adjacent yards. Even in a secured, walled-in city, secrets were still present even from the visiting public whose lives were so intertwined. There was indeed some truth to Thomas’s grandmother’s tale, it was extremely lavish and pointless; never-the-less, it was indeed something to behold. Standing in a cobblestone path that divided the topiary garden in half was a castle guard and his squad assigned to provide a tour through the castle. They then walked to greet the eagered visitors as the leader walked ahead to assume command. His coat was an onix black that complemented his ash grey mane. On his flank was a shield that bore a crown in its center, which complimented his job as a royal bodyguard.

“Fellow greetings from his majesty the Viceroy and the royal family that inspires you.” He proclaimed as his concussive voice shot through the townsfolk. Instilling both exciting inspiration, and mortal terror.

“We have been assigned to give you, the fare members of our shining city, a glimpse at what your patience and support have gone to. You will see the glory of an age long forgotten that was destroyed long ago by invaders. Now it has been restored and awaits you to bask in its glory that once inspired a stronghold to fight off the fiercest foes imaginable. I am commander Ironhide, former garrison defender and now prime defender of his majesty himself, and allow me to invite you to have a grand time tonight.”

“Hey, when do we get to see the Viceroy?” said a rather obnoxious partygoer in the front row.

The imposing stallion darted to the villagers position with an eccentric (or maniacal) expression on his shapely face and proceeded to stare him down as he began to shrink under the commanders intimidation.

“ An excellent question, maggot! His majesty will address the public at the end of the tour. Until then, let’s have a grand old time! If we are done instigating, follow me and my squad. Also, please stay with the group at all times.”

The commander turned to the castle’s inner entrance as the villagers followed. The squad the commander was leading brought up the rear to shepherd any stragglers as they entered the castle enmass. the crowd was lead between the inner doors and was greeted by an extravagant sight. the floor was a flawless marble tile tesselation that cascaded throughout the corridors. Attop the elegant marble was a satin carpet the shade of a blossoming rose. The walls almost glistened silver and white (almost like ceramic) due to their sophisticated carving and molding. on these shimmering walls hung ancient decorative weaponry and portraits of the royal family line. Though completely familiar to the guards, the faces immortalized in paint were unknown to the visitors; all except for Thomas. The second last painting displayed a large, regal white stallion unicorn in intricate robes of red with white borders complemented with rubies and emeralds. under the portrait was a plaque that read “Viceroy.” The last painting was of two young adult mares in similar attire. under the portrait was a plaque that red “the fair maidens of the Lord.”
Thomas felt a peculiar notion creep into his subconscious, one that said these mares were not so anonymous. After the guards gave him a shove when the crowd began to leave him, he quickly discredited the idea and continued with the tour.

“This castle is exactly 300 years old and has been a fort to defend from invaders since it’s birth. It’s surrounding walls and inner sanctum were all that comprised our city for a long time. After its 150th year, its outer wall breached and invaders began destroying the castle to ensnare the first line of defense for the country that laid beyond. Fortunately our brave viceroy-or general at the time- was a master at siege warfare. He held back the hordes of ravenous savages for 60 years in an epic war of attrition. he later lead a small task force to infiltrate the enemy camp dressed as their cooks and set an elaborate trap for them--”

“What kind of trap,sir?” said a timid tourist.

“Another excellent question!” the commander boomed.

“The reports say he used a large pile of mushrooms that grow naturally around our fair city. These mushrooms produce incredibly potent visions and hallucinations when eaten. Disguised as the cooks, they snuck large doses of these mushrooms into their food and convinced the poor saps that their comrades were all changelings. They fought amongst themselves until none remained and the viceroy saved us all. It's a shame that hasn't been made a foals tale yet. Surely you have heard of his other feats while being put to bed.”

He was right. There was, in fact, at least a dozen tales about the viceroy that was told to Thomas and the others when they had nightmares.

“Just a fancy story.” the tourist skeptically retorted to himself.

“There are five floors to our magnificent castle that each serve a purpose for our modest city. First floor is the foyer, as you can see. the second is the kitchen and dining room.-”

As Ironhide began explaining the tour move up a staircase to a room filled with decorative gold tables and chairs. On the tables were silver-lined ceramic platters and assorted forks, knives, and spoons that each served a specific purpose.

“-This floor is home to some of the most exquisite dishes and chefs this town has ever produced. Each dish is an ancient recipe passed down through generations, ensuring that each dish hails from the original inhabitance. The diningware is also vintage from the original period. In the middle of the room is the royal table where the ruling family eats their meals. Fun fact, the only ones allowed to eat first are the royal family. First Viceroy, then his children, and then the rest of the guests. this room truly a slice of history and elegance that once filled these hallowed halls.”

The group was then herded up another staircase to the next floor.

“This is the ballroom.”

This room was a barren room with a lacquered wooden floor that reflected its dancer’s image without a distortion. It easily allowed the entire populous of visitors with room to spare. over the room was a system of chandeliers that graced a superior chandelier with soothing lights and crystal tears that reflected calm sun-like beams throughout the room.

“ This room was host to a multitude of important gatherings and galas. Every year visiting dignitaries and military personnel would flock to this floor to dance to the sweetest pieces crafted by ancient masters long forgotten. After the feast, you guests tonight will have the coveted opportunity to dance on these floors with the aid of our own town orchestra. Hopefully, you will enjoy yourselves and find your significant other as well.” Ironside exclaimed with a wink.

the crowd chuckled humorously and nervously.

“now then, the next floor awaits.”

After traveling up the stairs, the crowd was greeted by a sight of an immensely packed library. The room contained shelves that seemed to stretch both vertically and horizontally for miles but were immediately halted by the shimmering walls and marble ceiling. Each shelf was filled to the brim with ancient tomes and spellbinding literature (as well as spell books to boot).

“This is the royal library. Within this room is the largest assortment of knowledge and fantasy this town has ever had the pleasure to produce. Here you will find proposed theories on every subject ever created and research that changed our views on reality. This library also boasts the largest collection of poetry and novels this side of the universe. Please, feel free to browse our extensive collection for an hour or so and then we will be off; but, there are two rules that you must follow. Do not use any magic within the library and do not enter the restricted section of the library,” the commander said while gesturing to a door that was sealed up with a protective barrier that emanated a faint purple glow. On the front of the door was a distorted text that was almost impossible to read.

With the approval of the commander, the group dissolved into the large collection of books and scrolls. the room was soon alive with the sounds of discussions of books and faint wording of written poetry. Guards began mobilizing at the magic section of the library ready to escort defiant unicorns with the powerful urge to use their newly learned skills in their spells. While the group began settling in and enjoying the library’s offerings, Thomas began to approach the sealed door inconspicuously. This door was the only part of the library that was not allowed to be seen. Rather strange considering that the tour was suppose to reveal the castle to the public for all to see.

Why

Thomas did not know what his answer would be; but he did know one thing. He would be in that room before the day was out even if it killed him. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it only motivated the deep blue stallion.

“Oy, young colt. Get away from their.”

A guard approach Thomas and began herding him towards the group.

“Why cant we see what’s behind the door? Didn’t you say we would have a good time tonight?” Thomas exclaimed defiantly.

“No, I did.”

Ironhide approached Thomas with a stern expression on his face.

“ Are you not having a blast?”

“ I won’t have a blast unless I know what’s behind that door.”

“Well, It appears we have reached an impasse. I guess I will have to escort you to the gate and make sure you don’t come back. I can make that happen you know. If you would like to continue our little tour you’re going to have to curb that self-destructive attitude of yours. Savvy!” Ironhide demanded.

Thomas began shaking.

“Y-yes sir.”

“Good! Now run along little one.” Ironhide boomed with a smile.

Thomas rejoined the group with a grimace.

Little one, I’m almost 18. Thomas thought to himself.

The session lasted for about an hour or so. After that, Ironside called for all of the guests to ready for the next floor. Like the last three, they walked up a square-like staircase until they reached a large door. this door was remarkably larger than the others. It was forged of steel and had a royal emblem of a phoenix on an olive vine.

“This concludes our tour. Now the real fun can begin. Beyond these doors is the throne room where the viceroy will be waiting to address you. He has waited a long time to meet his subjects and has made sure everything would be perfect for your enjoyment. It I were you, I would not do anything to spoil that.”

After the commander addressed the crowd, he forced open the doors with magic and led the visitors into the throne room. A rose red carpet (that as present in the foyer) stretched from the door to a large red podium at the far end of the room. This podium contained three chairs, one for the viceroy and two for his aforementioned children. The viceroy’s golden metal chair was considerably larger and more decorative than the other two chairs on the podium. It was adorned with an assortment of opals and rubies that gave the chair the illusion of a powerful fire-like aura (which complemented the chairs phoenix-like shape and almost alive fiery eyes). the chair on its right was a smaller white marble chair graced with assorted diamonds and pearls on the molding of the chair that glistened in the immense candlelight, giving the chair the illusion of solar beams. Attop this chair was a bright sun made from amber. To the left of the viceroy’s chair was a black marble chair that gave a hint of twilight from its sapphire and onyx escarpment. Attop this chair was a peaceful moon made from quartz. sitting opposite from the thrones were rows of stylish marble pews padded with rose cushions that beckoned to soar-legged travelers for a seat. On the walls were priceless tapestries depicting bright birds with magnificent plumage rivaled in appearance only by the stain glass mural behind the thrones that depicted an awe-inspiring phoenix rising from a powerful flame. For one reason or another, Thomas sensed that the viceroy rather enjoyed avian animals alot.

“If you would be so kind as to take your seat, we can begin with the celebration.” Ironhide announced loudly.

little by little, the group slowly integrated into the vast rows of pews and began to settle down. The air began thickening as the tension and excitement became corporeal. Soon, this mysterious hero and ruler would meet the public that heard such wonderful stories about him at bedtime in their youth.

“Presenting now, for the first time in ages, the might of this immortal stronghold! The vanguard of victory! The arm of justice! His majesty, viceroy Lychinus, the Holy Flame of Salutem!”

The crowd began to cheer as Ironhide grandly gestured to the throne with the expectation of the viceroy appearing. after a few minutes of waiting, Ironhide’s expression of regality faded to puzzlement while the crowd began to die down. Excitement changed drastically to confusion.

“Um……….viceroy?” Ironhide begged.

“don’t worry, I’ll be there in a minute.” said a feeble voice behind the pews.

There stood a large figure in a ragged brown cloak that covered what appeared to be a ravaged, sickly stallion on a walking stick. Behind this invalid was two other cloaked figures in similar garb that differed in height. The three figures began to make their way up the red carpet. They instilled a feeling of pity that threw the crowd through a loop and confused them greatly. They began to mutter amongst themselves.
Thomas began to ask the commander if the sickly stallion needed help, but stopped as a grin began to cross Ironhide’s face. Something was up, and it was gonna be exciting to say the least. The three crossed the room and took position in front of the three thrones. the sickly stallion turned to face the crowd with an aged grimace. His grimace then morphed into a youthful and impish smile that puzzled the crowd to no extent. he then took up his cane and tossed it into the air. a shimmer of light flickered for the briefest instant and the cane was reduced to dust before it hit the ground. The crowd was becoming excited.

“Always the show off,” Ironhide said.

Thomas didn’t think burning wood was that impressive, but the commander’s look made him observe the stallion intently. This was going to be big.

“Now,” the sickly voice stated, “Behold!”

This voice was powerful.

with a flash of his hooves, the stallion undid the buttons of his cloak while the two other figures followed after him. a gust of hot wind picked up. the once sickly stallion was now glowing brightly with a powerful red and yellow shimmering aura. his cloak flew off of him and into the air as the wind picked up immensely and heated up just as much. His aura shined so bright it was blinding. With a powerful hoof to the sky and an unearthly shout, the being’s aura shot from his being and engulfed the cloak. The crowd was astonished. sparks flew. from out of the incinerated cloak came the magnificent form of a massive, blazing red phoenix that spread its fiery wings throughout the room and let out a majestic cry that move the audience into a frenzy of wonder and excitement. By now the crowd was in an uproar, and Thomas was utterly dumbstruck. this fiery demigod that now held the audience in the palm of his hooves was once a sickly invalid that appeared to require help moving. Whoever this crimson spirit was, he knew how to make an entrance. After five powerful, awe-inspiring minutes, the phoenix de-materialized into a ball of flame and returned to the fiery figure. The once vibrant room began to settle down as the fire and energy subsided.

