“Bardac?” asked Celestia, glancing over her shoulder, eyes narrowing, “You did kill what you were fighting down in the forest, correct?”

“Unless you know of a creature that can survive without their head, then yes. It is dead,” replied Bardac, hissing loudly as the nurse pony applied another round of liquid, this one a sickly brownish yellow, onto his knuckles. “Okay, that was not saline!”

“Iodine, quit your fussing,” said the nurse pony, pulling out some bandages from her saddlebags. “It would have stung more if I told you about it. Now hold still, I need to wrap your knuckles.” Sighing silently, the nurse thanked her lucky star, having enrolled in a minotaur anatomy class less than a week ago.

With a sharp whistle, Bardac called over at the closest Atronach and glanced up as its shadow loomed over them, “Head back down the trail. Make sure we were not followed,” Bardac muttered, resisting the urge to growl out as the nurse tightened a thick white cloth around his palm.

The Atronach in question uttered a low rumble and stomped off, though stopped just it reached Celestia and Luna. The Atronach gave them a long, blank stare before slowly continuing on its path. While Atronachs did not understand emotion such as happiness or anger, they often showed something akin to curiosity.

As the Atronach passed, Celestia turned to Stampede, Light Flight and Raven. “Stampede. Start getting the servants clear, I'm afraid the demonstration is over for now,” she said. “Raven, if you can, continue assisting the nurse. Light Flight, follow that Atronach, report back if anything happens. I'd rather not have something like that stomping about on its own.”

“Anything we can do Princesses?” asked Applejack, watching Light Flight take off after the Atronach.

“Continue looking after Bardac, for now,” replied Luna, looking over at the Nord. “I doubt I need to tell you this, Bardac. But mortal bodies are not really designed to take that kind of punishment and continue on.”

“You really gotta stop making a habit outta this,” said Rainbow Dash, landing next to Bardac. “You're gonna end up with more scars than skin.”

Applejack rolled her eyes, muttering, “Bit rich comin' from the pony that spends half her weekends in and out of hospital because y'all decided to try a new trick.” Though, with a chuckle and a smile, Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a one hoofed hug.

Dabbing a small cloth against Bardac's chest, Fluttershy said quietly, “You've lost too much blood,” A small note of panic in her voice. “Any more and you could go into hypovolemic shock.”

The nurse glanced over at Fluttershy, “We can't deal with that out here,” she said, looking up at Bardac's chest, studying the puncture marks, “But for now, he's safe.” Her gaze went further up to meet with Bardac. “If you start bleeding again, we'll have no choice but to teleport you to the hospital.”

“I would rather bleed to death,” growled Bardac, staring down at the Nurse. Deep down, he was somewhat impressed by her unflinching gaze. “

“I'm sure you don't mean that,” said Rarity with a nervous smile, glancing between the Nurse and Bardac. Something clicked inside her mind, she knew she'd seen that nurse somewhere before. “Nurse... Redheart? Was it? I'm sure we'll find some way of getting him there.”

Nurse Redheart glanced over at Rarity and gave a nod, though right now couldn't speak, being too busy tightening Bardac's bandages to make sure they didn't fall off.

“What about levitation? That shouldn't aggravate the wounds in anyway shape or form,” chimed in Twilight. “Your weight won't be an issue inside a bubble and I can control it while I'm flying. Piece of cake!”

While the others discussed how to get Bardac to hospital if need be, Celestia started to mould the dome that was once above them into a thick barrier, setting it down about thirty feet away, near where the grounds met the path down the mountain. “Keep an eye on the sky,” she muttered to Luna. “I don't want what ever this is catching us by surprise. Light Flight should catch anything airborne, mind you.”

Without warning, Bardac stood, sending Fluttershy and Nurse Redheart scattering backwards, staring out to where he'd sent the Atronach as a surge of adrenaline pumped into his veins. “Vokorasaal...” he hissed.

A second later, Light Flight flew in, skidding to a halt between Bardac and the others. The smell of singed feathers on the air. “I'd say we've got about two minutes before everything hits the fan,” she said, staring over at Bardac. “Your Atronach just got turned into a puddle.”

“I know,” Bardac muttered, looking down the path, what little power he had left started to churn within him. “I felt it. ”

“Then we better get you outta here before it's too late,” said Twilight, glancing between Bardac and Light Flight. “You're seriously in no condition to be fighting.”

