It was hard to follow such a small light in the dark and windy night with the snow blowing around them. Nexus kept a small flame on so his team could follow him easier. After going straight up the mountain for what seemed like hours, they began traveling to the left, following a path that lead up the mountain. Eventually, the light became almost invisible as they passed through the clouds. The wind grew more powerful as they were all forced to slow down.

Nexus looked forwards with one of his wings up to block the wind coming from the right, up the mountain. The blue light was now gone, replaced by a steady orange light from what seemed to be a lantern, swaying in the wind.

"Everypony still back there?" Nexus shouted over the wind.

"Yeah." Thunder Clap shouted back.

"Still breathing." Silver replied.

"Been next to you the whole time." Vince said.

"We're still here." Hestaria replied for both her and White Knight. "I tied Knight to me so he wouldn't get lost."

"Smart." Nexus replied. "He still alive"

"His lips are frozen shut, but yeah." she replied after a muffled yes came from a very cold White Knight.

"Hold on a bit longer. We're almost there I think." Nexus shouted to them all as the light became closer. His living metal hoofs dug into the snow as the outline of the lantern came into view.

The silhouette of a griffon's head poked out from behind the light. It was the only female they'd met. "Qu'attendez-vous sur? Maître Vent s'impatiente. (What are you waiting for? Master Wind is getting impatient.)" She shouted to them.

Nexus trudged harder until he stood in the light of the lantern. He looked back to see his team covered on their right sides by snow. He lit up his horn and put up a shield the rest of the way to the lantern. The light from the shield reassured him that everypony was there. Hestaria wasn't kidding when she said White Knight's lips were frozen shut. They were blue with a light sheen of ice over top of them.

"Venez, avant de le congeler. (Come, before you freeze.)" she said moving out of the door frame so they could leave the cold.

All six of them eagerly entered and shook the snow from their armor.

"Êtes-vous tous d'accord? Voulez-vous quelque chose à manger?"

"What'd she say?" Silver asked as the female griffon shut the door and locked it.

"She wants to know if we're okay or need something to eat." Vince responded trying to shake off the snow.

"Get everypony else something warm to eat." Nexus said.

"Quelque chose de chaud pour tout le monde mais lui. (Anything warm for everyone but him.)" Vince said motioning to Nexus.

The griffon nodded with a smile and made her way to another room. Nexus looked around him and took in the surroundings. High ceilings with lanterns hanging from chains, all hand dug stone that was strangely smooth with sharp corners at the door ways, one massive main hall, a kitchen to the left and a small study to the right. The rest of the rooms down the main hall were impossible to see into. It was thankfully warm inside due to a massive fireplace at the end of the hall.

At the end of the hall next to the fireplace, the one known as Aquilam walked out into the hall and looked straight at Nexus. He pointed him out and motioned him to come to him. Nexus looked to Vince and motioned him to follow. As Nexus reached the door where Aquilam stood, he held out his hand and a light green orb appeared in his palm. A similar orb surrounded Vince and lifted him up a few feet.

"What's the deal?!" Nexus shouted.

"Only you." Aquilam said with a thick accent. "He know your language."

"Let him go and I'll go in."

Vince repeated what Nexus said so that Aquilam could understand. Aquilam dropped Vince and stepped aside so Nexus could go through.

"Just make sure everypony's fed and warm before I get back out here." Nexus said before the griffon could shut the door.

"Alright. Come back alive this time."

Nexus nodded and let Aquilam shut the door. Nexus turned around and was amazed at the sloppy sight before him. A couple of oil lamps hung from the ceiling and books were scattered across a massive study. The shelves were full strangely enough but it seemed the one sitting at the desk didn't care that much. He was an old, pure white griffon with bifocals on the tip of his beak. His golden eyes held a wise warmth to them that only age could bring.

He waved off Aquilam and he left the room. Nexus could feel him outside of the door to keep others from listening in on them.

"Before we can begin, I must know how this coin came to you." the snow griffon asked holding up the griffon coin.

"It was given to me by the God of Chaos, Discord. He said to come and find a griffon on a mountain. I guess that's you. Who are you?" Nexus replied.

"I am Arctic Wind, the Last of the Order."

"The order?"

"Before modern technology came to our great nation, the royals had advisors that specialized in magic."

"Magic? I saw your friend out there create a shield, but that's easy with a charm like what he has in his staff."

"We can summon magic without it. Everyone is born with the ability to access the magic within." he told as he levitated a book to his hand "Only the most noble could learn, thus why we were advisors. We used coins like this one to call a meeting."

"Then why give me that coin? If you're the last, who would have the coin?"

