The sound of a wagon's wheels echoed thought the woods. Ponies on top of the walls of Dragon's Bane glanced its way and one signaled to point a cannon at it. The wagon kept its slow pace until it reached the large gates of the city.

"Who goes there? Any sudden movements and we'll obliterate you to Cloudsdale." Silver, who was pulling the wagon looked up at the pony who spoke out.

"Not only did you not say what you were suppose to, but you failed to recognize your commanding officer from this close of a distance. You are here by reassigned back to combat trainer." Silver's cold hard voice echoed through the walls of the city and everyone opened their mouths. The pony who had spoken out began to sweat.

"Oh...Commander, Sir. I am terribly sorry. You fools! Hurry up and open the gates!" He said to ponies who stood beside him. They quickly obeyed and ran down to open the gates. Slowly the large doors opened inward. The cold breeze pushed out and swayed Silver's hair who proceed to pull the wagon in. Inside the wagon were the rest who remained quiet as they entered. Spike and the others remained inside the wagon's cover that had served as their sleeping quarters on the trip. Finally Bloom poked her head out from the wagon and asked.

"Siiiiiilver. Can we get out yet?"Her voice was cutely whiny. Silver looked back and waited until the gates behind them closed all the way before nodding to her. Instantly she and the rest of the ponies jumped out.

"Remind me again why we had to hide in the wagon when we were practically here already." Asked Rainbow as she stretched her wings out. Silver handed over the wagon to another pony and instructed him to take it to the stable.

"Because it is around the walls of Dragon's Bane where Dragon worshippers stalk to attack unsuspecting passengers."

"No one has actually been attacked though..." Bloom tried to interject to no avail.

"We could have taken them!"

"And risk Miss Bloom getting hurt? No thank you."

Rainowdash pouted as Twilight passed her.

"Umm Silver, about-" The grey stallion interrupter her and said.

"Do not worry, we'll come get him later when there are less ponies around." Twilight wasn't sure how to feel about leaving Spike alone in the wagon surrounded by ponies trained to kill dragons, but Bloom came by her and smiled, which somehow comforted her. The charcoaled maned stallion led the way and everypony followed behind. Rainbowdash looked around as all the ponies went on with their day, they all had either a tired or dead expression. It was clear their work wasn't all that enjoyful for them. However,it was then she noticed something peculiar.

"Hey Bloom, howcome every pony has the same cutie mark as you?" Asked the pegasus. "Does that cutie mark mean you belong in the army?" Bloom looked back at her friends with a sad expression.

"No, everyone in the army has this mark branded on them." Silver stepped in for Bloom who was clearly not too comfortable talking about it.

"This cutie mark was first woren by Blazing Star, Miss Bloom's ancestor, as his own, it was later implemented as the army's insignia for our flag. Over time we noticed how ponies wouldn't achive their calling by staying in the army as they would if they lived their lives, so whoever joins the army is branded with a special spell with takes place of their cutie mark, for you see, joining this army is a choice, not a calling, unlike a real cutie mark."

"But you have your own cutie mark, and you're in this here's army." Added Applejack.

"Like I said, it's a cutie mark given by a special spell, think of it as a temporary cutie mark. If, and I mean if, you somehow get your real cutie mark it will replace the army's brand, however, there has only been a hand full of ponies how have gotten their real cutie mark."

"That seems a little sad, it's no wonder everyone seems to unhappy." Twilight said as she looked around. She saw one pony with a unique cutie mark. It was a chef who was distributing rations to the other ponies. He seemed a little bit more lively than the others.

"Look around and be thankful, for it is because of these ponies sacrificing their happiness and calling in life that you are allowed to enjoy yours." Everyone remained quiet, for once, everyone seemed to understand a little of why Silver is the way he is. The sound of their hooves echoed much more loudly as they entered the castle where they would be staying. It was battle scarred for sure. Tall and old looking with vines and cracks everywhere. The inside was not anymore pleasing to the eye. The interior was lit by mere candles, giving the entire structure an eerie feel. As they went in they were greeted by guards on their patrols, most of them only said a word to Silver and Bloom, but there was a young filly in a cloak who also came by.

