***Asphyxious pov. Making his way back to the den.***

I came back through the portal that sent me to the mouth of the cave I used to get out here. I was half thinking I'd be back in the crystal empire when I got back seeing as I was pulled in to a portal from there. Not only that but Rex and the other dogs were not here they must of went back home when I didn't show up. I felt bad for the dogs that died when I was attacked by them after I took their souls from the battle field I was going to lay them to rest. The charm Moon Dancer gave me was working a small light in the stone was pointing me in the right direction.

I was making good time I hope things are okay back at the den. I walked for days but at last I'm home but something was wrong, I just could not put my finger on it maybe some of Jack's paranoia was rubbing off on me. I then just remembered that horrible fake Gaige I had to fight. I am never going to get those horrible things out of my head along with that monster Mawtrap as I like to call it. It had a huge mouth in it chest.

I then remembered F.A.U.S.T. I'm still not sure what she did to me really. Should I be worried should I fear she holds some kind of mind control over me!?. Na, I kind of enjoyed her talking to me not only that but she made me feel just a little bit human again. Not only that I have my jaw back now I can rub my chin tap my jaw. Make that odd clicking sound with my teeth.

Once I get to the den I go to my room and pull the Acquisition Beacon out of my rib cage then set it up in one corner of my room. I'll look in to calling up Jack on the thing later, for now I had some souls to talk to after that I ended up setting all of them free but two wanted to work for me. I don't know why but I felt really good after that not only that but I was getting this strange feeling when ever I picked something up or move it with my hands.

One of the many things my dogs would ask me when I came back was where did I get my new jaw from I would always say this to them. "Always keep your promises it will do you some good one day."

I then got word from Rex that they found where those armoured ponies lived we waited for three weeks as I wanted to get the Helljack's turned Warjack's finished before we made our plan of attack. I also looked in to both books for magic spells and anything else that could be useful. Not only that but we have the new coal to test out, I like to call it blue stuff.

"So who are they and what are we dealing with?." I asked as I put the last parts together to make up the warjack head.

It was modelled after the slayer only Kat decided to redesign the hole thing. I got to say I like where she going with it. The warjack looked dog like well the head did at lest the chest and shoulder's had over lapping plates of armour that gave it a kind of insect like carapace look to it.

"They are called the Solar Templars. A group of ponies who say their fighting in Celestia name to purge all evil in the world." Said Rex as he looks at a sword that was made weeks ago by Marbles and Fang.

"What about their fighting strength?." I turn the last bolt and look over it large lower jaw that was now a part of the head. I looked in to it eyes and saw nothing we haven't powered the thing on just yet and then there my control over this thing I've been worrying about that for some time now. Will it even do anything I say?.

"We got word from some diamond dogs who say they saw them fight. They said the ponies used some kind of metal giant's to fight for them. The giant's numbered around two or eight we don't know." Said Rex as I saw he put the sword away then look at a map.

"I thought there would be more warjacks running around. Who ever took my pages could of sell off the plans to make a lot of bit's. I wonder where did these Solar Templars get the plans for these things." I walked over to another thing I was working on a bonejack that was modelled after the Cankerworm. I had a lot of hard work putting the dragon fangs in to this thing as well as working out a new head for it.

"What are you going to do about the Alpha's who are on their way here?. They're not just going to follow you with out question." Said Rex.

I sighed at this will I could show off what I did to Sombra when I put him in my staff or show them the new Jack's to get them in line, wait. Jacks?... Jack!. No one could see but I was smiling like a mad man in side. I teleported back to my room then made my way to the Acquisition Beacon. As soon as I walked up to it the machine unfolded then lit up a holo display and a holo key bored.

"Jack you there!, it me your old buddy Asphyxious!. I need to talk to you about buying some guns!." I waited then heard what sounded like static then I heard a voice.

"Who is this/How did you get my echo?/I can not talk I must go." I freeze as the line go dead. Oh, My, GOD!. That was Zero!.

