Long Ago...Hatching Day...5 years before Luna's Banishment

Lucky stared into his new born son's eyes with a mixture of joy, and horror. He sat near the fire trying to keep warm, a blizzard outside howled shaking the wooden shutters.

"A bad time for you to hatch little guy." Lucky chuckled. "There's a nasty blizzard making a mess of our small city. Why did you hatch now?" The fire began to die. He held Salas on his back, using his wings to keep him on, as he walked to throw a log in the fire. He rolled it in when the door opened.

Turning his head a flurry of pure white snow flew in. A pink aura guarded a unicorn stepping in. "Crystal Wings! Hurry! He hatched!"

The unicorn's ears shot up, and Crystal teleported to see. Gasping she sat down, and covered her mouth. Gazing on the creature she thought was only in her dream scape. She quickly picked him up, and held him close, crying softly.

"Oh...He's real..." She sobbed softly, rubbing her hoof in the short green stripe down the center of its body on his back. "It's green too...oh Luna you were right...he's real...so real....thank you!"

Lucky looked up at Crystal, his eyes looking deep in the eyes of his foalhood friend. After twenty long years being friends. Both became the best guards, fought through Somber's shade army, and married becoming even closer.

However with Crystal's magic nearing the minimum power to ascend. Celestia told her she couldn't bare a child because her magic power burned the eggs when they were in heat. So she had to tell Lucky a lie, saying she joined a guild preventing her to have a child under the guild law. She was part of the Sentinels of the Equestrian Royal Division the first of their kind.

And it became as such by Celestia's order to ensure the safety of Equestria. They made a vow if either of the princesses fell to darkness, they would always choose the light, and defend even if they must follow Luna into battle against Celestia.

But now, she was happy, happier than ever before, she had something to love with Lucky. Something they could care about, looking down at Salas Strike Wings. His small pony like hooves for his back legs. Two tiny arms followed with two hands. He was really fuzzy, and had two pony ears with a softer looking dragon face. It had two small green eyes that slowly turned blue as it whimpered softly.

"My little Vikrin...my dreams have come true, but I fear for you..."

Salas tripped over, falling into the small lake of water. He scrambled to reach the surface, feeling a wave of energy hit his chest, causing him to fall back into the water.

"Fuck!" He shouted, slapping the water. He was breathing deeply, trying regain his lost breath. "What was that?"

Spike jumped into the water, and started to swim to the shore. "Woo..." He looked back at the score board seeing 2-2.

"There's one match left, and now for the tie breaker!" Pinkie Pie spoke over the crowd. "The last round will be settled by a challenge Princess Celestia decides."

Celestia rubbed her chin with her hoof, thinking deeply. It was even, what challenge could settle this? She stood, walking down towards the challengers with a blank expression on her face. She looked at Spike, the dragon had a look of a winner, on the other hoof, Salas stood looking at her in return.

"Princess..." He said nodding his head.

"Right, I've made up my mind." She said stepping back to her seat in the stands. "They will have a staring contest." Twilight facehoofed herself with a long groan. "Is there a problem Twilight?"

"N-no princess, we might be here for a while." She replied.

The bell rung, and almost instantly they had their eyes locked. Salas now had the chance to see what truly was burning his fire to win. Spike had memories, some her couldn't see, but he saw the problems they faced. A growing friendship, turning a normal one to that of love. He loved all the ponies he was around.

After six minutes, Salas had started to feel his stomach rumble. He was getting hungry, and iron does nothing to help him. It melted quickly, and didn't sit right. The flame in Spike's heart was starting to burn out. What was causing this?

"You are a worthy foe Spike the pure breed." He said, keeping his eyes on him. "You managed to stay in to the last round, and that shocked me." Salas chuckled, rubbing his stomach. "Keep that passion burning."

Salas smiled as the dragon, blinking, ending the match at the eight minute mark. "I forfeit the match!" He called, looking down at Spike who was being lifted up in celebration. "Go! Talk to her."

