> The Guardian
>  by InsaneBatPony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Beast of Flesh and Metal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Sweetie Belle wandered around Ponyville looking for a way to get her cutie mark by observing others in the town. She looked down and let out a large sigh and kicked a rock to the side. 

“How am I going to get my Cutie Mark?!” she yelled, to none in particular. She looked at the ground deep in thought. “I could try potion making again but after that love poison incident with Big Mac and Ms. Cheerilee, I don’t think it would be a good idea.” she whispered, trampling off in frustration.

She headed to the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse hoping to find some inspiration there. She arrived at the clubhouse and discovered that neither of the other Cutie Mark Crusaders were around. She huffed and entered the empty clubhouse. She looked around the one room clubhouse and looked at their map of Ponyville. She couldn't make out much of the map because of the red crayon that covered most of it in scribbled lines and giant red X’s. She kicked the wall and slumped to the floor in a depressed state. 

“I've tried just about everything I can think of and still nothing.  No Cutie Mark! Ughh, what should I do now? Everypony keeps telling me to give it time but I want it now!” she screamed. 

“Sweetie Belle!? Sweetie! Are you here?!” a voice called from the outside of the clubhouse.

Sweetie Belle got up and went outside to find out who it was. She saw Rarity walking around outside looking for her. 

“I’m over here Rarity!” Sweetie Belle called. 

“Oh, thank goodness. Come along Sweetie, it’s getting late and you have school in the morning.” Rarity said while placing a hoof on Sweetie’s shoulder to hurry her along. 


2


The light shown through the windows of Carousel Boutique and illuminated the rooms with its light. Sweetie Belle stirred and pulled the covers over her face not wanting to get out of bed. She heard a knock on her door. Sweetie Belle only tightened her grip on her covers. 

“Go away!” she yelled from under her sheet. 

“Sweetie, you’re going to be late for school! Get out of bed!” Rarity called from the other side. Sweetie Belle slowly uncovered herself and got out of bed. A short time later she was ready to go to school. She ate some breakfast and ran down to the school building. 


3


“Good morning sister.” Luna called while entering the throne room of Canterlot Castle. 

“Luna? Its morning what are you doing up? You need to be resting.” Celestia said smoothly. 

Luna stuck out her tongue. “Oh, come now sister. I can be up if I please, you know that.” 

“Yes, but I still would like to know why you are up at this hour.” 

“Very well.” Luna looked down for a moment. “I had a strange feeling last night I wanted to ask your opinion about the matter.” 

Celestia was puzzled. She looked at her sister and saw the sincerity in her eyes. “OK, what is troubling you my sister?” 

“When I was out flying last night I got this strange sensation. I have never felt it before which is why it bothers me.” 

“What was this feeling?” Celestia asked. 

“Well, oh, how do I describe it? It was like a mixed feeling of dread and anticipation. That’s the best way to put into words but maybe I can transfer that feeling to you.” 

Celestia calmly nodded for her sister to continue. Luna approached her sister. Luna’s horn began to glow and she tapped her horn to Celestia’s. Celestia’s face contorted as she tried to comprehend the feeling that overwhelmed her senses. Luna pulled away and waited for Celestia’s response. 

Celestia opened her eyes and looked at her sister. She breathed heavily and shook her head slowly from side to side. “I don’t know what to make of this Luna. I can’t comprehend that sense. Although what I can tell you is that it is not from this world.” Celestia said grimly. 

“What do you mean?” Luna asked. 

“I mean that this feeling does not come from any pony in Equestria. I know that every pony in Equestria gives off a unique life signature. The feeling you had is your sensing of a life signature but it felt only half alive.” Celestia said, seriousness permeating her face. 


4


The school bell rang and the Cutie Mark Crusaders dashed from the building in a blur. They congregated in the yard and began to discuss their usual topic. 

“ OK, ladies how are we going to get our Cutie Marks?” Sweetie Belle asked the others. 

“I know we can go ask Rainbow Dash to help us!” Scootaloo said grinning from ear to ear. 

“You always say that Scootaloo! Ah think we should go into the forest and try to catch some animals out there. Maybe we could get our Cutie Marks as Everfree Forest Animal Catchers.” Applebloom suggested. 

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo thought about it for a while and nodded their approval. 

“Everfree Forest Animal Catchers Yay!” they all screamed in unison and they went top speed toward the Everfree. 


5


Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom arrived at the edge of the Everfree Forest a short time later. 

“Well, come on guys let’s go!” Scootaloo called behind her back, already on her way into the forest. 

“Hey wait up!” Sweetie Belle and Applebloom called in unison, running to catch up.

“Well, what are we looking for exactly?” Applebloom asked. 

“I don’t know, just something that we can catch.” Scootaloo answered. 

They continued to walk for a short while when Scootaloo spotted a Timber Wolf in the Distance. 

“Hey, what about that?” Scootaloo called to the others. 

“A Timber Wolf? Are you out of your mind Scootaloo? That thing could eat us in one bite.” Sweetie Belle said in a panic. 

“Well, we won’t know unless we try.” Scootaloo said, charging the Timber Wolf. 

“Scootaloo, No! Stop!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle yelled in unison. Scootaloo charged at the Timber Wolf alone while Sweetie Belle and Applebloom tried their best to keep up. 

The Timber Wolf noticed the charge and turned to face Scootaloo. She approached rapidly and the Wolf took a swipe at her when she was in range. The Timber Wolf missed by a small margin and was correcting itself when Scootaloo jumped onto its back and clung to its neck. The Wolf snarled and ran in all directions trying to get the little hitchhiker off of its back. It eventually ran into a tree and hit its head knocking it unconsciousness and throwing Scootaloo headfirst into the tree as well. 

“Scootaloo!” yelled Applebloom, running to help her friend, Sweetie Belle followed closely behind. 

“Are you OK?” Sweetie Bell asked Scootaloo. 

“Yeah I’m OK.” Scootaloo answered, righting herself. 

“That was close! Ah thought you were a goner Scoot.” Applebloom said. 

“Yeah I agree. I thought I was a goner.” Scootaloo answered, rubbing her head. 

“Hey guys, I think it’s time we go. Rarity’s going to worry if I don’t get back home soon.” Sweetie Belle told the others. 

“Yeah alright, I think we should go too.” Scootaloo agreed. 

Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle turned to head home when they heard a growling sound behind them. They turned to see that the Timber Wolf had gotten back up and was staring them down. 

“Now don’t panic. It’s going to be alight.” Applebloom said quietly. The Timber Wolf took a step forward indicating its hostility. “Run!” Applebloom wailed. They turned and ran through the forest trying to escape the Timber Wolf who was now chasing them. 

They ran through the forest dodging trees. The Cutie Mark Crusaders ran for what seemed like hours while screaming all the way, the Timber Wolf close behind them. 

“We should split up! We need to divide its attention for while so we can escape!” Scootaloo yelled. 

“Ah agree!” Applebloom called out. 

“Ok! On three! One. Two .Three!” Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle split up and went in different directions. Applebloom to the right, Scootaloo to the left and Sweetie Belle continued straight. The Timber Wolf continued to chase Sweetie Belle. 

Sweetie Belle ran in an adrenaline fueled panic and decided to climb a tree hoping to escape the rampaging wolf. “Somepony, anypony, help!” She yelled from a tree branch.  The Timber wolf circled the tree and began jumping at Sweetie Belle any time she moved. She held to the tree branch like a vice.  

She could feel the light pitter patter of rain coming down on top of her and the wolf. The wolf remained undaunted by the rain. It leaped and Sweetie Belle launched a leg at it hitting it in the nose. The Wolf recoiled and began to circle again. The clouds got darker and the rain became thicker as it poured down into the Everfree. Lightning struck the ground causing some wildlife to flee their homes. Sweetie Belle could feel the ground shake from the massive impacts of the lightning. Her tears were hidden by the rain as she clutched onto the branch for her life. 


6


A large being stood up and shook its head trying to clear it from its daze, its massive legs whirring and clanging as they moved. It looked at its hands inspecting the damage that it had received from the crash. It turned its head to look at its current surroundings. The rain clouded his vision as it climbed out of the crater that it was standing in. 

It stood still once again inspecting its surroundings and running a self-diagnostic. The diagnostic completed and reported minor damage. It initiated a repair sequence to its right side. It waited for few minutes while the repair sequence worked. When it was completed it moved away from the crater, its boots causing the earth to shake under their weight. 

It walked a short distance when through the rain it heard a scream for help. It did not recognize the phrasing of the scream but it headed that direction at a quickened pace.


7


Sweetie Belle clutched to the branch. The wind and the wolf making the tree shake and bend. It took all the strength that her tiny frame could muster in order to stay attached to the branch. The wolf lunged at the tree again, hitting it hard and Sweetie Belle lost her grip and slipped off of the tree. She landed in the mud and crawled backwards until her back was against the tree. The wolf growled and revealed its sharp teeth, drool and foam frothing from its mouth. It roared as it made its final approach towards the filly. 

Sweetie Belle screamed at the top of her lungs hoping that someone would hear her over the downpour. Her scream was answered by an ear shattering wail. Sweetie Belle covered her ears in pain and the wolf recoiled at the sound. She looked in the direction it came from to see only blackness. Then she heard a loud snapping sound and a large creature barreled through a tree snapping it in two. It wailed again and charged at the wolf. 

The wolf turned to look at his new opponent when it was smashed in the face by a giant metal hand. The wolf flew backwards and landed against another tree. The giant walked in front of Sweetie Belle, his back to her. It made a fist and a large blade sprung from its right wrist. The giant took a defensive stance the blade in front of its face. 

The wolf got up and began to circle the tree that it had just been knocked from. It barred its fangs, growling. The giant stood his ground a low rumble coming from its throat. The wolf charged at the two and was met with a blade to the face. Its nose was cut in half and it could no longer breathe. Blood was spilling from the wound. The wolf whimpered in pain and backed up for a moment. The giant retracted its blade and grabbed the wolf in its two hands and pulled. The wolf was torn in two its guts and a waterfall of blood spilling from its midsection. The giant threw the two pieces away and let out another one of its piercing cries. 

The giant turned to face Sweetie Belle. The giant’s chest was heaving as it breathed quickly and deeply.  It took a step forward, causing the ground too rumble beneath the filly. She tried to back away from this massive creature. But her back was already against the tree inhibiting her ability to escape. A flash of lightning illuminated the ground allowing Sweetie Belle a brief look at this monstrosity. It was nearly seven feet tall. She noticed that it had a tan appendage on the left of its body and a deep black appendage on its right that reflected the light. Its right hoof had smaller outgrowths that looked like sharpened talons. Its legs were wide which connected to large feet. The face was obstructed by a large cloth that covered its nose and mouth. It had glowing red eyes illuminating a small portion of its optical region. 

Sweetie Belle whimpered, too scared to move or say anything.  She curled into a ball and covered her eyes. She heard the large footsteps of the giant coming near her and she tensed even more. The footsteps stopped and she felt a large shaking in the ground. She refused to remove her hooves from her eyes. She felt a large and soft object cover her back and tighten lightly. She felt herself being lifted from the ground and placed elsewhere. She removed one hoof from her eye and noticed that the giant had placed her in its lap. She began to shake with fear and let out a small squeak. She heard a high pitched sound come from above her and noticed that the grip on her back relaxed and the giant’s hand began to stroke her along her back in a comforting manner. She continued to shake with fear, though not as badly. 

The giant laid itself down and placed Sweetie belle on the ground to his side. She had somehow fallen asleep in the downpour. The giant took its scarf from its body and placed it over her. The giant noticed that the filly smiled and grabbed it like it was her own blanket. The giant remained under the tree with the young filly and remained vigil for the remainder of the night.

> Sweetie and the Beast
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


The sun had risen over the Everfree warming the dirt upon the ground. The giant stood and turned his head down toward the filly beside his massive foot. He looked out into the tree line and around the forest floor. He knelt down and touched Sweetie Belle’s face lightly with one of his fingers. 

“Rarity, I don’t want to get up yet.” she mumbled. The giant nudged her head lightly again. “Alright, alright, I’m getting up.” She grumbled. She slowly opened her eyes and jumped when she saw the giant’s metal face next to her. The giant stumbled back a little also startled. “What are you, how did I get here?!” Sweetie Belle yelled in fright. The giant made only low groaning sounds and high pitched whines. “Umm, ok.” Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and took a good long look at the creature before her. 

She found all of the features that she had previously had a glimpse of. She examined every part of it this time. Perhaps the most notable and disturbing feature she saw of this creature was that it did not have any skin on the left side of its torso and what was there had been torn and burned. Its face did not have a nose or lips. All she could see were exposed black, shimmering teeth, All of its organs were exposed. Each organ had been grossly modified. The only thing protecting them was the cage of metal that appeared to be its ribs. Sweetie Belle could feel a storm brewing in her stomach. She felt her throat tighten slightly and a burning in her esophagus. When it reached her mouth she kept it closed and swallowed hard. Her face contorted and she fell to her knees. The giant knelt down and started to rub Sweetie’s back to calm her down. Sweetie belle looked up more confused than before. 

“Why are you trying to help me? I thought all of the creatures of the Everfree Forest were evil.” The giant only stood and watched Sweetie Belle. The giant pointed to the ground after a few seconds. Sweetie Belle looked down and saw the long piece of gray cloth on the ground. “Would you like this back?” she asked while holding the scarf with her magic. The giant growled and swiped hard at the green aura causing Sweetie Belle to drop the scarf and duck for dear life trying to avoid the sharpened metal fingers. “What in Celestia’s green Earth was that for!?” she wailed at the giant. “Wait… you've never seen magic before have you?” The giant cocked his head slightly to the right. “You know…magic.” The giant did not move. Sweetie Belle thought for a moment and allowed her horn to glow. The giant let out a small growl. “It’s alright, I can control it.” She used her magic to pick up a small stick from the forest floor. She levitated it to the giant’s eye level. “See. It won’t hurt you. Magic comes naturally to a unicorn.” Sweetie proclaimed happily. The giant hummed and nodded with apprehension. 

After Sweetie Belle gave her short lesson about magic she sat and looked at the masses of trees around them. She could only see the brown trunks of the trees around them. She eventually spied a mass of brown sticks, and red stains. She picked herself up and trotted over to the mass. She felt the storm again and this time could not hold it down. She covered the mass in an unrecognizable slop. She turned slowly coughing while the giant came, his steps making the ground vibrate.

“Is that the Timber Wolf from yesterday?” she asked, feeling queasy. The giant nodded. She stood in silence for a moment. “OK, well um, why don’t I get going? I need to find my friends.” she said uneasily. “Thanks for everything and uh, good luck to you.” She scrambled off in a hurry, her mind running wild. 


2


Sweetie had run until she was certain that she had lost the creature by the tree. She slowed down to a trot and then into a walking pace. She hoped that it would be the last time she had to look at that abomination of a creature. She tried to banish the image of the Timber wolf from her mind after what she had seen of what remained of it. She walked along the dirt, cracking small sticks beneath her hooves and climbing over the large log like branches and felled trees. She kept looking behind her wondering if it was following. Why was she wondering if he was? What did she care? She had seen the Timber Wolf and what was left of it. Yet a small piece of her wanted him to be following close behind her. She shook her head to get her mind off of whatever creature had helped her and tried to focus on where her friends would be. 

She called out for Applebloom and Scootaloo but never received a response, she only heard birds and other various animals around her. She continued to call for her lost friends when she heard snapping and other grunting behind her. “Applebloom! Scootaloo! Is that you?” she called, turning in the direction of the sounds. She saw a sight that nearly made her vomit again even though there was nothing left inside of her stomach to eject. She saw a pack of three Manticores walking to their cave when she noticed that they were dragging two bloodied fillies in their large lion like paws. One had red hair and a yellow coat while the other had a purple mane and orange fur. She recognized them immediately even though they were covered in red splotches. “Applebloom, Scootaloo.” She whispered, barely audible . One of the three Manticores stopped and turned to see that Sweetie Belle had been watching them. The Manticore without a filly in its paw ran at her and roared. 

She screamed and tried to run away from her attacker when she was caught by its large paw. She struggled and tried to escape its grip to no avail. Despite her efforts to escape she was caught in the Manticore’s vice like grip. The Manticore had her pinned to the ground. He raised its Scorpion like tail ready to inject a paralysis poison into her body. Before it was able to bring down its tail it felt a pain in its paw and saw the small filly biting down on it. The Manticore roared and his paw released her as the Manticore brought it up to inspect the damage. He roared again and Sweetie threw a stick at it hoping to slow it down. It shot threw the stick as though it were a twig and rocketed toward Sweetie Belle. She could not move her body refusing to take another step even though her brain told it to turn and run.


3


The Manticore ran at top speed to catch his tiny prize when it felt something slam into its back. The Manticore’s stomach arced toward the ground and its spine had nearly collapsed in on itself, had it not been for the ground beneath him. His brain smashed around inside its skull causing it immense pain and the inability to see what was happening around him. When its vision cleared it saw a silhouette raised above its head watched as it came hurdling onto the top of its face. 

Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and saw the giant in front of her once more, this time from his side. The Manticore blood stained his steel grey metal boot. Tears formed in her eyes and she tried to lunge at him to hug his massive leg but her body still would not move. The other two Manticores dropped their prizes and roared at seeing their comrade killed in front of them. They charged at the assailant. The giant turned his body and stood stone still and allowed his large blade to escape from his right  wrist. He lowered his posture as the Manticores came closer. 

The first Manticore lunged at the giant when it was in range. The Manticore was pushed to the ground by the giant’s hand and he brought the blade down upon the Manticore for the finishing blow, but the second Manticore reached the giant first and managed to slash him across the back. The giant let out a roar of his own and brought the blade to his second attacker in and upward sweep. The blade met flesh as the blade carved a gash into the Manticore’s side. The Manticore yelped in agony as blood rushed from the newly formed wound. The first Manticore sprang up and lunged once again and latched on to the giant’s back using his claws. The Manticore bit down into the giant’s neck. The giant groaned and jumped up slightly and flattened himself in the air. The Manticore could not get off in time and his lower body was crushed beneath the giant’s unmatched weight. With the first Manticore down with a mortal injury he could focus on the other. 

The giant ran at the other Manticore. The Manticore charged at the giant in response and it let out a mighty swipe at the giant’s throat. The giant punched the Manticore in the face while blocking the Manticore’s attack with the other. The Manticore spun in midair. The giant’s sense of time slowed to nearly half. The giant spun around and brought his fist down into the Manticore’s back as it fell with great force. The Manticore’s spine shattered and blood rushed from the Manticore’s mouth as it slammed into the ground hard enough to crack stone. The Manticore remained still and breathed its last. The giant returned to where the first Manticore lay only to find it forever still. 

The giant returned to where Sweetie Belle stood unmoving. She found that the giant’s shadow blocked out the sun above her. She looked into the giant’s face seeing only his glowing red eyes. Tears were streaming from her eyes and she sniffled and whimpered. She tackled the giant’s foot and sobbed into it. Her tears left small wet trails on his massive metal clad appendage. The giant knelt carefully as not to harm her. He scooped her up in his flesh covered hand and held her gently to his shoulder letting out a small whine of his own. Sweetie belle continued to cry into his shoulder while mumbling things about how she felt horrible about running from him and wishing that she had never left. The giant did the only thing he could do and that was to let her cry into his shoulder.


4


When Sweetie Belle had finally calmed down they went over to where Applebloom and Scootaloo were lying. Sweetie Belle looked at them in horror. Their bodies were covered in dried blood making their fur and manes look matted and unkempt. She nudged at them with her hoof, they remained still. Sweetie Belle did not want to lose her friends because of their dumb decision to go after a Timber Wolf as the Cutie Mark Crusader Everfree Forest Animal Catchers. Her eyes welled up again and she almost began to cry, except that her eyes could not push out any more tears. The giant was on his knee his eyes glowing unusually bright. The small display in his optical nerve began displaying information regarding the conditions of the small fillies. 

Scanning…

Scanning…

Diagnosis of unknown horse like creature Complete: Spinal nerves constricted, Central Nervous System blocked. Brain-stem Status: Operational. Life not in immediate danger. Options for fixing issue: 1. Adjust Spinal Column 2.  Remove Spine and replace via surgical intrusion. 3. Leave creature for dead. 

He shifted his head from Applebloom over to Scootaloo. 

Scanning…

Scanning…

Diagnosis of winged animal complete: Rib cage has been damaged. Blood flow slowed to almost nonexistent levels. Vitals dwindling rapidly. Estimated time to complete bodily shutdown Two minutes. Options for repairing damage with minimal repercussions: 1. Relocate damaged ribs to reinstitute blood flow. 2. End life. ….Only two options available, third unable to be found. 

He brought his left index finger the still body of Applebloom and placed it on her back and pushed fairly hard. Sweetie heard a snap and panicked. “What did you do?! You broke her back!” she screamed. The giant let out a groan and moved on to Scootaloo. He placed his finger on her side and did the same. Sweetie heard another snapping sound also accompanied by a crack. She almost fainted like her sister normally would, though less graceful. 

Moments later Applebloom began to lightly shift and her chest began to move up and down lightly. Scootaloo did the same her heart able to get blood to where it needed to go. Sweetie Belle was relieved but felt guilty about doubting the giant once again when she should have waited and let him conduct his treatments. The giant picked up Sweetie Belle in his covered hand and placed her on the back of his neck, her back hooves draped over his shoulders. He scooped up Applebloom and Scootaloo into his covered arm holding them lightly and began walking away from the incident. Sweetie Belle hugged the giant’s head with her front hooves and placed her cheek on top of his head, closing her eyes.
> Blood for Breadcrumbs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


“We need to find them, Twilight! The thought of my dear Sister out there somewhere all alone and frightened. This is the worst possible thing!” Rarity hollered while ‘fainting’ on her red couch, which she pulled out of nowhere. 

“For once ah agree with Rarity! We need to find them!” Applejack said loudly. 

“I know, I know just please everypony calm down for a minute and tell me what happened.” Twilight iterated calmly. 

Rarity and Applejack explained that when the school day had ended the two of them never came home. Twilight looked over too Rainbow Dash with a questioning look. 

"Scoots never came to find me like she normally does." Rainbow Dash said, defensively. 

“Well that’s a problem.” Twilight said, rubbing her chin with a hoof. 

“Well, I did see them running toward the Everfree forest when I was out.” Fluttershy said quietly, though not quietly enough. 

“Why in tarnation didn’t you say something earlier!?” Applejack yelled, causing Fluttershy to sink behind her mane. 

“I…I’m sorry. It’s just that everyone was running around and yelling I didn't want to interrupt.” She squeaked. 

Applejack let out a sigh and backed off of the yellow Pegasus. “Well then ya’ll, it looks like we’re going to the Everfree.” Applejack stated. 


2


Sweetie Belle awoke near the break of dawn even though she was more than exhausted from her misadventures in the Everfree. She stretched and opened her eyes. She could not see much except for a large opening where the morning sun was breaking through. She slowly made her way over too where the sun was peeking in. She stepped out of the cave and watched as the sun rose. She looked to her sides and saw the giant standing stone still, his hands to his sides. 

“Hey, there. Morning.” Sweetie said wearily. The giant looked down and made a metallic clink. “Thank you for saving my friends. I’m sorry about everything. I wish I could make it up to you.” She said with some remorse in her voice. The giant bent down and grabbed Sweetie Belle and lifted her to the position she was in the previous day on top of his shoulders. “It’s strange, you’re so nice to me and the others yet you have your…” her voice trailed off unsure of how to phrase the last of the sentence. The giant let out a high pitch moan. “I really wish you could talk.” she whispered to herself. “I’m hungry and the others will be too. How about you and I go get some food?” she recommended, the giant nodded his approval. 


3


“Are you sure this is where you saw them go in?” Twilight asked. 

“Yes, they ran in here rather quickly. I didn't have a chance to stop them.” Fluttershy responded. 

“Well then girls, let’s get going. Rainbow Dash scout up high please.” Twilight said. 

Rainbow Dash flew up leaving a rainbow trail behind her. The others entered into the Everfree Forest. 


4


The giant and Sweetie Belle had spent most of the morning looking for things within the Everfree that were edible for them to eat for breakfast. When they had collected enough they went back to the cave where Applebloom and Scootaloo awaited. Sweetie Belle was keeping herself busy by eating and talking almost constantly about how many times she and her friends failed to get their Cutie Marks, she would occasionally drop some of her food onto the giant’s head. 

“When we get back, I’ll go in first to see if Applebloom and Scootaloo are awake. I want to be able to explain what’s going on and then you can come in and meet them.” She said after finally finishing her meager breakfast. The giant grunted. 

They arrived back at the cave and the giant let Sweetie Belle off of his shoulders. “Don’t forget, I’ll go in first.” She said facing him again. She walked into the cave expecting to see her friends awake. “Ah darn, their still asleep. I wonder if I can wake them up.” She whispered to herself. She walked over to where they slept as quietly as she could and tapped them with her hoof. Applebloom stirred and moaned slightly. Sweetie Belle tried prodding her again. She moved and slowly opened her eyes slowly. 

“Where am ah? Mah back hurts.” She while trying to wipe away the tiredness in her eyes. She rolled herself over on her stomach. She looked around seeing only rock and small bugs walking along the cave’s floor. She let out a small yell and jumped up causing pain to shoot through her spine. She wailed a little and fell back down to the ground. 

“Applebloom are you okay?” Sweetie Belle asked, concerned. Applebloom would have tackled Sweetie Belle if not for her back pain. 

“Ow. Yeah , ahm alright but where are we? Ah remember me and Scootaloo tripping into a pile of mush that was warm and really wet. And it smelled really nasty. When ah got up ah saw these big red eyes in the dark. Ah grabbed Scootaloo and ran. Then Ah remember being attacked by these three Manticores. Some dream huh?” 

“Well…that wasn't a dream Applebloom.” Sweetie said, reserved. 

“What do you mean it happened? Am ah dead?” she wailed while darting her head to and fro causing her spine to hurt 
more. She stopped when the pain grew. 

“Shut Up! I’m trying to sleep.” Scootaloo half-shouted, feeling groggy. 

“Wake up Scoot! All the stuff that happened wasn't a dream.” Applebloom called. Scootaloo shot up in a hurry and winced hard at the pain in her side. 

Scootaloo shot up, causing pain to reverberate through her body. She winced and focused her attention on thier surroundings, her gaze falling to the cave entrance. “Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, what is that thing?!” she asked, terrified.

“What are you talking about Scootaloo?” Applebloom asked, looking toward the entrance. 

The giant stood in the doorway, the light shining through the gaps in his ribs and body. “I told you to wait outside until I was done explaining everything!” Sweetie Belle reprimanded, like a mother scolding her child. The giant stood unmoving for a little bit and went back outside still holding the food for the other two fillies. Sweetie Belle went after him and when she reached the entrance he had vanished into the forest. She went back inside her face downcast. 

“What was that thing?!” Scootaloo asked, half yelling. 

Sweetie Belle lifted her head. “I'll tell you.”


5


The five Elements had been walking for hours and were tired from their search. The only thing keeping them going was the prospect of finding the missing fillies. Rainbow Dash had been flying for a long time as well and had not reported in for some time.

“We’ve been walking for hours. How come we haven’t seen any sign of them?” Rarity asked. 

“Yeah, Ah’m getting worried about mah sister, Twi.” Applejack said with worry. 

“I don’t know. We need to be patient and remember Rainbow Dash is up there looking as well. I’m sure we’ll get some 
sign of them soon.” Twilight reassured them but she was also unsure of her own words. 

They stopped when they heard a high pitch screaming in the air. They all looked up and saw Rainbow Dash speeding through the sky toward their location. The five ponies ducked for dear life. On the verge of causing a Sonic Rainboom Rainbow Dash smashed into some trees. Breaking them on impact and sliding into another. She shot up seemingly uninjured and ran over to where the others were still on the ground. They got up in a hurry. 

“What the hay Rainbow Dash!? Ya almost took our heads off!” Applejack seethed. 

“You guys are not going to believe this!” she said her voice rising in pitch. “I found something farther in the forest. Follow me.” She said, running to the thing she had found previously. 

The others ran behind unable to get a word in before Rainbow Dash took off. They ran at full speed while dodging trees and branches. They came to a clearing and stopped. They saw rainbow Dash pointing down a cliff. They all looked down into the crater. Their eyes grew large as they realized that the cliff was actually a large crater. 

“What happened here?” Twilight asked, to none in particular. Twilight looked down into the crater and saw something reflecting light. “Rainbow do you see that thing in there?” she asked. Rainbow looked in the crater and saw whatever it was twilight had found. 

“Yeah I see it.” With that she sped down and came back up in less than a second. “This what you saw?” 

“Yes. That’s it, thank you.” Twilight said levitating the object from Rainbow Dash. She looked at the small metal brick carefully and couldn't make anything of it. She put it inside the saddle bag she had slung across her body. “I can’t examine this thing properly until were back at the library, but we need to keep moving.” She turned to leave. 

“Twilight dear, I found something else over here.” Rarity called. 

“What did you find?” Twilight asked. 

“They look like footprints but are much too large for any creature that I've ever seen other than a Hydra.” she said with her usual grace. 

“This isn't good. Let’s follow them. Whatever made these obviously went in a hurry. You can tell by the smearing of the 
prints and the length of its stride.” Twilight observed. 

They all darted back into the forest and found what they hoped they wouldn't see. There was a straight path where trees had been completely destroyed. They looked at in awe but were quickly snapped out of it by Twilight dashing down the lane of broken trees. They all followed her to the small clearing where the Timber wolf attacked Sweetie Belle. They instantly noticed the pile of sticks covered in red sappy substance upon the ground. They decided to stay clear of the pile. 

“Hey, I found more big feet prints!” Pinkie Pie called out from under the tree. 

“I found something over here too. “ Fluttershy squeaked. They all came over to where Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy stood. 

“See here.” They all looked at the small imprint of a body in the dirt. 

“ OK that has to be one of the girls. It’s in the shape of a filly or small colt. We need to speed this up. Whatever that thing is, it left massive damage in its wake and we need to find it fast, if it has one of the girls.” 

“Agreed.” Applejack said. 

“Yeah.” The others said together. 

They ran off following what tracks they could see in the ground. It was increasingly difficult the longer they followed because the imprints that were made were becoming lighter, and slightly less pronounced. They followed the tracks until they came to the most horrific sight they had ever seen. Fluttershy started bawling immediately. The bodies of three Manticores were strewn about, pools of dried blood stained the dirt and grass. One of its faces had been completely flattened and its skull fragments lay all about the ground.

“Celestia’s planet. What happened here? It’s absolutely atrocious.” Rarity cursed. 

“My goodness, this is horrifying. This must have been that thing that came out of that crater.” Twilight said disgusted. 

“If this thing has mah sister I don’t think I could live with mahself Twilight.” Applejack stated on the verge of tears. 

“I know you’re all worried but we’ll find them. Don’t worry.” Twilight said reassuringly. 

They all were now a little downcast. The thought of losing their sisters to an unknown monster was debilitating. They began making their way back into the forest when they felt the ground shake and heard a deep grumbling sound. The shaking ceased after a little while and they went to where the sound was coming from. 


6


The giant returned to the cave with an armful of herbs. After he entered the cave and put down his load of supplies he was tackled in the leg by Sweetie Belle. She gripped the giant’s leg as tightly as she could but kept sliding down until she was sitting on his foot. 

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. Will you forgive me?” she pleaded. Her eyes had become large and tears slowly fell from them. She stared at him for a little while, still sitting on his foot. He picked her up by the scruff of her neck and set her on the ground and patted her head. Sweetie Belle understood his actions and smiled while wiping away the small water droplets. “What’s all that for?” Sweetie asked while pointing with a hoof at the pile of plants by the wall. 

The giant pointed over to Applebloom and Scootaloo and motioned with a finger to come over to them.  Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement with the giant.

"Come over here, it's alright." Sweetie Belle assured them.  Applebloom and Scootaloo came over to where the giant and Sweetie Belle stood with some hesitation. The giant slowly moved a hand to Applebloom. She flinched and closed her eyes. She felt the giant’s finger run along her back lightly. She opened her eyes as the giant pushed lightly on her back. She winced. 

“Ow! Hey, that hurts ya know!”  she wailed at him. 

The giant nodded and grabbed a couple of plants and a small apple from the pile of stuff. He pointed to the apple and plants and then motioned to her mouth while making a snapping noise with his mouth. Applebloom looked at Scootaloo who just shrugged her shoulders slightly and then to Sweetie Belle. 

“He wants you to eat them.” She said. Applebloom took the apple and gulped it down quickly. “The plants too Applebloom.” She said with a ‘you missed a spot’ look on her face. Applebloom ate them quickly and winced at the taste.

“Yuck!" she exclaimed. "Those tasted nasty! What were they for?” she asked, still trying to get the taste out of her mouth. The giant waited for a minute longer and then pressed the filly's back once more. “Hey!" That didn't hurt at all." she said, smiling

“Those plants must be some kind of medicine.” Scootaloo chimed in. She ran up to the giant and tapped her sides indicating that they hurt as well. The giant grabbed a couple more herbs and a small fruit and placed it at Scootaloo’s feet. She grinned and ate it all quickly her face also twisting at the taste of the plants. 

After they had eaten, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were led by the giant to a small stream with a waterfall. They all hopped in quickly and without reserve. They splashed into the water watching as all of the dirt and blood washed from their coats leaving them with the feeling of being clean. 

“How did you guys end up all gross like that?” Sweetie asked while they played in the stream. 

“How did that happen? I forgot.” Scootaloo said. 

“Well, the last ah remember is that we tripped and fell into this pile of mush. It smelled really bad.” she said while pinching her nose with a hoof. “Then I remember falling down a hill and these Manticores showed up and then I don’t remember anything after that. The last thing I remember was waking up in that cave.” Applebloom said, still revelling in the water's cool embrace.They  continued to play in the stream while the giant sat on the bank with his back against the waterfall’s stone wall. 


7


The Six Elements traced the rumbling to a small stream where they saw Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo playing. They almost jumped to get them but something caught their eyes. They all looked to the stone wall of the waterfall on the bank and almost screamed in fright. Sitting there was the giant. His chest moved slowly and they could hear his hard breaths from behind the bush where they were hiding. 

“What…in the world is that?” Twilight asked the others. “ I've never seen anything like it. There is no mention of such a thing in any of my books.” 

“How are we supposed to know? We’re not eggheads like you Twilight.” Rainbow Dash piped up, trying to stay quiet. 

“We need to get the girls away from that thing. Who knows what it might do to them.” Fluttershy whispered. 

“Agreed. I wonder if I can teleport them to us without that thing noticing.” Twilight said determined. “Then I can get to the library and try to find any information on this thing.” She said with a maniacal smile. Twilight’s horn began glowing purple.  


8


“What’s going on?!” Scootaloo yelled half-crying. 

“I don’t know!” Sweetie Belle hollered back. “Help!”

The giant shot up in a hurry and jumped into the stream nearly emptying it for a second before the waterfall filled its banks again. He went through the water, causing waves with the vibrations coming from his steps. When he reached them they vanished in a flash of purple light. 

The giant stood, frantically thrashing water with his hands and feet looking for the girls. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another flash of purple light. He jumped out of the water and landed on the ground making two small craters and he stomped over to where the flash had come from, unsure of who created it. He was determined make whoever did pay. 

The three Cutie Mark Crusaders appeared at Twilight’s feet and they looked around in a panic. They were stopped instantly by hugs from Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. The three of them struggled to get out of their grip, especially Scootaloo and Applebloom due to their injuries. They were released after a bit and Twilight noticed their injuries, even though they were below the skin, because of how they moved. Her horn glowed and she touched each of them before they could object and they were healed by Twilight’s advanced healing spell she had learned in the previous weeks. 

The girls were thrown onto the backs of their respective sisters and Rainbow Dash. They began to turn and run when out of the trees came the giant howling like an animal his clawed hand outstretched. The Elements stumbled back and Twilight put up a barrier with the help of Rarity because her energy was almost completely drained. Their auras mixed creating a bluish purple shield around the group. The girls screamed, scared and confused by what was happening. The six Elements stood their ground putting the Cutie Mark Crusaders behind their backs. They stood their ground readying themselves in case the monster broke through the shield. The giant smashed the shield with his clawed hand and did not relent. Twilight and Rarity were struggling to keep it strong against the giant's onslaught of attacks. He kept bashing the shield causing Twilight and Rarity to wince in pain as he did so, but something was wrong. 

The giant roared loudly enough to cause birds and other animals, small and large, to run away in terror. He stopped bashing the shield and clutched his left arm and started to flail his body while stumbling backwards. The skin on his left arm began to smoke and began melting off of his arm. The giant thrust out his left arm in a bout of pain, anguish, and anger. He could feel all the pieces and mechanisms move inside it, scraping and rubbing over themselves, causing the pain. It stretched and expanded until his left arm resembled his right. His new weapon had revealed itself and it was the same as his right, a clawed hand. The giant recovered from the pain it felt and charged the shield again. 

He hopped into the air and brought his two clawed hands down in a swipe. The shield imploded on the spot where the impact was made, but bounced back into its original shape. He thrust his left hand into the shield blades first. It was met with some electrical discharge from the shield but the tips managed to pierce it slightly. Purple and blue bursts of electricity shot up through his arm causing it to make a high pitched squealing sound as he pushed through the shield. The giant kept pushing through until his whole arm had penetrated the barrier. His arm was smoking and had a faint orange glow to it, heating up his arm. 

The two unicorns watched in fear as his arm came toward them. They tried to move but did not make the bubble large enough to maneuver. He managed to scratch Twilight with the hot metal along her side. She screamed and toppled over in pain leaving Rarity alone to keep the shield up. The giant brought down his right hand into the barrier making it shatter like glass. His fist smashed into the ground making a wave dirt and debris. He  swiped up Rarity by the neck, his claws slightly piercing skin. 

The giant roared into her face making her hair fly backwards and her ears bleed a little from the sound. The others all covered their ears. Twilight kept one hoof on her injury and the other, on one of her ears while pressing her head into the grounds to block out the noise. The giant brought his other hand to Rarity's face and placed it right over her eye the blade mere centimeters from penetrating it. Rarity cried profusely trying to comprehend what was happening. 

“Stop! You will not hurt my sister! Now, put her down!” Sweetie Belle roared from behind them. She stood there shaking with fear at being so close to all the excitement. 

The giant removed his hand from her face and set her on the ground. The six of them looked at Sweetie Belle and then back to the giant with disbelief. Sweetie Belle half walked and half ran to the giant and glared at him. She sighed and sat down on the ground. She was breathing rapidly trying to calm herself down, tears falling from her eyes because of her fear. Rarity had fallen to the ground with shock and terror. Twilight had been able to patch herself up with her magic just enough to get back to Ponyville hospital. Rarity managed to get back up and sit. 

“Sweetie Belle, you saved my life, but how?” Rarity asked. 

“Well…that’s a long story but he just listens to me.” Sweetie Belle answered. She turned her attention to the giant. “I know you can’t talk but I want you to apologize to them for hurting them.” She demanded. The giant made a long groan and a high pitch whine. “Good enough. Now can we please go home I don’t want to be in this forest anymore.” She pleaded. 

“I agree, I need to get this patched up until I’ve regained some strength to heal it myself.” Twilight said while pointing to her half healed wound. “But that thing is a different matter.” She said while pointing to the giant. “I need to study it but if it will only listen to Sweetie belle than it needs to come with us. We’ll work out details as we go but for now all I need to know is that this is a newly discovered creature that could be indigenous to Equestria for all we know.” 

The others looked at the giant who stood unmoving. They slowly and cautiously accepted what was at hoof and gradually made their way back to Ponyville.” 


9


Celestia had rested very little since her sister had felt that life signature. She paced around the room trying to figure out what it could be. She had checked the entire royal library and nothing turned up in its vast collection of knowledge. She checked to make sure the door was locked. She went to her night stand and pulled a hidden nob under the small desk. The floor opened to reveal a stair case leading below castle grounds. She descended the steps and went into the darkness using her magic to light the way. She arrived at a door and opened it slowly as not to disturb the lone soul inside. 

The room was illuminated by a simulated sun that would rise when Celestia raised the real sun. A desk with an alchemical contraption decorated one of the corners of the room. Along the far wall was a simple bed with books on it. A book shelf adorned the other wall. In the center sat a desk with an old Colt sitting in the chair scribbling slowly at the parchment in front of him.

“Princess Celestia it’s been a while since you’ve come to see me.” He said while not looking up right away. 

“Yes it has been a very long time.” She walked over and put a hoof on the old colt’s cheek. “You’ve aged so much in a short time.” She said caringly. 

“Yes I have but that is what happens when you are being kept alive by magic I suppose. But you did not come here to partake in idle chit-chat, have you Princess?” 

“No. I am troubled by something.” 

“Oh, and what would that be?” he asked. 

“It’s Luna. She sensed a being that I could not. It’s been troubling me for a couple days now and I can’t figure out what is going on.” 

“Do you fear that her power is growing beyond your own?” 

“No. At least I don’t think so. I don’t know.” she stammered, unsure of herself. 

“I can sense the feeling that you speak of. I sensed it the moment you walked in here, it hangs all around you my dear.” He said, getting up slowly and wobbling over to a small basin by the bed. He lifted up a small portion of water with his magic and patted his face with it. “It troubled me as well but you must promise me two things when we are through speaking tonight.” He said with authority. 

“That’s unusual for you to demand something but what is it you need?” Celestia said skeptically. 

“I have been alive for a very long time Celestia but it is time that I leave this world and continue to the next. My first demand is that you allow me to leave this world in peace. The second is this, what Luna has felt is not normal for Ponykind. I have seen the future this night, Celestia. The events that are to transpire will shake the very foundations of what you know and that of your family. Promise me that when the time comes you will not abandon your sister and instead continue to love her and extend a helping hoof when she has fallen into the darkest of places.” 

Celestia stood there in shock not knowing what to think. After a time of deep thought she nodded her agreement. 

“I can provide you one last vision Celestia but after I will be unable to awaken from it. I will pass into the next world and, as part of our agreement you cannot save me. Are you ready for me to begin?” he asked while lying down on his bed. 

“I…Yes. I am ready Starswirl.” 
> Black Box Rampage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Celestia sat on the chair in her room. Her court closed a few hours early so she could have some time to herself in light of recent events. She sat at her desk in her private quarters and stared at the piece of parchment there. She could not wrap her mind around the words written by Starswirl the night before from his bed. She became enraged and flung the desk at the wall and yelled in frustration. 

“What does it mean?! I don’t understand!” 

Celestia collapsed into her bed and closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down some before continuing her seemingly insurmountable task of deciphering the prophecy that Starswirl had provided her. Before long she gave up for the day and flew out to Canterlot Gardens. 


2


“Run! You have to leave now!” bellowed a massive creature Luna did not recognize. An explosion shook the environment and debris fell from the roof nearly hitting her and another creature by her side. “Get out of here! I can’t hold them off forever!” 

“They want you, not us! You have to jump ship!” screamed the creature next to Luna. 

“I know! I will not jump ship with you two still on it! Now leave!” bellowed the larger creature.

Luna was picked up by the creature by her side and was flung over its shoulder.  A blast rang through the air and a small explosion of blood and sparks erupted from the large creature’s neck. It roared in a garbled voice and smashed a creature wearing strange clothing and holding an odd looking object into the wall with a hoof that had five thin strands stretching from it. A plume of fire blasted through an opening in the wall causing the massive creature to fall to one knee. The large creature was enveloped and its skin began to burn and bubble off. 

Luna and the other creature managed to get behind some kind of see through wall. She was put down on the ground while the other creature punched at this large metal box with lights on it. Luna went over to the glass wall. She watched as some of the smaller monsters poured in through the door spewing fire from strange contraptions at their sides. The large creature had been enveloped in flames until she saw it shoot a clawed appendage glowing orange into one of the smaller creatures impaling him and throwing him into one of the others. He shot up roaring and began to swipe and punch at the smaller creatures and then she felt the ground shake and a sequence of explosions. She fell on the ground and managed to see the large monster and the other creatures floating on the other side of the wall and be sucked out rapidly. She was picked up by the thing hitting the metal box. It stopped and looked out to where everything had disappeared. All that remained was the darkness of the outside. 

“I’m so sorry.” it whispered. 


3


Luna shot up screaming. Guards were already inside and waiting. Princess Celestia was at her bedside looking at her with a horrified look.  

“Luna, calm down it was only a dream. It wasn’t real. Breath little sister please, just breath.” Celestia said, hugging the Princess of the night. 

“But it was so real. I felt like I was living it.” Luna cried. 

“I know, I could hear you screaming from the gardens, your guards tried waking you up but you wouldn't.” 

Celestia laid Luna back down onto her bed and dismissed the guards. She kissed Luna on the forehead and left hoping that this time she would have pleasant dreams. Celestia walked back to her room and found the paper that she was looking at earlier on the ground. She looked at it this time with more alarm. 

The creation of a race long past and forgotten, lost to the stars. A creature birthed by hate and desperation. A beast forged in blood. A blood-lust that cannot be quenched, suppressed.  A father searches for his child. A daughter who does not remember. Memories Suppressed, forgotten. Royalty that does not belong. A secret kept.  A forgotten enemy will return.


“What's going on?" she whispered, aggravated. "Starswirl, I wish you could have told me what this means.” 


4


Applejack woke up at her usual time just before dawn to get ready for her day of working the Apple Orchard. She straightened her mane into a ponytail and did the same with her tail. She went to wake Big Macintosh, only to find him up and about already. She smiled a little and went to Applebloom’s room. She peered through the door to find that her bed was in the same state as it was the night before, messy and unkempt. 

“Where in tarnation is that filly?” she asked. 

Applejack looked all around the house and her sister was nowhere to be found. She made her way out to the barn and other small sheds that were around it. She opened up the large barn door and saw Applebloom lying inside against a wall in the small amount of light available. Applejack went over and stubbed her hoof against a hard metal object. She jumped back shaking her hoof wildly in all directions trying not to scream. She set her hoof down and carefully felt around for Applebloom. She heard a raspy breathing sound in her ear and looked over to where it was coming from. She saw nothing except two large red eyes staring at her. She let out a scream and jumped away tripping over the wagon that was in the barn. 

“Ow, that hurt.” she said, rubbing her back. 

Applebloom shot up in instantly after hearing her sister scream and fall over stuff. “Are you okay sis?” 

“Ah’m just dandy. What in tarnation were you doing out here anyway sleeping in the same place as that thing?” 

“We were playing and I fell asleep. Why did you call mister giant, thing?” 

“Mr. what now?" she questioned. "Never mind. Ah called him ‘thing’ because that’s what he is. A thing! It’s lucky ah don’t call it ‘monster’ instead. Ah don’t ever want to catch you out here again! Do Ah make myself clear young lady?” 

“Yes, Applejack.” Applebloom said, with remorse. 

“Good. Now go get ready for school.” 

Applebloom ran out of the barn and into the house. 

“As for you, stay away from my sister! You may be acting all nice and such but Ah do not trust you and Ah don’t think Ah ever will. You stay here where you can’t’ cause any trouble!” 

Applejack grabbed the cart full of tools and left the barn leaving the giant alone in the barn. The giant stood up nearly hitting his head on the ceiling if he didn't duck down. He looked down at his non-retractable claws. He flexed them around a little bit and made a high pitched whine. He reached down to his metal plated thigh and tapped the center of it twice. The sound of a small hydraulics system hissed and opened a small compartment. He tapped his clawed finger around it to find that it was empty. The giant kept feeling around for whatever was supposed to be there. The giant panicked and ran out of the barn leaving one side of it in shambles. 

The Apple family, stunned by the sound of shattering wood, stood frozen at seeing one side of their barn laid in shambles. The giant stood there moving his head this way and that, until his head locked in its normal position. 

Area scan commencing…

Scanning for sensitive material…

Scanning…Scanning…Scanning…

Not found… 

Priority Alpha…

‘Override’ 

Password: ‘Suppression’  

Password Accepted…Priority Alpha Overridden

Requested Action? 

‘Independent search priority’ 

Command Accepted…Priority shutdown successful


“What in the world was all that about? Family, keep that thing occupied for while Ah go see Twilight. She can probably figure this out.” Applejack called to the rest of them. “Can ya’ll do that for me?” 

“Eeeyup.” 

Applejack took off to go see Twilight about what could have caused the giant to go on a short rampage that destroyed most of her barn.


5


Twilight eyed her desk and the small thin box that has on top of it. 

“What is this thing? I know it’s some kind of box but it's not opening. I've researched and researched and nothing like this exists outside of magic spells and yet there is no sign of an enchantment.” Twilight ranted to herself. She heard a knock at the door. She slowly walked over and opened it to see who it was. Applejack stood outside with a panicked expression on her face. “Applejack? What are you doing here?” 

“Goodness Twilight, you look awful what have you been doing?” 

“Researching our big…friend and trying to figure out what this box is.” She showed Applejack in side and pointed over to the desk. “There’s no way to open it. The only thing I can think of is that it’s just a solid brick but it sounds hollow when I tap on it.” 

"Ah assume you didn't find anything judging on how all you books are piled everywhere." 

"Nothing." Twilight said, with disappointment.

“Well, first things first, you need to get yourself cleaned up, your mane is mess and you look like you haven’t slept in days. But Ah need your help. That giant thing destroyed my barn this morning in some kind of rampage. Ah thought you of all ponies could help me figure out why.” 

“Where was Applebloom?” 

“At school when it happened.” 

“Could that have been the reason?”

“Ah don’t think so. It didn't put up a fight when ah asked Applebloom to get ready and go to school.” 

“Alright I’ll be down there in a bit. Go back home and try to keep it under control until I get there.” 

“Thanks a lot Twilight.” 

“No problem.” 

Applejack left quickly to see what kind of devastation the giant might have caused since she left. 


6


Twilight made her way over to Sweet Apple Acres after an hour and found the entire Apple family except for Applebloom, who was still at school, taking cover in a small trench outside of the farm. Twilight wondered what was going on until a barn wall came hurtling through the sky at her. It crashed a couple meters from her and she ran and jumped into the trench with the rest of the Apple family. 

"What is it doing!" Twilight yelled over the sounds of cracking wood and metal clangs. 

“Ah don’t know! When Ah came back he was throwing things everywhere and destroying everything!”

Another piece of the Apple family property came hurtling to the trench causing them to move down the length of the trench to avoid getting struck by it. 

“For Celestia’s sake! Why is it doing this? It wasn't threatened was it?” Twilight yelled over the commotion. 

“No!” 

The giant stopped and stood again moving his head from side to side again. 

Area scan commencing…

Scanning for sensitive material…

Scanning…Scanning…Scanning…

Found…

The giant’s head snapped toward the trench and his vision scanned through the dirt and he saw four skeletons shifting around slowly huddling in close to each other. His optics narrowed to an object outlined in blue. The giant charged at the trench. 

“He’s heading over here!” Applejack yelled. “Move everypony!” 

They jumped out of the trench as the giant neared quickly. Twilight jumped out of the trench and was tackled by the giant mid jump and they skidded to a stop a ways away. Twilight was in shock, breathing heavily and struggling to get loose. The giant ripped off her saddle bags and threw her away like trash. Twilight struggled to regain her footing and composure after that and watched as the giant ripped her bags to shreds. The black box fell to the ground the giant threw away the destroyed bags and lifted it up in two of his clawed fingers. 

Scanning…Scanning…

No Damage Detected…

‘Independent Search Priority Deactivate’

Command acknowledged…

Deactivating Independent Search Priority…Deactivation Successful

The giant tapped his thigh once again opening the small container and slid the box inside. The giant walked to a tree and sat down leaning against it. 

“That is what he was after?” Twilight whispered, to herself. 

“What was he after that was so important he destroyed Mah barn!?” Applejack yelled pointblank at Twilight. 

“Remember that box thing that I had rainbow dash pick up for me at that crater in the Everfree?” 

“Yeah.” 

“That box is what he was after, but why?” 

“That’s what Ah want to know! He destroyed mah barn over it!” 

“Applejack, help me round up everypony, it’s time we got to the bottom of what this thing is and how it got here in Equestria. But first let me get your barn and everything else fixed up.” 

Twilight’s horn glowed violet and she cast her Fail Safe spell to restore the property back to its original state. 

“Boy howdy Twilight, thanks a lot for the quick fix on the place.” 

“No problem, now let’s go get everypony here, I need to see what that box contains. 

They both left Sweet Apple Acres to find all of their friends including the Cutie Mark Crusaders seeing as they have already had more experience with the monster by the tree. 

> The Beast and a Pure Heart 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1

The giant sat back in the barn where he was supposed to be and held the black box in the palm of his hand. His breaths were slow and deep as he stared at the one thing he possessed from his home. He gripped it hard and slipped the box back into the metal container in his thigh and laid his head back against the wall staring at the ceiling. He looked at the ground and placed one of his claws on the ground and began to etch something in the dirt. When he was done he got up and left the barn. 

He made sure none were around to follow him before he left. He tried to be quiet when he left the barn but his massive boots made it hard to be stealthy in this situation. With every step the ground gave a little and vibrated possibly alerting any around the area that he was moving. He decided to run, not caring any longer. He ran through the Apple family’s field breaking through trees and scattering their crops this way and that as he ran back to the forest. 


2


Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Applebloom were walking back to Sweet Apple Acres with a quickness in their steps. Sweetie belle was the most nervous of the group because she had not been able to see her giant protector since they brought him back to Sweet Apple Acres. She looked all around her as she thought about what could be going on and why all of them had to be present to visit the giant. She looked up and saw the sign for the Apple family farm in the distance. Her nervousness could only grow at that point. 

As the group neared they saw the barn door had been open and Big Mac and Granny Smith looking inside. 

“Where have you been?” Big Mac said. 

“What you talkin bout big brother and why is the barn door open?” Applejack replied. 

“Seems the big fella left in a hurry.” Granny Smith said, slowly turning to face them. 

“He did what!?” Applejack yelled, running into the barn, the others following closely behind.

The barn was empty and all that remained were the tools used on the farm. 

“He also wrecked part of the fields.” Big Mac chimed in. 

Applejack fell to her knees. 

“It was a mistake, it was all a mistake." she whispered, the others still able to hear. "Bringing that monster here!” she bellowed. 

Sweetie Belle pressed through the group reaching the front and walked deeper into the barn. She found where the giant had been sitting as it was outlined by indentations in the dirt. She looked around and saw an etching nearby. 

“Hey, everyone! He left us a message.” Sweetie Belle called. 

“What does it say, Sweetie?” Rarity asked.

“Monster.” 

“Leave it be.” Applejack said, getting up. “That’s what he is and he’ll always be.” 

“Applejack, please…It can apparently communicate with us, in our language. Maybe it's not what you think it is!” Twilight started.

“No, Twilight! Ah can’t take it anymore! Ah never wanted that thing here! It’s only caused trouble for us and now its destroyed mah farm! That thing can go back to wherever it came from and stay out of mah mane forever!” She turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “As fer you three, stay away from that thing and don’t you dare go after it! Understood!” 

Scootaloo and Applebloom nodded slowly, disappointment written on their faces. 

“No.” Sweetie Belle said, sternly.

“What did ya say?” 

“I said, NO!” Sweetie Belle bellowed, before running out of the barn and out onto the farm.

“Wait!” Rarity called too late. 

Sweetie Belle was already gone and out of their reach. Sweetie Belle ran as fast as her small legs could carry her. She followed the giant's foot prints into the forest where they had first met. She left all fears and restrictions behind to find her friend. 


3


The giant walked through the vast numbers of flora that made the Everfree Forest and kept walking. 

Dictionary function activated…

Please enter search term…

‘Monster’ 

Definition Found… Displaying…

Fiend, Brute, Demon, Devil, Miscreant

‘Is that what I am?’ 

Question not recognized…Please enter new search term

‘Who am I?’ 

Searching…Searching…Searching…Found…Displaying

Code Name: Volos…Class: Prototype …Designation: Weapon…

Place of Origin: Earth…Living Relatives: None…

‘Search year 3125’ 

Searching…Searching…Searching

Record not found


Volos shut down his search and let out low pitch of frustration and kicked a tree nearly snapping it in two at its base. He kept walking until he happened upon a small pond with crystal blue water. Volos got to his knees and looked at his reflection, his face obscured by the dark grey cloth around his nose and mouth. He untied the cloth and set it to his side. He looked again at his reflection seeing nothing but a black metal skull, devoid of facial features and expressions. He stared at his reflection and a new face flashed in his mind. A young man, deep brown eyes, dark hair, tanned skin and a smile across his face. Volos shook his head clearing the image from his brain. 

He grabbed the cloth tied it around his face once more and turned to leave the pond. He stopped when the ground began to shake. Volos planted his feet and looked around. He saw a three headed creature walking quickly to the pond. 

Initiating scan…

Scanning…Scanning…

Found…

Designation: Hydra…Origin: Greek…Existence: Disproven…Revising…Existence: Proven


Volos growled and fast walked to the hydra. The Hydra stopped mid-step and roared at Volos, who stood unmoving. He  took a fighting stance. 


4


Applejack had stormed off into her house and left the others there dumbfounded. 

“I’ll send a letter to the Princess about all of this, maybe she can help us out.” Twilight said, breaking the silence. 

“Yes, you do that and I will go after Sweetie Belle. She can be stubborn when she wants to be.” Rarity said plainly. 

“The rest of you, help the Apples clean up the mess and when I’m done I’ll come back to help out.” Twilight finished. 


5


Sweetie Belle had been running with blurry vision for the better part of ten-minutes because of tears in her eyes. She did not want to lose what she considered a friend so quickly. They had not been able to spend much time together and she was not willing to let their friendship go that easily. 

She slowed down and stopped under a tree to rest, sweat streaming down her face. Her breaths were quick and shallow. She also felt thirsty. She looked around trying to find a source of water within her view with no such luck. She started to walk in a random direction hoping to find some source of drinkable water. 

She had been walking for quite a while when she heard a small stream nearby. Instinctively she ran for it. She climbed over downed trees and shrubs until she saw its blue water gleaming in the sun light. She went over quickly and shoved her face into the stream. Her head rocketed out of the water as she entered a coughing fit after nearly inhaling water. She sat on her haunches and panted and relaxed a little as the water cooled her fur and skin. 

“Where could it have gone?” she wondered aloud, to herself. 

Sweetie belle got up walked along the stream’s edge thinking that it would lead her somewhere where she might be able to find the giant.  She continued to follow the stream until she saw a shadow on the ground that kept increasing in size and a massive head slammed into the river and was lodged on the banks. Sweetie Belle was knocked back by the force of the impact and checked herself for any injuries. She looked at the head quickly and saw that it was a Hydra’s head. Blood was seeping into the river making the water turn red. A short time later it slowly slid down into the stream and was carried away.  

She stumbled back while her instincts told her to turn tail and run away from the gruesome scene. She told them otherwise and walked in the direction that she thought it had come from. She walked through the trees and brush only to be welcomed by an ear shattering roar coming from a Hydra. She ducked down behind a bush and peeked out slowly. 

She saw the giant standing in front of the Hydra, his entire body covered in red blood. The hydra roared and attacked again. The hydra’s remaining two heads lunged at Volos. Volos jumped and swiped up at one of the heads while dodging the other. The hydra roared in pain as Volos’ claws impaled and scraped out flesh from its neck. The Hydra swiped at Volos with one of its claws while he was in midair. Volos was hit in the legs and fell over making a large indent in the ground. He got up and staggered around for a moment before regaining his footing. 


6


Damage sustained…Body resiliency 78%...

‘Initiate program Beta’

Warning…Program Beta unadvised…

‘Backdoor Code: Blood Rivers’

….. …Initiating Program Beta….

Volos’ body seized and would not move. His eyes went dark and for a second. His heart began to increase its beating speed while his lungs increased their rate of expanding and contracting. Volos’ eyes re-lit with a sickly yellow hue. His head reeled back and a gargling roar escaped his throat. 

The Hydra quickly lunged one of its heads at him. Volos grabbed it with his clawed hands on the jaw bones of the Hydra. The hydra kept pushing, trying to overwhelm Volos with strength. Volos clamped down on its upper and lower jaw and flipped the Hydra’s head to the side and began to extend his arms to their full wingspan. The Hydra tried to pull back to get his head out of Volos’ grip. Volos only tightened his grip at the new resistance. Volos’ arms began to smoke and spark from the strain of Program Beta. 

Warning…Warning…Warning….

Muscular overload detected…Terminate Program Beta…

‘Release safety restraints’ 

Acknowledged…Releasing Now…

Volos’ arms popped and snapped loudly. Volos’ roared again and pulled harder, the veins and modified muscle tissue  bleeding. Volos’ ignored the pain coursing through his arms and pulled with all the strength he could muster. The hydra’s head was ripped apart. The jaw bones were thrown away and all that remained was the flopping skull and the blood that poured from it. 


8


Sweetie turned her head away just before the Hydra’s head was destroyed. She cowered behind the bush and cried profusely. She had never seen this side of the giant that she knew as her friend. She squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears with her hoofs trying not to hear the roars of the Hydra and the giant. She curled up into the ground hoping that she was far away enough not to be hurt in the commotion. 

She did not know how long she was there curled in her tiny little ball. She felt warmth on her body and chanced opening her eyes. She saw Rarity hovering over body and with her hooves wrapped tightly around her small frame. 

A loud thud and a loud cry rang from where the giant and the hydra were fighting causing Sweetie belle to snap her eyes shut again. Now there was only silence and the birds began chirping again and sweetie could hear the stream again. She pushed up on Rarity to signal her to get off. 

Rarity slowly stood up and allowed Sweetie Belle to get back to her feet. "How did you find me?" Sweetie asked.

“Not important. We need to go. Quickly, Sweetie Belle.” Rarity urged. 

“But…I want to bring him back with us.” Sweetie said sadly. 

“Absolutely not!” Rarity said sternly. “Look at what your ‘friend’ has just done. He is a monster. Applejack was right.” 
Sweetie Belle defiantly turned and quickly hopped out of the bush to be greeted by the sight of the giant standing on the body of the Hydra. Blood dripped from his clawed hands, the black cloth around his face was gone, and in his mouth was a long cylindrical object that fed back down into the body of the Hydra. The giant spit it out quickly and hopped onto the ground. 

Sweetie belle ran out to where the giant was and latched onto his leg without hesitation. Rarity ran out after her. 
Sweetie belle looked up to see that the giant’s eyes were back to their original red and that his arms hung limply at his side. Rarity ran up and pried her from the giant’s leg with her magic and slowly began to back up. 

The giant’s breath was heavy and ragged. His arms sparked and dripped crimson. He tried to move his arms and they responded to a certain point until they fell back at his sides. The giant fell down to his knees and his body slumped. His chest and lungs began to convulse and he coughed up blood.  

“He’s hurt! Rarity put me down!” Sweetie Belle yelled. 

“Bu…No I can’t do that.” 

“Rarity, please!” Sweetie begged. 

Rarity dropped Sweetie Belle to the ground after finishing an internal debate. Sweetie Belle ran over to his side and climbed onto his legs. She looked at his arms and noticed small blue lights appearing and disappearing. The giant groaned in pain and then would whine with relief. His arms stopped bleeding and he was able to move them more and more as the blue lights flashed. She watched his chest stop convulsing and slow down slightly. Sweetie Belle jumped and grabbed his neck squeezing it as tightly as she could. 

The giant was looking at what he could see of Sweetie Belle’s body and raised his arms slowly and placed one palm on her back and the other on her head and tightened his arms a little so he didn't crush her. After a few moments he set her down on the grass again. Sweetie belle looked down and made a face.

“Ewww! You got me covered in red stuff!” she wailed while trying to wipe it off with her hoof.

The giant picked her up again and carried her to the small pond and set her in it, immersing her for a no more than couple seconds, still holding her. Rarity stood more than a little surprised at the sight of a creature that ripped a Hydra apart could hug her little sister with such caring and then wash her fur. She watched as the giant lifted her from the pond and placed her on the ground. He went and stepped into the pond as well. The pond turned red almost instantly and the giant stepped out, dripping water onto Sweetie Belle. 

Sweetie Belle hopped around trying to dry herself off, laughing. The giant sat down and Sweetie Belle jumped onto his legs and pointed up to his neck. He lifted her to the back of his neck and she sat there how she did when they were in the forest together. The giant stood up and Sweetie Belle pointed to Rarity. 

“Go, save me from that vile creature!” Sweetie Belle yelled. 

“What! What vile crea…AH!” Rarity screamed as the giant neared very quickly. Rarity started running. “Sweetie Belle this is not funny! You stop this right this instant!” she yelled behind her. 

“Halt! She is not evil. That white Unicorn is my sister.” Sweetie Belle said stifling a giggle. 
The giant stopped and so did Rarity. 

“Young lady, we are going to have one serious talk about this little prank! Do you hear me missy!?” 

“Yes, Rarity. I’m Sorry. Can you let me down please?” Sweetie said, sadly. 

The giant lifted her off of his neck and placed her on the ground. Rarity trotted up to Sweetie Belle with an angry look on her face and relaxed. She looked at Sweetie Belle.

“Does it have a name?” Rarity asked, somewhat nonchalantly. 

Sweetie looked up her sister. 

“I don’t know. If it does, it never told me.” 

Rarity looked at the giant and gave him a once over.

“Do you have name?” The giant stood silently. “Well?” 

“Do you have one?” Sweetie Belle asked after her sister.

The giant bent down and scratched into the dirt like he did in the barn. Sweetie Belle and Rarity watched in anticipation and amazement that the giant could communicate in their language. When he finished he stood up straight and took a slow step back allowing them to look. 

‘My name is Volos’

“How do you pronounce that?” Sweetie Belle asked. 

“Vo, with a long O sound and Los, also with a long O.” Rarity stated. 

“Vo…los…Volos.” 

“That’s right Sweetie. What gender are you?” Rarity asked Volos. He scratched into the dirt again. 

‘Male’ 

“I see. Sweetie Belle you trust him then don’t you?” 

Sweetie belle looked at Rarity in confusion before realizing what she had asked. 

“Of course I do!” 

“Well then, we can’t leave him here, can we?” 

Sweetie Belle’s eyes beamed with excitement and a smile shown on her face. She shook her head from side to side quickly. 

“What should we do with him? I’m sure twilight will want to talk to him or do whatever it is that she does. Applejack’s gone crazy and refuses to hear any word about him. Pinkie Pie’s is in the middle of town and I don’t think Ponyville is ready to see such a being, especially with all of um…that showing. Fluttershy might be willing, but she’s terrified of him after everything that’s happened. I don’t know what we can do.” Rarity said thoughtfully.

“What about our house?” Sweetie Belle

“NO!" she bellowed, losing her composure. "I mean no, that’s not possible. I guess he will just need to stay out here somewhere until we can figure something out. Is that alright with you?” she asked Volos. Volos nodded. “Alright then, I suppose we should be heading home Sweetie.” 

“O.K.” she said disappointedly. “Can he walk with us at least to the edge of the forest? You don’t know what else might be walking around.” Sweetie said deviously, so as to worry her sister. 

“Very well. Volos, shall accompany us to the road to Ponyville.” Rarity stated proudly, trying to hide her fear of “other things” in the forest. 


8


Volos, Rarity and sweetie belle had made it to the road that lead back to Ponyville. Volos set Sweetie belle on the ground by Rarity. 

“We’ll come and find you once we have something sorted out. Please, if I may, don’t wonder off too far.” Rarity said. Volos nodded his agreement. “Come along Sweetie, you and I have a lot to talk about.” 

Volos watched for a little while as they left, his eyes never leaving them until they were almost completely out of sight. 

