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The rest of our mealtime went off without too much awkwardness, except the fact that Sentry refused to look anywhere but his green filled plate. He managed to keep from retching his guts out again though so it wasn't too bad. At least I knew for future reference that if I was ever to eat meat again I should avoid the public eye. Personally I didn't see anything wrong with it, but rumors about an Alicorn royal having a taste for flesh could easily get blown out of proportion.

Thankfully the desert course of the meal contained nothing that could be seen as offensive. At its completion, with some words from the Nestking, the crowd slowly dispersed and the tables were cleared. We stuck around until the last of the prying eyes and ears had left, Xane clearing his throat and standing from his seat.

"Father, if it would please you I would make formal introductions?"

Xane received a curt nod as we stood.

"I present Ike, Prince and savior of the Equestrian territories, the colt formerly of Earth."

It seemed the correct thing to do so I gave a bow, showing my respect.

"The royal guards Kira Zephyr and Flash Sentry of the Crystal Kingdom and Canterlot." The two also gave their respects.

Xane turned to us. "And for you I would introduce Aeolus Lionsblood, Sovereign of the Nest, High General of th-"

"Zephyr. Could it be?" The Nestking interrupted, peering towards Kira. "My father believed the last of your line fell to the Deceiver Sombra. Were you incapable of living up to your heritage?"

Kira's eyes took on a displeased glare at her capability coming into question, a harsher look than I had ever seen her give before. "Sombra got what he deserved in the end, I don't regret that my life spent training to implement his destruction was interrupted by the Alicorn sisters. In the end my knowledge helped Ike Destroy Sombra, not just banish or disperse him like the previous attempts."

I was slightly confused at hearing this from Kira only now. She had told me she was born during Sombra's rule, but not that her expanse of combat knowledge had been for the sole purpose of sacrificing her own life to stop him. It made sense but it made me grateful that the Alicorn sisters had managed to stop him, even if it was temporary. Kira was possibly the only remaining crystal pony that knew the hidden location of the bands of power before the Alicorn sisters had found them, and that meant she would have given her life for the power to kill Sombra, just as I almost had.

"Yes, I suppose that is a sufficient excuse. The Crystal Kingdom proved themselves long before the factions of the old realm found their way to peace in a united Equestria, and we would be glad to re-forge our alliance with them. But you, Ike. You call yourself an Equestrian, do you truly believe in them?"

"The people of Equestria may have different cultures and customs, some that even I still find strange at times, but haven't they proven themselves already? I don't claim to know even half of Equestria's history but they have proven their resilience against hardship time and again."

"Your testimony will have to do." Aeolus pulled a single feather from his wing holding it out expectantly. "Let our people be friends in peace and allies in strife."

I stepped forward to accept it but paused, taking the time to pluck out one of my own wing feathers as I remembered a line that I had found in one of the many books I had rushed through these past few days. "May Raeleth's Fire shield your heart," I spoke, praying I remembered correctly. I extended the token out to Aeolus, my feather alighting in his clawed hand.

He gave an accepting nod as I took hold of his feather, completing the symbolic trade. "And the radiance of truth guide your step." He completed.

"Forgive my asking, but what is the current status our vessel?" My stomach made a light gurgle as it churned, unfortunately displeased at the morsel I had enjoyed. Luckily it settled quickly, as I had barely eaten any of the meat to avoid further disgusting Sentry or Kira.

Aeolus chuckled, I wasn't sure if he had heard the noise or if it was about my question. "Straight to business I see. Your feeble hulled Equestrian ship took crippling damage from a single salvo, it is unfit to sail these waters, and as so we have condemned it. I will send some of my best shipwrights to Equestria as a token of our alliance to teach pony kind the proper way of shipbuilding. As for you, a new vessel is being constructed."

I had been hoping to get the crew returned to Equestria as early as possible with the strange note Twilight had written, but this put a wrench in the plans. There was always the possibility of using Discord's power to return but when I had tried to contact Canterlot yesterday there hadn't been an answer. "Is there any way to leave sooner? I have duties to attend to." I spoke. Hopefully Twilight could handle whatever was happening in Equestria a few days longer.

"If it pleases you father I could take the equestrians on the Haast to avoid any further pirate confrontation?" Xane jumped in.