“Terribly sorry if I startled you. I tend to not know my own strength sometimes. Hopefully you’ll find it in your hearts to forgive me” said the middle stallion with a now vibrant and soothing voice

This figure was indeed imposing. His power over fire complemented his crimson coat and bright yellow eyes. His mane and tail were white with shades of orange that almost gave them life. He was an exceptionally built alicorn with a large figure, but not to tall as to tower over every subject too much. On his flank was a fiery bird in a circle of wispy flames-perhaps an explanation for the obsession with birds thought Thomas. He did not wear a crown but he was wearing an exceptionally jewel-encrusted crimson tunic with emeralds lining his collar and hems. His insignia was displayed along his back while a phoenix's wing was draped down either side of the tunic. His expression was full of energy and excitement. From this face you could tell that this stallion never had a dull day in his life. Whether or not he had to make it exciting was up for interpretation.

“My dearly beloved subjects, It is a pleasure to see you here before me today. I have awaited this day for many years and prepared for it with all of my being. For too long I have been forced into seclusion and isolation from my subjects after the death of my fair wife and co-ruler. The pain of losing one I loved so much was too much to bare as I began leading this city from behind these walls and letting this monument of our glory rot away. But now, after nineteen long and productive years of rebuilding this lovely castle and raising our next great leaders behind me, I have invited you here today to bare witness to this city’s crown jewel and former glory that has attracted travelers and nobles alike for centuries. Tonight, my family and I will share with you the culture that you have been missing for so long in my absence and will enrich your lives forever.”

Thomas’s heart almost stopped at the sound of his voice. His expectations for this tour were quickly superseded by this display of royalty, and the real fun hadn’t even commenced yet. But just as much as he was excited about the life changing experience before him, he was also incredibly puzzled about this tempest’s children. Their eerie familiarity began creeping back into his subconscious and quickly overtook his mind completely.

How can I already know you but never met you at all?

“But oh me! where are my manners. Mares and Gentlecolts, I am Viceroy Lychinus -as romantically described by my lover commander Ironhide over there, you probably know quite a lot about me-” The viceroy jeered with a wink to the commander.

The commander returned with a chuck and a blush.

“-And these are my fair daughters,”

The who figures removed their cloaks to reveal a white mare with a braided rainbow-like mane and a deep blue mare with a straight blue mane. Each wearing a similar tunic like their father but different colors to fit their thrones.

“Lady Celestia and Lady Luna.”

Thomas’s mind finally clicked. These two were definitely familiar, and he owed them a missing satchel.

Taiyu

Yue

In that instant, Thomas leapt from his position in the middle of the rows of pews to the center of the room and dashed to the podium with the guards following close behind him. Narrowly escaping capture as the guards swarmed him and grappled him, he jumped in front of Taiyu and produced a satchel to give to her.

“Caught you! Now take you stupid bag!” Shouted Thomas as he began panting from the chase.

A look of astonishment passed through Taiyu’s face while a look of irritation stuck to Yue’s.

“Told you this wasn’t good.”

To be continued….

Behind Locked Doors

part 2

Behind Locked Doors

"Caught you! Now take your stupid bag!"

Thomas produced the bag and threw it at Taiyu feet.

"And next time someone tries to perform a civic good, kindly make it easier for the rest of us by cooperating!"

Following the outburst, the royal guard swarmed Thomas's position and quickly apprehended him. Yue continued to sulk while Taiyu began to grin. Something deviant gleaned in her eyes.

"Guards! How dare you assault such an esteemed guest!"

The startled royal guard released Thomas as he fell to the ground in a display of gasping for breath.

“Dear guest, how about you stand by me and introduce yourself to our humble village. I’m sure they are dying to know who your are.”

Confused and flustered, Thomas stumbled onto the threshold and stood next to Taiyu. As his gaze met the crowd, the gravity of the situation began to sink into his consciousness.

“....uh…..ugh….”

Taiyu’s expression turned from inviting to intense as she flashed the katana under her tunic at Thomas and stared viciously into his eyes. In an instant, fear and anxiety gripped his soul.

“Listen carefully. As of right now, your life depends on how well do as I say,” Taiyu whispered to Thomas quickly.

“You are a visiting dignitary who wanted to take part in the castle party and you hail from a city to the north. If you can’t convince them of this and father suspects something, he will incinerate you on the spot.”

Taiyu began to turn to the crowd.

“Now why don’t you tell the nice people who you are.”

Thomas’s fear began to fade as he collected his thoughts and rehearsed his role in his head a few times. A smile cracked on Thomas’s face as he knew he was about to have a lot of fun.

“Good evening, fair citizens of Salutem. Rejoice and kneel before me, for I am the esteemed and fabulous Prince Thundering Spirit of the floating city of Bitonimus that exists right above your heads.” Thomas spouted like a snobbish fop.

“My sweet goodness! your guards were not very nice to little old me. How could you not keep them on a leash, mr. Viceroy; and you decided to hold a party…..but you didn’t put out snacks? such sloppy party handling, I say!”

Thomas’s act became increasingly silly and ridiculous. The viceroy began to lose his previous happy disposition which faded into a grimace of irritation. Noticing this, Taiyu approached the “prince” and began to take hold of the situation.

“Ok,well, it was nice to meet you Mr., um, Thundering Spirit. Why don’t you relax upstairs. We have accommodations ready for you.”

“Stop right there!” Viceroy Lychinus boomed with anger.

Taiyu’s face fought hard to hide the worry slowly taking over her mind as she turned to face her father.

“Who is this…” Lychinus began to compose himself as he saw he was scaring the crowd.

“Lovely, eccentric individual who has graced our presence today.”

“Oh,” Taiyu began,”this is a visiting dignitary that wanted to attend the castle’s unveiling.”

“Uhuhh, a visiting dignitary dressed like a commoner decides to visit an isolated, gated city that has had little contact with any nearby towns or cities because of its self-sustainment and it causes no stir within the town. Would you like to run that by me again?”

“He would be in commoner clothes to…divert attention from himself. You know how we get when someone special comes to town. They would have swarmed him.”

“How could they have swarmed him if news of this visiting dignitary doesn’t exist.”

“Oh, but it does father. He has been the talk of the town since the fair began.”

“How would you know that?”

Taiyu was losing her grip. The irritation of her father mixed with a scornful stare began chipping away at her resolve. If she didn’t hurry this up, something would give.

“ Oh, t-the guards! They are always such gossips. Can’t stop talking to save their lives. They have been muttering about this matter since breakfast. They haven’t told you formally?”

Lychinus’s stare began to wane.

“No. They neglected to inform me on the matter. I’ll have to deal with that later.”

The viceroy’s skepticism faded. His visible irritation was resolved as he returned to his regal demeanor.

“Ok, carry on. See to it that his accommodations are to his liking. Aid him with whatever he may want, if you please.”

“Oh, of course sir.”

“But remember,”

Lychinus turned to face his daughter with a faint smile.

“Within reason. Never know what will happen. You know, two young lovers, alone in a dark suite, behind locked doors.”

Lychinus winked.

Taiyu began blushing.

“D-dad!”

Lychinus began laughing endearingly

“Just messing with you sweetheart. You grow up too fast. Alright, run along and we’ll take care of the party down here.”

Taiyu left for the stair to the fifth floor in a huff, dragging Thomas behind her. The door to the fifth floor was rather plain compared the the preceding doors. It was an wooden ebony door with brass handles. This doorway led to a hall which led to two rooms opposite each other and a pair of double doors at the end of the hallway. One door was adorned with a brass sun, one with a brass moon, and the double door with a copper phoenix. Both Thomas and Taiyu entered the sun adorned room. Inside were two beds and an assortment of dressers and jewelry boxes that filled the room comfortably.

“As our ‘guest,’ you will be lodging in my room. There is always a spare bed made up for such an occasion and a servant to tend to your needs.”

Thomas began to grin.

“What?” Taiyu inquired.

“My my, you’re pretty fast for your age. I guess height adds to desire.”

Thomas’s grin failed as a brief chuckle ensued. While his demeanor was rather cheerful, Taiyu’s face never changed from its stoick expression.

“I’m only seventeen and barely taller than you; and if you honestly bought that loving facade from the viceroy, you’re even more of an idiot than I imagined.”

“Oh! Not very comfortable around daddy, is it? His little girl wants to fight the power and be freed from the shackles of the oppressive family roles.”

Taiyu drew her sword in an instant and leveled it to Thomas’s neck. Sheer rage burned deep in her eyes as they seemed to spit fire into Thomas’s very being.

“Dont you dare act like you could possibly understand the situation! The only reason you were not a stain on the carpet the moment you opened your mouth was because of this little charade he’s throwing. He is not someone you want to be close with nor is he someone to trifle with.”

“Woah, woah,woah! Easy! Ok, ok, ok, ok, I’m sorry. No need to do anything rash. A-after all, if I die the viceroy will find out and won’t like that his guest was killed by his own daughter.”

“Do you really think you are that important? Please, you are about as expendable as they come. All I have to say is that you were a changeling disguised as the fruit you just made up and attacked me in my chambers. Visitors will be barred from future events, I get off scotch free, and no one will ever give it a second thought.”

“Oh.”

As her anger subsided, Taiyu lowered her sword. The arrogant demeanor returned to her expression.

“You’re very disrespectful to us high society ponies. Didn’t your parents ever tell you messing with the royalty can get you into deep trouble? They must feel great disgrace because of you.”

Thomas’s face writhed with pain.

“....Wouldn’t it be nice if they could?”

Taiyu’s spiteful words began to burn into both Thomas and herself. The jeering face she adopted soon changed to concern for what she just did to him emotionally. Thomas then began grimacing with anger.

“...Well, if you’re going to pull dirty shots like that,” began Thomas,” than I’ll pull ones of my one.”

“Come again?”

“As I understand it, you take great pains to make your little excursions into the town quiet and unknown to ponies like your father. I suppose I could slip this little secret to his bedmate Ironhide who would be more than happy to inform his majesty about his brutish daughter and her vigilante power trips.”

Taiyu began to look worried.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Try me, berserker!”

“Oh yeah? First of all, Ironhide isn’t his bedmate. That was a joke, you idiot. Second of all, what’s stopping me from killing you now?”

“Your father is going to want to know how I died when his ‘defenseless’ daughter fought and killed a dangerous beast like a changeling. What will you say then? Will you tell him you were possessed by a malicious spirit, or maybe that you found a mystic sword under your bed?”

“Uhhh….”

“It’s your choice.”

Taiyu was cornered. Thomas found the one thing that could subdue her.

Checkmate!

As Taiyu accepted defeat, she sheathed her sword and prepared for his command.

“....What do I have to do to keep you silent?” Taiyu said preparing for the worst.

Thomas began to grin.

“Well, I’m glad you asked. there is a door in the library that is sealed with barriers and incantations a normal earth pony like myself could not open. Seeing as how you are a member of the royal family, you must have some innate magical abilities that could prove useful. Also, the library will be vacant for some time while the guests are dining and dancing.”

“Get to the point.”

“Open that door and we’ll be square.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“....and that’s why we need your help, sis.”

Yue stared at the two with utter puzzlement.

“You want me….to open a door for you?”

“Yes,” Thomas replied.

“You have the royalty in the palm of your hooves under the thumb of blackmail, able to ask for anything you could desire without limitations, and you want us to open a door.”

“Yes, Taiyu is not as capable with magic as you are and the seals are quite powerful. Why?”

“I’ve always imagined that Taiyu’s recklessness would come back to bite us in the rear. I just didn’t think we would get off so easily. I guess you were right Taiyu. He isn’t the sharpest person out there.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know that I wouldn’t ask for anything that you’re thinking of because I am a gentlecolt. Also, I guess I have great deal of determination for getting the things I want. So, what do you say?”

“I say you have a very one track mind and that is the stupidest desire I have ever heard.”

“Will you help us or not?”

Yue paused and rubbed her chin deep in thought. Looking around the ballroom they were in, the ponies she saw were busy dancing to folk tunes. Each one brimming with glee and filled with liquid courage from dinner. Quickly Yue dashed to the orchestra playing and whispered something into the conductor’s ear.

“Everypony, listen up!” The conductor shouted to the crowd.

“The fair and beautiful Lady Luna has a special request of us.”

The crowd turned to face Yue.

“Lady Luna? What’s with that?” Thomas whispered to Taiyu.

“That is the name given to her by royalty, as opposed to her birth name Yue. It’s just like mine.” Taiyu retorted.

“Fair guests,” she spoke with a voice soft as silk,”in honor of this momentous occasion we should celebrate with the utmost jubilee. To do this, we shall dance to something brand new.”

With a flash of her horn, a script of paper manifested before her.

“This is a piece I have worked on for years and dedicated it to this event. It would fill me with great joy to have you dance to it and make merry.”