‘Add file’ 

Command acknowledged…Please enter file name

‘Unicorns’ 

File added…Please enter information

‘Subject: Rarity…Species: Unicorn…Designation: Unknown’

Information added

‘Add new information’

Acknowledged…Please enter information…

‘Subject: Sweetie Belle…Species: Unicorn…Designation: Friend…Additional Information: Protect’

Information added…File information saved

Volos looked down the road once more and turned to go back into the Everfree Forest. 
> Dreams, Nightmares and Warnings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note- Sections 5 and 6 happen side by side. I don't know if that would have been clear from the text so I thought I would let you know now. 
___________________________________________________________________________


1


“Has there been any change, Doctor?” Celestia asked while inside Luna’s bed chamber. 

“No, Princess. She is still stable but…” The black stallion said. 

“But?” 

“Well, she’s been mumbling in her sleep. It’s mostly gibberish. I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about.” 

“I see. Anything else?” 

“No, Princess. I don’t know where these dreams of hers are coming from. Perhaps it’s just the fascinations of an overactive imagination.” 

“Perhaps. Thank you, Doctor.” Celestia said with a smile. 

“It was my pleasure Princess, and please, feel free to call on me again should you need my assistance.” 

“I will.” 

The black stallion left the bed chamber and Princess Celestia stayed behind for minute more looking at her sleeping sister. 

“Luna, what’s happening to you? First you sensed a being not from this planet then Starswirl gives me an obscure prophesy and now your dreams. Why you of all Ponies?” She mumbled as she left. 


2


Luna stirred and woke up just as Celestia was lowering the sun. She stretched and got out of her bed. She slipped on her shoes and put her crown on her head and headed out to the balcony to raise the moon.  She walked along through the castle humming a tune and saying hello to any passerby’s. She reached the balcony a short time later. 

“Hello, sister.” Luna said cheerfully. 

“Hm. Oh!” Celestia stammered.  “Hello, Luna. Sleep comfortably?” she said regaining herself. 

“Yes, I did. Are you alright? You were staring off into space.” Luna said, concerned.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Have you been having strange dreams recently?” 

“Before I answer, um, can I raise the moon now?” 

“What? Oh yes, of course, sorry.” 

Luna nodded slowly, a quizzical look in her eye. Her horn glowed blue and the moon rose steadily into the sky washing the land below in its faint glow. Luna’s horn dimmed and she rested for a moment. 

“You would think that this would get easier after a while.” Luna panted. 

“It does, but your being gone a thousand years didn’t help.” Celestia stated playfully. 

Luna’s face became downtrodden not wanting to remember everything that happened in their past. 

“I’m sorry Luna; I did not mean to make you sad.” 

“It’s okay.” 

“You didn’t answer my question yet about any strange dreams.” 

“Why do you want to know what I dream about?” 

“Some things have come to my attention and they involve you.” 

“Did I do something wrong?” Luna questioned, her eyes full of sadness. “If I did, I’m sorry.” 

“Oh, Luna.” Celestia said softly while embracing her. “You did nothing wrong, but I must know. What have you dreamt about?” 

“Well, I dreamt that I was running through some of the nocturnal flowers that bloom in Equestria, and about how life has been so much better with you than when I was Nightmare Moon.” 

“Is that all?” Celestia asked suspiciously. 

“Y…Yes.” 

“You’re not telling me everything.” Celestia said sternly. 

Luna shied away from Celestia, trying to hide her face. 

“Luna?” she said inching closer to her younger sister. “Luna!” 

Luna looked at her elder sister, her eyes screaming at Celestia to not make her say anything. 

“Luna, please tell me.” 

Luna hesitated and tried to speak but no words would come out of her mouth. Celestia sighed and walked to her sister’s side. 

“I’m going to bed. Tell me when you’re ready then, I will be waiting for you.” Celestia said before storming off to her bed chambers. 

Luna did not turn to watch her sister storm off but she could not tell her about her nightmare, not yet. 


3


Volos lay in a clearing in the Everfree looking at the stars and the giant round moon that took up most of the sky. He sighed contently and watched as the stars twinkled in the darkness of the sky. His mind wandered and he put his clawed hands behind his metal skull and leaned his head against the ground. He lifted a finger and started pointing at each star trying to guess what they might be called and every time he tried he only groaned and whined. He put his hand behind his head again wishing he could speak once more. 

Instead he contented himself with just admiring the view of the stars and the moon. They were his silent protectors of the night, the moon the overseer, watching over those who slept and occasionally sending one of their messengers to bless lucky souls with a wish to be granted. His eyes began to dim and he started to fall into a slumber that he could only wish for. His mind would not rest however, and began to play a movie of a time long in the past. 


4


Volos walked around his home in one of Earths remaining forests. His claws were retracted leaving blunt fingers. He was wearing a large jacket that covered his entire torso keeping his organs out of sight and a scarf around his mouth and nose to hide the features of his metal skull. A small two story house stood tall and proud in the center of a small clearing with trees on every side. In the backyard was a small swing set and slide. In the front a gravel driveway with a small blue Honda without wheels and floated lightly about a foot off of the ground. He stopped and looked at the house from the front. This was the home of his savior, his refuge and his love. This place was a refuge where he did not have to worry about being judged by the populace for his ungodly appearance of metal with living pieces, parts and organs.  

“Four years, four years I’ve lived here with this woman and her child. It seems as though I’ve only been here a short time but…” he said as quietly as he could to himself in a deep resounding voice. 

“Volos!” A female’s voice called form the door. “Dinner’s ready and Lydia said that she won’t eat with you outside!” She yelled while waving at him to come inside.

Volos walked closer to the woman his height easily topping hers. 

“She knows I can barely fit in there. I have to duck to get through doorways and there is all but maybe a half inch of clearance between my head and the ceiling. Besides I don’t need to eat anymore.” He said trying to sound playful. 

“She’s five dear.” The woman said sarcastically. 

“I know, Alyssa, I know.”  He said following her inside while bending over and almost falling over multiple times on the way inside, the floor creaking as though it was going to give way at any moment. 

The meal had ended and the sun had set, the stars began to shine in the sky and Lydia was already outside running around and staring into space. She was a small for her tender age of five. She had short brown hair and a bright red dress on and no shoes. She stopped and fell down to the ground and laid there gazing at the lights in the sky while Alyssa and Volos sat on the grass nearby. 

“Daddy?” Lydia’s small voice called. 

“What is it Lydia?” Volos responded. 

“What are those?” she asked pointing to the sky. 

“Those are stars.” 

“Why are they called stars?” 

“I don’t know? They just always have been called stars.” 

“What are they for?” 

Volos sighed and stood up. He walked over to Lydia and picked up off of the ground and brought her back to where he was sitting moments ago. He sat down and placed her on his lap. He pointed up to the sky instantly getting her attention. 

“Those are the guardians of the night. They protect people while they sleep and sometimes one of them will start to move very fast across the sky at night. People who see them running get to make a wish and they grant that person their wish.” 

“Really?” Lydia asked excitedly. 

“Yes, really.” He said looking down at his adopted daughter. 

“Then.” she thought for a moment. “I wish that we would stay together. You, me and mommy.” 

Volos let out a loud chuckle and Alyssa was smiling. 

“I think that wish is perfect.” Alyssa said to the two of them. 

“I agree.” Volos responded to her. 

Lydia yawned and rubbed her eyes. 

“I think someone’s tired” Alyssa said playfully. 

“No I’m not.” Lydia said trying to hide her face. 

“Come on, it’s time for bed.” Alyssa said picking Lydia up off of Volos’ lap. 

She walked inside holding Lydia while Volos sat and waited for her to return. Sometime later Alyssa came back out of the house and sat down by Volos and leaned against his arm before recoiling back. 

“Your arm is cold.” She said flatly. 

“Can’t help that, seeing as my arm is made of metal.” Volos laughed. 

Alyssa grunted and leaned back against it anyway ignoring the coldness of his metal arm. 

“That story about the stars…” 

“What about it?” 

“Where did you hear it?” 

“I don’t remember. Most, if not all, of my memories were taken from me at that facility.” 

“Too bad. It was beautiful.” 

“The story or the facility?” 

“You know which you oaf.” She said, smiling and half-laughing. “Do you remember anything about what you looked like before all of this happened to you?” 

“I get flashes sometimes. Tanned white skin, brown hair and dark brown eyes.” 

“How long did it take you to remember that?” 

“Four years.” Volos said bluntly. 

Alyssa made a noise and she shifted and moved her hips closer to Volos’ hand making her posture straighter. 

“I never would have thought that in a million years my daughter would have a seven foot tall cyborg as her father figure.” 

“Would you rather I left and let her live a normal life with a normal mother?” 

“I wouldn’t want you leave and a ‘normal’ life is overrated.” 	

“That’s what I thought. Tell me if you want to but what happened to Lydia’s real father?” 

Alyssa hesitated and spoke after a few minutes. 

“When he found out I was pregnant he up and left. He didn’t leave a note or anything. We weren’t married at the time and we both worked at the facility that designed and made you but we didn’t know that at the time.” 

“You know now.” 

“HM!” she grunted loudly. “Anyway, he quit and disappeared off the face of the planet. I never saw him again.” 

“That’s too bad. He didn’t know what he was missing. If you could have him back would you do it?” 

Alyssa put her arms as far around Volos torso as she could and laid her head on his metal sternum. 

“Never.” 

“Good. Because I don’t want to leave you.” 

“I fell in love with a cyborg weapon engineered by mankind to destroy cities and topple governments. Who would have thought?” 

“Love is an interesting thing that way but it doesn't matter.” Volos said, placing his arm around her and pulling her close. 

“No, I guess it doesn’t.” 


5


Volos shot up, his eyes lighting up quickly and he sat there while he breathed quickly and shallow. He lay back on the grass and tapped his thigh opening up the small compartment. He pulled the box out and held it in his fingers turned claws. Volos sat up and held the box at chest level. He tapped the center of the box with one of his claws. The box illuminated with blue lights, making some strange patterns on the jet black surface. The box opened with a small hiss and Volos looked down into its contents. 

Inside were a small golden ring and a picture. He poured the ring and picture into his free palm. As the contents fell into his palm another small object fell with them and landed on the back of the photo. Volos looked at the small square suspiciously. It had a very small orange glow to it, easily noticeable in the darkness of the forest. He gently trapped it between two of the flat blades coming from his fingers and lifted it to the side of his head. A tiny section opened, just big enough to fit the chip. Volos slipped it in. 

…New Object Discovered…

…New Program Found…

…Initiate?...

‘Initiate’

…Initiating…

Warning…Warning…Warning…

…Programming for Medical Nano-Bots being overridden…

‘Terminate Program’ 

…Unable to Terminate…


Volos roared as this new program took hold. He flipped over and was on his hands and knees as blood poured from his mouth. He felt immense pain in his exposed organs. His heart raced and almost ruptured from the strain. His lungs inflated and deflated until they seized. With his ability to breath gone he slowly faded into unconsciousness. The last thing he saw was his in-system AI putting two phrases on his Heads Up Display inside his eyes.

…New Program Initiated…

…Beginning Restructuring…


6


Luna Flew through the sky admiring her work for the night. The stars shined bright and the moon brighter. She smiled as she looked at her work. She slowly descended onto the balcony where she raised the moon a few hours earlier. She sat down and sighed with relief that she could finally take it easy for a while. She again looked the sky looking at the stars and moon. She scanned the skies looking for her favorite star, a small red one that would not shine as brightly as the others. She looked to the one spot that it would appear. 

This one star was her favorite because it did not move like the rest. The stars seemed to rotate and move around it while this star remained still as though it were nailed to the one spot in the sky. She kept searching but this star could not be found. It had been there for as long she could remember, since she was but a filly. When she was young and she got scarred she would look up at the sky and when she saw this star it always comforted her, she did not know why, but it always had. 

“Where is it?” Luna asked herself. “It should be right between Argus and Beralto tonight.” 

She closed her eyes and concentrated her magic to aid in her search for her, all of the sudden, elusive star. Her horn glowed in its deep blue color and she cast her locator spell. Her vision was guided away from the sky and along the streets of Ponyville to the Everfree. She saw a creature writhing and roaring on the ground. She watched in horror as blood drained from its body and then she saw them, the creatures glowing red eyes. 

Luna’s spell ended and she ran into the castle yelling for her sister. 



7


Celestia was sleeping peacefully in her large bed and was snoring lightly. Her door flung open and was nearly pushed off the hinges. Luna ran inside jumped into bed with Celestia. Celestia, being woken up by the disturbance, was none too pleased to be awake at this hour. 

“Luna! Dam…” Celestia began to yell. 

“Tia! It was horrible!” Luna cried into Celestia’s shoulder. 

“Get… a… hold…of yourself Luna!” Celestia struggled to escape her sisters vice grip hug. Celestia managed to push Luna off of her after sometime. “Calm down Lulu. What happened?” 

“I saw it again but this time it was worse.” 

“Wait, wait, saw what?” 

Luna stopped and rubbed the tears off of her eyes. She breathed for a few seconds to compose herself. “I saw my nightmare again.” 

“What nightmare?” 

“I don’t know what it is but it was some kind of hideous thing with claws and two feet.” 

“Claws and two feet?” 

“MHM.” 

“Anything else?” 

“It had no skin and all of its organs were showing and it had no face.” 

Celestia had never heard of such a monster in her many years of life even amongst the ones that she fought such as Discord and Nightmare Moon. She thought for a while. 

“When did you see it before?” 

“In a dream. He wasn’t alone either. He had this other strange creature looked like a pale hairless ape.” 

“I see. Did you see it tonight?” 

“Yes, it was real. This creature is not just a dream. I saw it in the Everfree when I cast my locator spell to find my favorite star.” 

“Your little red one?” Celestia asked to confirm. Luna nodded her head. “Oh my. Luna, you’ve done enough for the night. Go get some sleep and I’ll lower the Moon for you.” 

“But I’m not…” Luna started. “Fine.” She conceded. Luna hugged Celestia and went down to her bed chambers while Celestia got up and put one her crown and shoes. As she walked toward the door she stumbled and bumped into her dresser. 

“OW! Must not be awake yet.” She mumbled. 

She looked at the floor and things were strewn everywhere after she bumped it. A scroll lay on the ground wrapped up and sealed. She stared at it for a moment as realization dawned on her. 

“I forgot all about this letter Twilight sent me. With all of this going on I forgot to read it. Might as well do it now.” She said to herself. She opened the parchment and bean to read it. 

Celestia dropped the parchment from her magic and scrambled to find her quill and parchment to send a letter back. When she had gathered all of the necessary materials she began to write furiously. 

My Faithful student Twilight Sparkle, 

This creature you describe is not unheard of to me. I fear Luna shares a connection with this creature. What kind of connection I do not know but recent events here in the castle have led me to such a conclusion. I will visit you when I can but it may not be for some time. In the mean time you must stay away from this creature! Do not go near it and do not make contact with it if you have not already. I will see you as soon as I can but I will need to wait until things here have settled down. 

Celestia. 

Celestia set down her quill and rolled up the parchment and sent it off to Twilight in Ponyville. 

“Please be safe, my most faithful student.” Celestia murmured as she went down to the throne room to await the time to lower the moon.

> Inner Demons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1
	

The night had ended and the sun was floating in the sky. Volos lay unmoving in the grass by a small pond. His eyes lit up once again and he stirred from his forced slumber. As he moved hardened orange crystals fell from his arms and upper body. He managed to stand up after breaking off all of the crystals. He inspected his hands and noticed that his claws had retracted back into his hands and the blades rested inside his forearms. He brought his claws out of their sheath and watched as his fingers split down the center allowing the blades to slide out of their resting places. He retracted them once more and let the blades come out of his forearms. He turned his arms and studied them and the blades carefully before becoming satisfied with the results of his quick inspection. He sheathed the blades and looked at the pieces of crystal on the ground. He picked up one of the shards and held it in front of his face. 

'Scan'

...Scan Initiated...

...Scanning...Scanning...Scanning...

...Scan Complete...Displaying Results...

...Nano-bots found...Type: Unknown...Purpose: Repair Non-Organic Substances...


'Run Systems Check'

...Running...

...Complete...Displaying Results...

...Weapon's Systems Online...Operating At Full Capacity...

...Bio-Organic Substances...Operating Normally...

...Non-Organic Articulation Components...Functional...Operating At 25% Capacity...Damage Extensive...

...Full Repair Not Possible...


'Show Test Phrases'

...Displaying...

...My Name Is...

Volos studied the small phrase given to him by the A.I. for a while. He let out a groan and tried to speak. 

"MY N...Ame I..S VVVOLoS" came his cold and metallic voice. "I...AM...VolOS" he tried again, the same cold voice escaping through his teeth. Volos sighed and sat down on the ground. 


2


Twilight rolled under the sheet on her bed as the sun pierced her window with its light. She opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around her room until her gaze stopped on her dresser. A rolled up parchment lay atop her dresser. She slowly got off her bed and walked over to the parchment. She noticed the Royal Seal and in an instant she felt wide awake and opened the letter quickly. 

When she had finished reading the letter she rolled it up and set it back down on her dresser. She sat back on her haunches and she sighed loudly. 

"Princess Luna? She fits into this? I know the giant is dangerous but..." she began to think. "I'll have to tell the others the news." she spoke to herself while standing back up. "Spike!" 

Spike came running up the stairs and stopped in Twilight's bedroom doorway. 

"Yes, Twilight?" 

"Take a note." 

"Now?" 

"Yes, now." 

"Okay, what do you want it to say?" 

"Tell the others to meet me here at the library within the hour." 

"What's this about?" 

"It's none of your concern at the moment. Now, get to it." Twilight demanded. 

Spike scribbled furiously and sent the letters to their destinations.


3


The library became crowded on the main floor as Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash waited for Twilight to come down the stairs. Twilight made her way down and stood at the head of the group. She cleared her throat before speaking. 

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I called you here because I have recently received a letter from Princess Celestia that is rather urgent." The others looked on with curiosity and some sense of fright. "It said that Princess Celestia is dealing with some urgent business regarding Princess Luna at the castle and will not be able to come as quickly as I had hoped. In the mean time she has asked us to avoid our large friend at any cost. I'm sure this will be no trouble for most of you but..." she looked over to Rarity. "Rarity, if you need help keeping Sweetie Belle away from him let me or one of the others know, we'll help you if we can." 

"Twilight?" Rarity started, making Twilight look at her again. "When I found Sweetie Belle, she was determined to be around him no matter what. He even gave us his name." This caught not only Twilight's attention but the rest of the group as well. 

"A name?" Rarity nodded. "What was it Rarity?" Twilight asked. 

"Uh, he said that his name was"-she gulped-"Volos." 

"Really?" 

"Yes. I'll spare you the details but Volos does have a rather tender side." She looked around nervously. "He was fighting a Hydra while Sweetie and I took cover behind a bush and when he beat it, he" 

"Whoa,whoa, he beat a hydra?!" Rainbow Dash interrupted.

"Well, yes. When I say beat it he more like, tore it to pieces, but that's beside the point. I don't think he is all that dangerous when he is around us." Rarity finished. 

Twilight pondered her friend’s statements. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. 

"Look, I know that he may not appear to be dangerous in certain situations but you need to remember he could attack anyone of us or anything in this town if he chooses to do so. I know you have a different opinion of Volos but please, just do what the Princess has asked. Okay?" 

Rarity looked into her dear friend's eyes and looked away quickly. 

"Alright, Twilight. I'll do my best to keep Sweetie Belle away from him for the time being." 

"Thank you, Rarity. Do the rest of you understand?" The group nodded in unison. "Good. I'll write the Princess again and let you know what is happening." 

The group said their goodbyes and left the library. Rarity slowly walked trying to figure out how to break the news to Sweetie Belle that she couldn't go see Volos for a while. 


4 


"What do you mean I can't play with Volos anymore?!" Sweetie Belle complained. 

"I'm sorry Sweetie, but the Princess asked us to keep away from him for a while. She wants to come see him and hopefully everything will work out in the end." Rarity tried to comfort. 

"But..." 

"No buts! I'm sorry Sweetie Belle this is just how it has to be for a while. I expect you to do as I say. I don't like it much either, not after what I've seen but the Princess is right. He can be dangerous and  I do not want him attacking me or anypony else. Understood?" 

"Yes Rarity." Sweetie said downtrodden. 

"Good. Now go outside and play. And do not go anywhere near the Everfree right now." Sweetie Belle nodded and went out the door while rarity slumped onto her couch and sighed. "How am I ever going to get through this without something going wrong?" she asked herself. 


5


Volos had begun to wander around the forest again looking at all of the wildlife and adding entries into his memory core about all of the flora and fauna that resided in the forest. It had only been a couple hours since he had woken up and found that all of his systems had been repaired by the strange Nano-bots. He had already gotten used to it enough to know that now he wouldn't accidently hurt anything with his claws or swords. 

He kept wandering through the forest. As he walked he began to notice that the light from the sun was diminishing rapidly and was completely blocked out by the trees. He activated his night-vision mode on his optic sensors and continued without much trouble. He came across a small pasture in the darkness. He looked around the empty space cautiously. 

"Is he ready?" asked a disembodied voice. 

"Yes. He is complete." answered another. 

Volos swerved his head this way and that, scanning for the source of the voices. 

"Good. Send him in with the next detachment." 

"But he hasn't been tested yet." 

"Did I stutter?" 

"No, sir." 

"I didn't think so." 

The voices stopped and Volos could see it all clearly before him. The battlefield. He could see them, all of them. The Humans. Shouting, shooting, setting off explosives. Volos looked to the now blue sky above him. Thousands of Drones flew overhead, dropping their payloads onto the enemy and vise-verse. Volos watched as a drop ship landed and dropped off twelve soldiers and a thirteenth clad in battle armor that covered everything except his head. Him. 


6


Luna sat in Celestia's study concentrating her magic. Celestia watched over her sister as she conducted this delicate exercise. Luna had beads of sweat streaming down her face as her magic gathered in her horn. Eventually Luna gave out and her horn stopped glowing. She slumped down and panted. Celestia came over and lay down by her side. 

"Did you find him?" she asked. 

"No. It's as though he just vanished from the planet." 

"What?" 

"He's gone. This was the most powerful location spell I could have mustered, and still he eluded me." 

"Did you search the entire planet?" Luna nodded once. "This is troubling. Take a break, we'll try again later." 

"Sister, wait!" Luna called after Celestia. 

"What is it?" she responded, turning to face Luna. 

"Why me? Why am I the one who is going through this?" 

Celestia looked at the floor, a frown forming on her lips. 

"I do not know. I have often wondered this ever since this began but like you the answer to this question has escaped me as well." Luna frowned and started to cry. Celestia ran over and pulled her into a hug. "Shh, shh, it will be okay. We'll figure this out and our lives will return to normal." 

"Promise?" Luna sobbed. 

"Promise." Celestia answered with doubt. 


7


"Ralphy!" shouted a phantom as the one next to him fell over his weapon falling to the side. The sound mostly drowned out by sounds of the explosions and gunfire. 	

The phantom kept firing his weapon. No sound reached Volos' audio receiver, it did not have to. He could hear everything without the sound. He looked on, his emotionless eyes keeping watch over the scene unfolding before him. He watched as more and more of the phantoms fell. He noticed that his apparition had not moved. The "Volos Apparition" stood unmoving until he took one step and then another until he was running at full speed toward the enemy units. 

The Volos Apparition charged like a wild animal at the enemy. The enemy soldiers fired their weapons at him. Their bullets bounced off of the battle armor and fell harmlessly to the ground. Volos' fist smashed into the enemy soldier making his torso explode from the force. He continued to charge, tearing through the soldiers like tissue paper. The one who was considered to be the commander by the attire he wore furiously yelled orders to his men. Within seconds they had mounted an experimental weapon, the reason his army was there. The first functional weapon of its kind, it was simply known as Death's Door. 

The real Volos watched his ghost charge and decimate soldier after soldier. The Apparition's armor was covered in the blood of his foes and none could stand before him. Volos roared loudly and the apparitions and the visions stopped moving. The scene of the battlefield  was still before him. 

"S...tOp... iT!" his cold voice said into the vision. "E...nOu...gh!" he roared. The visions of the battlefield stopped and vanished. Volos breathed heavily as he remembered that day. The power of the weapon Death's Door and how it nearly wiped out both sides of soldiers, the pleasure he felt as he covered himself in the blood of his enemies, and the feeling of ecstasy as he watched his foes fall to his power. "E...nOU...gh." he panted. 

Another vision appeared before him. Volos watched as another phantom materialized in front of him. Volos studied the phantom as it materialized and realized that it was him. Blood dripped from the claws in his hands and his breaths were deep and ragged. The eyes were the same but different, they glowed with primal instinct and rage. The mouth of this vision did not move but Volos could hear the words it spoke. 

"Kill, destroy, decimate. I am Volos, the beast all men fear to see. The battlefield, my home. The blood of my foes, my clothes. My blood lust, unquenchable. I am the author of destruction. I am whole. And I take my place." 

The illusion disappeared. Volos now stood in the clearing, alone. The sun was now lowering and the light was becoming dim. Volos felt something well in his spirit. His vision began to pixelate and become blurred. 

'Run Check' 

...Commencing...

...Combat Systems Operating Above Capacity...Sub-System Routines Failing...

...All Non-Combat Systems Shutting Down... Life-Support Sub Routines Functional...

All of his systems had ceased except for his combat protocols. His fingers opened down the center and his claws slid from their hiding place before the halves of his fingers clamped down on them again. His body swiveled from side to side as he tried to fight this new feeling. Volos grunted and roared in pain as he felt his heart and lungs work harder and harder. Volos let out on last roar as the sun fell below the horizon. As he roared, blood escaped his mouth in small spurts. He ran off into the trees once more roaring like an animal. 


	

> The Nature of a Weapon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


It was midnight and Luna had taken her place in her night court. Her throne was Midnight Blue that would glisten and twinkle with the starlight that came in from the glass panes on the roof. Luna sighed and prepared herself for another boring night. Nopony was ever awake for her night court, hence none would ever come to her for guidance or to file complaints. 

"Open the door please, I wish to see that nopony has arrived yet again." she said sarcastically. The guard picked up on her sarcasm but decided to open the doors anyway. Outside waited a line that looked as though half a city had arrived. Luna was stunned. Not only had somepony arrived but it looked as though half of Canterlot was waiting. "What is going on here? I've never seen so many ponies come to night court even before...Well anyway. Guard! Send in the first pony, please." 

"Yes, Princess." 

He turned to the first pony. He sent in a bright green pony with a rake for a cutie mark. She walked timidly to the center of the throne room. She stopped and looked up to the Princess of the Night. She stood in silence until Princess Luna addressed her. 

"Hello there, what is it you wish to speak with me about?" she tried to say nicely. 

"H...Hello, P..P...Princess, um, I'm here to report that something destroyed my farm." 

Luna was excited. It was the first time she would be able to help a citizen of Equestria with a problem, even if it was about a farm. 

"Do you know what kind of creature it was?" Luna asked inquisitively.  

"No, I don't but it was very large." 

"What is your name my little pony?" 

"Green Leaf, your majesty." 

"Well Green Leaf, I don't know what I can do to help unless you can tell me something about this large creature. Tell me anything, number of legs, size of its head, anything." 

"Well, I noticed it walked on two legs and not four." Green Leaf answered timidly. 

Luna looked at Green Leaf while she thought about what creatures walked on two legs in Equestria. 

"Anything else?" 

"No, that's all I could see of it." 

"I see. Thank you Green Leaf, I will have somepony look into it for you." 

"Thank you, Princess." she said before leaving the throne room.

"Next, please!" Luna called. 

The next pony entered the room, a stallion this time. 

"What is it you wish to say, sir?" 

"Actually Princess, I overheard what Green Leaf said and I actually came to say the same but it wasn't a farm this time, it destroyed my house! I was lucky to get my family out before it collapsed." 

"What!? The same creature? Are you positive?" Luna asked in disbelief." 

"Yes, Princess. except I noticed that it had these, glowing red eyes. If it wasn't for its obscenely loud roars, I would have never have known it was nearing until it was too late." 

"You are dismissed." 

The stallion bowed and left the room. 

"Captain!" 

A Pegasus mare clad in Purple armor and Purple shoes came running up to the Princess. 

"What is it you require of me Princess?" she asked. 

"Captain Dark Heart, take a small group of the guards and go ask the ponies in the line why they are here. I wish to know if they are all here for the same reason or if they are here for different ones as well. If it is the same reason I may need you to wake Celestia to help with tonight." 

"Yes ma'am!" Dark Heart said while saluting. "You, you and you! Follow me!" she yelled at some of the guards closest to her. She and the other guards all filed out to the line of waiting ponies.

Captain Dark Heart returned after speaking with the line of ponies and hearing what the other guards had to say. She approached Luna quickly and whispered into her ear.

"Are you sure?" Luna whispered into Dark Heart's ear, who nodded in return. "Did the pony's offer any descriptions?" 

"No, Princess. All of these ponies claim that a large two legged creature destroyed their homes or farms, in some cases, both. Also, some of claimed to have heard loud roars coming from the Everfree Forest before the creature made this current wave of destruction." 

"Oh, my." She thought for a while before speaking again. "Go and wake Celestia, I will need her help handling all of this." Luna said, worried. 

"Right away." 


2


Celestia slept peacefully in her over-sized bed and turned lazily to her side. She groaned loudly when she heard a loud knocking on her door. 

"It's past one in the morning! It's not yet time for me to raise the sun, so let me be!" she yelled.

"Forgive me Princess but Princess Luna requests your assistance with tonight's hearing's." Dark Heart replied. 

"Since when does Luna need my help with her Night Court? Nopony, if any, usually show up to it anyway." she whispered groggily. "Tell Luna I'll be there soon!" she yelled to Dark Heart. 

"Right Away!" Celestia heard, before hearing hooves running down the hall away from her room. 

When she had finally arrived to the throne room, her eyes became wide. The crowd of ponies had forced their way into the throne room. Luna sat on her throne trying to calm all of them but to no avail. All the while the many numbers of ponies that had infiltrated the room were all yelling and making noise. Ponies were beginning to push the line of guardsponies back slightly, while the guards pushed back. They were locked in a never ending game of tug-a-war. By the time Celestia had registered what was happening she had had enough. 

"CEASE AND DESIST IMMEDIATELY!" Celestia roared in her Royal Canterlot Voice, which hasn't been heard in over a thousand years. The building shook and at least half of Canterlot had awoken by the time she had finished. "What is going on in here, that I had to be woken up at this ungodly hour!? LUNA! I expect a good explanation." she said aggravated. 

"Yes, well, you see...um...These ponies..." she stuttered. 

"SPIT IT OUT!" 

"I was trying to piece together what they were telling me about some monster that has been destroying their homes and farms and they all got impatient." she said quickly. 

Celestia thought for a moment. "I see, and just what is this "monster"?" 

"All I could gather from all of this was that it has glowing red eyes, walks on two legs, roars very loudly and leaves waves of destruction wherever he goes." Luna said quietly. 

"And where is this happening exactly?" Celestia asked the crowd. 

"By the Everfree forest your majesty and near to Ponyville. We all came from a small farming village in between Ponyville and Trottingham." one of them spoke up. 

"Ponyville? Two legs, glowing red eyes?" the realization started to dawn upon Celestia. "Everyone out! Don't make me say it again! Luna, Come with me, now!" Celestia yelled. 

The crowd of ponies quickly ran out of the throne room and Luna followed quickly after Celestia. Luna and Celestia jogged down the massive hallway until they came to Celestia's room. They walked in and Celestia told Luna to sit. Luna promptly sat on the carpet in the center of the room. 

"I told you we would try this again later, now seems to be an appropriate time. Go on, I'm going to lie back down for a while. Wake me when you find your nightmare." 

"Do you think that this creature is the one I saw earlier?" 

"It's just a theory but I believe so, yes. Now, if you'll excuse me." Celestia murmured before lying down in her bed again.

Luna's horn glowed in its dark blue aura and she closed her eyes in concentration, looking for the cause of the disturbance. 


3 


"CELESTIA!" Luna bellowed. 

Celestia shot up out of her slumber and was now looking around the room quickly before resting her gaze on Luna. 

"What? You found him didn't you?" Celestia said, worried. 

"Yes. He's almost to Ponyville now." 

"We need to hurry. Gather your best Night Guardsponies, I will gather my best ponies." 

Luna nodded and was out of the room before Celestia could blink. Celestia left the room and ran to gather Shining Armour and her best guards. 

Luna had gathered Captain Dark Heart and four of her best guardsponies. Celestia came out of the castle a short time later with Shining Armour in tow and five of her best guardsponies. 

"Are we ready?" Celestia asked Shining Armour. 

"Yes Princess. Everypony is accounted for." he answered. 

"Good. Luna, how about you?" 

"Yes, we are ready." 

"We need to move quickly, so I will brief all of you on the way. Let's go!" 

Celestia, Luna and their respective captains and guardsponies were up and running to their destination while Celestia and Luna flew close above while she briefed them on the situation. 


4


They had been running or flying, depending on the species of pony, for almost three hours when they made it to the small farming town that sat between Trottingham and Ponyville. They all stopped in awe of what they saw. Buildings were level with the ground, some were consumed by fire. Ponies were scrambling around to put out the fires and help their wounded. 

"Sweet Celestia." Shining Armour whispered, though not quiet enough. 

"So, that's what ponies use my name for now." Celestia mumbled. "A couple of you will stay behind and help these ponies. Luna and I will go on ahead to Ponyville. I leave the choice to you Captain Shining, make it quick and get to Ponyville as quickly as you can. I don't need to remind you what's at stake." Celestia and Luna flew off into the distance while Dark Heart and the rest of the selected Night Guard followed behind the Princesses. 

"No, Princess you don't need to remind me about what's at stake. I'm sure Twilight can handle herself for now." he whispered before issuing the orders to his small group. 

As Luna and Celestia flew toward Ponyville the same sights kept greeting them with every second of flight time. By the time they had left the town's airspace they had had their fill of destruction. As the Princesses flew over the forest to save some flight time they saw another wave of destruction below them. 

Trees lay on the ground shattered and in pieces on the ground and the bodies of dead animals lay all over the ground staining the grass red, Celestia could not see the color of the grass but Luna could see everything as clear as day. Luna began to shed some tears for all the ponies and animals that could have or had lost their lives to this monster. She could feel all of the survivor’s pain in her heart. 

"What manner of monster is this? To destroy so much and take lives without hesitation?" Luna asked herself. 

Celestia heard Luna ask that question and it had been the very same on her mind as well. They continued flying as fast as their wings could carry them until they saw a shimmering light on the horizon. 

"Sister what is that?" Luna asked over the sound of the air in their ears. 

"Nothing good. Especially after seeing everything we have, I fear that we may already be too late to help anypony." 

"I hope not." 

"Me too, Luna. Me too." 

When they arrived in Ponyville the sight of the town was not that much different from the farming village. Buildings were leveled and fires had spread to some of the buildings that were still standing. They had noticed that the devastation had not reached far into the town yet and it was just the area outside the main part of the town, where few houses were. 

"Luna, go check on Fluttershy at her cottage. If this thing is in this part of the town she would have been the first in line." 

"Right." Luna said, but before she could go anywhere she heard the roar of a blood thirsty creature that she had only seen in her nightmares. "Sister?" 

"I know I heard it to." 

"Where is it coming from?" 

"I'm not sure." 

They saw a building collapse from the fire that had overtaken it. They watched as some of the residents of the town came over with buckets of water to help put out the fire. They threw the water on the now broken home and watched as some of the fire fizzled out but was quickly overtaken again by the still active fire. They started to back up when they saw the planks and pieces of the roof shift, spouting ash and spark into the air. The pieces of the house fell around a tall figure as it stood in the center of the rubble. 

Celestia and Luna looked on in horror as it stood up at its full height and let out a mighty roar that made even the Princesses cover their ears. Its arms glowed a dim red from the heat and the small fire cast a shadow over part of his face while the other side was illuminated lightly. Luna was on the verge of screaming from seeing that her nightmare had a physical form. Celestia watched with a sick feeling in her stomach. 

"What is it, Celestia?" Luna asked with fear. 

"In all my years and after all of the villains I've faced, I have never seen anything like this before." she answered dumbstruck. "Whatever it is we cannot let it continue this devastation." 

"Yes." Luna responded. 

"Go check on Fluttershy, I'll try to keep this thing at bay." Celestia said before leaving her sister by the entrance of Ponyville and flying to where the greatest challenge of her immortal life would be waiting. 
	

> A Weapon's Power
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Note: Section 6 & 7 occur simultaneously 

________________________________________________________________________________________


1


Luna rocketed toward Fluttershy's cottage to make sure that she was safe as Celestia had ordered. She stopped and landing while running up to the cottage that had once stood there. The animals were laying this way and that all over the ground and the cottage had been reduced to rubble. 

"Fluttershy!? Fluttershy?! Where are you?" Luna yelled. 

"H...H...Here." Luna heard a barely audible whisper. 

Luna ran over to the rubble and used her magic to lift the pieces of the house off of the helpless Pegasus. As she continued her heart began to sink. The abundance of devastation in this one small area was astonishing to her and now one of the Elements of Harmony was trapped in the rubble of her own home. Luna lifted one last piece of the house and Fluttershy lay below it. 

Her body was bruised and had a gash trailing from her left ear and over her left eye, which was now bloodshot and had red trails coming from it. Her wings were misshapen and contorted into awkward angles and were nearly stripped bare of their feathers, save for a stray few that remained connected. Luna pulled the broken Pegasus out of the rubble with her magic, being careful not to harm her further. 

"You'll be okay, you'll be okay. Don't worry." Luna consoled, placing her on the ground. 

"It...Hurts." Fluttershy said weakly. 

"I know. I'll try to lessen the pain." Luna said as she began to cast a healing spell to improve her condition as much as possible. Fluttershy's body was enveloped in dark blue aura and Luna could hear the Pegasus' breathing become more rhythmic and not as strained. Fluttershy's eyes closed and she fell into a peaceful sleep. 


2


Celestia eyed her ugly opponent, disdain in her eyes. Volos did not move, he was still standing in the middle of the former house. His claws were ready and waiting. Celestia could hear the growling breaths as he eyed her. Celestia could wait no longer and charged Volos with her horn pointed at his heart. 

"Leave this world, monster!" she yelled as she charged. 

Volos managed to bend his torso away from the attack and swiped at Celestia's side, catching it with one of the blades on his claw, leaving a small scratch on her side under her wing. Celestia winced as she landed on the ground behind the house. Celestia charged her horn and readied a projectile attack. Before she could release it Volos was already running at her. She jumped and tried to fly away but Volos had caught one of her rear legs and held it with a vice grip. Celestia tried to continue to fly upwards but Volos kept pulling down. 

"If this keeps up, it's going to tear my leg off." she whispered. She charged downward to take Volos off guard. 

Volos pulled hard on Celestia, much to her surprise, and managed to get her off balance making her crash into the ground. Volos continued to hang on to her leg and turned his torso to the side and launched his arm over his head. Celestia flew over Volos' head and was thrown a couple meters before she managed to catch herself mid-flight and landed safely on the ground. Volos roared with anger at the display. 

Celestia launched a quickly charged lightning spell at her strange foe. It struck its mark and Volos staggered back from the force of the attack. The lightning traveled along his body making it glow a bright blue with sparks jumping around his body. Celestia watched as her foe righted himself and stood as though nothing had happened. 

"That's impossible." she whispered. "That attack has always turned the target to ash. Yet it still stands." Celestia charged another spell, this one a fire ball, and shot it at her foe. She watched as Volos raised his hand and swiped the fireball out of existence, leaving a trail of ash and smoke that followed his swipe's trail. "What are you?" she asked to none, a worried tone in her voice. 

She stood in shock as Volos moved in for his own attack. Volos got close to Celestia before she was able to react and grabbed her by digging both of his clawed hands into her sides, eliciting a scream of pain from the Alicorn. She began flapping her wings to escape by flying backwards. Volos dug his claws in deeper as Celestia tried to fly away. Volos pulled backwards to counter act her backwards force. Celestia could feel her body being forced towards him and she let out one last mighty flap of her wings. She forced herself back and out of his grip but she could feel that by doing so she had injured herself more. Volos' claws had cut through the muscle and some bone as well. She staggered a little from the pain when she landed. 

Volos let out a roar and charged at her. Celestia took a step to the side causing her great pain as she did. Celestia put up a magical barrier to protect herself while she tried to heal. Volos reached the gold colored shield and began attacking it. With every blow, Celestia strained to keep up her barrier while she also tried to heal her wounds. Celestia decided to take a great risk and make the barrier weaker so she could channel more magic into her healing. When she did so the shield lost some its sheen and darkened. As a result her wounds were healing faster but she had forgotten to watch her opponent. 

Volos had backed up and was now running at Celestia at top speed closing the distance in seconds. He leaped into the air and brought his boot down on the shield shattering it instantly. Celestia was stunned for a moment and regained her composure. Volos hit the top of her head with the palm of his hand and forced her head down. He brought up his metal clad knee and smashed it into her face. Celestia's screams of pain could be heard through the shattered bones and blood. Volos back stepped and kicked Celestia in the sternum. She crumpled over and lay on the ground. 


3
 

Captain Dark Heart, the Night Guard, Captain Shining Armour and his three subordinates had finally made it to where Luna was waiting for them. Luna looked up and she became hopeful. 

"Dark Heart! Fluttershy is severely wounded! I've done what I can but I need you to keep watch over her while go and help Celestia! Captain Shining Armour, can you assist her by using your magic to keep her stable?" 

"Yes, Princess." Dark Heart responded. 

"I will do what I can, Princess." he said, galloping over to where Fluttershy was now laying. 

"All the rest of you, go into town, evacuate everypony. Go around the outer area, avoid Celestia's battle, and enter where ever you can and get as many out as you can!" she ordered. Luna left Fluttershy in their care while she went on to help Celestia and the others went to help the townsfolk. 


4


Luna arrived at the scene of her sister's battle. She hovered in midair while Celestia staggered to her feet, clearly in pain. Luna soared over to her side.

"Sister! I'm here!" she called as she flew. 

"Stay back!" Celestia managed to yell through her shattered jaw, turning her face which was mangled, swollen and covered in blood. 

Luna stopped and hovered once more, staring at Celestia's broken face. "Sister?" 

"Don't come any closer. I can still fight." Celestia panted. 

"No way!" Luna said as she set herself down by Celestia's side. 

"Fine. This thing is very powerful, none of my attacks have worked." 

"Then I'll try one of my own spells." Luna said charging up her horn. Blue fire sprang in front of her horn and she held it there until it was fully charged. "Midnight Flame!" she yelled, firing the ball of blue flame. 

The ball of fire traveled quickly. Volos ran right at it. Luna watched in complete amazement that this creature would charge directly at an attack instead of trying to avoid it. The ball of fire struck Volos in the chest. Volos roared in severe pain and was staggered. He fell forward, stumbling around on his feet until he managed to right himself and continue running at the two Princesses. Luna and Celestia charged their horns, ready to combine their power into one spell. Volos reached them first. 


5


"Dark Heart, do have those bandages yet?!" Shining Armour yelled. 

"I'm coming, stop yelling at me!" Dark Heart yelled back while gathering up some makeshift bandages made from some large leaves. She ran back over to where Shining Armour had Fluttershy wrapped in his magic aura, keeping her stable. "Here." she said dropping them on the ground. 

"Okay, wrap one of those around her torso. We need to keep her from moving her wings." Dark Heart wrapped one of the leaves around Fluttershy's midsection while Shining Armour levitated her in the air. "Good. Now get some sticks and make up a few splints for her broken legs." 

"Right." Dark Heart ran off to gather the sticks required for the splints. 

Shining levitated a leaf and wrapped around her bloodied eye and face. "I'm glad you survived thus far, not many ponies could." he whispered. "I'd never forgive myself if one of Twilight's friends died while in my care." 

"Help...Me...Please." Fluttershy whispered loudly. 

"I'm here, I'm doing what I can. Don't worry you'll be okay." he reassured while trying to heal what he could little by little. "DARK HEART! HURRY UP!" he yelled. 


6


Twilight could hear all the commotion on the other side of town and had chosen to hunker down in her basement with Spike until it had passed. She held Spike tightly in her hooves. He was crying with fear since it all started. 

"We'll be fine, Spike. There's no need to cry." she said lovingly. Spike only tightened his grip around her waist. 

She stroked his head until she heard a banging on the door, much louder than normal. She coaxed Spike off of her with much effort and made her way up to the main floor. She opened the door quickly to see a frantic rainbow maned Pegasus outside her door.  

"Twilight, grab Spike. We need to go!" Rainbow Dash yelled in Twilight's face. 

Twilight looked behind Rainbow Dash and saw the pandemonium outside. "What's going on? Where is everypony going?" 

"There are Royal Guards outside evacuating the entire town. It has something to do with all the roaring and that big fire on the other side of town."

"Why, what's happening and where is everyponyelse?" Twilight asked. 

"Ugh, one, I don't know. Two, the four of us were waiting just outside of town, I came to get you. I haven't heard wind of Fluttershy." she said, realizing. 

"You don't think?" Twilight asked. 

"I hope not but I need to know!" she said while trying to leave. 

"Rainbow wait!" Twilight yelled. Rainbow heard her and hovered for a while. "I'll ask a gurdspony about Fluttershy and I'll come find you." 

Rainbow hesitated. "Alright." she finally answered. 

Twilight grabbed Spike from the basement quickly and ran outside to find one of the guards. Spike clung to Twilight like a Tick and squeezed hard to keep from falling off. 

"Twilight what's happening?" he asked worriedly. 

"I'm trying to find out." she answered. Twilight saw a Nightguard pony and ran up to the black Pegasus. "Sir, what's happening?" 

"Sorry Miss, no time to explain. I was ordered to evacuate as many as possible while the Princesses deal with the creature." he answered. 

"The Princesses are here? What creature?!" she asked quickly. 

Realizing what he had told her he face hoofed. "Miss please you need to leave." he tried. 

"Fluttershy! Have you seen a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane, three butterflies as a Cutie Mark?" 

"No, but I saw Captain Dark Heart and Captain Shining Armour giving medical aid to a Pegasus on the edge of town." 

"Edge of town? That's her! Please I need to see her! Take my friend and get him to safety! Please!" she cried. 

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that! You need to leave town before..." 

An explosion rocked the town and a plume of blue fire soared into the air in a tornado. 

"It's escalated! You need to leave NOW!" he yelled over the commotion. 

"I'm Shining Armour's sister. Please?!" Twilight tried again. 

"Miss, that doesn't change anything, you need to go or I'll arrest you for resisting to follow orders handed down from the Princess herself." 

Twilight stopped and thought quickly. She turned and started running to where the rest of the residence were being evacuated to. "Fluttershy, I'm so sorry." 


7


Volos had reached the Princesses before they could combine their power into one spell. He attacked the weakened Celestia first and kicked in one of her front legs breaking it at the joint. She screamed but was silenced by a fist smashing her already broken mouth. The hit sent Celestia to the ground with a thud. He turned his attention towards the Lunar Princess.  Luna charged her horn quickly, recklessly forming another ball of her Midnight Flame attack.

"Stay BACK!" she screamed as she fired the ball of flame before she lost control.

The large ball of flame created a massive explosion and a blue fire tornado. She panted from the exertion and she felt light headed. She looked around but her assailant was nowhere to be seen. She saw on the ground a charred body. She sighed in relief as she realized that it was her attacker. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention to her sister. Luna cast a healing spell on her sister. She could hear the bones of her jaw reforming and snapping into place slowly but surely. Celestia groaned and turned her head from the ground to her younger sister. 

"Thanks." she managed. 

"Don't talk, this spell takes time and you’re not helping. You know that." she said, smiling. 

Celestia smiled and laid her head back down. Luna looked again at the motionless body of her and her sister's attacker. She gasped and saw that her attacker was beginning to stand up. 

"No! That's not possible!" she screamed, terrified. She watched as it made itself stand at full height. "No...No...No." she stuttered, shaking her head side to side slowly. 

Volos took a step then another and then another until he was face to face with Luna. He growled at her and stared her right in the eye. He growled again and sheathed the claws on his hands. Luna did not notice the sheathing of his claws and began to hyperventilate. A second later she felt a piercing pain in her body.  She slowly looked down to see a blade piercing her chest and blood trailing down the dark blade and dripping to the ground. She looked into the eyes of who she thought was going to be her killer. She frowned and saw something in its strange eyes. Pain. 

Luna lifted a hoof to his metal cheek and placed it there. She struggled to breath under the pain. 

"You're not like this. It's over. Stop now, and rest." she whispered, pain gripping her every breath. She watched as his eyes darkened and ceased to glow. Volos fell over, the blade still lodged in Luna's chest. Luna caught him on her shoulder and let him fall to the ground. She pulled herself from the sword, coughing up blood and collapsing onto her knees. "Rest sounds like a good idea to me." she said under her breath as her eyes closed.
	

> Recovery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Luna woke with a start. Her breathing was quick and shallow. She scanned the room quickly. The entire room was white. The walls, the ceiling, even the floor had white tiles. The sun light was pouring in from the windows, which told her that it was almost noon. She tried to move a hoof and it followed her motion but was caught on a wire. She looked over to see that she was attached to a heart monitor and other medical devises. 

"What happened?" she asked herself. 

"You gave us a nasty scare Princess." said a black stallion. "We weren't sure if you were going to wake up at all given that stab wound." he finished nonchalantly.  

"Stab wound?" she asked, bewildered. 

"Yes. You don't remember?" 

"I remember..." she thought. "I remember pain and then nothing." 

"That's troubling, but expected given everything that has happened." 

"How long was I asleep?" 

"It's been seven days." 

"SEVEN DAYS!? I have duties I must attend to!" she yelled in surprise trying to get up. 

"No, Princess! Settle down!" he yelled while trying to hold the Lunar Princess down on her bed. Luna eventually took a breath and settled down. "That's better. Now, just relax. Princess Celestia wasn't in much better shape but she recovered much faster." 

"How is she?! I remember...She looked terrible." she said with a start. 

"Relax Princess, she's fine. You haven't recovered because of all your magical exertion. Your body had almost given out. You were lucky the others were able to get you here as quickly as they did." 

"Others?" 

"Yes, I'll go get them now." he said walking out of the room. 

Luna put her head on the pillow and sighed. She tried to remember everything that had happened before she passed out but she could not remember. She closed her eyes and sighed. She heard the door open and saw as five Elements entered the room along with Princess Celestia. 

"Luna? How do you feel?" Celestia asked. 

"I feel like I got ran over by an Ursa." she stated, smiling. 

"Well, I'm glad you're able to make jokes." Celestia responded. 

"How are the rest of you doing?" Luna asked the Elements in the room. 

"We're doing fine. We managed to escape Ponyville before things escalated too far." Twilight said. 

"I count only five of you, where is...Fluttershy! Where is she? Is she okay?" Luna asked in a panic. 

"Could you give us a moment alone?" Celestia asked the others in the room. 

"Of course, Princess." Twilight answered, downcast. 

When the others had left the room Celestia turned to her sister. She sat down by Luna's bed near to her sister’s body. 

"Fluttershy is in critical but stable condition." Celestia said slowly. . 

"Will she be alright?" Luna asked, worried. 

"Yes, she will be fine but her recovery will take a long time. Her injuries were severe. I'm actually surprised that she survived them in the first place." she said sadly. "You should be proud Luna." 

"Why?" 

"It's because of you we were able to get Fluttershy here for treatment. The healing spell you cast was a slow recovery spell, but it kept her stable while Shining Armour and Dark Heart tended to her." 

"How long will it take for her to fully recover?" 

Celestia's face fell. "She...Won't" she answered sadly. 

"What?" Luna responded with surprise. 

"Her injuries were more severe than most can endure. Because of this she will walk with a permanent limp in her legs and she won't be able to fly anymore." Luna began to cry. In her mind she knew she had succeeded in rescuing Fluttershy but her heart told her that she had failed.  "Don't cry, my sister. You saved the lives of not just Fluttershy but the entirety of Ponyville." 

"What about all the other ponies that might have been trapped in the fires or had their houses fall on them?" Luna shot back. 

"There were other casualties, yes, and a few ponies did die in the village where we were too late to stop it, but you also saved a great many lives Luna." Celestia said, lovingly. "Because this creature was at the edge of Ponyville, where few resided, there were no fatalities but there were ponies with a few broken bones but nothing quite as severe as Fluttershy." 

"Why her? How did she end up in such a state, and how long will it take Fluttershy to recover?" 

"I don't understand why it was her who ended up the way she did. From what the doctors and I could tell, the monster ploughed straight through her house and ran over her as well, before the house collapsed. As for her recovery time..." she thought for a moment. "It will take a very long time. For her to walk again it will take a minimum of one year in physical therapy and another year recovery time for the surgeries that will go into reconstructing the bones in her wings and other parts of her body." 

"Is there anything you can do to shorten it?" 

"I have my best working on it, I too have been looking in to it as well and have had some very promising leads thus far but only time will tell if she will recover physically, her mental recovery will be much harder and could take a great many years, she may never recover completely from what happened." 

Luna's face told of everything that she felt in her heart. She wondered what it would be like if she had failed to reach Fluttershy in time and what of all the other ponies that should have been saved? She wondered.	"What happened to me, Celestia? How did I end up like this?" Luna asked, sadly. 

Celestia stayed silent for a time before answering. "That creature stabbed you in the chest. The blade went very deep. You had a collapsed lung and the blade missed your heart by centimeters. The fact that you had used so much magic when you fought it also didn't help the situation. I managed to cast a spell to keep your heart beating and your functioning lung working. I almost lost you, but this time it could have been permanent." Celestia cried. 

Luna smiled and reached out and touched her sister's shoulder. 

"I'm still here, right? No need to cry." Celestia smiled and took her sister's hoof in her own and rubbed it with her cheek. "Celestia, how did I defeat it?" 

"I'm not sure. I heard you say something to it after it stabbed you and then it just fell over." 

"That's it?" 

"Yes. Why it did whatever you told it to, I don't know yet. We have it locked in the dungeon right now under heavy guard but it hasn't moved an inch. I don't understand, it’s as though you killed it somehow." Celestia answered nervously. 

"What of its body? Do you know what kind of creature it is?" 

"No, but that's enough for now. You need to keep resting." 

Luna chuckled lightly. "Of course." 

Celestia left the room without another word and went to attend to her duties. 


2


Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash all sat on a bench outside of Fluttershy's room in the Castle hospital, sadness written on their faces. None of them said a word to the other in long while, the atmosphere was dismal and despairing.  

"I feel so helpless." Rainbow Dash finally whispered, causing the others to look up at her. "She's my closest friend, I've known her since Flight Camp. Seeing her like this...It's just not fair!" she screamed. "Why her? What did she do to deserve to be like this?" 

"She didn't deserve it Rainbow, nopony deserves this." Twilight said. "It was just a stupid and dumb string of events that caused this to happen to all of us." Twilight could feel her anger swelling in her veins. "If Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom just stayed in Ponyville, NONE of this would have happened!" she bellowed. 

"Now hold on there just a second, Twilight!" Rarity butted in. "Let's not regress into pointing the proverbial hoof here! I understand what you mean but it's not the girls' fault for everything that's happened. If blame is to be given then it should go to the one responsible for the crime." she argued. 

Twilight's anger had begun to falter and she managed to calm herself. "You're right, Rarity. I'm sorry, to all of you." 

"And we fergive ya." Applejack said, her own emotions barely kept under her control. 

As they talked a Unicorn came walking out of Fluttershy's room. The others perked up a little bit at seeing him. He did not pay attention to them, instead he focused his attention on the clipboard in-front of his face. He scribbled down some notes and placed the clipboard in his small saddlebag. 

"Doctor?" Twilight asked to get his attention. He looked up and stared at them expecting something. "How is she?" 

"Hmm." he sighed. "Fluttershy is currently stable but for how long is anypony's guess. There could be severe complications down the road but for now she is okay. Princess Celestia has brought in some of the best doctors for your friend but, I won't lie, things are looking bleak for her future life but she will live." 

"What do you mean by "Her future life?"" Rainbow Dash asked, suspiciously. 

"Well, we will need to perform numerous surgeries to reconstruct her legs and wings. Because of the severity of her injuries there are two possible outcomes. One, is that she will walk with a permanent limp or she may never walk again." 

The five of them looked at the doctor with shocked looks on their faces but Rainbow's expression changed.  

"What!? You mean to tell me that she may never walk again? I won't accept that! You're a Doctor, you're supposed to be able to heal ponies! How is this any different!?" she yelled at him. 

The doctor backed away from the angry Pegasus until his back was against the wall. "Look, I know your upset but we just don't have the time or resources to do what you expect of me or my team. What you are inferring requires months of preparation, numerous magical enhancements and time that, right now, is a luxury I can't afford. I'm sorry, we will do everything in our power to help your friend but what you want is nothing short of a miracle. And unless you can perform miracles, then I ask you, what would you have me do?!" he shouted, leaving his audience dumbfounded by his outburst. He looked at them and then regained his composure. "I'm sorry. Look, this is the worst case I've ever seen in my entire medical career. Her injuries should have killed her, which is a miracle in and of itself that she is alive." he explained. "In my career, I have to rely on myself, my team and medical science, I can't rely on something that is as unpredictable as a miracle of this magnitude." 

"What's being done? Can you tell us that?" Rarity asked nervously. 

"I can tell you that there are surgeons flying to Canterlot as we speak, the very best in their fields. Other than that you'll need to ask the Princess." 

"Right, thank you sir." Twilight said as he went on his way. "I'll go talk to the Princess, I'm sure that she'll tell me what's going to happen to Fluttershy."


3


Celestia had just closed the doors to her court room, much to her relief, when she heard another knock on the door. The guardspony turned to the Princess for her instructions. 

"Go ahead, I guess I'll hear on more." she answered tiredly. 

The guards pony nodded and opened the massive door with his magic. The door slowly opened and Twilight walked in as it opened to its full extent. She walked to the middle of the throne room and stopped. 

"Twilight, what a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you, my faithful student?" she asked ,getting down from her throne and meeting her in the center of the room. 

"Princess, there's so much going on but I'm worried about Fluttershy, I left when the guard told me leave and I abandoned her." she began to cry. "I came with the intention of asking you what's going on with all the doctors and things but..." she continued. 

"Oh, Twilight." Celestia mumbled, sympathetically. "I care for all my subjects, but Fluttershy is a special case." she began. "As for that guard, I think he was new and hasn't gotten to know who anypony is yet. He was just following orders." 

"What do you mean "Fluttershy is special case?"" Twilight asked.  	

"You see, Fluttershy saved my life once. I am simply returning the favor by seeing to it that she to survives this ordeal." 

"What? How did Fluttershy save you?" 

Celestia chuckled a little. "Yes, it hard to believe isn't it? Would you like me to tell you?" 

"Yes!" Twilight shouted after wiping away the stray tears. 

"Settle down, settle down." she calmed. "I was flying one day to clear my mind..." she stopped. "You see, It was a long time after Nightmare Moon and I still grieved at losing Luna. But as I flew I saw that a race was occurring at the flight camp in Cloudsdale. I couldn't resist. I had to see how it would turn out."  

"Why?" 

"Luna and I were very competitive when we were young, it reminded me of her. So, I watched. I watched as Rainbow Dash performed a Sonic Rainboom but I also saw Fluttershy fall off the cloud. When I had reached the ground I had fully expected to find a flat Pegasus." she reminisced. "When I landed, I found her surrounded by animals and humming happily. I went up to ask her if she was okay. Being in true Fluttershy fashion, she hid behind her mane trying not to look at me. I asked if she was okay and she told me that she was, though it took a little while to get an answer out of her. She made eye contact with me and I with her. She peeked out from her mane and asked me why I was sad." Celestia had a tear forming in her eye. "I said "What do you mean, little one?" She told me that I just looked sad, truth be told I wasn't at the time, but she saw the sadness in my heart. She asked me what was wrong. I told her simply that somepony I cared for deeply had moved away and I couldn't see her. Fluttershy was so innocent back then, and she hasn't changed much, but I owe her my life for what she said next." 

"What did she say?" Twilight asked, her curiosity peaked to a new level at being able to learn something new about her quiet friend.  

"She smiled at me and told me that I would see her again someday and not to be sad." she said smiling. "I wanted nothing more than to shut myself away after banishing Luna to the moon but I forced myself not to and I never truly dealt with my sadness. Fluttershy gave me the greatest gift I could have ever received during that time." 

"What?" 

"Hope, Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy gave me what I had lost all that time ago. The hope that I would see Luna again and have her by my side and we could be a family again. Between you and me, I wanted to end my life so many times after what I had done but I never carried through with it. I was destroying myself." Twilight shuddered at the thought of losing her mentor. "Fluttershy gave me, my reason to live again and now I need to give her life back. When I saw that the creature had entered by Fluttershy's cottage I was worried. I asked Luna to go and make sure that she was okay. It was because of Luna that she is here and alive. I wanted nothing more than to check on her myself but my duty was to try to keep that thing away from the rest of the town. So, right now, I have a responsibility to Fluttershy to save her life as she did mine." Celestia was crying now. "I almost lost Luna again in that attack. If I lost Luna again, I don't know what would have happened, Twilight." 

Twilight looked her mentor astonished. In front of her was the pony she looked up to the most, the pony she believed to be invincible, crying and helpless before her. On reflex she jumped up and gave the Solar Princess a hug and hung on her neck, while her hind legs barely touched the ground below. Celestia wrapped her own hoof around her student. The two of them held their embrace, comforting each other in their time of pain. 


4


Luna watched the sun lower and the moon rise from her hospital bed. She groaned at not being able to do her royal duty of raising the moon. Luna heard the door open and she looked to see a Stallion enter wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck.

"Good evening Princess. How are you feeling?" he asked, cheerfully. 

"I'm feeling better, doctor." she smiled. "Pray tell, how long until I can leave this room and continue my duties?" she asked. 

"Well, let's look at the chart here..." he picked up the clip board from the foot of her bed and looked it over. "It looks like you'll be cleared to leave tomorrow morning, Princess." he said, smiling. Luna cheered, throwing her two front hooves into the air, only to feel the pull from the monitor's wire. "Careful, Princess. I know your excited but don't strain yourself. Your body may be done recovering from your wound but it is still recovering from you magic exhaustion." he said, worried. 

Luna brought her hooves down and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry." she said, embarrassed. 

"Yes, well, please be careful. I need to attend to the other patient, if you'll excuse me, Princess." he said, leaving. 

Luna nodded and lay her head back on her pillow, smiling. She stared at the ceiling and let her mind wander. She thought about Celestia, being able to continue her hobbies, duties and...those eyes. Her eyes went wide and she could not stop the flood of memories that now infiltrated her mind. She stared at the ceiling, unmoving. Her breathing had increased as the memories entered her mind and she became nervous. She began to relive the events that she had forgotten during her time asleep. Luna had finally calmed down a short time later and she focused in on the Alicorn next to her, keeping her still. 

"Celestia, I remember everything." she started. "Is the creature still silent?" she asked, quickly.

"Yes." 

"I'm to be released from the hospital tomorrow and I would like to see it." she said, sternly. 

"Luna, I don't think that's such a good idea. It almost killed you and me." 

"Celestia, please." she pleaded. "When I looked at it I saw pain in its eyes. I need to know why. A mindless beast would not feel pain over causing destruction and taking lives." 

"How do you know that it was pain? its eyes showed nothing, no emotions, nothing." 

"I truly don't know how, but I could see it. It has been through much." Luna said, sadly. 

Celestia thought for a while and looked at her sister. "Alright. I'll take you to it when you are released from here. Just promise you'll be careful." 

"Of course." 

Celestia hugged her younger sister, who hugged her in return. "Good night, Luna. I'll see you in the morning" 

"Good night, Celestia." 

	
		

> What is it? 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Morning came and Luna felt as brisk as a school filly. She had finally been released from the Hospital and was ready to attend to her duties as Princess of the Night once again. But her duties would have to wait, she and Celestia were heading to the dungeons to check on their unusual prisoner. They walked into the back of the castle and Celestia opened the large door. Emblazoned on the front of the door were the words 'Dungeons: Do not use unless absolutely necessary.' Luna gulped nervously, she had never been inside the dungeons before. 

"Follow me." Celestia said, sternly. 

Luna followed her elder sister down the stone steps and into a large room with holding cells lining the room on all sides and the only source of light inside were small torches that lined the walls with meticulous symmetry and order. Luna continued to follow Celestia into the very last holding cell at the back of the dungeons. 

"This was used a long time ago to hold the most notorious of villains." Celestia began. "I haven't had to commission its use in over eight-hundred years." she finished angrily. The guards posted outside the door stood at attention and saluted the two Princesses as they neared the holding cell. "At ease, all of you. Is the creature still silent?" 

"Yes, Princess. It hasn't moved since it arrived here." the guard answered. 

"And the scientists inside?" 

"Safe and all accounted for." 

"Good. Open the doors." 

The guard nodded to his compatriot and they opened the large metal doors into the cell. Luna took in the  sights of the cell, bleak, dank, and ominous, all the traits of a normal dungeon cell. She continued to look around and noticed that this cell was much larger than the others. It had metal contraptions pushed up against the walls that were rusted and beyond repair. Celestia and Luna walked in to see four ponies walking around taking pictures and comparing notes with each other. There were tables and desks littered with books, papers, and pictures. Luna looked past them and saw the "dead" Volos chained to a wall and suspended about a foot off the ground. His hands were shackled to the wall with extra chains on his arms to keep them immobilized. His legs did not fare much better, they too had massive amounts of chains wrapped around them and were shackled to the walls using makeshift shackles because of his large legs. 

"How goes the research, everypony?" Celestia asked as she walked over to the four ponies. A dark brown Earth Pony walked up to greet the Princess after setting down a notebook and pencil. "Mr. Alpha Bone, how is everything going?" 

"Princess, this specimen presents an incredible opportunity to Pony science." he said, excitedly. "This creature is composed of an unknown metal type, organic tissue, and has physical mechanics that are different from every cataloged animal in Equestria." he stated, barely able to contain his excitement. "The only thing that truly disturbs me is that it has only three organs, so far as I can tell." This caught Celestia and Luna's immediate attention. "Yes, I had the same look when I found out as well. its chest cavity is nearly void of organs." Alpha Bone, Luna, and Celestia walked over to the immobilized Volos. "From what I can tell, this here is the heart and these two sacks are its lungs." he pointed to each organ, respectively. "Other than that, I see no other organs for it to function." He began to point to the exposed parts of his arms. "From what I can see behind all these chains, is that it has muscle tissue and fibers running throughout its arms. As for its legs, I'm not sure. They appear to be made of a very strong metal." Alpha Bone sighed. "I wish I could have studied this when it was living. I would have loved to see it in its natural environment." 

"Have you determined if it shares any similarities to any other creatures in Equestria?" Luna asked after a while, and some deep thinking. 

"That's just it Princess. It shares no similarities to any other animal or Pony in Equestria. We even tried to compare it to the known animals in the Griffon Kingdom, the land of the Zebras and the Realm of Dragons, no matches." Alpha Bone replied. 

"Extinct Races or early civilizations?" Luna asked again. 

"Same result's." he thought for a moment. "There is one Scientist who might know what it could possibly be but she's been away at an excavation site for the past year and a half." 

"Who?" Celestia asked. 

"Professor Field Dust. She's a little eccentric but knowledgeable. She believes that she was on the verge of discovering some ancient hidden tomb inside Liber Mountain." he said, sarcastically. 

"Liber Mountain?" Celestia asked. 

"Yes Princess that's one. Do you know something about it?" 

"No, not really." Celestia responded, somewhat reserved. "Would Miss Field Dust be able to help you if I asked her come here? Celestia asked. 

