“And thus by the Slave King’s cunning did the second age of ponies end, and the third begin,” said the pale green unicorn. Atop his head, covering his silvery mane was an oversized wide brimmed blue peaked cap, emblazoned with stars. Looking at the assembled audience he smiled. “But the Slave King’s adventures didn’t end there. Oh no, they…”

“Boo!” shouted an angry looking beastman of the kolbold-half tribe. The kolbold-half, more accurately a hybrid between a diamond dog and human, wore the insignia of the Empire on his cloak. “Who gives two flips for the Slave King anyways? Tell us a tale of Lord Tiroc the invincible!”

The unicorn sighed. Flipping his blue cloak covered in stars, he reared up on his hind legs and cast some cheap illusions. “If none of my esteemed patrons care to hear any more stories of your esteemed progenitor so be it,” the unicorn said. “I, the Great and Powerful Silver Tongue, harper extraordinaire, will regale you with tales of romance and intrigue between Luna the beautiful and…”

A mighty beastman of the dragon-half tribe stood up, picked up a bottle with his scaly claw and threw it at the unicorn harper. Dragon halves were tallest of all the beastmen tribes, this particular dragon-half had red scales and wore a very nasty looking scar across the right side of his face. He too wore the emblem of the Empire on his cloak. “We want tales of Lord Tiroc, not some weak and cowardly pony,” he said, pointing at the moon overhead.

Looking up out through the skylight, Silver Tongue saw the flashing lights of the metropolis Republic City and its great tower sticking out of the moon like some great push pin. “My fine beastfolk friends,” Silver Tongue offered, “perhaps you might prefer to hear of the greatest battle of ‘The Order of the Shadow’?”

The dragon-half and kolbold-half looked menacingly at all the other patrons, taking special care to show off their holstered magitek blasters to the cowed audience. The dragon-half glowered menacingly at Silver Tongue with his good eye, “Tell the rest of the harpers, unicorn,” he growled, looking directly into Silver Tongue’s emerald eyes, “That only approved Empire tales are allowed here in the Neo Vale.”

Silver Tongue hung his head in defeat, slowly walking off the stage of the tavern. This was the tenth venue this month he’d been chased away from by the imperial goon squad. Walking towards the bar he sat down and placed his hat on the stool next to his. The human tending the bar gave him a sympathetic smile sliding him a mug of ale.

“Silver, sorry about them,” the bartender said, while washing some mugs. “This one’s on the house. Don’t worry about tonight, you’ll still get paid.”

“Sorry Wedge,” Silver Tongue replied, looking into his mug of ale. “These beastfolk have a right to hear the old stories!”

“Silver, I didn’t take you for a revolutionary,” Wedge said, drying off the mugs. “But be careful, even though Neo Vale is considered a protectorate of the Empire, their laws still carry weight here.”

Silver Tongue thought about the old days, back when harpers were respected. Looking at his hat, he sighed when he thought about all his great harper ancestors he’d shamed tonight by being unable to control even a small tavern full of half drunken patrons.

Ever since the Empire had conquered nearly the whole of Equestria, things had gotten bad for members of the harpers guild. Once a well-respected organization, now they were considered counterrevolutionaries by the uncultured thugs in the cultural ministry. He wondered how things could have gotten this bad, even last year he was still able to make a meager living telling the old stories in backwater bars and taverns. But now, the ministry goons were even cracking down on that. Finishing his ale, he activated his magitek p.a. bot with his horn.

Magitek bots were useful little machines that could perform a variety of tasks. His bot was of the personal assistant type, he mainly used it for keeping abreast of current events and planning his itinerary. Though from time to time he did indulge himself and watch a few games of blastball when his favored team, the Jamestown Humans were playing. This year they were favored to win over the Marelantis Raiders.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the familiar chirping of his p.a. bot floating over his shoulder signifying a public alert. “What is it now?” Silver growled, looking to see what the alert was about, “some new stupid law I’ll bet.”