"I gave this one to an old student of mine. Before I continue, I must excuse my manners, as you can imagine, visitors are very rare. What is your name?"

"My name is Captain Nexus. That's all you need to know."

"Fair enough Captain. I gave the coin to a very promising unicorn from the Crystal Empire. It has been quite some time, I don’t think I remember his name rightly. Lunarus I think." He said opening the book and running his finger across the lines of text.

"Lunarus Goldenchord?"

"We… We weren't that well acquainted, but it sounds right. The boy was quite knowledgeable; fluent in griffon, had a gentle grasp on combat, mostly from his experience in stage combat. He knew everything about the Griffon Kingdom; how it started our mythology, religion. I use to joke that he could very well, pass himself off as a griffon."

"That-That's not possible. Goldenchord's been dead for more than a thousand years."

"It's been a thousand years? Perhaps I should get out more."

"You're lying. There's no way you're that old." Nexus said as he started to make his way to the door.

"Nothing is impossible. You of all ponies should know that."

Nexus stopped dead in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. "What'd you mean?"

"The Princess' are not the only ones with oracles."

"You knew I was coming?"

"Not exactly. With immortality, comes gifts that are not always as good as you wish them to be."

"Are you saying that you're an oracle?"

"Not in the same sense as the mirror pools in Everfree. It is a spell that does have consequences if used improperly."

"What spell?"

"The spell is suppose to allow the user to see into the very near future, but can also be used to see the past of another in their presence. It may only be used once every thirty moons when used for the future."

"What about the past?"

"No one should have the power to see a person's deepest secrets of their past. If ever used, it curses the user to always see the darkest moments of another's past."

"You can see-"

"I do. And you have my sympathy. You know as well as I that nothing is impossible. I am the last of the true order, it is my duty to remain to maintain our way of life."

"But what about the ones you have out there? Can't they-"

"They are but young and incompetent. They will never know what it means to truly be one of The Order. But enough exposition, you must have something to ask me."

"I do." Nexus said hovering the piece of metal from the changeling armor out of his saddlebags. "Can you tell me what this symbol means?"

Arctic held out his hand and used his magic to levitate it over to himself. "I believe you have some idea as to what this is?"

"I do, but I need a second opinion. And I have one more question."

"Yes? Where is my comrade? A red unicorn."

"He is in the library at the moment. He was in need of immediate care." Arctic Wind pulled out a pair of glasses and held them to his eyes as he looked over the piece of armor. His golden eyes slowly filled with concern as he set the piece down. "This is much worse than I thought."

"What? What is it?"

"This…This is the symbol of the Crystal Army."

"The Crystal Army? What are you talking about? That's not the insignia for the Empire? I've been there, I've helped them train and bolster their security detail, that's not General Armor."

"It is of the old Empire, before the Crystal Queen went missing all those years ago."

"I don't understand."

"Sombra was once a just and kind man, his wife just as beloved. But a changeling hoard came to the Empire and stolen away the Crystal Queen."

"I still don't understand what this has to do with anything."

"Sombra did all in his power to get her back. Following her all the way to Saddle Arabia and back until he learned the truth. She had become one of them."

"Still not getting this."

"Young Queen Chrysalis had been reformed into one of them. She was so enraged by this, she killed the Changeling queen."

"Chrysalis!? She was the old Crystal Queen?"

"She was; and quite beautiful."

"Did Sombra ever find her?"

"No. She hid away from him, in fear that her new, hideous form would cause him to stop loving her."

"That's so stupid."

"It was her fear, and fear is a powerful thing."

"What does-"

"The last time this symbol was used by anypony, Chrysalis and Sombra were together. After his failure to find her, he reshaped his military into a Guard. That is why the symbols changed. And before you ask what this means, it means that King and Queen are once again one."

"They're back together?"

"It would seem that way. It would be the only reason that this symbol would be used."

"Great… As if dealing with one of them wasn't enough." Nexus groaned crossing the room. "Can you still see into the future?"

"I can, but I have used my power on your friend, Ephialtes."

"Great. Look, thanks but we should be getting back to our ship." Nexus told the old griffon as he started back towards the door.

"Oh, you can't leave just yet!"

"And why not?" Nexus replied ready to pull his daggers just a few inches from the door.

"Because the storm would kill all of you. I can clear it tomorrow morning. It would be much safer for your ship to come and pick you up. For the night, you are my guests. Eat well and resupply as needed."

"Thank you for your hospitality." Nexus said skeptically opening the door. "But I don't think my crew is ready to turn in. They'd rather be on the-" Nexus quickly shut his mouth after he opened the door.