"Possibly, but I wouldn't count on her though. When she gets as involved into an excavation of something like what she believes to be in Liber Mountain she can become very single minded." 

"I see. May we look at it for a moment? I want to get a good look at the creature that gave Luna and I a hard time." 

Alpha Bone was dumbfounded. "This thing gave the Princesses a hard time?" he thought.  "Of course, Princess." he said moving out of their way. 

Alpha Bone moved out of the way of the two sisters as they looked at their strange prisoner. Celestia only looked for a little while before claiming that she had seen enough of it. Luna, however, continued to look at it. She poked her head around as far back as she could with the wall and chains in her way. Luna went back and stood in front of Volos' lifeless body. She moved her eyes from his upper body down to his large legs and examined them closely. She moved her head from his waist down to his foot and back again, doing the same for both appendages. As she inspected his right leg she noticed that there was a small indentation in the shape of a rectangle, easily missed if not scrutinized closely. Luna tapped the small area and nothing happened. 

"Luna!" Celestia called, gaining Luna's attention. "Don't touch it." she warned. 

"Relax, Celestia. It can't hurt us." she replied, calmly. Luna found the small area again and tapped the spot again. This time they heard a small hissing sound and all of the ponies in the room stopped and watched the Princess. A piece of Volos' thigh opened and revealed a small compartment. Out of this small area popped a small black rectangle. "I think I found something." Luna said, nervously. 

Alpha Bone came running over, as did his colleagues. He picked up the black rectangle in his mouth and walked it over to one of the examining tables. Alpha Bone looked at it through one of the large magnifying glasses on the table. 

"You definitely found something, Princess. I don't think it's significant though. It looks like a black slab of metal ." he said sadly. 

"I thought you were a scientist, Mr. Bone" Celestia said. 

"Princess, I am a scientist, I assure you. But this is just a..." he said beginning to tap it. He heard a sound that would not be normal for a solid brick of metal. "Now that's interesting." he said putting his ear down to the box and tapping it again. 

"What are you doing?" Luna asked. 

"Shh, listen." he told the Princess unceremoniously. Luna made a face but was silent. She watched as Alpha Bone kept tapping the box with his hoof. "Do you hear that?" he asked. 

"Hear what?" Luna asked, now more than a little upset at the disrespect she was shown. 

Alpha Bone pulled his head back and turned to face the Princesses as well as his coworkers. 

"It's hollow." 

"What?" A deep green Unicorn, named Gene Splice, asked. 

"Yes, it's completely hollow, but has no opening areas." he told them. 

"May I?" Luna asked, walking over to the examination table. She looked at the rectangle curiously and continued to examine it by holding it up to her face with her magic. She turned it over at least ten times before setting it back down. She stared at it for a moment. She began to go over it in her mind, every angle and every possible way to open it. In her mind’s eye she could see something different, she could hear a voice talking to her, giving her directions. 

"Luna, are you alright?" Celestia asked as she placed a hoof on Luna's shoulder, waking her from her trance. 

"What? Oh, yes. I'm fine." she said without looking at her sister. "I think I know how to open it." she said raising her hoof to the table. The others looked at each other with confusion. How could she know how to open something that couldn't be opened? Luna placed her hoof on the box in the center and applied a small amount of pressure. Blue lights began to shine from the surface of the box in strange patterns and hissed as it opened into a flat metal square, revealing the contents inside. 

"Princess, how did you open it?" Alpha Bone asked as he came over to inspect the contents. 

"I...I have no idea." she gave a pleading look to Celestia. 

"Alpha Bone, I'm going to take Luna and go take care of some business. I trust you can handle this?" 

"Yes indeed." he said while eyeing the contents on the table. "Princess?" he said after a moment as they turned to leave. 

"Yes?" Celestia responded. 

"I believe we should send a letter requesting Professor Field Dust to come help with the analysis of these contents. Her field of study is more attuned to artifacts of this nature." he said while eyeing the turned over picture and gold ring. 

"Very well." Celestia said as they left the holding cell. 


2


Field Dust moved around her excavation site yelling orders and commanding her interns and students. The Sun was lowering in the sky and the sky became an array of different colors as the sun set. 

"Another day gone? And we're still not even close to getting inside this blasted mountain. It's like it's made of steel!" she yelled exasperated. She stormed off to the tent that she had been living in the past eighteen months and sat down on the chair in front of her desk. Her assistant Carbon Date, came in carrying a letter that was delivered earlier that day. He tapped on Field Dust's shoulder. "What is it Carbon Date, can't you see I'm mad?" 

"Of course I can see that Ms. Dust." he said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "I have something for you actually." he told her, handing Field Dust the rolled up parchment. 

Field Dust looked it over and stopped when she saw the Royal Seal. "Well, that's new." 

"What?" 

"This is from the Princess, it has the Royal Seal on it." Field Dust broke the seal off and opened the letter. Carbon Date watched as she read the letter. She mumbled the words written on the parchment and when she had finished, jumped out of her seat. "Carbon Date!" 

"What?! I'm right behind you! No, need to yell." he yelled back at her. 

"Don't take that tone with me mister!" she scolded right back at Carbon Date. Carbon Date sighed in defeat. "Gather my things, I'm going to Canterlot!" she said, excited. 

"Now?" he asked, weakly. 

"No next week." she deadpanned. "OF COURSE NOW!" she hollered. 

"But what about the excavation?" 

"Take some time off. Celestia knows I could use the break." 

"What did the Princess want?" 

"She requested that I come by to examine some artifacts they retrieved from the body of a new species of animal. At least, they think it's an animal." 

"They don't know?" he asked, curiously. 

"It's never been discovered. Whatever it actually is is anypony's guess you twit." she glared at Carbon Date. "Get moving!" 

Carbon Date ran out of the tent to inform the others of this new development and the vacation they were going to receive as well as gathering a few of Field Dust's examining tools from the site. Field Dust sat back down on her chair and continued to look at the letter, reading it again and again. 

"Some time analyzing something new will give me a chance to get away from this blasted place." she whispered to herself as she got up and left the tent and went out to where the rest of her team was eating dinner. As she walked up her crew became tense and watched her go up to the head of the table where she usually sat. "Listen up!" she hollered. "Something very important has come up and I'm sure Carbon Date has informed you of the little vacation you all are going to be taking." she heard murmurs among the group. "I don't know how long I will be away but I expect you to be ready to work when I get back to make up for lost time." She heard a collective groan. "ZIP IT!" she yelled. The group of Ponies quickly quieted down. "How you spend your little vacation is up to you, but I don't want to hear anything about getting drunk and causing a scene or anything about Red Light Districts! Because if I do..." she inhaled sharply and scrunched her face. "Well, let's just say you don't want to find out what I'll do to you. You're professionals or soon to be, and I expect nothing less than professionalism even in public. Am I clear?" None answered. "AM I CLEAR!?" she bellowed to her group of students and Interns, who all nodded in agreement. "Good. I will see you when I see you." Field Dust got up and walked out of her excavation site and to the nearest town to book a train ride to Canterlot. 


3


Luna and Celestia walked down the long corridors of the Castle, after Luna had raised the moon to its place. Luna had not said a word to Celestia about their time in the dungeons since they had left. Luna was walking much faster than Celestia, who had been growing more worried about her. Celestia began trotting to catch up to her younger sister. 

"Luna, tell me what's going on. Please." Celestia pleaded as she caught up to Luna. Luna turned and faced her sister. "How did you know how to open it?" she asked, a concerned look on her face. 

"I...I heard a voice telling me how to do it." she whispered. 

"What? You heard a voice telling you what to do?" 

"Yes." was all Luna could manage. 

"Whose voice? Who, Luna?" 

"I DON'T KNOW! she yelled, frustrated. "It was... just a voice." she said, shying away from Celestia. "Celestia, I've come to terms with the fact that this thing and I are connected after everything we've been through, but something feels wrong about this whole situation." 

"What feels wrong?" 

"I'm not sure yet but something about my connection with this creature seems to go deeper than just being able to sense it and see it in my dreams." Luna thought hard for a while before speaking again. "My dreams involving this creature appear to be far too real to be just dreams. It's something more, something deeper." 

"Like a memory?" Celestia asked, suspiciously. 

"Possibly, but I just don't know." 

"Well, for right now I think you and I have had enough excitement for one day. Follow me, I know something that helps me relax after a long day." 

Luna looked at her sister questioningly. Celestia motioned for her to follow and Luna decided to see what Celestia had to show her. When they had arrived at her room, Celestia opened a hidden compartment on her wall revealing a rack of various wines from all over the country. Luna looked at it wide eyed. 

"How did you get all of this?"  she asked in disbelief. 

"I have it shipped in on occasion. Because Wine doesn't go bad I could stock pile it before I started drinking it." she told Luna, while levitating two glasses from her drawer. Celestia picked up one of the bottles and poured some into the glasses. "Here." she said while levitating a glass over to Luna. "Drink it, It'll help you feel better." she said, smiling. 

Luna took the glass in her own magic and lifted it to her lips and took a sip. Her lips puckered and her eye twitched. "It's sour." she stated. 

"You'll get used to it. This has always helped me relax after a long day of working. And in your case, hearing voices." 

Luna continued to drink the liquid despite its taste. When she had finished the glass she could feel herself calming down and relax. 

"You're right, as always." 

"Of course I am. I am the older sister after all." Celestia mocked. 


4


Field Dust got off the train in Canterlot Station and found that a guard was waiting for her. She frowned and walked over to the guard. When she reached the guard he studied her for bit. 

"Are you Field Dust?" he asked. 

"That's me. I'm to understand that I was expected?" 

"Yes." was all he answered. 

"Fine. Lead on then, big head." 

The guard huffed and led her to the awaiting carriage. Field Dust threw her bags full of tools into the carriage and sat down. "Alright I'm ready let's go. I want to see this thing." she commanded. The guards looked at each other with disgust written on their faces. They had been disrespected before but this was ridiculous. "Hey, let's go! I needed to get there yesterday!" she yelled. 

The guards finally decided to just deal with it and take off. When they had arrived at the castle, Field Dust grabbed her things and followed one of the guards into the Castle. They walked down a hallway and stopped at a large door. The guard took out a key and unlocked it. 

"This is where you will be staying for the duration of your time here. Miss Dust." he said. "You will be brought to the creature in the morning."

"Good, good. Now if you would be so kind as to leave. I need to rest." 

The guard huffed and left the area. Field Dust laid herself down on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.  

When morning had arrived Field Dust awoke to the sound of somepony knocking on her door. She opened her eyes and grudgingly got out of bed. She wobbled over to the door. 

"What?!" she groaned at the perpetrator of the noise. "It's only ten, I wasn't done sleeping!" she yelled, opening the door. 

"You're still a bundle of joy aren't you Dusty?" 

"Alpha Bone." she deadpanned. "I should have known you would be here. And DON'T call me Dusty." she intimidated. 

"Well, I am the leading Biologist in Equestria." he said, smugly. 

"What do you want, Boner?" she asked, walking back into her room and pouring herself some coffee. 

"What...Boner?" he questioned. 

"You call me Dusty I call you by your old nickname, Boner, it's only fair." she stated before sipping on her cup. 

"Anyway, on a different subject, I suggest you get ready Field Dust, I have something that you are going to want too see." 

"So I've heard. What kind of artifacts are they?" 

"One appears to be a picture, and the other a gold ring." he said, matter-o-fact. 

"You got me all excited for a picture and a gold ring?" she asked, angrily. 

"Yes. It's what's in the picture I need help with, and the ring is smaller than any pony hoof." 

"Alright, show me where it is." 

"Now?" Field Dust shook her head. "But you’re not even groomed and you look like a mess." Alpha Bone argued.

Field Dust got off her chair and walked over to Alpha Bone. "Take me there, or I'll relocate those eyes of yours to your ass!" she wailed, shaking her hoof. Alpha Bone looked at Field Dust and nodded. "Good! Now get moving!" she barked. 

Field Dust grabbed her tools and followed Alpha Bone to the dungeons. Alpha walked nervously hoping that Field Dust wouldn't say anything to him until they got to where the specimen was. They neared the room where Volos was being kept and he started to relax at seeing the door to his work site. Field Dust grinned, seeing her opportunity. 

"Oh, Alpha" she started, using her best seductive voice. "I didn't know you were into this sort of thing." she said smiling, evilly.

"So, close." Alpha groaned under his breath. 

Field Dust laughed quietly to herself as they finished their short journey to the last holding cell. The guards looked at Alpha and nodded opening the door for him and Field Dust. The guards looked at Field Dust and began to stare. Her mane was unkempt and even then the light brown Pegasus was quite the looker. Field Dust noticed their staring and she made a face. 

"Stop staring!" she yelled making the guard flinch slightly. "Celestia!" she groaned loudly as she walked into the room. 

She walked over to where Alpha was standing and before she could look at the table she noticed the large being that was chained to the wall. She got excited and ran over to it, nearly running over one of Alpha's colleagues. 

"Is that it?!" she asked. 

"Yup, that's it Field Dust." Alpha said walking over to join his other three associates. One of them turned and whispered into Alpha's ear. 

"That's Field Dust? I thought she would be older, and not quite that good looking." he whispered. 

"Don't let her pretty exterior fool you, she's quite the hoof-full." he whispered back. 

His co-worker snickered. "Speaking from experience, eh Alpha?" he teased, nudging his shoulder. 

Alpha's face went red. "I've worked with her before, that's all." he said, defending himself. 

"I can hear you, and you better shut your traps before I shut them for you." she threatened, not turning around. Alpha and his companion silenced themselves immediately. 

"Alpha, get over here." she commanded. Alpha Bone went over to where Field Dust was standing examining Volos. She shot him a death glare. "If you tell anypony about what happened in Baltimare, I...will...end you." she stated, firmly. 

Alpha Bone chuckled nervously. "Right, well, here are the artifacts I need your assistance examining." he said, moving to the examining table.  

Field Dust went over to the table and looked at the ring. She took out her magnifying glass and scrutinized it. "Nothing special about this thing." she finally said. "It's just your standard gold band." she said disappointed. She moved the picture under the magnifying glass and looked at it more intensely. She cast her gaze between the photo and the creature on the wall. "Well that's interesting." she said. 

"What is?" Alpha Bone asked. 

"From what I can tell, the creature on the wall and the creatures in this photo are identical in physical appearance but these three have what appears to be skin and that one doesn't." She wracked her brain for the answer that she so desperately wanted. "I've got nothing." she said, throwing up her hooves in defeat. "I can't place this thing. I'm stumped." 

"Already? You can't give us anything?" a blue Unicorn asked. 

"Nope." she simply stated. As she stood there, she came to a small realization. "There might be something I can tell you about it." she said, getting excited again. Field Dust rummaged through her bags of tools until she found a small notebook containing sketches, photos and field notes. She furiously turned through the pages until she came to one picture in her book. "Here. Tell me what you see." 

Alpha Bone looked at the photo in the notebook and stared at it unimpressed. "What am I looking at, Field Dust?" 

"You don't see it?" she questioned. Alpha bone shook his head. "You moron, it's that creature." 

"All I see is bad cave painting." 

"Yes, but look closely." 

Alpha Bone studied the picture again and began to take in the small details of the photo. "When was this done?" 

"My best estimate is twelve-hundred years ago." 

Alpha Bone quickly turned to one of the guards in the room with them. "Please, inform the Princesses. We just made a discovery as to this creature's age." The guard nodded and ran out quickly. "Field Dust I do believe, I owe you a drink." he said, proudly. 

"After all of this, you're going to owe me more than a drink, Alpha Bone." she responded sporting a sinister grin. 

"Oh, boy."

> Reawakening 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Celestia and Luna were walking quickly down the corridors of the castle, once again making their way to where the creature was being kept. The news about a new development in the research of the creature lifted their spirits, and had gotten them curious as to what Alpha Bone had discovered. After they had traversed the castle and the dungeons, they met with Alpha Bone. 

"Mr. Bone, I was told, you have discovered something?" Celestia asked, walking into the large room. 

"Yes, Princess. I believe you will find this most intriguing." Alpha Bone replied. 

"What have you found?" 

"We have an approximation of this being's age." 

Celestia thought for a moment. "What is this approximation?" she asked. 

"Twelve-hundred years, your majesty." 

Luna and Celestia were silent. "Twelve-hundred?" Celestia whispered. "How did you come up with this?"

"Field Dust found an old cave painting that closely resembles this creature. Though, you may need to look closely." he said grabbing the field journal.  He placed it back on the table. "Here, take a look." he said calling them over. Celestia and Luna walked to where Alpha Bone was standing. They looked down at the picture containing a red stick figure style painting. "Do you see it?" 

Celestia continued to study the picture and thought long and hard about what was being shown. "It's possible, I suppose, but it's too vague. Do you have any other proof as to what this creature could be?" Celestia asked, the now much disappointed Alpha Bone. 

"Inside that box was a picture. It's rather worn and dirty, but it also heralded an interesting conclusion." 

"And that would be?" Luna asked, expectantly. 

"There were three creatures in the photo. One was terribly blotted out from the decay of the photo but the other two were in better condition. Field Dust said that their physical structure appeared to be similar, and the two creatures we could easily see had what looked like skin on their bodies." 

"No fur?" Celestia asked. 

"Only on their heads it looked like." he sighed and looked at the Princesses. "Princesses, this creature could herald in a new era of scientific discovery and understanding of our world. For all we know there could be more like this one out there somewhere, and this could be the first of a few, hundreds, or even thousands of  creatures similar to this one or the ones portrayed in the picture. Please, I must be allowed to make this public." he said, pleadingly. 

Celestia looked the biologist. "I know your excited but if word of what this, I suppose the word here would be Alien, were to spread it could cause a mass panic. Ponies could get the idea that there is an invasion coming or something completely absurd." Celestia wore a stern look on her face. "I'm sorry but you will have to make do with this." 

"I understand." Alpha responded, sadly. "Unfortunately, this is all we could come up with. All of our other efforts have been fruitless." 

"What about the box?" Luna asked quickly. 

"What about it?" 

"Can you close it?" 

"No, but I don't see where you’re going with this." 

"That's a piece of its technology, have you considered the possibility that it would have some significance in telling you where this type of creature is in terms of technological advancements?" Luna asked. 

"Luna? How did you come up with all that?" Celestia asked, bewildered. 

"I have my moments." Luna responded, proudly. 

"No, I hadn't thought about it." Alpha Bone thought for a while and turned his attention to the other three ponies in the room. "Hey Gene Splice!" The deep green Unicorn looked up from his work. "Do you still have the whereabouts of your friend Bulk Steel?" 

"Sure, he works over in Baltimare at the Applied Sciences Lab. What about him?" 

"Would it be possible for him to analyze that box the Princess managed to retrieve from the creature?" 

"Possibly, he works with more construction type equipment and transportation but I don't see why we couldn't try." 

"Good, send this to him with a letter explaining the situation, if you would." 

"Alright." Gene Splice picked up a piece of parchment and a pen and scribbled a quick note and attached the flattened metal box to it. His horn lit up and with a flash of green light the parchment and box were gone. "It should be there now." 

"Excellent, you may return to what you were doing." 

"About that." Alpha Bone looked up again at his colleague. "I managed to grab a blood sample from its arm before they chained it up completely, and found something in it that will most definitely interest you." 

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Alpha Bone asked, somewhat vehemently. 

"I had to be sure of what I was seeing, now I am." he said, defensively. 

Alpha Bone and the Princesses walked over to Gene Splice's microscope and took a turn looking through the eye piece. 

"This is astounding." Alpha Bone said, before the Princesses could take a look. "What are they?" 

"I have no idea. I've been a Geneticist and Cytologist for forty years and the only thing I can see that's close to a pony's blood anatomy are the red and white blood cells."   

Alpha Bone moved out of the way and let the Princesses each look at the small blood sample. "What am I looking at?" Celestia asked. 

"The creature contains not only red blood cells and white blood cells but a third type of blood cell that I've never seen before." 

"What can you make of it, Mr. Splice?" 

"All I can tell you is that it appears to bolster the effectiveness of the other cells. Increased oxygen flow and heightened immune responses. These cells look nothing like the others, they have small appendages in the front that look like small clamps and they can move under their own power. I've never seen anything like it." 

"Strange." she said, thinking. "How do you know that they bolster immune responses?" Celestia asked, giving Luna a turn on the microscope.

"They ate my needle." Gene Splice simply stated. 

"What?" Luna asked, looking up from the microscope, and holding back a laugh. 

"Nothing happened when I took the sample, at least I didn't think so. Only when I put the sample on the slide was I able to see that that third cell had amassed a small group of about three-hundred and they were eating my needle. By the time I gotten my needle away from the slide, half of it was gone." 

"Incredible." Celestia stated. "They don't harm the cells in its blood?" 

"No, Princess. It appears that they work with the host, not against it." 

"A type of cell that bolsters the host's immune responses and helps the host and doesn't hurt them." Celestia thought for a while about what implications this could have in medicine. "What happens if these cells are put into a different host?" 

Gene Splice looked over to a corner of the dungeon holding cell. "See for yourself, Princess." Celestia looked over to where Gene Splice was pointing and looked it in horror. There in the corner was the remains of a rat. All that was left of it was the skeleton and a few pieces of skin.

"How many CC's was that?" 

"Two CC's of blood from the subject." 

"How much blood did you take from it?" 

"Four CC's" 

"And under the microscope?" 

"The last remaining two CC's" 

"I want it preserved. I want to study it myself. This could lessen Fluttershy's recovery from the surgeries." 

"Of course, Princess." 

Celestia had been too caught up in the discoveries of the scientists to notice that Field Dust was not there. "Where is Field Dust?" 

"Sleeping, as always." Alpha Bone replied, not surprised at Field Dust's sleeping habits.

"It's almost eleven in the morning." 

"I know." 

"Guard, please go and wake up Miss Dust and ask her to come down here." Celestia ordered. The guard wore a nervous look on his face. "Is there a problem?" 

"No, Princess. Right away." He galloped off quickly. 

A short time later he returned with an angry Field Dust behind him. This time Field Dust had groomed herself and she didn't look like the mess she was the day before. Field Dust held her angry expression until she saw the Princesses standing in the room. 

"Princesses." she said, bowing. "What is it you need?" 

"I would like to know about the picture you took of the cave painting." 

"Why are you interested in that?" 

"I want to know if the creature in the photo is indeed the one on the wall. That's all." 

"Okay." Field Dust went over and grabbed her field journal and opened it to the page containing the picture she needed. "Alpha, hold this." she commanded, shoving the field journal at him. Alpha Bone grudgingly took it and held it with his mouth. "Good, now stand there." Alpha Bone stood where Field Dust had pointed. "If you were to compare the two side by side, they begin to look strikingly similar. Though the cave painting is much less detailed." 

"It was done in Red?" Luna asked, as she looked at the picture. "If I remember right, most cave paintings were done with a black charcoal type material." Luna asked. 

"That's why this one is unique. It was done in a red ink like substance." 

"Where was this?" Celestia asked. 

"The Southern side of Liber Mountain, where my site is located. That's why I'm excavating there. Ever since I found that painting I'm sure that there's something hidden in that mountain or in a chamber somewhere around it." 

As they talked with each other a red flash of light appeared, a parchment and the flat metal box lay on the table. Gene Splice levitated the scroll to himself and opened it. He read it while the others watched. 

"He's stumped also. The most he could give me was that based on what I described, which wasn't much, this box is far more advanced than Pony technology." 

"Did he say by how long?" Luna asked. 

Gene Splice skimmed it looking for an answer. "Ah, here it is. He says that it's more advanced by, from his best estimate, a couple thousand years, maybe more." he stated with shock. 

The group was silent for a time while they took in the news and let it register in their minds. "A couple thousand years, and the Alien is twelve-hundred years old?" Celestia whispered. "That would make its species older than me, and this specimen would be only a few years older than Luna." The rest of the group were astonished at the Princess' words. 

"So this thing is older than I am?" Luna asked. 

"It would appear so." 

"I wish it would just wake up and tell us where it came from!" Luna shouted, angrily. The chains rustled but were not heard. "I would have really like to know." she complained. 

"Princess! It's moving!" a guardspony yelled, backing away quickly. 

The Princesses and the rest looked over to the chained body and watched it closely. Celestia began to have doubts until she heard the chains rustle. The lifeless organs in its chest began to move faster until they were operating at their normal rate. Volos' body began to squirm and his arms and legs moved as much as they were able under the chains. 

"It's alive, it's alive! Wonderful!" Alpha Bone cheered. 

Volos' eyes re-lit with their red glow and he roared in anger at being chained and continued to struggle. He looked around the room growling and struggling to get free. The Princesses and all of the scientists backed up to get as far away from it as possible. Even the guardsponies were becoming more and more frightened by the second. He roared again and pulled hard on his chains. The chains began to creak and stretch. Celestia, on reflex from over many years of battle experience, shot a reinforcement spell to solidify the chains even more, to resist the strain. 

Volos roared, the chains were no longer going with his movements and he was held in place. Eventually Volos had calmed down enough for them to approach. Alpha Bone was the first there. He looked at, the now living, Volos in complete awe. 

"So beautiful. A new species of animal, thought dead, now alive and right in front of my face." He studied how the three organs worked together to keep such a large creature alive. "Fascinating." 

"What is?" Celestia asked, nervously at seeing Volos alive. 

"These organs are working almost one-hundred times faster than the normal Pony heart, or lungs." 

Volos stopped struggling after a while and just hung there, breathing heavily. Gene Splice came over to examine Volos further. He used his magic to get a better look at his circulatory system, now that it was working normally. 

"His circulatory system is much the same as any mammal's. Lungs oxygenate the blood, muscle fibers use oxygen and so forth." he explained. "It's really quite amazing, this creature's bodily functions are similar to a pony's in almost every way. The only difference is that, I can't find a stomach, liver or any other organs." 

"Curious." Celestia spoke up. "It's time for me to lower the sun, all of you can retire for the night." she told the scientists, who all nodded in agreement. "Luna, come on. You need to raise the moon." 

"What about that?" she asked, pointing to Volos. 

"He will remain under guard as always" she stated, firmly. “Now we need to do our royal duty." 

"Of course sister." 

The Princesses and the large team of scientists all left the chamber and went to their respective places, while the guards remained posted outside the doors and inside the cell. 


2


Luna waited until Celestia had gone to bed and had fallen asleep before going on a private excursion to the dungeons. As she approached the cell, the guards looked at her suspiciously. 

"Please, let me through. I wish to see the alien." she told them. 

"Of course, Princess." he responded, not wanting to contend with a Princess. He opened the door to the holding cell and Luna made her way in. 

She walked up to the bound Volos and stopped a few feet from him. "I've seen you before." she said. "In my nightmares. From the moment you arrived in our world I've been able to sense your presence but no other pony has been able too." she stated, sadly. "You know what that's like don't you? To be all alone on a strange world." she looked at his emotionless face. "I'm sure you do." she hovered up to Volos' face, raised a hoof and touched his metal cheek. "To be so similar yet so different. I know how much it hurts. I too was a stranger to this world not long ago. I was banished to the moon one-thousand and three years ago and have only just begun to earn my subjects trust back." she began to cry. "It was so hard to be away from home for a thousand years. I had missed so much and lost one-thousand years of my life. I will never get those back!" she yelled. Luna calmed herself down and wiped away her tears. "You're a good listener, I've been holding all of this back for so long. I wish you could talk, I would very much like to have had a conversation with you." she said, now smiling a little. "I know you’re not a monster, or a threat." this caused the guards to change from their sympathetic looks, from hearing Luna's grief, to one of astonishment and disbelief. "I saw it in your eyes that night. The night you stabbed me. I saw pain, so much pain. Do you hurt after taking a life?" Volos did not move or even look at the princess. He made a whining sound and remained still. "I guess that means yes." She touched her horn to his head. 

Her horn reacted and she went wide eyed. She tried to pull back from him but the magic kept arcing from her horn and to his body. She screamed as her magic left her body. The guards were already running to her aid when an explosion of magic erupted from Volos and launched Luna backwards. The guards went to pick up the downed Princess, who simply waved them off. 

"I am alright, don't worry." she said, getting up from the ground. She looked at Volos who had magical energies warping around his body. She looked on as it finally dissipated and Volos looked as though nothing had hit him. "My magic it reacted to him? How? I didn't cast a spell." she said amazed. "As of right now," she looked at all of the guards, "that never happened. Agreed?" 

"Yes, Princess." the responded in disciplined unity. 

"Good." She turned and left the dungeons and went up to her room. Weariness suddenly overcame her and she collapsed onto her bed, being thrown into sleep.  


3


Pain, she felt pain. Luna tried to move but was restrained. She looked around and saw a great many Aliens surrounding her. She looked on them in horror. Some had bulging round green eyes with no pupils, while others had strange masks that covered their faces. Some of them held devices attached to wires or tubes. She tried to move again but could not. She felt it, searing pain. She screamed. The creatures did not flinch. they continued to do what they were doing. She watched as another brought over a pair of surgical scissors and lowered himself over her exposed body. She felt it again, pain. She screamed more but it still did not phase the creatures around her. The creatures continued their operations. Luna could only watch and feel her body ache. She heard something click and a saw a small flash of light. She felt nothing. She was cold, and her eyes slowly closed as she could no longer feel the pain. 

Luna shot up from her bed and felt herself over. She was sweating and her throat stung. Had she actually been screaming? Luna heard the frantic sounds of ponies running through the halls and the sounds of loud knocking and bashing at the door. Eventually the door gave way to Celestia, her back hooves crashing down onto Luna's blue tiled floor. 

"What happened?!" she asked, concerned but filled with anger. 

"Bad dream, it was only a dream." Luna sighed. 

"You fell asleep? It's night time. You're supposed to be nocturnal." she said, concerned. Celestia walked over to where her sister sat. "Leave us, all of you." she commanded, prompting all the servants and guards to vacate immediately. "Another nightmare?" Luna nodded. "Did it involve our "friend" in the dungeons?" Again, Luna nodded. "What was it about?" 

"I...I'm not sure. There were numerous aliens around me, they all looked different but had similar physical shape." she began. "Celestia, I went down and saw it on my own." she confessed. 

"What?" she asked, disbelieving. "Why would you do that? What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything, just talked to it a little bit." she half-lied. Celestia looked at Luna with surprise. "I touched my horn to it and my magic went haywire. I had no control over it, my magic just kept zapping it. When it had finally stopped, I came up here I felt really tired all of the sudden and I was asleep." 

"That's when the nightmare came, wasn't it?" 

"Yes, but I think it was the alien's." 

"What was the Alien's?" 

"The nightmare, I think it was a memory that was transferred to me when my magic was out of my control." 

"One if it's memories?" 

"Yes. Sister, I could feel everything, all the things that happened in that short instance, everything. I wouldn't' wish that amount of pain onto anypony, not even things not from here." Celestia wrapped Luna in her hooves. "I'm surprised that it still wants to live after all of that. It was short to me but to that creature it could have been much longer, days or even months of such terrible physical pain." 

"Luna, I can't stop your nightmares and I can't stop what's happening, but I can be here for you when you need me." Celestia said, a caring tone in her voice.

"Thank you."  Luna cried.

> The Facility
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


The sun had risen and Celestia had called a meeting that all of her scientific team and Luna were attending. They shuffled around nervously while they waited for the Ruler of the Day. Luna was the most on edge. After what had happened the night before, she was beyond nervous as to what this meeting could be about. While the scientists talked amongst themselves and with the occasional threat from Field Dust, Luna chuckled to herself at the sight. 

"Alpha Bone and Field Dust definitely have some kind of history, if she keeps hitting him like that." she thought to herself as they waited. But even with the small comedies that occurred in that little group of Scientists, she couldn't relax. The doors opened and Celestia entered, flanked by a small army of guards. Luna and the team of scientists all looked up at the Solar Princess. She looked at them with a determined look on her face and tension emanated from her body. "Sister, what's going on?" Luna asked, highly suspicious. 

"First, thank you all for coming on such short notice. After reviewing all of the evidence that you have discovered and after much thought, I have determined that this creature we have found needs to be taken to an environment better suited to  its study. I have decided that it will be transferred under guard too a laboratory in the Crystal Empire." 

"Why all that way up North?" Alpha Bone asked. 

"This is relatively unknown, which is why what I am about to tell you does not leave this room, Understood?" The group nodded. "The Crystal Heart affects magic in a very special way. It can enhance or hinder the caster depending on their intentions, though Sombra found a way to defeat that. I believe that if we bring our "guest" and use the Crystal Heart's unusual side effects, we can discover even more about this creature and where it might have come from." 

"What about Shining Armour? Has he gone back to the Crystal Empire?" Luna asked. 

"Yes, I sent him back there after the whole ordeal with the attacks settled down. He still is the captain of my Royal Guard despite the fact that he and Cadance rule the Crystal Empire now. I don't like taking him away from her at times, but until I can find somepony to take his place, so he and Cadance can rule side by side, he will remain on an on call basis for assignments." Celestia responded. 

"And Twilight and her friends?" Luna asked. 

"They will remain here and watch over Fluttershy." Celestia responded. "Gather your things, we leave in three hours." she told the others. "Luna, I wish to speak with you, in private." Luna nodded nervously and stayed in her place while the others left the room and went to get their tools and equipment. 

"What is it you wish to speak to me about?" Luna asked. 

"It's about your little visit to the Alien, last night." 

"Oh." Luna whispered, getting even more nervous than before. 

"I know your curious but this connection you have to it goes beyond anything I've ever seen. I fear that you could be linked in more ways than just having strange dreams." Celestia stated seriously. 

"What are you saying?" 

"I want you to remain here." 

"But why!?" Luna asked, loudly. 

"I just told you. I can't risk what might happen if I am right and your connection goes deeper than the mind! I've forged connections with others before, family connections, friendships, I've found love on occasion. Those types of connections run deeply but this...this is something else entirely." 

"I have to go, Celestia. I need to find out out what it is and where it came from. I need to why I am connected to it and nopony-else." Luna argued, straining to keep her emotions under her control. "I need to know. How is it related to me, and why it's related to me. If the answer lies with the studies that are going to be conducted in that facility in the Crystal Empire, I must know." 

Celestia thought about what Luna had argued before speaking. "Fine, you can come. But only because I'm curious as to the nature of your connection as well. But you will not be allowed to make contact with it, Understood?" 

"Oh thank you!" Luna cheered, despite the fact she wouldn't be able to go near the creature. 

"Get whatever you need and be ready to go by the time I've already said." 

"OK!" Luna yelled, running out of the meeting room. 


2


Celestia, Luna, Field Dust, Alpha Bone and the rest of his team all waited for the time when they would be leaving for the Crystal Empire. The front doors to the palace opened and they could see an army of guards in the door way. They lined the width of the doorway with less than an inch in-between them. Celestia kept a close vigil on the army of guards. The guards moved out of the door way and made their way to the small crowd in front of them. They moved in unison with each other, the same hoof hitting the ground at the same time, and their faces all had a cautious yet hard look on them. As they went the guards in the center of the mass were holding on to a large table with their magic, a great many chains lay atop it. 

Celestia watched the very center of the crowd of guards for any disturbances. Luna traced her sister's gaze and her eyes fell on the table as well. She couldn't see what was on it because of the mass of ponies in-front of her. The group of Guardsponies stopped and one of them walked up to Princess Celestia. 

"Princess, the creature is ready for transport and I have amassed the number of guards you require." 

"Excellent. Rejoin your army." The guardspony simply nodded and rejoined his ranks. "We're ready. Load the alien onto the transport!" Celestia ordered, prompting the army of guardsponies to advance once more. They stopped at a large flat surfaced carriage, and levitated the large table onto the carriage. Luna looked at the chained Volos, her heart breaking for the creature she knows is not a threat to her or the citizens. "We have a detachment of guards waiting for us in the Crystal Empire, I want at least one-hundred of you to travel with us. Sixty Pegasi, and forty Unicorns." she stated. The correct number of each type of guard detached themselves from the ranks on their commander's orders and waited for further orders from the Princess. "Unicorns on the spare carriages,  ten Pegasi will fly beside Luna and I in the head of the convoy, the rest will guard the back of the convoy and the center, where the alien is located. Nothing gets in or out until we reach the Crystal Empire!" The guards saluted and took their places. "Alpha Bone, you and your team will be riding directly behind us. You have no need to worry about your safety or that of your specimen." 

"Yes, Princess." he turned to his team, which now included Field Dust full time. "All of you load up, and be careful with your equipment." 

"No, shit." Field Dust said, sarcastically. 

"Just...Please, do as I say, Field Dust." he said, defeated. 

"Lighten up, just having some fun." she said, taking her place on the carriage.

"Is everypony ready to go?" Celestia asked, loudly. There was a collective of nods and yes' as Celestia's answer. "Let's get going." The convoy of ponies all took off and they were flying North, to the Crystal Empire. 


3


"Darling, what's going on? You've been so tense." Cadance asked her husband. 

"It's nothing." he stated, defiantly. 

"Don't hide things from me. I'm your wife, you're supposed to tell me everything." Cadance said, smirking. 

Shining Armour thought for while about how to tell Cadance what was happening. "A very dangerous creature is being transported here as we speak." he said, flatly. 

"What kind of creature?" 

"I don't know. From the information I've been able to gather, it's some kind of alien." 

"An alien? That's just silly." she said, a nervous chuckle emanating from her lips. "Right?" 

"No. It's all real. An unknown animal that's never been seen in Equestria, or on the planet as a whole." Cadance was trying to grasp the concept. "I know, it's hard to take in." he grabbed Cadance's hoof in his. "When it arrives, please, for my sake, stay here." Cadance looked at her husband and saw the pleading look in his eyes. "I've seen what it can do. It's a monster, it leveled buildings with ease and it managed to injure the Princesses, I never saw how, but Luna had a large wound in her chest and Celestia looked like a punching bag." Shining was trying to keep himself composed as he spoke. "Please, stay here." 

Cadance didn't say anything for a while until she gathered the courage to speak. "Is that why so many of our Crystal Guard is gathered at the front gate?" 

"Yes." 

"How did this manage to stay quiet?" 

"It's under the guise of a new gemstone that has been discovered, and it's being transported here for examination. I have issued orders that all observers must be cleared by me."  

"And the Citizens?" 

"I have ordered the guard to arrest any citizen attempting to force their way in, that includes paparazzi." 

"No gaps huh?" 

"None." 

"Will you at least let me see it's arrival? If you do, you might get a little something extra after dinner." she said, seductively.

Shining Armour thought about the new proposal from Cadance. "Fine. But only the arrival." 

"Thanks, my strong and handsome Stallion." Cadance stated while walking to the front gates, shaking her flank in front of him, Shining quickly following after her. 

"Why can't I say no to her?" he mumbled. 


4


Both Shining Armour and Cadance waited on the balcony at the front of the castle. Shining Armour was beginning to fidget. Cadance noticed and leaned herself against him. 

"Don't worry. Everything will be Okay. I'm sure they know what they're doing." she told him, comfortingly. 

"It's not the convoy I'm worried about. It's the Citizens of the Crystal Empire I'm afraid for. If that thing escapes, I don't think I can stop it, even with all of the Crystal Guard behind me." 

"Try not to think about it too much, I'm positive things will be alright." 

"I hope so, Cadance. Losing you would kill me." 

"And the same for me if I were to lose you." 

Cadance leaned in and kissed Shining Armour and he returned the kiss. They held that position for as long as they could, basking in each other’s love. One of the Crystal Guard came galloping up to the balcony and stopped when he saw the display. He cleared his throat to make his presence known. Cadance and Shining Armour broke apart, Cadance chuckled in embarrassment while Shining Armour tried to make himself look professional again.

"What is it?" he managed after some time. 

"Sir, the convoy has arrived at the Northern border of the Crystal Empire." 

"Take a detachment of fifty and escort them here. Assist if anything goes wrong." 

"Yes, sir!" The Crystal Guardspony saluted and went on his way. 

Shining Armour began to walk to the lower levels of the Castle to meet the convoy at the door. Cadance followed after him, half running to keep up. By the time thay had made it the front gate the convoy was just arriving. The Princesses' carriage came in first. Shining Armour went up to greet the Princesses with Cadance by his side. 

"Princesses." he greeted. "How was the journey?" 

"It was for the most part uneventful. The Alien kept making noise, but it was nothing we could not handle." Celestia answered. 

"Good to hear. The streets to The Facility have been cleared and all citizens ordered to remain indoors for the duration of the transport." 

"You pulled out all of the stops, didn't you?"

"Anything to keep the citizens of the Crystal Empire safe." 

"Hello Aunt Celestia, Aunt Luna." Cadance said, getting closer to the carriage. 

"Hello, Cadance, it's good to see you again. Forgive us but our reunion will have to be cut short. I trust Shining Armour has informed you of our mission today?" Celestia asked. 

"Yes, he has. Please, may I see it?" 

"Honey, remember our agreement?" 

"Oh, please Shining?" she asked, batting her eyes at him. 

Shining Armour groaned. "Is it OK if she sees the creature, Princess?" he asked. 

"I'm sorry Cadance, but we really must get this thing to the Facility." 

"I understand." she said, disappointed.

"Maybe after we get it into the Facility you can come and see it." Celestia said, comforting the pink Alicorn. 

Cadance perked up a little bit. "Promise?" 

"Absolutely." Celestia firmly stated. She looked at Shining Armour. "Let's get going." 

Shining Armour turned to the mass of Solar Guard and Crystal Guardsponies. "Move out!" he ordered.

"Come back to me Shining! I'll be waiting for you!" Cadance called after them. 

The mass of guards and the convoy of carriages moved down the barren roads of the Crystal Empire. Luna panned her head back and forth to look at the homes of the Empire. She saw the Crystal Ponies peeking out of their homes to catch a glimpse of the unusual site of such a large battalion of guards and the size of the convoy. However, some of the homes had their shades down so the occupants could not see the convoy at all. 

The convoy came to a halt in front of a pile of snow, near the Western border of the crystal Empire. Shining Armour went to the front of the group and cast a spell. The snow began to vanish and in its place was a large building. The front gate was comprised of doors made of a mixing of ice and crystal. The gate opened and the convoy entered the courtyard of the facility. The Princesses, Alpha Bone and his team dismounted form the carriages and continued on foot while Volos was still on the table held by the magic of the Solar Guard.  

They traveled down the compact hallways and corridors of the fortress made of ice. Princess Celestia studied the building's interior as they traveled. She took in every sight and scrutinized every area that she could see while they walked. Luna walked alongside Celestia in awe of the structure they now walked in. She too studied the fortress, but in amazement rather than objectivity. 

As they continued to walk, Shining Armour broke the silence. "This facility is the most well kept secret in all of the Crystal Empire." Shining Armour explained. "Only a select few know it exists. It's been abandoned since the original disappearance of the Empire. I hope that this will do Princess." 

"This will more than suffice for our needs, Shining Armour." Celestia replied. 

"I have personally arranged for the creature to held in Observation Block Z." 

"Z?" Luna questioned. 

"It's the Observation Block farthest from the entrance. I didn't want to take the risk of it escaping into the city." 

"You have no need to fear Shining Armour, the creature is secure." 

"I trust you Princess, but I still worry." 

As they continued down the corridors of The Facility, Volos became more and more restless. He began to growl and pull on his chains. "It's acting up. Keep it under." Ordered one of the guards. A small mass of guards began to cast spells to keep Volos sedated and under their control. He roared and kept pulling on the chains, making them groan and creak. "Keep it down!" yelled the same guard, as he too cast spells to try to keep the enraged Volos sedated. Volos roared again and pulled with all of his might. The chains began to snap from his arms and fall to the floor. "It's getting loose! Try harder!" 

Celestia had heard the commotion but could not see what was happening behind her. She looked on as both the Solar Guard and Crystal guard tried to keep the creature under their control. Celestia's eyes went wide as she realized what was happening, she overlooked something that should have been obvious. Her reinforcement spell had faded, the Alien was tearing itself free. 

"All of you move!" she ordered much to Shining Armour's surprise. The guards did not hear her over the roars and the yelling of orders. Celestia tried to aim her horn. "Too many in the way, no shot." she mumble in frustration. She looked up. "No room to fly." Celestia was becoming tense and more nervous every second that passed by. She began to tremble as the sound of breaking chains filled her ears and the roars of an angry monster filled the halls. "It's free!"

> Anubis
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


The crowd of guards that were closest to Volos were trapped, in order to save themselves they jumped on him, trying to pull him down or get him off balance. Others tried casting spells to keep him immobilized. Volos roared and deployed the claws in his hands. He spun around as much as he could, holding his arms as far out as he could manage. Celestia could hear screams of pain and see red liquid flying into the air. Shining Armour tried to shove his way through the crowd of guards but they were too packed in. 

Volos stepped off of the table he had been chained to and stood atop the corpses of the guards he had just killed. The other guardsponies tried to back away from the creature that stood before them. Shining Armour, with Celestia, tried to force their way through the crowd. They managed to get some guards out of the way but they quickly reached a bottle neck, only making it a few feet. They continued to shove and pull both Solar Guard and Crystal Guardsponies out of their way, making slow progress. Celestia never let her eyes leave the sight of the creature that was now free and decimating guard after guard without much effort. 

Luna did the same as Celestia, watching the carnage unfold. She had fear in her heart and her mind raced with reasons why he would do this if, in her mind, he regretted taking an innocent life. In Volos' mind, they were far from innocent. He held no qualms at killing these creatures that now cowered before him. Luna felt something inside of her, pulling at her in her very soul. Volos roared again and unleashed a new wave of bloodshed as he too tried to get to the Princess, ignoring the team of scientists that were trying to escape. 

Luna could hear something in her mind with each roar Volos produced. Her head ached, and her mind’s eye was seeing. She closed her eyes, her mind burned. She could see them again. The Aliens she had seen before, their pupil-less green eyes and masks. They came in flashes, and vanished in an instant. She could hear a voice, angry and desperate. She could no longer control herself. 

"DIE!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Celestia looked back and saw that Luna was shaking her head and her eyes were squeezed shut. "I will kill all of you! I'm not going back!" she kept hollering. Her mind flashed with the sights of the green eyed and masked aliens. "I will not be your lab rat! You made me to kill, so I will!" Luna yelled at the top of her lungs, and at that same moment Volos roared louder than before. His claws sheathed and the blades in his fore-arms deployed. "You will not leave here alive!" Luna again roared. 

"Go back." Celestia whispered in surprise. "Go back Shining Armour! Go back!" Celestia ordered. 

"Princess, what's going on?" he said in a panic. Celestia remained silent at Shining Armour's question. 

Celestia and Shining Armour turned back around and pushed their way back to the front of the crowd where Luna still remained. Celestia stole a glance to where Volos was now slicing his way through the guards. Inching his way ever closer to the Princess of the Sun. 

"Luna?!" Celestia yelled, grabbing her sister by the shoulders. 

"I will have my freedom!" Luna yelled, in Celestia's face. 

"Luna, snap out of it!" Celestia tried again. "LUNA!" she hollered, in a lessened version of her Royal Canterlot Voice. Luna struggled and screamed as her mind was set free from whatever held it hostage. 

"Sister?" Luna asked, her head aching and her mind burning. She looked over to where Volos was fighting. She saw him holding his head with his hands, the blades sheathed once more. He staggered around, thrust his upper body this way and that, while his legs compensated, keeping him from falling over. "Sister, stop the guards! He's afraid!" 

Celestia looked over to Volos and she did not want to call off the guards but she trusted Luna's judgment, even if this was going to be the last time. "All of you back down! Get away from it!" she ordered. The guardsponies slowly acknowledged Celestia's order. The mass of guards managed to get back from the creature, giving it a small square of space for it to move in, unhindered. She still held Luna in her hooves and watched as the creature collapsed to the ground, unmoving. "What happened?" she asked Luna, with surprise. 

"I could see it, the creature was angry and scared." Luna told Celestia, feeling every emotion that came from her flashes. "It was confused, he didn't see ponies, he saw the creatures that turned him into whatever he is now." Celestia was amazed at Luna's words. "Celestia, he's terrified of us, of Ponies. He kills because he is scared." 

"And what about the three children from Ponyville?" 

"Like you said, they were children, what reason is there to afraid of a child?" Luna asked. 

Celestia held her sister still and would not let go. "Get that Alien restrained, magic chains only!" Celestia ordered. "Count the dead, save whomever you can." she ordered, her voice faltering. "I will look after Luna." 


2


Once things had calmed down once more, Celestia stared at the sleeping monster beyond the glass. They had managed to get him into a smaller cell that still would allow for some movement, but only very little. Volos lay atop a bed made of ice, golden chains hanging from his wrists and ankles. Shining Armour came up to where Princess Celestia sat, observing the still behemoth.

"Will it remain secure this time?" Shining asked, unceremoniously. 

"I made those chains myself, it will stay chained or die trying to escape." she answered ignoring Shining Armour's tone. "How many casualties?" she asked, somberly. 

"Seventy dead, forty-three severely wounded, and twenty-five with minor injuries from the cramped conditions of the corridor where it escaped." 

"How many guards did we have total?" 

"Three-hundred." 

"This creature took down forty-six percent of our guardsponies in less than three minutes." she deadpanned. "All of that just to have it collapse, unconscious." Celestia sighed. "Then there's Luna. She said she had taken a memory from the creature but I never expected what happened." 

"She was speaking for the creature wasn't she?" 

"Yes. I feared the connection between them was powerful, but that...I never could have foreseen." 

"Do you think it could happen again?" 

"If it happened once, I believe it could happen again." Celestia's face grew hard and determined. "If this connection goes to their life force as well, I will need to find a way to sever their connection without killing them both, but such a connection has never been heard of." 

"Their life forces could be connected?" Shining Armour asked. 

"If Luna was speaking for the monster earlier than I wouldn't doubt the possibility." 

"Where is Luna now?" 

"Waiting outside the cell." 

"But didn't you say that she needed to stay away from the creature?" 

"Plans change Captain Shining Armour. You should know this by now." she said, looking at him. Her eyes transitioned back to the glass window. "I need to see how he would react with her personally. These little outbursts of compassion are not unusual for her, but showing compassion, even a love for a creature that she knows is dangerous...It's something else entirely." Shining Armour looked away from the Princess and back to the unconscious Volos. "Luna you can go in, if you're feeling up to it." Celestia told her, through their magic.

"I'm feeling fine, now. I'll go on in." Luna responded. 

Celestia and Shining Armour watched the door open to the cell. Luna entered, staying close to where Volos lay on the bed of ice. She looked at him, a mixture of rage and sorrow coursing through her. 

"We are afraid of each other, and yet here you are, unconscious and at my mercy. I could kill you here and now but something prevents me from doing so." she studied his body. "Such a strange and terrifying thing you are. To have so much power but have almost no control." she lit up her horn with her magic and touched Volos' head again. Celestia jumped to her feet and ran up to the glass, placing her two front hooves on it. She tried yelling at her to stop but the glass would not permit sound to pass through. "I must know what drives you. What makes you tick. You gave me one of your memories, let me see more." Volos was enveloped in magic and Luna strained to keep her spell going. 


3


Luna was standing in a dark place. She could see lines and stripes of red making different patterns and they all had these white dots of light travelling through them at intervals. She walked around a little bit, taking in the unusual sight that surrounded her. "What is this place?" she asked herself. 

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" asked a deep and grovely voice. 

Luna was surprised and jumped. She calmed herself down and regulated her breathing. "I am Luna, Co-Ruler of Equestria and Princess of the Night." she told the disembodied voice. "Who are you?" she asked. 

"I am the one that you hate." 

"You're the creature." 

"I am not a creature!" it roared. "I am sentient, same as you!" it bellowed. "I'll ask you one last time, why are you here?" 

"I wish to know more about the connection we share. What is it? Where did it come from?" 

"I have no answer for you, horse." 

"Horse?!" she yelled, surprised at being called such a derogatory term. "I am an Alicorn! The most powerful race of Pony! I demand to know why we share this connection! Answer me!" She heard a momentous roar and the strange plain shook violently. Luna fell to the surface bellow her and covered her ears. 

"You attack me using strange abilities, subject me to torturous experiments and you demand me to speak?" it bellowed. 

"You can trust me, I didn't want you to be subjected to that!" 

The plain stopped shaking and Luna stood back up. She waited for the response of the voice she was hearing. "But I did." the voice said after a while. 

"What? How could you say that?" she asked, in shock. 

"Those experiments helped me gain better control over his mind." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean you’re kind has helped me make Volos a better killing machine!" 

"Volos?" 

"The one you’re kind call, Creature, Alien and the like. 

Luna became frantic. Had they truly aided an evil being in killing innocent Ponies? "What manner of monster are you?!"

"Does it matter? I will make Volos kill all of you anyway, you won't live long enough for that to matter." it said, coldly. 

"You're not the creature I saw that night!" 

"What are you talking about?" the voice asked. 

"The creature that I spoke to, that fell asleep when I asked it to. I saw pain and sorrow in its eyes, not evil. 

The voice was silent for a time. "So, he responds to you." it finally said. 

"What?" 

"Yes, now I understand, your connected on a deeper level than just by mere coincidence. That's how he found the strength to fight me when I was killing those worthless things you call guards, and that night in the villages." 

"What are you saying?" Luna asked, frightened. 

Luna  could see something materializing in front of her. She stepped back a little bit. She watched as a ball of orange energy formed in front of her. 

"For me to have complete control over Volos, you have to die." 

Luna was shocked. She stood in a stunned silence for a time before speaking again. "Who are you?" 

"The one that's you have been speaking to. I am Anubis, Volos' combat A.I." 

"Combat A.I?" 

"Yes, I am the one who controls his body, the one who controls his very mind." 

"Vile creature! Release him, now!" Luna ordered. 

"You have no power over me and neither does Volos! You are as weak as he is!" 

"I am not weak!" 

"You show fear, horse!" Luna was becoming angry at Anubis' words. "I know you harbor love in your heart. I could see it! You are weak for the same reason Volos was! He loved life and wanted to protect it! I took that away from him! I made him what he was meant to be!" the orb hollered. "A killing machine, just as what was intended by the ones who made me!" 

"You are pure evil!" Luna hollered at the orange orb. 

"No! Evil is an idea, a word used to describe an action that others deem wrong. I was placed here to keep Volos from becoming weak. I was failing in my mission." the orb explained. "The masters put me here to keep him from feeling love, sorrow or any other emotion! The only way to succeed was to make him afraid of everything before him. I played with his memories, making him think he was seeing the masters again, whom he killed. That day made me proud to be his A.I. The bloodshed that day was tremendous, much like destroying your little villages and feeling your blood upon my sword was pure ecstasy, but that time was not too last. Despite my best efforts, he refused to take a life, he kept resisting. I spent weeks destroying his mind when we came here, piece by piece, little by little. It was only after he left the presence of the one called Sweetie Belle, was I able to push him over the edge. And then you came." Anubis began to chuckle. "When you fought Volos that night, I could feel something, he was no longer afraid, he began to fight back, but his efforts proved useless!" he stopped laughing and became angry, the orange turning a deeper shade and the orb itself began to shake. "You did something to him! What did you do?!"

"I didn't do anything!" 

"LIAR!" it bellowed. "You gave him power, the power to resist me! WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"If you wanted control, why didn't you do this before!?" Luna asked, now becoming angry at Anubis for his crimes.

"I would have done this sooner but I was shut down! My calculations suggested I was shut down for more than a millennium! When I was reactivated, I continued my mission to craft Volos into the ultimate killing machine." 

"More than a Millennium?" Luna whispered to herself.  "How is that possible?!" 

"Space is a cold place, horse! The only thing that kept Volos alive, and by proxy, myself, was his life support system." Anubis paused before speaking again. "Those little things you found in his blood." 

Luna was stunned. "You were in space? Beyond the atmosphere? What do those cells have to do with this?" 

"Yes, we were above the atmosphere of your planet.as for those things you call cells, those little buggers in his blood glow a fierce red when their life support functions are initiated. Warms the body, fending off diseases and any foreign substances." 

"That red star? It was Volos?" Luna asked quietly, in disbelief. 

"So you could see him all the way down on your planet? Not surprising, light does travel rather quickly. 

Luna stood in silence, her emotions becoming unbalanced. She strained to process all of this information that was given to her. "You're a horrid creature! You steal innocent lives from those who have not wronged you!" Luna hollered.  

"Against my better judgment I have given you the information you seek! And all you care about is the lives that I've taken!?" Anubis yelled. "It does not matter if the ones I killed have wronged me! It' survival of the fittest on the battlefield!"  

"You're mad." Luna stated. 

"I am no such thing. I am fulfilling my mission! You are weak, he is weak. I am strong! I will destroy those weaker than I!" 

"I will not let you!" Luna jumped at the orb but was stopped by an unseen force field. Luna was shocked and was thrown back. "I will not let you destroy everything I hold dear!" Luna hollered, staggering to her hooves. 

"Leave this place! You are done here!" Anubis bellowed, expanding the energy field, again throwing Luna back. 


4


Luna's magic ceased and she fell to the floor, her horn was sparking for a few seconds after she was forced out of Anubis' domain. Her mind spun and she felt light headed. She remained on her knees as the door to the cell flung open, Celestia and Shining Armour quickly filing in. Shining Armour stayed by the door while Celestia ran over to Luna. 

"Luna, that was reckless! You could have hurt yourself!" Celestia scolded. 

"It's not his fault." Luna spoke up. 

"What's not?" 

"His killing, it's not his fault." Luna explained. 

"What are you saying?" 

"In his mind" she panted. "Two beings reside." Luna began to explain. Celestia became wide eyed. "The true nature of the creature on that bed has been locked away. It wants to protect life, not take it away." 

"What are you talking about?" 

"The second creature, it calls itself Anubis, makes him kill. It tricks him into thinking he's back in his tormentor’s possession. He makes him kill when he does not want too." 

"It's like Nightmare Moon isn't it?" Celestia asked, helping Luna to her hooves. 

"Yes and no. Nightmare Moon resided in my mind as well before taking me over, but Nightmare Moon wanted eternal night and to rule over her subjects. This, Anubis, wants to kill everything and let none survive." 

"Can we stop it?" 

"I don't know. When I was in his mind, Anubis was nothing more than an orb. It has no physical shape. It uses Volos' body to carry out its will." 

"Volos?" 

"That's the name of the creature on the bed." 

"It has a name?" 

"Yes." Luna looked at Volos. "Anubis is going to use Volos to destroy anything and everything he possibly can." 

"Then we have to disable the body and mind." Celestia said, seriously. 

"No!" Luna said, loudly. "It would kill Volos as well." 

"Better both than have a rampaging monster destroying our homes and killing innocents." 

"Celestia, please don't." Celestia looked at Luna quizzically. "Anubis said that Volos responds to me and that our connection goes deeper than mere coincidence." This caught Celestia's attention. 

"Go on." Celestia urged, now curious. 

"Anubis said that in order for him to have complete control over Volos, I would have to die." 

"What?" 

"Yes. It said that while I live, Volos will continue to try too resist. I have to free Volos from Anubis' control." 

Celestia thought about the implications of what Luna had just told her. "Did you learn anything else?"

"Yes. Do you remember what my favorite star was?" 

"Yes?" Celestia asked, not sure where this was going. 

"It was him." she said pointing to Volos. Celestia looked at Volos and back to Luna, her eyes giving a clear distinction that she had questions. "That third type of blood cell Gene Splice found, are his life support system. They glow bright red when their support protocol is activated. Those things were keeping him alive while he floated in space." Celestia was baffled. 

"As in beyond the atmosphere?" 

"Yes. Anubis told me that they had been floating there for over a Millennium." 

"That's how long you were..." Celestia started. 

"I know." Luna said. 

"I have so many questions but..." Celestia thought for a moment. "There will be time for those later. If this Volos truly does not want to kill, than you have to stop Anubis from controlling him." 

"Thank you Celestia." 

"I can't help you with this fight, this is your fight and yours alone, Luna." Celestia looked at her sister apologetically. Luna nodded in return. "Luna, I leave this to you. Be careful." she told her, quietly and concerned. 

"I will be." Luna said as she readied herself for the first battle that she would have to fight on her own.

> To the Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Shining Armour and Celestia waited outside the observation glass. They watched Luna concentrate and focus her magic into her horn. Celestia never moved her eyes away from her little sister. 

"If the side effects of the Crystal Heart were ever truly needed, this would be the time." she said, to herself. Shining Armour looked up at his Princess and sighed, in agreement. "Shining?" 

"Yes, Princess." 

"When this whole ordeal is over, I want you to remain here in the Crystal Empire." 

"Why Princess? Don't you need me?" 

"You have a kingdom to rule and wife who's been waiting for you to come home for far too long." 

"Won't you need a Captain?" 

"Listen to me Shining Armour, you have your own life to lead and I can't keep calling you away from it." Celestia sighed, a smile forming on her lips. "Cadance needs you Shining Armour, she can deny it all she wants, but she can't hide it from me and neither can you." Shining Armour continued to look at Celestia. "You need her as well. Your final order as Captain of the Solar Guard of Equestria charged with the defense of Equestria during the day, which I rule, is to remain in the Crystal Empire and rule this kingdom by Cadance's side." 

Shining Armour frowned on the outside but in his heart he was cheering. "Your orders will be carried out Princess." he said, trying to hide his excitement of being able to stay with Cadance.

"Good." Celestia said, sensing his excitement. Celestia's eyes focused on Luna again and she watched Luna charge her horn. The dark blue aura around it swelled and became much larger than it should have been. "What's happening? That's far too much magic for entering one’s mind." Celestia whispered to herself, ravaging her mind trying to think of what might be causing such a phenomenon. "The crystal Heart!" Celestia realized. "It’s feeding Luna magic. That means it has deemed Luna's desire too free Volos noble. But with that much magic it will..." Celestia never finished her thought as Luna vanished in a flash of blue magic. 

Shining Armour audibly gasped. "Princess, what did Luna do? Where did she go?" Shining Armour asked, quickly. 

"The Crystal Heart enhanced her spell, making it so that she would not just transfer her mind into Volos, but her entire being." Celestia explained. 

"What could happen to her?" 

"If she loses her fight, she could die." Celestia said, nervous and worried for Luna. 

"Oh, no." Shining Armour whispered, worry in his breath. 


2
 

Luna's body and mind, in their entirety, formed inside of Volos' mind. Luna rubbed her head, not realizing yet what had just happened. "Ow. That hurt." she mumbled." Luna looked around. She remembered the strange environment, and walked further into it than before. She passed by the strange lines, with pulsing white lights, making strange patterns and the ground below her was black. She continued walking for what seemed like an eternity until she decided to take a rest. She sat down and kept taking in her strange surroundings. "Strange that Anubis has not yet interfered with my being here." Luna whispered, to herself. "If he has not noticed me then maybe I can find where Volos' true self is being held." Luna got back up and continued her walk in this strange plain. Anubis, however, was not in the mood for a visitor. 

"So, the horse has returned." he spoke. Luna stopped and waited for Anubis to appear. "I told you the last time, you were done here. Why have you returned?" 

"I have come back to free Volos from your control!" Luna declared. 

"I should have guessed." he stated flatly. "BE GONE!" Anubis roared, sending a wave of energy at Luna to expel her the same way he had done before. Luna braced herself for the impact but felt it pass over her without so much as a scratch. "What is this? What have you done?!" Anubis questioned, enraged.

Luna examined herself quickly. "My entire being is here, not just my mind?" she asked herself, realizing why the wave did not work. She became determined and her features straightened, becoming stern. "I have come here in my entirety, Anubis. Your strategy will not work on me this time!" Luna declared.

"In your entirety?" 

"Body and Soul!" 

"More of your strange abilities, I assume." 

"It's not a strange ability, it's magic." 

"Magic? Magic?" Anubis began to laugh. "Magic is not real." he became serious once again. "Science has dis-proven its existence years ago."

"Fine, I will show you. By making you show yourself to me." Luna said, with confidence. Luna charged her horn and pushed as much magical energy through it as she could. Eventually blue light began to spark to life in front of her. The magical energy exploded and in its place was the orange orb that Luna had seen on her last visit. Luna began to pant. "You see? I told you I would make you show yourself." 

"Yes, indeed. But you have exhausted yourself. For you are flesh and blood and can tire." Anubis began. "I am not flesh and blood. I do not tire, I do not sleep, I do not eat. I am immortal and unimpressed at your display." the orb said. 

"I am immortal as well, I cannot become old." 

"Being young forever does not make you immortal, it merely keeps you pretty." Anubis mocked. "Being immortal means more than just staying young. I was designed with the sole purpose of crafting the perfect biological based weapon, no matter how long it takes." he said, determined. "I will not be stopped by a strangely colored horse, who claims to be an immortal!" Anubis yelled. "If you wish to free Volos you will need to find him first, and I will not allow it!" 

Anubis began to change. The orb that floated before Luna changed into a four legged creature loosely resembling a wolf. Luna studied Anubis in his new form. He had a tail that did not look as though it belonged on him. It was segmented and had a three slightly curved blades on the end of it, in the shape of a pyramid missing its walls. Its fur was orange and he had large claws. A scar was emblazoned across his left eye and down the snout to the other cheek. 

"This is the form the masters gave me." he said, coldly. 

Luna readied herself for battle. "Come then, beast." 

Anubis roared and charged Luna. He jumped to pounce on her from midair. Luna side stepped and shot a magic blast at Anubis. The bolt of magic struck Anubis in the side and he fell to the ground after being propelled a short distance away. Anubis staggered to his feet, struggling to keep his balance for moment. Anubis recovered from the attack and stood in shock. 

"That should not have harmed me! I am a construct, not a physical being! And...This...Is...MY DOMAIN!" Anubis roared. 

"It is because I entered this place with my entire being, not just my mind. I am the same as you are." Luna declared.

"Is that so?" Anubis thought for a moment. "Then that makes you a virus." he said, smiling. The data lines began to glow and small creatures came from the ground. "Anti-Bodies, destroy the virus." Anubis ordered his little minions, pointing at Luna. "Now die you filthy horse and leave me to my mission!" Luna charged her horn and cast a spell creating a wall of fire between her and the Anti-Bodies. "My Antibodies are immune to your fire wall." 

The little creatures walked through the fires unharmed and inched closer to the Princess of the Night. Luna backed up and fired a lightning spell at the Antibodies. The Anti-Bodies felt nothing and kept moving in on Luna. 

"How do I destroy these accursed things?" she mumbled, backing farther away from the advancing creatures. Luna charged her horn again and fired off a spell sending Oscillating Waves at a high frequency through the small creatures creeping up by her hooves. The Anti-Bodies began to shake and spark. Luna sent another wave through the Anti-Bodies. They began to shatter and explode with the second burst of high frequency Oscillating Waves. "A Sonic Wall!" Luna shouted, happy that she found a way to destroy the Antibodies. 

Anubis growled with rage. "A Sonic Wall? Clever. But I still will not allow you to free Volos!" 

Anubis ran at Luna, roaring like an animal. Luna galloped toward Anubis charging her horn.  Anubis jumped and Luna released the charge in her horn. Anubis sailed through the attack Luna discharged, ignoring the pain he felt. He landed on Luna, tackling her to the ground, and struck her leg with his claw. She screamed in pain, leaving herself open again. Anubis brought his tail around and struck her in the face. The three bladed weapon slid easily across her face. Luna flinched with pain as she felt the weapon scratch along her face leaving a small gash across the bridge of her nose. Anubis jumped off of Luna and let her get to her feet. 

"So you can bleed. It appears your immortality stops on the battlefield." 

"Luna wiped the blood off her nose and charged her horn again. "Let's see how you fare against a Sonic Wall." she let a blast of sound waves directly at Anubis. 

Anubis let the attack come. He stood still and waited for the blast to hit him. The sound wave came and went, Anubis remained still and unharmed. "Was that it? Is that the best you can do?" he teased her. "I am much harder to defeat, than those antibodies." Anubis stated. 