"Very well, it has not been re accounted in our assets as of yet and shall not be missed in our current plans. But before they can leave I must ask several favors of our new allies, the first being to stay just a while longer." The nestking looked over Sentry and then to me. "Have you entrusted your secrets to this Flash Sentry?" The Nestking discretely tapped his foreleg, mirroring where the band of power was first placed upon me.

I briefly mused over the fact that the only one present who didn't know about the bands of power was Sentry. It surprised me how all of it was still a secret to Equestrians. Had the Gryphon and Crystal Kingdoms kept it shrouded in mystery to all but a select few as well?

"He has not been made aware. But given the choice, yes, I would trust him to keep them." Sentry looked at me questioningly, his mind likely racing to conclusions as to what secret I could have.

"Very well, follow me if you wish to understand even more about your power." Aeolus walked over to stone pillar at the edge of the room, shoving it aside on an invisible track. The stone ground to a halt and Aeolus pushed upon three different segments of wall, a hidden doorway making itself visible as it opened.

"Secret passageways, if that isn't a bit cliché for ancient stone castles." Kira scoffed. "Let me guess, it leads conveniently right to where we need to go?"

"Actually, no." Xane spoke. "Its just an escape tunnel, father just prefers its convenience over explaining to the guards he wants to go somewhere alone. If you haven't noticed he can be a little eccentric at times."

"Oh."

~

As we wended our way through the stuffy tunnel lit only by mine and Kira's magic I worked on explaining the full truths of my story to Sentry. I filled in the gaps that were not common knowledge, namely the bands of power and how I had received one. In doing so I knew I was also partially divulging the secrets of Luna, Celestia, and even the mysterious Dr. Whooves but I believed Sentry could handle them.

We came to a halt nearing a dead end. Aeolus felt along the wall as I spoke. "The sheer power granted by the Shackle of Dawn was incompatible with my unicorn form, causing the magic to become so volatile that it could have leveled the entirety of castle Canterlot had I not fled.

But somehow at the very moment of my seemingly inevitable death fate deemed me worthy of becoming an Alicorn. Luna and Celestia took this glimmer of a chance and were able to forge my rebirth form the flames.

Now I can safely wield my band of power, but only at a fraction of its previous capabilities."

"Only a fraction?" Sentry questioned. "But from what I've seen Alicorn have much greater power than unicorns."

"When I fought Sombra I unleashed so much energy that for a moment I transcended past the physical world and was able to meet the demon possessing him on its own plane of existence. My Alicorn magic and the shackle combined still give me plenty of power, but such unrealistic feats are beyond my ability."

The Nestking paused, "Ah, here it is." He placed his talons into an impression on the wall, the stone pushing away to reveal natural light once more. "Follow." He spoke before dropping like stone from the entrance.

I peered after him as he plummeted down, wings tucked in close, seeing the mountain widen out below us.

"Aww, what th-" Was all heard from Kira as I followed his lead, jumping after, the winds cutting past blocking out any more.

Aeolus lightly adjusted his fall, preventing gravity from having complete control by increasing air resistance. My ears popped from the pressure change as we rapidly descended towards the widening mountainside.

Just as I thought Aeolus would reach a distance too small to avoid colliding with the snow laden mountainside he began to level out, arcing his path in an effort to slow, slightly banking to change his course. I took my flight with a little less risk, pulling up from the dive earlier and using my altitude to try and slowly close the distance to Aeolus from above.

A curious rumble emitted from somewhere in the distance, prompting me to check on how the others were. I looked back as best as one could while flying to the sight of Sentry and Xane seemingly racing neck and neck to catch up, stern competition plastered on their faces. Kira, the last to jump, trailed behind them.

I looked back to my current task as they slowly gained, bringing our group closer together. Aeolus paused, hovering in place to listen as another rumble sounded, this time the noise coming from even closer as what appeared to be several miniature avalanches happened at once.

He looked to us and slowly made to turn about, prompting even the racing duo of Sentry and Xane to come to a halt beside me. Gale-force winds kicked into gear as he slowly flew towards us, his speed made it almost seem as if he were prey trying to avoid detection from a predator. Gryphons were a natural predator though, what could the great nestking possibly fear? Aeolus began to fly faster as the magic driving the storm reached my senses, catching up to him. Who or what could make a storm of such magnitude with magic?