"ZERO come back man!, I wanted to talk to you!. I wanted to tell you how cool you are!!!." I yell at the holo screen hitting random key's only for the screen to turn on and I get claptrap. Oh come on...

"Hallo sir or madam on be half of Hyperion interstellar Corporation I Claptrap will be here to help with all your requests and/or purchases of Hyperion Branded equipment." I face palmed at this.

Why did it have to be claptrap I'm still getting the creeps after that one Claptrap was talking about confessing it love for me. I shot that thing as soon as Jack wasn't looking. I'm still embarrassed about making that stupid promise to F.A.U.S.T. god why do you hate me. I sighed as I looked at the little robot pony well what can you do.

"Hallo claptrap listen can you get jack for me?" I asked.

"Sorry but Mr Handsome Jack can't come to the phone right now his in a vary important meeting." I sighed as I rub my face. Well I guess I can make due.

"I need some fire arms. Shotguns with incendiary rounds if you have any." I thought I'd keep it simple for the little robot.

"Alright then just let me pull up you ID code then get your Hyperion credit card number and then we can begin your purchases." You have got to be kidding me...

"Claptrap get me my guns or I will find away to come through this holo screen and pull out your EYE!." I roared at it as you can guess the little robot pony screams and start tipping away like crazy on his end. I then saw fore crates digi-structed next to the Acquisition Beacon.

"t-t-t-t-There you go Mr Asphyxious how will you be p-p-p-p-paying for those?." Asked the little Claptrap as he stutter's.

"In Gem's." I said calmly as I picked up a hand full of gems then hold it out to the Acquisition Beacon. A beam of light scans over the gems before being broken down in to data. I hand a bag full of gems moved in to my room so I could pay Jack if I needed anything.

"Thank you for choosing Hyperion interstellar Corporation for your purchases. Please come again for all your purchasing needs." I watched as the Acquisition Beacon folded back up again then power down.

I was feeling really good about my self now that I know this thing works I guess I have nothing to worry about. I ordered some dogs to take the crates back to the forge where Rex and everyone else was waiting. I was a little giddy I felt like a little kid on the day just before Christmas. I opened one of crates and saw not what I ordered.

"What this stuff?." Asked one of the dogs in armor.

I reached in and pulled out a single barrel shotgun well at lest it wasn't made out of duck tape. I opened another crate and saw there was no incendiary rounds. Well at lest I have two crate of buck shot for the shotguns. I sigh as I look at the dogs well I'm sure they will understand the use of a gun as long as they don't start killing each other with it. The guns themselves were simple and had no Hyperion logo's on them. I bet Kat could make one of these if she took the thing apart I look to the last crate and think.

What else did claptrap send me?.

Knowing my luck most likely something silly I mean this is Claptrap we're talking about here. I hear a ping then looked at the floor to see a iron bolt. I picked it up then looked at it and saw it was the same as the bolts in my arm it didn't take me long to guess where it came from. I look at my other arm and saw a missing bolt.

"Well... this can't be good."

***Celestia pov.***

I'm just not sure what to think at this point what Twilight Sparkle was telling me from what she has said Asphyxious saved Shining Armor life and then killed king Sombra. I had mixed feelings about this on one side he tried to save the lives of my little ponies on the other he killed Sombra. Not only that but he was pulled in to a portal to who knows where, I sighed as I rub my eyes I needed some tea.

"And you do not know where he could be after being taken though this portal?." I asked.

I watched as Twilight shake her head. "I am so sorry your majesty it just no pony would have thought he could use magic like that." Said Twilight.

"My brother said that Asphyxious was indebted to both him and Cadence for freeing him. What I don't understand is why he would think that?." Said Twilight. As she walks next to her old teacher.

I was a little surprising this being Asphyxious thought he was indebted to help them. Even if they did free him indirectly he still saw that he owe them some kind of fever. I then looked back at Twilight and smiled at her I had to ease her mind on this matter.