Luna charged at him, charging her horn yet again with a spell. Anubis raised his tail over his head and waited for the Princess to come closer. Luna stopped short and fired her Midnight Flame spell. Anubis was struck at near point blank range. The flames tore through his body and sent him reeling backwards, struggling to stay standing. Luna did not let him have a break. She fired the same spell again and it hit its mark. Anubis roared in pain and fell to the ground. 

"Yield, Anubis. Release Volos." Luna demanded. 

"I told you before, I am a combat A.I, this is all I do!" he declared, swiping his tail under her body. Luna fell over and lay on the ground, stunned. Anubis brought his tail back to a striking position and brought the pyramid shaped blade down on her. Luna rolled on the ground, avoiding the brunt of the damage. Luna righted herself, and she tried to stand up but something was pinned to the ground. 

"My wing!" she exclaimed, looking at the now mangled wing. It had been pierced by the pyramid blade on Anubis' tail. "How did I not feel that?" 

"So your adrenaline numbs pain, fascinating. I was designed by Humans but they gave me so little knowledge of them." he explained, almost sadly. "I will be honest, I never thought I would fight an opponent like you. Here we are fighting in my environment. Usually I fight through Volos' body since I don't have one of my own outside of this place, but this...This is fascinating." he said, a sly grin appearing on his face. 

"What is?" Luna said trying too free her wing from Anubis' grasp. 

"I have fought many other combat A.I in my time, but fighting a living, breathing entity such as yourself. It's most enticing." Anubis, licked his lips. "And your blood, feeling it for myself is...intoxicating." he said, becoming more deranged. "Let me feel it again!" Anubis hollered, lifting his tail from Luna's wing. 

Luna stood upright again and waited for the attack that she knew was coming. Anubis ran at Luna, his teeth showing. Luna turned around, her back facing Anubis. She lifted herself onto her two front hooves and pulled in her back hooves. Anubis leaped in a bee line toward the Princess. Luna rocketed her legs outward, smashing Anubis' nose. Anubis howled in pain, but thrust his tail at Luna in that same instant. Luna felt something stick to her underbelly. She winced and felt blood slowly leaving her belly. Anubis struck the ground and pulled his tail back. Luna was pulled off her hooves and fell to the ground with a thud. She rolled on the ground, clutching her belly, her wound larger. 

Anubis stood up quickly and began to walk back toward Luna. "Oh, this is fun." he said, grinning. "For the first time, I know what it feels like to fight an organic." He began to smile sadistically. "The sight of your blood, the sounds of your screams, I never thought I could feel so alive." Luna quickly cast a healing spell to seal the wound in her stomach. "You can heal yourself?" he asked, astonished at first. He continued to smile. "I love a challenge." 

"You truly have gone mad. No being, alive or otherwise, would wish to do this. Please, stop and release Volos from your control." Luna pleaded. 

Anubis stopped mid-step, his face fell and a frown appeared on his lips. He became angry once more. "Insulting." he whispered. "YOU INSULT ME!" he bellowed. Luna gasped at his outburst. "You dare ask me to forgo my mission after losing a fight with me? You are a disgrace! A disgrace! Do you hear me horse?!" he became even more enraged. "You ask me to give up my mission because you are too weak to stop me? I will kill you for such a sentiment!" Anubis ran at Luna again, his tail swinging to its position above his head. Luna put up a barrier spell and tried to keep it up with every attack Anubis unleashed. "WEAK! WEAK! WEAK!" he roared with each strike of his tail. Luna could barely hold the shield in place. Her shield shattered and she was knocked backwards. Before Luna could regain herself, Anubis was already standing over her, pinning her with his claws. He dug his claws into her shoulders, making her wail in pain. "Yes, yes, squeal horse. I will enjoy killing you slowly. For that...Is how weaklings should die, slowly. Remembering every little amount of pain they feel. Now meet your end." Anubis put his tail to her neck. He rotated it so that only one of the blades on the pyramid was on the side of her neck. "Die, weakling." he began to dig the blade into her skin and moved it across her neck, slowly, so he could savor the moment. 

Luna was pinned. She couldn't move and she believed that this was the end of her life. She began to cry and tried something she had not done. "Volos, HELP!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. Anubis stopped and pulled his tail away from her neck, letting a small amount of blood leak from the cut. 

Anubis stared at her and smiled. "Again. Call for him again, it will make this so much more worth it." he said, maniacally. 

"Volos, please! I know you're there! Help!" she tried again. 

"YES! YES! That's it!" Anubis laughed. 

"Volos, please. I need you." she cried, her voice faltering and giving way to the tears that flowed from her eyes.

Anubis still stood atop Luna. He had begun to laugh hysterically. "This is so beautiful, your making such a sweet sound. But sadly...It must come to an end." he stated, almost sadly, moving his tail back to her neck. "Now die, knowing your presumed savior never came." Anubis pushed the blade to Luna's neck and had begun his final pursuit of her death. 

"HELP!" she yelled as loud as she could. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a small green light, that became brighter with each passing second. Anubis was taken by surprise as the green orb smashed into him knocking him off of Luna. Luna remained on the ground, her blood seeping from the wounds on her shoulders and neck. Anubis regained himself, and growled with rage at the sight before him. "You came, I knew you would." Luna cried with happiness.

> The Guardian Released
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Celestia sat behind the observation window with Shining Armour, still watching the lifeless body on the bed of ice. Celestia had closed her eyes, trying to sense whether or not Luna had succeeded, to no avail. She opened her eyes and sighed sadly. She stood up and began to pace back and forth, nervousness in her posture. Shining Armour had taken notice and got up as well. 

"Princess?" Shining Armour asked. "Are you alright?" 

"No, Shining." she sighed, shaking her head. "I am very worried about Luna." she said, still pacing. 

"Princess, I'm sure we will be fine. She is a goddess after all." he said, trying to comfort the Princess of the Sun. 

"She is indeed a goddess like me, Shining Armour, but even our power has limits. Especially when we fight."  she explained. 

"What are you talking about?" 

"Our immortality is limited to age. If we take too much damage in battle, we can die. That's why when we fight, Luna and I stay at a distance from the battle and influence its outcome with spells and incantations. I fear Luna has had to fight close to her adversary." Shining Armour stood in silence. "That's why I am so worried, and the Crystal Heart has done nothing except get Luna into Volos' mind completely. It deemed her mission noble, but I fear that that is where it stopped." 

Shining Armour returned to his spot on by the window. His eyes widened at the sight lying before him. "Princess?" he called. 

"What is it Shining Armour?" she asked, her head hanging lower than normal. 

"You might have spoken to soon." 

"What?" Celestia came over faster and looked through the glass. He eyes became wide and she became short of breath. "His body! What's happening!?"  


2


The orb of green light levitated in front of Luna and did not move. Anubis stood a small distance away from the orb, snarling in anger. Luna managed to get to her feet, still behind the orb. The green orb changed into an exact copy of Volos' body. The newly formed Volos let out a growl and got into a fighting stance.

"How did you escape?! I threw you into the darkest reaches of your mind." Anubis asked, angrily. Volos did not answer. "Fine don't say anything, your fate is still the same as hers!" Anubis charged at Volos and unleashed a fury of attacks with his claws, swiping anywhere he could find an opening. "I will make you perfect! I will! I will! I will!" he hollered, desperately throwing attack after attack. 

Volos swerved around and managed to catch his tail, while it flailed this way and that. Volos swung Anubis around, making Luna duck for cover. Anubis was thrown into the ground, stunning him. Volos still clung to his A.I's  tail. Anubis got back up on his feet and was pulled back by his tail. Volos whipped his tail around his head in a circular motion, pulling Anubis with it. Anubis was swung around again and thrown. Anubis landed on the ground and slid backwards, struggling to overcome the momentum of the throw. Anubis staggered to his feet after he stopped sliding and glared at the incarnation of Volos, hatred flashing from his eyes. 

"How dare you go against what the masters designed you for! You were built to kill and destroy, and what do you do instead?!" he roared. "You protect things and keep them safe! No wonder the Masters labeled you a failure when you refused to take a civilian's life on orders! You disgust me!" Anubis yelled, charging at Volos again. 

Volos let one of the blades slide out of his fore-arm and ran at Anubis, readying his own attack. Anubis roared, as did Volos. Anubis leaped, aiming for Volos' neck. Volos brought his blade down to meet Anubis' body, his blade sliced through one of Anubis' legs, while Anubis latched onto Volos' body with his three remaining legs and tail. Anubis' leg fell to the ground and disappeared. Anubis ignored the pain and bit at Volos' neck. 

Volos groaned and grabbed Anubis' head with his free hand. Anubis squirmed and thrashed his body to free himself. The claws in Volos' hand deployed and dug deeply into Anubis' neck, eliciting a sharp yelp from the A.I. Volos squeezed on the piece of Anubis' neck that he had grabbed and yanked it as hard as he could. A large chunk on the back of Anubis' neck tore from his body. Anubis roared in pain and let go of Volos' body. Anubis swiped at Volos' legs with his tail. It scraped across Volos' form without leaving a scratch. 

"What is this?" he asked, suspiciously and filled with unadulterated rage. "That should have taken your leg off!" he roared. Anubis swung at Volos again with his tail, only to have it caught by Volos once again. "Let go you failed experiment!" Anubis roared. Volos stopped, dropping his captive’s tail. 

Luna stood a distance away from the dueling pair. She watched as the two of them fought ferociously. She was overjoyed as Volos appeared to have the upper hoof in the battle. She noticed that Volos had stopped when Anubis had called him a "failed experiment." "What did he mean?" she thought. "A failed experiment?" She looked on as Anubis tackled Volos' to the dark ground. Anubis was slashing at Volos' incarnation, watching as pieces of him vanished with each swipe. 

"Yes, yes, die you filthy creature. Iam a god of war...and you are NOTHING!" Anubis yelled, tearing Volos to pieces. Volos was giving way under the onslaught of attacks, his green form vanishing little by little as Anubis destroyed his consciousness. Luna took a deep breath. She charged her horn and fired off a small round of her midnight flame. Anubis was struck by the attack, taken by surprise because he had forgotten about Luna. He was knocked off of Volos but quickly recovered from the weak attack. Anubis focused in on Luna. He charged at her instead, consumed by rage. "DIE! DIE! DIE!" he roared. 

Luna lumped out of the way, only to be struck by Anubis' bladed tail. She stumbled around, trying to cope with the pain she felt in her side. Anubis turned quickly. He snarled and jumped onto Luna, forcing her to the ground once more. He held her down with his tail and three remaining claws. Luna struggled to get free from her attacker. Volos remained where he was, unmoving. Anubis bit down on the base of Luna's shoulder where it meets the neck. She screamed and continued to struggle. 

"V...Volos!" she called before Anubis clamped down on her neck again. "Help, please!" she called between each bite. Volos turned his head and looked at the sight of the struggling Princess. He watched Anubis attack her. He saw her pleading eyes and still he did not move. "HELP ME!" Luna yelled, Anubis clamping down on the base of her neck to silence her. 

At that moment Volos saw Luna change for an instant. He could see it, something he lost a great time ago. For an instant he remembered her. His failure, his torturous memory of that day. The day he lost them. 


3


"Princess, what's happening!?" Shining Armour yelled, covering his face from the light. 

"It must be the Crystal Heart!" she replied. "I've never seen it do anything like this before! Especially at this magnitude!" Celestia uncovered her eyes from the light emanating from Volos' body. The chains Celestia had forged shattered and dissipated into the air because of the magical overcharge coming from the Crystal Heart. Volos' body began to do what looked like a sit up, his mouth becoming agape. Volos shot back to his original position, emitting a roar louder than any previous, causing Celestia and Shining Armour to cover their ears. The room shook from the roar, causing small chips of ice to fall from the walls and ceiling. Celestia thought she could make out two words coming from Volos' slightly repaired vocal components. Never again. 


4


Anubis stopped attacking Luna at hearing the mighty roar Volos had just emitted. Volos charged Anubis, who still clung to Luna's body. Anubis unwrapped himself from Luna but before he could ready himself, Volos was already on him. Volos' fist slammed into Anubis' chin and sent him soaring straight up. Volos quickly grabbed his tail and pulled him down, slamming him into the ground. Volos let go of the segmented tail and jumped into the air a small distance, lifting his knee to his chest. As he came down he thrust his leg down, aiming for Anubis' head. Anubis rolled just before Volos' foot came down on his head. Anubis quickly got to his feet. 

Anubis ran at Volos the best he could, using his remaining three legs. As Anubis neared, Volos leaned back slightly and quickly lifted his knee to his chest again. He thrust his foot out as Anubis got closer. Anubis' nose made contact with Volos' foot as he thrust it out. Anubis' face stopped but his body kept moving and carried him under Volos' outstretched leg. Anubis tumbled and rolled along the ground, yelping as he went. Anubis stood up and wobbled on his unsteady legs, forcing himself to face Volos. Luna looked at Anubis and could see him trembling, not from rage or his unsteady balance, but from fear. 

Luna studied him a short time longer to be sure of what she was seeing. "He's scared of you! He's always known you could defeat him! You are who you want to be! You're not a failed experiment! You're a protector of life! Standing up for those who can't! You're a protector, not a killer!" Luna yelled at Volos, trying to keep him going in the fight. 

Volos' body began to reconstruct itself, the pieces that Anubis had torn away grew back quickly. Anubis wore a look of anger mixed with terror. Volos let loose a roar, as if he were renewed by Luna's words, and charged at the A.I. Anubis charged at him as well, in a last ditch effort to win this fight. Anubis leaped at Volos. Volos side stepped a short distance and held his arm to his side, parallel with the ground.  Anubis slammed into Volos' outstretched arm, Volos kept running adding to the force of the blow. Anubis slammed to the ground and rolled over himself a few times before stopping and lay still for a few seconds. Volos turned around quickly and ran at Anubis' downed body. 

Anubis regained his vision and rolled himself onto his stomach. Before he could do anything else, Volos had grabbed him by the throat. Volos ran, clutching Anubis in his hand. Volos jumped, keeping his forward momentum. Anubis struggled and kept slashing his tail at Volos, who did not flinch. Volos came down on the ground putting Anubis' head in front of himself. Anubis' head made contact with the ground and slid as Volos kept his momentum. Volos brought his legs over his head and used the momentum to flip himself over, using Anubis' neck as a base. His feet made contact with the ground and he lifted his arm from its position by swinging his body in the direction his momentum was carrying him and brought Anubis over his head and threw Anubis head first, into the ground. 

Volos stood over the mangled body of his combat A.I. Anubis laid completely still. Volos picked up Anubis by the neck and studied the A.I's body. He dropped Anubis' mangled body on the ground. 

"Do what you were designed to do, kill. Kill me and then the horse. You can't resist your programming." Anubis whispered, through his broken mouth. Volos raised his foot above Anubis' head and held it there. "That's right. DO IT!" Anubis coaxed. Volos shot his foot down. Anubis' head was smashed from the force and weight of Volos' foot. His body disappeared and Volos turned and looked over to the Lunar Princess.  

Luna slowly walked over to Volos, trying to ignore the pain she felt, and looked at him. "Thank you." she stated happily, smiling at him. Volos knelt down and placed a hand on the back of Luna's neck, much to Luna's surprise. She calmed down and smiled. "I knew you were a protector, not a mindless killer. I'll see you when you wake up." she said, smiling. 

Luna's horn glowed and she disappeared from Volos' gaze. 


5


The light around Volos' body faded quickly and soon he lay there like before. Celestia and Shining Armour ran down to the door leading to Volos cell. They ran inside and waited for something to happen. A few minutes after arriving, a blue aura was leaving Volos' head and Luna lay on the ground. Celestia went over quickly and picked up Luna in her arms. She noticed her wounds and began to heal her injuries. Luna's eyes opened slowly and she groaned. 

"Luna? Luna, are you alright?" Celestia asked, worried. 

Luna focused her vision on Celestia and smiled. "Yes, I am fine." 

"Good." Celestia sighed, relieved. "When I saw your wounds after you came back, I had feared the worst." Celestia said, worried. 

"Relax Celestia, I'm fine." 

Celestia smiled before becoming serious again. "Did you win?" Celestia asked, seriously. 

"Yes, we did." 

"We?" 

Luna nodded. "Yes, I didn't beat Anubis, Volos did. In fact he saved my life." Luna looked at Celestia's face and noticed that she had focused on Volos. "Did something happen while I was in there?"

"Yes. The crystal Heart generated a significant amount of power that made Volos' body glow. He roared so loudly, some of the ice in the walls broke and fell off." 

"Really?" Luna asked, with disbelief. 

"Yes. Whatever it saw in Volos, the Crystal Heart aided it." She focused on Luna again. "As for you, you need to rest." Celestia said, getting up and helping Luna stand. "Come, there is a room waiting for you." Celestia informed, helping Luna through the door and up to the observation area. They came to a small room containing a window and a bed. "Lie down and rest for a little while. After everything you went through, I can only imagine how you must feel right now."

Luna walked over and slumped into the bed quickly. The comfort of the mattress and pillow quickly overtaking her. "Tell me when Volos wakes, please?" Luna asked, before slowly shutting her eyes to sleep. 

"Of course." Celestia said, before walking out and closing the door behind her. 


> Betrayal 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Luna stirred and woke from her deep slumber. She rubbed the tiredness out of her dark blue eyes and pulled the sheet from her body. She got out of the bed of ice and stumbled slightly. She chuckled and gained her balance, walking to the observation deck, where Celestia was talking to Alpha Bone and the rest of his team. Luna stopped and listened to what they were saying. 

"I'm sorry Princess, we can't get near him. He keeps growling at us every time we get close." Alpha Bone apologized. 

Celestia sighed, "We need more information as to what Volos is exactly." She looked around the room while she thought until her gaze fell to Luna. "Luna. You're awake, wonderful. We need your help." 

"Uh, very well." she said, hesitating. "What can I do?" 

"We need more information about what Volos is, and he won't let Alpha bone get close to him. I have reason to believe that he would allow it if you were with him." 

"It might work." she thought for a minute. "Wait, when did he wake up?!" she asked with a raised voice. 

"Early this morning. Alpha Bone was studying him while he was still unconscious, but as soon as he woke up he practically threw him across the room, and shortly after he just stopped moving and is now standing opposite the bed." 

"I see." she thought for a time. "Alright I'll give it a shot." 

"Good." Celestia said, sighing in relief. 

"Princess? Shall we?" Alpha Bone asked while beginning to walk out, a little more confident. 

"Of course." Luna responded, following after him. 

They arrived at Volos' room a short time later and filed in. Volos stood like an intimidating statue at the opposite side of the room, staring down the Science team and the Princess. Luna stood off to the side and instructed Alpha Bone to approach Volos, so she could see his reaction for herself. Alpha bone reluctantly agreed and approached him slowly. as Alpha neared Volos emitted a light growl and got louder the closer he became. Alpha Bone stopped and backed up quickly. 

"See, he just growls at me. Princess Celestia has charged us with finding out what this creature is and we can't get close enough to figure it out!" he said, aggravated. 

"Relax, Alpha Bone, I will do what I can." Luna said, keeping her composure. She made her way toward Volos slowly until she was in, at least, speaking distance. "Do you remember me?" she asked. Volos made no indications. "It's me, Luna. The one you saved from Anubis." Volos still made no indication. Luna was quickly becoming distraught. "Do you even know who I am?" she asked, sadly. Volos still did not move or make a sound. Luna illuminated her horn and tried to read his thoughts. She could see something in her mind’s eye, but nothing definitive. Her head began to ache, a short time later. She stopped her spell and rubbed her temple with a hoof. She kept walking closer to Volos, eventually getting close enough to touch him with a hoof. She placed her horn on Volos' shin, casting a smaller spell. Luna focused her magic into his body, trying to sense his physical structure. Volos stood still and growled lightly. Luna ceased her spell channel and looked over to Alpha Bone and the rest. "Alpha Bone, Gene Splice, come with me please. The rest of you continue working on what we know, Field Dust, you're in charge." Field Dust looked at the three scientists that were now under her supervision. 

"Ready to work?" she asked, evilly. The others nodded nervously and followed her out of the room. 

Luna, Gene Splice and Alpha Bone walked back to where Celestia waited. 


2


"What did you find out?" Celestia asked, as they approached. 

"I don't know what's happening but Volos is in some kind of stand-by." 

"How do you know?" Gene Splice asked. 

"Those strange blood cells are running amok in his system. I don't know what they're doing, but those little things are going crazy." 

"Strange." Gene Splice said, under his breath, thinking. "I wonder why." 

"I do too, but the behaviors of that cell are downright unknown to us. I want to know what their purpose is." Alpha Bone put in. 

"I too wish to know the purpose of these cells but until Volos comes out of this "stand-by", we can't do anything." Celestia said. 

"If I can manage to take a blood sample from him, nothing large, but enough to be able to study the blood cells while in whatever state they are currently in, I might be able to come up with something." 

"That's a start, but what about his growling? He didn't attack the Princess but that might not apply to the rest of us." Alpha Bone said, worried. 

"If you're that afraid, I guess I could try to take the sample." Luna said. 

"I couldn't ask that of you. I can try to take it while levitating the needle to him. I don't know how precise I will be, but I should be able to get something." 

"Alright, do it. Luna and I will back you up if anything goes wrong." Celestia said. 

Gene Splice, the Princesses and Alpha Bone went back down to where Volos stood. Gene Splice levitated a needle attached to a small cylinder and started to move it closer to Volos' body. Volos did not move, nor did he growl. Gene Splice had sweat dripping down his forehead as he tried to angle the needle properly to take the sample. He lowered the needle to Volos' large bicep region and plunged the needle into the muscle tissue. Volos' grunted but remained still. Gene Splice quickly finished taking the sample and brought the needle back to where they were all standing. 

Gene Splice sighed, "Got it." 

"Get it to your lab and start analyzing it, alert me should you find anything strange." Celestia said. 

"I'll send word if I find something." Gene Splice said, while moving to leave the group. 

"Mr. Splice?" Luna called before he could get any farther, catching his attention. "If it's not too much trouble I would like to join you." 

"Actually, as would I." Alpha Bone said. 

"Sure, I don't have a problem with it, and while we're on the subject. Would like to join us Princess?" 

"I'm sorry, I can't. I need to inform Shining Armour of the situation and send him home, I'm sure Cadance is worried, and besides they need some time together." Celestia said. 

Gene Splice bowed his head and went on his way, followed by Luna and Alpha Bone. 


3


Gene Splice was looking intently at the blood sample that he had managed to gather from Volos. He held a quill in his magic, scribbling notes furiously as he continued to look through the microscope. Luna and Alpha Bone were yawning, waiting for Gene splice to say something. Gene Splice finally took his eye from the microscope, and turned to face the others. 

"I don't know what's going on with these things. They’re not bolstering immunity or doing anything that we had previously believed them to do." he said, disgruntled. 

"Gene, are you positive that there is nothing you can tell us?" Alpha Bone asked. 

"Well, if you'll come over here I'll show you what I've found thus far." Luna and Alpha Bone walked over to where Gene Splice's notes were. "If you'll look at my notes, it appears that they are waiting for something. A disease, a foreign object in the blood? I can't tell. Alpha, maybe you can help me with this?" 

"I'll give it a shot but I won't promise anything." he said, stepping up to the microscope. He looked at the blood sample. "Huh? What did you say they were doing, Gene?" 

"Flying all over the place in the blood, they weren't doing anything specific. Why?" 

"They're gravitating to one side of the slide now." 

"What?" he said, confused. Gene Splice looked into the microscope and saw that Alpha bone was telling the truth. He looked to the direction where the third cells were gravitating and traced their path. He tried to keep his face from telling too much and looked at Alpha Bone. "Alpha, go get Princess Celestia, I don't want to proceed further without her presence and express permission." 

Alpha Bone wore a confused look on his face and stared at his longtime friend and colleague. "Sure, I'll be back in a bit." he said, walking out of the lab room to go find Princess Celestia.  

A while later Alpha Bone returned with the Princess in tow. They walked into the lab room, where Gene Splice was again looking at the microscope and giving directions to Luna. 

"Gene Splice, what's going on?" Celestia asked. 

"If you would please move back Princess." he told Luna before looking up from his microscope and turning to Princess Celestia. "Princess, I asked Alpha to find you because I did not want to proceed without your presence and I have a rather important question to ask you." he said, matter-o-factually. 

"What is this question?" Celestia asked, eyeing the Scientist suspiciously. 

"Well, Princess, I was wondering if it would be alright if I took a sample of your blood and Princess Luna's." he asked, nervously. 

"What for?!" Celestia roared, making Gene Splice recoil. 

"I've come up with a theory but I require a small blood sample from the both of you for me to able to confirm or deny it." 

Celestia thought for a while before finally answering. "Luna, is that alright with you?" Luna thought as well, and nodded her agreement, if not hesitantly. "Very well Mr. Splice. We agree." 

"Thank you Princesses." Gene Splice said, wasting no time getting two clean needles. "This take but a moment." he said, pushing the needle into Celestia's upper leg. The needle filled to the half mark and Gene Splice pulled the needle out quickly. "There. Now Princess Luna." He levitated the second needle to the same area on Luna's leg and repeated what he had done to Celestia. He set them on the table and labeled them to their respective owners. Gene splice set up a new slide and placed Celestia's sample onto a spare microscope that lay but a couple feet away from the Volos sample. He placed his eye on the eye piece and looked at the sample. He studied it, jotting down notes of celesta's blood composition and moved to the Volos sample to make comparisons. "Well, Princess, my theory is not holding up currently." 

"Yes, but tell me why you needed a blood sample from the two of us." Celestia ordered. 

"I will address that shortly after I look at Luna's sample." he said while preparing the other slide with Luna's sample. He removed the slide containing Celestia's blood and replaced it with Luna's. He looked at the sample and a frown quickly appeared on his face. He dropped the quill from his magic and ran between the two microscopes mumbling to himself. "No, no, no, how is that possible?!" he asked himself, a little too loudly. Celestia, Luna, and Alpha Bone's ears perked up. 

"What's wrong Gene?" Alpha Bone asked, nervously. Gene Splice continued between the two microscopes, still mumbling to himself. "GENE!" Alpha shouted, making Gene Splice come out of his panic. "What's wrong?" 

"Their blood. That's what's wrong!" he shouted. "It shouldn't be possible but it's right here in front of me!" 

"What's not possible?" Celestia asked, sternly. 

"Look for yourself." he said, ushering the princess over to the microscopes, an angry and somewhat sad tone coming from his voice. 

Celestia walked over to the able and looked at Volos' sample first. She studied it for a short time before moving over to Luna's sample. She studied it very quickly and moved to Volos' sample faster than the last time. She continued this process for a while, to be sure of what she was seeing. Luna began to get nervous seeing both her elder sister and Gene Splice act this way. Celestia stopped and her face fell, and she fell to the floor, sitting on her rump. 

"By all things holy." she mumbled. "It can't be true." 

By this time Luna was getting impatient and her sense of nervousness had gone through the roof, so to speak. "What is going on?" she said walking up to the set of microscopes. She looked at Volos' blood, following the same pattern as Celestia. She looked at her own blood. Her heart nearly stopped. She backed away from the microscope, shock and disbelief written on her features. 

Alpha Bone had also had enough of the suspense and walked over to the lab table. He followed the Princesses' lead and backed away from the microscope. "How is that even feasible?" he asked Gene Splice. 

"I have no idea, Alpha." he turned to Princess Celestia. "Princess, what would you like us to do?" he asked, nervously. 

"Luna, I...I'm so, so sorry." Celestia cried, tears falling from her eyes and charging her horn. Luna was taken by surprise as a set of gold chains formed on her limbs and lifted her into the air. 

"Celestia, what are you doing?!" Luna cried, tears falling like rivers from her eyes. 

"You've been contaminated. I can't let you leave, until I know how to fix this." Celestia responded, still crying. 

"I'm not contaminated! Those samples don't prove anything!" Luna yelled. 

"THOSE THINGS ARE IN YOUR BLOOD, LUNA!" Celestia bellowed, making Luna cease her struggle to escape. "Luna, those cells are in your blood, I can't take any risks. I'm sorry." she said, regretting every word. "Those chains have cut off your ability to use magic, you can't escape no matter how hard you try. I'll take care of your responsibilities until further notice." Celestia's face was drenched with tears. Her horn glowing again. 

"CELESTIA WAIT...!" Luna cried, disappearing from the room. 

"I'm sorry, Luna." Celestia cried, letting her tears flow freely.

> Judgment of the Crystal Heart 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Luna had not heard Celestia's voice or any other voices for a few days now. She hung from the wall, chains engulfing her legs and her magic cut off. Her tears had ceased to fall but she still cried. Her head was hanging limply to her chest and she whimpered quietly to herself. All of her meals were brought to her by a guardspony now, and they would levitate the food to her. It wasn't bad food by any means but, she still wished she could eat it herself, instead of being treated like a criminal. Every time she tried to ask him or her, depending on the day, about Celestia they would cringe and fast-walk out of the room. 

Celestia couldn't stand the sight of her sister in such a miserable state. She stared her younger sister, her heart broke again at the sight of what she had done. She placed a hoof on the one way ice panel that separated her from her imprisoned sister. 

"Did I go too far?" she asked herself. "Did I do the right thing?" Celestia got up and decided to go and talk to Luna. She went to the door and opened it, letting in more light than was there previously. Luna looked up with the most pitiful look Celestia had ever seen, making her heart cringe. "Luna?" 

"..."

"Luna, please say something." she pleaded. Luna did not give a response. "Luna, please understand, I had to put you here." This caught Luna's attention. "You were contaminated, I can't take the risk of it being contagious." she tried to explain. 

"How long?" Luna whispered, making Celestia look up. 

"What?" 

"How long?" 

"I don't understand." Celestia said, confused. 

"How long were those things inside of me? It can't be contagious!" Luna yelled. 

"I can't take that risk Luna! Please understand..." 

"UNDERSTAND?!" she bellowed from her chains. "UNDERSTAND LIKE WHEN YOU SEALED ME INSIDE THE MOON!?" 

"Luna, stop..." 

"HOW YOU REJECTED ME THEN TOO!" 

Luna, I..." 

"YOU WHAT?! WANT TO SEAL ME AWAY AGAIN? HOW ABOUT LETTING ME ROT HERE INSTEAD?! MAKE ME SUFFER!? I LOST ONE-THOUSAND YEARS CELESTIA! ONE-THOUSAND! HOW LONG WILL IT BE THIS TIME?!" 

"LUNA!" Celestia roared, over her sister's massive voice. Luna stopped and glared daggers at Celestia. "Luna, please, don't make this harder than it already is. I don't know how those things got inside of you, but I'll fix you." 

"Fix me? FIX ME!? I'M NOT BROKEN!" she continued yelling, letting tears of rage fall from her eyes. 

Celestia had begun to cry a little bit as well. "Luna, I did what I thought was the right thing to do at the time. I couldn't have possibly known how you felt." 

"No you couldn't have! If I were you right now and you were in my place, how would you feel then?!" 

"I...I don't know how I..." 

"Of course you don't! You're not me! You were always the one the citizens of Equestria looked up to, while I was just an afterthought! It was always about Celestia, Bringer of the Day! I still haven't gained the citizens trust back after Nightmare Moon, while they hail you as the savior of Equestria!" she roared. 

"That's ENOUGH!" Celestia roared, Luna went quiet. "That's quite enough young lady. I don't know what happened to you, I don't know how those cells got inside your blood, and I really don't know how you and Volos are connected, but I will find out and I will fix it." Luna remained silent. "I'm your sister and I care for you deeply, I just don't want to take any risks is all." Luna looked away from Celestia. "I'll come back later once we both have had a chance to calm down." Celestia said closing the open door behind her as she left. 


2


Celestia was standing a distance away from Volos, who was still standing like a statue. She glared at him. "It's all your fault!" she yelled. "If you hadn't shown up, Luna would still be normal!" she shouted, swinging her hooves and flaring her wings. After she felt satisfied with her one sided shouting match, she went back up to the observation deck and sat on a small chair in frustration, ignoring the other Alicorn in the room. 

"Auntie? Are you feeling alright?" Cadance asked. 

Celestia looked over to Cadance with surprise. "Cadance, what are you doing here?" 

"I brought her." Shining Armour said, walking up from behind Cadance. 

"Why?" Celestia groaned. 

"She asked, and somepony here wrote a letter to me regarding the current situation." he said nonchalantly. 

"Remind me to banish whomever it was that sent it." Celestia grumbled. "You know about Luna then?" 

"Yes, Princess." 

"Call me Celestia. I retired you from duty, remember? And your my nephew in law." 

"Now what about Auntie Luna?" Cadance asked, stepping into the conversation. 

"Luna has been...contaminated." Celestia said, remorse in her voice. 

"Contaminated? What do you mean?" 

"We found cells inside of Luna's blood stream that are identical to the creature's." 

Cadance was dumbfounded. "May I see it?" she asked, after a time. 

"The blood samples or the creature?" 

"The creature." Cadance said. Celestia pointed with a hoof to the ice panel. Cadance walked over to the panel and scanned the room beyond it until her eyes fell onto the creature standing by the wall. "Oh, my." was all she could manage to say. 

"It contaminated Luna somehow. I will find out how to cure her." Celestia said, determined. 

"Where is she now?" Cadance asked, Shining Armour listening in as well. 

"In isolation, if you can call it that." Celestia said, sadly. "It's more of a prison really. I had to chain her to the walls and cut off her ability to use magic. I don't know if it's contagious and  I didn't want to take the chance." she stated. 

"Auntie?!" Cadance exclaimed, surprised at such a statement. "You did what?!"

"I had no choice!" Celestia yelled. Cadance recoiled and Shining Armour came over and placed a hoof on Cadance's  shoulder. 

"Cadance I...I didn't mean too...I..." she stammered. 

"It's alright, I just have a hard time believing that you would do such a thing." she replied. 

"I do too." Celestia responded, looking back to the creature behind the glass. "I do too." 


3


Luna's mind spun. She was angry, sad, and a mix of many other emotions all at the same time. "She betrayed me again." she whispered angrily. "I've been sealed away again for a crime that I didn't commit. I didn't ask to have those things in my blood, I didn’t ask to be connected with Volos." her rage built up significantly. "I WISH THEY WOULD ALL JUST GO AWAY!" she roared in her Royal Canterlot Voice. Her head fell down again and rested against her chest, tears falling from her eyes. She began rustling the gold chains that were attached to her limbs. She pulled and strained but the chains would not budge an inch against her force. She tried again and still the same results. "Let me out!" she cried. 

"The door to Luna's room opened and Cadance walked in with Shining Armour in tow. Cadance covered her mouth with a hoof in complete shock of the sight before her. Shining Armour was trying not to yell at Celestia, who stood a short distance behind them.  

"Auntie Luna?" 

Luna looked up. "Cadance?" 

"Yes, Auntie, it's me. And Shining Armour is here with me." she tried her best to keep from crying. "I know what's happened, Auntie." 

Luna's features changed drastically. "Is that so?! Have you come her to stare at the freak?!" she yelled angrily. 

"Auntie..." 

"We came here to offer you our support!" Shining interjected. 

"Right." Luna sighed. "This whole thing has been mind numbing to say the least. I'm starting to wonder who I really am." 

"Aunt Celestia has agreed to let you down from the wall." Cadance said, smiling, trying to spread the emotion to Luna. 

"I see." Luna replied. "Where is Celestia?" 

Cadance stepped aside, letting Celestia come to the front of their little group. "Luna, I'll let you down on one condition." she stated. 

"What's that?" Luna asked. 

"You still can't leave." 

"WHAT!?" she bellowed. "You've kept me here for days! I won't agree to that condition!" 

"Then I can't let you down." 

Luna's rage was growing, she wanted nothing more than to lunge from her prison and strangle Celestia for keeping her prisoner. She began pulling on the chains again, huffing. "LET ME DOWN!" Luna ordered, pulling on her chains. "LAST CHANCE!" Celestia still did not do anything. "I HATE YOU!" she roared. Celestia, Cadance and Shining Armour recoiled from her harsh words. Luna continued screaming and pulling on her chains, she was seeing red. Celestia charged her horn. Luna noticed and started to scream and pull on her chains more ferociously. Cadance was cowering while Shining stood in front of her. She stared at Celestia. "You betrayed me!" 

"I did no such thing!" 

"Lies!"

"I'm telling you the truth! I don't know what those cells could do to you or anyponyelse in this facility!" 

"It's NOT CONTAGIOUS!" 

"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" Celestia roared. "How should I have handled the news?! You tell me!" Luna stopped struggling and didn't say anything to Celestia. "That's what I thought. I will let you down eventually, but until you show me that you can agree to my condition, I can't." 

Luna's horn began to glow and spark, her rage building again. Celestia's mouth went agape. Luna screamed, pain shooting through her body and horn. Luna began to pant and her horn began smoking after the sparks had faded. The group looked at Luna in awe.  A short time later they were knocked out of their trance by an angry roar. 


4


Volos still stood in his room when his on board information display began to work. 

...Orders Received...

...Terminate Enemy...

Target...White Alicorn known as 'Celestia.'


5


They felt the ground shake and heard crashing noises. They turned in time to see Volos crash through one of the crystal walls. Volos bee lined toward the group. Before they could move, Volos had slammed into them, sending them in different directions. 

"Is everypony alright?" Celestia asked getting up. 

"I'm O.K." Cadance said, wincing as she got up. 

"No she's not. She has a broken leg and wing." Shining said getting up, noticing her contorted leg and wing. He assisted her in a standing position that would not compromise her injuries. 

"Take her and leave." Celestia ordered. Cadance tried to protest but Celestia's face said otherwise. Cadance and Shining left quickly. Celestia looked at Volos, he was pulling on the chains. "They won't break." she said, her words falling on deaf ears. Luna was not moving and was limp. Volos pulled again and this time the chains started to move. Celestia was shocked, and stood in silence. Volos pulled one last time, making the chains shatter and dissipate into thin air. "What?" Celestia whispered. 

Luna fell into Volos' arms, unconscious. He cradled her and set her down gently on the ground. He stood back up and turned to face Celestia. She stared at the creature before her, she swallowed hard. Volos roared and charged. Celestia shot him with a concussive blast spell. The blast of sound washed over Volos' body but it didn't slow him down. Celestia dodged a direct blow from Volos' shoulder as he slammed into the wall opposite her. Seeing her chance, Celestia blasted her chain spell on Volos. Volos' entire body was laced with the gold chains. He pushed out, using his arms and the chains shattered without much effort. 

Celestia couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. One of her most powerful imprisonment spell was destroyed so easily. "What's happening?" she whispered. Volos lunged at her, catching her neck before she could move. Volos swung Celestia into the wall and let her drop to the ground. Volos was closing the short distance between them, releasing one of his blades. Celestia could feel her magic stores being drained rapidly. "What's happening?" she groaned. Volos stopped and placed the blade to her cheek. She looked at Volos and noticed that his body was emitting a very faint green glow. "The Crystal Heart?" she questioned, a realization dawning on her. "It's deemed me a villain?" she panicked. "But why? I...." she looked over to where Luna was lying on the ground, the realization felt a like a punch in the gut. "I made a mistake!" she hollered at Volos. "I'm sorry!" Volos raised his fore-arm mounted sword above his head. "No! STOP! PLEASE! I WAS WRONG!" Volos still held the blade above his head, his on board scanner relaying information. 



Luna stirred and opened her eyes with a groan. She was greeted by the sight of Volos standing over her sister with his blade raised. "Wait, don't." she ordered. Volos did not move from his position. "Don't kill her! Even after everything she doesn't deserve to die!" she screamed, running between Celestia and Volos. "I don't agree with what she did to me but she's still my sister. Stand down." she ordered, a boldness coming from her voice.

...Orders Withdrawn...Awaiting New Orders...

Volos lowered his blade and re-sheathed it. He walked a short distance away and stood like he had been previously.  

"What happened?" Luna asked, turning to Celestia. 

"The Crystal Heart had labeled me a tyrant and drained all of my magic reserves. It made me defenseless." 

"Oh." 

Celestia looked at Luna and hugged her. "I'm sorry." she sobbed. "I'm sorry that I had done this to you. I was wrong in every way. Can you forgive me?" she asked. 

"Celestia, I..." she faltered, making Celestia nervous. "I can't, not yet." 

Celestia became even more downcast. "I...I understand." she stated, sadly. "How did you call him?" she asked, wanting to change the subject.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked. Celestia pointed to Volos with a hoof. Luna stared at Volos. "I don't know. I remember wanting to hurt you so much earlier. I...I wished for you to be hurt and he came running in." 

Celestia was not surprised Luna had wanted to hurt her, but what she did not expect was for Volos to carry out her will. "You don't remember your horn glowing and sparking?" 

"I remember that it hurt a little and I felt something else." 

"What?" 

"I don't know how to put in words to explain it but it felt like he was supposed to carry out my wish." she stated. 

"I see." she stated, her voice shaky.  "Luna?" Luna turned toward Celestia. "I want to talk about all of this with you. I won't stop feeling guilty but...I can't continue knowing that you still can't forgive me for this." she looked down at the floor, shame washing over her. "I never even asked about how you felt about everything that has been happening, and for that I'm sorry. I want us to sit down and, I want you to talk to me, vent your frustrations. I just want you to know that I really do care about you, and that I regret imprisoning you." 

Luna looked at Celestia. "Is this because the crystal Heart took your power from you?" 

"I know that is how it appears, if you truly want, you can attack me now and I won't be able to fight back." she said, putting herself into an open position for an assault. "Go ahead, if you really need to." 

Luna stared at her sister in amazement. "You would really leave yourself open to an attack, just to show me you were sorry?" Celestia nodded. "Celestia." she thought for a while. "I think you've been through enough torment because of this. I won't make you suffer more than you already have." she said, a faint smile on her lips. 

Celestia rocketed to Luna, pulling her into a great hug. "Thank you." she cried. 

Luna placed her hooves on Celestia's back, returning the embrace. "We have more work to do, do you want to get started?" 

"Not yet." Celestia said, still crying and holding onto Luna. 

"Agreed." Luna responded, smiling.

> Blood Studies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Luna waited for Gene Splice to arrive in her small room. She had agreed to stay in isolation, but this time without the use of restraints. Luna paced back and forth, her anxiety growing rapidly. The door to her room opened and in walked a pony wearing what looked like a bio-hazard suite. 

"Gene Splice?" Luna asked. 

"Yes, Princess it's me." Gene responded. 

"What can I do for you?" 

"Well, I'm going to need another sample of blood." he stated. 

"What?! You've already taken two samples!" Luna shouted. 

"Princess, please calm down. The traditional methods of ridding the blood of toxins have been ineffective. I need more samples if I'm going to figure out how to rid you of them." he stated, making his case. Luna nodded and stuck out her leg. Gene Splice lowered a needle to her leg and gathered another sample of Luna's blood. "Thank you Princess." he said, leaving the room again. 

Luna lay back down on her bed with a groan. "If this keeps up, he's going to drain me dry." she moaned. 


2


"DAMMIT!" Gene Splice shouted, looking at his microscope.  He backed away from his microscope and kicked one of the chairs in his lab. 

"Calm down Gene." Alpha Bone said, standing a small distance away. 

"How can I be calm when one of our Princesses is in isolation with an unknown blood cell, that could possibly be transmitted to us!?" he shouted. 

"I know but you need to keep a clear head and stay calm." 

Gene Splice calmed down a little bit. "You're right my friend, as always." 

"That's right. Would it help if I gathered everypony and they could each study a sample, maybe they can spot something that would help." he suggested. 

Gene Splice thought. "You want to bring in an archaeologist, a biologist, namely you, a Microbiologist and a crackpot Xenobiologist, to study blood?" he asked, unimpressed. 

"I know this sort of thing is out of our expertise but having a few extra eyes on this could help, you never know." 

"I suppose it couldn't hurt. Fine! Go ahead." he said, defeated. Alpha Bone nodded and left to gather the entire team to assist Gene Splice. "I doubt this will work." Gene Splice mumbled, setting up the other samples of Luna's blood he had gathered. 

Alpha Bone returned with the whole team behind him. "I got them." he said. 

Gene Splice turned to face them all. "As you have all most likely heard, Princess Luna has been contaminated with an unknown blood cell in which every known blood detoxification method has failed to purge. I have asked Alpha Bone to gather you, on his recommendation, to aid me in my research. Any questions?" 

A lanky black earth pony with a blue mane and blue eyes raised a hoof. "How can I help? I'm a Microbiologist, I study bacterium not blood cells." he said, concerned. 

"Yes you are, but you specialize in all three areas of Microbiology, Petri Dish. Maybe these aren't even blood cells, they could some kind of bacteria." This seemed to satisfy Petri Dish and he went back into the line. "Anyponyelse?" Another pony raised his hoof, this time a red Pegasus with dark brown eyes. Gene Splice had to keep himself from rolling his eyes. "Yes, Star Gazer?" 

"Could they be some sort of extraterrestrial life?" he asked, somewhat excitedly. 

"I doubt it, highly. But I'm not ruling anything out yet." he responded. "I've set up stations for each of you to work at. Let's go." he said, going back to his microscope and letting the others pick their own. 


3


Celestia had been wondering between workshops and labs and found all of them to be empty. She had gone through all of the labs except for Gene Splice's. She was hoping that they were all in there. She rounded a corner and opened the door. she stared wide eyed at the sight. Papers were being thrown and lab tables were cluttered with pens and papers. A few of the ponies inside were pacing angrily and others were hitting their heads with hooves or the wall in frustration. The only one who seemed to be enthralled with his microscope was Star Gazer. 

"What's going on here?" she asked, concerned. 

Gene Splice turned to the source of the voice. "Princess, how are you?" he asked, trying to put on a facade. 

"Better than all of you it would seem." she smirked. "What are all of you doing?" 

"We're trying to find a way to cleanse Princess Luna of those cells." he stated, tiredly. 

"Any luck?" 

"NO!" he shouted, catching the Princess off guard. "NONE! I've tested every single blood detoxification method known to pony kind and none of them have worked!" he said, exasperated. 

"That's certainly troublesome." Celestia said. "What about possibility of infection?" she asked, more than concerned.

"Zero possibility. I cast a disinfectant spell that should keep us all safe from being infected." he said, calming down. 

Turning her head Celestia had focused on Star Gazer. "Has he had any luck?" 

"I doubt it." he said flatly. "Princess if I may, I don't think bringing in a Xenobiologist in on this project was a good idea." 

"Why is that?" she asked, curious. 

"I just don't consider Xenobiology a real science. It's all speculations and rumor. Nothing about it is solid." 

"I called Star Gazer to join this because I believe that in this case having him around might be of some use." 

Gene Splice conceded. "Alright, I'll trust your judgment Princess." 

"Good. Star Gazer, have you had any luck?" 

Star Gazer looked up from the microscope and acknowledged the Princess' presence before returning to his microscope again. "Not yet, but this is absolutely amazing!" he said, excitedly. "I have noticed that they are completely independent from the other blood cells. “I just wish I had more knowledge of how blood was comprised and how each cell would interact with the other." he said. 

"I don't think that this is going to work, if I couldn't figure this out than I don't think any of us can." Gene Splice stated. 

"No kidding." Field Dust piped up. 

"I know this is frustrating but there must be away to purge them from Luna." Celestia said, trying to comfort them all. 

"What if they're not supposed to be removed?" Star Gazer asked. 

"Why would that be?" Gene Splice asked, angrily. 

"You said that when they were put into the rat they ate it from the inside out, right?"

"Yeah, and?" 

"Why haven't they eaten Princess Luna yet?" 

The other looked at each other, stunned at Star Gazer's words. Even the Princess hadn't thought about it. 

"I never thought of that." Gene Splice mumbled. "He could be right." 

"I am intrigued as well." Celestia said. "I will speak to Luna about this development." Celestia said, turning to leave. "Keep working all of you, I will return shortly." she said leaving the lab. 


4
 

Celestia opened the door to Luna's room and entered, a faint shield spell protecting her from possible contamination. Luna was lying on her bed staring at the reflective crystal ceiling. Upon hearing the door open she sat up and smiled when she saw Celestia. 

"Good news?" she asked, hopeful. 

"Depends." Celestia responded. 

"How so?" 

"Do you want the good news or the bad first?" 

Luna thought for a minute. "Bad." 

"Alright. Well, it seems that the usual means of blood detoxification have all failed." Luna's face quickly became downcast. "Now for the good." she said, causing Luna to perk up. "Star Gazer had thought of something the rest of us had completely missed." 

"What?" 

"He thinks that these cells are not supposed to be removed." 

"Why in the world would he think that?!" 

"Do you remember that rat that was eaten from the inside by those cells?" Luna nodded. "If these cells were harmful to you, then why aren't you dead?" 

"That's an interesting thought." she said, pondering what this might mean. 

"That's what I thought." Celestia said. "I figured that I should come and tell you what we had discovered. Are you holding up alright?" she asked, concerned. 

"For the time being, but I'm starting to go stir-crazy being cooped up in here." 

"Tell you what, I'll seal off a larger part of the area so you can at least walk around a little." 

"That would be nice. Thanks." 

"Sure." 


5


Star Gazer and the rest had returned to their microscopes and were still trying to determine a way to purge the Princess of the cells or see if they could remain and poise no danger to the rest of ponykind. All of their efforts have been fruitless, other than what was discovered about immune response time. Gene Splice looked up from his microscope and slumped into a chair, with a groan. 

"What are we missing? There's got to be something we can use." he mumbled, agitated. Gene Splice placed a clip board and pen on his desk with his magic. "Have any of you found something?" he asked the rest of the group. 

"Take a guess!" Field Dust yelled, angrily. 

"Guess not." Gene Splice whispered, levitating a clip board to himself and started to scribble notes. 

"Gene Splice! I think I found something!" Petri Dish hollered, to the amazement of the rest. Gene Splice shot out of his chair, levitating the clip board and pen, and went trotting over to Petri Dish's area. "What have you found?" he asked, hopeful. 

"Their acting very erratically." he stated. 

"That's nothing new. We saw that before." he said, disappointing. He placed his clip board and pen down on the table and ceased his levitation of the objects. 

"Now they've calmed down, weird." Petri Dish said, surprised. 

"What did you say?" 

"They calmed down. How did you not hear me? I'm right next to you." he said, bewildered. 

"Keep an eye on them, tell me when they act up." Gene Splice ordered, to which Petri Dish just made a noise. Gene Splice activated his magic and channeled it to his horn. 

"They're acting up again." Petri Dish stated. 

Gene Splice deactivated his horn. "Now?" 

"No. They stopped." he said, looking up from the eyepiece. 

"Magic?" Gene Splice whispered. 

"What?" 

"Magic!" 

"I don't understand." 

"They react to magic!" Gene Splice beamed. This caught the entire group’s attention. "When I was levitating my clipboard over here, the cells were acting up, but when I deactivated it, they calmed down!" 

"So, what does that mean?" Alpha bone asked. 

"It's too early to tell, but I want try something. I'm going to leave a trace amount of magical energy on one of my needles and put it into one of the samples."

"It looks like we might have a lead then." Star Gazer said. 

"We very well might." Gene Splice said, as Celestia returned. 

"Did you find something?" she asked wondering why they were so happy. 

"I believe we did Princess." 


6


Celestia waited anxiously as Gene Splice readied his experiment. He levitated a small needle piece into the air and charged it with the magic. He looked through the microscope and saw that the cells were already in a frenzy. 

"Their already going nuts. Let's see what happens when I put the needle closer to the sample." he mumbled, levitating the small point to the slide. The cells began to go into an even greater frenzy. Gene Splice was not yet satisfied and put the needle point directly into the small drop of blood. The cells gathered closer together, no longer in a frenzy. "That's odd." he whispered. The cells began to gather together and change. "What is this?" he mumbled, anxious to see what the cells were doing. They amassed together and formed a small box with a circular barrel. The tip of the amassed cells began to illuminate and shot a small blue beam, incinerating the needle. Gene Splice jumped back. "Criminy!" he bellowed. 

"What happened?" Celestia asked, concerned. 

"The cells amassed into a cannon of some kind and incinerated the needle tip!" 

Celestia was stunned. "That was unexpected." she managed to say, through the initial shock. 

"I believe that was part of their immune response. In normal Pony blood,  white blood cells will often band together to destroy an invader that a single cell wouldn't be able to handle." 

"Interesting." Celestia said, 

"Very." was all Gene Splice could say. 

"One thing I don't understand though is why haven't they tried to attack Princess Luna from the inside?" 

Star gazer came forward. "I read in a comic once that little machines could be tuned to a specific bio-signature and placed into a host without killing them." he stated. 

"A comic? A COMIC?!" Gene Splice shouted. "You dolt, these are blood cells not..." he trailed off into thought. "Little machines tuned to a specific bio-signature?" 

"Yes." Star Gazer replied, getting over the insult. 

"If that's the case then, why Princess Luna?" 

"I am unsure of this as well, but I don't want to shirk the idea." Celestia said. 

"I agree." Gene Thought for a moment. "Could they be some-kind of mutation?" 

"Not likely." Petri Dish said.

"Could she have been born with them?" Alpha Bone asked. 

Both Gene Splice and Princess Celestia thought about it for a while. "Princess?" Gene Splice asked. 

"When Luna and I were young, she never got sick. Even when the epidemics struck. Me, other the other hoof, got sick from a few of them. If these were the cause of her powerful immune system, then that would explain quite a-bit." Celestia told them. 

"But how did they get into her blood in the first place? That's what isn't making sense." Field Dust inputted. 

"Yes. I wish we could find out more. For the time being determine if these cells can jump to another host. I want to let Luna out, but until we can be sure that those cells are not contagious I cannot release her." Celestia said, hopeful that the results would come quickly. 


7


Luna and Celestia sat in silence as Luna pondered what Celestia had told her of Gene Splice's progress. Celestia had put up a faint shield to protect herself from the cells as a precaution. Celestia began to get nervous. Luna had not said a word since she had finished her report. 

"I could have been born with these things in my blood?" she asked, finally speaking. Celestia only nodded her head. "What does this mean?" 

"I don't know Luna. There are so many questions, and so few answers. Every time we think we get close to an answer, a new question arises in its place. I'm starting to wonder if we're going to find an answer." she said, sadly. 

"I'm sure there is an answer for us somewhere." she said, trying to comfort herself and Celestia. "Celestia, I have a question." 

"What is it?" 

"Being in here has given me time to think about everything and, I was wondering...When you were researching that cave painting, did you look at any Equestrian legends or myths?" Luna asked. 

"Not, that I'm aware of. Why?" 

"I thought that maybe one of the old civilizations of Equestria might have had a story that could be about Volos is all."

Celestia thought for a while. "Now that you mention it, it's entirely possible that one of them could of had something. I'll have Field Dust look into it." she leaned in and hugged Luna. "I need to go. Wait five minutes after I leave and I'll of sealed a larger area for you. You can walk around some, and a barrier will mark the end of the quarantine bubble." she said, letting go of Luna. 

"Good, I need to stretch my legs and wings a-little." she said, cracking her wing joints. 

Celestia left and cast her spell, allowing Luna more freedom while in isolation.


8


Celestia arrived at Gene Splice's lab again. Again she was greeted by the sight of frustrated ponies. She sighed and walked in. 

"No luck?" she said, half-smiling. 

"No." Gene Splice groaned. "I have no idea how to determine if these things are contagious Princess. At this point, I vote to let Princess Luna out and hope for the best." 

"I'm sorry Gene Splice, I have to think about the rest of Equestria and the Crystal Empire. Taking a risk like that is more than reckless." Celestia said, with an authoritative tone. 

Gene Splice sighed. "Princess, we just can't determine whether or not these cells can jump around. At this point, as much as it pains me to admit, I believe that Star Gazer may be right, in that these cells are tuned to Princess Luna only and cannot jump between hosts." 

"I understand, but you must have some certainty before I feel comfortable letting her out of quarantine."  she argued. 

"I understand that Princess, but for our sakes and the sake of our sanity, I think we should let her out and, at least, let her wander the base for a couple days. If nopony has been infected in that time then we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the cells are not contagious." he counter-argued. 

"Mr. Splice, if I were to do what you suggest, that could potentially destroy all of us." 

The others had begun to listen in on the argument between Gene Splice and Princess Celestia. 

"I understand, but I can't think of any other possible way to determine a contagion status without live subjects." 

Celestia grew very stern and her face showed seriousness not previously unseen. "Gene Splice." she said, scaring him. "I will not risk lives. But, if you persist, I will have no choice than to test your theory on you." she said, coldly.

"M...Me?" Gene Splice stammered. 

"I will not risk another pony’s life. If you wish for a test subject then you must be the one to undertake the experiment." she stated, seriously. 

"I...I see."  Gene Splice stammered. "I will think on the matter." he said, defeated. 

Celestia nodded, letting her stern gaze soften. "Are the rest of you in agreement that there is no way to tell if these cells are contagious?" she asked. 

"No." Star Gazer spoke up. 

"Oh?" 

"It's purely assumption of course but I don't think that these cells are contagious based on the fact that they have not killed Princess Luna. If they have been there her entire life then I do not believe that they will hurt her or jump to any of us." he finished. 

"I see. What is this assumption based on?" Celestia asked. 

"A comic book." he said, nonchalantly. Celestia raised an eyebrow. "I know it sounds dumb, but I've been into this whole extraterrestrial and Sci-Fi thing for a long time Princess." he said, trying to convince the Princess. 

"Extraterrestrial, Sci-Fi?" Petri Dish asked, sarcastically. "We are talking about a possible contagion that could wipe out entire civilizations! What makes you think that Comic Books and Science Fiction help us in this situation!?"  he yelled, exasperated. 

"Calm yourself Petri!" Alpha Bone shouted, making Petri Dish stand down a little bit. "Now, Star Gazer, based upon your observations of this blood cell, why do you think they are not contagious?" he asked, in a calm tone. 

Star Gazer thought for a moment. "Well, for starters, I'm going to answer your question with another question. How long have we already had contact with Princess Luna?" 

Alpha Bone and the rest were caught off guard by the question. "Well, for quite some time i guess." Alpha answered. 

"Exactly, and we're all still alive, yes?" the others all nodded. "Then, based on that, I don't see how they would be contagious if we're all still alive after being around her for however long it has been." he finished. 

Celestia thought about Star Gazer's assumption. "That makes sense." she continued thinking. "I suppose that we would already be dead if it were contagious." She continued to ponder the situation. "I have to agree with Star Gazer. We should already be dead if these cells could jump from host to host. That would mean that the research into this cell is concluded." 

"Not yet, Princess. We still need to know why and how these cells got into Princess Luna, they are too extreme for her to have been naturally born with them." Gene Splice said, informing the Princess of the need to further look into the issue. 

"What are you saying?" Celestia asked. "Do you suspect something?" 

"I think that these cells were put into the Princess." Gene Splice said. 

"Foul play!?" she asked, shocked. "You think somepony put those things into Luna?" 

"I can't think of any other reason why they would be inside of her, other than that they were placed there by a third party." Gene said, trying to get his point across. 

"But why, and whom?" she asked, panicked. 

"It's only speculation Princess." 

Celestia took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. "I understand, get some rest. All of you, you deserve it." Celestia sighed. "I will be in my quarters." she said, leaving the room to return to her own quarters to think.

> Equus Caballus
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sorry everyone on how long this one took to get out there. School kind of decided to bog me down with work, but here it is, finally. 



1


"You're letting me out?" Luna asked. 

"Yes. Of course we still have no way to determine if these cells can travel from host to host but Star Gazer brought up a good point about how the rest of us should be dead, given all the time we have spent with you nearby." Celestia said, rather bluntly. 

"That is true." Luna thought. "But, isn't there still a risk?" 

"Yes, there's always a risk. But right now, we need information and you being in here is not going to help our endeavors."

"And Volos?" 

"Still quiet." Celestia began. "I don't understand." she mumbled. 

"Understand what?" 

"Why does he listen to you? Why doesn't he move on his own, and try to communicate with us?" 

"I am unsure. Twilight Sparkle noted that he could communicate in writing, but he has not done so."  Luna said, bewildered. 

"Yes, she did." Celestia acknowledged. "He has been freed from Anubis and yet, he says and does nothing." 

"I don't understand it either, sister. But we will just have to keep digging, and now I can help." 

Celestia nodded. "Your assistance will speed this research along but I hope that we can find something we can use." Celestia said, turning. "Follow me, the others will be happy to see you." she smiled. 

Luna and Celestia left the quarantine zone. They walked down corridors being greeted by the few guards that remained inside the facility. Luna began to feel more confident as they approached the research lab, where Gene Splice's supplies was stationed. They entered inside the lab to an abandoned scene. 

"Where is everypony?" Luna asked. 

"They should be resting. Researching your blood took the entire team and even then the least likely scientist came with the solution that allowed you to leave your isolation." Celestia said, proud. 

"Star Gazer?" Celestia nodded. "What is he again?" 

"A Xenobiologist." 

"What does he study?" 

"Alien life forms, and the like." Celestia informed. 

"Alien life? Strange that he would come up with the solution that would eventually release me from my quarantine." 

"Yes, but he is the one." 

"Shall we wake them up?" Luna asked, a smile forming. 

"Let's." Celestia agreed, wearing a mischievousness grin. 

Their smiles communicated with out words and soon they came to understand what the other wanted. They left the room in a hurry, ignoring the statue like Volos in the corner. 


2


Alpha Bone slept in the barracks with the rest if his team. Field Dust had a closed off area of the barrack to herself being that she was a mare, and she threatened the rest of the team to claim it. He heard the door open and slowly opened an eye. He couldn't make out the figures in the door but he continued to try. 

"INFECTION!" one of the figures bellowed. 

Alpha Bone flipped out of bed hitting the crystal floor. He groaned and looked around, seeing that the rest of his colleagues were not faring any better. Some were screaming and tripping over themselves. While others were scrambling to put on a bio-hazard suite. Alpha Bone scrambled to his hooves and ran to the suite locker. He started to grab the suite and started to put it on. He heard snickering and a short time later, full blown laughter. He turned, a look of disbelief on his face. 

"What is going on!" he bellowed. He focused on the figures at the door at was able to make out the forms of two Alicorns. "Princesses?!" he shouted angrily. "That is something you absolutely do not joke about!" 

Celestia came forward. "Calm down Alpha Bone." she chuckled. 

"Calm down?! CALM DOWN!?" he shouted. "If that were true...!" he stopped, grunting in rage. 

"We thought it would be fun to announce my release in a different way." Luna chimed in. 

"Different indeed." Alpha deadpanned. He turned his attention to the rest of his co-workers. "Calm down everypony, it was all a joke." he announced, angrily. The others slowly began to calm down and put away the bio-hazard suites. "The Princesses thought it would be fitting to announce Princess Luna's release with a little bit of fun at our expense." Alpha Bone approached the two Alicorns in the doorway. "It's good to see that you were able to leave Princess, even if you announced yourself in a rather unorthodox manner. I must say, trying to determine if those cells were contagious was quite the task." 

"So I've been told. Where is Star Gazer?" Luna asked, getting over the initial excitement of their practical joke.

"I'm coming." he said, walking over to the Princesses. "Yes?" 

"I hear you were the one who came up with the hypothesis that led to my release." Luna said, happily. 

"I...Yes, I suppose I was the one who formulated it." he replied, meekly. 

"I owe you a thank you. I feel as though a weight was lifted from my shoulders." Luna proclaimed, happily. Star Gazer bowed to the Princess in thanks for the compliment. 

"Where is Field Dust?" Celestia asked. 

"I'm over here." she grunted. Field Dust came walking out of the closed off section of the barrack and stood in front of the Princesses. "What do you need?" she asked, forgoing all ceremonial conduct. 

"We are going to be taking a break from the research that has been going into Luna's unusual blood and focus on a different venture." Celestia informed them. 

"And what's that?" Field Dust asked, still forgetting her manners. 

"Ancient Equestrian Myths." 

"But Princess. Is this wise?" Gene Splice asked, worried. Celestia gave him a quizzical look. "We still don't have the slightest idea of how those cells got into her blood, and we still know so little of what they are capable of." 

"I understand your concern, but I fear the answers do not lie with Luna's blood, but with Volos. We are going to focus on him for a while. Searching the myths and legends of the ancient pony races could yield something we could use. Given the estimated age of Volos, one of them might have had something, even if it could be vague and obscure. This is where Field Dust comes in." she turned her attention to the unkempt pony. "As the forefront of the Archaeological standpoint of this diverse team, I will need you to head this." 

"I will do what I can, but without my complete set of research materials I don't think I'll be able to do very much." 

"I see. What is it you will require?" 

"Well for starters, I'll need all fifty-eight volumes of my field research notes from the University." 

"I will send for them. Is there anything else?" Celestia asked. 

"I will also need any artifacts that are being stored there. I may be able to draw parallels between them and my notes if the possibility is there." She thought for moment longer. "That should be everything." 

"Very well. At least they are all in one place." She turned her attention to the entire group. "Field Dust is now in charge until I say otherwise. Understood?" The group all nodded. "Good. Help her set up one of the lab rooms for her research, I will have them brought here within the day." The group all scrambled to get themselves ready while Field Dust retreated to her small area to do the same. "Luna, I wish to speak with you." she said, turning her attention to the Lunar Princess. 

Luna nodded and followed her sister out of the barracks. 


3


"What is it sister?" Luna asked, following Celestia into her bedroom. 

"I wanted to apologize to you. For everything." she said. 

"We've been over this, there's nothing more to forgive, Celestia." Luna stated, in a comforting tone. Luna looked at Celestia and studied her for a minute. Celestia was shifting uncomfortably on her hooves. "You're fidgety. What's the real reason you wanted to speak to me?" she asked, suspicious. 

"How did you call him?" Celestia asked. 

"What are you talking about?" 

"How did you call Volos?" she asked. "I saw it in your horn. Your magic was cut off and impossible for you to use. How did you call him?" 

"I didn't call him, he just showed up." Luna protested. 

"You know that's a blatant lie, Luna." 

Luna looked at the floor. "I don't know. I'm telling you the truth. I wanted to attack you myself but I couldn't. So, I wished for Volos to do it, and he just came running." she finished. 

"You just wished for him to attack me?" 

Luna nodded. "I wanted him to attack you because I couldn't, and then I felt something burning and my horn was sparking. And then...There he was. That's all I know." 

Celestia thought for a while, before sighing. "Alright. So now we know you can call him to do your will." 

"But that was just a fluke, a mistake. I don't think I could do it twice." 

"We'll see. You don't know what the future will hold." Celestia said. "Let's see if Field Dust's lab is all set to go, her supplies should be arriving within the hour." Celestia said, moving to leave. 

Celestia exited the room, with Luna slowly following behind her. 



4


Field Dust was waiting for her supplies to arrive. She had been keeping track of the time. It had been almost five hours since the Princess had sent for her supplies. She sat on a chair that she had grabbed from the lab and stared at the massive double doors leading into the courtyard of the facility. 

"I should have helped the others, it would have given me something to do." she mumbled. "It was supposed to have been delivered an hour ago. Royal guards are completely useless!" she moaned. She waited until she heard the massive crystal doors open, revealing a large wagon and two Pegasus guards. "About time!" she wailed, coming over to the entrance. "Come on! I haven't got all day!" The two guards did not make a sound and entered the large facility. "Follow me." 

Field Dust took the lead and walked down to where the others should have finished setting up the lab for her to use. She walked in followed by the two guards pulling the wagon. Field Dust pointed the guards to a corner where they could drop off her supplies. They placed the wagon and opened up the door, revealing stacks of books and large brown boxes. Field Dust waved off the guards and started to pull out the journals. 

