> Rise of the Runelords: Burnt Offerings
>  by redtau
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Signs and Portents
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Princess Luna smiled at the gradure of her work. The heavens above Equestria shone brilliantly in the clear night. It took but a moment to pull and correct a few stars that had wandered since her last fine tuning. There was the belt of the warrior, always wanting to sag slightly. There was the great bear and its little cub, how she wished she could let them snuggle like they seemed to want. There-

There was a star that should not be there. Princess Luna frowned in concern. She knew every star by heart and each location backwards and upside down. Quickly she scanned the skies, worried that this star had wandered from its own constellation. As her eyes swept in a wider and wider circle around the errant glowing star she became more and more troubled, for none of her creations were missing any points.

Stars do not just appear! she thought, And while they move on their own, this seems a mite ridiculous! Glaring at the point in exasperation, she finally gave in and turned to her notes. The bookshelves along her wall were filled with journals, each written in complex shorthand and code that only a few could decipher. She lifted the appropriate book of the shelf and pulled her telescope to her eye. 

The book fell to the floor. 

Every star is unique, like a snowflake, and each can be placed by its size and shape. Decorative stars were simple points as they were easy to make and move. Two point stars anchored the array of constellations to the sky. Three point stars were wishing stars, granting their power as the fell. Stars of power had four points, like the four she had used to free herself from the moon. Stars of fate had five points, marking their importance. This star didn't have five points.

It had seven.

"SISTER!!!"





Princess Twilight Sparkle stood in the Canterlot Castle throne room before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Princess Celestia was looking more serious than she had at Discord's release. Princess Luna was pouring through scrolls and books with a worried expression on her face. Even the guards looked nervous.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, I am happy that you and your friends could come on such short notice." Princess Celestia said. "We wish that it was a happier occasion that we called you here for."

"What's the problem your majesties?" Applejack asked stepping forward.

"Whatever it is, we can handle it no sweat!" Rainbow Dash chimed in.

"I certainly hope so," Rarity said, brushing a hoof over her simple but elegant dress. "Sweat would absolutely ruin this outfit."

"We can throw a party afterwards right?!" Pinkie Pie asked eagerly.

Fluttershy sat quietly, waiting for an explanation and hoping it wouldn't be too scary.

"A new star has appeared in our sky." Princess Luna announced, "One that brings very ill tidings."

"Long ago," Princess Celestia began, "so long now that even for creatures like Discord it must seem little more than legend, this world was connected to another."

"Canterlot High?" Twilight asked, "But I've already been there and back a couple of times."

"No," Princess Celestia corrected, "The mirror was little more than Starswirl the Bearded attempting to recreate the magic that originally connected this world. You have seen the world of Canterlot High Twilight, the magicthere is so minimal that they have no control over their sun or moon. Our land is saturated with magic, but that is how this world was made to be."

"By Faust." Applejack said. Celestia shook her head.

"While it is true that we have much to thank Faust for, this world is older still. It was made as a paradise for another land, a kingdom where strong magic ruled. When it started, this world was simple but good. As the magic of the kingdom grew and became more complex, so too did our world."

"The wizards in charge of that other kingdom wielded great power." Princess Luna said, "And like many with such power, they became corrupt.That corruption tainted their world and began to taint ours as well."

"What happened to them?" Fluttershy asked timidly.

The princesses looked at each other for a long moment, each willing the other to speak. "We are.... unsure," Princess Luna admitted. "All we know is, before the age of Faust there was a great collapse, and the stars themselves seemed to fall. There was a long time of quiet before this world was remade by Faust into what it is today."

"The star in the sky," Twilight asked, "How is that important?"

"The star that now shines in my night sky used to be a sun," Luna said to the shocked looks of the ponies, "Controlled and fed by the power of the corrupted wizards. It is approaching us at an alarming rate and when it arrives its corrupting influence may destroy us all."

"But we've got plenty of time before that happens, right?" Rainbow Dash asked a little worried. "The light only just appeared last night."

"Princess Luna, how far away was the sun?" Twilight asked worried.

Luna looked grim, "As near as we can calculate the star is almost thirty trillion miles away."

Every pony but Twilight looked relieved. "What's the matter sugar-cube?" Applejack asked, "It'll take years to reach us!"

"It already has," Twilight said, "That's about five light years, meaning the star started glowing bright enough for us to see it five years ago. Who knows what kind of power those wizard might have gathered in that time. We need to go stop them now!"

"It will not be so simple," Princess Celestia said. "What little we have gathered from ancient records show that world was a violent place before the connection fell silent. If you travel there you will likely have to fight, maybe even kill." It was clear such an idea was shocking to the ponies and it nearly brought Fluttershy to tears. "In addition, you would have new forms and possibly even different abilities. I cannot ask this of you lightly, but if any of you are willing to volunteer, we need your help."

The friends shared a long look. Some were frightened, some were uncertain, but in the end, there were solemn nods between them all. Princess Twilight Sparkle stepped forward. "Equestria needs us." She said. "We will not back down."
> Chapter one: Choices and Travels
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Princesses and Element Bearers walked the quiet halls of Canterlot Castle's keep, deep down near the treasury. Twilight took notice of the apparent age of the stone as they descended, seeing more and more of the wall become solid rock and less brick and mortar.

"We're down into the mountain now, aren't we?" Twilight asked. Celestia nodded. "I didn't realize the castle ran this deep."

"The crystal caverns you spent part of your brother's wedding in are all around us now." Princess Luna said. "We believe they act as a magical power source or focus for inter-world travel through the gate."

"Gate?" Rainbow Dash asked as the group approached a massive stone door. Celestia and Luna lit their horns and the door swung slowly open. 

Inside was a massive vault, the walls of which were honeycombed with hoof sized alcoves. In a few of the alcoves rested large gems of various size. Some appeared to be glowing. Standing at the center of the vault was a great upright ring with a multitude of arcane symbols carved onto its surface. The room was filled with mounds of dust and sand, much of it around the outside of the room.

"What are they?" Rarity asked, eyeing the gems.

"Soulstones we think," Princess Luna said. "When outsiders came here, they left much of who they were at the door in a manner of speaking. Each stone holds the memories and skills of a creature so that they could live here care free for a time."

Rarity reached for one, then backed up when she put a hoof down in a mound of dust. "You really should clean up in here." She admonished.

"We couldn't bear to," Celestia said sadly, "We couldn't bear to sweep away those lives."

"LIVES?!" Rarity asked, staring at the dust wide eyed.

"The stones degrade over time," Luna said, "When we found this place so long ago there were dozens still glowing. Now..." Her horn lit and eleven floated down from their alcoves. As the closest hovered forward, a ghostly image of a grey stallion sprang to life.

"I am Ezra, the wizard. Magic is my field of study and study is my source of power. If looking at me is like looking into a mirror, then you have found yourself at last, and you can go home."

The image faded.

"What was that?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"They wiped their memories when they came!" Twilight said, "So this is how they knew which memories to take!"

"Er, how much of their memories are left after all this time?" Applejack asked. "Ah don't want to take Ezra there and end up thinking I'm a wizard fer the rest of my life."

"We doubt there is much left at all, the gems are very weak." Princess Luna said sadly.

The next gem floated forward and a slightly overweight stallion appeared, leaning on a wooden staff. "Hey Craig, its me, Craig, the druid. You've probably spent your time trying to talk to animals and trees, maybe even succeed. Hopefully you took some notes so we can continue our research when we get home."

"He seems nice." Fluttershy said, looking into the ghostly images eyes before he faded out.

The next gem produced a lean athletic mare that would have been mistaken for Rainbow Dash had she not be an earth pony and covered in scars.

"Sharon, if you're done with your little vacation, we've got work waiting. Don't forget to pick up your armor, short sword, long sword, bow, crossbow, staff, spears, daggers, bola, throwing star and teddy bear. Especially the teddy bear."

Everypony seemed to boggle at the concept of so many weapons on a single creature. Celestia coughed politely and brought the next gem forward. This one proved no better as a Big Mac sized stalion appeared. While less scarred than the last, he still looked like a veteran of dozens of battles.

"Gorath you son of a b9q3" The image seemed to loose focus for a moment. "Stop wasting your rage and anger on the creatures in this world! Come home so we can make money using your rage and anger to waste creatures there!" The stallion laughed and faded out.

"What a dreadful individual." Rarity admonished.

"What kind of interruption was that?" Twilight asked

"The gem is on its last legs," Princess Celestia said. "If it is not used soon, the knowledge within may be lost."

The next gem sparked to life and a beautiful mare, the first seen wearing an ancient but exquisite ball gown, came into view.

"Mariam, darling, it has been far too long. Did you finish your little errand at the ball? I hope you had fun dear, but it's time to go home, mama is waiting anxiously."

"Rarity's gonna take that one." Applejack said with a chuckle.

"Now Applejack, really!" Rarity protested, "Just because she's the first with any sense of taste or class doesn't mean I'll jump at it." As she said that, Rarity pulled the gem from Celestia's telekinetic grip and into her own. "I will hang onto it though, just in case."

The next one gem came forward and a small pony appeared. 

"Hey Lenny, why did the senile comedian go world hopping? I can't remember the punchline!" There was, oddly enough, a rim shot from the recording. "Anyway, I hope you found some new material or we are going to have to start using magic to charm our customers."

"Ugh, that joke was terrible!" Pinkie said.

The next gem spun forward and a demure mare appeared.

"Oh, um, hello. Its me, Kim, Cleric and high priestess of ASNDuw23-" The image flickered for a moment, "and I am here," She giggled, "One a sort of date. But don't tell Kan."

"Well she seems nice." Twilight said. Looking at the next gem. A stallion in heavy plate armor appeared, looking exasperated.

"I am Kan Bladefall, Paladin of the Order and protector of high priestess Kim. If I have returned without her then I need to either go find her or drop dead as I have failed in my duty as her guardian."

"Eh, pass," Rainbow Dash said with a wave of her hoof. "That guy looks like he's got a stick up his-"

"RAINBOW DASH!" Rarity admonished, glancing meaningfully to the Princesses, despite the fact that Luna was stiffing giggles.

The next gem flared up quickly, startling Rainbow Dash as a sleek, strong stallion came into being.

"I am Jace, master of style and form. I have mastered my strength and speed, such that no blade is equal to my bare strikes. Now I have chosen to master this form as well. I shall be the best, the fastest, unsurpassed in all things."

"Well, I suppose we know which one Rainbow Dash is going to take." Rarity said, trying to reverse the ribbing she'd been given a short while ago.

"Heck yeah!" Rainbow Dash said, "Are you kidding? Someone as dedicated to being the fastest even from another world? Of COURSE I'm gonna nab that one!" Rainbow carefully pulled it from the princess's grasp.

The next gem came as something of a surprise as a unicorn appeared, the first non-earth pony they had seen.

"I am Amilia, Sorceress of the Arcane Bloodline. The magic in my veins cannot be denied, even in this world." To add weight to her words, her horn light with a fierce glow, and even her eyes seemed to shine with power.

"She seemed really strong," Fluttershy pointed out, "but kind of sad."

The last gem floated forward, and a pony resolved itself into being. This one had a light build, but was mostly hidden in a concealing cloak.

