> Prelude to 13, The Last Thing...
>  by Freewing Alchemist P
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1; H. G. Wells and Daring Do
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

                    Prelude to 13, The Last Thing...
                    Warehouse 13 & My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic

Chapter 1; H.G. Wells and Daring Do

    The last thing she said to her friends before she died was. "I Smell Apples" With a forced smile and sorrow full tears in her eyes she was gone. I'm sorry Christina. The fury of the explosion took her, then black.
    Conciseness came back to her, the blackness was fading, she was coming back? H.G. knew she should have been gone, but she could hear familiar voices, did they save her? No, they couldn't have saved her. She could smell apples, just like back at Warehouse 12! The voices were familiar, but not new, they were old! She Opened her eyes, Her eyes darted around taking in her surrounding as quickly as possible. What information could she gather to help tell her where she was? There was not many thing she could see. She was in a hospital room the style was like the eighteen hundreds, but she saw a strange looking X-ray machine and what resembled an M.R.I. machine. That technology was from twenty eleven She thought to herself. They had steam pipes running around them and made of copper and brass with light balls along the edge. They were powered by eighteen hundreds power source. Steampunk? She commented to her self.
    "Ha, Ms. Do your back with us in the land of the living."  Catarainga? H.G. thought to herself. She turned to the direction of  the voice. It was a old looking white and black spotted, unicorn he had short gray beard and a bald head. He had an endearing, quizzical smile and a small set of spectacles on the bridge of his nose. That reminded her of her old teacher, if he was a horse, wait too small, maybe a pony.
    "Where am I?" H.G. asked in her normal polished voice. She had hoped that the question would not raise any supposition. She looked at herself closely she was not human! I'm a pony too?  H.G. saw a feather come into her line of sight. I'm a Pegasus? She thought to herself. She was a tan-yellow Pegasus, though her head was bandaged she had long multa-streaked black - gay scale hair. H.G. examined her side which was bandaged, she noticed a tattoo on her flank it was a compass the needle was made from her grappler gun.
    The old unicorn saw this and gave a warm smile. "Oh yes, I guess you would be a little startled. Being near the edge of death and then coming back like that is disconcerting. Don't worry your old teacher, Checkmate Angle. will make you feel all better." He answered in a fine polishes manner, just like her old teacher. The unicorn bent down and tapped her forehead with his horn. An aura of clear energy surrounded his horn and in a burst of light it encompassed her as well. H.G. felt a surge of energy, thoughts, emotions and memories running through her. "You see, we managed to find you in the nick of time to save your life. You are in the infirmary back at The Canterlot Royal Vaults. But don't worry, the healing spell I just cast will help you. Just lay back and let it do it's job I will see you in the morning Ms. Do."
    She found herself weak again and collapsed back on the bed. The flood was too much for her to hold back there was nothing she could do to stop these foreign memories. She had to keep herself. Her name, was Helena. G. Wells, she was born in England, September 21st 1866 on and died in the year 2011 in South Dakota.
    No one will ever know that she existed because of her twin brother, Charles would be credited for her work. Her life really. While her brother was a writer, she was a scientist, engineer, visionary, secret agent and most important to her was mother. It was true many of Helena's adventure were kept secret, but her brother wrote them as fictional stories that all would remember.
    She was an agent of her Majesty's service, she was a Warehouse 12 agent. She had many adventure collecting dangerous artifacts and stopping evil foes that would hurt England and the world.
    She had a daughter, Christen, she loved her. She could remember the times where she would play tea party with her daughter, smiling as they clinked their tiny cup together. I would watch as she play with her dolls, until she got me to play with her. She broke into her thought. I let her rest on my shoulder as I read her stories. H.G. couldn't help but recant each time  One time when she was on a mission she had to leave her allying daughter with a relative. Their house was robbed and the robbers took her daughter's life. She tried to continued her work, but she could not she just kept trying to find a way to bring back her beloved Christen. The Regents were forced to Bronze her, and there she stayed more countless ages until she was brought back by a twisted man. James MacPherson. Waves of pain ripped throughout H.G.'s body. She knew that she had to remember the darker, the darkest days of her life. Triggered by the lost of her daughter.
    She tried again to work. To work with the American Agents of Warehouse 13 her new friends, Myka, Claudia, even Pete and Artie. It was great fun. More fun than warehouse 12 and they... They all grew, they were good friends and she grew to respect them very much, but the pain would come back again. The pain, was becoming too great. She, she. No, she couldn't relive those memories of betrayal
    The pain was too much she couldn't live linger on them any more. No, No not  those memories! She told herself. She knew what was coming she couldn't stand to see what she tried to do to those how she called friends and those she cared about. No, no I need relief!  She screamed to herself. She let the stranger's memories come in.
    She could see the tan-yellow Pegasus with her black striped hair in the wind as she soared in the air her bright magenta eyes gleamed. The strangers was named Daring Do she was a citizen of a land know as Equestria. Equestria was a kingdom of talking ponies, it was a world of magic, myths, monster, ledges and all things she believed in when she was a girl. A fairytale land? It was a land ruled by a pony princess, more like a goddess, named Celestia a pony who could controlled the very sun. She was a large as a horse with large white wings and horn with a rainbow mane that flowed, H.G was impressed. The princess has ruled the land in both peace and harmony for many year. A world where everyone gets along a, paradise I've long to see from Earth. H.G concluded.
    Daring Do had been born in a city in the clouds amply named Cloudsdale with her twin brother Yielding Do. Daring was just like her name described and her brother was much the same. Seeing Daring's bother the two reminded H.G. so much of herself and her brother. Well I guess some thing don't change even in other worlds. H.G mused to herself.
    At a young age Daring shown an aptitude for all sorts of things. H.G. Couldn't help but see the similarities in her and Daring's life. She was just as smart and resourceful as she was. Daring went in to the Royal flight Academy to become one of  Celestia's official flying soldiers, but she could tell. H.G. saw that this worlds society didn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted. Just because she was a girl or rather a filly they didn't get in her way. I'm sure I could like this world, part of me wish I was born into this world. She told herself.
    Celestia personally asked her, rather Daring, to work for a specula sect of the Royal Guards meant to collect dangerous, powerful, and important Artifacts. It was Daring's job to find them and remove them from this worlds equation.
    Then came the next set of memories. It was of a little white Pegasus filly with the same kind of black hair that Daring had. This memory tore at her it was... She watched Daring Do entered  through a pair of gigantic double oak doors the filly was playing with dolls. "Crystal Song, Mommy's here!" Daring called out.
     When she noticed Daring Do, Crystalsong, the filly's face lit up and raced towards her and embraced her tightly. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" The little filly cheered. Daring face softened and smiled with a slight tear in her eyes.
    This made H.G. freeze, it was her daughter! Daring had a daughter, just like her! She had to know more. She willed the memories to come now, she had to know about Daring's daughter. She couldn't help but linger on what she saw, The two dancing, laughing and Crystal learning from her mother. The time they shard and the love between them was strong, the similarities between her and Daring Do were spooky.  Or was she was losing herself to Daring's memories?
    As the last memory played out H.G. shot up from her bed. "Mr. Angle, please come here! I need you!".
    The old unicorn came rushing into the infirmary. "Daring what's wrong I told you to get some rest for the morning."
    "I need to see my daughter! I need to see my daughter now!" H.G. yelled at the old unicorn. She tried to make her eye as miserable as possible, pleading for what she asked.
    The old unicorn smiled at her. "Well, I can not keep a dame from her foal. I will have Mr. Cartwright bring you home in a carriage. But if I do that you must promise me that you will sleep on your way there."
    "Of course you have my word Checkmate Angle." H.G. said in the most polished voice an English woman could muster.
    "All right Ms. Do don't over sell it. I shall make sure everything is take care of." Checkmate Angle said with a smile, before leaving the infirmary.  
    The last memory she had seen was the memory of Daring Do saying goodbye before this latest mission. Daring was sitting on the edge of her daughters bed. Her daughter was sick, she was not well.  
    "Mommy, do you really have to go?" She pleaded softly.
    Daring caressed her daughters main and kissed her. "Yes, mommy has to go Celestia what's me to do something very important," Tears slowly trailed down  her face. "It will make Equestria safe for you. It may not seem fair, but mommy loves you more then anything and..."
    "I love you to mommy and I know that you'll be back as soon as you can." Crystal Song said to her mother.
    Kissing her foal again. "Mommy will be back as soon as she can. She loves you. Now you need to get better so go to bed and Mommy with be back." The foal nodded and slipped under her bed cover and closed her eyes tight.
    That was why she need to see the child now, H.G. had seen many type of sickness in her life and she hope she was wrong. She hoped that the memory was completely wrong. Scarlet Fever. H.G. Thought if that child has it she could be dead, but maybe these ponies could treat it? She could only guess she had to know! She could live in another world, another life, especially one she did not deserve to live in! Having to bury another child. Especially one that was not her own she couldn't live through the second hand pain of being reminded of the first. The only comfort to her was. At least it's sickness and not some senseless act of violence. I can tolerate sickness. H.G. didn't know why she was being so nervous waiting for the carriage but she was.
    "I have to see my child, I have to see my child." She repeated aloud to no one in particular. She knew she had to see that child, Daring didn't deserve to lose her child, that was one simply H.G. would not allow.