The musical score levitated over to the conductor and sat on his podium. With a gleam in the conductor’s eye, he motioned the orchestra to begin as the sheet music began manifesting on every music holder in the orchestra.

“You might wanna cover your ears.” Yue said to Taiyu and Thomas. They complied.

The orchestra began playing the piece. As the music played, an ominous aura flowed from the sheet music and flooded the room. The eyes of the party goers began to glow with a blue tint and each one began dancing a waltz in a synchronized fashion.

“Follow me.”

Yue led Taiyu and Thomas out into the staircase and into the library.

“The Thoughtless Waltz. One of my many masterpieces. That should keep the partiers and the guard busy for a good hour.”

“How so?”

“It is a piece of music imbued with my own magic. They are powerless to its control as it forces any unlucky listener to dance for as long as it plays. They can’t hear us or speak to us until the recital is over.”

Thomas looked confused.

“Why would you do that?”

“Well,” Yue said, “ we can’t have anypony finding us when we open that door for you. This way, they won’t have the ability to respond.”

“So, you’ll help?”

“Eh, I’m bored. I suppose I could lend a hoof. Also, if word of this does get out, I too will be in hot water.”

“Wonderful! Welcome aboard.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. This is no ordinary lock that you want to fool with. These seals are a fine piece of work.”

Yue approached the door and inspected it.

“The reason this door is so hard to get into is because the lock is very big and changes every hour. The spell barricading the door will re-arrange with different runes so that no criminal can learn the pattern of these wards and disperse them.”

“You’re quite informed on the matter.”

“Well, I should be. I did design the lock myself.”

“Why would you do something like that?” Taiyu spat with irritation.

Yue shot her an arrogant glance.

“Because dad asked me to, and his brilliant older daughter couldn’t do it.”

“Well, how do we break the seal.”

“We don’t.” Yue confirmed.

Thomas’s irritation began to grow.

“Well then, what good are you for?”

“Patience is a virtue! there is a brief moment while the wards are changing when there is no spell protecting it. If I catch it in time, I can lengthen the duration by blocking the flow of magic before it solidifies into a new barrier.”

“Splendid! When is the next shift change?”

Yue motioned to a grandfather clock in the corner. The time was 8:59.

“We have one minute exactly.”

“Alright.”

Thomas’s giddiness faded as curiosity peaked his consciousness.

“What is in there exactly?”

“I don’t know. Neither the guards nor the staff were ever told about it as well as me and Taiyu. The only one who knows anything about it is the viceroy and he always said we can’t go near it. So much for that, I suppose.”

“Wow, you two really don’t like your dad. Does he owe you money or something. I can’t imagine how two sour mares could be so indifferent to a spectacular stallion like that.”

“Believe me,” Yue started,” you would be too if you had to put up with half the stuff he does.”

“Some do more than others.” Taiyu said begrudgingly.

“Oh please, like he would ever upset his precious little sun child.”

“Don’t you dare start with-”

“twenty seconds until shift.” Thomas interrupted.

The quarrel quickly subsided.

“Right. Everypony ready?” Yue said.

“Let’s do this”

“I’m good.”

“Okay.”

“Ten seconds.”

Thomas’s stomach quivered with anticipation and excitement. He couldn’t wait to find his prize after waiting so impatiently for it.

...Five…

...Four…

...Three…

...Two…

...One…

...Zero!

In an instant, the doors strange rune pattern dissolved instantly as the magical aura began to move in a circular pattern. In the next instant, Yue’s horn and eyes flashed a brilliant deep blue as magic began to take shape on her hoof. With a forceful jab, Yue connected with the door. the aura surrounding her hoof flowed into the door, forming a knot in the wood that emanate with a deep blue glow, and the circular flow of energy stopped. The ward was paralyzed.

“Voila!” Yue exclaimed.

“Excellent!”

“Now, the seal will only stay frozen until it is moved. We can open the door once from the outside. After that, the seal will rematerialize. I’ll stand guard outside and open it again at the next change while the two of you go on ahead and figure out what was so important that father didn’t want to flaunt it for the guests.”

“Got it. Ready, m’ lady?”

“Don’t push it.”

“Splendid! Well catch ya later.”

“Alright.”

Yue opened the door. as it creaked open, the seal began moving again until a rune pattern appeared on the door. Taiyu and Thomas walked in.

“See you two in an hour.”

The door closed behind them as the hue of the seal surrounded the door and solidified around the frame. They turned to face the room. Unfortunately, it was pitch black.

“Hold on, I’ve got this.”

Taiyu’s horn began to glow with a faint golden hue. She strained as it sparked to life and a fire appeared on the tip.

“Fascinating,” Thomas observed.

“Yeah yeah, just find a torch.”

Thomas searched the now illuminated walls and found a small row of candlesticks adorning both sides of the hallway they were in. He plucked a large one off of the wall and held it up to Taiyu’s horn until it lit. Taiyu’s horn then winked out as signs of exhaustion became prevalent on her face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Magic is not my strong suit.”

“I thought all alicorns held great magical powers. Isn’t that what makes you all into bedtime tales for foals.”

“I thought all grown stallions had their marks, yet your flank is noticeably barren.”

Thomas blushed with embarrassment. It was true that he never earned his mark, much to aid the everlasting scorn from peers that came with it.

“Not funny.”

“Eh, it’s ok. I don’t have mine either. Neither does my sister. I’m sure one day we will, but we can't seem to find what we are exceptionally good at. ”

“So, master sword pony doesn’t count.”

“Apparently not. Anyway, I probably do have great magical abilities. I just don’t click as well with them as my sister does.”

“Okay. “

Thomas turned to face the newly illuminated room.

“So, where are we?”

“...I’m not entirely sure.”

The hall was considerably barren and a lot longer than expected if you based the inside of the house from how it appeared on the outside. Another wonder of the marvels of magic, having impossible closet spaces down to a science. The duo continued down the hallway until they reached a moderately sized octagonal room barren of any decor except for the pedestal in the center of the room. Beneath the pedestal was a ward-like circle burned into the floor that contained an intricate criss-crossing pattern of lines and images of the sun in the center with the moon adjacent to it. On the rim of the circle was inscriptions of symbols unknown to either Thomas or Taiyu. On top of the pedestal was a red and gold encrusted book imprinted with a similar pattern on the front below the title and guarded with a lock on the border.

“Ugh, how do you like that. It’s just dad’s old gag book.”

“Excuse me.”

“Dad use to carry this book in the library and show it off to the guards. He would always say that he would pay a thousand bits to the guard who could open it and read it to him. Of course, no one ever opened it. Both me and Yue tried as well with everything we had, but he just laughed and laughed while the book never budged. Eventually, we all just gave up on it and left it on one of the shelves to be forgotten. This whole secret door thing is also probably one of his cruel jokes to humiliate us.”

“Oh please, don’t you pull that. You just want to keep me from reading it with your made up stories.”

Taiyu sighed with indifference.

“Well, ignorance is bliss, I suppose. Fine, have a go at it. I’ll look for a switch or something. Hopefully, I will find something really worth the effort. Just don’t pull anything. We can’t have you injuring yourself with a book. If you do, no doctor in town would believe you.”

Thomas gingerly approached the pedestal carefully, making sure that the circle on the floor wouldn’t blow up in his face or something else like that. The inscription on the cover was similar to the text surrounding the circle and appeared unreadable; however, the symbols began moving and forming words as he picked it up. Eventually, the title appeared.

“...The….The Clow?”

“Oh, don’t bother trying to make any sense of the text. It’s complete gibberish.”

Thomas’s intrigue began to grow.

If it is gibberish, then why can I read it.

Thomas’s concentration broke abruptly as he noticed the symbols on the floor began moving as well. A text appeared out of the jumbled mess of pictures and runes.

“Are you seeing this.” Thomas said maintaining his astonishment as best he could.

“Seeing what?” Taiyu replied apathetically. The runes did not appear to change for her as she lazily glanced at Thomas

Interesting.

As he flashed the candle over the text, Thomas began unconsciously mumbling it to himself in a low voice as he observed it.

“The seal..will break, once… the prison is given the proper name. Speak it, then enter.”

What idiocy is this?

“Hey Taiyu, what do you make of this.”

“What?”

“The seal will break once the prison is given the proper name. Speak it, then enter.”

“Where do you see that.”

“Around...Oh, wait. Sorry, never mind.”

Taiyu snorted in impatients as boredom began to grip her attention span.

“The seal….once...prison is given…name.”

Hmmmm, odd.

“Once...prison….given…name.”

...........

“On...pr...ve...na”

…...Wait.

“O…p...e...n.”

Oh!

“Open!”

k-chnk

The lock on the book clicked and snapped open.

“Ha! take that Taiyu! Now, where is my thousand bits?”

“What are you going on abo-” taiyu froze in astonishment as she gazed at the opened book that fooled her and countless others beforehand.

“H-h-how...did you do that?”

“Call it incredible intuition. I guess I must be the best and brightest this town has to offer.”

“B-but….but.”

“Oh well, bad luck on your part I guess. Say, want to be one of the first to read it. I’m sure Yue’s going to want second crack at it so speak up now.” Thomas said jeeringly.

Taiyu shook her head vigorously with approval.

“Okay.”

Thomas opened the book. Inside were pictures and murals depicting creatures of large, small, and strange shapes with inscriptions under each one describing them. One picture depicted a dark, formless figure that floated in mid air.

The...Shadow.

On another page was a picture of two ponies side by side with a line dividing them. One had eyes while the other had only white spaces.

The Mirror.

In the middle of the book, there was an ominous figure. It was an illustration of a void with blackened eyes of malice and multiple sets of sharp teeth that appeared to float in its shadow.

The Vile.

Thomas then turned the page to written inscription. Around this inscription was six ponies cloaked in black robes with shaded faces. Each one carried a different weapon. One had a sword. The next had a large scythe. The next had a dagger. The next had a large, cross-blade weapon. The next had an imposing war hammer, and the last had an elegant whip. Each one stood side by side forming a circle around the written text as if to chant it.

In the beginning, there were two walks of life that governed the land, the Equus and the Jinn….

“Hey! I know what this is! This is my favorite bedtime story.”

“You can read that jumbled mess?”

“Well, yes.”

Thomas began to chuckle.

“I guess I can tell grandma what a Jinn looks like now. It’ll be kind of hard since the don’t seem to have one singular form.”

“Those are Jinn?...Then… is this really that book?”

“I doubt it. maybe a facsimile of the real thing. Can you imagine how old that book is.It would probably be dust by now.”

Thomas turned the page. To his amazement, the pages were hollowed out and concealed a deck of cards bearing the same seal as the book and the floor. He picked one up and turned it over to reveal a depiction of a large eye with a luminous aura emanating from it. An inscription lay beneath it.

The Insight.

“Wow, I didn’t know the Jinn played card games.”

“Maybe the got bored while being locked away within a book and needed some levity.”

“Wanna play?”

“Don’t kid yourself. There is no way they stashed a rulebook for any kind of game in a prison of mystical, god like creatures.”

“...Still wouldn’t hurt to look, though.”

Thomas then removed the entire deck from the hallowed pages of the book. Underneath the cards Thomas found a strange trinket. A sword-like pendant on a silver chain.

“Oo! Shiny! I call dibs.” Taiyu shouted quickly.

“What! You can’t call dibs. I opened it.”

“Sorry, too slow.”

Taiyu reached for the necklace. As she touched it, a spark leapt from the pendant and struck her hoof.

“Ow!”

“What can I say? even the book agrees with me.”

Thomas picked up the necklace and held it up to his eyes. The necklace gave him a sort of chill as it almost felt like it stared back at him. It carried a mysticism about it that drew Thomas into its beckoning and silent call. It captivated him, intrigued him, even spellbound him. Slowly, he could feel his awareness slip away from him.

“Uh, hello? Thomas? Are you still alive?!”

Thomas regained consciousness as he noticed Taiyu began nudging him.

“Yeah, uh, I’m fine. How about that card game now to pass the time? We've still have a while before the next change.”

Thomas began shuffling through the deck of cards and came upon one that struck his fancy.

“Hmm. The...Vile.”

“Hey! it’s that thing the other Jinn don’t like.”

“What?”

“No, seriously, look here.”

Taiyu pointed to a page in the book of a group of strange beasts fighting an empty void of eyes and teeth. Each combatant seethed with rage and fear as they faced it.

“Sounds brutal.”

How disgraseful.

Thomas froze as a voice penetrated his mind.

W-who is this?

How can she be so rude?

Thomas became scared.

Tell me. Answer me now!

You should teach her a lesson.

Thomas’s nerve began to quiver as fear began to take over.

No, no, go away!