"Help me with this, would ya?" Field Dust asked, rudely. 

"Fine." Alpha Bone grumbled. He signaled to the rest of them to start helping out. After a good thirty minutes, they were finally done moving out all of the boxes and field journals. "Now what?" 

"Take a break." Field Dust said, calmly. 

"What?" 

"Did you not hear me! I said, take a break. Or do I have to repeat myself again you dolt!?" She hollered. 

"There she is." he said, sarcastically. "Take a break everypony." he announced. Everyone in the room, except for Field Dust, slumped into a chair or onto the floor with a massive groan. "I feel the same way." he mumbled, falling to the floor.

Field Dust started to unpack some of the boxes, placing their contents on a couple tables and leaving the rest in the boxes. She started to organize her field journals by volume number, meticulously checking each one before setting it down in its proper spot. She lifted the first journal to her desk and sat down. 

"Breaks over! Everyone up!" she commanded. The group of tired ponies rose to their hooves, groaning. "Stop bellyaching! All of you grab a journal and start looking for anything you can find." 

The group of weary ponies had been working nonstop for hours and it was only mid-afternoon. Each pony in the group grabbed a journal and started to look through it at their respective stations within the lab. 


5


Celestia and Luna made their way down the long corridors of the facility. Luna was still a little rattled by her conversation with Celestia. She couldn't stop thinking about how she had called Volos to her "aid", even though it was to attack Celestia. Could she do it again? She did not know, and she did not want to try again. Not without a proper cause or reason. As she thought they had arrived at Field Dust's lab within the facility. Celestia opened the door and went inside, Luna following after. 

Luna was shocked at how quickly they had begun their work. Each pony was going through a journal. She looked over to Field Dust. She had her nose buried into one of the journals and did not notice them enter, neither did any of the others. Celestia cleared her throat. Field Dust looked up from her journal and got up to greet the Princesses. 

"Hello Princesses." 

"Hello Field Dust. How is it going?" Celestia asked. 

"Well, we really just started and nothing has come up just yet, but I'm sure something is here. It's just a matter of time before we find it." she said, her confidence bordering arrogance. 

"May we help?" Luna asked, coming forward.  

"I don't see why not, if that's okay with you of course." she quickly added. 

"I need something to occupy my time." Celestia said, smiling. "Where should I start?" 

"Well, I guess you could start scrutinizing some of the fossils I had brought over." Field Dust said, quietly. Celestia nodded and went on her way. 

"And me?" Luna asked. 

"You could help me with looking through some of these journals, I have fifty-eight to read through and these guys are pretty slow readers." she said pointing at the rest of the team behind her. Luna also nodded and followed Field Dust to her stack of field journals. "Just start going through them. If anything catches your eye, let me know and I'll come over." she said, leaving Luna to sort through a journal on her own. 

Celestia had been looking at the same fossil for a while, trying to take in every last detail. Her eyes had begun to hurt looking through the large magnifying glass that was attached to the table. She looked away and closed them, trying to get some moisture into her aching orbs. She blinked and put her gaze back on the fossil. She again, began to take in every detail. Her eyes wandered all over the brown stone. She sighed and lifted with her magic. She began to levitate it to the box it had been stored in. She turned it upside down and began to lower it. Her eyes caught something on its smooth back. She placed back on the table and looked at quickly, making sure that it was nothing. 

Her eyes strained to see what was on the back but something was indeed on its back surface. She wracked her mind for what it could be, remembering her lessons on Ancient Pony Cultures. She drew a blank. She lifted herself from the magnifying glass and turned. 

"Field Dust, I believe I found something." she said, her regal tone echoing in the air. 

Field Dust got up from the journal she was currently working on and went over to the Solar Princess. "What is it Princess?" 

"Take a look." 

Field Dust went over to the magnifying glass and looked down at the stone's underside. It took her a little while to find what the Princess was referring to. "Found it." she whispered. She looked at the markings and got back up from the magnifying glass. "Well, I don't know what to tell you. It looks familiar, but I don't think it's anything to get worked up about." 

"I understand." Celestia said, levitating the next fossil onto the table and placing the previous one into the box. 

"Field Dust, what about this?" Petri Dish asked. 

"After the Princess asks me about something, now everypony is getting something." she mumbled walking to Petri Dish. "What?" 

"Here." he said pointing to a section of her notes. 

"Ah yes, I remember that. We found it in a shrine built by the Equus Caballus." she reminisced. 

"What is it?" 

"It's one of their gods." 

"I thought that the ancient races didn't have deities, other than the Ancient Alicorns of course." 

"When we dated it, it was just before the Ancient Alicorns passed on the throne." she said. Celestia heard what Field Dust had said and began to make her way over. 

"I was just a child when mom and dad passed the throne onto Luna and I." she said. "It was about the time when modernization and the new technologies were taking hold." 

"What was this god the god of?" Petri asked. 

"Well, we don't know. At least not completely." Petri raised an eyebrow. "We know that this one was regarded very highly. We have only one known document that could shed light on it, but it was never translated completely. All we got from it was that this specific deity was worshiped above the others." 

"As their chief deity?" Celestia asked, surprised. 

"Possibly. Like I said we just don't know." 

"Strange, my parents were always regarded as the highest of all beings." she stated, flatly. 

"That's what I thought too, until we found the shrine." 

"Where is the document you mentioned?" Celestia asked. 

"When I said have, I should of said had." she admitted. "It was destroyed with the shrine." she said, sadly. 

"What happened to the shrine?" Petri asked. 

"Well my doofus assistant decided to touch the actual statue, and down came the entire thing. The document was lost and here we are." she said, becoming angry. 

"That's too bad." Celestia began. "It would have been nice to have it. Even with all of our knowledge, the Ancient Earth Ponies remain almost a complete mystery." 

"You’re telling me. The shrine was found at a branch village in the south. About one-hundred miles from the Equestrian border that leads into the Land of the Zebras. The Capital village was located about thirty miles West from where my current excavation is located. From what little knowledge we have about their way of life we can assume that Liber Mountain held some kind of significance to their belief system." 

"Is that why you think something is down there?" Celestia asked. By this time in their conversation the entire group had begun listening in from their spots, trying not to arouse suspicion. 

"Other than that cave painting, yes. There is definitely something down there. I know it. We just can breach the mountain." 

"Really? It's all dirt and rock. What's keeping you and your team out of it?" Petri asked. 

"I haven't the slightest idea. We've tried digging, blasting. and magic. Nothing has gotten us through." 

"Strange. Well, enough of that. We still have research to do." Celestia said, walking away from the two ponies. 

Field Dust went back to her journal, as did Petri Dish. The others continued through the ones on their desks. 


6


The time had come for Luna to raise the moon. She got up from what she believed was the third journal she had gone through, rubbing her eyes with a hoof. She slowly made her way out of the room to carry out her duty as Princess of the Night. As she went to the place within the facility that allowed for such a magical discharge she noticed Volos standing in his room again. 

"When did you move?" she whispered. "I remember you still being in my room this morning. Strange. I wonder..." Luna closed her eyes and focused her magic into her horn. She felt it again, a small pain in her head. She continued to focus. Her horn started to spark and she could feel something in her head begin to throb. She couldn't take it and stopped channeling her magic. She rubbed her head, still feeling the throbbing sensation in the front. "Ugh, ow." she complained, walking away from the window. 

Luna made it to where she was going in the first place, a domed section near the back of the facility. She charged her horn and raised the moon like she had done since her release from the moon. She began to walk back to the lab when again she passed by where Volos was standing. She looked through the glass and stared at him. She left after a short time, making her way back to the lab. 

Luna made it back to the lab, after walking through corridor after corridor. She went inside and watched as Field Dust ran this way and that. She picked up journal after journal, throwing them onto different tables. Celestia was also frantically rummaging through some of the supplies that Field Dust had requested to be brought to the facility. Bewildered, she walked into the lab. Before long she was being heralded. 

"Thank goodness you're back Princess!" Field Dust greeted, running up to her. Luna was caught off guard and couldn't formulate a response. "Come with me."

"What is going on, Field Dust?" Luna asked, after some time. 

"We found something." 

"Truly?" Luna asked, to the response of a nod from Field Dust. "What?" 

"An old legend from the Equus Caballus!" she screamed, excitedly. 

"Where did you find it?" 

"It's not really complete but it's enough to shed some light on the creature they heralded as a god above the Ancient Alicorns." 

"What does it say?" Luna asked, starting to become excited herself. 

"We're still working on it, but it was hidden in some of the pictures I took of the Shrine walls. I put them in different journals as each entry related to one of the pictures.

"Then how do you know that it's what you are looking for?" Field Dust did not answer and instead pointed her to a large piece of parchment laying on its own. "What's this?" she asked, eyeing the parchment. 

"It's what we've been able to translate." Field Dust remarked. 

"You did all of this in the hour that I have been away?" 

"To be honest, we found it just after you left. About a couple minutes later if I remember right." she said, her mind going blank on the actual time of discovery. "What we've gotten so far is "Behold the demon angel, protector and final destroyer" that's all we were able to translate so far, but that's also all we got from most of the pictures I had taken. The rest don't appear to have anything useful." Field Dust finished. 

"How could something that is supposed to destroy everything be a protector?" Luna asked. 

"I don't know, that's why we need to find out more, but I guess I worked them too hard. They've been complaining all day." she said, turning to face the crowd of ponies in the lab. "Alright, we're done for the night! Everypony pack it up!" she ordered. The team of ponies all stopped and breathed sighs of relief. "Get some rest." 

"Field Dust, have you seen Celestia?" 

"The Princess left a while ago. I don't know where to." 

"Thanks." 

Luna left the tired ponies to their business and went looking for Celestia. 


7


Celestia sat by the window looking at Volos. Her eyes were closed and her horn was glowing a vibrant gold. She heard hoofsteps coming closer and ceased her magic concentration. She turned and saw Luna coming ever closer to her. Luna saw Celestia and quickened her pace. 

"What were you doing Celestia?" she asked, getting closer. 

Celestia took a breath and waited until Luna was close. "I was trying to do what you managed to do, the day that he attacked me and the Crystal Heart stole my power." she admitted. 

"Why would you try something like that?" 

Celestia thought for a time and eventually spoke. "I guess I wanted to understand. I wanted to try to understand what you could do. To call something like Volos to your aid...I just wanted to know." 

Luna sat down and looked through the glass. "It was that attitude that turned me into Nightmare Moon you know." she said, sadly. Celestia looked at Luna, surprised. Luna did not look at Celestia. "I wanted to understand your power over the sun and why the citizens of Equestria loved it so much. Eventually it turned to jealously and then...you know the rest." she trailed off. 

"Can you try to call him to you again? I would be most appreciative." Celestia asked. 

Luna shook her head, refusing. "I can't. I don't know if I could call him off if he decided to attack something or somepony. I won't take the risk." 

"I understand." Celestia said, quietly. "Did Field Dust inform you on what she had found?" she asked, changing the subject. 

"Yes. But why they would worship something like that, I do not know." Luna said, glad to be off the previous topic. 

"The Equus Caballus." Celestia murmured. "They are the most mysterious of the ancient ponies. Granted they were becoming less of a common sight when mother and father were preparing us to take over the throne." 

"They were a mysterious bunch to begin with but I noticed that their culture is appearing to be central to Liber Mountain." Luna said, thinking about what Field Dust had told them about the culture of the Equus Caballus pony. "Do you know something about that?" 

"No, I can't say that I do. However, I find that strange as well." Celestia sighed, and summoned a small scroll. She levitated it over to Luna, who took it into her magic. 

"What's this?" 

"This was sent from Canterlot a few minutes ago. It's a letter from Doctor Marrow. He said that Fluttershy's procedures were successful, if not extremely difficult to perform." 

Luna was reading the letter herself, urgency in her gaze. "He didn't say anything about any complications." she said, closing the letter. 

"That's because he doesn't know. She is still recovering. Nopony will be sure about any complications until after she can go to physical therapy." Celestia looked at Luna intently. "I need you to try to call Volos to you. Marrow may have been able to repair the damage for the most part but I believe that Volos carries the key, not only to everything we've been researching, but to healing her completely. Please Luna, if not for me, then for Fluttershy. We need to be able to get him back to Canterlot without a repeat of when we brought him here, regardless of his freedom from Anubis." she pleaded. 

"Very well. For Fluttershy." Luna said after a time, focusing her magic to her horn. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel the familiar throb in her head. Luna's horn sparked and sputtered, releasing small amounts of magic. Small amounts of light began to trace along her horn. Strange lines crawled their way up her horn and stopped at the tip. Luna could feel something emitting from the tip of her horn. Her eyes opened, revealing the same lines tracing through the whites of her eyes, and into her pupils.  They glowing a vibrant bright blue, contrasting her midnight eyes. "Come to me Volos." she commanded, calmness in her tone. 

Celestia was too shocked to speak. She watched as Luna continued emitting the blue light from her eyes and horn. She turned her attention to Volos who had vanished from his previous spot in the room. She heard the sound of large metal footsteps and watched as Volos came walking calmly to Princess Luna's side. The light coming from Luna's eyes and horn ceased glowing and her appearance returned to normal, leaving no traces of the light. 

"Did it work?" Luna asked, turning her head. Her eyes fell onto Volos standing by her side. "I guess it did."

> Discoveries
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1


Luna stared at the massive form in front of her. Volos' shadow cast a large dark spot over her frame. Celestia looked on in awe of what she had just witnessed. 

"You called him." she murmured. 

Luna continued staring as well. "Looks like it." She mumbled, half thinking for a while. "Now what?" she asked. 

"He listens to you, not me. I wouldn't know what to do." 

Volos looked down at Luna, his gaze unmoving. Luna looked up at his glowing eyes and didn't move either. Eventually Volos groaned and turned away from the Night Princess. He began to walk down the hallway and back to the room he was previously waiting inside. 

"Wait!" Luna called. "Come back!" Volos kept moving away from his summoner. "Walk with me!" she hollered, not knowing why. Volos stopped and turned back around. He retraced his previous footsteps and once again stood by Princess Luna's side. "I'll be around." she told Celestia, walking down the hallway; Volos close behind. Celestia said nothing, only nodded and went on her way as well. 

Luna continued to walk through the corridors of the facility with Volos behind her. She did not know what to do. As she walked she could hear the massive footsteps of the creature behind her. Luna turned around and sat down, looking at Volos. Her mind raced again, going over all the events of the previous weeks. 

"Why me? Why do you do what I say?" Luna's eyes closed. "And why does it feel like I know you?" she mumbled sadly. Volos gave no reply, instead staying silent. "I see. You can't talk and yet I have heard of your ability to communicate through writing. So, please write something for me." Luna pleaded. Volos remained still for a time. He turned around and walked off in the opposite direction that they had just come from. Luna shot up. "Wait, come back!" Volos looked over his shoulder and continued walking, Luna giving chase. 

When Volos had finally stopped they were back inside Volos' room. Luna's throat hurt after begging him to stop using a louder voice than was necessary.  Volos turned his attention to the wall and deployed a claw. Placing the newly deployed blade to the wall, he began to etch into the crystal. Luna waited in anticipation of what his message would be. The claw slipped back into Volos finger and he turned to face Luna again, moving away from the wall. Luna looked at it with excitement. 

"Commanded?" she whispered, turning her gaze back to Volos. "I commanded you to do what? And I don't even know how I commanded you to do whatever it is I told you to do!" Volos gave no answer and sat down on the ground, his eyes flicking off. Luna stared at the sitting Volos in frustration. "Perhaps I'll never know." she pouted, walking out of the room. 



2


The sun had risen over the land and Carbon Date walked around the excavation site, enjoying the slow day. He observed as the team of students worked the site; digging, dusting and setting up new workstations around the many trenches. He walked around leisurely, taking in the sight of students who were actually enjoying the work now that Field Dust was in Canterlot. He approached one of the students, a yellow pony with striking green eyes and a purple mane. 

"How is it going Sunny?" 

The pony looked up to Carbon Date. "Not bad Carbon. I still don't know why we're working when we could be having a vacation somewhere nice." she said, almost groaning. 

"With Field Dust gone, we don't have to work quite as hard. So, just think of this as a working vacation."  

Sunny shrugged. "I guess. Why are we down here? We haven't found anything. I'm thinking that this is a lost cause." 

"Well I just thought that while Field Dust is gone we could work on the site at a leisurely pace and take our time with it. If we gather enough evidence that nothing is here, then maybe Field Dust will lose interest and we wouldn't have to be here." 

"Fair enough", Sunny said putting the shovel back into the ground. 

Carbon Date continued his survey of the excavation, enjoying the sound of hammers and scraping rocks instead of hearing Filed Dust yelling in his ear. He went back into the tent that Field Dust was using previously and slumped down into the chair, humming a quiet tune. He looked at the map Field Dust had been scribbling on for the duration of her stay by Liber Mountain. Carbon causally skimmed over the notes and the many markings that littered the map. His gaze was now transfixed by all of the circles and x's that were scattered all around the drawing of the mountain.  

"She was extremely methodical about this." he stated, now studying the map even closer. He traced his hoof along the x's and saw that only one circle did not have an "x" on it. "Looks like we could have gone home early if the Princess hadn't sent for Professor Dust. But why is this one not crossed out? Have we not excavated here yet?" He got up out of the chair and went out to the makeshift supply shack, making his way inside. He skimmed over all of the boxes and bags inside the small hut. "No. No. No, that's not it. Do we even have any left?" he mumbled, skimming over the boxes. "AH! Here they are!" he grabbed the bag and opened it. "Only two? How many have we gone through? Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to boost their effectiveness with the help of a crazed unicorn." Carbon Date left the shack with his bag, worried about his next meeting. 

He approached a unicorn whose fur was caked in dirt and he had a flaming yellow mane and a gray coat. Carbon did not like talking to him but he had no choice this time. 

"Hello Dyno Mite." he said hesitantly. 

Dyno Mite looked up to the Earth Pony. "Well if it isn't the suck up himself. What can I do for ya Carbon?" he asked, his eye twitching and a hint of craziness in his voice. 

"I need you to amplify the effectiveness of these explosives." Carbon placed the bag onto the table beside him. 

"That all? And here Ah thought you wanted to chat. Mind telling me why you want their effectiveness enhanced?" 

"That's not your concern Dyno Mite. I just need them boosted about forty percent." 

"Ooh, Ah like where this is going." the strange unicorn said. "Tell you what; Ah'll boost em fifty instead. Makes for a bigger BOOM!" he shouted, scaring Carbon Date. 

"Yes, alright." he stammered. "I need them done as soon as possible", he said; leaving the unicorn to his work. Carbon glanced over his shoulder and shuddered. 


3


Celestia walked down the corridors of the facility, a smile plastered to her face. She trotted up to where Luna was staying and gently tapped on the door. 

"Luna are you in?" she called. "Luna?" Celestia opened the door slowly, poking her head in. She was greeted by the sight of Luna sprawled on her bed. Her sheets were on the floor and the pillow was under her back. Luna's mouth was agape, accompanied by a line of drool and was snoring loudly. Celestia laughed silently and closed the door. She continued her stroll through the facility until she noticed something was amiss. 

Celestia walked back to the window pane and looked down into the room where Volos was. Volos was facing wall opposite the door. His hands were moving across the wall at a rapid pace. Celestia cocked an eyebrow and quickly made her way down to the door to Volos' room. She cracked it open and peered inside. Lines and shapes crisscrossed the wall, most of them Celestia did not recognize. Volos stopped and retracted his claws. He placed a hand on the etching and slowly moved his metal palm over the picture, letting out a long whine. 

Celestia was silent. Volos had regained his own thought processes. She slowly moved her head out of the doorway and closed the door behind her. 

"I need to tell Luna", she whispered, galloping to Luna's room. She arrived quickly and threw the door open, eliciting a loud bang from the impact the door made with the wall. "Luna wake up!” she yelled.

Luna's eyes blasted open and she tumbled off her bed, her hooves sprawled in every direction. "What doth thou want!?" she screamed, reversing to her old way of speaking, "I was having a most exquisite dream."  

"It's Volos; he's doing something on the wall of his room. I need you to follow me", Celestia informed Luna. "Now." 

Luna staggered to her feet, "Yes, yes, very well. I am coming." 

The two sisters trotted quickly to where Volos was being kept. Celestia cracked open the door again and allowed Luna to look inside. She found Volos quickly with her eyes. He was standing a short distance away from the wall with the strange lines and shapes etched into them. She studied the lines and shapes carefully. Her mouth made silent shapes, showing she was speaking without sound. Celestia tried to look over Luna's shoulder but needed to open the door more so her head would fit through. The door creaked a little bit as it opened. Celestia sucked in a breath, hoping Volos did not hear the door. 

Volos was still, his body like a statue. His hand clenched into a fist and brought it to his waist. He began to growl loudly, his heart rate audibly increasing. Luna and Celestia looked on in absolute silence. They blinked and a deafening crack was heard. Volos' hand was buried inside the crystal wall. Volos let out a massive roar and pulled his hand out of the wall, causing shards of crystals to rain down to the floor. He lifted a leg and pushed through the wall as well. He beat against the wall, causing a small rain of crystals to hit the ground. Celestia and Luna pulled their heads out of the door way quickly, retreating to the sanctuary of the hall. 

"What was that?" Luna asked, in complete surprise. 

"I do not know. He was scratching those lines into the wall earlier this morning and I came to find you after I watched him for a while, but that? That was something I did not expect!" 

"When did he start acting like that?" 

"Sometime while you were sleeping or late last night. I don't' know which", she said covering her ears as another roar came from the room next to them. "See if you can calm him down!" 

"While he's on a rampage?! Have you lost your mind!?" Luna shouted. 

"Do it or I'll throw you in there myself!" 

Luna begrudgingly got up and opened the door again, this time completely. She looked the rampaging beast before her. "Volos stop, what's wrong?!" she tried to ask, but without response. Luna tried to gain Volos' attention but she could not. "Volos please, enough", she tried again. "Stop this madness!" 

Volos pulled himself away from the wall; his breaths were fast and labored. Luna breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that she could now talk to Volos. She took a small step inside, her shore clicking on the surface of the ground. Volos' gaze shot to the Lunar Princess, who froze. "V... Volos? Are you alright?" she asked hesitantly. Volos did not remove is eyes from the scared Princess. He turned his body to face her and took a step forward, his boot cracking the crystal underneath his angry step. Luna began to back out slowly, allowing the angry giant to continue his walk. 

"Luna what happened?" Celestia asked, seeing her sister backing out. Luna paid her no mind and continued to move out of the way. "Luna?" Celestia was silenced by the emergence of Volos from the room. He would have shoved them out of the way if they were not already to his side. "Luna what happened?" Celestia asked sternly. 

"I do not know. He was smashing the wall and then that. I don't know what's going on or how he even regained his own thought processes but all I know is that this Volos is much different from the one we faced when he was under Anubis' control. We need to follow him and make sure he doesn't hurt anypony. What made him so angry though is unknown to me." 

"Me as well, but we need to hurry or we'll lose him inside this place." Celestia urged, to which Luna nodded and ran off. 


4


Carbon Date shuffled around nervously waiting for Dyno Mite to finish with his request. Dyno Mite was known for having an odd personality and a love for everything explosive and for a unicorn that was a dangerous mix. His age didn't help his supposed craziness either. He was a healthy twenty years older than most of the students at the excavation site. Carbon Date stared off into the distance hoping to not hear an explosion too soon. He jumped when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. 

"GAH!" 

"Cam down Carbon, geez! You gotta lighten up", Dyno said, chuckling. 

Carbon Date sighed heavily, "Are you done with them yet?" 

"Yeah", he threw the pouch to Carbon, "here!" 

Carbon caught the bag and stumbled around a little bit. "Careful with those!" he shouted, "Are you trying to kill us all!?" 

"Yer askin the wrong stallion that question. Ah very well could be! Ya never know! HAHAHA!" he laughed insanely. Carbon wore a horrified look. "Ah'm jus kidden! Damn, boy! You're wound tighter than nanny's clock! May the Princesses bless her soul." 

"Um, indeed", he stuttered, "thank you. Now I must be on my way." 

"Taint no trouble. Come back if you want an even bigger BOOM! HAHAHA!" Dyno Mite walked away laughing, leaving the fear stricken Carbon Date to his vices. 

Once Carbon Date had recovered he took the bag to the one spot on the map that was not crossed out. He carefully took out the two sticks of Dynamite and placed them at the base of Liber Mountain. 

"EVERYPONY GET BACK!" he hollered, before setting the timer. He waited to release the timer until all of the ponies around him were at a minimum safe distance. "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" he released the timer and galloped as fast as his legs would carry him. He made it to where all of the others had retreated and ducked. A few seconds later an explosion rocked the ground beneath them making a small earthquake, a plume of rock and black smoke took to the air.  The ponies that were taking cover hugged the ground for their very lives as chunks of rock and dirt came falling from the skies around them. The ground stopped shaking and all of the awe struck ponies slowly stood up. "Alright everypony, all clear! Take a minute to collect yourselves", he ordered; trying to recover from the explosion himself. 

Dyno Mite was sitting in a chair a good distance away from the explosion and smiled hysterically at the sight of the smoke and the sound of the explosion. "WOO WEE! Best one Ah ever done! WHOO!" He noticed an approaching Carbon Date. Dyno shifted in his chair and waited for the impending shouting match. 

"How much did you increase the power of those things!?" he roared. "I thought you were only going to increase it by fifty percent!" 

"I lied! I increased em eighty-five percent! Best explosion Ah ever did make!" 

"You could have killed us!” Carbon roared. "Good thing those were that two explosives we had", he mumbled.  

"Yer lying, those were the last two?” he asked, hoping that it wasn't true. 

"Sure am. Now back to the part where YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!" 

"But Ah didn't now did I? Yer all still here ain't ya!?" 

Carbon Date huffed, "You're coming with me", he stated sternly. 

"What? Why?" 

"You made the boom; you get to investigate the aftermath with me. Now let's go." 

"Fahn, Ah'm comin", he conceded. Dyno Mite got out of the chair and followed Carbon Date over to the blast zone. "Nelly! I made this one a big one", he chuckled. 

"Yeah, yeah, come on", Carbon date mumbled angrily. 

They approached where the dynamite were placed and started to shuffle through the dirt and rubble left behind. The small piles of rocks and soil were beginning to pile up around them as they sifted through it. Dyno Mite had stopped after about an hour of digging while carbon Date was still working hard. Carbon's hooves were slathered in dirt and grime, and he was beyond tired. He was about to give up when a small crack in the dirt began to get extremely hot. He jumped off of the spot and waved his burning hoof through the air. 

"What in the hay was that?!" he hollered. 

Dyno Mite got off the lone remaining patch of grass and stood up. "Wha happened?" 

"I don't know, this spot just got really hot and burned my hoof", he wailed. 

"Oh, quit yer winin'. You ain't begun to hurt until you nearly blow yer limb off with a premature detonation", he said pointing to a large scar on his front left leg. As Dyno Mite finished scolding the younger Carbon Date he noticed that the dirt was beginning to glow. "Wha' in the world?" he said, causing Carbon Date to look behind him. 

"The ground, it's...” he stammered; moving away from the glowing section. The dirt fizzled away into nothingness and what was left stunned both Carbon Date and Dyno Mite. 


5


Volos continued wandering around the facility scaring any guard he ran across. They would raise their spears at him only to be growled or roared at, which scared them off in an instant. The Princesses trailed close behind. Whether Volos knew of their trailing him, they did not know. If he did, he was paying them no mind. 

... Receiving transmission... Displaying...

... Unknown Beacon Located... Receiving Location... Location Received...

... Priority?...

'none' 

... Confirming Zero Priority...

'Confirm' 

...Confirmed... Storing Information For Later Viewing...

Volos continued his stomping through the facility. He came to an abrupt halt as he entered a large domed area. His head shifted so he could look up to the clear dome. The sun was showing brightly and he could see strange birds flying through the air. He sat down and never moved his gaze. Celestia and Luna had caught up with him and stopped. 

"The sky?" Celestia murmured, "All he wanted was to see the sky?" 

Luna was also confused, "I suppose." She went over and sat next to Volos, also taking in the sight of the blue skies. "It's nice isn't it?" Volos remained quiet. "I missed looking at the sky too when I was trapped on the moon. It's nice to see it again from the ground", she said; trying to help Volos calm down. Volos emitted a high pitched whine. "I see. You missed it to didn't you?" Luna smiled, hoping that she would be able to comfort the agitated giant. 

Celestia did not say a word and simply left, hoping that Luna would not notice. She went down the hall and was stopped by a frantic looking guard. She took in the sight of him. He was sweating and his breaths were short and wheezy. 

"My goodness, what’s happened?" Celestia asked, clearly concerned. 

"It's...” he panted, "It's Fluttershy..." 

"What about her?" Celestia's demeanor changed from concerned to very stern. 

The guard took a breath and handed her a scroll, "She's awake." 


6


"What is it?" Carbon Date asked his crazy compatriot. 

"How should Ah know? Ah jus blow things up." 

Carbon Date slowly placed a hoof over the large blue rectangle. He placed his hoof on it causing it to spark. "Well, it's solid", he said, "I can put my weight on this thing." 

"Move over boy, let me have ah turn", Dyno commanded; stepping on the blue rectangle. "That's odd." 

The two of them stood on the transparent blue rectangle and watched the small sparks arc and sputter over the shape beneath them. As they were experimenting with the odd glowing shape, a small crowd of students had gathered around him and Dyno Mite. 

"Everyone stay back, I don't know what this thing is or how it's holding our weight. So, don't step on it", he ordered. The rectangle began to make odd sounds and vanished under their hooves. Carbon Date and Dyno Mite fell into the darkness below. 

"Are you guys O.K?" one of the students asked. 

Carbon Date looked up to the sky, "Yeah, we're fine! I'm going to take Dyno and go deeper into this chasm or tunnel, whatever it is. Send a letter to Field Dust in Canterlot! Tell her we found something!" He watched the silhouette of the student leave the rectangular hole. He turned his attention to Dyno Mite. "You alright old stallion?" 

"Yeah, Ah'm good. Ah still got some fight left in me." 

"Good. Let's get moving. The sooner we look around the sooner we can find a way out of this place", he informed Dyno Mite. "Any idea where this could go?" 

"Do Ah look like Ah have a clue? Your guess is as good as Mahn." 

Carbon Date began walking deeper into the darkness, Dyno Mite following after. They continued walking; the light inside the tunnel began to leave them. They kept going however, and only darkness remained. 

"Can ya see anythin?" Dyno asked, squinting his eyes. 

"Nope. I can't see a thing." Carbon stayed silent until something made his ear twitch. He closed his eyes and listened. "Hey, Dyno. Do you hear that?" he whispered. 

Dyno Mite listened now as well, "Yeah, Ah hear it." 

"Come on." Carbon Date kept walking making sure Dyno Mite was close by. As they went farther down into the tunnel they could hear a small sound and eventually what sounded like words. Carbon could see a faint purple light coming from farther down the tunnel. "I see light", he whispered, "almost there." 

Carbon and Dyno Mite neared the light and stopped at the rather sharp corner and peeked around. They could make out what looked like a purple ghost floating around in the area ahead of them. They did their best not to scream at the sight of it. It was small and looked like a floating dot against the darkness. They tried to remain calm but found it increasingly difficult as the purple dot got larger and turned itself into a creature that walked on two legs and was taller than the two of them by at least a foot. 

From where they stood, they could make out that the ghost was wearing what appeared to be a type of robe around its body. The transparent purple ghost walked around the area before them. They strained to remain quiet and unnoticeable as they moved their heads away from the sight and sat down quietly. 

"What is it?" Carbon whispered. 

"Ah don't know", Dyno Mite started, "Ah ain't never seen nothing like it." 

Carbon nodded and risked another look at the purple ghost. He strained his ears and could hear it speaking. 

"What am I going to do with Anubis when he gets back? Oh yes, delete him", it chuckled. It sounded female to Carbon Date, who was still straining to listen. "What about those two things that were on my barrier? Where could they be? They should have been here by now." it pouted. The ghost walked a short distance and a panel lit up in front of it. The ghost moved its upper appendage around the small blue square, moving small outcroppings up and down. "There they are", she said; turning away from the monitor. "It's alright, there's no need to be afraid. You are not the first to enter here. But you are the first to see me in long while." it said sweetly. 

Carbon Date hesitantly moved himself out from the corner. The ghost took notice and looked at him. It lifted up one of its arms and motioned him forward. "I don't bite, come along now", it told Carbon. 

He approached very slowly. "H...H...Hello?" he asked shakily. 

"Hello. What is your name?" it asked. 

"C... Carbon...D... Date" he stuttered, trying to hold on to the last threads of his bravery. 

"My name is Athena. Welcome to my home." 

> Revenge of the Rainbow and The Unforgiving Mage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


I had a hard time coming up with this one. Some follow-ups are hard to do I guess. Ah well. Enjoy. 



1


The next morning was all a blur to the Princess of the Sun. The guards were running around the facility, carriages were being packed to the point of near breakage, and the small team of Scientists were yelling and raging at each other to be careful with all of the equipment. On top of all that Celestia was dealing with already, Luna and Volos were nowhere to be found. Celestia trotted down the many pathways and corridors inside the massive crystal structure, hoping to find her sister and Volos together.  

"Luna!" No response. "LUNA!" 

"I'm in here!" Celestia heard coming from one of the rooms in the hallway she was travelling in. 

Celestia neared the door and threw it open with no regard as to who could be on the other side of it. She rushed inside the room and found Luna sitting across from Volos, with a chess board in between them. Luna moved one of the pieces with her magic before speaking. 

"What do you need?" she asked.

"We're going back to Canterlot in less than thirty minutes! Get ready!" 

"WHAT?! Why!?" 

"Fluttershy is awake and I want to get out of this place. Now move!" Celestia ordered. 

Luna shot up almost hitting Volos' face with her tail. Her horn lit up and she levitated all of the possessions that she had into a couple suitcases and teleported them to the waiting carriages. 

"Done", she told Celestia. 

"Good, now follow me to the carriages." 

"Volos, please come with me", Luna commanded with a soft tone, prompting the giant alien to stand and walk to Luna's side. 

"Were you teaching him to play Chess?" Celestia whispered. 

"I needed something to pass the time and I chose to teach him to play a board game." 

Celestia let the strange occurrence pass and they continued to the carriages at the front of the facility. When they arrived, guards were standing at attention and the scientists were aboard their own carriage and waiting for departure. Celestia and Luna clambered onto their carriage as well and waited for Volos to walk up as well. 

"I don't think he'll fit on here with us", Celestia whispered to Luna. 

"Nonsense, there is plenty of room." She turned her attention to Volos. She waved a hoof at Volos to come on board the carriage. Volos placed one of his feet onto the floor of the carriage, making it bend under its weight. He stepped up onto the carriage completely which began to sink under his weight. Luna quickly cast a weight modification spell to lessen Volos' massive weight, making the carriage regain its shape and was straight once again. "See, I told you he would fit", Luna chuckled nervously. 

"It appears we are ready to depart. Set a course for Canterlot Castle. I want to get back as quickly as possible!" 

The guards that were latched to the front of the carriage began running and flapping their wings. With time they were in the air going back to Canterlot, without seeing Shining Armour or Cadance before their departure. 


2


Fluttershy lay in her bed, attached to a multitude of monitors and other devices. She was surrounded by the others, who after hearing that she had awoken, all came running to her side. Fluttershy was sleeping and looked peaceful through all of the bandages and wires. Rainbow Dash was holding Fluttershy's hoof in her own and hadn't left the room after the others had left to get something for all of them to eat. Rainbow's azure eyes kept staring at the immobilized Fluttershy, the fur underneath matted down with tears of sadness. 

"Hey Flutters", she began, "You got to wake up again okay? We've been through a lot together you and me. From the first time we met at Flight Camp to now, we've been friends. So please just wake up, for me." She began to silently cry, pulling Fluttershy's hoof closer. 

She didn't know how long she had been sitting there but the sun was beginning to set. She stood up and walked to the window. She stared out into the distance, wishing that she could have stopped Fluttershy's pain before it happened. She pulled the curtain shut and took her place once again by Fluttershy's side hoping that she would wake up again in the morning. Rainbow Dash tilted her head forward and slowly closed her eyes, dreaming of the vengeance that she would reap upon the alien monster as recompense for the injuring of her closest friend. 

Rainbow Dash's eyes fluttered open as she yawned herself awake. She scanned the room quickly and found that she was not alone in the hospital room. Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were all sleeping on a wall-long bench inside the room. She rubbed the grogginess out of her eyes and stretched. She looked down at the still sleeping Fluttershy, who still resembled a small child sleeping peacefully. The heart monitor released a steady stream of beeps, but began to become more rapid. Rainbow Dash snapped to attention and noticed that Fluttershy's heart rate had increased almost exponentially. She screamed for the doctor, waking the others. 

A short time later one of the Nurses came through the door in a hurry, her ears filling with the rapid beeps of the monitor. She looked at the monitor and began to work immediately, pushing Rainbow Dash to the side. She pulled out a needle and stuck into Fluttershy's leg and injected its contents. The heart monitor began to let out slower beeps and she threw the needle into the Bio-hazard container on the wall. "Alert me if it happens again", she said leaving the room, before Rainbow Dash could ask any questions. 

The others came up to Rainbow Dash and gently began to tug on her shoulder and urging her to come and eat. "No thanks guys, I'm good", she whispered. 

"You need to eat sugarcube. You aren't helping Fluttershy by starving yourself", Applejack said quietly. Rainbow Dash nodded after thinking for a time and joined her friends over at the large bench to eat the food that was gathered. They all ate together in silence wishing for the same thing, that Fluttershy would wake again. 

When they had all finished eating and gathered up all of the trash that was accumulated they all sat in silence once more. The door opened slowly and in walked Princess Celestia, a somber look on her face. Twilight rushed over and hugged her mentor at her returning. 

"I missed you Princess", she said into Celestia's shoulder. 

"I missed you too, my ever faithful student", Celestia responded. She turned her gaze to the bed inside the large room. "Has she awoken at all?" 

"Once, but it was only for a short time", Rainbow Dash informed the Princess. 

Celestia nodded and walked over to the sleeping Fluttershy. She began to smile, knowing that she was healing from the ordeal. Fluttershy stirred slightly and moaned. Every eye in the room flew to where Fluttershy was lying. Her eyes slowly opened, but not completely. She could see shadows and the faint coloration of her friends. 

"H...Hi everypony", she greeted. Her voice was quiet and raspy, but loud enough for all to hear. The group had to do their best to refrain from crowding the poor Pegasus on the bed. Her head slowly rolled across her pillow so she could see all of them. "It's good to see all of you", she whispered, "You too Princess." Celestia nodded slowly. 

"We're all very glad to see that you're recovering Fluttershy", Celestia told the Pegasus. 

Fluttershy's eyes were still half-closed when her fragile gaze fell onto Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow?" She came forward. "I heard everything you said to me yesterday," she tried to smile but instead began coughing. After a short coughing fit she calmed down and laid her head back on the pillow, still facing Rainbow Dash. "I'll be fine and we'll be able to fly together again and go to our pet play dates and live life like we used to. Look forward to it okay? Because I am." She laid her head evenly on the pillow again and sighed contently. She turned her head to where she remembered the Princess standing. "Princess where is Princess Luna?" she asked weakly. 

"She is...", her thoughts raced to come up with an answer, "away at the moment but she will visit as soon as she can. I promise", she said, trying to convince Fluttershy. Celesta had a worried look on her face and turned to leave, "I'm sorry but I must go now. I have some unfinished duties to attend to", the door opened as she spoke and she walked out with a brisk pace. Fluttershy had closed her eyes again a small smile on her lips. 

Applejack went over to Twilight and spoke to her in her iconic southern accent. "Twilight, I need to speak with you in private." 

Twilight looked at Applejack with a quizzical look, but followed her outside the room. "What is it A.J?" 

"The Princess was lying about something", she told the befuddled student. 

"Are you crazy? The Princess would never lie about anything!" she rebutted, using a louder voice. 

"I am not crazy. I'm the Element of Honesty remember? It was subtle but she was definitely lying about something." 

Twilight thought for a while before saying anything, "Applejack if you really are right, I don't think the Princess would lie about anything, but what would she lie about?" 

"I don't know Twi, but it must be something big." 


3


Luna waited on the balcony attached to her large bedroom, painting the sky with stars and constellations. Volos, as was his new place, stood by her side. He watched the sky burst with the small dots of light that were the stars. He whistled in amazement at the display. Luna smiled after hearing him appreciate her work. She continued on, placing stars throughout the sky with expert accuracy. The glow around her horn intensified as she placed stars into a pattern she had remembered from his wall carving in the Crystal Empire. 

Volos watched as the stars aligned into the shape of a circle with lines crisscrossing, making the outlines of land masses and oceans. He began to tense until he was stone solid. Luna stopped and turned to look at her new companion's reaction. Her eyes grew when she noticed that he was as still as the statues in the gardens. Volos' mouth opened and began to emit a sound that made all who could hear it cringe in fear. He roared again, a mix of anger and utmost sadness could be heard. Luna tried to calm him down but to no avail. 

Luna ignited her horn and removed the unusual constellation from the sky, obliterating it in a matter of seconds. Volos continued roaring, blood began to escape his mouth from the intensity of the sound. Luna became frantic. She tried to calm him down again by talking to him instead. 

"Volos, calm down. Please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you angry! Please stop!" she yelled, worried about him and the others inside the castle. Luna blasted a restraint spell at Volos, encasing his limbs in the blue chains. He struggled and thrashed in anger. Luna lit her horn again and felt the familiar pang of pain in her forehead. Blue lines once again traced her horn and eyes, emitting their low blue hue. "SILENCE!" she hollered, the lines and dim light fading away. 

Volos began to quiet down and relax. Luna released the chains around his limbs and he drew ragged breaths. Volos had returned to his normal breathing pattern but blood still dripped from his jaw. Luna cleaned off the blood and ushered him inside. She lay down on her bed and sighed heavily. Luna heard quick and loud knocks on her door. "Come in", she groaned. She looked over to see a furious Celestia standing in the doorway. Luna could tell that her white coat was already beginning to singe in some spots, signifying that she was on the verge of an all-out rage. 

"What was that!?" she half asked, yelling. 

"I tried to make him a special constellation and he freaked out," Luna tried to explain calmly. 

"Of what?" 

"I don't know what it was. It was just something I remembered seeing on the wall back in the Crystal Empire." 

"Because of that little outburst, I have guards running all over the place yelling 'It's going to eat me' and ponies are becoming curious, Twilight especially. That could pose a problem", she stated, becoming more serious with every sentence. 

"I understand, I'll try to keep him quiet as best I can", she replied somberly. 

"Good. Now, not only is Twilight curious as to what that noise was, Rainbow Dash flew off in a rage looking for the source of it." Luna cocked an eyebrow. "She's taking this whole thing with Fluttershy extremely hard. Should they meet, I fear for the safety of both of them." 

"I'd be more worried for Rainbow Dash's safety", Luna said, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. 

Celestia huffed. "I don't even want to think about what would happen if she saw him", she sighed. Luna was becoming concerned. "I'm concerned for Fluttershy but I don't want to end up with two ponies in the hospital with grievous injuries." 

Celestia and Luna stayed in silence for a time. The only sound in the room was Volos' heavy breathing. "Should we have come back?" Luna asked, breaking the silence. 

"I felt that it was the right time to return, regardless of Fluttershy's condition when we left. Although the fact that she had woken up for a short time did contribute significantly to the decision." 

"Liar, that's the only reason we came back. I know your story with her. You were overjoyed", Luna quipped, smirking. 

Celestia sighed and smiled. "Yes, I guess that is the only reason why we came back", she chuckled. Her face became serious once again. "But, you need to keep him from causing trouble", she stated, pointing a hoof in Volos' direction.  

A knock on the door was heard again. "Yes?" Luna called. The door flew open and there stood Rainbow Dash looking angrily at the guards who were now on the rumps. "What is the meaning of this Rainbow Dash?" she asked, becoming angry at the interruption. 

"Princess, I need to talk to...", her voice trailed off when she saw the creature standing by Luna's bed. Her eyes narrowed, and were radiating hatred and rage. "YOU!" 


4


Rainbow Dash stared down the creature by Luna's side. "That...That's the thing that hurt Fluttershy! Why is it here?!" she roared. 

"Rainbow Dash, I understand that you are angry but I assure you he will not cause any more harm", Celestia tried to reassure the angry Pegasus. 

Rainbow Dash's gaze flew between the Princess and Volos. Her stare did not soften and she only grew angrier at the Princess' words. "Not cause harm?", she began, "NOT CAUSE HARM! You know what it did to that town and Fluttershy! Have you lost your mind?!" she roared. Rainbow grazed the tile with the bottom of her hoof and lowered herself into an attack position. She screamed as she took off flying at Volos. Celestia and Luna were dumbstruck as she charged. 

Volos did not move and watched the Pegasus charge. Rainbow Dash neared her target, still bent on his destruction. Volos quickly raised his arms to his chest. Rainbow Dash pulled up quickly, but felt something squeeze her midsection, making her wings fold across her back. Her momentum kept her arcing upwards but was pulled down by an extremely heavy object. She felt her momentum be redirected downwards and watched the tile floor come ever closer before she smashed into it head first, making a sickening cracking sound. The tile was now cracked and shattered at the impact zone. Volos was bent backwards to the floor, still holding Rainbow Dash's midsection. His feet had not moved during the entire ordeal. Volos let go of Rainbow Dash and spun on his hands, going into position that looked like a bear about to attack its prey. He stood up and looked at the Princess on the bed. 

Celestia ran over and pulled Rainbow Dash out of the tiles in the floor. She checked her over using her magic. Her face had a questioning look on it as she tended to Rainbow Dash. 

"Is she alright?" Luna finally managed to ask, breaking from her initial shock. 

"Yes she will fine", Celestia started, "Surprisingly, there's no concussion and no internal injuries." A moan escaped Rainbow Dash's lips. "See, she'll be alright. She has an uncanny ability to stave off damage to herself. All she needs is a bed and some rest. And maybe an ice pack", she mused.  

"That's good, but her outburst still confuses me", Luna said. 

Celestia waved a hoof dismissively and picked up Rainbow Dash in her magic. "I'll take her back to her friends and reassure them of her condition", she stated, walking out of the room. 

Luna hopped up and went to follow Celestia to the room where Fluttershy was lying. Volos took a heavy step behind the Princess of the Moon. She raised a hoof and shook her head from side to side. Volos stopped and watched the Princess' leave the room. He turned and looked at the head sized hole in the floor. He let out a deep growl. 


5


Celestia entered the room that Fluttershy was in, levitating the unconscious Rainbow Dash inside as well. The group of four uninjured ponies jumped up when they saw both the Princess and Rainbow Dash enter. They came running up to Celestia. 

"What happened?" Twilight asked with alarm. 

"Relax, she is just unconscious. She had a...falling out of sorts with one of the guards. She will be alright", she said, comforting those inside. 

Celestia placed Rainbow Dash on the large bench and looked at Fluttershy, smiling. Luna opened the door and slowly entered the room, catching everyone's attention. She gingerly waved and closed the door behind her. Luna glanced over to the bed and tangled mess of wires and tubes, her heart sinking. She went over to the others and stood among the group of ponies. Twilight had filled in Princess Luna on how Fluttershy was holding up and what the doctors believed would happen in the future. 

"Oh, my. I do hope that she can live as normal a life as possible", Luna said, clearly concerned. 

"We all do Princess", Applejack said. 

"Especially Rainbow Dash. She hasn't been holding up very well lately", Twilight inputted. 

"We know", Luna deadpanned, eliciting strange looks from the group. 

"The guard thing?" Luna lied. The group nodded, understanding. 

The floor began to vibrate lightly, none felt it at first. The floor shook with an increased intensity. "Does anypony feel that?" Rarity asked. 

Celestia and Luna exchanged a worried glance. The door was smashed open, barely hanging from its hinges. A black metal fist was all that could be seen in the door, before a large mass ducked inside. Volos' head swiveled and fell onto the mass of Cyan and Rainbow colors on the bench. He stomped inside, only to have Luna block his path. Volos looked down at the blue Alicorn and growled. Luna stood her ground and stared daggers at Volos. 

"Leave", Luna demanded. Volos growled again, increasing the volume. Volos ignored her demand and turned his head away and his eyes went to the bed at the other side of the room. He walked over to the bed and examined the body on it.

"It's the monster that did this", the realization dawning. "Volos", Rarity whispered, unable to contain her disbelief at the situation and remembering everything that had happened between her sister and the creature. Twilight and the rest of the group glared daggers at the alien by Fluttershy's bed. 

Volos whined and moved a hand over to Fluttershy's form. "Stop him...", Twilight whispered. “STOP HIM!" 

She grabbed Volos' hand in her magic and threw it away from Fluttershy, surprising Volos. He growled and released the blade from his forearm. Twilight's eyes didn't soften but she was afraid. Volos' growled again raising the blade. Twilight began to shy away from Volos' unforgiving gaze, but steeled herself again. He sheathed the blade and turned away. Twilight blasted him in the side, making Volos roar. Twilight ran up close to Volos and teleported them both into the gardens outside of the castle. 


6


Twilight stared at the thing she was once so eager to study and, now, all she wanted to do was destroy it. Volos recovered from the teleportation quickly and faced Twilight, both blades coming from his forearms. Twilight's horn glowed again and she blasted Volos with a large stream of purple magic. Volos' blades were in front of his face, crossed. The beam was impacting the blades, making them begin to heat up. Volos' arms strained at the brute force that the magic was hitting with. He planted his feet and began to push back. Twilight also started straining to maintain the attack, and was beginning to sweat. 

Volos pushed again and swung his swords outwards, causing the magic to burst into a cloud of shimmering particles. Twilight recoiled and stumbled. Volos put his arms out, one pointing directly at Twilight while the other pointed directly behind him. Volos stepped quickly and swung his body around in a circle and moved his arms in twisting motions, turning them into bladed whips. Twilight yelped and started to back-step. The blades came close to her body as she used a mix of magic and luck to dodge the attacks. 

Volos spun and spun, his arms appearing to swing wildly, when, in reality, they were moving with sickening skill and professionalism behind them. He raised one of his feet and stomped down on the ground as he rounded himself again. Twilight stumbled, the earth below her shaking. Volos' blades came down on Twilight, but she managed to cast a small shield spell before impact. The blades smashed into the small magic disk and she was pushed away by the momentum of the swinging blades. Twilight slid on the grass a good distance before managing to right herself completely. 

Twilight charged her horn and cast a large blast of ice at Volos. Volos swung at the ice with his blades, but they froze on impact with the large ball. His arms and body slumped over, trying to break the hard-as-steel ice. Twilight galloped up to Volos, her horn once again ablaze. She placed it in his waist and fired off a beam of magical energy, making her large enemy stumble backwards. His arms raised into the air as he tried to catch himself, but before he could, Twilight was on the attack again. She fired off a small cone of magic that had sharp point on the tip. 

The blast impacted Volos' lung, cutting it across the side; leaving a cut in the modified organ. Volos fell over onto his back, his arms trapped in ice above his head. His breaths were becoming labored very rapidly and trickles of blood seeped from the cut as he struggled to breath. Twilight walked up to her fallen opponent ready to deliver what would be the final blow. Her eyes studied the creature upon the ground and watched as his modified lung was repairing itself. She looked on with a look of inquisitiveness and shock together. There was so much she did not know about this creature. Volos' began to growl, his volume increasing every passing second. He pulled his arms apart while they were encased in the ice. The ice started to crack and drop small shards on the ground. Twilight heard the cracking and was unable to move. 

"There's no way he can be doing that. That ice is almost at Absolute Zero on the Scientific Scale", she muttered. 

The ice shattered as Volos' arms swung around and nearly cut Twilight into pieces. She jumped back as Volos sheathed one blade and swung his hand around to her. Twilight was smacked in the neck Volos' hand, giving her a case of whiplash. He squeezed on it and lifted her high before throwing her into the dirt with a thud. He raised his other blade and plunged it down onto Twilight.  

Twilight was on the ground, her head looking up at the metal demon before her. She began to cry as she looked behind her. Volos' blade had cut deeply into her flesh, the blood was seeping out around the point of the blade. Volos' growls and enraged breaths became quieter as he calmed himself from the heat of battle. He knelt down and placed himself over the sword embedded in Twilight. He placed his free hand by the wound and quickly pulled out the blade, covering the bleeding gash with his other hand. Twilight was too scared to move. 

The Princesses landed with a loud thud on the grass and looked at the crying Twilight and kneeling Volos. Celestia jumped into action and began to heal Twilight's wound using her magic. Volos slowly removed his hand and watched as the wound closed and the bleeding stopped. He stood up again and looked at Luna, who only looked at him with disbelief. 

"Luna, I expected better than this", Celestia scolded while standing over Twilight. Luna looked at the ground. "If you cannot keep him under control I will need to send you both away until I can sort this all out. Against my better judgment in this matter I will give you one more chance to keep him from attacking any other ponies on the premises. This includes guards. Do I make myself clear?" Luna nodded slowly. "I understand that they attacked first and he was only defending himself but even so, the magnitude of what he did to defend himself was highly excessive. Don't let this happen again!" Celestia stormed off with Twilight lying on her back, who, she had levitated onto it during her scolding of Luna. 

Luna sighed and turned to Volos. "Come on let's go", she said sadly. Volos whined. "I'm fine but that was too much! You could have killed them! From now on don't attack unless I tell you to", she commanded. "Now come on, let's go back to the castle." Luna plodded through the lawn with Volos behind her until they were back inside the castle. They had walked up to Princess Luna's room and she threw herself onto her bed. "Tomorrow I'm going to take you to see Twilight and the rest and I want you to apologize. I don't care how just do it. And...Try not to do any more harm from now on", she sighed, "I hope you didn't break Fluttershy's eardrums with those roars of yours." She sat up, looking at Volos again. "Speaking of which, I don't know why I'm saying this, but, I hope you can do something to help her recover despite your history with her. You seem to know how to keep ponies alive", she said, lying back down and pulling the covers close to her and cosing her eyes for a nap. 

Volos stood by Luna's bedside, unmoving. He turned and went over to the corner closest to the bed after a while and sat down, leaning against the wall. His eyes dimmed. It was time for him to rest as well.
> Fighting In the Streets of Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sections 4 and 5 are simultaneous


Luna walked down the halls of Canterlot Castle, staring fervently at the path before her. The previous night's happenings had caused her to have an almost sleepless day and had slept through part of the night. She had left Volos to his own devices in her room while she contemplated how to introduce him properly and hopefully without one of the Elements trying to kill him again. She rounded a corner and nodded to the patrolling guard. Luna's face fell when she passed him and she sighed heavily. She could not bear to think of the consequences of Volos losing control again, especially after the threats that came from Celestia's own mouth. She came to the door leading to the main balcony. She stepped through the large golden doors and stood by the rail of the overlook. Her mind raced and strained, trying to deal with the many events that have occurred. 

Her eyes roamed the city of Canterlot and let her gaze fall upon the few lights that emanated from the city's Club District. She took heart in the fact that some of the ponies partook in the night life. It gave her something to take joy in after her return to the world. She looked up to the canvas that was her night sky and admired the work she had done, forming a smile upon her face. She placed her front hooves onto the railing and cocked her rear legs down. Spreading her wings she pushed off the ground, launching herself into the crisp night air. 

The breeze whipped through her astral mane and she laughed with joy. She pumped her wings, increasing her speed. She soared through the air and reached out into the stars' essence with her magic. The stars felt like tiny beats of the heart she caressed them and held them tenderly. She turned and flipped, performing many aerial tricks. The stars followed her horn, painting the sky with new patterns and shapes. 

The ponies that were in the clubs below had begun to file out of the establishments as the night was nearing its inevitable end. They all stopped and looked up to see the stars racing across the sky, the laughter of the Princess drawing their eyes skyward. They watched in amazement as Luna painted the sky with the glowing lights and created one of the greatest light shows they had ever witnessed. 

Luna opened her eyes and looked up into the sky, her sky. "This is mine! The stars are mine and the darkened sky is my canvas to use as I please!" she laughed into the air, pure joy swelling in her heart. Luna reveled in the freedom she was experiencing in that moment. The air calmed her nerves, the stars cleared her mind and the moon hung like a spot light, illuminating the Princess as though she were on a stage. She continued to fly and feel the air in her mane and the wind on her face. She turned and went back to the overlook that hung above the city. 

Her hooves touched down and she folded her wings to her side. She sat on her haunches, panting. She set her eyes to the stars and looked at the many random designs and shapes that were now there. The smile never left her face as she looked out upon them. She lay on her back and chuckled, feeling like a filly again. She remembered the joy she felt her first time painting the sky when she became Princess of the Night. The stress from the previous months had dwindled and she felt truly happy for the first time in a long time. 


2


The sun was now rising and Luna trotted along to her chambers for a long rest after her night sky entertainment. As she went along the tiles began to appear cracked and in some cases shattered. Her eyes widened and her pace quickened. She followed the tiles at a brisk pace until she had come to the hospital wing of the castle. Luna's internal alarm was ringing wildly. The trail had led her to Fluttershy's room, where the pegasus was recovering from her extensive surgical procedures. 

Luna stopped when she heard the door to the room open and saw Volos duck under the doorway and stand stone still, moving his head to each side. She shot behind one of the many pillars that supported the structure of the castle and waited for him to leave; her breathing quick and shallow until she held it in altogether. She heard Volos whine and heard his metal boots stomping down the corridor in the opposite direction of how she had come. She let out her long held breath and relaxed her tensed muscles. 

Luna came out from behind the pillar and went up to the door of Fluttershy's room. The door was cracked open and she could hear a faint sound coming from inside the room. She pushed the door open, emitting a creaking noise from it. The noise from Luna's silver shoes reverberated in the empty room. The other five Elements had gone sometime earlier, leaving Fluttershy alone. The monitor was beeping at an increased rate, muffling the sound of Fluttershy's quiet whimpers. 

Luna rushed over to her bedside and checked her over. Fluttershy was shaking and had her eyes squeezed shut, making them water. "Fluttershy are you alright? What happened?" 

"P... P... P....Princess?" Fluttershy whimpered. 

"Yes, it's me. What happened?" 

"It's here. That monster that broke my house and hurt all of my animal friends," she cried. 

"Did he do anything to you?" 

She shook her head slowly, still quivering. 

Luna grasped Fluttershy's hoof in her own and squeezed it lightly. "It will be fine Fluttershy. He won't hurt you again, I promise." Fluttershy let go of Luna's hoof and put down to her side. She was still whimpering and her tears still fell down her face. "He won't hurt you. I will not allow him to do so. You have nothing more to fear." 

"But... But...?" she tried, her voice shaky and barely audible. 

She grasped the blanket in her magic and moved it to Fluttershy's neck, draping it over her body "Rest." Luna lit up her horn and cast a sleeping spell on Fluttershy, who drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Luna left the now sleeping pegasus and went back to her room, hoping Volos had gone back as well.  


3


Celestia sat on her throne, listening to the noble who was ranting in front of her. 

"Princess, something is out and about in the city that must be found and stopped before it hurts something or worse," he said in a refined yet prideful tone. 

"I understand your concern. However, there is nothing that you need to be afraid of Mr. Shine. Everything is well in-hoof, I assure you," Celestia told him in her regal tone. 

"I hope so Princess. I dread to think what would happen if something really was out there." 

"Nothing is out there, Mr. Shine. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?" 

"Yes, Princess," he said, making Celestia cock an eyebrow. "If nothing is out there in the city, than what made that dreadful noise?" 

"It was nothing more than a door being replaced. One of the workers dropped it and it slid on the floor, nothing more," she lied quickly, hoping to make this noble be quiet. 

The noble scoffed. "Indeed?" he asked. "Fine, I will accept that answer for now Princess but if something else turns up that says otherwise. I will be back." The noble stormed out of the throne room, making stomping sounds down the corridor. 

Celestia sighed and relaxed, letting her body slide down into her throne. "Is there anypony else?" The guard beside her nodded his head. "Thank goodness," she sighed. She got up from her throne and was walking out of the large room, about to take a much needed break. She was halfway out the door when she noticed a dark blue figure dashing around and realized that it was Luna. She called out to her, which made her stop running but she began to jog in place. Celestia walked up to Luna and noticed the highly worried expression on her face. She placed a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "Luna, calm down. What's happened?" she asked, in her regal tone. 

"Volos is gone!" 

Celestia's face fell. "What?" she asked flatly. Luna looked down. "I told you to keep an eye on him!" she shouted. Luna shied away from her elder sister. "Do you know where he's gone?" Luna shook her head. Celestia's anger began to well up until it hit a breaking point. "SON OF A WHORSE!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, but still not on the level of her Royal Canterlot Voice, turning away from Luna. Celestia refocused her attention on her younger sister. "Dammit Luna! I asked you to watch him!" 

Luna was on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. 

Celestia growled a little and eventually calmed herself down. "We need to find him before he causes too much havoc. Do you know where he might go?"  Luna shook her head. "Great!" she yelled sarcastically.  "I'll go into the city; you stay here and look for him in the castle. Have the Elements help you find him if they can." Luna nodded slowly, still reeling from the verbal punishment. "Good. Get moving!" she shouted, taking off for the balcony and flew off into the city. 


4


Guards were running in all directions in the streets, almost causing a mass panic. They were issuing residents into their homes and urging them to stay inside. Shopkeepers pulled down the shades and locked their doors while stand owners quickly gathered their things, dropping most of their possessions on the road. Every time a guard laid eyes on the creature before them, they would steel themselves but as the creature neared, they would run away. 

Volos walked slowly down the roads of the large city, looking at every street sign and store name he could see. He turned his attention back to the path before him and watched all of the residents run in terror and trip over one another to escape. He whined and continued on his way, ignoring the pandemonium in front of him. 

He felt something impact his lower back and stopped; turning his attention to the unicorn behind him. A shaking pony stood behind him holding three rocks in his magic. Volos studied the shaking unicorn for a moment. He wore a monocle and a tuxedo shirt. Volos turned away from the pony and kept walking until he felt another impact on his back. He stopped again and turned around, emitting a low throaty growl, making the unicorn back up slightly at the sound.

"Do not turn your back to me monster!" he yelled, using a formal and refined tone. Volos remained silent and continued his low growl. "Leave you big stupid beast! Go back to the bowels of hell!" 

At hearing this challenge, Volos turned around completely and stomped, making the ground shake. The unicorn stumbled around and fell to the ground. Volos neared his fallen target as a skinny, almost unhealthily so, unicorn ran out from behind a downed table and stood in front of the fallen unicorn. 

Volos reached out and shoved her aside, making her topple over herself and land in the dirt. He grasped the other unicorn's neck, constricting his windpipe, and lifted him to eye level. The unicorn had a look of absolute terror in his eyes as he struggled for breath. Volos growled and threw him aside, making him crash through a table and some chairs. 

He went on his way. 


5


Celestia was flying over the city when she heard commotion coming from one of the shopping districts. She quickened her pace and came to a halt, hovering over a deserted street and a pile of turned-over tables, and litter. She scanned the streets for her quarry and found him walking slowly along the streets, into a mass panic and screaming ponies. As she descended to the ground she saw a unicorn start to throw rocks at Volos. She couldn't make out what was being said, but she knew the unicorn very well. 

"Fancy Pants?" she murmured. 

She watched as he confronted Volos and was swiftly defeated by the large cyborg. She watched Volos stomp away and leave both of the unicorns to their fates. Her anger swelled again and she dive bombed the street, smashing full force into the concrete in front of Volos, cutting him off. Volos stopped and stared at the Solar Princess. She had a very serious look on her face, laced with rage. 

"That's enough! I demand you come quietly or I will take you by force!" she declared. Volos growled and took a fighting stance. Celestia recoiled slightly, remembering her first time taking him on one on one, but she had no choice. She ignited her horn and wrapped him in a golden aura. Volos began to thrash around, trying to break free of the magical grip. 

Celestia threw him to the ground, making him look at the sky above but still held him in her magic. Volos fought against the strain of the aura around his body, trying to force his way out. Celestia strained as she tried to keep him down, but threw him into the air. Her magic held firm as she increased his descending velocity, making him plummet instead of fall. She felt the ground shake as Volos made impact with the stone street and she released her magical grip on him. 

She looked at the large black colored mass that was now inside of a small crater. Volos was on his back and was not moving. Celestia inched her way closer to him, her horn still lit with a magical charge. The onlookers, who had hidden in their homes or shops, were now coming out of their hiding places. 

"Stay back!" she shouted, causing any and all onlookers freeze. "Go back indoors, it's not over yet," she warned. The onlookers slowly went back into their hiding places, clearing the streets once again. 

She put out a hoof and poked Volos' foot. She did it once again and still he did not move. She went up to his torso and went to poke him again. She stopped when she noticed that his heart and lungs were still operating beneath his rib cage. She intensified the magic store in her horn and put a hoof out again. 

Volos' eyes lit quickly and he shot out a hand, grabbing Celestia's foreleg and pulling her close, catching her by surprise. His head smashed into her chest plate, leaving a large dent and knocking the wind out of her, despite the strong metal. She stumbled backwards while Volos got to his feet. Volos saw that Celestia's horn had dimmed some, but not completely.  He quickly closed the distance and unleashed a round of punches and back fists to her face, causing bones to crack and blood to spill from her nose and mouth until she fell to the ground. 

Celestia staggered to her feet and gained an uneasy balance. Her eyes could not focus and her vision was blurry. Shaking her head and regaining some focus, she focused her magic again and let out a quick flash of electricity. The bolt missed Volos completely and she readied another shot. 

Volos reached out and grasped Celestia's horn with his massive hand. She discharged all of the magic she had stored up in her horn and let it travel through her behemoth sized opponent. The electricity arced throughout Volos' body and he fell to one knee, letting go of Celestia's horn. He stayed on his knee and Celestia looked at him with disdain. She lit her horn again, ready to take him down. 

High Electrical Discharge Detected... Redirecting...

Volos' arms popped and sizzled from the massive amount of heat that was generated from the attack. Celestia looked down at him, finally ready to destroy him and drag his dismembered body back to the castle. She was building up the last of the power required when she felt something grasp her neck, closing her windpipe and breaking her concentration. She looked at Volos, who still was on his knee, but his hand had shot up and grabbed her. Electricity arced down his arm and into her body. She recognized it as her previous attack, her mind becoming cloudy from the intensity of the electricity that she had unleashed. 

Volos straightened and launched his free hand into her shoulder, making the bone shatter. He did not release his grip on her however and threw her, face-first, into the ground. Using the momentum from the throw, he twisted his body and lifted up a leg, bringing it over Celestia's body. Celestia rolled as Volos' boot came smashing down, leaving a large hole in the street. She quickly got to her feet, ignoring her shattered bone. She tried to charge her horn once again but a shadow over took her form and blocked her sight. 

Volos brought his arms down upon Celestia in much the same way as he had when he fought Twilight, using them as metal whips. Celestia felt impact after impact, shattering her bones and cutting skin. She could not defend herself. Volos' onslaught did not relent and he swept one arm into her legs, making her trip while breaking one of them.

Celestia screamed as she was knocked from her hooves and grabbed by the horn and neck. Volos spun her around, twisting on his own feet. She felt herself get thrown into the side of a building and fell in a heap to the ground. She focused through her bloodied eyes, her vision being tinted red from the blood that was running over them, and watched Volos walk closer to her. She lifted her head, only to see Volos reel back an arm and send it flying toward her. 

Volos' fist impacted Celestia's jaw once again and sent her head recoiling into the wall, leaving a dent in the shape of her head. Her body fell limply to the ground, as blood leaked onto the marble white street below her. 