> Chapter 2; Beloved Daughter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2; Beloved Daughter

    The carriage ride allowed her to reflect on many things and yet still no answers came to her. What happened to her? Why was she here?  In the reflection of the carriage window she could see Daring's dark magenta eyes, they weren't hers. But it wasn't her eyes she cared about it was Daring's Daughter, what will she do? If the child did survive could she raise Crystal Song as her own daughter? Will I give the child the love she deserves? Yes, I can easily do Daring's work at The Canterlot Royal Vaults. What am I suppose to do? I don't wish to bury another child, but can I love another child? I have to because she needs her mother but... She continued to think she was still worried what can she do?
    The carriage stopped in front of an enormous manor H.G. couldn't wait to be let out, she charged out of the carriage. Leaving an Earth Bound pony that bared a striking resemblance to her old partner at Warehouse 12. She forced the front doors of the manor open, the foray was empty but for a dusty brown Pegasus with an orange brown main and curly handle bar mustache. Daring's bother Yielding he was pacing nervously looking at the floor and mumbling to himself.
    No! She screamed to herself. I'm too late! She rushed past him to the bedrooms in Daring's memories. Crystalsong' bedroom was past the sitting room, she had to go through one more room and she would know.
    Seeing his sister Yielding tried to stop her but H.G. would not be stopped. "Daring, I'm sorry but.."
    Throwing the door to the sitting room open she saw a little filly, dressed in what was probably a night shirt, curled into a ball near resting on a rung near the fire. H.G. saw a rhythmic up and down motion in her body, she was breathing! She let out a sigh of relief, she was alive.
    "That's one of the things...," Yielding said hesitantly  "I fired a butler today."
    H.G. looked at him with a both surprise and confusion. "Your nervous over firing the hired help? You bloody scared me half to death I thought my da... foal was dead! And your scared how I would react on you firing the hired help!" H.G. roared as she bent in back to the floor.
      Looking around avoiding eye contact, he continued. "That's not all. You see, when we heard you were injured, Crystalsong overheard. Well, she refused to go back to bed and the butler in question said for her to go to bed or you'll be dead. Well, that's when I fired him." He said in a quivering voice. He was still avoiding my stare. "I know you said that I'm not allowed to do any of the hiring of firing of staff. But what he said, that was unforgivable. You don't say that sort of thing to a child! Well she was so distort and there was no other way. I agreed to let her stay up and wait for you to come back. It was the only way to calm her down. I didn't need her getting sick all over again. The poor thing fell asleep waiting for you."
    Speechless H.G. wrapped her hooves around Yielding's neck. "I can't believe you could be so thoughtful." H.G. exclaimed. Yielding was stunned blinking his wide eyes to make sure he was not dreaming.
    "Sister?" Yielding questioned.
     Yielding is nothing like my brother Charles but why? They seemed so very similar to start? Charles would never had done something like that, he would have let the butler say such a horrible thing to Christen and thought nothing of it.
    Looking Yielding in the face with tears forming in her eyes. "I don't care that you fired him. I don't care that you let my foal stay up to wait for me. I'm not mad at you. I'm glad you helped Crystal Song. I'm glad that you were here for her."
    "We're family, aren't we? Isn't that what family does or at least suppose to do for each other?" Yielding asked her.
    H.G. nodded, still fighting back tears. "I guess you're right, but I never expected it from you." Oh, drat I'm not sure if that's true. I shouldn't have said that. H.G. Thought to herself.
    The Pegasus stallion blushed at his sister's earlier comment. H.G. Could guess she must have been right. "I've always been a bit of a lout, well a very big one in fact, I just... I just needed to be a better brother! You deserve it Daring," He said wrapping his hooves around her. "You, you needed me in the past. You came to me in the worst time of your life. You absolutely needed me in the most critical time in your life and I wasn't there for you or her. You came to my aid when I need it, but I never asked at all. You saved me and I left you out to dry. I needed to make up for that."
    That's for sure my brother Charles was in so much trouble and debt that I had to call in a few favors to make it all go away and then what does my brother do to repay me? He becomes a famous writer by writing his books on my adventures. But I and Christen were never in any danger so there must be apart of Daring's life I still don't know about? But still the present. She fumed a bit mentally.
    H.G. thoughts turned back to Yielding 's speech. "I'll try my best to be here for you now! Oh, Crystal Song's fever broke and I think she'll be better now, but I'll call a new doctor to examine her to makes sure if she is OK. If you like I'll take care of everything. I think that you should stay with Crystal Song tonight, I'll have a bed brought in..."
    "Yes, I leave it to you," H.G. releasing Yielding from her grip. "The bed  will not be necessary I'll stay in Crystal Song's bed with her, I need some maternal bonding time right now."
    "Indeed, you can count on me from now on sister," Yielding said with confidence. "Not to be nosing, but why did you come back to night? I thought you would be out for a few days, your injures and such?"
    "I had to come back as fast as I could because," She paused trying to think of a good excuses. "I over heard that the doctor my have misdiagnose her condition. He said it may have been scarlet fever, but he didn't tell me because he was told make sure I make my mission. When I heard that, I had to go and see if she was OK." She hope she sounded convening.
    "Troubling indeed, I'll have a talk with Mr. Angle about that." Yielding said.
    "You do that, I have more important matters." H.G. said Turning around.
    Scooping up the little filly H.G. flapped her wings gently allowing her to  floating off the ground just a little bit. She carried the filly back to her bedroom. Still holding her in one hoof she spread the covers of the bed and settled down in the bed she put the covers back over herself and the little filly. Resting her own head on the pillow and the filly's head on her shoulder she whispered  softly.
    "I'll try to be a good mommy for you. You deserve that much, I promise I'll try. Crystal Song." She finished, still looking at the little filly. Her eyes grew heavy and she passed into slumber still holding the little filly.
    Meanwhile outside of the mansion Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Angle, after getting an ear full from Yielding Do they were on their way back to The Canterlot Royal Vaults.
    "I can't believe that he accused of such wrong doing." Cart right said indignantly.
    "Oh, well that is understandably it has happen before. I will have to check out the claim myself. There  is no harm in checking into it." Checkmate said still with a smile on his face.
    "Well I still I don't like it. Well lets get the carriage ready. Would you like to ride?" Cart right asked.
    "Thank you these old bones could use a little rest." The old unicorn laughed. Pausing for a moment Checkmate Angle looked at the mansion. Good luck Ms. Wells, I hope you're going to like your second chance. You're a mother and  an adventure in a semi- peaceful world. I myself enjoyed my second chance. I hope everything will go right for you and your daughter. The old unicorn climbed into the carriage and they were both off.