But it was too late. Something was already approaching down the path at speed. Down on all fours, claws larger than a bears dug into the ground. That is until it skidded to a halt in front of Celestia's shield, hissing loudly. Almost crocodilian in appearance, until it stood on its hind legs, standing a foot taller than Bardac. Several experimental swipes of its claws were given against Celestia's shield.

“Same beast as before?” asked Raven, not taking her eyes off the creature.

“Similar, yet... what I killed was larger and did not walk upright.” muttered Bardac, ignoring Twilight completely as he started towards the beast, only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie holding onto the back of his legs.

“There's a time and place to be the tough guy,” said Rainbow Dash, though as hard as she tugged, she couldn't budge Bardac. “Remember what Fluttershy said? You so much as get a paper cut, you're gonna be in some serious trouble.”

“Don't be so stubborn,” pleaded Pinkie Pie, having just as little luck trying to move the Nord. “Please?”

Then... laughter. A deep, hissing laugher echoed through the air. “Molag Bal will be pleased... Bardac. Wants you dead.” The large, wide muzzle of the crocodilian beast split into a smirk.

“Most Daedra Princes want me dead,” spat Bardac, staggering forward just a little. With a snap of his fingers, the remaining Atronach lumbered forward and picked Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie off his legs, much to their protest and flailing.

“Make you howl he wants. Like you did to poor Tyranus,” hissed the creature, jaws snapping hard. “Oh yes... begged for death he did.”

Bardac froze and gritted his teeth, fisted clenched hard enough to draw blood from his palms. “You DARE speak that name in front of me?” Bardac bellowed, the stone and earth beneath him shuddering, thick arcs of lightning burst from the Nord into the sky.

“Touched a nerve?” snarled the beast, drawing a claw across its throat. “Many nerves I will touch... as I rip them from you.”

“Control yourself Bardac,” Celestia shouted over, though as she attempted to get closer to him, the Atronach stopped her in her tracks with a shake of its head and an extended arm of ice.

But it was too late. Bardac was already against the shield. If it wasn't for the golden barrier, Bardac and the beast would have been grinding foreheads. “Go on... touch another one...” came a deathly whisper from the Nord.

“Bardac!” bellowed Luna, having a similar issue with the Atronach. They didn't want to harm it, but it was clearly not going to budge without force. “What in Tartarus are you doing!”

“Going to let others fight your battle?” taunted the beast, baring its teeth. “More you cannot save. Like little Logrolf. How his screams delighted Molag Bal. Relished in your tears each swing you took he did.”

Bardac snapped. “GAAN LAH HAAS!” he bellowed, the words ripping from his lips in a monstrous explosion of purple light. Celestia's shield disintegrated upon contact with the blast, the force of the Thu'um send both Bardac and the crocodilian beast skidding backwards away from one another. “Tyranus... Logrolf...” A ring of silver started to pool under Bardac's feet, bathing his body in its glow. Seconds later, his body erupted in a pillar of orange light.

The beast staggered, hissing loudly, “Yes... yes! Feel the anger! All shall fall before Molag Bal!” Charging, the beast struck. Claws sinking deep into the Nord's chest, “Burn burn burn BURN!” Its massive maw opened and engulfed the Nord in a noxious cloud of smoke and fire.

A thick shield of swirling colours enveloped the ponies before the fire struck. Acrid smoke enveloped the shield, plunging them into pitch black. “Did we get everypony?” asked Luna, her horn pulsing in the darkness as she looked around. “Damn it to Tartarus Bardac...”

“What in the name of Equus did I just come back to?” said Stampede from somewhere near the middle of the group, having just finished escorting the last servant off the grounds.

Celestia just stared out into the smoke, her wings slumped against her side, she knew what she saw and her heart sank. “That stupid... stupid Nord, why couldn't he have just listened to us.” she murmured. Her own horn slowly lighting up the darkness, the Atronach still in front of herself and Luna.

“He's... he's going to be okay, ri... right?” asked Pinkie Pie, slowly staring up at Celestia and Luna, then to the others. Her mane laying flat against her head.

Applejack slowly took off her stetson and hid her eyes behind it. “I... I don't think so Pinkie. Ain't no way he managed to avoid that,” she choked.