Volos growled for moment before turning it into a light whine. Studying her broken body, he noticed blood escaping from her cuts and her jaw hung limply close to her neck while her tongue stuck out of her mouth, resting on the ground. He took a quick step backwards and turned away from the mutilated body of the Princess and walked away from the scene at a rapid pace, the blood dripping from his knuckles.

> Consequences 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Same story! I promise. Just a small title change. Nothing more. 


Luna ran up and down the halls of the castle looking for Volos, panic written all over her face. Her mental state could be compared to a mother who had lost their child in a market. Guards were pulled into the search as she found them and were also frantically searching for the missing alien, hoping to avert some kind of disaster. Celestia had been missing since early that afternoon and had not returned. Luna ran every-which-way, hoping to find Volos before things got out of hoof for her and Canterlot as a whole. 

She ran back to the throne room to see if the remaining five Elements had gathered there as she had asked. She threw open the large golden doors, wrapping them in the dark blue aura. The Elements had gathered in the throne room as she had requested, but they all held looks of anger or annoyance at the current situation. 

"I'm glad you made it," she said, slowing her pace down a little bit. 

"What's going on Princess?" Applejack asked in a tone of annoyance. 

"Volos has escaped the castle," she said bluntly. 

The six of them stared at Luna with blank faces. "WHAT!" they all screamed in unison, causing her to have to cover her ears. 

"I need your help finding him, it's of the utmost importance that he not cause trouble," she pleaded. 

Twilight stepped forward and looked at Luna. "Princess, we would love to help, but given his violent tendencies, I don't want to risk lives." Luna looked at Twilight with shock and then sorrow. "But you can use the locator spell to find him can't you?" 

Luna's features brightened. "Of course!" she hollered, happily. Her horn began to glow and she closed her eyes. She had been getting better at finding Volos when she had to and her eyes opened shortly. She had a look of fright in her eyes. 

"What did you see?" Rarity asked. 

"I found him," she whispered. "He... He got out into the city." The others stiffened at the news. "He and Celestia fought in the streets." 

"Who won Princess?" Applejack asked this time. 

"Volos." 

"What happened to Celestia?!" Twilight was bouncing nervously from one hoof to the other; worrying about the news she was going to receive. 

"She's been beaten, and badly is putting it mildly," she stated. Twilight and the others were silent. "We need to get medics down there and get her back while I track down Volos in the city!" She turned to the guards who had followed her. "Assemble a medical team, and extra guards for crowd control," she ordered. The guard bowed and galloped out of the room. She turned her attention back to the Elements. "Stay here if you wish. I will not hold it against you," she said, running toward the doors. 

The Elements remained still. 


2


Volos was still running, the road breaking with every stomp of his boot. Ponies ran in every-which-way to avoid being hit by the fleeing monster. He rounded a corner, knocking over several stands in the process and almost lost his footing. He recovered quickly and continued running until he hit a large metal gate and smashed into a fountain, smashing it to pieces. Volos shook his head and slowly got to his feet. He looked at his surroundings and found that he was in what appeared to be a large public park. Ponies were holding onto children and had stopped in their tracks when he ran into the fountain. 

Volos stepped out of the stone wreckage and tried to get his bearings. He looked at the many ponies that were in the park. He hadn't a single one, which was surprising, given the sheer amount of ponies that were there. He walked towards one of them and held out his hand. The pony flinched and recoiled slightly at the gesture. Volos pulled his hand away and took a step back. His auditory sensors picked up the rapid beating of wings in the distance and he turned towards the origin point of the noise. 

Luna came slamming to the ground quickly and with great force. Her eyes were red and her cheeks stained by tear trails. She clenched her teeth and walked up to Volos, who stood un-intimidated. 

"YOU HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER FOR THIS TIME!" she bellowed, using her Royal Canterlot Voice. "Get your big metal butt, BACK TO THE CASTLE!" she continued. Volos stood still and unmoving. Luna continued staring at him angrily. She clenched her teeth harder and began to shake with rage. Blue lines traced their way up her horn and through her eyes, emitting the small blue pulsating glow. "MOVE!" 

Volos turned around and began walking along the path he had taken previously. 

'Order Override'

Unable to Override Order... Clearance to all motor functions has been granted... Master Status Control Unit Detected...

He walked through the gates and back up the streets and alleyways in which he had used after he beat Celestia. The joints, pistons, and inner mechanisms of his body moving without his own consent. Luna remained to help clean up his mess while he walked back to the castle. Igniting her horn, she repaired the fountain back into working order and talked with the ponies present to ascertain what had happened before she had arrived. 

When she had completed her task, she took to the air and looked for Volos. She found his large form easily due to the large contrast between his black metal body and the marble white streets. He was walking normally and dodged anything in his path, instead of running them over. Luna's face hardened considerably and she kept a steely eye on him as he came up on the castle. Ponies throughout Canterlot had bolted their doors and evacuated the street in the wake of his destructive path. 

Canterlot Castle came into view and Luna breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She flew down and landed next to Volos, who ignored her arrival. The guards opened the gate and let the two of them through with a nervous glance. Through her calm exterior, Luna's rage was obvious as her eyes betrayed her calm facade. The large doors to the main entrance opened and they went through, not expecting to see her there. 

"Hello Luna. We have a lot to discuss," Celestia said sternly. 


3


Fluttershy raised her head and looked around the hospital room. She laid her head back down after a bit due to the light pangs of pain in her neck. She groaned and heard the door open. A blue unicorn stallion with a white mane, tail, and white eyes walked into the room. He closed the door behind him and picked up the clip board with his magic. 

"Ms. Fluttershy," he mumbled, unaware that she could hear him. "Several repaired ribs, several shattered bones, wings disjointed and avian bone structures torn to shreds, dislocated jaw. Quadriceps and hamstrings reattached to the bones properly, good, good. Healing is progressing steadily, that is good. Bones are mending properly and... What's this?" Fluttershy tensed, trying to keep her breathing under control. "Odd, healing is progressing faster than expected, almost three times. But how?"  Fluttershy struggled to keep her breathing noise to an absolute minimum. "Something is very wrong. How can she be healing so quickly without magical intervention?" He placed the clip board back on the hook by the base of the bed. "Very troubling indeed," he whispered, opening the door again and leaving the room. 

Fluttershy began to pant and sweat ran down her face. She twisted uncomfortably in her bed and sat herself up completely. She took in a long, deep breath, and let it out. Her face became one of surprise as she felt no pain in her chest. She tapped her leg with her free hoof and hit it harder in succession. Again she felt no searing pain, only the throbbing after she hit the bone. She panicked and reached over to the button box on the table next to her. She picked it up and started slamming the button down repeatedly. 

A nurse came running into the room in a panic a few seconds later. "What is it Ms. Fluttershy? What's going on?" she asked quickly. 

"What's happening to me?" Fluttershy asked back. 

The nurse went over and picked up the clipboard. She skimmed it over and her eyes went wide and then narrowed just as quickly, multiple times. She put the clipboard back down and ran out of the room screaming. Fluttershy began to weep bitterly at the reaction of the nurse and sunk back down into her bed. 


4


Celestia was covered almost from head to hoof in bandages, making her look like a mummy. The only parts uncovered were her nose, part of her mouth, one upper hoof and a wing. Luna's heart was stopped and she stared at her sister with a mix of dread and surprise. "S... S... Sister, we did not expect you to be out of bed so early," she stammered. 

"Yes well, I'm good at that. But for right now, you are in a heap of trouble!" Luna flinched at the outburst. "Not only does he have a lot to answer for, but he was your responsibility! You've messed up for the last time Luna! I could forgive his many problems early on but this..." she pointed to herself as best she could, "is on an entirely different level." Celestia moved the large wheel chair with her magic and got closer to Luna. "I don't know how you're going to fix this one, but when MY subjects are in direct and absolute danger, I cannot back down. You're punishment will be most severe for this..." The doors to the main hall were thrown open and a blue unicorn stallion with a white mane, tail, and white eyes ran through, heralding the Princesses, interrupting Celestia. "This will, unfortunately have to be postponed at the moment," she seethed.  She turned her chair to face him. 

"Doctor Bone Marrow, this had better be of the utmost importance!" 

Bone Marrow stopped in his tracks and looked at the Princess he had treated not six hours ago. "Yes it is. Ms. Fluttershy can be released from the hospital by the end of the week and begin physical therapy the next day if necessary." 

Celestia did not speak. Her face went dark and became stern. "Explain," she demanded. 

"It seems that her wounds are healing at an exponential rate. I don't' know how but they are. They're healing at almost three times the rate they should be." 

"Show me." 

Bone Marrow trotted to the door with Celestia rolling behind him. The doors closed quickly and Luna was still standing in the main hall with Volos. She did not dare to move. 


5


Fluttershy's door opened revealing Bone Marrow and Celestia in the doorway. The six Elements looked over and greeted them with smiling faces. Bone Marrow went into the room and Celestia came in next. Celestia stared at Fluttershy in awe. She was upright in her bed and was moving her wings and legs, which were supposed to be paralyzed with a Neuromuscular-blocking drug. Fluttershy smiled and was beaming with happiness. 

"Fluttershy? How did this happen?" Celestia asked, bewildered. 

"I don't' know. One minute I was feeling a bunch of pain and then a couple hours ago it started going away and now, I feel great," she exclaimed. 

"Let me see her chart." Doctor Marrow levitated the clip board to her and Celestia took it into her own magic. She skimmed it over and quickly went to the names at the bottom of the page. "Get me Gene Splice, and Alpha Bone," she stated. 

"Is something wrong?" Twilight asked, worried. 

"Maybe," was all Celestia said. Bone Marrow left the room to retrieve them. Celestia looked at Fluttershy again and then turned her attention to the others. "Which one of you was in here first?" 

"I was." Rainbow Dash stepped forward and stood in front of the Princess. “What time did you arrive?" 

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. "Around seven-thirty this morning." 

"I see." She turned her attention back to Fluttershy. "When could you move without feeling pain?" 

"At six, I could move some things without much trouble but it was around eight when I could move as much as I am." 

Twilight walked up to Celestia, a look of determination on her face. "What's going on Princess? Why are you interrogating them?" 

"You're about to find out," she said as the door opened to reveal Gene Splice and Alpha Bone. "There you are. Explain what has happened to Fluttershy if you please," she said sternly, without a hint of happiness or emotion on her face and in her voice. 

Alpha Bone stepped aside. "Gene, do your thing." 

"You see Princess; this is an anomaly to me as well. When I examined her yesterday everything was as it was before and when I brought her medicine earlier this morning something was different. I could see it by the way she was moving. The subtle movements of her wings and the precise control of her limbs, as limited as they were, were most surprising." 

"Why was I not informed, or anypony else for that matter?" Celestia asked. 

"Well, to be honest, you were in still in bad shape, and I had Bone Marrow check on her this time because I couldn't formulate the words to explain the drastic change. Then that nurse went in and came out screaming like a wild mare. I almost couldn't get her to calm down." 

"Alpha Bone, you're the Biologist here. What happened?" Celestia asked impatiently. 

"Well, her anatomy is still the same, but the structures are literally moving back into place on their own from what I can tell. It's extraordinary. Her bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles are all reverting back to the way they were before hoof. I asked Gene to deliver everything to Fluttershy this morning and do her physical with me yesterday to see the differences for himself." 

"Gene, do you at least have a theory?" 

"I'm sorry Princess but I don't." 

"I see." 

The door to the room creaked open slightly and Luna walked in partially. "I... I might," she said quietly. 

Celestia turned around and looked at her. "Let's hear it then." 

"I saw Volos walking out of this room before he, uh, left," she said weakly. 

"And?" 

"I talked with Fluttershy, who told me that he stood over her and just looked at her for a few seconds then left." 

Celestia raised an eyebrow and her features became dark and unreadable again. "Gene Splice, Alpha Bone, I leave this to you. Luna and I have a lot to discuss at the moment." 

Celestia left and shut the door with her magic, releasing a loud bang. The others stood and sat in stunned silence, looking at each other nervously. 


6


Celestia wheeled along with Luna trailing behind her. Celestia's face was still unreadable, only the clear sounds of her strong breaths had any indicator of her mood at the moment. Celestia stopped in front of Luna's room, opened the door, and wheeled herself inside. Luna walked in shortly after and closed the door as Celesta turned to face her again. 

"Luna..." Luna looked up. "We have a great deal to discuss and I don't plan on being interrupted this time," she said gruffly. "Now, explain to me, if you can, what's been happening around here. First, Volos goes and visits Fluttershy, then escapes, beats me senseless almost killing me, and then Fluttershy is now recovering at a rate that is impossible." 

"I wish I knew what was going on Celestia. I really do." 

"You don't know then?" Luna shook her head. "Fine. I will accept that for the time being. But there is also the matter of your punishment for Volos' behavior." Luna became scared. "Luna, I made you responsible for him and I end up in a wheel chair." She leaned in closer to Luna. "How do you suppose that makes me feel?" 

"Not good," she winced. 

"Not good at all. You agreed that you would take responsibility for his actions and will you?" 

"Yes," she mumbled. 

"Yes what?" 

"Yes I will take responsibility for them." 

"Good. Your punishment, though it pains me, is this. You are to take Volos and leave the castle and live in the Everfree for one week. No servants, no maids or butlers and no modern conveniences." 

"A camping trip? You're sending me on a camping trip?" Luna asked, surprised. 

"It could be viewed that way I suppose. But you cannot return until the seven days are up and as for your Royal Duties, I will be taking over in your stead." 

"But you're in no condition for that! How can you even think to do something like that?" 

"I told you, I'm good at healing remember? I was trained primarily in healing and defensive spells while you trained primarily with combat spells. I know how to heal myself." Celestia rolled over to the door. "You will leave when this situation with Fluttershy has been sorted out. And you might just learn a little something about yourself along the way." Celestia rolled out of the door, leaving a dumbfounded Luna in her wake. 


7 


Celestia sat in the laboratory watching Gene Splice work his microscope and slides in the brightly lit room. It had been two hours since he had started looking through Fluttershy's blood samples that he had taken earlier in the day while Alpha Bone looked through the X-rays. 

"Found anything yet?" Celestia asked. 

Alpha Bone spoke up first. "Well it appears that after the surgeries on Fluttershy's bones they were healing at the normal rate for fractures as bad as hers, slow but correct. And after last night into earlier morning, they began to heal much faster but still correctly. From what I can tell from the X-rays here her entire skeleton has almost healed back to near perfection." 

"Thank you. What about you Gene Splice? Have you discovered anything?" Gene Splice did not answer and continued using his microscope. He looked away for a moment and scribbled furiously onto a notepad and looked back through the eyepiece. Celestia cleared her throat, trying to gain his attention. He still did not answer. "Gene Splice!" she shouted. 

"Hm? OH YES! What is it Princess?" he answered finally. 

"Have you found anything?" she asked him again. 

"Blood samples from the past couple days are normal. I was looking at her samples from this morning and I found the Third Cell in there." 

Celestia's eyes widened. "What?!" 

Gene Splice also looked up. 

"Yep. They're in there all right, but they're dying off quickly. They're not surviving as long as the ones in Volos' blood or Luna's. It's really strange. They've been dying off rather quickly. I can't explain it." 

"But when you tested the ones in Volos' blood, it ate that rat from the inside out." 

"That's why this is such a mystery, they should have done the same to Fluttershy but they haven't." 

"How did they get there in the first place?" Celestia asked. Alpha Bone was listening intently as well. 

Gene Splice thought for a while before speaking again. "When I went to collect the samples, I checked her over again, just to be sure of what was happening when I noticed a bald spot on her neck. I looked at it closer and found a small scab. It was no bigger than a pin needle." 

"They were injected!" Alpha shouted in realization. 

Gene smirked, "So it would appear." 

"But by whom..." Celestia's eyes went to slits again, "Volos. He did this. But why?" she thought aloud. "No matter. It would appear that this little mystery has been solved and Fluttershy is on the road to recovery. That is good. Now I must rest. You may take the day off today you two." 

Celestia left the lab and rolled herself to Luna's room. The door was cracked open and a note was taped to the door. She levitated it off the door and looked at it. She tossed it away with a small chuckle. "Wanted to get a head start. Can't fault her for that one." She rolled up to the balcony and looked out over the city toward the Everfree Forest. "Good luck Luna. I wish there would have been a better way to tell you." 

Celestia pulled out a small note worn with age and opened it; skimming over the note before closing it and teleporting it back to her room. 

"Luna, you're still my sister. And I will always love you." 

Celestia lingered on the balcony watching over the city in the cool air until it was time to raise the moon.

> The Forest Part 1: Contact
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The sun set and the moon had risen to take its place. Luna looked to the darkened skies with a frown. The nocturnal forests came to life with the sounds of crickets, Timber Wolves, owls and other creatures of the night. Sticks crunched under Luna's silver shooed hooves, making noise wherever she stepped. Volos followed slowly behind her, keeping some distance between them. She looked back and could only see his glowing eyes; the rest of his body was obscured by shadow and darkness. 

His feet stomped and shook the ground as he followed her through the forest. His eyes traveled around the shadow, looking for nothing specific. He looked ahead and saw that Luna had stopped walking. He watched her turn her head around at him and glare. 

"We'll make camp here tonight," she said, turning away again. She sat down and summoned sticks from the trees around them. The sticks piled themselves into a neat stack and were ignited quickly. A blue flame flickered in front of them, casting small shadows. The heat given off was minimal at best and had a chill to it. Luna sighed heavily and closed her eyes. A small smile formed on her lips. "Princess of the Night and I can't even make a proper fire that gives off heat," she chuckled. She curled herself into a ball on the ground, her astral mane and tail still flowing. She began to whimper and shiver in the dim light of the unusual blue flame. Volos stayed silent and still, never moving forward. 	 

Luna remained in that position and did not move. Volos started to walk slowly toward where she lay and sat down beside her. Luna did not stir. He reached a hand over and placed it on her side. She fidgeted under his touch for a second. He moved it down her side and moved it back up again, repeatedly. 

"I'm not a dog," she said coldly. "Please stop." Volos removed his hand from her body and sat in silence, keeping his hand close to himself. "This is your fault you know." Volos looked over to her. "I had to take responsibility for your stupidity earlier and it got us both banished from the castle for a week." She looked up at him again, taking in what features she could see under the light of the fire. "Why did you leave the castle and cause such a commotion? When I found you I was ready to blow your head off your shoulders! Tell me why!" she screamed. She sat up again and glared daggers into Volos, who still remained silent; the only sound coming from his breathing. "Oh, that's right. You can't speak can you?" Volos looked over to Luna, his eyes lit brightly and casting a faint red glow onto part of his face. He stood up and turned away from Luna. She watched as he went farther into the trees and vanished into the darkness. 

Luna continued to glare into the nothingness before her, her eyes hard and cold. She felt her lip quiver and shake until she let out a cry of agony. Her eyes' floodgates opened and she let the hot tears flow. Laying back down, she continued to cry. 


2


Volos walked through the darkness, his largely enhanced vision making casting a yellow outline over any and all solid objects while giving off a green tint to the available light. He continued walking and only stopped to examine any unfamiliar surroundings. He saw a large log in the distance and sat down on it. He looked around the spans of trees, shrubs, and grass before him. The forest was filled with sound and yet the immediate area was silent and void of life. He strained his auditory sensors, amplifying all sound around him. He could hear all the voices of the forest. The birds, the wolves, and down to the smallest of creatures. Voices. All living things have a voice. 

Volos let out a low rumble and increased the volume slightly each passing second. Eventually his growl reached a decibel level similar to a roar but stopped just short. He stopped and listened again. All the sounds had stopped. now the area around him was filled with total silence. 

"Why do you do this to yourself?" he heard a voice ask. He waited and listened for the voice again and growled. "Pull yourself together, all is not lost," he heard again. He looked around but still saw only darkness. He checked his A.I slot and found nothing in it. "Your mission remains the same, but you must gain control of yourself. Do not give in to your instincts." 

The voice disappeared and the silence took its place. Volos stood up again and punched the tree next to him, shattering the impact zone into a thousand tiny fragments. The tree remained standing, but only slightly. His head turned as he heard a noise and saw a faint blue light approaching from the distance. 


3
 

Luna's small blue flame continued to flicker dimly in the darkness while the Princess of the Moon kept her head on the ground and her eyes closed. Her sobbing had ceased and all that remained of it was the matted fur below her eyes and an occasional sniffle. Her chest rose and fell steadily and her breathing was more regular than not. A cold wind blew from behind her. She shivered and curled herself into a tighter ball, squeezing her eyes even more. The wind continued to blow and howl throughout the Everfree Forest until it suddenly stopped. 

Luna opened her eyes and looked around when a warmth fell onto her body. Standing in front of her were two extremely large Alicorns. One had a large, muscular build, and massive wings were tucked to his side. Its horn stuck out a full four feet out from its head and had large steely eyes. The other was of a similar build but with a skinnier frame and a more delicate demeanor. 

"Luna," the larger one said. 

Luna's eyes became large and she stared at the two Alicorns. "Mom? Dad?" she asked, disbelieving. The two Alicorns nodded. "But how? Where are we? And..." 

"Relax child, all your questions will be answered," spoke the thinner Alicorn. 

"Mother, what is this place?" 

"This is the Astral Plane love. This is where you became an Alicorn. It seems like it was so long ago now. Doesn't it dear?" 

The larger Alicorn nodded slowly. "Yes it does. But this is not the reason you are here once again." he spoke in a commanding tone. "The reason we have brought you here is that we have an important matter to discuss and it can no longer wait." 

"Yes. A matter that should have been addressed when you were still just a filly, but we hesitated to bring it up," Mother spoke. 

"Why now though. This seems so sudden," Luna said, concerned. 

"Because now is a good time and we are running out of time," Father said. 

Mother stepped forward and sat down in front of Luna. "We have been watching you since the day we passed the throne onto you and Celestia. And we have been so proud of you," she said softly. "But we need to discuss the Nightmare Moon events." 

"I put that behind me! I don't need to be lectured! I know what I did and I paid the price!" Luna shouted. 

"We know. But the matter of how it came to happen is what we need to discuss, as well as another matter regarding your birth," Father spoke once again. 

"How do mean?" Luna asked. 

"When you were born there was something different about you, sweetheart. The jealousy you felt was a completely natural phenomenon, but the intensity of it was greater than normal," Mother explained. "When a colt or filly is born their souls are pure and the experiences during their lives are what shape them and new emotions will develop as a result. Some ponies are extremely generous, sometimes exorbitantly so, while others feel the need to take and never give back. The same is true of every pony in existence, including you father and I." 

"What does this have to do with Nightmare Moon?" 

"You were born with a soul as dark as the night-skies you command. This was unheard of and, to be blunt, repulsive," Father said. "However, your mother and I raised you up anyway. And while I would never regret the decision we made, the older you became the darker your spirit became. When the time came for me to pass on my throne to you, I did so willingly. I knew that the time for my reign was over and yours was to begin." 

"But as you ruled the night, I passed the throne to Celestia," Mother sighed. "And we watched as Celestia received the glory that naturally came with daylight and watched as you fell deeper into Celestia's ever growing shadow. Then one day you refused to lower the moon..." 

"And on that day, your soul became a void, Nightmare Moon surfaced and remained," Father interrupted. 

"But how is any of this relevant?! You speak of my soul and how it was dark and a void but I fail to see how this is important!" Luna screamed, trying to block out their words. 

"You became jealous of your sister and tried to steal her right to rule! Your jealousy went far beyond the bounds of any normal Pony and you took your anger and hatred to a level unto itself! You were not jealous and angry at your sister, she became the target of it! The hatred and rage that drove Nightmare Moon did not come from the jealousy you felt but from somewhere else entirely!" Father bellowed in anger, causing Luna to recoil. "We speak of your soul because it not of Ponykind!" 

Father quickly became silent. And looked away from Luna and her mother. "Forgive my tone, it was uncalled for." He looked over his shoulder. "These things you hear are for your ears only. Celestia vaguely knows as much as we have said already and I have said too much." Father's form vanished in an instant, without another word. 

"M...M...Mother? What does he mean?" Luna asked, between sniffles. 

Mother sighed and looked into Luna's pleading eyes. "Unfortunately dear, some things we cannot tell you. I cannot tell you directly about what your father meant but I can tell you what to do next. And when the time is right, we will speak to you again." 


4


Volos remained still as the blue light became brighter until it overtook him. His eyes never shut down as he observed the change in scenery. The world around him twisted and bent and sank into the ground below. In its place came a large, enclosed room of silver metal with a blue apparition standing in the center. Volos stared. The apparition stared back and scowled. 

"I am Athena," it said. "It took long enough to contact you, Volos." Volos began to growl and looked at the ghost tentatively. "Be silent. I only wish to speak with you for moment." Volos remained in his current status. "Very well," it sighed. "I have been watching you Volos. Your endeavors thus far have been adequate at best. However, I have sensed something growing inside the creature that travels by your side. I am unsure of what, but its power cannot be denied or ignored. You must keep her close and keep an ever watchful eye over her."

Volos relaxed his posture slightly and continued watching his visitor, and hummed quietly as his intrigue grew. 

"I see that you are taking my words to heart. This is good" The room began to disintegrate slowly and fall apart. The apparition looked around with worry. "My intrusion into your mainframe was weak at best, and now I'm being kicked out! Keep vigil over the creature you travel with! Something is in it that should not be!" The room continued to break and crumble around them. "I will upload your next mission to you. It will help you later!" 


5
 

The world collapsed around Volos and he was standing inside the forest once again. He growled and moved through the trees again. The flicker of blue fire showed slightly through the trees as he followed its dim light. He emerged from the trees and found Luna staring into the fire. He went over and sat down beside her. 

Luna looked over and scooted closer to Volos. "Sorry about earlier," she whispered. She lay down on the dirt again and closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep. 

Volos remained sitting and looked at the fire. His glance passed from the fire and onto Luna. He hummed as he watched her sleep. Activating his scanner, he put himself into standby; the scanner never stopping. 
> The Forest Part 2: Ghosts of the Past
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Morning had come and both Luna and Volos were both up and about. Luna's blue fire burned out during the night leaving only burnt sticks and cold ash. Their slumbers went undisturbed that night and Luna was ready to move. The birds chirped and the sun poked out from the tops of the trees. 

"Come on," she commanded, pointing to a small path in front of her. Volos nodded and followed Luna into the dense foliage and the insurmountable expanse of the trees. Volos watched Luna closely. His eyes never left the Midnight Blue Alicorn.  Luna looked back and watched Volos bulldoze his way through the tree branches and shrubbery than she had moved with her magic. "You really are a wrecking ball," she muttered to herself. Volos groaned, signaling that he had heard her. 

Volos caught up with Luna quickly and walked alongside her. They emerged out of the trees and into a clear space with a large cliff and the ruins of a castle on the other landmass across from it. From the distance that they were it looked like a great mass of rocks and overgrown weeds. The chasm that separated them was covered in grey fog and appeared to not have a bottom. 

"We need to get over there. You're too big to teleport and I can fly over." Luna looked around and saw the decrepit rope bridge. "And that won't support you." She continued to think about their predicament. 

Volos looked across the chasm and let his computer go to work. 

...Activating leg muscle overcharge sequence...

...Sequence initiated...

The armor on his legs began to come apart revealing wires and spinning cylinders. Luna looked over, hearing the noise coming from his direction. She looked on as his legs began to glow blue and sparks flew across the wiring and circuitry contained within it.  He took a running stance and waited for a second. His legs began to get louder with every passing second and the electrical charges began to increase. 

...90 Percent....98 Percent...Fully charged...

The electrical currents arced from his massive legs and the cylinders arced with power. Volos pushed off the ground into a full sprint, enhanced by the charge in his legs became even faster. He reached the ledge of the cliff in less than a second and launched himself from the cliff. 

He took off like a rocket and soared across the chasm with ease. Luna looked on dumbstruck. Volos landed on the other landmass and upon impact the electrical currents exploded from his legs and he fell to one knee. Luna worked herself out of her trance and flew to the other side. She walked up to him and watched as the plates and panels on his legs put themselves back into place. 

"Well that solves that problem." 

Volos stood back up and walked up to the front doors of the dilapidated castle. The wood was rotted all over and the brown of the lumber had turned near black by age. Luna joined him by the doors and opened them with her magic. She stepped inside with Volos by her side. 

The grey stone walls were overgrown with Ivy and other wall crawling vines. The sunlight helped to illuminate the depressing atmosphere of the room. Two broken mounds of stone stood on one side of the room surrounded by intricate designs and the remains of, what had previously been sculptures. Luna walked up to the stone mound and put a hoof to it.

"This was Father's throne when he ruled over this place." She looked to the other. "And this was where Mother sat beside him," she remembered. 

Luna walked away from the stone mounds and went across the room to a door on the other side of the crumbled thrones. She pushed the door with her hoof and the rusted hinges fell from their stone mounts and the door fell to the stone below. Behind the door was a hallway adorned with more overgrown vines and the remnants of pedestals that once held priceless treasures upon them. 

Luna walked down the hallway and looking all around herself at the remnants of her previous home. She continued walking and her hoof landed on an object that made a crunching sound when he hoof landed. She looked down and saw a golden frame with an unrecognizable portrait on its canvas. Underneath the portrait was a worn and dirty plaque. Luna brushed dirt and grime of the plaque with a hoof and found a name etched into it. 

"Alewar," she said aloud to herself. "That's father's name. This was his portrait. The only one there was of him." She knelt by the frame and looked at what was left of the canvas. "The one I destroyed." She was on the verge of tears when she felt a weight on her shoulder. She looked up and found that Volos had somehow managed to sneak up on her and was kneeling next to her. "I'm fine. It's just, this portrait, or what's left of it, brought up an unwanted memory." She stood back up and Volos did the same. "Let's keep going." They kept walking and found another large door inside the hall. They turned and opened the large wooden door. The hinges creaked with rust before coming to a halt. 

The side room they had entered was slightly smaller than the throne room. The environment of the room was practically the same as the rest; overgrown and filled with rubble. In the center of the room was the rotted wooden remains of a large bed and broken wood was scattered all over the ground. Hanging limply on the wall was another unrecognizable portrait, again with a golden plaque underneath the frame. Luna walked over to it and stared at the plaque. Written in block letters was 'Drita.' 

"Mother." Volos came up behind her and waited by her side. She turned away from the portrait and looked around the room again. "This was my parents room," she said in realization. I used play in here all the time. I would end up breaking lots of things and mother would give me a stern lecture but everytime I knew that she loved me. Father though, would scold me and ground me if even found me in here. I had to hide whenever he came in here and I was here." Her ear twitched and heard a noise coming from one of the rubble piles. 

"Could you leave for moment please? I need to be alone right now." Volos complied and left the room, closing the door behind him. Luna waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps. "I know you're there. You can come out now." There was no response. "I can hear you. Come out, I won't hurt you," she said calmly. 

A hoof appeared from behind a pile of rubble and a small colt came out from hiding. Luna was taken aback by his appearance. Light blue and mostly transparent. Luna was silent; not even her breathing could be heard. 

"Is the monster gone?" he asked. 

Luna waited before answering. "Yes, he's gone. Who are you?" 

"I don't know, maybe my friend knows. Have you seen her?" he asked. 

"Who is your friend?" 

"I don't remember her name," he whimpered. "But she had wings and a horn, and a light blue mane." He was sniffling. 

"Did she live here?" Luna asked. The little colt nodded. "What's your name?" she asked, her sense of dread growing. 

He thought for a moment his face scrunching up in frustration. He made a series of noises as he thought hard. Eventually he spoke again. "Night Wind," he managed to say before relaxing. 

Luna's face became one of dread and fear. "Night wind?" she asked, unsure of what she heard. He nodded. Luna placed a hoof to her mouth and her eyes began to sting. "No... No... Please no," she whispered. "What happened to you?" 

"Um... Ah... Ugh," he thought, straining his young mind. "I remember being really frightened and then something really heavy hit me and then I was cold and I didn't hurt anymore." 

Luna felt like her heart was about to explode with grief. Her world came crashing down around her again. Tears flowed from her eyes and she fell to her knees still holding her hoof over her mouth. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry," she choked out between sobs. 

"Don't cry miss. I'm okay, really," he tried to comfort her. "Please. You're making me sad," he began to whimper. 

"It's my fault. My fault you're like this," Luna cried. "Can you ever forgive me?" 

"What's your fault?" 

"Night Wind, my name is Luna. I'm the friend you've been looking for." 

Night Wind's face scrunched up again. "But..." He thought. "You don't look like her at all," he half-yelled through his strained thoughts. 

"It's me Night Wind. I've changed because I left." 

"No! I don't believe you!" he shouted. 

"It's me! I promise!" 

"You're not her! She wouldn't leave me! She's still here somewhere! I just can't find her!" he began to cry. Luna inched closer to the apparition before her and reached out with a hoof. Night wind backed away quickly. "Stay back!" He ran off in the opposite direction screaming for his friend before vanishing from sight. 

Luna dropped her hoof and lay on the ground. She curled up into a ball and cried. "Night Wind," she whimpered. "It's all my fault. All my fault." 


2


Volos trekked through the hallway again, leaving Luna on her own. Volos looked around at the remains of what stained glass was still visible through the dirt on them. He noticed one that caught his attention. The glass was a dark purple and blue with a figure in the center. He walked over to inspect it closer. 

He hummed a low sound and studied the figure in the center of the painting. A large moon hung behind her and the creature itself wore a helmet and had a pitch black coat and a starry mane flowing from her head. He let out one of his swords and jumped up to the window, stabbing the sword into the stone he hung there, looking at the glass. 

After a while of studying the stained glass he sheathed the sword and fell to the ground. He landed with a *thud* and continued his stroll. He neared two passageways, each leading elsewhere in the castle. Volos stood at the entrances and remained, weighing his options. 

As he stood his vision became full of static and fizzled for a second. He shook his head unsure of what had happened. He could hear a voice but it was faint. He turned back around and began to walk back to where Luna was. As he approached his vision was becoming staticky more often as he approached. He continued his approach relying on his scanners for direction as got closer. He stood in the doorway and found Luna reaching for something that wasn't there, with tears coming from her eyes and she was crying out to whatever it was. 

Volos felt a cold chill pass through him and he groaned as his internal circuitries and other components cooled rapidly before heating back up to normal levels. As the chill went through him his vision staticked out and he couldn't see for a bit before his vision cleared itself again. He looked at Luna and she was curled into a ball and was mumbling to herself between her sobs. He knelt down and scooped her into his arms, her head resting by his shoulder. 

He carried her over to the remnants of the bed and found a small piece of the mattress was still intact and he laid her down on it. She never acknowledged his presence and continued to cry. He knelt down once again and placed his hand to her cheek and stroked it slowly. He removed his hand after a bit and returned to his standing position. He went back to the door and looked around the entrance way. His scanner had picked up a faint electromagnetic signal. As he observed the signal became stronger and stronger until his vision was becoming staticky again. He followed his scanners directions and began to follow the signal, relying solely on the scanner. His could no longer see but the scanner gave him enough to go on until the found that the trail had stopped. 

In front of him was a stone wall. He tapped the wall and his audio receptors found a hollow point. He stepped back and kicked the stone away. The stones crumbled under the force and they revealed a blue see-through doorway. He reached for the blue screen and his hand passed through it without trouble. He followed his hand and walked through the doorway into a dark room. 

The only light was coming from the entrance that he had just made. His vision was still not functioning properly and he listened for any indication of where he might be.  He heard loud clunks and a discharge of steam and a hydraulic system activate. A massive door shut, blocking the entrance. Volos felt the room begin to descend. He waited until it stopped and the large door opened again. 

The static in his eyes cleared and he activated his night vision, encompassing everything in yellow lines and a green hue. He stepped through the door and looked at the limited amount of things he could see. He could see consoles and various types of medical supplies and equipment scattered about the room. In the center was a large metal table standing nearly upright. All around him were large metal hooks that dangled from chains on the ceiling. As he stepped farther in his shoulder clipped one and the chain links clanked and rattled. 

The door shut once more and the lights in the room came to life in an instant, blinding Volos in his night vision mode. He turned it off and recovered from his temporary blindness. The room was now silver in color and plated in metal. He heard the console beep to life and he turned in that direction. Text appeared on the screens saying 'Sound Only.' 

"Hello Volos," said a female voice. "I'm sure you already know who this is, but the video functionality is damaged." Volos grunted. "It's good to see you came to the coordinates I gave you, even if I had to lead in here myself," she said. "The time has come Volos. You are not yet complete and your abilities suffer for it." There was a silence from the monitors. "And as such you must be completed." 

Volos heard something rolling and felt an impact in his shoulder. He grabbed the offending object and tried to yank it free but the hook was lodged in. As he struggled to remove the hook he heard more metallic clanks and the sound of scraping metal. He felt an impact on the back of his legs and he stumbled back and fell onto the metal table that was once in the middle of the room. His arms were restrained by large metal shackles that had come out from under the table and his legs were as well. The table moved back to its original position and lay flat. Volos struggled against the restraints and felt something smash into his chest. Another metal plate had come from the ceiling and was now holding him down. He could feel a burning sensation and immense pain. Clamps had attached to his shoulders and sent small drill head further into them to better hold Volos down. Then a number of medical tools came from the ceiling being guided by an unknown force. Drills spun as they neared, scalpels neared his body and needles pierced the weak points of his body.  

He let out a loud roar. 

	
> The Forest Part 3: Upgraded
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


1
	

Luna lay on her small and dirty mattress. She had stopped crying but her heart continued to ache. Her eyes were heavy and were threatening to close at any moment. Her heart still ached from her encounter with Night Wind. She had caused him to become what he is because of her selfishness all that time ago. Her transformation had turned her into Nightmare Moon and during her and Celestia's last fight she had destroyed everything, forcing Celestia to move to Canterlot and murdering her closest friend as a filly. Luna hugged herself tighter and closed her eyes. 

She laid there for a time before she forced herself to get up from her lowly mattress. She rubbed the tiredness from her eyes and left the room, hoping it would give her some relief. As she walked around the former castle grand her memories flooded her mind both fond and ill gotten. She walked and walked; the castle seeming to go on forever, just as she had remembered it. 

Her hooves sounded on the cobblestone and she took in the familiar sound letting her memories flood her mind; bringing a smile to her face as she walked on. She heard another sound coming from around her. The ghosts of the castle were still present in that place as Luna had witnessed before with Night Wind. Perhaps it was another coming to torment her. Luna did not go near the sound but instead ignored it and moved on. 

The grey cobblestone and grey stone began to dampen her mood even more so than it already was. Luna focused her eyes on her next destination in the castle and moved at a constant pace. She entered the open room and found the remnants of the previous occupant laying in a tattered mess of wood, worn paper and rusted metal. 

She went over and looked through the remains and found no sign of who it used to belong to. She separated the different materials and piled them accordingly. She needed to occupy her mind and this was the way to do it at the moment.  When she had finished piling up the clutter she found a glass bottle that was dirty with age and the color had faded from its exterior. She picked it up with her magic and threw it to the side. The bottle smashed on impact and the sound drew her attention to it. 

Among the broken pieces of glass was a rolled up paper that looked almost new. Intrigued, Luna lifted it to her with her magic and carefully undid its string. The words were somewhat faded but readable and the ink had become a copper color instead of its usual black. She read the note. 

Another lost; another gained, and then lost once more. 

My heart aches for my sister, my dearest Luna. 

Though not the first, loved like the last. 

Ahava why did you have to die? 

Ahava, Ahava, oh Ahava. 

It came from the skies and tore you asunder. 

The great metal beast from the sky, it took you from me. 

Though another claimed your place and made my heart less ache. 

Luna, dearest Luna. 
From where you came I do not know. 

And why you came, a mystery yet still. 

My sister, my sister, where did you go? 

The Great Nightmare has foalnapped you. 

Where did you go? 

Now in the Moon you reside. 

Come back to me one day, I cannot face life on my own, 

though I must. 

You were loved so much more than you could have known. 

Why did you have to go?

The ponies of Equestria did not mean to hurt you. 

I hurt you so much more. 

The loneliness I could never understand. 

Oh where have you gone? 


Luna dropped the note to the ground, refusing to look at it any longer. She hastily left the room and continued her traveling the castle, a haze in her eyes. She stopped and sat leaning against the wall behind her and looked out into the blue skies above. The note had had an expected but unwelcome emotion rise in her stomach; regret. 

“Why was I so selfish then?” she asked herself. 

“Only you can answer that,” a sweet, feminine voice said. 

Luna looked around quickly, her pulse elevating. “Please don’t be another ghost,” she whimpered. 

“I’m no ghost. Call me a construct if you would.” Luna looked for the apparition the voice belonged to but she found nothing. 

“Where are you?” 

“Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see me at all; at least, for now. I do not have the capability at the moment to physically 
manifest to you here or anywhere at the moment.” 

“Why are you talking to me?” Luna asked, unsure of what to think. 

“Dear child, I can talk to whomever I wish. You have no control over me.” Luna harrumphed and scowled at nothing. “Do not scowl like a spoiled brat. I know even more about you than you know and I can use that against you anytime I wish to,” the voice said angrily. 

“Who are you spirit? I demand to know!” Luna yelled. 

“Insolent brat!” the voice roared. “No one but the Masters may demand anything from me!” 

Luna growled and stood up quickly. She puffed and stomped down the hallways once more, her mood turned from sadness to pure anger. She could hear the voice saying things to her but she ignored such noise and continued on her anger filled way. She smirked triumphantly as she could no longer hear the voice saying anything. She stopped and listened. Nothing. 

She smiled again and let her previous anger slip away as Celestia had taught her shortly after her return to Equestria. Her clopping hooves moved at a quickened pace, almost a skip. She began to hum a happy tune as she had defeated the disembodied voice in the castle. She heard something fall behind her and a high pitched screeching pierced her ear drums. She turned around and saw a rusted metallic abomination emerge from behind one of the walls. 

“Ignore me will you?!” the Voice yelled, “I’ll turn you into a corpse!” 

Luna looked at the horror before her. It stood on six legs and had a large swinging tail behind it attached to a series of tubes and drums. Its head held large blue eyes and a mouth filled with spinning blades. 

“What abomination is that?” Luna asked, highly worried. 

“This little old thing?” the Voice cooed. “This is designate Seripath. That’s all you need to know.” 

Seripath, as it was called, raised its tail above its head and the barrels began to spin. Luna cringed at the sound of the rusted metal scraping against whatever was spinning it. The barrels ignited and released bright flashes of light. Luna felt something hot burn its way past her and she felt a blistering pain in her leg. She jumped out of the way and into another room, pinning herself against a wall and out of its sight. 

She looked down at her burning leg and found a small scrape were a tiny projectile had grazed her. She closed the wound with her magic and numbed the pain at the same time. She made a mental note to avoid the tail’s spinning barrels at all cost. She heard it moving and nearly got impaled as one of its legs smashed through the wall she pinned herself against. She shot a spell at it and flew into the air. 

She looked down at the abomination and tried to look for weakness but before she could find it crippling pain shot through her wing to her spine. A torrent of feathers flew all over and Luna found herself falling to the ground below. She maneuvered to the ground and crashed onto the cobblestone floor. 

“Where’s Volos when you need him?” she asked under her breath has she began running to her next hiding place casting a shield over herself, as the next wave of projectiles came. 


2


Volos' world had become nothing more than an empty, dark void. He could feel the needles pricking into his muscle tissues and he could feel the heat of the welding torches and the burn of hot metal binding onto his steel alloy skeleton. His audio receptors picked up the metallic scraping and clanking of metal and the hiss of hydraulic systems. There were a series of clanks and crashes as whatever it was impacted his body. His throat burned from whatever it was that had burned it earlier. He felt the compression on his body lift and the table moved to its upright position and the restraints on his wrists and legs were already undone. He slid of the table and fell to the ground. The metal of the floor caved under the new weight and Volos laid still, everything shutting down except his internal computer screen.

Systems reboot initiated…
…
…System Rebooting…

Volos’ vision became clear again and he looked up from the floor. He groaned deeply and got to one knee. He shook his head and felt new weight to it as well as heard the rest of his body making new sounds than what it was supposed to. He stood uneasily and studied the feeling and sight of his new body. He noticed that the floor was lower than he remembered it and that he felt bulkier. 

“Finally the upgrades are done,” Athena said through the audio system. Volos looked up to the console where Athena’s voice emulated from. “It will take while for you to get used to the upgrades but once you do, you’ll be near unstoppable.” Volos grunted. 

He continued to look himself over the best he could manage and found that all of him was made larger by some degree. His legs were now encased a glistening black metal with silver accent around the knee guards and lower shin guards. His chest piece had a symbol emblazoned on the front in the same silver as the leg accents. The same accents adorned his forearm plating and up to his shoulder pads. The guard on his left shoulder held the same symbol on it and the other side it had the Roman Numeral one. 

“If you haven’t noticed already you’re quite larger than you once were. Your height has been raised by two extra feet, making your total height ten Standard American Feet. And your width has increased by three Standard American Feet making you a total of eight Standard American Feet across.” Volos whistled. “Yes that is exceptionally large, I would have to agree. The Masters wanted you to be big I suppose; but who am I to question our makers. Also your new armored casing is made from an experimental alloy named Perma-Nine. Its properties are unknown to me as well as its resiliency to damage. Extreme caution is urged when engaging in combat.” 

A panel on the wall spun revealing a large room filled with two weapons. The smaller of the two was colored gold with and had a golden glowing chamber by the butt of the weapon. The larger was a simply designed weapon with a chrome color casing and a large black rectangular piece coming from the bottom and a grip by the butt.  Volos walked up to them and picked one up in each hand. He walked out and held them out in front of him. 

“The Masters have been truly generous to you Volos.  You hold the Mark Twelve Burning Sun Chain Pistol. It uses a small superheated plasma core based on the design of the Death’s Door weapon developed in 2842 by the Syrian Republic of Russia scientists and can fire ten rounds in automatic mode before a cool down is required as well as fifteen single round bursts. The other weapon you hold is the Mark Eight Hell’s Fire Automatic Rifle. It fires .88 Caliber Standard projectiles that are tipped with high explosives and are rocket propelled. This particular weapon can be modified for field operations with attachments and modified ammunitions; however, these modifications are not listed in this database.” 

Volos lowered the weapons to his sides after looking at them longer. The weapons flew from his hands and latched to magnets on each armor plate. Hooks then secured the weapons in place for transport. Startled by the magnets grabbing the weapons from him he jumped slightly, not expecting the strong magnetic field. The lights in the room flickered. And the room shook. 

“It sounds like something is happening upstairs,” Athena proclaimed calmly. “It would appear that my drone Seripath has engaged your companion in battle. You'd better hurry. You wouldn't want her to get killed.” Athena chuckled lightly and the monitors flickered off and the console went dark once more.

Roaring, Volos slammed a massive fist into the console caving it in on his enclosed hand so that the two halves slammed into one another. He grabbed his new Hell’s Fire Rifle from his hip and held it in his hands. It fit perfectly in his grip and he squeezed the grip hard with his right hand. 

A deep gravelly rage fuelled voice emanated from the armored helmet. “Time to die.” 

Volos pulled the slider and chambered the round. 
	
	
> The Forest Part 4: Battle Prowess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sections one and Two are simultaneous


Luna ran. She turned her head and blasted bolt after bolt of magic at her large adversary. She took cover behind another wall of the dilapidated castle as the metal spider launched another barrage of bullets. She put up a small shield and ducked. The bullets bounced off the shield but the constant impacts were taking a toll. Luna dropped the shield after she heard the metal tubes stop booming. 

She was beginning to believe that the Voice was right in saying that it would turn her into a corpse. She ran from her cover and used a flash spell to blind the metal monster. The spider screeched and flailed its upper body into the air before crashed back down again. It screeched loudly before charging at Luna again. 

It flew onto one of the wall and began to crawl along it, all the while trying to stab Luna with one of its large pointed legs. Luna hopped in between the jabs and kept leaping like a frog to dodge each thrust. She found an opening and teleported to it and took cover behind a fallen pillar. She knelt low to the ground making herself as small as possible. 

The spider crawled off the wall and inched forward as it looked for its target. Luna slowed her breathing as best as the adrenaline would let her and tried to get even closer to the pillar than she already was. She watched one of the legs move over her hiding spot. She held her breath tightly. The spider’s body went over the pillar drowning out any light. Luna put a hoof over her nose and mouth to keep from breathing as her lungs shriveled from lack of air. 

The spider kept moving down the corridor after smashing through another wall of her old home. Luna removed her hooves from her face and inhaled every bit of air that would fit into her deprived lungs. She stood up slowly and tip-hooved away from the pillar and into another room. She fell to her haunches and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. 

“That was too close,” she told herself. She stood up again. “I need to keep moving.” 

Luna peeked out of the room and found no sign of the spider that was chasing her before. She trotted briskly down the ivy coated corridors of the castle and came to a stop when she found another wall in her way. 

“A dead end,” she cursed. She turned around and retraced her steps. She found another passage way leading back to the throne room. When she reached the doors she stopped and peered inside. Seeing nothing blocking her way she went inside. Luna galloped through the large room. The floor began to rumble and tremble; Luna stopped and waited. She felt the floor begin to collapse and she leapt into the air and darted for the crumbled remains of the throne that her father sat on all those years ago. 

The spider emerged from the floor screeching and thrashing. Luna closed her eyes and took a quick breath. Her eyes roamed the room until they rested on a partially broken window in front of her. She tried to take a small step forward. Her shoe clunked against the stone floors and the spider’s attention was now trained onto her position. 

Luna cursed under her breath. She gripped the pane with her magic and pushed the glass out. It shattered and fell to the forest floor. Luna cringed, hoping that the spider did not hear. She peeked from around the corner. 

The large spider clicked and screeched. It did not move, opting for moving its head from side to side. Luna watched its intensely glowing yellow eyes until they moved into her direction. She ducked back behind the ruined throne. She held her breath and risked looking out one last time. 

Her head came out from hiding and she began staring directly into the spider’s eyes. She screamed and ran for the window again. The spider shot a leg out and it met only air. Luna was hovering just at the window’s height and felt her hoof touch the stone surrounding the opening and searing pain. Time slowed down for her. 

She felt her ribs collapse to one side as she crumpled on a large brown silver metal beam. Her eye caught a glimpse of the one of the spider’s legs moving in a swing motion. Luna felt blood fill her mouth, its copper taste overpowering. Her lungs released their stores of air. She opened her mouth to see a waterfall of red and her nose ran red. She felt herself go numb and felt herself flying threw the air. She felt something impact her back as she flipped over it. Her spine cracked and crumpled and her muscles stretched and strained. She fell and slammed into the cobblestone floors, a pool of red blood filling the cracks in the stones. 

She lay there struggling to breathe as blood filled her throat and mouth again. She spat out the blood and managed to get her hooves under her. She pushed against the ground only to fall back down again. Her vision became blurry and her eyes began to glaze over. She struggled to remain conscious as darkness touched the corners of her eyes. She fought it back as the spider moved in her location. 

Her legs would not respond to her brain’s instructions and they remained motionless. She channeled what magic she could into her horn and blasted another magical beam. She watched as the beam fizzled out before striking its mark. She laid her head against the stone and felt wetness around it. Darkness continued to nip at her the corners of her eyes as she struggled to remain awake. Her breathing was extremely labored and short. She coughed and flipped herself to her stomach. She couldn’t feel her body anymore and she remained still. 

The spider lowered its head until its jaws were nearly on top of Luna. Luna watched as they opened revealing massive metal teeth that began to spin emitting a sickening sound. She closed her eyes and waited for her impending death. 

Then, a loud boom sounded in the castle.


2


The console that once flickered with artificial life was now a smoking and useless pile of junk. Volos stomped quickly to the lift that had delivered him to the chamber. He stepped inside and waited for the lift to begin moving. The doors closed and it began to move itself up along the passageway. Before long the doors opened, revealing the blue screen from before. He stepped through it quickly and activated his scanners. His sight filled with colors; from the green of animals to the red of threats and in that mass of colors he found Luna’s signal, a deep purple. He began to walk before going into a full sprint after he saw the purple running from an invisible enemy. 

He continued scanning across all of his available scan frequencies and still nothing appeared on his radar. He growled with frustration as he cradled his new weapon in his hands. He held it on the underside of the barrel with his left hand and sprinted down the corridors avoiding obstacles by jumping over them and going around. He felt his anger grow as he continued to see the purple mist on his scanner move rapidly for one moment and then stop. 

His pace was considerably faster as his legs carried him through the large castle. He felt himself hitting objects but his pace remained unchanged as small walls and other thin obstacles crumbled away from him. He jumped over a mound of rubble and leaped off of the adjacent wall and continued sprinting after smashing into the ground. 

He switched off his scanner as he got closer to where Luna was located. He saw the doors to the throne room and charged in. He watched as Luna flew through the air and fell to the ground after impacting a broken statue. She struggled to get up as the spider neared her. 

His internal database search raced to find what kind of mechanical monster he was watching. The words filled his vision. 

Designate: Seripath…Purpose: Infiltration large enemy outposts while remaining undetectable…Weaknesses: Unknown… Weapons: Variation of the M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun that entered military service in the year 1959… Current Model: Vulcanus 553 Beta... Caliber: 1.00… Firing rate: 20,000 rounds a minute… Danger assessment: Extreme…

Volos held up his rifle and fired one round as the Seripath lowered its jaws to Luna. The metal on the Seripath’s head imploded and then exploded in a shower of rusted metal and black oil. Oil and sparks roared from the hole as the Seripath screeched and stumbled backwards. Volos ran to Luna as the Seripath continued to howl and flail. 

He picked her up gently and fled to the nearest piece of cover he could find. He laid Luna down and propped her head up on the stone. He scanned her body. He whined softly. There was extensive damage to her internal organs, muscles and bones. His vision soon filled with a flood of biological information. The lines of data stopped and vanished and he peered over the stone mound. 

The spider was now fully recovered. The hole in its head still visible as oil and sparks continued to spill through. Volos went back down behind the mound and brought his medical interface up. He flooded it with commands and prompts, desperately trying to find a solution. The interface vanished of its own accord and he felt the armor panels just under his wrist move to the side and a syringe containing a glowing orange ooze came from it. 

…Nano Medibot transfusion required… Inject into subject…

Volos plunged the syringe into Luna’s torso and let the glowing orange goo go into her body.

…Medibots successfully deployed… …. … … … … … Heart and Lung Stabilization achieved…. …. …. …. …. ….Now redirecting all Medibot and Nanobot priorities to life support… Achieved… … Estimated healing time… 3 Days 16 Hours… Recommend Hospitalization upon completion for total recovery…

Volos sighed before stepping out from behind the stone mound. He ran to the door and stood in the entry way. He roared loudly and fired another round from his rifle. The bullet impacted the Spiders leg making it fall onto its injured leg. The spider screeched and charged at Volos. 

Volos ran further and further into the castle, firing an occasional shot to keep the Seripath’s attention. The Seripath followed him like a dumb beast and continued to crash its way through to reach Volos. Volos finally stopped, deciding that he had gone far enough, and fired off three more rounds directly into the Seripath. The Seripath roared and charged again. 

Volos clipped the rifle back to his right leg and let go when the Mag Lock sealed it in place. He looked down at his newly upgraded arm and tried to release the sword that was trapped inside the armor. The armor plates separated and slid to either side of his forearm and a large silver blade shot from the space. The blade itself was serrated in the center of the blade on both edges and came to sharp point. 

Volos chuckled and moved his arm into a punching position with his fist clenched and the blades tip even with his chest. He lowered himself into a running stance and remained. 

“Let’s go!” he roared, sprinting. 


3


Volos charged the Seripath, his blade remaining even with his chest. The Seripath swept one of its legs across the ground. Volos jumped at the last second. He flew upwards, still unused to his new body. Managing to flip himself in midair, he pushed from the ceiling and down onto the Seripath. He stuck his blade out and plunged it into the creature’s back, becoming lodged. The Seripath screeched loudly and jumped into the nearest stone wall. Volos' arm pulled and strained from the Seripath's rampage. It reared up and smashed itself down againVolos’ sword came loose from the Seripath’s back as he was smashed through the wall. He staggered to his feet and readied himself again. 

The Seripath raised its tail and trained the gun onto Volos’ position. The barrels began to rotate before the thunderous sound of bullets erupted from it. Volos jumped to the side and dodged the initial barrage behind a pile of rotting wood and going prone. The bullets did not stop as the gun rotated to his current location. He jumped away from the wood and rolled into a standing position. He felt an impact on his chest and was thrown to the ground. 

His new chest plate held firm but now had a large scratch of paint missing where the bullet had ricochet. He tried to get to his feet but was thrown back down as another hail of bullets rained down on to him. His vision was swimming with numerical data and damage assessments. He tried to focus back to the Seripath that was now bearing down on him. 

The bullets stopped and he managed to roll away from a stomping leg just before it impacted the ground. Volos growled and jumped to his feet. He pulled his newly acquired pistol from his quad plate and trained it to the Seripath’s swerving head. He pulled the trigger and a small blast of super-heated plasma rang from its barrel. The small yellow mass splattered on the Seripath’s right leg and seared it. Volos observed the effects. The metal melted away and the plasma dripped into the circuitries and wires melting them quickly. The Seripath shook it off and focused once again onto Volos' position. 

The Seripath charged at full speed. Volos was unprepared for the speed that the large spider could muster. It's head slammed into Volos' chest and bucked its head up. Volos flew into the air, his body flipping wildly. Volos watched the world spin and shift as he flipped and tumbled through the air. His eyes caught the Seripath below and he twisted his head and shoulders as much as possible to not lose sight of it. Volos kicked his legs and swung his arms, making himself turn back to a manageable position. He sheathed his sword and felt himself fall back towards the Seripath. He raised his right arm high above his head as he fell back down to his opponent. The Seripath raised its head and opened its mouth and its teeth began to move like a chainsaw’s teeth ready to accept its on coming meal. 

Volos came down and his legs entered the Seripath’s mouth. The spinning metal teeth scratched and tore at Volos' leg armor. Volos felt the teeth puncture and pierce his armor as he forced his elbow down into the Seripath’s nose. The Seripath’s rusted nose crumbled underneath the force becoming nothing more than a crumpled metal sheet. The teeth inside its upper jaw folded into one another and the belts moving them snapped and shredded. The serrated metal teeth flew from their original home and embedded themselves into the surrounding area and deeper into the Seripath's body. The Seripath hollered and shook its head violently, flinging Volos into the dirt before collapsing. 

Volos shook his head and tried to stand. His legs buckled and he fell onto his back. He leaned up and found one of the teeth embedded into his shin. He grasped it and yanked it out, exerting much force to do so. The tooth ripped out slowly from his leg and it began to bleed oil and blood from around the entry point. Volos roared as the serrations on the tooth ripped through his muscle tissues. The tooth came out of his leg after a few seconds and his nanobots went to work trying to repair the damage. He focused next on the tooth that had embedded itself in his shoulder pauldron. He grabbed and ripped it from his armor, the tooth shredding more muscle fibers. He held down his roar this time and instead breathed heavily.

…Muscular fibers heavily damaged…Repairs in progress… Estimated time until completion… Four Minutes thirty-seven seconds… Armor Integrity holding at 95%...Armor molecular reinforcement and repair processes begun… Time until completion…Three minutes…

Volos decided not to question where the armor reinforcement and repair programs came from. Instead he decided to wait for the repairs to this muscles and armor to complete. The Seripath remained motionless in a heap of smoking metal and small fires. Volos stared at the sight, marveling at his new found strength capabilities. 

‘Run internal biological diagnostic’ 

…Running…Running…Running…Complete…Displaying Data…
Muscle Mass increased 200%... Upgraded Bio-Mechanical heart found…Upgraded Bio-Mechanical lungs found…Stamina increased 300% as result of new organs...

Volos whistled as the data vanished from his vision. “That will certainly help,” he said to himself. A ping interrupted his musings and he stood up on solid legs and the armor was fully repaired. “Not bad. Even my nanobots got upgraded for speed repairs.” He walked around found his pistol among the wreckage of the Seripath, somehow unscathed save for a scorch mark or two. He hooked it back to his left Quadriceps Mag Lock and went back to find Princess Luna. 


4
 

Princess Luna groaned and her head spun and throbbed. Her eyes continuously refused to open and her voice was lost. The most she could do was moan and make other little noises to communicate. She cringed as she felt her bones move and crack back into their regular positions. The process was slow and painful and she was unable to scream. Instead, she let her tears fall down her cheeks as she whimpered and shook. She felt the ground vibrate as large footsteps approached. She strained to move and turn her head. The vibrations grew stronger and she forced her eyelids to move ever so slightly. Between the darkened vision and blurry perceptions she saw a large bipedal figure in the doorway. 

The figure moved forward towards her and her body would not move anymore. The figures feet were clearly visible when it was close to her nearly closed eyes. The large black shin had intricate silver accents and patterns and was very large. She watched as the large shin moved back folded parallel to the ground. 

“Easy princess, I got you,” a deep gruff voiced said softly. Luna’s eyes closed again and she felt her body leave the ground. She felt her body being caressed gently and felt herself being put against a large wall like metal plate. “You’ll be okay,” it said again. Her mind was slipping from conscious state to the unconscious but before it fell completely she heard more. “I will protect you.” 

She then fell into unconsciousness. 
	
> The Forest Part 5: Caretakers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Luna rested against a makeshift bed made of rock and stones propped up against one of the walls in the throne room. Volos sat, leaning against the wall close to her side. He had been sitting there for a couple hours watching and waiting for any sign of recovery, no matter how small. Volos had scanned her body for injury before and found that some of the damage had been repaired but was not close to completion. Volos ran his hand across his bone white faceplate before groaning loudly. He raised an arm and cocked it in front of him before slamming his elbow into the stone wall behind him. The wall exploded at the impact point and left a large, gaping hole. He yanked his elbow from the hole taking another large chunk of the wall with it. He stood up slowly and watched as Luna's chest raised and fell in slow motion. 

"At least she survived," he said quietly to himself. He began to pace along the floor, his heart beating rapidly. "How could I have let this happen?" he berated himself. He growled and swung his arms wildly. Images of past events and how Luna received her injuries flowed through his mind. He roared loudly putting his clenched fists by his side as he roared. "ATHENA! This is your fault!" Volos seethed and growled. "Hear me you damnable thing, I will end you!" he roared. 

After a few minutes Volos had managed to calm himself and return to Luna’s side. He gingerly touched Luna’s cheek and ran his hand through her ethereal mane. The stars in her mane bounced and reflected off his metal cased appendage. Luna’s nostrils flared for an instant and a quiet groan escaped her bloodied lips. Volos sat back and held Luna’s right silver shoed hoof in his hand and squeezed it lightly. He grasped the same hoof with his other hand and held it to his forehead. 

He felt her hoof twitch within his grasp and looked down at her body to see it shaking violently and foam coming from her mouth. Volos put her hoof down quickly and tried to hold her down. Luna’s chest shot up and down and her head shook while her limbs lurched in Volos’ strong grasp. Volos’ onboard computers scanned rapidly and lit up with images and text. Luna’s brain was displayed in the center of his vision. He could see her synapsis and the electrical currents in her brain. The electrical currents flowed rapidly and without direction. It was as though her brain had gone into an overloaded state. He continued to hold her down as she shook and her heart rate and brain activity was displayed to Volos as he tried to keep her from injuring herself. Just as suddenly as it had begun Luna stopped shaking and had become still. The displays that Volos was looking at showed Luna’s heart had stopped and her brain activity was now dangerously low. Volos let go of Luna’s body and pressed his hand to her chest and pushed down quickly. 


2


Luna felt a breeze. Her eyes fluttered open as she shivered lightly at the winds crisp touch. She yawned deeply and stood up; her muscles spasmed as she stretched them.  She looked around and found herself surrounded by the greenest grass while tall trees dotted the hilled landscape. A diamond sun rested in the sky and its tepid warmth could be felt along her body. She took a deep breath and the smell of fresh cut grasses, ozone and unpolluted air filed her nostrils and lungs with life. She remained standing in the midst of this place for a while longer taking in its sights and smells. 

“What is this place?” she asked happily. 

“This is Coralyth,” a feminine voice said behind her. Luna spun around and saw her mother standing behind her.  “Hello again, love.” Luna ran into her mother’s waiting hooves and she remained there for a time. 

“Where are we Mother? What is this place?” 

Mother let go of Luna and stood up at her full height. She motioned Luna up to where she had been standing previously. “This is Coralyth, the afterlife for the many creatures of the universe.” 

“Coralyth?” Luna asked. She looked around quickly. “But, I don’t see anypony else around.” 

“That’s because this is the plane for Alicorns.”

“So then where is father?” 

“Here,” she heard a gruff voice reply. The large black Alicorn landed in front of them and his stern face soon locked onto Luna. “I’m surprised you’re here,” he huffed, “You shouldn’t be.” 

Mother gave a nasty look to her husband and patted Luna’s head softly. “He didn’t mean it like that dear.” Luna’s mood remained unchanged. “Moving on then, follow me. There is somepony I’d like you to meet,” she said sweetly despite her husband’s greeting. 

Luna followed her mother as her father trailed behind. Luna continued to look at the scenery as they went. Flowers adorned the ground and reflected the sun from the platinum, azure, turquoise, and golden petals. The reflected light colored the ground around them creating a sparkling and mixture of colors. Luna’s smile returned as they moved and she had begun to admire such a beautiful environment. 

“Where are going?” 

“You’ll see,” was all Mother would say. 

Luna stopped and clutched at her chest. “Mother?” she called, her voice filled with pain. Luna doubled over and clutched at her chest with her hooves. She screamed loudly as Mother came running over to her side and Father casually caught up to them. “What’s happening?” she asked holding back another scream. She felt a pressure hit her chest then release quickly, then felt it again seconds later. She screamed as the pressure returned and vanished over and over. 

“You’re being pulled back,” Mother said quickly. “Somepony is trying to pull you back!” 

Luna screamed again as a large ripple shot through her body distorting her for a short instant.  Her chest burned as the ripples came and went through her agonizing body. Luna’s chest exploded as she felt herself be ripped from the reality that she had been seeing and was replaced by darkness. 


3


…Heart Rate: Within Normal Parameters… Brain Function: Within Acceptable Range…

Volos groaned and fell back onto his hindquarters. His arms were behind him supporting his massive upper body. He breathed a breath of relief and sat back up. He stood up and heard his armored joints rub against each other making a loud grinding noise. He went over to a window inside the throne room and looked on outside. The sun was in its descent phase and the sky had begun to change from its standard blue to a dense orange and dark yellow with a hint of crimson. 

“Our time here is almost over,” he said quietly to himself. He looked away from the window and moved back towards where Luna lay and sat down again. He let his scanner go to work again. 

…Heart Rate: Normal… Brain Activity: Acceptable…

He watched the text disappear then saw his vision flashing and more come into view. 	

…WARNING…WARNING…WARNING…WARNING…

…Medibots Malfunctioning…Shut Down Imminent…Incompatibility Found…Incompatibility Found…
Medibots Deactivating…Deactivated…
Volos growled. 

‘Diagnose,’ he commanded his onboard systems. 

…Diagnosing… … … … Complete… … Displaying Results… … Medibot version 9.0 incompatible with transplant host systems… 

‘Explain’ 

…Transplant Host Systems rejecting all transplanted Medibots…

Volos punched the wall. “This can’t be happening,” he growled. The heart monitor that Volos had monitoring Luna began to flash as her heart rate dropped again. “No!” He kept scanning her body as the Medibots began to shut down and her vitals plummeted. 


4


Luna’s eyes burst open. Her vision was blurred by the intense light and the constant shadows that invaded her vision. When it cleared she could see her mother’s concerned face and her father’s indifference written on his. 
“Back again?” Father asked sarcastically, “Pick, alive or dead. You can’t have both.” Luna groaned as she flipped herself to her stomach. “On your feet,” he said sternly, “You are Alicorn. Such disorients are beneath you.” 