"I am Dorian, Ranger and hunter. The wilds call to me, and I shall find my prey." The image flickered away.

"That is the last of the viable gems," Princess Celestia announced. "You shall each have to make a selection before the gate can be activated.

Pinkie Pie had Lenny's gem picked out, carefully looking over it. "I'm the number one party pony in this world and the next, this guy looks fun, even if his jokes are mega lame."

Fluttershy picked up Craig's gem gently, "Um, I'll take this one if you don't mind."

Rarity considered the others and then turned back to her horded Mariam soul stone, trying to ignore the	 smirk Rainbow Dash was giving her.

Twilight Sparkle considered between Amilia and Ezra before finally selecting Ezra. 

"Ah though you'd want the unicorn." Applejack said with a bit of surprise.

Twilight shook her head. "Amilia's power seemed based in part in what she was more than what she knew. The soul stones hold knowledge more than anything else, I wouldn't want to go through the gate and hope I got the same abilities."

"Ah gotcha," AJ said, "Like if they was coming the other way and had to choose weather to learn how to fly or how to grow food. With no guarantee they'd end up a pegasus, the farming is a safer choice."

Applejack then turned her attention back to the four crystals between her and Rainbow Dash: Groth, Jace, Dorian, and Sharon. They both considered what little they knew about each pony, and how best to accommodate potential abilities. After a long while, Rainbow Dash reached out and picked up Jace.

"He seem's focused, and confident in his body and ability. I don't know what it's like on the other side of that gate, but I know I can rely on myself and I know you girls will need to rely on me too."

Applejack nodded and picked up Sharon, "Girl seems prepared for anything, Ah can't fault that. Don't like the idea of fightin, but if we must we'd best be prepared for it."

Princess Luna stepped over to Twilight and gave her a large leather book embossed with the symbols of the sun and the moon. "A journal, like the one Sunset Shimmer had." She explained. "We can't risk sending Spike with you on this journey, there is no telling what a baby dragon might become in that world."

There was a strange whirring noise, and everypony looked towards the gate as Princess Celestia began to feed it arcane power. A rumbling built to a crescendo until, with a great burst, silvery liquid seemed to explode from the ring. It reached far into the room before receding back to make a silvery, shimmering upright pool.

"OK, I have seen some crazy stuff in our travels, but you have to admit: that is awesome." Rainbow Dash said.

"I can only keep the portal open a short time!" Celestia called. "Hold your gems close and step through, the gateway should integrate the soul stones into your consciousness!"

"Come on girls!" Princess Twilight Sparkle shouted, holding Ezra's stone tight, "Adventure is waiting!" Her friends lined up beside her, looking at the opening with awe and a bit of fear, and all of them grinning like idiots.

Taking a deep breath, they stepped through the gate.
	
> Chapter Two: Tomb of the Lost Luggage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was a rushing sensation, and it looked like a tunnel of stars whipping by so fast that each star streaked into a long glowing line. The tunnel wasn't straight either, it twisted and spiraled in sickening ways. All in all, Twilight came away with only two sensations: disorientation and speed.

It was with something of a jolt then that she stepped out of the portal at the same speed she had entered it, nearly tripping at the apparent change in velocity. The startled cries from her friends told her she wasn't the only one. The room around her was dark, but not pitch black. Light filtered from somewhere nearby, and she heard the sound of waves not far in the distance. There was a slightly damp and salty smell in the air.

"Twi, can you give us some light?" Applejack asked. At least, it sounded like Applejack. Twilight tried to make out something of her friends in the dim light, but all she got was a rough outline. She focused and felt magic begin to flow through her, but could not see the glow, nor feel it center on anything. "Twi? You there?"

"I'm here Applejack," Twilight said, reassuring her friend, "I just can't seem to make my horn glow." She brought her hoof up to her face to learn that she now had hands like she did in Canterlot High. Also like Canterlot High, she didn't seem to have a horn. Carefully she felt around the ground and picked up a fist sized stone. 

"This is kinda neat!" Pinkie Pie chimed in, "Like camping!"

"Ugh, wherever we are it is a mess!" Rarity fussed, "I can't take half a step without nearly tripping on something."

Twilight focused her magic on the stone, trying desperately to to get the familiar glow to envelop it. "Come on darn you!" She cursed at the stone. "LIGHT!"

She felt something, like the energy within her shifted to her neck, and then suddenly the stone she was holding was glowing brightly. Twilight dropped the stone in surprise and backed away from it, blinking to let her eyes adjust. After a moment she looked around.

The room mirrored the one in Equestria, except that the walls had large alcoves, about two hooves wide and tall, that looked fairly deep. Most had bags or boxes in them. Also, half the ceiling had collapsed, pinning part of the gate and denying access to a good portion of the room.

More interesting to Twilight however were her friends. Their forms reminded her of her friends in Canterlot High, but larger and more mature. Rarity spun around gracefully trying to see all of herself, showing off a long simple dress of pure white, along with simple slippers and a pair of golden bracelets. Applejack, who was waggling her new fingers and watching them move, had on a rougher shirt and pants, along with her signature stetson. Rainbow Dash was currently searching desperately for her wings, running her hands over the back over he tank-top and spinning left and right in a pair of long shorts. Fluttershy was just staring at everyone wide eyed, her long hair matching her long dress that fell almost to the floor. Only Pinkie Pie seemed to have moved past her new form to begin poking at the contents of a nearby alcove. The fabric of the bag sagged and gave out when she touched it.

"Where are my wings?" Rainbow panicked slightly.

"Hush now Rainbow Dash," Applejack said, "Ya'll be fine without them for a short while. After all, if Twilight found a way to magic, you'll probably find a way to fly soon enough." She flexed her muscles and stretched, quickly coming to terms with her new form. "Though I'll feel naked without some armor."

"Wha? Applejack you've never worn armor." Rainbow Dash said.

"Well of course!" Pinkie said, dancing around the light. "She's never worn armor and Twilight's never cast a light spell like that before and none of us except Twilight have walked in these forms but we don't have any trouble moving around so it must be the stone thingies giving us these abilities!" She put her hand to her cheek thinking. "I don't think I have any specific new memories, but I can just now think of a lot of stories I didn't know before. I think I might be a bard."

"A what now?" Twilight asked, honestly confused.

"A bard! A traveling storyteller and adventurer." Pinkie pointed at Applejack "AJ's a fighter, well skilled in all kinds of combat," Then Rainbow Dash "And Dashie is a monk!" She grinned and poked a finger at Twilight. "You are a wizard! That explains the amulet around your neck and how you cast your light spell."

"Amulet?" Twilight's had flew to her neck where she encountered a large triangular amulet hanging off a chain. She lifted it to her eyes and nearly cried out in fright. It looked like the alicorn amulet, so much so that Twilight was worried she was already being corrupted before she noticed the subtle differences. While the the original amulet had been all straight lines and menacing, this one had more of a flowing grace to it. The central gem was also a purple starburst instead of a single blood red gem.

"Oh, what am I?" Fluttershy asked, creeping over to Pinkie Pie. "Am I something nice?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen you do anything yet but since the guy you took your gem from was a druid I think you are one too." Pinkie cocked her head to one side. "You probably won't notice much difference since you could talk to animals before, but now you ought to be able to summon them. We've got a lot of magic in our party!" She nodded happily. "And for diplomacy we can rely on Rarity because she is a nob-"

"THIEF!" Rarity yelled, collapsing to the ground. "I'm a thief! I picture courts and ballrooms and dances in my head and it all seems to revolve around who has the most jewelry and where the guards are standing!" She began to actively sob. "Even when I think of Celestia I start to plan on how I might rob her!"

"Aww, you're not really a thief, you're probably just a rogue." Pinkie Pie said.

"A... a rogue?" Rarity asked with a small bit of hope. 

Pinkie nodded encouragingly. "Yeah, someone who uses charm and stealth to get into places and defeat baddies or undo traps. Like a ninja! You don't have to be bad, like a thief, you could be good."

"How do you know all this?" Twilight asked, astounded at the amount of information Pinkie was pouring out.

"Like I said, I just suddenly know a lot of stories about heroes and villains and dungeons and dragons and such. You just seem to fit certain stereotypes."

"Well," Rarity said with a bit of pomp, drawing herself up, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I intend to find an exit before Twilight's magical glowing rock, as amazing as it is darling, decides to stop glowing. I hear water nearby."

Nodding in agreement, Twilgiht picked up their light source, noting that the light did nothing to change the temperature of the stone, and began to follow the only exit they could see. Several minutes later, just as the stone was flickering and going out, they came upon a small opening no bigger than a door. Beyond it was a sheer cliff face that looked out onto a beautiful ocean and a star filled night.

"Darling it's breathtaking!" Rarity said, looking out at the scene in wonder.

"It's not going to be possible to go down or up tonight." Rainbow Dash said, looking out at stone around the opening. "We'll have to wait for light.

"You all right sugar cube?" Applejack asked Twilight, who stood at the door with her eyes fixed on the stars.

"It's just, it always amazes me. I know this is a different world, and we are in new bodies and everything, but it all still looks the same sometimes." She waved her hands at the cliff face and the ocean beyond. "The trees are all shaped like trees and the rocks are all rocks. It's only when I look up into the night sky and I don't see any of Princess Luna's influence or design that I realize I really am somewhere else. That I'm so far from home I don't know if I could even point the way back."

"I CAN!" Pinkie Pie announced before hooking a thumb over her shoulder. "Gate's that-a-way."

"We'd better camp here near the entrance tonight." Rainbow Dash said, "We can start really looking around when the sun comes up."





Fluttershy shivered in the dark, even with her friends close by this whole experience was so terrifying to her. They were in a new world! A dangerous one, where none of them knew what threats might be out there, what kind of terrible monsters could be waiting just beyond the next door.

"I have to be brave!" She whispered to herself. "For my friends, for everyone!"

A light passed over her eyes and she opened them slowly. A single firefly had wandered in from outside and landed quietly on her nose, glowing softly.

"Oh my, look at you. I didn't know there would be fireflies here."

"Of course there are," said a friendly male voice nearby. Fluttershy looked up to see an older gentleman with a kind smile leaning against the far wall and smoking a pipe. He sounded a lot like the image of Craig had. I'm dreaming Fluttershy thought, relaxing and smiling at the image. "Your friend said it after all."

"My friend?"

"The one with the purple hair, sunset? There are the same rocks and trees, so of course there's going to be the same birds and bees. There will be snakes and spiders, yes, but also beavers and bunnies. This world is full of wonderful creatures just waiting to meet you. You aren't going to disappoint them by being afraid and hiding in this dark spooky cave forever are you?"

Flutershy shook her head, smiling even wider now.

"Good," Craig said, "Now get some rest, you've probably got a long day ahead of you."

Fluttershy laid her head down and was quickly, peacefully asleep.

A moment later Rainbow Dash raised her head and looked around the dark empty room. There was nothing but her friends and a single firefly. After a long while she put her head back down. Huh, she thought, I could have swore I smelled smoke.





The next day saw everypony slowly waking to crashing waves, beautiful sunlight, and empty stomachs.

"Anybody got any hay?" Applejack asked, rolling over and yawning.

"We can't eat hay in these bodies," Twilight said, "We'll have to find some other food."