The p.a. projected a holographic image in front of Silver showing everyone’s favorite Empire toadies, the news anchor minotaur Tex Hardhoof, whose chin had polled at having a trustworthiness rating of over 86%, Tex’s earth pony co-anchor Puff Piece, who had just appeared as the centerfold in last month’s issue of Playcolt. Silver only knew about it because he read the mag for its articles, or at least that’s what he always told his mom. Rounding out the newscast was Davy Jones, former offensive tackle for the Marelantis Raiders covering sports, and everyone’s favorite human Steve, covering weather. Which coincidentally he always got wrong.

Gazing at Puff Piece’s luscious flanks, Silver Tongue inwardly sighed. Later that night he would have to spend some time rereading the articles before going to bed. “That mare’s flanks are so round and succulent,” he said, openly lusting for the piece of eye candy delivering the alert.

“Long live the Empire, good citizens,” Tex said, reading from his teleprompter.

“Long live the Empire,” Puff Piece echoed, wearing her trademarked seductive smile.

“We bring you this alert to let you know a curfew in Neo Vale is now in effect until further notice,” Tex announced, taking some papers in his hand tapping them softly against his anchors desk.

“Oh my, what happened,” Puff Piece asked, turning towards her co-anchor allowing her delicious flanks to be captured by the camera.

“Terrible news,” Tex replied, “Scourge, the terrorist leader of the royalist group the shadow hand, has been spotted in the vicinity of our very own Neo Vale. I’ve been advised he’s extremely dangerous, having allegedly singlehandedly taken down some of Emperor Ouroboros’s imperial guard. All citizens are requested to be on the lookout for this griffin-half.”

Silver Tongue didn’t need to look to know what Scourge the terror looked like. His face was posted on wanted posters all over the Empire. A member of the griffin-half tribe, Scourge was supposed to have blood ties to the Slave King himself! The unicorn didn’t pay much attention to imperial policy normally, but now it was cutting into his meager earnings. As a harper, he depended on taverns and bars to tell his tales. With a curfew, nopony would be going to any of his shows.

Scowling at Tex’s smiling face, Silver tongue was about to ignore the rest of the broadcast before he saw Puff Piece’s flanks once more. “Hmm, maybe there’ll be more important news,” he thought to himself.

“How terrible,” Puff Piece droned on, flicking her tail suggestively for the camera. “I hope they catch him soon.”

“Oh no doubt,” Tex said, tilting his head so the camera could catch his chin’s good side. “The brave members of the imperial guard will find that cowardly snake, and bring him to justice!”

Tex looked into the camera and flashed a trustworthy smile, showing off his dazzling white teeth. “Stay tuned after the break, for sports with Davy Jones. But first here’s tomorrow’s forecast,” he said, turning to his left. “How’s the weather looking Steve?”

Steve the human goofily smiled, “Oh the weather’s looking beautiful,” he said, with an awkward chuckle as he adjusted his earpiece. “Clear skies are expected all day, with a high temperature of ninety degrees. A perfect day for taking your special somepony or person, as the case may be for a picnic. Tex, I know I am.”

“Thank you Steve,” Tex said, turning to look back at the camera. “We’ll be right back, after a word from our sponsors.”

Silver turned off the p.a. just as a commercial for Big Mac body spray started playing. He had seen the commercial hundreds of times, and hadn’t noticed it ever helping him be any more successful with the opposite sex.

Silver Tongue was about to ask for another mug of ale from Wedge, before he heard the clink of several coins falling into his hat.

Turning to thank whoever had dropped the money, he stopped when he saw the most beautiful mare he’d ever seen. She was a sapphire blue unicorn with a pale blue mane. Her purple eyes seemed to speak to his soul. The mare was being escorted by the largest diamond dog he’d ever seen covered in armor.

“Lady Bleu,” the diamond dog insisted, with a voice that could shake the earth, “Elrey instructed us not to bring attention to ourselves.”

