> Alexandre Viator: the Alicorn King > by ScarletRhine > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Alicorn King arrival > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The arrival [I do not own My Little Pony, Indiana Jones, or What if. I only own my creations.] (Music plays to an adventurous beat as the opening sequence for Marvel Studios is shown) (Music plays In The background) Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path It's a prism of endless possibility Where a single choice can branch out into endless possibilities. Creating alternate worlds different the ones you know I am the Watcher I am your guide through these vast realities. Follow me and ponder the question… What if… We see the inside of a bedroom centered on a desk with a computer on it.. Off camera we hear a door opening and closing before a boy in his teens rushes in and turns on the computer. {Watcher: This is Alexandre Viator, an apparently average teenager`who's family lives under an uncommon curse. That the oldest member of each generation becomes an adventurer regardless of what they want.} Alex puts his phone on his desk after taking it out of his backpack. {Watcher: In one universe Alex was able to get online in and chat with Harryfssn and learn of the events that would lead him to head to Perth. But what if Alex was unable to get online.} Alex hits the on button and is plunged into darkness. "SORRY HONEY! I TRIED TO USE THE TOASTER OVEN!" Alex just moaned in frustration as his phone began to ring. Looking at it, he saw it was Dr Henry Jones jr. Smiling, he answered with a, "What's up Doc?" "Kid, that joke was just getting old when I was 20." Came the gravelly of Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. In response. "Joke or not, it's still a valid question." Alex responded with a bit of cheek. "*Sigh* An old acquaintance sent me what appears to be a shattered crown in the mail. Could you please come over and put it together for me?" "I'll be right over." Alex replied before hanging up. He then rushed to the front door shouting, "Doc Jones called me over to help him put an artifact together." "Okay." Alex's mother calls from the kitcàhen. "Try to be home by dinner!" Alex goes out of his house and goes next door and into the house of a well known archaeologist. Inside he saw the man once known as Indiana Jones trying to figure out an intricate headpiece of some kind. Moving next to the aging archeologist looked at it with a critical eye before asking, "So what is it?" Dr Jones sighed before leaning back. All the pieces to the artifact on the desk he was sitting in front of as he replied, "Frankly, I don't know. It has some Mongolian symbols on it. But there are some Scythian and other horse culture symbols as well." Alex nodded then noted, "I noticed you are trying to assemble the fragments." Indy nodded and said "Good eye. I was trying to get this thing put together in one piece but somehow something happens and I'm back to square one. *sigh* I'm hoping you can get past the barrier that keeps stopping me." Alex nodded and he and Dr Jones switch places. Two hour pass and when Alex gets to the point where he has pieces left, some force began to try and get his hands to do something to cause the crown to fallapart but he resists it and is able to place the ten pieces. What happened next caused Indy & Alex to back away from the reassembled artifact as what appeared to be lightening started dancing on the crown. The lightening that drew the outline of a winged unicorn. "Doc." Alex intoned with worry. "What's going on?" Indy noticed the lightening horse look at Alex. "I don't know Kid be ready to…. KID!!!" He shouted as the lightening horse leaped at Alex and released a blinding flash! When he could see again there was no trace of Alex or the lightning horse but the face of a laughing dragonequis head scorched on his floor. Meanwhile, in the castle gardens of Canterlot Castle, a maid was watering some plants next to a statue of a mismatched creature. She was humming a little tune when she heard a snort, followed by uproarious laughter behind her. Spinning the stormy gray pegasus mare shouting, "If you boys are go… WHAT IN CELESTIA'S NAME!?!" She cried in shock as the statue was rocking with the sound of laughter coming from it. In morbid fascination she watched the statue rock and laugh for ten minutes her watering can hanging limply in her hand forgotten. Her wings flared out to make her bigger. After the ten minutes were over and the statue slowly stopped rocking as the laughter died down then was still. Storm Shine stared at the statue for a few more minutes before dropping her watering can and flying to tell a guard about what just happened making sure she was as far from the statue. A ball of lightning plummeted through sky. It sailed over Canterlot Castle, it dropped over the Everfree Forest and flew a short distance over Ponyville. Pinkie began to feel her Pinkie sense warn her of a falling Doogie. She and the other residents of Ponyville watched as the ball lightening landed outside of town next to a tiny lake destroying it with the explosion. The villagers ran to the crater (which was as big as Ponyville Lake in the cartoon) and looked within. Inside they found a dark furred form. Curious Rainbow Dash flew down to get a better look. She gasped when she found a thestral stallion about Fluttershy and her age just drifting there unconscious. "IT'S A THESTRAL STALLION! CLOUDKICKER! HELP ME GET HIM UP AND TO THE HOSPITAL!!" Another pegasus mare flew down and taking the Stallion by the shoulders while dash grabbed his legs lifted him up and carried him to Ponyville General. As they left a spring that had the misfortune to be too deep before impact broke to the surface and began filling the crater. By the next day the lake was filled. > Welcome to Ponyville > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Alex laid in the hospital bed, his first conscious thought was, "Ouch. My everything hurts. Okay, Last thing I remember is this horned pegasus made of lightning attacking me and the sound of thunder followed by the sensation with a lot of pain. Not all of it from burns then everything went black." Groaning he opened his eyes, and found himself looking into the blue eyes of a white furred face that looked at him. And the manner of all members of his family groggy called out, "Nurse! I don't recall asking for marshmall…...OW!" Alex sat up fully awake and put his hand to the recently slapped cheek. He watched as a shapely woman was walking away with "Well… I never…". Looking about he saw seven women in the room. All of them were pony anthros with unguligrade legs that were as shapely as plantagrade legs of humans. There were a total of two who were fully dressed. One in a nurse's uniform and the other in a tastefully plain sundress the same color as her fur with a horn on her head. Another horned mare could be spied reading a black covered book with a moon embossed on the cover, the rather large tome and the way she was sitting covered nearly the entirety of her figure so he couldn't tell if she was wearing something or even what she looks like behind those pages all he could tell was the lavender color of her fur and the tricolor pattern of her mane. He also saw two pegasi both wearing T-shirts that were straining to keep their love pillows restrained (though the yellow one's seemed to be ready to give up, while the blue one's had holes along the side seams she was so well endowed) and nothing else. Of the last two, only the orange one had anything on, a Stetson and a small red handkerchief around her neck and nothing else. The pink furred woman suddenly threw herself at him. She hugged him and unknowingly buried his face in her massive mams. "Hi'mPinkiePiewhat'syournamewillyoubemyfriendwhatisyourfavoritecake?" She said before the orange one pulled her off saying, "Now hold on there a minute Sugercube, that's no way to greet a stallion especially when he just woke up." Pinkie's mane slightly deflated as she replied, "Sorry Applejack. I just got so excited meeting the stallion who enlarged Ponyville Lake when he got here." Alex winced at Pinkie's comment. "Looks like the lightning horse threw me hard enough not only to send me into another reality, but with enough force to create a crater. No wonder I'm in pain." He thought. "PFT!" The rainbow haired (or is it maned) azure woman (mare?) Said. "Tall, dark, handsome, and batty crashed pretty damn hard. I'm surprised he didn't break into an underground water source from the force of the impact." Applejack eyed the other female and said, "I thought Stallions didn't shake your fancy." Her azure companion eyed the semi-prone stallion then said, "So I'm into bat-stallions. I'm a mare of exotic tastes, otherwise we wouldn't be in a relationship already AJ. " "You don't get more exotic than having rainbow hair." Alex said, causing the assembled mares to look at him then down to where his covered crotch was. "Bad timing Alex." He thought. "If sentient equines are anything like horses, the ratio of one stallion to six ma…hoo boy!" The Nurse seemed to giggle at the look the young stallion took. It was a mixture of horror and intrigue. She took pity on the poor youth then said. "Mating season is only a month away and it looks like the new stallion in town just got himself a herd." She began to shoo them out. "And from the looks of things it is brand new to him, so as not to overwhelm him, get out. In case you forgot he was in a crash two hours ago and he needs to recover." The other four left the Nurse turned to him then said, "My name is Redheart. I'll be your nurse while you're here." He sighed and laid back and dozed off. A few minutes later at Sugarcube Corner five concerned mares had sat at a large table to eat lunch. The indigo maned mare huffed, "The nerve of that stallion to call me a marshmallow." Ironically the mare was drinking some hot chocolate which held a small amount of oversized said offending sweets floating in the beverage. "Ta be fair Rares, you're as soft as one so take it as an accidental compliment, or maybe an intended one." Applejack said before Pinkie snatched one of the chocolate soaked sweets out of Rarity's mug. "I mean who doesn't like marshmallows?! They're sweet, they're light, they're airy and they pretty much compliment anything in desserts! Just like you compliment anything you make whether it be for yourself or others!" The pilfered sweet into her mouth. " AmIright? " The pink baker said with her mouth full. "That's rather profound, darling. I never would have thought of it that way but then again you're the one who makes sweets out of all of us so it makes more sense that you would understand exactly what being called a marshmallow would be like in comparison to myself making fashion." Rarity agreed before looking at Pinkie with mild annoyance. "But do you really have to talk with your mouth full?" Pinkie swallowed quickly before replying. "Sorry Rarity but Sweetie Drops just makes them so good I can't resist sometimes!" "Who's this Sweetie Drops you're talking about?" Rarity asked, slightly confused. "You got these marshmallows from Bon Bon's specifically so that we could have this cafe's specialty hot cocoa since they had run out of their oversized marshmallows during the last rush." "Sweetie Drops is Bon Bon! She just likes being called Bon Bon. It's kind of a Derpy situation, you know with how she's named Ditzy and is sometimes called Muffins?" Pinkie quickly explained, the others realizing immediately the similar context since Derpy had multiple names she answered to, giving them a good frame of reference. "Just don't call her Sweetie Drops to her face, no offense but I think she just doesn't like others knowing that she has another name." The rest of the group nodded in agreement. "Moving on, what do you think about our new arrival?" Rarity asked the others. Rainbow Dash gets a thoughtful look, her cheeks taking on a slight purple tinge as she blushes. "He's a hunk." Came the unvarnished truth from the aerial athlete. "He has rock hard muscles under his black fur. Don't look at me like that! I carried him to the hospital with Cloudkicker's help. I had no intention of copping a feel while I carried him. Besides, I had his legs while carrying him." Applejack snickers before saying, "That didn't stop Cloudkicker from doing it and telling you. Right Sugarcube?" The purple grows larger and spreads on Rainbows face. "Um girls.. "He is a sight to behold." Rarity said. "That exquisitely sculpted body and those eyes! Like brilliant pools of gold with emerald flakes floating in them." "There's hardly any visible fat on him. Um … he seems to be as athletic as you Rainbow." Fluttershy said quietly. "Though I wonder about that unicorn that said she was sent by the princess." She muttered unheard by the others. The discussion about the mysterious stallion continued into the night. Earlier in Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle ran as fast as her shapely yet slightly hardened legs could carry her as she hurried to Celestia's Chambers pausing to stare down the mysterious blue hallway that four royal guards barred the way into. For as long as she could remember, no one save the Princesses themselves were allowed through, it was a puzzle she was trying to solve in her spare time but not at this moment. She picked up her pace after she passed it and soon she was at Celestia's Chambers. She stopped and bent over supporting herself as she caught her breath. Once she was rested she straightened and took one step to ask the guards to let her mentor know she had arrived when a golden glow enveloped the doors and they swung open with Celestia saying "please come in Twilight." With that the nervous unicorn entered the Princess' Chambers. There Celestia was reading a letter with an unreadable look. "Twilight, what do you know of Thestrals?" Twilight thought about the question worrying that it was some kind of test. Taking a deep breath and said, "Thestrals are a nocturnal tribe of ponies. They mostly are known for their long ears, bat-like wings, fangs to which no one has figured out the purpose and strangely their dislike of you. Though I don't know why. They also basically vanished after you banished Nightmare Moon and the Nightmare Purges. Which should be noted no pegasi took part claiming it felt they were hunting their cousins." Celestia smiled sadly then looked out the window and said in a low voice, "I wish I acted sooner." Twilight stared at her mentor in puzzlement but before saying, "The reason I asked is that a Thestral Stallion spectacularly arrived in Ponyville and is currently staying at the hospital. I want you to go to Ponyville and find out anything you can about them. Please remember, that he may or may not have the information on thestrals, but learn more about him as a pony." Twilight stood straight and said "You can count on me princess." As the young unicorn ran off the white alicorn smiled and said softly, "Go and make friends with that stallion and anyone befriended him beforehand. And maybe a friendship and more will develop." > Adaptation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexandre VIATOR: The Alicorn King By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Adaptation Alex lay in bed trying to relax but the bright light was making him sleepy. Shrugging he faced away from the window and tried to fall asleep but just as his eyes were about to close. "SURPRISE!!!" Shouted Pinkie. "AAAAASGGGGHHHH!!!" He shouted in shock. His whole body locked up in excruciating pain from the rapid movement changing that surprised shout to a wordless scream. "Pinkie, what have we told you! You know not to surprise the patients before they're cleared!" Redheart shouted as she rushed in responding to the skyrocketing heartbeat on the magical heart monitor next to Alex's bed. The medical mare quickly injected a dose of mild sedatives into Alex's IV. He had noticed both the heart monitor and the IV earlier yet considering they were standard equipment for people in the ICU in his old world he didn't think about the implications and still had no idea about magic having not seen either of the horned mirrors actually using it (the lightning one notwithstanding). He was just grateful that they were monitoring his vials and could respond as quick as the medical doctors in his world with the hat equipment. "That should help your muscles relax again considering the initial reports said that you were falling down with electrical sparks coming off of you. We figured you might have some muscle control problems due to the buildup of electricity in your system." Redheart explained as the sedatives quickly took effect. "So we had this ready in case something like that happened although we didn't expect it to happen like this." The nurse glared at the Pink One. "Please excuse our lapse in security." As she said this she grabbed Pinkie by the ear and began to drag her off. "It won't happen again." "Ow." Was all he could think to say. But he wasn't sure if it was due to his pain or the sympathetic one for the pink one. He sighed and tried to relax when he heard a dripping sound looking around using the sound to zero in on the source, his eyes locked on a watercooler with a crack in the bottle. He called the nurse. Redheart came back and Alex pointed at the damaged bottle. "How in Celestia did that happen?" Alex gave a deadpan look and pointed to his ears. "Oh." She replies. She called an orderly and they changed bottles. While they did that Alex started to relax when Redheart returned with a clipboard and said, "I'm sorry about cutting into your rest but we have to update your medical records." Alex nodded after which Redheart asked, "Name?" His reply was, "Alexandre" "Could you spell it?" "A-L-E-X-A-N-D-R-E" "My Family name is Viator." "Spelling?" "V-A-I-T-O-R" "That's unusual name." A feminine voice said from behind Redheart. The lavender mare from earlier stepped around the nurse. He noticed she was nude and thought she was a little more fit than what he saw of her when he first woke up. "You may call me Alex if my full name makes you uncomfortable." "Thank you Alex. Now for a few questions for you." "Ask away. I got an hour before they discharge me." "Oh! Well what are your plans afterwards?" "Camp out near the lake and spend the rest of the night figuring out how to use these wings." "WAIT! Y-YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FLY?!" "Ouch!" Alex replied, wincing. "Not so loud." At the horned mare's puzzled look he flicked an ear at which her eyes widened in shock. "If I knew how to fly, do you think I would have crashed like I did?! In fact I don't know much about myself that hard landing probably gave me some temporary amnesia." He commented "I know only a few things, like my name and some basic actions such as walking, talking, eating, using the bathroom and such. But beyond that I'm a bit clueless." The horned mare looked astonished at this revelation and was about to talk when Alex continued "Now can I get a little rest while I wait please." "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." She said in consternation. "I'll wait outside." And she hurried out. Right after she had left a doctor fully clothed in a Doctor's uniform walks in. "The last of the test results are in and as far as we can tell everything checks out. Just sign here and you're free to leave." The Doctor says as he hands Alex a clipboard with some forms on it. Alex signs it before handing it back. "Before you leave we would like to remind you if you have any problems due to pain or loss of muscle control we are here to help, so do not worry about returning for any complications." Outside the room Alex noticed that the horned mare from earlier was waiting. "Oh you're still here." He said with a smile. "The doctor has just cleared me and I'm heading out. Since you're still here, do you want to come with me? I'm pretty sure you still have a few questions and before I camp out I want to see the other five that were there when I woke up." "Oh!" Twilight said in response to his offer. "That sounds nice and if you don't mind you can stay where I'm staying. There's an extra guest room at the library me and my…" she realized what she was offering and the fact she hadn't even introduced herself. "I just realized I never introduced myself! Twilight Sparkle personal protege of Princess Celestia, since I'll have the room do you want to stay with me and my assistant Spike? It has to be better than camping out by the lake what's the pegasi have to create an emergency storm or a self-created one blows in from the Everfree?" "Pleased to meet you Twilight." Alex replied "I am Alexandre Viator personal protégé of Dr. Henry Jones Jr. The greatest archeologist in the world." Alex walks out of the hospital and walks toward the lake. As they walked Alex noticed the looks every one of the mares were discreetly checking him out and out right glaring at Twilight. "Um… Everybody is staring daggers at you." He told the mare walking beside him. Twilight just nods as she guides Alex to the lake. The two passed by Sugarcube Corner on their way only to be pulled into the imitation of a life-sized gingerbread house by a familiar Pink pony. "ACK!" "Get inside quick! Spoiled Rich is on the prowl and would snatch Alex up faster than Dashie could move for cider!" Pinkie said as she sat the two down and served them both their preferred drinks. Deep roast coffee for Twilight and a shot of whiskey for Alex. "On the house as an apology for what I did back in the hospital." "Okay. Who is Spoiled Rich and what does her being on the prowl mean I got to hide?" Alex asked. "And thank you for the drink. And your forgiven." He drank the shot. "Spoiled Rich is one of most popular MILFs in town having a whole herd of stallions from across Equestria in her employ." Cup Cake a slightly chubby blue earth pony with a two-toned Rose colored mane and tail that looked like icing said from the counter she was wiping down. "She would almost assuredly try to hire you on as a worker in her group due to your exotic and nature alone, especially since she has a few zebras in her employ as well, proving her interest in exotic pony subspecies." "She would find herself rejected by me." Alex replied. "As Twilight has beaten her to the punch. She offered me a room. And I'm going to work for her to pay for my room & board." Twilight gets a look of surprise. "I only offered you a place to stay because you were planning to camp out near the lake. You would work for me?" Twilight said surprised that Alex would try to work for her when she literally was given the place she was staying at for free as it was part of the Royal properties. "Technically I'm living there for free as it's part of Princess Celestia's property. I'm only getting a small stipend for food and to maintain the inventory of books. I wouldn't be able to pay you until I got authorization from the Princess to increase my stipend for that exact purpose." "Oh?!" Both Pinkie and CupCake exclaimed. "Wanting him all to yourself?! I didn't think Princess Celestia chose selfish mares as her protege." CupCake admonished as Pinky stood there with her mouth open and her jaw literally hitting the floor. "THAT'S NO FAIR! ME AND MY FRIENDS SAW HIM FIRST! AND DASHIE GOT TO HOLD HIM FIRST! HE'S OURS!" Pinkie shouted, stomping the floor hard enough to crack a floorboard. Alex chuckles then says, "Nurse Redheart said you, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, the huffy marshmallow mare and the yellow one were already my herd. Who am I to argue with a medicalmare?" "Especially since you practically jumped my bones" He muttered so low only Twilight knew what he said from reading his lips. "A sane pony!" Twilight exclaimed a bright red blush covering the whole of her upper body. "I offered the room as a courtesy and to be nice not because I wanted you to myself! No pony besides the intended parties can determine if they want a relationship! What kind of idiot takes an uninterested pony's opinion on who they love even if they are an authority figure!" The mare got up to head out after her embarrassed tirade when the door opened to reveal the other mares they had been discussing entering the establishment. Alex looked at the other mare's then said, "Okay. Then how about I stay with each of you six each night." "No offense but not all of us have the room to house you." Rainbow Dash said as she got closer to Alex. "Plus you wouldn't even make it up to my house, considering the rumors I heard on the way here from the hospital that you can't fly! which is a no-go for me. I won't be in a herd with a stallion that has wings and can't fly! Even Bulk Biceps with his tiny wings can fly! So unless you're willing to train for hours on end with me. Our deal, girls, is off! "Well excuse Me for not having the knowledge because I wasn't born with these! As far as I remember." Alex said as he got In Rainbow's face spreading his wings o. Instinctively. "Bring. It. On. I never fail at a challenge and that sounds like one. And to make things interesting we'll race the loser is on the bottom. If you get what I mean. Rainbow Crash!" With a quick motion Rainbow Dash ripped off her shirt revealing that the holes in the sides of her t-shirt were actually there by design, not form wearing the article of clothing for too long. Each hole ending with a nearly invisible snap-on button holding the shirt together allowing for easy modification by adding extra material with the same buttons should her bust get any bigger. "Bring it on you leathery winged bastard no one calls me Rainbow Crash and gets away with it! Not even the Wonderbolts!" "Whoa!" A loud baritone voice shouted from the kitchen. "No fighting in my establishment first off and second off Rainbow Dash you know better than to strip down in my store! Just because we ponies don't really care about nudity does not mean you can go throwing your clothes around on the floor!" Out stepped a tall but wiry muscled light orange stallion with a carrot orange mane and tail wearing a small red and white hat and a white collar holding a red bowtie and nothing else showing the room his rather large endowment. "Now kindly leave before I make you. You're welcome to come back once calm." Alex marched out then got into the starting position. "Let's do it now." As he waited for RD. Despite her anger Rainbow knew this was the perfect time to tease her opponent a little and got into the starting position right in front of him. Her tail to the side to show her goods in hopes of getting a slight edge, unfortunately this action also had an effect on her since she rarely ever exposed herself so blatantly to someone. "Take a good look because this is all you're going to see for the next 10 seconds that it takes me to beat you. After that maybe I'll be kind enough to sit on your face." "Guess again." Alex countered. "I've never lost a race and I don't plan to tonight." Twilight and the others came out to watch. "Somepony stop them." She said. "Alex is only going to get humiliated." "Don't worry Alex is going to surprise us all." Pinkie replied. Applejack stood at the start. "Okay no dirty tricks ya' hear?" She said, glaring at Rainbow who quickly moved her tail back in position to cover herself. "Okay. Ready. Set." Both racers raised Their Wings. "GO!" Both were airborne much to everyone on the ground's surprise save two. They watched as a rainbow contrail rocketed forward and a yellow contrail kept pace. Alex soon was flying next to Rainbow matching her speed. Both had tunnel vision as the pair flew to the halfway point and turned around and headed back Towards Ponyville. Neither noted the rainbow lined mach cone that formed alongside the golden one. Everpony in Ponyville watched as two sonic rainbooms occurred just before both racers hit the ground and slid to a stop. Both had looks of surprise for different reasons. Alex because he flew. And Rainbow Dash because she once more performed the rainboom something she had strived to do since she was a filly and still tied with the stallion who said he didn't know how to fly. "H-how?" He asked in shock. "He tied me." The other five ran up to them, Fluttershy's screaming joy louder than she's known for. Twilight put her hand to her chin. Okay obviously this Rainbow Dash and like sorry ibly to be able to create two Sonic rainbooms just like that means that they have trained their entire lives to increase their speed and mastered The art of flight. "Well Alex you're quite incredible even if you can't remember it and Rainbow Dash was what you just did together I can safely conclude that you're both able to match if not out strip the wonderful's in terms of flight skill and wing power. "That ring is beautiful darling but it looks familiar, very familiar." Rarity said looking at the rapidly expanding chromatic ring from the twin Sonic rainboom. Remembering when she saw something similar as a filly right before she gained her cutie mark. "Yah right Rares! Ah swear that Ah saw something like that and it led me home the day Ah got my cutiemark." Applejack commented, causing every one of the girls to remember when they saw the light or heard the sound of the rainboom before. "That rainbow of colors washed over the rock farm and its bright colors brought me so much joy I just had to share it with my family. That's how I got my cutiemark making my first party!