> Chapter 3; The Lost And The Found
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also make cameos from other series and I do not own the rights to them. I could not rest but to use them for laughs.
Chapter 3; The Lost And The Found

    H.G could not see any light, there was only darkness. She kept moving forward, and soon she found herself in a gloom covered cave. Traveling deeper into the cave until she ended up at the banks of a gray and black river. "The River Styx," H.G breathed with a mixture of despair and satisfaction. That's when she saw a skiff come up to the banks the captain of the boat was a skeletal figure wrapped in a long black cloak, his bony fingers clung to a long stone pole. "Waiting for me is Chron, The Ferryman Of The Dead. Fitting really, I guess my next stop is Hell." The silently they glided through the waters, in silence they moved onwards to the other side of the expansive banks. The waters swirled ebbed H.G could see the tortured souls writhing in pain just below the surface. It came into view and she knew what she saw Rodin's Gates of Hell. It was just as she saw it in the museums. Chron stopped before them, she left the boat passing him two coins, his fee taking her to her destination.
    H.G. joined the line of souls, that were waiting to be judged. She watched as they marched up to a throne of bone and sandstone, with an enormous black, scythe, like ax just behind it. A skeletal, figure clocked in tattered black and dark violet vestments, donned in golden rings, an amulet that hung from it's bony neck. A pointed crown sat on his skeletal head. H.G. knew that figure from ancient history, "King Menos." H.G. breathed to herself.
         As a soul stood before King Menos, the somber skeletal face opened it's clenched teeth only momentarily. With a breath made of dust, it boomed. "Gluttony!" It thrusted a bony finger towards the gate, and the soul was carried away by two hulking beast with bone like masks.
    She watched as King Menos, leaned against his free hand. A more famine creature with a bone like mask came up to him. She was adorned with white and wrapped in chains. She carried a basin and bottle of liquid. King Menos took the basin as the female poured the bottle's contents into the basin. Drinking it down with a gulp he made a ragged exhale. "I'm so bored!" He boomed. The next soul was presented to King Menos, he pointed his bony figure at it. "Greed!"
     H.G. waited in line, she wondered what was going to happen to her when it was time. It came closer and closer she was now was afraid of what would happen to her. She had done so many bad things what was her fate? Her turn came and as his finger pointed at her, his mouth began to open.
    "Sorry Kingy," A brash confident female voice call out. H.G. turned to see Daring Do, she came up trotting to King Menos. "That soul doesn't belong with you, she has to come with me!" She shook her head. "It's not her time. So just point out the Exit and we'll be off."
    King Menos exhaled and pointed a bony finger to the left of his throne. "Thanks for the assist Kingy. Have a nice day, see ya never." Daring Do said as she lead the way, she was dressed in a khaki jacket and pit-helmet hat.
    "Listen, I appreciate what you did but..."
    "But nothing, Hell is a community for those who have done evil. Evil doers that can not and will not repent. Your not like that. You long for a chance to make up for your mistakes and the wrongs you've made. If you go to Hell they'll be no way for you to make up for what you did. Follow me then you have a chance. You can make up for what you did and even have a good life in the bargain." Daring lectured her.
    "I know we have a lot in common, but what about your daughter she needs her mother not me!" H.G. exclaimed.
    They arrived at a train station where there were two trains waiting. As she and Daring Do walked closer the train H.G. watched Daring's outfit changed into a white dress, her main was done up with a pill box hat sitting on one side of her head a purse haggling from one of her front legs. H.G. saw that Daring Do had cleaned up wearing makeup she was tastefully and subtle. She gave H.G. a smile with her painted lips. "She not my daughter..."
    "Mommy, Your here!" A voice rang out through the train station as white filly came running up to Daring Do. The little filly looked like Crystal Song, she was wearing a white frilly dress.
    "She's your." Daring Do finished and she lead her daughter onto one of the trains.
    She was confused where does she go now? H.G. watched as a little tabby cat with two tails, dressed in traditional Japanese garb, smoking a long pipe walking up to her. He stopping before her, he tilted a bowler hat in her direction. "Hello Ms. Wells, Time to go back to reality. Someone's waiting." He showed her to the other train. The door opened and she walked over to the train hesitantly.
         As H.G. passed through the door she heard a familiar voice. "Mummy? Mummy?"

    H.G. opened her eyes, Was it a dream? She thought. Looking down at the little filly that was looking up at her. For a brief moment she thought she saw Christian's face. "Christina?"
    "Yes, I don't know how, but I know that it's your my Mummy." The Filly stated and hugged her.
    H.G. couldn't hold back her tears. "Yes, it's me. I miss you soo very much."
    "I missed you too Mummy, I was so scared." Christina continued to hug her tightly.
    "Christina, what's the last thing you remember, before you came here?" H.G. asked her daughter.
    "Two men broke into the house, Sophie tried to stop them but they hurt me." The little filly said her large eyes starting to water. "It hurt bad, I was so scared."
    "And you woke up here?" H.G. questioned as she started to dry her daughters tiers. She nodded to her mother.
    "There's a pony that looks like uncle Charles, but he's a lot nicer than real uncle Charles." Christina said.
    "I know I've met him, he is really nice." H.G. said with a little giggle in her voice.
    "Do you think this is Heaven?" Christina asked.
    "No, no Christina your mummy doesn't deserve heaven she, she did..."
    "But this is!" The little filly pleaded. "Because there's no bad men to hurt anyone. The ponies are nicer here and now I have my mummy, why can't it be heaven?"
    H.G. couldn't stop herself from tearing up, nor could she stop them from falling. "Christina, mummy lived a long time without you. Mummy became very, very sad and tried to do something very bad. She hurt so bad, because you weren't there with her. Mummy did very bad things that could have taken other mummy way from their little girls and vice versa. Mummy tried to do something very, very bad." Tears continued to fall from H.G. eye. "She didn't deserve this gift she was given."
    "You were sad, very sad, I'm here now and you don't have to be sad any more. So mummy don't cry."  Christina pleaded with her.
    "Mummy doesn't deserve to be with you," H.G. broke down. "Mummy doesn't deserve to be with you." She cried.
    The little filly barrier her face into her mother's chest. "But you do, I need you. Mummy, I need you!" She cried into her mother.
    