“How long do you think we have before that thing realises we're still here?” asked Light Flight, glancing over at Fluttershy and Rarity who were sat on their haunches, staring wide eyed out into the smoke.

“As long as the smoke lasts,” said Raven, looking up at the shield. The smoke was turning from black to grey. “Which will be about fifteen seconds.”

Stampede slowly moved to the front of the group, standing next to Celestia and Luna. “No time to get anypony else to safety,” he muttered, glancing up. The smoke slowly turned from grey to white, sharp beams of light starting to pierce through. “With you two holding the shield, we don't have the magic to teleport everypony away.”

“Luna and I will deal with this,” muttered Celestia, taking a step forward, staring up at the Atronach in her way. “Move, or melt. It is your choice,” she hissed, the tip of her horn glowing just hot enough to force the Atronach away from herself and Luna.

“PONIES!” screeched the beast, slamming its body into the shield with its arms outstretched, thick claws scratching down the shield like nails on a chalkboard. “Come and play.”

“Sweet teats of the east,” hissed Stampede, staring up at the beast. Then, as the smoke completely cleared, he saw it. Bardac's charred and smoking body laying in the dirt. “...what happened?”

Rainbow Dash was the next to spot Bardac's body. But that wasn't all that she saw. “He's alive!” she all but screamed. “He's alive! I saw him move!”

The others looked over. It was just as Rainbow said, Bardac's fingers were moving, slowly balling into a bloody, cracked fists. “That... shouldn't be possible,” murmured Rarity with her hooves in front of her lips, tears streaming down her cheeks. “He must be in so much pain.”

Celestia and Luna shared a single glance before nodding. Twin beams of magic burst from their horns, tearing through the shield and striking the beast square in the chest, sending it sprawling across the dirt like a ragdoll.

The beast didn't get a single second of respite. The moment it found its footing, another barrage of beams were already closing in. But it wasn't out of tricks just yet, raising its claws, a powerful magical ward shimmered into existence. The beams struck the shield before slowing being absorbed into it.

Celestia took to the air while Luna remained on the ground. Each beam they fired struck the shield with increasing force, inches soon turned into feet that the beast was forced back. “Great, it can do that as well,” hissed Luna as Celestia landed next to her, still firing beam after beam. “What now?”

“We wear it down, don't give it time to act.” answered Celestia. Her horn starting to sizzle and crack with each beam she fired. “That shield is identical to the one Bardac can use and like our shields, I bet you it can only absorb so much punishment.”

Meanwhile, as the princesses battled the creature, Pinkie Pie took her chance and galloped over to where Bardac lay, closely followed by Twilight and the others. Words escaped her. Sitting down by his side, all the pink pony could muster was a gentle nuzzle against Bardac's charred cheek.

“Is there anything you can do?” whispered Twilight, looking down at Raven. “I... I can heal broken bones, dislocations... But, this is just... too much.”

“Anything I can do would only prolong the enviable,” said Raven, “The fact he's still alive now is a mystery to me.” Her foreleg rose, as though to touch the Nord. But thought better of it a second later.

Light Flight couldn't even bring herself to look. “Damn it Bardac... for once couldn't you have listened to us?” she muttered, the faintest crack in her voice.

“Just what the hay is that thing...” said Stampede, looking over to the beast, it was still pinned down under the Princesses continuous barrage, but that ward was still holding strong, for now. “The Prin—”

“Mo... ra...”

Everypony froze, all eyes staring down at the Nord. Thick, oily wisps of smoke started to pour from the cracks in Bardac's skin as the ground started to shudder and crack. Thin black tendrils burst from the dirt, wrapping themselves tightly around Bardac until nothing could be seen except a pulsing, squirming black mass.

“Sweet Celestia...” gasped Twilight, a shudder ran up her spine as she stared at the black mass. “What... what is this?”

Fluttershy jumped back as quickly as she could, almost barrelling Rainbow Dash over in the process. “Is that some sort of magic?” she asked, shivering as the oily smoke wrapped around her legs. “It's cold.”

The tendrils expanded in an explosion of smoke. The once Nord shaped mass turned into a convulsing sphere ten feet across. Air was bursting out between the tendrils with enough force to send the ponies skidding backward. The surrounding air growing cold enough to frost their breath and freeze their nostrils.

“What the hay is happening?!” called out Applejack, holding onto her stetson as another blast of air sent her stumbling back into Stampede's legs.