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly. "I was trying to hatch my assistant Spike's egg for my exam to enter Celestia's School of gifted unicorns when I heard that loud boom. Along with it I felt a surge in natural magic which in turn made me too start surging myself, hatching the little baby dragon and making him grow to an adult size if not an adult mind." The race where Dash first performed a Sonic rainboom is the same one that led to me falling down to the ground and getting caught by butterflies. meeting only animals in the forest and making me want to take care of them. Because of this realization I gained my own cutiemark as I saw The Ring of color expand." Fluttershy said. "That race finally cemented my love of speed and competition and after I performed that Sonic rainboom I also had my cutiemark." Suddenly Dash looked smug as her ego grew from the realization "I can't believe I was the cause of all of us gaining our cutiemarks I guess we were destined to meet." "Ow!" Alex moaned. "My wings hurt." > Aftermath > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexandre VIATOR: The Alicorn King By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Aftermath Alex winced as he folded his wings. The fact he could fly was a surprise. "Now how should we settle our bet?" Dash asked before she felt the fur on bust chill. She was only now realizing that in her haste and anger she had removed her tee. This was compounded by the actions right before take off. She was now paying for her actions twofold thanks to working herself up by teasing Alex and her semi-orgasmic release from performing a sonic rainboom. Something she hadn't experienced as a philly thanks to her young age at the time, her excited state was readily apparent thanks to her slightly hard nipples and light lactation causing her now cooling body to feel a chill and exposing her at the same time. "Your going to be on top when we eventually breed." Alex said. "Even though we tied, I came out of it in worse shape. My wings are extremely sore." At those words both Fluttershy and Rarity fainted. Rarity falling into her summoned fainting couch whereas Fluttershy blushed just as bright as Twilight earlier before crumpling onto the floor. "Land sakes fella why'd you have to mention that?!" Applejack said as she and Pinkie checked on their unconscious friends. Rarity actually being unconscious for once and not being overdramatic. "We may be less prudish than certain other races but even we don't go outright mentioning breeding in the middle of town!" "I don't have any plan to." Alex replied. "Ow. But I'm not flying anywhere with these overstressed wings." He then proceeded to scoop Rainbow up. He then began to carry Rainbow. "Um, you can rest at my house." Fluttershy said as she got back up. "Rainbow would rest there when her own wings are overstressed so it is a place I would suggest. "Plus I would really like to play with both of you together in my bed tonight." She said quietly though thanks to his ears Alex heard her. Alex nodded with a grin before saying "Lead the way… errr" he said as he remembered she hadn't introduced herself and gave her a way to do so. ".Futtershy" She said just as quietly as before but Alex still heard. As he waited Alex noticed a grumpy looking yet very busty mare some distance away zeroing in on him with a nervous, flat chested filly wearing a tiara close on her heels. "I think it's time to get while the getting is good." Alex says as he started walking away in a random direction away from the sour mare. "You there! I want to talk to you about becoming the alpha for my daughter's herd! " The mare said as she followed. "Get bent, Spoiled! This guy is already in a herd with me and the others including the princess's protege. Anything you can offer him can definitely be outbid by someone with her status!" Rainbow shouted after everyone in town to hear, including Twilight who was startled at Rainbow Dash's exclamation not knowing that the others had already made an agreement that should one of them find a stallion they would share as a herd since they were already dating each other. "I am not a pedophile!" Alex Shouted over his shoulder. "I'm not going to be corralled into a herd of not of my choice." "Uh Alex Diamond is legal." Fluttershy mentioned. "I don't know how bat ponies do it but here anyone over the age of 12 is legal and she just recently reached that age. Typically the mother of a filly or colt will find them their first partner in a herd, sometimes even being that first partner depending on whether or not the mother is a part of a herd or an independent." "It's still too young for my tastes." Alex says. "Sweet Luna, why would I be the alpha of a herd with that flat chested filly? She doesn't look like she'd be able to feed any foals she births." "Who's Luna?" Pinkie Pie asked innocently before going on to explain. "With the a herd started like that you're not expected to even have risky sexual relations for a few years it's more of a relationship building thing and helping take care of the child / potential mate until they get into their older years where they can actually start to reproduce. Your at most expect to teach masturbation techniques and maybe have some foreplay/oral no penetration and risk impregnation for a few more years. Also ponies develop very fast once hitting puberty that's why most herds start so very young. Basically once you hit 12 years of age you're about to literally get bitch slapped by puberty and turn into such shapely forms as the rest of us." "Luna is the name of my old world's moon." Alex replied. "You guys have to know that despite appearances, I wasn't born a pony so I don't have a lifetime of preparation for Mating season. Which means start smelling your being ready for foals, you're going to end up with a foal coming from me breeding you ready or not." "Besides I would rather be the alpha of a herd with you, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, Twilight, & Applejack, than a herd that sourpuss mare had a hand in." As he turned a corner he found himself face to face with Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara. "What the Fuck?!" Alex said in surprise. "I thought I had an edge at navigating the dark." "Look," Spoiled said with a genuinely sad look on her face. "After what I just heard from my daughter I want to apologize for approaching you like that. Knowing my daughter's preferences I shall leave you be for now. But if you have any female siblings who might be interested in moving to Ponyville let me know I can offer them a similar offer to what I gave you." Spoiled looked at the others, "Tell no one you've seen me like this! I have a reputation to uphold and I'd rather not be bugged by the other moms on the PTA for making a simple mistake such as not asking my daughter's preferences before I worked towards starting a herd for her." "I have two younger sisters 9 & 10. Now unless Buhe himself snaps his fingers and brings them here there's no chance of them coming to Ponyville." Alex tells Spoiled Rich. "And if they do as the Eldest they'll be my responsibility. Well talk then now the night is starting to wane and I like to get some sleep." Fluttershy leads them to her cottage. Once there they greet her animal friends who at first approach cautiously but the combination of Fluttershy & Rainbow being there, Alex being a pony and that Rainbow Dash was asleep in Alex's arms convinced he was no trouble. Once inside Alex coaxed Rainbow awake so she walk on her own two feet. Their hoove making a soft clip clopping as they walk into the yellow mare bedroom. The timid mare gently closed the door and ended their day. > Getting Settled pt I > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexandre VIATOR: The Alicorn King By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Getting Settled Alex lay down on the bed as Fluttershy silently directed him, unfurling his wings and relaxing them. Rainbow sat down in one of the chairs in the room. "Be careful Fluttershy." If thestral wings are like pegasi wings they're sensitive." Fluttershy nodded then said with a sneaky smile. "I know. In fact, I'm counting on it." Fluttershy's hands expertly massaged Alex's tired wings from the joints to the pinions of the wings themselves. Noting his leathery wings were alot like the wings of bats, she got some oil and rubbed it in while also reaching towards a certain spot on Alex's back right below the connection point of the wing to its own shoulder joint. Once Fluttershy started putting a small amount of pressure on that point Alex felt something release on his back. "Okay that felt weird, good but weird." Alex muttered as Fluttershy giggled. "It would considering you had a buildup of naturally produced waterproofing oil in that gland. You must use your own oils a lot considering how much just got released." Fluttershy commented as she began to mix the natural oil she got from the gland with the specially mixed numbing oil needed specifically for pegasi wing aches. "Using your own oils for the most part is good but this stuff will help with both numbing the sore spots and increasing the sensitivity in other parts of the wing." The veterinarian pone knew that while a bat wing is waterproof due to its naturally leathery nature there is a near invisible amount of fine hair on the wing to help in flight, a lesser known benefit of naturally produced wing oil will also help to get grime out of feathers and in this case would help with cleaning anything caught in those fine hairs on Alex's wings. "That must explain the sore ache I have in a similar spot or any other side of my spine. It must be the overworked gland or maybe an overfull one?" Alex muttered. Fluttershy began to work on the other wing and oil gland. But when she gently pressed down, she felt a firm resistance. "Rainbow! Go get me a small bowl from my kitchen." Rainbow was sitting straight up looking worried. "What's wrong?" She asked. Fluttershy carefully felt around the blocked gland. "Alex's left oil gland has somehow gotten blocked and it's filled to bursting. There are ways this could happen. One of the ways is suffering a powerful crash and a bit of debris gets lodged in the port. The best way to treat it is to apply pressure to the gland forcing the clog to pop out. It's a good idea to have a bowl ready to catch the released oil as it will jet out." Nodding Rainbow left to get a bowl and returned with Fluttershy's mixing bowl. With Rainbow Dash following her instructions, the bowl was positioned correctly. Then Fluttershy pressed the blocked gland. With audible pop and a tinkle the gland was unblocked and a jet of oil shot into the bowl and about half a minute later the bowl was half full. Fluttershy used some of the oil to help. "I don't believe it." Rainbow complained. "Alex was in the hospital and they missed that potentially grounding injury. That's grounds for a lawsuit." Fluttershy frowned before saying "Ponyville General is staffed by earth ponies and unicorn medical professionals who wouldn't immediately recognize it!. Besides with the oil gland being a lesser known part of pegasi anatomy even to most of our tribe thanks to the more readily available and used store-bought oils for waterproofing not every flyer can produce as much oil as you and Alex can. A burst oil gland for them isn't grounding forever but a few days at the most as the gland heals." As Fluttershy continued working using some of her chiropractic knowledge to help his sore muscles she noticed that her ministrations from earlier had a desired effect "Oh MY!" This cry caused Rainbow to look and have a wing boner. The release of the pent up oil caused Alex to have a boner and he was on full display. The two mares shared a look and a little smile and looked at the poor stallion who gulped. Hours later the trio was walking to the Golden Oaks with satisfied looks and the mares holding their bellies. Twilight had gone back to the library and took down a book titled, "Hal Sing's Comprehensive Guide to Thestrals" then a quill, Ink well, and scroll then went to her kitchen table, sat down and began reading. The first charter mostly was a comparison between pegasi and thestrals and how they were similar to each other. Going as far to say that both tribes were related. Then it seemed to go from stating facts to recounting folktales. One thing that caught her attention was a supposed quote of a bat pony. "Why does her grace Princess Luna, obsesse over the day ponies liking her night. Why can't the goddess of the night be happy we love it?" Twilight looked up in surprise saying, "Who's Princess Luna?" Spike waddled into the kitchen intent on making breakfast for him, Twilight and the others. So Twilight's question and her being at the table so early surprised him. "Twilight!" He yelped in surprise. "Did you pull another all nighter or are you switching schedules so you could have more time with tall dark and batty." Twilight blushes as she says, "eh. Heh heh not that I have any plans but it would be beneficial if he wasn't fighting to stay awake." She replies a little too quickly. A minute later Twilight is rescued from the awkward situation with Pinkie Pie shouting, "Hey Twilight! Rarity and I are here for the meeting!" Followed by the clopping sound of hooved feet. It was followed by the cultured voice of Rarity Saying, "Really Pinkie! Must you shout? Twilight must be in bed sleeping right now." Spike left the kitchen to tell the visitors that the library was closed until it could be reorganized but froze in place when laid eyes on Rarity. "Damn she thicc!" Spike thought. "Still I shouldn't get too worked up about my mom's herd mates, but maybe Rarity here has a little sister more around my age." Then at that moment a small head peeked around Rarity's torso. "Rarity, why are we at the library?" The unicorn filly, who looked about Spike's age timidly asked. "Cute!!!" Spike thought as his brain finally caught up to his body which was already heading towards the kitchen to prepare more breakfast than he had calculated for. "We'll need another two dozen eggs sugar after this but I think I can make waffles for everyone, including any more unexpected guests especially if they're as cute as her." As the baby dragon stepped into the kitchen, two more ponies entered the lobby Applejack and Apple Bloom. The younger apple sibling walked to the younger unicorn and said, "Hi. Ah'm Apple Bloom. Who're you?" As she stretched out her hand. "Sweetie Belle." She introduced herself. "We met before when Rarity took on the task of fixing up your ribbon as a favor for Applejack but it was only briefly so you probably don't remember." Apple Bloom takes Sweetie Belle's hand lead her to a table then said, "I heard the new stallion in town literally dropped into town. Did Rarity say anything about his looks?" Sweetie Belle thought about the question when the door opened to let the two Pegasi and lone thestral walk in. "Sorry we're late." Rainbow Called out. "Fluttershy discovered a plugged & backed up oil gland. After that things go nt heated." The Mare rubbed her belly in satisfaction. "First bitches!" "Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed, astonished at the speed demon. "First off there are young ones present so language and second did you really have to jump Alex here. The poor thing has memory loss and is delusional saying that he came from another world and all." "Uh Rarity?" Fluttershy and tried to interrupt. "Another thing, you pushed an injured stallion into a race so recently after a life and death experience and he could have died from the stress himself. While it was impressive at the time, thinking about the circumstances made me realize what you did what you both did was incredibly stupid!" "Rarity!" Fluttershy said, stopping the unicorn's tirade. "We didn't jump him. It was after I helped with his wings and fixed the oil gland problem I gave him a back massage. Thanks to that one thing lead to another and we all had fun." "Well then, at least it wasn't forced." Rarity said as she sat down. "Sorry Sweetie Belle, you shouldn't have to hear about that." "Uh… Rarity." Alex chimed in. "Thank you for standing up for me but I think I'm going to find the guest room and turn in for the day." At which point he started for the stairs. Spike came running and guided him to the guest room calling over his shoulder. "I made enough for everyone to help yourselves." Soon the mares where in the breakfast nook with a short stack in front of them "Ok." Twilight announced. "What are we going to do to help Alex?" "Well there we need to get some land so a proper Herd home could be built so he has some place to live." Applejack plain stated. Rarity nodded saying, "Right. As it stands now he has to move from home to protect not only his reputation but ours. That is not very sustainable. Plus he needs a place to recover from his current ordeal." Pinkie then said, "Heard several mares talking about getting enough together to buy the Old Pear farm for him." "Uh," Fluttershy said. "There are a few places in the Everfree that are up for sale." The group looked at Fluttershy in shock, especially Applejack. "Now how in tarnation do you know about that?" "My cottage used to be on that list since it is literally right by the forest. While I never went into the Everfree to look at the other properties I did see them on the map. Including the historical preservation site about two or three miles deep within the forest. There is a small section of it that was being sold to allow for a caretaker of the site to keep it from falling apart further and in order to preserve what one can." Fluttershy said. "It might be a good idea to look into the properties there if we want to protect our stallion." "Hmm." Twilight said. "Alex mentioned that his mentor was a premiere Archaeologist." "I think we should get him that historic preservation property. I mean he could use his training as well to clear out a safe home. What's the site he'd be supposed to preserve?" Rainbow chirped. "The Castle of the Two Sisters. The Canterlot Historical Society wants it eventually restored as a thanks to Celestia for her Stewardship of the sun and moon." Rarity said. Meanwhile in the dreamscape, Alex found himself in a stone corridor. Without thinking he clicked his tongue when he got a 3D picture of his surroundings as well a 3D rendering of a tall woman with a horn and wings approaching him from behind. Turning to face her he Demanded, "Stop right there. Who're you and what is your interest in me?" As if in response, the corridor transformed into a throne room and she was in a seductive dress. "Interesting, you detected me in spite of me my masking my presence." The Mare as Alex had finally corrected himself said before sniffing. "You have his stench about you but not a fragment of himself which would mark you as his. But that doesn't matter that bitch of a sister of mine and I turned him to stone. I am Nightmare Moon, Queen of the night, Warden of Dreams and your sovereign." Alex braced against the wind from Nightmare as she shouted her name and title. And looked at her as she continued, "My interest in you is simple, you intrigue me. You've been thrust into this world against your will with no knowledge of your kind learned up to your age." A book appears in front of him. "This tome contains the knowledge you lack. Touch it and the knowledge will be yours." Alex reached out and grasped the book which dissolved into a cloud of golden dust and was absorbed into him. "Ok." He said. "Before we part I must know what happened to the other thestrals?" Nightmare's face grew dark before saying, "When I decided to bring eternal night I asked for their help. Those that refused were herded into the crystal mines in Mount Canter. A total of three hundred mares, sixty stallions were placed in hibernation for one thousand years and a day." "Ok. That was Informative. Now leave and never return." He said. "YOU DARE?!" "I dare. And to send on your way, here's a canary call… thestral style. EEEEEEEE!!!!!!!" Nightmare Moon's form shattered. Though before that happened it seemed that Nightmare Moon actually smiled, something Alex hadn't noticed. "You will definitely be a good match for her." She thought as the fragments faded away. Alex woke up & looked at the window. He noticed that it had blasted out and he didn't have time to ponder the events that happened when Twilight popped in followed by Rainbow Dash shoulder bashing the door with Fluttershy close behind. All three looked ready to fight. "That was one heck of a scream." Rainbow said after a second of hovering around the room. "We heard the window shattering and thought that maybe something had gotten to you. Let me guess you had a semi-lucid Nightmare? Twilight told us that some bat ponies can accidentally use sonic attacks at times of stress so…" "There was no semi about it" Alex said. "And wasn't a nightmare par se." Alex got out of bed then began to make his bed. "Twilight, who is Nightmare Moon?" He asked. After telling Twilight he started down stairs absently patting first Rainbow and Fluttershy's bellys enroute. "That dream realm encounter has me worked up so I'm going to do research to relax." Moments later the clopping of hooves on wooden stairs. "What?" Rainbow said in surprise, "Our stallion is both a cool athlete AND an egghead?" Fluttershy smiled as she said, "I told you Rainbow going on five years that being an athlete and a scholar are compatible." Rainbow Dash nodded saying in a subdued tone, "Your right Fluttershy. An like a dumb jock I refused listen. you don't think he'll cast me out of the herd for…" ending in a shocked tone. Fluttershy flew up to her childhood friend saying comfortingly, "I don't think there's a cruel bone in his body or I wouldn't have let him in my cottage. Now let's get Twilight out this room or the herd's going to have another on the way before mating season." The pair lowered themselves to pick up Twilight. The girls were too late and a puddle was evident at Twilight's feet. "He isn't going to relax by research, but I'll help him to relax in another way." The unicorn thought as she got back up thanks to the other two. "Thanks girls, but for now I'm going to help Alex in his research. I've heard of Nightmare Moon before we all have but considering that he mentioned Luna being the name of the Moon and 'his world' and what I recently learned from a book on thestrals mentioning a Princess Luna I think the two might be connected." "Plus I NEED him!" She continued in her head. > Getting Settled pt II > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexandre VIATOR: The Alicorn King By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Getting Settled pt II The unicorn started heading down to main floor. Rainbow looked at Fluttershy then said. "Ok plan B. We go down and make the fillies don't get close enough to smell him and we warn the others not to be in small rooms if they want to wait for Mating Season" The butter yellow pegasus nodded. Before they flew down to the main floor. "Allll-llex?" Twilight sing-songed. "I'm here to help you research!" She continued as she noticed the girls leaving the main lobby at Rainbow and Fluttershy's insistence. "Where are you?" "Over here." Alex said as he scanned the book he selected. He absently said, "According to this book, a thousand years ago Celestia didn't raise the moon." As he started to get up, turning around as he did, getting a mouthful of boob as his mouth was accidentally covered by Twi's left breast. Twilight giggled as she wrapped her arms around his head. Outside the Golden Oaks Library, "Rainbow, Fluttershy," Sweetie Belle asked, "Why did we rush out of the library?" Fluttershy kneeled to get eye level then said in a caring tone, "Sometimes a stallion produces an extra strong musk that would cause any mare the breaths it to go into heat. To fillies who have been going through puberty up to age of fifteen they enter heat within a couple of breaths. For those over fifteen it takes five minutes at the most." "Then why did the rest of us have to leave as well, dahrling?" Rarity asked. Rainbow sighed and hung her head "Because me and Fluttershy hadn't realized how potent he was until just before we entered the library and were too slow in getting Twilight out of the guest bedroom. So the lot of us are going to Sugarcube Corner to finish breakfast." Twilight pulled her tit from Alex's mouth. "We'll have time for that later! Right now let's do some research!" She said as she began looking through the books on the shelves. "You've mentioned a Luna before in relation to the Moon. I recently read that thestrals knew of a Princesses named Luna, Cadence is one of the two current princesses but she did appear after the banishment and defeat of Nightmare Moon. Then there is that barricaded off wing of the castle that I always passed by to visit Princess Celestia in her chambers, the blue wing as I used to call it." Twilight noticed two books close together in the E section one that shouldn't be there and one that should. The two together "Predictions and Prophecies" and "The Elements of Harmony a Reference Guide" seemed oddly placed as if to catch someone's attention. "What is this?" She muttered as she took the two times off the shelves. "This is strange but you take the "Predictions and Prophecies" book. I'll look into this one. Something tells me they're both important." "This whole library is a researcher's nightmare." Alex grumbles as he takes the book and moves the filled up he finished writing in. "Did you know Celestia had a sister? She used to raise the moon." "Celestia had a sister who raised the Moon? Could this be Luna?"Twilight asked, surprised, wait, was there anything in that book about Nightmare Moon? I think I've read that before and I remember there's specifically a passage about Nightmare Moon." "The book I was reading when got here did." Alex said as he opened the book showed the fateful passage before sliding aside. Then placed Predictions and Prophecies & read "On longest of the thousandth year the stars will help in her escape." Raising his head he turned to face Twilight who smiled and sat on his lap. Alex was a bit puzzled when Twilight did that so he hesitantly grasped her breasts and gently squeezed them. Twilight gazed before telporting them both to her room. 2 Hours Later "That was fun!" Pinkie said as the group returned to the lobby. "Spike proved his master chef skills definitely!" "Been cooking for 6 years now," the baby dragon said, proud of his accomplishments in the kitchen. "I've been trained by two of Celestia's personal chefs so I most definitely live up to the hype in the kitchen. Lord Torch gave me tips on how to use my dragon's flame to speed up the cooking process. Did you know that before he became Dragon Lord around 1,200 years ago Torch used to be the personal chef of Celestia? He only stopped after a rather harsh Dragon Lord stepped down and he rose to the challenge." "That massive creature was working in the kitchens? I may not have ever been inside the canterlot castle but I doubt it could fit a dragon around the size of a mini mountain." Rarity exclaimed having seen the massive Dragon Lord during his recent flyover of Ponyville for the international leaders summit that was held annually a week or so before the Summer Sun Celebration. "The size issue with can be partly explained by him growing during his time as dragon lord back in those times canterlot castle was more of a second home and fortification instead of the original Castle that Celestia ruled from, no that was the Castle of the Two Sisters, the place you mentioned Alex could probably live in as part of him settling down near here. I still can't believe you're even thinking of buying some place in the Everfree free that Fluttershy mentioned. her house being next to you Everfree, sure I understand that. It's a nice little place from what we saw earlier. Actually living in the Everfree, someone has to be insane to do that. whether that be insanely skilled or actually mentally unstable I don't know." The shake of his head Spike looked around and noticed that the room was empty, save for a few books on the table and a couple of glasses of water that he had placed there