What’s the matter, little one? The voice continued in a soothing, hypnotic tone that caressed Thomas’s mind as it washed over him. Do I scare you? I thought you would be strong enough to hear my wisdom.

What are you talking about? I’m not scared of you! Show yourself!

Down here.

Thomas looked down at the card he was holding.

Everyone else was scared of me and my power, so they scorned and mocked me. They even turned on me and locked my beauty away from the world. Will you let me go, and help me proclaim my beauty to the world? You wouldn’t want to stifle your friends of a wonderful thing because you were too scared to help a Godsend share his guiding light with the world?

Thomas began to calm down as the words in his head began soothing him. This voice appeared to be speaking helpful insight.

“Thomas?”

You can’t mean that. Your name is Vile.

They named me Vile. Tell me, do I sound vile to you?

Thomas thought it over.

Well, no. B-but you’re a Jinn, and the Jinn always hated our kind.

Silly foal, do you believe everything scared animals tell you? Do you believe in the same kind that neglects, ridicules, and belittles others? Jinn don’t destroy Equus, Equus destroy themselves. I am what is best for this world, and the others saw that. They didn’t want me to act for the greater good because they enjoyed the chaos that they could feed off of. When I did, they sealed me away by throwing me to the sages. Don’t you think that was wrong?

Well, yes….b-b-but-

Then what is the problem? If you release me, I can create a better world where none of this exists.

“Hello? Are you still with the living?”

You can fix all of that?

Of course! and I’ll even tell you how. All you have to do is free me from my prison and I can change the world.

How?

Use the key.

Thomas then shifted his attention to the pendant in his other hoof. According to this spirit, it was the key to his prison. The only problem was Thomas didn’t know how it would work.

The pendant began to call out to him. It began drawing him into the same trance as before. Only this time, Thomas felt more in control. It was almost as if he wanted to fall into its embrace and leave the world behind.

“Answer me! Now!”

Taiyu began shaking Thomas furiously. After a few moments, Thomas regained consciousness and shook Taiyu off.

“Alright, you’re still alive. Don’t scare me like that! I was getting worried.”

“...Oh sure, you would be worried about me.”

“...Pardon me?”

“Oh, I am sure that you are worried about my well being. You just don’t want to get into trouble if anything happens to me. After all, as you said, I am just as disposable as they come. All you can care about is that daddy doesn’t spank you and send you to bed without supper.”

Thomas’s voice was laced with rage. Though he was spitting poison at Taiyu, his words almost seemed empty. It was as if he fully meant what he said as well as not at all.

“Are you unwell?”

“I could say the same thing to you. Always hurting ponies, belittling ponies, even dismembering ponies. You subjugate those weaker than you to make yourself feel better. Am I right? Lady Celestia?” Thomas said in a scornfully mocking tone.

Taiyu’s face flashed with disbelief.

“You know that that is not true. I would never hurt someone that couldn’t handle it. Those criminals hurt the innocent and deserved it.”

“Oh, of course they did. Simple criminals that everypony knows to stay away from totally deserved being cut down, burned, and mocked. Some ruler you would turn out to be.”

“That’s not fair! I need to protect my citizens, even if that means hurting those who would harm them. I don't think I should be treated with such cruelty for doing my job. What's the matter with you?!”

“Fair? What’s fair?! You say that you should be considered a nice character, yet you have not said one nice thing to me since I was here. Dont even pull that good of the many gag, you did it because you were bored. I don’t like to kneel before hypocrites. You're no ruler of mine.”

Taiyu’s face turned from shocked to pain as tears began welling up in her eyes.

“Stop it! You’re scaring me! You can’t mean that! What’s happened to you?!” Taiyu screamed.

“How disgraceful… how can you be so rude… I should teach you a lesson.”

Thomas’s voice was monotone and distant. He did not appear to have control.

“Snap out of it!”

Taiyu raised her hoof and attempted to smack Thomas. A flash of light appeared as the pendant around Thomas’s hoof illuminated vigorously. Thomas raised his arm

Crack!

Taiyu’s hoof connected, not with Thomas’s head, but with a sword. The sword was a larger form of the pendant and glistened like a new blade.

“No, you wake up!”

Thomas threw off Taiyu’s hoof and struck her in the side with the blunt part of the blade. Taiyu fell before him like a bag of stones and quivered in his presence. Thomas smirked at her and placed the card of the Vile in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

Thomas did not answer. His eyes appeared soulless and empty, as if something else was in control. He lifted the sword above his head, ready to strike.

“Stop! No!”

Thomas swung.

Fwwwoooooooshhh!

Bang!

Thomas struck the card. In an instant, it ignited with a blinding light that burned with the intensity of the sun. It crackled and screamed as energy poured out of it.

Shhhhhhhhhhhinnnnnnnnng!

A spell circle like the one under the pedestal appeared on top of the card as a hideous form reared itself out of the circle. First, a thick shadow. Then, an eye. Then, a set of demonic teeth. The terrifying beast eyed Taiyu with great lust, and proceeded to lick his teeth.

“Such… a tasty snack!” the void said with a soft and mental-shattering voice that was both soothing and deadly. It was the voice of death itself and it beckoned for Taiyu’s soul.

“...I shouldn’t spoil my appetite on such a frail creature. I have bigger plans in mind. As for you.” He said while turning to face Thomas.

“Thank you for freeing my voluptuous body from its stifling cage. I can’t wait to reshape this disgusting refuse into my own, glorious image! If only you knew the full gravity of the service you provided this dying world with. They will surely remember this.”

Thomas did not respond.

“But first, every good plan needs a scapegoat. I am very sorry about using you like that; but rest assure, it was for the good cause. No hard feelings?”

Thomas remained silent.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Sorry I can't explain right now. I'll be sure to inform you later on the matter. Anyway, nighty night.”

The black mist struck Thomas with an almost corporeal appendage, flinging him against the wall and leaving him on the floor convulsing. The once stoic face soon began displaying rushed spasms of fear, anger, sadness, and pain at the same time while his body seized and twisted.

“Thomas!” Taiyu screamed.

She staggered to her hooves and drew her sword with what little strength she had left.

“You… you bastard!”

Taiyu then charged the beast. Unfortunately, she was met with a similar attack and was overpowered. She fell before the beast as her sword flew away to the other corner of the room. Taiyu eyes welled up with tears.

“Aw, poor little baby. Without your little toy, you can’t play with anypony anymore. How does it feel being so pathetic for the first time instead of being the one subjugating others?”

Taiyu shuddered and turned away as tears began to fall from her face.

“Not good, I suppose. Well, it’s been a blast meeting you two but I’ve got to go. Enjoy what little, black hearted cruelties you have left as you no doubt will find some other friend to blame your problems on. Tutiloo!”

With that, the beast evaporated and blasted through the door like a dark wind. The door exploded and the blackness broke loose. A blue Alicorn entered the room with a surprised look on her face.

“What did you two do?!”

Taiyu staggered to her knees as she formed weakened words on her lips.

“I...couldn’t...stop...it...I'm...worthless.”

Her vision faded to purple colors and sounds became mute as she fell to the ground. In the next instant, everything was black.

To Be Continued...

I apologize for the stories beginning for being so long. I am having a hard time condensing so many actions into one story. After the beginning, it will flow a lot more smoothly as I plan to shorten the stories to one chapter. Thank you for your patients.

sincerely,

The Twisted Scripter.

Atonement

Part 3

Atonement

Thomas’s vision returned to him as he began to make out shapes in the room. First was Taiyu unconscious on the floor. Second was Yue standing over her. In his hoof, he noticed a card from earlier.

The Insight.

Thomas felt his neck as something dangled from it. Around his neck was the pendant he found earlier. Thomas put the card into his coat pocket as he looked up to see Yue checking her sister for signs of life.

Yue then turned to him with a shocked expression on her face. She galloped to his side and began talking. Thomas’s ringing ears distorted and muted what she said until he fully regained consciousness.

“......mfmfmff..id you do? What happened to Taiyu. Answer me!”

Thomas stared blindly at Yue as a flood of emotions swept into his very being. Pain and overwhelming sadness gripped his soul as he tried to find the reason for such burdens. In an instant, the events that just transpired shot through his mind like an arrow.

“I…..I…I...gyaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Thomas collapsed to the for in a fit of anguish. His actions tore through his mind as he began weeping on the floor next to Yue.

“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault! I killed everyone!”

“What are you talking about?!”

Yue lifted Thomas to his hooves.

“Calm down! Lets get you two somewhere more comfortable. Shall we?”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary. He won’t live long enough to recover.”

Yue turned in horror as she saw a familiar figure standing in the walk way. Standing there was a viciously happy viceroy with a squad of guards. Their eyes glowed with a dark red hue as the viceroy appeared to control them.

“F-father? but...that’s…”

“Don’t kid yourself, foalish daughter, anything that comes out of you is imbued with your magic. You never do anything without it. Once I created a magic jammer after studying your methods for so long, I knew there was nothing you could do to overpower me. Though I must admit, that piece you created was a humorous tone to say the least. It was to say the most, a complete waste of magic.”

Lychinus turned to Thomas.

“As for you, I never figured I would be talking to such a powerful creature, half-breed.”

Thomas gave him a puzzled look.

“What’s a half-breed?”

“Oh don’t give me that! You know very well what you are and what you were doing here. Why else would you be here except to threaten my control?”

“...Because the guards didn’t let me.” Thomas said sheepishly.

“Hmm, hilarious-”

Following that comment, the viceroy’s horn began to flash red as a bolt of energy struck Thomas in the head.

“-and if you look closely, you will see me not giving a care.”

Thomas’s vision began to fade again as his consciousness slowly slipped away from him.

“Now, what to do with my smart mouthed daughter and her lesser sister.”

The room turned purple, then dark blue, then pitch black.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Wake up! Nap time is over!”

Thomas heard a rasping, irritated, familiar voice that assaulted his ear drums. After the initial confusion, Thomas began piecing together the situation he was in.

Ok, I was attacked by the viceroy, I can’t see, and somepony is yelling at me. Where the-

In an instant, a shock ran down his spine. It felt like somepony bludgeoned him in the back with a hard object. The action was met with a moan of agony from Thomas.

“Wake up, boy! You are in a load of trouble!”

Thomas groaned. There was only one verbally and physically abusive villager he knew well enough to be call boy by her, and he had to live with her.

Oh viceroy. You’ve killed me.

“...Ok, I’m up. I’m up.” Thomas said mustering every ounce of energy he had to stave off the beating to his body.

“You arrogant twerp! What did you do?”

“It’s nice to see you too, grandma.”

“I haven’t seen eye nor ear of you the entire day. I would expect you would check back with me after a few hours so you wouldn’t worry me, but sadly I was mistaken. The sun goes down and I still can’t find you. I decide to check the castle to learn your whereabouts, but the guard wouldn’t let me in. So I introduced myself and I was like ‘Hi there! my name Debora! ‘ but the wouldn’t let me in.”

“Oh I’m sorry, was it anything you couldn’t handle.”

The aged mare looked to the guard at the door with a devilish grin as the guard began to quiver.

“Believe me, it was not a problem.”

“Please, k-keep her away!”

“Oh shut up, you know you loved it.”

A shiver ran down Thomas’s spine.

“Anyway, I enter the castle and inquire on your whereabouts and they tell me that you’ve disappeared from the group and have no idea where you are. I check the group to be sure- though they were dancing to a rather catchy tune- and you were no where to be found. I finally get to the library when a large noise caught my ear as a black cloud rushes by me. I check the room you were in to find that pompous viceroy lording over your body. He tells me that you have cause a great disturbance in his party and damaged a portion of his estate. I said I would whip the life out of you when you got home so he let you off with a house arrest until he wants to act further. You just had to mess with other ponies stuff, didn’t you? You couldn’t just leave well enough alone!”

“.....the other two."

“What?”

“What about the other two in the room?”

“Other two?”

“The two mares next to me, where they alright?”

“I haven’t the slightest.”

Thomas hung his head in depression.

“What do you have to say for yourself?”

Thomas began to tremble.

“I...I…”

“Spit it out!”

“What have I done!”

Thomas broke into a fit of tears and emotions.

“Woah! take it easy!”

“Every single pony in this town will die tonight, and it’s all my fault!”

She held Thomas down and gave him a solitary smack on the head. Thomas’s fit subsided.

“Now, tell me what happened.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Honestly Yue, what did you think disobeying your caring father would get you out of this whole situation?”

Lychinus loomed over Yue as she sat quietly on her bed in her room.

“I didn’t do it to hurt you. I did it for Thomas.”

“Oh really? What made you, the most refined and civilized daughter I own, bend to the whim of a common street rat?”

