Ch. 1

Ch.1

The forest was silent, the leaves barely moving as the early Dawn shined on the area. A changeling rushed through the undergrowth, it's eyes alight with fear. Behind it, shapes glowing red flashed by with the same speed. The changeling continued on it's run, weaving through the brush avoiding the strange shapes that followed. The bug soon found a clearing, finding a plain brick building within a clearing. The sound of buzzing drew near, and putting on a disguise it flew towards the structure, the pursuers stopping at the forest edge.

A figure dropped just to the edge, watching with the other creatures as the changeling rushed inside. The dragons right eye glowed in the forests shade, signaling to the others of his battalion. The swarm soon flew off, leaving only one to monitor the building. The dragon gave a smile, then leaped into the air, flying after the swarm of glowing lights he controlled.

The changeling rushed into the doors, despite the protests of the guards outside. He flew into the lobby, only to be pinned by magic from the unicorns that had been posted outside. They stepped in after him, and continued to hold him without a word.

In the meantime, he looked around the small area he had flown in, finally able to think cleanly. He noticed several rooms leading off from this one, a desk to his left. Several ponies and griffons watched him with curiosity and fear, which he ignored to continue to look around. After a minute two characters walked to him distinctly, and he could tell they were leaders of the facility.

The first was a griffon, wearing a dark blue vest over her grey top feathers. She stood with a curious stare as she approached. The one beside her was a smaller pegasus, her green fur complicated by the same dark blue uniform. She wore a single diamond stud in her right ear, and had spent some time dying her feathers tips grey. She carried a clipboard with her, her purple eyes scanning over him. The griffon signaled to the guards, who let him stand to his feet. Her face remained neutral as she spoke.

“This is certainly a treat. Normally we don't get too many changeling guests at this resthouse. Mind telling us why you came in here?”

“Please, I don't want any trouble, I just want some shelter. I've been exiled out of my swarm by the crystal king, and I need somewhere to hide. Please, I'll take a cell, anything to keep from facing them again.” The griffon rubbed her chin, trying to find if he was lying. She pulled out a small radio from her pocket.

“Any signs of movement outside?” their was a bit of static before a stallions voice answered.

“A swarm of some kind, glowing with the crystals of the empire flew by just a few moments ago back to the main town. The captain went with them.” The griffon put away the radio and nodded to the guards, pointing to a set of doors by the end of the room.

“We have a set of rooms downstairs with bars. I can't promise we'll keep you safe, but we can at least get you comfortable before we decide what to do with you.”

The changeling sighed, his eyes now beaming. The two guards walked behind the bug as they lead him to the said rooms. She rubbed her temple, then walked down the room to a different set of doors. She passed in, followed closely by the pegasus.

“I'll tell you Maria, this will be the end of our little refuge if you keep that changeling. I'm sure that the general just flew back to gather the forms used for interrogation.” Maria walked behind a the desk of the office, pulling a small microphone connect to speakers in the facility.

“I'm aware of that, that's why I'm going to signal for a evacuation warning. I doubt we'll need to perform on it, but it's best to get everyone ready.”

She gave the order through the facility, then placed the device back into the desk. The pegasus placed her clipboard on the table and looked over the schedule.

“You still have to meet Dr. Duelblood in the medical area.” Maria growned, then placed her hat on the desk.

“Thanks inktip, I never would have gotten this far in here without you. Let's see what the quack is up too this time.” The two walked out of the office, glancing as soldiers helped with the packing of the others in the facility.

The changeling swarm flew grim and red as it traveled from the small Outpost. The drones soon overcame a wall of dark gold tipped with black spikes, heading into the black crystal empire. The dragon flew on a different path, flying over the lower walls and up to the second level of the palace. Underneath ponies marched wordlessly under the watch of small dragons, their eyes hollow and their bodies made of stone.

The general flew over the second wall, revealing the city of beautiful jewels inside. He flew over it, small foals cheering him on as he traveled towards the palace.he landed in a street just opposite, crystal hydras stand before the looming entrance in silence. The dragon walked to a small shop, where a pony coated in Ruby was working on a small anvil. She smiled at his entrance, and quickly gave a salute.

“Smith, my regalia for the throne room. And sharpen by blade, I imagine I'll have need of it soon.” She nodded, using her magic to help remove his enchanted armor and weapons. She brought his massive sword to the table and began to work on it, the dragon grabbing a half cloak to hide his crystal forearm. After strapping a pair of regal daggers to his underarm, he went into the entrance.

Guards wearing grey armor saluted his entrance, their eyes glowing with the dark magic they possessed. He followed the black flames, illuminating the walls with a greyscale design. He finally stepped into a throne room, the torches glowing in such a manner to hide the thrown in darkness. The dragon bowed, and looked into the lifeless eyes of his Lord.

“King sombra, my mission to flush the changeling invasion was almost a complete success. All but one of the creatures managed to flee us, but they have been tracked to the rest house just to the west of here. I have a guard waiting till further notice. Shall I attack or try and bring them to the cause?” the figure snorted, red lightning illuminating his face and broken horn. He walked down from the throne, his long robe and armor covering most of his muscle. He made a motion, and the dragon stood up.

“An impressive feat, but if that changeling gets too far out, it could very well repopulate.”

“That's why I came to ask for your command, so I may not cause you grief.” The pony smiled, then nodded for him to follow. The two walked out of the room, heading to a balcony attached to the castle. This was the place where we usually thought out his actions, being able to see his own kingdom, and the kingdoms of the sun and moon. He stopped by the railing, and took a breath of the air, the perfumes of the upper town mixing with the magic and acids used in the mines to the sound end of the town.

“General Glassclaw, I suggest you perform the subtle route. Perform an inspection, but have one of our new changelings enter to find the bug. If he is there, feel free to storm the building. But if nothing, leave it be, for it'll be out of our realm.”

“Is that your command my master?” Sombra tilted his head to the dragon, giving a firm glare.

“No, it is my course of action I propose. You do with it as you please.” Glassclaw looked back, his single good eye looking confused at his king. Sombra stared back into the topaz eye, and pointed to his white scales under the cloak.

“Glassclaw, do you remember why I didn't fully control your life with my magic?”

“you said it was for the purpose of giving reason and talking to you.” The king nodded, leaning over the rail.

“Unlike my other minions, who have been controlled through my will, you gave your life to me. You continue to perform like a minion, yet the strange emotion in your gestures show me that I can still be a devoted king. One that I can see help me conquer this world without violence.” Glassclaw rubbed the cloak over his arm, the material almost being cut from the jagged gems on her arm. He nodded, and leapt off the balcony, heading to the blacksmith. The king then returned to his throne, observing the kingdom through his many statues.

“Help, the beast comes to eat me.”
“Rraugh.”
“Fear not my princess, I come to rescue you. Yah and boom.”
“Be careful my prince.”
“Fear not my damsel, for I come to take you away, and not to kill but to tame the beast.”
“My hero. Won't you let me reward you?”
“Of course my darling. Come and meet your…”
“Dr. Duelblood, we need to speak.” the curtain was pulled aside from the medical area, revealing said doctor with a young foal. He quickly placed the doll he was holding on a table near him, and he quickly stood up to salute. His dark blue fur had stains around the eyes and front hoof from washing them. His head was wrapped in a hat held down by a white bandana. He quickly wiped his hooves on his lab coat and turned again to salute.

“Good morning sir, I mean miss, I mean captain, I mean…”

“Duelblood.” The pony stopped, putting down his hood and chuckling. The foal in the bed next to him giggled at him, and he gave her a smile.”

“Don't worry, we can get back to that later.” She nodded, and duelblood followed behind Maria and inktip. They went from the medical area to the same office they had just been in. He closed the door and gave her a sad smile.

“Uhh, how much of that did you hear?”

“Just enough, you're pretty good at role playing with the patients.” Duelblood gave inktip a nod, then turned back to Maria.

“What's this about? Do you need me to mix more pain pills for you?”

“Hardly. Did you not hear the evac message?”

“I did, and I'm acting the same as I normally do. Each time you've given the warning we haven't had need to flee. So what makes today different?”

“You still need to follow protocol Duelblood. I'd at least expect that from our top doctor.” Inktip could just make out a flash of something in Duelblood eyes, but it faded with him shaking his head.

“Tell me, what changed for today to need me to start following your bluffs with the evac? Another inspection? I can work around that just like we have been.” Maria shook her head slowly, and walked behind her desk.

“If you haven't heard, a changeling has asked us for shelter. Apparently it was running from the capital, and I'm sure the captain will be returning to collect it. I'd rather be ready in case they take the place by force.” His eyes widened at the mention, quickly pulling a rag to wipe his brow.

“You kept a changeling the CAPITAL was looking for?”

“It was either that, or let it roam around the area and the general be mad at us. I had to pick the poison, and I choose the one that could leave us with no casualties.” Duelblood put away his rag, then nodded.

“Yes. Yes, I guess that would be the better option. You may be right, so I'll go ahead and get the preparations ready for as many as I can let leave.” He turned to walk out of the room, but inktip stopped him.

“Perhaps you should check on the changeling, to see if it's ok?” Duelblood rolled his eyes, and stepped out of the room. Inktip walked over to Maria to help her prepare for the arrival.”

In a cell under the place, the changeling layed on the bed of a small cell. He had been left here when the guards led him down. He had tested the doors and they were unlocked. This had given him a certainty to behave, and he decided to look around the block. It had eight cells, each built identically with a bed and table built into the wall.

He wasn't alone down there either. In the cell next to where he had been placed, a pony sat in the center of the cell. Though calling it a pony would be a stretch, as it had no eyes and didn't even breath. It simply stared forward blankly, not reacting to anything. The bars absorbed magic, and the figure sat far enough from the bars to prevent being touched, so he simply walked back into the cell and laid back on the bed.

He soon heard hooves on the stairs, and saw a strange pony enter in. He had his head covered and was wearing a medical coat. The doctor stared at him before clearing his.

“Alright bug, you've come here for the sake of getting shelter. So tell me, what did you do to get into this position?” He rolled out from the bed and sat near the bars, running his stomach.

“If you must know, we were running low on a decent source of food. Our queen decided to have us sneak into the Chambers of the mothers who nurse young. It only worked for about a week, since they count the children.”

“Yes, I can see how that plan could work.” He looked to the doctor with a confused stare, and he simply chuckled.

“I think a bit differently from the normal ponies that live here. But just because you asked for safety doesn't mean we can give it to you. Enjoy your time here, since you will join your swarm again soon.” the doctor locked the door using a key, then proceeded to walk out. He watched him go out, and knowing he couldn't really do anything else, fell into a sleep on the bed.

Late in the night, the sound of grinding made the changeling sit up in his bed. He snuck over to the bars, keeping himself just out of the halls vision, and peeked down it.

The wall by the end of the room seemed to be
opening, the changelings eyes making out the cloak of a figure. His thoughts were confirmed by hooves moving in his direction. He quickly bent down in his cell, keeping as still as he could.

The hooves soon approached, the cloaked figure heading by his cell without a glance. He crawled to the edge of the cell, and saw the figure lay a plate of bread and some water on the floor near the statute. The figure tapped on the bar, holding something he couldn't make out.

He walked further out, getting a better sight of the scene. The figure was moving, grabbing whatever it was in the ponys hoof and placing it on its face. The changeling held a gasp, for the figure began to morph before his eyes with a full silver glow.

His once barren body had grown stripes which ran down its back. Three of its legs became solid black, with the left forehoof still being white. A whip like tail bloomed out, and a mane which flowed over the right shoulder. Eyes of brown formed in the empty sockets, and the once lifeless mass became a formed zebra. He smiled and gave the cloaked mare a bow.

“My humble regards to the angel of my life. Once again I find you and you bring me animation. If only you could do more.” The cloaked figure turned their head, and the new zebra began eating the food. As he did, he gave a glance in his direction, and laughed. “Well, my cellmate has arisen from their daze of deception. What insight do you have for me to answer?”

“guess their isn't a point in hiding, since I'm already awake. You're telling me you have a way out of this and yet stay in your cell?” The being gave a sad glance to his partner, then returned to his meal.

“Be easy to escape if I had a key to this cell. But my key has long been burned to keep me here. As for the master key, it can only be accessed by the one named Maria. Besides, without a mask, I cannot function, so escape would only lead to me being killed.”

“What a pitiful thought. You could have been out of here in a few minutes if your friend could fetch a key.” The zebra stopped, then began making signs to his partner. The two began making rapid movements, with him only staring in confusion till they stopped.

“Uhh, what was that about?”

“I can tell you after you help us.” The changeling looked up at this, with the zebra stepping to the door.

“They plan to take you away, but my friend can help you to escape from them. As a changeling, you can change your shape, and thus gain access to the master key. If you can help release me, I can offer my services to any cause you wish.” the changeling thought for a moment, then looked back at him.

“what will I be looking for?”

“My friend has found a drawer that can only be unlocked with a griffons talon. The master key will be in there, along with a violent mask and pendent. My partner can confirm their in the secret drawer, just bring the keys and mask.” The figure nodded their head, and the changeling rubbed his stomach.

“As much as the plan would work, I'm low on magic reserves. Could your friend maybe give some of their love to fuel me?” The zebra made an effort to speak, but was cut off by the figures hoof. They walked to his door, then pulled off their cloak.

The mare before him was rough, her mouth having several scars and a slice on her nose. Patches of burns could be seen just above her ears and onto her dull mane. The unicorns eyes seem to speak more than any amount of words she could say. The zebra gave a curious glance to her.

“Dear Marinette, changelings syphon love from ponies. If you choose to do this, you'll be too weak to move.” But he already began to take in her love. It seemed to the changeling that she gave her love openly, as he ate more then his fill and she didn't even seem winded. She gave a smile and walked back to the zebras cell.

“Dear girl. You really are an angel. I just hope the changeling can keep his word.” He placed the mask he had to Marinette, then sat into the cell, his body returning to its motionless form. She gave him a nod before heading around the corner and hiding. With a smile, the changeling returned to his bed.