before leaving. "Twilight?!" He called out. "Mom!" "We'll be right down." Twilight called down before the clopping of hooves could be heard. Alex & Twilight were soon seen descending the stairs. Rarity noticed Alex was actually flying a lot like Rainbow Dash does when low to the ground. Rainbow & Fluttershy shared a look and small smiles. Rarity noticed was wearing a towel as makeshift kilt which didn't and mentally slapped herself as she realized she hasn't offered to make something to protect his precious package. She vowed to have that rectified soon. Twilight walked over and hugged first Rainbow then Fluttershy before sitting down. Alex took a deep breath then said, "First off I like to say 'thank you for taking a Stranger who literally dropped into their lives.' I heard you talking about the Everfree Forest and living there. I'll vaguely remember having to live in some tropical rain forest for three months. Beasts as big as bears schools of fish that literally eat a pony alive stripping the fortunate pony to the bone in ten seconds flat. While 'Dash and I were racing, I spotted a hut a short distance in." "Uh we were more thinking about getting you a caretaker position at a historical preservation site further in called the castle of the two sisters." Dash mentioned. Mentioning the ancient castle sparked a memory in Twilight from what she had read earlier about the Elements of Harmony. Racing over to where she left the reference guide she's surprised the entire group. "Aha!" She exclaimed. "The Elements of Harmony were last located in the castle of the two sisters! Alex, I suggest you take that housing opportunity, one it will give you a royal stipend just like I have considering it's a part of the royal properties. Two it will allow you to explore the castle and locate the elements before Nightmare Moon even gets here!" "Ack!" Alex exclaimed at Twilight's exclamation, his spreading out in full extension and accidentally smacking Spike in the face. "Okay I will." Alex replied. "It hits two… targets with one stone or in my case three targets." The other girl's looked at him confused as he went on, "While making sure she could think straight, Twilight told me she had an overprotective big brother." As he retracted his wings saying, "Sorry, these things seem to act on their own sometimes." Alex took another deep breath "Everypony I have two questions. First would Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Spike please leave the room for a short time?" He waited until all three preteens were out. "Now second, because the way I was raised to protect the honor of three of you and the friendship of all six of all six of you" Alex backed up, got down on one knee and half speed his wings, "Will you girls be my herd?" "You did not need to ask them to leave, in fact it would be beneficial if they were still here knowing that they would have a new family member, a father, a brother and such." Rarity said as the others raised right back in. "As you can tell we have already agreed, so yes we will be a part of your herd!" The other girls nodded as everyone raced to hug Alex in a group hug. "You three can join us rather than around the corner." Alex called out as he returned the hug. The trio ran in and joined the hug. Sweetie Belle asked, "How'd you know we were there?" Alex smiled as he said, "I used to pull that same stunt myself when was younger plus I could hear your location and your whispering." Flicking an ear and hugging at the same time. After breaking the hug, Alex said, "When I was talking about being Ok living in Everfree. Because I am taking that Opportunity. It gets me a home and a job in one shot." The Mane 6 cheered and hugged him again. "Ok." Alex said. "First thing you gals have to do is announce the formation of the herd to your families. Next is to decide where the ceremony is held, and when." As the herd talked about the wedding and decided Town Hall was where the day ceremony would be officiated by Candace. "I wonder why you don't want Celestia to do the honors" Rarity commented. "Well DUH!" Rainbow sparked. "He IS a thestral. A bat-pony of course he dislikes Celestia, the princess of the DAY." The ceremony would be held at midnight the night before the Summer Sun Celebration in front of Town Hall with the reception held (in spite of Twilight's objections) at the Golden Oaks Library w/ the honeymoon to be decided. > Preparations > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALICORN KING By Scarletrhine & Tempest Flare Preparations Mayor Mare trotted towards Town Hall Sugarcube Corner after a farewell breakfast for her assistant, Raven Inkwell, who was heading to Canterlot to work for Princess Celestia who had poached her from the Mayor. She knew she'd miss that mare but an opportunity is an opportunity. When she came in sight of Town Hall she noticed a group of seven ponies waiting in front of it. Sighing thinking it another group of mare inquiring about the new stallion. She took a deep breath to say something when she noticed one of the mares was the weather captain Rainbow Dash. "My word." She said. "Rainbow Dash any changes to the weather schedule planed?" Rainbow shook her head as she answered, "Not this time. Me, Alex, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkamena, & Twilight have form a herd so we're registering it." Alex stepped up and said, "I also want to take the historical preservation property." The Mayor of Ponyville smiled as she commented, "That's good to hear. Follow me and we'll get both out of the way." She then lead them into the building. Once inside Twilight & Spike helped Alex to get his home and the seven became a Married herd choosing opt out of having a ceremony. Their next stop was Carousel Boutique where Rarity got Alex' measurements and a design for his clothes and the Mane Six each got a vest that had crest with a crescent moon, a domino mask, an open book and a sword. At one point Rarity said, "Dahrlings your blouses are over stressed again, you two are going to explode out of them if you do no…" At that point Fluttershy let loose a powerful, yet cute sneeze and her top ceased being clothing and became fresh cleaning supplies. "God/Celestia Bless you." Came the six voice chorus. About an hour after that wardrobe failure Rarity was putting the finishing touches on Rainbow top. "You and Fluttershy should consider going about without clothing until the foals are born." Rainbow looked at Rarity as she snipped the thread and said, "Why? Normally you ask us to be careful and not to breath in too deep. Why the change of tune?" "Because Fluttershy, Twilight & yourself are with foal." Rarity explains, "your breasts will be engorging themselves with milk until the your foals are born and as a result they'll be growing three times as fast." Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy nodded. An hour later Alex was dressed in khaki shorts & shirt and shopping for supplies. Soon after he had a backpack that had been filled with supplies & tools and was heading into the Everfree Forest. As he made his way to the Castle of the Two Sisters, stopping every fifty steps to carve runes of protection on stones on two sides of the path. After it was midnight, Alex reached the gorge that was within sight of the castle. Looking at the castle, after craving one last protection rune, he flew over and looked at the castle. "Sad that it one thousand years for ponies to work up the courage to ask Somepony to restore it. "Ok time to map and find a place within to live." For the rest of the night he wandered the castle, using his echolocation to map it. As the sun began to rise, he found a dinning hall, kitchen, and storeroom with enough magically preserved to last him several mouths. He set up base and constructed a message board. Then flew to where he entered the forest and set it up, leaving a message for his herd. Over the next three hours Alex mapped out the castle before sitting down and committing the map to paper. He looked out a window and saw it getting light up. "Better spend time with the wives or they'll start arguing with each other. He gathered up the pages of preliminary work, planning to drop them of with Twilight so he could earn the stipend. After Which he took flight towards Ponyville. Twilight woke up feeling nauseous and bolted for the bathroom and slamming the door waking Spike. Hearing sounds of a unicorn being sick, the young dragon got up and took out two pieces of parchment and wrote two letters. One to Celestia and one to Twilight's parents both announced the formation of the herd. Celestia's message contained the little Twilight learned about the enigmatic Thestrals and Nightmare Moon. He had just sent them off when a miserable Twilight came out. "Spike?" She asked. "Do you know what happened yesterday? I had gone to Alex's room after we heard him scream but everything become blurry and indistinct afterwards though I do remember what I learned in research." Spike sighed saying, "Rainbow & Fluttershy herded every claiming Alex's musk had made go into heat early" Twilight groaned as they headed for the kitchen. Rarity was sitting at her drawing table as she began to plan out imarriage/herd bonding gowns for her and the girls. She smiled as she fantasized of when Alex would mate her. Her fantasy got so intense she ended up putting her quill down to touch herself. Rainbow Dash & Fluttershy walked towards Town Hall intent on their tasks. Rainbow to check on the weather team. And Fluttershy to coax a family of foxes to move their den. Once there they split up Rainbow Dash heading inside and Fluttershy walking around the building. Applejack got back to the farm she had just opened the door to Granny Smith sitting in her rocker looking miffed and pleased as punch as only a grandmother could. "Granny?" The ancient mare cut her off saying, "Apple Bloom let slip that you and five other mare's with a thestral stallion that literally dropped out of the sky. I understand yer bein' cautious about him. BUT ARE YOU OTTA YER PLUM MIND ALLOWING 'IM TO WANDER ABOUT THE EVERFREE WITHOUT ONE OF YER HERD SISTERS TO PROTECT 'IM FROM THEM THAR CRITTERS!?!" She grabbed one of Applejack's and dragged toward her room. > Preparations pt 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- was stepping out of the Golden Oaks Library when Alex glided to a landing. "Alex!" She said in surprise. "What are you doing back so soon?" Alex smiled and said, "My echolocation helped me map out the ground floor of the Castle. I also found a library. I began cataloging the books within but (ERGH!) there wasn't ANY system used to catalog them. They were just placed in wherever was convenient at the time" He leaned against the trunk and his wing went limp as he Nightmare Moonthen said, "Twilight when I shouted in my sleep some dark alicorn came to my dream she introduced herself as and claimed to be my Sovereign." He sighed before saying more. "She gave me a tome that was supposed to give me the information I needed on being a thestral including how to fly. I don't know what happened but something in what Dash said made me think she was belittling me and something in me raged against it. That was what caused me to insult her to the point we raced. And the rest is history." Twilight frowned then said, "This is disconcerting, the fact that she invaded your dream could mean she is getting stronger." Alex nodded before saying, "Looks like I'll be transferring the books from the castle library to this one. Maybe we'll learn a few things." Twilight smiled and nodded. Meanwhile, Fluttershy crouched next to a small hole under Town Hall talking to a tod. "So you see it is safer for your mate to have her litter at my cottage." She said, The tod nodded and ducked back into the den. There was a brief scuffle before a very pregnant vixen marched out with a smug tod behind her. Fluttershy led them to her cottage then returned to town hall. Rainbow Dash landed near a trash bin and threw up into it. She looked at her foalhood friend with concern and walked up and asked, "Are you okay?" The chromatic mare nodded, as she answered, "Morning Storms. It'll pass when my swelling belly can't be hidden easily. Ugh. Not looking forward to the 10th and 11th months when I'll be grounded." "At least you know someone who can take care of your job during that time outside of paperwork," Twilight said as she walked in before looking to the secretary. "I'd like to register for an addition to my current residence." The secretary nodded then smiled saying, "Making room for that yummy stallion that remodeled Ponyville Lake?" Then waggle her eyebrows. Twilight felt a rush of jealousy which she quashed with some effort she said through slightly gritted teeth, "Alex is already in a herd with myself and five others and three members of the herd are already with foal. Besides he's rescuing some books from the castle of the two sisters so I need more storage." Rarity & Pinkie were sitting in a booth in Sugarcube Corner talking about the approaching Summer Sun Celebration… and Alex. "I grabbed some notices for the upcoming celebration." Rarity said. "I can't believe that Celestia decided to perform the ceremony in Ponyville!" Pinkie smiled before saying, "That's great. Now Rarity please get the girls without Twilight and and come back here. I'll tell you when the others are here." Rarity put the notices down and Galloped off. That day, Alex found himself standing on a lunar surface. He looked about wondering where he was. He then heard the sound of chains straining and something whooshing about looking towards the sounds and saw a purplish mist being circled by a glowing golden line zipping around it suddenly a beam shot out at the line, missed it and came straight at him. "NO!" Alex shouted sitting up in his room at the Golden Oaks. Looking about he let out a breath then quietly said, "Just a bad dream. But it was so real." Looking at the window he sighed. "Glad the construction ponies hadn't replaced it yet or they would be back with visions of bit bags." The smell of cooking reached his nose. Getting up he saw a bundle, a khaki shirt and pants, a white tuxedo the looked familiar & a note that said, "Here are some clothes for you to wear. Enjoy. Rarity Belle Smiling he put the clothes set out for him on, then noticed something, a silver skeleton key on his bedside table, shrugging he scooped it up and put it in his pocket. Downstairs, Spike was preparing dinner for him and Twilight and breakfast for Alex. Twilight looked up to see Alex wearing the Explorer's outfit Rarity made for him. Her cheeks reddened as she admired him. "Hello Alex, sleep well?" She said, Alex shook his head. "No." He replied. "Had a bad dream, if it was a nightmare or a premonition I don't know." He smothered his waffles in honey & butter before he then began to eat his waffles. "What're going to do?" Spike Asked. "Hunt down the elements of harmony and map the castle." Alex responded. "Once I have a map, I work on the bridge replacing it with a stone bridge then remove the rest of the books to the library. Though it would help if the original blueprints for it survived to the present. It'll make restoring it easier." Twilight nodded. "I'll write and ask her about them. I hope they still exist and and in relatively good condition." Alex nodded then winced on one bite. Reaching up to his mouth he spat out a sliver of amethyst. "Spike please be more careful with your cooking gems." He calmly said before finishing his waffles. He went up and returned to the Castle of the Two Sisters. Once there, he continued exploring mapping out the layout. As he worked he entered a room with what appeared to be a model of the equis solar system until he noticed all the spheres were the same size and had an indentation for a gem. Upon looking at the orbs Alex suddenly found himself on the moon again this time having a clearer perspective on the battle that seemed to be ongoing between the Nightmare and a purple and gold streak. Moments later he found himself on the ground in front of the pedestal that held the artifacts. "The Hel?" He muttered as he got back up noticing an intact set of armor at the base that looked like it would fit him. "Another one of those decisions in this time right after looking at those orbs. That can't be coincidence; those things are connected to the Nightmare and whatever is fighting her somehow. SPIKE!!!" He called out, hoping that the dragon could hear him, the little guy having come with him so that he could catalog anything and instantly right to Celestia about any of the Princess' personal belongings that he may recover. Alex got out his sketch pad and began using a charcoal pencil to sketch out the model and the orbs. As he stood there he could not shake the feeling of the armor out of his mind as his gaze kept drifting back to it. He had finished the drawing and stood up when Spike arrived. "Pack up Spike, we're heading back early, something just happened that I have to tell Twilight about." He took a few steps before saying "Spike would you please take a letter?" When Spike produced a parchment, Ink, & quill he dictated, "Your Majesty, First I hope you are well. I am Alexandre Daniel Viator, your new Thestral citizen. I am a trained archaeologist and the most renowned archaeologist I know of is Dr Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr., a good friend of mine. I don't know if you have heard of him. But I'm getting off track. I am currently employed by the Equestrian Historical Society to map out and restore the Castle of the Two Sisters, your old home, which is why I'm sending this missive. I just collapsed in the castle as a result I cut the day's work off early. Are magically hidden traps that I'll have to disarm? I'm heading to the hospital to get checked. Signed Alex Viator" Spike sent it off. Then the two of them walked back to Ponyville. Once there, he walked up to reception and stated, "I may have tripped a poison gas trap. I would like to be examined to be on the safe side." The nurse nodded and handed him a form, which he filled out. After he finished, he sat down to wait. "What was that? It obviously was something important since it seemed to be the exact same dream I had this morning, oddly both of those I can easily see and remember. Whereas I would normally forget dreams this long after they happen." Alex muttered as he waited. Five hours later, Alex walked back carrying a sleeping Spike back to the Golden Oaks Library. The wyrmling had fallen asleep while Alex got checked out for possible poisoning. After finding there were no traces of poisoning he carefully picked up Spike and carried him home. Once he got to the Golden Oaks Library, he noticed the lights were on. He walked pupto the door and knocked. Twilight was sitting at a reading desk doing research into Nightmare Moon when someone knocked on the door. Getting up she walked upto the door. When she opened the door to find Alex and a sleeping Spike. Looking out the window at the pre-dawn sky, she realized she had studied through the night. Sighing she got up and opened the door to find Alex, carrying a sleeping dragon. > Moonfall the return of Nightmare Moon. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alex Viator: The Alicorn King By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Alex smiled and said, "Twilight, I managed to find something that might be elements and something else." Twilight's eyes lit up. "Really?" She asked. "Do you have where it is mapped out? What do they look like? We're th…" Alex shut Twilight's barrage of questions off by kissing her full on the lips. When they parted Twilight pouted as the kiss got her hot and bothered he handed the picture he drew, as well as all the information on thestrals he could clearly remember. That the dark mare had given him. He then said, "I'm going to bed as it's bedtime for me." He starts up the stairs heading to the guest room. "Good Day." Once he got in the guest room, he sat on the bed, and pulled out a second drawing of the posable holding place of the Elements of Harmony and the armor. The moment his head hit the pillow, he found himself lying on the lunar surface. He scrambled to his feet and looked towards the sounds of battle he became aware of as he slowly looked around and saw an alicorn filly flying around of all beings Nightmare Moon. He quietly took a couple of steps closer. He concealed himself behind an outcropping of lunar and heard Nightmare Moon shout, "Cease and begone pest I shan't allow you to impede me no longer be gone or I shall return you from wenst you came." The filly flew up and bucked Nightmare in the head. She then shouted, "No! Release my Momma!" Nightmare yelled at the filly in rage before blasting her out of existence. Alex tried to move but found he couldn't and watched as the Nightmare Moon abdominal area began to swell as well as her already massive mams. Nightmare Moon then transformed into a mare who he felt an immediate connection of loyalty to. Suddenly he found himself standing before her as she held her gravid stomach, looking at him in surprise, as if she recognized him. "Captain Nova!" The mare said. "You must warn my sister that she will escape the moon on this the longest day of the 1000th year and plans to 'Pick up where I was forced to leave off.' Now awake and warm my sister." Then her horn flashed a light blue. Alex awoke as he hit the floor. As shook his head to clear the cobwebs from his mind, heard a stampede coming to his room. Moments later the door burst open revealing five of his herdmares, a white Unicorn dressed in a dress uniform and a pink alicorn with a pair that looked to be three cups larger than Fluttershy's. "What happened?!" All of them shouted. "I fell out after an intense dream." He responded. As Alex got to his feet he noticed all the mares were in wedding dresses. "Let me guess, the wedding where our herd gets formalized is tonight." He said. When everyone nodded he sighed "Okay every mare out so I can get dressed." He turned to the pink alicorn and said, "I assume you are going to officiate the wedding. " the pink alicorn nodded then said, "I am. You should know Twilight's Parents are here as well as her big brother." She gave Alex an impish grin, making him swallow a lump in his throat. "But don't worry he's mad at you for mating his little sister, Rainbow and Fluttershy explained the situation and fact your scent triggered her heat early. By the Velvet and Nightlight are going to grill you without mercy. By the way, my name is Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Cadence." Alex sighed then looked at his tux. To his surprise it resembled the tux his mentor had described at the beginning of his tale of the temple of doom, though made for a winged equinoid. Smiling, he put it on. Once it was on he went down to the library proper and saw it was empty. He found a note on the returns desk, looking at it, it read, "Going to Town hall for the wedding, don't be late." He smiled and said, quietly "I wish you, Mom & Doc Indy could be here, if only for this night Dad." With a sigh of melancholy and stepped out. He spread his wings and took off. Once in the air, and he wasn't trying to beat a mouthy mare, he found himself enjoying the sensations of flight. He was tempted to test himself, but the fact he had six mares waiting for him he just headed straight to Town Hall. Once he found the mothers and grandmother of his brides waiting for him. "Uh… what's going on?" He asked in confusion. A light blue mare with an orange mane and a bust as big as Rainbow Dash's replied, "We noticed that your Mothers weren't here to escort you to the altar we decided Cloudy Quartz suggested were should step in." After the mares explained to Alex that in prehistoric times herds without a stallion would sometime steal unattached young stallions while enroute to their planned herd. So some of the stallions herd mothers would escort the young stallion to his herd. Shrugging Alex let them escort him in. To Alex it felt odd hearing the song "Here comes the bride" as he walked inn but he supposed it could've been worse. He squared his shoulders and marched up with all the dignity he could muster. All his brides were standing at the altar and when he joined them, they stood next to him. Cadence performed the ceremony without a hitch and everpony returned to the Library for the reception. Pinkie disappeared just after Alex kissed her to get the library ready for the party. Once they got there, the herd threw their bouquets with Cadence catching Twilight's who then smiled at Shining Armor. Twilight was surprised at who caught it, so much so that she didn't see herself pour hot sauce instead of punch into a cup until she drank out of it. Her eyes bulged as the hot liquid hit her tongue and ran to the kitchen, her mane and tail aflame, dropping her glass. Alex caught the glass, looked in it, then dipped his finger in. He tasted the hot sauce, then shrugged, "Eh. I've had it hotter." He said before doing it. "I've only ever had stuff under six on the scoville scale!" Twilight mentioned as she returned holding a glass of milk before looking at the bottle Pinkie had placed next to the punch bowl "This reads an 8.3 that's near physically harming levels of capsaicin! If my magic hadn't responded by burning off the excess so rapidly I might have actually harmed the baby." Alex raised an eyebrow at the rating, "Check what you're pouring before you drink anything until you foal just to be safe." He grimly said. He poured himself some punch and after sniffing it he took a cautious sip. When he didn't taste alcohol, he drank his cup. He then mingled and talked with the guests. All the while he watched four stars grow closer to the moon. He stepped outside catching Pinkie's arm and told her that he was stepping outside to get some airborne exercise before stepping out. When he was outside he realized he had no idea how to carry an airborne exercise routine so he settled for doing laps around the village perimeter. He got back to see everypony leaving the Golden Oaks Library. He landed at the door into the library to find his herd waiting for him. All of them had removed their wedding dresses and hung them up in a storage closet. "Quickly." Twilight said. "Remove your tux, Spike will put it in the storage closet and we'll head to town hall once he rejoins us." Once they were on their way he learned that they had decided that Twilight was to be the headmare of the herd. Mostly to give her an outlet for her suspect OCD. He nodded as an archaeologist, he suffered from a mild case of it. It helped him keep track of the positions of artifacts at digs. As soon as they were at town hall he noticed it was decorated very tastefully. He relised from the look on Rarity's face that she did the work. As they filed into town hall he stood next to Twilight in a shadowy spot. He carefully noted that everyone looked like they had been up all night and were looking a little tired. He then looked up to the stage where Mayor Mare walked up on stage. As she gave a speech introducing Princess Celestia, he watched as four stars disappeared behind the moon and the image of the mare in the moon disappeared. Warning bells began ringing in his mind as he readied himself for trouble. The first sign of trouble was when the curtain opened to reveal that Celestia was missing. A dark purplish mist formed on the stage and when it parted it revealed a black alicorn with a misty mane and fangs. "BEHOLD I HAVE RETURNED!" She announced. He heard Twilight quietly said, "Oh no." > Moonrise > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alicorn King: Moonrise: the Return of Princess Luna Last time on Alicorn King… "BEHOLD I HAVE RETURNED!" She announced. He heard Twilight quietly said, "Oh no." Alex had hand it to Mayor Mare, because she shouted after she regained her wits. " SEIZE HER! SHE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHERE THE PRINCESSES IS!" Suddenly a bolt of magic impacted Nightmare as another pony appeared, her coat looking a few shades darker than Twilight while her mane was of a similar color scheme but instead of dark blue purple and pink it was black purple and cyan. "Captain, get them out of here! I'll keep her focused on me, after all she's my mother!" The nude alicorn mare shouted as she rushed the dazed alicorn. The Shining Armor shouted, "Everypony get out! It's too dangerous!" As he and guided everpony out of the town hall. Alex led his herd out then said, "Twilight! You six head to the Castle!" He spread his wings and got ready to fly. "I'll meet you there." Rainbow spread her wings saying, "I'm coming with you!" Alex went airborne saying as he went, "No Rainbow. Stay with the herd and make sure the earth & unicorn ponies get to the Castle safely!" He then flew to the Castle of the Two Sisters. "So mine brat!" Nightmare