Alkeyore PoV

A large male Manticore bursts out of the bushes, he looks towards Luna and me with a puzzled look before his gaze falls on Kren. His hate filled eyes glared at Kren and with a quick movement he launches his barbed scorpion tail at the young druid. Narrowly Kren manages to dodge the potentially fatal strike, his orcish combat training giving him a slight advantage in the terms of speed. Yet I doubt Kren could take a blow from the overgrown cat, if my magic was right then he had fifteenth percent chance in surviving a blow, Kren is not a warrior, he knows this, he is better suited in a support role then the front lines.

The manticore retracted his tail, preparing for another attempted attack, he does so a few more times, but he missed all the times, growling deeper each time Kren proved too light footed for his species ranged attack. Seeing that he was wasting his energy with the tail attacks the cat switched to his claws.

"A- Alkeyore!" Called Kren struggling to dodge the cat's' powerful swipes. The edges of those twelve-inch-long claws shredded into the edges of Kren's robes, giving them a likeness to the tattered robes of the Rangers of yore.

I quickly leap from my resting place on the river banks with magic blazing as the shadows and their chains pended the Manticore down, his claws merging with soil of the earth ensuring that he was fully bound to it. The blood lust of battle burning in my veins, I ponder on how to end the beast that dared to attack my old student but I was stopped from delivering punishment, the thought of slaying what could be one of Moonlit's friends oddly made me reconsider slaying the manticore, also that Kren was actively trying to break my ribs with his embrace.

''You're alive!!!! I knew it! I knew that you were alive old friend!" Cried Kren happily, hugging me all the tighter and I believed that I felt something wet gather on my shoulder... Kren always had been a sensitive boy, but loyal and always with a smile on his face and optimist view on the world.

I was lucky that Kren minded my hidden wings despite not truly knowing about them... I hear Luna's approach from behind me, I don't doubt that if she was wondering who was the mage bearhugging me or she was pondering why the foals wasn't disturbed by the small skirmish with the Manticore.

"Kren it's so good to see you, lad but do you mind? You're crushing my ribs." I said, returning the embrace a little. Immediately Kren eased off of the embrace.

''They said that you were dead!" said Kren wiping away a tear from his face

''Oh Alkeyore, Gaea had been falling apart since Teigue went to the Count."

Gaea falling apart? Why am I not surprised... ''What has happened young druid?" I asked with narrowed eyes.

''War." said Kren throwing his whole being into that one single word. War... such is the Gaeaish way. I heard more rustling in the bushes yet I said nothing and instead focused on the young lad, I could see that he had traveled a long way to 'find' me. Thus, meaning that others surely had seen him thus possibly making him known to Sleipnir and his servants. The Manticore tried to call out to something but my magic quickly muzzled him making him silent until I decide what to do with him.

''Alkeyore? Who is this? Asked Luna stepping between us with a distrustful look in her eyes, Kren being true to his overly friendly personality just smiled at her.

''Alkeyore, I see that you've made a friend in this new land." said Kren still smiling, I could tell by the look in his eyes that he either would any moment offer his hand for a shake or maybe a friendly hug in some rare cases. I then felt a present in the bushes not far from us.

'’As you did it seems…" I replied when a young gryphon hen just stepped out of the bushes, her body had Kren's scent all over her, and now that I think about it, I could smell the young hen’s scent on him thanks to my demonic heighten senses. She was not alone behind her was a gaggle of female manticores who giggled at seeing the bound male standing there in the open. They seemed to talk in their bestial language to the male before they rubbed themselves against him and licked his face and even between his legs.

Then two of them biting down on his hind legs and started dragged him away. He seems to have an excited and also frighten expression and he even was whimpering as they giggled with their mouths full, though I thought I smelled lust coming from what I assumed to be the leader of the gaggle of girls as they dragged him away.

