It wasn't long after I woke up that Celestia and Luna wanted to have a word with me. It was rather nice they sent one of the few guards that I knew from the night guards. The midnight blue stallion with the striped silver and blue mane and tail, Star Bright dawned in his night guard armor lead the way down the hall of Canterlot Castle.

“How have you been Star?” I asked.

“To be honest since your incident after Hearth’s Warming, it's been boring.” He commented which I couldn't help but wince when he brought it up, not one of my best moments.

“Understandable, I didn't make the best case for myself after that.” I said with unease. This was followed by a few minutes of awkward silence as we had brushed a very sore subject. Luckily for the both of us we entered the throne room to find both princesses talking with each other.

“Ah Firestorm you're just in time.” Luna said with a devious smirk. It didn’t sit well with me, but I guess I will find out soon enough what ill will is on it's way. Besides the standard day guards that sat around the throne room as well as both celestial sisters, the only other ponies in the room was a mare in a dusty purple cloak with a very light gray hat that had a egg shell white ribbon and bow on it. On her muzzle was a pair of thick red rimmed glasses. She turned to look at me and I could already tell how annoyed she was with me. I was a little confused but didn't say much as Star and I slowly trotted up to the throne itself. I could make out the dark tan of the mare's coat color as well as the bright violet of her eyes. Her mane was a multicolored gray scales with it being closer to black at the darkest point. Just the look on her face was one of those I can't believe I got talked into faces that everypony has seen at least once in their lives. I walked slowly and carefully up next to the mare that stood at the base of the steps that lead up to the throne as well as accompanying seat pillows. I couldn't help but keep glancing at the mare as something was on the edge of my recondition, just waiting for it to tip over. But I didn't want to push it just in case if it fell away metaphorically from my fore-thoughts. “This here Miss Yearling is Prince Firestorm.” Luna introduced said mare at me who turned and bowed at me.

“Please raise Miss Yearling.” I requested with a gentle smile as I noticed an old bump on either side of the cloak the mare wore.

“Thank you Prince.” She said.

“Please just Firestorm or Storm will do.” I once again requested.

“As you wish.” She commented.

“Firestorm this here is Miss A. K. Yearling.” Celestia started as she magically floated down a very large file for me. “She will be your guide as well as your traveling protection for your trip to Saddle Arabia.” I couldn't help but cock an eyebrow at this. Not to say this mare wasn't skilled, look at Nightling, she could beat my flank six ways from Sunday and be fine. But I figured if I was going to have somepony as protection, I figured she would be armored or at least wore light barding. The more I thought about this I realized I didn't see what she wore under that, the hat alone just screams normal pony to me. But I suppose with somepony like Vermom around, looks could be deserving.

“It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Yearling.” I said offering a bow to her.

“Your welcome Firestorm.” She commented and I could note the slight annoyance in her voice.

“Your ship to Saddle Arabia will be leaving in a few hours so I would suggest making your way there.” Celestia commented before a set of dark brown saddlebags was floated down to me that was quite full. I quickly strapped them on as both Miss Yearling and I left. One thing I didn't quite know was how we were going to get to Saddle Arabia but when we got to the sky port. Besides the fact that the sky port was close to a shipping dock like you would find by the ocean but up in the air. I found out that besides helicopters that Equestria had airships closer to those you would find in a fantasy role playing game. This was almost like a nerd's wet dream well figuratively, but part of me was just having a field day seeing all this. The sight of the old water crafts being held up by large blimp sized balloons with propellers. It got me wondering about the mechanics of it but that could be more my natural curiosity. Miss Yearling lead the way to the ship we were to take. It was a rather normal looking one with a dark blue balloon holding it up. The S.S. Windsurfer was a rather impressive ship... okay so granted this was my first airship I've been on ever, and yes that does include planes from earth. The captain who later I found out held the same name as his ship. I just couldn't help but think that somepony had an ego that could probably rival Dash on her more cocky days. Captain Windsurfer was a sky blue stallion with brown mane, tail, and rather thick beard greeted the two of us himself. I suppose it was a famous pony thing. I mean having the writer of Daring Do and the latest prince of Equestria boarding your ship would probably be good bit of advertisement for him. I watched him and Yearling shake hooves which I noticed an olive green sleeve with a darker green cuff on her foreleg that she used to shake hooves with the captain.

“I hope you and Miss Yearling have a enjoyable trip Prince Firestorm.” Captain Windsurfer said giving me a bow.

“Please just Firestorm or Storm will do.” I requested.

“As you wish Firestorm, now allow me to show you to your room.” He said taking us deeper into the ship. The room was rather simplistic compared to what I would expect from somepony offering to royally and honestly... I fucking loved it. Sorry not to say being all fancy is bad but it's get a little refreshing not having to deal with the whole uptight look that I've seen a lot of the mare and stallions put on just around the castle asking Celestia and Luna favors and so forth. Mostly it's been from Blueblood but still. “This shall be your room for the remainder of the flight.” He said before he took his leave before I could even utter a thank you. While I quickly undid my saddlebags, Miss Yearling quickly went behind one of the curtained off beds in the two bed room. I suppose a mare does like to have her privacy, especially with somepony they don't know. I took the time to seat myself at the simple table in the room.

I finally was able to look at the file that Celestia gave me in the throne room. What was inside was a rather detailed report about the ways of Saddle Arabia which seemed to be rather close to Equestria in the sense of authority. What I didn't expect was their appearance compared to everypony. Aside from them having the same abilities, being a multitude of colors. They looked like the horses from earth, other than the colors, as well as their eyes which was smaller than Equestrian ponies eyes but still rather large compared to the earth equivalent. It took me a few moments to get over that detail, the second time I had to do that was the fact of their leader. I picked up the photograph to look at the stark white horned dracorn. Her horn as well as the discoloration to her fur was almost a forest green, just a few shades off like her eyes. The further I got into the file the more it made sense well to a point, much like Celestia the Queen and they did use that title. Had been rule Saddle Arabia for quite sometime, about five hundred years was the rough estimate that this file gave. She took power after a very fierce war that left the land an almost barren wasteland. Queen Gaia which out started to send little pings to my head, if my memory was serving me right Gaia was the Greek mythology name for Mother Earth. Which was pretty fitting since her cutie mark was of a fully grown tree with three thick vines wrapped around it. I sat her file down and moved to the next one that detailed more of the area which was pretty basic, desert like terrain made up at least eighty percent of Saddle Arabia.

My attention was cut short when Miss Yearling came out from the curtain with her a book and quill before she sat across from me. I watched carefully as her cloak shifted enough for me to see more of the pony under it. My eyebrow rose for a moment before I dug into my saddlebags and shifted so I could get a better look at the book contained within it. Just from the glance it finally fit into place and I couldn't help but grin. I watched Miss Yearling start to scribble something down using her mouth to hold the quill. Which shouldn't be the oddest thing but I never saw another pony besides Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Rarity, and Spike before. As the latter of them all had claws that could write it better and to be rather honest it was the same way I wrote and drew since I always used my prosthetic hoof to do it, since it too had claws. It seemed the page she was writing on was some kind of coded message. Not even a simple switched letter code or numbered code but a series of dots, dashes, and other symbols. Once she was done she lightly blew on it to let the ink dry, after more words she rolled up the paper before sliding it into a rolled case. She then got up and went to the window before she tossed the case right out. Her gaze turned directly at me before she cleared her voice.

“What is this artifact that we are locating?” She asked before she came over and sat across from me.

“It's called the Cape of Kindness, one of the artifacts of harmony.” I answered as I went back to the files.

“Is there anything you know about it?” She asked as she eyed her.

“Truth be told... no. I've got bits and pieces from what I could read or from visions I've been shown. Other then that I haven't a clue.” I answered as I pulled out the book on artifacts to show her. “This is all I have in any details.” With a flick of magic I slid it over to her as she started to look over her glasses to get a better look at the book. Her mane flicked out from under hat, as she continued to read the small passage about the cape.

“Well that's informative.” She commented in a sarcastic tone.

“At least it's something to go on.” I commented.

“Do you even know where to look for this cape?” She asked giving me a rather skeptical glance.

“Of course I do. What do you take me for, a fool?” I said then realize what I said. “On second thought don't answer. But to answer your question, the cape is in the Saddleline Pyramids.” Miss Yearling eyed me for a moment before she goes back to the book for a moment.

“Saddleline Pyramids, hmm...” She said before she got up and went over to the large bag that she had with her since we had left the castle. She pulled out a rolled up piece of paper. She returned with it and unrolled it on the table to reveal a map. It was a general map of Saddle Arabia. From my maps of Equestria I would say that Saddle Arabia is just as big as Equestria but unlike Equestria this place was mostly desert with towns and cities spread throughout the area. The Saddlehara desert took up most of the land mass between the cities and the Saddleline Pyramids. Which meant that Miss Yearling and I would be tracking through it at least a few days. The closest town to the pyramids was the capital Al Buck. It seems that we were going to be going directly from there in the matter of a day's worth of travel. From there we were to go directly to the palace and talk to the queen herself.

This left us a whole day of traveling together and honestly I didn't know much about Miss Yearling beyond that Celestia trusted this mare as well as she knew Saddle Arabia.

“So Miss Yearling if I may inquire about something.” I started.

“No you can't have an autograph.” She flatly stated.

“Huh?” I was a little caught off guard by the answer. “I wasn't going to ask about that.”

“Oh really? You of all ponies weren't going to ask me the writer of Daring Do for an autograph?” She skeptically commented.

“One I wouldn't ask the great Daring Do for an autograph, but to know about her instead.” I stated and I waited.

“Of course you would...” She stopped for a moment, like what I said caught her off guard. “You...” I nodded. “When?”

“When did I find out you were Daring Do? Simple, one your cloak does a poor job hiding the wings you have under it. The simple bulge that I can see tells me you are a pegasus. On top of that you're wearing the trademark outfit under that cloak as well as I could notice your compass rose cutie mark when you rolled out the map from your cloak opening up. Also your mane is the monotone gray that is the same from the books.” I started as I pulled out my copy of Daring Do and the Serpents Staff to point it out. “Plus your reaction to my stating your Daring Do pretty much sealed the deal on it for me.”

“So you're telling me that you pulled a bluff and got it on the first guess?” Now she was confused and annoyed with me.

“Pretty much.” I said with a smile before she finally pulled off the cloak, hat, and glasses showing that she had the trademark hat under it.

“At least it was a prince that figured it out and not somepony else.” She huffed as she placed her hat that she had under her wing on her head.

“That's very true. But it makes me wonder something.”

“What's that Princey” She commented.

“Please don't call me that, Firestorm or Storm will do.” I stated flatly “It's about the books, I'm going to guess most of this is true in some faction?”

“Yeah, I write down my accounts of the adventure but a friend of mine helps me fill in the more entertaining details from my accounts for it.” She commented blowing her mane out of her eyes as the back of it drops down from the bun she had it tied in. If it wasn't for the coat, mane, and color. I could swear I was looking at a recolored version of Rainbow Dash.

“If I may ask, who's your friend?” I asked.

“I doubt you would know her but her name is Twilight Velvet.” She answered and I stopped with my eyes widened.

“What?” She asked a few moments later after she caught my gaze.

“I... I know her.” I commented and I watched her eyebrow raise.

“Oh, were from? Don't tell me it's from her books.” She asked before she rolled her eyes.

“Well... I'm dating her daughter.” I said slowly scratching the back of my head.

“Wait... your dating Twilight Sparkle the Element of Magic?” Daring asked and I nodded.

“Yeah...” I said.

“I've got to hear this, how did it happen?” She asked with a cocky grin.

“Well depends, how much do you know of me?” I asked.

“Besides you’re not quite a pony? You’re a hybrid of magical dragon and pony as well as the fact you’re not from Equestria to begin with. Not much.” She said I let out a sigh of relief.

“Okay so that saves me so much time trying to explain it. To put it rather bluntly it just kind of happened, after I was put into a coma from an attack of a necromantic hybrid of pony and changeling. As well as having my friends help pull me out of it. It kind of just happened as a kiss really. Twilight was keeping me in the hospital room and at that point I was rather sick of being in them. Especially after the attack from timber wolves and the Nightmare Moon in the dreamscape incident. I just wanted to leave, granted recovering from a rather large sword that was stabbed into me. I can see why she wanted me to stay. She held the door with her magic and I kind of did a sneak attack and kissed her to get her to drop her magic, then high tailed it outta there. From there it just grew.” I answered giving a very simplistic version of the starting events.