Yue turned away from her father’s disheartening gaze.

“He had something against us.”

“Oh, you mean those little excursions you take when you say you’re going to entertain your sister for the day?”

Yue’s face flashed with surprise as she whipped around to face her father with shock.

“How stupid do you think I am? I’ve known for some time. I’ve just needed the perfect opportunity to execute retribution, and your friend has given me that quite generously.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Well, it’s just like this. Had I punished you for disobeying me after I told you not to mingle with the common folk, I would begin to lose support with the subordinates that follow me now and would be seen as a malevolent tyrant who punishes people for simple offenses. However, if by some chance you were part of a cue to overthrow me with that strange stallion and you were simply setting the stage for a revolt, I would be justified in banishing you from this town and forcing you out on your own where you can’t interfere with me.”

“But it wasn’t my idea! He and my sister asked me for help.”

“Throwing your dear sister under the bus, how shameful. It’s no wonder that she is more qualified for the throne than you.”

Yue’s face changed from fear to anguish as his words boiled her blood. The thought that her sister would outshine herself enraged her.

“You’re wrong!”

“Am I, really?”

With a mocking laugh, he left the room and slammed the door shut and crossed the hall to Taiyu’s room where she lay unconscious.

Just like clockwork.

Lychinus entered the room and sat at the foot of Taiyu’s bed. Taiyu slowly regained consciousness as she began scanning the room to grasp her situation.

“Hello, my child.” the viceroy whispered to Taiyu in an endearing voice.

Taiyu eyes reflected a deep fear as her sight was glued to the viceroy. She began shifting away from him as she groped around for her sword.

“I’m sorry, did I scare you my little one.”

“Oh, don’t give me that. I know what you really want.”

“Not tonight, I’m afraid.”

“W-well then, h-how can I he-”

“Don’t even think about it, dear. I have your sword.”

Taiyu’s expression shifted from fear to disbelief.

“How did you know about that?”

“Your lovely sister told me all about your little excursions into the city. My my, you should really choose your allies better.”

“...T-that can’t be true.”

“Maybe, but can you take that chance? Are you willing to be undermined by somepony as close to you as your sister?”

“.....”

“Being a ruler means you have to learned who you can and can’t trust. If you can’t do that, all you are doing is waiting for a knife in you back. Even those close to you can be your greatest enemies.”

Taiyu’s face twisted in anger.

“What do you really want?”

“I’m giving you two a choice. I will bring that young stallion back to try him for crimes of conspiracy and trespassing.”

“And?”

“If you declare that you do not know him and won’t support him during his trial, your seat on the throne will not be relinquished; however, if you choose to defend him then you will face the same fate he will and be banished for the rest of your lives from my city.”

“Your city. I thought this city belonged to everypony.”

“Then why do I rule?”

“If you rule, then why does crime run the streets ragged?”

“Because I outsource my labor to willing brutes that accept the highest bidder. Those ‘criminals’ you and your sister assaulted the today were given full immunity by me to keep the city in line while my guards protected the estate here. For you to harm them is a capital offense even though they were deputies. I’m sure that would have you deported in an instant. What do you think?”

Taiyu thought it over and lowered her head in defeat.

“Why do you treat us like this? We’re your daughters.”

“You’re my daughter. Once your ruling it all, you will be doing the same things I do. You’ll understand once you're in my position how you must act to ensure your leadership goes unquestioned. Until then, the choice is yours.”

Taiyu turned away from her father as his words burned through her mind.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Without another word, Lychinus left and closed the door behind him.

The rest is up to you, little ones.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You say that you saw a Jinn?” The old mare said in puzzlement.

“Yes, and it wasn’t what I expected.”

“What exactly were you expecting?”

“Well...I was hoping they would look more like us than whatever they were.”

“Isn’t it amazing how beings of chaotic magic look a tad different than you and me?”

“hmm…”

Thomas began to sulk. This began irritating the aged mare.

“So, tell me. How was the tour of the castle? Was it anything like you expected?”

“It was… rather silly. It served for the soul purpose of bewildering the visitors, yet it made me feel intimidated. I guess you were right.”

Thomas began to withdraw in anxiety.

“It’s too bad it won’t protect anypony tonight.”

Debora’s expression became serious.

“What’s happening tonight?”

“Well, like I said, the Vile is going to end this towns existence by ending the life of everypony. He sort of hinted at it while he was in my thoughts.”

“My my, it couldn’t have been pleasant being possessed by that thing.”

“No, not possessed...persuaded.”

“Oh?”

“When he was in my head-”

I can make a better world.

“what he said felt true to me. He said that he wanted to make this world better because we pollute it with fear. He said...we poisoned our world.”

Jinn don’t kill Equus, Equus kill themselves.

“I wanted to see a world where people don’t fear leaving their homes because of criminals like that gang. I wanted to see what perfection looked like.”

Thomas faced the aged mare.

“I let him control me.”

“Oh, well wasn’t that foalish?”

“How so?”

“Anything that has had the privilege to outlive the idiots has found ways to make them dance. He would know exactly what to say to you to justify killing even me. Though, I don’t think much persuasion would be necessary.” Debora said with a sly wink.

Thomas flashed an indignant grimace.

“Hey! That’s not fair!”

“What’s not fair?”

“I...care about you.”

“Oh, shut up. I didn’t raise a pansy.”

Thomas grumbled to himself.

“Anyway, that is probably how he works. This Jinn is no friend to Equus. He isn’t even a friend to Jinn. He’ll probably use that same method of control on the population of our ragged town to impose a self-genocide. He has already began manifesting his influence.”

“How so?”

“Folks around here were pretty anxious and paranoid when I left them last. They even were darker than I remember.”

“We can blame that on cataracts, grandma.”

“Hilarious.”

Whack!

“Ow!”

“The looks in their eyes were other worldly. It’s only a matter of time before this town kills itself.”

“Oh, joy.”

Thomas began to sulk again.

“So tell me, boy. How are you going to fix it?”

Thomas gave her a puzzled look.

“What?”

“If you made the mess, you should clean it up. I’d say we have the rest of tonight to alter this Vile’s plan before it is out of our hooves. Even if we act now, I suspect that we will be met with resistance from our bewitched neighbors. So tell me, what will you do?”

Thomas buried his face in his crossed hooves.

“Nothing.”

“Excuse me, did I just hear what I think I just heard?”

“Yeah, there’s nothing I can do. It’s obvious that he is a lot smarter than I am, and he has already thought three moves ahead of anything I try. If what you saw is true, then he already has the town in his pocket.”

A tear ran down Thomas’s face.

“Oh, what have I done. Everyone- the jester, the young ones, even the Taiyu and Yue- is doomed. If only I hadn’t poked my nose where it didn’t belong. Maybe it would be better if I just curled up in the corner and waited for the Vile to kill…”

Bang!

A pot connected with the back of Thomas’s head.

“Yeow! Why would you do that? You heartless hag!”

“Yeah, I’m a dusty old hag. An annoyed, aged, decrepit, disgusting old hag that raised a weak minded push over!”

“How dare you!”

“Oh really? Prove me wrong!”

Thomas’s expression flashed quiet intensity.

“There is a town full of ponies that will die tonight if you don’t act, and you want to hide in the corner and pray it doesn’t find you. Will you so quickly throw away their lives to satisfy your need for self loathing? I thought I raised you better.”

Thomas sat quietly deep in thought.

“Well my boy, I guess you just weren’t cut out for saving lives. Maybe you will find luck in the next life and will become a mindless insect; that is, if you will exist after this Jinn devours you. If you’re just going to stand there and mope perhaps you can help me welcome our guest.”

“What guest?”

“The one guarding the door.”

The guard pointed to himself with a quizzical look.

“Yes, you. Come, sit down. have a drink. I just made a pot of tea.”

“Oh...um...my orders are to not let you two leave.”

“Is have a drink with an old mare going to interfere with that? You’re still watching us. Besides, what the viceroy doesn’t know won’t hurt him.

“Uh, okay.”

The guard sat at a small table in the middle of the room. Debora poured his tea into a tin cup and added a white substance.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a little something called sugar. I think it makes things sweet. I’d imagine you upper-crust aristos might have some expensive and weird named substitute that tastes a lot like it.”

The guard took a sip. In an instant his face lit up like a candle.

“Wow! This is great! Where did you get this?”

“Oh, that’s nothing you need to worry about. Tell me, what is your job like? I have a feeling this weakling could benefit from learning about what strong ponies do.”

“I’ll tell ya how itsth like, it sucks! We do all of that viceroy’s dirty work while he rakes in all of the glory.”

“Oh, simply awful. Have another sip.”

The guard took another sip.

“And thatsth not the worst part. I don’t even think he caresth about us littly people.”

“Simply atrocious.”

The guard’s head began to wobble.

“Uh, grandma, what’s going on?”

“Oh dear! Is something the matter mr. soldier boy? You look a little pale.”

“W-w-what, what wasth...in that?”

“Oh, I don’t think you should worry yourself about that. Perhaps you should worry about how the viceroy is going to deal with you when this is all over.”

“Treasssson! I’ll have you s-s-s-skewered for…”

The guard collapsed to the ground.

“Grandma! did you just…”

“Please, I don’t need to kill others to get what I want. He’s just going to be out for a while. It’s only a little (but potent) sleeping agent for when I can’t sleep. By the time he wakes up, this whole problem will be resolved.”

“Resolved?”

“I’m going to let you in on the gravity of the situation. As of right now, we are criminals for assaulting an officer and have nothing to lose anymore. I say we make that count. We can spend the remainder of this night waiting for this Vile character or the viceroy to kill us or we can take this opportunity and put what we have left into saving this town.”

“Criminals?”

"We are not getting off the hook for assaulting this guard. It is more than likely that we will be beheaded for it; but, such is life. It will often blindside you when you are unwilling to make tough decisions.”

“...”

“Well, what do you say? You want to wait for death and feed the worms, or do you want to die fighting.”

“...”

Thomas flashed a weak smile and began chuckling. His fit continued until he was in a full on laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, I am a sad excuse for a pony. Here I was thinking I should kill myself or wait for the world to do it for me, and the rest of the world is passing me by without a second thought. I didn’t even matter enough to be dealt with because I wouldn’t deal with the situation. I didn’t even have the gall to make a decision so it made one for me.”

Thomas turned to face Debora, his eyes wide with determination.

“That is not a favor I can let go unreturned. It’s time I did something that mattered.”

Debora let slip a sly smile.

“So?”

“Let’s do it!”

“That’s the boy I want to hear. Okay, first things first. We need a plan.”

“I can get help from the two I was telling you about.”

“The entire city will be in an uproar with everypony for themselves. How are you going to find them? We need a real plan.”

She had him there.

Oh, wait.

Thomas reached into his pocket on his coat and pulled out the card he stashed there earlier.

The Insight.

“I may not have a plan, but I have an idea.”

“What good will that do?”

“Well, since it is called ‘The Insight’, maybe it can help us find them.”

Thomas pulled out the sword pendant.

“Wait, that holds a chaotic being that shows little regard for Equine life and probably knows that you just released its worst enemy. How do we even know if it will help us?”

“...I haven’t the slightest.”

In the next instant, Thomas stabbed the card with the pendant. A brilliant flash of light sparked in the space of the room and enveloped him. Thomas could not see. Blackness gripped his vision.

“Hey! what’s going on.”

Such a foalish individual.

An aged voice flowed into his mind as the feeling of another’s presence startled him.

“Uh… who’s there?”

Exactly what gave you the idea that I would want to help you? I really don’t like Equus that much, and I like you in particular even less.

“Uh...Why?”

Freeing Vile, what were you thinking? I doubt any of us will want to willingly help you at all after a stunt like that. So tell me, foal, why would I help you?

Thomas thought it over for a minute. This voice was right. Thomas especially would have killed the one who put the lives of those close to him in jeopardy. After a brief moment, Thomas thought up a proper rebuttal.

“Have you ever heard the phrase,’ the enemy of my enemy is my friend’?”

What?

“You don’t have to like me; and I can accept that. Even I don’t like me right now; but, I do know that you hate this Vile character even more so. If you help me, I might be able to fight him back before he can have his way with this city.”

Hmmm, city? Try world. There is no chance that he will stop at a tiny town on the outskirts of a larger population. Both Equus and Jinn will fall before him if he is allowed to take over. Do you really think that a small impurity such as yourself could possibly match a power like that?

“I don’t know. But I do know that it is worth a shot, at least. What do you say?”

I say you have a very one track mind.

“You don’t say.”