The answer came to me in an obscured glint of white through the stormy curtain, a shining form barreling across my vision and into the Nestking. Aeolus fell from sight into the storm along with the shrouded creature, which from a glance was larger than even the hydra I had once fought.

"A storm Wyvern?! Raeleth protect us." Xane invoked the name of the elder Dragon almost as one would a deity.

"We need to help him!" I yelled out in an attempt to jar everyone to action as I began flying towards the wall of the storm.

"Wait." Xane called, gabbing hold of me. "Wyverns may slightly resemble Dragons but they cannot be reasoned with. They are fearsome and unforgiving hunters of all, yet prey to none. That storm is the Wyvern's killing ground, and if... If my father isn't gone already he will be if he doesn't escape it soon."

"I still have to do something." I shook off his grip, continuing forward. "What kind of ally, what kind of friend could stand by and do nothing?"

"Then I'm with you Ike, I can't have the Equestrian diplomat, or a friend, dying alone on gryphon snow."

"Are you all going to shut up now? We've got some scale breaking to do." Kira blew past us as best as she could with the limitations of her false wings, piercing into the storm wall followed quickly by the rest of us.

The wind was frigid and icy, tiny shards stung at me, pricking my skin and melting away in an instant. I could hardly see a meter ahead, my eyes nearly clenched in response to the whipping gale. I flew for at least a minute, the harsh wind battering me about to the point where I became unsure of which way I had come from. If not for gravity I would have even forgotten which way was up with how badly my flight was going.

"Kira? Xane? Sentry?" I spoke loudly but avoided shouting over the winds. I received no response, the others could be anywhere in this storm. Why was I stupid enough to rush into this without a decent plan?

I crashed with a soft thump into a bank of snow, my impaired vision making it impossible to pull up in time. There had to be a better way to do this, the cold was sapping my strength and the longer it took the less chance we had of finding Aeolus, dead or alive. It had been a huge mistake coming into this storm unprepared and I needed to work smarter to succeed.

I unburied myself from the frigid cold, haphazardly forming the snow into walls around me with magic to shield myself from the gale. That was it! If this creature's storm was fueled by magic then I should be able to sense its origin.

I forwent my useless eyes, closing them to better concentrate as I let my consciousness probe outwards. Met with a curtain of magical force I allowed myself to disregard it, searching instead for greater concentrations of power. By mere chance I found myself stumbling across a small tendril of energy, not what I had been hoping but at least a hint. I expanded my search and began to follow the tendril to its source.

At first it withdrew from my touch, but soon began to search in a similar fashion for my location. Did Kira have the same idea as me? Finally tracking down the source I felt out mentally to examine it, a deep and rumbling growl emanating from far too close.

Instead of finding Kira as I had expected I had stumbled upon a far greater source of power, the Wyvern itself. I swiftly pulled back my search, but knew it was too late, it knew where I was now.

I opened my eyes as I felt a warm gust blow across my mane, how could I have known the beast hunted in this way? Remove the vision of its prey and search them out with magic. The wind nearby had cut away almost entirely, enormous wings caging me in. Two stormy silver irises slid away in front of me, each eye revealed larger than my head. The Wyvern balanced on one leg, the limp form of Aeolus hung loosely in the creatures massive claws. He would be a quick snack for the massive creature, and I could see it wanted more than just one mouthful of flesh and feathers.

I took a step back, the creature menacingly shifting its body to cage me in even further. No, I couldn't give it any more ground. I had to show it I wasn't afraid or I would be dead in an instant. Despite the pounding of my chest and the instantly freezing drops forming on my brow I had to show I wasn't afraid.

I took a step forward, the Wyvern inquisitively tilting its head. The respite didn't last long as it rumbled out a throaty growl, closing in on me a little more. It wanted me to try and escape; it wanted the thrill of the capture.

I tapped in to the Alicorn voice, giving the best impression of its growl I could muster. The sound came out of my bone dry throat cracked and broken but still had the desired effect, causing the Wyvern to lower its wings to a slightly less imposing position for just a moment before raising them back up threateningly once more.

I let out as loud of a shout as I could, combining the noise with a shuffle forward. The imposing creature took a thoroughly confused back step, its grasp upon the Nestking loosening.

