“Why do you need to know?” Luna asked in surprise at Firestorm's question. The look on his face already told her that he was serious about the question.

“Because I want to visit the grave of my mother.” was his only reply.

“I thought Sha was your mother?” Luna questioned as Storm's horn lit up. In the span of a few seconds the cover plate on his nub of a foreleg was slid off to show the still exposed wound. Regardless of how much time had passed the spot under it only healed over a bit but some of the more fleshed bits of muscle could be seen under it. With the wires and two crystals could be seen as if they were stabbed into the nub. Truth being that they were so they could work. She watched as an aura of magic surrounded one of the crystals. Before Luna could do anything Storm let out a howl of pain as he ripped out a pale brown crystal from the leg. “Are you insane?” Luna blurted out of her mouth instead of the link between the two of them. Storm did get the answer before two guards broke through the door.

“Is everything alright?” The one to the left a unicorn with his horn already a lit with magic.

“No, the prince is in need of medical attention. Please fetch Heartshy and have him bring a replacement crystal for the prince's prosthetic as well as his leg.” Luna ordered.

“As well as bring me a one foot square of metal.” Storm tacked on which caused Luna to glance back at him.

“Of course your highnesses” They both said giving a salute before rushing off.

“What's the metal for?” the princess of the night inquired.

“It's for this.” Storm said floating up the lightly blood covered pale brown crystal. As the blood dripped down onto part of the towel. Luna could see something within the crystal, but with the blood on it she could make it out. Storm pulled the crystal back and she noticed in it was a symbol of a wand topped with a skull with a swoosh of star filled magic. Storm pulled the crimson stained towel as the blood stopped flowing from where he had pulled out crystal. With a flick of magic all the blood that had stained the towel was pulled from it and formed into a makeshift claw in the air that was used to pick up the crystal that familiar to the dralicorn. Firestorm went to say something else but right as if on cue. Cadence had returned with both the guards who was sent off as well as Princess Celestia who at this time was glad to see that Firestorm was awake. Being the one who had put him to sleep a little over two weeks ago. She wouldn't have said it to anypony other than her sister Luna that she blamed herself for what happened. She had thought she put too much power behind her sleeping spell to allow the stallion to rest while doctors worked on his injuries.

“The piece of metal you requested your highness.” The guard said as he pulled a one foot square piece of rather thick metal.

“Thank you mister...” He paused to allow the guard to speak.

“Stoic Guard, your highness.” The guard said supplying his name to the prince.

“Thank you Stoic Guard, you may go.” Storm said keeping a very calm demeanor about him that to be rather honest was one of the few odd things that the three alicorns had noticed. The odd shift in his mood he was currently in caused much unease between Celestia and Luna as they both had feelings of much worse things to come. In those few moments as the celestial sisters glanced at each other as the two guards left. The second one not even supplying a name. They had returned to standing by the door that Celestia had ordered them to report to for the last two weeks. They watched as Storm's magic surrounded the metal and bent as if the metal was nothing more than a piece of paper to him. He bent the corners in to make a diamond like shape. This was followed by bending the metal so that the inside diamond was formed with a convex curve. That was followed by him pulling the metal back out and placed the crystal in the middle of it once again. He replaced the metal over the crystal and made a second fold to the inner corners, so that it created a small window that showed the symbol in the middle of the simple eight flat surfaced crystal. When he was done he pressed the metal down so the crystal was locked in place and couldn't move even an inch. The three alicorns watched this transpire.

“What was that about?” Celestia was the first to speak after a few moments when Firestorm had laid the metal creation down on the bed.

“I was making sure it was dealt with.” Storm replied.

“What was?” Cadence asked this time curiosity getting the better of her. She knew that Storm wasn't going like the other nobles she had to deal with both here in Canterlot and the Crystal Empire.

“That the prison was secured.” He said in a tone that caused even Celestia who had seen many dark and horrible things in her life to shudder.

“Who's prison?” She asked picking up the now newly described prison to herself. Her answer came without Storm even needing to say it. As this was one of her biggest regrets in her life, the biggest was having to send her sister Luna to the moon as banishment. “You... you didn't-” She began to asked before Firestorm cut her off.

“Yes I did Celestia.” Storm said.

“Did what?” Luna asked this time.

“I put Grimwand's soul into a soul jar.” Storm answered.

“A soul jar?” Cadence asked being the only one that wasn't familiar with necromancy magic as the other three.

“It's a item where a pony puts part of their soul into, to give them immortality with a sort of half life.” Luna explained, this caused Cadence to pale before staring directly at Firestorm in horror.

“And you did that to a pony?!” She asked as she took an involuntary step back away from her adopted brother in fear of him doing the same to her.

“No, I did it to a monster.” He said calmly that put everypony but Storm himself on edge. Even the guards who couldn't help but listen in started to fear the prince.

“What would inspire you to do something so... so horrible to another being?” Luna asked as she was the only one that didn't have the full context of Grimwand. She had only small bits that Celestia told her as well as the chance meetings in Firestorm's dreamscapes to inform her. Celestia was the only one not fully surprised. Firestorm had paled at much of what he had read and seen of the stallion did what she would expect from Grimwand.

“A monster like that deserved to be punished.” Was Storm's reply.

“Then let the justice system handle it.” Luna countered.

“The same justice system that Celestia herself had sought after him herself in the body of a young colt that he destroyed the soul of so he could occupy himself to live on. Only to be slayed himself by Celestia and hid in Saddle Arabia up until only roughly two hundred years ago? Where he was doing far worse by manipulating another pony to kill for him and in turn to get killed by him before my sister caught him. Just for him to escape once again. On yeah, I believe I let the justice run its course and it did nothing to stop him. So it was time for me to put this monster down.” Storm growled as his mane had turned into the darkest of flames that the breathes of everypony could be seen. The truth was he was seething in anger that he was being berated for his actions when he only did it to protect ponies and himself. He had taken out two of the biggest monsters he knew of. The dark one not being among them as he knew very little of it.

“Be that as it may, you didn't need to go that far... did you?” Cadence said as she was visibly shaking in both fear and in general as the room had became frigged.

“Very much so.” Storm growled.

“But-” Cadence said before Celestia cut her off.

“I believe he did right by putting an end to this, but I have to ask. Why in such a cruel way?” She said before staring Storm right in the eyes.

“Because the bastard wasn't going to win the right to have an afterlife.” Storm said as he was shaking in anger. During the fight with Grimwand he had to focus on the fight and the adrenaline did wonders to keep him going but as now he was coming out of it. The results had left him drained and running on emotions now. Anger was what was running it's course now as he didn't have the mind altering effects on him anymore. He could properly be pissed off at everything in his mind the bastard had done to him and those he cared deeply about.