said as she recovered "You followed me once again! Down here I am stronger than ever and you don't have the powers of the elements spell bolstering your strength!" "I've been fighting you nieh on a thousand years but you never really noticed, did you? I never really used the enhancements the elements gave me. I've been saving them until now!" The unnamed mare said as her whole body started glowing in a rainbow light. "They won't last forever but they will certainly weaken you! Give me back my mother you mule!!!" Noticing the donkey in the crowd that was departing she shouted "no offense!" At the Castle of the Two Sisters, Alex lands next to where the Elements were. He walked to empty armor then said, "I hope you don't mind if I wear & use your armor because it's an emergency." He then knelt down to disassemble it. He then began to put the armor on. As he did he found some pieces he would've had trouble putting on suddenly on him. Leaving that as a puzzle to solve later he turned to pick the helmet up to find it in the grip of a spectral thestral that looked like him. "The armor is yours now." The ghost thestral said. "Use it to help free my princess." It then placed the helmet on Alex. "You'll give her up soon enough!" The younger alicorn of the night said as she finally used the majority of the power the elements had given her to knock her mother into her incorporeal mist form. The fighting had gone on for 10 minutes, both mares bruised and battered, the younger getting the worst of it thanks to focusing far more on offense trying to weaken Nightmare as much as she could. Seeing that Nightmare was slipping away in her mist form the young alicorn slumped exhausted after her battle but knowing she had to continue for she was one of the elements or at least had the power of the elements and could help the others. "Fuck got to keep going really wish I had armor even with the elements boosting my strength I was barely able to dent hers." Stepping outside the mare looked at the bars of lunar titanium she had created. "Now that I have 5 minutes to breathe I can form these into a crude armor at least for now and will protect me." Her horn lit up its glow having small motes of rainbow in it hinting at the fact that she still had some extra power from the elements as the 12 bars formed into a crude chest plate, armored gloves helmet and armored leggings, luckily this also covered her finally making her decent to others. After about five & half hours his herd entered the room and the two Pegasi brought the orbs down to the floor. He noticed Rarity's tail had been cut. He rushed over to her saying, "Rarity! What happened to your lovely tail?" Before the mare could respond, Alex saw a sparkling mist surrounding the orbs, turn into a sparkling tornado, with Twilight jumping into it before it disappeared. As they looked about he noticed a light in a tower window. Without thinking, he jumped out of the window and flew to the tower. He saw Nightmare Moon and Twilight charging each other. Folding his wings close to his body, he plowed head first into the dark mare. They both tumbled along the floor with Alex coming to a stop first he rolled into a kneeling stance with one fist on the ground. The Nightmare looked at Alex in shock and said, "You live!?" She said in shock. "You should be dead from at least old age." "I'm full of surprises." He said before letting a sonic blast at her. Nightmare flew back into the wall as she recovered and stood up then said, outrage shading every syllable, "You dare attack your sovereign?" Alex returned her furious gaze with one of his own. "No. I attack the parasite that has my sovereign hostage and a threat to my herd and my unborn foals. I spent five years in hades up till now, and you come waltzing in to bring eternal night? Not. On. My. Watch." The two then went into combat with Alex sending sonic blasts to enable him to get in close. He attacked her physically until she struck him with a physical blow sending him back and they repeated. This happened three times before Alex's helm flew off and rolled over to Twilight. The unicorn watched as her stallion crashed to the floor and didn't move save for the slow rise and fall of his wings. "ALEX!" She cried out. A hand touching her shoulder caused her to spin to see what could be her but with a darker color pallet. "Go to your stallion." Her double said. "I'll keep her occupied." She then spread her wings and attacked the Nightmare. Meanwhile, Twilight attempts to make the sixth element appear with an electrical spark. The teen alicorn used the last of her harmony power in an all or nothing attack. It hit and forced Nightmare to her knees and weakened her. The younger alicorn fell to her knees. She watched as the older alicorn got up and slowly walked to the elements and a disheartened Twilight. Then the voices of the rest of the herd were heard as they ran into the room. Both thestral and unicorn felt a spark go off in them. Alex shakily got up, spread his wings and stood between the Nightmare and the elements. "You think the elements are powerless? Well you're wrong for the spirits of the elements are right here." Twilight triumphantly said. "Applejack… " she stated as she remembered the test on the cliff that collapsed enroute. "Who reassured me when I was in doubt represents the element of HONESTY!" One of the orbs began to orbit the orange farm mare. "Fluttershy…" She said as she remembered the shy mare helping a manticore. "Who tamed a manticore with her compassion, represents the element of KINDNESS." In response an orb started orbiting the young vet. "And I Tempest Draconian Flare, the one who fought you for over a thousand years on my own without the power of the elements and turn up here with the others to represent the element of COURAGE!" An orb faded into existence and began orbiting her. The orbs representing Laughter, Generosity, & Loyalty began to orbit Pinkie, Rarity, & Rainbow Dash. "But the spark didn't work and the sixth element hasn't appeared." Nightmare Moon stated with the sound of desperation in her voice. Alex got up and picked his helmet. "Oh but it did." He said as he put his helm on. "A different spark. One from the hearts of those gathered. The spark of Friendship." The Orb of Magic drifted down from it's hiding spot. Suddenly each orb turns into a sphere of light and five of them turn into necklaces and two turn Into crown and tiara. The necklaces settling on five of the mares, the tiara on Tempe and the crown on Twilight. Then all of the elements and Alex's armor and shot a beam that at the top of it's arc became a rainbow. As it came down at her Nightmare Moon shouted, "NOoooooooo!" Then there was a flash of light. A few moments later all seven mares and one stallion were laying on the floor unconscious, the stallion's armor replaced with an amulet. "Ugh," Tempe groaned as she woke up, first having gotten used to the elements' power since it had permeated her body for far longer than any of the others. "Please work! I really hope we didn't banish her again. I can't lose my mother not this time!" The mare looked around and saw her mother's armor and helmet laying on the ground in a smaller light blue form in the middle of the pieces. "Oh please!" Rushing towards the form she looked upon her mother who currently looked about her age physically. Her height had been reduced and her normally ethereal mane had returned to its original light blue color; her coat had lightened as well. Tempe could see that she was still breathing so instead of worrying about the other she hugged her mother forgetting that she wore her own armor which at this point was only starting to warm up thanks to her nude body underneath. The sound of footsteps behind her caused her to look behind her to see the now unarmed stallion walk up, he stopped at a respectful distance and kneeled. "flecto principem et natam et fidem meam lunae ductui." He said. She noticed the other mares had woken up and it was daytime. She then saw Princess Celestia walking up to the purified Luna. She felt a gentle tug at her arm and found the stallion trying to guide her away from the two princesses. "Pardon but fuck off I want to be right here with my aunt and my mother." She extended her wings to show that she was also an alicorn. "Hey auntie Tia, mom told me as much as she could when she was in control. Please don't harm her, the thing that attacked you back then well let's just say I got to know it well having to fight it day and night for a thousand years." "You may be older than me AND the daughter of my sovereign," Alex stated. "but your isolation on the and constant combat against that parasite has left it's mark on you. Rest Little Storm and let your Aunt & Mother talk things out." He then scooped her up and carried her bridal style towards the other mares. Or at least tried to, as quick as she was carried Alex felt a massive electrical shock before she was writing next to her mother once again. "One personal space! I don't like being touched after having to fight and someone possessing my mother for years! Two this is the first time I've ever actually had to talk to my mother when I'm awake. The only times I've had to cuddle up to her is when I'd knock the parasite unconscious! So I'm going to take as much time as I can to enjoy being close to her. Thank you very much!" If one looked close enough you'd see that her eyes were slit showing just how angry she was at being denied the time she needed with her mother. The Celestial Sisters walked up and Luna called out sharply, "Tempest Draconian Flare! While I appreciate you wanting to spend as much time with Tia and I had to patch things up." Alex rubbed feeling back as he rejoined his herd. They returned to Ponyville and once they got there Pinkie chirped, "Hey you guys realize what this means?" At everponys smiles she announced, "A PARTY!!!" Faster than you can say lickity split, the pink party mare had one going. Celestia, Luna, & Tempe rode into town on a chariot when they got off, pegasus fillies gave Luna and Tempe wreaths of red & white roses. While everypony was having fun, two ponies were looking rather down. Celestia walked up to them saying, "Why so down my little ponies?" Twilight looked up at her mentor then said, "I… I failed you Princess, you sent me here to learn about thestrals but the events had me studying Nightmare Moon." Alex hugged his Lead mare then said, "I haven't been the best of ponies since I got here. I inadvertently remodeled the local lake when I arrived, got three mares pregnant because of my pheromones, & I illegally got a job because I'm not a citizen of Equestria." Celestia smiled and said, "For the question of citizenship, the moment you joined a herd with six citizens, you became a citizen." She looked at Twilight saying, "You have nothing to be ashamed of, in fact I'm proud of you. Without prompting you made friends and started a family." "Captain, you have nothing to worry about." Tempe said happily now standing next to Twilight my little sis and I -" Tempe said nudging her unicorn doppelganger are actually going to stick around. "Little sis?" Twilight questions not agreeing at all to the idea but thinking it was something nice. "Whenever I had the Nightmare knocked out, I would dream walk and typically I'd follow you around since even though you-" Tempe started but just the mention of what she did caused Twilight to realize something. > Sunrise > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Tempe?!" Twilight explained remembering her imaginary friend that would follow her around, having shown up after she was accepted into Celestia's school where she truly became friendless outside of a few acquaintances and had started daydreaming of what would have been like for her to be a princess. "That was you! You were the one that helped me with so much keeping me calm and helping me study! You were around so often that we started calling each other sisters because of how we looked even though you had the wings." Upon saying this out loud Twilight hugged her alicorn doppelganger glad to finally meet the person she thought was imaginary. "Of course you're my big sis if not by blood then by bond just as Spike as my son thank you for helping me realize that early on!" "Hey you weren't the only one learning through those trips, it's how I became able to speak modern dialects and how Nightmare was able to pick it up too from hearing it from me." Tempe said happily hugging Twilight back. "I'm glad that I straightened up your bond between Spike and you considering you truly are his mother." "So you're the person Twilight always mentioned when she came home during the weekends." Shining Armor said approaching the group, a stern look on his face, though none of the others could sense it, Tempe spread her wing blocking Alex from Shining. "Armor, don't even think about harming him you harm him you harm two of my sisters!" She growled indicating that she already knew about Cadance and believed that Celestia had made her Luna's legal daughter after thinking that she had killed the foal that Luna had on her back when she was banished as the Nightmare, a surprisingly accurate assessment. The comment about harming Cadance caused Shining to stop cold. "What are you talking about?" Walking up to Shining, Tempe whispered in his ear, "He's connected to love just like my sister Cadance, just like her." "Oh crapbaskets," he muttered, realizing what she was implying. "When will he? Can you tell?" "At the same time as you I can think, as long as you keep up in the sheets." She teased. This caused Shining to break out in the tomato red blush. "Don't tell Twilight she doesn't know yet." "Tell her soon, and don't wait for the you-know-what to get started to do so. Trust me she wouldn't appreciate not knowing till the last moment. And remember she never learned Cadance's full name so don't use it in the invitation at least. If you're going to send one make it a personalized one." She said before walking back to the group of seven eight now that Spike had joined them from the library. "What were you talking about?" Rarity asked, trying to get some gossip from the princess who apparently was Twilight's sister. "No gossip for now, it's time to celebrate. My mom's returned. I'm back and I'm fully grown so I've messed about a thousand and one birthdays, and my family is whole again with some new additions as well. So don't spoil it with gossip." Tempe replied. "Yeah don't be a party pooper Rarity we have a lot of reasons to celebrate and right now we all need to get back in it!" Pinkie Pie said as she pulled Rarity over to the hastily setup party games where her sister Sweetie Belle was throwing darts at balloons. Pinkie sat next to Applejack & Rarity asking "So are you two going to allow Alex to put a foal in you two when mating season rolls around? I plan to." The pink earth pony looked to the farm pony and the fashionista. "Ah don' rightly know how good a mother I'll be but considering how Apple Bloom has turned out, I'll go all out. Though I'm not looking forward to foaling, but I know Ah won't be alone raisin' any foals." Applejack said with a small smile. Rarity thought about it and was considering waiting a year. But when Sweetie Belle came to her, dragging a large stuffed dragon plushy. " "Here Rarity." The filly chirped happily. "Why thank you Sweetie." She said. "What's this for?" The little unicorn began prancing in place as she replied, "it's for the foal you're going to have after the season you act weird." The little unicorn looked at her with a sad kitten face. Rarity blushed as she realized that her little sister once again showed how perceptive she was. "Th-thank you Sweetie." She said, "How thoughtful." The white filly pranced happily away. Rarity looked at her herd mates and said "That look should be carefully monitored as a deadly weapon. Looks like the herd will grow by six total. Provided none of us don't have twins or more." Celestia got everpony's attention before announcing, "My Little Ponies! I am happy to announce that the parasite that transformed my sister into Nightmare Moon has been purged and my Sister Princess Luna will after some convalescence resume her duties as princess of the night. And allow me to introduce her daughter, Princess Tempest Draconian Flare!" She stepped aside and motioned for mother & Daughter to join her. After joining it Luna on stage Tempe was suddenly overcome with nerves having finally realized that there were more than just Alex's heard around since she had stayed towards the fringes of the party with Pinkie pie knowing that she had been isolated and and fighting for most of her life Pinkie had waited for introductions until she felt comfortable. "H-hi everypony!" She said before turning and burying her face in Luna's shoulder embarrassed at just how bad her stage fright was considering she'd fought the environment of literal nightmares for a millennia straight. Luna smiled and gave her a side winghug then kissed her forehead whispering to her, "I'm so proud of you Tempe." Celestia couldn't help an indulgent grin at the sight. Then turned back to the crowd before clearing her throat and announcing, "But let's not forget those who with being asked went forth, confronted, and purged the Nightmare from my Sister and as a result released her daughter from her lonely vigil. Please give a hand to the Viator-Sparkle herd!" At that everypony began to applaud and made a path. All seven of them made their way upto the stage. There was a delay as Rarity arranged the group to be presentable with Alex behind and to one side of the mares. Celestia then continued, "For their Patriotic service to Equestria I hereby dub this herd as the order of Knights Elemental. Now I have one last thing to do, Alexandre Viator-Sparkle step forward." Alex stepped up to stand in front of the Princesses then saluted. He hoped it wouldn't take too much time as he was feeling tired. Celestia then said, "Alex, for your service to the crowns of Equestria in restoring my family I hereby cede Old Cantorlot castle and everything within to you as every stallion's herd needs a home." Shocked and happy Alex unknowingly went down in Equestrian history as the first first Thestral citizen to bow to Celestia. Which was caught by a lucky photographer from a Manehattan newspaper called the Daily Bugle. Alex started walking to a nearby bench intending to lay down and take a nap when somepony took his arms and began to guide him towards Sugarcube Corner. "Your dead on your feet dearie so we're taking you to Pinkie's room so you can get some sleep." The motherly voice of Mrs Cake said reassuringly. Alex was laid down on Pinkie's bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow he fell asleep. > Earth? Was it a Dream? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alex Viator: The Alicorn king By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Alex woke slowly. Stretching with a yawn and looking at his arm. "WHAT THE FUCK!" He shouted at the sight of his bare arm. He himself looked over and looked about the room he found in and realized it was his own room. "I'm human and back in my room." He said in bewilderment. "Was the time I spent in Equestria a healing dre…" Suddenly, the door to the guest room which was either used for guests, as a nursery or extra bedding for medical emergencies, opened and eight young women and two ladies entered his room. As if responding to the sound the door leading into his room burst open and the ancient looking Dr Jones, his son, and his mother her hands glowing with restrained power. "Doc! Bro! Mom!" Alex shouted before rocketing into his Mother's embrace. As mother and son embraced, the ten Equestrians talked amongst themselves. "Where on Equis are we?" "Wh-wh-what happend to us?" "Who's the old guy?" "What's happened to us?" "What're they wearing?" "Grandma dammit not this world again!" Tempe exploded causing all the others to look at her. "What?! The dreamscape is multiversal and as you learned I can physically appear in other universes when someone is daydreaming." "A'hh was wondering why you said "Grandma" damn it." "Same" "Yepperoni!" "Mm-hmm" "Ah, Faust is my grandmother kind of can't really use her name as an insult or a curse when it's your direct family member." "Son, you better explain who these people are and why the heck you've been missing for two and a half months!" Indy asked. "To others we can put it off as you getting caught in some trap and getting lost in the jungle after getting out but I know that you were caught in something supernatural after all I can still feel the psychic after effects of that crown thanks to my time wielding the Crystal skull." "You met the dimension wanderers?!" Luna exclaimed. "I'm surprised you're still sane, their psychic might can drive one to madness." "So that's what he meant by space between spaces that tricky bastard Ox" Mutt AKA Henry Jones III said. "I'd always suspected that's what he meant but he never really went into full detail about it." "Sanity is a relative thing. After my forced psychic awakening from looking into their skull I've always felt a little off and having cancer doesn't help" Jones said. "I've been gone for two and a half months?!" Alex said in shock. Then with a sigh saying as he facepalmed, "Buhe damn it. If I run into that chimera, I'm going to either beat him to a pulp or jam a lead pipe down his throat." He then looked at his mentor and opened his mouth to say something when, "Hewascatapultedintoourworldafterbeingturnedintoathestralpony.gotajobrestoringathousandyearoldcastle.gotmarriedtotwilightapplejackfuttershyrainbowdashrarityandmyself.helpedourruler'ssister&daughterdefeatanevilparasitewithourhelp.ohandhegottwilightrainbowdashandfluttershypregnant." said the young woman with extremely curly pink hair on one breath. Everyone stared at her with shock before Alex pointed at her saying, "What she said." Dr Jones & Son looked at the extremely curly Pink haired girl trying to figure out what she said, but Alex's Mother squealed happiness, shoved Alex aside and hugged three of the young women. "H-how'd she understand what that girl said?" Mutt asked bewildered. "Blame Aunt Becky." Alex stated. "She tends to talk that way when excited. Believe me that's almost all the time." With a sigh Alex watched with a small grin as his mother hustled all ten Equestrians out of the room. He then looked to Indy who grinned and handed a small packet. "Take the test within and give it back." His mentor told him. "If you get more than sixty percent I'll give you your archeology degree and you'll be an archaeologist." Alex opened the packet and began taking the test. Meanwhile, Mrs Viator led them through the house to the sewing room. The moment she opened the door Rarity's eyes lit up. Opposite the door was a sewing machine and a quarter of a wall with small cubbies with spools of thread of every color. On the right wall were more cubbies with bolts of color some of which she had never seen before and on the left wall were shelves with orderly piles of clothes. Next to the sewing machine was a cabinet with drawers one inch thick. There were several mannequins of various sizes, one of which seemed to be heavily unrealistic with its dimensions but in truth was for a woman who was a rare oddity, and enough chairs to seat everyone and a fitting stage complete with mirrors in the room and still enough room for everyone. "Oh MY Celestia." Rarity said in awe, though Celestia coughed into her hand. "You're a Fashionista?" Mrs Viator chuckled as replied, "Seamstress and not professionally." She removed the tape measure from the cabinet's top self. "But you tend to pick up the skills, especially when your mother-in-law forces you to and the family you've married into is so large that they have to hold a reunion four times a year and have to host the fourth near the end of the year." Rarity looked at Mrs Viator with admiration before asking, "May I use this room? I have no wish to impose on your generosity as you have been most accepting." "I have to ask who is that one for?" Tempe asked, pointing to the overly busty and curvy mannequin. "Those kinds of dimensions are normal in our world, especially with my aunt here." Pointing to Celestia who nearly matched the measurements if not the height of the mannequin since Celestia was a head and a half taller than that at nearly 7 ft. "But I don't think that people have milk mares here." Mrs Viator took a look at The mannequin in question then asked "The large breasts or height?" She walked Up to the displaced fashionista and began to measure her. As she did her hands began glowing and a table floated into view and a small like thing started drawing Rarity's form over an androgynous outline. The alicorns and unicorns notice a familiar feeling from Mrs Viator's spellwork. "Huh? Why is she using Uncle Discord's magic?" Tempe said quietly but everyone else heard. "Who is Discord sweetie?" Mrs Viator. "A Grand Chimera and an immortal one of the few that has had a decent amount of contact with my mom and my aunt due to the nature of his magic he's not always 100% sane because of this he wants to go over the world when order and his twin brother Accord another Grand Chimera and immortal on the same level of power as him had driven him completely mad." Tempe explained pointing to Luna and Celestia when mentioning them directly. "He represents chaos and change, one half of Harmony. The thing order has to be tempered by for the world to maintain itself. I see both him and his brother as uncles since they represent concepts just like myself, my mom, Aunt Tia and my little sister Cadance." "Chimera?" Their host asked. "As in a mishmash of different animals?" The air in the room began to vibrate. "I have to make a correction in your thinking," Tempe said noticing that Fluttershy was going to try to make this correction herself after having learned during the party the night before that she was an expert on wildlife, "we have chimeric creatures a specific creature called a chimera and then there are Grand chimeras. A Grand Chimera is a creature that's made up of multiple species that has its own full sentience and incredibly powerful magic typically there of one species a draconequus, something that looks like a wingless Eastern dragon made up of multiple species although in this case he has a bat wing and a bird wing respectively." Mrs Viator then did something no one there expected or believed anything other than an alicorn could. Use the RCV, "BUHE!!!" Every piece of glass in the room became covered in a web of cracks. The tablet then flew at fast enough to shatter after flying past a cowering Fluttershy. The equestrians watched as their host started doing a breathing exercise that Twilight recognized. A British voice spoke up. "Replacement mirrors and tablet on order Madam and maintenance golems are enroute." Mrs Viator replied. "Thank you Walter and don't forget to send a thank you message to Mr Stark. Now Ms Rarity I seem to have to be a poor host and ask you to make the clothing for everyone, including my son, as that tablet was a gift that can't yet be found. I'm heading to the kitchen to fix dinner." "There is no need for that! Twilight mind helping me out with this?" Tempe asked preparing a certain spell that Twilight had learned thanks to her son's flammable breath. Twilight nodded knowing exactly what Tempe was planning, activating the repair spell, surprising the rest save Celestia as everything that had been broken in the last 10 minutes rapidly repaired itself including the tablet. "That's how you do an alicorn level repair spell!" Tempe said, holding her fist out. Twilight bumped her fist to Tempe's. Just then a taxidermy Bear dressed as a maid walked in, looked about, then thumped its way out. "Was that a stuffed bear dressed like a maid?" A disbelieving Rainbow asked, freaked out. Fluttershy followed the bear not exactly realizing it was stuffed considering her friend Harry. "You've seen Harry do chores around my house is it unbelievable that there'd be someone like that here?!" She called out surprising everyone at her excitement and volume. "Mrs Viator-Sparkle, that was Harriet a former Circus bear that master Johnathan loved but was abused by by it's trainer. The poor bear was killed after it killed its trainer after he attempted to kill Master Johnathan." "But I can still hear her heart, how is she-?!" Fluttershy asked devastated at hearing the bear had already been killed yet her senses, especially her abilities with animals, told her that the things still lived, that its soul was still within its body and it was happy to do as it was helping the family that had protected it. "Harriet is one of the golems that we have in our employ, the family has a variety of actual taxidermied animals that are maintenance and security golems for the house, all of them have the soul of their former living inhabitants within them. Basically they are ghosts possessing their old bodies. Their unfinished business is pretty much helping the family that protected them after they were rescued. 