Lady Bleu sighed, nodding to her companion. Looking at the harper, she gave him a heartbreaking smile. “Good harper, I so enjoyed your story,” she said before heading back to her seat.

Silver Tongue thought about trying to give Lady Bleu his number, but a sharp look from the diamond dog quickly put the kibosh on that idea. Grumbling to himself about the unfairness of it all, he levitated the coins out of hat and looked at them in amazement. Lady Bleu had given him genuine Equestria bits! Those hadn’t been in circulation since before the Empire came to power.

These bits bore the Slave King’s visage on the front, and on the back bore the phrases, ‘The Strong Rule, The Weak Serve. The Earth is Generous.’ Such coins were extremely rare now a days. With them he might be able to move to another city, perhaps the Beastmen’s Enclave, the Golden Eyrie, or even Jamestown. The humans there still had an appreciation for the old stories.

While Silver Tongue began planning his escape from Neo Vale, he saw a tall beastman enter the bar, wearing a cloak obscuring his face. The beastman walked towards the bar, sitting down next to him. The beastman look at him for a moment, before turning away. Although he couldn’t see the beastman’s face, he could tell by the way his cloak rested on his shoulders and the visible feathers, he could tell it was either a griffin-half or one of the feathered folk. When the beastman reached for the offered mug of ale with a talon, he realized it was a griffin-half. Griffin-halves while not uncommon, were a relatively rare sight this far south from their ancestral homeland to the north.

The griffin-half spying the coins in front of Silver Tongue, finished his ale and dropped something unnoticed into the hat lying next to him.

Feeling that it was time to go, Silver Tongue called to his friend, “Hey Wedge,” he said, looking down at his empty mug. “I’m terrible at good byes, but I think I’m going to try my luck in another city.”

Wedge nodded appreciatively to his old friend and handed him a bag full of imperial currency. “Silver, take care of yourself,” he said.

Weighing the bag with his hoof, Silver gave his friend a questioning look. “Wedge, I can’t accept this, that’s more than three times the amount you owe me,” he said, handing the bag back.

“Silver,” Wedge said, offering his friend a warm smile. “Just take the money you stubborn mule. Celestia knows you could use it.”

Silver Tongue gave his friend a firm hug. “Wedge, take care of yourself,” he said, placing the bag inside his saddlebag.

The human nodded once,” You too Silver. Good luck with…” he said, before stopping mid-sentence as an evil hiss cut through the air.

Silver looked in horror as his friend’s chest poured blood all over the bar, onto his hooves and coat. “Help!” he screamed, deathly afraid for his friend. “Somepony get a doctor, Wedge’s been shot.”

The moment Silver Tongue mentioned someone had been shot, complete pandemonium erupted. As beastfolk patrons started panicking, trying to escape the bar.

Silver Tongue, uncaring for his own safety, desperately tried stopping the bleeding. Tearing his own cloak, he pressed the silken fabric against Wedge with his hooves as he tried compressing the wound. Try as he might, he could see the light of life leaving his friend’s eyes.

“Stay with me man,” Silver Tongue said, pounding against his friend’s chest.

“No one move,” a guttural voice said, firing a few shots from a magitek pistol into the air. “Unicorn at the bar, turn around slowly.”

Silver Tongue reluctantly turned to face the speaker, and saw to his horror that it was none other than shadow-half Commissar Wilheim, the head of the local Imperial legion, who was accompanied by four legionaries. Shadow-halves were truly terrifying. Most mothers told their foal’s tales of how shadow-halves would carry them away if they didn’t go to bed on time. The commissar’s fur beneath his black uniform was as black as the Pit. The silver emblem of the Imperial seal and his commissar’s chevrons were the only forms of identification visible on his uniform. Beneath his large bell cap, his red eyes burning with malice searched for those who would defy the empire.

“Please,” Silver tongue whimpered, withering under the shadow-half’s gaze. “Wedge needs a doctor.”