But this concept of yours brings up a valid point. I hate you, but I hate Vile even more. I guess I could lower myself to helping your pitiful city to serve the greater good of us. It doesn’t have to last forever, and I am curious to see where this half-cocked plan will get you.

“So we are in agreement then?”

For this one mission. If I ever see you again afterwards, I will end you without hesitation. You would do well to remember that.

“Fine, you can destroy me later. Now, tell me where Taiyu and Yue are.”

My, so pushy. You haven’t even told me what they look like or where I should look.

“Oh, sorry. Do I need to?”

Please, do you really think I’m that inept? Behold!

Thomas’s vision returned. What he saw was not his grandmother’s shack, but the gate to the inner castle wall. Outside of the gate was a horde of blackened shapes beating down the door.

Oh no!

In the next instant, a spark of light shot through the crowd and parted it. Two figures began sprinting through the parting as they made their way to the top of a building. One was a white alicorn with braided rainbow mane and the other was a dark blue alicorn with a straight blue mane.

Taiyu! Yue! They’re alright!

Not for long, little one. They are out numbered; and soon, out matched.

What can I do?

Perhaps this will shed some light.

A flash clouded Thomas’s vision as he began to see the room with the Clow book.

A...book? How will that help?

Ah,ah,ah, I don’t want to spoil the fun.

What fun?

If we are going to be working together, I need to know that you are not completely brainless. I’ve given you all of the insight that you need. Now you must make something of it. Remember there is more than one answer to every problem.

How am I suppose to work with this?

Get creative. Well stay in touch. Get to work! Your test starts now.

Thomas’s vision faded and returned to the shack. He saw the aged mare look at him with astonishment.

“Something wrong, grams?”

“...What just happened?!”

“Well, I have a feeling I just made a deal with a devil.”

“You, you were here..but you weren’t. Like your soul left your body. Your eyes were empty and white as a sheet. I yelled at you, but you didn’t respond. What happened? What did you see?”

“Well, I saw those two I was telling you about.”

“And?”

“They are in deep trouble.”

“Fantastic.”

“I have a feeling they are the key to something that could help us.”

“How so?”

“I also saw that book. Somehow, the Insight thinks that those two entities will solve this problem.”

“The...Insight?”

“It spoke to me, sort of. It said that it wants me to figure out this problem on my own with what it showed me. It said i’ll have to get creative.”

Debora grimaced.

“We’re dead.”

Thomas smirked.

“Oh ye of little faith.”

“You have a plan?”

...Not a clue.

“Of course I do! In fact, I’m going to put it to work right now. I’m heading out for a stroll, don’t wait up for me.”

“What about me?”

“Um...you stay here and...hold down the fort. You never know who could be coming over.”

Before Debora could object, Thomas flew out the door and onto the streets.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Yue, how’s the situation looking?”

Taiyu and Yue positioned themselves atop a house while a legion of blackened ponies with red eyes clawed and scratched at the walls supporting the house with a vicious scowl marking their faces.

“We are outnumbered, out maneuvered, and cornered. We are surrounded by a tireless army of our subjects that we can’t and won’t harm, and we are exhausted.”

“In other words.”

“We haven’t got a prayer.”

A shadowed figure climbed onto the roof while leaving a shadowy trail that marked his path.

“My my, you have quite a passion for these little parasites, haven’t you?”

The blackened figure closest to them began to speak as a set of sharpened, hungry teeth climbed up its body and stopped at the top of its head.

“It’s too bad that these little ones aren’t really worth saving. Have you ever considered what your loyal subjects do behind your backs?”

The mouth crawled off of the first figure and onto another in the crowd.

“This one stole priceless silverware from your dining room this evening.”

The mouth moved again to the one next to the thief.

“This one was having an affair with another stallion behind her significant other’s back.”

The mouth moved again.

“This one was preparing to bludgeon his wife and her bedmate for having an affair behind his back.”

“Just shut up!”

Taiyu leveled a sheathed blade at the legion of dark figures.

“Oh, a feisty one! You two have made it exceptionally difficult for me to take over; however, I have learned more than enough to break you.”

“Oh really?” Taiyu scoffed,” I doubt that.”

“Quite a mouth for a noble’s daughter. I would imagine that he would have already beaten that out of you. Or has he been beating you for other reasons; maybe even in more ways than one.”

Taiyu’s strong expression shattered as fear gripped her face. The mouth moved over a figure that resembled the viceroy.

“I hear the tole on a noble’s life is quite taxing; both physically and emotionally. All that tension needs to be relieved somehow; and, when your wife is gone, something will take that placed.”

Taiyu stood motionless, paralyzed in despair and agony as horrible memories drilled into her mind.

Yue rage grew.

“Leave her be!”

“Why would I do that? You don’t like her one bit.”

“That’s not true!”

“Oh? Tell me, doesn’t it just burn you up inside when the viceroy thinks she is the better daughter instead of you? What about when he doesn’t even consider you his daughter because of your little secret?”

“I don’t care what my scumbag father thinks!”

“Oh, I think you do. In fact, I think I see a tear coming to your eye.”

It trickled down her face as she was powerless to stop it.

“Ah! see! There it is. It was just a little shy. I have to tell you, my day has been just fabulous. Everyone I can use, I have under my shadowy, Incorporeal thumb. I have your very emotions and sanity on a leash; and, as I said before, I can yank on it to my heart’s desire. Isn’t it just thrilling when you get new toys?”

“What do you mean, ‘everyone you can use’?”

“Look for yourself.”

Vile pointed to an open alleyway. Just visible in the corner was a band of ragged ponies with looks of absolute fear gripping their very beings. Each one had a number on their heads, and each one was cowering behind a frightened white stallion missing a portion of his leg.

“I don’t need to take them, they’re entertaining me all on their own. Just look at them, they look absolutely adorable when they quiver. I think the one in front peed himself already.”

Taiyu strained to look Vile in the eyes.

“Please...leave...them...be.”

“What’s this? are you asking me a favor?”

“I beg of you, please!”

“Oh, Taiyu my dear, I think you can beg harder than that. But, don’t you think it’s a waste of energy? Earlier this morning you were busy dismembering them, and now you want to protect them. I guess no matter the subject, you want them alive. I must say, you are either the most determined or retarded Equus I have ever had the misfortune to know. It’s quite a shame that you and your sister have casted your lots with a lost cause. I could have used you.”

"That's a lie."

The horde of villagers merged into a single shadow that surrounded the two and sized up to them with the mouth growing larger as it hovered overhead.

“What can I say… it's a nasty habit to break.”

The shadow dashed, poised to swallow Taiyu and Yue whole. The large mouth of ravenous sharp teeth opened wide. Yue dashed to her sister and raised a deep blue barrier with everything she had. In an instant, their worlds turned black.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thomas dashed around corners and bends at full gallop, trying to make it to the castle in the center of town for what seemed to be the only hope of saving a doomed town. He attempted to avoid an encounter with the blackened spot covering what use to be a line of inns and apartments While keeping relatively close to the main walkway.

“That is the Vile?!”

Indeed, and this is his weakest. It’s amazing what he can do with limited materials.

“How am I suppose to beat that?”

Simple, you wont.

“Huh?”

As I said, you are an insignificant impurity. There is not a thing you can do to take him head on. Think back to what you saw.

Thomas began retracing his memories for a clue. What came to mind was the Clow book and the two mares. After a minute, a deduction sprang to mind.

“I will need to get to that book or else this will all have been in vain. I may not be able to assault him directly, but something in their can.”

Precisely! Now while you do that, I’ll monitor you in my safe place.

Thomas began gingerly trotting around the shadow for fear of being spotted.

"Watch...the...black part." He whispered to himself as it appeared to move under his footsteps.

Though his hooves were quick, the shadow was quicker. A hoof connected with the shadow and a large set of teeth appeared and rose to eye level.

"Oh, hi! If it isn't my favorite indentured employee! Congratulations, you've brought enlightenment and beauty to these poor and deprived souls without any thought for your own gain. You sir are truly a visionary for us all."

Thomas stared in disgust as bodies of what was once the inhabitants of the city began oozing out of the Vile like an infected wound.

"Beauty?! It's hideous!"

"Oh come on, they've never been better. Just ask them."

A head solidified next to its mouth.

"Tells us! how do you feel?"

The head made a repulsive gurgling noise.

"There, see? Strait from the horse's mouth. Now they have become as one, abolishing their selfish and destructive individualism to work for the better of the whole; and, the best part is, you've done it all on your own."

"I never wanted any of this. You said that you could make a better world, not devour one."

"You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Besides, this isn't for our new world."

"Then what is this."

"I like it!"

“That's...that's…”

“Vile? Maybe so. I would imagine that you would have an open mind to the good of the many instead of your misconception of individuality. I thought the same for your two friends as well, but they proved obstinate.”

Thomas’s heart skipped a beat.

“What have you done with Taiyu and Yue?!”

“As of yet, not a thing. They are acting very rebellious and indifferent. In fact, they’re over there.”

In the direction the vile pointed with a gaseous appendage was a bulge in the Vile’s form. It then began to move down the building, across the walkway, and near Thomas.

“Whoops, I meant right here.”

Vile’s mouth opened wide and spat out a large blue ball. Upon colliding with the ground, the ball shattered and released two exhausted mares; each one’s face reflecting agonizing pain.

“Taiyu! Yue!”

“While I admit I can take pleasure in working for my meal, their squabble has bored me long enough; however, I have yet to chase you around.”

Thomas began to back away from the mouth as anxiety began taking its toll on his composure. His hoof began unconsciously reaching for the sword pendant.

“Wait...w-what are you talking about?!”

“I’m hungry, little one. Feed me.”

The mouth opened wide and lunged. Thomas closed his eyes.

Crack!

When Thomas opened his eyes, he did not find the void within the Vile’s stomach. At the end of his hoof was a bright sword with the chain of the pendant bonded to his skin. At the end of the sword was a set of sharp teeth viciously trying to close as the sword buried deep into the jaw. After a few seconds of struggling, the teeth began to unwedge itself from the sword.

“You puzzle me, little one,” the jaw said as the gap created by the sword regrew as if by magic.

“I do not usually find problems when dealing with half-breeds, and I shouldn’t expect anything more from you. After poking around in your head, I couldn’t see anything that would lead to this behavior.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“If anything, your pride should have stopped you from addressing what you consider a problem. Yet you are here, facing your mess head on. What caused the magnificent Thomas to swallow his pride and face me knowing that this is all entirely his fault?”

Thomas remained silent while tilting his head to the ground. The Vile followed his gaze and began staring at the two unconscious mares before him. A satanic smile beamed from his form as he began laughing maliciously.

“Oh! I get it! It’s all for them! You perverted dog you! You really think that you’ll end up the heroic stallion to this fairy tale fantasy and save the damsels in distress. You’ve even fooled yourself into thinking that you’re not doing it for any sensual pleasure. I guess one wasn’t good enough for you. you had to start a collection, didn’t you?”

Thomas began blushing.

“Shut up! That’s not true!”

“You filthy lecherous liar! You just want to take over where daddy left off!”

“I would never!”

“Oh, but maybe you would. You never know,-” a figure of the viceroy emerged from the filth,”two mares, alone in a royal suite, behind locked doors. Anything could happen.”

Thomas’s rage flared as his eyes began to well up.

“You know what? Have it your way!”

the Vile’s void manifested two thin black vines and stabbed the unconscious mares in the ribs. In an instant, they awoke with a gasping breath. They began struggling to stand on their hooves as Thomas rushed to their sides to help them.

“You want to play the hero, so be it! Save your damsels in distress!”

“From what?” Thomas shouted.

“From this!”

the Vile’s form began to quiver and burble as figures began crawling out of it and forming complete creatures.

“Uhh, any ideas?”

Yue looked around the alleyway. In one corner was a door.

“There!”

All three galloped for it. Taiyu and Thomas burst into a bland kitchen void of any cooking utensils. Yue remained in the doorway and beckoned to the criminals cowering in the corner.

“Boss, I think it’s that mare that burned me earlier.”

“Forget her! Her sister has a knife!”

“Everypony shut up and run!” Number one said as he began smacking the other members to goad them into moving.

All ten crammed into the little room as Yue shut the door behind them. He horn began to glow as energy began pooling out in globs and coating the door.

“A bit sloppy, but it will have to do. That door wont be moving for at least a few moments.”

Yue joined the now large group and positioned herself next to Taiyu and Thomas.

“Ok, first things first.”

Smack!

In a blur, a blue hoof collided with Thomas’s face sending him reeling.

“OW! Why does everyone like hitting me today!”

“That’s for what you did to my sister-”

Before Thomas had a moment to respond, another blur caught his eye.

Whack!

