> Tainted Silver
>  by BlueYellowNoble
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks to Admari for proofreading, and editing.







Not everyone could resist the temptations of the dark arts of magic.




Those that practiced these arts became corrupted, twisted creatures that took the shape and voice of our loved ones, replacing them.



Like wolves in sheep clothing, they fed on our love whilst hiding amongst us, their strength and numbers grew more and more as each day passed.





Their castle rose to the southeast, their shadows casting a darkness of ill omens over our homes.





But even in darkest shadows glimmered some hope.





From a harsh world they came, hearing our cries of despair.






Mankind, they were called.






They wore armor that glistened in the sun like purest of silver.





Their symbol, a white cross on banners black stands for virtues eight:






Glory and Honor





Strength and Courage





Loyalty and Honesty





Wisdom and Understanding.






With this oath, they raised their swords in our names and charged over the fields, hills and mountains.





No disguises could fool the outlandish warriors, and so they drove the Twisted Ones back, further and further beyond the never-ending badlands.





Their greatest victory came two years after their arrival, when their bravest of knights, Tirion


Lockwood slew the Dark Queen Manexxa, single-handedly. With this deed, he became the first King of Men; Tirion the Queenslayer.






Mankind built many settlements in the war’s wake, but chose to make Manexxa’s old castle their


capitol. It was not long before the once black castle had turned white, glimmering like silver in the suns’ light, and so it was named...






Argent Dawn.


--------------------------------------------------------------


The young alicorn yelped in surprise and quickly slammed the book shut.

In the doorway stood her father and mother, his stoic gaze never seemed to be replaced with the
slightest sign of happiness or sadness, and the mother, who always wore a warm, assuring smile.

“Why are you still up?” her father said in a gruff tone, “T’is long past your bedtime.”

“Sorry father… but I just find this book so fascinating—“

The book was suddenly surrounded in an azure glow and flew straight at her father, whom gave the cover a quick glance and a sigh.

“Tales of Silver… why read this, child? Have you forgotten what I’ve—“

“Orion,” The mother interrupted, not even raising her smooth voice, “Mankind has been gone for
many years… what harm could come of her curiosity for a fallen kingdom?”

“It is the very subject she is curious about which bothers me,” he said with a frown. “Man was crafty, that I have learned the hard way. I do not wish for Celestia or Luna to make the same mistake I did!”

“Orion!” the mother snapped, “Celestia is too young to be hearing this!”

“Hrm. I suppose you are right.” Sirius admitted. “She can have her book back… tomorrow evening.” With that, the deep purple alicorn left the room.

“Mother…” Celestia sniffled, “why is father angry with me?”

“He’s not angry at you Tia,” her mother cooed, “he is… just careful when it comes to Mankind.”

“Why? What happened?”

“They… hurt your father. That’s all there is to it.” Her mother said dryly. “Now, young lady… you need a good night’s rest. And no more reading this evening, alright?”

“Yes mother. Good night.”

“Good night Tia.” Her mother gave a smooch her on the muzzle. “Sweet dreams.”






“Tiiaaaa!” Luna squeaked after her sister. “Where are you going?”

“Shhh! don’t tell mother or father… especially not father… but I am going to…” Celestia pulled her little sister close and whispered in her ear, “Look for the Argent Dawn.”

“…Where’s that?”

“Don’t know… somewhere north I guess, after Ashwood Forest—“

“NO!” Luna pushed her sister away, her eyes large by fear. “That place is bad! I’m telling mom!”

“If you do, Luna, I’m telling father you were the one who broke his favorite vase; the one he made for mother…” Celestia grinned with mischief. “He would be reeeaaally mad at yoooou…”

“Tiaaa…” Luna whimpered, “that’s not fair… you promised not to tell…”

Celestia’s trump card left a sour taste in her own mouth. She did promise Luna not to tell father about the vase, and a good sister has to stay true to her word.

“I… I’m sorry Luna… I didn’t mean it…”Celestia sniffled and attempted to hug her sister. “I would
never ever tell dad. We made Best-Sisters-Forever-Promise, right?”

“Uh-huh,” Luna said with a wet cough. With a small smile she returned the gesture and hugged her older sister. It was a long, silent moment with the two sisters. It was nice.

“Tia…” Luna finally said, “why are you going to look for that city?”

Celestia had to ponder on an answer. Most of all, she wanted to see Manexxa’s old castle and the settlements Mankind had built. Just standing in ancient history would have been amazing.

Another reason was to find out why her father disliked her learning about them. What was it that
was so bad that her father constantly tried to sweep Mankind under the rug? What had they done to her father? Why did they disappear?

There were just too many questions without answers.

“I want to learn the truth.” Celestia said. “I need to learn the truth about Mankind.”

Luna frowned. “But-but… through Ashwood? That’s too dangerous. Father says there are wolves and manticores and…”

“I know, but I can just fly away when I am in danger!” Celestia spread her small wings in a cocky gesture. “Besides, I fear not some dumb wolf or manticore, for I am CELESTIA, THE FEARLESS!”

Luna giggled. “You are not fearless Tia, remember that big spider—“

“FEARLESS I SAY!” Celestia triumphantly interrupted with her hoof high over the head. “But now, I must depart, before it gets dark! Wish me luck Luna.”

“Good luck Tia… but I don’t know… what if something happens? If you are all by yourself…”

“You’re right… you better come too.”

Luna’s eyes widened in surprise, “What?! No way! Mother and father will be furious!”

“Not if we hurry, they will not even notice we have left!” Celestia prompted her sister. “Are you not
even the slightest bit curious about Mankind?”

Luna sat down on her haunches with an unsure frown-smile on her face. Finally she nodded slightly.

“Then let’s go! Just stay near me and we’ll be back before supper!”





The two fillies had finally reached Ashwood Forest. Its name was a reference to the strange black trees with ash-gray leaves that towered above the forest floor. Even the ground was gray, the grass felt crisp and lifeless. No flowers, no animals, not a single sign of life. Just an eerie silence.

“Tia… I have a bad feeling about this…”

Celestia turned to her sister and patted her on the back. “Just stay calm and perk the ears.” She
trampled the dead grass; making a soft crunching noise. “We’ll hear them from miles away.”

Luna smiled a little, but the concern remained in her eyes, something Celestia started to feel more after Luna mentioned it. The forest was just unnaturally creepy.

“Tia!” Luna suddenly yelped, “Do you hear that?!”

She focused and perked her ears up, trying to hear what her sister did.

Her little sister stood as if frozen in place, staring straight ahead. When she too looked her
direction, her heart skipped a beat.

Just a stone’s throw away stood a huge, white furred wolf with its ember eyes fixed on the two fillies.

“D-d-d-dire wolf…” Celestia stammered. “Luna... don’t... move…” To her side, the indigo alicorn shuddered and whined. Panic started to take hold of her little sister.

The dire wolf snarled and slowly crept towards them. Its lips started to twitch, baring yellow
fangs. It let out a low growl.

“RUN!” Celestia shouted. “FLY UP!”

The wolf must have understood its supper was about to leave, as it let out a monstrous growl and sprang into action.

Celestia spread her wings and flapped for dear life, gaining altitude slowly. Under her the dire wolf jumped with its jaw opened wide—big enough to swallow a filly whole, it seemed—but missed by a longshot, the jaws slammed together with a loud clap.

“Luna?!” Celestia screamed, hoping her sister was still alive.

“Here!” Luna whined. She was flying, or rather struggling to. Her wings were still a little too small for flying long distances. It would not take long before she needed to land and rest… but with the hungry wolf below that was not an option.

“Follow me!” Celestia yelped, feeling the wind after the wolf making another jump after them. “We have to find a high tree!”

“Why not fly home?!” Luna cried, already seeming fatigued of flying.

“Not with that monster on our tails! If father saw it I think I would prefer to be eaten!”

Luna didn’t share her sister’s spirit, and was now crying and very clearly had little strength to keep airborne.

Suddenly the thick forest opened up into a large glen, only one large tree in the very middle.

“There!” Celestia pointed to the tree.

Luna nodded and steered herself up to the crown of the tree and immediately clamped all four legs around a branch. The poor thing was exhausted.

Celestia landed next to her sister and hugged her. “It’s alright now Luna. We will just wait for it to lose interest and leave.” She cooed while casting a glance at the ground. The wolf was still there, staring at them while licking its mouth.

“How long will that take?” Luna sniffed. “The sun is going down…”

Indeed it was. The sky had changed to a reddish color, with the sun sinking into the horizon. They must have been out for several hours. Now this… their parents would ground them for a century.

A black shadow dove down from the sky, swooshing past the alicorns and down on the ground. A raven, dark as pitch had landed right next to the wolf. It was dwarfed by the canine, which was  roughly as big as Luna and Celestia.

The wolf eventually noticed the raven and growled. But the bird was unfazed and simply landed gently before locking eyes with the wolf. The beak of the raven opened and closed, but no ‘caws’ came out; more of a faint ‘wushwushwush’.

Where the two animals… talking?

Amazed, Luna and Celestia sat and watched as the wolf nodded to the bird and then gave one last look at them before leaving. It didn’t even touch the raven.

Said raven jumped and flew up to their branch, landing with ease. It curiously cocked the head,
observing the alicorns.

“Th-thank you…” Luna stammered to the raven.

It responded by freezing completely, apparently listening to her words.

“You were fortunate today. Had I been further away, Hector could have sent you to thy ancestors.”

“Did… did you…” Celestia blinked at the raven. Surely it had not just… talked?

“Tia… the bird talked…” Luna whispered.

“Why have you come here children?” the raven said flatly, ignoring the fillies’ amazement. “This is no place for your kind, and most certainly not for younglings.”

“We… uhm… mister raven…” Celestia stuttered, “I am-I mean WE are looking for the city of Mankind, the Argent Dawn.”

“Then stop looking. The City of Silver is gone and so are her people. Nothing but a memory.” The
raven shook its small head. “Besides I’ve forgotten where it used to stand.”

“What?” Luna cocked a brow. “How can a city be gone?”

“Sunken, swallowed by the earth,” the raven replied. “But why it was so… I cannot remember. But when it sunk, this tree became my home. I defend it, so does Hector.”

“You named a wolf Hector?”

“He is no wolf. He is…” the raven trailed off and waved a wing at them. “It is impossible to explain. He is no true wolf. But he is forgetting he is not. He and many others have forgotten…”

“Forgotten… what?”

“…I don’t remember. I simply came here because someone told me to. It was a woman, I think. I
cannot remember what she looked like… only that I respected her…” The raven sat silent for a long time, shaking its head and muttering to itself. After a moment it turned back to the fillies. “You must leave. This is no place for you. Go back to your home, and stay there. Do not seek the City of Silver or her people, it is too late. Only ill and pain can come of it.

“Now begone. I grow weary of conversations.”

“Okay…” the two sisters said in unison. They glided down to the ground and started a trot back
home. Only Celestia halted for a moment to look back at the raven.

“Thank you… for helping me and my sister.”

The raven only nodded in response before taking off, vanishing between the tree lines.






Celestia snapped out of her memories and turned to her sister. “Luna. Good to see you.”

“Mm.” The Princess of Night hummed and walked into the library. “What are you doing in here, may I ask?”

“Gathering tomes,” she replied. “For Twilight Sparkle. But I wonder if I really should give them to her...”

“Why not?” Luna said with confusion. “What subject does she require information on?”

A scroll levitated with a golden aura up to Luna’s face. She took it with her magic and started to read.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today I started to read about old ponylore after the Cutie Mark Crusaders came looking for books about archeology (oh dear) and I accidentally knocked this book about myths and legends onto the floor.