The commissar walked towards the bar, and checked Wedge for a pulse. “He’s dead. Pony, murder is a capital offense in the Empire,” he said, reaching into Silver Tongue’s hat revealing a data chip bearing the seal of the Empire. “As is spying for the republic, you rebel scum.”

“I’m no spy!” Silver Tongue said, proclaiming his innocence.

“Is that so?” Wilheim said, digging into Silver Tongue’s saddlebag and pulling out the two ancient bits. “Only royalists and the republic use Equestrian bits anymore.”

“I have no idea about the data chip,” Silver Tongue said, “but the bits were given to me as I was telling the old stories.”

“So you’re a harper then?” Wilheim asked.

“Ye… yes,” Silver Tongue nervously stammered, “I specialize in the stories of the second and third age.”

“It’s true commissar,” the dragon-half ministry goon said, “this harper was telling heretical tales.”

“Who gave you these bits?” the commissar demanded, showing off his razor sharp fangs.

Silver Tongue gulped once and looked over towards where he had seen Lady Bleu siting. Spying her diamond dog companion, he was about to speak when an explosion rocked the tavern.

The commissar kicked over the closest table, ducking behind it for cover. Drawing his magitek pistol, he peered over the table looking for the source of the explosion. Activating his p.a. bot, Wilheim barked his orders. “There’s been an explosion at the laughing man tavern,” he said. “I suspect another assassination attempt against me. Send in a full squad to deal with the situation.”

Silver Tongue still in shock over the explosion and witnessing his friend’s murder, stood unmoving as several more explosions rocked the tavern knocking him to his feet. Blinded from the smoke and deafened from the loud explosion, the unicorn felt himself being moved by strong hands.

As he was being carried away he heard the angry cries of, “Flutterponies attack!” and the surprised cries of the legionaries as magitek blasters and pistols were fired. The last thing he could remember hearing before blacking out was a male voice asking, “Did you manage to save the chip?”

Silver Tongue woke up in a strange bed located in an unfamiliar room. The only evidence proving that what had happened wasn’t a cruel joke was his torn and blood stained cloak hanging from the wall. He noticed to his relief that his hat had somehow managed to survive as well. Exiting the room, he found himself inside a winding maze of corridors that looked as if they had been burrowed deep in the earth.

“Harper,” an unfamiliar voice cheerfully said, “I see you’re up and about now.”

Turning around, Silver Tongue saw a black dragon towering over him. “Drag… dragon,” he sputtered, desperately trying to backpedal away from the beast. As everypony knows, dragons are Emperor Ouroboros’s children. From birth they are instructed to be vicious and cruel, especially to ponies.

“Hey, no need to thank me or anything,” the dragon said, when he saw Silver Tongue standing there staring at him stammering. “Hey Scourge, you sure this unicorn is really a harper?”

“According to Lady Bleu he is,” a male voice from another room replied.

When he heard the name Scourge, Silver Tongue’s eye’s bugged out in fear. Scourge had him now! There was no telling what these terrorists would do with him.

The black dragon looked down at Silver Tongue and waved his claws in front of his face. “I think he’s busted,” he said.

“No, he’s probably still in shock over what happened last night,” Scourge said, entering the corridor.

Scourge of the griffin-half tribe stood five feet tall, covered with a mixture of black and blue feathers. While his human ancestry wasn’t as apparent as say a dragon-half’s, a pair of piercing brown eyes shining with intelligence studied the unicorn intently. Folded on his back, his powerful wing’s black feathers reflected the light from the recessed ceiling lamps illuminating the passageway at regular intervals.

“Harper, there’s no need to be afraid,” Scourge said, smiling down at the frightened unicorn.

“But your Scourge, bane of the Empire,” Silver Tongue said.

“Yes and if you believe the Empire’s P.R.,” the black dragon said with a smirk, “he eats foals and hatchlings for breakfast.”

“My real name is Dawson,” Scourge said, extending his talon towards Silver Tongue.

“So why do you go by Scourge then,” Silver Tongue asked, the griffin-half.

“It’s an inherited title,” Scourge said.