"Twilight you may not have pasted your test but you did something that vary brave. You in trusted a task to somepony you thought could finish what you started and you was right." I said with warmth in my voice.

I saw her smile as we both looked up at the stained glass window of the little dragon. However one thing was bothering me about all this if we wanted to get in contact with this Iron Lich we would have to talk with the diamond dogs. That could be a problem ponies and diamond dogs didn't have the best of relations with each other.

"But for now let not worry about Asphyxious it best that you just forget about him." I said as I think of what he would be doing to those poor dogs.

"I can't Celestia!, his body and the armor of that pony you told me to forget about might be linked!. I did some research on it and found this steam magic technology existed before. I have some notes with me." I sighed at this. I should have known Twilight would not pass up the chance to learn about something new.

I looked sadly at her as I put her notes away and look at her. "Twilight... There something I need to tell you, this steam technology has been banned in equestrian for more then eight hundred years. Asphyxious was the start, when I saw him I saw the true darkness of what this technology could do. I didn't want the same thing to happen to my little ponies some tried to fight my wishes and left." I said as I looked out the stained glass window.

I was going to say more until Twilight asked me this. "Celestia, who is Faust?" I blinked at this then looked her how did she know of mother name?. Only me and my sister knew of our mother name. "Who told you of this mare? only I and Luan know of her any other pony who knew that name have long passed from this world."

I saw the look of the her face as she bit her lip, I know that look the 'I'm not going to like it look' Twilight just what have you gotten your self in to. I was broken from my thought when a royal guard burst in to the throne room.

"Your majesty come quickly there is a small army of ponies heading for the castle!" He yelled as he gasps for air.

I looked to Twilight and I could see the confusion and fear in her eyes. "Guard I want you to stay with my student make sure she stay safe." I commanded as he bow his head in understanding I look to my young student and said this. "Twilight stay here and don't leave no matter what you hear or what happens do you understand?" I get a nod from her and smile calmly at her as I then leave the throne room.

Once I made my way out side I saw the royal guard at the ready all of them armed with spear's at the ready. They were all read to fight and keep their homes safe. I walked up to the new captain of the guard was giving orders to the other guard as they ran around the gardens.

"Captain Iron Heart, what happened are we under attack"
The captain was a unicorn with a rusty coat and black mane. He looked towards me and gave a sharp nod.

“No ma’am, it looks like a large number of ponies around fifty of them also they have some kind of big metal things following them. Ma’am they fly the colors of the Solar Templars” I look out the gates and saw them.

It wasn’t so much as a march as a calm walk if they wanted to fight they would not have just walked into the heart of canterlot for nothing. I knew something was wrong but what I could not put my hoof on it. I then saw what looked like an earth pony in some kind of armour walk ahead of the others. He stop just outside the gates the four of my royal guards at the gate quickly surround him and point their spears at him. He then said this.

“My name is Thunder Path, rank Brigadier. I am here to speak of terms for our surrender” My guards looked shocked at what this Thunder Path just said.

I look to my captain and he looked up at me we were both unsure what was going on. The Solar Templars never surrendered to anyone. So to hear one of their members saying was a shock. I then nod to Iron Heart and he called back.

“What are your terms” I see Thunder Path give out a sigh then relax.

“We just want to turn ourselves in as to show we mean it we are going to power down our steam giants” He then looked to a group of unicorns there was only five of them. Their horns glowed as seven metal giants lumbered their way to the front they then drop to their knees and the smoke coming out of the smoke stacks on their backs stop.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about them bringing these things here, however I feel that something must be driving them to do this. Something terribly wrong must of happened. I walk up to the earth pony as he bow to me his head low to the ground. The rest of the templar ponies do the same just what was going on?.