“Did you forget that I have seen the afterlife twice now. I know how it works, there is no heaven or hell from what I saw. Everypony just exists and can create their perfect afterlife. If I had simply killed him, I gave him a chance to come back much like your mother did in my dreamscape. So what I did was give him what he wanted, just not the way he wanted it.” Storm did everything in his power to keep from going full rage mode as he would put it recounting all this. He didn't want to deal with another dragon's rage with those three in the room. Celestia and Luna remembered the time with their mother in Storm's dreamscape.

“How?” Celestia asked eyeing the stallion as he had laid in his bed this entire time. He just looked directly at her.

“With the thirteenth black book.” He answered which if it wasn't for the many years practice. She would have started to shake in fear. “Before you ask, I only used two spells.”

“Two spells?” She could help as her voice shook a bit.

“Yes, the soul jar spell which you can see the result. The other one was a modified shield spell that is wrapped around my souls.”

“Souls?” Cadence asked this time.

“Yes, it seems that I technically have two. One being me and the other one belongs to Shadowstorm.” There was a few moments of silence.

“How is it possible?”

“How do I have two souls. Since my body was artificially created by magical means, it left a sort of soul. If I had to name it I guess a proto-soul. When my soul was dropped into the body, since a pony's body is not made to house a human soul. It sent most of my negativity and darker feelings into the second soul, mind you this is a more shot in the dark then anything. From there the soul evolved into Shadowstorm which at that time could only interact in my dreams until Nightmare Moon interacted with him. From there I believe everypony knows what happened.” He said.

“What do plan to do with the book?” Celestia asked worried that she may have to do with a stallion that has dealt with so much in her kingdom alone and even against the stallion's own choice. Thought of him as a hero for helping defeat some rather fearsome foes.

“Honestly, beyond doing what I had already done. Nothing really but study it and see if it can lead me a clear image of the dark one.” He explained.

“Do you think this book would help?” Luna asked.

“It seems like it would be the perfect place to at least find a clue of some sort.” He said before looking off to his right and spotting one of the bags he had with him during his trip to Saddle Arabia. He brought out the paper with the twenty two symbols followed by the center one representing the dark one. “I found this in the pyramid on one of the walls, right before my guard was shocked by the book.” Storm said floating up said book. “As you can tell the symbol on the spine of this book matches the one directly at the bottom. Which if you are following that means this is book thirteen of the black books, namely the death book. From that I can assume that there is still twenty-one other floating titles out there that may house similar clues. I have no idea where to look.”

“How did you come to have this book.” Celestia asked looking over said book. Unknown to Storm, Celestia had seen a book much like this one in the old library in the her old castle. Even more so, Celestia opened the book much like she would if she wanted to read it.

“As far as I can tell only those tied to the books can read it.” Storm explained and he was correct about it, but Celestia already knew that. Simply with the first line she saw in the book.

Another has paid my price.

She closed the book with a sigh. “May I have this book examined?” She asked.

“I don't see a problem in it, but it depends what the book thinks about it.” Storm answered back which caused the three alicorns look confused by this.

“What do you mean by that?” Luna asked, without answering Storm opened his uninjured wing and right there the black book dropped. They all looked back where Celestia had been holding it in her magic and it was gone.

“These books have a connection to those they are connected to.” Celestia answered. “That they either stay where their owner has placed them or if they are taken away from them by another means they return to their owner.”

“That's what I figure at least.” Storm said picking it up with his hoof. He just looked over the book quietly for a bit before sliding it away once again. “Truth be told, I'm not a fan of necromancy. Maybe in the helpful way like the concept of helping spirits move on, I can support. If I happen to come across that ability I may use it to help ponies feel at ease. But beyond trying to figure out the dark one and what I can do to help stop him. I don't want these books anywhere near ponies. Lucky for us that only those that are linked directly to these books are the only one's that can read them.”

“Very much so.” Celestia started watching the stallion for a while and she could see the tiredness not of his body or mind. The very tiredness of his soul or specifically souls as she is also able to see the same thing that Storm was made aware of. Two bright souls could be seen within him. One bright burning orange and the other of a whispering black shadow behind it. She's only recently noticed this around the time after Shadowstorm and himself combined once again. Before then they looked as if they where just one being either the one was hiding behind the other in her sight. This was along an ability that her sister Princess Luna wasn't aware of. Truth be told she was able to see the darker parts of ponies normally being her attuning was with the night. She was able to see all those that hid within it. Cadence was able to see things within ponies in a different matter, as she was tied directly to love see can see how that could twist and turn. From love to obsessiveness, from caring to cruelty, and from much far worse things. She was also able to see other things besides love, she was able to see loneliness in others. Even in her kingdom of the Crystal Empire, she was known to help couples get together that were perfect for each other. What was the odd thing was the feeling and what was hiding within the dralicorn in the room. To each of them they saw a darkness to him, one that isn't overpowering such as that of Nightmare Moon or even that of Shadowstorm that they have interacted with before. This was almost a balanced darkness that had always been part of him, part that was always in a level of flux and calm.

“Storm, can I ask you a question?” Cadence asked stepping over and setting a hoof on her adopted brother.

“What is it Cadence?” He asked turning to her.

“Are you alright?” This wasn't the first time he was asked this and part of him wanted to reply with the fact that he was alright as the situation allows. That wouldn't be right either as part of him was alright but the other part that of his mind was always trying to really feel good about what he had to do.

“No, what I did I will admit doesn't sit right. But it was either this or two other options.” He paused for a few moments before he just took the towel and wrapped the numb of his leg so he wouldn't have to magically hold it anymore. “It was either imprison him in a way he couldn't get out. Completely remove him from this world by destroying his soul, which didn't feel right. Or just kill him for him to just come back once again which wasn't an option. I know I did the lesser of the three evils.”

“As you have said, you're only human.” Celestia commented as she came over to his other side of the bed. “We know how a choice like that can leave unease within one's soul. Should you complain to somepony no pony would truly blame you. I was worried that you may take justice into your own hooves with this magic. But now I don't think anypony had to worry of this.” Storm remained silent for a bit as she could see the gears in his mind turning from the look on his face.

“Do... do you trust me?” Storm asked to all of them.

“Yes.” Cadence said resting her head against Storm after she had joined him on the bed.

“Indeed, you have shown so much promise as a pony and that of a great leader.” Luna commented with a smile. Celestia was silence however as she watched Storm for a while, the only thing she saw was his eye turn to look at her without turning his head to do so. His gaze returned forward for a moment.

“So even after all this time you still don't, I'm not surprised.” He said slowly moving to get out of the bed and onto his hooves.

“No, it's just. After Grimwand-” She started a little surprised.

“You have a hard time trusting ponies that you can't get a feeling for and even then you don't want a repeat of him.” Storm said walking to the door, the three of them watched as Storm fought to keep on his hooves. His hind leg haven't healed completely and are very week, but even he knew that. He didn't care about his pain right now, he just wanted to leave the room. “Celestia just so you know. I do trust you, we may have had our issues like that of getting Twilight to remember me and about the guards. But that never changed that I trusted you. Not as royalty but that of a pony, nothing more and nothing less.” He turned his head to look at her. “Please put him somewhere that no pony can find him and please keep this safe.” Storm said as he magically removed the pendent from around his neck and placed it before the regent of the sun herself. She watched silently as Storm left the room not saying a word on his three hooves. When the door shut behind him, Celestia couldn't help but feel regret for not telling Storm that she trusted him.