Suddenly realizing who Scourge really was, Silver Tongue opened his mouth in surprise. “Are you actually the head shadow knight of the ‘Order of the Shadow’?” he asked, amazed that the order still even existed.

“Well…” Scourge said. “What’s left of them anyway. After the great migration to the moon, those of us that stayed behind to cover the princesses’ escape were hunted down by the Empire relentlessly. Now there’s only a handful of us left.”

“So why did you bring me here?” Silver Tongue asked.

“Me and Boomy here,” Scourge said, pointing towards the dragon that waved to Silver Tongue while giving him a toothy grin, “rescued you from Commissar Wilheim, when the flutterponies attacked.”

“Flutter… flutterponies attacked?” Silver Tongue said, his face going pale.

Flutterponies were well known for their hatred for all things empire, even going so far as to blow themselves up if it meant taking a few imperial soldiers with them. Small enough to easily fit inside a teacup, the tiny flutterponies possess massive magical abilities that they used to viciously attack any and all imperial assets. Originally the flutterponies were friendly forest pony spirits that lived in their hidden village, deep in the heart of the Everfree Forest. That all changed the day the Empire invaded the Everfree in an attempt to attack Canterlot. Although the Everfree forest repelled the invasion, the flutterponies home was destroyed earning the Empire their eternal enmity.

“Coincidentally sorry about your friend,” Scourge apologized, “he took a shot meant for me.”

"One of the Empire’s changeling assassins,” Boomy explained.

“Now I have to admit my reasons for helping you aren’t completely benevolent,” Scourge said, holding up the data chip.

“What’s that?” Silver Tongue asked.

“The key to defeating Emperor Ouroboros,” Scourge explained.

“What could possibly defeat the emperor?” Silver Tongue asked. “The emperor has the power of half a dozen domains at his control, and even Lord Tiroc as his personal bodyguard.”

“There is one thing he fears,” Boomy said, “in the old tongue they called it Ragnarok. We dragons know it as Ruination. The griffins called it Bloodbane.”

“You mean The Vendetta don’t you?” Silver Tongue said, not believing that these madponies actually thought they knew where to get The Vendetta. “Nopony knows where The Vendetta is.”

“None but the Slave King,” Scourge said, holding up the data chip.

“What’s supposed to be on the data chip, his personal number?” Silver Tongue asked sarcastically. “The Slave King is gone and never coming back.”

“They never found his body,” Scourge replied, his eyes full of fire. “There’s a prophecy among ‘The Order of Shadow’ that the Slave King will rise again when his one true heir returns his crown. We need a skilled harper, somefeather who knows the old stories to help guide us to the correct path.”

“The crown has been lost since the Diamond Vale collapsed into the Earth over four hundred years ago,” Silver Tongue said, “there’s no way to get to it now. And even if you found the lost city and retrieved the crown, what makes you think you’ll even be able to locate his one true heir?”

“There are a few of us that can trace our genealogy back to him, myself included,” Scourge said. “Will you join us in our fight?”

“No way, that’s crazy,” Silver Tongue said. “You’d be better served joining the Republic’s army instead of going off on some wild goose chase if you want to stop the Empire.”

“I guess Lady Bleu was wrong about you,” Scourge said, obviously disappointed that he had been unable to recruit the harper to his cause.

“I’m sorry,” Silver Tongue said, “I just can’t get involved with your fight. I’m just a harper, and a poor one at that.”

Hours later Silver Tongue woke up alone in a wooded thicket. He checked himself and was relieved to find he still had all of his possessions, including the two bits he had received earlier. Unsure where he should go, he followed what seemed to be an unused path. As the hours passed and the daylight waned, the unicorn was concerned he would be caught out in the wilderness without shelter. Spying the orange glow of a campfire, he cautiously approached it.

“Hello…” Silver Tongue called out, hoping that whoever had built the fire was friendly.

“Hello fellow traveler,” a raspy voice answered, nearly startling the unicorn out of his skin.