I was buying time, nothing more was being achieved with these tactics. It wouldn't be long now until the creature decided my challenge was worth a fight. I was imposing on its territory, meaning I was either prey or competition. Either choice meant I would soon have to protect myself, if that were even possible against such a raw force of nature.

"Come on..." I mumbled, praying that Kira would show up. Despite the calmed winds around me they still whipped away everywhere else, anyone finding where these noises originated from was a long shot. I was alone in this, just like they would be when the creature finished with me...

I caught a stifled groan over the creature's rumbling breath, my eyes flicking down to Aeolus who appeared to be waking. My lapse in contention was all the creature needed for its decision, energy crackling from deep in its maw.

A force flared up within me, creating a spectral barrier as the ball of charged energy spewed from the Wyvern's throat. The barrier shattered away under the raw power of the magnificent creature, even the innate protection from the band of power not enough to turn away a single blast.

My body launched several feet away, my limbs responsive as jelly from the electrical jolt I had just taken. I forced myself up, allowing the Shackle of Dawn to surge within me. I haphazardly flung a bolt of fire, harmlessly striking the Wyvern on a thick portion of scales.

The magic still surprised the creature, causing it to drop Aeolus to the ground in exchange for better footing. I scrambled back, firing bolt after bolt of fire against the creature's impenetrable hide as it stalked its way towards me step by step.

Come on, what was wrong with me? I needed to put out more power than that, if only to hold it back a little longer. I rooted myself and tried to shake off the stunning effect that the earlier electrical shock had done, focusing on bringing forth my powers. It was all or nothing and I only had a few seconds to get this right.

As if an invisible barrier had broken away a flood of power poured through me, inviting the silver and blue flames to dance across my form once again. Just as the great Wyvern was upon me, his maw ready to tear into my flesh, I loosed everything I could.

A deafening burst echoed out, the flash blinding me for a second, as the expulsion of power flew forth not from my horn but my entire body. I waited in a shocked silence as it echoed back several times throughout the mountainous valley before my vision returned.

The sun glared off of the glassy and bare rock, a molten crater in what used to be snow covered mountain beneath my levitating form as I quickly gained control of my wings to prevent falling. The great creature lay a distance away; it's once silvery white scales scarred with black, half of its majestic face a smoldering mess.

The weather had come to an eerie rest, the creature's power either dispelled by my blast or it's own incapability to continue.

Having been just as lost as I was, the others gave disoriented glances around before their gazes landed on my work. The magic fled from my form and I found a spot to land, panting out to slow my adrenaline infused heart.

Sentry and Xane rushed over to the Nestking's shifting figure, helping him to stand as Kira sped over to me as best she could with the false wings.

"You good?" She questioned, receiving only a delayed and shaky nod. "You really know how to give a bitch a proper smiting." Kira looked back between me and the prone form of the Wyvern, disappointed when I didn't respond. "Come on, that had to be epic. High hoof, right here." Kira raised a hoof in expectation.

I didn't take any pride in taking down the beast, I was just glad to be alive, but I halfheartedly accepted Kira's version of a high five anyways. I was just tired... That had to be why I felt so strangely. But why was there a whisper in my mind trying to tell me that risking myself for the Nestking's sake hadn't been worth it, even if I had succeeded? Barely succeeded...

While Kira had been prompting celebrations Aeolus had recovered enough to test his wings, giving several quick flaps to check if they were undamaged. He appeared pleased with the results, despite whatever else was likely injured. He had been slammed into by the massive Wyvern at high speed, it would be surprising to find out he had less than three breaks or fractures elsewhere.

Kira continued to say something, a strange shiver creeping over me as I grew even more exhausted. I surveyed the scene once more, seeing a dark mist creep over the Wyvern's form causing it give a growling shudder.

"Fly!" The Nestking commanded upon hearing the noise, causing the creature's eyes to snap wide open before adjusting to the light and focusing in on us. Its eyes shone now a pitch black, giving me the feeling something was terribly wrong.

Aeolus took the lead once more, continuing away from The Nest in favor of flying low to the mountainsides. His full out dash either showed the destination was close or that he was desperate enough to use all his energy in a futile escape. Personally I was hoping for the first, I didn't think I had it in me to repel the Wyvern again. An enraged roar came from behind as we fled with all haste, the labored clap of the Wyvern's wings as it lifted its injured body for the chase barely registered over our own frenzied attempts at speed.