Like a sign, it opened to the pages about the whispering animals of Ashwood Forest, now known as Whitetail Woods. I have heard of them before, but what did occur to me were these animals existed (and vanished) at the same time as the Silver People.

Maybe it is a coincidence, but I am simply too curious to just let it go. I think they may share a connection!

Unfortunately, my library doesn’t have much information about either subject, so I was wondering if the Canterlot Library had a larger selection. If it does, then may I borrow some of the books pertaining to my research?

I know it’s not a study on friendship, but the week has gone so slow and nopony has needed help with friendship. I’m just climbing the walls here, and my theory isn’t exactly helping me relax. 

Your faithful student;

-Twilight Sparkle

“I…see.” Luna giggled at the last part of the letter. “So, what is the problem?”

“You do not remember?” Celestia turned to her sister, her expression solemn. “I still shudder
whenever a raven is sighted… and those words still linger on my mind.”

“I do remember sister,” Luna cooed and nuzzled Celestia’s neck. “But that was many centuries ago. When life returned to Ashwood, they disappeared. I like to believe what happened was a nightmare, nothing more.”

Celestia shifted, not feeling as sure Luna did. It had not been a bad dream, they had seen that wolf, that raven with their own eyes. ‘Do not seek the City of Silver and her people, it is too late. Only ill and pain can come of it.’ The raven’s words echoed.

After that day Celestia’s curiosity of Mankind had ebbed away. She had not been able to sleep for days after her brush with death. She never looked at that book again, Tales of Silver. She never dared to ask about Mankind again, or even think about them.

And somehow, her student was now going in her hoofsteps she’d taken so long ago. “I… I can’t just say no to her studies...”

“So don’t.” Luna smiled. “What harm could it possibly bring?”

Celestia couldn’t help but to chuckle. “Funny… Last time you were the one afraid of poking around in their history. Now the roles are reversed. But I suppose I shouldn’t deny Twilight’s interest in history. I’ll send her whatever books, scrolls, and tomes we have.”

Luna rubbed her chin for short moment before smiling. “I just got a brilliant idea! This way you can keep an eye on Twilight and I can have some training in ruling.”




Spike let out a loud belch followed by a green flame and a scroll that wore the royal sigil. “Ouff… Twi, Princess Celestia responded to you letter!”

The enthusiastic lavender unicorn came rushing down from the stairs with a wild grin on her face. “Gimmegimmegimme!”

Spike yelped when she came charging at him and tossed the letter in her direction before diving
behind a stool for cover.

“Sorry Spike… guess I am a little too wound up. Heh.”

“A little?” Spike quipped.

Twilight snorted, choosing to ignore the dragon. She quickly broke the seal and read Celestia’s fine

Dear Twilight Sparkle.

Unusual choice for a study, but I will of course approve. I have gathered some books, but they are quite large, and I will be merciful on Spike, so I will personally deliver them to you. Expect me to show up by the end of the day, around seven o'clock.

My sister and I have agreed on me taking a vacation, and Luna has assured me she can handle ruling in my stead for a few days so I have decided to spend a little more time with my most faithful student as a good friend and not as a teacher or mentor. I am truly looking forward to it.

-Princess Celestia

Twilight suddenly felt numb in her entire body. The princess, coming here? For a FULL WEEK?!

“SPIIIIKEEEE!” Twilight bellowed. “EMERGENCY CLEANING!”

--------------------------------------------------------------


Celestia’s carriage arrived in front of the library at seven sharp.

“You may return to Canterlot gentlecolts,” She gently stepped out of her transport and nodded to her guards, “I will return on my own in a few days.”

“Yes your majesty!” The pegasi colts saluted crisply before taking off into the sky.

The Princess smiled as she walked up to the round door of the Golden Oaks Library and gave it a soft knock.

Inside there were clamors and desperate hooves running about. It didn’t take long before the door was ripped open, with a most exhausted Twilight Sparkle standing inside. Her mane was a little ruffled and her eyes seemed to twitch ever so slightly.

“Princess! Hi!” the unicorn stammered. “I was just finishing up cleaning. Eheheeeh…”

Celestia smiled warmly at her student. She was just too adorable at times. “May I enter?” She said with a light laugh.

“Oh of course! I mean you are the Princess and you really don’t need to ask me, I mean you are the—

Celestia trotted inside the library and gently stroked her student’s head with her own. Twilight
stiffened at the touch at first, but soon relaxed and nuzzled Celestia’s neck.

She loved the Princess. She’d been like a second mother to her, so very gentle and caring, just like a second mother... or a committed lover… 

Twilight felt her cheeks blush at the thought of Celestia as a lover. She’s your teacher! Nasty, nasty thoughts! It would be wrong!

The princess straightened herself, snapping Twilight out of her daydreaming. Twilight hoped Celestia wouldn’t notice how red her cheeks had turned under her lavender coat.

“Hello Spike.” Celestia smiled to the baby dragon. “It is very nice to see you again. How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, just doing the usual. How about you?”

Twilight bit her lip at how informal Spike was talking to Celestia. He wasn’t just talking to an average pony, Celestia was-

“Oh. Same old, same old,” Celestia chuckled. “Raising the sun, dealing with politics. It does get tedious at times.” Twilight blinked. Now Celestia was talking rather informal. “I haven’t had a vacation in… centuries.” The princess tapped her chin. “Goodness! How nice it will be to just sit, and relax for a while. And what better would there be to spend some time with my most faithful student?” Celestia winked to Twilight, who turned her head to the side, feeling her blush intensifying.

“Anyway, I am curious of your study on the Silver People.” Celestia said, “You know, I did once try to learn their secrets when I was very young filly.”

“Really?” Both Twilight and Spike said with their eyes wide in amazement. Maybe they had a hard time trying to imagine Celestia as ‘young filly.’

“Indeed, when I was born, they had only been gone for two decades. Even eleven years later, I hoped to find any traces that were fresh. But alas, I never did find any clues. My father was against it, even forbade me to look into it further.” Celestia shrugged. She decided to leave the wolf and the raven of Ashwood out, not feeling comfortable retelling it. “But who knows, maybe you might learn more than I did. You said you found a connection between them and the whispering animals?”

“Oh!” Twilight snapped back to her curious old self, “Yes! I looked the legends over and over and they seem to have existed just about the same time period.” She scurried off for a minute before returning with a copy of ‘Myths, Legends and Ponylore’ along with a bundle of pages containing her scribblings.

“See, I first took notice of it when reading this entry on Mankind;

“…taller than the average pony, about twice as high and have the strength of a bear. They also were said to be great sorcerers that could throw flames from their hands and heal any mortal wound. 

“Another legend tells of one sorcerer who asked a wolf to carry her through a long journey to their capital, so I assumed they could speak to animals. Seems logical, right?” Twilight smiled and pulled out one paper from her notes before floating it over to Celestia. “But after looking into the subject some more, my research led me to this conclusion!”

Celestia gaped as she looked over the paper, impressed how much detail her student had put into her research.

Twilight had taken down notes on ancient Zebra myths about zebras that had attempted to enter animals’ minds, particularly animals that could fly high and spot any nearby carnivores that might threaten a village.

So perhaps humans had used a similar method, Celestia thought.

Further down on the note were calculations. Twilight had drawn a rough sketch of a Man, a tall figure that stood upright on its hind legs, next to a sketch of a wolf.

‘Largest of breeds, dire wolves weighed approximately 50 to 80 kilograms and were 1.5 meters long.’ Twilight had made a hasty scribble. ‘Mankind assumed length; 1.5 to 1.8 meters. Weight assumed to be up to 80 kilograms (more with added possessions and armor) making it unlikely Man could ride on dire wolves.’

Celestia nodded with amazement. It was impressive little Twilight had been able to do such a
thorough calculation supplied with only pure assumption and speculation. Once she’d starting to work on something, it would sure to be immaculate.

Turning the page over, Celestia read a portion about Changelings.

How curious, as mankind had once been fighting them ages ago, for them to appear in Twilight’s notes.

‘Changelings create an illusion of one pony, which works like a masquerade costume. It acts as another skin. They use their unique vocal cords to imitate voices to mimic somepony they’re not. This is a simple shape shifting spell.’

Celestia blinked, not sure she read the very last words right.

‘If Mankind were truly advanced in magic, it could be reasoned animals could talk, and how a sorcerer could travel on a wolf…’

“…because Man could take the shape of animals.” She finished the sentence, awestruck.

It all made sense. The raven and the wolf had been shapeshifters. The last of Mankind that had
managed to escape the great banishment of their race, hiding as animals of the forests.

The raven’s words started to echo again in her mind again; ‘He is no true wolf. But he is forgetting he is not. He and many others have forgotten…’

Thirty years as animals, and they had started to forget their origins… what they once used to be…

Celestia looked up from the paper and at Twilight. The unicorn had a worried expression on her face.

“Princess… are you alright?”

“Yes… I was just so… amazed how much effort you’ve put into this.” Celestia put on a smile, trying to hide her sadness. “It’s incredible.”

“Really?! That’s sooo relieving to hear, because Spike said I was getting freakishly obsessed—“

“Still say so.” Spike shot in dryly.

“…Maybe I got a little too excited…” Twilight coughed, “But at least there’s SOMEPONY that wouldn’t call me a crazy for it! That reminds me; I have been trying to pinpoint where they used to live—“

“Twilight.” Celestia said, without even raising her voice. The lavender unicorn instantly silenced
herself and looked up to her mentor, her ears perked upwards in attention.

“I can well see how proud and eager you are to show me what you’ve learned… but maybe we can talk it over tomorrow? At breakfast? Right now, why not have something warm to drink and an evening sandwich before bed?”

Twilight did feel pretty tired after a full day of frantic writing and endless reading of books… it would be nice to go to sleep a little early. And with some tea and sandwiches before that?

“Yeah. That sounds nice Princess.”



> Chapter 1: The Echo of Old
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks to Onyxjew for Proofreading.





Twilight woke up when a warm ray of sun ran over her face and warmed it gently. Slowly she stretched and sat up on her haunches. Her eyes wandered to the guest bed opposite to her where the Princess had been sleeping.

But Celestia wasn’t in the bed anymore. She must have gotten up earlier, and so quietly Twilight didn’t hear.

Twilight got up and made her bed neatly before heading to the kitchen. The pleasant smell of freshly made pancakes danced in her nostrils, making her smile widely.
Spike stood by the stove, flipping a pancake high up in the air, and back in the pan.
Celestia sat by the table with a small mountain of pancakes in front of her, sparing no expense on maple syrup.

“Good morning Twilight!” the princess beamed with a smile, “Did you sleep well?”

“I did!” Twilight returned with a giggle. “Err… did you? I know my guest bed isn’t exactly ‘princess’ size—“

“And it was perfect, I assure you,” Celestia interrupted with a wave of her hoof, “soft and warm, that’s what matters to me.”

Twilight felt relieved the princess had been satisfied, and took a seat by the table. She carefully observed as Celestia took small ladylike bites of pancake and wiping her mouth after each bite. She was so elegant, so graceful.

Twilight had been so lucky to have Celestia as her teacher.

Her deep thoughts were broken as Spike put down a plate of fresh pancakes for her. “Thank you Spike, they look really tasty!”

“Mmmh,” the princess added after having another bite, “They most certainly are! You are quite the skilled cook Spike.”

The dragon chuckled and lifted his chin high, “Aah it’s nothing… guess I’m just a natural…” he said with false modesty.

“That you are.” Celestia smiled and reached out her empty plate. “May I have some more?”
 