“Okay the timber wolves I can buy, the Nightmare Moon to a certain extent. But you're telling me that you were stabbed and wanted to leave so you kissed the mare that held the door to leave. That just so happened to be Twilight Sparkle the personal student to Princess Celestia and the bearer of the Element of Magic just like that?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well... yeah.” I answered as I looked directly into her face.

“Geez, you've got to have a set of balls to do that. How did the Princess take it? Hell, how did her parents take it?” She asked.

“Well... Celestia was fine with it from what I could tell. As for her parents, at first her father was rather calm with me as for Velvet she wanted to rip my head off. That was before they found out I was with their daughter in a relationship. Then it kind of flipped.” I answered.

“Kind of flipped?”

“Well... Velvet got really... honestly I don't know what would best describe it beyond the feeling like she wanted me to herself. Like a cat going after their prey in a way.” I answered that was followed by a shiver.

“Geez, I know Velvet can be rather... forward but... wow.” Daring said.

“I mean she was rather forceful when she wanted to write The Adventures Guide. But from what I've read in The Storming Twilight which I can only guess is about you and her daughter.” She said.

“Oh god, you read that too?” I said as I was now red in the face with my left hoof over my face.

“Calm down Princey it's not really that bad. I mean yeah she can be rather... intense with her writing but still it's all in good fun.” Daring said trying to defuse something that I didn't even think there was to defuse.

“One don't call me princey, and two I know she can be intense.” I said with a rather light smile. “To be rather honest her daughter isn't much better. When she gets that idea in her head she can be rather... forceful at times.”

“Oh? So a little magic in the sheets then?” Daring asked with a sly smile.

“No, just no. Not going there, won't go there, and will not ever go there conversationally with any other pony but my marefriend. Thank you very much.” I said getting straight to the point.

“Oh, so somepony hasn't even made it into bed yet. Ouch, and I thought every mare wanted their prince in Shining Armor.” She said still that cocky as grin that's really starting to piss me off.

“Okay I really hope that was just a really bad pun.” I gave Daring a very flat stare at that.

“Oh of course it is, I mean not everypony can have the captain of the guard as her husband like Princesses Cadence.” She said.

“Geez if I didn't know any better I would say that you have a crush on him.” I said with a cocked eyebrow.

“Not really, I mean yeah we met before the whole wedding and he seems fun. But not really my type.” Daring commented which threw me off.

“Wait, are you telling me you've met Shining Armor?” I've asked.

“Of course, I mean who do you think the guard from my Serpent’s Silver Pendent adventure was based on?” She asked.

“Wait...” it took a few moments before I face hoofed. “Glinted Shield, Shining Armor. God why didn't I put it together like that?” I said followed by a grown.

“Relax, not a lot of ponies make it get it. Hell there's not a lot of ponies that I use there real names either. I mean besides Ahuizotl is a real... what ever he is.” She commented.

“Wait... He's real?!” I said a little surprised.

“Of course, I mean he does show up in just about every adventure.” She gave me a roll of her eyes.

“So far all but the Timekeeper's Watch but you had some other pony show up.” I said just having a field day with this. For most of the trip up until about dinner we talked about a lot of the Daring Do characters from the books. But I finally got some back story to the one character I was curious about. Turns out that Ahuizotl was a rather brilliant historian of ancient history. He's preferred study was old legends and myth, which I think now more lay in the fact if all these books are to be believed. Well maybe the Timekeeper's Watch that one is still a little iffy to say the least. I mean really Dr. Whooves? Out of all the thing's I've seen between Equestria and Earth that is the only one I will not believe, I mean great if it is true but if this Dr. Whooves is anything that's even close to what I think about when I hear it, I'll want to stay far away from that stallion. But I digress, Ahuizotl honestly wasn't evil at first it all really began with his love for history. This sent him on his first dig with Daring Do who wasn't even into the whole adventuring at the point. Much like Ahuizotl she too was in for the knowledge. That all changed when they found the old pony crypt of a very odd pony. She couldn't quite remember the exact name of it but that point was moot. It seems that the very place was quite heavily trapped which it took the two of them working together to get through them safely. But right there was the Ruby Staff from some great ruler. As she explained the legend I couldn't help but piece it together with a lot more context that I was filled in with. The Ruby Staff was Sombra of all ponies and the crypt was that of his father. But even to Sombra it was much unknown to him, even the location. The staff gave the wielder great power over the shadows themselves. That’s when Ahuizotl's shit switch flipped into evil. Much like a lot of Daring Do's novels played out as he left her in a trapped room while disappearing much like a villain.

It seems the room itself was rather simple in design, and Daring was able to escape well before Ahuizotl could completely leave the crypt. She in turned stole the staff from her former colleague and gave it to Celestia. Which made sense since Luna wasn't back from the moon at the time. Then Celestia, seeing the spark in Daring charged her to recover the artifacts. Most of the powerful artifacts are locked away and in the museums are well as had replicas made. Granted nopony really knows that as they are placed there by Celestia herself when she hands or hoofs them over. Before Daring decided to write about her adventures which was well after Twilight had joined Celestia's School as her personal student. Velvet had met Daring during one of her visits to see her daughter and just so happen to run into her after she left the throne room. Since Twilight stayed in the castle instead of the school like most of the other ponies there.

“So Princey while we wait for the grub to show up. What's got you all invested in this? I mean I can't really figure out why you have to go and deal with this.” She said.

“Well it's because I'm tied to them in a way, before you ask. No, I don't know how it happened or really why it did. But it seems that I need to locate them to help save everypony.” I commented Which was followed by a few moments, well, more like a minute. Before Daring decided to open her muzzle with.

“Well and I thought I was the only one screwed over by destiny like that.” I couldn't help but cock my eyebrow at that.

“What do you mean screwed over by destiny like that?” I asked.

“Seriously? Didn't you read all my books?” She asked as she sat up from her rather prone lying spot on her back by the table.

“Not really, I still have a good stack left to go. I really only read them with Twilight, just the two of us.” I said.

“Well, there's been quite a few times when my coming to the rescue has been foretold. So I figured it was a destiny thing and shrugged it off.” She answered.

“Honestly I've gotten rather sick of hearing destiny after all I've been through.” I started with a clear sign of annoyance in my voice.

“Oh really? What does a princey prince like you have to worry about?” She said before she pick up a rather mocking tone that sounded almost perfect for Blueblood when she continued a moment later with. “Oh dear, I forgot the crumpets and jam again. What ever shall I do? I know I must journey forth unto the kitchen to right the wrong that my butler Pennycoat has done when he brought my afternoon tea.” She mocked. I couldn't help but lightly chuckle.

“I don't know what you've heard but I'm not really prince material and for the love of god stop calling me Princey.” I said that last part rather loud.

“Geez relax Princey, I'm just teasing you a bit.” She said once again trying to defuse it. Of course I think it was more out of habit than anything to use annoying nicknames.

“Don't call me Princey.” I groaned as I reached dug into my saddlebags a bit more.

“What's the big deal?” She finally asked.

“Besides the fact that I just don't like that nickname. It's just a long story.” I said as I pulled out one of the bottles of water I saw in it earlier.

“Well we've still got plenty of time before we get to our destination.” She said and I had to concede the point. I began telling her to tell that was rather familiar to my muzzle, well sort of I suppose. I told her of my entry to Equestria since she already had been told of the unique nature of my appearance. I left out a lot of the more awkward things like Dash and Twilight running their hoof across the top of my wings. But I told her of the Timberwolves, Nightmare Moon, Vermom, Shadow Storm, and just about all the odd misadventures I had, Especially the universe hopping I did. Which made me wonder how Max and the girls there were doing. From what I was told over there things were pretty tame so he probably got drunk at some bar again. As I explained the the events so far, Daring was pretty wrapped up in it. She laughed at the few incidents with Blueblood. Turns out she has as much problems with the pissed up prancer as just about everypony else. “So... how did you get the new leg?” She asked and I looked down at it for a moment as it rested on the table.

“Are you familiar with necromancy?” I asked.

“I've heard of it, never had seen it myself.” I let out a sigh as I disconnected my leg and slowly reach up to the connection plate.

“True be told my darker side is familiar with a bit of necromancy.” I said as I slowly slid off the plate to show the flesh and bone that laid under it. As well as the crystal and wires that connected to the plate. “He tried to use one spell that could cause a part or the whole body of a pony rapidly expand and pop, leaving fleshy chunks of meat and bones where the limb or pony was. Well Twilight had learned of a spell that would redirect it. It just so happened that my darker side used the necromantic spell and Twilight only defended her and the girls by redirecting it back at him which in turn me.” I watched Daring just stare at the exposed wound.

“Did... did it... you know?” She asked.

“Hurt?” I asked which was followed by her nod. “More than you would believe. It felt like something was inside the bone pressing it every direction while the outside was being pulled in the same manner. When it finally popped it burned. Well burned wouldn't be the correct word for it. The spell felt so cold that it was like freezer burn where it felt like it was burned by fire but it was so cold.” I explained the first time to anypony how it felt. Dash would be the only other pony that would know how it sort of felt since she was hit with the same spell, just lucky enough to keep her limbs.

“Can't it be healed?” She asked.

“No, the spell made sure it can't be healed magically. So I'm stuck being without my foreleg for the rest of my life.” I slowly placed the cover plate back on my numb of a leg and the crystals that help give me motor controls in it. They weren't originally there when the doctor that first gave it to me. It was HeartShy that insisted on the little upgrade to make it more comfortable for me since the crystals help send the neurological signals that would be the brain utilizing the limb to move as well as numb the pain of it's removal and reinserting. It still stung a bit but other wise was tamer than before.

“Wow...” Daring said and I could tell the awkward tone to her voice. It's that I don't know what to say but sorry doesn't feel right tone.

“It's alright Daring Do.” I said after I reinserted my leg. “I know it's not the nicest of subjects and the thought of it can be cringing especially when you dwell on it too long.” I said as I slid my things back into my saddlebags before I brought them over to the bed closest near the wall. It wasn't large compared to the one for Daring, which was fine with me. I didn't always needed a large bed to relax on or sleep. Daring kept watching me as I decided to relax quietly in the bed. From that point on there was a lot of silence between the two of us as I just relaxed, even the salads the captain brought himself was ate in silence. I think the only talking either one of us did was more to the captain who asked if the accommodations were adequate, which they were. Once we finished our food and I had stacked them together for pick I went to sleep from help of a little crystal Celestia left in my bag for me. It had a few charges to it which was rather nice but that wasn't the point. I decided the rest of the flight was best done in a unconscious state.

***---***

The following morning had a rather crisp chill to the air as we were still several hours from Saddle Arabia since we had to make a slight detour from a storm over the sea we had to traverse to get here. I sat on the deck of the ship watching the sky silently as I left Daring to sleep a bit more in the bed.

“Worried?” Shadow said.

“More than you can ever know.” I commented.

“I suppose it can't be helped.” He replied back, then it hit me.

“I'm a little surprised you're talking after what had happened.”

“I've had some time to think about it some more.” He said and I can hear in his voice that there is a sense of defeat in his voice.

“And what's the verdict?” I asked.

“As much as I hate to admit it you and Luna were right. I may only be your darker side, a parasite or as you put it your manifest of self hatred. But that does not make a pony. I'm just a fragment of a personally.” He said and if I had to imagine him, I could see him sat against a wall.

“Shadow...” I started as I tried to search for the right words. As much as I had hated the guy for the hell he put the girls and myself through. I couldn't help but feel for him. I don't know if it's the sympathetic nice guy in me or something else but I don't like to see ponies hurt like this, well technically hearing ponies hurt like this, even though he brought it upon himself.

“Don't bother trying Fire, I will never truly be a pony.” He said.

“If I can help...” I started as I wasn't sure to really voice this.