Despite its wounds I could tell the Wyvern was closing in, nature having given this predator more than its fair share of tools with which to hunt. We couldn't keep up this speed forever but we would be run down even faster if we slowed. I pulled at my remaining magical energies; enveloping myself in a cocoon of wind which I spread out as best I could to aid the others.

I felt hollow, my magic barely able to stretch itself far enough to help everyone, the whispering voice in the back of my mind telling me not to waste my time with them. It told me to abandon them and save myself...

I could sense another surge of magic, our speed increasing yet again. "Kira, thank you." I whispered, the voice in my mind fleeing with the hope she had granted so simply.

The Wyvern gave a labored pant and one last angry growl, loosing its will to chase us as we proved faster than it could handle with injuries. Its altitude slowly dropped away as it circled back, likely retreating to its current den.

We kept up our speed for a little while longer, slowing only when the great beast was far behind. "Not far now." Aeolus assured as we began one more arc around a snowy outcropping.

~

We finally came to a halt behind Aeolus as he hovered in front of a small crevasse, nearly indistinguishable from any other and, barely large enough to squeeze a hoof into. "I know you see me, open the door you rotting sack of bones."

There was a brief silence before a muffled response was heard. "Open it yourself, you old crow."

"I would if I could you incompetent gasbag, but I don't think I can pry it open with a broken foreleg."

"Broken?" Some scuffling could be heard inside as the speaker moved about. "Don't you go getting all brittle on me, you still have a good hundred years left."

The stone crevasse shifted, gaping wider as the slab of un-carved and previously unassuming rock opened itself on invisible seams. A layer of powdery snow lifted away, blown by the warm gust from inside.

The Nestking flew inside, and we all followed suit, entering into a warm fire lit cavern. I promptly scooted as close as I could handle to the fire, trying to eliminate the deep chill the Ice storm had left me with.

The Gryphon speaker who had let us inside looked over Aeolus briefly. "Well you look like shit."

"No more than you on an average day." Aeolus retorted.

"That's Echelon " Xane whispered to us. "He's an Uncle of sorts."

A stare down ensued, both sides holding a firm scowl upon their faces. As the seconds quickly passed the mock scowls turned into discrete grins as they both held out as long as they could.

Echelon broke out in a hearty laugh, breaking what little fake tension had been created. "Come here you."

The two shared a quick embrace, the Nestking coughing out, "Ribs," as Echelon jostled him.

"We'll get you patched up and send a message to your guards, by now they are likely searching the entire city."

"You know me too well Echelon." Aeolus looked to Xane. "We are going to be here longer than I expected with a Storm Wyvern on the rampage, show the Equestrians where they can stay."

"A Storm Wyvern!?" Echelon sounded surprised as he led Aeolus down a torch lit tunnel. "You really need to work on telling me the important things sooner, I'll make sure no one goes outside until it's dealt with."

The Nestking paused and turned to me. "Thank you." Was all he said, but I could read the full meaning in his eyes before he turned away once more.

~

"For all records this place doesn't exist." Xane sounded serious as he spoke, leading us down a separate fork in the tunnel. "My father entrusts this knowledge and anything you learn in this place to you and expects you share it with no other soul save any who know of the bands of power."

"So this place connects them somehow?" Kira questioned.

"More than just a simple connection, but you will learn the truth later. For now welcome to Fate's Keep, built into the natural mountain caverns that have existed longer than history recalls."

The tunnel came to an end, opening abruptly into a massive cavern basked in a white light from deep below. Stonework bridges and platforms spanned the gaps, casting dancing shadows on the distant cave ceiling. From such a distance away it was impossible to tell what the light came from but it seemed to convey a sense of purpose.

"What is it?" I asked, knowing Xane would realize what I meant.

"It is both the reason you persist and the reason you have been brought here."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry. It's not for me to say, but you will know in time." Xane continued walking, not giving a chance for more questions. "There's an empty house kept ready for when Father visits, it only has two rooms but I believe Echelon will insist he spend the night at the hospital."

"Psst, Sentry." Kira whispered. " All this cryptic shit is bugging me. See if you can't get him to loosen that beak of his."