"Oooh, my back." Rarity said, stretching and cracking. She paused mid stretch. "Does anypony else hear singing?"

Following the sound back down the corridor they found Pinkie Pie strumming a guitar and singing in the dark.

"Midnight Fix-up! Midnight Fix-up!" She said as she strummed a familiar tune, she looked up as the girls came around the corner, bearing another glowing rock from Twilight. "Oooh! Now I can see what I fixed."

"Pinkie! What are you doing?" Rarity asked.

"Fixing stuff!"

"Ya can't fix stuff just by singing to it sugarcube." Applejack said.

"Oh yeah?" Pinkie asked. She picked up a broken bow from a nearby alcove, set it before her and waved her hands. "Ancient object destroyed by time/ listen now and head this rhyme/ undo the damage of time gone bye/ thus commands me, Pinkie Pie!"

Before everyone's eyes the bow began to mend itself back together. It didn't completely restore itself, but it was definitely in better shape than when it had started.

"Pinkie can do magic?!" Twilight asked, astounded. Rarity sniffled and eyed Pinkie, feeling depressed at the loss of her own small power.

"Only a few small things, like this." She reached behind her. "Acio Drum!" Suddenly there was a small drum in her hands. She tapped out a quick rhythm on it, enjoying the warm sounds.

"Lemmie see that!" Applejack said, taking it from Pinkie. "I wanna know if my singing can fix things too! Maybe I can repair my barn with a ballad next time!" She tapped the drum experimentally but there was no sound. "What the?"

"A magically summoned instrument that only the person who summoned it can play?" Twilight asked, eyeing the drum.

"Yup," Pinkie Giggled. "You can't beat it!"

Everyone groaned.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were busy looking at the few items Pinkie had managed to repair that morning. Mostly it was light clothes and traveling gear, but something stuck out to Rainbow Dash. She carefully lifted a thick leather bound journal and presented it with care to Twilight. "Looks like Pinkie fixed them up enough you can touch one without it falling to pieces."

Carefully Twilight opened the book, smiling as she saw the writing was fairly legible but in a strange language. She cast about in the few items Pinkie had pulled out before spotting a small clear crystal. Picking it up she focused on the book again and found the writing becoming something she could read.

"It's a spellbook!" Twilight cried out in delight. She flipped through the pages to find a good number filled in. She flipped to the middle and began to read the notes aloud. "Phantom Steed! A moderately complex conjuration spell for long distance travel! To cast the pasta you noodle boogle fangle.... what?" She flipped through some of the pages nearby. "Pinkie! Only the front section of this book is even remotely legible!"

"'Gee, Pinkie Pie, thanks for all the hard work you've done'" Pinkie said, mimicking Twilight's voice. "'It must have been tough for you, getting up early and coming to sit here in the dark to sing to books older than Celestia long enough I could pick them up and complain about not being able to read them.'"

Twilight cringed, realizing she had mad a huge miss-step. "I'm sorry Pinkie, I just got excited about learning new magic."

"It's OK Twilight," Pinkie said with a smile. "I'm just worried we won't find much of use. Most of the books are so far gone that I don't think I could even touch them, and all of the equipment in here is rusted and worn or degraded to the point I could sing all day and maybe repair one tiny knife."

"Well then, it looks like I found something of importance!" Rarity announced, bringing a small wooden box about the size of a shoe box over to the group. She opened the top to show the empty insides.

"Um, Rarity, not to chide or anything, but that's just a box."

"Hmph, I should have known better than to expect excitement from you Rainbow Dash. You can see it's value, right Fluttershy?"

"Oh yes." Fluttershy said with a bit of excitement. "It's a very nice box. I'm sure we could put some of the smaller items or even a piece of clothing inside for later.

Rarity stared at her friends in befuddlement. "Can you really not see it?"

"See what Rarity?" Twilight asked, leaning in and looking carefully at the box.

"Th- the panel. The false bottom? The notch on the side? See, where you hook it with your nail and drag it up? There are tale tell scratch marks."

Twilight eyed the little notch Rarity indicated and the near invisible scrapes that curved slightly away from the edge of the box. She just shook her head.

Rarity looked at the box herself in awe. "So that's what being a rogue is like." She reached in and lifted the bottom out, revealing ten gems packed in sand. "OH MY!" She exclaimed. "These must be worth a small fortune!"





Two hours later Twilight was using a spell called Mage Hand to affix a grappling hook with a length of rope to the top of the cliff. Rarity huddled under her new cloak pouting. "I'm just saying I found them and it's not fair."

"Don't be like that hon," Applejack said, laying a hand on her shoulder. "We need money more than you need gems right now. We'll sell them if we get the chance and buy ourselves some proper equipment." There was a general rumble of a couple of empty tummies. "And some food."
> Chapter Three: Party in Town
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It felt like they had been walking down the road for days, even if it had been only a couple of hours. They had been lucky to find the road in the first place, stumbling inland from the cliff until they crossed it. Fluttershy had wisely stopped a passing bird and asked directions, enjoying that she could understand the animals even in this world. While the town may have only been a short way away by the bird, Twilight was beginning to feel blisters form on the bottoms of her feet. They came round a bend in the road and she smiled.

There, just up the road a little farther, were the town walls. The gates were wide open and even from this distance Twilight could see a great number of people moving about.

"OOOOH! I'm going to meet so many new ponies!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing with excitement. "Hey! I just realize that we will be the new ponies in town! Do you think they will throw us a party? Maybe there is a party thrower in town like me!"

Twilight flinched at the thought of two Pinkie Pies, memories of the mirror pool incident flashing in her mind. "They're called people Pinkie, not ponies, and I don't think there is going to be a party."





Twilight ground her teeth and glared Pinkie into silence as they passed through the open gate. Inside the town was a massive festival. Streamers, banners, and balloons seem tied to any building that didn't run away fast enough, and the sights and sounds of a party filled the air. People chatted amiably as they walked around, children with butterfly face paint ran past playing tag. Pinkie kept flicking her head back and forth so fast she was getting dizzy, uncertain what to do first!

"Hello there!" A friendly street vendor called to them, waving them his cart stuffed high with buns of some sort. "Here for the Swallowtail Festival?"

"Yes," Rarity said, instantly turning the charm up, "But we also wanted to sell a few items we found out adventuring. Where might we turn a small gem into some money?"

The man seemed to consider for a moment before pointing down the road. "Maver Kesk the jeweler is just down down the way a few doors on your right. Can't miss it. Come see me again when you're done, I've got the best kolachies in town!"

"Thank you sir." Rarity said turning away. 

Rainbow Dash poked Twilight. "What's a kolachie?"





Twilight marveled at Rarity's ability to sit and smile as though she were certain of the result. Maver Kesk had been turning each gem over carefully in a set of tweezers, staring down at it through a jewelers monocle and holding each gem up to a small bright lantern nearby. Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie sat behind Rarity while Rainbow Dash and Applejack were trying to out glare the four burly guards standing just inside the shop.

Maver put the last gem down and looked up at Rarity. "I must say that these gems are quite extraordinary miss-"

"Rarity," Rarity said, turning up the smile another notch.

"Miss Rarity," Maver said. "Their cut and quality are very good, almost too good." He looked over her and her party. "Where did you find them again?"

"In some ruins far to the north." Rarity said sweetly. "Mr. Kesk, please, how much are they worth?"

"Worth?" He asked, rubbing his chin. "I can give you about five hundred gold for them."

"Surely they are worth at least twice that much." Rarity protested sternly, a frown appearing on her features. "I was told you were an honorable man sir. I cannot believe you would cheat a lady like myself or my friends out of their money."

"They might be worth twice as much, three times with the right fitting and setting. But that's to the right customer who comes in months from now, and only after I've had a chance to do my work to bring out their beauty." Maver Kesk rubbed his chin again. "I can give you six hundred at most, and only because sales have been good with the festival."

Rarity sighed. "I suppose we shall have to accept." Rarity said. Maver picked up the gems and went back to his open safe, returning with six small bags that clinked dully as he set them down before her. "Now, would you be so kind as to direct us to a good place to eat."





Sitting at a table in the White Deer inn and tavern just up the road from Kesk's Jewelery, the group each looked at their small bag and sighed. "A hundred bits a piece," Rarity said, "What a strange world where gems are so worthless, I wonder how the man stays in business."

"Good afternoon folks," A handsome waiter said, sweeping up to the table, "What will you have today?"

"Afternoon?" Applejack asked. "No wonder I'm starving! I've missed breakfast, dinner and lunch!"

"That's no good." The waiter said, smiling at Applejack. "A strong, beautiful girl like you shouldn't need to starve yourself! You're fine just the way you are." Applejack blushed at the compliment, looking down at the table.

"It's not just her," Rainbow Dash said, "We've all missed breakfast. And dinner last night and lunch!"

"What, are you all fashion models?" The waiter asked. Fluttershy followed Applejacks example of blushing furiously and trying to beat the table at a staring contest.

"We've been traveling and ran out of supplies." Twilight explained. "What do you recommend to help us catch back up?"

The waiter pondered. "Well, it's a bit late in the day, but I'd say we could whip ya'll up some of our specials. It's a breakfast that'll last you till dinner!"

The plates came down and instantly Twilight worried there would be a problem. The waffles, hash-browns, and eggs were easily identifiable, but one of the other items was going to cause a stir.

"What is this?" Rarity asked, skewering a sausage patty and lifting it up. "It smells wonderful."

"Pork sausage." Twilight said miserably. 

"Pork?" Rarity asked confused. Applejack's fork dropped to his plate, a bite of sausage impaled on the end.

"Ya mean, made by pigs?" Applejack asked. Twilight shook her head. "I thought not." She turned her attention to her eggs and hash-browns with a gusto.

"I'm sorry girls, I should have mentioned that these bodies are omnivorous." Twilight said sheepishly looking around. She stopped and stared wide eyed at Rainbow Dash as she popped the last of the sausage in her mouth chewed and swallowed. Realizing she was under scrutiny Dash looked at the others.

"What? An athlete's diet needs to have a lot of protein in it. Back in Ponyville I'd have some smoked salmon every now and then to help keep up my physique. Honestly I'd prefer it to this stuff but beggars can't be choosers."

Rarity sighed. "Fluttershy, I'm so sorry you have to put up with such barbaric-"

"I don't mind." Fluttershy said, nibbling at her sausage.

"Not you too Fluttershy!" Applejack cried out in dismay.

"Oh Applejack, I treat omnivorous creatures back home all the time. I even treat some carnivorous ones. One time I helped a baby snake and his mother brought me half a mouse as thanks. I had to swallow it in front of her too, or I'd hurt her feelings." She smiled, "Besides, where do you think Dashie gets her salmon?"

"Well, I don't care if we are om-universe." Applejack said "I ain't eating no sausage."

"Though your grammar is atrocious I quite agree with you Applejack." Rarity said as she and Applejack started in on the hash browns.

"Omnivorous!" Twilight corrected. "Carnivores eat just meat, herbivores eat just plants, omnivores can eat everything."

"I am Pinkie the all consuming!" Pinkie cried out, drawing attention to herself. She had puller her waffle in front of her, topped it with syrup, hash-browns, eggs, sausage, toast, and several spoons of sugar, and was busy sawing a wedge of the horrible mess free and plopped it in her mouth. "OM NOM NOM NOM!"