“Help me?” He said before letting out a loud laugh. “Oh this is rich you want to help your dark side get out. I don't know what to call you for that, generous or a complete idiot.” He said through his laughing.

“Shadow, if and this is a big if... If I help you get your own body what would you do with it?” I asked.

“Honestly... I don't know. I mean before I wanted free to be my own pony but when I found out I couldn't be a real one with you still around since we shared the same life and magic. I wanted you out of the picture, it was the only real reason I worked with that Grim.” He said giving more insight than I had before.

“Is that why you checked the hidden libraries in the catacombs and so forth?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I couldn’t find anything beyond how to make an inanimate golem. The only reason I knew about the elements was from the legends and tales about Luna's transformation.” He commented.

“Makes sense, then how about this. If I help you get your own body you help keep this place safe?” I asked.

“Equestria? What about earth?” He asked and I could just hear the surprise.

“Shadow you know as well as I do that earth is no place for us anymore.” I said as I thought about my death again.

“I don't know man. It's... I doubt the princesses would want somepony that knows necromancy running around. Hell Celestia tried to kill Grimwand for his study of it alone.” He said.

“As much as I can agree with her about necromancy is a vile magic I can't say all of it is bad. I figured that a lot of it can be useful.” I added.

“Like what?”

“Well from what I can tell Grimwand used it to help souls pass on to the afterlife. That's a rather noble thing to use it for and what about helping the cops by talking to the souls of the murdered to find out who did it?” I asked.

“I suppose that does sound rather noble. But Fire you should know that I'm not rather noble. I'm a prick remember?” he commented.

“Well I am an idiot.” I said with a small smirk.

“A royal idiot.” He added and I couldn't help but laugh at that. There was a few minutes of silence between the two of us.

“I still don't know, I may have to stew on it a bit. I can't say it's not appealing but... if you can get Celestia to agree to allow me to live then I don't see why not.” Shadow commented.

“I can see if she can make you a unicorn or pegasus. I doubt she would want you to be a dralicorn or even an alicorn.” I added.

“A Dracorn or Unicorn is fine by me. Not really much for the whole flying honestly.” He said with a laugh.

“Completely agreeable.” I said with a smirk.

“Fire... sorry about the leg.” He said and I blinked for a moment.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Yeah...”

“Shadow look...” I started as I looked at the prosthetic. “As much I wish I still had it I can't say it didn't turn out for the better. I mean I get to have fingers again after losing my original ones.” I said as I flexed them a bit. “But I can't say I wish I still had it just to hold Twilight with it.”

“And much more.” Shadow said and I could just hear the cocky grin.

“Pervert.” I said.

“Yeah you thought of it too.” He answered back and I turned a shade of red as my wings gave and audible pomf sound as they shot out to be fully extended. “Who's the pervert now?”

“Shut up Shadow.” I said with a grumble.

“I've heard of morning wood but I didn't think that applied to wings.” Daring said behind me which caught me by surprised.

“Ah!” I said as I jumped.

“Relax it's just me Princey.” She commented and I turned to here.

“Don't call me Princey!” I said.

“Calm down I'm only teasing Princey.” She said with that cocky grin as I show her an annoyed glare. That was followed by a slightly annoyed sigh. “So what are you doing out here?” She asked.

“Honestly, enjoying the view as I think about stuff. Nothing big or important just speculative thought.” I stated as I looked back at the clouds.

“You do that too much you'll drive yourself crazy.” She said.

“Been there done that, got the shirt, wore the shirt, turned it into a fad, let it fade, and brought it back as a retro fad.” I said with a small smile. I turned to look at Daring Do who was completely confused. “Never mind just a saying.” I said as the first bits of land mass in what appeared on the horizon. As much as I suspected it was mainly sand, but there was a rather small city, which we flew right over, well we were going to do that for a few cities, the one we wanted was, much like Equestria smack dab in the center of it. I just sat there lost in thought for a few hours as Daring went back inside to probably relax for a the remainder of the flight. My mind drifted from topic to topic as it just circled the drain of events but it always lingered on one thought.

“Twilight...” was always out of my mouth each time I thought of her. I had been here in Equestria or at least on the planet Equestria was on for months now and a question just popped itself in my head. Should we move further in the relationship? What was to move further into? I mean do we... well do it? Is Twilight even ready for something like that? I mean I know it wouldn't suddenly pop a bun into the oven since ponies can only get pregnant during estrus. But that's a rather big step... well to me it is. I don't know if Twilight or anypony would see it as that big of a step. Then I couldn't help but wonder about going further. I mean we already live together but what about well finally tying the knot? I couldn't help but lightly laugh as I figured Shadow was rolling his eyes in my head. The fact he didn't say anything left me for a pause as I thought about the conversation back before Daring showed up. If... if I did help him get his own body and life. Would he be technically my brother or just something of the sort? How would that even work? I was not a smart pony for this life question shit anymore. Well I can't say anymore because honestly when it came to advice for myself I was hopelessly stupid in that case.

“We will be arriving in an hour Prince.” Wind Surfer said from the wheel house.

“Alright, thanks for telling me.” I said as I already had my things together. One of the oldest habit I had since my time on earth. I wasn't always keen about keeping my stuff all over the place while I traveled. I was a more one spot unless I have to leave kind of person back then. I'm pretty much the same now but a pony in this case.

“Don't you mean Drony?” Shadow decided to add.

“Semantics.” I commented.

“Excuse me mister picky-pants, I'm not the one that goes all deep end over small details when trying to explain something on Twilight's level.” He commented.

“Well excuse me mister I'm high and mighty and not shut the fuck up so I can go over the notes Twilight and I had about dralicorn magic. It's some rather fascinating stuff.” I said.

“Oh please you wouldn't have thought about the differences between your magic and princesses if Twilight didn't talk you into another one of her experiments on you.”

“Your point?”

“Do you remember the thunder gem?”

“Yeah?”

“How about when she tried to have you charge the crystal and it exploded on you?”

“I remember it.”

“And how you barely got out of that unscathed? Serious I think that mare is going to be the death of us well before the “Dark One” is.” He commented, that left me with a pause.

“What do you know about him?” I asked.

“Honestly the same as you. I wasn't and honestly hadn't looked for anything about him. I was worried about myself if you don't remember.” He said which shot down the hopes for some clue. I let out a sigh.

“I suppose time will tell when that is going to nail us in the face.” I said.

“Who in Celestia's name are you talking two?” Daring asked behind me with both her's and my saddlebags on.

“Ah... no pony.” I said with a nervous smile on. Daring Do just gave a small annoyed huff and whispered under her breath that I could hear.

“Why do I always get stuck with the crazy ponies.” She commented as she slid off my bags. “We are about to land shortly and we have to head to the palace right away.” She said before she left.

“I wonder what stick is stuck up her flank.” Shadow commented.

“I wouldn't know.” I thought back making sure I didn't sound even more crazy than I currently do to her. We got off the ship onto the docks, the captain told us that he will be waiting for our return since Celestia had paid him well for him to be our personal transport between the two places. Al Buck was a large city, well it was about Canterlot in size if I had to compare it to something. Standing in the center of it was the palace of Saddle Arabia. From the architecture of this place, I would have sworn this was ripped right out of an old movie I saw once. I swear if there is a genie around here granting wishes I would flip. Well maybe not flip but maybe make things a little easier... like having the artifacts already. I digress, Daring Do and I made our way through what looked like a marketplace with ponies much larger than the two of us. Well most of them that was there was a few Equestrian ponies there selling their wares as well. But that was few and far in between. There was only two stands I stopped by, a book stand that had a few Saddle Arabian spell books that were both elemental as well as a few advanced spell books. I bet Twilight would love to have a look at these. The other stop was a fabric stand that I wanted to pick up a few things for Rarity. Knowing her if I didn't she would hunt me down and drag my flank all the way back here to get her some. The two things of fine Arabian silk would do. That was all I could spot at the time but if I had a few more hours to go shopping I think I could find something for all the girls, as well as Spike.

After we traveled a few miles through town we got to the palace to find what I much expected. Almost an army's worth of guards waiting for the two of us. One of the more decorated guards that stood well above the two of us looked down at us. He was a brilliant blue was an equally black mane. One of his eyes was a bright orange while his left was lighter and slightly milky. I figured he was blind in that eye and with the large scars over the eye that looked more like he was clawed over it. He wore a dark black armor with red highlights throughout, as well as a helmet with a red feather like piece that went from his forehead back to the back of his head. He stared at us for a few moments like he was sizing us up. If this was going to be a fight, I was David versus the fucking Terminator, if you compared sizes alone.

“This way Prince and honored guest.” He said in a very gruff voice. We followed him through the palace. Unlike the castle in Canterlot the floors here were tiled in a mixture of bright reds, blues, purples, golds, and many other colors. It was done in almost hypnotic pattern if you were to fly down these halls staring at it. Speaking of flying, above us two pegasi flew to the left and right of us with a spear in a rig of some sort to keep them at the ready. I knew a lot of the guards in Canterlot, especially the pegasi had a similar one to keep them on hand while they flew so if they need them at the ready. I knew one of them who had a collapsible spear of his own design for easy transport. That was a marvelous thing to behold. I may have to get in touch with him again when I return. It took a few minutes to traverse the halls until we found ourselves in what looked like a throne room.

The throne room was a very large hallway about the same size as one room that held my birthday party in Canterlot. A few feet from the wall were pillars that lined up, as a rough count I would say that each had at least ten pillars before the throne itself. Which consisted of a lot of pillows. With one very large one for a back rest. Between each pillar against the walls where guards in all three subsets of ponies. As their garb was more simple guards that fit with the theme of the air. Queen Gaia on the pillowed throne before us. The guard lead the way up to her before bowing before her.

“My Queen your guests have arrived and I brought them as I have been asked too.” He said.

“You've done well Captain. Please take your spot so I can directly greet my brother and his friend.” She said as we both stepped forward and... wait... what the fuck did she say? Brother? I watched her bring up a cloth covered hoof up to her mouth. “It seems I have blind sided him.” She said before that was followed by a small chuckle.

“No kidding Queen Gaia.” I said with a little sarcastic tone while I bowed. Hey no pony said I couldn't be polite while my brain was broken... again.

“Oh please brother, no need to be formal with me.” She said as she stood up and trotted up to the two of us. I looked up at her eyes and she down at me. Before I could say anything I was snatched up and given a bear hug that I thought only Pinkie could produce. “It's is so nice to finally meet the final one of us.” She commended before she dropped me on the floor. “You must be the one and only Daring Do.” She said as she held her hoof out. Daring bowed politely as she took it.

“Yes I am your Majesty.” She said.

“Oh please Miss Do, no need to be formal with me. You are my brother's friend so you may also address me as Gaia.” She said with a smile before she looked up. “Guards please fetch these two seats then leave us to discuss business.” She said before she held her hooves up and clapped them together twice. Within moments my rump was on a rather large red pillow that held me up at least a good few inches off the ground with the same for daring. “So I figured you have much to ask of me.” She said as she returned to her set of pillows.

“As of now yes, I'm rather confused by all.” I said.

“Much to be expected, I'm going to assume you weren't told?” She asked.

“Told that I had family beyond the adoption?” I asked, she gave a nod. “Then yeah, I wasn't aware I had family here. To be rather honest I didn't expect it either.”

“Well the great mother of elements Sha is our mother. As for the father the four of us have different ones.” She commented.

“Pause, rewind, and stop. Four of us?!” I asked rather shocked.

“Why yes, Sha had only four children. It was originally three until you came around, if I may inquire who is your father?” She asked eying.

“Truth be told I don't honestly know, I found out Sha was my mother only after the whole Storm thing. I figured it was more a fluke then anything else that I ended up as a dralicorn here in Equestria.” I answered.

“It's not surprising that you may think that. Our mother had a very weird way of doing things. But there is a good reason. Each of us holds something special about us.” She started.

“Is this about our special talents?” I asked.

“To a point yes, as I can already tell that you are the one of the elements. You're able to deal with each of the raw forms of it. As for myself I was given the power of nature in the plants and so forth. I'm able to help them grow and so forth, much like I do for my ponies here. Your brothers are a different matter.” She said with a sigh.

“Are... are they here?” I asked.