40 years ago the family started up a rescue for abused and mistreated animals. It was only closed down 5 years ago after the last rescue died and passed on. What's left are the golems who serve willingly until they feel that they've given everything they can for the family that protected them. I control my own separate golems of Egyptian make." Walter explained as Fluttershy started to tear up but realized that it wasn't cruel that the animals were giving back for the joy they had in life. "The possessed go on to gain a decent amount of intelligence and pretty much can respond like a normal person save for their own biological limitations." The bear returned with a tray with ten glasses of lemonade and set it down on a small table and walked out. Fluttershy making a devastated face barely resisting the urge to run and hug the creature even knowing that the bear enjoyed what it was doing. Walter nodded to her pleased she was accepting then looked at Rainbow Dash. "Mrs Viator-Sparkle, if your bored you can work out in Master Alexandre's gym across the hall. Those of you of the scolery pursuit next door is the Family Library." Meanwhile, Mutt and Indy had been grilling Alex when he asked them about the Crown. "So what happened to it after the lightening alicorn took me away." Dr Jones looked up and said, "I spent a weekend in jail under suspicion of your murder. But the charges were dropped when your mother Threatened to sue the police. The crown was placed in evidence lockup for the investigation and there were three attempts to steal it. You should know that that thing glows like lit phosphorus to anyone with even the slightest hint of psychic sensitivity. I was suffering from a constant headache while in jail since they had taken the crown when arresting me." He said. "I wouldn't be surprised if some of our old enemies tried going after it." "This crown you speak of, is it made of solid gold with intricate runic designs on the inside of it?" Celestia said as she walked in wearing a simple white gown that seemed to flow with her as she moved. "My sister and I left a deconstructed artifact here the last time we visited this world that when put together would be a crown that would temporarily boost our magical abilities and allow us to return home safely without use of a mirror." Dr Jones nodded. "It was found among a few hundred golden artifacts that were being collected by a modern day tomb robber who called himself Dr Caballeron." Suddenly the room temperature rose 10 degrees as heat began shimmering off of Celestia. "Who did you just mention?!" "Sister, I sensed a massive increase of your magic, what's going o-?!" Luna started as she rushed into the room pins still sticking out of the midnight purple fabric wrapped around her. "Oh no!" She said seeing the heat visibly radiating off of Celestia. The younger of the two sisters turned to Dr Jones Mutt and Alex. "What did you do?! What did you tell her that made her this angry?!" Alex who was glad he hadn't put anything on over his briefs replied, "Doc mentioned Dr Caballeron, some guy who claims to be an archaeologist but in reality is a tomb raider. Who has never won when I got involved. YIPE!" The room's temperature rose again at the mention of the Doctor's name. Celestia's eyes now having turned Orange and pupils slitted, "Don't mention him again!" She growled, her voice guttural as if she was barely holding back to unrelenting rage. "I take it you know the guy." Indy said his nonchalant attitude quickly diffusing the lit bomb that was the solar alicorn, temperature returning to normal as her anger dissipated. "I'm sorry it's just he's the greatest mistake I ever made. My school gave him his doctorate in pony archeology making him a legit man of science as you would call him." Celestia said with a sour expression on her face "before the girls awoke to the elements I created a secret organization to protect the world from threats that could not be taken care of by me lest they become public knowledge. One of my best agents, a certain Miss Doo, has fought against him on our side of the mirror time and time again saving us from world ending situations which she publicizes in her autobiographies which are thought to be fiction. To know he has access to a stable portal to this world and has gone after artifacts in this world of similar power is well. It's infuriating. I'm glad that my future nephew has been a protector just like Miss Doo has." Mutt was looking outside in the general direction of the sun and saw how the sun seemed to be straining. "Uh lady?" he said. "Could you tone down your hocus pocus? We kind of like our sun in one piece." Alex looked like he had been told the solution to a frustrating puzzle. "So that's who he was talking about when shouted at me, 'Curse you & Daring Doo. I shall get my revenge.'." "DARING DOO!!!" Twilight yelled as she rushed into the room alongside Rarity who quickly grabbed Luna's arm dragging her back to the now dubbed "creation room" to finish the nearly completed simple dress she had started. "I heard Mom's most popular series. Are we gossiping about the next issue? Oh please tell me you have some details that my mom hasn't shared with me?!" > So this is Earth. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Lady Velvet has not notified me about any details on the next issue Twilight. We were just discussing how much Dr Jones' or Indy as he likes to be called, now his own adventures heavily resemble the stories of the famous character." Celestia replied. "Twilight's mother publishes the stories about Daring Doo along with doing some editing for them. Her own family is of minor nobility but both Twilight Velvet and Night Light do other jobs to supplement their inheritance and stretch it out for the next generation. "Don't you mention it there were some books that Alex had brought back once that have those titles. I didn't think much of it at the time considering I thought it was just something he bought while in England but…" Mutt said, "let me just go get them." The 25-year-old looking 50-year-old left the room to go over to a storage closet where he found an odd looking rucksack that held multiple books with the title Daring Doo on the cover. "Found them!" He shouted as he came back in. "I take it you took this rucksack off of that dude about a year ago, I took the liberty of looking through it just in case it might have been trapped after you left or might have had clues to where you went. All I found were these books." "Bro you're lucky the reason you did that as you were looking for clues to where I went is the only reason I am not decking you." Alex said with irritation. After taking a deep breath then said, "Goldskull shoulder and I crossed paths four times. The first was time he was after the Key of the Library of Atlantis. Neither of us got it as it fell into the ocean right over the Challenger Deep. The second he was after the Twilight Compass, a compass that could lead you to ANY destination." Alex sighed unfortunately I was forced to destroy it as I shot it with an arrow and the arrow and it fell into an active volcano." "The third time the two of you caused a lot of damage in the Smithsonian." Indy said with wry grin. "Good thing your family is loaded." Alex shrugged. "He was attempting to steal the Hope Diamond." He simply said. "He claimed it was a lost Equestrian treasure. Well I didn't know of Equestria at the time and I wasn't going to stand by and let him steal from THE national museum of all time. I kicked him into a mirror which he fell through like a pool. His goons jumped through as well and the mirror went poof. Museum security caught me after that." "The compass, was it all black?" Celestia asked, remembering a certain artifact Daring Doo had given her. "The Hope diamond was not an Equestrian artifact but a Draconian artifact from the dragon lands. The gem it was cut from had been placed deep in the ground by dragons who once crossed over into your world. They did so to hide hordes in a place where other dragons couldn't easily find it. I do not know how he learned about that ancient practice as it had been banned when the second to last known stable portal had been destroyed on my order." "Well that explains the myths of dragons from all over the planet they came from your world." An older gentleman said as he walked into the room. "I suspected that was true but never really got any answers from the dimensional wanderers." "Ox!" Mutt said as he hugged the English gentleman. "Where'd you go this time!?" "Started a career as an actor! You'd be surprised how being near unable to age helps in that regard." He replied. "A benefit and gift of being exposed to the skull as long as the four of us were along with returning it." Looking to Celestia, Alex nodded as he replied, "Black as midnight." "That volcano had a portal or one opened temporarily as I was able to acquire a black compass that pointed to my heart's desire." Celestia said. "I shall not say what it pointed to, just that it truly surprised me." "Your Solar Majesty, do you have it now?" Alex asked urgently. "It must be stored in a secure vault or destroyed for the safety of the World." At the look of confusion of the solar diarch Dr Jones added, "What the kid's saying is that compass could be used to find hidden national treasures, locations of artifacts that are too dangerous to be found or ancient weapons of mass destruction." "Yeah. Little Miss Nazi Commie could've found El Dorado with that compass." Mutt chipped in. "My apologies," Walter, a spirit bound to the estate, said with concern as he appeared. "But some of the shabtis have alerted me to several individuals approaching the manor. One of them appears to be speaking Russian and wearing the clothes that Mr Mutt has as a 'helmet haircut'. I have activated the security enhancements so no psychic or magical abilities can be used within the manor." Walter then created an image of Irina Spalko. Father and son tensed at the sight of her. Irina walked up to the front door of Traveler's Rest with disdain. All of the Egyptian statuary told her the family's capitalist decadence and it made her sick to her stomach. The forty Colombian mercenaries she had acquired looked about nervously as they kept claiming the statues seemed to be watching them. "No somos bienvenidos. Este lugar quiere que nos vayamos." One of them says nervously. "No saldrá nada bueno si seguimos adelante." "SILENCE!" She shouted. "We are here for Dr Jones and the crown. Whatever treasures you aquire are yours provided we get them both." She stormed up to the front door, which swung open on it's own, scaring some of her forces. "Some of you stay out here." She ordered. She then entered with 30 mercs following her. They entered the foyer, it was a large room that had two levels with the second accessed by two curling staircases. Irena was shocked to see that instead of the guard display of capitalist decency, there was serial tasteful couches and coffee tables and a humble looking chandelier. With a growl of frustration she loudly ordered, "spread out and search the manor. Dr Jones and the crown are here somewhere, FIND THEM!" "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE." A loud voice came from the second level. Turning everyone one the first level saw a woman dressed in khaki pants and tan shirt glaring at them. Irena responded, "I'm Irena Spalko of the Soviet Union and we're here to ask Dr Jones to accompany us and acquire a recently discovered crown. You would be wise to surrender him & it if you value your health." The woman seemed to get agitated before answering, "I am Abigail Victoria Viator nae Robert's! Mistress of Traveler's Rest and Dr Jones is a welcome guest, while you and those who came with you are not. I suggest you leave or I won't be held responsible for any lives lost." The mercs opened fire at Mrs Viator, at a signal from Irena. She was protected an invisible force wall andobscured by the dull marble railing being destroyed by automatic weapon fire. When they stopped to reload, the dust settled to reveal she had simply walked into a secret passage as they saw a concealed door finish closing. "What are you fools waiting for? SEARCH THIS PLACE! CAPTURE ANYONE YOU ENCOUNTER AND BRING THEM TO ME!" The nazi communist commanded. The mercy scattered and dispersed into the house. Irena rubbed her temple once her men were out of sight. She was feeling a headache caused not by having minds trying to invade hers but the lack there of. Alex was getting dressed in khaki shorts and shirt. He put a leather belt that had a scabbard on the back. He then pulled out what looked like a bullwhip are with a Dagger attached followed by a Colt Magnum 0.45 Peacemaker in a holster and clipping to right hip. Indy had rushed out of the room Celestia was puzzled as were the herd as they re-entered his room in a hurry. "What's going on?" Rainbow Dash asked, "We heard a lot of explosions." Alex opened his closet and pulled out a Brooklyn Dodgers cap and put it on. "Traveler's Rest has been invaded." He said grimly. "So unless You're going to fight, go into the Guest room." "Give me a target." Tempe growled out, even with Walter's precautions Tempe had noticed that magic inside the body wasn't suppressed. Her fighting instincts screamed at her that the Russian lady still had tricks available based on this fact. "I'll take them out!" Alex nodded as he watched Fluttershy hurry to the guest room. "The Mansion is big and has several deadly traps. Yes Doc, deadly as in killing the victim, don't worry there are enchantments that prevent family & guests from triggering them. Oh Tempe, fight to kill as by attacking Mom with deadly force they have angered the golems." Suddenly the girl was gone, replaced by a dragon as her primal instincts took over and preparatory nature emerged. "The hunt begins!" She said gleefully. "Who was her father again Lulu?" Celestia asked as Tempe raced off. "Heh heh, would you believe me when I said I have no real idea?" Luna responded. "You were there when I found out I was 4 months with foal." Alex walked to the door stopping to say, "Let's go out and exterminate some vermin." Outside on the grounds the ten that stayed outside had broken up into pairs to search. One pair was walking in the remains of what looked like a zoo. "Santa Maria." One said. "What did they keep in those cages Padro?" When his partner didn't respond he turned to look and saw a statue wearing his friend's clothes looking down. His courage leaving him, he turned to leave to stop and stare at a bizarre scaly chicken. The "chicken" looked at him and everything went dark. Inside, a merc was walking through a room full of statues. He stopped to look at a statue That resembled a black panther with two extra legs and barbed tentacles on its shoulders. "Ese es un gato grande y feo." He said before walking off as he walked off he didn't notice the "statue's" eyes opened revealing red slitted orbs and the tentacles begin moving. It got up and started stalking the merc. Its image distorted briefly as if it wasn't directly anchored to its physical form. A little later the merc was walking down a dark corridor with paintings along the wall when a low, hungry growl sound. Turning he saw two red eyes. With a terrified yell he pointed his assault rifle and opened fire, holding down the trigger until his magazine was empty. At first he didn't see the eyes and he breathed a sigh of relief. Relief that was premature as the eyes reappeared and a low angry growl. The merc unknowingly had the worst possible luck as the creature was a displacer beast an other planer predator who image was off to one side of it's physical form, making it extremely hard to target ranged attacks and out of the entire magazine only one bullet hit, making it close it's eyes and making it angry. Turning tail the merc ran for his life. He dashed down the corridor until he the displaced beast caught him. Both fell on a section of floor which opened up and dropped both of them into a sixty foot pit. Though the merc survived the fall, he didn't survive the beast. Unfortunately for the beast the walls began to closed sealing it's doom. Fortunately for the family it had been ordered destroyed by the local courts for eating the mailman. Another Merc was wandering around the halls of the manor and where he heard a childish giggle. "Mother fucker why did I have to join up with this particular group!" She muttered, one of the very few mercenaries who had learned English perfectly so that they could deal with multinational clients. Quickly turning she saw a dark silhouette which disappeared just as rapidly. "Keep calm, I'm one of the very few women to have gone into this elite group and that is for damn good reason!" This confidence lasted all of the 10 seconds before she heard another giggle right behind her turning around the concious thing she saw a fist as it slammed into her face knocking her out. "So they did it again." Dr Jones muttered as he looked at the somewhat familiar face. "I really hope she didn't do what he did." Indy sighed and took her in a fireman's carry and said, "Lady you may not know this but you're lucky I ran into you. Otherwise you'd either dead or worse." "You're lucky I was distracting her" Tempe said as she faded back into visibility. "And we're lucky that I figured out my innate abilities from my dad still working." "Yeah stuff within the body works Walter did say that that was the one limitation: anything outside of oneself won't work but anything that works within the body even with the suppression Fields will." "Having a hippocampi for a father is interesting considering their innate transformation ability." Tempe muttered. A group of three entered a room full of stuffed animals. The fact some of the animals were dressed up weirded them out. "Que viste a los animales como una criada, un mayordomo y un sheriff de todas las cosas." One says. One who looked like Edward James Olmos looked closely at a stuffed orangutan, who resembled Clyde from "Any Which Way You Can/Loose", dressed up like a butler holding out his hand. "Escuché que esta familia solía administrar un zoológico para animales salvajes maltratados. Los cuidaron bien." He commented. "Supongo que los rellenaron después de que murieran. The third, a Hispanic American, snorted. "So what?" He groused. "They're typical gringos. They have so much money that they waste it on a private zoo then dress up the stuffed remains." He took a banana he snagged from a table and put it into the hand of the orangutan saying, "Keep the change Jeeves." In a taunting tone and laughed. The one who mentioned the zoo looked at the bear dressed as a maid and froze as he watched the bear slowly move it's head and forecast. He quickly looked towards the gorilla dressed like an old west sheriff and saw it's arms slowly up. Both his companions were laughing too hard to notice. Dropping his assault rifle he turned to run and froze as the "Butler" had crossed it's arms and was glaring at him. He passed out as the "maid" and "shariff" grabbed hold of his companions and hugged them to death. Tempe had reached the main group of mercs; this group stayed with Irena to make sure that they were paid. “Too easy.” the alicorn/hippocampi hybrid said as she rushed through the group the mercs reacted quickly trying to shoot her but if anyone had the chance they would have noticed that each bullet didn’t peirce her skin. One merc dropped his weapon when and just moved his with the force of her blow. He slowly looked at the hybrid and grinned a toothy smile. A sharp toothy smile. "No niña inteligente." He said as he began to bulk up, and change form. “Ah Crapbaskets.” Tempe said as she began to focus on her own powers actually transforming herself matching the Merc as her intimidating illusion from before becoming a reality. “Your not the first or the last Nightmare i’ve slain prepare-” she began to say before Irena used her cattleprod to knock Tempe out. "TEMPE!" Alex shouted before four Mercs had their throats cut as Alex's Dagger-whip cracked. Irina placed her Rapier against Tempe's throat saying, "Unless you cease all resistance, I will end this girl's life. Now reveal yourselves my blade is thirsty." One by one every one of the defenders stepped into view. She smirked as she said, "Nice to see you again Dr Jones. Now if you'll be so kind as to join us, we can get down to business." Irina commented. “Not likely,” Tempe muttered as she woke up having connected Walter in her dreamscape. “NOW!!!!” With a sudden BOOM!!! everyone in the room found themselves teleported to the peruivan jungle Irina and her group stuck in quicksand as Tempe escaped in the confusion. “Thanks Walter sorry my plan was ad-hoc.” She muttered as she ran looking for Alex and her herd. > Welcome to Earth > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Whoa!" Indiana cried out as he found himself in mid air, the nearest branch/tree out of reach. He fell a couple of feet before Rainbow Dash caught him midair. "You ok?" She asked the Doctor of archeology. Indy nodded and said "Thanks Rainbow.” then the Adventurer looked around, noticing the hight. “Uh are we flying?" Rainbow, not realizing or understanding there was a problem, replied nonchalantly, "Yeah. Kinda fun." "Uh… Rainbow, Humans can't fly as we don't… have… wings" the old Archaeologist replied, becoming spooked as he saw azure ethereal wings attached to his rescuers back. Rainbow brought the old adventurer down and landed. The moment she touched the ground, her wings vanished. “Huh guess the angel myth might be true after all” Mutt said as he approached. “Didn’t think I’d wind up here again though" "What does that monster of a hare have to do with a myth?" The rainbow haired athlete asked. "An angel is a lovely site to behold." Alex said as he landed, his ethereal bat-like wings disappearing as he put Applejack down. Still in her transformed state Tempe was able to track down her group by smell but instead of revealing herself since Fluttershy wasn’t nearby Tempe kept to herself worried for the potential medic. “Hopefully Walter didn’t send her with us but my plan was quick.” "He didn't." Pinkie said from behind Tempe. "She was in the guestroom, not the Foyer." The pink haired young woman commented. "We should join the others and find out what's going on." "Look, join them if you want. I'm going to keep to the shadows." Tempe said, patting the earth pony girl on the shoulder. "I was too cocky earlier so I'm going to do as I did with Nightmare and do hit-and-run tactics. Plus when I look like this I get hungry for certain things and well I know that humans can easily digest what I get hungry for. I don't think the others want to see me chewing on a boar leg." "Suit yourself." The Pinkette replied before disappearing as mysteriously as she arrived. At the quick sand, Irina and five of the mercs had survived, the others we're gunned down. "Why did we kill the others?" The werewolf asked. Irina gave him a deadpan look as she replied, "All of them spoke only Spanish. If they lived one of you would've had to translate which would cause a delay. In the jungle delays mean death." She then walked away. The survivors looked at each other then followed. A few moments later they came to a campsite with seven individuals in it. One was a burly man, dressed like an explorer. He had a Columbian complexion with a golden skull just visible under his shirt. Two of the six were dressed in outfits that belonged in a disco dance club rather than the jungle and one wore sunglasses. One resembles a Scotsman with redish mutton chops and dockworker garb. One was a tall and buff individual dressed in a business suit and an air about him that screamed "Bouncer" and towered above everyone present. Another had an air that screamed Gangster. The final one was relatively short. The most notable thing about him was the fuax leather jacket and yellow-tinted sunglasses. The one had a bit of golden skull looked at Irina. "You're early, does that mean that you have the crown?" Irina gave Caballeron a dark look saying "Nyet. I was somehow sent to this place along these five. But the Viator scion, his mentor, a young man, as well as seven young women were also sent." The sunglasses-wearing thug looked startled and said, "Alex Viator is here. Now we can get even for his turning us into chocolate statues in Belgium." The giant of the group smoked his lips and said, "Mmmm chocolate. One of the more tasty ways we got stopped." Caballeron growled before shouting, "I did not pay Valmont for your services in 50 gold bits to listen to you talk about past failures. Now get going and find the hiding place of the mirror of Latrop H'trae." The three goons jogged away. He then looked at his own henchmen (formally henchponies) and shouted, "What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation?! Get out there and find either it's hiding place or a map to it's hiding spot." His henchmen followed the other three. Back with the herd. Dr Jones, Mutt, and the herd were moving through the jungle when they heard the sound of wings. Looking up they spotted Luna & Celestia coming for a landing. The diarchs of Equestria landed near them the approaching Twilight signaling the day was about to end. "We'd best make camp." Indy said, "That way we can use the stars to get a fix on our location." "Or you could ask the person who created the plan where we are." Tempe said, approaching the group in her draconic form, blood visible on her claws. "I'm surprised you didn't recognize the jungle since your son did Henry." Dr. Jones looked to Mutt "what's she talking about?" "You remember when we drove through the South American jungles and I had to swing out from Vine to vine for a little bit with those monkeys?" Mutt mentioned. "A couple of them found me after we appeared here. It seems they remembered us and led me towards you and Rainbow. We're in the Peruvian jungles near El Dorado." Alex with a mischievous grin asked, "Did you at one point do a Tarzan yell while swinging?" At the sour look from Mutt then added. "Sorry. Couldn't resist the joke. I'm wish Flutters was with us when we made our unplanned trip, she could ask the local animal for help." Just then a crash of thunder and moments later a downpour started. The equestrians screamed in surprise at rainstorm and Rainbow grumbled "Either the local weather team forgot to do a sweep before the scheduled storm was allowed to start or this place is like the Everfree Forest." Alex hugged Rainbow from behind rubbing one hand against one of her breasts. "All of Earth is like Everfree." He said calmingly. “That is why I’m not shaken by the uncontrolled weather there. It’s just normal weather for me.” Rainbow Dash felt the pleasant calming wave his touch caused her "Humans have minor control over the weather thanks to techniques such as cloud seeding and all that have emerged in the last 10 to 20 years." Mutt said, surprising everyone. "What?! I'm a mechanic, one specifically that worked on a few forest fire planes. Cloud seeding was an idea that some of the people had to help prevent forest fires or to reduce their effects on me from the area by reducing how long they last." Alex nods to Mutt’s remark and says, “You humans may have minor control over the weather, but not enough the make accurate schedules.”When his mentor and his brother in all but blood looked at him puzzled, Alex sighed then said, “The lighting alicorn not only took me to Equestria but transformed me into a Thestral Pony.” He then grasped Rainbow's breasts and gave them a squeeze. At the look the pair gave him he said defensively, "She's my wife along with Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, and the missing Fluttershy are my wives. Plus in Ponyville (careful Mutt I'm serious) this is acceptable." "Not when it stains!" Rainbow said as Alex felt two wet spots under his hands. "Rarity only had enough time to make gowns, not anything to support them!" Alex withdrew his hands quickly. “Sorry.” He quickly said. “You’re lactating so soon how far into pregnancy do ponies go before they normally start doing that, and as far as I know because I know you, Flutters, & Twi are only a month into your pregnancies.” “Wait!” Indy said. “You never explained why you have a harem? And now three of them are Pregnant?” Alex sighed, “Ponies have a six to one ratio in births so it’s acceptable for one guy to get married to six lovely ladies. Plus herd is the proper term. The reason they're pregnant is because pony mares go through estrus and my personal musk drove them into it.” "Musk?" Father and son asked Iin