Twilight felt nauseous watching Pinkie eat, though that wasn't a new occurrence. She turned her attention back to Rarity and Applejack, who were shoveling the hash-browns in as fast as they could.

"What's in these that makes them so good?" Rarity asked between bites? "Cheese? Onion? Tomato?"

"What are these little tan cubes?" Applejack asked. "They are fantastic."

"That's ham." Twilight said.

Applejack and Rarity stared at each other, mouths stuffed full. Each slowly swallowed. After a long pause Applejack speared a piece of sausage with her fork and brought it to her mouth. "Not. One. Word." She said.

Rarity nodded, taking a piece of her own sausage. "Agreed." They finished their meal in silence.

The waiter returned and collected the dirty plates. "That was wonderful." Twilight said. "How much do we owe you?"

"The specials are fifteen copper apiece." The waiter said, collecting the last of the flatware. Her friends all winced at the price, 90 bits just for them all to eat once. "Don't worry girl, I've got this." Twilght said, pulling the first gold coin out and setting it down. The waiter picked it up. "I'll be right back with your change." He said, running off to the bar.

Twilight blinked. "Change?"

The waiter returned and set ten small coppery coins before Twilight.

"Um, sir?" She asked, confused. 

"I'm sorry, did you want that in silver?" the waiter asked.

"No, it's just... we're from a ways off and aren't familiar with the exchange rate for currency here."

"Ah, you probably from up near the elven lands. Their coins are a bit bigger so it's usually eight to one but down here we like things in units of tens so it's ten copper to a silver piece and ten silver to a gold." The waiter frowned. "I hope no one else tried to swindle you."

"No, of course not!" Twilight said with a nervous laugh. "Here, for your troubles." She pushed the ten coins back at him and he gracefully accepted.

The six friends stared at their little bags in awe.

"If one of those copper coins is a bit." Rainbow said.

"And there are ten copper bits in a silver one." Rarity added.

"And ten silver bits in a gold bit." Pinkie said with a growing smile.

"Then Ah'm holding ten thousand bits?!" Applejack asked, staring at the bag in wonder. "WHAT KINDA GEMS DID YOU SELL?!"

"The right kind I think!" Rarity responded, not taking her eyes off of the small fortune sitting before her.

"We can go get equipment!" Rainbow Dash said happily. 






"Do I have to?" Fluttershy asked, looking timidly at the dagger Rainbow Dash held out. "I have a staff, I don't really need something like that, do I?"

Rainbow huffed. "Yes. If you won't wear something better than that old hide armor, you are going to need something to fend off attackers." Rainbow had her own dagger tucked into a sheath on her new belt, nest to the two strange hooked weapons the salesperson had called kama.

"You aren't wearing any armor at all." Fluttershy countered.

"Because I don't need any armor. I'm way too fast and that stuff will only slow me down. Besides, I've got more weapons than a long stick."

"Honestly darling," Rarity said, swishing her shiny new rapier in a few quick test flicks before sheathing it. "You should have at least something with an edge on it, if only for harvesting herbs. To hear the shop keep talk, we should have all been eaten twice over just for walking down the roads."

Fluttershy looked over at the shop keep, a mature woman named Savah who looked like she'd seen some battles in her past, who was talking animatedly to an enthralled Twilight and a worried Applejack. 

"And then there are the owl bears!" She said. "The size of a bear with an owls sharp beak and a nasty disposition! They-"

"What kind of bear?" Twilight asked, looking up from her notes, "A brown or a black bear? And how fast are they? What kind of armor can they cut through? Are they much of a threat?"

Savah looked a little miffed at being cut off but answered anyway. "They stand about half again as tall as a man, and are as fast as your average thief, but their claws can cut pretty deep and they can rend a person apart in a matter of minutes. Still, three or four town guard can usually take one down without much trouble."

Applejack looked longingly at a beautifully crafted crossbow sitting behind the counter, a strange cartridge and extra gears mounted to it allowing it to reload and fire extremely quickly. The sign bellow named the weapon on Vansaya and listed the price at 2,300 gold. Applejack looked down at the three remaining gold coins she had left  and sighed. Fluttershy couldn't believe that Applejack could possibly want more. She already had shiny new scale mail wrapped around her torso, a dagger and short sword hanging off her hips and a light crossbow and about two dozen arrows for it strapped to her back. The former farm pony looked like she could murder a town by turning around too quickly.

Sighing, Fluttershy accepted the dagger gingerly and tied it to her belt. Even Twilight had one, though she'd bought little else. Pinkie Pie looked slightly out of place in studded leather armor, a small shield buckled to one arm and a spiked mace called a "mourning star" clenched in her hands. A dagger hung loosely at her belt, and she was rubbing a spot on her backside and wincing. 

"I though I would be good with a whip, but it must be a snake in disguise because it bit me!" Pinkie said.

Finally prying herself free from Twilight's never ending questions, Savah smiled at Rarity and asked "So are you all in town for the festival?"

"We are here for more than that, the festival just happened to occur when we got in." Rarity replied. "Actually we are interested in the history of the town, as well as the local sights. Could you give us some good places to see while we are here?"

Savah seemed to consider for a moment. "Well......"





The day was slipping towards night, and the warm sun had darkened to a bright orange and kissed the horizon as the six friends collapsed onto a picnic table at the edge of the town square. Twilight had four separate notebooks, one for notes on monsters and beasts, one for local history, one for arcane notes and research outside the spell book, and one because she was Princess Twilight Sparkle and she was going to be prepared for anything. Applejack had a large stuffed orange pony under one arm, having won it in a sharpshooting game earlier. Rainbow Dash seemed to be solemn and contemplative, looking into his bowl of stew as though it held  all the answers in the world. Rarity was still looking a little irked and Fluttershy was looking ill, not even touching the stew.

"This town is crazy!" Twilight said. "Did you see the prices in that bookstore? I could have bought Applejack that ridiculous crossbow for what three of those books would have cost me!"

"Ah think he runs the shop more so he has somewhere to stash his collection Twi." Applejack said.

"Then why not just turn it into a library?"

"Probably worried about what these horrid people would do to the books." Rarity said in a huff. "Probably get them all sticky."

"Look, darlin," Applejack said comfortingly, "Ya couldn't have known-"

"The Pixie's Kitten?! Who names a place like that The Pixie's Kitten? After the Hagfish bar and the House of Blue Stones temple I thought the place might be a clothing boutique of some kind! The people inside certainly needed more clothes!"

"Calm down Rarity," Rainbow Dash said calmly, "Take a deep breath. Remember, this isn't our world, they don't have our customs."

"And besides," Pinkie chimed in, "You told me you thought the guy in blue silk pants was cute."

"That was before I knew he charged for 'services' by the hour! I mean really, this place has a grand theater house, why would it need that kind of entertainment as well."

"Honestly, I'd rather have stayed there than gone to those s-s-stables." Fluttershy said, looking ill again. "How could someone do that to those poor creatures? The sign of one being stomped on was bad enough, but all those ears nailed to the beams!"

"Right you are dear," Rarity said, abandoning her own indignation for a moment to come to her friend's aid. "And that horrid man didn't need to drag out that jar after seeing how upset you were. Who keeps a head in a jar anyway?! I should go get the town sheriff and have the man locked up!"

"Ah don't think you want to do that." Applejack said, "Ah'm pretty sure Ah saw the sheriff in the Kitten."

"Probably talking the owner into shutting the place down." Rarity hissed.

Applejack tried to hold back, but she wasn't the bearer of Honesty for nothing. "Naw, the way he was looking at that girl and she was looking at him, ah don't think he was doing any arresting. Looked more like the start of a romantic date."

"Hmph!" Rarity turned up her nose at the whole affair.

"There might still be handcuffs involved." Pinkie Pie offered, only to get shocked looks from her friends. "What?"

"Anyway," Twilight said, pulling the conversation back to more pleasant topics. "We should get a room for the night and then start looking into the town's history, ancient legends about powerful evil wizards, and possibly even employment if we are going to be here a while."

"I understand the employment and the legends," Rainbow Dash said, "But why town history?"

"Didn't you notice the scars?" Rarity asked. "The temple looks brand new, and a lot of the buildings near it either look new or have had partial repairs. I know they say they just rebuilt the temple, but there is obviously more to it than that."

"Not to mention all the cut up beams and pillars all over town." Pinkie added in, pointing to a nearby shop whose awning support had a two foot section marred by old axe blows. "Like this town tried to just erase something that had happened all over."

"OK, so something strange is going on." Rainbow Dash said, backing down. "Tomorrow we-"

There was a crack of thunder, and everyone in the square fell silent. Twilight and her friends turned to the small stage in the center of the square where and elderly man in ceremonial robes held a small stone aloft.

"Ahem!" He said the the gathered crowd. "Thank you. Now, in honor of the Swallowtail Festival-"

There was commotion from the back of the crowd, agitated and frightened voices filling the air as people began to move in a panicked fashion.

Then someone screamed, and the running started.
> Chapter Four: Of Blood and Heroes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Applejack and Rainbow Dash turned around at the first scream, looking around the crowd for signs of trouble. Somthing small, no taller than their waist, seemed to dart throught the panicking people. Under a table nearby a dog was barking.

"What is it?!" Twilight asked, scanning the area to find what was causing such panic. There was a startled yipe, and Twilight spun to find the dog lying in a spreading pool of blood from its slit throat. Next to it was a short horrid green creature with a crude knife and far too many teeth for Twilight's liking.

"GOBLINS!" Someone in the crowd screamed, and the mass exodus from the courtyard began in earnest. Two other of the small monsters joined their murderous comrade, chittering excitedly at the dead dog. One took a swipe with a crude blade at a fleeing town member. The man fell with a cry, a terrible gash in his leg soaking part of his pants in blood. There was a wet thunk and the goblin flew backwards, an arrow sticking out of it's left eye.

Twilight turned to look in awe and horror as Applejack drew back the crossbow string and reached for another bolt. Applejack cought the look and frowned. "Ya can barate me fer it later, but if we don't stop these varmits they are gonna kill someone!"

The other two goblins drew their blades and ran towards them, one only making it half way before a dagger to the chest felled it.

"Take that you vile thing!" Rarity said. "Oh, when we are done here I am going to buy a lot more daggers." She drew her rapier and reddied for an attack.

Rainbow Dash, moving at speeds that would make her pony form jealous, shot forward until she was right on top of the beast. Her foot lashed out into the goblin's chest with a satisfying crunch and the thing went down.  Twilight looked around, stunned to see people still running. On the far side of the square four more goblins were gathered around a large stack of wood, fuel for the bonfire later. Three had blazing torches, and the last had a long whip and was singing.

The song was horrible. It floated to Twilight on the wind, verses thankfully lost to the sounds of panic from the rest of the town. The few snippets that made it to her had too much violence, burning, and death for her to easily stand. As Twilight's confidence started to wain a familiar tune came from behind her on a guitar.

"Giggle at the ghostly/ Chortle at the creepy-" Pinkie Pie was strumming her guitar and singing her heart out, actually managing to push back not just the vile song but the terrible feelings it had inspired in Twilight. Most of her friends gathered near her, advancing on the goblins who had spotted them and were shouting insults. Twilight looked around and saw Fluttershy crouched next to the dead dog.