It had rained during the night, Glassclaw awakening to the smell of fresh dew. He was glad at times like these to still have his ability to think and feel. But that didn't change things, as he rolled out of bed.

He walked through the small house, stepping into the kitchen and grabbing a glass of wine on the table. A mare coated in blue crystal fixed up a breakfast, Glassclaw nodding to her as he sipped the wine. He moved to the closet by his room, finding his gear for the day. He put on his sword and armor, tying on a shield to his non jeweled arm.

After putting a cloak over his jewels, he walked back to the kitchen, a meal of toast and bacon prepared.

“Thank you mistress, your skills and time are always appreciated.” The mare nodded, then walked out of the room. After eating his meal, he polished the shoulder plate of his armor, the red diamond with black lighting sparkling in the light.

He walked outside, morphing the gems on his back into a wing to match his normal one. Lifting off, two changeling and two alicorn guards flew beside him as Glassclaw flew to the small stop by the city. He landed a few feet from the entrence, a few ponies on the top of the facility moving to signal his arrival.

The doors soon opened, with Maria and inktip walking out to greet him. They both wore a simple jacket with the symbol of the kingdom on their left breasts. Inktip also had a ear piece of the red diamond on her left ear. Maria had put on a set of jeweled gloves, along with a cap which covered her eyes.

The three stood facing each other, the silence making inktip and the ponies behind them nervous. The two then burst into laughter, nearly toppling inktip from the sudden sound. Glassclaw held out his shielded arm, which Maria bumped back before standing back up again.

“So, you old pile of feathers, still running this dump of a facility?”

“Well you oversized glowstick, someone has to run it, and I certainly don't want to go back to city life.”

“You had a decent life working with in the city, this place could hardly be considered worthwhile compared.”

“You only say that because you're a general of a bunch of puppets and not working the counter talked down by snobs.” The two shared another laugh, inktip stepping forward and holding out the documents in her hoof. Glassclaw waved them away and cleared his throat.

“I'm not here to look over the place today. I'm sure you already know why I'm here.”

“You mean about the changeling, right? We have him in the cells below, ready to be picked up. It actually thinks we're helping it escape from you, so it didn't even put up a struggle.” The two shared another laugh, Duelblood shifting his hooves on the other side of the door. Maria then gestured to the guards at the door, who stepped through and too the lower levels.

When they reached the lower level, they found only the chaos creature idel in its cell. The two quickly unlocked the door, looking around to find signs of magic. When they stepped inside, the changeling dropped from the ceiling, its body becoming visible again as he drained the magic from the guard.

At the same time, Marinette ran out from behind the corner and fired a sleep spell at the other guard. He fell to the ground in a comma, the first guard passing out from exhaustion. She stepped out from the corner, watching the changeling absorb the other guards magic as well. She nodded, grabbing the key and gesturing upstairs.

The changeling stepped past her, putting on a quick disguise and heading up the stairs. The office wasn't too hard to find, and was even unlocked. After stepping inside, he found the drawer on the side of the main desk, and shifting to a griffon, inserted and turned one of his claws in the lock.

Out popped a small drawer, and sure enough, inside were a set of keys, the mask, and a pendent. He took out the keys and pendent, placing it to the side. Using his magic he grabbed the keys and mask, and walked out and back downstairs.

Marinette had locked the two guards into the cell he had occupied, with her silver magic took the keys and mask from him, unlocking the cell. She placed the mask on his face, emerald eyes forming and giving a wicked smile.

“Gather as much magic and love as you can, this place won't stand long when I regain my power.” Marinette nodded quickly to his words, the changeling flying back upstairs. After stepping through the door, he found his way to the infirmary, and set to work on the sick.

Maria and Glassclaw chatted for about five minutes, each endulging in the others company and talking on the kingdoms change. After which, both notice that the guards has yet to reappear with the bug.

“normally I wouldn't deny your honesty Maria, but it seems your guards are having a struggle.”

“Yeah, I'm a bit concerned too. The changeling was weak when he came in, and we haven't fed it anything.”

“Could their be another pony in the dungeon it could had fed on?”

“No, nothing that could lead to a serious struggle. I wonder?” At that, she waved to Duelblood, who nodded back and went to the door. When he tried to open it, a blast of purple flames shot him backwards, only being caught by Glassclaws shield. The dragon placed him down, then rushed inside, with Maria and inktip close behind.

Purple flames had begun to engulf the facility,
several ponies rushing to leave through the escapes. Above it all was a purple figure wearing a mask. He had a slim form, with emerald eyes and silver lines leading to several fluffy tails. The thing smiled, giving a bow in midair.

“My dear wardens, who so choose to starve me to death in your prison. Only by the will of angels and your bug have I reclaimed my right. Flee now, and perhaps you may survive instead of being burned by my fury.” The thing laughed, floating down into the central flame. Glassclaw unsheathed his sword, and quickly slashed the creature into five parts. It fell into the flames and disappeared, a new surge of power forming as it left.

“Gather anything worthwhile, these flames can only be put out by a strong magic, so the best you can do is save what is needed.” Maria nodded, rushing past the dragon to her office. Inktip meanwhile stepped back outside, finding Duelblood just getting up from the blast.

“What's going on in there?”

“It seems the discord creature found a way to get its mask back. It's burning down the building.” Duelbloods face paled, rushing past the girl to head into the building, despite her objections. Glassclaw still shielded the flames from the ponies that were heading out from the halls, blocking some of the heat. Duelblood leapt around the fire and rushed to the infirmary.

What he found was his patients, dead and drained of the love they had. He had arrived just as a small filly was sucked dry by a figure looking just like him. It then transformed into the changeling that had been in the cell below, who looked at Duelblood in shock.

“I don't know how you managed this, but I will tear you apart and feed you to this flame!” The changeling backed away, watching as the doctors form changed. The once scrawny pony seemed to swell in bulk, his forelegs ripping apart the jacket he wore. His eyes changed to a blood red color, the same as the blood which pooled over his hooves. Though they were no longer hooves, as a set of claws broke through and clung to the ground.

He leapt forward, his teeth barred in a fury. The changeling threw different beds at the creature, only to be deflected by the scaled forelegs of the creature. It gave a dark smile, silhouetted by the flames from the other room.

“I will break you, then roast you to death like the spec you are.” His voice seemed almost booming, like it came from someone else. The changeling squeaked, then turned into a fly. He quickly flew around him and turned back, rushing towards the flame. He was stopped when a medical bed flew over his head and blocked the door. The changeling only had time to turn and see the thing lunging at him before he was warped away by some magic.

Duelblood smashed through the bed, returning to the main room. The only thing there was the purple flame, engulfing him and the building. He simply walked out of the room, hind legs ablaze and heading to the underground route.

Glassclaw stood watching the building burn, his guards working through his command to help the ones they had rescued from the building. Maria stood beside him, staring into the flame while clutching a small pendant in her claw. The dragon sighed, and looked over the ponies.

“Normally I'd have to arrest so many ponies who simply decided to live in such a place without registration. But considering this, I think it would be best if I let them be.”

“You plan on letting them go without resistance?”

“Not into the city. They'll have to travel to whichever city they feel comfortable going too. Though I imagine the best would be the crystal heart empire.” Maria nodded, looking at the building again. A shout to her left made Maria turn, with inktip running with Duelblood on her back. He was covered in soot and mud, his eyes closed and blood covering his front hooves. Glassclaw nodded, signaling to his guards.

“I'll get your friend to the alchamest in town. You two follow suit when you get the chance.” He took the pony into his hand, then flew off to the city, followed closely by the guards he brought. Inktip looked to Maria, with her nodding to the group that stood near them. She followed, hoping for Duelbloods safety.

The changeling awoke to the mid morning sun, shaking its head to clear his vision. In front of him stood Marinette and the strange pony. Though he now looked like a fox with many tails. As he stirred the two noticed him and walked over to him, Marinette giving a smile.

“Be lucky Marinette decided to have me save you. She seems to think that in helping me escape we can become friends.” The mare nodded, her uncloaked body showing the many scars on her face. The changeling sat up, looking over the matted fur, long slash down her left foreleg, and long burn down her back. This made her blush and turn away, with the other one taking the lead.

“Perhaps we should get to know each other more. I don't have a real name, but for recognition, you can call me Pupter. Do you have a name?” The changeling shook his head, and Pupter nodded.

“Then I guess you'll need one. Marinette, have any ideas?” The mare began making a flurry of movements with her forelegs, magic symbols tipping her hooves. Pupter seemed to understand, then turned back.

“As long as you travel with us, hornet will be your name. Is that clear?”

“Travel with you? What makes you think I will?”

“Do you have a swarm to return too?” The newly dubbed hornet opened his mouth, then stopped when he realized it. He sat silent, and Pupter nodded.

“Thought so. Now, you'll follow me, as I have to gather my own masks again. Marinette wants me to take you, and so I shall.” hornet looked to the city, then turned back to them.

“could we at least see my swarm again in the city? I want to know if it could be possible to bring them back.” Pupter turned to Marinette, who nodded to him. Hornet then walked forward, watching the two before following them on foot to the city.

Ch. 2

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Candles 2

The infirmary was quite, the few eyes present glancing at Glassclaw as he stood in it. He had been waiting for the alchemist words on the pony he had brought, the doctors immediately taking him into the back for cleaning. The dragon tapped his foot, glancing to the clock as the minutes turned to a half hour.

Maria hadn't come up in that time, Glassclaw assuming she was helping the guests at the resthouse. The upper class were all a gossip with the news, some worrying that the chaos being will come and attack the city. Glassclaw merely waved then aside, saying it had disappeared.

A pony, coated in quarts, came out and waved Glassclaw back. The dragon walked through the doors to the sterile halls of the facility, past several rooms of unicorns mixing potions and repairing the crystal coatings of ponies. They led him to a room at the end of the building, Glassclaw entering and standing by the cabinets.

A few minutes later, a unicorn walked into the room. His left ear had a coating of aquamarine, the medical coat he wore embroidered with the red diamond of the kingdom. His left eye was a deep blue while the other was a dark red, glancing over a set of papers in his purple aura. He levitated the clipboard to him, brushing some of his grey mane nervously.

“well sir, we've finished patching the singed hairs and straighten his tail. Yet, there are some… features you should look at.” Glassclaws eye looked over the papers, his face growing more concerned as he read. He handed the clipboard back and loosed the cloak on his jeweled arm.

“And… how many nurses and doctors know of these?”

“Just my main assistant Ruby. His condition wasn't serious enough to concern the others with.” Glassclaw scratched his chin, then leaned down to be directly by the alchemist ear.

“Mention these to no one. Only respond to what the two coming here ask, and send them to the castle entrance once they're finished. As for the patient, cloth him enough to not raise suspicion among the others.” The pony nodded, heading out of the room to fulfill the request. As he left, a single small crystal glowed dimly on his arm. He leaned to it, speaking in whisper.

“A remnant of the past has surfaced recently. At the moment keep this neutral, because I can make this work into letting us rule all of Equestria. You'll know what I mean soon.” The crystal faded back into his arm, and he stepped out of the room.

Maria and inktip flew over the lower class area, the two keeping their eyes to the castle to avoid the slaves under them. After flying over the second gate, they landed on the glazed streets. Inktip slipped on the smooth surface, only standing by Maria grabbing her tail and pulling her back up. She gave a nervous laugh before looking around.

“This'll be my first time in the city. Do you know where the hospital is?”

“It'll be down this way. The intersection in the middle of here leads to all the important areas.” She began walking down the smooth road, inktip taking a few hesitant steps before hovering above the ground with a pout. The street was mostly silent, an occasional group of fillies coated with different gems broke the silence with ball games. They stopped when they passed, before continuing the games they played.

“Strange place to live. No one here seems friendly, but I see different shops and restaurants. Do you know why that is?”

“Crystal ponies are born and raised here, meaning outsiders aren't trusted. They also recognize you don't have a proper crystal, like I do.” Maria flicked her ear, the red diamond briefly flashing to her. After a few more steps they came to a plaza.

Ponies coated in crystal walked about and around. In the center was a fountain, which flowed pure prizmic light from a blood red gem. The liquid gave the only noise as they entered, all other noise stopping to watch the two move about. Inktip shrunk down from the dark glares, before the ponies returned to their activities.

They Soon came to a building marked with a black cross over it. Glassclaw walked out of the building, tightening the cloak on his arm. When he noticed the two approach he gave a toothy smile.

“I wasn't expecting you two to be here for another few hours. Guess that means most of the guests went to the crystal empire?”

“A few began a return to the sun and moon citadel's, but yes, a majority began to travel that way.”

“You're lucky we have some history Maria, least you friend have died from burns. The alchamest was lucky enough to cure the smoke and burns, so now I must report to the king. I imagine he'll have some sympathy for a loyal citizen of the king.”

“I'm not bound to this city, just born from it. But thank you.” The dragons crystals morphed into a wing, then he leapt to the castle, heading to the balcony on the castle. The two walked into the hospital, the silent interior greeting them. A nurse behind the counter activated a signal, and the alchemist came out a few minutes later. Inktip walked up and welcomed him, the unicorn giving a half smile.

“Ahh, you must be lady Maria's assistant, Glassclaw told me about you two.” He took up her hoof and kissed it, one of his eyes looking over to Maria and waving him to the door. Inktip blushed, before backing behind maria. The two followed him down the sterile corridor, Maria's claws clicking on the floor.

“How's he doing? And how scarred can we expect him to look?” The doctor chuckled, his blue eye rolling to the back of his head to look at inktip.

“You'll be surprised to know that not only is he unscarred, but his burns will be healed completely. And all thanks to my tonics.” his toothy smile gleaned from a ruby tooth, and he stopped in front of one of the doors.

“Be a bit careful, he may be a bit weary from tiredness. And don't mention his hooves.” he opened the door, stepping to the side to let them talk in private.

When the two walked in, they found Duelblood sitting on a long bed. His front half was wrapped in bandages, with his hooves coated in caked blood. The pony gave a nod as they entered, seemingly coming out of a daze.