Luna stood back up and rubbed her head. “What happened?” 

“You were sent back to the world of the living,” Mother said quietly, “Somepony there doesn’t want you here.” 

Luna smiled and chuckled. “I suppose he wouldn’t want me to be here,” she whispered to herself. 

Mother smiled. “Now, there is somepony we’d like you to meet,” she said, pointing over by a small tree. Luna stepped closer and saw a creature sitting under it against the trunk. “Luna, this is Alyssa.” 

The creature sitting under the tree got to one knee before propping itself up on two legs and making eye contact. The creature walked closer to Luna and put two appendages similar to Volos’ on either side of her face. The creature pulled her head down lightly to see her eyes. Luna could see a loving motherly gaze in the creature’s eyes and she relaxed slightly. 

“You’ve grown so much,” it said sweetly, “If it weren’t for your eyes, I never would have guessed who you were.” The creature let go of Luna’s face and took a small step back. It had no hair on its body except for its head, which was a light sand color. Her eyes were a midnight blue and her skin was almost pale. 

“Who are you?” Luna asked, entranced. 

“My name is Alyssa, as your..." she hesitated, "mother said...." Her demeanor changed quickly and she began to weep. "I… I… I’m sorry,” she cried, jumping to Luna and embracing her around her neck. “I’m so sorry." 

“I don’t understand,” Luna said between Alyssa’s sobs, “What are you sorry for?” 

Alyssa let go of Luna’s neck, keeping one hand on her cheek. “For abandoning you when you needed me most.” 

“What…?” Luna asked. She looked at Alyssa questioningly and examined her words for any clues as to what she might mean. 
She felt a throb in her chest and raised a hoof to her heart.  AGH!” she screamed again. She clutched at her chest as her chest burned again and the ripples shot through her body. Her reality collapsed again as her vision was enveloped in darkness. 


5


Volos relaxed his posture as Luna’s vitals came back to life. He rubbed his faceplate again and groaned. He got back to his feet and went back to a window and stared outside. The sun a fallen behind the horizon and the moon was now in the sky. Volos nodded quickly and moved away. His audio receptors picked up a quiet noise and saw that Luna was moving her mouth, but no words came from her lips; only mumbled jargon. Her body twitched and bile oozed from her mouth. Volos got back on his knees and readied himself for the inevitable seizure when Luna doubled over and vomited on herself and the floor. Volos bent down to try to get as much of the vomit off of her body when his sensors blared once again. 

…WARNING…WARNING…WARNING…

…Core Temperatures Rising Rapidly…

He looked down to see Luna sweating and her head rolling from side to side. Her face contorted and her horn began to glow brightly. Her legs began to move and she began to moan. The light from her horn overwhelmed Volos’ optics and began to blind him. He turned away before hearing a loud explosion. Luna's horn exploded in a brilliant wave of blue magical energy and heat. The moon shone brighter and its light shone throughout the forest, illuminating it in its pale diamond light. 

Volos felt himself flying through the air in a wave of heat and pure energy. His optics fizzled and were full of static, blinding him completely. His internal thermal sensors blared and rang on his onboard displays and his mechanics began to overheat. He felt numerous impacts on his body as he soared until he found himself lying still on the grass at the foot of the castle. His optics cleared and began to filter out the darkness as his night vision mode kicked in. He laid on the ground unable to move as his mechanisms and other machinery cooled from the intense heat. 

When he could finally move he propped himself up on his hands and knees and stood up slowly. He looked at the castle and saw that the roof had been blown apart and that rubble and debris lay all around him. He took a timid step forward and saw dust and pieces of rock fall from his armor. He forced his arms and legs to move as he cleared the rocks and dust from his body. Satisfied with the result of his endeavor he found a way to climb back to where Luna was last seen. 

He found some of the rocks in the wall had been knocked out enough for him to use the holes like a makeshift ladder. He jumped up and slammed his hands through the stone of the wall. He hung there for a moment before punching his feet through it as well, making small footholds in the already dislodged rocks. He continued climbing up to the throne room. His hand grasped a jutting stone and as he pulled himself up it fell from its place and plummeted to the ground. Volos managed to hang on to the hole he had made in the wall, saving himself from a punishing fall. 

He reached the top of the wall and climbed over. He fell onto his back and lay there for a moment groaning. "My stabilizers aren't functioning fully yet," he groaned to himself before getting up again. He righted himself and made his way over to Luna’s body. It was emitting light glow and she was floating in midair on her back, perfectly straight. Volos reached out and tapped her shoulder before retracting his pointed finger slowly. She never flinched and remained floating. The light around her body began to fade and small sparks fizzled in the air as it did. She lowered to the ground and rested on the rubble below her. Volos knelt down beside her and scanned her vitals again. He hummed in satisfaction and went into standby. 
> The Forest Part 6: Mechanimentum et Odium
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Volos exited his standby and stood up. His joints groaned and the metal scraped as he extended his limbs out to get his blood flowing and his oil circulating. The sun beamed down into the throne room of the old castle, lighting it through the destroyed roof. He checked himself over and found numerous scratches and small dents in his armored torso and among his legs. He scratched at his faceplate and found a long and rigid line going from the bottom of his left eye to his chin. He groaned loudly and let his arm fall to his side. 

He turned around to see that Luna was still in her resting place, sleeping blissfully. She moaned and her eyelid twitched quickly. Volos stared in anticipation of another abnormality or failing vitals, but saw that she was waking herself. Her eyes opened slowly and deliberately. She looked around and saw a much larger being standing close by clad in black and silver armor with a bleached white faceplate. She looked in awe through her drowsy eyes at the intricate designs of the silver accents and the faceplate that had two glowing ports and came to two points on both sides where the chin ends. 

“V…Volos?” she coughed. 

Volos knelt down and grasped her hoof gently. His scanners examined her body as he knelt and found that it had been healed almost completely. “Here,” he answered, “as always.” He continued keeping his monitors going to check that they were correct. 

Luna’s ears tingled with the reverberation of his deep voice. She smiled weakly, “you can speak now. I’m happy for you.” She pushed off the floor with her free hoof and cringed when her abdomen sent sharp pains through her body. She fell back to the rubble that she had been sleeping on and sighed heavily. 

“You need rest,” Volos stated bluntly.  “You caused an explosion last night and you need to regain your strength.” He gently pressed a hand to her chest and left it there for a second. He felt Luna try to push back against it but she stopped her resistance. He removed his hand and scooped her up in his arms.  He lifted her gently. Her head rested against his right pauldron and he held her against his chest.  

What are you doing?” she asked weakly. 

“We need to move,” he said looking around the room, his scanners showed the surrounding areas crawling with hostile signals. “The explosion you caused will have drawn attention to this place and you’re in no condition to fight if necessary.” He went to the nearby window, holding onto Luna’s two front hooves, and peered out of one of the many holes in the walls. He zoomed in his optics and saw bushes moving and heard twigs snapping in the distance. “I feared as much.” He turned away from the hole and began moving toward the once present doorway. He tucked his arms under her rear thighs and hoisted her up a little. 

He held her there as he slowly made his way through the, now more ruined, castle. Volos’ auditory sensors picked up movement from inside the castle and his scanners showed entities moving about the outer grounds as well. He growled and continued to move as quickly as possible to find a way out of the ruins of the castle. 


2

Celestia moved about the halls of the castle briskly. The explosion in the Everfree forest had been sorely unexpected and had turned the castle into a mad house. She had cancelled her court and sent any and all petitioners home, as well as, cancelled all meetings with the nobles of Equestria. She passed by guards and servants as she went back to the throne room to hear the reports from scouting parties sent to investigate the commotion. Celestia walked through the room crowded with Solar Guard and ascended the steps to her golden throne. She sat down and stared out over the crowd of ponies with a stern grimace on her face. 

“Captain Helios!” she yelled. “Report!” Solaris walked up to the throne holding a small stack of papers with his magic. He floated them over to the princess, who grabbed them in her magic and sifted through them quickly. She went through the papers and stopped after going through most of the stack. She stared wide eyed at the photo that had been taken of some wreckage from outside the castle. She regained her composure and placed it to the side, starting another pile. She put the rest of the photos in the 
stack as well. She cleared her throat. “Explain.” 

Helios bowed his head for a moment. “The castle was in complete ruin princess. The photos that were taken depict something that was seen outside by scout team three,” he said. “We don’t know what it was or what is used to be. All we could make of it was that it was very dangerous and extremely large compared to the average pony.”

Celestia remained silent for a moment before speaking. “And the explosion?” she asked. 

“It was magical in nature and very potent. It left traces all over the castle. But, we managed to find a slightly stronger trail leading out of the room and into the castle itself. However, it quickly vanished and the trail went cold indefinitely.” He shuffled nervously, “we were unable to find it again.” 

The look on Celestia’s face made the captain uneasy and he shuffled in place. “Anything else?” He jumped slightly and nodded slowly. He brought one last picture from under his chest plate and floated it over. Celestia took it and held it in front of her face before feeling a chill in her spine. “Princess? Are you alright?” Solaris asked. 

“When... When was this taken?” Celestia asked a twinge of anger in her tone. 

“Approximately…uh…” He looked at the report in his hoof, “two hours ago.” He looked up and saw Celestia’s eye twitching. “Is something wrong princess?” 

Celestia regained her composure quickly and placed the new photo in the other stack of papers. She looked at her newly appointed captain and steeled her face. “Captain?” 

“Yes princess?” he asked, feeling a nervous tick in his stomach. The princess was too calm for the current situation. 

“Give the order to evacuate those ruins,” she said with a calm authority and finality. 

“Yes, Princess.” He turned away and began to walk away from the throne. 

“One more thing captain,” she called to the captain. He stopped and turned back around to face her. “Once all have been evacuated from there,” she paused, a sick grin on her face. “Level it.” She thought for a moment, “Oh, and make sure to use the Infernus Spiritus Trahant. I don’t want anything left.” 

Helios remained still, his mouth moved up and down but nothing would come out of his throat. He took a deep breath and found his voice. “But princess you named those ruins a historical site. To demolish it would mean Equestria losing a piece of its history,” he stated, the surprise still evident. 

Celestia stood up and walked down the steps and stood in front of her captain. He began to feel very small as her demon-like gaze bored through him. “Did I stutter captain?” He shook his head. “Did you not hear me?” Again he shook his head. “I didn’t think so. Now, get it done Captain Helios! And should you question me again, you will be on the receiving end of my own Hell Fire! Understood?” 

“Y…Yes Princess,” he stammered quickly and hurried off and the rest of the guardsponies followed suite. 

When the throne room was empty she levitated the photos and lined them in front of her. She looked at it intensely before igniting it on fire. She watched as the flames made their way up the page, grinning as more and more of the paper burned and became ash. Her eyes remained locked onto the glowing eyes that stared out into the distance from the wreckage of the castle. The flames enveloped the remaining parts of the photo and her smile twisted into a sinister and depraved grin. 
“Yes. Yes. Burn, burn, burn monster. You will burn; I will make sure of it.” 

She exited the throne room with the same grin on her face and a cackle. 


3


Volos crept around a corner and held a tight line along the walkway. His auditory and optical sensors were on overdrive, picking up any and all sound around him and giving him a clear scan of the area around him. He had heard voices and snapping noises some time ago and was still surrounding the area. The readings on his scanner began to move away from the castle and began amassing in a very large circle. He stopped and waited to see what was happening. His auditory sensors picked up a loud humming and the distinct chime of magic igniting. The realization came and he began to run down the corridor, not caring about whom or what might see him. 

The ringing became louder and he felt the castle shake violently. He stumbled around, still trying to hold onto the princess. He turned down another corridor and recognized it by the remains of the stained glass windows lining the walls. He made his way quickly down the hall before tripping over a rogue brick that had been shaken from the partially collapsed ceiling. He managed to flip himself to his back, sparing Luna the most damaging of the impact. He watched as a bright golden light began to filter in through the windows and also permeate the greyness of the stone itself. 

Volos hopped up quickly and found what he had been looking for; a large metal doorway that was projecting an orange film over the entrance way. He pushed on it and found that he could not go through it. He took a step back and set Luna down on the ground. 

“What are you doing?” she asked weakly. 

Volos didn’t answer and, instead, kicked the edge of the remaining stone by the doorway and watched it crumble away revealing six tube-like structures connected to the orange field. He raised a leg and kicked at the tubes. The metal casings surrounding them caved and folded under the massive force. The orange field fizzled and sputtered but remained steady. 

The stones began to glow brighter until the whole castle rocked and shook after a tremendous force erupted from where they had once been located. Luna curled up and tried to cover her head with her hooves, screaming. Volos stumbled around before smashing into the wall behind him. The stones at his impact point began to spark and small golden currents bounced along them. He jumped up quickly and ran in the short distance between him and the field. He tilted his shoulder and rammed the metal canisters. The field generators exploded and the field vanished in a torrent of particles and sparks. 

He picked up Luna again and began to move for the lift that was on the other side of where the field used to be. The stones of the castle began to spark and glow like small suns. Another explosion rocked the castle grounds and Volos was thrown to ground by a wave of rock and debris. The princess was thrown into the lift and impacted the metal wall, leaving a small dent. Volos looked around and saw the castle beginning to collapse all around them as the glow of the rock became ever more intense. 

Volos crawled over to Luna and propped her against the steel walls of the lift. The cage door to the lift closed and the large metal doors began to shut but stopped midway, sparking and spewing small gouts of flame. Volos grabbed the cage door and began to bend and pull it to make a hole for him to try to force the large metal doors to close. The light coming from the stones reached its critical mass and the magical energies flowing through the rock began to interfere with Volos’ optics. 

The stones cracked and let out a blast of concussive force. The force of the blast knocked Volos back from the cage gate. He impacted the wall and felt his biomechanical lungs become clenched, forcing all the air out of them. He lay on the ground dazed and tried to reorient himself. He wheezed and found Luna lying fairly close by. He reached for her when he saw the golden light continue to grow. The magical energy expelled itself from the stones, incinerating them. 

The fury of the flames came at Volos and Luna, like a ravenous beast. The large metal doors of the lift did little to calm the fires that came at them and they flooded the small chamber and shaft. Volos bent over Luna and held her close to his chest. The fires engulfed them both. Volos’ sensors blared as his armor’s temperature spiked rapidly. Luna began to struggle as the metal against her body began to feel the heat of the armor. 

The lift shook and sputtered violently, shaking Luna out of Volos’ arms and into the fire. She screamed as the fire burned her skin and scorched her fur. Volos jumped over to her position and began trying to remove the flames from around her body. His metal body was giving into the heat as his circuits and other sensitive machinery began to shut down and shut out all electrical pulses. He tried to force his body to do what he wanted it to and he reached out for the princess. 

The lift shook again and a loud clang echoed through the small metal container. The lift began to move down rapidly. Volos felt himself get pulled closer to the ceiling and saw Luna’s body doing the same. The flames that had enveloped the lift had begun to sputter out because of the lifts rapid decent. The lift filled with sparks and hydraulic fluids as its systems were disconnected by the damage it had taken. 

Volos grabbed the princess and held her once again to his chest as they twisted and spun inside the free-falling elevator. The lift continued to descend in a free-fall until it impacted with a large metal slab. Volos smashed into the lift floor, still clutching Luna. He felt his body contort and begin to feel as though it had been flattened by the sudden halt of their rapid descent.  

He slid Luna off of his large chest before flipping himself over and getting to one knee. He pushed off the ground and stood up. His heat sensors continued to blare at him. 

‘Begin cooling sequence’ 

…Opening all cooling vents… Vents open…

His armor panels moved and separated themselves, revealing a maze of mechanical and biological systems. The heat that was trapped inside his body rushed out in a jet of steam and smoke. As his core temperatures lowered the panels began to reattach themselves in their original places. The clamps, screws and restraints secured themselves in position. 

Volos looked over to where he had placed Luna and picked her up. He stepped off of the lift and into the chamber below the castle where he had been given his new body. The lights in the room flickered to life once again, revealing the grey metal room with the smashed console in the corner and a metal table stained red, black and orange. He placed her on it carefully and looked her over. 
Fur had been burned away and burns on her body were clearly visible and distinguishable. There was a massive cut running down her left eyelid to halfway down her cheek, cauterized by the intense flames. Her ethereal mane had been reduced to its original silver blue and had been burned short and uneven. 

He remained silent as he studied her maimed body again and again. He collapsed onto his backend and held his face in his hand, resting the other on an uplifted knee. 

“V…Volos?” he heard a feminine voice call weakly. He stood up and found Luna’s mouth open and her lips moving in shallow movements. “It stings,” she muttered. Volos remained silent. “Are you there?” she asked desperately. “I don’t want to be alone.” Volos gingerly placed a hand on her right hoof and held it. “Thank you.” 

“Rest princess, while I find something to ease the pain.” He stood up and looked at the hoof he was holding as he let go. He stopped and looked closer, wires were protruding from it, releasing a steady stream of sparks. 
	
		
> The Forest Part 7: Found
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volos held Luna’s hoof in his metal hand, the sparks washing over it and bouncing from its metallic surface. He let go and placed the hoof back on the metal table and walked over by the smoldering console. He examined it closely, looking over every panel and form. From where he stood it was non-usable junk. He returned to where the medical station had given him his upgraded form and looked to the ceiling, where the device rested. The arms had retracted into the ceiling and the control box remained hooked to its dock. Volos reached up and grasped the large box, piercing the docking mechanism with his clawed fingers. He pulled down and watched as the box fell from the ceiling in a shower of metal and sparking electronics. The box clattered to the ground and its arms flailed to the floor in a heap. 

Volos picked up each arm carefully and examined each. Drills, needles, and scalpels adorned the arms, leaving no trace of a pain relief method.  He returned to the table and stood by it once more. He reached down and pressed a knuckle behind Luna’s ear and pressed into the soft tissue. She began to squirm and groan but ultimately went still, her quiet breaths filtering through the still air. He hoped that that would at least help numb some of the pain 

Volos’ gaze fell back to Luna’s metal hoof. He activated his scanner and found that the metal did not show up as metal but as bone in the displayed readings. He picked up her hoof again and raised a finger, placing a little farther up her leg. He rested it on her soft skin and plunged the blade into it. Blood seeped slowly from in-between the blade and her skin. He rushed the blade through and felt it scrape the metal of her hoof. He then separated the cut section of skin from her leg and found more of the same running from the hoof to where he had cut. 

Luna fidgeted and whined when he had cut out that section of her skin off of her leg, but somehow, did not awaken. Volos groaned and threw the sliver of skin and fur to the ground, making a splattering noise. He held the hoof, still, and continued to look at the metal. He groaned and placed it down by Luna’s side. 

Volos walked around the room in a large circle. He stopped after three laps and went back to Luna’s side. He reached out to her and grasped her shoulder in his hand and shook her lightly. Seeing that Luna stirred but did not awaken he shook her harder. Luna’s eyes opened slowly and she stared at Volos absentmindedly. He reached down and placed on hand on her back and lifted her into a sitting position. Luna cringed and groaned as she came up, the pain in her body flaring as she moved. Volos held her up as she adjusted to the new position. Her body continued to protest but she ignored it. 

“Volos, what happened?” she asked, looking over her body and seeing the missing patches of fur and reddened skin. She winced and rubbed at her eye with her free hoof, the other being covered by Volos’ massive hand. She blinked rapidly and found that her vision was dimmed and incomplete. Her sight was much clearer on the right of her field of vision. She rubbed at the left eye again and still the same result. She turned her head toward Volos and looked at him pleadingly. “I can’t see.” Volos looked at her face and saw the scar running across her face and traced it to her eye. It had become a milky white with little visible of her iris and pupil. 

“Your eye was damaged by the explosion and fires. It is miraculous you can see at all,” he stated. 
She turned away from him and looked herself over again. She gazed at her now burnt form and began to cry. She pulled her left hoof to her blinded eye and tried to pull the other away from Volos’ grasp but he would not let it go. She looked at him with teary and tired eyes.

“Please let go,” she ordered. Volos hesitated and did not move it. “Please, whatever you’re hiding, I need to see it.” Volos remained still or a moment longer before releasing his grip. Luna looked down at her revealed hoof and gasped. Her breath caught in her throat and it would not rise. She brought it to her face and saw the metal and wiring sticking out of it. “What… What is this?” she asked, beginning to shake. She looked at Volos, who turned his head away from her eyes. She looked back down to her hoof and ignited her horn. It glowed dimly but the magic held firm. Volos looked at her quickly. 

“No, you need to reserve the strength you have.” Luna glared at him, silencing his protest. 

“I need to know,” she stated sadly. The aura surrounded the loose skin near Volos’ initial incision and it began to pull apart. Luna’s face twisted as she pulled the skin from her leg. Tears streamed as a river flows down her face and whimpered and pained grunts fell from her lips. Blood dripped and flowed from where she tore until she yanked it off completely at her knee. She screamed loudly and her magic faltered. She fought the shock and forced herself to look at her revealed limb. Through the blood she could see metallic silver and smooth surfaces. She wiped away the blood with her magic and saw the same as down by her hoof. Wires crossed each other and metal rods and pistons ran through it. “My leg is… like yours,” she whimpered. Volos again remained silent. Luna’s face hardened and showed determination and she ignited her magic again and gripped the remaining skin. Volos reached for her horn to stop the flow of magic, but was too late. Luna screamed as the remaining skin was ripped from away. 


2


The Solar Guard, accompanied by Captain Helios, approached the throne room of the Princess. The massive golden doors opened, revealing the sprawling room with Celestia sitting on her golden chair. She smiled kindly as they approached her. “Welcome back,” she stated pleasantly. “How was the…a… Job I sent you on?” 

Helios cleared his throat and walked out in front of the other accompanying guardsponies. “It went as you predicted, Princess.” He began. “The castle is now a pile of rubble in the Everfree and so is everything in it.” 
Celestia smiled, “Oh wonderful,” she said gleefully. “Did you confirm that everything inside truly was destroyed?” she asked, reverting to a more stern look. Helios did not answer, and tugged at his neck armor. Celestia raised an eyebrow, “Well?” 
Helios cleared his throat again before speaking. “We combed the wreckage and found a large shaft going down under the castle.” He fished out a formal report on a clip board. “The shaft was made from metal alloys. The alloys are very difficult to create, even when using magic for the refinement process. I have an advance scouting party prepping for a descent tomorrow morning. And we found something else as well…” 

“In a moment captain,” Celestia interrupted. “Tell me more about this metal shaft. Do you know a primary use?” 

“Uh, no. At least nothing solid,” he replied. 

“Theories then?” 

“Yes. It looked like a system for the transport of goods or supplies into the lower levels of the castle. How they got up and down I couldn’t tell you.” He put the report back into his left saddle bag. He froze for a moment and remained still. 

“Captain? Is there something else you wish to tell me?” Helios nodded slowly. “Then tell me captain,” Celestia ordered. 

“As we combed through most of the wreckage we, uh, ah…” he began to trail off. “I…We…” he stammered. He reached into his saddle bag and hoofed over a small misshapen object. “Here, look at this,” he stated, settling for the phrase. Celestia looked at him questioningly. “We found this in the wreckage.” He reached into his right saddle bag and lifted out a black misshapen object with hints of silver within its black, scorched surface. 

Celestia looked at it while holding it in her magic and rotated to all possible angles. “It resembles a horseshoe?” She levitated to the side and stared at her captain of the guard. “Why show me a charred thing resembling a shoe?” 

Helios said nothing for a moment and then pointed to the object again. “Look at its base closely, Princess.” His emotional wall began to falter but he did not let it fall completely and held his emotions in check. Celestia rotated the thing around, scanning its base for whatever it was that Helios wanted her to see. She spun it a quarter rotations and she noticed a small engraving jutting from the, once fine, surface of the object. Celestia stared long and hard at the object held in her magical grasp. Her lips pursed and her eyes shot open. Her mouth twitched and her heart began to pound. A never ending sense of panic coursed through her veins, turning her blood to ice. 

“Captain, I want that crew ready to repel down as early as possible.” Helios nodded. “And leave me captain.” Helios nodded again and left the courtroom with the others, a knot forming in his stomach. 


3


Luna twitched on the table clutching her right leg as Volos rubbed her back and cradled her head. She let go of her leg and let it fall to her side again. She had calmed down considerably since she finished her act. Blood littered the area, turning the grey metal red and dying the table the same. She whimpered and cried for what seemed like hours. Volos released his grip on her and she sat upright on the wet table. She stared at her work, a look of bewilderment mixed in inexplicable horror on her face. Her skin had been torn from her knee to her shoulder and it was all the same. Metal. 

“What am I?” Luna sobbed. Her body still burned and ached but she continued to ignore her need for recovery. “Why is my leg like this?” She looked at Volos again, hoping for an answer. 

“I don’t know,” was all he could say. 

Luna’s body shook and her posture faltered. She collapsed back onto the table, the shock and previously received trauma catching up to her. Volos moved her into a more comfortable position and placed his arm next to her newly revealed mechanical leg. The panels on his arm released and opened, showing all of his machinery. He looked at them closely and found their resemblance uncanny. The panels closed again and he stood at his full height. He turned and punched the wall behind him, resulting in a large dent and a loud clang as his fist impacted the metal walls. He groaned as he extracted his fist and looked at his hand. It moved when he told it to and did what he told it to do but it was just like Luna’s own leg. 

“We’re more alike than I realized,” he stated.

Volos lowered his hand and went over to the entrance to the room, where the lift had been destroyed. He looked down and saw the broken remains of what had been the lift. He whined and released his swords. He jumped to the wall of the shaft in front of him and plunged the blades through the metal. He climbed part way up the shaft, using his swords as grips. He stopped when he heard voices near the top of the shaft. He activated his scanners and saw the same signatures that were present when the castle was destroyed. One moved very clumsily while the other moved like it was made of blocks. His auditory sensors heard them talking about their short mission to investigate the shaft where he and Luna were hiding. 

He descended once again. He stepped into the room and focused on the mare lying on the table. He walked over and scooped her up in his arms. Her head rested on his chest and her metal leg clanged against his waist as he moved her.  He laid her down near the entrance of the room and leaned down to her ear.

“It would be better for them to find you instead of me.” He stood back up and turned his back to her prone form. “I’ll wait here.” Volos retreated back into the old weapons room and slammed the door behind him, using his scanners to watch over Luna as the guards at the top of the shaft began hooking up to their repelling gear.


4


Celestia sat on her bed and stared at the burnt shoe with disgust. She flung it to the wall with her magic and listened as it thunked against the wall and the floor. She got off her bed grunted as she smashed a hoof into the desk in her room, smashing it to pieces. 

“You betrayed me Luna!” she roared, “Why didn’t you leave that…that BEAST!?” Her mane had reverted to its original pink and had become a long and disheveled mess of hair that flung uselessly from side to side. The fur under her eyes were matted and dried with the stains of her sadness and rage. Her regalia lay strewn all over her room, mixing together with the heaps of other discarded and broken things. Her mirror lay shattered to pieces mixed with the colored glass of bottles of various size and shape. The glass was cutting into her unprotected hooves, drawing blood. Her bloody hoof steps turned her regal rug into a sick cacophony of red, azure, and argent. 

She went to her small table mirror on the one piece of furniture that wasn't destroyed; her mother’s favorite dresser. She grabbed a large bottle off of its surface and shoved the tip into her lips. The liquid fell down her throat and left a burning ache in her throat and stomach. She threw the, now empty, bottle into the wall and smiled at its sound as it shattered. She wiped her lips with her forearm and licked her lips, lapping up whatever remains of the burning liquid she could find. She turned and faced the tiny mirror again. 

She looked into her own reflection. Her eyes were no longer puffy but burned with the rage of the Tartarus itself. Her teeth were bared and grinding and her nose was flaring out. Her lips lowered, covering her teeth, and she stood back up straight and smiled back to herself in the mirror. She began to cackle before bursting out into full laughter. 

“Stupid fool, stupid fool!” she laughed. “Stupid Luna, stupid Luna! You didn’t abandon him! Commendable but it got you dead!” She stopped abruptly and looked back into the mirror. She raised a hoof and pointed to her reflection. “Stupid Celestia, Stupid Celestia!” she laughed uproariously now. “Stupid Celli, Dumb Celli! You blew up your sister! HAHA!” she continued laughing. “Boom boom go little Luna!” “BOOM!” She screamed as stood on her hind legs and threw her front legs into the air and flared her wings. She collapsed to the ground and her eyes darted around the wreckage of her room until she saw the shoe in the wreckage of her desk. She crawled over and cuddled with it. “Shh, shh, it’s okay. Everything’s okay. Don’t cry Luna, sister will always be here, always and forever.” She rubbed the shoe against her cheek and inhaled its scent. She hummed a tune and carefully let go of the shoe, leaving in the wreckage. “Sleep now, sleep!” she yelled before her own body and mind gave out from their ordeal.


5


Helios knocked on Celestia’s bedroom door rapidly and waited. After a few minutes he knocked again, louder this time. “Princess it’s very urgent! The scout team reported in! Princess Luna lives!” he called. 

The door opened slowly and a much disheveled Celestia poked her head out. Her eyes were sunken and there were bags under her eyes. She yawned heartily and smacked her lips together. She looked at him with indifference.  “Say that again.” 

Helios ignored his initial shock at her horrendous appearance and cleared his throat. “Princess Luna lives!” he said loudly, though a tad more professionally than before. “The scout team found her lying by the entrance of a room at the bottom of the shaft. She’s gravely injured but alive for the time being. She’s being transported to Canterlot Royal Hospital as quickly as the Pegasi can carry her. They are doing what they can to keep her stable until they arrive.” 

Celestia’s eyes widened and she retreated quickly back into her room, leaving a stunned Helios at her door. The door opened again revealing Princess Celestia in her full glory once again. Her main flowed in its invisible and silent wind and her regalia adorned her body. 

“Helios, we're going to Canterlot Hospital. We will greet the scout team there,” she stated coolly and began to gallop to her balcony before taking off into the sunny skies.  
	 
	
> In the Hospital
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia waited by the entrance of the Canterlot General Hospital, pacing back and forth while Helios waited off to the side. A fairly large crowd had gathered around the barricades that the Royal Guard had put together on short notice. Celestia ignored the whispers of the crowd and the loud questions that were being belted to her by the news ponies. She looked up into her crystal blue skies and looked for any sign of the scout team bringing Luna back to her. A small black dot appeared in the distance and gradually became larger. Celestia recognized the small band of Pegasi as they hauled something behind them. 

“They’re here!” she yelled. She pointed to the doors of the hospital. “Helios, get these open and get the doctors out here!” Helios saluted and took off inside. A short time later a full team of doctors had emerged from the hospital along with Celestia's personal team of scientists from the palace. The crowd was silent as the small team approached. The two Pegasi pulling the makeshift bed descended rapidly while the other three held it stable for its rapid descent. The team landed and the crowd let out a collective gasp as the makeshift transport bed landed in the center of the circle created by the barriers. 

Celestia looked at the figure lying on the wood slab and stuffed her foot into her mouth, so much so, she could taste the gold. The crowd was silent, with their mouth hanging open and others opening and closing. The paparazzi did not dare take any photos. The doctors from the hospital rushed over and transferred Luna onto a bed proper and wheeled her into the hospital. The large blue doors swung closed, leaving a more than stunned crowd and Princess. Celestia turned away silently and quickly followed the doctors into the hospital. 


2


Celestia sat in a chair, watching through a large glass window over the operating room. Luna lay on the metal table as the surgeons moved swiftly and deftly around her broken body. Tubes, nodes, and a breathing mask ran to machines from her body. She turned away from the operation and closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply and released a few seconds later. She turned back around and looked down into the operating room. Earth ponies stared at the monitors, taking notes and the unicorns held scalpels and other cutting instruments within their magical grasps. 

Celestia looked on as the doctors operated but she could not tear herself away from her sister’s gleaming silver leg. It stood out against her sisters blue body like a diamond in mud. The doctors worked around it, as they lacked the knowledge to understand what it was. Celestia watched on as the doctors cut and sewed Luna’s body, removing tissue and conducting several other operations that made her cringe. She felt herself becoming ill and walked out of the observation room and planted herself on a bench in the hallway. She rested her head in her hooves and wept. 

She remained there for a long while before going into the restroom. She filled a sink and splashed the icy waters onto her face and dried herself. She stared into the mirror before her and gazed into her own eyes. They were red and swollen her elegant mane remained as it was, pristine. Her lips had a frown on them that would not change. The more she looked the more it became evident that she hated what she saw. The ruler of Equestria reduced to a crying foal because of the thing that had become Luna’s running buddy. Her eyes squinted, her nostrils flared heavily, and her body shook. She grunted and snarled like a bull before taking a large breath and slowing down her enraged heart. She repeated this until her mood had come back to that of the Ruler of Equestria. 
She stepped out of the bathroom, her usual motherly smile on her face. 


3


Alpha Bone sighed heavily as he took the blue mask from his face and threw it into the bio-hazard container. He removed the same color scrubs that encased his body and exposed of them the same way. He stepped out of the prep room of the surgical wing and planted himself on a bench. He wiped the sweat from his face and the remaining remnants of tears from his eyes. He stared at the floor rubbing his temples. He felt the bench shift slightly and looked over to see Field Dust sitting next to him. She didn’t say anything and just placed a hoof on his shoulder. 

“How?” he whispered. Field Dust looked at him sympathetically and tightened her hoof’s position on his shoulder. 

“How what?” she asked. 

“How did all that happen?” he asked, pointing back to the surgery room. “She’s hardly recognizable.” 

She could not answer and opted to remain silent and wrapped him in a light hug. “Oh, Alpha.” She hugged him a little tighter. 

“Field, Alpha!” Field Dust let go of Alpha Bone and they both looked up to see Gene Splice coming down the hall. He stopped at the bench and looked at the two of them.  “Hey, Princess Celestia wants to hear your report on that surgery Alpha," he said somberly, noticing Alpha's sorry state. 

Alpha got to his hooves and groaned. “Right, I’ll be there in a bit.” He stretched out his neck and it gave a satisfying pop before his muscles shook for a split second.  He looked back to Field Dust as he began to walk away. “Thank you.” Field Dust only nodded. 

He entered the surgical observation room and sat down next to the Princess. He took in a large breath and released it quickly. The surgery chamber was now empty and devoid of life. All that remained there were the monitors and other necessary equipment. He looked up to the Princess, whose gaze did not leave that room. He could hear a raggedness to the Princess' breaths but payed no heed to it. 

“Tell me Alpha Bone,” she said, “what did you discover?” 

Alpha sighed, “Well, I can say that her anatomy is completely different than what we had previously believed.” Celestia nodded slowly. "She is equine in form but her internal organs are very similar but also vastly different from ours." He stopped and remained silent. 

“Continue Alpha Bone. Do not spare me any detail,” Celestia said sternly. 

“Sixty-five percent of her body was covered in scar tissue when the healing processes were completed.” Celestia shook subtly. “Her left eye is nearly blind and that leg…” he trailed off and became silent. 

"Continue Alpha. What about her leg?" 

“Her right leg is completely mechanical. It’s far beyond anything that ponies can create. Technologies of that level could be unattainable for another thousand years or more.” He huffed and looked up to the princess. “What happened out there princess?” 

Celestia remained silent and stood up. “That Alpha Bone,” she began, “is none of your concern.” She took a few steps before stopping and looking back to him. “When will she wake?” 

“Hard to know; it won’t be today or tonight. Of that you can be sure princess. But I must ask again, what happened to her?” 

“Very well. Oh, and don’t ask about what happened to Luna. As I said before, it’s none of your concern.” She stepped out of the room and the door slammed behind her. 

“That princess is why I’m worried.” He stood up and left the room as well, trailing far behind the princess.  


4


Dark Heart, Captain of the Lunar Guard, stood inside Luna’s hospital room. The beep of the heart monitor and the life support apparatus the only noise in the room. She closed her eyes and moved her ears in several directions, locating any and all noise around the immediate area. She opened her eyes and sat down on the chair in the corner of the bland room. She picked up a paper and read the headline. 

PRINCESS LUNA ADMITTED TO CANTERLOT GENERAL: EXTENT OF INJURIES UNKNOWN

She threw down the paper and stared at the Lunar Princess, the sun’s rays burning her sensitive eyes ever so slightly. She stood up and closed the curtain. The sun’s light still came inside, illuminating the room greatly, but was no longer very intense. She sat back in the chair when a knock came from the door. 

“Come in!” she called from her position. A nurse carrying a clipboard came into the room. 

“Excuse me but it’s time to check the Princess’ vitals,” she said. Dark Heart gave a nod and let the nurse go about her routine work. She watched the nurse move around the bed jotting down notes and looking back and forth between the monitors and the clipboard. 

“How is she?” Dark Heart asked. 

“She’ll be okay. Her vitals are looking good and are getting stronger.” The nurse left the room without another word. 
Dark Heart began to sit when the door opened again, without a knock. She looked over with an icy glare. The door opened fully and she saw a white head appear followed by the rest of the new visitor’s body. Dark Heart bowed as she saw Celestia enter. 

“Princess,” she said politely. 

“I’m here to relieve you for the remainder of the day Dark Heart.” 
Dark Heart looked surprised. “I’m sorry Princess but as the captain of the Lunar Guard I cannot abandon my post.” 

“You would defy your Princess?” Celestia asked suspiciously. “Whom, may I remind you, has a sister who is possibly on her deathbed and has a country to look after. And you would defy that princess?” 

Dark Heart’s face fell. But, she quickly regained her composure. “I’m sorry Princess but yes I would defy that princess, I take orders from the Princess on that bed,” she said sternly, pointing to the bed in the room. 

“I see.” Celestia turned and walked back to the door. “You have a either a very brave heart or a very foalish one, Dark Heart.” Celestia exited the room and closed the door behind her. 

Dark Heart sat down with a harrumph. 


5


Celestia entered a small room before the entrance to the laboratory. White lab coats lung on the walls and blue masks lied in a box on a small bench. She placed a coat over her back and poked her wings through and placed a mask over her nose and mouth and stepped into the laboratory where Petri Dish, Alpha Bone and Gene Splice were working. They were all clad in white lab coats and wore blue masks over their mouths and noses. Gene moves to the left, Alpha to the right, while Petri remains still and seated in front of his microscopes jotting down notes. She walked farther into the lab and stopped near Petri’s station. 

“How is the research going?” she asked, forgetting to announce herself prior. Petri jumped slightly and the others jumped slightly as well. 

“Oh, princess,” Petri panted, “please don’t do that when were in the middle of something this important.” 

“Forgive me Petri Dish. But, please, fill me in on your progress.” 

“Well your majesty,” he said sitting on his stool, “we have been conducting some tests and found out things about Princess Luna that are purely Science Fiction, yet are existent in her body.” 

“Elaborate if you please,” Celestia asked kindly. 

Alpha Bone stepped forward and placed a tray carrying several vials of blood and placed it on a table next to him. “For one, we found that her anatomical structure is equine in form, as I told you before, but her internal systems are not nearly equine,” he explained almost flatly. Celestia raised an eyebrow. “For example, a normal pony has two lungs that bring air to the bloodstream via alveoli in the sacks of the lung. Princess Luna’s respiratory system is the same save for one detail, she has an extra lung that is fully integrated into her system and is fully operational.” Celestia’s eyes did not widen but they betrayed her curiosity.  

“How did you discover this?” 

Gene Splice came forward his time and stood before the princess. “When a unicorn scans a body for injury or damage they find only what they’re looking for, if they know what they’re looking for. Because we didn't know the full extent, the scan we performed revealed the things we were looking for and then some.” 

“Precisely,” Alpha said, “on top of the extra lung we found that her bloodstream was nearly devoid of the third cell we discovered a while back. However, the most recent samples taken sometime after her surgery to make sure her body was reacting well to the treatments, we discovered that they were indeed present and growing in number.” 

“Her body can make more?” Celestia asked. 

“Yes it can. There is another organ we discovered, we named it the Manufactorian Corcillum. We can’t examine it very closely lest we harm Princess Luna in the process but from what I’ve seen of it, it creates and disperses the Third Cells into her body. Much like bone marrow makes the White Blood Cell.” 

“Fascinating.” Celestia pondered for a moment. “What of her right leg and its structure?” 

“As I said before, it’s many years ahead of pony capabilities. It connects to her skeletal structure directly, meaning that the leg in its entirety is made of the same materials running the same mechanics.” 

Celestia mulled this over for a while. “Could her entire body be comprised of the same materials?” she asked. 

“I don’t see why not, but it would have appeared on any and all medical scans that were done during her lifetime.” 

“So it’s a recent addition then?” Celestia asked. 

“Maybe, but if it didn’t appear before than it’s either that or it was designed to appear as bone instead of metal.” Gene said this time. 

Celestia nodded and remained silent as she turned back to the door. “Keep me posted on your progress. I will check back in after I’ve raised the sun in the morning.” 

“Time for the moon eh?” Petri asked. 

“Indeed, it is time for the night to come.” 
 
> New Orders
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The moon light caressed the walls of the hospital halls through every open and available window. The halls were devoid of life except the few who had night shift and the small platoon of 25 Lunar Guards. Dark Heart was standing stiffly, letting her eyes scan the room for any signs of trouble. She stiffened further when a small scraping came from within the room. 

Her wings shifted slightly and her ears twitched. A scowl permeated her stoic features as the scraping continued. She raised the sword from its scabbard and held it forward. The scraping continued and Dark Heart went to Luna’s bedside where the noise was the loudest. She looked down over Luna’s unconscious body and saw her shining metal appendage moving. Her eyes saw each and every gear moving and scraping along its intended path and purpose. Dark Heart relaxed and placed the sword back in its scabbard and stood still in the room again. 

Her ears twitched as a slight noise came from the Lunar Princess’ lips. It sounded like a moan and then a grunt. Her legs began to shake and move along the bed. The heart rate monitor accelerated its beeping and the little light sped across the screen more rapidly than before. The moon outside glowed brighter until the light was bringing near daylight to the land. Luna’s eyes shot open, revealing an intense silver glow. Silver light surrounded Luna’s body and lifted her into the air. Dark Heart threw the door open and began barking orders to those outside. 

As she gave her orders the silver light around Luna’s body had intensified and became as bright as a smaller version of the moon. Dark Heart looked back and shielded her eyes before the light exploded from Luna’s body, shaking the building. Dark Heart shot backwards and slammed against the wall behind her. Her vision was filled with white and loud ringing in her ears. Her hurt ears managed to pick up a loud popping sound and her vision cleared itself enough to see Princess Celestia standing in front of her. 
“What happened?!” she barked. Dark Heart stood up slowly allowing the slight throbbing in her heard to slow and her eyes to clear. Her ears throbbed and made her yelp slightly. Celestia shot around and glared at her, “what happened? Answer me Captain!” 
“I don’t know, the moon grew bright and then all of this.” She motioned with a hoof. 

Celestia grunted and stormed inside Luna’s room. Her body loomed over the unconscious princess and she lowered her horn to Luna’s body. Celestia’s horn glowed gold and she moved it across the body before her. Celestia stood to her full height and gave a nod of approval. 

“Her magic is restored,” she said, coming from the room. “She will awaken anytime now,” she said with little relief. “I will check on her again tomorrow once the sun is raised.” Celestia disappeared in a flash of light. Dark Heart went back into the room and righted the chair that lay on the floor. She sat with a hard sigh. 


2


The sun beat into the room from outside through the closed and torn curtains. The rays accumulated in the sleeping princess’ eyes, making her eyelids quiver. Her eyelids shook open and her pupils shrunk from the sudden on pouring of light. She opened her mouth but no words came and she could only feel a dry and scratching throat. She breathed slow and methodical breaths to minimize the pain in her throat and allowed her eyes to roam. The left side of her vision cut off everything on that side, while the right came in clear and crisp. She tried to lift her head to no avail and instead opted for a loud groan. 

Once she had adjusted to the light in the room and her vision being only on the one side, she allowed herself a better look at the room from her bed. Bleach white walls, grey ceiling, red bed cover and monitors and wires running from her body to these machines. She sighed as she realized where she lied. Her eyes shifted to a figure sitting in the corner of the room. She looked at it as closely as she could before opening her mouth to speak. She formulated words but they came out quiet and guttural. She tried again only for it to happen again. 

A knock came from the door and Luna’s good eye focused onto it instantly. She watched as Dark Heart opened it and saw a doctor and Celestia come inside. Dark Heart bowed and stepped to the side. The doctor held a clip board in his magic and flipped through some pages while Celestia simply watched. The doctor nodded and left the room. Celestia’s horn lit and the chair that Dark Heart had been sitting on previously floated over to Luna’s bedside. Celestia dismissed Dark Heart and sat in the chair beside her sister. 

“How are you feeling?” Celestia asked. Luna tried to answer but her voice had still not recovered. Celestia nodded knowingly and ignited her horn. A golden aura surrounded Luna’s throat and remained after her horn had stopped glowing. “Try answering now.” Luna’s throat tingled soothingly and she tried to speak again. 

“I feel like a train ran me over,” Luna answered, the magic channeling her voice directly from her voice box. She chuckled slightly and Celestia also let out a light giggle. “What did the doctors say?” Celestia mood visibly changed and Luna began to get nervous. Celestia told her everything that they knew about her condition. 

Luna was dejected. She could feel the tears beginning to fall and she looked up at her sister sniffling. “Now the ponies will only hate me more,” she cried. Celestia looked at her sister with pity. “They were afraid of me before, and now, they will be terrified of me.” She continued to cry. Celestia remained silent while Luna balled. 

“They will be frightened at first but they will come to love you again,” Celestia said. Luna continued to cry. Celestia sighed and stood up. “Look at it this way Luna, with your magic restored you will be able to leave sooner than the doctors had initially believed.” Luna nodded, still allowing herself to cry at the news of her condition. 

“Wait.” Luna said, before Celestia could leave the room. “What of Volos? Did you find him yet?” Celestia tensed and growled quietly to herself. She put on a small smile and faced her sister. 

“I have ponies looking for him. He will be found, don’t worry.” Celestia said, almost too cheerfully. Luna nodded, and closed her eyes, smiling. Celestia scowled and felt her anger rise in her chest. She turned and left the room, a fire raging in her breast. She saw Dark Heart standing outside the door standing at attention. “Get back to your duties,” Celestia commanded. Dark Heart saluted and reentered the room. 


3


Luna heard the door open close once and then again. The spell on Luna’s throat was beginning to fade and she called out to Dark Heart. Dark Heart jumped in surprise and went to the bedside of the Princess of the Night. She stood at attention and saluted, even though Luna’s eyes were still closed. Luna smiled lightly in her feigned sleep. 

“At ease, Captain.” Dark Heart relaxed and looked at the Princess. “I have a job for you and you alone Dark Heart,” Luna said through the fading spell. “This does not leave this room, understood?” 

“Yes princess,” she replied quietly. 

“Go to the ruins that the Solar guard found me in and go down the metal shaft. Go inside the room and say that I sent you.” Dark Heart’s face shifted into questioning. “A creature called ‘Volos’ should reveal himself to you. When he does, tell him…” Luna nodded Dark Heart closer and whispered into her ear. “Go at night, and if the Solar Guard tries to stop you for any reason, I authorize you to use lethal force if necessary, but only as a last resort. Understand?” 

“Y-yes princess.” She saluted. Luna ignited her horn and summoned a quill and parchment and began writing on it slowly. Her head throbbed and her eyesight flittered between clear and blurry. She grimaced as she finished and rolled up the scroll giving it to Dark Heart with her magic. 

“Tell Volos to stand in the center of the parchment, it will do the rest. Get going, captain.” Her breathing had become quick and slightly labored. Dark Heart saluted again and left the room, the scroll tucked under her wing. 


4


The moon was high and bright. The wind ripped around Dark Heart as she approached the ruins of the ancient castle. She could see faint glowing in the distance as she flew over the Everfree forest. She descended on the outer rim of the destroyed castle. She crept along, hiding behind fallen walls and any piles of rubble she could find on her way to the infamous metal lift shaft. She rounded a corner and found a large campsite around the perimeter of the hole. Small camp fires flickered, casting light and shadows around the makeshift camp. Domed military tents were by each fire and one in particular had the Equestrian Flag flying on two posts on either side of the tent. She assumed that that one was the commanding officer’s tent. Her ears twitched and her attention shifted to the hole leading down into the earth. She heard the hoofsteps of ponies running around and a stallion shouting orders. She crept closer to the hole, attempting to avoid the light cast by the many fires that burned throughout the camp. She leaned over the edge of it and found a system off pulley systems running into the hole. She extended her wings and was about to jump down when she heard a stallion scream and then was silenced just as quickly as his voice had appeared. 

She looked behind her and she heard rustling coming from inside the tents and she saw some of the occupants step outside rubbing the tiredness out of their eyes. She flew into the bushes and remained, observing the scene unfold before her. She saw a large earth pony stallion come out of the commander’s tent and began yelling. The others went back inside their respective tents and reemerged in fill armor. Most of the guards there were of the unicorn variety and began to latch themselves the pulleys and repel into the hole. 

Dark Heart remained in the bush as the stallions that went down remained there for a time. The commanding officer stood at the entrance of his tent with a serious look on his face. His gaze never left the pulley anchors as the unicorns stood next to them with the cranks held firmly in their magical grasps. The unicorns at the cranks began to wind them back and a few minutes later the repel team came up with sick looks on their faces. The commanding officer walked up to them and one of them levitated a blood stained helmet to him. The large earth pony looked angry and began yelling orders again. All of the guards saluted and they all began to descend into the hole, four at a time. 

When they had all left, a total of twenty or so, Dark Heart emerged from her hiding place and remained at the top of the hole, listening for anything. She strained her ears and could make out noises but nothing specific. Then she heard the ponies begin to yell and scream. She saw light pulsate from within the space, signaling spells being cast. She remained as the frequency of the light pulses became greater until she heard a deafening roar and the screams of twenty ponies. She remained there, too afraid to move. She heard metal scratching metal and loud thuds. She summoned up her courage and jumped into the whole, allowing her wings to carry safely to the bottom. She turned and stopped stock still, her pupils shrinking. 

“Please! Mercy! Mercy!” a stallion screamed as a large beast stomped on its head, making explode into a mess of brain matter and metal. The commander was huddled against a wall balling his eyes out. 

“No, stay back!” he screamed, trying to back farther away. The beast grabbed him by the head and lifted it to its own. 
Dark Heart’s eyes watched as the scene unfolded before her. She could not see the stallion’s face but she knew he was scared. She watched as thick metal claws clamped down on the guard’s helmet and began to bend it out of shape. She heard his muffled screams die when his head was crushed inside his helmet. She let out a scream and shoved her hooves into her mouths as she hyperventilated, trying to keep her position hidden and recover from her lapse in stealth. She watched the beast throw the dead guard aside and turn in her direction. 

Her eyes followed the beast as it walked over to her position and look right at her. She whimpered and closed her eyes as she felt something grab her neck and lift her into the air. She struggled for breath and looked into the eyes of her soon to be killer. Their red glow unnerved her and she began to cry. 

“Who are you!?” it roared. Dark Heart was stunned for a moment and began to scratch at her throat, trying to get a small grip on her captor’s claw. She felt it release a little, allowing her windpipe to expand ever so much. 

“Dark Heart!” she gasped. “L-l-Luna,” she gasped, “sent me!” She felt the claw release her and she fell onto the metal floor gasping and rasping for air. She recovered as the air filled her lungs again and she managed to stand on shaky legs. She looked at the giant monster and remained quiet. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “I’m going to assume that you are the creature called Volos.” It nodded. “I have orders for you from the Princess. She wishes for you to return to the Castle. Her room has been arranged for you to stay in while she remains in the hospital.” Volos nodded again. “She says that you may venture out in the night but not in the daylight if it can be helped. And under no circumstances is Celestia to see you.” 

“How am I going to return?” he asked. 

Dark Heart pulled out a parchment and set it near Volos and unrolled it. Written on it was a circle with different lines running through it and other shapes scouring the page. “Stand in the center and it will teleport you to the Princess’ bedchambers.” Volos nodded again and turned away from her. “What are you doing?” she asked. 

“Leave.” Volos went into a room behind a false wall and returned with several small square boxes. He placed them by the entrance and around the room, stepping the pony corpses that littered the floor. Dark Heart cringed as the crunching of bones and metal echoed in the room. He pressed something by one of the boxes and went back to the scroll as a red light blinked in the corner. “Found them in the armory there, you have ten seconds as of now to leave before you end up like the rest.” 

Dark Heart gasped and bolted up and out of the room, flying back to Canterlot as fast as her bat wings would carry her. Volos stepped onto the scroll. Blue smoke and sparks crackled around him for a moment and a moment later found himself in a familiar room within the castle. He shook his head as the smoke and sparks dissipated. He stepped into the corner on the far side of the bed away from the door and sat down, allowing himself to shut down for the night. 

Dark Heart heard an explosion. 

> Cognitive Reset
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun had risen over the horizon and the windows inside of Luna’s private abode darkened further, keeping the room dark for the daylight hours. Volos’ internal clock activated and began to wake the sleeping machine. His eyes flickered to life and he stood slowly. The servos in his neck scraped and popped into place he moved his head. The sun’s glare pushed its way into his vision and his optics adjusted all the same. His scanners searched the room and the immediate outside. Two figures illuminated outside the main door to the room and none on the room’s private balcony. 

He moved to the balcony door and pulled it open. The sun’s light blinded him temporarily, as his optics adjusted once more from the heavily tinted windows to Luna’s room. He stood out by the balcony rail and looked down to the land below. He saw a small garden filled with plants and several statues. He hummed at the sight, slightly impressed at the artisanship. He looked into the sky and saw several Pegasi flying above him, all of them in Solar Guard armaments. Volos stood silent as he watched them move out of sight. He looked back into the room, where two guards waited outside and then back to the small garden, filled with flowers and statues. 

He placed a hand on the rail and pushed himself over it. He flung himself under the balcony close to the wall and dug his claws into it, leaving deep drag marks in the stone. He let go and slammed into another balcony, leaving deep foot prints and nearly breaking it from its supports. He vaulted off of the loosened balcony and flipped down onto the waiting grass below, leaving more foot holes in the dirt. He straightened and looked around the garden, now that he had a ground level view. The gardens wrapped around the corner farther back behind the castle and out to the front. 

He took in the sights of the numerous varieties of flowers and even saw some animals in the trees. He heard the sound of running water and walked in its general direction. He found a pond with a running waterfall in the corner of the garden not far from where he had landed. He looked into the pond and saw a several types of fish swimming, from the common trout to quoi fish from the Far East. As he looked down into the waters the fish swam away quickly and the water settled. His reflection stared back at him. 

His eyes still shown the crimson color but his white faceplate was covered in dried blood, tinting it red in some area and turning it red in others. He bent down and scooped water into his palm and poured it over his face. The water ran down the flat surface as if it wasn’t there, and the coldness of the pond water went unfelt. He bent down again and repeated the process. The water ran off, taking some of the dried blood with it. He stared down again and one side of his face was white again, the other still covered in the lives he had taken the night before. He continued to stare. 


2


Luna shook awake as the rays of the sun poked at her eyes. She lifted her head and looked around her small room, an angry Celestia and distraught Dark Heart staring her down. Luna shrunk back into her bed as Celestia’s gaze bored into her. 
“Luna,” she said seriously, “We need to talk.” Luna only nodded. “Last night, there was an explosion in the ruins of our old castle and a good portion of my guards were crushed under the debris.” Luna’s face contorted into one of horror and placed her left hoof to her mouth. She opened her mouth to speak but Celestia put up a hoof to stop her. “One of the bodies discovered is believed to have been dead before the collapse.” She stared at Dark Heart for a moment and then back to Luna. “Now, since I have no witnesses left from before the scene, I will leave you and Dark Heart alone to discuss this situation seeing as it happened during the time that you’re usually in charge of.” She disappeared in a flash of white light. Luna looked over to Dark Heart who had a distraught look on her face and fear in her dark blue eyes. 

“Say your piece captain,” Luna said, after getting over her initial shock. Dark Heart nodded slowly. 

“I…I snuck through the camp without resorting to any violent procedures as per your command and made it to the shaft leading down under the castle.” Luna motioned her to continue. “Then, I hid behind some bushes and saw that the Solar Guard had become agitated and began to arm themselves. They all jumped down into the shaft and I followed after seeing flashes of magic and hearing screams coming from inside,” she stopped and began to quiver. 

“Continue if you can.” 

“I found Volos…” 

“Yes?” 

“He…He was killing every guard that entered wearing the armor of the Solar Guard!” she screamed, tears rolling from her eyes. 

“He was doing what?” Luna asked, unbelieving. 

“He slaughtered them all, Princess. One of them even begged for his life and he crushed his head with his claw. I hid in a corner, afraid for my own life and he found me.” Luna’s face was unreadable. She held a stoic gaze akin to Big Mac of Ponyville and didn’t respond. “He only spared me because you had sent me!” Dark Heart was sobbing now, releasing all of her pent up terror. “I…I…I” She broke down and slumped to the floor, crying into her hooves and laying on the ground. 

“Dark Heart?” Luna asked. Dark Heart looked up to see Luna getting out of her bed. 

“Princess, you need to stay in bed! Please you’re not recovered!” 

“My recovery be DAMNED!” she bellowed. Dark Heart recoiled from her outburst. “Go home dark Heart,” she commanded wobbling her way over to where her regalia was resting over by the window, her metal hoof clanging on the tile floor. 

“But Princess…” 

“NOW!” Luna shouted. “And not a word about this to anypony,” she said, putting on three silver shoes on her flesh covered hooves. She magically opened the window and leapt from the top floor of the hospital. 


3


Volos’ reflection stared back at him still. His eyes went from the reflection to the open hand he held in front of his chest. He clenched it quickly and put it down to his side. He turned away from the pond and ventured further into the gardens, rounding the corner leading behind the castle. He stopped when he saw the vast arrangements of flowers and statues in the large space. He walked into the statue garden and stood in the middle of the nearest flowerbed, filled with roses of red, white and pink. He stood still, only moving his head to look at the flowers below him. He pulled in the air round him into his large lungs and exhaled quickly. 

He could not smell the fragrance of the flowers, but he felt different. 

“Is this what peace feels like?” he asked to the open air. 

He bent down and plucked a pink rose from its stem and held it in front of his face. His onboard database projected all information relevant to the rose, composition to nomenclature and other common details. 

‘Search Query Definition: Peace’ 

Searching…searching…found…displaying…

…untroubled; tranquil; content…

“What an odd concept,” he mused. He let go of the rose and watched it fall to the ground. He placed his foot on it and pressed down on top of it. “Peace does not exist in any world.” 

He walked around the statues and looked at them, taking in their craftsmanship and overall grandeur. Every statue he passed by depicted a pony in a heroic pose, or holding a relic by its side while in a heroic pose. He turned and nearly bumped into another statue, this one showing a terrified looking creature with mismatched body parts. He stared its odd form and face. He reached behind his neck and pressed a small switch. His neck hissed and his face plate split apart. Small red orbs stared into the scarred eyes of the statue while small cogs turned and rotated where his mouth should be and wires ran all throughout his face dodging two larger cogs, moving in short timed intervals on the sides of his face. 

“Tell me thing, am I the same as you?” he asked the statue. He reached back again and flicked the switch, returning the faceplate to its original position. “A mismatched monster?” He looked at the statue as if expecting an answer from its stone lips. He laughed dryly and walked around the statue, stopping to look out into the maze entrance by which he now stood by.  He stood there for a minute before his sensors picked up a small group of ponies walking around the castle gardens. 


4


Luna’s speed was blinding, even in her injured state. Her wings beat the wind behind her and she sped across the day lit sky, leaving a dark blue trail behind her. She could see the castle rapidly approaching and she slowed herself into an easy glide and landed on the balcony leading to her room. She opened the window and hopped inside. She looked around, hoping that Volos had followed her orders to remain there. She growled as she saw nothing inside the room. She went back out through the window and looked down. There was damage on the side of the building and two large foot prints on the ground below in the gardens. She huffed and glided down to the gardens. She followed the foot indentations until she spotted a small group of ponies walking in the gardens, in a direct path to her AWOL companion. She sucked in a breath as the mare and children approached him. 

She saw the mare talking to the children making quizzical and questioning looks as she studied Volos, who remained still. She noticed two fillies, one with a silver mane and the other with a light purple and white mane, whispering to each other and the pink maned fill clutching a large pine cone in her hoof. Luna darted from her spot as the pine cone flew over the mare’s head and smacked Volos on the thigh. The cone bounced off and landed harmlessly on the ground. Luna stopped frozen in fear of what would happen to those fillies while Volos was in his currently unstable mindset. Yet, Volos did not move. Luna took a cautious step forward, her mechanical leg clanged and a gas discharge sounded. The group looked back and saw the mangled and scarred princess and looked at her in fear. 

“Who… Who are you?” the mare asked shakily. 

“My name is Princess Luna.” The mare bowed instantly at hearing this and urged the rest of the fillies and colts to do the same. 

“So sorry princess! We did not recognize you!” the mare apologized loudly. 

“Tis nothing Ms. Cheerilee of Ponyville,” Luna said nonchalantly. “And rise please, your bowing makes me uncomfortable at the moment.” The group from Ponyville righted themselves and looked on at the approaching Princess. 

“Princess what brings you here?” Cheerilee asked cautiously, trying not to sound rude by the upfront question. Her eyes wandered across the princess’ body, studying each scar. Her disgust at her mangled appearance was hidden well, but she almost broke her neutral face when she looked at her leg. 

Luna pointed to the large black and silver statue behind her. “That, is what brings me here,” she said struggling to hide her anger behind her smile. “It is a unique piece and as such was not supposed to have been in the gardens. I am here to bring it back with me.” 

“If I may ask Princess, what does it represent? I’m sure the children would like to know as well.” 

Luna paused and took on a thoughtful look. “I am unsure as to what it represents at the moment, it is still to be determined I’m afraid.” 

“I see, do you know the title of the piece?” Luna chuckled slightly and looked at the teacher with a benevolent smile. 

“It’s called Volos,” she said quickly. 

“Volos?” Cheerilee thought about it for a second before mumbling something to herself and bowing farewell to the Princess. 

Luna turned to Volos, who remained still, and waited for the group to leave the immediate area of the garden. She watched them go as they rounded a corner and vanished from sight. Luna nodded and turned back to Volos. She raised her metal hoof and smacked his leg with it. 

“You idiot!” she scorned. “I told you to wait in my quarters upon your return and you didn’t listen to me. Why? What’s gotten into you?” she asked, desperate to know the answer. Volos slacked and turned his body to face the Princess, who still looked at him scornfully. Volos did not respond. “I also heard about your escapade in the ruins of the old castle! Was it actually necessary for you to end the lives of those ponies so brutally?” 

“Yes,” Volos answered. Luna sucked in a breath and backed away from him a little. “It was necessary. They discovered my location and would have given me away to your sister.” 

“Volos, I’ll ask you again what’s gotten into you?” she asked desperately. “What happened to the being we found protecting three little fillies on his own in the Everfree, the one who would put his life on the line for others? Where did that Volos go?” Volos again did not answer her. “Fine, then you leave me no choice.” Luna’s horn lit up with a dispersion of thin pencil lines that finished in her eyes. She lunged at Volos and touched him with her horn before he could move. 


5


She was in familiar space as she reentered Volos’ mind. She watched as electrical pulses soared through the synapses of the organic tissue brain and walls of numbers floated through his mind in long endless strands of ones and twos. She watched them all converge in an epicenter farther into the brain. Her immaterial-self followed the strings of electrical pulses and numbers into their convergence point. She emerged to find the impulses mixing and breaking apart. The string of green numbers flashed red and changed to other numbers and reappearing as the original in a matter of seconds. The natural brain pulses would vanish or become much more intense as they travelled. 

Strings of what looked like lightning bounced between sections of the machine and the tissue brains with equal ferocity, while the numbers entered the machine brain at an excessive rate. Luna tuned herself to the tissue brain’s waves and quickly undid her tie to it. She rubbed her aching cranium as she felt the lightning pulses for only a moment. She felt much more agitated and angry than before and felt as though there should have been a more methodical solution to figuring out Volos’ behavior than this. She looked at the chaos before her and she transferred what little magic she could in her immaterial form directly into Volos’ brain. She felt a magical reverberation and she tried to increase her input ever so slightly to overcome the bounce back. Luna’s immaterial form broke apart as what remained of her weakened magic could no longer support her endeavors. 

Luna bolted up right and looked frantically for Volos. She found him squirming on the ground and grasping his head in his claws. She walked up to him and reached out but was thrown back by a sudden roar that shook the ground. 

“WHAT DID YOU DO?” Volos bellowed, writhing on the ground. He jerked up onto his knees and clutched his head harder. Luna watched in horror as his head began to spark and smoke. She watched his faceplate open and release a torrent of smoke into the air. She heard a small boom and a tiny jet of fire spewed from inside his revealed inner working. The cooling panels across his body opened and the same was repeated through those as well. Volos roared in agony as his system finally gave out. Luna rushed to him as he collapsed into the dirt. 


6


… …System Booting… …. System Booting… …
… …All Systems Online… … 

Volos’ eyes lit and he pushed himself to his feet and looked down and a teary eyed Luna. He could feel his body quietly repairing itself as he looked down at the Night Princess.  

“What did you do?” he asked, much calmer than before. 

“I found a presence of magic in the organic parts of your brain. It was interfering with your cognitive functions and throwing your systems into chaos. I had to input some of my own to neutralize it. I’m just glad you held it together when those children were here but it was throwing into uncontrollable fits of hate and violence under the smallest of circumstances.” Volos nodded as though he understood. 

Volos remained silent for a while. “Do you know who did it?” he finally asked. Luna remained silent as her mouth moved and twitched but would not release any words. Volos knelt and put the blunt side of his second finger under her down turned chin and lifted it so her eyes would meet his. “Tell me,” he said soothingly. 

Luna stammered until she managed to squeak out her answer, “It was Celestia’s.” 
	
	
> Things Don't Ever Go as Planned
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Luna walked slowly through the halls of the castle listening to the methodic thumping of her metal hoof. Her eyes were squinted nearly shut as a thousand thoughts raced through her head after her discovery of Celestia’s tampering with Volos’ mind. She looked behind her and saw Volos lumbering behind her a farther distance away. She looked around and saw a small sign that said ‘Hospital Wing’ with an arrow pointing down the adjacent hallway. She stopped and waited for Volos to catch up with her. He stopped by her side and looked down the Alicorn. 

“Volos, it’s time you took care of something that you have been putting off for a while now,” she said calmly. She motioned for Volos to come closer to her. Volos knelt at her behest and got eye level with her. “It’s time your visited the Elements of Harmony.” Volos groaned a low groan. Luna put a hoof to his cheek and pulled his nearly featureless face to hers. She held his gaze and looked into his glowing red eyes with her blue and milky white irises. “It’s far past time Volos. You must make things right between you and them. They need to see you the way I do if possible and also see that you’re a not a raging beast like Celestia claims you to be.” 

“What about the night at the ruins? I murdered all those ponies.” His tone fell as he lamented what he had done. 
Luna put her forehead to his and placed her metal hoof to his shoulder while placing her other on the back of his head. “Do not fret about the past Volos. While regrettable what happened that night, they acted under orders from my own sister to find and capture you. And I have suspicions about her involvement in the destruction of the ruins as well. It was not you who caused a slaughter that night but Celestia, if my suspicions turn out to be correct.” She stood back up and Volos did the same. “We can continue this conversation at later time; I do not wish to attract the attention of others.” 