"Fluttershy come on." Twilight called. "We need you." Fluttershy didn't seem to hear, only laying her hands on the dead dog and seeming to shake with sorrow. 

Rainbow Dash, faster than anyone else even without her wings, reached the torch bearing goblins first. She slammed into the closest with a punch that sent the thing sprawling. The next two were on her before she could react, and though she dodged one of their blades, the other's torch left a nasty burn on her left arm.

Applejack came to a stop still a half dozen yards from Rainbow Dash, her armor keeping her from closing the distance any faster. Instead she swung up her reloaded crossbow and sent a bolt flying. She missed the goblin next to Rainbow, managing only to clip the table and loose the bolt somewhere on the street.

Pinkie Pie quit strumming her guitar and yelled at the singing goblin. "I don't know what would break more mirrors, your face or your voice!" The singing goblin chuckled at that, and then the chuckle became a full on laugh and before it could help itself the thing was rolling on the ground in tears with laughter.

Rarity came to a stop just behind Rainbow Dash, breathing hard but ready to fight. The last goblin, now finding itself sorely outnumbered and outmatched, threw the torch at Rainbow and turned to run. Rainbow caught the torch and stepped forward to deliver a crushing punch to the back of the goblin's neck. There was a crack, and the little thing fell to the ground and did not rise.

The laughing goblin dragged itself back up off the ground and snapped its whip at Rainbow, seeing the fighter that had downed so many as the largest threat. The whip left a scratch on Rainbow's arm, causing her to cry out and fall back a step.

A flash of motion, and suddenly Pinkie Pie was right next to the goblin. "Meanie! You just earned yourself a morningstar make-over!" The heavy spiked ball smashed into the goblins face, crushing the already squashed nose into mush and killing the little monster. 

Twilight fought to catch her mind up to the battle that had just occurred. Seven goblins were down, dead or dying in the town square. Rainbow Dash was hurt, the torch and whip inflicting enough pain to make her woozy. Her friends had always been quick to defend others but the speed at which they had slain the goblins was unsettling to her.

"HELP!"

Twilight's head spun round, searching the near empty square for the cry for help. Just down a nearby street  across the square was a well dressed man was cowering behind an overturned table. Next to him a small stocky dog was growling and barking at the goblins assembled against them. Four more of the wretched grey-green things were equilly cowering from the dog, obviously afraid of moving into biting range. A fifth, the obvious leader, was mounted on something that looked like a cross between a greyhound and a sewer rat. 

The goblin commander kept the dog at bay with a crude spear made of a kitchen knife tied to a broom handle. Twilight and her friends were moving towards the monsters when a sudden lunge from the goblin brought the dog down with a pittiful yelp.

Something moved forward at tremendous speed, and for once it wasn't Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy closed the entire distance between her and the goblins in a dead run, coming panting to a halt between the dying dog and the monsters. She held her staff defensively, guarding the dog and its master. 

"Fluttershy!" Twlight called out, rushing forwards. "Get out of there!" Even with her friend in danger Twilight couldn't manage to close the gap at quite the same speed Fluttershy had. Rainbow dash managed to make it almost all the way, clearing nearly the entire distance of the town square in a mad dash. Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack lagged behind, their armor weighing them down.  

The goblins chittered with glee but still stayed behind their mounted leader, eyeing the wounded dog. "Out of the way longshanks!" The goblin comander shouted at Fluttershy. "We'll put you down after we finish with this mutt!" His rough spear lashed out, cutting a deep groove in Fluttershy's armor.

"No."

The goblin commander flinched at the word, seeing the frail woman before him as suddenly something dangerous. Fluttershy raised her quarterstaff in both hands, the weapon seeming to glow in the darkness.

"You aren't going to harm any doggies Ever AGAIN!" 

Fluttershy brought the staff down, the magical aura flaring as the hit colapsed one side of the goblin's head and tossed him from his mount. The strange rat thing fell over from the force of it's ridder being thrown, and the other goblins fell back from this monster now before them.

The one furthest back bumped into Rainbow Dash. It and one other fell to her fists, the third dropping from an expertly placed crossbow bolt. The last goblin turned to run only to have Rarity cut it down before it's seventh step.

"These nasty little things have killed and wounded more than a couple tonight." Rarity said, standing over the dying monster.

"Do ya still think that guy nailing all them ears to the stables was so terrible if these things just hurt people and animals?" Applejack asked.

"Oh yes." Fluttershy said, walking over to the dying goblin and pulling out her dagger. "I don't think I'd cut the ears off before nailing them up."

"FLUTTERSHY!" Twilight called out in shock. The pony turned druid seemed to start, then looked at the dagger in her hands and the gore stained quarterstaff before dropping them both.

"Wha- what happened?" she asked.

"I think you might have gotten a little ticked off at those goblins for killing that dog."

"THE DOG!" Fluttershy cried, turning around to find the noble she'd saved craddling his companions. She bent down and laid a hand on the wounded dog before pulling back. "no," she said, tears in her eyes. "no, please. Please-" she begged. The noble shook his head sadly.

"The cut was too deep." He said. "I'm surprised he stood as long as he did. If you haddn't come to my rescue," He trailed off. "Thank you."

Fluttershy nodded, but it was clear she wasn't listening. She'd been too late.




It took just over an hour for the town to calm down. The small fires the goblins had started were put out and the priests and clerics tended to the wounded. In addition to the dogs two villagers and a horse had been killed and over a dozen people injured. Thirty goblin bodies were stacked in town square, the local guard bringing them in as they swept the town for stragglers. Some of the goblins had gotten desperate as the battle turned against them. One had been found in a rain barrel, having jumped in to hide from a guard and not realizing that it couldn't swim.

Fluttershy sat on a bench looking at the pile and nursing some hot spiced drink in her hands. It was clear that she was struggling to reconcile her kind nature with the violence she had been a part of. Rarity was doing her best to comfort her. A town guard came over to Applejack, nodding solemly.

"I want to thank you for your help." He said. "You and your friends seemed to have found the largest group of the nasty buggers. Have you been seen by a healer?"

"Yeah, Father Zantulus came round and fixed us up right not too long ago." Applejack said.

The guard nodded. "We've finished our sweep of the main streets and most of the alleys. It's safe to go back to your inn now. If you'd like an escort-"

"Thank you," Twilight cut in, "But I think we'll be fine." She looked over at the distrubing pile. "Does this happen offten?"

"This is the first raid of this size I can remember in my lifetime!" The guard said. The torchlight made it hard for Twilight to guess if that lifetime was more than a decade or two. "They usually don't get past the walls or the guards. Don't know how so many snuck into town with so many people around and not get spotted."

"Yeah yeah," Rainbow Dash stood up and yawned, stretching out her arms. "That's a problem for tomorrow. For now, let's get over to the White Deer and get some rest."





Rainbow Dash sipped at a mug of water and stared bleary eyed at her breakfast special. How Rarity had managed to get a good nights sleep and be at breakfast looking so clean and polished disturbed her. At least Twilight and Applejack had the decency to look disheveled in the early morning, though Rainbow didn't know how they could stand coffee that bitter. Fluttershy was eating in a trance, it didn't look like she had slept a wink.

PInkie Pie bounced excitedly over to the table. "TwilightTwilightTwilight!" She called. "I have a really important question! Were we supposed to keep a low profile?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

The tavern door flew open and a dozen people stepped inside. One pointed at their table and exclaimed. "There they are! Their the ones who saved me from the goblins!" The others in the new group began to cry out in turn. "It is them!" "They avenged my dog!" "Stopped those monsters from burning down the bonfire wood!" A wave of murmering voices and turning heads swept through the inn.

"That's why." Pinkie Pie said helpfully.

Twilight just put her head down on the table and groaned.
> Chapter Five: The Little Things
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Recognition for their actions the night of the goblin raid was something of a mixed blessing. Rarity had made the most of it, building herself and her friends into local celeberties and leveraging that fame into small discounts as some stores. Rainbow dash would show off her speed and skill whenever asked, though she had been thrown out of one store for nearly breaking a glass display. Applejack and Pinkie Pie seemed to take their newfound fame in stride. One downplaying the event and being humble, the other using it as a starting point to make new friends. 

Fluttershy and Twilight were the ones worst off for the popularity. Though she had come to terms, somewhat, with the killing, Fluttershy was never very good with crowds and tended to stay in her room most of the time. While Twilight was better with crowds, the constant attention made getting any research done difficult.

Of course worse than all the questions and the notice and the praise were the requests.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash got back to the White Stag just in time to to see Fluttershy slap someone.

"H-how could you?!" She asked in her hushed voice before running upstairs to their room and slamming the door.

Applejack caught the man, a somewhat familiar and well dressed figure, on the shoulder. "Ya mind telling us what that was all about?" She asked with a small hint of malice.

The well dressed man smiled at her. "Ah, sorry. I came looking for all of you but could only find her. I am Adrian Foxglove, a minor noble from Magnimar." His grin faltered slightly as neither Rainbow Dash nor Applejack showed any signs of recognition or awe he was apparently used to. "You saved me from the goblins last night, though I'm afraid my beloved pet did not survive the attack."

"Oh, you were that noble Fluttershy defended!" Rainbow Dash said, finally making the connection. "I didn't recognize you in the light and not cowering behind a dog."

Applejack elbowed her hard for that and gave her a stern look. "What did ya tell Fluttershy ta get her all flustered?"

"Er, I had invited her, all of you really, on a small outing in a few days." Adrian said. "Out to the Tickwood just east of town."

"What, for a picnic?" Applejack asked. "Can't see why she'd get all flustered, Fluttershy loves animals and nature."

"Oh." Adrian said, bowing his head. "That might explain things. I'd invited her on a boar hunt."

Rainbow Dash cringed. "Yeah, that would do it."

"Well no need to fret," Applejack said, patting Foxglove on the back. "I know a couple of local heroes who'd love to go out on a hunt with you."





Fluttershy trudged down the street, furious at herself and her friends. She didn't understand how Rainbow Dash and Applejack could actually agree to go off and hunt some poor animal. She also didn't understand the rage that had taken her the other night. 

No, not just a rage, a cold fury. Those goblins had hurt people and dogs, not out of some sensible need to eat or self defense but pure malice. Fluttershy had been forced to take life in the past. When an animal friend was too sick or wounded she had risen to her element of kindness and eased their pain. What the goblins had made her feel was not kindness.

Or was it? Was it kindness sensing it's antithesis and seeking to blot it out. Such violence and cruelty was not something she could stomach as a pony, and as a human it seemed something she simply could not stand. These goblins weren't animals that were just sick or bread to fight, they were sentient thinking creatures. They choose to hurt and kill, to revel in the bloodshed and violence.

"Um, excuse me?"

Fluttershy was startled out of her thought by a woman's soft voice. "Oh, sorry." Fluttershy answered reflexively.

"Your one of those women who saved the town from all those goblins aren't you?" The woman asked. Fluttershy nodded, looking at the woman. She was young and pretty, her red hair seeming to halo her face and her pain dress accentuating her feminine form subtly. "This is kind of an odd thing to ask but, do you think you could help me? My father, Vin Vender, owns the general store on the south side of town. There have been odd little thefts and scurrying noises in the store room under the shop, I think it might be rats."