“Good to see you managed to get out with little injury.” Inktip walked over and gave his back a rub. Maria simply watched in silence.

“It's more the alchemist then my own doing I managed to survive.” He winced when she touched his shoulder, making her step back beside Maria. The griffon simply nodded, and motioned to the door.

“Feeling up to travel? I have a suspicion the general will want us to help with some task instead of going himself.” Duelblood got off the chair, a spec of blood flaking off the bandages of his hind legs. The three then stepped out and to the hospital door, despite the protest from a janitor.

When they stepped outside, they saw Glassclaw standing by the crystal fountain, watching them approach. He threw Duelblood a coat, then looked down the southern streets.

“I've gotten orders from the king. We need to head to twilight town to retrieve some information. Since you are currently jobless, he wanted you three to come with.” This made Duelblood stop, looking to the dragon in confusion.

“Twilight town? You can't expect to leave me here while you three fly off and travel. How am I supposed to get there?”

“I'll see to a carriage by the end of town. Just travel down through the town to get there. I'm sure Maria can get you to it.” With that, he leapt into the air and glided to the lower district of the city. The three walked through the streets, following Marias direction.

The street lead to the crystal wall just above the lower class, a set of stone guards sat before a stairway into the lower level. Maria stood before the left statue, a beam of red light scanning over her body. Its light narrowed on her jewel, then shut down, returning to the unmoving state of before.

Down the stairway they went, white flames lighting the interior of the hall. They soon came out to a dirt area, ponies in shackles trudging in lines behind a wall to their right. Maria moved quickly through the blocked passage, coming out to a large gate with a carriage at it. It was a simple crystal design, the red jewel on the wheels and driver's foreleg. Glassclaw saw the three and stepped over, pointing to the carriage.

“You're in luck, it seems a couple from the city was wishing to travel off to rainbow falls. But you'll have to ride on top with the driver, I imagine your appearance will be worse for gossip if you decide to ride in it.”

“If it means we can leave right away, I'd say it's worth it.” Maria's words made Duelblood nod, and he stepped to the carriage, the driver lifting him to the seat above.

“We can head out right away, the carrage should come around a few days after we arrive.” Glassclaw leapt into the air, hovering just above the wall of the city. Maria and inktip flew after him, and they flew off to the east, while the carriage trotted along the road by the six slave ponies that drove it.

Inside the carriage, pupter uncloaked himself, with Marinette doing the same. Hornet meanwhile, returned to his normal state from his disguise. The three sat in silence till they got out of the city walls, where the rough terrain of the roads drowned out any noises they made inside. Pupter then adjusted the white mask on his face.

“Do you see now why your own desire to return to the hive is fruitless now?”

“I at least wanted to see it myself. They still resonate with me, even with the crystal mind bending.”

“Correct. And unless we can retrieve my masks, I doubt we can muster a force to get them back.” Hornet gave a confused look at this, looking towards the city as they keep going.

“I thought you just wanted to get your masks back. Why would you help me get my hive back?”

“You've lost your life to a tyrant, I only wish for the freedom of my own obscurity. Young Marinette lost her life to a warrior of that king, and if I must do something with my life, then helping someone regain their family will be worth my time.” Marinette nodded, then began gesturing again to pupter. Hornet watched in confusion, till he glanced back at the changeling.

“If you plan on being with us for awhile, perhaps it would be better to teach you some of her language.”

“Language? That could be considered talking?”

“Like a puppet dances to the music to speak a message, a simple movement can convey speech if given a meaning. We originally only talked through nods to my questions, but after living in a small town, we made a language to speak her mind.”

“All on your own? That must have been a pain.” The two nodded, with Pupter giving a half smile.

“The original one was made of letters, and it took awhile to even say a simple sentence. But we've condensed it to something more manageable. And for that, we can teach some of the basics.” The changeling blinked, and Marinette pulled out a piece of paper, placing it on the seat between them. The two began writing out stuff, the carriage continuing along the uneven road.

The three flyers soon found the city, glowing purple in its eternal eclipse. Being in the center of the sun and moon kingdoms, it was cloaked in the light of both the sun and moon, locked into place by Celestia and Luna. The stalemate of the sky became such that the princess's made their own sun and moon to balance the needs of the ponies that lived in the kingdoms. Glassclaw landed just outside of the city, Maria and inktip flying in just beside him.

“Whoa… I thought it was just a name for a town. I didn't realize it was like this.” Inktip shivered, stepping closer to Maria. Glassclaw tightened his gear, and stepped into the light of the town. The two girls followed after, inktip glancing to the buildings they passed as if they had eyes.

“Why is this place so cold and lifeless?” Inktips words seem to hang in the air, and Glassclaw simply shrugged.

“It could just be the location. I will say that this place is stated to have been cursed, so that may have a effect on the area.”

“Cursed? What kind of curse?” Glassclaw Continued on without a word, heading through the lonely streets and past a fountain. It seemed to be a town square, but was only empty. Maria then stepped forward and tapped his tail.

“Shouldn't we wait for Duelblood to get here before we do whatever research you need to have done? He is apart of our group.”

“He'll be caught up once we collect it. But for now, we must find the info.” He stopped in front of a large building, then ripped down part of the wall to enter. Inktip leaped back from the sound, and Maria pushed her inside the building.

It was a large building, with a walled section filled with files. The dragon moved to the files and began shifting through a section, pocketing a few of the papers.

“In these should be information about the elements. We've been storing info in this building for long enough to have something about them. See what you can find.” Maria rolled her eyes, and started to work on the files opposite of him. Inktip meanwhile, sorted out a set of papers from the small desk in the middle of the room.

After a few minutes, Glassclaw held up a set of papers, then walked to the desk and threw them onto it. Maria flew over to the desk as well, and watched as Glassclaw opened the folder, shifting through the texts.

The carriage arrived to the outset of the town, slowing to a house near the edge of the twilight. Duelblood leapt off and waved the carriage off, heading into the city to find the others. As he walked a few steps through the city, he heard an explosion from the direction of the outer city. This made him quicken his pace, not wanting to know what it was.

Near a smouldering pile of a cart, hornet and Marinette watched as the slave ponies scattered in fear from the explosion. Pupter walked out from the wreck, wiping some of the ash from his green coat. He walked to the city entrance, the other two following close behind.

“So, are you sure this next mask is here? This place has a bad reputation among changelings. The princesses of the sun and moon have this place practically oppressed to death.”

“And you're right hornet, but I can sense the presence of one of my masks. I can't think of who or what would lead to it being here, but I know it stands here.” he made his way through the gloom, Marinette staying beside him as he walked. Hornet followed behind, his senses making the lonely streets seem abuzz with magic.

The trail led to a fountain in the empty plaza, a purple mask resting atop a pony statue spitting water. Pupter moved to the edge of the fountain, leaping up the rock to the face of the stone. Marinette turned hornet to the side, making a series of signs on her hooves.

Seems… is easy… careful. Hornet could only partially make out the message, but got enough to understand. Pupter snatched up the artifact, a grin on his face as he leapt off it. When he pocketed the mask, the fountain suddenly stopped, spitting out a black ink which glowed in the light.

The three backed away, just as a blob began to form in the liquid. It flowed over the fountain, beginning to form into a pony shape. It then grew a set of claws, a white flame forming a left eye and a yellow forming the right. A mane of twilight formed on it's head and tail, reeling back and standing up, a set of wings and a horn sprouting from its back. It gave a soulless stare, then began to move towards them, more blobs flowing out of the fountain.

“The princesses did leave a curse on this place, but it seems my mask did more to it. We need to move.” Pupter began to rush off from the area, hornet following suite. He stopped after a short distance, turning to find Marinette frozen in fear. He looked at the retreating pupter, then flew down to grab the mare. He fired a splash of his slime, the blob realiing to remove the substance, and letting hornet grab her and begin to fly off.

Pupter stood a short distance away, watching more of the blob creatures rising from the fountain. Seeing hornet coming he rushed to meet him.

“Marinette! What happened?”

“She almost got consumed by one of those things, had it not been for me.”

“Curse my eagerness, I forget that ponies can feel fear. Let's go, I doubt I could stop the fountain without my magic properly recharged.” Hornet nodded, and began flying out with her, hovering just above the ground to keep pupter in sight.

Duelblood sat in a chair, looking over the various papers laid out on the table nearby. Maria sat nearby, crossing with her own sets of papers and making notes onto a map. Inktip had went into the other room, bringing back a set of mugs filled with coffee. Maira took the cup and downed it quickly before returning to the papers.

“Might I ask what's happening? You've been sitting in silence with these papers since I came into the room.” Maria looked over to him, setting her pen to the side.

“Sorry, with how much info I've had to dissect I didn't have time to notice you. The general has an idea to purify the world with the elements of harmony, and I've been working to find the locations of each one.”

“And why isn't he helping you to do it? I would think he'd be more helpful to this then you alone.”

“He wanted to check more of the city, see if we were alone. But he did give enough of the papers he found to pinpoint a few locations.” she tapped on a few spots on the map, marked with X's. Duelblood noted the maps clear age, still holding several smaller towns and no kingdom markers.

“This map is extremely outdated, how could it possibly help?”

“Maybe if you actually supported the idea, you'd find that these places and locations can still be gotten too. Sure, the sky city will be an issue, but other than that it's basically simple travel.” Duelblood shook his head and backed away, grabbing the coffee and taking a sip, nodding to inktip. Inktip walked over and looked over the map as well.

“This seems like a lot of effort for nothing. Us, change the kingdom with artifacts that didn't even do what they were supposed to? Can't we just go and rest in one of the homes at the castle and wait till the complex is rebuilt?” Maria rolled her eyes, taking one of her hands and pulling the clip-on ear stud out of inktips ear.

“Need I remind you that you come from the crystal city and not the dark diamond empire? You'd be put to death for living within the city without a proper birthstone.” She slid the ear stud back into place, inktip quickly shrinking back and to the window. She looked out the window, her eyes growing wide at what she saw.

“Maria, you'd better wrap up fast. We need to leave, now.” She motioned to the window, Duelblood stepping to the window to see what she panicked about. Maria rolled up the map and notes, placing it into a bag before heading to the window.

Outside, a river of black goo was moving through the city, swallowing and crawling over houses. Shapes like ponies crawled and stepped over objects in the path. Glassclaw, landing just beyond the door, broke down the wall with his sword.

“Duelblood, on my back. You girls after me.” He grabbed the doctor, sheathing his sword and stepping out. Maria and inktip followed a short time after, watching as the goo moved on.

“What is that?” Duelbloods words croaked out of him as they flew, the earth pony trying to calm his ever growing heartbeat. Maria and inktip flew just behind the dragon, circling the flood that grew over the town.

“I can't say what it is. I can tell that it began at the town fountain, and has some form of sentience, but other then that it's nothing I've seen before.”

“It's probably that cursed thing from before, trying to destroy us and the elements. I saw some of them when I arrived, but didn't get much more when I found the girls.” Glassclaw flew to the north, the black sea of goo molding and changing as they flew. Inktip nearly vomited from the odor forming in the city, Maria having to remove forced tears from her eyes.

Before they could leave, the wave began to condense, forming into a large dragon's maw. It lunged to the flyers, Glassclaw only barely striking away at the beast with his blade. It split and fell back into the city, several small horses and dragons crawling up and firing blasts of the goo at them.

Glassclaw folded his wings, falling close to the slow moving sea before gliding through it, Duelblood screaming at the speed and beasts attacking. Maria and inktip followed at a higher altitude, trying to draw some of the beasts from Glassclaw. After reaching the city wall, he struck it down with his blade, heading through the opening. A shield seemed to fade in and out of existence, as he dropped to the edge.

Maria and inktip barely flew through the opening, the goo lunging at them before bouncing off the shield. The two stumbled to the ground, catching their breath as the goo piled and crawled up the small shield.

“I guess it was a matter of time before that city fell away anyway. The sisters held too many feelings for it to leave it unoccupied. Did you get the info?” Glassclaw looked over to Maria, only tapping her bag and nodding. The dragon placed Duelblood on the ground, the bandages on him broken and peeled off from new blood. He stepped away, trying to not leave too many spots.

“I'll have to see about him later. But for now, I say we should rest.”

“Not here… not with… that over there.” Inktips words made the dragon smile, and he picked up the pegasus. She tried to say something, but fear made her pass out and sleep. Maria shook her head, and followed Glassclaw, the sound of the goo slipping away and disappearing.

Ch. 3

View Online

Candles 3

Inktip awoke in a bed, the lights still off in the room. The pegasus groaned, rolling out of the sheets to see the time. The small clock on a stand read that it was still early in the morning, but at this point she needed to know what and where she was at.

After getting out of the matress, she snuck her way to the door, listening through it. The voices of Maria and Duelblood could he faintly heard from the other side, both speaking in low tones.

“... We can't afford to keep her for the rest of the trip. We need to keep ourselves bold, and if she keeps fainting at the slightest danger, we can't do it.”

“Says the pony who transforms when they get excited by anything. You both have a level of bravery we need, but she can't return to her home yet. She will stay, even after the events that happened the week prior.” those last words stuck with her a moment. Had it really been a week since that strange event in twilight town? She turned back to the conversation.

“... When she wakes up, we'll get moving if she feels up to it. But I doubt it.” Inktip figured now would be the best time, so she opened up the door, stepping into the kitchen. It appeared to be made of a crystalized substance, a sign she was back at the city. She sat at one of the seats, grabbing a bowl of oats set out and began to eat them.

“Good morning inktip. Good to see you managed to get up after the scare you've givin us.” Duelblood gave a smile, eating a apple on the table and drinking what appeared to be cider. Inktip didn't say anything, instead focusing on the oats to help her empty stomach.

“I hope you can be ready to go soon. The first of the elements we're looking for are in your home kingdom, the pure diamond empire.”