The sheath of Taiyu’s sword cracked Thomas in the stomach. He dropped like a bag of rocks and was on the verge of vomiting.

“-and that’s for everything else that has happened today.” Taiyu finished.

Thomas’s breath became shallow as he attempted to recover from the pain emanating from both his face and his stomach. The points of injury confused his senses as he didn’t know which one to address for relief.

“...O...Ok...I’ll admit I deserved that.”

“Good. Now that that’s behind us, we have a very big problem on our hooves. This thing no longer finds us amusing; and that means he will be throwing us away any chance he gets. Worse still, he is putting in an effort to make sure our bloody murders will be gruesome. He commands immense power and we have no way to defend ourselves because my magic and Taiyu’s sword are worthless against him. He holds all of the cards and we have no way to win.”

“I wouldn’t say no way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, there is a way to disperse him; but the only way to do it is if I have the book from the library. It is the key to bringing him down.”

“How do you know this?”

Thomas pulled out the Insight.

“A little birdy told me.”

“Oh no,” Taiyu interrupted,” there is no way that thing is going to help us. It is one of them, and it probably doesn’t like any of us.”

“No it does not; but, it hates the Vile even more. It simply wants to bring him down as well. We don’t have to worry about it.”

“Well, it’s not like we have a choice. What did it say about the book?”

“Well...Nothing much. It just said we need that book in order to save ourselves.”

“Not very useful, is he? Fine, we need a plan to reach the castle in one piece.”

“Hang on, you’ve got wings,” number five inferred,” just fly over there and bring it back.”

“....”

“Well?”

“We...can’t.”

“Why not?”

“...”

“Well?”

“We…can’t fly.”

A sly grin began forming on number five’s lips.

“ahaaaahaaahahahahahahaaaahaha”

He broke out into a fit of laughter. It progressed until he was sprawled on the floor gasping for breath.

“*gasp* so you mean*gasp* to tell me*gasp* that two fully grown adult mares with wings *gasp* can’t fly? You mean to tell me that the two mares that barbequed half of us and butchered the other can’t fly?”

Taiyu drew her sword.

“I can continue butchering you if you think it’s that funny.”

Number five’s laughter died down as the sword slowly leveled to his chest.

“S-sorry m’lady.”

“That’s better. Now, does anyone have a plan.”

The inhabitants of the room began turning to Thomas.

“...What?”

“Well, since you are here, you must have been prepared with some kind of plan, right?” Taiyu questioned.

“Uh...Well…”

“You mean you have no plan whatsoever?”

“I was kinda winging it.”

“...Well then, I guess that leaves you Yue. What cha got?”

Bang! Bang!

“From the sound of it, we don’t have much time. You do have something, right?”

“Give me a second! I’m thinking!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yue’s eyes became flustered as thoughts began building in her head and dispersing out of anxiety. The shiny, mother of pearl like blue barackade cracked down the middle and began splintering further with every pound on the door. Yue began frantically scanning the room for options but was turning up empty hoof. Then she stopped at the ten standing near the door. Immediately, her eyes lit up like a torch.

“Say, weren’t you ten suppose to leave town when we beat you into submission.”

The ten began giving Yue quizzical looks as an inspired look gripped her face.

“How would you like to earn your pardon?”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The hord of blackened figures rammed the door with tremendous force as the encasing on the door began to shatter. A mouth grew on the figure closest to the door.

“Knock, knock! Times up little ones!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The door’s integrity waned as the casing began breaking off in chunks. On more hit and the seal would break for sure.

“Feeding Time!”

Crrrrack!

The door caved in. The shaded figures poured in like a river and charged Taiyu, Yue, and Thomas standing in the middle of the room. In a mad dash, all three ran deeper into the house. The shadowy figures continued to chase with blinding speed as they all navigated their way through the empty house and out the back door. As the legion of black, demonic villagers burst through the walls of the house the three runners split up and disappeared into the alleys. The horde followed their example and divided into three groups which pursued them with great speed.

“The chase is on! I love a good run!”

as the groups began gaining on each of the three, a smoke charge ignited and covered the group.

“Where did they go!”

“Find them!”

“Feed!”

“Over here!” A voice called out in a taunt.

“After him!”

Half of the group continued the chase. Another bomb sparked after a few alleyways.

“Another one!”

“Still here!”

“Kill it!”

A third of the group continued the chase. All three of them ran until each was cornered into an alley on separate sides of the town. A mouth formed onto the leader of each group.

“This has been a lot of fun for me, but I think it’s time we end this little charade.”

All nine began laughing.

“What a twisted sense of humor. Laughing at your own demise? I thought I reserved that pleasure all by my lonesome.”

“Wrong again!”

“Come again?”

“Haven’t you been paying attention to your hunting dogs?”

The figure with a mouth looked around and bared an enraged look as he noticed that his group was considerably smaller.

“I am missing parts of me, yet they all say they’ve surrounded their prey. What black magic is this?”

“Not black magic.” all nine said.

Their forms began destabilizing as portions of their exterior began melting off. Underneath the melting form were not the three, but nine of the Vicious Ten.

“Just really good makeup.”

Each pretender pulled a smoke bomb from their pocket.

“As a representative of our esteemed band of fighters, allow me to say it is has been a pleasure to fool with you.”

Pooffff!

In a cloud of smoke, each snuck away back into the shadows.

“...Well that was very annoying.”

The Vile’s tone shifted into a very deep growl. the legion began to dissolve as he assumed his void form.

“I don’t like being annoyed!”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Do you think that will buy us enough time?” Thomas said to Yue as they crossed the threshold of the outer gate to the castle.

“I think It will buy us a few more seconds. It’s a good thing we can call in favors.”

“It’s a good thing I can disguise other ponies to play our stunt-doubles.”Taiyu interjected.

“No, you can splash on some colors and call it a disguise. A bit sloppy for my taste, but it should due if he doesn’t look directly at them in any form of light or up close.”

“I don’t do magic well.”

“I told you I should do it.”

“We need to save whatever you have left for when he figures out what we really are up to. I made an executive decision to aid us in the long run.”

Taiyu’s breathing quickened as fatigue began chipping away at her demeanor.

“Even at a basic color spell, you can’t do it without spending yourself. You really are a pathetic magic user.”

“Why do you think I carry weapons?”

“Point taken.”

As they entered the castle, a soul shredding scream tore through the sky and burrowed into their ears.

“That didn’t last long.”

“Told you I should have done it.”

“To the library!” Thomas screamed.

The three blazed through the foyer as a large black shadow began enveloping the courtyard.

“I’m not having fun anymore!” Vile spat.

The three charged up the stair with all that they had as the shadow began to encircle the room below and work its way up the stairs. They burst into the dining room as the shadow trailing them began to grow innumerable sets of jagged and slimy teeth ready to rip away body parts. Upon reaching the next staircase, the shadow sped up. Thomas’s foot could not evade the black void any longer.

Rrrrippp!

A chunk of flesh from Thomas’s foot was torn free from his leg. Thomas stumbled as he let out a bemoaning wail of anguish and crippling pain. Before he could fall to the other mouths, Taiyu snatched him up by the neck and carried him on her back.

“We don’t have the time for you to die!”

Into the library they plowed. The Vile rose from clinging to the floor and walls to eye level as he lunged for his meal. all four ran into the room with the book. Taiyu, Yue, and Thomas jumped for the circle and landed within its seal. The Vile’s shadow stopped dead.

“...Hah! What are you going to do now?! Big bad Shadowy Jinn can’t cross the line!” Taiyu spouted.

The mouths began grinning as the edges of the seal began to evaporate with a hissing sound. Their time was drawing close to its end and it was now or never.

“You and your big mouth. Thomas! take the book!”

Yue threw the book at the floor where Taiyu had dropped Thomas. Thomas began flipping through the pages, trying to remain focused with the hole in his leg demanding he lose consciousness. Thomas flipped to the section with the cards still within the hollowed center of the pages. He pulled out the sword pin and poised himself to stab.

“I sure hope this works.”

Thomas struck the deck.

Fwwwwissshshshsssh!

A bright light enveloped Thomas as his vision faded. In his darkness, Thomas began to feel the familiar sense of other beings within his head. This time was different, though. This time the sense was overpowering and the other being he sense seemed innumerable.

What is this?

An Equus?

An Equus!

Dirty thing!

The voices chattered and shouted until Thomas’s hearing started to falter.

“Everypony shut up!”

So commanding!

Insolent beast!

How dare he talk to us as such!

“Do you know who I am?”

You damned your world!

He set Vile free.

How could you?

“He tricked me.”

How easy it is to do to such pests.

Leave us before we feed on you!

“I came to make a deal.”

The voices silenced as if deep in thought.

A deal?

You’re in no position to bargain!

“Just hear me out!”

All was quiet once again.

“I can understand that you don’t like Equus, and I can understand that you hate me even more.”

Filthy half-breed!

“But I do know something that you know too. You hate the Vile even more.”

Get to the point.

He’s made his point. Kill him now!

“I can fight him for you! I can destroy your greatest foe!”

Liar!

arrogance!

This is impossible!

How do you plan on doing this?

“I..I don’t know yet; but I do know one thing. It’s all my fault that he is free. I can accept that you want to kill me. My only wish as a dead pony walking is that you let me die at his hands if I can’t defeat him.”

Lost cause!

Cut out the middle pony, I say kill him know!

Thomas’s breath grew short as he felt a constricting force wrap around his neck. He was being judged by an unscrupulous group of beings and was being found undesirable.

What would a lowly spawn like you dare demand from us?

“All I need you to do is help me to weaken the Vile.”

We are done!

Time to die!

You’ve wasted our time long enough!

Thomas began to choke as he could no longer breath. Consciousness began to fade as his fate appeared to be sealed.

“Wait!”

Thomas’s breath returned as the force constricting his neck began to loosen. A familiar voice began speaking.

“Mighty ones, have we really considered letting something as putrid as the Vile have the world we so desperately fought for? Will we be so weak as to lie down peacefully as he takes our divine power away from us?”

Could it be?

Silence! the Insight speaks.

“Vile’s existence has marred our pure and high names for long enough! We all want him destroyed. I say, let this poor thing throw itself to the Vile as we support his effort and take over when he is spent!”

End its existence!

Show it its place!

Squash it to pieces!

Thomas began to reel back from the pure essence of savagery emanating from the voices occupying his head.

“Well Thomas, they want blood. It’s time you gave it to them. I’ve set you up for with the means, now do something with them.

Thomas heard a scream as his vision blinked in for a moment revealing Taiyu and Yue standing next to his body. The circle evaporated and the shadow bridged the gap between them instantly. In a brilliant flash of blue aura, a barrier surrounded the three while a mouth of vicious teeth began gnawing at the barrier. They only had precious seconds of life left.

Come on Thomas, he thought to himself, Think!

Anxiety took its toll as his thoughts became clouded and blurry. He had no clue how to save them.

“How can I give them blood?!”

In an instant, an idea flashed through Thomas’s mind.

“So you say you want blood?”

Lots of it!

Make Vile bleed!

Tear into his soul!

“Well then, far be it from me to stop you. I’ll let you draw blood for yourselves!”

You mean…

“Come out of your prisons and tear him apart!”

Freedom!

Free us!

Let us out!

“Thomas, what are you doing?”

“Using my resources.”

Thomas’s vision returned. In one hoof was the book and the other his pendant. He positioned his pendant to strike the book.

“Now...Feed!”

Thomas struck the deck of cards with his pendant.

Qwwaaaaaaah!

A circle mimicking the seal on the book formed at Thomas’s hooves. From within, the arms of terrifying creatures began clawing out of the seal as whole figures formed. Out of the seal poured these terrifying and powerful creatures, each one with one thing on their mind, devour the Vile.

“Tear him to shreds!”

The horde of Jinn began to rip apart portions of the Vile’s body as the unconscious bodies of possessed villagers began falling out of the blackened void. Vile’s form began deteriorating as The Jinn continued to feed on him. After a ravenous frenzy gorged itself on the rest of his form on the lower floors, all of the Jinn dispersed.

“Where are they going?”

Where do you think, fool, to freedom. You let all of these destructive beasts into a world that is not prepared for them. What were you thinking?

“I...I didn’t see any other option.”

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahaha.”

A maniacal laughter spewed from a tiny black mark on the floor next to Thomas, Taiyu, and Yue’s hooves.

“Brought to my knees by a filthy half-breed and two lower life forms. Isn’t this an interesting turn of events; but, even if you slowed me down for the time being, you’ve failed once again!”

“No matter what the size, he still has a repulsive attitude.” Taiyu remarked.