 
After a very enjoyable breakfast, Twilight and Celestia went over three books from the Canterlot archives, hoping it could add a little more detail on the search for Mankind.  Two of them, Working Man and Through Man’s Heart were only observations from the alicorns, the first describing their agriculture methods and working parties, like guilds. The other book was quickly discarded when the mares realized it was an in-depth study on courting and mating rituals.

While it was Tales of Silver that had possibly the best interpretation on their history, it didn’t give any concrete descriptions about places and locations. Its stories told of high mountains and deep valleys, but those were all over Equestria.

The only strong clue was Whitetail, former Ashwood Forest. With Twilight’s research and Celestia’s experience, it was clear human shapeshifters had been dwelling in the forest, and relatively close to Ponyville. Although the princess had some hesitation to return to that forest, Twilight’s eagerness and joyful curiosity made it hard for Celestia to say no.

So they decided for a little field trip, Twilight packed down some sandwiches and lemonade, just in case. Spike chose stay, saying he had other important things to do. Like napping for example.
As the unicorn and alicorn stepped outside the library, Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof. “Now… how are we going to travel? Walking could take a while…”

A yellow aura enveloped the unicorn, and she floated in the air up on Celestia’s back. The princess peeked at her student with a small grin. “Hold on tight.” She chuckled.

Wrapping her hooves around Celestia’s neck, Twilight took a deep breath. “Okay… ready!”

The alicorn took off, shooting up in the sky like a bolt of lightning. Twilight’s first reaction was to squeal when the air rushed past her, making a loud swooshing in her ears.
But soon she dared to open her eyes and was amazed by the view. The sight of Equestria, stretching out before her was breathtaking. Before her was the massive Whitetail forest spreading out, and in the distance one could see the endless sea that separated Equestria from Zebrica.

Twilight envied Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Celestia and Princess Luna for having wings, to be able to see something like this. It was just an experience too amazing to describe.
She pressed herself closer to her mentor’s warm neck, hoping the flight would never end.

“…that looks odd…” She muttered when she took notice of an unusually barren spot in the middle of the thick canopies.
 


 
As Celestia landed at the edge of Whitetail, she immediately felt a tingle of unease slowly rising in her. Over a thousand years older, and she still was cautions about this old forest.  
Twilight jumped down on the ground, and although a little wobbly at first, she started to head into the woods. “I think I saw something princess. Follow me!”

The alicorn trotted after without uttering a word. She was tense, focusing every single sense of her’s to look out after any hidden eyes that might be following them.
Whitetail was at least less discomforting than its old, dead state as Ashwood. Trees stretched high and flourished. The once-dead grass was green and soft with countless of flowers in all varied colors.

Suddenly the forest cleared into a small idyllic glen with one single tree in the middle.

This can’t be…

A single, big black tree with gray leaves standing in a glen.
Celestia gaped. It was bigger than she’d remember it, but it was absolutely the same Ashwood tree she and Luna had been at when they saw the raven and Hector.
But it had been a little more than 1600 years; no tree could stand for that long…

“What kind of tree is that?” Twilight said while slowly approaching it, “I’ve never seen anything like it…”

The princess could even from afar feel the magic emanating from the tree, a distinct alicorn spell in origin. Only to make sure she was correct, Celestia focused her magic and picked up a rock the size of an apple and hurled it at the tree. The stone didn’t hit the tree directly, rather a layer of white magic that rippled of the impact and then vanished in a matter of seconds.

“A warding spell.” Celestia said to herself.

“But… why does a tree have a ward?” Twilight cocked a brow.

Celestia didn’t hear her student at the moment, as her mind was occupied on finding a counter spell to the ward. Hoping whoever had protected the tree hadn’t been more powerful than her; she closed her eyes and focused on the ethereal padlock around the tree. Celestia started to fidget with the lock, feeling some resistance when she tried to turn the mechanism. She bit her lower lip and giving even more pressure on the mechanism. Slowly, it fell into place and unlocked.

Celestia opened her eyes and saw how the thin layer of magic washed away. The gray leaves, dead since ages ago fell down from the branches, turning into fine dust when they hit the ground.

“That was amazing Princess!” Twilight cheered next to her.

“Please Twilight, there is no need for flattering,” Celestia turned to her student with a sly smile. “I am certain you could have done it just as easily.”

The unicorn smiled widely at her mentor’s praise, holding her head high as she trotted up closer to the tree. She reached out a hoof and gave the tree with a puzzled expression. Over the millennia, the trees consistency had gotten so crisp a large chunk fell off like the crumble of a pie when Twilight touched it.

 Suddenly her eyes shot wide open and gasped. “Princess! Come look at this!”
Taking place beside Twilight, Celestia peered at the hole in the dead tree. Her eyes widened too at the sight.

Embedded in dead wood was a small, sharp stone object. It resembled the tip of a pickaxe.
Celestia used her hooves to chip away more wood, revealing the pick belonged to a very nasty-looking hammer. The two ponies started to rip, tear and kick away more wood as they dug out the long haft of the hammer, going deeper into the tree.

They stiffened when they reached an odd clump near the end of the hammer, a clump with five appendages that held the hammer in a tight grip.

It was a hand.

With their combined magic, Celestia and Twilight ripped the tree apart without mercy. Soon the hand’s arm became visible, followed by a chest, legs, another arm and head.

Panting, the mares looked amazed at the stone statue of a tall creature standing on the hind legs, frozen in a pose holding a large box tightly against his chest, and his hammer held low.

“Is... is that a Man?” Twilight whispered.

Celestia nodded. Not that she’d ever seen one, but this was what she had imagined them looking like.

“Why is there a statue of a Man… inside a tree… that had a ward around it?” Twilight rubbed her temple with a hoof.

“Because someone wanted to hide it… and protect it.” Celestia walked up to the statue. She looked at his eternal expression of a mouth slightly open and eyes wide in surprise.

“Twilight,” she finally said, “I wish to try something, come here.”

The unicorn nodded and took position beside Celestia. She motioned Twilight to stand up and put her horn against the statue. She did, and Celestia did the same.
They both felt a weak beating inside the statue.

 



Night watch…


The young man yawned and tried to rub the sleepiness from his eyes. He’d been standing by the gate since dusk, until the moon’s height.
“When am I to be relieved?” he groaned. I just want to get back to my warm bed…


A movement in the darkness ahead sent a sudden burst of renewed energy through him. His right hand instantly went down on his war hammer in the belt, and his left grabbed a nearby torch.

“Halt!” He shouted, “Who goes there?!”

No response.

“Who goes there?!” he barked, trying to sound more harsh. “Identify yourself!”

A weak, almost inaudible whine came from the figure. It seemed to be walking on all fours. He guessed a stray dog, probably from a nearby—

“F-friend…”

The young man felt his jaw drop as he saw the transformation from a hound to a robed man, hobbling towards the settlement.

“Hold on, I’m opening the gate!” he quickly hurried down the stone stairs and to the gate. At night, the heavy wooden gate was reinforced by an ebony log so it would be next to impossible to break.

Lifting it was a pain, especially on your own. He cursed Raymond for slipping away from guard duty, to sleep with some salacious—

 The log slammed down onto the cobblestone, and in the moment the gates opened, the druid collapsed into the young man’s arms.

“Druid!” he said with worry. “Druid! What is the matter?!”

It was then he noticed the blood and the scorch marks across the druid’s gray robes.
“Doctor! I need a doctor now!” he hollered as loudly he could. “Wake up for King’s sake!”

Out of the nearby house came out some familiar kinsmen, Sean the farmer and his wife Angelica.

“Delvin?” Sean said with slurred annoyance, “what is the meaning of—“

“It’s an injured druid!” Delvin spat back, “Get Brian NOW!!!”

Sean blinked, looking at the unmoving form in Delvin’s arms before sprinting up the street. His wife seemed distressed, placing her hands over her mouth before heading back inside her home.

Delvin looked down at the druid, peering on a man in his later sixties, his face deep with wrinkles.
“Fear not friend.” He assured the elder, “Brian is a most capable doctor. You will be back to health in no time.”

“N-no…” the druid coughed, his spittle was mixed with blood. “Kna-knap…s..ssa…”

“… Knapsack?” Delvin whispered.

“Yes… at… gate…”

Delvin glanced to the side, and indeed there stood a tattered leather knapsack. “You want me to get it for you?”

“No… take it to… Ebonreach…”

Delvin felt his eyes widen. Ebonreach. The home of the druids…

“…take… it to… Ebonreach…” the druid gargled again, his voice getting raspier by the second. “…it must get to…Eb..on..”

“Druid?”

The old man sighed as his eyes rolled back into his skull and his body went limp like a deboned fish.

“…damn…”

Too late, Brian arrived at the scene. He instantly saw the druid had perished, and he cursed for not arriving sooner. Carefully rolled the body on stomach and examined the injuries.
“Frost and fire burns, deep lacerations…” the bearded man huffed, “magic and steel did this.”

“Damn the alicorns!” Sean spat on the ground, “Damn them to the oblivion!”

Delvin turned to the gatehouse and looked at the big knapsack. What was so important to die for, I wonder? He walked and picked up the knapsack and opened it. Inside was a sturdy chest the size of an infant, made in ebony wood and shining metal, clearly druid-make.

“Oi, what’s that you got there?” Brian raised his bushy brow with suspicion.   

“His backpack… it’s a chest.” Delvin answered. “He wished for it to be delivered to Ebonreach…
…and I will deliver it.”

“Have you lost your mind?!” Sean blurted, “It is in the middle of the night and pitch-black. Unless you are to fumble around in darkness you must use a torch… anyone will be able to see you from miles away!”

“This man,”-Delvin pointed on the dead druid-“just died trying to deliver something of great importance. I shall honor his courage and his memory by completing his task.”

Sean and Brian sighed. They knew the young man was too stubborn and far too proud to be stopped even by the risk of certain death. Apparently every one of his house were born with that stubbornness.

 “I’ll go prepare Prince. Move swiftly and return as soon as you can,” Sean sighed. “And for King’s sake, you better come back with him or I will haunt you for eternity!”





Delvin set off north-westward on Prince, Brian’s prized moose. The young bull was a prime example of a flawless male, with long and strong legs, a muscular body and with antlers every hunter would dream of having over the fireplace.
But Prince was a domesticated animal, he plowed the fields and pulled carts. One would only eat farm animals in desperate times.
Although, these were fairly desperate times…

 Prince suddenly started to toss his large head around, the ears flapping around as if he was trying to locate a sound. Delvin halted the moose and scouted the surroundings. The field was so open it was impossible for anything to hide behind. It could have come from a small cluster of trees to the east many yards away...

A sudden arch of bright light sizzled past his ear and struck the ground with a crack. Moments later a shadow flew overhead, causing Prince to rear in horror. Delvin wasn’t prepared for the sudden action and was tossed off the moose, landing on the chest he had in the knapsack.
His vision blurred and he felt numb. He prayed to Auriel he hadn’t severed his spine.

Prince let out a bawl, followed by the sound of the moose’s clattering hooves. His mount had abandoned him.
Delvin found his strength despite the nearly blinding pain in his back, and got up. Grabbing his war hammer in one hand, he tried to make out where his pursuers were at.

High up in the sky, he could see not one, but two alicorns, their bodies outlined by the stars light.
One larger folded his wings and made a dramatic turn, now heading straight at him.

What would I do now, he thought. He was no mage, so against magic he was entirely defenseless. The alicorn’s horn started to glow in a crimson light, a clear indication time was running out.

He looked at his hammer. He could throw it… but what if he missed? Then he would be completely at their mercy. His thoughts wandered at the torch on the ground.