puzzlement. "B.O." Alex commented "You know the smell you make after sweating alot?" "Yeah" Indy replied. "Well," Alex began. "Earlier I had just flew a race where me and my chromatic wife and I broke the fucking sound barrier. It was a draw by the way. Well you know Equines, like humans, sweat to cool down, well it seems my body oderis potent enough to drive mares and fillies who’re on the cusp of puberty to enter estrus and if they mate with me they get pregnant. Not may, but WILL get pregnant. As a result eleven months from now my new family will grow by three. Of course I hope we’re back in Equestria by then” “Funny you should mention Equestria Viator.” A familiar male voice called out. Out of the jungle stepped out Dr. Cabaleron, Irina, Cabaleron’s goons, the enforcers, the five surviving mercs, and twenty-six shadowy ninja. “Me and my new friends would like to enjoy the sights." "Yeah how about fuck you!" Tempe said as she got in front of the group before starting to hum. Her eyes began glowing and the Shadow Khan turned their weapons on Cabalron and his goons before a man wearing a green suit's eyes glowed red and he breathed fire on his own ninja. "So a songstress." A rumbling and raspy voice said from the man's mouth. "It is rare to see such another as you, my sister would be pleased to know another one of her kind still exist in this world." "Valmont, have you been following us?!" Irina shouted surprised at the demon sorcerer possessed human who had revealed himself when the Shadow Khan appeared. "As long as the dragon is within my body I can travel as his Shadow Khan does." The man said as his eyes returned to normal "When you called upon them I sensed immense otherworldly magic thanks to my connection to the dragon. it seems my suspicions weren't wrong. Another group like the Chan clan has appeared to get in our way." Valmont adjusted his tie which had come slightly out of alignment from his earlier outburst. "Valmont." Alex growled. "I thought you were still trying to recoup the losses you incurred in Hong Kong. I'll give Dr Chan your regards next… What is it Twilight?" He asked when Twilight touched his shoulder. "That man is radiating dark magic. " "Demonic possession my dear," Valmont said plainly. "An old business partner who in return for some freedom and the ability to use his senses again after a failed attempt to return to his own physical form has given me access to a large amount of his own latent power and the knowledge of the Talismans. "You realize you just made yourself a bad deal." Alex said. "Most willing hosts to demons often end up falling into deep pits, often literally in most cases." As Alex kept Valmont, Irina and Dr Caballeron attention, Indy and Mutt carefully maneuvered everyone so that everyone who had wings could grab one or two of the others and take to the air. Unfortunately, one of the enforcers, Chow, chose that moment to reach out and grab one of Applejack's breasts and give it a squeeze. Applejack grabs Chow's wrist and squeezes. Chow screams in pain as she says, "No one but my stallion's allowed to touch me there so hands off or else." She then tosses Chow into Ratso. Finn took a step back saying, "Uh… Big V Goldielocks just threw Chow into Ratso like he was a ragdoll." "Oh and it gets worse!" Tempe said with a sadistic grin as she inhaled deeply. "Now burn!" With a forceful exhale a wall of black flames appeared in front of the group surprising Valmont that someone else could use Shadow fire. "Do we have enough power to pass through it?" The man asked his friend of a sort. "Sadly we do not, this is potent fire not exactly Shadow fire but close enough should we try to pass through it your body would become Ash in my soul most likely would return to the demon realm and my sister would not like that especially with how fond she is on you. If we had the dragon talisman we would easily be able to pass through it but as we are now neither of us would truly survive it." "Damn it they blocked us off!" One of the equestrian thugs said recognizing the technique. "Draconic blackfire is a powerful barrier technique. I didn't think anyone here would be able to make it, let alone it would be her." "Where did you get this one," Irina asked Caballeron. "They seem smarter than the rest of your thugs." "Surprisingly dear this one is actually my right hand" the doctor explained "you see, looking for dangerous artifacts tends to make you learn about dangerous traps. Usually this one doesn't accompany me and does research and is the public face of my legit businesses. Due to the unique nature of this excursion they were forcibly brought with us. Meet Obscura." Upon hearing their name the androgynous person bowed their head. Alex had an idea on how to get everpony back to Traveler's Rest. He knew he was going to hate himself and his family will lose a satellite vault (a vault that was set before the one under Traveler's Rest was made and finished). He was hoping Shendu suffered from the major flaws of dragonkind, pride, vanity, and greed. He knew Valmont, the enforcers, Dr Cabaleron and his goons suffered from greed so he took a breath and said, “There is a vault filled with gold coins and art objects hidden nearby.” That caused every one save Irina to look at him. "Silly boy, I have control over Shendu's power thanks to his siblings punishing him. I can use most of his strength without worry, even if it's short bursts." Valmont said confidently though muttered the last part under his breath so that only Irina heard it. "Unless your vault stores one of the talismans or another artifact of the demon sorcerers there will be no tricking us." Alex smiles and says, “How can you be sure it doesn’t?" Irina frowned before saying, "Don't even consider it. It most likely has safety measures in it." Everypony save for Alex & Co tenses up. "JAGUARPOUNCESFRO…ERK!" Hak Foo anouces as he attempted to attack Tempe only for the transformed alicorn to manifest her wings and strike the attacking fool in the groin. The red headed enforcer hits the ground clutching his family jewels. Alex looked at Hak Foo, closed his eyes and shook his head in bemusement and said, "Hak Fool you didn't learn a thing." "Dragon breaks Jaguar." Tempe said calmly. "Let's get out of here that flame barrier is more than enough to give us time and if anything that vault will be too tempting for the others save Valmont and Irina." With a Cheshire grin Tempe began walking through the jungle Luna following her daughter and Twilight her sister. > Welcome to Earth pt 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alex and the rest of them follow, with Alex jogging up the front so he could spot the hidden markers and find the vault. It took a couple of hours and it was beginning to look like time had destroyed the markers despite the preservative treatments and spells put on them. "I think the vault that we're looking for is lost." He said glumly. Indy looked at the young man in sympathy and Mutt asked, "How'd you lose an old vault?" "Time." Indy said. "If enough time passes any markers that were used to find it would gradually be worn down if no one maintained them." "Which also means we also have to be careful where step. The surface above may have been worn thi…" Alex began before Twilight yelped as the ground collapsed from underneath her hooves. "AHHHH OOF!" She cried out as she fell the height of of the top shelves of the Golden Oaks Library onto the top of a huge pile of gold the slide to the bottom. "I'm okay!" She called out. "We'll that's one way to find it." Applejack wryly said "If you had followed me because I can literally sniff it out-" Tempe said as she carried Rarity bridal style down to the bottom of the pile still in her dragon/siren form. "You wouldn't have had to fall on your ass." "Vulgar language aside darling, they really should have listened to you after all from our few trips to the gem fields. I know Spike can sniff out gems underground almost as well as my spell can detect them." The pale seamstress said as she kissed Tempe on the cheek. "I was keeping pace with you." Alex said defensively as he landed carrying Dr Jones down as well. "I didn't know you were trying to sniff out the gold, but was keeping look out for the markers. Which was destroyed by time. Plus it was just bad luck the weather weaken ceiling collapsed under Twilight. You're Okay Twilight?" After Twilight nodded as everyone entered the breached vault. Alex walked over to fifteen kegs that appeared to be made of metal then said "Rarity, a wedding gift to you. Fifteen kegs filled to the brim with Atlantean Stargems salvaged from the bottom of the sea during the 1400s by an sea elven ally visiting our world. Please use them sparingly and don't let Spike eat them all as these are all that ever be since Atlantis sank." "Wait!" Indy said in surprise. "Atlantis was real?!" Alex looked at his mentor before deadpanning, "you visited El Dorado which is just as legendary and the fact Atlantis is real shocks you?" "Not entirely." Indy admitted. "I thought that that was a rumor after the whole eldorado incident I heard that another bunch of Nazi remnants were looking in Antarctica for the lost city of Atlantis and we're stopped by an old acquaintance of mine from NUMA. It turns out that the majority of the Antarctic continent had been in the middle of the Atlantic during the time of Atlantis and that it rapidly shifted due to a cataclysmic earthquake caused by a meteor strike breaking the crust. For the longest time not everyone believed it to be a rumor that sprung up in the 70s to know that there were other signs and artifacts of the continent that now proves that Dirk found it." "I'm going to have a stern talking to the the family members that are working for government agencies about keeping the family informed about groups like the Nazis were looking for Atlantis." Alex grumbles. "But knowing the Nazis those family members that had found out were probably been killed before they could. And in case you're wondering, my family has been around for 15,000 years. Meaning we were around for 3,000 years before Atlantis sunk 12,000 years ago." Rarity then asked, "What were these Stargems used for?" Alex got thoughtful before answering, "I've read the high quality ones were used to enhance the clothes of nobility, the class use the medium quality for the same purpose. The low quality ones were used to fuel airships." He then thought for a moment then started walking deeper into to the vault. The group followed. At one point Alex picked up a pair of odd blades and said, “I don’t know what these blades are for but they look like they fit over the leading edge for pegasi wings.” he then handed them to Rainbow Dash, “Happy wedding day.” The chromatic mare looked at the blades in surprise both for the gift and the fact Alex had them in a family vault. "These are Pegasopilian wing blades and runically enchanted, how did your family get a hold of these?" Alex smiled as he replied, "A relative nearly got flattened by what initially thought was a meteor. After he dug himself out, he went into the crater and found a skeleton of a pegasus with those on the wings. He claimed them and put them in a vault, which had it's contents move to this vault." The group moved towards the back of the vault Alex gave each of the girls a gift that fit the mare. Near the back, they came on a huge trunk/bookcase combo, Alex approached it and touched a rune and it closed. He then pressed another rune six times quickly and it shurk to the size of a large dictionary. He then picked it up and handed it to Twilight, who was staring at it with a hungry look. Behind where it was a rune covered globe. Celestia flew-hopped over to it and said, "This looks like a guardian orb." Alex raised an eyebrow before asking, "Equestria has those too, what were they used for?" "Controlling magical traps to treasure vaults." "Figures." The sound of safeties being switched off alerted the group to the presence of others. "How fortuitous we chose to chase you down. Uh uh uh, no attacking miss. You wouldn't want your friends to gain new holes would you." Valmont said as the five mercs point their AK-47s at the group. Alex stepped protectively in front of the mares. "Congratulations." Alex sarcastically said. "You're the second group to find and enter a Viator family vault that isn't family." Alex then noticed a feeling of building pressure, knowing what was about to happen he did a hand gesture behind his back. Indiana and Mutt started carefully guiding the alicorns and mares back. Luna, a bit confused, asked Mutt in a whisper, "Why art we backing up?" "Alex sometimes has bursts of magical energy." Came the whispered reply. "Random things happen when they occur so Alex came up with signal to warn me and dad when one's comming." Luna was about to reply when everyone in the room (including Alex) was binded by an emerald flash of light. When everypony could see clearly, almost everypony was untouched. Almost. Alex's ears had become slightly larger and pointed. Alex, Celestia, Luna, Rainbow Dash, and Tempe had wings, though Alex's were bat-like and Tempe's were surprisingly holographic though they looked more like dragon wings then an alicorns. And Celestia, Luna, Rarity, Tempe & Twilight had horns. Those equestrians, who were earth ponies had felt an infusion of power but outwardly remained unchanged. "OH MY CELESTIA! MY HORN! THANK YOU DAHRLING" Rarity cried out in joy before running up, pressing her body against a still recovering Alex and giving him a passionate kiss. The enforcers looked confused. "That was unfocused chaos magic." Velmont/Shendu said glaring at Alex. Meanwhile, Alex was trying to keep track of all his uninvited guests. He locked on the werewolf as he began to slowly walk towards a crystal ball with silver flakes suspended inside. When he was next to Indy & Mutt he whispered to them, "When I shout 'run', hall ass back to the hole that was created when Twilight dropped into this place." "Any reason for us to head for the nearest exit?" Mutt asked. "The people that accompanied Irina is are wandering about and stuffing coins & gems into their pockets and one who is giving off a werewolf vibe is grabbing small satuttes and growing closer to one that sits on a trap trigger." "Oh." Alex told the mares the same message. All of them (including Indy & Son) started inching closer to the way they came in. Irina looked about looking for the crown, but when she looked towards the werewolf, he was reaching for what looked like a silver miniature copy of Michaelangelo's David, something started to shout for her to stop him. "Jaun! DO.." She started as the werewolf picked the statuette up. "RUN!" Alex shouted before bolting for the hole made when the ground gave out under Twilight. As the whole party ran, the whole cavern began to shake, Dr Cabaleron & his henchmen followed close behind Alex & Co recalling several times Alex & his nemesis, Daring Doo, had also done mad dashes to escape massive traps after they've been triggered. Valmont gathered the enforcers together before the shadows flowed over them and took them away with whatever treasures they had in their pocket to parts unknown. As they ran, they triggered lesser traps, though no less deadly, along the qway. Most missed them as they were not intended to stop runners. Dr Caballeron and his goons had to go through an obstacle course to get through which slowed them down but they followed the other equestrians. They soon came to the pile of gold, platinum, silver, and copper coins and climbed to the top. Twilight & Rarity levitate Indy & Mutt out followed by Rainbow, Celestia, Luna & Tempe grabbing Twilight, Rarity, Applejack & Pinkie Pie and flew out. Alex spread his wings to fly himself out when, "WAIT! DON'T LEAVE US!!" Somepony cried out looking back he saw Caballeron and his goons running up. Alex sighed and muttered, "I'm going to regret this." He then looked to the rapidly approaching trio and shouted, "Pour on the speed .unless you want a golden grave!" Five minutes later, the herd, royal family of Equestria and four grumpy tied up tomb robbers had watched as the coins were sucked away and out of sight. They walked for a few miles before coming out of the jungle on to a paved road and a stalled flatbed truck with the owner marching around it and cussing it out. Alex put bone headband and walked upto the man and pulled a small sack out of a backpack that Twilight had transfiguration from a large rock and shook it. The jingle of coins made the man grab the sack and look inside. "aquí hay suficiente dinero para llevarnos a mí y a mi familia al norte. Cómo lo conseguiste?" The man asked. "Lo encontré esparcido en el suelo de la jungla en un área que se rumorea que está cerca de la ciudad de oro." Alex responded. "Es tuyo a cambio del camión." "Es un trato. ¡Gracias! ¡Gracias! ¡Gracias!" The man said as he closed the closed the small sack and beat it out of there. "When did you learn Spanish?" Indiana asked as the group walked up to the truck. "Yeah." Mutt added. "When we met you, you only knew a few words." Alex chuckled as he removed the headband. "I just learned some more thanks to this headband, Airheart's Diplomatic Communicator." Both Dr Jones and Celestia reacted in surprise at the name of the Item, especially the first part. "Amelia Earhart disappeared in nineteen-thirty seven attempting to fly around the world. She disappeared without a trace." Celestia nodded then said, "About sixty years ago Herd Dash found and rescued a strange creature on an island a day's flight from San Destrider. The creature was covered in burns, so they took it back to the city. There they found her injuries were life threatening but they were afraid they'd kill her if they had to operate. One of the doctors transformed her into a pegasus and they learned her name was Airheart. Two years later she married into Herd Dash." "Well that was informative." Mutt said as he closed the hood of the truck. "But we have to get back to Traveler's Rest and I don't think we've seen the last of Miss Commie Nazi so we better get moving. Everyone load up so we can roll out." Indy & Mutt climbed into the cab while everyone else climbed into the bed. Dr Caballeron and his goons were tied up and Made to sit with their backs against the cab. They travel through the jungle until they come upon an airfield with a large plane being loaded with big bundles. Mutt hid them behind a thick cluster of palm trees as Indiana pulled out some binoculars out and stared at the scene. "The plane looks like it could reach LAX if we could get control of the plane." He started to lower the binoculars when something caught his attention, or more accurately someone. "Well, well, well, long time no see Hans." Alex looked at his mentor and asked, "Who's Hans?" "Hans Fenrisn, one of Hitler's artifact hunters specializing in obscure and hard to find. Things like Atlantis, El Dorado, the holy grail, the Ark of the covenant, etc. The time he was seen was boarding a ship heading to South America to find the fountain of Youth. Judging from how young he looks it looks like he found it and obviously he found it and decided to keep the location secret" Alex looked at the suave german then said, "He was Belock's boss. I ran into Hans on Madagascar. He was trying to find the island where the Ark of the Covenant was opened in hopes of tracking it down and claiming it for himself. He Learned I was Indiana Jones' apprentice and cornered me in a warehouse." Alex rubbed his jaw remembering the slaps Hans had given him. "Oh dear, darling. You obviously got out of it, but how?" Alex smirked and the two Joneses laughed. "He used the greed and stupidity of the mercs." Alex said with Mutt’s remark. Alex walked over to Celestia and whispered to her. The hidden prankster within Celestia to smile as she made her clothes disappear and approached the mercs. One spell later the group found themselves flying back to Traveler's Rest, USA. When they arrived back Alex's Mother called an old friend in the FBI who came and collected Hans & his drugs. After the natzi was off the grounds and Dr Jones and son left with a final farewell, Alex, his herd mares and Tempe were bedded in Alex's room, while the Royal sisters bedded in a guest room. Mrs Viator sat in her study when Walter phased through the door. "You know they will be gone in the morning Madam." He said. She nodded. "It would seem that my son is destined to start a branch of the family in another reality." She sipped her tea and looked out a window the at an EPT test that showed two lines on it and smiled. "You have picked a nice herd my son. Guard them well." > Alicorn King - Lunar audience > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alex woke up to find himself in the Golden Oaks Library's guestroom and a pony. He smiled and looked to the bedside table and found a brand New fedora and his shoulder bag laying on it. With a smile Alex picked it up and headed down to the kitchen. The twitching near his rear and the fluttering on his back told him that he was back in Equestria, which caused him to smile. He left his clothes currently in a hamper basket put on some shorts. Once he was dressed he went to the kitchen where he found Twilight nursing a cup of coffee. The unicorn looked at him and said, "Ugh. Don't mention food please. My stomach is a little upset." Alex nodded in response. "You're in the first trimester of your pregnancy and so are Rainbow Dash, & Fluttershy. I'm not sure about Applejack, Rarity & Pinkie Pie but…" Alex said before there was a knocking on the door to the library. Alex walked over to the door and opened it. And found himself looking at a wall of red. Looking up, & up, & up. "Luna." Alex said. "You're a big one. Eh. Who're you?" "Death to you," The big stallion said as a fist slammed into Alex's head. "That's for mah Sister, you break her heart I'll follow through." Alex fell unconscious shortly after hitting the floor. When he came to he found himself with his head in Fluttershy's lap hearing a pissed off Applejack shouting, "AH DON'T IF YOAH MY BIG BROTHER OR NOT THAT THAR THESTRAL IS MY HERD'S STALLION!! I'M HALF A MIND TO HAVE APPLE BLOOM MADE APART OF THE HERD FOAH YOUR ATTACKING HIM. NOT TO MENTION GRANNY MIGHT TAN YOAH HIDE FOAH YOAH BEING FOOLISH." Alex sat up and saw the Red stallion that hit him, surrounded by the rest of the herd and a furious Applejack tearing him a new one. "Um… Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked. Big Mac stood firm. "The guy can take it, he's a military trained pony from what I've heard. The only reason he got hurt is because of the fact that he wasn't expecting it. That was a warning, we good sir?" Alex got up and walked up to the red stallion and said, "First, I've been trained from the moment I could walk to be an adventurer which isn't military training. And second," Alex then hovered at eye level with the stallion. "YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME! I AM A THESTRAL WHICH MEANS I AM AS FRAGILE AS A PEGASUS. I AM NOT GRACED WITH STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, TOUGHNESS OF THE EARTH LIKE A MEMBER OF YOUR TRIBE!!!" "Um Alex, Pegasai are more durable than earth ponies by a factor of two." Fluttershy said. "Our bone structure is semi cartilaginous allowing us to absorb far more shock from impacts than even an earth pony such as Big Mac, thestrals carry that trait as well. We don't break bones as easily and I know how strong that Big Mac can punch. He was holding back at least 70% of his full strength when he hit you." "Eyep" Macintosh said in agreement. "And it was more like 95%. I've gotten a bit stronger since you last sparred me, Flutters." That comment surprised Alex since he didn't think that the yellow Pegasus holding him was actually trained in combat. Alex was still mad and walked out of the library saying over his shoulder, "I am gonna fly around to calm down." He spread his wings and took to the air. Rainbow Dash walked by the yellow pegasus saying, "Looks like I better be his wingpony so he doesn't crash." She took to the air. A few minutes later Alex landed in front of Ponyville General. Rainbow landed next and said, "Why did you come here?" "A.J's big brother hit me rather hard and I want to make sure he didn't do lasting damage." Alex replied as he walked in. "Mac said that he in Fluttershy were sparring partners. What's up with that?" "Well I might not have told you but I'm a black belt third dan in karate Fluttershy actually is one of my sparring partners as well," Rainbow explained as Alex filled out the paperwork for a routine physical and medical evaluation. "She may not want to fight anyone but she trained with me as a way to exercise. Couple of years back Big Mac was having some problems with moving around." Rainbow explained as the set waiting for one of the nurses to call Alex "You see while he doesn't have show muscle like a bodybuilder or powerlifter his body naturally develops large muscle structures meaning he has restricted movement thanks to it. After he learned that martial arts can help retrain you to move with such naturally developed muscles to allow for greater flexibility he decided to train with me and Fluttershy. He's nowhere near our level when it comes to fighting but he uses the training more like yoga and all that, helping him to stretch and move better." Rainbow said with a proud look on her face knowing just how far Big Mac had come in only a few years training. "AJ has actually been training in kickboxing since the Apple family method of harvesting apples involves kicking a tree hard enough to shake it without kicking it so hard to break the trunk in half, something that could happen with how strong Earth ponies get when fully connected to the Earth. Apple Bloom has actually started training as well so that she can possibly be an even better Apple harvester than her sister. Since she's training younger she's getting the movement down far easier. Applejack is stubborn and has reached the high level of competency with that fighting style but Apple Bloom's a real prodigy when it comes to it. I'm surprised she didn't get her cutie mark in kickboxing itself but then again not very many ponies get cutie marks in combat styles or even combat related cutie marks nowadays. Captain Shining Armor is really the only one I can think of that's had any sort of combat style cutie mark and that's just a shield indicating his talent with such spells. I started my training in karate because of the known but often forgotten fact that the Wonderbolts are a military organization. This way I have some hand-to-hand combat experience that I can use during any boot camp that I have to go to." Alex nodded, "So they're the pony version of the Blue Angels and The Thunderbirds." He handed the forms in, then went to the waiting area. "Those are airborne stunt flyers from the Navy & Airforce respectively and both have a friendly rivalry as both claim to be the best stunt flyers." Nurse Redheart came up and saying, "Examination room number seven is ready." She said, "I'll show you to it" Alex got up and walked through the door. The earth pony nurse then bowed Rainbow Dash, who noticed the nurses bust had grown to match Pinkie's bust, who was the fourth largest of the herd. "I-I went into heat after standing next to him during the Summer Sun eve party. I want to ask you for permission to get rutteɗ by him." It was a stunned Rainbow who nodded. The nurse smiled and walked to the doors with the faint sound of three buttons popping. In exam room number seven Alex noted two silhouettes on the plate under the number. Both showed a mare laying on an exam bed. One showed a stallion rutting the mare the other showed the mare with a swollen belly. Not having any knowledge of what they represented calmly walked in. Redheart followed him in and closed the door behind her. What she didn't expect was a flaming portal to open up and someone to step out. "Hold it Redheart" Tempe said stepping out of the portal "I know what you're planning and you need to hold we don't need another pregnant" Redheart frowned and then said, "Thank you Princess, but did you think that I wanted a foal? I…" She was interrupted by an emerald green flash and Alex had vanished then a minute later another emerald flash and he was back. "I knew the possibility of it happening but never thought I would experience it." He said, then what the two mares were talking about clicked and in a bewildered tone asked, "Wait, what was she planning?" Tempe sighed. "Right, your former species has a female to male ratio of one to one. Ponies have a female to male ratio of five mares to one stallion and it's not uncommon for unheeded mares and not a few herded mares especially with long "standing herd to ask a herd mare if they could rut the herd's stallion, especially if that stallion