The Gryphon hen shook her head at the disappearing manticores before racing to Kren's side, rubbing up against him and purring a little, I raised an eyebrow at that. The hen then focused on Luna and narrowed her eyes at her.

"Who the flying feather is this? I hope you are not thinking in trying something with Kren here." Said the Hen in a not so happy tone, still looking at Luna.

Luna was then giving her the same angry expression and then just snorted and turned her muzzle upwards.

“Don’t worry gryphon, we will not lay a hoof on this human, and also we are princess Luna Alicornian goddess of the night. Prey tell what is thy name, or shall we call thou just angry bird?”

Nara pouted and puffed out her chest.

“I’m Nara Quick-Claws, daughter to Zeera and Tiger-eye of the clan of the dueling talons, former ship shadow of High King Elron.”

''A former Shadow of the Gryphon high king hmm, then why are you doing in Equestria? you're far from your territory hen." Luna said in a mocking voice before spreading out her wings slightly attempting to immediate the slightly smaller Gryphon.

"This is native territory pony.'' Snorted Nara spreading her own wings slightly as a reaction and challenge to Luna’s action.

"I was under the impression that the Everfree Forest was deeply in pony territory." replied Luna looking down at Nara with a small smirk. Nara just narrowed her eyes more and puffed out her chest more.

Looking between the two females, I could tell that they were sizing the other up. Looking at their body language was a clear signal, and I even thought I could see lighting flicker and sparkle between their eyes, though the signs went over Kren's head as he watched the two, still with a smile on his face.

"Luna my friend this is Kren Canard of Orciemia, a very old friend and former student of mine." Kren waved at Luna.

“, and my coltfriend." Added Nara before rubbing against Kren’s' legs much like a cat would do as it marking its territory, and smirking towards Luna, I could see Luna pout at that but didn’t answer back to that barb. Kren just looking a little flushed at the action, more so when I saw Nara using her tail to rub against his groin.

‘Well that explains the purring bit.’ I thought. ‘Well let’s defuse this situation before it will escalate into something more troublesome.’

''So it seems it's my turn, I’m-…“

"King Alkeyore Blood-raven." Said Nara cheekily. "Kren had told me much about Gaea." She looked up towards Kren with a smile and leaned more into his thigh. The gryphoness was really milking and pouring on heavy with the cuddling and lovey dovely part, I can see that Luna didn’t like the way the hen was rubbing this in her face. Looking at the gryphoness a little closer I could see that she was looking somewhat cute or beautiful, but not really something I would have chosen. I took a quick glance towards Luna and her form. My heart skipped a little faster doing that.

I then looked back at the gryphoness and then Kren. ‘Looks like Nara had sunk her claws into him, well I’m not really one to poke into someone’s love life, but wonder what will happen when Gwen will hear and see this, that young orc is pretty smitten with Kren for some reason, can’t image why... Must be that aura and something with his stigma that seem to draw certain kinds of females to him. I maybe will have to make some preparation in case it will go out of hand. I’m glad that I have not such a complicated love life that Kren seem to be getting.’ ‘Then again if I recall my love life correctly it was just bouts of lust I used to my advantage, poisoning them with Deathly Love potions and Death's Kiss, always handy in hostage situations, assassinations or mercy killings but course I am still a man. I had partaken the fruits of Eros many times.’

"I see... '' I said slowly wondering just how much Kren had told her of about Gaea. " I would ask you share your tales Kren and Nara but we mustn't linger here, there are eyes in the trees and the stones. " The phase made the two females to look at me oddly not understanding it, eyes in the trees and the stones, a very old Rohnirian code for we're being hunted and we must go deeper into the wilds. And of course, there was Moonlit to think about especially with a Gryphon nearby, I'm sure that she would either attack or hid from Nara if she saw her... plus would be too much to ask of her to be near a Gryphon at this time.

Kren nodded at my hint "Nara where would be the safest place for a camp?"