“Sir Thunder Path, I’m not sure if I should be relieved or worried that you would bring all the templars here and surrender was the right thing to do” I smiled but I saw the look of regret on the young stallion face.

“This… isn’t all of our order celestia, these are the ones who could be spared from outposts all along the north. Most have never seen battle, some don’t even know how to fly. The last trouble makers and lay abouts. If I wasn’t given the orders from Fire Storm I think most of them would be the first to fall in battle…”

“What I want to know soldier, is why did you come all this way just to surrender to us. Did you think you’d just get a slap on the hoof or something” Iron Heart said sternly.

“Not only that but this gear your group is armed with looks like you’re ready to start a war. Not only that but it banned tech, you all are walking outlaws just with bringing it with you” He then walks right up to Thunder Path and glares into his face.

“Why are you really here” Iron Heart said looking deep in to the young stallion eyes. Thunder Path didn’t even blink.

“Two reasons, first to tell you that there something wrong with the order. Fire Storm thinks, no he knew it was corrupted with something dark and evil something we couldn’t see. He told me it been like this for years and want me to get as many ponies out before something happened” He sigh as he looks to the floor.

“I should of stayed maybe I could of helped him or something…” I walked past my guards then wrapped one of my wings around him.

“It not your fault this Fire Storm as you call him most likely had to live with this knowledge knowing about this corruption but could do nothing to stop it. Do not worry you and those who came here with are safe now” He moved out from under my wing and looked up at me. The look in his eyes showed he had more to say.

“The other reason I came was to warn you about something that is coming. You know of how the pony tribes were formed?” He asked and Iron heart answered.

“Everypony knows that story, what you tell me the windigos are coming back or something” He rolled his eyes at this.

“That not what drove them out” Said Thunder Path as he looks up at me. “Everblight is coming. If we do not get ready for war then it will destroy us all”

“What is this Everblight, some kind of monster?” I asked confused. I vaguely remember my mother telling me something about a blight but my self and Luna were still foals at the time.

“We don’t know everything all we do know is that their is some kind of army that follows this Everblight… who or what it is we don’t know. The order has been fighting it and that what they've been doing for a long time. But after the pony tribes left it stopped attacking we’ve been waiting for when it returns and it has. One of our outposts sent a message… they said they can’t hold them back if they attack, do you understand. You need to call everypony to arms!” He yells in panic.

I put a hoof on his shoulder and smile calmly at him. “Don’t worry we will deal with this and you are going to help us” Thunder Path sigh as he then drop onto the floor I take a second look and saw he was passed out.

I take a quick look at the other Templar ponies and find most of them look exhausted. I quickly ordered for a doctor to see to them did they not rest at all when heading here. I saw some pages fall out of the Templar saddle bag when I picked them up I knew what they were. These were the pages of that evil book I looked through them each one more worrying then the last. I destroyed all but one page it was a large metal monster with large horns and claws.

***Alpha Eddie pov. Going to Stone paw den.***

I was a Jack Russell I can remember how all my other pack mates looked down at me for being smaller. That is until I beat the old Alpha and took his place. I was smiling to and enjoying my walk down these old tunnels how ever that was until we met up with the other Alpha Boomer. We didn't get along...

Boomer had this crazy idea with exploding powder to try and use it as a weapon. Let just say that made a lot of cave in's, he would always laugh when he heard a explosion. If anydog asked me I would say his crazy but what interested me more was that old Alpha Bone Crusher was dead. I and many other diamond dogs with in my pack have taken bets as to who the new Alpha is me I think it Rex. It was just a matter of time before the Beta was pushed to far.

Once we all get to the entrance we see fore dogs standing there. The armour they had on looked nothing like what they use to have, which was nothing. Whoever was in charge liked to have his pack member's armed, they let us pass my guess is they knew we was coming and what I saw next was well the den was a makeshift forge and mining town. It was a strange site to see not only that but I saw something large moving in to one of the tunnels. We met another diamond dog guard who was less armoured but was holding some kind of metal pipe?. He then pointed to the large forge in the middle of the den.