proved their virility by impregnation multiple mare in their herd." She explained. Alex gulped. "You mean.." Tempe nodded, "the fact you knocked up every mare in your herd plus your pheromones are currently potent enough to trigger a mare's heat, don't be surprised that every mare that wants a foal without either joining a herd or forming one wants to rut you." "Although I understand you not wanting many of your own children around outside of the ones that you've accepted that's why I stopped Red here from going through with it." The dragon winged alicorn said before turning to the surprised nurse. "Where Alex comes from having a one night stand that results in a child is highly frowned upon, and would cause legal consequences. His honor would force you to join the herd and we don't need a herd of 100 plus mares to one stallion." Alex nodded, then said, "Answer a few questions for me, nurse. Would your honor come into question if you have my foal growing in you after I rutted you? Am I expected to help support the foal? And will I be allowed to visit the foal?" He then looked at Tempe and asked, "One hundred plus mares?" "Pinkie Pie party," Tempe said flatly "the whole of Ponyville will be there. There are well over a hundred females to around 30 males in Ponyville. If your pheromones are affecting Red here who has taken heat suppressing medication that should keep this from happening any of them are going to feel that way." Tempe mentioning the heat suppressant medication was not only relevant but it was something she had implemented since there were far more female medical professionals than males. "Something about you is causing almost all the females around you to want to breed with you and it's not just your pheromones but something in your magic. I'm able to focus only due to my dragon/siren heritage." Alex winced. "Oooookaaay." He said slowly. "That's a whole new kettle of corn." Alex looked at Redheart and his eyes widened while he and Tempe were talking. Nurse Redheart had opened the top of her uniform and allowed her large breasts to spill out. Redheart walked upto Alex and said, "There is no harm to my reputation nor would be held against me if I had a foal by you. If your wondering, yes there are single mothers in Ponyville. Derpy is a mother of two." Alex shook his head. "You're actiong under a compulMRPH!" He started before Redheart pressed her body against his and kissed him. "Oh yeah I showed up to remind you Pinkie Pie has a welcome home party planned," Tempe said. "Before you actually hump him make sure he's medically all right, that's what he came here to do." With that reminder the dragon alicorn hybrid waved her hand in front of her and opened another portal, this one leading to the library. "Have fun!" "Oh I will." The nurse said as her hands caressed Alex's body. She reluctantly moved away from Alex and gave Alex his exam which revealed that except for some bruising, Alex was uninjured. Afterwards Redheart removed her uniform revealing she had no undergarments and two hours later Redheart left the room with a smile on her face followed by Alex who looked a tad frazzled. "How was it?" Rainbow asked. Alex said, "perfect health save for some bruising." And the pair headed to the Castle of the Two Sisters. At the castle Twilight was looking at the female who looked an awful lot like her. The thing was it was confusing to see a version of her that was slightly taller and had dragon wings. She'd heard and read that some variations of pony dragon hybrids had been born before. A few that would technically be alicorns just due to having a unicorn mother in a dragon father and vice versa since they would be as long lived in as durable as a normal alicorn with the ability to fly and the strength beyond an earth pony thanks to the dragon heritage along with the ability to cast magic and breathe fire. Alex and Rainbow walked entered the library each carrying a box filled with books looted from the library of the castle of the two sisters. Both stopped and looked at the two Twilights. "Hey Alex I visited you earlier by a flame portal" Tempe said before walking over to Twilight and hugging her tightly. "I never imagined her to be so cute. I guess that's what I looked like before these grew in." The dragon girl said, mentioning how dragons would actually grow wings in a slight growth spurt once they hit puberty. "Hello Tempe." Alex said as he put one box down and then hugged his adorkable mate. "Here's two more boxes of book from the library. I estimate that I'll have it emptied of books by all hallows eve aka halloween." He then kissed Twilight and cupped one of her breasts. When he pulled back he added "I found a shelf of thestral lore. That's going to be good reading" as he maneuvered behind his third mate and began to knead Twilight's breasts. "When the three of us return to Golden Oaks Library, Rainbow will gather the rest of the herd and you six are going to tell me about social norms in pony society especially about foals sired out of the herd." Later at the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight was in her room looking at her late wedding gift from Alex. She had finally taken time to examine the shunk trunk. She was watching Alex as he closed and shrunk the trunk. She remembered seeing touch only two runes after a moment and the order in which he pressed them. She pressed them and the book trunk grew back to it's normal size & opened up. Twilight gave a little squee and pulled a book out at random with her magic then skipped to a chair and began to read. What she didn't expect was a purple flame portal to open up in front of her with Tempe stepping out. "Sorry for barging in little sis, but Aunt Celestia asked me to stay over since there are certain things that are going to happen soon." Twilight had learned about the fact that Luna was going to be reintroduced to society with a small party in her honor at the Capitol, nothing like the grand galloping gala but it would be politically driven, something that Tempe would never want to be in. "Tried to drag Cadance here with me but she's been busy as of late." Twilight sighed. "I was planning to read some books Alex gave me." "No worries, I'm only visiting and honestly I want to read something other than paperwork for a while anyways so do you mind if I join?" Tempe asked as she sat down cross-legged on the floor. not really minding any seats since the room was spacious enough. "I've been wondering though why did you agree to me calling you little sis? I mean part of it is because we look so much alike but I never really was around all that often so I didn't think I'd really be family to you." she asked, looking down at the floor with a melancholy expression. "Our relationship, it's not like you and Cadence, you two are practically sisters thanks to how much time she spent with your family. I was always off dealing with matters I can't talk about for the most part. Whenever I did visit your mother always said I was welcome but I never really felt like I fit in. To be honest I may act aloof and carefree but that's mostly to ignore the sadness and the loneliness I had when Mom was stuck on the moon. Even with her back I'm still a little sad about the time lost." Twilight nodded as she read. Alex walked in and said, "That sounds a lot like how I feel some days. My father disappeared when I was eight. He was a good father, always ready to help while he was there. A year before he disappeared, he mentioned finding a Crystal City trapped between now and yesterday." Alex took a deep breath. His hands began to Glow, he made a gesture before holding his palm out. An image appeared above his hand. Both Tempe and Twilight saw a city made of Crystal with a crystalline tower in the center. "He left to find and rescue it." Alex sagged against a wall, his eyes misting with tears. "He never came back." He began to cry missing to father he dearly loved. Twilight & Tempest hugged Alex as he cried himself to sleep in their arms. Alex woke up with a start. He looked around to notice he was in the foyer of Traveler's Rest. He heard a chuckle behind him. Turning around, he saw his father dressed like his teach, Professor Jones complete with a bullwhip. "I know my little bat." He said reminding him of his habit of exploring the grounds of the rest well into the night. "I'd like to stay and watch your championship game. But the window to save the people of the crystal city won't stay open beyond five days and the championship will be held the day after the threshold closes. If I leave now I might be able to save them. Take care and take care of your mother." He then stood up and walked through the front door. He stood there for a few moments before he dashed to the door and tried to open it. He heard some evil laughter before an explosion pushed the door off its hinges. Then suddenly everything froze. "Your Father had set out to free the Crystal Empire. He was a valorus stallion." Alex sniffed as he rubbed his eyes. "He was called the 'Exploring Rescuer' because of his tendency to rescue people in the middle of explorations." The dream began to fade quickly as it broke up. "Umbra!!!!!!!!" Was what Alex heard upon waking. "Oh crapbaskets mom saw that." Tempe said as Luna's voice could be heard from canterlot. "Whatever your dream was about to piss Mom off to the point where she broke pretty much every non-reinforced window in the city." "Ow!" Alex said from his sensitive ears rang. > Lunar audience pt 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Twilight V.O.: Last time on Alicorn King] "Umbra!!!!!!!!" Was what Alex heard upon waking. "Oh crap baskets mom saw that." Tempe said as Luna's voice could be heard from canterlot. "Whatever your dream was about to piss Mom off to the point where she broke pretty much every non-reinforced window in the city." "Ow!" Alex said from his sensitive ears ringing from the shout. Intro Alex looked at Tempe and said, "I had a nightmare about the last time I saw my Father." Tempe suddenly felt like her stomach was revolting on her. "Urp!!!" Was heard as she threw up a large scroll. "I forgot about that little feature." She groaned as the scroll with a black ribbon in a silver moon wax seal floated over to Alex on a blue aura. Alex took the scroll from the aura and looked at the wax seal and his eyebrows rose in surprise. "Now why would Princess Luna send me mail?" He mused. Looking Outside, he noted it was still nighttime. Might as well get reset myself to nocturnal and get up and about" He mused. He carefully walked down to the kitchen and poured some breakfast cereal then added milk. "It's odd to find a refrigerator that doesn't use freon and electricity." He mused, before grabbing a spoon, he then said, "Tempe, Tomorrow night five hundred-twenty-five thestrals are coming out of the stasis Nightmare Moon put them in when they refused to join her in her little revolt. Could you ask your mother to take your Aunt & Cousin to be in the crystal mine under Canterlot to great them? I'm sure they would be grateful if their patronage co-sovereign was there to great them." He then took a couple more bites before breaking the seal and opened the scroll and read the missive. "Alex, if you're reading this then you recognize the dream you had having been to your world. I understand the context of this man, your father, must have been the one stallion I saw fighting against Sombra during the battle to retake the Crystal empire." The note read. Luna being less formal than one would expect with this. "I saved him, the being controlling Sombra stabbed him through the gut with a corrupting Crystal. The only way I could save him though was to transform him. He now rests in the Crystal caves underneath Canterlot in stasis, the first bat pony I recruited, my greatest fighter, my closest friend. When they awake he will need your guidance. Let your father know that I am returned to my senses. I do not, I cannot be there to meet him not after what I did and now know. I'm sorry my son, I truly am sorry." Alex sank to his knees in shock. "My father's alive and a Thestral." He quietly spoke. The joy filled his soul welled up until he shouted in joy, "HE'S ALIVE!!!!!" Alex's shout was just under the volume of the Royal Canterlot Voice but from the sounds of shattering you couldn't be sure. Alex grabbed Tempe and released tears that have been held back for years. Tears of sorrow and pain had been morphed to tears of relief, happiness and joy. > Alicorn King - Royal Reunion > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ALICORN KING: ROYAL REUNION BY Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Celestia came running into the throne room with a worried look on her face. "LUNA!" She called out "What's wrong?" Luna was looking out the window with a sorrowful look as she said, "Remember that stallion that helped us as we attempted to rescue the Crystal Empire?" The Alicorn of the sun nodded. "He received a wound that would've been fatal if you hadn't turned him into a thestral. You married him two months later." Luna gave a wan smile. "I recently learned that he had a mare and foal waiting for his return. That foal has grown up into a young stallion, who has helped purify me. And we met his other mare, the one who was waiting for him. Tia in the crystal mine are five hundred-twenty-five thestrals in stasis. They will revive tomorrow night. HE is one of them. Please be there with Candance when they wake. IAlex and the Elements will be there as well." Celestia nodded and said, "I understand. I shall welcome them." Back in Ponyville the three in the library were looking at each other. "Guess I'll have to head back to canterlot after all. But I'm not doing any of those God damn balls too damn boring." Tempe said "after all I'm going to have to take care of my younger brother when he meets his dad." Alex had stopped crying and composed himself. "Thank you… sugarcubes." He said. "My mother had dad declared dead after the wards of Travelers Rest transferred to her, which would normally happen if Dad had died." His hand caressed Twilight's cheek lovingly. "Thank you and the herd had helped me get rid of years of sorrow. Guess I'll be taking the night off and start preparing. Oh. We better commission some formal/casual wear for us." "Formal/casual wear?" Rarity asked as she stepped in from the open door. Alex nodded as he answered "It's formal wear that's designed to be acceptable for formal gatherings while at the same time rugged & comfortable enough to be worn at casual gatherings. Is that a challenge you'd accept?" Rarity smiled and said, "Of course dahrling, when do you need them?" "Before nightfall. Also could you make them so the Elements & my amulet can be…" Alex said before Rarity put her finger on his lips and said, "Relax Dahling. Leave it to me." Twilight then gently started pushing him to the door and said, "You said you had one more load of books to extract from the Castle of the Two Sisters before you can finish exploring and mapping it. So the sooner you get that done, the sooner all of us go to Canterlot." With that Alex went off to work. Two hours before the stasis end finds Candance, Celestia, the Viator-Sparkle herd, and Shining Armor and an escort detail of Royal Guards standing at the entrance to the chamber in the mine where the thestrals slept their enchanted sleep. Alex stared at one thestral stallion laying in reposè, a look of worry on his face. "Don't worry I explained a bit to you a while ago, we're family now." Tempe said wearing her night guard general armor, something that had been forged long ago before her mother's banishment. "I technically am their Commander in Chief. They were a Shadow Force meant for protecting Equestria from threats within and without. Celestia's S.M.I.L.E. agency now typically does that, I'm hoping that once they're fully integrated with modern times we can have them add it back into the fold." "Thanks… Sis." Alex said. "I'm getting used to the Idea of having an older sister. Thankfully, Buhe's gift hasn't latched onto you. But still having ANY type of sibling is both confusing and relieving." Twilight smiled at the sight as Alex hugged his adopted Big sister. At the sound of softly clopping hooves, she turns her head to see her brother walk up to her. "It's sad the two of the grew up separated like they did. From what you told me of Alex's dam she and Princess Luna would've gotten along here on Equis." Twilight nodded, "They're handling it well considering they found out almost a day ago." She said before she opened the case that held the Elements & Alex's Amulet, then gave each element to its bearer and settled the amulet on it's bearer. Cadence Joined the two and said, "Tempe was right I can sense magic identical to mine in him. I think he'll be a nice stallion to Twilight and her friends." The alicorn of love said, while smiling. The glow of the stasis spell flickered. It flickered again half a minute later after that it flickered at a slowly increasing pace until it finally winked one last time. The first to wake were the foals, who mobbed Candance as was a new alicorn. The next to wake were the mares who got up and looked about. Twenty went into labor, thankfully some of the guards, other mares and stallions were medical personnel. And finally the stallions awoke. One stallion walked up to Celestia and bowed and said, "I ask forgiveness Tia, I wasn't able to prevent the Nightmare from overwhelming your sister." "Dad!" Tempe shouted as she ran over to the Thestral hugging him tight. "Mom is free and you'll never believe who helped!" This was unconventional behavior for Tempe who is almost always straight laced in front of her subordinates even the man she considered her father, only Alex's father and Alex himself noticed the green glow in her eyes. Alex could barely keep from crying as he hadn't seen for sixteen years. His father went "Oof!" When the young man collided with him. "Uh! Who're young stallion?" Alex stepped back and looked at the older thestral and said, "Dad. It's me! Alexandre!" The Older thestral's eyes opened wider before he pulled Alex into a hug. The pair began to cry as they hugged each other. As they were crying Alex motioned the elements to join with the father doing the same to Tempe. Soon the entire family, minus the princess of the night. "Ah think you need some explaining, Buster!" An elderly woman's voice could be heard from the area where civilian families were waiting to reunite with their long lost relatives. "If'n my granddaughter is going to be with you, you need to tell the entire Apple family about your history!" "Granny!" Applejack groaned. The group hug broke up and Alex's father bowed to Granny Smith and said, "Matron Apple, could this wait until we're out of this place?" "I think that Smith should explain herself," A deep voice rumbled from a stallion approaching Alex's father, the stallion approaching Celestia's height. "don't think I didn't recognize you little Filly. I know exactly why you're here." Alex stepped up to the stallion saying, "She's here to accompany my Wife as the Matron of the Apple Clan. Who're you to disapprove of her presence, Turkey!" Alex looked ready to fight in defense of the grandmother of one his herd. Compete with his wings partially spread. "I'm the current patriarch of the Apple family then. I am Apple Corp. second in command of Luna's Shadow Guard." The stallion said his gray, almost black fur darkened further as his blood red mane and tail started to spike in response to his agitation. "Well that just proves that we're cousins Applejack, his hair is reacting similarly to how mine would!" Pinkie Pie said she mentioned to Applejack that they were sort of distant cousins when they formed the herd and Applejack had said dude look into a full history between the two families later. Alex, still agitated, said, "Granny is up on current events Mr Apple. Until you've updated your said knowledge I'll be looking to Granny and my Father, Allister Archemedes Viator for advice." Alli walked up to Apple Corp and said, "Alex. Show Apple Corp some respect. And you A.C. watch what you say around my son. I don't want Canterlot to fall off the mountain because of the fight between the two of you." The thestral earth pony glared at Alli saying, "What makes you say that Alli?" "Because crazy things happen when one of my family fights for others. Remember the strange things that happened during the War? Also remember it's been a millennium since that… thing that possessed my Moon Pearl and placed the lot of us into stasis for a thousand years? Which reminds me," Alli turned to Celestia. "What happened to The Nightmare?" Celestia looked down to the ground before raising teary eyes to the elder Viator and replied, "We fought and I was forced to banish my sister and, my niece accidentally, to the moon. And for a two year period I just went through the motions of just existing. It was during that time the Nightmare Purges happened. The thestral tribes were ruthlessly hunted down and slaughtered and seven communities consisting entirely of thestrals, including Underdark. Upon it's fall I came out of my sorrow and destroyed the Nighthunters. But I was too late to prevent Luna's Night Ponies from going into hiding. " Celestia brightens up and with still teary eyes, princess Tempe fought the Nightmare for a thousand years. Two months ago Alex unintentionally enlarged Ponyville Lake and later helped Tempe and six mares use the Elements of Harmony to purify Luna." Alistair stood up and said, "That's my colt!" Alex walked up to Apple Corp and said, "I'm Sorry Patron Apple. You came up in such a.. OW!" The young thestral cried out when Granny Smith borrowed a cane from one of the thestrals and swatted his behind. "That was disrespectin' your elder." She chided. The group finally noticed the green glow emitting from Tempe. "APPLE CORP.!!! YOU WILL DROP AND GIVE ME 500 PUSH-UPS FOR DARING TO DISRESPECT MY BROTHER!!!!" She roared just below Canterlot Royal Voice levels in her drill sergeant mode before switching her tone of voice to an almost death-like calm. "Now." Apple Corp. blanched and looked at Alex who was looking away at Granny Smith and rubbing his behind. Then dropped and began to do push-ups. "Me and my big mouth." He grumbled. Three hours later Apple Corp did his last push up. Alistair helped his old friend up. "You always did have a tendency to act before you think things through. Didn't you realize that my son would be Tempe's Brother?" "I also did not realize that people would be able to read my emotions very easily in this day and age, my uniqueness wasn't common back then." AC said with barely a huff of exertion. "Even before I transformed my mane would react to my emotions." "Sorry to correct you sir," Twilight said gently "but we actually have someone who has a similar condition when it comes to her physical appearance and her emotions as a friend, a distant cousin of yours. While I haven't personally experienced her darker mood swings, I've seen that she has unique properties with her mane, and she's extensively explained how she looks in those kinds of moods." Cadence then asked, "Could we leave this place, it's giving me the shivers." The pink alicorn leaned against The Captain of the guard. "I'll teleport us all out. I've been gathering magic for the last few hours otherwise I would have done it earlier before this whole fiasco with the push-ups." Tempe said her body is still glowing green. With a deep inhale she started to breathe a purple smoke using her dragon transportation magic in a way to teleport large groups, something she had done back during the time before she was sent to the Moon. Both Viators raised eyebrows at the sight, before their vision was obscured. When the smoke cleared the entire group including those that wouldn't be able to move otherwise appeared in the Canterlot castle gardens. The group heard a few foals crying, which was in response to what they expected their young eyes to be irritated by the smoke which since it was a magical type didn't actually cause any physical irritation for anyone luckily. Pinkie then shouted, "YOU WHAT THIS CALL FOR?!" Alex smiled as the pink mare pulled a cannon out her mane. "A party!!!" She cried before setting it off. Instantly the area was set up as a party Venue. One unfortunate Lunar Guard got hit with a pie in her face as she was flying to investigate. Another guard walked up to her and swiped some of the errant confection and tasted it. "Hmm. Vanilla." She said with the unfortunate mare rolling her eyes. Alex sat down with Granny Smith at a table then told what he could about the Viator family history. When the Apple Matron smiled at him, Alex sought out Tempe. "May I talk to you sis?" "Sure Alex, what'd you want to talk about?" The draconic alicorn asked. "I have to apologize to you on my Dad's behalf." Alex said, rubbing the back of his head. "You see. My family lives under a curse. A curse where the oldest of a generation is forced to become an adventurer. Unfortunately, since you have been adopted into the family the curse will be affecting you to a lesser degree. I'm suffering the full effect due to the fact I was born in another reality and was the first born of my generation. "Dad told me all about it," Tempe said. "It affects my emotions and makes me act out my inner desires for the most part. Although I also go out and fight things because of it so don't worry I understand exactly what you're talking about. It's part of what pushed me to fight so hard against Nightmare because Mom was underneath you know?" Alex sighed in relief. And went to get a drink, slapping Pinkie on her butt as he passed. > Thestral Dawn > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ALICORN KING: ROYAL REUNION BY Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare Pinkie in response used some of her pinkiness to stretch out and grab Alex, dragging him back to her. "That is an invitation in my family so you're going to follow through after you have that drink." She said, hearts in her eyes. Alex smiled and said, "After the party Pinkie, I want to tank up before we have some time to gather." He then patted her belly, "You'll have a bunch in your oven after that and that means all six of you will be cuddler." After the party had died down, the sleepy thestrals were guided to the abandoned Thestral District which had been maintained by Celestia. It had been sealed off by Celestia and hidden behind a wooden wall and maintained by the royal guard. It was a first posting for royal guards in training whose training was nearly completed. Celestia had it maintained as an encouragement for the thestrals to rejoin their day pony cousins. Those that had lived there moved back into their long abandoned homes while the rest where settled into various Hospitality sites originally meant to house visiting thestrals. Celestia was overjoyed that she could start opening up the district. "Lord Alistair" a tall Mare in sky blue armor approached Alex's group Twilight and Rarity immediately recognized her due to her voice and looks. "Your holdings will be returned to you now that you have awoken." She continued with a deep bow of respect. Alistair looked towards the mare and said, "It's Mister Viator ma-am. As I am no long fit to administer my holdings because of being out of date, I am stepping down in favor of my son." He motioned to Alex, who stepped up with the main six. "May I present my son, the new Lord Viator, Alexandre Viator-Sparkle!" Rarity fainted to be caught by Applejack. "You cannot step down sir as husband of princess Luna your title remains" the woman said insisting that the title would still remain similar to how a doctor would still be called a doctor after they retired from practice. "You may step down from the responsibilities but you cannot renounce the title as long as you're married to an equestrian princess." "Lady Fleur-de-lis is right brother." Celestia said. "Once you take on a noble title it is part of your life forever especially when you are the husband of one of the rulers of the country. The only way to remove the title would be to divorce Luna and have her renounce it from you, something I know you are not want to do." Alistair sighed. "Then, you can call me Lord Viator, Mrs. Pants must. But only if it's at a ball or an official event, Call me Mr Viator. Only my wives (God that's weird saying it) or my friends call me Alistair." "Fancy Pants is not my husband as most would believe." Fleur-de-lis said plainly. "He is my first sponsor, the one that got me into modeling after retiring, l follow him most times to avoid being questioned about my eligibility as a mare." "Fleur-de-lis' family has been stewards of your properties while you were sleeping," Celestia explained. "and due to the fact that she is one of the few nobles that still acts noble, she and Fancy pants have become extremely good friends thanks to their similar personalities. Nothing more, Fancy Pants does not wish for more as miss De-lis has eyes on his younger sister." The model's eyes widened surprised that Celestia had picked up on her crush with a certain young DJ and cello player couple since outside of the cello player working with the orchestra she rarely interacted with the two especially fancy pants as younger sister outside of family reunions that Celestia was privy to visiting. "Lady Celestia you troll! You send Octavia to my modeling events specifically so that Vinyl could come with don't you?" "I may not be my niece but even I can see such obvious desire and I should let you know it's mutual." Celestia said with a giggle. Mr Viator smiled. "I'm thankful your family watched over my lands. I am glad none of those greedy nobles were given that duty. One noble family had planned to use some of the land to build a summer home, Before Luna & Celestia gave it to me he threw a fit like a spoiled brat. Honestly, I think do the nobles its some good if their children had to work a few years cut off from their wealth to learn the value of hard work." Alex looked at Celestia and asked, "Aunty, are there any noble families that are pissed at my father being granted land?" "None who still live." Celestia said coldly. "They along with a large portion of the people who murdered the thestrals before they went into hiding were purged by my hand. Your family and your father marrying Luna are part of the reason they began their slaughter." "The thestral revolution, unfortunately yet aptly named." Twilight said as she remembered what it was called in the history books. "It was the last time Sol's Hammer was used." "That it was Twilight to make an example of the monsters they became. I destroyed them as such using one of my most devastating abilities. I opened a portal to the solar core and let the plasma burn them before I closed it. The area was uninhabitable for 700 years and even now there are some problems with growth in the Appaloosa area thanks to it." Celestia said having had enough distance of time from the event to act like a teacher lecturing their student instead of someone lived it. Both Viators gulped. Alex gathered his thoughts before asking, "What would Dad's marriage to Luna enrage them so? By the way, where are the Viator holdings?" One of the thestral mares walked up to Alex and said, "Because your father treated the sister's as equals rather than his superiors & had compromised Princess Luna's virtue." Alex looked at the mare in surprise. "Not only that but he refused to kill me," Tempe said, explaining a bit more. "After I was born and it was learned that I had draconic blood in me the nobles wanted to destroy me as an abomination of nature. It's part of the reason Nightmare became a thing. Part of it was the anger at the nobles for trying to kill her only child. They were constantly hounding mom to kill me 'to remove the stain on the Royal blood' and tried to convince dad to do so. He may not be the father I'm related to but he's my father all the same." Emerald flames outlined Alex as he his anger grew. He stopped and began a breathing exercise where he his arms ahead of him then moved them apart when he inhaled then brought them together as he exhaled. Slowly the fire faded away until it was gone. He then looked to Fleur de Lis. "Lady de Lis, is a mansion in Canterlot among the Viator holdings?" Tempe, his herd, Father & the princesses can hear an impshness in his voice. In that moment Fleur saw something in Alex; it wasn't his pheromones or anything that affected anyone else alongside her desire to be with the Vinyl Scratch and Octavia a spark head formed. "Sir Alex?" She asked as she approached. