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After breakfast, Tom walked through the castle followed closely by Autumn Breeze. Tom looked back over his shoulder to the unicorn. "You don't need to follow me everywhere Autumn."

"I am your servant master Lunar. I should be with you so whenever you need me I can attend you without interruption."

"Well I suppose I will need your support for when Celestia addresses Canterlot."

During breakfast it was decided that they would take Lunar's reintroduction slow, informing Canterlot first, next would be Ponyville and so on.

"I understand your anxiety my lord but everything shall be ok. The princess knows what she is doing."

"It's not Tia or Luna I worry about."

"Well that could have gone better."

"Honestly I thought it went rather well considering they didn't run in terror when you showed them your magic."

Tom rubbed his forehead as he heard giggling coming from behind him. Both Celestia and Cadence were talking as they approached him in the hall. He sighed deeply as Cadence walked on, leaving the three of them alone.

"Autumn Breeze?"

"Yes your highness."

"I would like to talk to Lunar in private."

The unicorn dipped her head and started down the hall. Once she was out of sight Celestia walked over to her love and nuzzled him.

"I believe I have been hiding something from you for long enough, Come with me."

Tom nodded his head and followed closely behind Celestia as she lead him through the corridors of the castle. She soon came to a winding staircase and started down.

"Tia where are you taking me?"

"I have something to give you. Call it a gift."

Nothing was said till they reached what Tom could only guess was the armory. The walls were decked out in suits of armor and helmets. Swords hung on racks. He figured only unicorns could have used them since other ponies had not the means to do so. She lead him passed a door that lead into what he could only guess was a private section on the armory. On one side hung an armor that he knew. It was silver in tone and trimmed in gold. On the chest plate was the symbol of the sun, the design matched Celestia's cutie mark to the letter. Tom slowly drew close to it and lightly ran his finger over the polished surface.

"I know this armor. You were wearing it the day...I was killed."

He then turned and hanging before him was another yet smaller suit of armor, trimmed in lapis that bore a crescent moon. They both had holes for their wings and horn.

"And this... this is Luna's"

"And this my dearest Lunar, is yours."

Celestia stepped aside to reveal a third suit of armor along with a portrait of the owner. but the sheen of the metal was not like the others. The style matched Celestia as it was trimmed in gold. As Tom drew closer he seen th symbol upon the chest plate, a crescent moon and a single star. Slowly he reached out to it and lightly ran his fingers over the plate.

"It's not like the other two, why?"

He turned to Celestia.

"It's made from Platinum. Since you were always on the front lines, Luna and I commissioned that yours be made from magic infuse platinum. It's a natural purifier and negates dark magic."

Tom the turned his gaze up to the picture. There hanging before him was his former self. The stallion was rugged, standing an inch or so taller then Celestia. His fur was a deep shade of blue. His mane and tail were a shimmering silver and his eyes were a shade of lavender. They held purpose, dedication and a will that could not be broken. Upon his flank lay his cutie mark. It matched that with the symbol on the armor. A glint of blue then caught his eye and he was drawn to a pedestal in which three swords lay.

"They are ours. Aurora is mine. Nieriah is Luna's and..." + "Naisha , the light of the North Star. I remember, she...helped me through the rough battles that laid before me. Her crystal blade slew many of the enemies foot soldiers."

The sword in question was ornate. The cobalt crystal blade was nearly unbreakable, the hilt was gold and looked like a pair of wings. the tip of the handle was that of a unicorn's head, sealing the idea that the pummel was to resemble an Alicorn. Tom lightly wrapped his fingers around the handle and slid it from the table. He held it out and a surge of power came through his body and lit up the blade which slowly pulsed with magic.

"She is yours Lunar. Each of our blades and armor are attuned to us. We have never needed them since those days and I hope we never do again. But since everypony knows whom you are, I believe it best to reunite you."

"But my armor, it was made for an Alicorn, not a human."