“Sister.” Luna said coming over to her with Cadence next to her. They sat next to Celestia and each of them placed a wing around her as best as they could.

“Auntie.” Cadence said in a comforting tone.

***---***

“There you go prince, I hope next time you won't do something as foalish as rip out one of the crystals again.” Heartshy had said after having to replace the whole wiring in my numb of a leg. It seems that the crystals were made to be synced up and it was easier to replace the crystals then re-sync one crystal to a new one. So I sat in the medical wing of the castle getting fixed up. As much as I wanted to agree with him I didn't want him to be aware of the real reason. So I left it up to it being an accident when readjusting the plate that I had done it. That was all I could think of at short notice because I don't think a magical mishap would cover crystal being ripped from a limb. Of course knowing me, I was probably wrong about that.

“I still can't believe you ended up doing that around the princesses.” Twilight berated me for the, I want to say twenty eighth or was that twenty ninth time of me doing something stupid before any of them.

“I said I was sorry.” I said lowering my head at this.

“Seriously who in their right mind would...” Twilight paused for a moment catching herself a few words too late. “never mind” She let out a sigh watching as I did a few tests to make sure I had the full range of motion.

“Thank you Heartshy and sorry for this being so short notice.” I said.

“Well you're lucky I was already here taking care of your legs.” He commented.

“Again thank you for those as well.” He was rinsing the blood from his hooves from fixing my leg up.

“It wasn't a problem, I am your doctor after all. But please do me a favor and don't get yourself injured for the next month.” He said before a few moments pause. “I doubt you'll even get out of the door before that happens.”

“Probably.” I commented, then I slowly made my way off the cot and onto the floor where Twilight trotted up to me.

“Shall we get going?” She asked.

“To?”

“Well, you need to get something in you after spending the two weeks getting fed by a gavage.” Twilight commented.

“Honestly wouldn't be the first time.” I commented.

“True, but no it's not really a good sight seeing your coltfriend being fed that way.” Twilight said and my ears flattened back.

“Sorry.”

“I don't blame you Storm, how was you suppose to know that it was a trap?” Twilight said pressing into my side as we trotted back to my room. Lucky for both of us that she was on the side with my good wing. With that, I laid it across her as we walked.

“I think I should have guessed it since I found the paper in a folder in my room. At first I thought that maybe one of the guards had left it by order of Celestia or Luna. But now that I think about it more it was very suspicious.” I said thinking it out loud.

“I believe it was a wise pony said that hindsight is always twenty twenty.” Twilight commented.

“I think that is most likely the case.” I said thinking about it silently.

“Hey Storm... can I ask you about something?” At this I can see a slightly embarrassed look on her face.

“Sure?” I said looking back a little confused.

“Well... I may have, while under estrus, may have tried to find something of yours.” She continued.

“Which was?” I asked not sure if I was going to like where this was going.

“Well... a mare under estrus who is with somepony tries to find something of their scent to help... elevate some of her issues. But that wasn't the point I was going to ask. Well... I may have gone through and found something that I wasn't sure what it was.” She said and I tried to think of something that she may have found that made her uneasy. Well besides her out right saying that she was trying to find something with my scent on it. Trust me that was already weird enough to have heard. Well... I found this book looking thing, The outside cover was lavender and on the inside with this black rectangle with a screen on it.” She continued to explain and I got what she meant right off the bat.

“Oh my tablet?”

“Tablet? It didn't look like a tablet, I mean it had this stick with a soft rubber end. At first I thought it was a pencil of some kind.” She continued.

“Twilight, sometimes humans call different objects the same thing or the same object multiple names. Let's take computer for instance: There's Computer, P.C, tower, the gate way of entertainment, the fancy box, and one of my personal favorites that I heard that thing ma gig that allows the inter webs.” I said giggling a little at the end. I remember where I heard that, one of my friend's mother was not that tech savvy so she had rambling names for things. Like calling a TV a pictobox of many shows.

“That's interesting, but what about this tablet I believe you called it?” She asked.

“Well, in this case it's much like a computer but not as powerful to some of the one's I've used on earth. But it would run circles around the one in the library basement.” I explained.

“But it would have to be massive to do that. I mean the one here in Canterlot takes up a room almost as big as the ballroom.” She said in surprise.

“Well that's where my observations about how lopsided the advancements here in Equestria are. I've seen computers and rotary phone, I've seen helicopters and turntables. While on earth we have that and surpassed it. Our computer takes up about the same size as Rarity's makeup kit.” I explained.

“Seriously? That's... well to Rarity she does bring a rather massive makeup kit, but compared to computers. That's rather small.” Twilight said in surprise.

“Yeah and that's a standard desktop a laptop is a whole new ball as one of those could be smaller than one of the standard books in the library in Ponyville. I've even seen a few that would maybe closer to a magazine in thickness.”

“Are you pulling my leg?” She asked.

“Too quote Big Mac, nope.” I said matching his deep tone at the end.

“Can I see one?” She asked with big wide eyes. Kind of reminded me when Rarity ships her brain of to la la land.

“Currently... not really. I think I may have an image of a desktop computer on my tablet. For anything else it would require me to go back to earth to get it.” I stated and realize my mistake a moment too soon.

“Oh, can we go?” She asked stopping and jumping in front of me like... well Pinkie pie.

“No.” I said deflating her idea.

“But, please for me?” She said giving that damn face again. It got to the point I had to jam my eyes shut to try and avoid that look.

“No Twilight.”

“But please!” She tried doing that damn adorable tone to it that she know she had that power over me. Worse was that my brain already flashed the image of that face in my head in time with it, with a sigh and lowering my head.

“We’ll see.” I said giving in just a little. This caused Twilight to start jumping around with a serious of-

“Yes, yes, yes.” She said as she made a good six laps around me before she stopped.

“Did anypony tell you that you do that look too well?” I asked watching her come down from her jumping fit.

“Shining Armor, my father, Doughnut Joe, sometimes my mother, oh Cadence once, Spike several times, and six head librarians and the stallion down at Quills and Sofas.” She answered without missing a beat and I couldn't help but stop and stare at her with my left eye twitching. “You asked.”

“You know what, I'm sorry I asked.” I said continuing to walk.

“So... I heard you went to Saddle Arabia.”

“Eeyup.”

“What was it like?”

“Sandy.” I answered with a smirk. She gave me a small shove.

“Okay, now seriously how was it?”

“To be honest, the first part of it was rather nice and surprising. I got a little shopping in and got to see Al Buck.”

“You got the see the capital? Did you get to see the Pon Sabino Palace?” She asked, and I couldn't help but crack a smile at the name alone. I already guessed the Pon was being short for pony but to have the name of a breed in the palace's name. That was pretty funny to me.