Fluttershy brightened. This sounded like something she could do. After all, talking to animals was her specialty. "Of course I'll help." She said.

The woman smiled a dazzling smile. "Thank you miss...?"

"Fluttershy."

"Shyliss Vender." They shook hands.





Fluttershy descended into the basement with her staff glowing like a torch. She had discovered a habit of meditating on nature each morning and preparing her spells and energy for each day. Today she had woken up wanting to talk to some of the local pets, and was now hopping her Charm Animal spell could be applied to hungry rats. Shyliss followed close behind, sticking close to her and glancing around. A few storm lanterns fixed to pilliars brightened the store room. Fluttershy cast about for sighns of rodents, footprints or droppings or even a scent of urine. The room was remakably clean and free of any such signs.

As Fluttershy rounded the corner she found a small mattress set up on the ground. The bed was well made and covered in a dozen soft pillows.

"Um, is someone sleeping down here?" Fluttershy asked.

"My sister sometimes sneaks off with her lover sometimes." Shyliss said, suddenly very close behind Fluttershy. "But I put the bed down here because I thought we might have a bit of fun."

Fluttershy spun around, tripping and falling onto the bed as she did so. "Um, wait, I, no, you see, um" Fluttershy fought for ground, backing up to the far side of the bed as the young woman persued her.

"Come on Fluttershy, " She said in a husky voice, "Just think of it as a reward for your heroics."

Fluttershy's hand came up defnesively. 

"Flare!"

There was a flash of light and Shyliss fell back in shock covering her eyes. She blinked and rubbed them, trying to banish the spots. When her vision finally cleared, Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. 

There was a roughly Fluttershy shaped lump under the covers, and a soft sobbing sound in the air.

"Fluttershy?"

The lump froze.

"Well this isn't what I was expecting. I thought you adventurer types had a lover or two in every town."

"I- I didn't think it would be like this either." Fluttershy whimpered. "I had to-  to-"

"What?"

"I'm a murderer!" Fluttershy started wailing.

Shyliss jumped back. "A murderer?!"

"I killed those goblins!"

That seemed to bring Shyliss up short. "But- but they were goblins!" she said.

"No!" Fluttershy cried. "That isn't an excuse. That can't be an excuse. They could just as easily have said you're human."

Shyliss frowned. This was not what she had expected. She wasn't sure if she had expected to go all the way with this new hero, but consoling her on her heroics was definitely not in Shyliss's plans. Still, Shyliss wasn't heartless.

Fluttershy shuddered slightly as an arm was wrapped around her, but Shyliss only pulled her over and shushed her. "They were goblins," Shyliss repeated, trying to find a way to talk the newcomer around. "They- they have always been a threat around here, harassing caravans or raiding farms. They see us the same way a cat might see mice-"

"I've seen cats and mice get along." Fluttershy said.

"But not feral cats and wild mice. Goblins see themselves as better than everyone else, even if they can't prove it. They see people like you and me as slaves at best and food at worst. The ones who attacked us yesterday are killers, far beyond anything you did to defend us."

"They were killers." Fluttershy agreed, nodding a bit. "This- this probably wasn't the first time they had tried to kill somep- someone. But I just can't believe that they are all bad, and I can't believe-" She stuttered to a halt.

"Maybe if you found a very young goblin you might be able to teach it different." Shyliss  said. "If you-"

"SHYLISS!" a deep voice boomed into the cellar. "ARE YOU DOWN HERE?!"

Shyliss sat upright and completely still. Her father had come to find her a lot faster than she thought he would. For a brief moment she was glad things had not gone as planned with Fluttershy, as they would have certainly been in a difficult to explain position. As it was, her father came around the corner to find her and Fluttershy merely sitting on a cot.

"Shyliss! What are you doing down here? Who is this?"

Shyliss stuttered, startled by her father. "This is um- Fluttershy. She- she was one of the heroes who helped with the goblins."

"What is she doing down here?" Vin asked suspiciously.

"Y-y-your daugter thought she saw rats down here." Fluttershy said. "Since I'm a druid I thought I could help while my friends are off h-h-hunting down some poor, innocent boar." Fluttershy sniffled.

"I was trying to comfort her a bit." Shyliss said as she reached out and put an arm around Fluttershy's shoulders, comforting her. 

Vin harumphed loudly and let his shoulders slouch. "Shyliss is a good girl with a good head on her shoulders. I wish her older sister would listen to her advice." A thought struck him and his ire started to work up again. "THAT'S WHAT THE COT IS FOR ISN'T IT?! WHEN I GET AHOLD OF YOUR SISTER AND THAT NO ACCOUNT-"

"Father!" Shyliss warned, nodding meaningfully at Fluttershy who had covered her ears and was cowering from the big man's shouting. "Maybe we can discuss my sister another time."

Vin nodded, and stepped aside so Shyliss could lead Fluttershy out.





Twilight glanced nervously around the table at her friends. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were chatting about the boar hunt a few days ago, Rarity pumping them for more information about the "Charming Adrian Foxglove." Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were talking about life around town. 

Twilight cleared her throat and the conversation died down. "So we've been here almost a week and what do we have to show for it?" 

"The local animals seem friendly, but they don't have any real idea about evil wizards." Fluttershy said. "They do seem worried about something, but it is too.... instinctual to really articulate."

"Local history has been somewhat tough to come by."  Rarity said. "We were right when we first got to town, some bad stuff has gone down. About five years ago there was a serial killer. The night after they caught him, the church burned down with the head priest and his daughter inside."

"Ah been talking to the sheriff and the guards." Applejack said. "Goblins have always been troublesome, hitting caravans and raiding farms but nothing as big as the raid. They've spent most of last week picking the last few goblin corpses outa their hidey holes."

"Public opinion of us is pretty good." Pinkie said. "Bashing baddies here is better than throwing parties. Rainbow's been offered food by about half the bakers in town, and the nice weapons lady told us she'd give us a 20% discount."

"I don't suppose we could apply that on previous purchases." Rarity asked, looking pointedly at the expensive weapons and armor Applejack insisted on wearing everywhere.

Twilight nodded. "Did you find out anything Rainbow Dash?"

"There are a couple of things that are strange. I mean, strange for this place." Rainbow shook her head. "The weather is all like the Everfree, everything seems just so wild. But there are a couple of things in town that don't fit. That stone foundation on the north end called the old light is way older than the town. Most people in town say it's the remains of an ancient lighthouse but one person seems to think it was an old wizard's tower of some kind."

Twilight nodded. "That might be worth looking into. Is there-"

The door to the inn's common room slammed open and a woman rushed in with a screaming bundle wrapped tightly in her arms. 

"Help!" She cried, scanning the room with paicked eyes before fixing on Twilight and her friends. She ran over and laid her bundle on the table. "Please! You have to help my baby!"

The crying child writhed on the table, and Twilight paled at the sight of all the blood. The boy's left arm had almost been chewed to the bone, and with the size of the marks there could be no doubt.

These were bites from a goblin.
> Chapter Six: The Trouble With Goblins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Pinkiamina Diane Pie rushed through the dark streets of Sandpoint ahead of her friends. Fluttershy had stayed behind to heal the child as best she could while the local doctors and clerics were summoned. From what little they had gotten out of the distraught mother, a goblin had somehow hidden itself in the child's closet during the raid. She and her husband had put off the child's tales of a goblin in the closet as nothing more than nightmares spawned from the raid. She had heard screaming and the dog whine tonight and came in to find the goblin chewing on her baby. Her husband had attacked the goblin while she grabbed the kid and ran for help.

Pinkie was not a violent person. She would rather party and prank than harm.

But this thing had tormented a child for days before trying to eat it alive.

As Pinkie reached the house first she paused to catch her breath and let the others catch up to her. With one hand she hefted her mace, and with the other she swept her straight flat hair out of her eyes and back behind her ears.





Applejack brought up the rear of the party, just behind Twilight as the rest of the ponies turned human finally reached the family's home. The door stood wide open, and though a few candles lit the house there was an ominous silence in the night. 

Twilight muttered and touched her chest, before nodding to the others. Applejack and Pinkie Pie took point, with Rainbow Dash and Rarity behind and Twilight bringing up the rear. Under any other circumstances Applejack would have told Pinkie to get to the rear, but she had seen Pinkie's hair go flat like that before and knew better.

"Twilight, darling," Rarity whispered. "We could use a little more light in here."

Twilight nodded and looked around the room before picking up a broom. A few words later and the bristles glowed a soft white. Twilight held the broom up to shine ahead and light the way.

The party moved as one through the house till they reached the child's room at the back. Applejack glowered at the dog, lying dead on the floor with a great slash across its face and throat. The husband was head and arms first down a hole in the floorboards of the closet, shifting and grunting slightly.

"Alright partner, we got this." Applejack said, stepping forward. "Step back and let us handle the little beast."

The husband either didn't hear or didn't care, continuing to shift slightly in the hole.

"Come on mister." Pinkie said, grabbing the back of the man's pants. "Get out of the way so we can give that baddie what for!" Pinkie pulled on the pants and dragged the man out of the hole.

Twilight gasped and Rarity nearly retched at the sight that emerged. The man's throat was slit, leaving a trail of slick blood as he was pulled away. His face was mostly gone, looking like it had been roughly clawed and gnawed down to the bone with little more than ragged gorey chunks of flesh sticking to the blood stained skull around the empty eye and nose holes.

"MY FOOD!" Came a cry as a blood splattered and dernanged goblin launched itself from the hole right at Pinkie. Pnikie's arms came up defensively, but the goblin slashed with a broken knife and bit wildly at her leaving bloody scars. Rainbow Dash stepped up and hit the goblin hard, throwing it to the ground but not doing nearly enough damage to stop it. 

Applejack cursed herself and tried to step backwards. She'd had her crossbow ready, but was too close to fire safely and was pinned in by the tight quarters and her friends. After a moment she pulled the bolt from the crossbow and dropped it, not wanting to drop a loaded and primed weapon in such close quarters. It thudded to the floor, and she drew her short sword as carefully as she could.

Rarity poked at the goblin with her rapier, but then quickly pulled back. When the goblin flinched away from the feint, Rarity struck true. The tip of her thin blade slipped past the creatures ragged armor and through it's heart.

The goblin gurgled and struggled for a moment before realizing it was already dead. With another weak struggle it slipped to the floor.

Pinkie was breathing hard, looking over her wounds with wide eyes. "Ow." She said. "Ow ow ow owie."

"That," Twilight said, shaken from the violence, "was not what I was expecting."

"Alergast?"

Twilight turned to see Amele, the wife coming in with fear and hope clear in her eyes.

"Ma'am you don't want to-" Applejack started.

"ALERGAST!" Amele cried, falling to the floor at the sight of her husband's mutilated body. "NO! NO! PLEASE NO!"

Her desperate cries and pleas gave way to sobbing as the town guard finally arrived.





Pinkie frowned at the red stained bandages that wrapped around her arms. The clerics had focused on healing her of disease from the bites and ragged rusty blade more than closing the wounds, leaving that to the guard's doctor. Fluttershy promised to heal the wounds tomorrow, telling Pinkie she'd already spent her healing spells on the child earlier in the night.