On the other side: Ephialtes lay with Hestaria wrapped in his forelegs sound asleep, Knight slept leaning against the wall next to the door while Silver lay on the rug with Thunder laying next to her with his head resting on her back.

"It would seem they are more exhausted then you believe." Arctic said with a sly grin. "You may sleep in the library if you wish. There is a sofa there."

"I'll be fine. Though I will take advantage of your library to pass the time."

"Feel free Captain. Sleep well."

"I don't sleep."

Nexus knew he was lying the second he opened a book. His eyes were heavy and his thoughts were slow. He found himself reading the same line around eight times before falling asleep. Like every other time, the dreams of Goldenchord came as he slipped from reality. This time, he was following Goldenchord down a small dirt road in a precession of ponies going back towards the camp. The sounds of screaming and children crying vibrated off of the crystal walls. Goldenchord walked with his head high, as though he had nothing to regret or fear.

Fresh scars from the previous whipping now covered by his coat, but they were still visible on his back. The guards separated and allowed the slaves to disperse in the open court yard. The mess hall, the section with tables without chairs and chairs with no tables, sat on the north side. Nexus had no idea how he knew it was the north side, but he was certain it was north. The rest of the yard was just dirt with a few scattered light crystals sticking out of the ground and one pole in the center with a guard standing by it with a whip at his side.

Goldenchord walked straight towards the mess hall and past the pole. He stopped the second he heard a sweet little voice calling out for help. His head turned to the left to see the little filly he'd come to know being dragged towards the center by a guard kicking and screaming with tears streaming down her cheeks. He broke into a sprint as they approached the whipping post. The guard at the pole pulled his whip and another near Purala got in between him and the post before he even got there.

“Back off Slave!” the guard said throwing Goldenchord to the ground with some difficulty.

“I demand to know why she is being lashed.” Goldenchord said getting up in the guard’s face.

“Keep up that attitude and you’ll be on the post next. She was caught humming that tune to sang a few months ago. This is her first offence.”

Goldenchord tried pushing past the guard as Purala was tied to the stake by her forelegs and the whipping pony stood behind her. “Innocentia, you are being tried for treason against Lord Sombra for speaking out for the help of Faust. How dose thou plea?”

“I didn’t mean to! Please let me go!” she cried.

The whipping pony didn’t give her a chance to say anything more. He pulled back the whip and lashed the end across her back. She screamed in extreme pain as Goldenchord threw himself past the guard and in front of Purala.

“Step aside slave.” The whipping pony said sternly.

“No. If you want to whip anypony, whip me. It’s my song, she heard it from me.”

“You will take her punishment then?”

“Without hesitation.”

The whipping pony thought for a moment before nodding to have Purala untied. She crumbled to the ground crying loudly before being dragged back to the cells. Nexus watched in amazement as Goldenchord, without a struggle, be tied to the post and have the first lash of the whip strike him. He didn’t shout, he only grunted through his teeth as the end of the whip cracked against his venerable back. Nexus was about to go looking for the Purala, but the whip came back and passed through his face and turned him to smoke again.

He reformed back in Goldenchord's cell as he was thrown in, limp. Purala was in the far corner crying her eyes out as Goldenchord sat up.

“C-Come here.” Goldenchord said through the pain. “I’m not going to hurt you anymore than they had.”

Purala got to her shaky hoofs and stumbled over to Goldenchord. She fell into his lap and curled up in pain. That first strike must have gone deep to make it so she can’t hardly walk.

“Ma-Make it stop Goldie…” She whimpered. “It-It hurts so much.”

“Hold still now, this is going to hurt a bit.” Goldenchord said rolling her over onto her stomach while still in his lap.

His horn glowed silver along with the long, still bleeding gash on her back and she twitched and whimpered in pain as his spell to effect.

“It hurts!”

“I know, but this will help it heal faster. Trust me, if you don’t heal, you can’t work as fast as the guards want, and if you can’t work fast enough, they’ll whip you again.”

“I don’t wanna’ be whipped again, Goldie.” She cried as she sat up in his lap and put her forelegs around him as best she could. “I wanna’ go home… I wanna’ be with Mommy.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to be where your mother is. I'll keep you safe Purala.”

"Pr-Promise?"

"I promise."

Nexus could hear White Dove starting up again as Goldenchord did what he could to keep Purala calm. He leaned down and kissed the foul's head then looked back up at Nexus. He glared at him and his horn flashed bright enough for him to temporarily blind him.

Author's Notes:

DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA!
Or the lack there of. I'm not a good judge of my own work.