“If it was the center palace then yes, I even got to meet the Queen.” I said as we took a turn to the left still on our way to the castle.

“You met with Queen Gaia herself?” She asked stopping in surprise at that.

“Yeah?” I said stopping to see what happened.

“How... how was she?” She stammered.

“She was pretty good the last I checked.” I said eyeing her.

“I bet she was just as regal as Princess Celestia, but of course not to say Princess Luna isn't regal.” Twilight said trying to overcompensate.

“Twilight I get it, relax. Yes Queen Gaia is very regal and nice.” I said not having told Twilight that she was also my sister yet. I kind of wasn't sure how she would take that news. “I”m a little surprised you haven't asked me what I got you from Saddle Arabia yet.” I said more to derail her from going off on the fan filly squee fest as Rarity had once describe Dash's love for the Wonderbolts.

“You... you got me something?” She asked a little surprised.

“Of course, I got you and the girls something. Spike as well.” I said with a smile.

“Oh, what is it?” She asked catching up and I placing my wing over it.

“Well I found this little book stand and I couldn't help myself and look around. So in the course of it I found myself a few spell books since my list of spells are on the lacking side. But while I was in there I found you a complete set of history of the area books.” Twilight then grabbed me in her back and took off at a full gallop towards my room with me in tow... literally. She almost ripped the doors off the hinges getting in there to see the girls already there. This also included Nightling who was sitting next to Pinkie her wing over her much like I did with Twilight. The girls all looked up to see me in the air with one of those dear god not again looks on my face.

“Twilight, must you always be so hasty to get into the room. Very unladylike.” Rarity teased.

“I um... sorry?” Twilight stammered as she had a bright red blush on her face.

“Give her a break ready, I talked about some books I got her and well.” I said with a sheepish grin on my face.

“Ah, enough said.” Rarity said returning the same look. “But speaking of gifts. I heard from a little birdy that somepony had gone to Saddle Arabia.”

“Was this birdy lavender, magical, and currently holding a pony against their will up in the air?” I asked teasing.

“Hey!” Twilight shot back before she set me down finally.

“You could say so.” Rarity said giving an amused look.

“So, did you bring us anything back?” Dash said floating up into my face with what could clearly be labeled as a shit eating grin.

“Nah, I wouldn't go to another country and not bring back a few gifts.” I said grinning.

“Does that mean you didn't bring us anything back?” Dash asked confused. I face hoofed at this before running my hoof down my muzzle.

“Yes Dash, I brought gifts.” I said with a sigh. “But since ponies couldn't wait, two of them will have to wait to get theirs.”

“Aww, that's not fair.”

“So is not getting sarcasm Dash.” I commented getting onto my bed and bringing over my saddlebags and large bag that I brought back. First off let's start with Pinkie Pie.” I said as I floated up the Arabian Party book I got her. “I thought a book on party ideas would be fitting since these have Arabian themed ideas.” I said and I watched in a sense of horror as Pinkie's tail extended to grab the book and whipped it back to her. I went to say something before my brain decided to file that under don't fucking ask.

“Wow!” Pinkie said already flipping through the book before getting to the other side. “Done, and there is some great ideas especially the one on page eighty-two.” She said before giggling. Both Twilight and I stared at her gaping at the insanity we both just saw. I turned to look at Twilight who was looking back.

“Don't ask?” I commented.

“Don't ask.” Twilight repeated.

“Moving on... for Applejack.” I said digging into the bag for it. “I got you this western style vest that I thought you would look good in. There is a few enchantments on it to make it very heavy duty in the protection department.” I said floating it over to her.

“Are you saying I can't protect myself?” She asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“Hell no, I thought it would do that both for the durability of the vest as well as just in case if somepony blindsides you. I also got you these so the everypony at the farm could listen to them.” I said floating three music crystals over to her. Applejack already got my meaning since I kept it sounding like it wasn't just for her. She smiled.

“Thank ya, kindly Storm.” Applejack said with a smile.

“Anytime.” I answered back.

“Next up we have Fluttershy.” I said, she perked up looking at me from the chair she was sitting curled up in. “I wasn't too sure about your hobbies so I took the safer route and got you some animal supplies which Queen Gaia had already assured me would be delivered to your house as well as got you these.” I said floating up the exotic animal training tip books as well as a few animal calls. “I'm sorry if they aren't to your liking Fluttershy.” She smiled and timidly walked over and gave me a hug.

“Thank you, they’re perfect.” She said and I couldn't help but blush a little. Not that often that one of the other girls, other then Pinkie of course would hug me. Twilight not including in that since we hug all the time especially in bed. Fluttershy went back to her seat looking over the book gently.

“Now how about me?” Dash said grinning.

“No, you wait.” I said teasing her.

“Why not?”

“Because somepony needs to learn to wait for her turn.” I commented.

“What am I in school again?”

“That could be easily arranged.” I shot back and that got Dash to shut up for the moment.

“Next up is Rarity and since I'm not good with picking out jewelry I thought I would go with the next best thing.” I said bringing over a few bolts of Arabian fabric with an ornate necklace on top of it. Rarity's eyes just popped at the sight of it before she ripped the bolts and necklace out of my magic and brought them right to her.

“Are these pure Arabian silk?” She asked feeling them over with her hoof. “Oh my Celestia they are.” That's when Rarity pulled a Pinkie Pie on me and zipped right over to me kissing my hoof with a series of “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” To say it was awkward was to say what Pinkie did with the book and her tail was impossible. Both true, but still happened anyway.

“Ah... your welcome. Don't forget the necklace.” I said trying not to show how weirded out I was. Rarity smiled looking over the necklace before slipping it on. I watched as the necklace that was made of various blues and violets worked perfectly with her bright blue eyes with matching eye shadow and indigo mane.

“And now for Rainbow Dash.” I said digging into the bag.

“Finally!” Dash proclaim floating over.

“Since I know you're a little bit of a fan for the Wonderbolts...”

“A little fan?” She asked a little.

“Please don't interrupt Dash. As I was saying since I know you're a fan, I thought I would get you some hoof carved figures of them.” I said pulling each hoof sculpted to perfection of each of the Wonderbolts, including a special order one I had done of Dash as a Wonderbolt. This was followed by a fan filly stream of-

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh” at a full on rapid rate. She then swooshed on by grabbing them all and placing on the table next to Rarity's bolts of silk. “Oh my gosh, you even got one of me!” She said before she full on tackled me to the ground having me pinned under her. “Oh, if you weren’t with Twilight right now I would full on kiss you.” Okay that statement turned my face from the orange it normally was to bright red.

“Dash!” Both Twilight and Applejack yelled at the same time. This got Dash to gulp quietly and turned her head. She gave one of those please don't kill me smiles followed by that accursed squeaking I keep hearing. Seriously what the hell is with that damn sound?

“Mind getting off my hind leg?” I said wincing as my left hind leg was being stepped on by Dash. She turned back to me then looked down and I watched her eyes widen before she lifted herself up into the air.

