Well, let's go with a next chapter.

---

Princess Cadence – or Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, if you feel like nitpicking – had a good journey. The fact that she will see her beloved Shining Armor, Twilight and the others was giving her further strength to carry on.

She decided that she may make a small surprise to both of her aunts and will arrive slightly earlier. Nopony would expect her to show up at dawn rather than later in the morning.

"M'Lady, we are about to reach Canterlot." Kaiser, personally chosen by her aunts as her bodyguard during this travel, spoke up. He was very big and very intimidating, what's with his red eyes and almost snow-white coat and mane. He wasn't a very talkative stallion though, so he couldn't really entertain Cadence with a small chat on their way(not that Princess minded).

"Great." She said in response, smiling. "I can't wait to see Shining Armor."

"Captain of the Royal Guard? From what I've heard, he's a stallion of honor. We don't get to talk much though... Our professions are somewhat different."

"Funny thing, Mr. Kaiser... I never knew Equestria has its own military."

"Equestrian Army isn't usually needed." Albino stallion for a second lowered his eyes, thinking about times when it was needed, something which didn't go unnoticed by Cadence.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, concerned.

"Nothing to worry about, M'Lady. I... I just got lost in one thought."

"Well, if you say so..." Alicorn wasn't convinced, but didn't want to push the topic further and make Kaiser uncomfortable with something.

The capital of Equestria loomed over horizon. Something seemed off though. Cadence wasn't sure what was it, but that giant storm cloud thundering over the castle didn't seem like a good sign.

---

It was a fairly normal day in Ponyville.

Radiant felt better. He still couldn't go out, but he felt that his cold is actually weakening. The weather was great as well, what's with all that sun. While there were big stormy clouds all over Canterlot, here, at least for the time being, it was sunny.

Pegasus colt looked through the window where he saw his mum chatting with one of her friends, this fancy unicorn from Carousel Boutique. However, this time something was different. Usually their talks were fairly relaxed and lighthearted, but today... They seemed nervous. Radiant didn't want to open the window, it would look like as if he was eavesdropping, so he was unable to hear what is the talk about.

"I hope they don't talk about me..." He murmured to himself, keeping his eye on both mares. It was then when the third one, younger than her mum and her friend joined the conversation. Radiant recognized her immediately: Scootaloo!

"Hey! Hey, Scootaloo!" Young colt peeked out of a window, calling the name of purple-maned pegasus. She came here for him? She surely did, he was certain! That's when he realized that he was just caught going out of bed with a cold. The moment of horror crept across his face when he saw his mother turning her stare at him. Radiant closed the window as soon as he opened it. He didn't get to see or hear Scootaloo's chuckle.

"It's alright, Fluttershy." She said to yellow-coated pegasus. "Don't punish him."

"Oh no, I wasn't going to... It's just that he seems so... agitated when he can see you. I guess he really likes you." She said, smiling awkwardly. Orange-coated smiled as well.

"Well, he's cute. May I come in? I'll see how is he doing, because judging from what we've heard, that cold of his is certainly weakening."

"Feel free." Pink-maned mare smiled again, nodding. Scootaloo herself nodded as well and went inside, leaving Fluttershy and Rarity alone.

"Now, back to the topic of that... thing." White unicorn resumed the conversation they had before they got interrupted. "Have you heard that he's going to stay in Canterlot for the time being?"

"Oh... Is that so?"

"Yes. From what I've gathered from Twilight, he's going to be "an ambassador" of whatever nation is going to attack us."

"Um... Did he say whose side will he choose?"

"Not really. He mentioned that "his power will be lent to those who are truly worthy of it" or something like that. I have a weird feeling he may end up as a third party, fighting only for the sake of it."

"That sounds terrible."

"For you, me or pretty much everypony around, indeed... But this thing... He's from a different world, Fluttershy. Somewhere completely different."

---

Meanwhile, in Canterlot Royal Palace...

Of course, everything just had to pile up. Everything was going now very, very inconvenient for everypony. Luna was a bundle of nerves. She needed not only to take care of Hecarim and Flintlock, but also remember about Cadence's visit.

"She just couldn't find a worse moment, could she?" Princess of Night murmured to herself, sorting the papers. Since she and Celestia swapped roles, she needed to become a being of daily nature which was quite hard for her, especially after such a long period of being almost completely nocturnal. Thankfully, Adeon was kind enough to provide her with that wonderful potion humans called "coffee" which was able to keep her awaken through the day. Falcontet warned her that this drink is highly addictive though which did not stop Luna from finding actual pleasure in drinking it.