Twilight looked up as the sheriff came in with another woman. "We are sorry for you loss-" The sheriff said, the woman merely turning her nose up at him and walking over to where Amele sat with her bandaged child. Sheriff Hemlock came over to talk with Twilight.

"That's her sister. She was in town for the festival and stayed a while after to make sure the roads were clear. They are going to go live in Magnimar for a while-"

"So, these are the so called heroes?" a sharp voice said. The group looked up to find the sister standing over them. "Maybe if you had been a bit more thorough in your 'hero-ing' my nephew would still have a father!" She turned and stormed out, leading her sister and their young boy away.

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were near tears. "She- she can't mean that can she?" Pinkie asked.

"Don't take any of that to heart." The sheriff said. "The guard is as much to blame as you, more so since it is our job to protect the town."

"The only one t' blame is the gall darned goblin." Applejack spat. "An maybe the boy's parents for not putting any stock into his nightmares."

"Applejack," Rarity admonished. "It is just pain and loss coming out as anger, trying to find a valid target. This is an accident, a bit of circumstance and nothing more."

Fluttershy sighed and blinked the tears out of her eyes. They had been here a week and the killing just kept going. She knew it wouldn't stop, but she couldn't run away from it. Her friends were counting on her, and for them she would be stronger.





Twilight walked down the street in front of her friends, behind the down guard. It had been a few days since the goblin in the closet had sent the citizens scrutinizing every crevice and crawl space. The town had calmed down, but today there was a sense of unease. Twilight might have chalked that up to the to her and her friends being summoned by the town guard, but the agitation had been their earlier. Pinkie had been twitching and fidgeting all morning, and there was quiet talk in the common room of the Rusty Dragon until the guard arrived just after lunch.

At the town barracks she and her friends were led past the few cells and on duty guards over to a small meeting room. Sheriff Hemlock nodded at the party and stood up. Next to him was a somewhat plump man with an air of importance around him. Sitting next to him was a woman with long ears and sharp features.

"Ladies this is Belor the mayor of Sandpoint and this," he waved a hand at the woman, "Is the ranger Shilu Andosana. She keeps track of some of the more troublesome threats in the wilds around town."

"Belor has told me of the work you've done with the goblins." The elf said, leaning closer. She smiled. "Well done. I've dedicated the last few years of my life to limiting their ability to do damage. There are five tribes of goblins in the area and I'm usually able to keep them fighting with each other enough to keep them from causing anyone else too much trouble." A frown replaced the smile. "However, from what I've been able to tell goblins from EVERY tribe were involved in the raid. That worries me, goblins fight at the drop of a hat and only work together when they have plans. Big plans like the raid mean a big boss strong enough to whip the goblins into shape, and after the success of that raid you can bet something bigger is coming."

"What? Thirty goblins ended up dead!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "How can that possibly be considered a success?"

"That depends on what you think the goal of the raid was." Shaelu countered.

"Father Zanthus came to me a day after the raid." Sheriff Hemlock cut in. "He found one of the mausoleums in the boneyard broken into and some of the remains taken. It's very likely that raid was little more than a distraction."

"That distraction cost the lives of six people and two dogs!" Fluttershy said venomously.

"Implying that whatever is coming is much deadlier." Sheriff Hemlock pointed out. 

"I'm going back out into the forests and moors," Shilu said. "If I can I'll track down the big boss uniting the goblins."

"Ya need someone to come with you?" Applejack offered.

"I need you to stay here." Sheriff Hemlock said. "I'm going to take a couple of men and head down to Magnimar, the large city to the south. With luck I'll be able to get some more guards to help protect the town from whatever is coming. The sheriff leaving town can cause a lot of the locals to worry. Under other circumstances I might ask Shilu to stay, but we need her to hunt down the goblin leader. The townfolk need someone in town that they can depend on."

"Are you putting us in charge of the guard?" Twilight asked.

"No, but you will have the guards assistance, and our gratitude." Hemlock said. "Think of yourselves as special guards. Your job is to be seen around town as much as to defend it."

"As long as the local guard will keep us in the loop of anything suspicious," Twilight said, "I think we can manage till you return."





Twilight groaned and rubbed her tired eyes before flipping back through her notes. The common room of the Rusty Dragon was empty save for Twilight, all the other chairs sat upside down on their tables and the floor was freshly mopped. After almost a week of study Twilight had managed to work out only one new spell, a proability and skill modifier that greatly boosted an ally's attack. What she'd managed to decipher from the ancient spell book listed this spell as True Strike. There were other spells she had partially translated but they all seemed so...violent.

"Working late?" A gentle elderly voice asked. Twilight looked up to see an elderly gentleman walking over. "I always find the late night hours the best time to study the arcane. As a fellow wizard, it is nice not to have all the distractions of the day when preparing spells."

"You're a wizard too?" Twilight asked, scooting over as the man righted a chair and sat down. "Maybe you can help me with a problem I've been having. Many of the spells I've run across are offensive in nature."

"Pacifism is a rare sight in the world." he said, "I had a similar problem when I was younger myself. But then my mentor taught me something that I am going to teach you." He pointed to a small clock behind the bar. "That complex device there works by very simple principles. Beneath it all is a spring holding and releasing energy, the same principle you would find in a crossbow. Which do you think came first? The clock or the bow?"

"The bow of course," Twilight said. "It is a simpler system."

The wizard nodded. "Simple systems can be strong, but they can also be learning tools." He tapped her notes for a spell called Shocking Grasp. "A forge's fire can shape steel and glass into a thousand useful shapes, but that same fire would destroy this inn and everyone in it."

"I see!" Twilight said, writing quickly. "These spells are just examples of underlying principles. Once fully understood and practiced they can be utilized in more complex ways! I-" She stopped as a yawn caught her by surprise. Glancing over at the clock again her eyes widened. "Oh my, it's so late it's early again." She packed up her notes. "Goodnight."

"See you later!" The wizard said, waving goodbye. "Good luck Twilight."

"Oh!" Twilight said, spinning around, "I didn't get... your.... name...."

The common room was empty. 
> Chapter Seven: Through The Glassworks Darkly
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Rainbow Dash was jumpy. Three days had passed since the sheriff and the ranger had left town, and while everypony else was doing their best to keep up morale around town Rainbow Dash was just too jumpy. She wasn't sleeping, and her constant nerves were undoing some of the morale boosting work her friends had accomplished.

So she was working night shifts. Moving quietly around the town and talking with the guards. It was the best she could do since she couldn't sleep.

She'd told Fluttershy and Applejack that it was just nerves and bad dreams. Flutttershy had nodded at that, the kind of killing they had done in just a couple of weeks would turn the stomach of any in Ponyville. Applejack hadn't been fooled though, it was hard to trick the element of honesty. The killing wasn't bothering Rainbow, though the fact that killing wasn't bothering her was bothering her.

It was something else, something that seemed sinister to her. Something about the way the grave had been robbed under cover of a goblin invasion. Something about the hidden things that people in town didn't talk about. The cuts and gouges in wood that marred many storefronts and homes. The burned ruins of a house on that little island that was so close to shore your ankles wouldn't get wet walking there at low tide. The ancient tower that everyone swore must have been a lighthouse. The seven stones standing at the center of the church. There was more to this town than trade and faith and goblins, something that seemed to scratch at her consciousness in the wee hours of the morning. She would rather walk in starlight through empty streets than wake drenched in sweat and screaming at nightmares she could not remember.

She was making her way back to the White Stag to try and get a little sleep before the sun came up, when the woman came up to her. Rainbow could spot the grease stains on her simple dress and smell the stale beer of a tavern as she approached.

"You- you are one of those women?" She asked hopefully. "The ones who fought the goblins?" Dash nodded, and the woman held up a folded scrap of paper. "Please, you must help. It is my employer, I fear she is in danger."





Awake and assembled in the common room of the White Stag Twilight and Rarity frowned down at the letter while Applejack questioned the waitress. "Ya'll are sure that is what this letter says?" 

"Yes," the waitress nodded. "Amiko left it with me when she went out early last night. I expected her to be back before midnight, and it is nearly dawn."

"What is in this letter is very troubling." Twilight said. "I wish I could read the language. You are sure this translation is good?" The waitress nodded.

"To think," Rarity raised a hand to her chest in shock, "Lonjiku Kaijitsu is involved in the goblin raid. I'd come to understand he was somewhat respected around town. Practically a noble by the local standards."

"Who is this Tsuto?" Pinkie asked, "I didn't know Amiko had a brother."

"Half brother," The waitress cut in. "Amiko's father disowned him, and Amiko never forgave him for it. She went adventuring, a bit of a scandalous career for a merchant's daughter." The waitress grew wide eyed and looked around, "That isn't to say that you are in any was bad. The town is very grateful for-"

"It's alright," Fluttershy said softly, patting the waitresses shoulder. "There are all kinds of people in the world."

The waitress nodded. "Amiko came back to town after her mother died in an accident a few years ago. She set up the tavern to live on her own and spite her father. He kept coming by now and then to berate her for being an adventurer and owning the Rusty Dragon. Just a few days ago they got into a screaming match."

"And then yesterday she get's a letter from her estranged half-brother telling her to meet him at her father's glassworks." Twilight said, putting a hand to her chin and thinking. "Tsuto claimed he had some evidence against Lonjiku, if that were true then why not just take it to the guards or bring it to us?"

"Tsuto was always seen as a problem child. When he was younger he used to make up wild stories." The waitress bowed her head. 

"A disgraced child of an unfaithful wife making these kinds of accusations against one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in town." Rarity said with a thoughtful look. "It would play well in the theater, but I can see that he might not be taken seriously."

Twilight shook her head. "Something doesn't add up. There is no reason someone as rich and powerful and Lonjiku would support a goblin raid. There isn't any profit or gain from letting creatures that wild run through town."

"At any rate," Rainbow Dash cut in, "Amiko should have been back hours ago. I say we go over to the glass works and check things out."

"I passed by on the way here." The waitress said. "They are locked up tight, something not unusual as Lonjiku is a perfectionist and has been known to fire all the glass workers and stay late into the night to get a custom order just right."

"Well then," Applejack stood and hefted her crossbow. "We'll just have to go knock politely and see who answers."





Twilight and her friends gathered just outside the glassworks and huddled together. "I knocked on the front door," Twilight told them, "But there was no response." 

"There's smoke coming from the furnace," Rainbow Dash observed, "Someone might be in there working and just couldn't hear you."

"We could always break in." Applejack offered, hefting her crossbow.

"Darling, this is not just some little warehouse." Rarity pointed out, reaching out with one finger to redirect Applejack's crossbow back down. "The glassworks are to this town what Sweet Apple Acres is to Ponyville. If we just broke in, even with as good a reason as probable kidnapping, it would take a long time to earn everyone's trust back. Especially if we are wrong."

"But if Amiko is in danger waiting around could be deadly!" Fluttershy cried.

Twilight nodded. "It looks like there are glass domes on the glasswork's roof. Rainbow Dash, fly up and-" Twilight closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ugh, sorry. I'm still getting used to these bodies."