“Oh, sorry dude. I didn't realize I was on your hoof. Are you alright?” She asked hover, it took me a few moments for the pain to subside.

“Give me a moment and I will be.”

“Dash!” Twilight said lifting me up into the air slowly before placing me on the bed.

“Do I need to get you anything?” Dash asked.

“An Ice pack please.” I requested as my leg wouldn't stop shaking from the pain.

“Got it.” She said flying out of the door. A few moments the door swung back and closed. I was breathing a little hard at the pain.

“Storm, it will be alright.” Twilight said as he horn lit up as her magic wrapped itself around my left hind leg. I stayed there as her magic began to massage the area until the pain began to fade away.

“What... what kind of spell was that?” I asked.

“It's a numbing spell, as the name implies, it numbs the area to the point that you can't move the leg.” She explained.

“Where did you learn that?” I asked.

“I did kind of have time to learn it since I didn't do much else.” She said blushing a bit.

“Oh... that time, got it.” I figured out what she meant.

“Well that was awkward.” Nightling said.

“Nah, that's just normal between the two since Stormy doesn't like talking about all the intimate stuff with anyone around. Because of his family teasing him about to the point it made him not want to talk to anypony about. Twilight has a hard time getting Storm to open up at all about it even in private.” Pinkie said dropping a second leveling grade A awkward bomb in the already awkward room.

“Pinkie!” Twilight and I yelled.

“What?” She asked innocently. I swear to god that some of these ponies were as innocent as the devil himself. Before the conversation could get any further awkward one of the night guards came in with a piece of paper in his magic.

“Your highness.” The guard said saluting.

“Uh... yes?” I asked a little awkwardly as Twilight had me on my back while she was working on my leg.

“Permission to speak freely?” He asked.

“Just spit it out Lunar Echo.” Nightling said with a flat stare.

“Yes Ma'am.” The newly named Lunar Echo said saluting to her before dropping his hoof down to the ground. “If I may ask why are you lying like that?”

“Because my marefriend is helping adjust my leg bandage and splint and I thought this position would be the best way for her to get to it to help.” I lied, but I don't think anypony was going to call me out for it. Even Applejack turned her head away which I already knew her tell for lying was trying her best not to be seen.

“Understood, we received this message for you a few moments ago.” Echo said looking at me holding the paper out.

“Would you like reading it for me?” I asked.

“Of course your highness.” He said before clearing his throat. “Hello brother, I was just informed what has transpired. I will be in Canterlot in two days time to visit you and see how you are doing. I also will be bringing something that I think you will need. I hope you and your mate Twilight Snarkle is doing alright. Looking forward to seeing you soon, signed your loving older sister Queen Gaia. P.S. Our brother has been informed as well and you may look forward to a message from him sometime in the future.” The guard finished.

“Ah... thank you. You're dismissed.” I said before gulping quietly.

“Yes your highness.” Lunar Echo said before leaving. I turned back to see everypony, correction everypony but Pinkie looking at me with one of those my brain clocked out for lunch looks. That was before all but Pinkie decided to exclaim one word.

“Sister!?” Of course right at that moment Dash came in with a rather large Ice pack in her forelegs.

“I'm back.” She said before noticing everypony's gaze. “Did I miss something?”

***---***

“Okay, so let us get this straight.” Twilight said as she sat with the others looking at me. I was on the bed laying back with my hooves under me that I've seen Twilight lay like before. “You have two other brothers and a sister you didn't know you had until just recently.”

“Technically not true, I've own I have had siblings since the dragon treaty but I wasn't aware of the details until recently.” I answered calmly.

“Fair point, but you're also saying that one of your brothers is the ruler of the Dragon Kingdom and your sister, Queen Gaia is the ruler of Saddle Arabia?”

“Eeyup.”

“So, you're a prince of three countries.” Twilight said and I began to blink.

“Ah... care to run that by me one more time?” I asked.

“You're a prince of three countries. You're a prince of Equestria, the Dragon Kingdom, and of Saddle Arabia. Two biologically and one by adoption.” Twilight said and then I realized what mess I was truly in.

“Ah, shit.” I muttered face hoofing a little hard with my prosthetic hoof. “ow.”

“Just think about it girls, we all know a prince three times over.” Rarity said and I saw those eyes start to star up. Please for the love of all things holy, somepony reel Rarity in before the ship to la la land takes off. Of course that's when she was set upon me. “Oh I must design you something of these countries.” She said before I was wrapped up in magic.

“Somepony help me!” I begged, all but Twilight and Rarity gave me a straight look in the face.

“Nope.” They said in unison.

“Traitors!” I yelled as Rarity had me pulled from the room with me fighting the way. It seems that all three princesses had given high rank within the castle to a point. It seems that they were given leeway as long as they don't interfere with normal castle matters and weren't bothering any other royals besides the three princesses, and the princes which consisted of Shining, Blueblood, and myself. So the guards watched amusingly as my butt was being hauled off. Since they weren't hurting me they were ordered to stay the fuck still unless called upon. Of course I had tried to get a guard to help me, but was shot down when Rarity only stated that she was just doing a matter for royal purposes. I swear if somepony made Rarity a character sheet that had her up to date stats. She would have a skill in bluff and diplomacy marked with an infinity symbol. She could talk herself through anything without a problem, I swear.

Once in the other room Rarity had already had the bolts of silk at the ready as well as the instruments of my modeling torture. So I was stuck on one of the tables as Rarity walked around me trying to get an eye for her design. Mind you I wouldn't have minded this if it wasn't for the fact that I was still injured and that this was against my will.

“Just to think that you come from two different countries, it must be wonderful for you Storm.” Rarity said .

“Oh yeah, just peachy.” I said annoyed.

“Oh don't give us that gloomy face.” Rarity said.

“Rarity remember last time when you as Fluttershy said 'poked the bear'?” Twilight commented and Rarity stopped for a moment. She turned to look directly at Twilight with a puzzled look on her face.

“Back when Storm became a mare for the first time and you made him into your ponyquin?” Twilight pointed out which caused Rarity to whip around.

“You're not angry with me are you?” She said and I could see worry in her face.

“Angry... no. Annoyed, yes.” I simply said.

“What if I may ask, ever for?”

“Because I really just want to relax and recover. I mean I did have my hind legs crushed and a rock through my wing. Which let me put it this way for you two, it's like...” I tried to think of something and snapping my claws for a moment. “think about it as a crack in your horn, the throbbing that won't go away. Almost like pinkie dancing on railroad spikes in your brain?” I said and maybe went a little too far with that was as even I shuddered at that thought alongside Twilight and Rarity. “Look, it was by the skin of my teeth that Nightling and I got out of it alive.”

“Only for you to fall victim to another plot.” Twilight commented before sitting down. Rarity came over and sat next to her rubbing her back.

“Darling we've been over this, even if you were there. There was no way for you to stop that pony from doing whatever he did to Storm.” Rarity said.