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine. Please answer the question, I have something in mind. But I need to know if I have an estate in Canterlot, preferably in the nobles quarter for what I have planned." "Your Estate is the old castle." Celestia said. "Seeing it as you're the son of Luna's husband and you've already gone to work on repairing it, it only makes sense that a prince is yourself should have a castle for a home." "Dad practically lived in the old castle back then, technically his lodging was the barracks but he was almost always with Mom as her personal guard." Tempe clarified further. "Before you question about stuff in Canterlot no, there is actually a place in Equestria strictly for Thestrals and their nobles, the town of Hollow Shades, dad founded it." Feeling awkward while saying this to Celestia, Alex queried, "Aunty could you send some guardspony engineers, and some archaeologists to help me restore the castle?" "I had planned on making it a home for Luna when she couldn't take any more of the nobles as she adjusted a familiar setting with more good memories than bad even if some of those memories are fresh." Celestia said, hinting that she's already begun looking for such people. "Since you and Tempe are her children you would of course be allowed into the castle no matter what but moving in will have to wait. It will take a while since there are many mechanisms in the castle that still work but are old that need to be restored to full operational capacity, which means I have to look for people outside of my ponies as there aren't very many that have studied the ancient mechanisms that would also be able to repair them within our borders. Minotaur and dragons still use such mechanisms in their day-to-day lives so I shall reach out to Lord Torch and King Minos." "I practically live there already. I'm currently working for the Equestrian Historical Society to restore it, currently I'm mapping it out and removing books and taking them to the Golden Oaks Library for Twilight to sort." Alex told the Solar Princess. Alistair in the meantime gathered the Thestrals together then said, "Your Majesties I'm going to lead the Thestrals to Hollow Shades." Then the bat-winged thestrals took wing except the few in the guard who went to find the captain of the guard. Alistair then lead the ground bound thestrals on the March to Hollow Shades. > Ticket Mayhem > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- One week later, Alex & Twilight were helping Applejack on the farm harvesting apples. AJ, Tempe, and her family were bucking the trees while Alex was flying from tree to tree, picking the apples and placing them into a shoulder bag. "Thanks for the exercise, Applejack Rainbow Dash was right. You're an excellent kickboxer, and it does help with harvesting." Twilight said as she picked up any of the stray apples that didn't fall in the baskets and put them into it. "Now, if we could get Spike to help out a little more." She said as Spike was digging through the collected baskets looking for a quick snack. "I am helping. I'm making sure that none of these are bruised, and if they are, I'll eat them so that it doesn't lower the harvest quality!" the dragon said as he found one with a particularly mushy spot from falling down onto the ground. Looking closely at it, he decided that this would be his snack and took a bite out of the mushy part. "See, I told you I know that Granny Smith does this once they're in the barn, but I'm too small to do much more than quick inspections and carry the baskets to the wagon." Alex landed next to a barrel and carefully placed the apples in. "I may not have the leg strength to buck the apples out of the trees," he started. "But I can fly up to the apples and pick them. That way, there are fewer bruised apples." He looked at the mares with a smile. He noticed Twi's belly had a small bump in it as it was two months after his arrival and mated with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash & her. Plus, the month they spent on Earth, he wasn't surprised Twilight had started to show, even if any pony looking at her would have to be as perceptive as Rarity and himself. With a smile, he launched himself back into the air and glided to the next. "While Ah normally don't allow this as we apples tend to harvest our crop the earth pony way we do need the extra help our time away did last a bit so Big Mac got behind on harvest." Applejack said in response. "Plus, as one of your herdmates, you're part of the family all of you, yes even you miss dragon princess." Applejack teased Tempe. Alex picked a few apples as he said, "I don't know anything about the earth pony way of harvesting, but the human way of harvesting involves pi..HEY! WATCH THE FLAMES SPIKE!" Alex yelped as he dodged the flames from Spike's flaming blechmail. He was glad he had Rarity make him some shorts as the fire would've lit his pants on fire otherwise. "Sorry, that was a letter." *Spike said as he handed over the scroll and was holding eight golden tickets, both Twilight and Tempe recognized. Alex landed as Twilight opened the letter and began to read. Alex looked at Tempe and asked, "What're those tickets for? You and Twilight acted surprised and seemed to recognize them." "They're grand galloping gala tickets, one for each of us and a plus one for you. Since you're both royalty, you're obligated to attend without needing a ticket. I technically would also be considered that, but due to the fact that my title isn't public for the most part, I would need a ticket just to maintain posterity." Twilight remembered what Celestia told her once she and Alex had gotten back to Ponyville with Tempe after fighting Nightmare. "My faithful student isn't just something I call you Twilight. It is legally your title. You are considered an apprentice Arch mage and the official when it comes to magic that I should look to. It is why I easily fund all of your independent research projects since that's actually part of your job description to look into anything that might be magical in nature and advise me about it." Celestia had told Twilight. "Now I don't expect any of my students to actually advise on magical matters nowadays, but it was set up during the early days of equestrian society since I was both student and teacher at the time." Alex looked at the sky and then said, "I got to call it a day. I got to realign my day/night schedule, but I have to greet the first batch of helpers to restore Castle Viator, formerly the Castle of the Two ISisters." Alex wrote down a list of book titles. He then added, "Applejack, when is the earliest Granny can take time off?" "Now, Alex." Applejack scolded. "We may be poor, but we ain't beggers. We can't rightly accept charity." Alex looked his farmer wife and said, "It's not charity. It's family looking after family. The Apples & the Viators share one thing, family takes care of family, and since you let put a foal be put in you, you're a Viator as much as you're an Apple." After that, Alex flew off to Sugarcube Corner for croissant and a cup of hot chocolate. Alex landed and entered and picked up a tray and headed to the bin that held the croissants. He noted that Redheart and a blue maned unicorn. Pinkie bounced up him and hugged him. "Take a seat, hubby." Alex raised the tray to block the twin spit takes that shot out. "Don't mind if I do." The sound of a hard facepalming caused Alex to look at the table Redheart was seated at. "What's wrong?" He asked. The nurse sighed, "Let's just say I just realized I had made it harder for myself and leave it at that." Alex nodded and picked up a croissant with some tongs that took a table. As he waited for Pinkie to come and take his order, a blue maned white unicorn mare with dark glasses joined hlm. "Yo." She said, "Tall, dark and batty. I heard you're the son of Princess Luna." Alex nodded. "By marriage." He said, "Why do I have a feeling there's more to what you just said that. " Tempe appeared nearby, having flown over to check in on her little brother. "Agent Heart." The draconic princess said with respect. "Heard about what you did during the time I was up on the moon." Red Heart just waved her hand, saying, "Just doing my job while finishing my nurses' training. I resigned once it was completed and now work at Ponyville General." As Alex sat down, he noticed Vinyl. "I heard your old stallion had just woke up from a stasis spell put on him by Nightmare Moon." Alex nodded as he replied, "He went to rescue some people somehow he ended up here 1000 years ago." "Must've been a bummer." The DJ said. Alex nods. "Dad fell in love with Princess Luna and married her. Heh. She's now my mom, and guess what? I was sent eight tickets to something called a grand galloping gala, and I was informed I am obligated to show up there. Seven are taken by my herd and Spike while my sister and I are both royalty, so we don't need an invite as it's an obligation for us to show up, but I have one extra." "Really?!" Vinyl Scratch exclaimed. "My Girl Octavia is going to be performing but she wasn't able to secure a ticket for me so it'd be an awful nice of you to let me use that ticket to be with her on one of her biggest nights in her career." The normally stoic and cool DJ decided to try acting cute by taking off her glasses and fluttering her red eyes at Alex to convince him. "Compared to her reasons for wanting to go to the gala, mine feel silly." Redheart said. "I was hoping to meet Lady Luna in person." Alex looked between the two mares, his brain blue screening, as he realized his mistake. "Uh…Ohlookatthetime! Ibetterbeflyingofftomeettheforthemeetingtheexpertsthatwillbehelpingme." He turned to leave the booth only to end up face first into Cheerilee's ample bosom. A brilliant streak of gold being able to be seen in between the two soft orbs. "Is this..." The teacher said quietly before her voice dramatically leaped in volume "A TICKET TO THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA?!" The mare's voice could be heard throughout the entire town catching the attention of everyone. "Oof!" The schoolmare said. "Why are you in such a hurry, hansom?" Alex suddenly felt like a mouse that had fallen into a room of hungry cats. "Uh. Bye!" Alex quickly said before snatching the ticket from between Cheerilee's breasts and dashing out. And ran right into Spoiled Rich. "You got a ticket for the Grand Galloping Gala." She said. "My husband could use that to make useful connections to improve Barnyard Bargains. GIVE IT TO ME!" The snobby earth pony then lunged. She didn't count on the thestral's reflexes, honed from years of adventures, were fast enough to zip out of her reach. Stuffing the ticket in one of his pockets he flew into one of the storage buildings for lumber and hid in it on the upper level, in the darkest area where his dark coat rendered him invisible. His clothes enchantments rendering them invisible as well. While the town searched for him, Alex sat behind a stack of two by fours, using his echolocation to watch the inside, while he thought things over. Meanwhile, in Sugarcube Corner, "That was so uncool Spoiled." Vinyl Scratch groused at Spoiled Rich. Redheart crossed her arms as she said, "trying to take that ticket may have convinced him to either destroy it or send it back." Cheerilee walked to the street and dragged the social climbing earth pony there by her tail with the unicorn entertainer and the Medimare following close behind. "UNHAND ME!" Spoiled Rich yelled. "Spoiled Milk." Tempe said having recently looked into the gold digging mare after her mother had told Tempe about one of Diamond Tiara's nightmares. "You assaulted royalty, you're going to go into jail for a week and this is me being lenient!" "THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! NOOOOOOOO!!!" Mrs Rich wailed as a local guards mare literally dragged her off. The other three mares watched with glares, The DJ then sighed then said, "Looks like I will miss Tavi's best night of the year. And I had hoped I got lucky." The other two mares sighed and turned to head back into Sugarcube Corner. Tempe then burped out a sealed envelope herself. "Hold that thought!" She said recognizing the seal to be Celestia's. Opening the envelope she pulled out two golden tickets and a small note saying "I'm sorry that you didn't get your tickets with the others but Luna never told me the magical frequency of your fire so I had to beg her to allow me to send this to you. One of the tickets is actually for Miss Vinyl Scratch, Octavia had received it as a benefit of being a performer. A certain doctor told me that she would miss the ball if it had come to her as it would have without his intervention so handed it to me to send it to you instead. The other is your plus one ticket. Use it how you see fit. Love you, Celestia" "Well I'll be damned, it seems that tavia actually had a ticket for you but Derpy kind of screwed up," Tempe said , handing the one that had Vinyl Scratch 's name on it to her. And I've got a plus one so I could take you Cheerilee if you want. I'm not opposed to helping my brother get a bigger herd." Alex smiled then handed his plus one ticket to nurse redheart, who grabbed then pulled him into a kiss, molding her body against his. > Sleepless in Ponyville > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alex was sitting at sugarcube corner enjoying his breakfast consisting of 2 sandwiches made with two slices of toast, scrambled eggs, cheese & a dandelion. Everypony else was enjoying their dinners and the apples were having a rare night out when they noted Alex sitting alone. The youngest Apple looked to her grandmother and asked, "Why is Alex all by his lonesome?" Granny Smith looked the the thestral having his breakfast and said with some sadness, "That youngn is eating alone to protect other ponies." "Protect other ponies from what?" Apple Bloom pressed. Granny looked A.B. as she replied, "Not my place to tell. But If'n he or his Pa chooses to they can tell ya. Until then let the matter drop. For Applejack." Apple Bloom nodded then asked, "Why is he eating breakfast now? He used to eat when we did?" "He is one of them bat-ponies. He gets hurt by Celestia's sun. They are better suited to living under Luna's moon. His spending time being up during the day was so he could get to know your sister and her friends." The eldest Apple replied. She looked at her grandson and the bandages wrapped around his torso. She scolded, "That was foolish of you to try lift four full barrels and that pallet and get yourself injured. Now Applejack has to call on her herd to get the harvest in." "I can get the harvest in without pulling the girls from their jobs. I won't rest 'til it's done." A.J. stated. "Couldn't you ask your coltfriend to help at night?" "Alex is working on getting his home fixed up. It is an imposition to ask him." The other three apples sighed and gave up. Then they heard the clearing of a throat. "My younger brother may not be able to help but I can." Tempe replied. "And I'm not as busy as you expect, A battalion of the RCE[1], & five experts arrived yesterday so I got more than enough help there. Tempe and Applejack (who Tempe tricked much to the farmer's chagrin). They both paused when they heard Alex's echolocation getting closer[2]. Looking up they spotted Alex approaching with a ticked off look. "Alex!" Applejack called out to her stallion. "What in Celestia's name aren't back at the castle?" Alex punched a tree, harvesting the apples before saying, "RCE's CMO has banned me from the ruins until my sleep schedule is set to nocturnal. Though I find him alot like Dr. McCoy from Star Trek: The Original Series from his mannerisms." "What are you talking about little bro?" Tempe asked. Alex sighed then said, "I'll tell you when we're finished for the day." Tempe nodded before returning to harvesting. A few hours later, Tempe & Alex bid Applejack good night and left the farm. Alex told Tempe about Star Trek, TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, & Enterprise. They then parted company for the night. Tempe heading to do something of her own & Alex to spend some intimate time with Rainbow Dash. Unknown to both, Applejack continued to applebuck. A week later Alex Twilight and Spike stock the new reference section of the library when rainbow dash came sailing through a window, colliding with and sending the both of them into a bookcase and burying the pair under books. “Ugh. RAINBOW! HOW MANY TIMES MUST TWILGHT REMIND YOU TO BE CAREFUL WHEN DOING YOUR STUNTS NEAR THE LIBRARY!?” he shouted from beneath the books. Rainbow groaned as she rose. "Sorry hunk." She said as she bent over to dig him out from under the books. "Applejack was helping me with a portion of it. She was acting as if she wasn't fully awake. When I was telling her what the signal for her to launch me, she must've thought I gave it before I was ready. Because next thing I know I was sailing through your window." Alex face palmed and muttered, "That mare. TWILGHT! GET THE GIRLS and meet me at Sweet Apple Acres! SPIKE! TAKE A LETTER." Spike got out a quill & ink and nodded. "Tempe." He dictated. "Applejack has gone and foolishly ignored our advice and has been applebucking nonstop. Please get Granny Smith so she can talk some horsesense into her. Your brother Alex." As soon as Spike sent the letter he and Rainbow Dash launched themselves through the window rainbow entered. While Twilight ran out the doors of the library to gather Rarity, Fluttershy, & Pinkie Pie. Alex flew over to the farm and found Applejack leaning against a tree asleep. After casting a spell to put her into a deeper sleep so she wouldn't wake up until she was fully rested. He picked her up and carried her out of the orchard. He met the rest of his herd, the apples, and Tempe as he left the orchard. Alex cringed at the look the ancient matriarch of the Apple clan gave her granddaughter then said, "Sonny you take her to her room and keeper there until the harvest." She pointed to Applejack's swollen belly. "She's carrying your foal so she shouldn't be staying like she has been. She has been endangering the foal. DON'T YOU DARE LET HER OUT OF BED TO DO ANYTHING BUT USE THE BATHROOM!" Alex nodded rapidly, not trusting himself to say a word and flew to the Apple homestead. Granny Smith to the others and Ordered, "The rest of you, get those apples harvested! I want those apples out off those trees!" "Alex!" Applejack yelled. "PUT! ME! DOWN!" "Sorry A.J." Alex replied. "Your refusing to sleep is going to endanger your health and our foal." That took the wind out her sails and Applejack let herself be put to bed. She fell asleep before her head hit the pillow. Alex took out a piece of paper and started writing a letter. "Dear Aunt Celestia, "I learned having six wives means that somepony has to make adjustments to their lives. Today we had to convince a certain farmmare that she doesn't have to Harvest alone and not to take on tasks alone. I hope she forgives me for literally carry her to bed. Sincerely Alex Viator. [1] Royal Corps of Engineers [2] Pony hearing being better than human, Thestral echolocation hear as a clicking, loud enough to be bearly heard in the background. > ALICORN KING: Family time > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alex watched as his herd set off for the Crystal Empire. The news of the Crystal Empire’s return had made him nervous so when Rainbow told him she and the girls were going to help, he wanted to go and help. But his chromatic mare shot him down citing he had to spend time with his family & Learning about Equestria. So he stood on the platform watching the train chug off to the Crystal Empire. He couldn't help feeling worried about them. He left the station and flew to canterlot palace, only to have a portal open depositing him on the train next to Twilight and Tempe who had snuck onto the train. Tempe looked at Alex who was confused. “There’s a big threat coming and you’ll need to be with Mom tell her where i am.” The young alicorn said as another portal opened depositing him at the castle doors. Alex crashes to the ground, straining his ankle and forcing him to do what Rainbow Dash does most of the time. As flies to Luna's room to inform her of Tempe's location. Since they got back from earth he found Luna was exactly like his human mother right down to her temper, “Why'd you have to sneak out Tempe?” I mutter. When I get to her chamber door. I nod to the night guardsman. Steeling myself I knock on the door. “WHERE IS SHE?!!!!!!” Luna shouted blasting Alex into the wall from the force of the air she let out. “She snuck onto the train,” I say from the crater he made into the wall. She mentioned something about a big threat.” Looking into Luna's angry eye I say. “I am to go out and catch up with her, right?” “Sombra is a threat, he’s the catalyst that awoke the Nightmare,” Luna said. “His dark magic is powerful if and if the elements' power is within her she’ll be an asset. Go to her, my son.” “You don't want him to corrupt Tempe,” Alex says. “Usually it's the older sibling saving the younger one's ass.” I fly off summoning some warm clothes trying to catch up to the train and have to do a rainboom to catch up. I land on the back of the car and enter it saying, “Mom's so pissed she RCV blasted me into a wall.” I drag her into the next car before Whispering, “Sombra was the catalyst for the nightmare.” I lean against the other car. “Mom sent me to protect you from Him. Plus I have my own beef with him.” I sigh. “Sis (boy does that sound odd) There’s something troubling you please spill it.” After ten minutes of the two siblings staring each other down Tempe suddenly was enveloped by an emerald aura. “Fine,” Alex says. “We're joining the herd for the rest of the journey.” They both head to the Mane Six’s car. How do i tell him?! Tempe thought. It’s not like he could know! Harmony said in her head Sombra is not the threat, the thing that molded him was! Amore never told anyone about his origin everyone thinks Sombra just turned evil not that he’s a foal trapped in his own body by an Umbrian bitch!!!! “Alex,” Tempe started before pausing. Here goes. “It’s not Sombra himself but his family i’m worried about he was mining below the ice for a reason,” She paused thinking about how to hint at her ongoing connection to the god that allowed her to live on the moon those 1000 years. “Harmony knows why but it’s not as important as it was, as long as Sombra doesn’t take the empire we can free him.” “Tempe I think we're going to be at loggerheads on this.” I say evenly. “I'm not that forgiving to the being that was responsible for my father being ripped from me. I spent long years wishing g hoping he would walk the front door. I gave up.o. seeing him again until recently on ever seeing him again.” “You know what, I'm not going to be subtle about this.” Tempe said as her eyes started to Glow with rainbow colors hinting at her channeling me elements “Sombra isn't King Sombra, Sombra is controlled and trapped within himself by his mother the crystal that helped birth him the Umbra. The little Colt that was Sombra is trapped within the being of darkness he's become.” Tempe said plainly. “Harmony herself wants him to be free, as he has none of the blame of what his mother is trying to do which is to free her people, which are beings of pure darkness and corruption and create creatures like the nightmare all around the world. he's not even mind controlled he's almost personality dead we have a chance to save a blameless innocent trapped by a monster he has it even worse than Mom as from his birth he suffered pain just by being near the Heart of the Kingdom whenever the festival happened his pain almost drove him insane he needs help.” “Not sure I can help him.” l say to Tampe “Sombra is responsible for my father disappearing. I am not sure I can help.” “I'm not certain if I can fire off a Harmony blast but it seems I'm able to retain the ability to channel it without the others so it should be able to free him if I can get him close enough to another source of Harmony magic, the 8th element the Crystal Heart. It's technically its own artifact but can empower those who wield Harmony since it is also representative of friendship. When working in tandem with the other elements it represents the form of love friendship takes. There is a seventh element, empathy. My direct connection to Harmony herself allows me to understand the elements to a deeper degree than even their creators.” Tempe said as she tried to leave the train car to return to the group. I accompany Tempe to join the others. Taking a look outside I shiver. “Arctic environs. Why did it have to be arctic environs?” “Don't worry my fire can literally keep us warm.” Tempe said as her body self ignited save for her feet. “Learned how to do this on the moon. It's pretty cold up there this magic fire is not oxygen burning either so even with the mild atmosphere up there this kept me warm. I can cover my entire body with it but I don't want to risk burning the floor.”