"If I remember right then this river is the Wildheart River. If we crossed it then we would be close to the Timberwolf camp and further south The Glades of Grimmnjor and beyond that is a lake called the Heart of the Forest, we Gryphons have limited knowledge on the layout of the forest but our maps are much better than pony maps."

"You call that limited?" Both me and Luna deadpanned.

''Well yes, we know the different parts of the woods not the distance between them for all we know the Timberwolf camp would take weeks to reach." said Nara bashfully.

"Not if you know the secret paths..." Said a small voice, my head snaps to a very awake and very frighten Moonlit, the snap of my head drawing the gazes of the others to the little Kirin, surprise from Luna, while Kren raised a brow at the little filly. But when Nara looked at her, she started trembling under the gaze of Nara.

Before I with my magic pulled her into my arms causing the little Kirin to ‘meep’ a little as I shielded her from the eyes of the Gryphoness. I could feel her snuggling into my chest as I did that.

"Oh goodie a Kirin," Said Nara rolling her eyes. "Just my l-“

"Watch that tongue Gryphon, or lose it." I growled darkly my arms tightening around the Kirin as she started to whimper." Your kind have already done enough to her."

Nara open her mouth to retort but a sharp look from Kren stopped her "Alkeyore,'' said the druid is a soft voice "I know you very well and I know that you don't do anything without a reason... what happened to her?"

"She was almost raped and murdered by a group of Gryphons thugs." Luna answered for me her beautiful eyes glaring deliciously darkly at the hen as she went to check on the still sleeping Nightmare moon.

"What No! No bucking way! no Gryphon worth their feathers would ever-.''

"The troop was led a Gryphon by the name of Lion-Heart..." I finished

"Lion Clan…!'' Nara spat. "It's always Lion Clan, Amothos forsaken spineless bastards."

"Alkeyore did you.... of course, you did." said Kren flatly.

"Did what?" asked Nara.

''I brutally murdered them." I said before speaking softly in a comforting tone. "Moonlit..." My hands gently coursing through unkempt mane soothingly.''Be at peace young one, I am here... Graki fhear volio gah na fhear. " (the beast of fear is strong but we are stronger) I know that she doesn't understand the D'haran tongue but it is the language of magic, the meaning of the words would be clear enough to her if she does indeed have magic in her veins.

" T-there's a path..." said Moonlit a little calmer, though she still trembled fearfully, "A very old path written in the trees, it-it will lead us to Grimmnjor, god king of the woods."

''Trees?" asked Kren with green aura flowing from his hands before walking over to one of the trees and placed his hand lightly on the bark. ''Yes I can feel it...Alkeyore I feel something, whatever it is it's something very old and powerful.”

‘Trees... Does she means an green magic enchantment? If so then we were very lucky that we have a druid among our number. Of course I could of use the same kind of magic but it would not only a needless drain of magic but it would take me twice as long to work the wild magic to my purpose since I myself not skilled in nature based magics, no I'm the opposite, fire and darkness are my dominions of power. I was trained to be a red mage, a pyromancer by my Father long before Val-nore took me as his student and help me uncover my true powers black magic.’

"Yes, the trees show the way." said Moonlit quietly burying her head into my chest.

''South!'' called Kren removing his hand from the wood of the tree ''Alkeyore it's south by southeast! We should reach this Grimmnjor by sunset if not sooner if the spirits are willing."

''What did you do, tree hugger? " Said Nara cocking her head to the side.

'' Luna" I said rising from my resting position, moonlit feeling my movement snuggled closer to my chest. "Gather Nightmare it seems that we have a heading and grab my arm..."

"Your arm?'' questioned Luna but nonetheless she did as I bid, with the sleeping nightmare on her back once more, Luna grabbed my arm pulling it tightly to her barrel. I felt my slow heart beat a little faster as my arm was tickled by the soft hairs of Luna's coat then she leaned her head on my shoulder letting me feel her every breath.