“Trust me, you don't want to be in there when that was going on.” I said before taking a pause as my memory of the fight at the end. “Well maybe all but the end.” I said with a grin.

“I hope you showed that brute what it meant to mess with a true prince.” Rarity said.

“Well that would only count if i was a true prince.” I said turning to look outside the window and noticed a set of lights in the distance. The more I looked something slowly opened the door to a memory I had. “Is there something special happening in town?” I asked turning back to Rarity and Twilight.

“That would be the Canterlot Carnival.” Rarity said with a smile as she had a pad of paper and a pencil going to work on a drawing.

“Oh, alright.” I said before a few moments past and my unbound wing shot up while the other one tried to join it, cast be damned. “Canterlot Carnival! Twilight, how long does the Canterlot Carnival last?” I asked her and she looked a little puzzled.

“For a whole week this time.” She said and I relaxed a bit.

“Okay, that puts my mind a little at ease.” I said relaxing a bit.

“If I may inquire what's the big deal about the Canterlot Carnival?” Rarity asked.

“I told Twilight that she and I would have a double date with Pinkie and Nightling, this was to be at the Canterlot Carnival.” I said trying to hop down before Rarity brought me back up onto the table.

“Not yet Storm, I still need to get these ideas down.” She said going back to work. “But that does sound like a lovely idea. Twilight darling why don't you bring the couple here so we can make sure you have a wonderful time.” Twilight looked at Rarity after she said that.

“Sure Rarity.” Twilight said giving me one last glance before she left the room.

“You know she was worried about you?” Rarity said once Twilight had left.

“Huh?” I was a little knocked sideways but the sudden shift in topic.

“Storm, do you know how much that mare cares for you?” Rarity said giving me a flat stare. I looked at her quietly before I let my ears lower and looked down.

“Probably way more than I deserve to be honest.” I said as I had a hard time meeting Rarity's gaze.

“Darling, I didn't mean that as a negativity question. I just question if you completely understand what that little stunt we were told you pulled put on Twilight.” Rarity said after she put her pad and pencil down.

“I can probably picture it well. She most likely first sat there during the first bits while I was being sort of healed reading a book. After the extended period of time she probably started to panic a little bit getting her hooves on any book to help explain what happened. Then going around bothering doctors and nurses for anymore information until the point that she asked Luna to look into my coma dreams to get an idea of what is going on, but finding out she couldn't look in. She probably was trying to find a spell to help pull me out until Celestia calmed her and said I had to figure out a way on my own.” I taking a complete shot in the dark based off of some of the, as Spike put it, epic freak outs she was known to do when panicked.

“Okay, maybe you have a better grip on your marefriend then I originally thought.” Rarity said looking a little awkward at that.

“I'm only going by the existing data that I have about her, but I do get what you were driving at.” I said getting down from the table. “You wanted me to understand that because I went into the caves trying to get what I can about Grimwand and put myself in danger. She panicked and was ready to do whatever was needed to make sure I was safe and back to her again.”

“To a point yes, but...” Rarity stopped for a moment. “You didn't hear this from me. She's help pushing the whole guard business.”

“What, why?” I asked.

“She thinks that after being attacked so often that you really do need the protection and after everything we all have seen. We all agree.” Rarity commented.

“All as in?” I had an idea already, but I wanted it confirmed.

“The girls, the princesses, Prince Shining Armor, Nightling, a few back in Ponyville, and I think you really need these guards.” She said.

“Is everypony dead set on this?” I asked as my ears remained flattened back.

“Yes Darling. Is it really that bad that you having guards?” Rarity asked.

“Do you want the honest truth?” I asked not looking at her.

“Please Storm.”

“I get the idea why, I'm an alicorn in everypony's eyes and not only because everypony wants to make sure I'm safe, but it's to help the nobles feel safe too. I get all that, but I don't like the thought that somepony will get hurt protecting me.” I said as this has been eating at me.

“Storm there is no shame in having somepony protect you.” Rarity said putting a hoof on my shoulder.

“But...” I said shaking.

“Storm what's really the problem?” I could hear worry in her voice.

“What's the real problem?” I said as my heart began to beat faster and faster as my mouth decide right then to spew out unfiltered information that I was processing at the time. “I went from a life that was worth less than two bits, hell it worth less than point zero zero two bits. That's if I count each bit as a dollar from American currency to one that a royal, but not just a royal. Oh no, see that would be too simple. I'm now a royal of three countries and I now have to be protected like I'm some kid who has no grip on the real problems of life. Which in some context, yes that is the case with me. Oh I get the basics of Equestrian life, that comes fairly simple to the old life I had. It's all this extra stuff that I still can't get my head around. I mean look at me, I was a fat over four hundred and twenty pound man who only real goal in life was to make it through each day without much trouble. A little fun here and there but mostly to himself. All ended when I ended up getting killed which wasn't as odd until I found out that the point I just defeated in my own dreamscape was the one that took my soul just to jam it in a new body made from the most powerful fucking dragon, and one of the most well known, magically attuned, and protege of Starswirl himself mares. Just so he could try and rip my soul and completely destroy it for his own selfish goal. If not for divine intervention by the mother of Celestia and Luna. All for what? Some great fucking destiny that I have not two fucking clues about that I'm completely fucking scared about. So now after all that I still have to deal with the fact that someone who prefers to be the one to protect himself and his love ones, has to be protected because if something goes wrong it could possibly cause an international incident, that could cause even worse problems. How am I supposed to know how bad it's going to get if I stub my hoof on a gemstone, will Gem farms be blamed for it? There is so much I now have to worry about and it's going to eat me alive because I'm one of those fucking idiots that can't let things drop. Oh I can forget about them while I deal with being attacked, or some problem that I can focus my mind on. The second either one of those are done my mind zips right back to the title wave of nightmarish thoughts that just wait in the back of my mind to hit me so I can panic all over again.” I said going off a rant that my voice through out the whole course of it, began to pick up speed until I was on par with Pinkie's rapid bursts of dialogue. That's also when I noticed I had began to wear out the carpet under me as I had began to walk back and forth as I had began to rant and rave.

“Darling, I don't think it's that bad.” She said eyeing the carpet herself. “But I see why you get along with Twilight so well.”

“And what's that suppose to mean?” Twilight had said causing me to jump as I just noticed that Pinkie, Nightling, and Twilight had already entered and was next to Rarity as I was shooting my mouth off. My muzzle clamped shut as I had just at said all that out unfiltered, lucky for me I didn't even get to the really meat and potatoes of some of it. Just my building panic that had finally decided to overwhelm my thoughts.

“I'm just saying dear that you've done the very same thing as he just did.” Rarity said. I blinked quietly as they had just ignored the whole thing I said and just saw me as some ranting pony. I was a touched hurt by this to be honest.

“But I didn't wear into the floor or rug.” She said defending herself and I just sat there watching this.

“I think you're missing the point darling, all I was trying to say was that I see how you two get along so well.” She said and I can see Rarity meant well, but picked the worse time to do this.