As me and my dogs alone with Boomer with his two dogs made our way to the forge we started to hear voices. They then start to get louder as get got closer. "Asphyxious what have ya been doing, you got more lead in ya then a bucket!." The first voice sounded like a young diamond dog.

"Hay not my flat they was the ones who started shooting at me" Said a deeper voice. This must be the new Alpha who killed Bone Crusher. He must of been attacked by something and is getting lip from the healer.

"I swear boss if I wasn't here to fix you back up ya would be in the scrap yard with in the week. Have ya looked at these parts? I'm going to have to put a new piston in ya arm. One more thing after this you got to tell us where you went" What? why would the healer put a piston in his arm. Myself and my own pack know a thing or two about steam engines, we even have small trains that run all over the den. But we never head anything about something like this.

Boomer was the first to walk in with his dogs and stopped at the door. Really now he was just going to stand in the way just because he thinks his bigger. But he hasn't said anything, by now he would make some remark abut me being a runt. I then heard the deep voice from inside say this. "Hallo there you must be one of the Alpha's come in don't mind Kat, Bronze, and Marbles. Their just here to repair some battle damage."

I saw Boomer walk in side of the large forge room and what I saw made me and my pack mates paused at what we saw. It was some kind of metal skeleton it had what looked like a flouting skull for a head I did not know what creature the skull came from but the two fangs that go a little past it lower jaw made me think of those bat ponies I've heard about. Maybe this thing came from the same land as them?.

I saw a large pitbull dog pick up what looked like a bucket full of coal that had a strange blue glow to it. The pitbull pulls up the bucket to one of it shoulders and then opens what looked like a oven door on it shoulder, he then poor the coal in to the what I now guess was a furnace of some kind. I saw what looked like some kind of moving pipe that went over the joint of the where this things shoulder should be and in to it body. I carefully looked closer and could see past the ribs and saw some kind of steam engine I wanted to know more.

I stopped my self from just going over as I then looked to the other dog with the fur missing from it arms. He was what looked like adding some kind of new armour to it left shoulder. The new shoulder had three large spikes sticking out of the top of it and it even had a plate of armour over it, I then notices the small Rottweiler that was working on his arm putting in the new piston in to his arm. Once it was installed I saw it move then the Rottweiler spoke.

"Their good as new with this and the new armour ideas you told us about this should let you last longer then a week. Then next time you decided to run off make sure to clean up after your self, do you have any idea how much dry blood and meat was in side of ya?!" She all but yelled at him.

"I'm sorry look next time I'll try and stay away from the things that want to kill me deal." The metal creature held out it other hand to her after he said that. The young female dog sigh and shook his metal hand.

"Okay ya got a deal but if I hear we got to fix ya up again I'll take ya apart got me. Now let work on that engine on ya back" Once she was done working on the arm the thing looked right at me.

"I guess one of you is the Alpha right" He asked pointing at my group, I nod and take a set over the other side of the forge.

I watched as this thing sit calmly and looks between me and Boomer. It then looks to the pitbull who was now putting on the shoulder armour on it right shoulder before saying this. "So gentlemen let get down to why we're here and do what best for the clan. Let start with names, I am Asphyxious the Iron Lich the leader of this pack."

***Poison Dagger pov. Underground lab***

“You know I never get tired of doing this, opening living beings up and seeing how they work”

I said to myself as I works on the in sides of a living griffon. I was carefully mapping out it innerworkings at the start he was fighting me at every turn but now that the drugs were working the griffon was just laying there as I remove it liver. I then put it in a bowl as I look at him I couldn’t help but find the griffons the most interesting of races of our world.

“You know not long ago I was working on a minotaur, he was very strong but as soon as I showed him some of my other works he just broke down on me sad really. He begged me not to hurt him but what he didn’t understand was I was making him better” I said as I pulled up a small case with pure necrotite in it. Necrotite was so hard to find when it came to searching for large amounts of it let alone make it your self.