“Crystal empire.” Inktip corrected over a mouth of oats. Maria held her claws up, before turning them to finish off a set of bacon and eggs sitting before her plate. The three finished their meals in silence, a mare coated in crystal coming to take the plates for cleaning. Maria motioned to the couch, the two following behind. Maria sat in a chair opposite to a couch, with the other two sitting there.

“If you're wondering, you've been unconscious for about a week. And the only activity while you were out was some ambassador from the empires coming here to talk about twilight town.”

“That sounds alot more big then you lead it to be.”

“Well, that's your problem then. Nothing happened, and that lets us move along with the mission. Glassclaw is giving us a ride to the city, but to get to the element we'll be on our own.” Inktip looked surprised at this, looking to Duelblood to see if she was honest. He made no response, making inktip more nervous.

“We aren't going to have the general with us on this mission? We barely survived the last escapade with his help. How do you think we can get through this without him?”

“Probably the fact we're going to a populated city instead of a abandoned dump.” Duelblood shrugged, his hooves covered in a new set on bandages.

“You don't have to worry about it right now. We'll give you another day of rest to make sure you're ok.” Maria gave a smile, before stepping out to the door. Inktip wanted to ask what she was doing, but decided against it, instead following Duelblood back to the table, a card deck sitting on it.

Maria flew off to the castle, landing just in front of the gate. Two dignitaries came out from the gate, bearing the moon and sun on their chests. She let them past, and watched as the dragon walked out behind them. When the dragon saw her, he let out a long sigh, and stepped to her with a smile. Maria walked beside her, heading to the fountain as he removed some of the diplomatic armor from his face.

"It's nice to see a face I can talk too without having to recite a speech for what they'll say beforehand. I'm guessing that inktip is finally ready to go?"

"Not so much that, as it is she finally managed to wake up." The griffon shrugged, reaching into her coat to bring out a towel. Glassclaw nodded, and took the towel in his tail, rubbing the water off his back and head. Handing her back the towel, she walked beside him as they made through the streets.

"I hope my mistress hasn't been too poor with you. She can be very shy about speaking up for herself."

"Ohh yes, she definitely needs you to correct her. She's been washing inktip and fixing us a breakfast so we can eat as we get up. It's like she's buttering us up so you don't do anything bad." The two laughed at this, startling the ponies that lived near where they walked. They then found themselves back at his home, stepping into the back. Maria stepped into the front door instead, finding Duelblood and inktip playing a card game.

Maria got a drink from the fridge, and went over to the couch, only giving a nod to the two playing their game. The maid came in with Glassclaw, covered by the large clothes of the dragon, heading to a room to wash them. He too grabbed a drink, this one a large wine bottle, and slumped into the chair opposite, popping off the cork with a single flick.

"Diplomats for days now, all over one night of odd magic. It's honestly the most activity from other kingdoms to us, and it's draining." He took a long swig of the bottle, giving a smirk as he placed it on the table between them.

"I bet you're ready to head out for the other elements now. I know those snobs would make me want to leave and do dangerous stuff."

"I won't be able to join you for awhile Maria. The places which the elements are must be explored with subtle intent. The first three are stored in the kingdoms of sun, moon, and diamond. The others I can join for."

"Well, we can just do those first. We could use your help at least getting there. Separate travel has proven a bit unreliable, so a carriage would be better for us alone." She grumbled a bit about speed, but the dragon ignored it, taking another swig of the bottle.

Maria waited for a response, and he simply nodded, heading up to his bed at the back of the house. The griffon walked back to the kitchen, watching as Duelblood finished collecting the chips on the table.

"We'll be heading out tomorrow, I hope we can see a smoother ride then last time."

"As long as you're riding with me. After the twilight town thing, I don't want to be unaware of who's with me." He shuddered, putting away the game on the table. Maria nodded, and stepped to the room of the door. Duelblood followed, while inktip walked to her own room, getting the message.

Glassclaw watched the cart ride off down the path from the outer wall, his sharp eyes seeing the kart turn off the main road and travel through the hill near the city, heading out of sight. A shadow of smoke formed near his figure, red dots forming into a makeshift body for the king.

"Do you really believe that the griffon can get the elements without your help or defense?"

"I have enough faith in that. She hasn't failed to carry out a order for the kingdom, and here is no different. Besides, this is something to do, activity is a motivator for any griffon."

"Then return to the castle. I feel the plan you've made will make war occur, and the changelings should be prepared for it." The form faded away, and Glassclaw stood to face the castle.

"The plan will succeed, I can count on it." He flew off to the castle, a smirk on his face.

The travel to the crystal empire was a slow and long one, giving the group time to reflect on what they were doing. Collecting the scattered remenits of a myth, to use them against the king of a country. They didn't speak, the only noise being the road and occasional snack.

Eventually, the cab approached the walls of the city, the three leaning out the window to see it. The outer walls of the city shined in the morning light, various crystals weaved into a pattern which changed as the sun traveled. The cart rolled to a stop by the gate, a set of guards wearing golden armor, spears to the driver.

"State your business." The first one exclaimed, the stallion pointing to the symbol of the carrage.

"A group of ambassadors have come to speak to the queen on account of the king of crystal." The driver spoke in a calm voice, as it used to weapons being pointed to his face. The two guards gave a short glance to each other, before turning to the gate.

"Is the queen aware of this visit, driver?"

"She has been informed, yes. Just have a place for the ambassadors to stay, as well as a place for the carrage to wait for the business to conclude, and all will be acceptable." He handed a slip to the guards, the two quickly reading over the contents. They handed the paper back, then signaled to a set of ponies on the gate. Four unseen unicorns wrapped their magic around the door, pulling the large frames and breaking the illusion of the wall. The carrage moved through it, a new set of guards stepping in front of the ponies to guide it.

Duelblood and inktip looked out through the windows of the carrage. The streets were made of a polished jewel, ponies walking along a sidewalk laughing. Mares and stallions mingled outside of stores, coated in glowing gems of various kinds. They moved in shock and fright at the slaves pulling the carrage, a few trying to help them off it before being blocked by the guards.

They drove through the city this way, passing a fountain showing a crystal heart as the center piece. It turned into a back road, stopping by a multi story building. The driver leapt down from his seat, opening the door for the three to come out. Inktip and Duelblood stepped to the curve, with Maria following behind. The driver used magic to grab their luggage, following them inside.

The receptionist gave a warm greeting, and showed them to a room near a window to the castle. The time they walked, Maria could tell she was being closely watched by the mare that lead them. After letting them into the room, the mare left them, the driver placing their luggage on the floor.

The simple room had a two pony bed, with a pull out by the bathroom. Inktip began setting up the beds, while Duelblood stepped into the bathroom to clean his bandages. Maria went to the window, watching as the carrage pulled away to a different area for storage. Inktip lugged a suitcase to the bed, and squinted at the expression on Maria.

"This seems like alot to pack for just the three of us. Why do we need all these slots and gizmos?"

"We can't just walk around with the elements, so we need one case to hold them. If things go smoothly, then the other stuff is just basic needs." She stepped away from the window, helping inktip fold out the other bed.

"Will we be staying here long?"

"Only long enough to get the element. Glassclaw gave me some notes on how to speak, so leave it to me. You two may be able to enjoy some sight seeing before the night hits." Inktip tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Why just us? Can't you come with us?" Maria tapped the black diamond lodged into her ear.

"Anypony who sees this will not want to do business with me. This is the rival city to sombras after all, they don't take kindly to even visitors. You two can at least go around and not be rejected." Inktip frowned, then continued to struggle with the bed. Maria unfolded a sheet of paper and began reading over it again, prepping for the task the next day.

Despite her statement, the two stayed in the hotel for the night. Duelblood awoke early the next morning, heading to the breakfast buffet down in the main hall. The other two awoke thirty minutes later, doing the same. They spent some time talking with other ponies in the lobby, till a messenger signaled them for the carrage.

They went outside, finding the carrage sitting at the front of the place. Maria noticed the slave ponies were much better groomed then before. Maria sat on the seat with the driver, both inktip and Duelblood stepping into the cabin of the wagon. They then drove off, heading down to the castle.

"I hope you're ready for this miss griffion, with how deep into the city we are, if you anger the queen we may not get out alive."

"I have enough practice to know what to say. We'll be leaving here and to the next element in no time." Her confidence was enough to satisfy the driver, who continued down the shining road to the castle. They stopped in front of the gate, the driver stepping down to help the two get out.

Maria stepped down to the gate, looking over the walls of the castle. The blue diamond glowed with the light, each spire tipped with a different color of gem. The walls were so smooth that anything trying to scale or attack with magic would reflect off like a mirror. Inktip marveled at the castle, only used to the gloom and dark energy of sombras castle.

"What amazing craftsmenehip." She stated, stepping beside Maria and watching the gate lower for them. Duelblood scoffed at that, checking over the anklets he wore to make sure no blood leeked through. When the gate finally settled, two guards motioned to the entrance.

The three followed the guards through the gate, the amber halls gleaming in the candles that lit up the ceiling and floor. After they walked up a stairway, the guards stopped in front of a gate, engraved with a pink alicorn and white unicorn. Duelblood scratched at one of his forelegs, with Maria giving a half smile to assure them.

"Just let me do the talking. I have everything ready to go, just follow my lead." The doors slid open, with the three stepping through into the thrown room.

A lush carpet muffled their movements as they walked through the narrow hall. Candles which glowed with a pink flame sat in crystal holsters, filling the room with the scent of strawberries. At the end of the hall the queen sat in a simple thrown, adorned with gems and a crystal heart on the top.

The queen in question was a white alicorn, her mane a swirl of pink and blue. Her eyes showed a dark resentment for them, as if her very being was derived from them. She wore gold shoes, each with a diamond just above the hoof. Her crown was that of her mother's, along with the chest plate she wore. The three walked to the throwns base and bowed.

"Hail, queen of the crystal heart. We wish to speak with you on a importent matter." Maria put on her best charaskatic voice, hoping to make a good impression on her. The queen simply rolled her eyes, and motioned for them to stand.

"If this is to become part of sombras kingdom, then you can go ahead and leave. I have no desire to bow to a pony who forces ponies to act on his own say." The three stood as told, with Maria giving a laugh to try and break the tension.

"This has nothing to do with it, I assure you. But, it does involve elements of your mother's past that could overthrow the king." The queen's face faltered, unsure of how to take this. Before she could speak, Maria fetched a paper from her bag, handing it to her. She quickly read over the letters contents, before stepping out from her thrown.

"Guards, lead these two back down to their coach up front. I must speak with her alone." The door opened up, and the guards outside signaled for the two to follow. Maria gave a nod, and both Duelblood and inktip followed them out of the room. When the doors closed again, she gestured to the thrown, using her magic to lift the seat.

"I don't know why you want to defeat sombra, but I'm more then willing to help. I can't say what the others will do, so I wish you luck with getting them done. I'm sure my mother would have wanted the same." From under the cushion, a small gem floated over to Maria's hand. It was a star-shaped artifict, purple and dully glowing. Maria put it into her bag, looking over at the queen.

"I'm surprised you gave it to me this easily. What was in the letter that made you feel this way?" She said nothing, and the doors swung open again. Maria, taking it as a sign to leave, walking out the door to following the guards.

In the courtyard, the driver sat on the carriage, looking over a paper in his hand. When Maria stepped out of the castle, he placed it to the side and helped her on to the front seat.

"Things went smoothly, I assume?"

"Yes. Our next stop is the kingdom of the sun, let's get moving." Nodding, the coachmen started up the ponies to the entrance of the city. As the left, the queen watched from the balcony of her castle, gripping a small locket in her magic.

"I've spent long enough waiting. Now it's time to act, just like autie twilight would want. Good luck griffon, I hope you're successful."

Ch. 4

View Online

Chapter 4

Hornet flew over the trees that lined where they rested, observing once again the sight before them. The land ahead of them was a cloak of darkess, a large moon adding light to the city. The tall spires and gothic scenery broken by the bats and wolves that walked the streets. But looking to the horizon, another moon was beginning to set over the land, with a sun rising on the other.

He flew back down to the small camp they had made, settling by the sleeping bag marinette used. He stepped to the small fire, watching as pupter threw a few more branches into the flame. He didn't seem to notice the changeling as he worked, shuffling the sticks with his magic.

"This city seems like the last place to find a simple mask. Do you think we can get in without being killed?"

"This place is made for ponies like us. A place where the lost and the wicked can come to perform without the need to be judged. A romantic dream and a dark nightmare blended into one."

"That doesn't help answer how we'll get the mask you're after." Pupter raised a eyebrow at the changeling, looking up from the now more alight flame.

"I didn't imagine you so eager to go into this place after the description I gave."

"Because you can get my swarm away from the crystal Kings control. But you said you won't till you get all these masks back. Though…" he turned to look at marinette, who was carving a lesson into a set of wood for him to learn. "Having a source of reliable love is mainly why I persist."

"She is a real gem. As for the city, we will head out in a few hours. We need to make sure marinette is correctly disguised before attempting anything however." He gave a smile, heading over to a spa kit they had taken from a wagon. He placed them near a tree, looking over the colors and tools inside.

"A disguise? Are normal ponies not allowed in?"

"The queen thinks of them as spy's for Celestia, so we must make sure we don't get separated. Till I finish, you should go ahead and pack. We will need the items to sell when we get in." The changeling growled, but began to use his magic to clean up the various items, getting ready to leave.

Maria woke up with the sun in her face. But she also noticed that a set of sunglasses were lightly leaning on her beak. She adjusted herself, then sat up to see what was happening. In front of her was a glowing city, decorated in gold and white. It had a single town spread out in a wall, with a castle overhanging the city itself. The driver beside her chuckled at her shock, and adjusted his own glasses as they approached.

"We've arrived at the city without a moon. The crystal princess luckily gave us a glasses for the trip. It would be difficult to navigate in this city without them." The guards near the gate stopped them, anger hidden within their helmets at the slave ponies. The driver handed one of them a card, who quickly read it over. Maria shifted in her spot, but the guard gave the card back and signaled for the gates opening.