    The two cried in some what silently H.G. didn't know how to comfort her or how to face the truth of the situation. Her anger grew, as she realized how she hurt her own child, she was the worst mother on two worlds. There was no excuse for me  She thought to herself.
    "Mummy?" The filly broke the silence. H.G. looked down at her child, puzzled at what she wanted.
    "Yes?"
    "You said that you lived a long time. How long?" She asked in a broken voice.
    H.G. thought for a moment. No one is her to stop me? "Well," H.G. started hesitantly "Mummy had to move to America for her job."
    "You went to live with the yanks?" She questioned.
    H.G. chucked. "Yes, yes I did, and the last year I remembered it was 2011."
    "Wow that's a long time, your really old." She said in amazement.
    "Yes, I saw and did a lot of amazing things and made many new friends." H. G. paused only wondering what her child would believe of her tales. She told her of the wonders and horrors of the new world as well as the time that passed. The Filly was awe struck and sat on her mother's lap listening to all her stories. "And last thing I remember before I came here I was saving my friend form a very, very bad man. I was hurt very bad and then I woke up here. But now you must know that we all have different names. I'm Daring Do, Yielding Do is the one that looks like uncle Charles , and you have a new name too."
    Christina' eyes seemed to shine with a strange light. "Really, those are really funny." She let out a little giggled.
    "Ah, you have a name too. It's CrystalSong."
    "That's really pretty, mummy do I looked pretty as a pony?"
    "Well I like to think so, but I'm not a good judge because I'm your mummy." H.G. Laughed a bit.
    "Yah, but I think you're very beautiful mummy." Christina giggled at her.
    H.G. smiled at her daughter. "Thank you Crystal Song."
    "Mummy, lets live here, forget all about the bad people who hurt us and stay together."
    "All right, all right," H.G. chuckled as she pulled her daughter closer to her. "We'll live here and forget all about the bad people that hurt us and be happy." H.G. smiled at her daughter as she relaxed herself. "Now let get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a very big day. Good night my CrystalSong." She hugged her beloved daughter.
    "Good night mummy." She murmured with a happy smile.


> Chapter 4; The Rebirth of Emily Lake
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4; The Rebirth of Emily Lake

H.G. could have been in Heaven for all she knew. It had been weeks with her daughter in this new land and life. She worked at her work bench and not too far away her daughter was at a school desk doing her home work. H.G. had finished, as well as modified for, pony use, her Grappler and Tezla. She was working on her newest device, almost finished with it when a nagging feeling struck her.
    She stopped only for a moment. "Crystal Song, do you need any help with your home work?"
    "No Mummy, I'm fine." The little filly said without look up from her desk.
    "Mummy's still working but if you need help just ask." H.G. said with a smile.
     "OK Mummy." She called back cheerily.
    It was strange that she could work so well without her fingers, only hooves. They worked well, even with the sensitive equipment she had here. With the last vacuum tube she was done with the last piece. Flapping her wings slightly she hovered over to the window. A device was aiming outside. It was a gold telescope with a set of smaller views and an attached to them was a sphere shape. Sitting on a tripod, below that was a massive like an engine, with vacuum tubes and small belts, and motor. The engine was not only connected to the telescope and tripod by metal pipes and wires. On one side of the device was a large dial with a handle connected to a metal frame, the other side had a slopping tank attached to a makeshift ignition device.
    H.G. lowered herself to the floor and slid under the device and attached the piece to the engine. Working effortlessly she had the component attached to the her device. Sliding out from under the device she gave a satisfactory smile at her finished work. H.G. wiped off he hooves, she turned around. Crystal Song was staring amazed at what her mother had just finished.
    "What is it Mummy?" She asked.
    Without turning around she answered. "I call it the Philosophoscop, it is a device that I've been thinking of for a long time and since I have some free time." She looked at her daughter with a smile. "This device is special, it can answer Cretin Philosophical Questions. When I say Cretin I mean I can't answer any of the bigger questions such as 'What's the meaning of life'. I still have to work out some, if not a lot, of the glitches and problems. I still have problems with the interface, but it will be quite a useful thing to use. Would you like to help mummy test it out?"
    Crystal Song nodded. "Sure, how dose it work?"   
    She turned the lever on the side of the device and turned the key on the other side. "You start by selecting one of the questions on the deal, I just choose 'Trusted Teacher' now when you look through. Your question will be answered, but only you will know the answer."
    "Why?"
    "Because the answer is different for each pony. There is a time lag between ponies and I haven't set all of the dial selections. But enough boring talk, try it out." She motioned her daughter to the device.
    Crystal Song put her eye against the viewer. H.G. watched as her daughter's mouth opened wide in amazement. "Wow I can see Mr. Ferrari, but he lives in Troatinghame right now."
    H.G. nodded. "That's great! That means it's working you'll see your 'Trusted Teacher' any where he is."
    "Quite a useful device indeed Daring." A new voice broke into the conversation. Both H.G and her daughter turned in it's direction.
    It was a beautiful white horse with a golden sun on her flank, a rainbow like main and tail, flowing white wings as well as elongated horn. She wore a golden crown necklaces and hooves capes. Her main and tail followed on it's own like it was in the breeze, her violet eyes shined and exuded her warm and bright smile. A smile that widen and set on her and her daughter.
    "Princess Celestia," H.G. breathed the memories did not do her justice. She was beautiful and certainly majestic. She could see what others see her as a goddess. "For what do I owe the pleasure of your company." H.G. bowed her daughter followed her mother's example.
     "I came here to see you Daring. I hear that you have quite?" She questioned.
    H.G. glanced around the princess and saw Yielding cowering behind her. She stood up and looked the princess in the eyes. "Yes, my family must come first. I almost lost everything on my last mission. I have to think of my daughter."
    Celestia was still smiling at her and her daughter. "I completely understand, when you are young a parent is a god. They banish the evils and monsters that frighten and pray on us, but it is these acts that teach us to deal with the real evils and monster we will have to face in our lives when they are gone." She paused and took a breath. "I am sorry for the speech, but it is my way of saying I understand."
    H.G. smiled and nodded. "Thank you your majesty. But I'm sure that important to my child, I'm not a god."
    "While ponies our age certainly do not see our parents that way. My parents have passed on many centuries ago. It may be true for your daughter as well, she is a bit older. She still has much to learn, but your daughter needs you just the same."
    "Princess you showed your interest in my Philosophoscop, I still have some work but when I'm done and it works well I'll deliver it to you." H.G. said to her with a smile.
    "Ahuitzotl has had an advantage with his machines for too long, we could use a device like this to give us an edge. Can you put 'Mortal Danger to Equestria' on your selection dial?"
    "My Philosophoscop couldn't handle that, I can put a 'Mortal Danger' selection, but it would still be subjective because what is mortal danger for one pony might not be for another. Pulse, some mortal danger might not start out so dangerous for a nation, but it may grow into one."
    "I understand." The princess nodded.
    "I know you are Royalty and the Princess of our country, but are you really a god? Do you have any children?" Crystalsong asked innocently.
    The two mares looked at the little filly, Celestia smiled at Crystal Song. "While I have divinity and power similar to a god, I am not a god. Many of my subject treats me as one and I try to dissuade them from such actions. It is almost impossible to do that because, I control the sun. But I want my citizens to know that I am not like the Sun I control, but rather I would like them to think of me as member of their own family.'
    'And to answer your second question, Yes, I have had many children and I've had to bury many of them for a variety of different reasons, just as I had to bury many of my past loves. You see my sister and came about by unseal means. We were born during an ancient time full of chaos. A time brought about when my father an Earthbound prince, did something very foalish to attract my mother a unicorn princess. The chaos was caused by my father when he fell in love with my mother, but he was afraid that she would not love him back. So he tricked her into drinking a Love Potion, but it backfired and became a Love Poison. A poison, using love, a poison that brought our young nation to it's knees. Ponies in turmoil and everything falling apart. Why? Because my parents were too preoccupied with each other to care about anything else. For that reason when I and later my sister were born we were raised and taught by other ponies who carried for both us and our nation. Much later before we could take the throne, an evil creature named Discord took over our nation. But my sister and I  were able take back control. Together we brought peace and harmony back to our home."
    "You have a sister? Did she pass away too?"
    "Yes, I have had several brothers and sisters. But I was closest to one in particular," Celestia paused and seemed to be in thought. H.G. knew that look because she wore it too many time when she lost her Christina. So she lost someone she loved too. I can understand that, I wonder if any one actually knows that about her. H.G. mused to herself.
    Celestia started again and gave them a smile. "That is another story for another time little one. But I guess out living the ones you love is a unexpected hazard of a long life."
    "So, why do you live so long?"
    "You see little filly I'm an Alicorn, a blending of the three tribes of ponies. A creature of harmony born because of chaos. We are near immortal but our children may not be, unless they too are Alicorn too."
    Celestia lowered her head and she looked like she was in the same sorrowful expression. Seeing this, Crystal Song seemed to be thinking. H.G. watched her daughter start to flap her wings a bit, she float up to Celestia. She kissed her on the check. "I'm sorry, I know that if my mummy lost me she would be very sad. I couldn't even think about losing so many I love."
    "Thank you my little pony you are very kind." Celestia told her with a smile. She looked at H.G. "You are raising a fine little filly Daring Do. But the real reason I have come to you today was not to reenlist you but, to offer you a chance at another life. I going to reassign you to Phillyadelphia College, if I remember correctly Daring you are good with literature?"
    "I'm a little rusty, I need some time to catch up." H.G. replied, scratching her head.
    "You have time, it will take time to work everything out. We can't have your filly transfer in the middle of her school year can we. I also want you to finish your Philosophoscop so that it can be put into use. But we need to give you a new name, a new identity, because you have many enemies that could come looking for you. To protect you and everyone else from potential danger. It may take me a while to set up a new name as well."
    "Well I have a suggestion for a new name if you're willing to entertain it." H.G. asked.
    "I'm listening." Celestia inquired.
    "Striving  Lakely." H.G. smiled. Now Emily Lake can have a new life too. She thought to herself.
    "Perfect name for you as well." Celestia smiled.