Risking it, Delvin dived as another bolt of magic went past him again. He was landing uncomfortably on his stomach, his knapsack adding more weight to his fall.  With a curse on his lips he grabbed the torch, got up on his legs and hurled the torch blindly.

Miraculously it hit the stallion square in the face. It groaned in pain and lost altitude, crashing with terrible force into the ground twenty yards away. A feminine voice cried out, and when Delvin expected the other alicorn to retaliate, she flew over him and landed next her brother-in-arms.

Seizing his chance, Delvin sprinted towards the forest in hope to lose the mare if she came after him.

Well inside he just ran forward, not looking back even once. His heart was pounding like the hammer on the anvil, his mind was racing. He had never in his life been so scared, and never so confused. Why was he being chased? What had he done to them? What had his people done to them?

He screamed loudly in surprise and fear when something suddenly yanked him back violently the knapsack made a loud ripping sound. Had the alicorn caught up with him, and now demanded retribution for her fallen brother?

Turning around with hammer held high, he felt a massive burden disappear when he saw his knapsack had only been caught in a branch. He muttered as he picked up the chest, trying to get a good grip. Not wanting to sheathe his hammer, he shifted it and held the chest in one arm like a mother would hold her child.

Continuing with a hasty pace, he ran with all of his strength through the forest. When it finally ended, he was greeted by the sight of the Amber River. “Thank Auriel!” he panted. From here he could walk upstream and find the old bridge leading towards Green Ridge, and from there he could get to Ebonreach.
He folded over to catch his breath. He’d done it. A small chuckle escaped his lips.

“Please forgive me.”

Taken by surprise by the voice, he looked up. There the alicorn mare hovered over the river. Her horn was glowing with a golden light, illuminating her face. She was crying.

Before Delving could react, his limbs grew cold and refused to move. The chill rolled all over him, and the fear spread as he lost all tactility below his head.

“Please… forgive me.” The alicorn said once more, her gray eyes screaming of genuine regret.

Then everything went black.





Is this what being dead is like?

No forefathers to stand beside. Was this the oblivion? A black void with no sound or no light?

No, there is some sound… voices. The voices of children. They sound scared.

But they vanished soon. Everything was quiet again.

It was quiet so long.

Then that voice came back.

He remembered that voice.

And there is one more. I do not recognize that one.

Suddenly there were cracks of light coming before him. It blinded him, and he wanted to raise his hands in front of his eyes, but they still refused to move.

The light grew stronger, and the voices became clearer and clearer to him.

“…keep going Twilight!”




 
“Keep going Twilight!” Celestia grunted. “Almost done!”

The unicorn wheezed and pressed another burst of magic through her horn. She had never before attempted to reverse a petrification spell, and it was taking a heavy toll on her, even Celestia was struggling.

“Almost…” she huffed.

The statue started to creak and shift.

“Done!” Celestia shot backwards, throwing her wing over Twilight and pulled her back too.
Twilight felt as if she’d been through a marathon, her chest heaving up and down. Celestia did the same, feeling exhausted like never before.

Before them, the statue started to gain some color. Its skin turned to a pinkish-red hue and his clothing slowly got their dark, worn colors back. When the last signs of petrification were gone, its limp body toppled over face first into the grass.

The mares looked at the still form of the man with worry.
“Is… is he—“

She was interrupted when he took an extreme gasp of air. He coughed and twitched in a sign his limbs were working even after such a long time as stone.

Twilight wanted to help the man up, but Celestia halted her with a wing. “Wait.” She said solemnly.

The man took another deep breath and forced himself up on all four. He looked up with fluttering eyes, apparently being blinded by the light.

“…what…” he gasped, “what did you do…?”

“We freed you.” Twilight answered.

The man turned his gaze towards them, squinting and blinking. When his eyes had adjusted, they went wide, his eyebrows went up and his mouth fell.

“AAH!” he screamed, “Stand back!”

Twilight and Celestia frowned at the man’s sudden attack of panic. He must have been in a state of disorientation, completely confused of what had happened to him.

“I swear…” he spat and reached for his hammer, “you will not take me without a fight! I will… I will send you to the forefathers…”

On wobbly legs he stood, taking stance. “…the chest… where… where… what have you done to it!?”

“I…it’s right there…” Twilight pointed to the black wooden box on the ground.

He swayed around and scooped up his belonging. He looked around, seeming more confused.
“…river where is the river?” he said on the verge on rage, “Where is the river…where…?

He turned to them again, “Where is the river? What have you done to me?”

Celestia took one step forward. “Please, we wish no harm—“

“WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

Twilight flinched, but Celestia stood unfazed.

“You have been petrified for a long time. Me and my student here, Twilight Sparkle, have lifted the spell.” Celestia said calmly.

“P-petri…” the man muttered and shook his head, “…it was not you… it was the gray eyes…the river, where is the river?”

Celestia took one more step. “There are no rivers here. Do you know where you are?”

“N…no…” the man glared suspiciously at her, “Stay back! I do not wish to harm you… but if you leave me no choice…”

“I wish you no harm,” Celestia lowered herself, a sign of inferiority, “I wish to help you.”

The man seemed to relax a little. “…why? No! You are trying to trick me! But I won’t fall for your honeyed lies!”

“I do not lie,” she pleaded, “I swear, I wish to help!”

He squinted. “…if you do, tell me where I am.”

“This is called Whitetail Forest,” She explained, “but in older times it was called Ashwood Forest.”

The man shook his head and his face started to pale. He tried to speak, but instead he gagged and threw up a sickly yellow substance on the ground. The sight made Twilight and Celestia wince in disgust.

“…what…what do you… mean?” he spat out bile from his mouth, “what do you mean… ‘in older times’?”

His hammer and chest slipped out of his grip, and he fell backwards. This time Celestia was quick to catch him with telekinesis. Gently she brought him closer and set him down by her hooves.

“He’s still alive, “she said with a weak smile, “but he needs medical attention.”

“Where?” Twilight carefully walked up to her mentor and the man, “I’m not so sure any hospital wouldn’t be quick on agreeing on helping him, not when he’s coming with that!” the unicorn pointed at the war hammer in the grass.

There was truth in her student’s words. It wasn’t certain anypony would agree helping an unknown creature, particularly when this was a creature with tendencies for violence. Even if agreeing, Celestia started to think about his situation. If you woke up in an unknown bed, with strangers surrounding you in a crowded hospital, panic could make you do just about anything to get out. And if security would arrive to subdue him, things could only end with somepony seriously hurt.

So what to do?

“Climb on Twilight, we’re going back to Ponyville for help. I’ll wait in the Library for you.” She said after a quick decision.

“Ponyville? Why not Canterlot?”

“Ponyville is closer, and should by now be accustomed to helping odd visitors,” The princess replied. Again she lifted Twilight up on her back, and magically held up the man and his mysterious chest.

As Celestia took off, she still could not really grasp that after millennia, she had finally seen the evidence of Mankind’s existence.

A real, living and breathing Man.




 
The princess had dropped Twilight off near the hospital, but the lavender unicorn hesitated. Pony doctors helped ponies, not Men. Did they even have any similarities in biology, or would they hit a dead end?
Twilight looked a little uncertain at another clinic nearby. Better safe than sorry…

 


 
“-and then he passed out.” Twilight finished her brief explanation while running to the library. Two individuals followed her, Nurse Sweetheart and Mane Goodall, the veterinarian.

“And what did you say he was again?” Goodall panted.

“A Man.”

“Nnvrr hrrrd ff wn,” Nurse Sweetheart mumbled, her mouth holding a medical bag.

“He’s new here… sort of,” Twilight huffed. Technically he had been there before anypony. “Just… don’t freak out because of his appearance. And keep this to yourself until further notice. Please.”

The nurse and veterinary nodded. “Not to worry dear, we are professionals.”

“Mhm.”

Feeling a little better at heart, the moment of truth would be once they saw him with their own eyes.

The three ponies entered the library and were greeted by a very saddened Princess Celestia sitting by Twilight’s spare bed, with the man in it.  Sweetheart and Goodall were about to bow before their ruler, but the alicorn shook her head.

“Please there is no time for that!” she said dryly, “I fear his condition is getting worse!”

The two ponies understood the situation and rushed to the bed. Their first reaction was to gasp and murmur. He was much paler than before, being almost ivory in color and glazed in sweat.
Sweetheart put one unsure hoof on his forehead, and frowned. “He’s burning up! I will need some wet towels!”

“He looks dehydrated,” Goodall added her opinion, “bring lots of cold water for him to drink.”

Twilight darted out on the kitchen and brought what had been requested, towels, a bucket of water and lastly a pitcher with ice-cold water and a glass.

When she came back, the medical ponies had removed the man’s brown, quilted vest of unknown material and tossed it on the floor. He had a white tunic underneath, which the nurse had ripped open in order to listen to his heart.

The veterinarian whistled at the sight of a rather well-trained abdomen. “Emaciated he surely isn’t,” she said with a chuckle. “Still, you should let him eat plenty of fibers and proteins when he’s able—“

The man groaned and began to stir, causing both medical ponies to freeze in whatever they were doing.

“…where… where am I?”

The veterinarian’s jaw dropped. “…He can talk?”

But Nurse Sweetheart didn’t seem surprised at all. She smiled at him and gently placed a soaked towel over his forehead. “It’s alright dear, you are among friends,” she cooed.
“Here,” she took a filled glass and dropped a small pill in it, making the water sizzle and bubble, “this will make you feel better.”

The man blinked suspiciously at the pink pony.

“I promise you it will help against the fever,” she insisted.

Reluctantly, he took the glass with an unsteady hand. With one more glance at the nurse he swept it down the hatch. He uttered a ‘bleeh’ and scrunched his nose at the taste of medicine.

“I know it is bitter dear, but it will help you to cool down a little,” Sweetheart patted his arm. “Just rest for a day or two, eat and drink plenty of water you’ll be back in tip-top-shape.”

The man expressed a series of mixed emotions, confusion, suspicion and fear, but suddenly cracked a weak smile. “Thank you milady… I… you have shown such kindness, yet I do not know your name.”

“Oh don’t worry dear,” she laughed hearty, “it’s my job. And my name is Nurse Sweetheart!”

“I am Delvin of House Rivendare,” he placed a hand upon his chest.
 
 



Delvin had fallen asleep after Nurse Sweetheart and Mane Goodall left, and started to stir in the middle of night. Celestia, having refused to take Twilight’s bed, slept next to the man on the floor on a rug. Although she hadn’t been able to sleep really, only sitting and kept an eye on him.

“How are you feeling?” she whispered, trying not to wake up her student.

Delvin froze when hearing her voice.
“…better.”

He sat up and looked at the princess. “I remember you. I remember your voice… in the dream.”

“Dream?”

“Everything was dark… but I could hear voices. I heard yours and one more…” he said while rubbing his face, “I saw those gray eyes… she was sad… said she was sorry…”

Celestia blinked. “Who? Was it an alicorn?”

He nodded. “She came after me… and her brother-in-arms… I didn’t… I didn’t want to fight them…”

“Why?” he said after a short silence, “why did you attack our homes? What did we do to you?”

“I wish I knew,” Celestia sighed, “but I had yet to be born when it happened.”

“How long… has it been then?”

There was no easy way of saying it. No way of making it less painful.
“1600 years.”

He choked, “… but… but I had a task… I have to deliver the chest to Ebonreach…”

“I am terrible sorry, but this Ebonreach doesn’t exist anymore… your—“ Celestia bit her lip and shut her eyes when she felt a tear coming, “your people are…”

“Gone?”