"The royal advisory seems to allow alot of free access to the city, but I doubt it'll help with this queen." The driver's words hung in her ear as the carrage pushed into the city. The streets glowed a warm color as they traveled, the heat already beginning to make Maria sweat. Every few feet a sprayer was dispensing a cool mist over the streets, with foals and ponies alike stepping aside for the them to pass, each horrified at the pulling slaves.

"We can't seem to have a warm welcome into any town."

"What do you expect? With us carrying the sign of the dark diamond, we aren't giving a good impression." Maria nodded to this, observing the busling streets and goods displayed under fans. A large fountain made the carrage swerve to get around, a crowd gathered near a stage listening to a orchestra. Through it, they ended in front of a bared gate, leading to a white courtyard with a garden.

Two white unicorns stepped to the carrage, helping Duelblood and inktip out of it. Maria glided down to the gate, waiting for the other two. The driver gave a a quick wave, before following a pegasus to where they would rest. The gate swung open silently, the two following Maria as she stepped inside.

"Go straight inside and follow the guard. They will take you to the queen's main chamber. Do not stray from the guide, least you be arrested." The guards words echoed by the other as they closed the gate. Maria walked through the garden, not even noticing the flowers perfectly crafted to form six ponies she once knew, layed in a way as if to hug the newcomers.

"What a magnificent garden. I've never seem such color before." Duelblood nodded at the remark, lightly nudging inktip to keep up with Maria.

"It would be, if we we're coming here under the worst of circumstances." Duelblood shook his head, steering to follow Maria as she walked. The guard stopped at a small door, and Maria stepped into it, followed by the others.

"We shall inform the princess of your coming. Best hope she is in a good mood." The guards words lingered in the silence as he walked away. Duelblood had to quickly dab away fresh spots in his bandages, trying to keep calm. Inktip meanwhile, helped herself to the small treats left on the table. Maria looked over the letter she had received from Glassclaw, reading over its contents again.

"I'm sorry to have to lead you into this. This was meant mostly for me, and coming here is making me realize what could happen to you two." The others said nothing, leaving Maria to continue with her own thoughts.

Hornet walked through the dark streets, keeping his focus on following pupter as he walked. He was surprised at how easily they were let in, especially since he didn't even need a disguise. But he still looked over his shoulder, expecting an ambush or encounter.

Pupter meanwhile strode in confidence, using his white mask for the treck. The hybrids and bat ponies walked past him without so much as a glance. Marinette meanwhile hung her head low, her well kept mane and fur now short and spiked. She had a set of magically made fangs in, her eyes half gold and half red. It gave her a wolfish appearence, her various burns and cuts on full display.

The three traveled through the artificial moonlight, small foals flying and snapping at the open stores and balls that rolled and bounced around the town. Torches hung from posts, giving a similar glow to the moon with their white flames. Heading through the large market of goods and potions, they came to a large spiked gate protecting the castle. A small graveyard stood before it, completing the gothic look and glow of the castle.

"No guards? This isn't what I would expect for a rulers castle." Marinette nudged the changeling, pointing to the gargoyles that stood over each of the homes and the castle. Squinting, he sensed a magic coming from it, a set of unseen eyes turning to look over the street they had just left from.

"Luna has been wearing my mask, so she most likely has funled her guards for a army. It would be something she'd see in the chaos my mask provides. It is why I wanted to come here first, not to just do a small good, but to get back one of my stronger masks." He pushed through the gate, being that it was unlocked, and began to walk through the yard.

"I'm no fool when it comes to queen's. The ground will probably rise with undead or something, I can just feel it." Hornet tried to scurry away from the looming castle, but the magic of marinette stopped him.

I'm scared too, but I want to finish what we began. Please, let's enter. Hornet swallowed a hard lump, but nodded, holding one of marinettes forehooves as they entered. No such undead came out, not even a breeze as they opened the large black door of the castle.

In they went, a light blue carpet with half moons on the edge greeted their hooves. After closing the door, a batpony stepped down from on top of a large staircase, her well tailored suit showing her occupation. She flew down to the bottom and snorted at their entry.

"It's not often miss moon allows visitors to her house, especially unannounced ones. State your buisness, least you be expelled for trespassing." Pupter nodded, giving a bow and half smile.

"Of course madam. I am here with my friends to discuss mask matters. I am a conisour of masks, and I understand the queen is looking for a new mask to use for her midnight balls. Has she not told you?"

"I wasn't told YOU would be showing up. You all are'nt the usual tailors she uses for her work. And I also see no material." Pupter laughed, stepping to the mare and rubbing one of her shoulders. As he did, marinette motioned to the stairs, hornet following her up in a way to avoid the batponies gaze.

"This is about design, not fabrication miss. I know she has many masks, but one I'm interested in has to deal with upcoming circumstances more important then the queen itself." He leaned in close, whispering a few words to the mare. Her eyes went wide, turning to the pony beside her just in time to fall asleep and lay on the floor. The zebra smiled, shouldering the mare and walking through the castle to find a bedroom.

Maria stood before a large set of doors, with Duelblood and inktip behind her. The guards swung open the door, a wave of intense heat blasting the three in the face. Maria stepped forward, holding one of her wings up to try and vent the heat. Duelblood frowned, stepping into the room behind her, while inktip took a swig of water.

Even with the glasses, most of the room couldn't be properly seen. This was from the shining ball that sat on a thrown near the end of the room. The alicorn had a mane and tail of pure fire, golden eyes watching unimpressed as they entered. The red and gold armor she wore gleamed off the light her head produced, and she smiled with a set of unnaturally sharp teeth.

"Well, isn't this a surprise. A intern of the scum king comes to ask a favor of me. You'd better have a good reason to approach me, least I destroy you for wasting my time." To emphasize her point, her wings flared out, each feather tipped with a golden blade. Inktip shrank behind Duelblood, who placed a hand over her shoulder. This made the sun queen laugh.

"You even brought such wimps to help you with the negotiation. I can tell you're no ambassadors, but I'll at least hear out what you want. Been awhile since I had a good laugh."

"Sun queen, I have a matter more important then simple role to role negotiation. I have come to ask for your element of harmony, so that…" Maria was cut off by a sudden flare from the queen's body, blurring out even more of the room and making the three instantly sweat.

"An ambassador of the crystal tyrant comes here to claim a prize of my birthright?! Give me one good reason I shouldn't incinerate you now for such folly!" As she spoke, the flames around her mane swirled around the three. It took all the willpower inktip could muster not to move, while the fur on Duelblood began to get scorched at the tips. Maria held firm, raising herself just enough to see the outline of the burning stare they got.

"It'll allow you to end the conquest of both the crystal king, and the moon alicorn. Our driver nor our king knows these intentions, and as such we can end his life using them. You wouldn't even be involved, for we take the fall." Maria had to yell to be heard over the closing ring of flames, but they stopped when she finished, disappearing in a flash.

The glow in the room began to fade, allowing the three to better see the layout. It had a simple gold walkway, with reflective paint over the columns adorned with torches. The queen stepped down from her thrown, the strength and beauty of her form now easy to see. The flames of her mane and tail still glowed, but more akin to a flowing mane then a blaze. Maria made a motion, and the three stood up to greet her.

"You're certainly a strange visitor to my castle. But your words have convinced me to spare you for now. But before buisness can be made." She gave a half smile to inktip, who began rubbing her back legs sheepishly.

"I must be sure what you say has merrit. Guards, escort the griffon back to the waiting room. I must speak with her companions before I make a decision." Maria looked back to them and gave as best of a assurance as she could before following the guards at the door. The two looked back to the queen, who nodded to the door.

"Let us take a walk around the garden, it will be more pleasant then talking in here, wouldn't you say?"

The manor lead to a large room, chandeliers of ice hung over the room, giving it a fog. Crystal covered the walls, reflecting the moonlight that shined through the large window behind the thrown. Blue flamed candles lined the walls, with red flamed ones under stain glass windows of events in equestrian history. But the most impressive sight was the alicorn that sat on the thrown.

Dark green eyes refracted the moonlight that shined on them, giving them a poisonous stare. The dark blue fur she had seem to absorb the light around it, forming stars and cosmic waves over it. Black armor adorned her hooves and chest, large aquamarine gems adorning the plates, each cut into stars. She wore a mask of black scales, boldly outlining the hard stare of her serpent eyes.

Pupter approached the queen without hesitation, with hornet carrying a set of fabrics and papers stolen from a seamstress traveling on the road. Marinette meanwhile had left with the maid to tour the manor by pupters request. Hornet began to set up the area, with pupter giving a quick bow to the queen.

"Dear queen of the moon, I've come to offer my skills to properly dress you for the next ball you'll no doubt attend." The alicorn huffed at the remark, before stepping forward to examine his face.

"I'm not fooled like that of my servent. Speak of your true intent, for I can tell you're no worker of mine." Pupter gave a shocked expression, gesturing to hornet setting up the mirrors.

"My queen, I've come app this way to help you with the ordeal of appearence, and you insult me as if I'm just a nobody?" He held his chest in mock hurt, hiding a toothy smile with a turn of his head.

"I need not a tailor for now. And you're persistence into my manor is only by the lax nature of my slave. I can tell you're a servent of my cursed sister, and so I shall send your body back to her in a bag." The mask she wore began to spark, black lightning glowing down her neck and to her horn. She reared up, about to stomp on pupters body, before she froze, her eyes frantically looking around.

"What… what is this? Who are you, and tell me why you have such power?"

"That 'power' you weild is actually mine. I am here to reclaim it, and while I wanted to do it nicely, I have to do it like this." Hornet watched as pupters eyes lost their pupils, a flash of light ripping the mask off of the queen's face. She yelled in pain, falling backwards onto her rear as the mask replaced the one pupter wore.

The same black lightning surged over pupters body, his body beginning to grow in size. His fur burst off, dark scaled skin replacing the spots. A pair of wings sprang out of his back, a boom of thunder breaking the glass windows that were around the room. The mask molded the equine face to a more draconic appearence, a smile that cracked with electricity formed with his yellow eyes.

Hornet looked over to the queen, who seemed to change in front of him. Her size seemed to shrink slightly, patches of scales breaking away from her body and reveiling fur. The smooth fur she had lost its light absorbing properties, becoming a simple light blue. The neckplate weighed down her neck, showing the red flesh that had once been covered by the mask.

"Finally, a form with proper power. This'll make the work much faster for you, and for me. Come, let us leave this broken mess and head out to my next mask." Hornet was stunned by the calm and booming voice that came from the pony now dragon. In a trance, he flew over to his back, turning to see the moon queen weakly try and fire magic, eyes closed and bleeding.

"Poor thing. She won't lose her insanity, and be in serious pain till the next morning. Nevertheless, I hope she will recover." Hornet once again looked at the dragon, before clinging hard to his back as he walked out of the room. A cry of pain and anger reached hornets ears as they left, cursing a name he didn't recognize.

Pupter broke the door with his wings, the maid and Marinette ran up a flight of stairs to see him. The maid screamed in horror, swooning and nearly falling down the stairs if not for Marinette. The unicorn placed the girl at the top of the stairs, and leapt onto pupters back using one of his wings.

"As I told you, I would get the mask without incident."

But you clearly didn't take the time we agreed on, so she didn't buy it.

"Well… yes. I suppose I lost our little bet." The mare chuckled, before using her magic to secure the two onto pupters back. He leapt into the air, breaking through the glass of the mansion and giving a roar to the moon. He took off from the hill, sailing away to the mountains nearby, a crackle of thunder sounding as he flew through the night.

The sun queen walked through the garden she had, with inktip and Duelblood walking beside her on both sides. Inktip, despite the situation, marveled at the structure of the garden. It seemed each flower was crafted like a stainglass window, shaping into figures and gems alike.

Duelblood kept a eye on the queen, walking quietly beside her as she moved. The queen occasionally stopped, to with talk to one of the unicorns weeding the grass or the pegasi regulating the shade and rain over various patches. The queen eventually stopped in front of a large hexagon patch. Inktip squinted at the shape, recognizing it from the books and papers they got the elements info from.

"So tell me, why are you here?" The queen's voice startled the two after her long silence. She plucked one of the violet flowers from the patch, sniffing it idely before turning to the two again.

"I ask again, why are you here?" The two looked at each other, more used to Maria's knowledge and experience. Duelblood eventually shrugged, not enjoying the venomous stare of the queen.

"We've come to get the element of harmony, so as to..." He was stopped by one of the queen's wings, sniffing her flower again.

"I didn't ask why the griffon is here. I asked why you are here. Anyone can rehearse lines to speak to a royal for a item, but I want to hear the words of one who isn't here for a purpose." Inktip rubbed one of her feathers, unsure how to feel about this. The queen noticed her movements, giving a toothy half smile.

"Pegasus, what brings you here?" Inktip stiffined, unsure of what to say. The queen's stare making her unable to get the words out. Duelblood stepped around from the queen, stepping to her side and grabbing her hoof.

"To be honest miss, I'm only here to give myself a purpose. I have long ago lost it when I choose to flee, and I'm here to help the one who brought me in from the lost state I was in." The queen stared hard into his eyes, attempting to see a sign of lying. Satisfied, she turned her attention back to inktip, who was slightly more confident.

"I guess if I had to choose, it's because I've been a helper to ma… the griffon for a long time now. I doubt I could let myself go through this without my help." Once again, she stared hard into her eyes, making the pegasus squirm from the pressure. But, with a nod, the queen handed the flower she had to a gardener, heading to the overcast of the castle, the two following.

"The elements of harmony caused this world you see. Very few can remember them from how the chaos spread. You would know nothing of it, so the fact you want my element means someone has other plans." She stated off to the town below her, letting out a sigh.

"Whatever purpose the elements are to serve for you, you won't be able to use them without a proper bearer of each element. Even if you had six to use them, it is doubtful you'd use them without consequence." Her head turned to the giant moon that foreshadowed the lunar kingdom. Before the two could speak, a guard rushed from a inner spot of the castle.