"Don't sweat it Twi," Rainbow called from a short distance away. Twilight opened her eyes to see Rainbow running straight at one wall of the little factory. Her run took her part way up the wall, where she kicked off and turned, grabbing the edge of a nearby house. Pulling her legs up under her she pushed off again, flipping in the air and landing on the roof of the glass works like a gymnast. 

It took Twilight a moment to realize she was gawking, but to be fair so was everyone else. Rainbow Dash walked over to the large glass dome at the front of the building. "No one's at the front, I'm going to take a look through the three at the back." She called before walking out of sight. 

"Sooooooo Twilight," Pinkie said casually.

"Rescue the woman first." Twilight said. "Plan victory parties after."

Pinkie frowned but nodded. 

Rainbow Dash came running back over to their side of the building and lept off, landing grancefully next to Applejack. "We need to get in now." She said. "I saw someone in there in real bad shape. He was all bloody and I don't think he was moving."

Rarity stepped over to the door and pulled out a set of thin tools, beginning to tinker with the locks. Fluttershy grabbed a passerby and told him to get the guards and a healer, pressing a silver coin into his hand as he ran off. 

"See anything else?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, goblins." Rainbow hissed quietly. "A bunch of them."





The front door clicked quietly open, and Rarity tiptoed inside. The room was lit only by the early dawn light coming through the glass dome overhead. Brilliant examples of the glass worker's skill glittered and glowed on shelves and displays in the room. A long counter stretched from the right side of the door down the right hand wall. Rarity waved a hand, and her friends piled in, closing the door behind them.

"What's the plan?" Applejack asked, hefting her crossbow. "Rainbow spotted some in the rear of the building, we wanna just rush them?"

Twilight shook her head. "We need to search as much of the building as we can first. We all saw what one desperate goblin in the wrong place can do. I don't want any of them getting away."

Fluttershy shifted nervously from foot to foot. "But, but what if they aren't all bad?" She asked. "Could we give them a chance to surrender?"

"Sugar cube, ah don't know if you've notice but every goblin we've run across has been worse than a rabid, starving timber wolf." Applejack pointed out, moving to the first door she could reach behind the counter. "Ah think putting them down might be for the best." She peeked through the door. "Hallway, door opposite. Left goes to a pair of double doors and a turn, right is a long hall with another set of double doors at the end and a third door midway down on the right. Doors to the left look like they go outside."

"We should be close to that big room I saw with the goblins." Rainbow pointed out. "We should rush in and take them down."

"But what if there are other goblins in the building?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.

"If even one gets away," Pinkie warned, "We saw what happened last time."

Twilight shook her head. "Someone might be in trouble in there right now. Our first priority is to save them and get rid of the goblins we can find. Afterwards we'll search the rest of the building."

Everyone nodded and moved into the tight hallway. Rarity carefully peaked through the door opposite. "Whew, it definitely opens into the furnaces. I can see at least two goblins from here but it looks like they are just playing around and breaking things. There's a set of double doors off to the left, and there must be another entrance at the far end of the work room."

"Should we separate? Make sure none of them get away?" Applejack asked

"Yeah, probably a good idea." Rainbow replied. "How about you and I go down to the far end and the rest of you hit them from this side. That way we can surround them."

Twilight nodded. "Right, in that case, I and Rarity will attack from this end, with Pinkie and Fluttershy to back us up. Think you'll be alright?"

"Shoot Twi," Applejack grinned, hefting her crossbow. "Between my arrows and Rainbow's fists I doubt any varmint will get past us." Rainbow nodded in agreement before the two turned and stalked quietly down the hallway.

"Twilight, if that person in there is hurt I need to get to them as soon as possible." Fluttershy pointed out.

Twilight hesitated for a moment, watching the backs of her friends retreating stealthily down the hall. "Right, you and Pinkie are to get to the injured as fast as possible. We'll provide ranged support. Rarity, why don't you introduce us?"

With a nod Rarity Stepped in and threw a dagger at the closest goblin, knocking the monster flat on it's back. She felt a brief bit of fear grip her heart as seven more sets of eyes turned to look at her. There was a chattering cry of sadistic glee as the closest goblin reached over to a furnace and pulled a set of tongs coated in glowing molten glass.

Fluttershy and Pinkie barged in next, running down the far wall towards their goal. Seven goblins were now visible, and two turned their attention to the running girls. One advanced with a rusty blade and a pair of tongs dripping molten glass. The hot poker sizzled as it pressed into the side of Pinkie's armor and she yelped in pain, flailing wildly at the creature. The other goblin was too far away to reach the pair and settled for flinging panes of colored glass clumsily at them. None hit the girls but where they smacked the wall or crashed to the ground they left a smattering of razor sharp shards.

Seeing the effect and enjoying the pretty sounds three more goblins flung nearby glass, littering the floor with half visible blades. One crashed just to the right of Rairty and the fashionista instinctively through her arms up to protect her face.

Twilight stepped forward and raised a hand. "SLEEP!" She commanded, and three of the closest goblins dropped to the ground unconscious. Rarity nodded her thanks.

Fluttershy came to a stop before the man in the chair and managed a startled gasp. Pinkie got a look at it in better light before turning and losing part of her dinner on the floor. What had been a man had been strapped to the chair and molten glass poured slowly over him. From the burns and the way the glass sagged it was clear the tormentor had started with the hands and arms but now a full half of his face was sealed in a shiny clear shell. The heat had cooked his flesh but the part that remained clear showed an older man, far older then Amiko.

Pinkie's head came up, her hair straight and her eyes narrowed in rage. She turned on the nearest goblin and with a mighty strike knocked the pitiful thing backward so that it landed partially in one of the furnaces. There was a brief cry before the thing met it's end, and the stench was terrible.

"IT'S THEM!" The furthest goblin cried out. "THEM LONGSHANKS WHAT RUINED THE ATTACK! RUN FOR IT!" He and the two closest to him proceeded to try and do just that, the first finding his flight cut off by a bolt from Applejack. The next came crashing into Rainbow Dash's lethal blows, but the third used the death of his comrade to slip by the defenders.

"AH GOT HIM!" AJ called, turning to follow the monster out the door. Rainbow nodded and stepped into the room, moving up to the last goblin who was trying to position himself to assault Fluttershy. The speed with which the prismatic monk moved left the goblin no option but to die where it stood.

Twilight and Rarity moved carefully forward, keeping an eye on the floor to spot the glass shards their brief fight had scattered about. Rarity still managed to pick up a small sliver but was able to carefully remove it. "Times like this I almost wish iron boots were in fashion," she muttered, carefully stepping over another pile of glass.

Rainbow looked over the glass coated corpse with macabre facination for a moment before turning to the furnaces. She grabbed a large pair of tongs and pulled the smoldering corpse of Pinkie's kill out of the furnace in hopes that the smell would abate. "Hey Fluttershy, not to be crude but does that guy have all his fingers?"

Fluttershy looked over to Rainbow Dash and nodded, only for Rainbow to lift a set of tongs that had half a hand dipped in glass. "Looks like this guy wasn't the only one here. I think the goblins got most of the other workers."

"He's not a worker." Rairity cut in. "Given his clothing and age he is both too rich and too old. At a guess I'd say he is Lonjiku Kaijitsu, Amiko's father and owner of the glassworks."

"But the note we saw said he was working with the goblins!" Twilight pointed out.

"Maybe they changed their minds?" Rarity offered.

"Hey, if he's here, where are Amiko and her brother?" Pinkie asked.

Applejack walked back in. "Ah got the feller. Funny though, he wasn't running for the exit but for the basement."

"Maybe that's how the goblins got in." Pinkie said. "I can't imagine eight of them just waltzing into town, not with the guards as alert as they are."

"Lets check it out." Twilight said. "But be careful."





Applejack lead the short walk downstairs into the cellar, with Pinkie and Fluttershy following and Rarity and Twilight bringing up the rear. Rainbow Dash lagged behind to make sure no extra goblin surprises caught them unawares. At the bottom of the stairs the basement opened into a long hallway that curved slightly left. A man sized opening along the lefthand wall showed where an older tunnel had recently been uncovered.

"Which way?" Applejack asked.

"Left," Rarity directed. "This looks suspicious and we should check it out."

The left path came to a pair of doors and another broken down wall. The first door opened into a small store room with the back of the old stone wall torn away to reveal a tunnel. Unlike the rest of the basement this tunnel was not a tiled and brickwork afair but a single uneven hole bore through solid earth. 

"How long has this been here?" Twilight asked, looking over the signs of neglect and age in the store room.

"I can see some stone work but this must have been her for decades at least." Pinkie Pie said, running her fingers over a worn chisel mark.

"Ah can barely see anything." Applejack said peering into the shadows of the tunnel. Beyond the store room there was no torch or light, though her eyes detected some faint glimmer in the distance. It was clear from the echo of their whispers that the tunnel went on some ways. Her eyes narrowed and she raised a hand to call her companions to silence.  For a moment there was nothing but the sound of flickering torches and shifting cloth of the group. Then a soft grunt was heard echoing down the tunnel. "Someones down there." She said, readying her crossbow.

"Here, let me help." Twilight said, placing her hand over the end of her staff. A moment later the end glowed with a pure but soft white light, throwing long shadows down the tunnel before them. A sound was heard in the tunnel, a response to the light though they could not see who made it, and a noise of shuffling or dragging became more evident.

"I don't think that's someone coming to greet us." Rarity said, pulling up her throwing dagger.

"I think that's someone asking for a but kicking!" Rainbow Dash said, charging down the tunnel.

"RAINBOW WAIT!" Twilight called as the rest of the group followed along behind.

Into the darkness they ran, Twilights staff limiting Rainbow's speed only because she nearly ran into a wall or tripped when she ranged too far ahead. Over the sounds of their running Rarity thought she heard a swishing sound before Rainbow cried out and fell against the cave wall with an arrow in her leg.

"You'd best turn back." A masculine voice called out from the shadows. "You're nothing more than sitting ducks where you are."

"Coward!" Pinkie cried. "Show yourself!"

"No. Go back to your doomed town and cower in your hovels as vengeance comes on you."

Applejack pointed her crossbow down the tunnel. "Ah can't see the jerk." She muttered, scanning back and forth and trying to place the voices source from the echoes.

"You don't need to see him." Twilight told her. "Just aim as best you can and I'll help with the rest." She closed her eyes and concentrated. "True Strike." She intoned.

Applejack's crossbow shifted ever so slightly, and the bolt that was loosed from it was rewarded with a cry of pain in the distance. The sound of footfalls followed. 

"He's running for it!" Rainbow Dash called, forcing herself back to her feet. "Come on." 

"WAIT!" Twilight called out in vain as Rainbow once more ran ahead. The others followed and Twilight was hard pressed to keep up. Ahead of her she could hear a commotion. By the time she reached it her five friends were standing over an unconscious half elf. "I said wait. What did you do?"

"I tried to tackle him but he fought back." Rainbow Dash said. "I hit him but I didn't think it was that hard." She yelped as Fluttershy pulled the arrow from her leg. "OW! Shy, that hurt!"

"Well I'm not going to be able to heal it with the arrow in there." She said, pulling out some bandages.

"Lets get this jerk back to the guards." Applejack said, stooping to pick up the limp foe. "When he comes to he can tell us what was going on at the glassworks and where Amiko is."

As one the ponies turned and headed back down the path.