“If I knew, I'd tell ya!” shouted Rainbow Dash, shielding her eyes with a wing. “I'm going out on a wing here and saying he's up to something!”

As quickly as the mass expanded, it started to shrink. Smaller and smaller, until it was once more resembling the body shape of the Nord inside. Except now... the shape was standing. The tendrils stopped pulsing, drying up into a hard cocoon surrounding him.

After he helped Applejack regain her balance, Stampede approached the hard cocoon, giving it a small tap with his hoof. “Any of you seen anything like this?” he asked, glancing around at the others. However, before he could get an answer, he was knocked off balance by a shockwave blasting out from the battle near the other end of the training ground.

Celestia and Luna had finally managed to blast their way through the beast's shield, spell after spell crashing against its scaled hide. A thick, blue beam erupting from Luna's horn pierced through the middle of the beast's chest, a spray of blood bursting from its back.

“That... took longer than it should have,” panted Luna, sweat beading off her brow as she watched the beast finally fall, the ground painted red where it lay. With a over to where the cocoon of Bardac stood, Luna couldn't help but breath out in surprise.

“The years have not been kind to us,” said Celestia, her horn smoking from the last spell she cast. “How long has it been dear sister, since we've encountered a foe that has pushed us to use so much energy. I can only think of one horn I've crossed that has drawn out all my power.”

Luna fell silent, staring at the ground as the reality of what Celestia said finally sunk in. “Has it really been that long? I remember that time as clear as the night sky... the power we used to wield,” she murmured quietly.

Celestia gave a small sigh, shaking her head slowly, “Compared to then. I feel as weak as a filly. Unable to harness the power I know is inside.” With a heavy sigh, she looked across at Luna. “Come, we have much still to do.”

With a pit in her stomach and lead hooves, Luna followed Celestia back towards the others. Though not before a final glance to the beast that lay motionless in the dirt. “I would rather face an Ursa Major than one of those things ever again,” she said.

“If one ever shows again. We'll be ready,” reassured Celestia, laying a wing over Luna's back. “We must be ready. We've already witnessed what they're capable of.” As she approached the others, Celestia couldn't help but stare at the cocoon that surrounded the Nord. “Twilight, Raven... Rarity? Is this your doing? What happened here?”

“Couldn't tell you if I wanted to. Its only just stopped twitching,” replied Raven before glancing up at Stampede. “Check for a heartbeat, since you're the tallest. Should be about here.” With a small pulse of her horn, a speck of light flickered on the left side of the cocoon.

Stampede approached the cocoon and slowly laid his head against Raven's mark, expecting nothing but silence. For now he couldn't hear much except the occasional crackle of the cocoon's surface. Seconds felt like minutes, then as faint as a whisper, a dull thud reached his ears. One after the other, the steady rhythm of a heartbeat. “I don't believe it,” muttered Stampede, taking a step back. “That son of a mule's alive in there.”

“Should we try and move him?” asked Light Flight, plucking out her burnt flight feathers. “That cocoon doesn't look too stable, but the sooner we get him somewhere safe, the better.”

“I thought he'd kicked the bucket for sure,” said Applejack, breathing out a deep sigh of relief, though it took most of her strength to hold back Pinkie Pie from jumping onto the cocoon in her attempts to pull Bardac out from inside it. “But I don't think we should be movin' him. We dunno what's goin' on in there.”

“It feels so fragile,” murmured Rarity, slowly running her hoof along the cocoon's surface. The entire structure shook violently a moment after, showering Rarity in black crust. She had to jump back to avoid being showered again as the cocoon shuddered in place once more, deep fissures spiderwebbing across its surface.

“What did you do?” asked Fluttershy, beating her wings to help clear the crust off Rarity's fur. Staring up at the cocoon, she noticed the fissures growing wider, the outer crust falling off in great clumps. “It's almost like it's shedding.”

“Let's try and peel off as much of this crust as we can,” said Twilight. “But please be careful! He's alive in there, but that's all we know.” With a flash of her horn, Twilight started to slowly pull off the smaller chunks of the crumbling cocoon.

“Better hurry up, looks like that creature isn't finished with us yet,” called out Stampede, moving next to Celestia and Luna as they turned to face the beast, what he saw chilled his blood. “You've gotta be kidding me... Princess Luna, I'm sure I saw you blast a hole in its chest.”