It was a white pegasus, who carried a bag for mail on his shoulder. He quickly flew to the queen, rushing a bow and handing her a letter. The pegasus quickly flew off, leaving her to read over the letter. The two behind her grew worried as a frown appeared on her face, before turning back to inktip and Duelblood.

"It seems factors are beginning to change around us. Dragons attack my sister, and now she declares war on my city. Perhaps giving you the element will persuade her away from the city, and keep Luna from gaining the idea to use them." She began walking back inside, the other two following as she shook her head in annoyance.

"To think, the elements are being reawakened, war against my sister, and my city is at risk of attack soon. I need a cake to calm my nerves." She quickly moved through the halls, the other two confused at her statement.

Ch.5

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Ch. 5

Glassclaw looked over the field ahead of him, the workers toiling in the sun for food and pay as they cultivated crops. His eyes drifted around to the edge of the clearing, where changelings worked to fortify and built a nest for living. All around those he was above moved about in purpose, while he simply waited for news of his friend and her quest. Beside him, the general of the changelings watched the work with more detail on their actions.

His three horns curved upward, the shell of his armor a rusted gold color. Despite this, his eyes were a deep green, gleaming with the young life of one who enjoyed their job above anything. As they watched, a pegasi flew in from the direction of the front gate, hastily bowing on the ground and pulling the letter for them.

"Message from the solar kingdom to the crystal kings general." The dragon took the letter from it, the pegasi hastily flying back over the gates. He looked over the note, a frown forming as he did.

"It seems that my little mission has turned into more then just a grab and go." He crumbled the letter up, placing it into a slot on his armor. The changeling general approached and stared up at him.

"The sun queen has informed me that the moon queen has begun to march her forces towards the sun kingdom. She asks for passage around our city to hit the city from the back. This may compromise the integrity of the city, and the mission I had planned." Glassclaw rubbed his chin, the pupil in his eyes reflecting the thought he had for the situation. With a nod, he turned to the changeling general.

"I need you to organize three sets of changeling squads to travel across the world. The locations will be given when they've been gathered, now go." The changeling bowed, then flew off towards the hive, relaying the orders.

"A war between the sisters may be just what the plan needs to succeed. I just need Maria to stay safe and get the moon kingdoms element." He got up from the spot, gliding down to the area of the changelings hive.

Maria rode on the carrage top, running a claw through her head as they rode. The others down below couldn't be heard in the rumble of the road, but she wondered what they thought of the new ordeal. The coach pony watched ahead, only giving small glances to the griffion in thought.

So many elements have been added to their ordeal. She didn't think it would be easy, but bringing the others into a possible warzone? Not to mention, the elements outside of the three kingdoms will be in more primal lands, unfit for something as simple as a carrage. What to do with the elements bounced in her mind like the wheels of the carrage.

The war itself would also lead to more chaos then already existed in the kingdoms. To think, a dragon attacking the moon queen and just leaving? Even with chaos being manifested in the area, a direct assault seemed too straight for someone who loved the other in simpler times.

Then their was what the sun queen mentioned. Even if they gathered the elements, the possibility of finding three other ponies to use them against the crystal king seemed even less likely then finishing the quest to get them. She pushed the thought to the back of her head, instead trying to find a way to enter and aquire the next element of harmony.

Pupter landed near the edge of the mountain side, his large claws digging to the fresh snow that fell over it. Marinette and hornet leaped from his back to the snow, the dragon giving a quick sweep of the area. Finding a cave nearby, he made his way to it, the other two trudging through the snow in his footsteps.

The dragon had to crawl to get into the cave, the other two stepping in shortly after. He took off the mask, replacing it with the green mask he had used previously. A blast of purple flame dried off the two as pupter returned to the small fox form, with Marinette going to his side and hugging him.

"Ahh, to feel power again. It is quite a rush." Hornet brushed some droplets of water from his shell, stepping deeper into the cave.

"If it is so powerful, can we now go and retrieve my clan from the crystal king?" The fox chuckled, shaking his head before placing the mask back into his bag.

"It can still be removed with a simple levitation spell. I need to get all of my powers back before engaging in that kind of a fight." He quickly removed and replaced the mask he wore to show this, with hornet looking away a bit sad from it.

"This doesn't mean we aren't close. In fact, deep in this mountain is a mask, so we will rest here for awhile to be able to get it. Your tribe will be rescued in time." The changeling sat away from them, staring out to the snowstorm that blew outside of the cave. Pupter began to gather stones in the cave while Marinette stood beside him.

The changeling gave a strange look to the unicorm, her scarred face seeming more beautiful in the wind that blew into the cave. He felt her energy coming into him, stepping back for fear he was taking her love by accident. She returned to his side, the energy still coming off her as if intended.

"Uhh Marinette? Are you feeling ok? I seem to be feeling a bit off from you." The unicorn stepped forward to look in his face.

And what's the problem?

"It's just, I don't want to take any of your energy while the elements and such are around us. You'll need your strength if we plan to continue."

I don't understand, we haven't fed yet. But if you need energy, I'll gladly give it to you.

"That can't be right. I've been feeling your energy come into me since we came here. Surely you must be doing something." The unicorn shook her head, assuring him of what she said. Before they could continue, a small blast of light got the attention of the two. Pupter had started a magic flame, glowing blue and bright. The two approach the flame, the fox opening a box of treats and food brought from the city and royal fridge.

"Glad you choose these instead of the milk and such. Even with the cold, they wouldn't have been good." He handed Marinette a hayburger she had gotten from the town, eating it at a mild pace as the other two watched.

"Aren't you going to eat? Her love is enough fuel for me, but I don't think you can stand without it."

"I can hunt for my own stuff now that I have my dragon mask. I will return to the den as soon as I finish." He stepped over the fire, placing his green mask by the fire and putting on the black one. He leapt from the cave as soon as he had grown wings.

The two sat in silence, the roar of the wind and the crackling fire adding any noise to the den. Marinette reached to tap hornet on his shoulder, startling the bug as she conversed.

Now that we're alone, I feel I need to tell you something about us here.

"And what's that?"

I've been getting attached to you as we traveled. I hope you'll understand that it isn't about feeding. I actually haven't had many friends or family after my original died. The changeling frowned at this, looking out to the snow as the fire crackled.

"Honestly, I don't really mind that. More food is always a pleasure to have. But it may not be healthy to get too attached. After all, I'm only here till he can recover my horde, so when it happens I hope you aren't too broken." He laid down on the floor, quickly falling asleep while Marinette watched the cave, a tear freezing to her cheek as she waited.

Glassclaw stood on the edge of the wall, looking over the field that stood before him. Beside him, a shadow fork of the crystal king observing beside him. The dragon pulled out a small letter, reading over the contents as he observed the traveling troops before them.

The sun queens army had arrived before the normal Dawn, the radiance of her presence giving her away from over a mile away. The crystal king had ordered Glassclaw to meet a messager from the army, who had arrived to both confirm safe travel and offer counts to showcase the troop.

The dragon had to squint to observe most of the army, the golden plating of their armor reflecting the queen's radiance and obscuring some of the queens troops. It was mostly unicorns, with a flying Calvary of pegasi bearing sun banners and shields. A large chariot carried the queen through the sky, leaving a trail of flames as they passed.

"The walls will keep a good number of the main company secure, but the slaves at least can be remade."

"Do you expect an attack?"

"I don't take a chance as to not have it happen. The queen is clearly corrupt as the lunar one, so I must take precautions for it." The silouette motioned to a set of changelings which hovered over the walls and city.

"Sir, the queen could care less for the slaves. This corruption has made her blind to all but her own gain. It is why getting you to rule over all the land will be a solution to this crime." The silouette frowned, gazing out as the troops continued their trek.

Pupter tapped on Marinette, waking her from the sleep she had been in. The unicorn looked to him curious, with hornet still asleep by the remains of the fire.

"It's time for us to head out. The presence of the mask makes me want to move now." The girl rubbed her eyes, the time having slipped away as she slept. The zebra nudged hornet awake, and after clearing away the fire pit, walked deeper into the cave.

Marinette lit up her horn, forming it into a glowing ball as she flew it ahead to scout the cave. The warm interior howled from the storms outside, with only an occasional drip of the snow falling as water from the stalagtites. The cave system inside was rough, yet seemed lived in, as if some large creature roamed through it, breaking rocks as it went.

"How could someone have one of your masks inside of this place? I've never seen mountain dwelling ponies or griffions that dig like this."

"You're right. It isn't a someone. It's a something." Hornet didn't say anything more, not wanting to know what kind of thought the chaos creature was thinking.

Ch. 6

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Ch. 6

Maria stirred from a deep sleep, finding the night enveloping the wagon. She stretched out, almost yawning if not for for the hoof of the driver holding it shut. He gave a brief motion to his muzzle, and she nodded, the driver coming down from the top and to the edge of a bush they had been hiding behind. Duelblood was by the edge, and Maria joined the two as she peeked through another part of the bush.

The feeling of many hooves shook the ground as she piered out, troops of fluffed claws marched past in large rows. The rumbling increased as a wheeled object rolled past, silver light flowing past the position as she looked through. Once it past, she noticed the light of the sun going through the field, and she stepped back to look at the other two.

Duelblood shook his head, then walked out of the bush to watch the army go by. Maria joined him, watching the swarm of darkness and beasts travel across the road. The army soon went around a bend and out of sight, the two heading back as the driver returned to his position.

"The sun queen had mentioned something about the moon one heading out for war. I just wasn't expecting to encounter them on our own travels."

"At least we can go into the city without as much resistance." Duelblood shook his head, heading back to the door of the carrage. Maria stepped beside him, looking over the doctors clothes.

"The city is going to war. I doubt we'll be able to slide in as ourselves, especially if the city is filled with the same nocturnal ponies we saw in the army." Duelblood stopped at the entrance, pausing before rubbing his chin.

"I may not be good with magic, but I think I can make a decent costume to use if we can find a small modeling shop around the town." Maria nodded, and stepped aside to let him back inside, inktip still sound asleep on the other seat.

Maria climbed back onto the main seat, the driver already readjusting the reigns for the slave ponies. With a quick crack they began down the trail again, with Maria explaining the detour they had in mind. The trip was rough with the fresh prints of different creatures heading out to battle.

Glassclaw looked over the city walls, waiting for word from one of the units he had sent out. His one normal eye switched between watching the artificial moon and sun travel across the field to intercept. He could hear the clamor of the slaves below, discussing how likely they were to be killed or freed should the battle reach them.

The dragons thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of a changeling near his roost. He turned to see a quarts rimmed bug fly in with a saddlebag on his other side. He hastily landed and bowed to him, nearly falling on his face in the process. Glassclaw laughed, his tail reaching to lift the face of the bug.

"Report soilder." His words made the changeling spring into action, hastily taking out three letters and handing them to the dragon. He bowed again, before flying off in the direction he came from. Glassclaw chuckled, then looked over the letters in his hand.

The first was a general recap of the scout teams progress in the cloud kingdom. They had a easy time bringing the jewel out of the city, since few pegasi seemed to know the value of the item. The only part of difficulty was finding it, since only an obscure fan club kept it within its walls after leaving the main academy.

The second letter dealt with the oncoming threat of the sun and moon queen's. Fights had already begun from the spread of scouts and the magic tension formed from moving bodies. Despite this, it seemed the sun kingdom had a good force still available to defend the walls. Glassclaw put that one in a pocket on his cloak, keeping it to show the king later.

The last one was from Maria, telling of the success of gaining the other element and the treck to the moon kingdoms element. The changeling must have found the normal carrier and took it to deliver himself, which the dragon nodded for. This left only one element to account for, which he would work on once the scouts returned from the cloud kingdom.

Glassclaw tucked away the letters, and put on a soft smile, his crystal eye glowing a bit. It seemed to him the plan was moving along smoothly. He walked to the stairway of the wall, heading down to inform the crystal king of his findings.

The dark caves of the inner mountain seem to absorb the meager light formed from the horn of Marinettes horn, thought they still trecked on. The caves seemed magic in build, the large cavernous space seemingly able to hold a sky show. But still they tredged on, hornet giving what light his dark aura could provide. Behind them, pupter walked wearing his zebra mask, the sharp adaptive eyes watching for a sign of something.

The treck from the outer layer of the mountain had lead in a rough stone path, yet somehow finding its way to a more clean path, grooves once embedded with some large line traveling down to somewhere. They had mostly followed this path, as it seemed to have some form of life put into it from a time long ago.

Traveling down it, it seemed to show signs of a struggle, large prints roughly traveled along the path in the same direction. The claw marks and wide stance was most likely a form of dragon, thought why it traveled these tracks none could say. Still they followed, the horn light letting them avoid the rougher spots.

After heading through a short tunnel of sorts, the three stopped to look over a large casem. On the other side, sitting ajasent to the wall of stone, was the remains of the city. The lack of light left the city's size and value to be gauged, but from the small amount they could see, it seemed to be upper class area.

"This must be the part of the pre chaos ordeal. But why would it be so magically hidden?" Hornets words echoed in the silent halls, with the only response being a snort from pupter behind him.

"Considering the corruption of the sisters, I imagine it was too much of a memory source to keep around. Come on, we can get to the city before the end of today." The zebra walked past the two and down the trail, with marinette following close behind.

Hornet walked a bit behind, admiring the spires and design of the city. It was similar to the stores he had heard of the queen passed down from the last generation of the hive. Thought the story was not positive, the sight of it sent good memories of the days before the hives fall and wandering phase.

They soon found themselves in the abandoned city, with pupter putting on his fox mask. After a quick movement of his wrist the once dorment lights of the city alit with purple flames. The three traversed the gloom of the white walls and long disheveled tables. Broken glass and rotting dresses were strewn through the many shops that seemed to have been closed in a hurry.

"Out of all the places in my life, this was one I was told to someday control. But this probably wasn't what the swarm thought." Hornet kicked aside a doll, singed from a magic or flame, and looked to the castle that loomed over them.

"One of my masks lies within that castle. Let's go and get it." Pupter strode through the city without stop, with marinette still nearby with her horn aglow. Hornet frowned and flew above them, scouting a path with the least rubble to traverse.