Ripping my mind from the sensations I began to form the spell. I know that Luna would be able to kept up with me, at least barely but I would rather have her hold onto me for the oddest reason or I just was thinking more for the safety of the foals. Moonlit was looking up at me from the crook of my arms as if she was idolizing me and in a way, I knew she was, after all she did say that I was one of the old gods. So, it couldn't be avoided.

'' Kaulvr... I know what my old teacher and friend are planning.'' said Kren flatly ''Nara grab onto me, we're going on a ride."

''Um why? asked Nara but she seemed all too happy to hang off of the druid's arm making the point of why pointless by nature.

''You'll see," said Kren with a stomp causing a large mound of earth to burst out of the earth, the mound was only big enough for him and Nara to comfortably sit on top of it. ''Ready Alkeyore?''

" Hang on tightly." I told Luna again to which she nodded, calling upon my magic, I overcharged my muscles forcing them to run at their highest levels and I felt the flare of my ever present stigma ignited once more, I could no longer feel the weight of my body nor the weight of my companions. All my surroundings became blurry to my vision and my others senses became void to my brain thus freeing my mind of it's bodily encasement, the only things I was aware was the others and the fact that I had to go faster, and so, faster I did.

Faster

Faster

Faster

I forced my body to run faster to levels of stress that would had forced any other to crumble with a very broken body but with the capabilities of an Ageless combined with that of black magics, any damage my body suffered were immediately refuted. when I did felt the need to slow down I found that the passage of time was kind to us. Looking at the sky I could tell only a few odd hours had passed and the sight of what eerily reminded me of the hidden Fairies realms, a great glade with flowers beyond counting, trees so tall that they pieced the very sky and animals of every kind played in the fields yet in the middle of all this a city made of green marble.

At the sight of the city Moonlit jumped out from my arms her earlier terror was replaced with a great smile on her face and prances among the flowers. Luna with her mane wild and unkempt, no doubt the fault of my spell, smiles at the prancing Kirin, her hooves still warped round my arm though she knew that she could let go of me now and I pointed it out to her. She just smiles impishly and says that it was me that was holding her, rolling my eye good naturally I placed my arm around her barrel and gave it a little squeeze and held her a bit tighter causing her to let out a very cute ‘meep’.

A very tried Kren and Nara soon reaches us, the earth mound they had used long since banished. the Gyrphoness eyes were wide with recognition whispering to herself. “'This is... it has to be but that kingdom was destroyed two thousand years ago.”

While Kren looked gleefully at the glade his finger itchy for a chance to study the many plants and animals. My smile faults a bit at sensing and seeing armored Timber wolves and Manticores subtly surrounding us... their numbers were more heavy near Luna and Nightmare who sleeping on her mother's back... The midnight blue Alicorn following my eyes also saw the bits of armor amongst the flowers and grasses gasping to herself at the number of possible enemies she then looks to me silently asking me 'what we are going to do?'. So far, we were the only ones that saw the threats among the greenery, I could see Kren looking around a little, maybe sensing something. But with a look towards Luna I reminded her that she and the girls were under my protection.

Moonlit leaves the field of flowers and with her hoof-claws open wide with a smile so large I worried that her was going to hurt herself with it.

"Behold the great Ahiu'mnirian realm of Indolia.'' she says pridefully. ''... my home."

''Indolia." Nara said breathlessly, her eyes wide with the sights ''One of the great civilizations of ancient Avalon. The domain of Grimmnjor the god of the wilds himself and home of the Everfree folk."

As soon she said that, the armored wolves and Manticores roused from their hiding places with claws and fangs bared, and to the others' horror we were surrounded by the beasts. The enchantment that lead us here disappeared effectively trapping us in the glade. Both my hands and Luna's glowed with magic while Nara let out a startled squawk and Kren bared his staff in a defective manner, baring his own teeth at them in a orc like fashion. Moonlit just looked up to the armored wolves and Manticore with her tail wagging like a love-struck puppy.