> Chapter 5;  Catching Up, Rotten Attacker 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 5; Catching Up

    It was a warm day at the cafe. She sipped her tea, she had already read the twelve book this day. H.G. knew she had a lot of catching up to do there was no way around it, but she needed to do this if Striving Lakely was going to be a teacher. Especially if she had to be a college teacher part of her wanted to be teaching the younger one's the little colts and fillies like her daughter.
    Still she was going to be a teacher. No more adventures, Part of her was sad about that but if was over written, that could take me away from my daughter. H.G. Thought. The literature was pretty much the same, with some differences, of course but still the same. It was still fun to read, she felt like a school girl again, so vary existing.
    She read about the history about the three tribes of ponies in the time before Celestia. The unicorns would use their magic to subject and slaughter none unicorns. Such was that case was with a Unicorn, Common Speaker that used his special talent of speech and his magic to turn his passionate speeches into booming commands that the unicorns must follow. While Pegasus, the more war like tribe, used there weather control abilities to wreck havoc on their enemies and earth ponies alike. There was a Pegasus warrior named Typhoon obliterated several islands and a colony of earthbound ponies. The earthbounds were the ones being oppressed and controlled but H.G. Thought it was odd. I guess this place wasn't always so peaceful. The earthbound are technically more superior to the other tribes. Take away a Pegasus' wings or a unicorns' horn they're helpless, there is nothing they can do. Earthbound's magic is with in them there enhanced strength and ability to control nature.
    That would explain why the other tribes enslaved them, most likely out of fear originally. I mean come they had to have been slaves because now way they would have willingly giving up 2/3 of their crops. They just gazed it over the whole thing so that there would not rekindled. Still can't blame them, keeps things peaceful and it doesn't hurt Celestia took control of the sun and moon.
    She looked up for her books at all the different types ponies that were walking, working, talking and playing together. Pegasus flirting with a earthbound, a unicorn helping a Pegasus with is job and a unicorn and unicorn on a date.
    There is still some tribalism going on but now a days most ponies work, live, love and help one another. She continued to read to herself.
    A strange stench reached her nostrils, it was like rotten eggs, mix with bad hasenpfeffer left to ferment inside Pet's gym bag after it was left in Artie's office overnight. She covered her nose and started to look around for its source.
    "Geryaoohoo!" A sloshing howl reached her ears. That's when she saw a creatures about to descend on her. Before the creature's fags and claw could sink into her.
    H.G. felt her body raised into the air. She was gracefully lowered to the ground and her savior dropped down by her side. H.G. lingered a bit on the royal white mare she had a look of extreme focus and killer intent.  H.G. looked at what attacked her and she was dumbstruck that instant. She did not understand what she was looking at, it looked like a werewolf made of sickly, white, branches and bark. Mounds of gray, leaves clung to tentatively everywhere on it's body as black oily, ooze dripped from it's snarling grin. It's violet eyes switched between him and his partner. It roared, a creature of rage and anger. H.G. know it was a creature of fury, unbound and ever mounting rage. She knew it was, because in her past life she knew creatures of anger and bond fury. Right now she wished she was human again, but now she was a  Pegasus her  round eyes were locked on the creature before here.
    H.G. dared to look over at the royal white Alicorn. "Princess, what is this thing? I've never seen anything like it."
    "I prayed that I would never see one like it again, I thought they were extinct. It's a fine specimen of  Rotacus Arboreal Cains Lupus.  Also known as a Rot wolf a sub sect of Timber wolf that stands up right and can rot anything it's claws rip or it's jaws bites."
    "Oh, that is just fine." H.G. said exasperated.
    "Daring, I suggest that you should just leave now this is my fight." Celestia told her.
    "Sorry to disobey Princess, but this is what I use to do. This creature is putting a lot of families in danger and I can't stand by to watch!"  H.G. side to her confidently to her.
    "Very well Daring, but if you become a liability I will forcibly remove you."
    "Understood your majesty." H.G. replied.
    In a booming voice she made out her commands. "Guards, cordon off the area and evacuate the area of civilians. Now! Leave Daring and myself to this matter."
    H.G. watched as a flurry of Pegasus and unicorn went to work clearing out and cording off the area. It took only minutes before her and Celestia alone with the Rot wolf. The two were left with the beast.
    "Ordinary Timber wolves, were born through magical experiments, and have become a valid spices. They are difficult enough to handle because they can reattach and combine when a mass are destroyed together. "Celestia breathed heavily, but she continued. "But unlike its cousins Rot wolves are monstrous, originally born of some of the most twisted, dark, magic experiments. They could never ever exists in the wild with out these experiments. They are more dangerous because of their rotting effect. They are so various that they can't live in a pack and they can only be alone. Mindless fighting machines, but for whom and why?"
    "Princess, if I can get to my carpet bag I think I have a few devices that can help us." H.G. Said to her.
    "I will draw its attention go to it!" Celestia yelled as she shot into the air and charged her horn with golden light