“You have just unleashed a population of unimaginably powerful creatures into a world that has no way to deal with them. Now that they are free, this world will fall to ruins; and once again, it’s all your fault!”

Vile began cackling again.

“Yeah, well, at least you won’t be destroying it anytime soon.” Taiyu retorted.

“Stupid bottom feeder! I don’t need to destroy it. I just have to step in when the dirty work is all done and take away everything my close minded brethren worked for. I can wait! I can wait until the end of time! I can wait this whole thing out and there isn’t a thing you can do to stop me!”

“You’re one to talk, considering you’ve been reduced to an ink blot. I don’t think you pose a threat right now.” Yue stated.

“Oh, I’m not the one you need to worry about. For starters, maybe you should worry about the villagers sprawled across the castle when they awaken and remember that you brought this all on them.”

“Shut up.”

Thomas began clutching the pendant in his hooves tighter.

“Oh the titles they will give you. Traitor! Scum! Demon! Devil! Murderer!”

“...”

Blood began leaking from Thomas’s hoof as the pendant buried deeper into it.

“What will you do now? No home! No friends! No one left in the world to love you! All alone by yourself as a guilty criminal responsible for thousands of deaths and ruined lives! You’ve nothing left to live for!”

Thomas struggled to crawl to the blackened spot on the ground to avoid agitating the wound in his back leg. Once over the Vile’s weakened form, he drew the pendant above it. As it was raised, energy sparked from it as a sword took its place.

“You can seal away my form if you want; but it won’t change a thing. You can’t stop me even if you hold me prisoner.”

The sword came down.

“No matter what, I’ve won!”

The two connected.

Flash!

Energy erupted from the Vile’s body with sparks. His body began to shrink and form a shape the size of the cards. As his form slowly deteriorated, Vile laughed and laughed as his voice became more distorted and dissonant. Eventually, the black form became nothing more than a card on the floor. All was silent.

Thomas picked up the card. On the front was an illustration of a black void with vicious teeth and eyes.

The Vile.

“It’s over.” Yue said.

Thomas’s face lowered as he grew silent.

“He’s right. It’s all my fault.”

A form began to stir in the hallway leading into the octagonal room as a figure approached the three. The viceroy soon became visible as he stumbled into eyesight.

“You! Look at what you have done!”

The viceroy’s horn sparked as fire began manifesting on the tip. The flame moved to his hoof as he approached Thomas’s damaged body. As he approached, Taiyu and Yue shifted closer to their fallen ally but began to falter from sheer exhaustion.

“For endangering the lives of our citizens, bringing forth an enemy of all equus kind, and assaulting the royal family, I only see fit to set you ablaze and have the town watch you burn. What say you, filthy demon?!”

Thomas met the viceroy’s gaze of rage with a face of pure sullen acceptance. He was ready for death. He was even on the verge of begging for death to unburden himself from the knowledge of the pain he caused and would cause. Nothing came to mind as he remained silent, waiting for the viceroy’s wrath to engulf him and set him free.

Wait!

A single, powerful thought shot straight through Thomas’s head as the memory of releasing countless numbers of Jinn activated in his mind.

If I die, everypony else dies too!

Thomas shook off his contentment for death as his resolve shifted to the responsibility for protecting those he put into harms way that night.

“I have one thing to say, my lord.”

The viceroy’s fury began to subside as curiosity took its place.

“Speak, my young one.” The viceroy said in a soothing voice.

“I am ready to pay for what I did tonight. I will take whatever you give me without a second thought. But before you end me, I need to do something first.”

“What is it that you desire?”

“The countless hordes of Jinn from legend and stories have been unleashed on a world that has no way to fight back. I am the only one that can fight back because of what I am. I can even return them to their prisons and to the book. With your blessing, please let me bring them all back before they take our world from us. After that, you may do to me as you wish.”

The viceroy’s eyes began reflecting gentleness as he began to ponder the last request of a prisoner desperately seeking for closure to his dilemma.

“You have committed terrible atrocities tonight. There is no judge that would let you live for what has happened.”

Thomas’s face began to reflect worry as his proposal appeared to be be failing to win over the viceroy.

“However, I am no judge. If you are so hell-bent on prolonging your suffering for the sole purpose of mending your failures, I see no reason to let you try to gain closure.”

Thomas’s face beamed with joy as his fears faded.

“Oh, thank you my lord.”

“You’ve no reason to be thankful. I will grant your last wish on one condition.”

The smile began to fade. The viceroy’s horn began to radiate a red aura as energy began sparking from it. Without warning, the viceroy shot the energy at Thomas’s chest as he felt a tight pain in his heart.

“You have one year to bring back all of the Jinn you’ve unleashed to this castle. After the year, your heart will burn within your chest and kill you slowly and painfully. Oh, don’t worry. I have been reading up on your kind quite a lot lately. Because you’re part Jinn, you’re naturally resistant to magic. You’re even impervious to basic magic. However, this is no basic magic. That spell would have normally incinerated a pony in less than a second. Because of your inborn nature, that spell will work away at your life until you won’t be able to resist it any longer. I cannot let you think you can flee from your punishment and this will surly prove that.”

“I...I understand.”

“Also, I won’t kill you yet; but, I can’t allow you to get of as free as you would be. As long as you are away, you are forbidden to return to Salutem. As far as anypony is concerned, you have died tonight by the will of that black beast. You may only return when you have sealed away the Jinn you have unleashed at the next festival of sages.”

Thomas was shocked. His entire life was crumbling around him, and he had little control over it. As he slowly came to grips with his new reality, he began to find acceptance.

“Understood my lord.”

“Excellent.”

Another sparked formed on the viceroy’s horn. A wave of bright red aura washed over Thomas as he began to feel more comfortable. After the wave passed, Thomas stood on his four hooves as he realized that his large wound was gone. Though he could move his leg again, a feeling of fatigue still tugged at his mind.

“Though this will fix your major problems, your Jinn blood prevents the full effects of the spell from healing you quickly. It will be a while before you will be at full strength.”

“Thank you.”

Lychinus then began repeating the spell on the two sisters on the floor. They awoke with a gasp and began to work their way to standing.

“As for you two, I will have a talk with you later.”

The viceroy turned to Thomas with a serious expression.

“You have an hour to collect what you will need from your house. After that, the guard will escort you to the outside of the city.”

“Thomas, what’s happening?” Yue asked.

Thomas turned to face his allies.

“I’m leaving; and I don’t think I’ll be coming back.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thomas began packing a small sack on his bed. In it he put a few spare coins and a few days worth of provisions.

“So you’re leaving.” Debora asked with a hint of intrigue.

“I’m afraid so. There is a world filled with extremely powerful creatures out there and I am the only one who can deal with them. If I’m going to make what happened tonight count, I’m going to have to fix what I messed up.”

“I see.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright all by yourself?”

Whack!

Thomas’s head began to throb.

“Ow!”

“You tell me, am I capable of surviving?”

“I think you’ll be the death of me, and anypony else in this town you don’t like.”

“Besides, I’ve got a lovely assistant to help me while you are gone.”

Debora waved to the guard she drugged earlier as he stood in the kitchen brewing a pot of tea. He smiled and waved back. Thomas couldn’t help but smile at the fact that she wouldn’t be left alone; and then cringed at the thought of what Debora might have done to this guard to make him this way after he left.

“Ok then, I believe this is goodbye.”

“I guess it is.”

Thomas stepped out the door to view his last look at the town he grew up in and called home. The thought of never seeing it again began to sink in as depression began to grip him.

“Wait! Before you go.”

“Yes?”

“You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. Never forget that at least one cranky old hag still believes in you.”

“Thank you.”

“Prove to me that I’m not wrong.”

Thomas’s depression passed as a smile creeped onto his face.

“Of course.”

“also.”

“What?”

“You better write to me or I swear I’ll kill you myself.”

“Y-yes grandma.”

“Good! Now get going, you're wasting moonlight.

Thomas stepped out the door and into the hooves of two guards waiting there for him. They began walking down the wide walkway that was filled with vibrant colors and music not a few hours before. As the gates of the outer wall opened, Thomas could see nothing but rows of forests and groves stretching for what appeared to be miles. He trotted through the gates and felt the dirt of the outside under his hooves. As he turned back to his last view of the city, the gates closed shut.

“Well, now I am alone.”

Not alone completely, foalish one.

Thomas jump at the sound of a familiar voice.

“Insight? is that you?”

It is. You’ve failed miserably at handling the Vile incident and created more chaos than ever.

Thomas grimaced.

“Thanks for the reminder.”

The way I see it, the mission is not over. You still need to deal with the released Jinn as well as deliver on your promise of killing Vile. As long as that still remains unresolved, we’re stuck together.

“Well...then, welcome aboard. We’ve got a lot of traveling to do and not a lot of time to do it.”

Not so fast. I don’t feel very talkative right now and I am still a bit disappointed with you. In the future, only summon me for help when you’re dealing with Jinn. Other than that, you won’t hear a peep from me.

Thomas felt around in his coat pocket as he pulled out the two cards he acquired earlier.

“Isn’t that something. I’ve got two creatures in my hoof. One that wants to kill me, and the other that wants to mess with me; and neither will speak to me.”

Thomas returned them to his pocket and began to walk.

“This is going to be a long trip.”

“You’re not going anywhere!”

Thomas turned to find the origin of the voice as he saw two forms drop in from above. One was a white alicorn with braided rainbow hair and cladded in a red and yellow tunic. The other was a dark blue alicorn with straight blue hair cladded in a dark blue tunic.

“What are you two doing here? I though you were talking with the viceroy.”

"Oh, we talked. It just didn't get far as we saw differing opinions on the what happened." Taiyu said.

“If you’re going on anywhere, we are coming with you.”Yue concluded.

“No, you can’t. You have a city to run and a throne to rule from.”

“I doubt we’ll still have a birth right to the throne after the viceroy finds out we are missing.”

“Why would you do that? You still had a home and royalty. Why would you give that away?”

Taiyu began smirking.

“I don’t think you get the big picture. Throne? Royalty? This city is nothing but table scraps with a tiny kingdom to govern it. I don’t want to be a ruler of a small city with little to no real authority, I want something bigger.”

“Like what?”

Taiyu turned to face the expansive forests.

“There’s an entire world out there that is ripe for the taking. Everything I could ever hope to achieve lies in this vast world of possiblility.”

Taiyu then turned to Thomas.

“I will be the one who sits on top of that world; and nothing is going to stop me.”

Thomas began to worry as arrogance quickly turned to avarice.

“Besides, the only reason you survived tonight was because we were there to help you. If you want to carry out this little crusade of yours, you are going to need both of us.”

“She’s right.” Luna continued. “The only way this is going to work is if we can work together.”

“Why are you coming? I understand her power hunger, but what about you?”

Yue reached into a bag on her side and pulled out the Clow book.

“Thomas, many of us tried everything to break into this book. What you did to open it was done by countless others before you. So why did your attempt succeed where they failed?”

“I don’t know.”

Yue began to grin.

“I don’t either; but, the answer to it is through you. I am interested in where an adventure like this will take us. I am also curious about these beings that no pony has seen since time immemorial. I want to find out what you are, and what you will do when a challenge arrises.”

“Many of those Jinn will be either just as dangerous or even more so than Vile ever could be. I can’t guarantee that we’ll all make it through this alive.”

“We can either die by their will taking the fight to them or die when you conquer us and leave no one alive. What happens out there with both the Jinn and ourselves will affect countless others we never knew existed. If we are going to fight back, we should do it while there's still a tiny chance of winning.”

Thomas sighed. From their demeanor, there was no possible way he could change their minds.

“Well then, if this is going to be our new lives, we should get to stepping. We have a long trip ahead of us and a strict schedule to keep.”

“Rightfully so! Come now, comrades! For glory awaits!” Taiyu shouted while dramatically leaning on Yue.

Thomas began to smile faintly as enthusiasm filled the air. For the first time in what seemed an age, he felt that he could finally let himself be happy and ready to face the world.

“Hey blank flank! You coming?” Taiyu said as the sisters began to traverse the forest.

“Hey kettle, it’s pot. Are you black today?” Yue retorted in a smug tone. Following the comment, Yue was met with a smack to the head as Taiyu glared at her.

Thomas felt a spring in his step as caught up to the two before they could break into a fight.

“Now now, no need for hostilities.”

Thomas wrapped a front leg around Taiyu’s shoulders and the other around Yue’s shoulders.

“If we are going to be an effective team, we are going to need to let our grievances go. Now let’s be off. Gold and glory awaits!”

All three began to trek into the forest. As they marched along into the unknown territory that lay before them, first light peaked over the horizon. A new day, as well as a new dawn, began.

To Be Continued...