“Yes,” Celestia sniffed, “my mother said Mankind was banished back to your home world.”

“…I see… there is none else left then?”

When Celestia didn’t answer, Delvin choked again and laid down back in the bed. Seeing him in pain like this made a clump form in her stomach. He wasn’t evil, and even if he might have hurt someone in the past, he admitted on regretted it.

He was no monster.

But in his eyes, she was one.                     
 
 
 
 
 


> Chapter 2: Dogs without leashes
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thanks to Onyxjew for proofreading and editing.





Twilight was watching Delvin sleep peacefully, mesmerized by his calm breathing. His night terrors had apparently passed on, and he was no longer twitching or mumbling in his sleep.
But he still hadn't left the bed or been awake long enough to have a conversation. Although she could understand the trauma he was going through, there was a curious side of her that was itching for answers.

What was your society like? How many of you were there? How could you harness magic?

Her eyes danced to the end of the bed and onto the mysterious black lockbox Delvin brought.  What was it he tried to get this to Ebonreach?
Far too intrigued to leave it on the floor, she levitated it in front of her and sat down on her haunches. It was made of some sort of dense, black wood with very beautifully crafted silvery steel frames. When Twilight attempted to open it, the lid refused to open and curiously, mysterious white runes became visible across the lid.

“Old arcane glyphs huh?” Twilight muttered to nopony in particular. Some runes seemed familiar to her, especially a fish-hook-looking one she recognized as the letter B.
Visualizing the cover of a lexicon, the book slid out from its shelf and opened up before Twilight. She peered on the letters on the chest, and then back on the ones in the book.

“B-O-U-N…” Twilight attempted to translate, “Boun… Bound?”

“What are you doing?”

Twilight yelped and dropped the lockbox with a clamor by the sudden break of concentration. In the bed, Delvin sat up with a deep frown.
“Ooh… good morning…” Twilight said nervously, “Err… how are you feeling?”

Delvin seemed to ease up with his expression, but the hint of sadness remained as a faint glimmer in his eyes. “I dreamed I was home. I hoped this,” he gestured over the library, “was a dream. A terrible nightmare I could just wake up from. But…”

 “I’m so sorry…” Twilight tried to sound as sincere as possible.

“Why?” He looked at her, puzzled.

“Why? Well… I am really sorry that your people are gone. I’ve read about them, about all the heroic feats and other incredible things! Like… you came from another world, and did all these awesome deeds of heroism, like the battle against Manexxa!” Twilight grinned.

“Here,” the unicorn trotted up to his side with Tales of Silver hovering nearby. “Look, it’s a book about the Silver People! It’s got tons of amazing stories—“

“I know my history well, and need no book to remind me of it,” he scoffed and swatted the book away with one hand.
An awkward silence hangs in the air for a while. Suddenly Twilight felt the man’s eyes on her. She looked up and met his green-blue eyes, a color that reminded her of aged copper.

“Why do you not have wings?” he asked.

“Wings?” Twilight looked on her back, “unicorns don’t have wings.”

“…you-knee-corns?”

Apparently mankind had never encountered any other ponies than the alicorns. So Twilight proceeded to tell of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies, and how they formed Equestria.  Her words didn't seem to fall on deaf ears.
“So you are lesser alicorns,” he tilted his head in confusion, “stunted offspring of sorts, like wyverns and wyrms are to dragons?”

 “Maybe,” Twilight said while making a reminder to ask what wyrms and wyverns were later on. ”It could be very possible for a very long time ago alicorns gave birth to a foal without horns or wings, and from that other ponies came to be. But honestly it’s just all speculations. Nopony really knows much about the alicorns, they are so shrouded in mystery…”

“Why would they?” Delvin leaned in closer, “their kingdom was grander than as ours. Surely their numbers are still the same?”

“No… they started to disappear a long time ago, dying out almost entirely during Discord’s reign of chaos and disharmony. Right now there’s just three known alicorns left, which we know of.”

The man was flabbergasted. “THREE?!”

“Princess Celestia, her sister Princess Luna and my old foal sitter; Princess Cadence,” Twilight curiously peeked at the man’s reaction, “I didn’t expect you to be so shocked… considering what went on between your kingdoms, I thought you’d hate—“

“I would never hate them!” Delvin suddenly hissed with his ivory teeth bared, “I knew an alicorn! I considered her as family! Lantea,” he sniffed, “she was my friend, everyone’s friend! We adored her, adored all alicorns!
“Just… I just do not understand what happened. We stood as thorn and wall for so long. Why would we quarrel suddenly?”

In that moment Princess Celestia wandered into view. She had been in Twilight’s bathroom for an awfully long time soaking in the bathtub and scrubbing the dirt out of her pure white coat, which now almost seemed to glimmer.
But even if her coat was shining and her mane flowing like always, her expression didn’t shine. The Princesses’ saddened frown and sympathetic eyes spoke volumes of shared emotions.

“I wish I’d known an answer, Delvin Rivendare,” she said with a sigh, “but it was far before my time, and my parents never told me of any reason.”

“You were there though,” Twilight pointed out. “Maybe you could tell us when things started to escalate?”

Delvin rubbed his chin for a moment, deep in thought. Finally he nodded.
“In the eleventh year of the second century during midsummer, after the Fire Festival,” Delvin said and gazed up in the ceiling, “one could still see fires from the other settlements afar. I thought the other settlements just… didn’t want to stop celebrating. Then a few days later, a rider came from the Dawn.

“The king is dead, he said. And now the alicorns have turned on us. Hero Hill and Goldcroft have been sacked, Clearcrest is under siege, and large masses of wings have been spotted heading towards Dragonstone! I call upon every single man who is old enough to hold a blade or crossbow to support our kinsmen in the west and north! As for you others, it would be wise if you move to the Dawn and seek shelter. There is no telling where they will strike next.”

“I could not believe it even with my own ears. King Tirion was dead, and the alicorns turning their coats... That seemed… impossible.” He trailed off, shaking his head. “…It was so sudden… no explanation…”

“So sorry for interrupting… but did you say King Tirion?” Twilight tilted her head.

“Yes?”

“Just curious, since he was named after Tirion Lockwood and all. Was he his great-grandson or something like that?”

“…no, he was our only king. He never had any sons or grandsons.”

Twilight and Celestia looked at Delvin with their wide in awe.
“You… you had the same king… for two hundred years?!” Twilight gasped.

Delvin nodded.

“I though mankind lived shorter lives than that…” Celestia almost whispered.

“Short from your point of view perhaps,” he huffed, “my grandfather was eighty-seven before he left, and he one of many fortunate.  The king was however… unique,” Delvin shifted in the bed and cast suspicious looks around the library. “The songs tell that when the king pierced Manexxa’s heart; he claimed her powers as his own and became immortal.”

“How could he do that?” Twilight frowned, “how could he just ‘take’ somepony’s power like that? And what kind of power would that have been? Either way it… doesn’t…”

The unicorn trailed off when she saw how Delvin and Celestia stared at her.

“Sorry…”

“It’s alright Twilight,” Celestia took place beside her student before giving a nod to Delvin, “please go on.”

“There is not much more to it,” he admitted, “the majority of the town’s watch left, along with a large number of other strong men. I would have gone too, but I could not bring myself to leave Moorgate when I heard many elders, women and children were too frightened to leave. So in their absence, Lord Cain of Moorgate formed a temporary guard force out of farmers, 
fishers and whatever in between.

“One week passed, but no news came how the fighting went. I assumed it was over, until during my watch a mortally wounded druid came to our settlement. He died trying to deliver that infernal thing,” he scrunched his nose and pointed towards the chest. “With his last will, he entrusted me to deliver it to Ebonreach. And here I am now.”

Celestia nodded. “I see. Are you aware of the content of this chest?”

“No.”

“May we?”

“Go ahead,” he sighed, “I failed anyway, and I doubt it can do any good now.”

His permission given, the alicorn levitated the black chest and studied it with an intrigued look.
“I’ve never seen an incantation like this before…” the princess hummed, “the use of arcane runes to perform this sort of sealing…”

“What do the runes say?” Twilight shot in.
 

“Bound by blood, bound by soul,


Sealed from them without.”

 
“…ominous…” Twilight shuddered.

“Indeed. This sort of magic is entirely new to me... and surprisingly strong. Without knowing the spell of origin it can be difficult to unseal it, even for me.” Celestia shook her head so her ethereal mane rippled like water. “Bound by blood and soul…”

“Do you have any idea what it means?” Twilight turned to Delvin. He shook his head and shrugged.

“It could mean if sealed by the blood and soul of a man, it could very well be that only a man can open it.” Celestia said.
Delvin sat and muttered for himself a moment and nodded.

“Give it to me.”

Not arguing, Celestia placed it down on his lap. He immediately placed his palms on the lid and waited for something to happen. Nothing. He sat a moment and drummed the lid with his fingers, then turned to Twilight.

“I wish to try something. I need a knife. A sharp one.”

Twilight cast an unsure glance at her mentor. When she received a confirming nod, the unicorn went for the kitchen. She quickly picked out one knife she used to slice fruits and vegetables, undoubtedly the sharpest one in the drawer.

“Here you go,” she levitated the knife to him when she returned.

He snatched it with a quick swipe, as if he was afraid of the magenta aura around it. With knife in one hand, he took a deep breath and held up his other.

Without warning he ran the blade tip across his thumb. The two ponies winced, but Delvin didn’t seem to be phased at all. He was just watching the red blood pour slowly in his cupped hand and gently placed the palm down on the lid.

Incredibly, the runes responded by flashing to a deep crimson before fading and making the lid click.

The ponies’ curiosity grew instantly and placed themselves on each side if the man, their eyes fixed on the now unlocked chest.

“Incredible…” Celestia whispered. “How did you know that would work?”

“Tradition… I rather not try to explain without being called insane,” he coughed and turned his attention back to the chest. Slowly he grabbed the lid…
…and stiffened when the contents were revealed.

“Books!” Twilight squealed happily.

“Books?!” Delvin rumbled not quite as positively as the unicorn, “I left my home, my friends for… BOOKS?!”

The Man angrily flung the chest over the bed, sending books, scrolls and envelopes all over the library. With a growling he tossed his blanket aside and got up. He was a little wobbly after a long period of lying down, but miraculously managed to get to the door on shaky legs. Violently, he yanked it open and stormed outside.

“Oh crud,” Twilight cursed.

Celestia was already on it and rushed after Delvin. “Stay here,” she said briskly before darting around the corner.
Alone in the library, Twilight stared at the mess scattered across the floor. With a sigh she started to gather the ancient papers.





Everything looked wrong. What castle was that in the distance? What mountain was it on? And what kind of village was this? Was he in the south, or the west? North? East?

Panic set in as Delvin was running down the street of this colorful, unknown settlement, desperately trying to find some familiar landmarks. Like the tall Eagle Mountains, or the Amber River.

Blindly he ran into a group of ponies and tumbled to the ground. One of them got caught under him, a pale yellow mare with no horn or wings, and with a striped mane of cherry and pink.

Disoriented, she groaned and tried to get up. Realizing she was pinned down, she screamed loudly and flailed with her forelegs.

“HEEEEEELP THE MONSTER IS TRYING TO EAT MEEEEEE!”

“I would never—“Delvin tried to explain himself, but was interrupted by several wallops to his face. Beaten, he rolled to the side and clutched his head with both hands with a groan. This must be how the anvil feels like after a long day…

“Princess Celestia!” another pony shouted. “Princess Celestia! The monster is over here! It attacked Rose!”