The thin spider like arms that came out of my back had useful claws on the ends. Without them I never could do even half my work let alone remove somepony organs, I put one of the small pieces into a small metal cage no smaller than a matchbox. I closed the cage then put it inside the griffon body.

“Why… d-Don’t you just kill me?” Gasped the griffon as I slowly start to close up the opening in his side. I thought about this then told him why.

“Well for one why would I kill such a useful test subject, without all the research of those before me we never could have gotten to this point. Why I like to think I’m helping my follow ponies with all that I’m doing here”

I then heard the iron doors opening to my lab, hmm must be Firestorm his the only pony who come and see what I’m doing. It was then that I heard the voice of the Dragon inside my head with a warning.

HE IS HERE TO STOP YOU, DO NOT LET HIM INTERFERE .

I slowly nodded at this as I get a knife and start to cut off one of the griffon lims. I was already deep within my work as I start to put the new metal leg on the griffon before I heard the old unicorn walk to the other side of the stone table then I saw him looking at the griffon.

“I see you are in your work, Poison…” He said in a voice that was dripping with regret.

I looked up from my hood as I saw his eyes were solely on the griffon I as working on. I smiled to myself I could see through his act, I can tell he plans on killing me. Oh he won’t like what I have in mind for him.

“I’ve been busy you did say I could have ‘anyone’ I wanted. Sadly one of the high templars found out about my work so I… had a chat with them” I smiled as I looked up at one of the many cages that held some of my works.

I then saw Firestorm eyes go wide when he saw one cage in particular. He slowly walks up to the cage and looks at the pony in side. “High… priest Timberwell... What did you do” I could hear the anger in his voice.

“Tell me what did you do to his HORN!” I sighed at this.

“It not my fault really, after all once he saw my work he then ran. So I sent my pet’s after him to bring him back sadly he already used a spell to warn the others of what he saw. So I had to make sure he couldn’t send anymore. We couldn’t have that now could we… So I had his, little group broth to me. They were really good test subject why they even lasted longer than the diamond dogs I was working on”

A shot rang out in my lab as I looked at a destroyed jar that held a dragon eye in it. Really now does he know how hard it is to find a dying dragon and take it eye. I looked up to the old unicorn who was shaking in rage holding the pistol in his magic that was smoking at it barrel. I then saw the look in his eyes now I remembered why I picked the name firestorm for him.

“What about the others, tell me what you did to them!” He all but screamed at me. I then looked around the room at the many cages in it holding my works. When I look back at Firestorm I saw the look of horror on his face.

“I couldn’t deal with all of them you understand so I have to call on some help from my colleagues. You should get a report from outpost twelve that everything is fine and-” Before I could say more Firestorm speak up.

“We didn’t get a report from outpost twelve…” I, what, no. No that can’t be right that was one of six outpost to fall under my control. What happened?!, my mind was racing with panic until Lord Toruk spoke to me again.

THIS IS THE WORK OF EVERBLIGHT WE MUST HURRY.

I slowly understand as I looked at Firestorm who was standing right in front of me with the pistol aimed at me with the barrel in my face. I smirk at him as he looked at me with hate, I could use that. “All those years, I thought you were trying to help us but these last ten years have showed me your not trying to help. You are trying to control us aren't you”

“You all made it so easy for me why I didn’t even have to try” I looked off to one side and gave the command to attack.

A large hulking form of meat and metal roared as it push aside cages and other things to get to the old unicorn. Firestorm didn’t even see it coming as he was sent flying in to a wall I heard the sound of bones breaking. I laughed to myself as I walk up to his broken form with my pet not far behind.

“Don’t worry Firestorm for my plans to work I still need you. After all the last thing we need is for two of our Brigadier to go missing don’t you agree?” I was going to enjoy this.