“No, Granite is the leader of the Dragon Kingdom and is rather... crude at times. He is rather forthcoming a very territorial about those he governs over.” She said.

“If I am ask, what's his talent?” I asked.

“It's a rather harder one to say really, it's not really his own like ours are. He's a rather rounded kind of pony while he's a strategist and very combat proficient compared to the rest of us. He's rather odd in his own way and honestly we never got a straight answer about his abilities. As he puts it, if my enemy knows my abilities that is one less card I can play when I need it.” She said.

“I see...” I said as I thought, technically he would be true about that. If your enemy knew what cards you held then they could plan around it. So the best hand in combat was an unknown one. “What about our the last one?” I asked.

“Honestly... I know of him. We've never met but from what I've gathered intel wise. He's rather nice and very kind. He was in the Griffon Kingdom, but I wouldn't honestly trust this information. He's been known to travel and by the time we get the details, he's already moved on to the next one. So who knows, he may come visit when the time is right.” She said.

“Do you even know his name?” I asked and she shook her head.

“Like I said I know of him but that's about it.” She said as she magically pulled a goblet to her muzzle and drained it of it's rather blue liquid. “But what of you brother? I've heard some rather conflicting stories about your misadventures in Princess Celestia's kingdom.” She said as she stared at me.

“Well... honestly I've been rather... at odds. I suppose would be the correct term here.” I said.

“If I may ask, how so?”

“Well just since I arrived in Equestria it's been rather fast paced from time to time while others its been nice to relax. But that's few and far in between.” I commented.

“I've heard about your storm as well as your mate.” She commended which caused me to turn a deep read.

“Not quite mates yet.” I said comment as I corrected her.

“Oh, so this Twilight Snarkle was it?”

“Sparkle Gaia, Twilight Sparkle.” I corrected once again.

“Forgive me, I don't really check about ponies that often.” She said.

“Understandable, I suppose being the big sister you worry about your brothers often right?” I asked.

“Well... you're the youngest out of all of us, I was that before your appearance months ago.” She said.

“So you're trying out the whole big sister role then?” I asked.

“Very much so, it's refreshing to be able to keep tabs on my little brother. From what I've seen she's a fine looking mare.” She said with a wink.

“Yes Twilight is very pretty but that's not the only appealing thing about her.” I said.

“Oh?” She asked with a grin. “Do tell.”

“Well, she just has this thing about her, when she wants to learn something she goes out and digs into it. The thirst for knowledge was something that I always liked, I mean I get curious about subjects too. But.. she was my first real friend in Equestria, she helped me get use to being a drony. She didn't have to do it, she just did. She even wanted me to stay in the hospital after I just got over a traumatic event. While at the time I had spent so much time in hospital that I was sick of it. The funny part of is all was it started as a kiss just to escape the room. From there it just kind of snowballed and I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in this universe or the next.” I said as I thought about it more.

“That's... that's has got to be the sappiest thing I've ever heard.” Daring Do commented.

“I think it's quite romantic if you ask me. It's shows his character just because of the simplest things can the greatest of loves come from.” Gaia commented.

“As much as I would love to talk about my love life which by the way I rather not get any further into then I have. There is a matter I would rather discuss with you.” I started more to shift to the true reason we were there.

“I can only assume it's about access to the Saddleline Pyramids correct?” She asked and I simply nodded. “I'm aware of the reason you want to enter there. I don't see a problem with you entering there but it will have to be tomorrow.”

“Wait... why tomorrow?” I asked.

“Currently the desert between the two has a rather nasty sandstorm going through it and I rather not send my little brother through it. So I have already prepared rooms for the both of you as you will be staying as my guest this evening. I'll have one of the workers show you to your room Miss Do.” Gaia started before she turned to me. “As for you Firestorm I would like to have a more private discussion with you in your room.” At that point I figured something was up and not in the good way. Daring left with another one of the tall ponies here as I followed my sister to a corridor that only held four doors. There was two on the left, one on the right, and finally the door directly at the end of the hall. We made past the first time and went into the third door closest to the one at the end of the hall. Inside the place heavily reminded me of my room in Canterlot. Not in the sense of space but in the style the room took. Against the far wall was a nicely stone work fireplace as well as most of the walls was covered in bookshelves with a rather large amount of books in them. The two of us completely entered as Gaia with her magic shut the door behind us. With a quick turn she did a completely one eighty and stared directly at me.

“Brother I'm already aware that you have been through your storm as well as a lot of the following events.” She started and I couldn't help but listen to this. “It pains me to know that my youngest brother had seen so many hardships even before he's hit his first hundred years. But I suppose it's your lot in life.” I could see the hurt in her eyes at this as she once again picked me up and held me against her. I couldn't help but try and get my forelegs around her as best I can. A little hard if you factor in the size difference between the two of us.

“Gaia, as much as I wish that a lot of the events didn't transpire as they did. I still wouldn't change it if I could.” That was enough to get her to let me down with a curious eye. “Look if you're about to do the whole I'm surprised at your answer thing. I can tell you it's been done several times over just by both princesses, my marefriend, as well as my best friends.” I commented with a smirk. Gaia only chuckled at this before she brought me back up and gave me a gentle nuzzle.

“I know this place has grown on you little brother but I still find it adorable how you act at times.” She said before I was placed once again back down.

“Gaia... um... can I ask you a question that's been off and on my mind. It's about dronies as a whole.” I began, she blinked for a moment before she answered with a nod. “Well, I get that our pony side is a herbivore in the dietary sense. But my question leans on the draconic side of our dietary scale. I'm aware that dragons eat gemstones. But... I know that some dragons can... you know...” I started as I nervously shifted a bit, my half-sister just eyed me for a moment. “Eat meat?” I finally got out.

“Ah, I was kind of wondering when that little question was going to come around. To be rather honest, you're not the first one to ask me that question as I had to ask our brother that very same one. As for the answer then yes, we can consume meat without any dietary backlash from our system. But it's not required for nourishment. If you're curious, nuts can give the protein that we would need that we would get from meat. Personally I do like to enjoy a steak from time to time and I know Garnet does as well since most of his kingdom is dragons and dronies.” She explained and I thought about it. “I take it you haven't had meat since before your arrival in Equestria?”

“Yeah, honestly as human I was a big meat eater but since I got here I kept with salads for the most part. I honestly not to long ago I got over my issues with flowers as a source of food.”

“I suppose these humans you were before this didn't digest them?”

“Honestly, no. Well sort of I suppose, some of the kids I've seen tried to as dares, but as a species they normally don't. Not all humans are meat eaters either as some of them take a more different route to what they eat. Some take a vegetarian diet more to avoid meats all together much like ponies do. Then there's another one that wouldn't eat anything from an animal at all like eggs or milk for example.” I explained.

“Fascinating but since I answered your original question, you'd be willing to indulge one of mine?” She inquired and I couldn't say my curiosity didn't get the better of me as I nodded. “May I see your stormed form?” She asked and I couldn't help but have my eyebrow cock at that. I reached out for the familiar heat within me as my fur turned to scales and my feathered wings changed to the equally familiar membranous wings. On the front of each of my hooves three claws formed out of them with two smaller ones on my hind legs. The red tint filled my vision as I could already tell that my other two horns had already grown out in my flickering mane. I sat there with my long reptilian tail slowly slid back and forth with the bladed diamond tip scraping across the ground. Gaia watched amazed as she walked around me taking each part of me in. I didn't turn my head to watch her but within a few moments she returned into my view. “Fascinating, besides your equine features you could easily be mistaken for a dragon.” She said as I watched her. “I see the scales on your normal form were the same for your stormed form, simply fascinating.”

“Gaia if I may inquire why my 'stormed form' as you put it intrigue you so much?” I asked.

“Well it seems that you're not aware that a dralicorn hasn't been seen for over twelve hundred years, I've never got to see a stormed one so I thought this was best way to see one myself and to have my own brother be it... ” She said.

“I see... well to be rather honest the only other stormed forms that I've seen was when I faced my own shadow of sorts as well as an earth drony named Clawshot.” I explained.

“I've been made aware of that event if you would like I can change into mine.” She commented with a smirk.

“Honestly... yes. I'm curious myself on what a dracorn's stormed form looks like. As I have said I've seen an earth drony before.” I answered as I watched her body turn a dark forest green as well as her eyes turned reptilian much like a dragon's. Her whites turned an almost lime green as her normal eye color was replaced with a more normal green. Her scales were the same color as the discoloration forest green as her horn and markings had. Just like my hooves, minus the prosthetic of course had claws on hers. But unlike mine hers was much longer, which I couldn't tell because she was much larger, older, or a different gender than me. Her body was much slimmer than mine as I had a bulkier body but she was indeed close to Celestia in body structure. Like me her hind legs also had that little claw on the back of them as for her tail which was much slimmer than mine her tip held not a diamond but a spade closer to spikes but hers was a very fancier style as it curved into the point where spikes curved outward. She sat before me with her tail swishing back and forth much like mine was.

“I take it's to your liking?” She said and I could tell the amused look to her face.

“It's interesting...” I started then pause as I took each feature in more and more to the point I can tell the pattern of her scales. “Sorry just I'm a little in awe here, just to see another one this close that I wasn't learning what a drony was or facing one in combat. It's a natural elegance to it in design.” I said as she smiled and held her left clawed hoof up so I can get a better look at it. I couldn't help but do the same as I expect her's was much larger then mine was but still... this was just too much not to pass up. I watched her gaze quickly turn to my right leg. “Your curious about it aren't you?” I asked.

“Very little was explained about what happened, I hope I'm not prying to much about it.” She said and I watched her scaled ears flatten back.

“Gaia it's alright.” I started as I grabbed my leg and with a jerk disconnected it. “The leg itself is a modified griffon prosthetic which gives me the claws that I use more often than my own magic to hold stuff.” I started then slowly removed the connection plate. “As for the spot itself it's connected through these two brain wave needles in the nerves of the leg. It allows the signal that my brain would tell it to move still to send all the way through and the leg acts like it was a real one. As for the crystals they help strengthen the signal so there's no point of non-operation. As for what caused it...” I had began to reconnect everything. “That was during a bit my darker side had taken control and attacked my best friends and not at the time marefriend with a very vile spell.” I said as I gave a jerk from the pain from reconnecting the leg.

“Necromancy?” She inquired.

“I'm assuming you're familiar with it?” I asked as I gave my leg a few quick motions to see if it still works.

“I'm very aware of it after a few incidents.” She said in a rather cryptic fashion that seemed a little too cryptic.

“Well then, my marefriend used a redirection spell and returned it back at myself which it struck my right foreleg causing it to expand beyond its threshold. It exploded into pieces but it also left the leg unable to be magically regrown. That bit of details is lost on me on how it does that but since then Celestia had this prosthetic done for me. My only guess was so I can have some semblance of a normal life but that seemed rather moot now that I look back on it.” I said as my left leg gently rubbed the prosthetic out of an old habit that I seemed I hadn't broke myself of yet. Gaia remained silent for a while. Her horn lit up as a rather black leather looking book appeared before me.

“I'm aware of such a spell, the reason the leg can't be magically regrown is because the spell makes the body sort of forget that it had a leg to begin with. As most beings bodies has a magical muscle memory of sorts that a regrow spell uses to as a template to help regrow.” She explained.

“So like a save state before the limb is destroyed? So all it does is sort up resets the body back to that point before it?” I questioned.

“From the context I can only assume you would be correct. I'm aware of the working of that spell a little too much.” She said as she brought the book before me. “The one that taught me about it said many things. If I knew what his intentions were at the time I would have done away with such a vile stallion.” That was something the clicked in a very, very bad way.

“Gaia... what was that stallion's name?” I asked and she sighed.

“Grimwand...” was out of her muzzle as I couldn't help but shake. Both in a mixture of both fear and anger.

“How long ago?”

“Over a hundred years ago why?” She asked, that sealed my guesses. Not only did Grimwand survived Celestia's exaction but he also jumped from Equestria to Saddle Arabia.

“Was there another mare with him?” I asked.