Delvin sat up on his rear and watched the brilliant white alicorn princess trot up to him. “I saw what happened, and to me it seemed like an accident,” she said softly to the group of ponies. “I am certain he regrets it and is willing to apologize for knocking Miss Roseluck over, isn’t he?”

“I am. A thousand pardons Lady Roseluck,” he said and made a quirky bow to the pony, “I should have been more observant of my surroundings, and I feel ashamed of my clumsiness. I hope you weren't severely hurt?”

“Eh… no I’m alright…” Rose rubbed her neck, “I just got startled… and well... I think I should say sorry for overreacting…”

Celestia smiled, overjoyed that the situation had been dealt with peacefully. When Delvin started to get up, she spoke again. “May I ask where you are heading, Delvin Rivendare?”

“Home,” he said coldly, “I am heading home.”

“I see… but—“

“I know it is gone, Your Majesty,” Delvin cut her off, “but I do not care. I want to return to the place where I was born, where I grew up… and the place where I wish to spend my last moments.”

The princess’ pupils contracted into small dots, realizing his intentions. “Delvin, please reconsider! You don’t have to throw your life away!”

“I see no point in going on,” he croaked, “everyone I knew is banished. My father, my friends; gone and dead since long! There are no reasons to prevent me from taking my place among the glorious dead!”

“YES THERE IS!” Celestia boomed, “Somepony went through a lot of trouble just to hide and save you from banishment! Somepony valued your life, and by the sun, I value yours!
I read the stories about your people as a child, of undaunted and noble knights that stood for everything that is good! Much of that inspired me as a matter-of-fact. Why on Equestria they were banished is beyond me and in my eyes a faulty punishment.

“I understand your pain, and I understand if—“Celestia choked and forced the dark thought away, “but I believe there is a reason you are here today. You may not see it, but I know you brought more answers to the disappearance of your people than you might think.”

Around them, the crowd of ponies had increased by several dozen of curious eyes. They all seemed to hold their breath of the suspension.

“I am not your princess and have no right to force you into staying, Delvin…” Celestia sighed; “but please, don’t let the very last voice of Mankind fade away. I want to help you find the truth, and I am sincere when I say I do not want you to go away.

“I truly mean it. Please?”

Delvin was speechless. Here he stood before a race so unlike him and their princess he should consider as enemy, begging him not to take a coward’s way out. She cared about his welfare? She cared about him?

He sighed. The memory of Lantea came back, the beloved gray alicorn of Moorgate who always watched over the children as if they were her own. A warm tingle went through his guts when he remembered how sad he’d been when his mother left for the capital when she couldn’t stand the family shame, but Laurel was there, promising to always comfort him when he needed her.

And she’d been there for many years, staying true to her word almost entirely, only forced on breaking it when family matters called. He was twenty then, and he was not angry at her for leaving. Family comes first after all.

Delvin found himself raising his right hand—rather than the left with his still bleeding thumb—and held it out with his open palm to Celestia. The crowd gasped, probably thinking he was about to strike her.

But the princess had understood and accepted the gesture. With a warm smile she leaned forward, allowing his hand to touch her muzzle.

Her fur was so soft he thought, not even the silk of nobles could be compared to this. Furthermore, there was a pleasant tingle of warmth from the touch that ran through his entire body. It made his previously glum intentions disperse by an overwhelming feeling of compassion.

It made him feel, for the first time in what felt like forever… at peace.

Happy.


 
 
YES THERE IS!

Twilight jumped a little at hearing her mentor’s use of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Concerned, she peeked out a window.
It seemed half of Ponyville had gathered around Celestia and Delvin, watching with jaws almost hitting the ground.
Celestia was talking, but it was too quiet for Twilight to hear. Whatever it was about, it seemed to have some effect on the Man.

Suddenly he reached out his arm against Celestia.

“What are you doing…?” Twilight muttered.

Then the solar princess walked closer, pushing her head against his palm.

At this, Twilight squealed out in excitement, and at the same time gasped in surprise, making a D’AWWHUPP before clamping a hoof over her smiling mouth.

He gave a sign he was willing to trust her. And she’d done the same.
Feeling extremely happy inside, Twilight turned to the messy library floor. Loose papers, scrolls and two books, all spread out in a clutter.

She started placing all the letters in one neat pile, figuring she can sort them later. Next were the books. One was bigger and had a cover made of a pale wood, the other smaller and had a much softer material, like Delvin’s vest.

With no titles on the covers, the unicorn opened the larger one first. Much to her dismay, the first page had been drenched in ink. The next page shared the same fate, and three more pages had been ripped out by force.
The fifth page had however managed to survive an inky destruction. Eager, Twilight began to read the fine writing.


 

Day 21.
After a prolonged battle, the outlanders have managed to gain another vantage point and driven the Changelings back further into the mountains. But it was no cheers or victorious songs to be sung in this battle, for today they lost one of theirs, the first one in fact.

How, I did not know at the time. I only caught a glimpse of Tirion Lockwood, holding his fallen kinsman in his arms. He cried out in sorrow, a wailing so loud his echo never seemed to fade.

Later in the evening, I watched how the tried and worn from almost non-stop battle, Tirion dug a grave under a young tree by himself, refusing any help offered by his knight-brothers. When the grave had been covered and had a stone with their carvings over it, he began to talk to the stone. Even if I do not know their tongue, his speech was so shrill it ached in my heart, and I could feel his sorrow. Even if I never knew this knight, I wept for him.

I asked Auriel later that evening what the knight’s name was.
“Cedric Lockwood,” she told me, “Tirion’s younger brother.”

Hearing of this was yet another jab to my heart. I asked Auriel to translate my deepest condolences to Tirion. To my amazement, he walked up and embraced me, whispering one single sentence in my ear. Even in his guttural language, I knew exactly what meaning it bore.


Thank you.


Seeing this undaunted warrior from a world afar who have laughed at the myriads of enemies and cut through them like weed, now to weep and holding me so gently has given me an important revelation.

Beneath their hardened steel armor, stained by mud and the blood of both friend and foe, beats the hearts of living beings that experiences joy, sadness and anger just like we do. I feel ashamed for not seeing this at the very beginning and being one of those who questioned and mocked Auriel, along with her silvery horde.

 But now I understand. These brave outland Men deserve so much more for their sacrifice and commitment. They are willingly giving up their lives for us, to give our children a safer future. They deserve a place where they can do the same for theirs.

Once this war is over, I will beg for Auriel’s forgiveness and pledge my allegiance to her. I will use my position in the small council to further support her cause, and Man’s cause. My first vow will be a mausoleum built here in Cedric Lockwood’s honor, even if I so have to lift every single stone by myself.



 
Twilight sniffed and closed the diary.  There were some feelings starting to boil up inside of her stomach, mostly sadness and sympathy for Tirion. How horrible to lose a brother…

She shook her head and rubbed away the moisture under her eyes, deciding to not read that for a while. Fearing the other one had the same type of text, she piled it on top of the bigger one.

Just the scrolls left then.

She counted twelve of them, all seeming to have the same type of purple silk band keeping them rolled.

Hold on…

One wasn’t the same as the others. Letting the others fall down back on the floor, she examined this odd one out. It was held together with a cheap string, rather than silk. It felt heavier too. How can a scroll be heavy?

Undoing the knot, she wasn’t prepared for a green gemstone drop out and hit the floor with a glassy clink.
Twilight fixed her eyes on the gem, feeling drawn to it. Roughly being the size of a pear and shaped like one, she could feel it wasn’t an ordinary gem. Picking it up and placing it on her hoof, she felt a faint tingle of magic emanating from it.
Peering into it, she could have sworn a lively mist was swirling inside. She could have sworn it was whispering to her…

Suddenly an explosion violently broke Twilight’s concentration. Caught off guard, she spun around with a bewildered expression against the source of the racket.
Sheepishly, she looked at the door with Princess Celestia and Delvin standing there with confused looks.
Apparently the ‘explosion’ she’d hear was just the door opening. She was getting awfully jumpy when she was fully concentrated.

“Are you feeling well Twilight?” Celestia asked softly.

“Hrm I was just…” Twilight mumbled, “…I found a gem... but just disappeared!”

“I see. Well it will probably show up eventually,” the princess mused and observed the pile of stacked papers. Next object that caught her attention was the scroll down on the floor. “And what might this be then?”

“Uh... I haven’t given those a look yet…” Seriously, where did the gem go? Did she just imagine seeing it? she wondered while scanning the room.

“Anyway dear Twilight… I was just about to—“ Celestia started off, but paused briefly while looking at the scroll before proceeding with her train of thought, “—to tell you I’ll be heading back to Canterlot,” she said while turning the paper into a puff of smoke.

“You are?” Twilight slouched and let her ears droop, “I thought you’d stay for a few days…”

“I wasn’t finished,” her mentor chortled, “I’ll have to inform my sister about our new friend here—“she cast a warm smile to Delvin, who returned with a weak one himself—“and then I’ll come back, with Luna.”

“Can’t you just send a letter to her, telling her to come here? It would mean less running—or flying—back and forth.”

“Yes, well I think my dear sister would think I was pulling another prank on her. No, I think I can convince her better by seeing eye-to-eye. I would’ve taken him with me to Canterlot but… he has chosen to stay here in Ponyville for the time being.”

On cue Delvin cleared his throat, gaining both mares attention.

“I hate to impose Lady Twilight Sparkle, but I think hunger has finally caught up with me…”

“Oh! By all means, go in and take whatever you want.” Twilight pointed towards the kitchen.

“Thank you Lady Twilight Sparkle,” he bowed graciously. Next he turned to the princess, “And thank you once again Princess Celestia.”

“My pleasure Delvin. We’ll talk again soon.” Celestia bowed her head to the man.

As he walked into the kitchen, she chuckled hearty. “His use of titles is apparently too hard to simply forget. I told him he could just call me by name, but that seemed ‘most disrespectful towards your stature’ to him.

“Anyway, after he’s full, try to get to know him a little more, make him feel comfortable in this new environment. And remember, he’s not a prisoner, so he is free to walk in Ponyville if he so desires, although under supervision just in case. I have addressed the majority of the residents that he is peaceful, so by now the word has reached everypony about him.”

“Understood. Oooh, maybe I could introduce him to my friends! I bet they’ll make him feel really welcomed!” Twilight beamed.

“Even better,” Celestia lowered herself to Twilight’s level and gently nuzzled her back. “I know he’s going to be in good care.”


 

After the Princess had taken her leave, Twilight joined Delvin in the kitchen. She was surprised to see the man had almost emptied a bowl of fruit in a short time span.

“Eaurgh—“he cringed after swallowing a large bite, “how can anyone eat this ghastly fruit? It tastes worse than swamp water!”

“That’s… an orange,” Twilight giggled then noticing the fruit in his hand, “they are really good, but you’re supposed to peel them before eating.”

“Oh,” he said sheepishly.  Still he put the orange to the side and picked an apple instead from the bowl. Twilight took notice of a large whirl of paper on his thumb. A band-aid would've been less ugly but it probably meant little to him.

“Soo…” the unicorn said cheerfully,”  “is there something else you’d like other than fruit? What do you like to eat, for example do you have any favorite food?”

“Anything but mushrooms. Blasted things grew everywhere around Moorgate, and was used far too often. Mushrooms in stew, soup, grilled, boiled, raw even,” he shuddered. “Father had an obsession with mushrooms in his beef stew… and was served at least twice a week.”

“Beef?” Twilight asked while a chill went down her spine. “Like… meat?”

 “Naturally. Why, is that an issue?” Delvin cocked a bushy brow at her.