         Celestia knew Daring Do would not have suggested this if she didn't have something up her proverbial sleeves. Her horn still glowing Celestia knew what she had to do. With a falcon dive towards the beast with a burst of magic knocking it back as he loped upward avoiding it's quick slash. Celestia went back into the air, with her position secured she started to charge of a new spell. She let it loose and a spiraling gold spire descended on it's target. Her heart sank as the Rot wolf managed to dodged it and it quickly righted itself back to a standing position. The Rot wolf, roared and threw it's arms forwards it's claws erupted form it's paw like fingers.
    Celestia knew that she was stuck she was in midair after firing a spell. As the claws came closer to her she felt something snag her hind leg and she was pulled to the ground. She whirled around to see her savior. "Thank you Daring." She breathed.
    That's when she notice a Daring was holding a device, a spool attached to a long metal barrel with an L shaped grip that hand a trigger. There was more to it but she was drawn to the length of rope that had wrapped around her leg. As it slowly unbounded and slithered back to the metal barrel. At the end of the rope was an expandable grappling hook. Celestia wanted to ask her more about what she had in her hooves but this was not the time.

    H.G. knew that that Celestia was examining her grappler gun. She was not really in the mood to explain nor was she capable to do it, especially at this moment. "New invention" H.G. mentioned quickly.
    Celestia let loose volleys of golden light and strafing the monster in the shoulder it charged forward with it's maw open snarling. Moments before it's strike the Princess rose into the air and avoided the creature's charge. She came down on it's back slamming it to the ground. Before it could counter attack she raised into the air again before landing on the ground. The Rot wolf spun around and charged the two of them as they shot in to the air in different directions, Celestia went left she went right. The monster looked in both and turned towards her, opening it's mouth it fired a ball of putrefied sludge at her. With a quick double loop she managed to dodge it, before it could fire another Celestia came to her aid and fired another blast of golden energy. Snarling the Rot wolf bet it's head towards her and let loose a spray of bile. H.G. looked back and saw the bile spray hit a near by fruit cart and watched it sizzled away to nothing. Dangerous H.G. thought to herself.
    Desperately the duo climbed into the air. H.G. looked at the Solar Princess. "I'm assuming his projectiles and spitting are new to you as well!"
    "Yes, it seems this one was quite heavily modified, but to what end I do not know." Celestia said to her.
    They decided to keep themselves in the air, but they both know that couldn't be kept up. It let out another volley of slug balls at them. "Princess I have an idea, but we need to work to gather and have perfect timing as well."
    "I trust you Daring, just tell me when you are ready to go!" Celestia told her.
    Both descended quickly and zoomed towards the Rot wolf H.G. aimed her grappler at Celestia. Seeing this the Princess nodded, she knew what her comrade was thinking. The two were now low to the ground feet from the pavement. H.G. fired her grappler and Celestia caught it with her mouth with a quick loop around the Rot wolfs legs and quickly dragged it up into the air. H.G. clamped her teeth down on the rope and pulled out a Tezla quickly she removed the safeties and ramped up the capacitors. She squeezed the trigger and let the power build up. It started to spark and arc with electricity.
    Howling with fury the dangling Rot wolf fired out it's claws at the two of them, they split up in two different directions and then quickly realigning to avoid another attack. Quickly H.G. tossed the overload Tezla at there dangling captive. As it exploded letting loose a wave of arcing energy, there captive went limp. The two dropped him to the ground, quickly they swooped and touched down. There enemy was twitching and convulsing, as hit let out grunts and whimpers of pain.
    H.G. noticed a bran on it's inner thigh it looked like a water drop that had an  compass cut out of the water droplet. It was a water droplet wasn't it? H.G. thought.
    H.G.'s sight was quickly obscured when by a the long white pinion feathers of the Princess. H.G. Looked up at Celestia "What was that you threw at the Rot wolf?" Celestia asked her.

    "Well," H.G. started thinking as fast as she could. "It was suppose to be a defensive weapon but I couldn't get it to work just right ." She lied.  
    "I see, what was it suppose to do?"
    "Knock out an opponent giving the used a chance to escape. I can't quite get the voltage right, still too high it could kill some pony," H.G. lied again. "Though I don't think a unicorn would be effected the same as a Pegasus of an earthbound."
    "Well," Celestia started hesitantly. "I do not like the idea of a new weapon, but I understand the need for defensive verity. But it would be a bigger danger to a unicorn because it could scramble there mind for a while. I would appreciate if you would stop working on something that could be that dangerous. Those I understand why you did make such a device." Celestia conclude sternly but still with a smile.
    "I understand Princess, now I guess I have to go back to my studies. I have to get ready to became a teacher."
    "I understand but I may need you for one small task before you fully retire I'll have Checkmate Angle give you the specifics." H.G. noticed a mischievous smile. "In exchange I'll help you study, does that sound like a good deal."
    She knew it was. H.G. couldn't really turn down the offer. "All right your majesty, can I ask you some question on history?"
    "Yes," Celestia chuckled a little. "I suppose that you are wondering about the Sun and Moon? And the inconstancies about the folklore about Hearth's Warming Eve? I'll start by showing a portrait of Princess Platinum the second and the look on her face when my sister and I took control of the sun and moon. I still can't believe she stood still in shock that long." Celestia laughed.
    H.G. turned back to see the guards start to restrain and the Rot wolf. H.G started to wonder what a creature like that was doing her. "So Daring Do, why not wait for me in my carriage. I've got a few orders I must give out before we go."
    H.G. nodded. "Of course your majesty." She said with a bow and needed for the royal carriage.