"I don't want to sound scolding, Lulu, but this coffee doesn't help you." Celestia said, watching concernedly as Princess of Night downed another cup and slightly twitched.

"No, of course not." Younger alicorn replied almost immediately, pouring herself another portion. "How did the conversation with Flintlock go?"

"Well, we both agreed that he needs to be locked somewhere. We had chosen royal prison as a place to do so. It's almost empty anyway, so it's no loss for anypony."

"I still don't get it, Tia..." Luna pouted. "Why did he even bother to announce he was revived by some ancient entity? Why did he even bother to come here if he's an essential part of this entity's plan?"

"I'd love to say that he regained at least a small part of his own will, but... I doubt that. I'm as confused as you are."

"Eh. Where is Hecarim?"

"I showed him the way to his apartment where he will stay... for now... What do you think? Can he join our side in case conflict does break up?"

"I would prefer so. He's... He's a powerful creature, perhaps even able to win the hypothetical fight against you or me. He's born for war and it is his profession." Quite suddenly, sharp, high-pitched scream snapped both Princesses from their thoughts.

"...Cadence." Luna said, bolting to the exit. The first thing she'd noticed was her niece, backing away from Hecarim. Centaur in question had his pole-arm on his shoulder and she could bet he was frowning now.

"WILL I RECEIVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT?" The Shadow of War asked. There was a... contempt in his voice. Normally when he was speaking, his voice was intimidating, but with a touch of cold affability. Now... Now it seemed like he'd been utterly repulsed by Cadence's presence before him. That's when it hit Luna. He, as a Shadow of War, surely couldn't stand love, which was her niece's power.

"Well... I suppose both of you deserve an explanation." Princess of Night said, sighing. This day was going to be even longer than the last one.

---

"Are you certain this is what you wished for?" Flintlock asked with a clear skepticism in his voice.

"I can understand your doubts, Mr. Knight." Abyss responded with another dark chuckle. This time, "her" voice was definitely feminine, even if low-pitched. "But worry not. Everything is going according to my plan."

"I'm glad to hear that, but... how can I fulfill respective parts of this plan if I'm locked here?"

"Oh, a rescue party is on their way."

"A rescue party?" Flintlock would raise an eyebrow if he had any.

"Of course. Since you're my strongest asset for the time being, you are in need of your personal army."

"...Personal army? May I ask, who are you talking about?"

"I've managed to... let's say, convince... a certain group from other world to come here. I presented you to them as a prophet of their god. Whatever you say, they will obey almost all of your orders."

"...Wow. I feel flattened, Miss Abyss."

"Call me just "Abyss"."

"If you say so... But don't you think it's a bit too much?"

"Oh no. Not only you're their "prophet", you're also my champion. You will need a lot of strong arguments to carry out the plan."

"I see... And that plan is...?"

"Like I said, everything will be revealed later on. You will like it." Flintlock didn't respond. Since his thoughts could be read with ease by Abyss, he couldn't even formulate a response on his own, apart from agreeing with her.

There was that feeling which stroked him that those moments in cell may be his last moments of relative lucidity.

---

"We have the portal ready!"

"About time. Took you surprisingly short."

"I'm surprised as well, Capital's Guardian. I suppose the reason for that is we have encountered no opposition on the other side."

"No opposition? As in, absolutely none? Not even a slightest resistance?"

"Nothing. The land we are about to reach is... strange."

"Elaborate."

"Very simple, Capital's Guardian. It seems to lack eternal conflict so characteristic for this land. While it had a small war some time ago, it was still kept in secret."

"Kept in secret? Interesting. Looks like we're about to visit truly an uncommon location. Make sure all units are ready."

"Bethrezeen is my Lord and God. It will be done."

"As for you two... Zodd, any other news?"

"Of course. Zodd has been listening. There's a prophet. There's a prophet we need to find and follow him. He will show us the way to Bethrezeen."

"A prophet? I can only hope it won't end as it did with Uther."

"Zodd thinks so too, Ashkael. No, Zodd is certain! This is the prophet! The one we need!"

"What we need is our god back. If this prophet can give it to us, I can follow him."

---

Adeon frowned. He had just received a letter from Luna. Its message was simple: We have a problem. You are needed.

Red-headed man sighed. As if he hadn't got enough problems already.

---

I know it may seem a little short and badly-written, sorry for that. I hope the others will be better in that regard. :) Anyway, review and enjoy.