Ch. 7

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Ch. 7

The gates of the moonlight city stood silent and dark. Two bat ponies in violet armor stood on guard for anyone attempting entrance or escape. The sharp eyes of the two guards covered any angle of the road and air that may try to enter, not that air entrance would be possible. The many horsewolves would make sure of it with arrows.

A carrage rode down the road towards the gate, turning off into the forest nearby. Neither guard could see it, but the sound was unmistakable. The guards prepped the spears they carried, cross bolts hidden under their fur as the sound died away. They stared to the wood, patient and unmoving, for what was to come.

A minute later, three figures came out of the carrage. One was a griffion, with dark black feathers on the front and silver eye shadow. She carried a bruised and beaten earth pony with her, his face turned down as they stopped at the gate. Behind her was a gruff Pegasus, her fur a dark blue with a set of violent eyes. The guards said nothing as they approached, wondering what it was about.

"Hail the moon queen. I come bearing a prisoner of the sun wench, and wish to bring them in for further information." The guards shared a look, and gave a half smile, signaling to the workers of the door. It slowly opened, the griffion giving a hard smack to the back of the earth pony to usher them through the gate. It then closed behind them, leaving the three to their own devices.

Maria let out a mental sigh as they traveled through the moonlit city, inktip following close behind as they went through the streets. Several ponies and creatures went around the city, gathering gear and food in case of a coming attack. The three went on as a few guards nodded and stared at their travel. Inktip walked closer to Maria, whispering in her ear.

"I don't think they're buying the disguises. Should we just bolt for the castle?"

"No, we need to go by the guard house to get access to the castle. We can't bring a earth pony through the city just like that." She turned back ahead, giving a smack to Duelbloods body to turn him down another street. They then found a building which showed the royal symbols on them, which they turned into.

It was a simple setup, with a desk which closed off the back rooms and cells. They walked in, Maria giving a nod to Duelblood which notified the guard of what they were here for. The batpony walked and opened a door, the three heading back to the room with the cells.

The batpony opened the door, gesturing for the pony to enter. But before they could do anything, two wolfponies leapt out from behind the door, throwing the three into the cell and locking up the door. Maria stood up, leaping to the door and staring back.

"What is the meaning of this?! I am a officer of the moon queen, and you lock me up like some kind of prisoner?" The batpony snickered, the wolves walking out of the room as it walked to the door with them

"Sure griffion, you're an officer who came back when we received no letters. Arriving in a carrage broke the image I believe, so don't expect to leave till the queen returns from war." They closed the door with a wing, Maria slamming a claw into the door.

"What now?" Inktips words cut into Maria, and she let out a long sigh. She slid down the bars, laying on the floor.

"I don't know."

In the mountains near the town, hornet stepped through the darken halls of a castle. His green aura making the glass windows shine out in the darkened area. Pupter and Marinette followed behind, with the unicorn gazing in amazement at the various images described.

Pupter tapped hornet on the shoulder, nodding to a set of large doors. He nodded, taking Marinette to the side and putting up a shield. Pupter changed to the dragon mask, whick allowed him to push open the heavy doors what normally require magic. After which, he placed back on his white mask and motioned the two to follow.

Inside was another set of stained glass windows, all leading to a thrown. The carpet and padding of the room still seemed in good condition, most likely not being touched till they arrived here. Pupter quickly went for the thrown, Marinette glancing at the windows and smiling.

"The mask is in this room, I know it. They most likely left it here in the scuffle to move out of here." Pupters voice echoed in the room, with hornet realizing the ceiling of the castle was broken and open. Marinette took hornets hoof and brought him to one particular window, which held that of six mares fighting a strange creature with artifacts.

This is the one who made pupter. He's one of many things I found in the chaos world when I went there. Hornet nodded, this time only needing her to repeat once to get everything.

"The chaos world? You actually went there and made it out alive?" A quick nod from the unicorn confirmed this. He looked back to the window, frowning at the other ponies.

"That purple one was responsible for casting away the old queen's plans at the crystal wedding. If I recall the real cadence ended up getting rid of her." Marinette nodded, glancing over to pupter as he began pushing the thrown from it's original spot. A wind blew in from under it, which hornet looked down into for what it was.

The two stepped over to the thrown, where pupter was already stepping down into the darkness. Hornet followed behind with marinette, using his horn to light the small corridor.

"A passage like this must be for a emergency, or as a way to secretly access other parts of the castle. I can sense the mask in here, so that means it was used after the chaos blast." The zebra stepped to the bottom of the passage, and moved through it to find a modest sized hall.

As hornets light came into the room, the hall was filled with toys and food scattered about. Parts of clothhes and bags laid around as well, the bones of ponies in armor leaned against the wall half covered in stone. Marinette clung close to hornet at the sight of them, the zebra crushing a toy train as he approached one pony at the end of the room.

The light of hornets horn showed that the next stairs well was only partially covered in the enchanted stone, as if the mask exploded. The mask itself was a dull grey, with pink crystals sticking out of the ends like small blades. A parasael next to the pony showing it was indeed a mare.

"She must have panicked, making the mask recoil with a petrification spell. Normally this effect is reserved for when I do a part in one of my forced plays." Pupter shuddered at the memory, having to hold down his hoof to prevent posing. Marinette stepped ahead and used her magic to remove the mask, needing a few pulls before breaking it free of the mare.

The mask glowed, and the items around them began to turn into dust. The rock began fading and blowing away from the air that flowed from the mountains natural height. Hornet held up a shield to prevent inhaling it, with marinette doing the same to help pupter.

The zebra smiled, then placed the mask onto his own face. A violet glow began to spread in the room, with marinette stepping beside hornet as it continued. When the light faded, the two looked over to pupters new form, still glowing slightly. He had become a slender unicorn, fur a royal purple which was etched with silver and gold lines.

The unicorn laughed, a strangely firm and feminine voice from the once stallion. A bronze aura flowed from where the mane and tail once stood, the strange markings which flowed all around her body shifting in color from dark blue, to gold, to silver, and back to white before repeating with her invisible heartbeat. Her eyes looked down on the two, one pupil silver and the other gold as pink crystals began to form around her head.

"Surprised by my appearence? This was one I used for mare roles. Seemed whoever took my mask thought as much from it too. This will make our work easier, let us continued." She let out a giggle, before stepping down the hall and deeper into the tunnel, hornet and Marinette following with confused stares.

Ch. 8

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Candles 8

Maria laid out over the bed of the cell, rubbing her beak as she stared at the floor. The few hours they had spent in here had lead her to ponder more and more of how to finish the mission, yet not a word was spoken. Inktip tried to pass the time through doodling on the floor, Duelblood only staring at the door.

Duelblood then stepped to it, taking off his gear and throwing them to inktip, who looked at them in confusion. Maria eyes narrowed at the doctor, watching as he took off the blood soaked bandages.

"When I free us, find what you're looking for and flee to the mountains. I doubt I'll be able to control myself once it starts, so be ready." Inktip continued to look in confusion, maria stepping closer to the pegasus as the doctors breathing got more eratic.

The sound of snapping bones began to fill the room as the hooves of the doctor seemed to peel away. Sharp bones came out of them, curling like fingers as a purple flame began to engulf them. Inktip gasped, Maria putting a hand out to stop her from helping.

The flame spread down the fur of his forelegs, leaving scales as it spread up and to his torso. His tail cracked and snapped, dropping the hairs and replacing it with a reptilian one. The wrappings on his head burned away, reveiling the broken end of a horn which sparked against the metal of the cell.

He began gnawing at the bars, tearing them off one by one. Wolf ponies rushed in to try and stop him, their weapons breaking on his scales. Inktip passed out as Duelblood leapt through the bars, his claws ripping through the wolves and painting the area in blood. Maria shouldered the pegasus, looking away as a stream of purple flame melted through the door.

Duelblood ran out the door, roaring to the sky as two small bones grew out of his back. More purple flame coated the bone as they grew into a set of leathery wings. The citizens looked on in fear as the creature took to the sky, firing bolts from its head. Maria ran off to the castle, hoping to avoid the major bloodshed.

Glassclaw stood over the castle walls, watching through a scope to a patch of land nearby. The forces of the sun and moon had finally come together into a neutral area, most likely sizing the other and discussing terms. He stepped back from the lense, letting a second general look into it.

"The bloodshed will probably start soon. Though the hesitation leads me to think something else is ongoing here." The general nodded to his comment, stepping back form the lense and looking up to him.

"It seems that the night mask worn by the moon queen has been removed. Perhaps this is effecting her judgement for war to her once loved sister." Glassclaw nodded at that, turning to look over the units on the ground. As he did so, he noticed smoke coming from a place in the distance.

This made him concerned, and he grabbed the lense he had just used and looked to the spot. Though a few trees stood in front of it, the mountain nearby told him it was related to the moon kingdom. Zooming in closer, he noticed a figure flying around the city, spewing the flames that lead to the smoke he had seen from a distance.

"What have you gotten yourself into Maria?" He placed the scope back into it's place, then adjusted the straps of his armor to allow him to fly. His wings unfolded, but his commander stepped in front of him.

"Sir, we need you here in case of a attack. What do you plan on doing?"

"I have a suspension, and I need to see what is happening to the moon kingdom. You'll keep things neutral with the king till I return." With that, he leapt off the wall and began flying off to the smoke, leaving the general in mild confusion.

Maria burst through the door of the castle, just in time to see a few guards rush past her to fight off Duelblood in the sky. She shouldered inktip on her back and went deeper into the castle, recalling something that had been mentioned about the moon queen.

One of the castles many maids ran in a panic, finding Maria and gasping at the sight. She probably would have fainted if Maria hadn't rushed up to her and spoke.

"Things are crazy out there, we need to get the element of harmony to a safe place. Do you know where she keeps it?" Had the situation been any different she may not have gotten the cooperation of her. The maid nodded, and moved her and inktip through the castle.

She lead them through a passage under the main staircase, leading down a set of narrow corridors till they arrived at a small shrine in a room. The maid stepped through the arch and grabbed the item, a necklace with a diamond on it, and handed it to Maria.

In a swift strike, Maria knocked the maid to the ground and smacked her head against the floor, knocking the girl unconscious. Maria took up the element and made her way back down the room, taking the key of the maid and leaving the door closed on her.

"I'll have to get out of here. The mountains are what I'll have to head too I guess." Maria ran back to the door, nearby avoiding a blast of flames from Duelbloods rampage. She ran off, weaving through panicking mares and stallions on fire to the path leading away from the city.

Within the walls of the mountain, a once gloomy castle glowed with a etherial flame. Pupter walked through the illuminated streets, admiring the craft of each of the buildings.

"To weild this magic again is a blessing. With it, I may reclaim the last of my masks with little effort." Hornet and Marinette followed close to the glowing figure, slowly heading out of the city. Hornet stepped to his side, stopping them in place.

"Does this mean we can get back my swarm from the control of the crystal king?"

"It will, yes. I just need some time to get us all there. Teleporting multiple things is tricky when…" he was cut off as a roar echoed in the caverns under the mountain. Marinette huddled close to hornet, the roar echoing a second time with a scream of someone else.

"It seems we aren't the only ones here to explore the ruins of this place. Come, let us help." Pupter rushed ahead, followed close behind by the other two as footsteps boomed in the cavern.

Ch. 9

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Candles 9

Glassclaw landed just in the walls of the city, staring in disbelief at the sight before him. Not a soul stood on the wall to protect it, as the interior of the city laid in a blaze in purple flames. He adjusted his blade and armor, then glided down to the ground near the main square.

He landed to a set of screams from a few of the ponies inside, and he made his way through them without stopping. Many laid wounded, with several spots of burnt away fur and gashes visible to him as he walked. A few of the bat and wolf guards tried to stop him from advancing, but he powered through them to the captain in the square.

He was a much larger wolf pony, with a long slash over his left eye which left it partially sliced. His dark brown fur showed signs of early graying in parts, which he had tried to cover with combing from the way it poked out. He snorted at the sight of the dragon and walked over to meet him halfway.

"You have some explaining to do for this attack on our hometown." His gruff voice was slightly hindered by part of his tounge having a gash in it, but Glassclaw simply looked around and huffed.

"Attack? Our city send no one here to attack or destroy the city. Especially like this. It's you who has to explain this." The wolf growled at Glassclaw, but the cry of a bat pony to his right made him sigh in defeat. The child was quickly taken care of by a different wolf pony.

"My men told me one of your 'ambassators' had suddenly started to attack the city. As for the other two, they most likely fled the city. The carriage they arrived in had already been taken in for questioning, but nothing concrete has been met."

"Take me to it, immediately." The general motioned to one of his unit, and they lead Glassclaw down the road to a carriage house. Outside it the driver sat reading a book, hiding the fear Glassclaw saw in his eyes. At the sound of his steps he put the book down and bowed low to him.

"General Glassclaw, I have failed you. It was I who made the disguises to the city, so the events of this tragedy are my fault."

"Stop yourself there. What did happen here? It seems like it was ravaged."

"I can't say what for certain. I was outside hiding till they brought me in for questioning. They didn't ask about the elements, so the plan is safe." Glassclaw frowned, then knelt down to look on the driver's level.

"Listen well. I will give you leave back to the city. You must hand me the elements, and return to the crystal city. You have served the cause well, and I will be sure to reward you later." The drivers eyes lit up in shock, but he was cut off by the stern gaze of the dragon. He bowed again, then went to the carriage in the holding area. As he was away, he reached and covered a crystal on his arm, which began to glow.

"The plan is almost ready to execute. Prep the guards on what I'm going to do so it'll seem as seamless as possible." With that, he stepped to follow the driver inside.

Pupter and hornet looked around at the shaking cavern, the sound of dragons cracked and boomed around them. Marinette stepped around and shouldered the masks and supplies they had gathered from the abandoned town.

"So, it seems whatever guardian that has taken refuge here has awakened." Pupter shook his head, his violet aura throwing aside the falling stalagtites as they fell down.