    Waiting for Daring Do  to enter the carriage. She worriedly around to the nearest guard. "Have that monster brought to my school. Tell the faculty I want a full run down on it. All the magic weapons it has, how was it created, the type of magic use to make it the works! Tell them to tear it apart, magic piece by magic piece! Before you do that, call the Blood family. Tell them that there, 'Black Sheep' has returned. I would pur fur that they deal with it but judging by what happened today they may not be able too. I don't want that FREAK! Near Daring ever, ever again!" Celestia Snarled.
    An older guard came up to her. "I know who your talking about, but shouldn't we tell Daring I mean he was and in a legal sense.." Celestia glared at him. The guard stopped his sentence and started to straighten himself up still in fear of her.
    "I realize that, She has a connection to that FREAK! But I do not want her to be involved in any of this it was, it a nightmare dealing with what happened the first time. Now Daring has a filly to worry about. I must be going now, but it consider what I said a royal order to keep it under wraps but tell her brother about this." Celestia turned around.
    "It shall be handled Princess." The guard said with a salute.
    Celestia walked back to her carriage with a fake smile on her face. I will not have a repeat of that FREAK'S! atrocities. I will not have him heart My Little Ponies ever again! She thought angrily to herself as she climbed into the carriage Daring Do waiting patiently inside.




> Chapter 6; The Lingering Nightmare
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6; The Lingering Nightmare

    She was laying on the aged stone floor she could see the blood slowly flow form her body. Her weekend eyes could see a mass of evil shadows looming over her. They came into focus and she could see them. A period of cats, a tiger, a lion, a panther, a lynxes and a little, puffy, white, Prussian cat. They stood behind a creature was like a  black and blue with equal parts baboon and gorilla.  He had a broad chest and his ears were pointed like a jackal's ears his muscular arms carried him around  his he was more elongated. He was adorn in ancient looking Aztec like jewelry and at the end of a long black tail was a grasping palm.
    "Ah, Daring Do I am truly sorry that this will be the last time we meet." The creature said with a laughed he had a thick Spanish accent.
 Ahuizotll..." Daring struggled to say. But her voice was fading and she could not see any more.
    She watched as his hand tail grabbed the ideal that Daring Do had risked her life to get, but now it belong to the enemy. Ahuitzotl examined the his ill-gotten gain and made a wicked smile. That 's when she saw or rather noticed  another figure, shadowy at first. But as she kept having the same dream and the back figure kept becoming clearer until she could see him. The new figure was a pony or at least she thought it was. A white stallion, with a short, gray-blue mane and tail with green-blue eyes with thin blue wings. Now that she could see Daring's memories it wasn't white, but rather the opposites of black or anti-black. His wings were not feather like but it was insect like clear-blue, elongated oval shape. He had a strange device strapped to his chest. It was brass fixture that looked like a steam engine and had hoses sticking out of it's side, that traveled to the back of his neck. This pony nodded at Ahuizotl and he gave Daring a wicked grin.
         "You know I should put you in some sort of death trap or at least make sure that you will be dead but WE don't have the time to do such things. Good by my dear."
    Ahuizotl left but this mysterious pony lingered and H.G. thought that she heard the pony say. "Goodbye my Love..." And walked away leaving the real Daring Do to die on the temple ground.

    The late night flight was not her idea of fun but the dream she was having was giving her a problem. She knew it must have been a memory form Daring's past and now the only one that could help her was at the Royal Canterlot Vaults. Checkmate Angle, he was the only one that could tell her what she wanted to know.
    She was fast and able to close the distance from her home to the Canterlot Vaults. The sky was dark and full of stars but she couldn't see the constellation. They didn't seem to match any constellation she seen before. They seemed like they were just haphazardly put in the sky with no regard for design, beauty or... well it seemed like a five year old just dabbed a lot of white paint on black paper. That is what she missed about Earth, the constellations, and the night was more like a work of art. She liked, too many other things about this world, she could get over not having a beautiful night sky to fly in.  
    She made it to the Canterlot Vaults in no time at all, but there was a time she thought that she brake the sound barrier. With Daring's memories she was able to navigating the Vaults and make it to Checkmate Angle's office. Standing in front of the old oak doors she was hesitant but she had to know something didn't seem right.
    She knocked on the door. "Checkmate, are you in there I need to talked to you."
    "Of course Ms. Do, come in." The voice called from the other side of the door.
    Entering the office she found it quite quaint, much like and Victorian study. H.G. watched. As the old pony came out of a back room. He gave her a gentle smile to her and settled down at a nearby desk. "And what brings you here this fine night?"
    "I been having a recurring dream but I'm not sure what it means?" H.G. told him.
    "And you decided to come to me for help? Quite excellent, I'll see what I can do for you." He told her.
    She nodded and began to describe her dream to him, every detail and she did not stop until she could describe the strange pony she saw in her dream. "I have be seeing thing, How can I remember things that I never saw the first time?"
    "Well before you were dying and you probably did not notice it at first, but you still saw them, you just did not know you did. The memory recall spell probably drummed up this memories and allows you to see them with a clarity and nothing to obscure you from thoughts. But the pony you describe...," He paused for a moment. "If I am not mistaking it sounds like a Doppelganger."
    "A Doppelganger?"
    "Yes, yes, you see that there are many types of creatures that ponies can mate with and producing unusual hybrids. Mules, Zebras, Griffins, Monitors, and Dragons just to name a few."
    "That's good to know but what does that have to do..." She started.
    "Mules, Zebras are a bit more common than the others... You see the Dopplegangers are in the same category as Hippogriffs, Unitors, Ibexes and Draconequus. It takes a unique and hard to duplicate situation. For an offspring to be born" He produced a book from a small bookcase near his desk.
    He opened it and pushed it towards her with a picture showing. It was a pony, insect like creature covered in a sleek black exoskeleton, with holes in it's legs. It had the same color wings and eyes a sharp, curved horn, small saber like fangs and a instead of a main it a frill. "Changeling," H.G. breathed. As she read the title above the page. "So, what does this have to do with a Doppelganger."
    "Ah, you see that is a Changeling and it's one half of the Doppelganger's lineage. Changelings are creatures whose lineage are born because a cursed mare. Of course she is no longer around, suppressible, and they are now a magical species all there own, but I degrees."  
    "A story for another time?" H.G. raised an eyebrow.
    Checkmate nodded. "A Changeling is a magical creature that feeds love, they do feed on other things, but they are empowered by love. They may look like tiny alicorn, but they are not. There horns are stingers that fire bio-magical energy at their prey or enemies. There wings allow them to hover and can out perform any Pegasus when it comes to quick, tight, quarters movement. They have powerful, deceptive magic that allows them to take any form they want. They take the form of the one you love and slowly feed off it until there is nothing left. In rare occasions that love could be so powerful that consume them, you see while they are masquerading as ponies they came breed with ponies.'
    'A Doppelganger takes on aspects of it's parents, but it depends. If the pony was an Earthbound then the child will have the exoskeleton like armor, if it's a Pegasus then they will have the insect like wings and if it is a unicorn then the sharp, curved horn. A Doppelganger has some of it's Changeling parent's deceptive magic, but only enough to hide it's lineage. It can only disguise itself as a Pegasus, for example."
    "So what I saw may have been a Doppelganger, but what could that mean?" H.G. asked.  
    "Maybe nothing Ms. Do, but I will look into this. It may just mean there is a player that we did not know about." He dropped into a thinking position.
    "The Doppelganger called me his love? What does that mean?"
    "I have not clue Ms. Do, but I hate to be a bad host... But I believe you should be getting home, you told me that you have a day with your daughter."
    "I guess I do, thank you Checkmate." H.G. Chuckled as she got up to leave.
    "Hold up I think that I have something that you could do with her. It's that little adventure that the Princess wanted you to try out, is not too dangerous. For an advantage filly mind you, yours would be more than cable to handle anything." Checkmate Angle laughed and passed her an old map.
    H.G. unfurled and scanned the map. "The Golden Apple Orchard?"
    "Yes, it's an orchard that is in one of the Princess' secret gardens. I received it from the Princess, I believe this is the excursion talked to you about. It will help verify the map's authenticity as well."
    "Well, I'll keep it in mind." H.G. said as she put the map in her breast coat pocket. H.G. got up for the chair and started to leave the office.
    "There is no real time limit on this my dear. So feel free to think it over and use it when you want. Good evening Ms. Do and good hunting." Checkmate Angle called after her.