“And I think you both are missing the point that he's rather panicked about being a confirmed royal of three countries after shortly coming out of a magical coma fighting a pony if I heard right had killed him to start this whole thing off.” Nightling interjected causing both mares to stop and shut up for a few moments. This was followed by a few blinks like to took them just that short amount of time to realize what I had said. This was followed by both Rarity and Twilight turning to look at me who was sitting there silently. I probably had the look of a wounded puppy knowing my bad habit of wearing my emotions on my sleeves.

“I...” Twilight started but quickly shut her mouth. Rarity on the other hoof just sat down and ran her hoof in a circle. She was biting her bottom lip as if she was trying to figure out what to say.

“Look, forget I said anything.” I said getting up and slowly made my way to the door. Of course the universe didn't like me much as the door swung open to nail me in the nose. It seemed that Princess Luna wanted to find me, and since I was abducted by two unicorns mares. She had to come and find me.

“Ah Firestorm, just the pony I wanted to talk to.” She said and before anypony, myself included could say anything she had me wrapped in magic and pulled right through the doorway. The door shut, well to be honest felt more slammed behind us as she continued to magically drag my flank somewhere.

“What's this about?” I asked with not really convection to my voice.

“Celestia would like a word with the both of us.” She said and I lowered my head.

“About?”

“She told me she would tell us when we got to her private quarters.” She said.

“Knowing my luck, I'm probably going to have my flank tossed in jail... again.” I said with the last word muttered under my breath.

“Why would you think that?” Luna asked now floating me instead of dragging me next to her.

“Just feels right with everything going on. Between already knowing about you and Celestia watching me until after a talk you and her had down her first trip in my head. To the conversation we had about what I did to Grimwand. Not much else to go besides offing me and letting my body rot, or doing what Grimwand said he was planning to do leaving my flank as a soulless husk.” I said as I think it became apparent that my mood set sail for the negative side of the spectrum.

“I doubt my sister would do that.” Luna said.

“Doubt and does are two different things Luna.” I countered not even looking at her.

“That may be it, but even you have to see the back splash that would do with the other noble houses.” She tried to counter.

“Well you could say that I had became so tainted by vile magic that the elements of harmony reduced me to nothing. That covers things up in a nice bow.”

“Storm, what's bothering you?” She asked as we continued to make our way.

“What do you expect is bothering me?” I shot back.

“Is this about everything that has transpired so far?” She asked.

“That and then some.”

“Please explain.”

“Well let's knock this to simple points. One, I'm getting a set of guards that I didn't want all so I can be protected, which I should remind you that I went from literally a nopony to somepony over fucking night. I don't like getting protected like that, come to save me after I got the crap kicked out of me trying to save ponies. Sure, I can at least agree to that. Just not having guards to protect me all the damn time. Two, I just got out of about two weeks of going through the worse nightmare I have ever been through. I would take hellscape Ponyville then that for another minute. Three, I found out that my body was made from two very important and powerful beings. One of whom you should know well help found Equestria. Kind of hard not to be suspect about that fact that their graves were disturbed for this. Then let's kick fact number four, I still have to tell everypony that interacts with me daily at most that I can eat meat. Hell I didn't even get a chance to cover that topic in my rant. Then let's go with five that I now know that I'm a prince of two other countries which makes things worse for me because whatever I do may spark a fucking international incident that could lead up to fucking war. Then I told Twilight that I would go on a double date with her, Pinkie, and Nightling to the Canterlot Carnival, and I already know I won't be able to put my whole heart into it because all this on my mind. Seriously the universe wanted to pile this crap on a grade A moron like me. That's not even going on about Celestia not fully trusting me, let she already went of saying that she would protect me, pick me up when I needed it, and other stuff. Just... how do I process all this?” I asked looking at Luna as I felt to overwhelm to deal with this.

“Would you mind if I gave my opinion on this?” She asked.

“Please do.” I said needing some input from somepony other than myself.

“I can understand that aspect of the guards are daunting, even I had issues with it when it came to having them the first time.” She said and I eyed her with a cocked eyebrow, course this didn't stop. “Just knowing that they were there after a while became a rather good comfort. Just knowing that I was protected and those I cared about were always protected.” She assumed she couldn't help but smile as the memories flooded back.

“I suppose I can see that.” I said thinking about it. “Are they going to be like they are here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I'm meaning can I send them away so I can have sometime alone? Maybe with Twilight or the others?” I asked.

“Of course, just you may have to watch out for new recruits as they may be a little jumpy.” She said with a light laugh at the end.

“Do I even want to ask?”

“You'll see.” She said and I couldn't help feel like she was messing with me. Her smile dropped as she eyed me for a moment. “The nightmares...” she began before sighing. “I wish I knew what was going on, Celestia didn't have me check on your dreamscape while you were under in fear of losing you, much like she was afraid of losing Twilight.”

“Luna I don't blame anypony but Grimwand. He was the only one that was playing puppeteer to all this.” I said as I gritted my teeth at the mere thought of him. “Can I level with you Luna?”

“By all means.” She said with a light smile.

“I didn't like what I had to do, but I wouldn't change that I did.” I said.

“From what my sister has told me after you left, I would have agreed with you. I may have not used the same tactic you did, but I can't fault your logic behind it.” She said and it did make me feel better from her disbelieving tone from before.

“Thank you.” I said quietly.

“For?”

“For understanding, I guess I was scared about what you, Celestia and Cadence thought about my actions after you had time to let it sink in.” Truth was that I was scared that I may get spaced just for that very reason. I knew that alone that not one of them could do that after Twilight had explained about Luna's banishment, but after hearing her theorize that if they all focused on it that doing the same was possible with either enough unicorns or alicorns. Not a comforting thought mind you.

“Storm after you left, my sister gave both of us as you probably would have put it the needed context. Cadence while unnerved was in agreement that you did take a just action.” She said and I nodded with a light smile. “As for your third issue, I suppose it goes without saying that you can't pick your parents.”

“Oh irony my name is Grimwand.” I commented and Luna paused at that.

“Point made.” She continued after her pause. “I still stand by it through.”

“Shakespeare wrote in twelfth night. 'In my stars I am above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. Thy fates open their hand. Let thy blood and spirit embrace them.'” I quoted from memory from partly old english class and sometimes seeing that line appearing on online images. Luna blinked at me curiously.

“It's rather odd how you have these rather interesting quote when somepony least expects it.” Luna commented.

“Let me give you another one, always expect the unexpected.” I said with a smile.

“Who said that one?” She asked.

“Just about everyone I knew on earth.” I said with a smile.

“Touché” She said with a smile.

“So what about the whole... meat issue?” I asked looking at her.

“As it's true that ponies don't eat such things.” She said as we made a left down a familiar corridor.

“Because ponies are herbivorous by nature.” I said.

“Correct but we understand that some creatures can't have plants, and as it's been pointed out you're not quite a pony.” She said.

“Yeah, I'm a drony.” I said waiting for her to explain her point.