As dark as it was Silver Tongue could scarcely see who was addressing him, all he could tell was the voice belonged to a human wearing a wide brimmed hat and wearing a heavy cloak. “Come warm your hooves by the fire,” the man invited.

“Thank you,” Silver Tongue said, sitting down next to the flickering flames.

“What’s a pony like you, doing all the way out in the middle of the Everfree Forest in the middle of the night?” the man asked, lighting a long pipe.

“I’m not quite sure myself. First there was an explosion, after which I was accused for murder of my best friend by the Empire. Then flutterponies came out from nowhere and blew up the tavern I was in, and then I was ponynapped by terrorists, before being dumped out in the middle of the forest,” Silver Tongue said, giving a digested version of the events to his host.

“Sounds like you’ve had a busy day,” the man replied, taking a long drag from his pipe.

“Yes I have,” Silver Tongue said.

“Since you told me a story,” the man said, blowing a few smoke rings, “perhaps you might like to hear one of mine?”

“Yes I would,” Silver tongue said, excited to hear a new story.

“I heard it happened long ago,” the man said. “On a night very much like tonight, a unicorn was wandering lost and all alone…”

The vines and brambles pulled on her cape and hat as she struggled through the thick thicket. The howls of the Timber Wolves echoed through the night air, making her heart race in terror. Truth be told, the unicorn was having a rather lousy day. First she had lost her map making her get lost is this Celestia forsaken forest, second her caravan had gotten stuck in a deep muddy pit leaving her stranded, third she hadn’t eaten yet today, and fourth neither had the timber wolves hot on her flanks, judging by how aggressively they were pursuing her.

With one last mighty push, the little blue unicorn managed to escape the clutches of the thicket. Moments later, she felt pain as she discovered her silvery mane was tangled up in the brambles. However, three loud howls on the other side of the bramble made her forget her pain, as she pulled her mane free. Scanning her dark surroundings, the pony determined the thicket was safe enough. All around her, the brambles formed a natural barrier of protection from the timber wolves that were braying to enter.

From her peripheral vision, she saw a flickering light. “Fire!” She inwardly cheered. Where there’s fire there’s ponies, and where there’s ponies that’s where the Great and Powerful Trixie can awe and inspire them with tales of adventure in exchange for a hot meal and some bits. But as tired as she was, the pony would settle for just a meal and a warm place to sleep.

Gingerly approaching the fire, Trixie cautiously poked her head around a large tree looking for the ponies tending to the fire. Not seeing anypony, she boldly approached the fire and sighed as she felt the heat beginning to warm her chilled body.

“Hello,” she heard a filly’s voice say.

“Aieee!” Trixie screamed in fright.

“Sorry if I scared you,” the filly apologized.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie does not get scared,” Trixie said, flourishing her mane for dramatic effect. “Trixie was just stretching out her lungs, yes that’s it. Trixie wonders who you are.”

“Oh I’m Little Bleu,” the filly said.

“I am the Great and Powerful Trixie,” Trixie said, making sure to heavily emphasize the great and powerful, but not too much lest the name Trixie be overshadowed by mere adjectives. “The Great and Powerful Trixie wonders why you are all alone.”

“Oh I’m not all alone,” Little Bleu squeaked, pointing behind Trixie. “My daddy’s standing right behind you.”

Turning around, the Great and Powerful Trixie learned how little and powerless she really was. Towering over her like a colossus was what she assumed was a human. Atop his head he wore a heavy iron crown, and draped across his shoulders was the pelt of some great beast. Looking at his right arm, she saw that instead of flesh was some sort of metal that dully reflected the light from the fire.

Looking up into his terrifying and burning eyes, the Great and Powerful Trixie did the only thing she could think of. Boast and bluster. Hoping that her audience would believe her outlandish claims, she took on an air of confidence. “I am the Great and Powerful Trixie,” she said, not emphasizing the great and powerful as much this time.

“Why have you come to this place?” the creature simply asked.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie saw your camp, and wished to share the fire,” she said.