"Then let's move if nothing else. I'd rather not tangle with whatever is bold enough to shake a whole mountain." The three rushed down the path they had come, now much easier due to combined effort from hornet and pupters magic. Weaving down the path they had come, Marinette almost fell from the path when the wall near them shook from an impact.

Hornet flew back and grabbed the mare, flying beside the path as they went. Two more crashes into the wall and a large scaled dragon fell through it. A smaller figure, cloaked in flames, slammed into the body and knocked it down. Pupter only briefly pausing to see the sight before stopping hornet with a quick shout.

"Let's try and head this way. The path is too unstable for us to go through now that they're battling." The changeling nodded, placing down Marinette and rushing with him through the hole. A fireball sang through the caverns just behind them, illuminating the roughly drilled cavern as they went.

On the way, Marinette stopped at the sound of sobbing. She stepped over to a outcove broken into the wall by a claw. Inside, a griffion sobbed in the sound of the cavern, a pony laying beside her with a visible gash on her body. She was then joined by hornet, who had stopped to see her looking through the hole.

"Someone else is here? Hang on in there, we'll get you out of here." Another fireball shook the rocks around them, with hornet struggling to roll the rock in front of the broken cave. Marinette quickly went in, with the griffion jumping in surprise at the sudden appearence.

"Huh? Who are you?" Maria shook her head, realizing what it meant, and reached over to grab inktip and place her over her shoulder. Marinette looked at her for a second, before hurrying out to allow hornet to release the stone. His magic had loosened it enough to cause it to roll down the slope, sight of the two beasts briefly showing from a flash.

"I know a way to the surface and back to the city. We should go before he comes back to fight us!" Hornet gave a worried look to Maria as she limped up through the cavern, with Marinette giving small nudges to keep the mare on her back.

"Wait, you KNOW what is throwing around a hydra back there?!"

"Somewhat. I'll explain once we can get medical help for my friend." The three continued up the channel, with pupter blasting away stalagtites that almost fell to stop their progress. He only growled in annoyance at Maria, using his magic to pick the two up and lift them out of the cave, with hornet taking up Marinette to follow them through the wind of the mountain.

Glassclaw grunted from the effort of lifting the roof of a home, helping fly and place it back onto the home it had been dislodged from. He landed afterward, wiping his head from one of the towels provided by a wolf guard. The lack of magic had made it difficult to do repairs, so volunteering to help clean up the strange mess gave him time to think.

The news had been vague at best, so he had to speculate more then what he was used too. The elements at least had been saved, but without the three he'd have a potential leaker of the treachery he had told them. Of course, the hydra which lived in the mountain could more then deal with them, but it also meant he lost Maria. He never truly wanted to have her for like that, but if it meant he could still perform his plan, then it would be alright.

His thoughts were cut off as a light flew over the city. A few of the ponies around him cowered, while the bat guards quickly flew to intercept it. Though instead of stopping them, they helped them to the ground and lead them to the hospital area. The dragons keen eyes easily made out Maria amoung them, narrowing down at the changeling with them.

He stepped away from the home, giving a side thanks to the family who lived in it, before stepping down to the hospital. The dragon could only barely hear what was being said, and from this he leaned against the building, thinking about what this meant. He then nodded, giving a toothy smile as he went around the hospital to get some things for his plan.

Ch. 10/epilogue

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Ch. 10/epilogue

Several weeks from the incident, Maria sat at a table, looking over the ponies in front of her. It was thanks to them that she and her friends sat here drinking, yet nothing about them seemed normal.

One a mute, one a changeling, and one the very thing she had locked away for years in the travel area she had kept up. Attacking them on several fronts, and seemingly causing the war that raged in the north of the city, but still willing to help them.

Yet, sitting within a inn at the moon kingdom, she was now supposed to work with them to end the war raging by the sun and moon. Beside her, inktip simply ate her food, either unaware or ignoring the tension of both the chaos being and her. She wondered what the mute thought of this as well, a story she would probably never hear due to what they're heading into.

The changeling shuffled nervously in his seat, not really needing the food in front of them. Was the changeling responsible for the girls muteness? And why has he not been latched onto by Glassclaw? She may have had some loss of thought due to the hours of hanging around the repairing city in a daze, but she hasn't forgotten the chaos and crystal drones that were used in the building she worked so long ago.

The sound of steps made the group look over to the door. Glassclaw stepped into the tavern, using his tail and hands to move some of the empty tables and chairs to get to their seat. He took a seat near them, crossing his legs as no chair in the bar could even attempt to hold him. Once he was settled, a waitress wolf pony rolled a barrel of brew over to the dragon, nodding as he broke in the lid.

"It seems all the pieces are together to finally bring peace to this world." He took a long draft of the liquid, licking his face as he looked to the group.

"You mean the plan to remove the crystal king and instill peace for the Queen's?" The dragon nodded to the changeling, another waitress handing him a towel to use for his mouth.

"I honestly wondered how we would fit the use of the elements into the final duel. But now, these three can beat the elements and finish this."

"You really think a being of chaos, the hybrid thing at the cells, and a changeling can weild elements of that power?" Pupter took a swig of his own drink, looking over the dragon as he took another draft of the drink.

"Of course. As long as you embed the work of the elements, you can weild them." He pointed to each of them in term as he spoke. "Hornet is honesty, Marinette is kindness, you're magic, Maria is loyalty, inktip is laughter, and Duelblood is generosity."

"I'm not so sure I can believe that." Inktip whispered over her cup, unsure how to feel about taking the spotlight again. The dragon simply scoffed and finished the last of the drink.

"We'll get it done, believe me. I've thought out every detail, and we can get it done. And besides, pupter will deal the majority of the work, so the small training we did will be enough." He placed the empty barrel to the side and stood up, walking to the counter and paying once again for their stuff. Maria then finished her drink and walked over to the carriage.

Glassclaw stepped into the jail of the kingdom, stepping down to the newly built cell. Inside it, Duelblood sat with his face buried in his claws. His hooves were coated in crystal, holding him in place as Glassclaw approached. The light reflected off his scaled front, which was stretched and torn where the scaled skin met his natural skin. He sighed, his head slightly tilting to look over to the dragon.

"What do you want? Have you come to lash at me for my mistake? To finally confront me about my body mutation?"

"I've come to see if you're ready to leave back to the crystal empire." The guards gave the dragon a dirty look, but stayed silent as they say on either side of the cell.

"You can't be serious. I've broken through a city, hurt or killed who knows how many innocents, and even endangered the ones you entrusted me to help. I should just be left here."

"Hardly. Someone like yourself should be trying to redeem their actions, not sit and mope." Glassclaw signaled to one of the guards, who hesitantly opened the door to the cell. Duelblood didn't move, still looking at the dragon.

Glassclaw waved his hand, the crystals on his shoulder glowing as the cuffs on his legs dissolved. It took Duelblood a few moments to move and walk to the door of the cell. The two guards prepped their weapons, but he only walked out of the room in silence.

"You'll need more pep then they to weild the elements friend. Put on a happy face so the plan to work." Glassclaw followed him out of the room, half smiling as he flew over to the carriage area.

The track leading back to the empire was long and silent. The four in the cabin sat silent, with Duelblood sleeping at the window. Maria and inktip rode on top of the carriage with the driver, Glassclaw flying ahead to make the preparations for their entrance.

As the walls of the city came into view, the ground became stained with spots of red and fallen bodies. Maria had a glance over to the charred remains of the travel home that all the events of the past few months had passed in. She was then brought back to the road as the sound of the gate opening rang out on the silent field.

The carriage rolled into the walls again, the slaves moving out of the way to allow them a quick ascent to the castle. Once their, Maria and inktip hopped down to the road. The driver opened the door for the other four, each cloaked to hide their appearence, along with hornets new crystalized look. Maria gave the driver one last hug before he drove back to the storage area.

Maria lead the group through the halls, with hornet almost breaking character from the large crystal hydras which lined the gateway to the castle. The group continued through the halls of the castle, eventually finding the door to the main throne room. With a few knocks, the door opened with the magic of the king inside. From this, they walked inside to meet him again.

Glassclaw stood by the throne, decked in a royal uniform beside him. The king stood smiling at the group, watching as they made to the middle of the room and bowed to him.

"Like I told you my king, my mission was a success. All the element bearers, along with the elements of harmony, brought before us."

"I had my doubts due to the time, Glassclaw. But this does seem rather conclusive. The war of the sun and moon, along with the one thing which could defeat me still brought to my hooves, this is a great day indeed." He got up from his thrown, stepping forward to see them closer.

Before he could move far, Glassclaw unsheithed his blade and slashed off the horn of the king. He roared in pain, as the others took off their cloaks, reveiling the elements around their necks.

Pupter leapt forward, his element glowing as the others began to float and channel energy as well. Glassclaw stepped forward and crushed the horn with his foot, smacking the king into his chair as he looked around stunned.

"You, you would betray me, after all I've done for you?!"

"I shouldn't he alive, and I hate you for cursing me to this. But now I will not only have what you always wanted, but even more." The elements fired out a beam of energy, striking the king back into his chair and causing his skin to crack. He roared in pain, with Glassclaw rushing behind the group to avoid any sort of residual attack.

With one final yell, he burst apart, shadows flying in multiple directions as the thrown shattered. The slaves and guards looked to the tower in shock and confusion, unsure of what was happening. While they were distracted, a group of unicorns teleported into the city, the gates flying open by a unknown magic force.

Within the main chamber, Maria stood up shaking, her eyes blurred as she tried to look around to the group. She mumbled something her ringing ears couldn't hear, before she felt something strike her head, and she fell unconscious.

Epilogue

Maria blinked the tears out of her eyes, straining to see around herself to understand the new situation. She rubbed her head, the sound of metal rattling telling her that she had been captured and jailed again.

Her vision continued to clear up as she looked around, finding herself in a open room. The metal she heard was chains connected to the floor of a metal plate. Her movement wasn't too much hampered, with only a ring around her waist preventing flight and a small lengh of chain.

"Good, someone who I can talk too without much worry." Maria turned to see Glassclaw enter the room from a stairway near the end of the room. Though his appearence was similar, he had pure white crystals on his shoulder, which also seemed more clean cut. He wore a cape over his non jeweled arm which bore a different symbol then what he normally did.

"You'll have to forgive your current dress, it relates to the cause of what happens next." He went to a wall behind her, taking a chair from it and placing it a short distance in front of her. After sitting, he pulled out a barrel of some brew, which he lightly sipped while leaning to her.

"So… you planned on betraying us and the crystal king this whole time?"

"For you, I honesty wanted better. The whole thing after the elements was a bigger mess then what I had envisioned, and I had to make a change to what the final steps would be." He turned his normal eye away, not wanting to show the tear which built within it.

"Speaking of, I guess you disposed of them too, leaving me as a soul witness?"

"Maria, you've known me long enough to say that's a lie. My only kill was the one who came from chaos, and even that wasn't from a direct blow." He took another draft of the drink, placing it to the side and taking a sandwich from under his cloak, placing it at Maria's forelegs.

"The aftermath of the elements left all of you sickly, and so my partner and I brought you all to be cared for. You were out the longest, since one of their guards knocked you out, and as the last of them please let me talk to you as a friend again."

"Partner?" Maria took up the sandwich and ate part of it, some kind of cooked meat with a smokey sauce. At least she had a decent meal before whatever was coming next. As she ate, hoofsteps came down the stairway, a unicorn wearing a armor like the color of his cloak bowed to them.

"Miss flurry reminds you of the ceremony which must be completed soon, so please finish your business quickly." The unicorn then walked back up the steps, with Glassclaw turning and nodding to Maria again.

"Yes. Even if I could take over his throne, I'm not fit to rule. So, I needed someone to help me with that. The sun and Moon are too full to themselves to work with me, so why not do someone who has a similar cause?" Maria simply glared as she continued to eat her meal, unsure of where this was going.

"If you wish to know about the others, it doesn't end well honestly. The chaos one blew into dust when the elements faded, and the mute one was incredibly distraught about it. So much so that she crippled herself of the last of her senses and curled up into a ball. I don't know what happened to her since we placed her outside the walls, most likely died of some animal."

"Can't say I'd blaim her. She seemed very close to that one, despite the risk. Even with what little I saw of him I could tell she had some bond."

"The changeling may have made it to the hive again if the mute one had choosen to help, but the element drained him to the point that he couldn't make it."

"What about inktip and Duelblood? Did you kill them too?"

"Not yet, though in all truth I don't want to kill you all. I hoped we could allow you to be heroes, to be giving a good reward in the new year to come so you can retire peaceful and happy." His voice trailed off, most likely to hide the sadness which built in it. After gained his composure he took a draft of his drink and looked to her again.

"The generals of the sun and moon however want a proper response for who could kill someone like the crystal king. I voted against it, but the majority picked you, inktip, and Duelblood to quell the uproar of the ponies nerves. You'll be killed off soon in front of a crowd, but I wanted to tell you my feelings of it." Maria didn't respond, simply laying down on the metal floor and closing her eyes, making Glassclaw sigh.

A wave of the dragons hand brought two unicorns into the room, who picked up the metal and walked Maria up the steps. The roar of a crowd made Maria briefly open her eyes, seeing the multitude which stood before the balcony. She was placed between both inktip and Duelblood, inktip bound like her while Duelblood was heavily chained to the metal slab, smoke coming from his nostrils.

A quick speech was giving about Maria, the griffion not even listening since she knows it'd be a fabrication. After one last roar of the crowd a large blade was drawn from its sheith, unmistakable to Maria. She only sighed and waited as the blade fell on her body, remembering no more.

Six crystal candles

by SaltWriter the leviapony

Ch. 1

Ch. 2

Candles 2

Ch. 3

Candles 3

Ch. 4

Chapter 4

Ch.5

Ch. 5

Ch. 6

Ch. 6

Ch. 7

Ch. 7

Ch. 8

Candles 8

Ch. 9

Candles 9

Ch. 10/epilogue

Ch. 10/epilogue

Epilogue