"We're here." Shadow said. He saw Fallen Star coming up on the horizon. "Soul, put out the torches."

"All right flames out!" She shouted. "Lancer, spread word to the other ships."

One by one the flames of their fleet were being put out and the only light was from the moon and the stars. "Dad, doesn't it seem a little bit suspicious that we haven't seen anything for the past three days? No Garren or Lacoden. No ships, traps, or anything." Dawn said.

"I know. What do you think we should do?"

"Well, with the cover of the night we can scout the island, but I remember they have those Banshees."

"Yeah, if we are gonna send scouts I wanna be the only one. That way I can fly as fast as I can with Life if need be without worrying about leaving anypony."

"Sounds good."

"I'll get my sword from Wither." Shadow trotted over to Wither who was sitting down by the stairs that led up to the helm. She was tinkering with a marble. Rolling to back and forth to one hoof to the other.

"Shadow, how've you been?" She asked with a smile.

"I've been well. And yourself?" She stood up.

"Likewise. I lent you my sword yesterday. Is it finished?"

"Yeah, I'll go fetch it." She went back into the captain's cabin and came out with his sword and helmet. "Here." She handed him his sword and he put it on,"Why I might ask?"

"Scouting mission. I'm going to take a few rounds around Fallen Star."

"Ah, well give this a try while you're at it if you will." She held out the helmet. "It just doesn't cover the top of your head, think of it as a metal mask. The metal is light, but won't get cut through so easily."

Shadow put it on, "Feels comfortable." He took it off, "Thank you." He held it at his side with his wing.

"You're welcome. I figured it you're gonna fight without a shield you get as much protection as you can." She chuckled.

Shadow nodded, "I'll see you soon." He turned around and trotted back to his daughter. On the way he briefly explained to the others what he was doing and why he was going alone. And he hugged his his daughter then ascended as fast as he could. The helmet Wither had made him cooperated well with Shadow rapid turns of his neck. He scanned the sky above and behind him frequently. Making sure no Banshee would be anywhere close to him. He made a connection with Dawn's mind and said, "It's too quiet up here."

Dawn replied sounding not so worried, "Maybe they haven't seen us yet."

"Dawn, the griffon was right. The island has expanded. Magnus Lumen must be why."

"I didn't even know that was possible."

"Me neither." Shadow saw a faint light coming from the island. "I'm gonna go down."

"Be careful."

Shadow flew low against the ocean making sure not to do anything that would bring attention. He didn't run into even a single Changelings. He landed in some bushes. The twigs that cracked under his hooves didn't bring any attention. Just so he wasn't pushing his luck he hovered over the ground. He inched closer and closer to the lights. He started to hear faint shouts from Garren and Lacoden. "I don't like this." Shadow said to Dawn. He saw that the Banshees were in bird cages and the Amaroks were chained to large thick posts.

He found a patch of grass to lay down in and he listened closely. They were pulling something out from the water. He saw that it was a box made by magic. It's prisoner the guardian of Tartarus. Cerberus. The Changelings dragged the box with enchanted chains out unto the beach. Shadow heard more of what Lacoden shouted because she was closer than Garren.

"Now, release the Banshees!" She shouted. She stood on top of some rocks with her white hood draping over her face. Shadow readied himself. As the Banshees rushed out of their cages they screeched.
The disappeared into the trees and night sky. The Changelings flew a few yards off the ground, because the Amaroks were about to be released.

"Amaroks!" Garren shouted. The chains broke and the ran toward the nearest Changelings and dragged them into their mouths. Shadow knew he had to leave, but he needed to see Cerberus. Luckily, the Amaroks sight wasn't good, but he had to be quiet. Their ears would pick up the most insignificant sounds. Cerberus' prison was dispelled. The giant three-headed guardian did not attack as Garren trotted to his large paws.

"Dawn, can you use your magic so my hearing can be enhanced?" Shadow thought. Soon his ears felt more sensitive and he could hear clearer. He focused on Garren and soon enough he could hear what he was saying.

"Cerberus, you now belong to me." Garren said with an evil grin.

Cerberus replied in a deep voice, "I shall crush you, mark bearer."

Garren chuckled, "How when you can't hurt me?" Cerberus tried to clamp his jaws on Garren forcing his head down, but it was as if he had a leash on that was pulling him back. "You will kill those out on the flimsy boats when they come here. And in return I will have you sent back to your hole." Cerberus growled and stomped on the ground. The earth below Shadow trembled.

Shadow realized that Amaroks were in his area. The nearest one being about 10 yards from him. He looked up and saw that a Banshee was above him. Shadow knew he had to stay quiet and pretty much invisible to get away. Or he could risk getting killed by rushing out and have both the Banshees and possibly Garren chase him down. He didn't want to start conflict at this time. He knew that the others needed there rest. He thought to himself long and hard about his approach, he uttered quietly, "Flare." All the sounds around him became mute and he floated through the forest, between Amaroks. And he ended up inside his old home. He doesn't know how long it took him to go from one end of Fallen Star to the other. The spell ended and his hooves clapped the wooden floor.

"You'll be safe here tonight." A voice said to him.

Shadow thanked Starflare, "Why did you bring me here?"

"To remind you why're you're really fighting. For our home. For our family. To keep Fallen Star the place it once was."