Luna's horn lit up, a deep blue glow radiating across its surface. “If that hole did not suffice. Then we simply make a bigger one,” she said, stamping her hoof down. “Wouldn't you agree dear sister?”

“Wholeheartedly,” answered Celestia. “I have had enough this crea—” the cocoon behind her lurched violently, a thick, hairy arm burst from the crust, grasping Celestia's tail pulled with such force she was sent skidding backwards into the others. “—Now what?!”

“Princess!” called out Stampede, whirling round just as Celestia disappeared behind him. Only to get a face full of hairy fingers himself which narrowly missed grabbing his snout. “Bardac! If you can hear me, that's not helping!”

A low, spine chilling hiss echoed over the training ground. “Ponies...” snarled the beast, finally on its feet. Where once a gaping hole stood in his chest, only a thick, fresh scar remained. “Such power... more, more. MORE! Molag Bal will reward me greatly for bringing you back to Cold Harbour. Useful Soul Shriven you will ma—”

“GANOG!” bellowed a voice from within the cocoon. The ground trembled as the cocoon blew apart. Crust and dust blew out in all directions and out of the rubble, stepped Bardac. His chest, arms and face an angry, raw red, leg armour and boots covered in a thick layer of ash. “Congratulations...” His face contorted in fury.

“Raven, get ready to teleport everypony out of here,” warned Twilight, taking a step back from the Nord. Her horn tingled, just like it'd done in the cave of Tatzlwurms before Bardac blew it to pieces. “Last time I saw Bardac make a face like that, he atomized the Tatzlwurm cave.”

Luna continued to face the beast, her horn glowing brighter and brighter, great sparks bursting from the tip. Until she felt a weight against her shoulder. Glancing behind her, she saw Bardac standing by her side. One look in his eyes told her all she needed to know, every ounce of fight left her body. “Tartarus have mercy on his soul,” she muttered, stepping backwards until she was side by side with Celestia.

“I'm gettin' a might sense of déjà vu here,” whispered Applejack, “Even though I ain't too sure... what the hay I'm suppose to be lookin' at.”

“I wanna stop him,” whimpered Pinkie Pie, fidgeting from one hoof to the other, her mane regaining just a little of its usual bounce. Deep down, she had a feeling it wasn't the right choice to make.

Fluttershy took off after Bardac. Hovering in front of him, she put her hooves on his chest. “You don't have to do this on your own,” she said quietly, pressing her head between her hooves. “We lost you once... we're not going to lose you again.”

“Pah fen kos pruzah, Fluttershy,” said Bardac, placing his hand gently on Fluttershy's head, fingers rubbing through her pink mane. His stare never leaving the beast in front of him. “Go back to the others. This will not take long.” Stepping around Fluttershy, Bardac gave her a small pat between the wings, encouraging her to go.

Reluctantly, Fluttershy did so. A quiet whimper left her throat as she flew back over to the others, landing besides Rarity. “I wasn't sure what else to do,” she murmured quietly, hiding her face behind her mane.

“Celestia, Luna... is this the right thing to do?” said Twilight, staring up at the two alicorns, “Every fibre of my being is telling me to bring him back... but I can't.”

Celestia glanced at Luna before looking down at Twilight. “Right now, Luna and I would not stand a chance,” she explained, “Resolve is a powerful drive.”

“So, what, we just sit here and wait for that thing to kill him again?” said Rainbow Dash, shuddering a little. “Have we all lost our—” Rainbow took one look over at Bardac. “—HIT THE DIRT!”

A colossal, rolling wall of fire and smoke was just about to engulf the Nord once more. With arms outstretched, Bardac inhaled deeply and with a thunderous boom, bellowed, “YUL TOOR SHUL!” A swirling vortex of fire erupted out of Bardac's mouth, like a spear it pierced the wall of flame closing in, blowing it apart as though it was nothing but dust. But he wasn't finished, forming in his right hand, a crackling battleaxe started to appear, the pommel at the end of its shaft cracking the stone beneath it as he slammed it against the ground.

“Holy Tartarus...” muttered Light Flight. “With all the fuss he made about his sword and he can pull that thing out of his flank? Also, since when can he breath fire.” Her eye twitched as her mind flickered back to what Bardac had said to her in Sugar Cube Corner.

