One week after the infiltration of Garren and Lacoden there was still so response from the four who were slain and brought back from limbo. A week of the late sun rises and a week a planning the military creation. It was decided that the group will train volunteer child soldiers. This may bring few volunteers but, it's a start. Knight Black Soul and Knight Tal went to the frontiers orphanage currently run by a former teacher, Ms. Grazer. Her pink mane and tail was now messed up and dirty. Her maroon coat was covered in dust. Flake visited there whenever she was home alone at Shadow's home, which was most of the time. Flake didn't want to interfere with the important tasks of her guardian. Dawn usually stayed with Shadow. Flake gained her cutie mark when she started caring for fillies younger than herself and older. It appeared as she was comforting fillies after Garren had slaughtered their parents. Flake was determined to see the day he would fall.

Tal and Soul went to the frontier and saw that most of the structures were now either abandoned or destroyed. They entered the filled orphanage and saw Ms. Grazer still trying to teach the kids from her memories. They watched her teach, the fillies were obedient and let her lecture them. Soul went over to Grazer and whispered in her ear.

"Come out when you're done with this. We need to discuss something." Soul wasn't wearing Knight Athen's armor, it wasn't done being modified. She sent it over to Wrench and Wither.

After her lecture, Grazer went outside to see why she was summoned.

"Yes?"

"We need to talk to your students." Tal answered.

"About?"

"We can't fight a war without soldiers." Soul added.

"Are you saying you want to use these poor children for something they don't have involvement in?"

Soul said, "Their parents were murdered by a pegasus we wish to be defeated. They have all the involvement."

"Can't you just fight him now?"

"Not alone. He has an army of Changelings. We should all know they grow large in numbers. Our job is to keep them of off our primary leaders back." Tal replied.

"Who are your primary leaders?"

"Shadow, Dawn, and Excaelum."

"Dawn? She was one of my students. How is she in this?"

"Her father , Shadow, and herself got into some deep crap. Excaelum was a friend of theirs that got dragged into it."

"What crap?"

"Fallen Star. I'm sure you heard of that place. There is a powerful crystal there that can obliterate he entire world. Garren, our enemy, wishes to activate it and use it's power to destroy everything except Fallen Star." Soul exclaimed.

"A crystal?"

"This crystal can be used for evil or good, in this case it's evil. Garren wants revenge for the neglect Fallen Star suffered during a siege of griffons."

"Siege of griffons?"

Tal said, "Even Shadow doesn't know why they attacked. He thinks they can find out why if they went to the griffon region of Equestria."

"Why that's to the southeast."

"He knows but, he worries that he won't be tolerant with them for his past experiences with griffons. Griffons can be very aggressive and can hold pointless grudges for generations. Shadow is going to be departing with Dawn to Green Doe to visit a friend that knows griffons more than he does. I myself will be going with them." Soul said with a steady tone.

"What do the orphans have to do with that?"

Tal replied,"Nothing. We need them for fending off Changelings. They will be asked if they want to, volunteers."

Grazer was uneasy with the situation. She eventually let them inside. Grazer announced to the kids,"PLease give your attention to Knight Black Soul and...."

"Knight Tal." he answered.

"And Knight Tal. They have come to speak to you about your futures."

Sou's voice sweetened,"Hello children I see you all behave well and help each other in times of need. Equestria need your help in it's time of need." A little commotion sprang up among the kids. Soul continued,"The Pegasus that came a few weeks earlier, the one who killed you parents."

Grazer got angry,"You can't say that!"

"I have to be upfront with these kids, I'm sorry. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't need to."Grazer agreed and let her continue."His name is Garren. Much more, much more horrible things will happen without your help. We are here today to ask if you will fight to avenge your parents. You may be too young to understand this but, you may think of it as revenge. It is not. You are helping bring the one down that killed your parents down. Revenge is not part of this battle at all. When he falls it will be for the survival of our lives and well-being. Please if you all will, form a line." They lined up side by side."If you wish to undergo training under skilled knights to avenge your parents step forward if you want no part of this stay where you are." Flake and few dozen stepped forward."I must warn you this training will be harder than normal training. You," a couple more moved up as she spoke," will be against Changelings and probably more dangerous foes. We will go to Fallen Star to end this where it started. Are you certain you want to train?" By the time she was done talking nopony was in the back, they were all up for the challenge. "Some of you may not come back on your own legs when it is over. Instead you will be in a coffin." None moved.