“Yes... I believe she was a dark coated pegasus, but I ask again. Why?” I began to link things up. Gaia must have noticed my look as my eyes had begun to rapid fire back and forth. Not only did he jump ship country wise he also brought her with to help. My eyes rested on the floating black leather like book before me. The more I looked at it the more the texture of the cover seemed to be more real leather to me. “Firestorm what's wrong?” She asked.

“Grimwand.” was out of my mouth as my forelegs had started to shake at my growing anger.

“What about that stallion?” She asked and I noticed her mood change even more.

“What happened to him?” I asked and I gave a very pointed stare at her. At that she began to explain that he once again picked up those vile experiments but that wasn't found out until after two strings of murders. The first one to be because of another vile pony this time a mare who seemed to have gone on a killing spree. Much like my nightmares, this mare who I was never told her name would cut up and dismember other ponies. It was only linked back to her as she kept only parts from two kinds of ponies. The horn's from unicorns and the wings from pegasi. It wasn't the ponies fault completely as her mind was devastated from some rather vile spells that turned off parts of her brain. But the second string what what Grimwand was doing for them. Only parts of ponies were found, sometimes just a leg others a head or something else. She saved the more gory details but it was enough to get the point across. At the time Grimwand was her lead detective pony to help find the killer. Which she only agreed as it was his doing that they found the first killer as she may have been crazy from the spells, but she was rather detailed with her clean up. But once again not the point, it wasn't until one of her personal guards who suspected him at the time had gone. As expected it was Grimwand luckily they were able to figure it out in time as he was still rather alive at the time. Granted the guards life was the same the game after three of his legs were removed. He was given at the time up to date prosthesis much like how mine is. Grimwand was tried and convicted of crimes against the state. He was put to death and tossed into a raging sandstorm with no food, water, or even protection. Unlike Equestria, Saddle Arabia takes its convictions a bit more seriously to help deter others from following the steps of other criminals. It wasn't until thirty years later when hints of Grimwand resurfaced as the mysterious ponies had begun to disappear again. That was short lived and stopped.

“That's as far as I know of that stallion. We were able to confiscate much of his personal belongings from his lab under the palace. This here is one of the more important artifacts of his.” She said as the book was rested in my hooves. “I probably shouldn't give you this but I want you to be better informed on how to protect yourself.” She said as I can she her glare burn into the cover. If she could burn it with her thoughts alone, I would expect this book would be beyond ash at this point. I held the book in my hooves as I could feel nothing but a coldness from it's cover.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked as my gaze once again fell on the book.

“Firestorm I know what that magic can do in the wrong hooves and I believe you will be better suited for this knowledge compared to him. There was another pony that I think could benefit from a book like this. But something just told me it wasn't the time in his life for this book.” She once again cryptically stated.

“Who if I may ask?” I questioned.

“It was something pepper, I don't quite remember it's been a rather long time since I last saw him.” She commented. “He did know how to make a great fire roasted chocolate gemstone candy.” I couldn't help but notice the wishful smile on her face at probably a memory long gone by. I let her mind continue to play back the memory as I looked over the book some more. The whole cover was almost a perfect black, I say almost besides the spine of the book. On it had a very simple rune or glyph. It looked much like an S with a diamond in the the top cover and claw or fang that stabbed through the bottom curve. I slowly flipped the book open to the cover. This book was completely unreadable as the whole page was filled with nothing but glyphs. It seems that I would have to translate this book before I could even read it. I sighed quietly and slid the book carefully into a special pocket of my bags right next to my copy of Daring Do and the Codex's Key. I turned back to Gaia to see she had watched me put the book away. “Firestorm I...” was all she could get out as the door behind us as a large stallion popped his head in.

“My Queen, lunch is ready, would you like me to set it up in your private study or the banquet hall?” He asked and I couldn't help but notice his voice sounded much younger than his mature appearance would imply.

“The banquet hall will do fine, please retrieve Miss Do from her room if you would be so kind Dragoon.” She ordered, wait... Dragoon? Said point nodded and slipped his head back out as the door shut with a soft click.

“Dragoon?” I couldn't help but voice the question.

“Yes, he's my personal assistant as he's been with me since my crowning. He's very kind and gentle when he's not performing his duties.” She began and I can tell the light red blush that crossed her scales that she thought more of him. “He's also so efficient.” She commented.

“And when did you two start dating?”

“Since before my crowning, but he was still so... Eep!” She said turning now a nice scarlet red as she looked completely embarrassed that she blurted that out after she caught on that I had tricked her into that information. “I see somepony is getting the hang of being a bratty little brother.” She said with a playful glare.

“What can I say? I'm just that good at my role.” I said with a playful shrug. That was before she picked me up and gave me a rather strong hug.

“Well little brats get dreaded big sister hugs of doom!” She stated as she continued to squeeze the life out of me.

“Ah, let me go.” I said kicking lightly before she dropped me with a thump onto the rather comfy bed. I couldn't help but blow her a raspberry before the two of us just began to laugh.

***---***

Lunch was as much as you expected, it was mostly Gaia and myself getting to know each other better. Daring Do joined us and from what I could gather was happy that it wasn't completely on her this time. In a way I could relate because of the whole prince thing but I know in scale that Daring Do was way, way above me in fan ratio. The meal was something rather simple as I had a very large tomato and daisy sandwich. It was interesting who I was rather fine with flowers after it been a month Daisies seem to have a sort of cream flavor to them sort of like white chocolate that just rolled on the taste buds. So we all ate and told stories, it was rather nice hearing some of Daring's adventures straight from the ponies mouth compared to the books counterpart. Her telling of Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone was better than the book version. This made me both a little excited and scared at the same time. From what I've seen I had quite a lot of puzzle solving and traps to look forward to. Gaia decided that the two of us could use a guided tour of the capital of Saddle Arabia.

Dragoon joined us and I finally was able to get a better look at his appearance. Compared to Gaia I could tell he was a drony as well. From his rather massive wings which I figured was the main difference between the two of us since he was maybe three times at most bigger than I was. He had an almost misty gray coat that seemed to complement Gaia pure white coat. The scales on his wings were a vibrant blue compared to my red scales. His ash gray mane, tail, and light beard seemed to perfectly match him. The only other color on him besides his blue tipped spear with a red cloth tied by the blade on the brown shaft for his cutie-mark was his just as bright blue eyes. I think this was the first time I ever had met another dragasus. I noted the rather dark blue with gold trim armor that he wore with a spear that almost matched his cutie-mark under his right wing. I couldn't tell if it was attached to his armor or if he held it with his wing alone. I wonder if I could hold something like that under my own wing as they gave a flutter slightly. Gaia eyed me for a moment but didn't break from her tour as we had passed one of the great libraries in Saddle Arabia.

It seems that they value knowledge here just as much as they did in Canterlot. Even one of the palace mages came out to greet us. The old stallion was in a very velvet red robe was kind enough to give me a copy of one of their standard spell books for my connection upon Gaia's request. Part of me was rather happy for spells to study from as I like to keep my repertoire of spells growing. I mean I have a marefriend who I personally think had the fourth largest spell list known in Equestria. Just under both celestial princesses and StarSwirl the Bearded himself. I mean he was the creator of over a hundred spells by himself. So I figured he has a very impressive overall list and I still needed to inflate my spell list quite a bit. We were taken around to see where Gaia's guards train and prepare. It seems that the guards here had their own arena for fighting as we happened to come in the middle of two in the midst of combat. Which was massively impressive as the unicorn mare held up at least ten swords before her while the pegasus was there with twin spears. The mare kept a few swords close by to prevent any close range combat. But the pegasus didn't let up as his armor was equipped with a rather impressive device.

As Gaia had explained to me that some of the pegasi armors had a mouth bit that allowed them to either throw spears while in flight or just thrust them forward almost a full length before pulling back into place. The spears were easy to place back in mid-flight if needed. It wasn't the only equipment that could be attached to the armor as some of the earth ponies would have ballista attached. Just the thought of an earth pony with an anti seige weapon on it's back just screamed cool to me. But in all of that information it made sense as I didn't think ponies could handle spears and such in mid-flight or movement. I knew of my own armor that held an attachment slot for my sword but the more I thought about it. I could see me toting around some sort of battle saddle with some rather impressive firepower that I didn't even think they would have here in Equestria or Saddle Arabia. The more my mind went down this route the more it kind of scared me if that was possible to have here. Of course this got my mind reeling down a different avenue of thought for disabling weaponry, closer to tasers, or net launchers. I knew that a lot of Equestria's technology was rather lopsided on how things are done.

I was so distracted with my jumbled thoughts that I almost missed the pegasus turning the tables on the unicorn. His left spear shot down knocking her close range swords out of the way just enough that his downward speed allowed him to get up close and tight to place the tip of the spear right to the mare's throat. I was rather speechless at this as I noticed the stallion had two blades right at the back of his neck as well, leaving this as a stalemate. The three of them stomped their hooves on the ground, I followed shortly after as I began to raise mine to clap. I noticed how they did it and felt a little out of place if I did my normal clapping so I figured I may try it, a little odd for me but doable. I would have to hand it to my half-sister that her guards were well trained. I wouldn't know how well they would do to Celestia and Luna's guards, but hey a pony can wonder, right?

Our tour continued from there after the guards were relieved of duty for the evening. Once again Daring Do and I found ourselves in the main bazaar. Which this time I got to do a bit more shopping. I found the book stall again and purchased a few more books for my private collection. Mainly some Saddle Arabia mythology and lore books, a few more spells, and finally a history book of the area. I was also able to pick up a few things for those back home. I got Rarity a few pallets of fine silk as well as a rather ornate necklace. For Dash I got her a hoof-crafted Wonder Bolt figurine set, which if I didn't watch him put on the mane and tails myself I would have sworn the earth pony was conduction magic of his own. These things were beyond well crafted, it was masterfully crafted. For Pinkie I was at a toss up until I decided on Arabian party themed book with pictures, I wasn't saying Pinkie couldn't read but I knew from earth some people was able to understand visibly compared to texturally. Twilight was the easiest of them, a simple full set of Saddle Arabian literature and she was set. Of course this would mean I wouldn't be able to get her nose out of the eight book set for a week, but that's the trade off for making her happy.

Now for the timid yellow pegasus, I couldn't help but get her some animal supplies as well as a few exotic animal training tip books with animal calls. Applejack was and honestly I was stumped. Nothing here really jumped out at me for her. Of course the high duty horseshoes would work but I was a little afraid of coming around and getting nailed with them. Once was an accident, twice was karma, a third time would kill me... sort of. I finally rested on a western style vest. There wasn't much opinions for me here, that was until I found some music crystal sellers and I was sold. I got myself a few Arabian pieces as well as a few for Applejack. I picked up a few other things but after that Gaia took Daring and I back to the palace as dinner was close at hoof. I stashed my items back in my room for the time being. Gaia said she would make sure nothing would happen to them while I was at the pyramids.

Dinner was huge and I stress huge, as it wasn't just Gaia, Daring and I. In Saddle Arabia a lot of the guards have dinner with the guests as well as the Queen, even some of the other staff too. Now this was something I enjoyed as I heard battle stories like a fight against a sand serpent which I never wanted to see in my life... or second life. From what I heard this thing was massive like could wrap around the capital of Saddle Arabia twice. It was known to stay in the desert area as it like it there most of all. It also buries itself underground to travel and to hunt it's prey. Another guard and I was pretty wrapped up in the tail while a few of the others were calling him out on his story. I doubted there was a serpent that big, of course this place did like to prove me wrong, I just hoped this wasn't one of those times. Nonetheless it was a great time, Daring retreated to my room with myself so we could go over the plan as it were. Which all boiled down to, I needed to keep my muzzle shut and follow her lead. Short, simple, sweet, to the point, and very insulting to me. I, in this case only nodded for two reasons. One because she was the veteran adventurer and I was new to this, and two a wise pony once said shut the fuck up idiot.