“But… but how can… how am I supposed to feed you? You can’t just go out and club a tiny, poor innocent animal—oh heavens, Fluttershy would never forgive me… b-but she’ll have to! It’s for—“

“If it is such a fright, I can survive without meat,” he replied with a terrified expression. “I might miss it, but I can control myself. You have my word.”

“Phew…” Twilight blushed from her small breakdown. “Thanks… make this a little easier for me,” Twilight wiped off the sweat from her brows. “But just to be safe, let’s keep the details of your diet between us two, deal?”

“Very well,” he chimed and finished another apple. With the bowl now empty he returned to the orange and began fidgeting with the peel.

“Hm… I think I’ll have to swing by the market and buy a little more fruit… maybe some nice salad,” Twilight reached out with her magic and began jotting down a grocery list.

“That seems like a long list,” Delvin remarked.

“Well, it’s about time to refill the fridge anyway,” Twilight mused and finished her list. “There, that should do it for a few days! So… do you wanna wait here in the library, or would you like to come with me?”

“I’ll stay here. I would like to… ponder for a while.” The man muttered.

“Okay. I’ll be back in a jiffy. If you get bored, there’s plenty of books here… heh heh.” Twilight mentally facehoofed for pointing out the obvious to him. “Okay then… be right back!”




“Blast… that’s so sour,” Delvin remarked at the taste of the ‘orange’. The remains of the hideous fruit met its end in the sink with a wet squish, perfectly synchronized as the door slammed behind his hostess.  Twilight of House Sparkle. 

“Ridiculous,” he rubbed his temples when thinking on the name. Granted, he could see why one’s parents would name their child after the beauty of the twilight hours, but Sparkle? Bloody Sparkle?

He quickly scolded himself for such low thoughts. How could he mock someone’s house, just because it sounded childish? She had taken him, a lowborn under her roof, and he ridiculed her?  Show some respect for King’s sake!

Twilight was the apprentice of a royal after all. That title alone must carry a tremendous amount of honor he figured. Would that mean Twilight were of noble birth, and now being groomed as an important character in service of Princess Celestia? What title would that make her? Archmage? Court Mage? Lady? Dame?

A thousand questions pounded his mind like a raging wyrm trapped in a barrel, slowly starting to make his head throb.
“I need fresh air,” he said to himself and stood up from the comically small bench and strolled into the main hall. Glancing over the dozens of shelves filled with hundreds of books, he began to feel so pitifully small and embarrassed.

“How hard could it be?” he growled with frustration and snatched a random book with sapphire-blue covers. He opened it and stared at the little black markings and stared them down. But no matter how vaguely familiar they seemed, he couldn’t think of how one pronounced them, or how to put them together to form words and sentences.

But there was none to blame other than him. It was his folly to think he never would have to read, or write a note. He was a fool for neglecting it, just so he could live up to his family name.

“The son of a fool indeed!” Delvin spat and hurled the book against the wall. Fuming of rage, he stormed out and left the library.



  
“...and there must simply be an end to the outrageous behavior of using our pristine city’s water decor for personal hygiene by out of control rascals!” the puffed-up, self-important pony sniffed with disgust.

Luna shook her head and groaned silently. Do ponies really come by every day, making these mundane and most of the times, pointless complains?

“Then We decree… that a sign, with the words ‘Please do not swim in the fountain’ will be placed nearby.” Luna rolled her eyes.

“Thank you your majesty,” the stallion bowed and turned to leave. Behind him came yet another snobbish unicorn stallion with a ridiculously tall top hat.

“Mmyeesh your majesty, I am Stiff Lip, and I believe the current punishments for lollygagging is not harsh enough! Throw them in—“

The massive doors of the throne room opened with a loud creak, interrupting Stiff Lip successfully. Thank the Moon for that, Luna huffed.

In trotted Celestia with a serious expression. “Luna. Come with me.”

“Very well then.” Luna cocked a brow, “The court is concluded.”

Luna followed her sister out to the courtyard of Canterlot Castle. Outside sat Celestia’s chariot with four pegasi guards ready for flying. At this, the younger alicorn started to realize something was amiss.

“Tia—“

“I’ll tell you on the way. Come,” she interrupted her sister before sitting down.

“Tell me about what? Has something terrible happened?” Luna gasped and took her place beside her sister.

“It’s actually quite the opposite,” Celestia replied as they finally took off the ground with a powerful gush.

“Twilight’s research of Mankind proved to have paid off much more than I ever could imagine Luna. You remember the tree, the wolf and raven?”

“Yes, of co—“

“They were druids, and they were guarding that tree, and thanks to Twilight it led me back to that very same tree from so long ago. They had been asked by an unknown alicorn, to safeguard a still living man encased in stone.”

Luna blinked, confused. Suddenly she began to laugh.

“Oh I see. Very funny Tia… so where is this man then? Hiding in your mane perchance?” she giggled.

“He did not come with me because he clearly expressed his discomfort of flying. I assure you, this is no joking manner Luna,” Celestia said dryly. Her horn flared up in a golden light, and out of the thin air a rolled parchment materialized, “and here you have the proof.”

Still unconvinced, she decided to play along with her sisters little game. She took the scroll with a bold smile.
One heartbeat later her smile dropped.

Drawn with a brown ink on yellow parchment was a map of a very familiar castle, marking out a route through the ancient catacombs to what seemed to be a recently added X in one of the hallways.

“…is this… our old home?”

“It is,” Celestia nodded.  

“Tia… what does this mean?” Luna asked, barely believing it herself.

“Besides the very obvious, I am not certain why of all places it had to be there,” Celestia nodded, “but I just know it has something to do with the Silver People’s exodus.”

Luna gave her older sister a puzzled look.

“Delvin was heading to a place called Ebonreach with this cache of knowledge, but was petrified by an unknown mare before he could get there. She then moved him to Ashwood, hid him inside a tree and placed wards around him and lastly asked for the druids to guard him in her absence. Maybe she intended to return for him but… something happened.” Celestia whispered.

Luna gulped and nodded.  Alicorns could be extremely cruel when it came to punishment.

“This mare was helping mankind Luna; she might have managed to save Delvin, but were completely unaware of what he was carrying. And as Delvin told me, he went in the place of a fallen druid, meaning they might have never known he was the courier they were expecting.”

“But why would he be carrying this?” Luna frowned with her eyes lingering to the map. “And… what is this leading us to?”

“On that, we are about to find out.”

“Your Majesties, the Castle of the Two Sisters up ahead!” called one of the royal guards.

Like a scar, the ruins of their former childhood home stood bleak and dead in the Everfree Forest. It had been destroyed when Discord arrived to old Equestria, and began his reign of chaos and disharmony. With the spirit of disharmony running amok in a land of peace and tormenting the little ponies, Luna and Celestia had no other choice but to stand up against him.

And with the elements of harmony, they had succeeded.

The chariot touched down in the once-pristine courtyard, now covered in dirt and vegetation.  Although this place had once been the whole world to her, Luna felt a clump in her stomach standing here again. Last time she was here was when the Elements of Harmony had vanquished Nightmare Moon, and before that was when she’d given in to the Nightmare.

“It’s in the past. Just put it behind,” Luna exhaled and whispered to herself.

The two princesses, despite their guards insistence, ventured down into the bowels of the ancient castle catacombs alone. Like the upper levels of the castle, the tunnels had fallen before nature’s grip. Moss and mushrooms had a good chance of flourishing down here. As if the tunnel of white marble hadn’t been scary enough nearly two millennia ago, the stone had gone over to an oily black riddled with vegetation that seemed to hiss at the light illuminating from the alicorn sisters’ horns.

“Tia,” Luna muttered as they passed by a few sarcophaguses, “why are you doing this?”

Her sister turned a magenta eye at her for a second, and then turned back to the map without saying anything.

“I want answers. Now Celestia.”

Hearing Luna not using her pet name, Celestia turned to her sister with a stern expression.

“I have to help Delvin—“

“THAT is what bothers me,” Luna scoffed. “I know you are the kindest pony there is, and I know your fascination of the Silver People, but we know nothing about him—“

“His name is Delvin Rivendare and he used to live in a place called Moorgate, which he left behind at the final request of a dying druid. Would you say that is not enough need to know?”

Luna harrumphed. “I fear this is becoming an obsession Celestia. This… Delvin has impaired your judgment, and if it affects 
your duty as princess, I will have to put an end to it!”

“Don’t do that Luna. I have to do this for Delvin.”

“WHY?!” Luna thundered. “Why are you so anxious to please this exiled remnant?!”
…
“WELL?!”

Finally Celestia faced Luna, ready to give answers. That’s when she saw her sister on the verge of tears.

“He wanted to die, Luna.”

“W-what?” Luna stuttered.

“He felt as if there isn’t anything worth living for anymore,” Celestia sighed. “No home, no friends, family…”

Dread struck Luna like a hammer and felt herself planting her bottom on the chilly floor. “Is he still…”

“I think I convinced him not to do it… I honestly don’t know if my plea will be enough for him. I was hoping whatever this is and get back to Ponyville. If there is any good news or even the slightest shred of evidence to what truly happened, we should give it to Delvin and lift his spirits.”

Luna sat there and pondered. “This Delvin must have made quite an impact on you.”

“Delvin is…” her sister began with a sly smile starting to appear, “well first and foremost, it’s not everyday you meet a sentient being older than I. But there is something… intriguing about him.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s… I’m not sure how to put it… unusual to say the least. I guess chivalrous is the best word to describe him,” her sister said with a soft laugh. “I think you’ll notice it too when we meet him.”

That would be a meeting Luna wasn’t sure how to feel for. On one side, she distrusted the Man for toying with the feelings of her gentle and warm-hearted sister for his goals. But then again, she felt sorry—if his story was true—for him.
But it was too much unknown for her to fully trust a Man. They had after all, committed an act that obviously deserved banishment back to their world. And for that matter, why would they not want to go back without a struggle?

No, she wasn’t going to let her guard down so easily, Luna said to herself and pondered on the possible while wandering after Celestia. Finally they stopped.

“This seems to be it,” she said and looked up from the map.

Finally they have arrived to the ‘Spot marked by the X’, as ponies used to say. To Luna, it seemed like an ordinary dead end of a corridor. Right ahead was only a bare wall, and on respective right and left were two sarcophaguses.

“Must be a hidden room… right behind…” Celestia muttered.

It was quite amusing to see her older sister pressing herself against the dirty wall feeling after buttons or cranks in every nook of the hall.

“Nothing! How can this be?” she exclaimed angrily.

“Sister, perhaps now you realize that little piece of paper is meaningless. It marks nothing but these tombs,” Luna sighed and hoped they could leave as soon as possible.

“The tombs… Luna, you are brilliant!”

“I am?”

Celestia’s face broke open in a wide smile as she jumped to one of the sarcophaguses. She hummed satisfied after giving it a close inspection, then went to the next one.

“This must be it!” she cheered. “Now let’s get the top off—“

“WHAT?!” Luna flabbergasted. “Sister what in Equestria has gotten into you?! I will not allow you to desecrate the tomb of our ancestors!”

“It’s not desecration, look!” Celestia retorted and brought a hoof to the side of the sarcophagus. “What do you see?”

“A tomb that should be left alone!” Luna quipped.

“Yes, but whose tomb?”

“It stands right here; it’s…” Luna growled and began reading the name of the deceased. Unfortunately, there were no inscriptions to tell who it was. “…none?”

“Precisely. Pretty clever spot I have to admit, who would ever bother searching for Men down here, in an alicorn catacomb?” Celestia mused. “Now, I understand if this makes you uneasy Luna, but you simply have to trust me on this one.”