The smoke cleared, exposing the beast prowling from side to side. Maw open, claws flexing, eager to taste Nordic blood once more. “Impressive,” it hissed, snapping its jaws together with a echoing crack. “Like a cockroach you are annoyingly difficult to kill.” Its claws rose, as though to unleash a spell, but a second later thought better of it.

Bardac started to walk towards the beast, battleaxe grasped firmly in his hand. “I have a dilemma,” he muttered. “I want to know what you are, where you came from and what you are doing here... Wuld.” Bardac shot forward, the air cracking as he stopping just behind the beast, “Yet, my desire to kill you... is overwhelming.”

A sickening splat and a dull thud filled the training ground, the beast's left arm slowly rolling away from its owner. The beast roared in anguish, spinning to face the Nord, but he was no where to be seen. Another flash of light, a crack of air and the beast's remaining arm dropped to the ground. Pain seared through the beast's ankles, all the strength left its legs as it slowly dropped to its knees.

“Achilles tendon. Nasty...” muttered Stampede, his own legs feeling like jelly at the mere thought.

“I wonder Bardac...” murmured Celestia, never taking her eyes off the Nord. “Would that have been our fate too?” Her mind flickered to the first day they came face to face upon the balcony.

With a flick of his arm, Bardac cleared the blood off the battleaxe before pressing his foot to the beasts back, forcing it down onto its chest. Slowly, Bardac raised the blade, its shadow passing over the beasts neck. “Anything you wish to tell me?” he asked quietly.

The beast slowly turned its head, glaring up at the Nord. “Do not think I'm the last you'll see... this land will soon belong to Molag Bal...” it whispered. “All will turn to ash... fuel for our furnace. The gates are open once more...”

Blade met flesh, blood coated the ground as the beasts head slowly rolled from its body. “Not as long as I still breath,” muttered Bardac, the axe he held disappearing into nothing as he turned his back to the beasts corpse. Approaching the group, Bardac snapped his fingers, sending the Atronach over to the corpse to keep any pony from getting near it. “Anyone hurt?”

“A few singed feathers, but nothing a good moult won't fix,” answered Light Flight, eyes travelling over his blood soaked torso and chest from where the beasts blood had coated his skin. “You... you did good.” It was all she could think to say.

Waiting until Bardac was close enough, Pinkie Pie launched herself onto his chest, wrapping her hooves around him tightly, not caring in the slightest that she was slowly turning from pink to red. “Don't you ever do that again,” she choked. “We... we were so sure we'd lost you. You're our friend...” When she felt a warm hand upon her back, she slowly looked up with glossy eyes. “... we are friends, right?”

“Yes, Pinkie. We are,” said Bardac, looking down into those tearful eyes. Bring his hand to her cheek, he wiped underneath her eye with his thumb. “Yet, there are those among us, whose friendship I have not yet earned.” His eyes glanced over to Rarity, Fluttershy and finally to Light Flight. “Allow me to make amends, somehow...”

“After all that's happened today, that's what you're concerned about?” asked Light Flight, words flooding back into her mouth. “First you run off to Celestia knows in the night. You come back battered, bleeding and bruised with those colossal... things the only thing holding you up. You pretty much drop dead before our eyes, come back to life, kill what almost killed you and all you can think of is making amends to us? What is wrong with you?!”

Rarity stepped forward and cleared her throat, “I think what Light Flight is trying to say, before she gives herself an aneurysm, is despite everything that's happened. We're all just relieved that you're alive.” A small tear started to well in the corner of her eyes.

“Light Flight brings up a good point though. Just what happened last night?” asked Fluttershy, “Rarity and I were staying in Canterlot for the market. But we didn't see or hear anything.” Looking up at Bardac, she cocked her head to the side. “But you did. Why else would you leave the castle? I can't think of any other reason.”

Putting Pinkie Pie down, Bardac dragging over the stool he was sat on earlier. “There is a reason why I left the castle last night,” he said, slowly scratching at his chest as he sat down, “Years of civil war, dragon attacks, vampire swarms... having to live your life with eyes in the back of your head. Eventually you develop a feeling that eats away at the back of your mind. It will not let you sleep, it will not let you focus on anything but... it.”