With that done Daring retreated to her room and would return when she was ready to leave. As for me I had a full night of no sleep ahead of me since I crashed on the ship before getting here. I decided to glance at the little leather book for a few moments. My curiosity was a going to get my killed at some point. Because no pony in their right mind would look into the black leather bound book that a stallion used to study necromancy for vile things while they are still relatively new to magic. It's like giving a kid a codex of infinite wisdom and he uses it to find an Armageddon spell to doom. So yeah I was an idiot, a curious idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. Lucky for me whatever universal force that was out there thought it was wise to code this thing in what was probably a dead language. If that was the case then the irony would not be lost on me. The only thing I could gleam from this book was on the back covered a large “XIII”. It was done in the same golden style as the glyph on the spine of the book. Something was shooting off warnings in the back of my head but my guess they only shot blanks because that's what I was drawing at this point. With a sigh I slid the book back into my saddlebags that I was going to take with on my adventure. I decided to lay down and read a little before Daring came to get me up. Throughout the night I just laid there, reading a few books I purchased in the bazaar, but every so often I would glance at the book that was slightly sticking out of my saddlebags. Just something bothered me about it and it was beyond this book held necromancy spells. Just an eerie presence to the book itself. Part of me wanted to try and decode it to understand its secrets, but the better and stronger part of me wanted nothing to do with that book beyond keep it away from Grimwand and other bad ponies.

***---***

The following day was brighter than what I expected, course the day before when we arrived in Saddle Arabia it was overcast so it was a little shaded then now. Shortly after Daring woke up and to get my up as I had been up all throughout the night fighting the urge to crack the secrets of the black book. I found out two very important things. One that book does not leave ponies alone. After a little too much to drink and nature deciding to give me a nine one one call for the restroom. I found the book sitting right on the sink for me. Daring came to wake me up not knowing I was up all night reading. So we got ourselves ready to go which consisted of me being the pack mule for this excursion. At this point we currently stood at the outer gate towards the pyramids and the desert.

“I take it you're leaving early?” Gaia said behind us as we jumped. Holy hell she can sneak up on ponies.

“Yes your highness, we need to get going before it gets too late. We have a few days travel to even get close to our destination.” Daring said as she fixed her cloak. From what I gathered she wore it more to keep sand out of her face as well as shade herself. I had a similar one myself but mine was more a scarf then cloak. Gaia nodded and came over to me, she gently placed a hoof on my forehead before she gently messed with my mane.

“Be careful Firestorm.” She said and I looked up at her after she stopped. I couldn't help but smile lightly as I stepped closer and gave her a hug. She brought me up to hold me close. had begun to notice that since coming to Equestria I've been rather affectionate with family and friends. Granted most of it’s been with Twilight, Celestia, and Luna. Of course that's not counting the one time as a mare with Pinkie.

Gaia let me go and we bid ourselves goodbye. Which gave me time to think as I remained silence as we agreed on. The desert itself wasn't anything special as it was just the golden sand below us and the slightly cloudy sky above. If memory serves me right that the desert here was much like the Everfree when it comes to being dangerous and unknown. From what I saw... well to be rather honest unimpressive. Just looked like a rather normal desert much like the ones from earth.

“You should remember from the Everfree, looks can be deserving.” Shadow said.

“That seems to be the tagline for everywhere here.” I muttered under my breath.

“Yeah but the same goes for you princey.”

“Don't call me that.” I grumbled.

“Oh come on, it's a funny nickname.”

“But you know as well as I, I'm no prince.” I let out a snort of annoyance after I said that.

“Who in Celestia's name are you talking to?” Daring said after she whipped around and stared me down.

“I... um...” I said stepping back slowly.

“Well?” She asked.

“Remember when I told you about Shadow Storm?” I said.

“Yeah and that you defeated him and he's no more.” She said with a cocked eyebrow.

“Well... no I said he wasn't around to hurt anypony. He's still here though.” I said as I pointed to my own head.

“Wait... he's in your head?” She asked.

“Yeah, we can converse with each other. He's just currently using your nickname for me.” I answered.

“Oh you know you love it.” He smugly said. Daring stared at me quietly before she turned away and continued towards our path to the pyramid. I could only hear the beginnings of some muttering about crazy ponies. I figured she must think I was crazy at this point, especially when you say you have a voice in your head you’re talk to. For the next few hours we just continued to traverse the desert. Daring Do wouldn't say a word to me after a few times trying to get her attention. I didn't know what I said or did to make her want to ignore me, but I can only guess it was a good one. Once night fell Daring pulled out a tent and began to get to work on setting it up. It was much like the old Arabian tents you see in those old films. The large tan canvas tent sat on the top of the sand dune with a set of sticks in front of it surrounded by rocks. As much as I wouldn't mind setting up a tent to sleep I wasn't sleepy. I suppose it's and catch twenty two since I can't always sleep but I can stay up as well. In this case I preferred to stay up after that horror story about the serpent in the sands. Daring came out with what looked like a flint and steel.

“Darn it.” She said as she fought with it. I simply watched her until she got a little too annoyed and threw them out into the desert. I swept them back up in my bag and lit the fire for her with a small puff of flames. “Why didn't you do that to begin with?” She snapped at me.

“Well... you told me to stay out of your way.” I answered. She was the experienced adventurer here and I was, as she put it, a simple prince. She gave annoyed huff before she stepped into her tent and pulled out a cooking pot.

“Here start peeling these.” She said as she tossed me a medium sized sack of potatoes. I didn't question it as I got to work using my claws to peel. These things were rather useful when it comes to things like that plus I didn't want to try and magically peel these. I watched Daring start to pour in some water and seasonings into the pot after it had came to a boil. She started to pull out little white cubes that I could swear was tofu or at least the Equestrian equivalent to it, as well as some carrots and celery. Once I was done with the spuds I began to cube them as Daring grabbed a few to do some. I was guessing I was taking to long for her. Once all the ingredients go into the pot she began to slowly stir them. What she was cooking looked strangely like beef stew, which I knew was impossible. Pony bodies can’t take beef or meat as their digestive tracks can't handle it properly without giving them a fit. My guess was that it was tofu in place of the meat so it would fit better. “Here.” She stated as she poured some of the soup into a bowl before she mouthed it over to me.

“Thank you.” I answered then I quietly ate, Daring poured herself a bowl after she removed the pot from the fire. Once again we ate in silence as we didn't converse for the rest of the night. Daring after roughly cleaning the bowl and stored the rest of the meal in a container. She retreated to her tent as I was left there in the night's sky as the fire continued to burn into the night. I let out a sigh at Luna's night sky and wondered what everypony was doing back in Canterlot and more importantly Ponyville. I figured both my adopted aunts was dealing with royal business with their respective courts. Much to how some ponies can be; The courts weren't bad per say, just... odd in some cases.

My thoughts were slightly disrupted when I heard the light snoring coming from Daring's tent. My gaze turned to the still burning fire before me as I went back to thinking about everypony. Twilight would most likely be reading at this time or maybe studying about something, either from the book she kept under her bed or maybe going over one of the few that I brought from earth. Pinkie would probably be bouncing off the walls planning some kind of party after the season. Fluttershy was probably taking care of her nocturnal animal friends before turning in herself. Applejack is probably out cold getting enough sleep to pick up farm work in the morning since Big Mac is out of town. Rarity was either working on a new dress design or getting some beauty sleep. I couldn't help but lightly chuckle at that thought. Dash would be the only one I couldn't guess.

“Oh come on Twi you know you want another one.” I heard the drunken slurs of somepony I would never expect to hear around here. I turned around to see if somepony just suddenly popped into existence around us, even going as far as to peek into Daring's tent to see her sprawled out snoring like a horse. “Relax, no pony is going to think less of you if you drink. I mean come on Applejack brought the good stuff.” The voice of Dash said.

I couldn't help but pass the thought “Go home Rainbow, you're drunk.”

“Hey Twi how did you make yourself sound like Storm there?” Dash said and I blinked for a moment. What the fuck just happened there? “No I swear she just sounded like Firestorm for a moment.” Dash continued to say getting both confused and annoyed.

“Dash?” I thought back testing it out much like the telepathic communications I had used with the princesses before.

“There it's again, you've got to tell me somepony heard that.” Dash said and I could tell she was getting rather aggravated.

“Dash, they can't hear me.” I explained. “Don't ask how since I just found out.”

“Whoa... that's cool.” She said like she sobered up a bit. The more I thought about this, the more this felt like I just gave Rainbow Dash a call on a phone.

“Yeah... cool, how is everypony there?” I couldn't help but ask.

“They’re cool, Flutters been dealing with her animals, Rarity with her dresses, Applejack with her farm, Pinkie being Pinkie, and Twi....” She paused after that last one.

“What about Twilight?” I asked over the link in a tone.

“Do you want to truth?” She asked and the level her slurred words dropped and now sounded completely sober.

“No, lie to me.” I began to get out in a bite of sarcasm.

“Oh alright, she's perfectly fine.” She answered before I could finish my full sarcastic line.

“Okay now the truth Dash.” I said with a more stern tone.

“She chomping at the bit for your return, among other things.” She answered.

“Among other things?” I couldn't help my curiosity.

“You know what I mean, Hot Stuff.” she said in a bit of a saucy tone, I couldn't help but turn bright red.

“Dash!” I yelled over the link.

“Geez, how the buck do you two do that at the same time?” She asked in a verbal wince.

“Because you asked for it. But besides that, Twilight's fine?” I asked one last time.

“On edge with the season but yeah.” She answered, I couldn't help but sigh with relief. The rest of the night until Dash went to bed was the literally playing telephone with the Dash, Applejack, and Twilight who was the one that wanted to talk to me the most. I couldn't blame her because I really wanted to talk to her too. Sadly that my telepathic talk was with Dash only. I was told Twilight was going to figure out what caused this. I couldn't help but smile as I at least gave Twilight something to do after I was told she had been trying to get her mind off of other things with little to no success. The long distance magical call dropped as soon as Dash fell asleep, leaving me alone once again with a sleeping Daring Do in the tent. I didn't have the heart to tell Dash who I was with at the time, It was like waving a sandwich in front of a starving child or well... maybe not that mean but gloating that I was hanging with a famous pony. Now that I thought about it don't I normally hang out with one anyway? I mean the girls are all famous one way or another, as well as both princesses.

“I may be overthinking this a bit.” I said to myself as I went back to staring at the dying embers of the fire. I tossed one of the logs on the fire and gave it a boost to help warm up the cold desert air. It was then an idea sparked in my head. With a devious grin to my face I set my idea into action.

***---***

The hot dry air of the desert blasted past as I made a full gallop towards the Saddleline Pyramids. After some glass work with the sand, some jury rigging, and some outright stubbornness on my part. We cut down the travel time to a third. Daring Do held onto the bars of the sled that I made last night as she rode the way there. Lucky for the both of us that I knew the strength and speed enhancements. With the two spells in effect. I dragged the sled through the desert with the speed of a windsurfer from earth.

“Geez I still can't believe you thought of this.” Daring said as she tried to desperately hold on to her hat.

“You know what they say, ingenuity is the mother of inventions.” I said as I continued to pull the sled over a large sand dune. “Honestly I'm surprised how refine the sand was to allow me to do it.”

“Saddle Arabia is where most glass blowers get their materials from, the ambient magics keep the sands pure.” She explained as we were making our way to an oasis just up ahead.

“I may have to take some home with me.” I said as I began to slow down and dispelled the speed enchantment once we were a few feet away. I slowly walked up to the water to get a nice healthy drinks. Daring with a flap of her wings beat me to the lake with a few canteens. I greedily drank from the pool of water letting the refreshing water sooth down my throat.

“So where did you learn those tricks anyway?” Daring asked.

“From another universe.” I answered between drinks.

“Wait was that the whole Max thing you explained on the ship?” She asked as I got my fill.

“Yeah, the enchantment was from a spell book in Twilight's library in that universe. I couldn't use my normal set of spells since most of them are elemental based and humans can't handle that kind of energy.” I answered before I dunked my head in just for the cooling sensation.

“Humans?” She asked.

“It's a long story, think mostly hairless apes. The only hair they have is on their heads like a ponies mane. They also walk upright close to a minotaur. That's a rough description but it's enough to get the idea of it.” I gave my head a shake to get the excise water off.

“Ah, It's rather fascinating really.” She explained and I figured it was the scholar in her that was enjoying this information, much like Twilight would.

“By the way, not to detour the subject. Do you have any idea how much further away the pyramids are from here?” I asked as I set myself back up into the harness I crafted.