Salas opened his wings, and flew away. Spike watched him fly away. He hadn't known what to say now that he won.

Celestia approached Spike with a smile on her face. "Congratulations Spike, you won." She placed a metal around his neck. "I however, must go find Salas." She nodded to Luna, and both flew after him.

Salas landed in the cave with the crystal tree he slept next to. His tail dragged behind him, leaving a line in the dirt. Sighing he fell to his side, breathing heavily. His heart pulsed heavily, feeling wiped out. He heard the sounds of two pegasi landing just outside.

"Come in!" He groaned. "There's nothing I can do."

"Are you alright Salas?" Celestia asked. "Why'd you forfeit?"

Salas rubbed his stomach. "I hate iron...good starter, but tastes like shit." He slightly threw up glowing red liquid iron. Salas groaned louder, rubbing his stomach, he looked at the princesses. "I know, shocking right? Iron is poison, much like lead and silver."

Celestia drew closer. "Is that why you quit, because you are ill?"

"Weak..." He corrected her. "I'm so weak, I'm so stupid for challenging that purple warrior."

"What battle was he fighting?" Luna ask, getting the Vikrin's meaning.

"Love...he's trying to win Rarity's heart. Winning ensured this for him. I saw his pink flame, it was burning me it had no where else to go. Love burns hotter than hate, and he wanted to win. So...uuuugggghhhh!" He puked up more liquid iron. "I...let him win."

"When did you decide this?"

"When...I ate the iron poll." He coughed a few times, and his wings shrunk down. "I...don't know if I'll get better....iron...is a heavy metal...sticks around longer."

Luna shook her head, stomping her hoof down. "We will not stand idily by to see thou ill." Her horn glowed, but fizzled out.

"Can't use magic on me princess." He chuckled. "Thanks though, for trying..."

"There must be some way to heal you." Luna spoke louder.

"My mom knew how to make me feel better." He replied. "Said it came to her in a dream."

Luna's ears shot up. "I know!" She teleported a large rock covered in emeralds. "Tis from below!" She broke it apart, magicking a shard of emerald to him.

Salas placed the rock in his mouth, chewing it slowly. "Thank you princess."

"Sister, inform the elements we have Salas. We will help him gain his strength back." Luna stepped closer. "We to truly speak to him in private."

Celestia nodded with a smile. "I understand. It is clear you had your own mission back then, and must be a secret to me." Her horn began to glow. "I too keep secrets you know I'm hiding." With a pop sound Celestia vanished in brilliant yellow white.

Luna turned back, giving him another emerald. "I'm glad had that vision." She finally said. "Your magic seems to be returning."

Salas raised a brow. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"Oh, then...you forget soon after..." Luna frowned with her ears folded back. She sighed handing a piece of emerald. "You...step mother...She liked our nights, much like our sister's day. Ponies like her were rare a thousand years ago, back before we were Nightmare Moon. We were, best friends. I shared a vision with her, of your birth. She cried finding out who you were, but she wasn't

...sad, she was overjoyed!" She smiled at him, placing another shard in his hand. There were a few minutes that passed by in silence while she fed him. "She was always so sad, because of her power...she tried to ascend, but it burned away her ovaries she burned out, like Star Swirl. Neither of them could mate."

Salas sighed, laying on his back, next to a sheet of metal. "Why are these ponies so different?" He asked. "They changed, even you."

"It appears you have not." She added. "You act like a child, but you are very intelligent."

"Because my mom tought me." He laughed. "Her smile made my day, and when I did so well, I was rewarded with special gems."

Luna smiled. "You seem better now, can you fly back?"

Salas slowly stood up, his legs slightly shook, and his wings grew. "I think so, might need help." He rested his hand on Luna's back, limping slowly out the cave.

"Shall we?"

"Thanks..." Next Chapter: Mystery of the Hateful Heart Estimated time remaining: 46 Minutes