"I'm not going to press him for information he doesn't want to give."

"You sure you can't just... Make him squeal a little? You seemed so good at it before." Kira nudged Sentry suggestively causing him to redden.

"Are you done plotting back there?" Xane spoke loudly enough to grab our attention. "This is the place. The beds are large enough for two but if need be I can sleep in the living area to give Kira a room to herself."

Before we could make any of our own arrangements Kira interrupted. "I'm fine with sharing, besides you and Sentry have plenty to 'talk about', right?" She grinned.

Xane stopped, not quite sure how to respond. "I, umm. I'm not sure what there is to talk about."

"You two are so hopeless..." Kira moved past and into the house and I followed suit, leaving Sentry to explain how Kira's three-day boredom led to their blossoming and not so secret relationship being proven fact.

"Hey, Kira. I'm sorry for putting everyone in danger earlier... I got cocky and underestimated how dangerous the Wyvern actually was."

"Neither of us knew, I was just as willing to rush in. When my magic couldn't part the storm and we got separated I thought it would be the end, but you still managed to pull us through." Kira responded, watching my expression.

"Not without your help, I almost thought we wouldn't escape..." I trailed off.

Kira snapped me back into reality by putting a limb around me. "Well it just goes to show that we should always stick together, you and I versus the world. And I bet you a million bits that we come out on top."

"I know not to gamble with you," I chuckled, "You always seem to win."

~

Hours later, a meal and plenty of friendly banter we started winding down for the night. Before my turn to wash away the events of today came around I heard a knock at the door.

Questioningly getting up and opening it I saw Echelon.

"Prince," he gave a bow. "Is Xane available?"

"He just went to wash up, it shouldn't be long. Come in." I closed the door behind him and took a seat on the couch across from him.

Kira peeked around the corner, her mane wrapped up in a towel to dry. "Those pesky wings kinda just disappeared when I showered... Remind me to never use that spell if it's going to rain." She spoke, taking a seat next to me.

"Ah, the member of house Zephyr the Nestking spoke of." Echelon spoke, standing rapidly and bowing yet again.

"Sit down, it's not like I'm important." Kira spoke.

"But... I..." Echelon sounded both surprised and flustered. "Do you not know of your heritage? I assumed you had at least some knowledge of it!"

"All I know is that it was my parent's job to stop Sombra... From my lack of a family you can see how well that went." Kira sounded a bit bitter at the subject, and she had every right to be. She had spent her life training day and night from a young age to keep her mind off what had happened to them.

"Sombra had them publicly executed when they refused to deliver the Bands of Power into his hooves. I was barely old enough to even understand what had happened."

Kira's voice had now lowered to an angered growl. "So ask me the most efficient way to crush an opponent's windpipes or snap their wings and I could tell you. Ask me how to sever crystal with a blade of wind or sense a spell before it's even completed and I might be able to teach you. But I wasn't about to waste precious time to learn about why I was the one who the task had fallen upon when all of the Crystal Kingdom had no other known hope of salvation." Kira got up from the couch and started to storm away.

"In no way did I mean to offend, I will let the matter rest and allow you to seek your own answers if you so desire." Echelon spoke to her departing form. When she had cleared the room Echelon sighed. "She reminds me of a certain king in his younger years."

"What do you know about Kira?" I asked him, hungry to learn even more about her.

"Only that which is written about her lineage. If titles and nobility had survived past Sombra's rule lets just say it would make Kira a very important member of society."

"How important?"

"The last of her line and the only documented living Crystal Unicorn from any of the royal houses... Through the old laws of succession Kira is the rightful Queen of the Crystal Empire. Celestia may believe she has the right to grant the weakened empire to Cadence, but in truth it does not belong under Equestrian rule."

"What do the Crystal Ponies have to say about this?"

"They lost much of their history during Sombra's rule. Over half of the books in their grand library were destroyed and even their memories were somehow tampered with under Sombra's influence. The gryphons fared slightly better in the Imperium wars, thus we have retained some of the Crystal Kingdom's knowledge through our own records. It seems they are as oblivious to this realization as your mate. It is a sad fact to find such a powerful race brought low. But had Sombra not sacrificed his own people for power we would have suffered a worse fate along with the newly founded Equestria."