One shouted,"Are you done trying to scare us?"

Tal shouted a reply,"Not Yet! Did we mention there will be dragons?"

Flake answered,"Oooooh scary! We were almost killed by one!"

Knight Black Soul announced,"Alright! Left to right starting with you. Shout out 1 the one to the right shout the next number after that!"

"Is that it?!" yelled Tal.

Knight Black Soul's training attitude came back only more mean,"81 of you shit bags to destroy!" She figured if they went through so much they can handle the language of her and her comrades."Tomorrow at 8 o'clock AM meet in front of this place! Dismissed!"

Knight Black Soul and Tal left the orphanage,"Don't you think you were a little harsh on them?" Tal asked.

"Not really."

They went back to the castle and gave Shadow a report.

"Did you get them to join?" he asked.

Tal answered,"All 81 of them."

"Decent amount. Train them as hard as you can. Soul are you ready to depart?"

"Yes."

"We leave at noon."

"Shadow your adopted daughter decided to join to, Flake."

"Really? The trainers need to be harder on them then."

"Kind of evil don't you think?"

"I've known worse. We will have four hours until we depart, we can use those hours to instruct the leaders on how to break them."

"I'm not sure about that." Soul chuckled,"Mist can be pretty harsh herself."

"I really hope Randall doesn't flirt with any of the colts."

"Come on, don't think of her like that. She can restrain herself..........I hope."

"Maybe she can. Most likely she will."

"They're way too young for her anyways."

"Are you ready to go to Green Doe?"

"Not really."

"Don't worry the peacekeepers took over and arrested the remaining gangsters. I think the port is now called I think Shining Water."

"Funny. That's not near to what it actually is. What about my town?"

"It's abandoned nopony lives there. Trees, weeds, plants, flowers, and some animals live there now."

"The bodies of the fillies that were drowned, were they removed?"

It was getting late and Luna was going to raise the moon soon. Shadow was going to be by her side for moral support."Of course. Well, I have go find Luna. See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

At the warehouse Lacoden was working the Changelings to the bone for hours.They were building their armor and weapons. Lacoden didn't request any armor for herself, she figured if she was going to fight against Dawn or Shadow armor wouldn't matter. She let the Changelings rest then she left the underground factory. She went to the back of the surface of the warehouse and went to the back of the warehouse. There was a tall covered object in the back. Lacoden took down the covers the object under the coverings was a mirror, a normal mirror. She stared at herself for what seemed like hours to her. She didn't see herself . She removed her hood A face covered in dried blood was revealed.

"I can't believe you let yourself turn into this." she said to herself in a sweet voice.

She replied to her reflection in her hostile voice,"I like this look for you, it's fits you very well."

"Wash your face."

"Your friends will never recognize you if I did. To them you are a killer."

"No, to them you are the killer. I am nothing like you."

"You lie to yourself every time. You are me."

"You don't exist."

"I don't exist? I DON'T EXIST?!" she was now shouting at reflection,"You created me, you created yourself a monster. I am your creation, your monster. Your evil built up inside."

"Go to hell!"

"I am your hell!" She smashed the mirror with her right hoof.

Garren was at a long lost island along with some Changelings. He trotted slowly observing this familiar place. He went to a mountain's base at entered in through a wide opening inside a grand crystal. It's vivid blue shine blinded him a little.

"Soon this crystal shall be activated and be used for my own gain. As soon as Lacoden is done with her passageway she can arrive here in seconds. I brought mine and when she comes we can give our immortality to use this crystal at our will. Not even Shadow will be able to stop us. We need more than Changelings to kill them all maybe some dark born creatures can do well. Chimeras will be useful. A three-headed guard, yes he will be a vital part in my success. His displacement may cause a chain reaction of different monsters to be born. I don't care though, they won't be a problem once I've taken control of the crystal." Garren walked closer to the giant crystal and admired it's beauty."Funny how something so beautiful can cause so much death."