“Normally it would be a half a day's travel but most likely an hour away at the pace we got here. From there we would need to enter and make our way to the holding chamber.” She explained.

“Sounds easy in concept.” I said as I started to cast the enchantments again. I watched the runes magically appear on my hooves before they faded away leaving the slight tingle that the spells left on my hooves once done.

“There's probably death traps between us and the chambers.” She commented after she got back on the sled with full canteens.

“Wouldn't be a Daring Do adventure without one of those right?” I said in a sarcastic tone.

“Of course, then where would the fun been if there wasn't some trap of a deadly nature preventing somepony else getting to it before us?” She asked with a cocky grin that started to bug me more because it was the same level of cockiness that Rainbow Dash produced.

“Lovely...” I said as I trotted in place for a few moments. “Hold onto your hat.” I said before I took off at high speed towards the pyramids. Just like Daring had guessed we got there within the hour.

Just like the Egyptian Pyramids, the Saddleline Pyramids were large and very grand in scale. There was only two because of the two long living rulers. One a king and the other a Queen, from what I read the two had used a tonic or elixir of some sort to prolong their life. The last departed Queen lost her life in a war, which was the point Gaia took over because the war itself ended in a stalemate. It was a little sad to see that even here war was possible but as it's been said, nothing is perfect. The Pyramid we needed to enter was the late king's resting place. We got to the main entry of the pyramid to find that the door itself was opened quite... violently. There were scorch marks from where somepony or something had blown the doors wide open. The bits of smoking rubble told us that it was fairly recent too. Daring motioned for me to be silent before we entered. The inside was made of a the same tan sandstone rock that the rest of the place was built with. With a flick of her wing Daring knocked one of the torches that was in a sconce right off the wall as she reached into her saddlebags for something. Before she could pull out matches I took the torch and gave it a puff of ruby red fire. Daring stared at it a moment before she eyed me.

“How did you do that?” She asked in a whisper.

“I can breathe fire at will, I thought you would be informed of my abilities.” I commented back in the same leveled whisper.

“Like I said on the ship, not much beyond the whole hybrid pony bit and what you told me afterwards.” She said before she motioned with her wing to follow. We traveled a few empty corridors of the maze like pyramid. The sandstone yellow stones with many different pony Egyptian-like hieroglyphs filled most of the walls. The floor itself was just a patchwork set of stones of different sizes. Nothing distinguished one block from another. I floated the torch that glowed with a ruby flame that flicked against the wall. There was deception of a silver unicorn stallion with a black mane and tail. From the series of images it told of some major conflict between ponies and what looked like an eight headed cobra, as well as an army of snakes. The next one showed the stallion in the midst of combat, which was followed another one but this one showed that he was on the losing side of the fight. The multiple headed cobra was wrapped around the stallion lifting him up towards their heads. The story continued showing moment after moment of the combat. My view of the story was cut short as everything flew out of my view, I had triggered a pit trap. Lucky I found myself in a simple one with no spike. Didn't help my belly much as I landed hard on the sandstone floor.

“Ow...” I groaned.

“I told you to watch your step!” Daring yelled from the top of the hole that looked a good two floors above me. Luck for me that I had my wings because trying to climb this or blink up there would be a pain. Once I found myself back on the same level as Daring we continued on our track through the corridor, this time I kept an eye out for more traps instead of drifting off to decipher the story from the wall. Something started to eat at me as each hall we took continued on and on.

“Hey Daring Do?” I had whispered.

“Yeah?” She replied back in the same leveled whisper.

“Are you getting the same feeling as I do?”

“You mean that this seems a little too easy?” She asked as she stopped, I was able to stop myself before I bumped into her.

“That too, but no, I'm talking about how we haven't seen another living soul, and we both know that explosion happened maybe twenty minutes at the most before we arrived.” I said.

“You're not the only one that noticed that, something is not adding up and I don't like it.” She said in her normal voice. That was when things went south, two walls slammed down in front and behind, trapping us in. Then the southern wall fell back and the northern wall shoved us into the newly opened pit. Luckily the two of us had wings so we hovered over the pit to notice that at the bottom of it was several long glinting pikes that would have perforated any pony who fell in. We returned to the hallway as the wall slid back and the other one returned to its upright position.

After what another few minutes both Daring and I found ourselves in a rather large room with the stone slab coming down blocking our exit, much like the two before that rose from our entry to the hall. The room before us was close to the size of the Canterlot dining room with the floor in an indented grid pattern. Spread out through the grid on the intersecting line was a pedestal that had a curved mirror set on a forty-five degree angle. In the center of the room was a large stone form, the base of it was a large square slab about a foot or so high. On top of the had a darker sandstone cylinder that had four poles that came from the four points to hold up a round cone like topper a few feet above the three foot stone cylinder. In the middle of the stone was a square hole. Daring and I got closer to it and flew up to see that this was an elaborate designed unlit torch.

“Well this is odd.” I commented looking into it. Then I noticed the increasingly odd scripture around the top. I couldn't read it or at least not from this angle so I hopped in to see if I can get a better look at it. But to my dismay I still couldn't make it out any better than before. This could have been a recipe for some Saddle Arabian soup or the clue to longevity as far as I knew.

“This looks like an offshoot of Ponrabian sand script.” Daring said as she hopped in after me, she dug into her saddlebags to pull out a notebook and pencil. “Give me a few moments to try and decipher this.” Taking that as my cue to get out of the way I hopped out so I could look at the room a bit more. I noticed around the room that there was engraved plates with some weird symbol on them. At the bottom of each one was the same scribbled script as in the torch plate. I counted roughly twenty plates set into the walls, on the two walls that had the doors I could see four plates on each as the other walls had six plates each. I flew over to one of the plates to take a better look at them. The one I stood before had two parallel lines going vertical that curved towards the top with a line that curves towards the bottom of the line that connects the two. There was also a half circle that floated above it keeping the curve pointed away from the base. There was something that was jumping out at me about it all. On one of the plates I saw the same symbol on the black book in my saddlebags. The curved S like part with circle and slash to it just sat there pressed into the plate, just like the other plates had the same offshoot of Ponrabian script under it. “I face my path that I must travel with a naivety of a risk-taker, While on my right hoof I hold out for my spire of upheaval. All that left me was the cycles of turning destiny, while I travel from the manipulate of resourcefulness actions.” Daring stated which caused me to turn back to her.

“What?” I asked as I flew back over to her.

“It's what's written here.” She said scratching her chin.

“It sounds like a failed try at a riddle.”

“Very true but it's interesting, but what does it mean?” She asked before she went over to one of the plates, which just so happened to be the same one as the black book I own. “From the look of it these are involved but how?” She asked, during that time I looked at the torch that held the really bad riddle. The square indentations were in four different directions. Not really thinking I gave the torch a light, course that triggered something. “What in Celestia's name did you do?”

“I just lit the torch, I swear that's it.” I answered as the whole room shook, which caused me to lose my footing and fell on my back with a thud. When the shake had subsided I noticed that there was a beam of light coming from one side of the torch. That was only for a minute before a second quake before the first beam of light disappeared and a second shot out. When I could finally get back to my hooves I couldn't help but notice that light was different then the first earthquake. “Hmm...” I said out loud, well more kind of hummed it really, it still did it's job getting Daring's attention.

“What is it?” She asked flying over.

“Did you notice what I did?” I asked.

“You mean that the first beam of light disappeared and there's a second one in a different location?” She asked.

“Okay so you did notice. It looked like it struck the door before changing.” I said going over to it. Unlike the plates the door itself had a symbol but it was unrecognizable since it was worn away with time. A lot of the plates were just like that as well, save for the small script underneath that was untouched. “Hey Daring what does the script on the door say?” I asked, much to her annoyance and my own self worry. Daring went over and after a minute or two, hard to tell time when you're inside a stone pyramid.

“The Foolish Spirit.” She answered, something about that bugged me much like the one before. The more I thought about it the more it was eating at me how familiar it was. I had asked her to check out a few other ones including the same one that was on the book which turned out to be “Unable to end without resistance to change.” There was something... fuck, once is consequence, twice is conspiracy, and three times someone is jacking with you. If you counted the space between the symbol from the book and the foolish door to the right like a clock, twelve plates stood between them. Fuck this room was set up for it too. Daring was looking at another plate when I went over to the pedestal. From the look at them they wouldn't require much effort to push them. Hell it seemed like I could do it if I just reared up and pressed it with my forelegs, like I did. The stone scraped across the ground which got Daring's notice. “What are you doing?” She asked coming over as I went to move the second pedestal into place.

“I think I figured this out, but I want to make sure I'm right first.” I said after the second one was in place. Lucky for me the third stone was only a square off. Once I had the light bouncing off four plates hitting one of the plates to the left, this was followed by the room shaking once again. “I was right!” I said probably louder than I needed to.

“Care to fill me in?” She asked hovering in the air.

“Sure, let's say the door forward is the fool, to the right would be the magician and it's left the world.” I commented.

“Wait... I face my path that I must travel with a naivety of a risk-taker.” She said.

“Correct, if the fool's card is upside down. Two of its meanings are naivety and risk-taking.” I said.

“If that's the case then, while on my right hoof I hold out for my spire of upheaval. The refers to the tower card in major arcana.” She said.

“Right on the nose Daring.” I said.

“Then that would mean that the line, all that left me was the cycles of turning destiny. That would refer to the wheel of fortune.” She said looking around while I did the same. “Which just leaves the line, while I travel from the manipulate of resourcefulness actions.” She had began to move the shifting mirrored pedestals.

“Manipulate of resourcefulness actions... Wait, I know that card. That's the Magician card.” I said as I began to shift the remaining mirrors into place. Once we got everything ready, Daring shifted the last mirror into place which like the two time previous shook quite violently. But once we were done the door ahead closed, but... the door behind us was still shut. From all my time playing games, of the adventure genre that both doors normally open upon solving the puzzle. But the exit was still shut, I did not like this. Since forward was our only choice, we took it. As before the walls had some kind of story on it, what it was I couldn't tell. That was until one very important thing showed up. It was around display on one wall with twenty two smaller circles within it. Two things jumped out, one was the same symbol as the book in my saddlebags. The second was the kanji in the center of the circle, and I knew what it meant, it was the kanji for 'darkness'.

Right to the left of it was a simple roman numeral for one, which broke this down to darkness one or simpler still 'Dark one'.

“What the buck are you doing?” She asked coming back after she must have noticed I stopped following for a few minutes.

“Sorry I need a copy of this.” I said once I got my wits together. I dug through my saddlebags not giving a crap what I dug out, until I found my new sketchbook pervaded by the Luna herself. I quickly began to sketch all twenty two symbols was in the separate circles as well as the kanji and number next to it. “Huh... what's this?” I heard to the right of me. I turned in time to notice a blue spark snap Daring in the muzzle as she tried to pick it up. “Ow!” She proclaim.

“Daring you alright?” I said as I wrapped the book in my magic with everything else.

“Yeah but that hurt, what in Celestia's name was that?” She asked as she rubbed her muzzle.

“I don't know, and I don't like it.”I said as I kept that book the furthest I could while it was on me. This was the first time I saw it interact like that to anypony. Either Gaia or myself had this reaction, the more I thought about it I also remember that Gaia interacted with it in her magic and not with her hooves. I was going to have this to the growing list of shit I needed to figure out in the near future. Once everything was repacked with my sketchbook with the newly obtained piece of information. “We should probably get going, there's no telling how far ahead they are.” I said as I slid my wings back into my hoodie. Daring nodded at this before we continued down the very blank hall ahead of us. Unlike the ones before the deception of the major arcana. The walls were blank and the floor itself was different. Before that point it was a very patch work. From that point on the floor was large slabs of sandstone. This continued for a while, never changing as we went up steady inclines and down the same. But after what felt like forever we found ourselves in another room. You know for a pyramid this thing feels like it bends space the more we go into it. I gave an annoyed huff as I blew up the hanging piece of my mane as we entered. The room itself was odd, all around the floor was small round indents a few inches wider in diameter then a pony's hoof. They were laid out in a grid like pattern throughout the floor with an extra one within each box. That completely covered the floor all but a wide border that rounded the edges and one path that lead into the center of the room. In the center eight indentations where off colored with a darker shade. Twenty-nine statues surrounded us in the room, each with an indention of ponies in different poses. Under them was two roman numerals separated by a diagonal line.