‘Very well,” the creature responded, turning away from the Great and Powerful Trixie as if she was some nuisance beneath his notice.

Sitting down by the fire, the creature stared into the flames silently. Little Bleu, spying her chance climbed onto his lap and snuggled up against him. The creature opened a bag and took out some apples which he shared with her.

Trixie felt her stomach rumbling as she smelled those mouthwatering apples being eaten. Deciding that her host should share them with her, she bucked up her courage and boldly approached him. “The Great and Powerful Trixie wants an apple as well,” she said, looking up at the creature expectantly.

“What will you give me?” the creature asked, biting into one of the succulent apples.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie, tells tales of adventure and intrigue,” she boasted. “Trixie has even defeated the dreaded Ursa Major!”

The creature said nothing as he continued eating his apple. “Are you a harper?” the creature asked, holding an apple in its hand.

“A harper? Ha!” Trixie said, dismissively waving of her hoof. “So great and powerful is Trixie, the harpers guild could not contain her.”

The creature remained silent, seemingly unimpressed by her bragging. Longingly, Trixie gazed at the apple while the creature continued eating.

“Daddy, tell me a story,” Little Bleu said.

The creature looked down at Trixie as if waiting for something. Recognizing her cue, she looked up at the creature and began telling her tale. The story of the mare on the moon.

Long ago early in the third age of ponies, the night was ruled by a princess as dark and as beautiful as the night itself. She controlled the moon in conjunction with her elder sister who controlled the sun. Together they maintained balance for all Equestria.

Every night, the princess lovingly created the nighttime sky to dazzle and bring wonder to her subjects. But nopony ever bothered to look. As the years passed, she became bitter and jealous of her sister who was beloved by everypony. Unhappy, she decided that until the ponies loved her night as much as her sister’s day she would refuse to allow the sun to rise again.

Her elder sister begged her sister to reconsider, but the princess of the night refused to listen. Knowing that without the day all Equestria would end, she reluctantly banished her own sister to the moon. To remain there forever.

Little Bleu sat silent spellbound as Trixie weaved the tale, aided of course by a bit of her magic. Looking up expectantly at the creature she waited. “Well,” she said.

“Well what?” the creature replied, holding onto the apple.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie told the foal a story,” she said, holding out her hoof expectantly. “Trixie expects to be paid for her stories. Trixie does not entertain for free.”

The creature handed Trixie an apple. Immediately the famished unicorn began devouring it. As she tasted the apple’s sweet flesh she felt her body become invigorated and renewed, almost as if she had just woken up from a long sleep.

“Where did you hear that story?” the creature asked Trixie in curiosity.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie does not remember,” she said, unsure of where she had heard it. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is sure that it’s only a myth anyways.”

“It’s not,” the creature replied.

“What do you mean?” she said in confusion. “Trixie does not understand.”

Biting into another one of the apples, he leaned down towards her. Looking up the creature, Trixie suddenly felt small and insignificant. She sat and looked at the creature, enraptured by the light of the fire reflecting from his arm and crown, while the light of the full moon illuminated the night sky behind him. Pointing up towards the shadow on the moon in the shape of a mare’s head the creature said, “This is the true story of the mare on the moon. Her name was Nightmare Moon…”

Author's Notes:

Thank you for your comments gentlereader. Here concludes The Book of Earth: The Great Slave King.

Gentlereader you may be asking yourself what the hay am I reading about? Dragon-halfs, human weathermen, magitek blasters, flutterpony bombers, and a major metropolitan city on the moon?

Why is Scourge a griffin-half named Dawson, and how the hay is Little Bleu alive?

The Slave king missing and Lord Ouroboros became emperor?

What's the deal of the story within a story, I don't see the script for Inception anywhere.

All the questions will be answered after I crank out some chapters for my other work The Conversion Bureau: The Reluctant Cyborg.

Thank you gentlereader for reading, favoriting, commenting and just being plain awesome. Until next time!