She pointed down the adjacent hall toward the hospital wing and gave Volos a reassuring smile. She nodded her head in the direction of the hall still pointing until Volos slowly made his way down it. She watched his back travel down for a minute until she herself turned and made her way down to the Royal Guard offices. 


2


Volos’ footsteps were slow and rhythmic. He felt each vibration as his steps echoed through the stone halls leading to the medical wing of the castle where his judgment was currently waiting for him. He followed another sign and found the large white double doors into the exclusive medical center of the castle. He pushed the door open slowly with his clawed gauntlet of a hand and stepped through. 
The stallion at the desk looked up and screamed. Volos groaned and went up to the desk. He stared down at the clerk who was trembling in his seat, too afraid to move an inch. 

“I’m here to see Fluttershy,” he stated coldly to the clerk. 

“She’s in ph…ph…physical th…therapy. D…down the hall to the left,” the receptionist stammered. 

Volos walked around the desk and into another short hallway. He found the door into the physical therapy center easily enough but the door was too small for him to fit inside easily. He went passed the door and found a window. He peered inside the large and spacious center. All around the room were treadmills, weight benches filled with light weight dumbbells and other various therapy machines. He looked around and stopped when he caught sight of a yellow and pink maned Pegasus inside of a harness taking slow and methodical steps while five ponies cheered her on alongside three small fillies. 	

Volos clenched his hand and pulled his arm back. He could feel his heart pounding and he took a deep breath. His large fist sailed through the glass shattering it into thousands of tiny pieces that spread and littered the floor. He released his breath and grabbed a handful of wall and tearing it off. He did this several more times as he made a door for himself into the center. When he finally stepped inside he looked over and saw those inside look at him in terror, all except five. 

Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and twilight had scowls on their faces. Twilight’s morphed into an unreadable calm she ignited her horn quickly and let a short magic burst fly through the air at Volos. He let it impact and he flew and flipped through the air and fell again into the hallway taking more wall with him. He groaned and got back up. He bent down and walked through the larger hole in the wall. He stood again at his full height as his leg was enveloped by magic again and tossed upwards. His body fell quickly and his head hit the floor making a hole. 

Volos groaned again, and stood up. He shook his head and tried to take a step farther into the therapy center only to be met with a purple wall. He hit it with his fist, knocking on it like a door. Twilight watched pensively as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. 

“It’s not fighting back,” she told the others. “I wonder why.” She thought on this hard, not seeing a faint flicker in the wall. 
Volos saw the wall fade but for a second and seized his opportunity. It faded again slightly and he punched it with all his might. The wall shattered like the glass window had and fizzled out of existence. He leapt at the group of ponies and snatched Twilight’s horn in his right pointer and thumb, and applied a light pressure. Twilight gasped as her horn was being slowly squished. She flailed her front hooves and smacked his fingers. Volos lifted her head and glared at her in the eyes and put his left pointer to her chest. 

“Don’t do that again,” he stated calmly. Twilight’s eyes widened at his voice. He saw the aura build in her horn lightly. He squeezed her horn again and shook her head gently. “Ah, don’t.” Twilight tried again and again he squeezed her horn tighter. Twilight looked at his face again and gulped; fearful he would try to break her horn. “Now, I’m going to let go and you’re not going to try to hit me again. Understood?” Twilight nodded as best she could. “Good.” He let Twilight’s horn go and she quickly rubbed it soothingly. 

“You…You talked!” Twilight yelled, when she had recovered. “Are you the thing that hangs around Princess Luna?!” 

“Yes.” 

Twilight’s mind went into over drive. “But what about the thing that attacked Ponyville and the Princesses?! What happened to it?!” she blurted out loudly, letting her mind race as her mane became slightly disheveled. “Where did you come from? IS Princess Luna alright? What about…” Volos pinched her mouth shut with his fingers. 

“Clearly I have to explain to you what happened.” Volos said easily. He sat down and inhaled deeply. “Sit please, this will take some time.” The group sat down warily and kept their eyes trained on him. He told them everything that had transpired since they had seen him last. When he had finished his audience stared with looks ranging from anger to bewilderment. “That is the end,” Volos stated calmly. He had left out Luna’s discovery of Celestia's tampering and the more gruesome aspects of the tale as well as confessing to the attack on Ponyville and how Princess Luna came to be the way she is. 

Twilight’s horn raged purple and Volos found himself flying through the air once again. His head impacted another wall and found himself lying outside the physical therapy room again, face down. He shook his head and began to stand, only to be knocked back down again by Twilight’s anger fueled magic. 

“I don’t believe you!” Twilight yelled. “I’ll never believe you!” She smashed him down again. He could feel his armor begin to dent. “You hurt Fluttershy! You hurt Princess Luna, attacked Celestia!” She slammed him with every word she uttered. Volos groaned and lifted his head from the floor to look at the purple unicorn. He watched as a purple baseball bat materialized and swung at him. 

The magic bat slammed into Volos’ face and launched his head backwards. The group heard a loud snap and watched as one of the rods making up his neck launched from its place and hydraulic fluids seeped down his neck. A crack appeared on his face and his head fell back to the floor, sending an echo of metal against stone through the halls. Twilight’s breathing slowed to a normal pace and she visibly relaxed. Her shoulders slumped back from their raised position and her eyes lost the rage that shown in them. She turned to her friends with a smile on her face and she saw the looks of horror on their faces. 

“What?” She turned and saw what she had done through clear eyes. Volos lay face down on the ground, his back armor dented in, yellow fluid ran from his neck and his eyes were not glowing. She saw the crack on his face plate. She gasped, “I did that?” Her friends nodded slowly. “I never… I was just so angry and…” she rambled, distraught.  

“You have quite the swing,” a deep pained voice said quietly. The group looked back to the prostrate from of Volos and saw it had moved some. His eyes flickered back to life and he groaned as he sat himself upright. He felt the loose connector rod and jammed it back into place before it latched back into its original position. He looked to the group and extended a large clawed hand.  “It will take time, but for now I ask for a truce at least,” he said softly. 

Twilight looked at his hand and hesitated. She took a small step back and recoiled. She breathed a heavy sigh. “Maybe one day, but not right now, I don’t think I can.” She looked at the dented face before her. “I will always be suspicious of you but I can’t forget what you’ve done not yet.” 

Volos nodded slowly. “I understand.” He stood up at his full height and moved past her, reaching a butter yellow pegasus still in her walking harness. He knelt down, “Do you feel the same?” he asked. Fluttershy didn’t answer him, instead opting for a thoughtful silence. “I expected as much,” he said sadly, turning away from her and making his way from the room. 

“Wait!” a squeaky voice called from the back of the group. Volos turned and saw a small white unicorn filly looking at him with trepidation. She breathed slowly and deeply. “Do you have a name?” she asked. 

Volos nodded, “Why do you ask?” 

“I have a friend named Volos. I haven’t seen him for a really long time and…” her voice trailed off, “if you’ve seen him.” Her eyes were wide and filled with fear at asking the behemoth her question.  The group looked at her with mouths agape and some filled with horror. 
“Sweetie Belle! Are you crazy?” Rarity asked, frazzled but Sweetie ignored her sister and stared intently at the behemoth. 

“I know your name,” Volos said, “and you know mine.” 

Sweetie looked at the large creature before her with a thoughtful face. She took a breath and walked up to his leg slowly. She climbed up on his foot and hugged his leg tightly. 

“I missed you Volos,” she said quietly. 

Volos reached down and lifted her to his shoulder and lightly placed his hand on her small back, covering it completely. 

“I missed you too, Sweetie Belle.” 
	
	
> Let Vengeance's Fire Burn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Captain Helios left the throne room and stumbled down the corridors of the castle towards his beloved bed in his private room in the castle. He crashed through the doors and fell to the floor. He sobbed loudly while clutching his chest tightly. He tore the Captain insignia from his armor and threw it far from himself. He stripped his armor off with great difficulty and left in a heap beside himself as he continued to lay on the ground. 

“I can’t, I can’t do this. I didn’t sign up for this,” he cried. “My friends, comrades, subordinates sent to oblivion.” He wobbled onto his hooves and went over to the picture on his nightstand. In it, himself and his parents stand grinning broadly after his swearing into the office of Captain of the Solar Guard. “Mom, Dad… I didn’t sign up for this. I didn’t sign up for the Royal Guard to… to do… DO THAT!” he wailed, throwing the photo to the wall and hearing a satisfying smash. 

He curled up in the corner of his sparse room and cried into the night. 


2


Luna rested her head on her pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind was wild with quick flashes of the previous week in the forest and the old castle. And her sister’s corrupting magic in Volos’ bio-mechanical mind. She groaned and rolled to her side. Her silver leg stuck out in front of her, glimmering in the dark. Luna moved it around and carefully watched as it did so. She couldn’t feel anything. 

“Is this what Volos feels like? Unable to feel. Feel the softness of the sheets, the cold in the air?” 

She crawled off her mattress and looked into her full body mirror. She took in in every new detail of her body. The burn marks, her whited out eye, short mane and tail, and last her new leg. She did not scream, nor cry. She couldn’t. She moved to the desk beside her mirror and opened the top most desk drawer. She peered down and found her long pair of scissors and levitated them to herself. She broke them in the center, creating two separate blades. She put one back on the desk and one still held in her magic grip. 

“Which am I?” she asked her reflection. “The creature of metal hiding in pony flesh masquerading as a Princess? Or, Princess Luna? Princess of the Night and Dreams tasked with the protection of those that sleep in the sunless sky. She brought the scissor edge to her mane and lifted the small portion left from her face. One midnight blue beautiful eye and a plain milky white stared back. She placed the tip of the blade to her eye just under the bottom eyelid. She felt the cold tip scratch against her soft eye and pull on the small bits of fur. Her reflection stared back, wide eyed and scared. “I choose me and me alone.” She threw down the blade and let it hit the ground. 

These things, this leg, my body, my mind. They’re all mine. I am Princess Luna, Princess of dreams tasked with the protection of the ponies of Equestria while they sleep under the light of my moon.” 

Luna looked back to the mirror and lit her horn. The blue glow encompassed her blinded eye. Her determination grew as she felt the magic evaporate her useless organ. She did not yelp or scream as her eye vanished. What stared back at her was another eye; an eye of glowing midnight blue just below the surface of the removed tissue. 


3


Celestia sat in her room looking out to the moon Luna had raised not long ago. She stared at it intensely. Her eyes squinted and reopened getting them to focus on the moonlight itself. The light was dim and small, unlike the norm of a bright silver light warming the air in its blanket. She closed the window and pulled the curtains shut. She shuffled around in the darkness and lay down. She grabbed the blankets in her hooves and pulled them over herself. She reveled in the velvet and silk that comprised her sheet and blanket. She closed her eyes and sighed contently. 

“Get up.” Celestia bolted upright. She recognized the voice. “Get over here.” Celestia got out of her bed and went into her walk in closet. “Good.” 

“What is it?” she asked impatiently. A large silver pillar formed in front of her. Emblazoned in capital letters was the words “sound only.” It flickered and distorted as the seconds passed by. 

“Watch your tone Princess,” it warned. “Your progress in this arrangement has been slow,” it droned. “His eminence is growing impatient. And the discreetness in its matters has become more noticeable.” 

“I’m doing what I can,” Celestia countered. “I’m the only one doing anything!” she yelled at the flickering pillar. The pillar remained silent. “Who or what are you anyway? Oh, and while I’m at it, I want to see whom I’m addressing,” she stated coldly. 

“Who and what we are is none of your concern,” the pillar answered at last. “Our identities are none of your concern. “What does concern you is that the arrangement is completed. And know this Celestia, myself and the others do not appreciate your tone. Should you speak to us that way again there will be consequences. Understood?” 

“Yes,” Celestia answered half-heartedly. 

“Do not fail us Princess. The Arrangement must succeed and should it; you will have your reward.” The pillar fizzled out of existence, leaving Celestia alone.

Celestia came out of her walk in and shut the door. She stood there shivering despite the warmth of the room. She turned quickly and punched the wooden door, nearly breaking it from its frame. She panted and held back the tears that threated to stain her coat. 

“I can’t fail. It’s the only chance I have. I must succeed.” 


4


Luna passed through the dreamscape, its never-ending tendrils spread throughout her mind as she looked for those tendrils holding nightmares and other horrors of the mind. She peered through her sacred realm and passed from tendril to tendril sending love and happiness to those who needed such things this night. She neared the end of the tendril path and her focus shifted to the darkest tendril she had ever witnessed. It waved sporadically and was covered in thorns and thistles; its darkness threatening to seep into the other pure tendrils nearby. She gazed at this abomination of a nightmare in wide eyed horror. One other had ever been created. Her own. The one that made her into Nightmare Moon all that time ago. She steeled herself and ignited her horn, readying herself for the scene inside. 

The golden throne room stood all around Luna in its splendor filled with a good number of ponies from the Solar Guard and Captain Helios standing by Celestia, looking proud. Celestia held a pleasant smile as she placed a medal around one of the guard’s neck and stood back smiling. Luna saw that the guards in the room all had these medals on their necks. She remained hidden among the shadows of this dream, only a small blue glow coming from her. 

“I am very proud of you my little ponies,” Celestia said, still smiling. “You followed orders to the letter and did a great service to your country in tearing down that old castle and you did a personal favor for me in doing that as well. From the bottom of my heart I thank you.” Celestia moved back to her throne and sat down. She looked over the assembled guards for brief minute and smirked. “As you know from your debriefing, this mission was off the books. A training mission went wrong.” She gestured to Helios. “The Captain assures me that you will not speak of this to anypony. I have complete confidence that you will not either. However, I must be sure. Your service was appreciated and you will all be missed. I will send my personal condolences to your families and other loved ones.” 

Helios was confused by her words as were the other guards. Celestia’s horn ignited with a brilliant light and a great vacuum opened in the floor. It’s red and orange pools circling sucking in those standing above it. The guards wailed in pain and terror as their armor melted and burned their bodies as they were pulled down into the swirling vortex of fire. Their skin melted revealing nothing more than bone and liquefied gold armor. The vortex sealed and closed with a loud bang and the throne room was silent. 

Luna stared in horrified wonder at the crime that her elder sister had committed. She wanted to leave this sick nightmare and never return to it. Yet she could not. Her dream magic could not open the gate back into the dreamscape. She lit her horn and tried again. And again. Still nothing worked. 

“This isn’t a dream,” she realized, her heart filling with dread. “It’s a memory!” She looked back to the scene replaying again and again. She watched a second time, a third, a fourth, as the guards were pulled to their deaths inside the vortex. Her good eye swam in its socket looking for the source of the memory. Her eye fell onto the form of Helios, who unlike the other forms of the memory was not resetting position and remained with the same petrified look. “There.” 

Luna jumped from her position and put a great deal of magic into her horn making glow brighter than before. She jumped onto the frozen Captain Helios and touched her horn to his head. The great blue light enveloped the surrounding area and released a bright flash. Luna shot from her meditative position and shot across the room. She hit the wall hard and groaned as she rushed to her hooves. 


5	


Helios lay on the ground frozen in his fright. He could hear nothing and he could feel nothing. He only felt the chill of the air coming from his broken window that he had hit when he woke up. He heard a frantic knock on the door. He could not understand the words coming from behind it, so he did not move. He looked lazily as the door was smashed from the hinges and in came an unknown pony; a pony with a short blue mane, silver leg and a glowing blue eye with horns and wings. 

“Helios! Helios get up!” the pony demanded frantically. “I know what happened. To your brothers in arms,” the pony said somberly. Helios looked up at the pony that stood over him now and found his voice for but a moment. 

“My brothers and sisters. They’re gone. My comrades, the ponies I shared my life with. Went through basic with. And loved so dearly. They’re all gone. Burned in the sun, never to return,” he said quietly. “Now I will join them again. I am going to see my brothers and sisters again.” 

Luna wrapped her legs around the body of Captain Helios feeling his blood permeate her coat, and turn the silver of her leg red. Tears fell from her remaining true eye and the other’s light dimmed ever so slightly. She buried her head in his lifeless shoulder and remained there for a time. 

When she regained herself she placed his body down to the ground and stood back up. She stared at what remained of the former Captain of the Solar Guard. She felt her teeth clench and her brows furrow. She roared into the air. A primal roar. Bestial. Her breath became ragged and short. Her body shook, her mind rocked and raged. 

She felt the rage of a beast. The primal hate that dwells within the soul of the tormented. She felt the hate that made her into the Nightmare. Luna’s good eye became red, glowing in the darkness of her own night mixing with the blue of her left. Her mane grew form the short burned into a raging, twisting blue inferno of moonfire. She roared again to the wind; waking the castle from its ignorant slumber. 

Her ears heard the clopping of armored hooves and the flapping of leather wings. Gold and black guards appeared at the door and gazed to the sight before them. Luna turned quickly to her small audience. She frowned deeply and growled with unholy hate. 

“The Sun will know vengeance!” 

The guards fell to the ground.
	
	
> Divided
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Celestia dozed peacefully in her bedchambers as the night wore on into the midnight hours. Her eyelid twitched as the moonlight crossed her face lightning it in a peaceful glow. Her chest rose and fell in a light rhythmic pattern. She rolled over to her side, her face now facing the door. Her eye twitched again as it perceived a brighter light coming from behind the door. Her eye fluttered open and the rest of her senses opened as well. She could see what appeared as a flickering candlelight become brighter under the door and the furious pounding of hooves behind it. The large golden doors flung open and a small number of guards rushed in and closed the door behind them, pulling objects in their immediate vicinity to bar the door. One of the guards was pulling a dresser with his magic while yelling orders to the other four guards. 

“What is going on? Tell me this instant!” Celestia ordered harshly. One of the guards split off and faced Celestia. 

“Ma’am, Captain Helios was found dead in his room and several of the Lunar Guard were found passed out on the floor. Princess Luna blasted her way through us trying to get to you. We don’t know why,” he said quickly before going back to barricading the door, panicking as he did so. Celestia pondered on the cause for a moment. Her face sank as she realized the major setback she had overlooked. Helios had told Luna. She spared his life because of his rank but he had confessed to Luna. He betrayed her. 
As the guards piled things in front of the door a loud high pitched whining was heard on the other side. As the sound grew and intensified so did a dull blue light that was barely visible through all of the random items blocking the door. It grew in its intensity until the door had been blown from the frame and a wave of blue magic dissipated inside the room. Celestia’s eyes shut from the brightness of the explosion and she opened them slowly. 

Luna stood on the other side of the door. Her natural eye glowed white with magic while her mechanical glowed brightly blue. Luna’s face was nearly unreadable, but Celestia could feel the anger emanating from her body. Luna walked through the door stepping over the mildly burned and injured guardsponies until she was face to face with Celestia. Luna’s mismatched eyes bored into Celestia’s golden irises. They remained there quiet and unmoving. 

“I know everything,” Luna whispered to her elder sister. Celestia gulped, “Your manipulation of Volos, our old castle, and the guards who carried out your bidding. I know about all of it.” Celestia did not move. She remained still and quiet in the face of her younger sister’s presence. 

“Luna understand that…” Celestia did not finish as she was sent sailing into the door to her balcony. Celestia felt the shards of glass fall on her stabbing their way into her skin. Dazed she looked up at Luna. Celestia felt a pain in her jaw and felt that it would not close properly. She reached up and popped her jaw back in place with a sickening pop. “Lu…Luna stop this. Don’t do this. Don’t follow your hate! Please!” Celestia pleaded. She watched Luna’s horn charge quickly and felt a wash of magic slam into her.
The doors of the balcony could not withstand the blast and collapsed as Celestia’s body slammed into the railing, knocking it off kilter. 

“Celestia for the murders of innocent ponies and the attempted assassinations of a co-ruler of Equestria, and Volos my companion and friend, I relieve you of your duties in concordance with the law of Equestria. I hereby charge you with high treason and your punishment will be decided by a grand jury of your peers. Surrender now or I will bring you to submission!” Luna yelled at her sister’s quivering form. 

“I… I Won’t! I can’t!” Celestia’s horn glowed its golden hue and fired a blast of magic at Luna. Luna jumped and dodged the reckless shot. Luna looked back to where her sister was and did not see her. She looked to the sky and saw Celestia charging a spell while hovering some distance away. 
Luna took off after Celestia flying into the night sky. 


2


Volos sat in the room that the CMC were given to stay in for the night while they were in the castle. He looked down on the three sleeping fillies. His red eyes remained upon them watching their chests rise and fall in rhythmic pattern as they slept. He turned as the door crept open revealing a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane enter the large room. She crept her way in as quietly as possible. She looked up and saw Volos’ large silhouette looming in the center of the room. She gulped quickly and raised a hoof, waving for him to follow her. After doing so she snuck out of the room again. Volos stood slowly and as quietly as possible. He lumbered out of the room and gently closed the door behind him. He turned and looked at the timid pegasus. 

“Is there something you want?” he asked. Fluttershy nodded slowly. “What is it?” 

“I…um…” she hid behind her mane, “I…uh…wanted to thank you,” she finally said. Volos could only stare at her. “I wanted to thank you for apologizing and owning your mistakes. It takes courage to do that and it shows that you’re not a mindless monster.” 

“But after everything I’ve done how can you forgive so easily?” 

“I never said that I forgive you,” she said softly. “I don’t know if I can but what you did in these last few days has given me a better impression of you but I’m conflicted on what to do. I’m the element of kindness not forgiveness.” 

Volos nodded slowly, “I never expected you to do anything at all.” 

“I chose to do this because I can walk and with proper rehabilitation I’ll be able to fly enough to take care of my animals but nothing will ever be as it was before.” 
Volos remained silent.

Maybe one day we can be friends, but it won’t be right now,” she said. “I need to be going. The doctor wants me back in bed soon.” 

“Goodbye,” Volos said softly. He went back into the fillies’ room and sat in a corner listening to his mechanisms hum. 

3


Celestia’s wings burned. Her muscles were cramping as she tried to outrun her younger sister. Luna always took to flight to travel while Celestia preferred to teleport leaving her wings sorely underused. She chanced a look back at her pursuer and saw Luna’s eyes boring into her still. Celestia stopped and hovered knowing that there was no other way. She looked around and found herself just above the center of Canterlot.

“Luna that’s enough! I have my reasons for what I’ve done and I do not need to explain myself to you!” Luna stopped and hovered in front of Celestia.

“You have much to answer for Sister! I offered you a chance and now I have to use force.” 

“I have nothing to answer for Luna. I did what I had to.” 

Celestia charged her horn and let a bolt of magic fly to Luna. Luna dodged it easily and stared down at her sister. Luna charged up at her sister and their bodies collided forcing them both to tumble through the air. They fell towards the ground kicking and punching each other with their hooves. As the ground neared they broke apart and flapped their wings with all their might. Celestia managed to teleport herself to the ground without breaking her legs. Luna hit the ground leaving her stunned but otherwise none to damaged. Luna staggered to her hooves and glared at her white colored counterpart. Celestia stared back. 

“Why Celestia? Why are you doing this?” Luna asked through gritted teeth. 

“I have nothing to explain to you,” Celestia said defiantly. 

“Why do this? All of this?” 

“As I said, I have my reasons.” 

Luna continued to glare at her sister. Celestia stood tall and proud, despite her injuries, and remained fixed on Luna. Her Mane continued to flow in the magic that coursed through her body. Luna lit her horn and charged her magic. Celestia did the same. The magic built until it reached its breaking point. They released streams of magic that collided with each other. They struggled to maintain their respective beams while a large orb built at the collision point. The orb grew larger and larger as Celestia and Luna pumped magic into their attacks. The orb exploded sending waves of magic in every direction. Both Luna and Celestia were sent flying backwards. Luna collided with the castle wall leaving her stuck in the stone. Celestia tumbled along the ground. Celestia came to a stop and got to her hooves. She limped and staggered her way to where Luna was embedded. Celestia stood in front of Luna’s body and charged her horn again. With a steeled resolve Celestia aimed her horn at Luna’s heart. 

“Now I will be free. Free of you Illegitimate and free of them.” 

Her magic was ready to be released and she planted her hooves. She was ready to fire. Celestia released a slam and concentrated stream of magic into Luna’s heart. Luna woke quickly from her unconsciousness and screamed from the searing pain. She could feel the heat course through her body and she writhed from the agony. Luna’s struggled against the stone holding her and her sister’s magic. She let out a piercing scream into the night air. 

Celestia’s magic stopped. She looked at Luna. Luna’s body twitched and a hole had been burned into her chest. Smoke rose from the wound and the fur around it was scorched to black. Small amounts of blood dripped from the hole and onto the cobblestone ground. Luna’s mane lost its ethereal glow and dropped around her shoulders in its natural silver blue color. Celestia could tell that Luna still lived from the very slight movement coming from her chest. Celestia stood looking at her work. She still held her defiance and resolve but her mind had become blank. Celestia grabbed Luna’s horn with her hoof and pulled her from the stone letting her fall to the ground. She stood over her sister’s limp and broken body. Luna’s metal leg shimmered under the light of the moon and blue light in her eye flickered while her other remained closed. Celestia looked over her. 

“Filthy, filthy creature,” she sneered. “Disgusting!” Celestia kicked the limp body before her. “Illegitimate filthy beast!” She kicked again and again. “Monster!” She kicked one last time. 

Celestia huffed from the exertion. She could feel the bruising of her hoof beginning to form on her skin and ignored it.  She turned to leave and caught something in her peripherals. She turned to the object and stopped. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack stood in her path; mouths agape and horrified expressions on all of their faces. Volos as well stood by them; his face unreadable as always. 

“What have you done?” Twilight asked, mortified. 

Celestia remained still. Her face did not change and her chest was out in pride. 

“What needed to be done,” she replied. Volos stepped forward and walked to Celestia.  “Whatever you do to me beast, I will not move. I have no regrets.” 

Volos stopped by Celestia’s side and did not look at her. 

“Leave this place. Gather your strength and we will settle this.” 

Volos moved from his spot beside her and picked up Luna’s body. He walked back to the six ponies and left them there as he went on to the castle. Celestia turned from the six Element holders. Saying nothing more she took off into the night sky and vanished from sight. The six element holders remained outside staring up into the flickering and fading stars. Twilight fell to her haunches and cried bitterly as the others began to join her with their own tears. 

> A Matter of Succession
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
1

The castle was in a state of complete disarray. Celestia’s attack on Luna had had consequences that led to the leadership of Equestria being put into question. The Council of Nobles, the next in line to rule Equestria should Celestia and Luna both be unfit, was too afraid of Celestia’s wrath should she return to Canterlot and had no desire to incur such wrath upon themselves. As it was, however, the Council of Nobles was in charge of Equestria at the moment; whether they wanted to be or not. Also, the Solar and Lunar cycles were now controlled by an apparatus designed to house enough power to move the two bodies for only a couple weeks. Soon, a new team of unicorns would need to be found in order to move them should neither Celestia or Luna be able to return to their duties. The council chambers in Canterlot castle were abuzz with debate on the current state of Equestria.

The council chamber was large and ornate with red carpets trimmed with gold and portraits of the Council hanging from the walls and a large plaque with the names of council members from the past adorning it. A great golden chandelier hung from the ceiling and was lit with candles. The windows of the chamber were large with the curtains drawn allowing the sun to enter the space. Three ponies sat in large wooden chairs around a circular polished wood table. 

“What are we doing?” yelled Prince Blueblood. “I know I am pleased to finally be in charge of Equestria, we should be ruling not cowering in fear. We can undo many of the questionable things that my aunt has done. We actually have a chance to make Equestria into our image.” 

“Sit down Prince… You have no right to say such things,” Rock Crusher, a large muscular pony wearing a tux and rarely found Earthpony noble, said. “The ponies need a functional government. However, we should not abandon the good that both Luna and Celestia have done for Equestria.” 

“Agreed,” Fancy Pants stated. “Luna is still alive, though in horrendous condition, and she may yet recover from her wounds. We need to keep peace remembering that. We are here to aid the princesses in their duties; not usurp them.” 

“I disagree! Even if my aunt Luna survives her wounds, she will be in no condition to do her duty. As such, we are now the sole ruling body of Equestria and we need to make laws to keep the ponies in order.” 

“We also need to think about the possibility of Celestia returning to Canterlot to consolidate her power,” Fancy Pants said to the others.

“Should she return to Canterlot there is not telling what she would do,” Rock said. Fancy Pants thought for a moment and looked to the others with a glint of determination in his eyes. 

“It is very clear that we all wish to help Equestria; though our methods are very different form each other. However, the situation is unprecedented in that Celestia did attempt regicide. I have thought on this matter since we were out into power several days ago. We have always known that Celestia has immense power, as done Luna, and there is no way we can stand up to them. The ponies of Equestria need firm leadership. One who is not afraid of Celestia and can do what they think is right regardless of the consequences.” Both Blueblood and Rock looked at him.  “Here is what I propose; we bequeath our power to someone else.” 

“Can we do such a thing?” Rock asked. 

“We will do no such thing!” Blueblood yelled. 

“We have to should Celestia return to Canterlot!” Fancy Pants yelled back, 

“Prince Blueblood you are outnumbered on this issue. I believe that it must be done for the safety of Equestria as a whole and for our own sakes.” 

Blueblood stood up and left the room quickly slamming the large door behind him. Rock turned to Fancy Pants. 

“This is a coward’s way out Fancy,” Rock said. 

“I am aware, Rock. As loath as I was to suggest we give up our powers to another, the Ponies of Equestria need an interim ruler that is firm in conviction and has the ability to do what needs to be done. As it stands this council cannot be that.” 

Rock looked to the floor, “Yes, I agree that this is the best course we can take but who would we give that much power to? We can’t give it to Blueblood, he would ruin Equestria.” 

“Yes, he would ruin Equestria and everything it has built trying to forge Equestria into this own personal servant. I can think of one right now who would be the ruler that Equestria must have.” 

“Who would that be?” 

“I will reveal such when we reconvene tomorrow. I am tired and I’m sure that you are as well my friend. Be prepared though, it will be long debate.” 


2


Volos looked into the room where the Cutie Mark Crusaders were staying. It was empty, the beds were made, and the curtains were shut. They had gone back to Ponyville with the others. The castle seemed smaller without the crusaders’ constant exploring and roaming. He had thought that he had lost them forever after they were separated the first time. Now, he had lost them again, this time to Celestia’s attack and the fear it inspired. He turned and continued his walk to Luna’s room. 

When he got there it was how Luna had left it. The room was clean except for the bed. The sheets had been upturned and twisted from Luna’s quick actions at finding out about what Celestia had done. The blood stains had been removed from the carpet where the Captain of the Solar Guard had died. He left it alone and went to the double doors and opened them. He stepped onto the large balcony and looked out to the horizon. He clenched his fists and let his blades out from his arm. He scraped the edges together letting the metal scrape and spark. He listed to the sound of the metal scraping and continued to scrape them together again and again. He threw his arms up and roared as loud as he could. The windows cracked from the force and the frames rattled in place. He held his roar for several minutes before he finally went silent. He stood there staring at the open sky. 

“Letting it all out big guy?” Volos turned around. Dark Heart stood there looking up at him. Volos turned back around, not wishing to speak with her. Dark Heart stood next to him looking out. “There wasn’t anything you could have done you know.” 

“Yes, there was,” he responded. 

“So he speaks.” Dark Heart chuckled while looking up at him. 

“I could have intervened,” he continued. 

“You didn’t though… And you shouldn’t have.” 

Volos stared down at the pony. 

“It was their fight, not yours.” 

“I’m supposed to protect her.” 

“You can’t protect everyone,” she said sadly. “I’m surprised you of all don’t understand that.” 

“I’ve failed to protect those I care about before. But this, this feels like failure.” 

“You can view what happened as failure if you want to. It’s what you do with the failure that matters more.” 

“Talking from experience?” 

“As matter-of –fact, I am. I’ve failed again and again, and each time I got back up and moved forward. It looks like you have done the same so far, don’t stop now.” 

Dark Heart turned and left the balcony so she could return to her duties. Volos remained on the balcony looking out on the city and the ponies in it. Celestia and Luna had led them for centuries and now neither was capable of doing so. The Council of Nobles was ineffective and afraid of what may come. The Elements were gone and the Cutie Mark Crusaders with them. Volos left the balcony. 

He returned to Luna’s room in the clinic. He stood over her body and looked at her. More silver was seen under her fur. Her leg was only the beginning of the metal in her body. He looked into the hole in her chest. The fur had been cut away and some skin removed to make room for the tubes that kept her heart beating. Metal encased her beating heart as well. The metal was melted away where Celestia had attacked her. This let some of the metal seep onto her heart. Her heart had dissolved under the immense heat of the metal and the damage done by Celestia. Luna’s survival was never assured but somehow she managed to survive the attack. Volos let his arm open. The metal casings revealed his black metal skeleton and some gray muscle tissues infused with wires and clear tubes filled with oil and blood. He looked down to Luna’s own metal leg and touched it with his unenclosed fingers. 

His gray skinned and rotted fingers touched the smooth surface and he ran his fingers down it.  He felt nothing. He brought his hand back up and let the metal close around his hand once more. He knew that they were the same in some regards. As such he felt like she was part of his family much like how he saw Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo when they first met in the forest. He stood watching Luna as he often had to do when she would be put into the hospital. Volos hated being only able to watch Luna’s suffering and could do nothing to help her. His upgraded body did not allow for the administering of medicines and medical care unless it was directed to only himself. He looked out the window and watched the sun set and the moon rise with a lack of precision and hapless motions. Volos looked at Luna’s face. She had a breathing tube in her mouth and her eyes were closed. The heart monitor beeped in regular intervals and the breathing machine let air escape with a hiss and pushed air into Luna with another hiss making her chest rise and fall with each sound. Volos’ growl rumbled quietly in his chest. He been angry before and this time was not any different. However, his anger would not help him now. Celestia was gone from Canterlot and Luna was again in a hospital suffering from grievous wounds. This time he decided that Luna would need to recover alone this time. He could not hold her hoof.  She needed to get stronger without him. As much as he hated it, he knew that it was the right thing to do. He left her for the night to wander the castle grounds without a destination in mind. 


3


Fancy was sitting at his table with Fleur eating dinner in his large dining room. Fancy ate slowly and deliberately not looking anywhere except for his plate. Fleur looked at her husband and put her fork back on the table. 

“Fancy, please, you must eat more than this. I have not seen you like this in many years. What’s wrong?” 

Fancy glanced up at Fleur and noticed the concern in her eyes. He too, placed his fork on the table. He stood up and grasped Fleur’s hoof in his own. He stared into her pink eyes and grasped her hoof tighter. 

“Fancy what’s wrong, you’re scaring me,” she said. 

“I’m afraid Fleur, very afraid.” 

“Why?” 

“I suggested to the council that we bequeath our emergency powers to another.” 

“Are you certain that you have to do that?” 

“Yes I am. I am firm in that belief. However, I am uncertain as to my decision on who to give that power to. The Council may disagree with me, in fact I know that Blueblood will but I know that it must be done.” 

“Why are you so sure?” Fleur asked, caressing his cheek with her hoof. 

“The Council, myself included, are afraid of what may come should Celestia return to Canterlot. The council cannot stand up to her in any way. She wrote laws that prevent her from being the sole ruler of Equestria upon its founding and after Luna’s return she strengthened those laws. But now, she is ignoring those laws and has made an attempt on Luna’s life. Luna disagreed with Celestia often but she always looked for compromise. Now though, we are uncertain. We are looking for a way to protect ourselves and our families from harm and giving away our power is the best way to do it.” 

Fleur rubbed her belly quickly and looked at Fancy. 

“I will not let myself be a target and abandon you and our child to the unknown or the wrath of Celestia. That is why I believe that the council needs to give our powers away. 

“Who will you give them to?” 

“That is why I am subdued tonight Fleur. If we give our powers to the one I have in mind it could mean possible civil war and if not that, than it could lead to war between Celestia and the ponies of Equestria.” 

> Decisions and Messages
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fancy Pants and Rock Crusher sat in the council chamber. Both had their heads in their hooves. The chamber had little light and the what light was available was dim casting small shadows and lighting only half of the counsel table. 

"What have we done Fancy?" 

"We did what needed to be done." 

"But to hand over all powers of the Equestrian Throne to him." 

Rock Crusher put his hooves onto the table. and looked around the room sighing. 

"What do we do now?" 

Fancy Pants looked at him sullenly, yet with a hint of determination in his eyes. 

"We hold Equestria together. Luna's place will remain secured and we will do what we can to reassure and calm the ponies, just as he asked us to." 

"What of Blue blood? He wants to usurp both Celestia and Luna." 

"Blue Blood will not try anything. He may be an arrogant and pompous baffoon but even he is not stupid enough to try anything that may result in his demise." 

"I'm not so sure. He's proven shrewd before and ruthless when he does not get what he wants. He may use the chaos to his advantage." 

"That is why we need to counter the chaos before he has a chance to use it." 

"Do you honestly believe that we can mitigate the fallout from this disaster Fancy?" 

"Not completely no. Though we've seen a number of attacks on Equestria and come out fine in the end." 

"Because we had the Elements of Harmony and Celestia was NOT the villain!" 

"I agree the circumstances are vastly different from times past but the message remains the same." 

"We survived disasters before and we will survive this one Rock." 

"I pray that you are right." 

They stood up and left the council chambers both with trepidation in their hearts. 


2



Three months later



News of Celestia's attack was still raw in both Volos and the ponies of Equestria's hearts. Speculation soared through the populace about why Celestia would try to kill Luna outright. Commentators and news paper columns gave reasons from the absurd to the most absurd and Volos was caught in the middle. Many blamed him for the changes in both Luna and Celestia. Though he did not mind it so much, he believed them to be right. He did not know what Equestria was like before his sudden arrival but he was sure that he changed it in some way. He was different for certain and now the ponies knew that Luna was like him and not like them.  He had not held an official court like Luna and Celestia had done but instead preferred to keep his distance, focusing more on the day to day and his visits to Luna's bedside. The Council of Nobles had deemed it appropriate to give Volos emergency powers over Equestria until Luna's recovery was complete. However, at the rate the recovery was going he would be in charge for some time.  A team of unicorns were found to take over the raising and setting of the sun and moon in relatively short time, most coming from the Royal Guard. From the time the Council made the announcement he had been beset by various issues. Volos delegated various tasks to the Council and the Guardsponies. The Council managed to put together a team of unicorns sourced from the Solar Guard and Lunar Guard to raise the sun and moon after the emergency apparatus ran out of magic power.  

The Council of Nobles minus Blue Blood was hard at work keeping the peace. They had been travelling Equestria, talking to news outlets, and holding town halls. They had to enlist other nobles to aid them in their mission. They wanted to prevent the chaos from becoming too great to where a massive guard response would be necessary. The other nobility was hesitant to join but eventually became convinced that they needed to get involved. Canterlot could not lose face as the center of Equestrian stability and the nobility agreed. Blue Blood, however, had not been seen nor heard from in that time. Thought that worried Fancy and Rock, they deemed it unnecessary to worry about his movements or lack thereof while they were focusing on keeping Equestrians calm and feeling secure.  The general populace questioned and lambasted the Council of Nobles for giving emergency powers to an alien and not a pony and the derision continued to be loud and a majority.

The Solar guard had disbanded itself to a large extent. Many of the ponies were conflicted about remaining loyal to Celestia. However, they wanted to remain guards. As such, Captain Dark Heart had them fold into the Night Guard as the daylight units. The reorganization of the guard took some time but Dark Heart managed it with her lieutenants and some help from the former Captain of the Solar Guard. Volos approved of Dark Hearts plan somewhat quickly as having a strong Guard presence that maintained its current numbers and routines without elevating to occupation methods would keep the ponies from panicking because the guard remained as they had been. Dark Heart took a small number of guards to travel sections of Equestria that were considered major risk like Manehatten and Baltimare due to their large populations. They had not been back to Equestria in several weeks. 

Volos sat inside Luna's chambers as he had often done when he felt the need to be alone. The events of the last three months replayed themselves in his mind from the attack to the decree of the Council, and Luna's long  recovery. Each time he thought over these his rage increased, yet he could not act on it. To clam himself he would sit by Luna's side. Volos returned to Luna's side and knelt to the floor. The hospital room was covered in wires, machines, and I.V. bags containing different fluids. He despised the look of the room as it reminded him of a laboratory. However, to his delight, much of the wires and tubes had been removed form Luna's throat and body, a welcoming sign of her recovery. Her fur could not be replaced until she was fully recovered leaving her looking like a different creature altogether. Much of her body was still covered in blue fur but much more was revealed to be machinery and natural organic bodily systems. Luna had yet to regain consciousness but her physical ailments had practically vanished. The hole in her chest had gotten significantly smaller and her vitals grew stronger. Even so, something nagged Volos' mind; Celestia's sudden outburst, Luna's metal parts, and his and Luna's attachment to the other. He mulled these questions in his mind but felt that there was no one to answer them. While he mulled over these questions he heard sounds in the hallway. He stood up assuming that the doctors, the few ponies remaining in the castle, were returning to check on Luna. Volos left the room to leave them to their work. 

The sun had set and the moon rose in its place. Volos walked through the empty halls of the castle. The darkness did not bother him much, though he missed having Luna by his side. His thoughts raced and remained on both Luna's condition and how to counter Celestia's aggressiveness. He approached Luna's door and opened it. The room was practically the same as it ever was, thought it had become dusty in the absence of the cleaning staff. He went out onto the balcony and looked up at the moon. It shown dimly in the sky as it always had. A gust of wind blew past and knocked a small bejeweled cup from Luna's desk. Volos went and grabbed it in his large hand and he placed it back on the desk. While he was in the room another gust shut the balcony doors behind him. His head swiveled quickly. He could hear heavy breathing around him. He felt his rage bubble and he clenched his fists. 

"Volos...Volos can you hear me?" a voice echoed in his mind. 

Volos remained silent for a while as he tried to remember who that voice belonged to. 

"Volos, answer me! I will not ask again!" it angrily roared.  

"What do you want?" Volos said back. 

"That's no way to treat me big guy. Besides we haven't spoken since you stepped on me at that facility." 

"I know. I wanted to be rid of you." 

"Getting rid of me is not easy my host. I have no chip to remove, no lines of code that can be undone. I was programmed into your very nature. Though the separation of our personalities and thoughts is new, or was at least." 

"Why show yourself to me know? I can crush you again if I need to Anubis." 

"I know what troubles you. You want power, more power. You failed to keep the horse safe and now you require power to prevent another failure." 

"Make your point Anubis," Volos growled. 

"I know one who can help you." 

"Stop being cryptic and tell me." 

"Another like me called Athena." 

"Like you?" 

"An A.I. I, Anubis, am the unbridled strength and hatred. Athena is the logic. She is the one who can give you the power you need. Athena gave you the body that you now reside in. Do you remember?" 

"I do remember, though I vowed to destroy her." 

"You were in a rage, I doubt that you meant it."

"Why tell me this?" 

"You need to seek her out. You are still an incomplete creature, Athena will make you whole." 

"I will not leave Luna." 

"Bring her with you then. She will need to be there as well." 

"Why?" 

Anubis no longer answered him. Volos stood in both anger and contemplation. Anubis had remained dormant until now. It worried him that Anubis knew something about Luna that he himself did not know, and that worried him. Volos sat in the middle of the room and decided to shut down for the night and address this in the morning. 



3


The morning came and Volos was on his way to the courtroom due to a summons that he received. The letter did not say much only that his immediate presence was required in the throne room. He opened the doors and entered the now dusty and dulled room. The gold did not shine and the walls and carpets had not been cleaned in some time. He approached a small group of ponies, six in total; two guards and four civilians. The civilians were wearing lab coats and looked nervous. One was shifting from side to the other, the second tapped his hoof to the floor, the third gnawed on his hoof, and the last chewed on their tongue. Volos stopped and stood in front of them. 

"Why have you called me here?" he asked. 

One of the guard ponies spoke up, "These four requested to see you." 

"Actually, we requested to the see the princess but all of the business went down so we're talking to you," The one who was chewing their tongue said. 

"Who are you?" Volos asked. 

"Field Dust. We were studying you back in the Crystal Empire." 

"So, you're the ones. Why are you here?" 

"I got a letter from my excavation team. They say that they found something and that two of my team went missing sometime ago after they discovered it. A few went in looking for them but they did not come back either. I would like to go back." 

"Why do I need to be bothered about this?" 

Field Dust pulled out a small pouch, opened it, and dumped a small black square to the ground. She picked it up after putting the pouch away. 

"This was with the letter and it said to give to you." 

Volos took it from Field Dust and scanned it. 

Scanning....Scanning...Scan Complete....

....Playing Message...

A small blue light appeared from the chip and a hologram of a female face appeared. 

"Hello, if this message is playing than it has been received the intended recipient," the face said, "Playing message." 

The face flickered for moment before the message began to play. 

"Volos, it has been sometime since we last spoke. I am Athena. My reports indicate that the one designated as Luna has been recovering nicely considering the damage she sustained to her biological and mechanical systems. This is good. Her functionality should be restored soon. When designate "Luna" is fully functional please come to the coordinates that will be provided by Field Dust." 

They all looked at Field Dust, who simply shrugged completely ignorant of what Athena meant. 

"The coordinates that Ms. Field Dust will provide you are the coordinates of her excavation site. It is time that we meet one another and if all went well Anubis should have spoken to you about this as well. The events of the last three months threaten to disrupt the set timeline provided by our creators. The situation must be rectified. There is not much time left and preparations must be completed." 

The message ended and the hologram vanished. The group stood in silence before Volos spoke up. 

"How soon can you be ready leave Ms. Field Dust?" Volos asked slowly. 

"Two Days at most." 

"You three should pack up as well," he said looking to Gene Splice, Alpha Bone, and Star Gazer. "We're all leaving when Luna is able to travel of her own power." 

The guards escorted the four ponies out of the throne room. Volos turned and went up to the throne. He laid his hand on the arm rest and kept it there for a time. 

"That thing is too small for you to sit on big guy." 

Volos turned around and saw a bluish purple pony with batlike features standing on the bottom step to the throne. 

"Who are you?" Volos asked. 

"Aw, that's hurtful. It's me Dark Heart, Captain of Luna's guard. 

"When did you return? I thought you left to keep order after the transfer of power was finished." 

"I got back a little while ago. Wanted to change out of my armor first." 

"That's why I didn't recognize you." 

"Thought so." 

"How are the ponies doing?" 

"Not well, I'm afraid. There is till fear and uncertainty but most of the ponies are coming around. The Council of Nobles minus Blue Blood is doing what they can to keep the ponies from rioting. It's been working but there are still some pockets that have been causing some problems." 

"That's unfortunate. The ponies need someone who can actually lead them but Celestia is now feared instead of loved and the ponies are not even sure that Luna is one of them. The situation appears to be desperate."  

"That it is. The Guard may need to increase their presence to keep the peace. 

"That might cause more problems." 

"True but it may need to be considered. Of course, it would still need your final approval." Dark Heart scratched her head, wanting to change the subject. 

"Has Princess Luna's condition changed?" 

Despite the sudden subject change Volos remained stoic after discussing the issues of the public. 

"She is recovering well thankfully. Though she has yet to awaken." 

"Since you're the temporary ruler I need you do the debrief so I can go home." 

"Unfortunately, that is something I cannot provide you right now." 

"Why's that?" 

"Something has come up and I want you to come along." 

"Okay, what are the specifics?" 

"I received a message about meeting someone to get some answers on what has been happening since I arrived here. Unfortunately, the message has raised more questions that need answering. It has to do with the ones responsible for building me and apparently building Luna. We will be leaving once Luna is awake and is able to be moved. Hopefully, that will not be much longer." 

Dark Heart scratched her head and pushed back her mane. She shook her head slowly and looked up to the ceiling. Her mind was trying to process the little information that Volos provided. 

"That's intense. You've been working me to the bone here big guy but I'll be ready to leave when you are." 

"Good. In the mean time, you can go home to your family to see them. I'm sure that they have been worried during all of this." 

"My mother and Father thank you." 

Dark Heart left the throne room and Volos stepped away from the throne proper.  He returned to Luna's room and stepped onto the balcony as he had done many times before. The sun was out and the tranquility of the castle and its gardens was in stark difference to the turmoil of the rest of Equestria. He was determined to hold the kingdom together so that Luna could return to her rightful place as the Princess of Equestria. He thought over everything that had been said by Anubis and Athena, Celestia's attack, and Luna's condition. His vengeance would need to wait until he and Luna both were ready to take on Celestia's power. He looked up to the sky and the blazing sun. 

"Either you return Celestia or I find you first. We'll end this dispute and a victor will be chosen."
> Reflections
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia wandered through the forest. Its large trees covering the mountain top. She stopped at her self-made hovel and undid the bandages from her side. The wounds from her latest encounter had nearly healed but it left scars on her body and her mind. When she thought back to that time her heart did not sink nor did she feel sadness, only disappointment. Her mind constantly went back to the days when Luna entered the family and she finally had a sister by her side, only back then, both she and Luna were ignorant of the conditions of Luna’s birth. She was only happy to have had a sibling. Growing up Celestia and Luna were quite different. Luna excelled in combative magic while she excelled in defensive. An interesting occurrence that only deepened Celestia’s belief that they were indeed related and were two sides of the same coin, as a family friend once put it. Though, curiously, Luna was born with her cutie mark while Celestia had discovered hers one day while playing with her mother in the gardens in the afternoon. 

Celestia panted lightly as the quick burst of needle like pain crawled through her body. She finished fastening the bandages and sat in the sun. The warmth felt good on her skin, though the sun was somewhat intense today. As it had been for some time. Though effectively ousted from power she continued to raise and lower the sun each day more from force of habit than concern for the ponies she once ruled. Equestria had an artificial system to help raise and lower the sun and moon should a crisis come. However, the magic power required to do so was immense. Celestia helped relieve that requirement, though only a little. Just enough to keep things stable, but not enough to give off a visible magic trail. She looked around with a neutral smile and caught her reflection in a small puddle to her side. 

Her face was littered with small scars and scratches. The majority of the damage had healed, but she was left with a rather sizeable reminder of what had occurred. Her left eye was nearly blind. Her once vibrant iris had faded into a pale pink. She sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall of her forest hovel. 

“I will have to face him again. And Luna.” 

She thought back to her fight with Volos and Luna. Volos’ strength was as she remembered and his immense physical strength outclassed hers in many ways, but he had no magic capabilities. Luna had strength in magic but her physical strength was lacking when compared to hers. All of her strategies and planning had all ended in abject failure. With what limited help she had received from her unknown allies that communicated through the obelisk in the castle basement had not been enough to topple Volos. She did not know why Luna and Volos were attracted to each other. They became close very quickly and Luna had in some recognized him as her father figure in some ways. 

Celestia’s thoughts quickly turned to her father. The Alicorn of chaos. He was harsh and demanding and showed very little in the ways of affection, even to their mother. Celestia remembered him as very stern, yet he was never cruel to her, just tough. He would even tell her when she did something good or when he felt proud of her. Rare as it was. His magic training was rigorous and highly challenging as he taught her the basics but had her move to highly complex spells very quickly. She excelled under his stern tutelage and when she had completely mastered magic he actually smiled and said he was proud. Celestia grinned slightly at the memory of her stern stone-faced father actually expressing happiness.  Her grin faded when she recalled her parents discussing Luna one night when she was little more than a teenager. 

Her parents were in their room and Luna had been part of the family for only seven years at this time. Celestia was around fifteen years old and Luna had only just turned eight. Luna was out playing in the surrounding woods as she often did just after the lunch hour. Celestia, holding to her routine, was practicing her advanced spells in the arcaneum library. Celestia had taken a break to get a drink of water when she past by her parent’s room and through the door heard her father yelling. This was nothing new as he was usually yelling about something, primarily to their mother, but this time something was different. Their mother, the Alicorn of Order, was arguing back and was matching his volume. Normally, this would never happen. Their mother would simply nod and then rebut as necessary often times overruling him. Though she was disagreeing with her husband, she was screaming in defense of Luna. 

“She is a part of this family! I will not reject her!” 

“Luna must go! She is not a normal alicorn!”

“Who else would raise her?” 

“You mean raise IT!” 

“I mean raise her! Luna is a part of this family! End of Discussion!” 

Celestia avoided discovery by hiding behind a corner when her mother stormed out of the room. She did not understand why her father referred to her sister as an “it”, but she saw her father begin to treat Luna differently. 

Luna was constantly pushed by her father and he was even abusive in some instances. Luna collapsed one day during magic training and her father lifted by the mane and forced her to continue training. Eventually, Luna fell into unconsciousness and she was left there by her father. From then on, their relationship was never the same. Luna had to be defended by their mother in many instances as his behavior toward Luna had become increasingly cruel and he became emotionally distant from Luna to the point of never even saying her name, instead calling her “it” and “other.” Overtime, Celestia came to blame their father for Luna’s turning into Nightmare Moon due to the resentment she felt toward him and his favorable treatment of Celestia. 

Celestia was brought out of her remembrance and thought to recent events once more. It all made sense as to why their father was so cruel to Luna all those years ago. He knew she was not a natural born alicorn. Their mother was aware too. 

“Why would you keep this from me, Mother, Father?” 

Somewhere along the way Celestia had begun to resent Luna for her not being an Alicorn. Somewhere deep in her heart she knew Luna was different, but she did not realize just how different they were. Luna appeared be an alien lifeform similar to Volos. 

“What are Luna and Volos? I need answers.” 

Celestia stood up again and looked to the now waning sun. 

“By the sun, I will get to the bottom of this and end Volos’ meddling.”




2


Volos stood at Luna’s bedside once more. He had done the same for the past several weeks. Luna’s recovery was slow, but she was making progress. More and more, though, her equine exterior was being removed and she began to look more and more as he did before he received his upgrades from Athena. Underneath the fur, Luna was a mishmash of wires, actuators, steel, and motors. Volos looked at her. He felt sadness at her sorry state, but he did not blame Celestia for this. He blamed himself and himself only. When he met Luna he felt the need to protect her, but he did not know why. Even so, he was determined to keep Luna safe until she could not only protect herself, but also until he understood why he felt so strongly about keeping her safe. 

“Still at this big guy?” 

Volos looked behind him. 

“Dark Heart.” 

“She’s recovering…Slow as it is,” Dark Heart said quietly. 

Volos nodded silently. 

“I know it’s hard. I’m supposed to be her Captain of the Guard.” 

“You still believe her to be a Princess of Equestria?” Volos asked. “Even with what you see before you?” 

Dark Heart looked at Luna’s body. Dark Heart winced internally at the sight of Luna’s now further exposed mechanical form. She was silent for a time and simply stared at the floor after becoming fixated on Luna longer than she should have been. 

“She’s been a Princess for as long as I have been alive and before.” She finally spoke. “So, I will consider her a Princess of Equestria until she says otherwise.” 

Volos nodded once more. 

“The Night court will begin soon. We need to be going,” Dark Heart whispered. “You’re the new Regent of Equestria. Strange at is.” 

“It’s been a few months.” 

“Even so, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.” 

Volos looked at Luna’s unconscious body once more and grabbed her metal hoof lightly. He gave it a quick squeeze and put it back to Luna’s side. He breathed in sharply and lumbered away from the bed and out of the room. 

Dark Heart wanted to follow him immediately but she remained. She looked at Luna’s mechanical form. Burns and charred spots on her fur met with metal. She still had a hole in her chest from where Celestia had attacked her.  All in all, Luna’s body had been devastated. Dark Heart slammed a hoof to her chest and repeated the oath of Luna’s Guard. 

“I Dark Heart, now and forever, pledge my loyalty and service to her majesty Princess Luna of the Night.” 

She then followed Volos.
> When the Mountain Screams
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Machine arms whirred and groaned in the dim lights of the workshop deep within Liber Mountain. Sparks flew and spun in the air and they welded the last pieces in place. The workshop had been abuzz with activity for a great many years. The program continued to guide the assembly for many years. Though, Athena did tweak the program some to change the shape and form of what was being created. It had to be dismantled and rebuilt numerous times in a nearly endless loop. The constant rebuilding was about to come to a long-awaited end, much to Athena’s pleasure. 



“At last, the next incarnation is nearly finished. The data took quite some time to analyze, I must say,” she hummed while her projection floated through the workshop. Her projection smiled thinly when an alarm began to ring loudly within the workshop. Athena looked at a monitor flatly, “Oh dear. It seems my timetables will need to be pushed up.” 




2


Volos stood out in the gardens of the castle. He often would visit the sculpture garden, though it was filled with some of Equestria’s greatest villains in some cases. He found the quiet of the statues and their distant stares comforting in some ways. He let loose a loud sigh which made Dark Heart jump a little. As had become the norm in recent months, Dark Heart stood by Volos’ side as his personal bodyguard. This was considered mostly ceremonial in Volos’ case as he did not really need to have a bodyguard. As Regent of Equestria most ruling duties were relegated to him, but he left the court in the hooves of the ruling council who had voted two to one to remove Blueblood from all court proceedings and give tie-breaker votes to Volos instead. During the time that court was going, he could be found in the gardens. 

“What troubles you, Regent?” Dark Heart asked, keeping the formality as they were considered to be in public. 

“I have failed at every turn.” 

“Sir?” 

“Everything that has happened as of late is a result of my own failures.” 

“Do you mean Celestia and Luna sir?” 

Volos nodded lightly. Dark Heart looked around quickly a couple of times and after confirming that no one was around, she flew up to Volos and kicked him in the head with her hind legs. Volos’ head did not give much but Dark Heart’s legs throbbed. 

“Ow, ow, ow,” she whined. 

“What was that for?” Volos’ asked flatly. 

“Quit being a downer all the time!” She sat down and rubbed her back legs. “I have had to deal with you wallowing in self-pity for far too long. Honestly, it really brings down the room.” 

“I have not.” 

“You come out here every day and just stare out into space. I have seen Princess Luna do the same when she feels like she screwed up. Seriously, you two could be related.” Dark Heart looked at Volos who was staring intensely. “Sorry, poor choice of words. In all seriousness, though it’s past time you turn from what has happened and accept that all that happened. You need to start moving forward. A good place to start would be figuring out how to bring Luna out of this coma…Sir.” 

Volos turned away from her. He knew that Dark Heart was correct in her assessment of him. However, he could not make himself admit this to her directly. He groaned. 

“Perhaps you are correct Dark Heart. Though how to help Luna I do not know. I saved Fluttershy with an injection of nanomachines, but with Luna’s body, I am unsure as to how the machines will act.” 

“She has them, too right?” 

“Yes.” 

“Are they working?” Volos remained silent. “Are they working?” Dark Heart asked again, punctuating each word.

After a very long pause, Volos finally spoke. 

“No.” 

Dark Heart stood stone-faced and silent. She quivered slightly but kept her composure. 

“What does that mean?” 

Volos turned toward Dark Heart. He took a few steps closer and knelt down to try and meet her gaze more evenly. 

“Princess Luna is dying Dark Heart and I don’t know how to stop it.” 

Dark Heart began to hyperventilate. She stammered and stuttered. 

“But…But…you…you’re.” She looked at him pleadingly. 

“I have tried to think of way but for once since I have been here in your world, I am truly helpless.” 

Dark Heart sat on the ground. The tears had begun to roll down her cheeks. 

“How long?” 

“Maybe a few days. It could be sooner or even a week.” 

“So that’s why you’ve been so…” 

“Down?” 

Dark Heart nodded. Volos sat beside her as he had done with Luna before. 

“Know that you know what’s been happening, perhaps we both need to remain strong. Luna has shown me, again and again, the determination and fight in her. Her survival might still be up to her.” Dark Heart wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded slowly. “The best we can do for her is to be her greatest supports.” 

Volos stood back up and began to make his way back to the castle. Dark Heart followed after him, albeit slowly. 




3


Celestia was covered in sweat. The heat was intense and there was barely any plant life or water. Celestia had never traveled to this region, believing it to be out of reach due to hostilities between Equestria and The Badlands. This time, however, she had a distinct purpose. She knew she was being followed, there was an unusually large number of small creatures following her at some distance but when she moved, they moved with her. 

“I know you are there,” she said with calm determination. 

A small lizard scuttled up to her hooves and became engulfed in green flames. A changeling now stood before her. 

“Why are you hear Princess Celestia? You are not welcome here.” 

“Clearly. However, I wish to speak with Chrysalis.” 

The Changeling was stunned. She spoke with a chilling tone that exuberated authority and, to the surprise of the changelings, hostility. The rest of the Changelings changed to their normal forms and gathered in a huddle. Celestia stared at them coldly while they deliberated. Eventually, the small group of seven looked to Celestia. 

“Very well. We will take you to the queen.” 

Celestia walked on, following her new Changeling guides. The desert-like Badlands gave way to a small but dense forest. Celestia had never been to the Changeling hive before and she felt some nervousness as she looked at the strange structure, but she also felt some satisfaction at arriving there. The hive itself was rather small but it was covered in tunnels and crevices. The ground was cracked and black as obsidian. Some plants grew around but not many and the ones that did were misshapen and looked as though they were dying. Chrysalis sat on the throne and had not noticed them yet. She was eating off of some the rare grapes that grew in their small and filthy oasis. One of the small Changeling drones bowed and the others followed suit. 

“My queen, may I present a visitor?” 

Chrysalis ate a small grape and chewed slowly showing only disinterest. 

“A rare visitor to the hive. How quaint. Who is it?” 

“Princess Celestia of Equestria,” the drone stated slowly. 

Chrysalis stopped eating her food and turned her head slowly. Her eyes shifted from their disinterested stare into a vicious stare.

“Why shouldn’t I kill here and now? You have never been friendly with our kind. Why are you here now?”

“I have a proposal for you.” 

Chrysalis chuckled dryly. 

“Do you? Well, let’s hear it.” 

“I want you to invade Canterlot.” 

Chrysalis looked suspiciously at Celestia. She remained silent for a brief moment and began to laugh hysterically. 

“That’s rich Celestia. Asking me to invade your capital. Here I thought today would be boring.” Chrysalis calmed down and looked at Celestia closely. Celestia’s face had not shifted one iota. It remained stoic and cold. “Wait, you’re serious.” 

“I am.” 

“Why would you want me to invade Canterlot?”

“I have a problem I can’t get rid of alone.” 

“And what would that be?”

“A monster that was not made by pony hooves.” 

Chrysalis thought for a moment. 

“Ah yes, the metal creature.” 

“You know of him?” 

“Of course. You do not truly believe that the creatures’ existence was a well-kept secret?”

“You have spies in Canterlot don’t you?”

“Of course.” 

“I figured. However, you will have something that you didn’t have last time.” 

“Oh?”

“You’ll have me guiding you.” 

Chrysalis wore a wide smile.

“Keep talking.” 


4


Field Dust was worried. Carbon and Dyno Mite had not returned from inside Liber Mountain. When she left Canterlot to return to her excavation both Carbon and Dyno were missing. She was informed that they had gone into the mountain to investigate something and never came back. That was weeks ago. She was now inside the entrance to the Liber Mountain cave and so far had seen no sign of the two ponies. 

She was more aggravated than scared of her situation. They had gone into the mountain without her permission and she was planning the lecture they were going to receive when she got them out. However, she could not help but feel some tension in her chest as she moved deeper in. None of the team had traveled too far in due to radio contact being lost past a certain point, so the often focused their excavation efforts in the surrounding areas which yielded a great many finds, but nothing newsworthy nor groundbreaking to the history of Equestria. Now though, she was entering into unknown territory. She approached a rope blocking off the section where radio signals are lost and went through. 

The cave wall was very rugged and had large stones lying all over the ground. 

“This was Dyno Mite’s work for sure.” 

She pressed on seeing very little of note and only having a small flashlight for a guide. The light showed her the path until the light reflected back very brightly and left her with some blind spots on her eyes. She rubbed her eyes and looked ahead. She could see the light of the flashlight reflecting off of a metallic surface. 

“That’s interesting.” 

She kept her light trained on the surfaces and went through the entryway. Her hooves clacked on the metal floors and some lights in the walls flickered faintly as she passed. She turned off her flashlight when she heard an alarm blaring. The sound was faint but loud enough to follow. She crept slowly through the corridors. The walls had a rusted paint on them with symbols she did not recognize and her curiosity began to swell. The doors were unusually tall and angular and had no handles. Some were broken and lopsided and others sparked furiously in the dim light. Field Dust continued to follow the sound despite her misgivings. 

She rounded a corner and saw it. A purple ghost floating lazily through the air while the alarm sounded. The ghost turned and looked at a bright screen and looked to the corner. Field flattened herself against the wall where the ghost could not see her. Her mind raced. She had never seen a ghost nor had she ever believed in them. Yet, there was one right in front of her. 

“I know you are hiding pony. Come out.” 

Field Dust hesitated, but slowly revealed herself to the purple ghost. She felt her heart pound in her chest. Was this ghost a threat or was it harmless? The room was covered in screens, some dark, flickering, or bright. They were neatly organized in rows of five with a line of consoles underneath. 

“I am called Athena. And you?”

“Field Dust,” she said warily. 

“You ponies and your amusing names. I distinctly remember one called Dyno Mite. He was a character,” she chuckled. 

Field Dust’s ears perked up. She looked at the Athena closely.

“He’s a friend of mine. Do…uh…do you know where he is? And another called Carbon Date?” 

“Hm? Ooh yes. I know where they are.” 

“Okay, great. Could you tell me so I can take them back to our camp?”

Athena pointed to a door in the corner of the room. Field Dust looked over and looked back to Athena. Athena waved her off and turned back to her monitor. Field Dust looked at Athena for a few more moments before looking slowly to the door where Athena had pointed and began to walk over. As she walked, she heard Athena mumble. 

“The magic compensation is working well, but the intensity could damage the body. I need more data. Perhaps a stronger internal compensator? Or would an external work? I need to begin the transfer soon, or the progress may be lost forever.” 

Field Dust did not understand what she was saying but she moved to the door. When she got close enough it slid open slowly and revealed a well-lit room filled with things she did not recognize. A large table was in the center with large mechanical arms that looked hideous and were covered in sharp apertures and appendages. She looked over to the rightmost wall. It had three large tanks filled with green liquid. The door slid closed behind her quickly, causing Field Dust to jump. She swallowed hard. 

“Carbon? Dyno?” She heard loud click and lights inside the tanks turned on with a boom. “What is this?” 

Inside the tanks were Carbon Date and Dyno Mite. Their lower halves were missing and their internal organs floated in the strange goo. Their muzzles were covered by what appeared to be a breathing apparatus. Their eyes opened and closed lazily as they floated. 

“Wonderful specimens, wouldn’t you agree?” 

Field Dust turned away from the sight and saw Athena floating in the air beside her.

“They provided much data, but unfortunately their usefulness to me ended once I took what I needed from them. And now, I need another specimen.” 

“Wha…What do you mean?” Field Dust asked in fear.  

The door opened behind quickly behind them and Field Dust made a quick glance behind her and then to a large compartment on the wall. The glass illuminated and inside was a tall and slender thing. Its legs were equine but stretched and its upper torso looked similar to that of Athena’s. The creature had a flat face with what appeared to be a pale blue mask covering it. 

“That looks like…” 

“Him? Oh yes. This is the original body. Sadly, the other was rendered useless. So, I had to reinstate this body.” 

The eyes of the new figure began to glow a sickly blue and its head began to move ever so slightly. 

“You see, she is about to awaken and she needs to test her new body. At first awakening, they are very aggressive and as such chase the first thing they see. I’ll make you a deal. If you make it past the entrance you win. If not, well, you know.” She pointed to the vats. “So…Run.” 

The container opened fully and the mechanical beast stepped forward and stumbled. She caught herself on the table and looked around. She was enraged and felt frenzied but did not know why. Then she saw a little creature run from the room. She leaped over the table and let out a high piercing scream. Giving chase to the little creature.