Celesta placed a hoof to his chest and then laid her head against his chest as well.

"Worry not, when you have need of it, it will come to you. The sword however, I suggest you keep it with you. I do not know what lay beyond the horizon but I feel it can not be good."

Being reunited with his blade brought back a slew of memories, many of which were more oriented around Celestia and Luna.

"Come on, we should be heading back before Autumn starts to worry about you."

It was late afternoon when the chariot carrying Celestia and Tom arrived back in Ponyville. Most ponies after seeing the two of them together just took it in stride and kneeled before them both. Tom smiled before Twilight trotted up the road to meet them.

"I must be getting back or Luna will have a fit."

Tom chuckled. "And here I thought she liked the idea of running the country."

"Don't give her any ideas."

Tom then leaned up and kissed Celestia sweetly which elected some gasps from those who saw. The two didn't care so much. Soon word would spread anyway.

"I'll see you in two days."

"Well I would hope so, the Gala is in two days."

Tom smiled. "Is that right. Well then my princess, I will see you then."

Celestia leaned in close. "Till then my stallion, be safe."

Tom nods as she its back and the two pegasi pulling the chariot take to the air. Tom waves as dose Twilight before they are out of sight.

A gryphon quickly runs into the throne room of their king, something was clutched between his claws.

"My lord Greaves we found it, the Ring of Neira sir."

Greaves jumped from his seat of power and lands just in front of the approaching gryphon. "Give it to me."

The gryphon drops the ring into the king's claw and backs away as he stares at it.

"Now all that is left is the stone. Once they are together, the ring's true potential will be ours. We will capture princess Celestia, with her out of the way, taking out her knight and younger sister should be as easy as plucking a feather."

"My lord we shall conduct a search of the area in which the text states. When we find the stone we shall be sure to tell you."

Greaves just marveled at the ring and grin to himself. "Very well, keep me informed." As the gryphon leaves, the king stares at the ring. "Very soon now."

Tom was making his way back into the Everfree Forest for a favor Twilight had asked him. He could not believe himself. Why did he agree to do this? The two times he was here did not end well. He looked up to those cursed trees. "But if it were not for these woods, Who knows where I would be." With a deep breath, he took a step forward into the forest. Unlike the other times, he was alone but at least he had his sword.

"So a Zebra named Zecora, why am I not surprised."

Tom made his way through the forest a good bit before he came upon a tree home. Outside was decorated in native masks and charms. "Hmm reminds me of the African culture. Course though right. Zebra, Africa." He chuckled before knocking on the door. When no pony answered, he knocked again but the second time the door was open. Tom peeked his head in and looked around.

It was a mess, things were thrown about or shredded. "Oh gods what is that smell?"

No sooner did he utter those words then he found a dead panther hidden under the fallen curtains.

"Panthers. I thought we did away with their kind."

Tom had never hunted a day in his life so he had no idea on how to track but something had come over him as he looked through the mess of the home. He could see where the struggle took place, and how many their were.

"She fought back, but they didn't kill her. They needed her for something."

He looked over to the dead panther and seen that its neck was crushed. The battle must not have been that long ago since the body was still warm. Not wanting to leave the body to rot and stink the house up, Tom gripped the bipedal feline by the arms and dragged it from the tree home and into the forest around it, tossing it into the bushes. He looked around and noticed footprints in the ground.

"They must have carried her away."

As he looked to where they were headed, he noticed they lead deeper into the forest. Form what he already new about the forest and what he was told, the Everfree Forest was a dangerous place and though his mind was screaming for him to get the hell out of there, his heart told him that there was a pony in trouble and needed help. So with another deep breath, Tom followed the tracks into the darkened forest.

It was a little while into his search as he followed the tracks and broken limbs of low hanging branches til he came upon a small cave on a cliff face. A fire sat outside on the cave mouth, two panther sentries sat beside it. As Tom watched the two converse in their native tongue, a deep seated anger slowly started to build within him.