Chronin, Olganna, and Staok were discussing the rebuilding of the leadership. Chronin hasn't told them about Kishi(Centerra) yet. She knows that he is still new to this world and that he wasn't accustomed to the way dragons lived. They were discussing their problem in the council room of the Forces of Nature.

"Lord Chronin who will we appoint leader of the thunder force? None of Zartez's solitaries wish to be lords, they fear they will be killed as he was." said Staok.

Olganna added,"Same thing for the water and fire. They do not want to be killed by Orcusin."

Chronin addressed their statements,"Are any of your solitaries up for the task?"

"I am not sure." replied Olganna.

"Summon them." ordered Chronin.

Olganna used her claws to slam the ground. The sound it made was loud enough to hear it from outside. Ula, Jakal, Nelo, Shoprtsnout, Karnage, Luster, and Gulfstream entered.

"Ula, Jakal, Karnage, and Gulfstream you may leave." Chronin said,"Nelo, are you willing to take the place of Zartez? " she wanted to get straight to the point.

"Why are entrusting this to me?" she asked.

"Who else can we trust?" replied Staok.

"I will then." She took her place where Zartez used to be; across from Chronin.

"Fire. Shortsnout, what say you?" asked Chronin.

"I will." he took his place between Staok and Nelo.

"Luster."

"I will." she went and took her position between Olganna and Nelo.

Chronin

Olganna Excaelum

Luster Staok

Nelo Shortsnout

Chronin went back to business,"As lords you will have to control the different regions of your forces. State that you were made a lord by us due to the cowardly attitude of the rightful solitaries. This may start some trouble but, you can take care of it. Is that understood?" They agreed with silence,"Go to your regions." ordered Chronin. The newly volunteered lords followed their command from their eldest lord and the only original left.

Orcusin was elsewhere gathering his allies. They were in a mountainous region with foggy weather in the air. The moon shined on them besides that, it was pitch black. There was no snow falling nor blizzards blowing. Just dead silence broken by voices.

"Orcusin when can we destroy their pathetic excuses for leadership?"

"Patience Glesda." Orcusin replied."Gothen, how are you planning on killing your old friend?"

He answered,"Nelo will not be so challenging."

"Don't underestimate her power."

"Moya you've underestimated Luster. You should take your own advice."

"Shut up both of you. Orcusin what are you planning to do with your brother?''

"To kill him Basden. When the time comes I shall crush his heart with my claws and my father's legacy will end."

"Staok will fall under mine."

"Retu you wish to kill your own blood as well?" asked Orcusin.

"I am stronger than him. I deserve more."

Glesda asked with fury in her voice,"Where is the time dragon you promised Orcusin?"

"Has she left you?" said Gothen.

"She wouldn't dare to."

Retu exclaimed,"Forget about her for now, let us discuss our engagement."

Orcusin said,"Wait until we travel to Fallen Star. We can start an uproar here by slaughtering their pawns. They will know it is not me. Chronin knows there are more of us out there. She wouldn't know what to make of it when dragons start falling left and right. My associates are completing a pathway to Fallen Star so, wingless dragons like Gothen and Moya can be there. The only thing is it only works as a one way passage so, if you wish to return to the mainland you have to find your own way to."

"Will you crown yourself as King?" Basden questioned.

"Of course I will. I will become even greater than my father."

Elsewhere Lord Chronin was speaking to a dragon far from any other dragons so they won't be exposed. The environment they were speaking in was tropical. Hot and wet air with giant dragonflies and other insects and bugs scurrying along the ground.

"He won't be fooled so easily my lord."

"He is blinded by arrogance, if you see something will go unplanned by us abort your mission. Come back to me."

"Ula doesn't know of this?"

"No he does not. Keep it that way."

"I don't understand. You can beat Orcusin if you wanted to. What is the reason why you have not?"

"Excaelum's destiny is to defeat him not mine. It is impossible for me to kill or at least not again."

"That was an accident."

"Not in my eyes. Leave continue your assigned task."

The dragon she was speaking to bowed and flew away.

Excaelum was having a dream, he was in the spirit world. He saw the different colored scales on his chest. He saw his father and asked him why it was different.

"This is the color of the star dragons. Why do I have this?"

"You are a pure gravity dragon but, the star dragons gave their powers to you. Mastron was one that didn't give it up."

"Mastron was the one taking over Orcusin."