Celestia had so many questions running through her head it was making her eyes spin. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she settled on one that she desired to know the most. “Bardac. The injuries you sustained today, they were simply unsurvivable,” she said quietly. “Yet, here you sit. With barely a mark on you, seeming no worse for wear except for a few faded scars. How did you manage it?”

Bardac didn't answer straight away, instead focusing on a small butterfly that landed on his right hand. “Mora's Boon,” he finally said, reaching out to Fluttershy to let the butterfly walk onto the end of her snout. “As long as I still breath, I can harness its power. No matter the extent of my injuries, I will live. I can only use it once per day.”

“A small price to pay for such power,” said Luna, “A second chance at life, each and every day. You are a stranger, mysterious and dangerous being, Bardac. But... at least you're on our side.”

“He is who he is. I don't think he'll be changin' anytime soon,” said Applejack, giving Bardac firm pat on the back, sending the Nord lurching forward. “You gave us all a right nasty shock back there Bardac. Don't be makin' a habit out of that... not sure ours hearts could take it.”

“We've had our fair share of brawls... but I've never seen anything like that,” said Rainbow Dash, hovering nearby. “Even the Princesses were struggling against that thing, yet you finished it off in three blows.” With a glance up to Celestia and Luna, she scratched the back of her head sheepishly. “No offence.”

Luna shook her head slowly. “No offence taken, Rainbow Dash. It is as you said. That beast tested us more than we ever thought. Even then, we were unable to keep it down,” she said, sighing lightly. “It seems, even we have much to learn.”

“We would have figured something out, Luna,” Celestia said reassuringly, laying a wing across the blue Alicorn's back. “Bardac. Please accept our apologizes. Even with our power, no healing spell on Equus could have saved you. You almost died and there was nothing we could have done.”

“You have no reason to apologize,” said Bardac, looking up at the Princesses. “I let my guard down and allowed the past to overwhelm me. Rest assured. It will not happen again.” Sighing quietly, Bardac got to his feet. “I owe you all my life.”

Twilight stared up at Bardac. “What on Equestria would make you think that? There was nothing we could have done to save you. Even when you were in that cocoon, all we could do was sit there and watch.” She muttered, wiping a tear from her eye.

“If I use that power... without those who I would trust my life to around me, I am as good as dead regardless,” replied Bardac, slowly looking from pony to pony.

“You... you trust us? That much?” asked Fluttershy, looking over to Rarity who looked just as stunned. “Even... even after what happened at the restaurant?”

“You tried to heal my wounds without even being asked, I need no further reason,” answered Bardac, slowly going through the charred pouch around his waist. A small glint of gold caught his eye and that was all he needed to know. “Going back to what you asked. Each and every night, no matter where I sleep. I cast a silent Thu'um which allows me to see the life force of anything for miles around. Each and every creature, a clear outline. Even through walls and mountains.”

“A power like that would make patrols a piece of cake,” said Raven, walking up to Bardac before reaching up on her hind legs to tap at his belly. “Teach me.”

“No,” said Bardac flatly, looking down at the tiny unicorn. “Not that power anyway.”

Raven stared up at Bardac for a few seconds then gave a nod of her head, returning to all fours, “Carry on,” she said.

“I noticed something happening down in the forest,” Bardac continued, gesturing with a hand down at the forest to the north. “Too many creatures heading in the same direction. Almost as though they were being chased by something. I do not know why, but I knew it had something to do with the feeling that was eating away inside my head.”

“So you decided to chase down a creature that treated you like a stress ball,” said Light Flight. “If you went down during the night. Just how long were you fighting that thing for? I can't imagine it took you long to find it if you were using magic like that.”

Stretching out his spine from where Applejack dislodged a few disks, Bardac replied. “It finally fell just before the sunrise. I had little magic left. I did not expect it to be so resilient. So I summoned the Atronachs for protection and healed what I could. My clairvoyance did not last as long as I had hoped.”

“Then, why did it take you so long to get to the training ground? Surely you would have been able to find your way back before noon,” asked Stampede, raising his eyebrow. “Your sense of direction can't be that bad. Why didn't you come back with Raven and the patrol?”

“I left through the bedroom window. I did not exactly have much to go on to get back,” said Bardac, staring blankly at Stampede. “If I had known, I would have, but our paths never crossed.”