"Oh hello there." She said with excitement. "How was your trip Miss Bloom? I see you brought some friends along." Bloom kneeled down next to the small filly and rubbed manes with her in a hug.

"It was a very nice and peaceful trip, and these are some friends I made along the way." Bloom introduced them and before the small pony would get another word out, she was called from across the hall.

"That there is one young little fella', is it okay for her to be in this place?" Asked Applejack out of worry.

"I was just a child when I joined, I see no problem in it." Said Silver as he continued walking on, leading the group up some stairs.

"But I doubt everypony here is like you Silver." Applejack said.

"Actually, she was found." Said Bloom in a slightly cheerful tone. "Doesn't remember a thing about how she got to Dragon's Bane. It was quite odd actually. It was like if she just appeared within the walls of the city. Silver wasn't too pleased that a small filly made it past his elite guards." She added with a giggle. Since the grey stallion was leading no one saw his annoyed expression, but everyone knew he had it. Everyone joined in on the laugh, and somehow the whole mood was lifted from the gloom of before.

Silver finally made a turn to a door, which was quite large, he seemed to struggle slightly on opening. Everyone looked in awe as the light slowly illuminated the large room that had been their destination. It was a large circular room with a pentagram of sorts in the middle. In the middle was an insignia that they all knew since they had seen it none stop since arriving, Bloom's family emblem. The whole pentagram drawing was very elaborate and detailed, inside the giant circle where 5 empty sections where an altar stood in each.

"Wow-wee, where are we?" Asked applejack with her mouth gapped open. Everyone slowly stepped inside, as they did the ground lit up and the insignia on Bloom's cutie mark glowed in a similar green fashion.

"This is Dragon's Bane, the altar which is used for repelling the dragons when they try to over run us.

"This is all good and dandy, but why are we here?" Asked Rainbowdash who flew a few feet from where everyone was standing.

"I was sure the Princess instructed you to help us with activating Dragon's Bane, I thought it would be a good idea to start as soon as we arrived." Silver responded in a cold manner. The girls were about to retort to his response when Twilight stopped them.

"There there girls, he's right. I should get started right away." The earth pony and pegasus stood back as Twilight slowly made her way to the glowing engraved pentagram. She stared at it for quite a while and the ponies grew worried.

"Everything ok sugarcube?" AJ asked as she took a step closer. Twilight slowly shook her head as she looked franticly at the pentagram.

"No...everything isn't ok. I have no idea what anything of these things mean. It's like a completly different language." Twilight kept trying to make sense of the pentagram and the writing on it. She circled the room. She was so distracted she didn't noticed Bloom when she bumped into her.

"Now now Twilight, no need to worry yourself. The language you see is in dragon tongue. I can show you what they mean." Bloom said with a smile. Twilight smiled back and they began talking to eachother over what was written. Silver walked over to AJ and Rd. He nudged them and gave a gesture that it was time for them to leave and let them have some peace to work. He walked out of the room and they followed suit.

"Miss Bloom will work with your friend to find the answer we need, for now I believe we're done. Would you like me to show you to where you'll be staying at?" Rainbowdash and Applejack looked a little shocked at how courteous Silver was being with them.

"Well I guess you aren't as rude as I thought. Thanks but no thanks, I have some exploring to do." Rainbowdash didn't even allow Silver enough to time give a response, in just a few seconds she was off and out of sight. Silver, looked in the direction Rainbowdash flew off in and kept his rather indifferent expression.

"I'm mighty sorry, I'm sure she won't cause any trouble though." Silver turned and began walking in the opposite direction.

"I know. That corridor leads to a series of halls that if you're not familiar with, you'll only get lost in. I think we'll probably see her by supper." Silver smirked to himself. Applejack caught a glimpse and smiled along as she followed Silver.

Next Chapter: The Secret Passage Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 56 Minutes