“…You know I will always trust you Tia… and if you are right on this hunch of yours I will support you. On the condition we never speak of this ever again if you are wrong.”

“Agreed,” Celestia cooed and nuzzled her little sister lovingly.

Both alicorns took a hold of the sarcophagus lid and started to pull. The solid hunk of oily marble slowly began to budge, and finally fall down in the floor with a bang equally matched by a thunderclap.

Now came the moment of truth.

Luna took a deep breath, as did Celestia, and approached the open sarcophagus. The tension in the air felt thick like syrup when they peered down at the bottom. Celestia gasped. Luna yelped.

Down there, a horrific face stared back up at them.

“Stars above!” Luna exclaimed. “What is that?!”

“…another Man…” her sister gasped and placed a hoof over her mouth. “This is incredible!”

“More like terrifying!” Luna whinnied. “How long has it been down here, ever since their exodus?”

“Very likely,” Celestia replied distantly. She used her magic to lift the petrified alien out of his hideout. When standing on the floor—if not counting in her horn—the Man stood a more than a head taller than her. Her sister was closer, reaching up to his nose.

Its overall appearance was truly of another world, Luna thought. She also took notice of how much clothing it wore. The only parts uncovered were the round head and the slender hands.
The face however, was the strangest part of it. The eyes and mouth were wide open, exposing the teeth in a cry of… fear? Surprise? Luna couldn’t quite determine the difference.

“Just as Delvin,” Celestia spoke up, seemingly to read Luna’s very thoughts. “He was petrified against his own will, but it saved his life.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense. Why is he HERE, of all the places?” Luna said while fixated on the stony face. “Do you think mother and father knew it’s been here, right under our home for millennia?”

“The way father spoke of them,” her sister chuckled, “I doubt he would. Mother… maybe. She never really had a saying of the Silver People… not good or ill. Perhaps neither was ever informed. But it matters little now. I think this poor Man has suffered imprisoned for too long now. Will you help me release him?”

Luna hesitated to give her answer. Truth be told, she was worried, if not scared they would unleash something terrible upon Equestria.

Delvin might be good, but what if this one is one of those evil-doers that actually deserved banishment?
No. No, if he were, he would’ve been banished and not petrified here. Tia believes he is good… and Luna trusts her.

“Yes. Let us free him, and hope he won’t destroy us,” she said sarcastically. Or maybe it was wishful thinking.
Celestia flashed a smile before placing her horn over the statue’s chest. Luna placed hers soon after. Awe struck her as she 
felt a steady heartbeat coming from inside the statue.

He really was alive.

“Luna, I can’t do this on my own…”
Celestia’s voice brought her back from daydreaming. As she added her magic to the unsealing, she was baffled how strong and complex it was. Whoever had cast it had a magical superiority that could rival hers and her sister’s individually.
But together, they could overpower it.  
And as anticipated, the magical force began to wane. In response, the statue started to creak and twitch.

“Step back a little,” Celestia panted. “He could be scared and disoriented. Just talk calmly, and make no sudden moves that might provoke him.”

“Oh joy,” Luna quipped.

Again the statue twitched and began to gain some color. The most vibrant out was the strange jacket of a very bright lime green. The other apparel wasn’t as appealing, blue pants and gray shoes… although unusually long unlike pony shoes.
Lastly the Man’s skin began turning into a rosy pink. The mane was lovely chestnut brown, albeit a little short.

Like a marionette that had its strings cut, he slumped on the hard floor coughing and sputtering violently.

“Gaah, Forbada gersah!” he gasped.

Luna frowned. “I beg your pardon?”

He got dead-silent the second he heard her. He looked up at them with his pupils wide as saucers, and quickly covered them by the light emanating from their horns. “Nyaah! Valked kelp!”

“This is strange… Delvin spoke clear Equestrian but this…” Celestia shook her head, “this was unexpected.”

“So what do we do?” Luna whispered, never letting her sight leave the Man curled on the floor.

“Wun wuuun… un’bree?” the Man said hoarsely. Slowly he began to stand on his knees and look at the Princesses.

“Just remain calm Luna. We’ll find a way of communicating,” Celestia cooed. She then turned to the Man. “Can you understand me?”

“Wun do’naar?” he responded and scratched his head. “Do… vali’fodr?”
He got up and squinted his mottled green eyes and stared Celestia straight in her vibrant magentas. “Em… Do zhema… emeh. Do kin’ vitaank…”

As he muttered in his incoherent tongue, his legs began to take him forward. Slowly his hand began to rise, stretching towards Celestia.

“Oh, Delvin did the same gesture!” she beamed and leaned forward with her head. “It’s a sign of peace!”

But rather than a friendly stroking like Delvin did, this man dug his fingers around the Princess’ muzzle. She squealed, both in surprise and slight pain. That triggered Luna, as suddenly her eyes began to glow.

“HOW DARE YOU?!” Luna roared in the Canterlot Voice. Her horn lit up like a torch soaked in oil, and her magic electrocuted the man.“HOW DARE YOU HARM MY SISTER, FOUL BEAST?!”

“AIIEEEE!!!” he yelped and was violently propelled against the stone wall.

“Luna!” Celestia barked in her sister’s ear, “Damn it, you could’ve killed him!”

“WE WOULD NEVER—“Luna stopped herself and looked up at the thunder-struck Man pressed tightly against the wall. “Oh no.” 

Embarrassed and horrified, she went down to his side.

“I am so sorry! I-I do not know what came over me—“Luna cried and leaned over the unmoving form with tears in her throat, “please be alright! Please say something!”

“…aaoouu…” he whimpered and covered his face with one arm. The other went down in his dark blue pants and fished up a small black book. “obogovuuuh…” he blurted and showed it towards her muzzle before passing out.

Curiously Luna took the book. Opening it however did not reveal any pages, but small plastic cards tucked neatly into small pockets. Opening up a zip-lock, she was horrified when seeing small silver and gold coins inside.

“Oh, no no, I am not robbing you!” she exclaimed and quickly put his odd purse back in his limp palm. “I thought...you... ooh!”

The lunar princess slouched and places her head on his shoulder. “I am so sorry. So very sorry,” she gently whispered in his ear.

“Luna.”

“I thought he attacked you!” the indigo mare choked. “I just blanked out when he hurt you…”

“He didn’t harm me,” her sister said softly. “Those nails aren’t lethal, but his pinch just caught me off-guard.”

“But I still did this to him,” Luna nudged the Man’s soft cheek in hopes to find life signs. Thankfully she could see the nostrils widen and contracting as he took shallow breaths. Physically he seemed fine, but there was no telling what kind of mental trauma her spell had caused.

Shock spells in particular attacked every part of the body, including all the organs. A strong caster as herself could fry the brain of a living being, and that didn’t need much force to perform.
Luna needed to know, so she began reaching out to her magic to enter his mind through her dream-walking spell.

That is, if he wasn’t resisting her.

As the Princess of the Night, Luna could enter anypony’s dream; walking their subconscious to help them face their fears.
But this being simply shut her out, even when knocked out of his senses.
And then suddenly, the barrier began to expand. It started to actually repelling her magic!

She had no choice but to sever the link. When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the dark hallway, the Man still out in front of her, and her concerned sister to the right.

“Luna? What happened?”

“I… am not sure,” Luna said. “I tried entering his mind but he… expelled me.”

Celestia shot a glance of surprise, but it quickly faded. “Curious… but it’ll have to wait. We should head to Ponyville right away. Delvin will probably want to meet him… and hopefully translate for us until further notice.”

Luna nodded. “Then let us be off.”




Twilight Sparkle was humming happily as she trotted down the street. It had been a little over the budget, but considering the current situation, she didn’t mind spending spoiling her new guest a little.
She had bought a wide variety of fruits for Delvin; apples and pears to melon and pineapple. She even managed to get some fresh strawberries.

“Gonna make him a nice salad out of those,” she giggled as she pushed the door open and waltzed in.

“Darling!”
Twilight yelped to say the least, and dropped her bags. In front of her stood none other than the white, purple-maned unicorn Rarity.

“Oh I am so sorry Twilight dear for scaring you!” the fashionista giggled. “I thought you were home, but I see now you were out grocery shopping.”

“What are you doing here Rarity?” Twilight muttered as she began picking up her bags. “Did Spike or Delvin let you in?”

“Eh… Spike was with me all night darling. He was kind enough to help me out with a large set of dresses for Hoity-Toity. We finished just ten minutes ago, then I decided to come and tell you he’s napping at the Carousel Boutique.”

Twilight was shocked to hear this. Spike really hadn’t been home all night, and she didn’t notice. Embarrassing Twi…

“The door was a little open, so I assumed you were inside. But alas, nopony was here to greet me.”

Twilight stiffened.
“Delvin’s not here?”

Rarity furrowed her brows. “Delvin? Who is that?”

The bags fell to the floor for a second time, but this time the lavender unicorn didn’t bother picking them up. She dashed into the kitchen, only to find it empty.

“Oh no no no NO!” she yelped and rushed room to room, her worry growing more and more after each futile look for the 
Man.

“Twilight? Is everything alright?”

“RARITY! Did you see a tall, hairless, kinda monkey-looking creature on your way here?!”

“…eh…no? Again, are you feeling alright dear?” Rarity slowly backpedaled away from the hysterical mare.

“No I’m not! I was supposed to keep an eye on him while Princess Celestia—Oh crud. The Princesses are on their way! Rarity! You have to help me find Delvin before they get there!”

“Mmh… it’s not going to get me dirty is it?” Rarity hummed while poofing her curly mane, “I showered this morning—“

“GAH! Then I’ll just do it myself!” Twilight spat and ran out with a speed even Rainbow Dash would be impressed of. However once she vaulted out of the door a blue aura began to envelop her and suspending her in the air.

“Hello Twilight Sparkle!” the voice of Princess Luna chuckled. “So overjoyed to see me again you nearly barge into us?” 
Beside the blue alicorn princess stood the Celestia, beaming of joy.

“Heheh… something like that…” Twilight laughed nervously.

“We have some great news!” Princess Celestia sang like a bird. “Could you call for Delvin, and have him—”

It felt as a Ursa Major was sitting on her shoulders. She couldn’t ever be able to talk her way out of losing sight of the last living being of its kind. So she exhaled and stared at the ground.
“I lost him.”

“What?” Celestia quirked an eyebrow. “How?”

“I just went shopping and he didn’t want to come with me… said he needed to think. I didn’t lock the door because you said he wasn’t a prisoner and well… he just waltzed out… I’m so sorry Princess…” Twilight sniffed to fight back the tears.

“We’ll talk later. I’ll take flight and look for him. Luna, can you take our new friend to the library?”
Princess Luna nodded and turned back to their chariot. Suddenly she let out a cry.

“He’s gone!”

“WHAT?” Celestia spun around to the empty seat. “How the—”

“He was just here a second ago!” Luna barked furiously. “You, guards! Did you not see the Man leave?!”

“Uh… nope. We were just looking straight forward like we are trained to do… sorry Your Highness.” One of the guardponies said sheepishly.

“Wonderful. Wonderful!” Luna stomped an angry hoof at the ground. “They tower above any pony, so how can they just vanish into the thin air?!”

“One thing at the time sister,” Celestia nudged Luna. “Let’s take to the sky and try locating them. Twilight, find your friends and start covering some ground and get clues where our Men may have gone off to.”

Before she could respond, the Princesses took flight and left Twilight in a cloud of dust.

“What in Equestria just happened?” said a very confused Rarity that stood in the threshold of the library.

“I’ll give you the short version…”