Slowly like a predator stalking his prey he crept up upon the two, using the shadows and some of his magic as he grew closer. He slowly and silently drew his sword, he then snuck up closer to one of them before thrusting his sword through the feline's neck, his invisibilty wearing off, making the other panther jump and reach for his spear but Tom was quicker. Using his magic he shot the feline off the cliff into the forest below.

Pulling his sword from the panther, he kicks the corpse off the cliff. He then makes his way into the dark cave, closely listening to the speech of the panther and one other. It's an odd dialect, a deep accent. "Swahili maybe?"

He made his way deeper into the cave's twisted corridors until he came upon a large hall. There was a panther sitting upon a stone throne. She was dressed in silk and wore golden jewelery. Upon her head was a golden tiara. Two more muscular Panthers stood on either side.

"So what you are saying is that you will not help us."

"You have caused pain to all you know. So I demand you let me go."

"I am sorry Zebra but if you will not help us, we must make sure you help no others."

That was all Tom needed to hear. He thrusts his sword through the chest of a panther standing before him, its blood spewing from the gapping wound once the blade was withdrawn. Another Panther ran towards him with its spear ready. Tom grabbed the spear and spun around, connecting the horn of the Alicorn head at the tip of his sword's handle into the feline's back, making it drop to a knee before the human took a swing of his sword and severed the creatures head. The sicking sound of the blade cutting through flesh and bone as well as the spray of blood echoed off the stone walls.

"Enough!" The panther sitting on the throne raised her paw. "What creature are you to swing your blade against us in such anger. Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important but you have a subject of Equestria in your keep. It is she I come for."

The panther leader looked to the human then to the blade he held that was now covered in the blood of those who fell before him.

"That sword. I know that sword but the wielder died an age ago." She then looked to the human's face. "You're the destroyer, aren't you? Only he carried a sword like the one you now hold. Who are you? Even enemies should respect each other."

Tom scoffed. "Respect? Your kind killed without pity or remorse. In my opinion you got what you deserve and if you must know, my name is Tom but your history might know me better as Lunar Star."

The remaining panthers that surrounded the human took a step back at the name. Tom looked about himself as they did. Apparently they knew him rather well it seemed.

"Yes our history dose speak of you. You killed countless numbers of us, burned our homes, drove us from our lands."

"Your kind invaded ours! You struck first, killing entire villages, raping innocent ponies and gryphons alike. Those who could not defend themselves. We did what was needed to make sure you didn't do it again. The fact that you still live is a testament to the Princesses pity for your race. If I had my way your kind would be wipe from the land for all time."

The panther queen sat on her throne and thought deeply. She knew with as few of her men as there were, they would not last long. "There were accounts that you were killed during those last days, how is it you walk among us, not to mention this new form you have taken."

"That's none of your concern." Tom then looked to Zecora. "Zecora, come on, we are leaving."

"No she was brought here to help us."

"To hell with helping you, Zecora run!"

Tom held his hand up to the cave ceiling and used his magic to cause a cave in. He then turned and ran as the ceiling was falling behind him, screams and shouts filled the corridors of the cavern before he threw himself from the cave mouth and slide on the ground.

Slowly raising to his knees, he brushed himself off and saw the zebra mare standing before him.

"You do not know me yet you risked your life. Indebted you would only be right."

Tom shook his head. "I only did what I thought was right. Besides, Twilight asked if you might make her some tea bags."

Tom's return to Ponyville thankfully went unnoticed as he was covered in blood. He opened the door to the library and called up to the unicorn.

"Twilight, I'm back."

"About time you got back I started to.. oh my. What in Celestia's name happened to you?"

Tom placed the bundle upon the table and shook his head. "Don't ask. I just need a bath. If anypony needs me they will have to wait."

Tom the disappeared upstairs and the sound of a freaked out dragon could be heard before the sound of running water drowned it out.