“Interesting.” Daring stated as she made to step more into the room and onto one of the circles on the floor. It pressed in with a rather loud click before Daring and I jumped as four waves of arrows flew from each directions behind the statues. All but the one over what looked like the door. The both of us took deep breaths as Daring and I were against the wall like the old cartoons that I grew up with. Once we removed ourselves and was able to understand the true point of the room. One wrong step and we get the puzzles point. I looked at the arrows themselves and saw them made of a black material. I plucked a few of them and stored them in my bags for later. “It- wait, those statues look familiar.” Daring said as she took to her wings to get a better look at the statues. I reached out with my magic to get a feel of what was going on under it. But all I could feel was this odd emptiness, almost like it was nothing but air. Wait... I know this. Right from my week learning this, Twilight explained that some materials were unable to be sensed through, like how I could find a gem through stone. Here I couldn't sense anything because it was made of a magic resistant substance. Much like the suppressant rings, it would null most magics. So I couldn't tell what the fuck is going on under it.

“Shit.” I said under my breath as I tried to get a better idea. The statues all looked with a determination that began to click with me. In their eyes was another set of numbers. I looked at each one of them closely before I looked over to the darken spots on the floor. I went over to them using the clear path. On one set of four was the roman numeral one and the other the two. Then I slowly stepped towards the number one spot.

“What are you doing?!” Daring yelled at me in surprise.

“Following my gut.” I said as I slipped into the first set as the click was heard again. Daring ducked down to avoid at the oncoming arrows... but none came. I looked at the spot before things started to make sense. “Daring come over here and take the second set.” I said as I looked at the statues that I could see. Daring flew over and slowly landed before me upon the remaining spot. The second click echoed before a tune began to play. It was inaudible at first before it grew in volume to fill the room like a... that was it wasn't it?

“A ballroom, this place is an elaborate ballroom.” Daring said before she slowly moved three of her hooves in adjacent spots as they clicked as well with no arrows. This whole thing was just a dance, the puzzle master wanted to dance. Who ever he was, the maker was one clever bastard. I followed the second pose in the statue was the first one matched my current one. I moved one hoof onto the next spot while I kept one in the air to match the statue. Daring and I stared at each other before a devilish grin. And so we dance Daring and I as the music continued to play. We followed the fourteen steps over and over again. This continued as we stepped in time with the music. Press by press and step by step, we continued to dance until the music stopped. We found ourselves out of breath but grinning like hell as we stared at each other at the exit. The door slowly began to rise with the sound of grinding stone. We began to laugh as we stepped off the dance floor as they say. We slowly made our way into the next room. Before long we found ourselves in a long hall like room with a pedestal with a glowing light striking it. On the pedestal was a rolled up cloth that looked very familiar. So familiar that it was drawing me towards it, Daring had to bite my tail to pull me back into reality. I looked down to see holes before spears came out almost striking me. I began to breath deeply as I almost became a Prince-ka-bob. That fear quickly turned to anger as I shifted onto my forelegs and spun to buck the spears into pieces.

I couldn't stop breathing hard, something just wouldn't let me calm down. But I was able to take the room in fully. Throughout the walls floor and even ceiling of this hall were holes of various sizes and shapes. I wrapped the spear in my magic and fired it at the base of the pillar as more spikes fired out of the ground further up, that was followed by four large swinging blades across the path and embed themselves into the wall across from their entryway. Just as darts, spikes, and even the sudden pit of lava appeared until the spear clanged against the pedestal.

“Does everything need to be a death trap here?” I asked as I started to make my way through the already sprung traps. The spikes and spears were easy to deal with as well as jumping onto the flat bits of the axes to cross. The lava, I simply jumped over while Daring flew over. We both slowly made our way up the small set of steps up to the pedestal to see the bright red rolled up cape with a golden clasp embedded with a bright pink gem in it. Daring waved a hoof over it as I tried to sense anything within the pedestal, like the room before. I could sense the emptiness, so they really like their secrets. Daring and I looked at each other as I carefully wrapped the cape with my magic, the light orange flaming aura around it hold it gently in place. “I say ten to one as soon as this is lifted up, a trap is going to trigger and we will need to run the hell out of here.” I said.

“Par for the course Firestorm.” She said looking at me as she got herself ready. I slowly lifted up the cape in my magic as nothing seemed off... yet. Taking my time I slowly brought it off the pedestal and out of the light before I quickly placed it into my saddlebags. Of course I didn't expect the floor to drop under us into a long tubed tunnel. The two of us began to slide down it with me ahead of Daring. It twisted and turned until we reached what looked like a drop into something rather red and orange glowing room. I quickly stabbed my clawed prosthetic hoof into the ground, it dug in and began to slow me down just enough to stop me at the edge. Daring flew off the edge after me with my rapid slowing down she shot past me. I didn't have enough time to react to grab her in my magic. Of course when she flew up into my view from the tunnel exit, I remember she had wings. “Are you coming?” She asked as she crossed her forelegs before she flew out of my view. I slowly released myself from the ground to see that it was a glow of lamps surrounding what looked like a white pool of something. I couldn't tell what it was but to be safe I unhooked my saddlebags and dropped floated them next to Daring. From there I jumped down into the pool to only find myself bounced right back up. This thing was like a gel trampoline. After a few bounces it was low enough for me to bounce off it and to Daring. “You done?” I nodded as we made our way out of what seemed like the only other path. Much like the hallway before this one was bare of anything but segmented areas. We traveled this path for sometime, and as we continued a thought began to cross my mind. I thought back to the previous rooms. The first one was a mirror puzzle geared two the major arcana, while the second one was to a dance set, and finally was the last room close to an Indiana Jones style last stretch. From there was the drop into a safe bounce like room, which didn't fit with everything so far. Besides the first room everything was geared to kill the ones that entered it. But the last one after passing just... felt too...

Wham, something collided with my head before my world went back. Several hours felt like they passed as everything came back to my conscious but aching mind.

“Did anypony get the number for that truck that hit me?” I asked as I tried to rub my head, only to find that my hooves and I do mean all of them were cuffed to a large stone slab. My saddlebags were gone, as well as Daring's. It had seemed that somepony had the both of us restrained.

“Ah I have you where I want you Daring Do.” said someone trying to do a suave voice then decided to take that and guff the hell out of it. I turned to look own such a voice only to come face to face with something. It looked like someone crossed a monkey and a dog, then dye the damn thing blue. I mean he had the back paws of a dog as well as the face of one and a large overbite. He had the hands and tail of a monkey but even his tail had a hand with them all being a lighter blue, his tail and a ring around it. Around the upper arms was two bands of color, a solid red ban with a golden yellow thicker one under it that came to a few peaks. Around his neck was a golden necklace that had an Aztec style to it. In each of his large pointed ears was a golden ball earring with a piece of red fabric just flapping under it. In his tails hand was the cape that we came to get.

“Ahuizotl, what are you doing here?” Daring growled, I turned back to watch the newly revealed Ahuizotl grin.

“Oh Daring Do, I'm here to get this little artifact of you. Just so happens that you manage to get to it before us. So you saved us the trouble, and I get to take you out as a present to myself.” He said before flicking a switch and ducked out, laughing with that really bad villain laugh you expect from an old b movie bad guy. I looked around to see the room a bit better in details to see that Daring and I were in a large empty room with the only thing of note is the sand that was slowly filling the room as well as the slowly lowering ceiling. For trap room that I've read in Daring's stories this was rather on the lacking side. Hey any unicorn could get out of here so I don't see the big problem here. I tried to focus and noticed the odd but familiar sensation on my horn.

“Daring is there a suppression ring on my horn?” I asked looking over at her who was already looking around probably figuring her way out of it. She snapped her gaze to me upon my asking and nodded.

“Yeah.” She asked before she grinned at something behind me. My confusion decided to raise as it was a blank wall behind me. I turned back and watched as she flipped her adventurer style hat off her head, right into her hoof before biting it. To add to the outright what the hell that Equestria likes to toss at me at time. First few being the whole dragon in my head, a lot of mythology being real, and the biggest of them all Pinkie Pie. Watching Daring Do pull her hat with her teeth and watch it stretch like a rubber band, before she releasing it. All just for it to fly off her hoof and four ricochet shot off the wall behind me, off the ceiling, off the top of the slab we are on and finally knocking the lever right the fuck back up stopping the sand. The worse part is that part of me just wants to call bullshit on that kind of shot. But I can't, I honestly can't call it when I just saw it in person or pony or whatever. “Okay one problem down now... how to get out of these bindings.” Daring said.

“Don't worry about that one I got this.” I said as I began to focus more magic into my horn. Not on a spell per-say. But I remembered on Celestia's explanation to me about the magic suppression rings and an alicorn's magic. Daring watched as I could hear the ring itself crack. Since all I was doing was bashing my magic against the ring itself. Once the ring was completely cracked it fell to pieces around me as my horns glow shot from dim light to fucking star in a nanosecond. I dropped the magic before focusing onto another spell. With a few minutes the strength enhancement was wrapped around my hooves. With a shift of my hooves I pulled out the metal restraints. Once I was free I moved over to Daring and freed her.

“Nifty spell there princey.” She said before she flew off down the door Ahuizotl left from.

“Stop calling me princey!” I yelled as I galloped after her.

***---***

By the time we got outside, Ahuizotl was getting ready to head off on a sand sleigh being pulled by what I could best describe as Aztec earth ponies. Before he could ride off I noticed one of the larger piece of stone from the entry. I went over it with my magically enhanced strength bucked the rock right at Ahuizotl. Unfortunately the bastard got lucky and dived out of the way before the slab wrecked the sleigh into pieces. The added momentum flipped the ponies tied to sleigh as well. Ahuizotl turned to see us as I righted myself to look at him.

“I will get you for that.” He said as he dashed right at us. Daring took to the air as I took the slightly dumber idea of meeting the prick head on. He bright both of his fists up to slam them at me. I quickly reared up and stopped his smash with my own power. He looked surprised for a moment before he grinned at me. I had forgot his tail had a hand too. Within a second his tail's fist nailed me in the side of my head and knocked me to the ground. Ahuizotl grinned as he stomped on my side. “It seems pony shouldn't try and play with the big boys.” he taunted at me. My head turned to look up at him.

“Oh Ahuizotl didn't anypony tell you not to play with fire?” Daring said as she hovered in the air, both forelegs crossed and a cocky grin on her face. I couldn't help but grin as the idea crossed my mind. The big blue bastard turned to look at her before turning back at me. With a blast of flames, he got off while he fought to snuff out the fire that caught his coat. While he did this I was able to get on my hooves, only to get kicked and sent right into the side of the pyramid with massive force. I felt a sharp pain coming from right wing and it felt like something was broke. I got back up to my hooves to watch Daring buck Ahuizotl in the face. He fell back on to his back from the impact. Then the four Aztec ponies got undone and rushed in for the attack. I fought to take a breath and fired a few fireballs towards them. They scrambled away as all I did was fire suppression fireballs to keep the four of them away. I slowly used this to keep them away as I made my way to the sleigh. Since Ahuizotl didn't have the cape on him then it must be on the remains of the sleigh, I was able to keep them away from both me and the sleigh. A quick search netted me the cape as I slid it into my hoodie under my left wing. At least this should help me keep it on me, with a bit of wavering focus I was able to get my speed enchantment back on my hoof. With a whistle I got Daring's attention as she noticed the larger bulge on my left side, she nodded and turned to Ahuizotl. “Sorry big guy but this caper is capped.” She said before taking off past me. I followed her as she was a lot faster than I expected. In the distance as the pyramid began to fade from sight a loud yell could be heard all over the desert.
“Curse you Daring Do!” Ahuizotl yelled as the sun began to set behind us.

-End of Chapter-

Author's Notes:

My my my. Isn't this an interesting turn of events. Storm has been in contact of four of the six artifacts and what is this? Storm has family outside his adopted ones in Equestria? Will Daring Do ever stop calling him Princey? That last one, probably not. But who knows. Find now what happens next in chapter 27.