“Twilight has been around creatures like griffins who have had meat before her. If you explain to her that your diet allows you to have the very same thing as a griffon. I'm sure she will understand.” She said.

“But what about the rest of them? I mean Pinkie I can see be alright with it somewhat, but the rest not so much. Well maybe Dash too, now that I think about it. She was friends with a griffon once, you never know. My point still stands with the rest. Fluttershy is rather timid and I think knowing that one of her friends eats what could have been an animal friend of hers may put some distance between the two of us. Rarity well... I mean I can see her being rather unnerved with me being around and won't bring it up, trying to be polite about it. Applejack I really wouldn't know how she would react to something like that really. It could be an all chips in kind of thing.” I said as I had voiced some of my worries.

“You do make a point, but I am sure that they will understand. Ponies can surprise you when you least expect it.” She said with a smile.

“Yeah, just like Pinkie does all the time.” I said.

“I would agree with you on that one.”

“I will have to approach Twilight with this, since she's more familiar with the girls then either of us. She may be the best judge of character, after she has her panic of her coltfriend is a meat eater.”

“I think that's a wise choice.” She said.

“Yeah...” I said. There was a few moments of silence before we got to Celestia's private quarters. Luna decided to open the door without knocking, we entered and I found the room a little small. Well okay, small in the sense of a princess compared to everypony else would be hard to scale. I mean in the sense of my room here in the castle compared to her. It could be the dark blues and purples she picked to make the room seem more constricted than it really was. But she had a fireplace and a rug before it. She had a few bookshelves filled with books, scrolls, and a few other things. Closer to one wall was a cabinet set that had a few different bottles in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Next to it was an ornate dark oak looking desk. On top of her desk was her regalia with her crown and horseshoes. So she was either wearing something else or going around with nothing on. That's when the other door leading into another room further down showing a large round bed. I only got a quick glance at that as Celestia came into the room we were. She looked over at the two of us with only a towel wrapped around her neck. For I think the first time I saw her mane wet and not moving on any ethereal wind.

I'm not saying that Celestia couldn't let her mane down or get it wet. Just that this was the first time ever. Maybe it was the fact that I was surprised at this as Celestia looked between the both of us as she magically lifted the towel and continued to draw her mane a bit more before in a poof of magic the towel was gone.

“It's already that time?” Celestia said out loud as I looked a little confused. Luna decided right then was the best time that I could finally be on my hooves again. With a light thump of my hooves landing on the carpeted floor of the room.

“Yes, you did ask for both of us.” Luna commented coming over and gave her sister a light nuzzle as Twilight and I have to each other. I just stood there watching, not sure what to say or do. Well really I didn't really want to say anything to Celestia since she didn't trust me. Counter productive to some of her actions over my months of being in Canterlot, but I was getting to understand a little more of the behind the scenes. Maybe it was the fact that I was still under some stress from things, or maybe I was annoyed from being pulled from Twilight again. I just could feel the warm and fuzziness of the room at seeing two loving sisters having a rather heartwarming moment, just wasn't in the best of moods to enjoy it. I just wanted to get to the point of this impromptu meeting. They stopped quietly watching me as I had sat there watching this. Maybe it was just the awkward way I had sat there and watched this happen, or it was the fact that Celestia and I had parted in an unfavorable light. Celestia and I just stared at each other, all I could see in her eyes was the probably same examining gaze that I had for her.

“Storm...” She said softly before moving over to the rug by the fire. “Please come over here.” She requested and I slowly made my way over and sat down quietly next to her. Her fireplace was already lit up with an emerald flame. I didn't say anything when I moved over closer to her, I continued being silent when she draped her wing around my back. Which is saying something when she had massive sized wings compared to everypony else. Glancing over I noticed Luna had came and sat next to her sister on the other side. This was one of the few times a gesture like this wasn't comforting at all to me. Even worse when there air of awkward tension was just floating around the room. “I've been unfair to you.” She said after probably a good ten minutes of silence. I didn't say anything, just glanced up to her. “For a while now I've had you under surveillance.”

“I know, it started when I first appeared in Equestria.” I calmly said watching the flames danced. I felt the muscles in her wings tense for a moment.

“How long have you known?” She asked and I glanced up to her, before it returned to the fireplace.

“Since the cave in, it was one of the topics brought up.” I answered.

“Ah.” She said before more silence stood between us, it wasn't another ten minutes before Celestia decided to speak again. “If it means anything, I am sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” I asked, and I didn't say it in a condescending tone or if have any negative feeling what so ever. I was more generally curious on why she wanted to apologize.

“I should have been upfront with you.” She explained.

“And what tell the ponies you thought that I could still be a danger to everypony under yours and Luna's rule, because you played a trump card too soon? Celestia I don't blame you, the fact is I am an unknown to everypony. Between being shown that I can be manipulated, controlled, and do what I did to Grimwand. I would put myself high on the watch out for crazy pony list.” I said calmly.

“Be that as it may, you have shown that you do not have any ill will towards anypony other than those directly involved in your arrival in Equestria.” She said.

“To be honest... maybe Vermom now the more I think about it. Grimwand was a threat needed to be removed. If it wasn't for the way he did it, I wouldn't have much against him. But from his own notes, he told that he had killed ponies and changelings alike, not even counting digging up graves of many other ponies to take body parts. That's not even going as far as what he did elsewhere, there is no real telling how many other souls and graves he desecrated for his goals” I said as my eyes narrowed.

“I would prefer that you don't tell anypony of that matter.” Celestia commented.

“I'm guessing you already took care of it so no ponies the wiser?” I asked.

“Yes, I wasn't aware the Clover's grave was one of those desecrated.” She said narrowing her eyes.

“May I see her grave?” I asked now for the second time.

“I will have to set up a time, but I can agree to this.” Celestia said quietly and she lowered her head quietly. We sat there in the silence as we let everything finally sink in. Celestia's nightmare of the past laid to an uneasy rest within his cage of time. In turn I had laid a nightmare of my own to rest. Both within the same cage of our design. If it was so depressing for so many other ponies I would find the whole thing laughably ironic. A few hours was spent with the three of us sitting here, I told them everything I knew at this point of him, of the things he did in both Equestria and in the world of dreams. I went as far as told them of what had transpired in full of the final battle in the dream and how I was made aware of who my bodies pony parent was. Luna listened quietly the whole time as it was mainly Celestia and I doing the talking. When everything was said an air of dark memories finally passed as we can finally shine a light to things to come. For them at least, I still had a shadow to haunt me, to hide from those until it's ready to strike. I had a shadow without the strings of the puppeteer guiding it and I didn't know how it would act alone. It was that thought alone that filled with terror... and worry.

-End of Chapter-

Author's Notes:

So a lot of it has been bared to the royal sisters and Storm may see his mother's grave soon.

Now that this chapter is out of the way we've hit the thirty mark and there is still no stopping. I am curious on what everyone thinks up to this point and what they think may happen in the next chapter.