"Moonlit." A deep voice rumbles from all across the glade as an abnormally large wild looking man with long oak brown hair who I from the hearts of Wildheart and Ishtir recognized as Grimmnjor simply came into existence.

Through my magical senses, I could tell that he was powerful but his strength was fleeing and his soul was dimming thus meaning he was dying, looking once more toward the marbled city I notice something important, it was failing. At the sight of him Moonlit gallop from the armored beasts and leap into his arms nuzzling into his chest.

''Welcome home my daughter." He said with kind eyes and then he looked at me with recognition in his blue eyes "We meet again Alternis son of Albion, the long lost god of dark magic and outcasts... or you prefer Alkeyore son of Talos ‘The Red Talon of Rohnir’, king of the dark magi and last of the lords of magic .''

________________________________________

The Continent of Gaea

Orthos, the capital and great fortress of the Dark magic Confederacy

The pale light of the moon danced amongst the darken stones of the great capital, great walls of ivory stood tall warping the city fortress with tight embrace as if shielding the city from the outside. Great sentries of flame stood at the gates which held cravings of ancient beasts each staring at the outside world with what many would call furious defiance but the sentries themselves simply waited and watch as the the world left them behind emotionless and unmoving. Inside the fortress people in dark robes and solemn faces walked the equally dark streets, each of baring candles of every shape and color. They were all walking in the same direction, the very heart of the city where a small coffin of glass await for visitors to pay their last respects. Near the coffin was a black marble statue of Alkeyore Blood-raven, the stone eyes seem to be watching the whole of the fortress city.

''Any word?'' asked a great centaur dressed in iron armor, his white on white eyes watching as the people walked by heading for the empty coffin of glass. His armored hooves abmindlessly scratched at the stoned ground '' It's had been weeks since we received anything for the other kingdoms."

''Neigh, Knight- Commander Ixion.'' said a hunched over man dressed in a robe of purples and whites, his ever present labored breathing and raspy grained on the centaurs ears, "Nar-Thosik nor the orcs sent any word since their battle with the count, all we know is..."

"Is what that Shokr messenger told us before flying off, 'Dahirm-Hal took the fields'... too vague'' Said young boy dress in dark pink armor, his dueling blades resting at his hips. "it could mean nothing and everything, my forsworn swords searches had been fruitless thus far"

''Then we must face the possibility that Nar-Thosik is among the dead, Averaon " said the man in purples and whites. ''What about the quest to recover King Alkeyore's body?"

"Fruitless Draugr, the swords manage to fight their way to the first levels of Black Rock fortress but was quickly ousted by Dragmir raiders before they could discover what happen... if the swords were supported by the Hollowed steel knights or the Bane-Fangs and the odd Blackfire Guard then perhaps they would be able to at least recovered the bodies for proper burial."

"So it just us three to defend our kingdom and Alkeyore's dream of giving our people a permanent home." said the great Centaur." we might need to consider sending the army to learn what had happen... this silence is a omen, I can feel it in my hooves."

"Aye but first we must crown a new king, I'm sure that the other kingdom believe that we would revert back to the old ways of our kind... it is now that we must show the people that we are united in the darkness." said Draugr " that's why Averaon and I chose you to be our new king Ixion."

"Me? But isn’t there another? another that is more... better suited for this honor?" said the great centaur shocked that he was even a choice. He was a fallen one, one of those that were born in The Fallen Realms, something that wasn't meant to be in the Twelve Kingdoms. He and his followers were only a part of the confederacy because of good King Alkeyore wished to reward them for helping to defend the city. If Alkeyore was like the other kings then... He would of been tortured to death. But to become king? That was something Ixion never thought possible.

"Do you know who I am?'' said Draugr suddenly ''Ixion Aeonn of Maeus, leader of the Fallen ones? do you?"

"Draugr Dragon-soul, the leading general of the confederacy." said a confused Ixion.