"The Imperium was powerful enough to wipe everyone out? What about the- Wait did you just call Kira my mate?"

"I apologize again, I had assumed from the twinkle in her eye when she looks at you... Never mind, it seems my old senses are finally beginning to fail me."

"Well," I paused, changing the subject. "I'm going to go check if Xane is ready, just... Make yourself at home.

~

"Kira?" I knocked upon the open door as I entered. Seeing she was faced away and her horn was glowing I silently approached to see what she was doing.

Invisible currents of air drafted through the room, more so than what should be normal. Kira either was too busy in thought of had ignored my entrance, a moat of dust forming before her. She seemed to have calmed down since storming off but I could still sense a tension held within.

The tiny particles of dust slowly took shape in the currents of air, vivid images flashed forth in full color for brief instants before fading away like the memories they were. In the dust Kira formed a face, kind and warm, silently mouthing words that only she knew. A quiet pat could be heard on the floor as a single drop cascaded off her cheek as the image faded, replaced by yet another memory.

Images flew by as I silently stared, realizing I was intruding upon Kira's most vulnerable moment. Slowly backing away I couldn't help but watch as her life sped by in front of me, tears in my own eyes as the final memories of her family played out.

I stepped back into the hall, sliding leaning against the wall as I wiped my eyes. She had been formed by hardship and though it may still pain Kira it had never destroyed her and I doubt anything could.

I composed myself and got up walking by the open door once more on my way to go wash up, not being able to help myself as I looked in. Kira's mind had wandered to more recent events, the images playing themselves out softening her mood.

Hearing Kira give an unusual exhale, I realized it was a laugh. I watched the image of myself from her own eyes and the look of dumb surprise on my face as she took me down in a single move; she wasn't going to forget that was she?

The next few images were similar, highlighting my mostly bruise filled time with her when she had trained me.

I shook my head and moved on, missing the next image. A memory that placed a smile upon her face for a different reason.

~

By the time I returned Kira's flow of memories had carried through to dream. She sat slumped over her eyes closed and breathing steady. I gently lifted her to the bed, a much more comfortable place to sleep than the floor.

Giving a small squirm she adjusted to the new location, a peaceful smile rested in place of her recently troubled looks.

"Sleep well." I spoke, taking a seat on a sofa across the room. As I sat there taking in the stillness my eyes grew heavy and I drifted quickly away, swept off to dream. Unfortunately the same stillness and peace would not be found in the realm of sleep...

~

I dreamt again a similar scene to before, trapped as an observer to the dark events at hoof.

The dark chant died away yet again in the ancient theater of sacrifice, candles that offered only a pittance of light under the bloodied moon flaring up.

"Massster" an earth pony bowed her head before the robed unicorn priest. Something was different about this pony; her eyes an empty black, devoid of color. The color of her coat slowly darkening to leave only a silvery grey.

"You are kin now, welcome, daughter of blood." The unicorn's dark voice made me shudder."

"Your dessire my lord?"

The thoughts and words of the dark unicorn echoed through my mind, filling me with unease.

"Patience, our time of reckoning will come." The priest looked over his new subject; she had taken to the transformation well. Her teeth had come to sharpened tips, ready to tear into any flesh. Her devoid eyes matched her soul and concealed the ancient knowledge just below the surface. And her body... He nearly shuddered in delight gazing upon her. Her sleek yet toned form was covered in blood from the alter, and she wore the blood of those weaker than her like a badge of honor. She would make a fine addition to the ranks.

"Perhaps then my great lord seeks indulgence to pass the time?"

A fine addition indeed, he took a whiff of the pungent blood his groin surging. "If you insist." He circled behind and mounted her, showing his dominance to all in assembly.

Yanking roughly upon her mane he thrust into her, breaking in her young body for the first time. He savored the naive cry that escaped her lips; she would soon learn that pain was a blessing, something to be embraced.

Author's Note:

~

Thanks for reading!

No promises but I am going to try and get this back on at least once a week posting schedule so I don't fall off the earth until its finished. For those of you who have been here before that means more than 1 a week if I have enough content ready and just one if I feel behind. It is greedy of me but I usually keep some of my writing in reserve just in case I want to retcon some story element. Doing this keeps you less confused and allows me to polish the plot so it comes out better for you in the end.