Shadow trotted around the small wooden cabin, "I guess you're right."

"I'm always right." He heard a chuckle.

"Yeah yeah." He smiled. He went to his bed and cleared it of the dust and webs. "Hard to believe that our little island was so special." He laid down on the bed , "Will Dawn and the others be safe?"

"Yes."

"All right. Well I'm gonna trust you." He yawned. He slipped into sleep and woke up to the crashing waves. He laid still for a few moments listening to make sure there wasn't anything or anypony near. When he felt comfortable he got up and stretched him wings and legs. He peeped his head out his door. It was clear.

He looked out to sea and saw the ships were still safe and sound. He looked up and saw the Banshees were circling the center of the island. Then he heard some rocks crash over the edge of the cliff, he jolted up and had his word out. He waited until he saw a pair of light-orange hooves appear on the edge, he said, "What're you doing now, Dawn?"

"A little help here, dad." She replied.

He lowered his sword and trotted over to the cliff and looked at his daughter struggling to get up, "You know you could just use magic right?"

"I know, but this is more challenging." She hoisted herself up, "I knew I'd find you here." She was wearing an RAK coat.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't come back."

"It's fine now we have the element of surprise."

"Yeah, but be careful. Those Amaroks could be prowling around."

"I know." She looked to their old cabin, "I'm gonna take a look." She trotted through the door and her dad followed and remembered their lives there. "Hehe, I can't believe this place is still here." She dogged through the empty drawers. "Ah, dad." She reached into her satchel. "I made these and waited for the right time to give them to you and Excaelum." She pulled out three tassels. One red, one blue, and one yellow all with a matching metal piece that knotted it close to the top. She placed them on a table, "Give me your sword." Shadow complied. She tied the blue tassel onto the end of his sword and gave it back to him. Dawn tied the yellow tassel to a gauntlet she was wearing on her right leg. "I'll give one Excaelum his when we next see him."

"Thank you for this." Shadow hugged his daughter. He took her off. "Last night I saw that Cerberus is enslaved to Garren."

"How?"

"Some sorta spell won't allow Cerberus to harm Garren. And Garren has promised Cerberus to return him to Tartarus if he fights on his side."

"Oh, well then. Dad, we need to destroy those weapons Lacoden fired at us. It almost destroyed Share."

"Let's go." They walked out the cabin, "Dawn, we are going to be stronger than ever before."

Garren had cannons set on the west side of the island. Their range was incredible and they can launch the heaviest of weaponry. "Aim at the ship farthest to the left." Garren ordered the Changelings. The ship that was targeted was Aquarius.

"Wait on my mark." He turned to Lacoden, "Give them something to look at, Lacoden."

She nodded and turned to the Changelings to her right. "Do it." The Changelings lit trees all around them on fire, but they were protected by a shield that Lacoden put up. It was a slow process but the eventually the smoke had camouflaged them and the flames had charred the vegetation. Lacoden cleared a small window through the smoke so that the Changelings could accurately hit their target. "Ready the other cannons."

"Re-acquire the target." A Changeling said. "Target ready to be fired upon."

"Fire." Garren said calmly. The harpoon shot out from the smoke but its presence went unnoticed for a few precious moments.

"Put a shield up in the front now!" Marl shouted. Marl had a few very skilled unicorns in his crew, so he felt confident that they could stop the projectile. The harpoon collided with the shield and made a huge explosion that made wave protrude from the ship. "Get the ship moving! Get to shore!" The ship sailed diagonally toward Fallen Star.

"Fire three at the same target. On my mark, Changelings." Garren scolded. He waited for the smoke to dissipate and saw that Aquarius was moving. "Fire!" The trio of harpoons shot from the shield and flew toward Aquarius.

"Abandon ship!" Marl shouted at the top of his lungs. He knew that his ship couldn't take anymore abuse. He and his crew jumped into the cold water and swam as far from their beloved ship as fast as they can. They in horror as ship turned into nothing. The force of three harpoons killed those who were close, which unfortunately was the majority of Aquarius' crew, including Marl.

Moments later Nautilus surfaced with her side toward Fallen Star. Nothing but rapid cannon fire erupted from the ship. Reef, Abyss, and Share also fired upon the flames. Garren laughed insanely. The attempt to pierce the shield around them was futile. "Lacoden, sink Dawn's ship."

"Haha, gladly. Center ship, three harpoons!" The Changelings reloaded and fired. Just as they left the shield they stopped and dropped to the ground. With their magic gone. Shadow and Dawn were directly in front of them. Lacoden smiled, "Slay!" She screamed. The shield went away and the Changelings charged toward Shadow, they were immediately cut down. Shadow and Garren shot into the sky.

"Heartbeat!" A purple aura encased Dawn, while gold encased Lacoden. They shot beams at each other and were at a standstill.

Orcusin was perched at the center of the island overlooking the battles. "Now, where are you brother?" He spread his great bat-like wings and let out a roar that could be heard all around the island and miles from it. He peered down into some moving trees to his right and saw the heads of Cerberus. "Pathetic. A warrior like Cerberus shouldn't be captured so easily by a mark bearer."

Excaelum heard the echo of his brother mighty roar. He, Centerra, and Lord Chronin were approaching Fallen Star from the west. "Time to end this."