"I defeated him in battle, he went rogue and started to kill his own kind."

"Why do I have these colors father?"

"When they gave their powers to you it was before Mastron took it from them. You see Mastron had a very dark and unique ability. He was able to absorb power from his own force only, if he had taken all the star dragons powers I wouldn't have been able to stop him. The star dragons needed someone outside of their force to carry the power so Mastron wouldn't be able to take it. Their choice was you. You were very young and they needed a newborn to easily transfer the powers. Orcusin was too old and clouded for the task. Your scales changed to that color but, should turn back to normal. The discoloration is caused by the star dragons powers sealing your wounds. Only few dragons can have unique abilities like Mastron. I didn't have one, I was often jealous of Mastron. Not enough to make me kill."

"How do you find out if you have an unique ability?"

"You don't it reveals itself."

"How can Centerra be stronger than me?"

"As you may have heard, he is my second son. He has been dormant for decades. His strength only excelled so much in that shell. Technically you are stronger than he is, you haven't found the will to become though."

"How can I defeat Orcusin if I can't even withstand his flames?"

"Push yourself to your limit and you will. He has that is why he is dangerous.

"Has Chronin reached her full potential?"

"No. She still has undiscovered powers. Why did you ask me that?"

"It seems odd for a dragon of her caliber to have such limited powers."

"If I were you I wouldn't wish to see it."

The moon was at it's peak, it was shining down on all below. Luna was beginning to feel dizzy after a bit. She went to rest to regain her energy, then wake up only to raise the sun. She repeated this process ever since Celestia was attacked, Luna didn't know how long she could continue this.

Shadow was getting some shuteye so he can stay awake until they reached Shining Water. He fell into the spirit world, he saw Starflare.

"What did Lacoden and Dawn do at the garden?" he asked right away.

"Not even a 'hello'?" she replied.

"Oh I'm sorry, I was just so anxious to find out. Hello."

She chuckled,"Hello to you to. They figured their command words. This word is founded by the users mindset, this word can unleash the true power behind the positives and negatives. You all have hidden powers but only life and death have any other usage."

"So you are saying Dawn and Excaelum are useless?"

"What?! No of course not. Let me explain this. You used a large amount of life to bring back the four and a smaller amount to assist Luna in the sun and moon risings. Life is special it can bring back the dead but only if they were killed within a limited amount of time. If the power is used then the technique cannot be used for at least three years. Death is much more complex. You see taking a life is more easier than giving life and it can be lost even faster. Death has to be balanced with life, so do mercy and merciless. For every life you saved Garren can take." Shadow was stunned,"You brought back four. That means four lives can be taken away with very little effort by Garren."

"How come you didn't tell me this before?"

"Would it matter if I did? You wouldn't have let them died."

"Yes I would."

"I have known you for years and I know you wouldn't have let them die."

"I can't lie to you can I ?"

"Yup. Never lie to me Shadow."

"I remember the first time I did." he laughed,"Our first date."

"And I got a little irritated then threatened to knock you out if you did again. I'm surprised you didn't just leave after that."

"I like you because you stand up for yourself."

"So you don't have to protect me all the time?"

"Yeah so I can leave you alone and not worry................." silence fell over as Shadow realized what he remembered when he said that,"I will be back for you I promise. Stay here! They won't find you!" Shadow started to sniffle.

"Oh. Please....please don't cry. You're going to make me cry if you continue." she went over to hug her Shadow,"Stop...stop." everytime she told him to stop he cried even more. As he continued to create a waterfall of tears Starflare continued to tighten her grip on him to show that she was there for him.

"I was thinking about the both of you the whole." he cried,"He saw where I came from and went to you."

"That has passed."

"Not for me. I can't go one hour without thinking about that hellish nightmare. Only if I had stayed you could have lived."

Starflare started to cry as well but lightly, she parted herself from Shadow and said,"Please worry about the future, don't dwell on the past. Until the day you die and after, I will be with you."

"I-I will try. Wait for me."

A few seconds passed but it felt like hours. They drained their tear-ducts dry.

"I thought I ran out of tears." said Shadow.

"I thought I ran out." Star chuckled,"Have you made your command word yet?"

"Yes I have dear."

"Well then let's hear it."

"Flare."