“That would explain why nopony ever saw you leave,” muttered Luna, pressing her hoof to her forehead. “Bardac... please don't make a habit of that. While myself and Celestia are aware of your ability to survive great falls. You have no wings. I'd rather you not give our servants heart attacks when they see you falling past the window.”

“I will keep that in mind,” said Bardac, a small smile creeping up on his lips. When he felt a small tug on his leg, he looked down to see Applejack staring up at him.

Dropping her ears, Applejack continued to stare up at Bardac. “Y'all... probably not gonna like what I'm about to ask. But I gotta ask it,” she said, hoping she didn't suffer the same response the beast did. “Who or what were Tyranus and Logrolf? I heard that thing talkin' to you and they sounded like names, but the moment he mentioned them, well. I've seen you lose you're temper before, hay you almost burnt down my barn. But I ain't seen you snap like that before.”

Bardac looked down at Applejack for what felt like an eternity, his hands curling into tight fists as the screams of the past echoed through his head. “Sometimes, no matter how deep you believe you have buried the past. There is always someone with a shovel big enough to dig it back up,” he finally said, sounding utterly exhausted.

Applejack cocked her head, studying the Nord's expression, it didn't take long for her to let out a long sigh, “Somethin' tells me that fight of yours took more outta you than just a few chunks of skin. But, if you don't wanna talk about it. It ain't up to me to pry. All I'll say is we all got open ears if you ever change you're mind.”

“Thank you,” replied Bardac, once again rummaging through the remains of his pouch. Only two things survived the inferno. A small, glistening gold object and the black soul stone. Resealing the pouch, Bardac then gazed down at his open palm, thin flames licked over its surface. “Twilight, do you have enough power to teleport me to the Crystal Empire?”

“It's impossible to teleport into the Crystal Empire, my brother's made sure of that and even if you could teleport near to it, the entire city is protected by a shield,” said Twilight, deciding not to question why Bardac was asking for teleportation, considering his reaction to it in the past. “I'll send Cadence and Shining Armor a letter tonight and we'll get on the earliest train tomorrow morning.”

“There is no we this time Twilight,” said Bardac, walking past the confused purple alicorn to pick up Dawnbreaker laying next to the stool and slid it back into its unscathed scabbard. “I want... no, need to get this done as quickly as possible. I do not mean to sound insulting, but I need time alone.”

“At least take Spike with you to the Empire,” she said, trotting up to Bardac. “He'll be happy to take some time off and it'll make getting around a lot easier, trust me. The Empire is, if I had to guess... three, four times bigger than Ponyville.”

Bardac glanced down at Twilight after picking up Shieldbreaker, “Spike?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, though the more he thought about it, the more a guide was sounding like a good idea. “Who is he?

“My number one assistant. He lives at the Library with me,” Twilight said with a smile. “Spike has helped save the Crystal Empire not once, but twice. He's considered a hero to many of the ponies who live there. Crystal ponies are usually pretty shy to strangers, which is why I think if you took him along, you'd be able to get what you want far quicker than if you were on your own.”

Scratching at his beard, Bardac let out a small grumble, “I will... sleep on it. If you think he can help me get through the Empire.” Eventually, Bardac finished gathering his various armour parts and started to head towards the Castle, only for his path to be blocked by Celestia, Luna and the three Captains. “Yes?”

With a deep inhale, Celestia glanced to those around her and got straight to the point. “Teach us to fight. When you return from your mission in the Crystal Empire, Luna and I... our guards. Teach us.” she said, an unwavering gaze in her eyes.

“You already know how to fight,” said Bardac flatly, slowly walking around the group, though half expecting to be stopped. When he wasn't, he continued towards the Castle.

“Like ponies,” said Luna, her voice just as strong in conviction as her sisters. Just those two words had the Nord still in his tracks. “We wish... no. We need to know how to fight, as a Nord.”

Bardac looked over his shoulder, first at Celestia and Luna, then to Stampede and finally down to Light Flight and Raven, all five stared back, fire within their eyes. “Then... I guess I have no choice,” muttered Bardac, turning towards the group. “You will bruise, you will bleed... and you will break.” With nothing left to say, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the Castle.

Stampede finally exhaled as he watched Bardac leave his line of sight. “Anypony else...” he muttered. “Feel as though we've just made—”

“—A huge mistake?” came four replies in chorus.

All Stampede could do was nod, sighing, “Yup...”