> Chapter 7; Family Blood,
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7; Family Blood,

    Celestia sat in her study, she knew her next appointment was coming up. Checkmate Angle mad some sort of fake job so that Daring Do would be no where near Canterlot when the head of the Blood family came to see her.
    There was a knock on the door. Celestia leaned back in her chair, fixing he spectacles and placing her hooves in a pyramid fashion. She adopted an air of harsh cold firmness. "Come in, Caesar Blood."
    Her study door opened. A strongly built, large, pure white unicorn with a golden-yellow main marched into her study, carefully closeing the door behind him. His cutie mark was a shield with a golden compass in it, he closed his blue steel-blue eyes as he made a bow. "Your Highness."
    "Thank you for coming Caesar, as you know Black Blood is back." Celestia paused to read his face but it was a mask of stone. Celestia frowned and her face darkened. "How is that?" She glared at him trying to bore holes into his soul.
    "I'm sorry your majesty, I have just become the head of the House Of Blood and I've been informed of everything."
     " So tell me how is it that he was able to attack me and Daring Do?"
    "He used his lab and sizable allowance to collect the material he need to make that Rot Wolf."
    "I wanted him banished and stripped of his privileges, I wanted him to be a prisoner in his own estate. An estate that is suppose to be far away from here." Celestia voice started to rise in anger. "So, I asked once again. How is it that he's running around still?" Celestia asked in an accusing tone through gritted teeth.
    "My grandfather, Angel Blood, exiled him to a far away island, like you commanded. But, he did not cut him off from his research materials or the coffers he could use to continue." Caesar answered her.
    "I want to see your grandfather, Now!" She growled.
    "Will not be possible, he committed suicide once it was confirmed that Black Blood returned."
    "Coward," Celestia snarled. "So, do you have any information that I can use?"
    "If I may approach..."
    "YOU MAY!" She waved him forward.
    Caesar slowly walked up to Celestia's desk and with a golden aura lifted a stack of papers from his stale bags. "Most of it is his research but, there are some books too; one the Crystal Empire, Dark Magic. He marked the passages on King Somber, and the effects of Dark Magic."
    "I can see where this is going. It was bad enough that he was making twisted creatures but now..." She sighed. "He wants to become a Wraith."
    "That is horrible, all this over a silly dilution." Caesar shook his head.
    Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Dilution? No, I believe I don't know what you mean, please tell me what happened between him and Daring Do."
    "He claims that she was unfaithful to him and that Crystal Song is not his daughter. Which is ridicules. Crystal Song has a pure white coat, standard to those of the Blood Family and her mane is silver, black just like his. Then there is the fact that many servants saw him entire his and his wife's bed chamber. The night Crystal Song was conceived a servant was called to bring them some repast. "
    "The problem?"
    'He did claim that he was at his laboratory, where he was working his Dark Magic experiments. So he told the family,  he was there all night so that she could not have been with him. I have wonder why he would expose his experiments to catch a cheating wife." Caesar rubbed his own chin.
    "Dark Magic effects the mind, that might have been the first sight of it." Celestia pondered.
    "That may not be completely true, you see he was given a Pegasus bride because while he was a strong unicorn he was a little, touched in the head." He paused for a moment not really wanting to tell the rest of the story. "Comes from years of inbreeding. That is why I believe the nobles should mingle with the other tribes more, it would stop allot of problems that seem to happen at birth and such."
    "Ah, yes. I know that I had to pass some laws on that respect. Given, what do you mean given?"
    "It was an arranged marriage with a strong Pegasus family that dated back to the founding. Their family were all over Cloudsdale and they did not want any type of inbreeding to happen so they chose to mingle with unicorns. Pegasus, were more concerned about that than others."
    "That reminds me, that I must work on that now," Celestia sighed. "So, in his addled mind Black Blood believes that he has been wrong and want to have it corrected."
    "While Daring may have been cheating, and I am not saying that she was... Crystalsong passed a calling for the blood spell, so she is Black Blood's daughter. But I seriously doubted that Daring was Cheating on him, at that time at least. You see she was more like a prisoner. Working for you was the only freedom she had. Black Blood was so horrible and controlling of her, unicorn could handle  this treatment but for a Pegasus..."
    "I had no idea," Celestia face dropped into a shocked look. "What happened?"
    "She ran away, and Checkmate Angle helped step in and stop Black Blood form terrorizing her."
    "Then I must go and talk to him next," Celestia pondered. "But what is he after?"
    "Simple, as you side it before. To get revenge on her. For cheating on him and helping to ruin his life. Because he exposed his own experiment, well you know that part. This is the Blood family problem, I am not like my grandfather I will deal with him."
     "He will not be imprison on some posh estate." Celestia growled and stomped his hoof. 
"I'll bury him in the deepest hole I can find or with your permission I'll remove his head from his neck, with my own sword!" He trailed off.
    "Thank you, I will deal with Black Blood from now on. He has prove too problematic for any of your family to deal with," Celestia leaned back in her chair. Caesar looked dejected as if his families failure was never going to end. Seeing this Celestia cleared her throat. "This has nothing to do with the past, but with the future. I will not allow our country to give birth to a Wraith, one Wraith was bad enough."
    "I understand." Caesar said solemnly.
    The room fell silent. Bang! Bang! Bang! the sound echoed in the study and a guard stepped in to the study. "I'm in the middle of an important meeting!" Celestia roared.
    "Sorry to intruded Princess but there's been a break in at The Canterlot Archives Records department. The pony-al files have been stolen and the guards have subdued another Dark Magic creature."
    Both Caesar and Celestia said together. "Black Blood."
    "We believe so, the guards have already been dispatched." The guard told them.
    "I will join you any thing that you could use the Blood Families' vast resources are at your disposal," He looked at the Princess. "I take my leave."
    "Good, keep me apprised of the situation."
    "Yes, I will Princess." With that both Caesar and the Guard charged away.
    "Not this time... Pleas don't find Daring." Celestia prayed to any that would listen.