''I am Draugr Dragon-soul... 'Draugr The Deathless' that is what they call me but I am not 'deathless', I am in my 459th year of life that is something no other human had ever manage but I am dying, it won't be long now till I draw my last... and Averaon here as insufferable is he, has no aims for the throne and wishes to remain as simply the leader of the Forsaken swords thus leave you as the only choice and Alkeyore did chose you to be his successor."

"Successor?!? W-When! when did he ordered this?"

"Before he left us to join the Lords of Magic... As you know Alkeyore told us that is he wished for Nar-thosik to be the speaker for the kingdom what he didn't told you was that if Alkeyore was to die before ensuing a bloodline was that for you to take his place as king, Nar-thoisk was the one that was meant to crown you as king. Now with Alkeyore gone, the crown by right belongs to you...'' said Averaon watching a weeping Shokr Scout laying nightshade flowers on the glass coffin before saluting the statue and starting to talk with it but the dark lords were too far way to hear what the scout was saying then the scout was joined by a Dwarf with bright red copper like beard and hair and a very strange breed of Dragon that looked like a mixed breed between a dragon and a human. Averaon could easily tell that it was female because of two big obvious lumps of flesh on her chest that was seen, despite the heavy armor she was wearing. She also had an Amazonian like build and her scales looked healthy and well kept, as did her big two-handed Warhammer that was strapped on her back.

''Alkeyore had placed the whole of his faith in us to keep the kingdom together, will you honor his wishes?"

"To honor the man that believed in us... "Ixion started but pauses for a moment to collect his emotions ''and to protect the dream, I Ixion Aeonn son of Kurii and Ja Aeonn, accept this honor."

"Good, we will have the coronation at day break,'' nodded Draugr ''What are your first orders King Ixion?"

"Send out riders to the all corners of twelve kingdoms and-"

"Dark lords!!!'' cried a soldier rushing through the crowds of mourners, once the soldier had reached the collection of dark lords he collapses to the ground breathing heavily ''W-We have... riders at the.. gates! t-tthey bring news!!"

"News?'' asked Ixion

"Y-yes... Ambush!! the Count of Twelve and our allies were ambushed by a demonic invasion force lead by Dahirm-Hal Teigue Shinedown.."

"Teigue! An Dahirm-Hal" gasped Draugr "Alvae's Love!"

"What happened soldier?" ask Averaon kneeling down to the soldiers level and give him a bit of water from his water pouch.

The soldier looked up the Averaon with thankful eyes before continuing the news. "The a-army managed to force the demons back underground but they suffer heavy losses virtually eighty percent of the army was lost in the battle, including most of the remaining count of twelve and the orcish royals, only the Dragon elder and the current orc war chief Togul and his two sisters survived, and and... Ern, Tahuia and the Beron empire are gone.."

"Gone? asked Draugr with a raised eyebrow '' how? how are three kingdoms gone? that can't be, we haven't heard any news for weeks... if a kingdom felled then we would've heard of it along time ago by now"

"The army wasn't the target...'' said the soldier simply

''The army wasn't the target?'' echoed Ixion questioningly ''Decoy!" he hissed

The soldier shakes his head and gulps. "Worse... they're apart of the Fallen realms now, the fallen realms are in the heart lands of the twelve kingdoms."

"How you know of this?" asked both Ixion and Draugr with a sinking feeling in their guts. Especially Ixion, at some level he knew that something wasn't right but he couldn't placed his finger it but he felt something nagged at his mind.

''Because..because.. Hail The True Father!!'' sneers the soldier, stabbing Averaon in the heart with an hidden dagger in his gauntlet then the sounds of catapults going off filled the air.

________________________________________

The Continent of Avalon

Indolia, Everfree

Alkeyore PoV

''How do you know of me!?!" I snared while widening my, and getting myself ready for combat.

‘This Grimmnjor or whatever, he truly had information that he had no normal means of knowing, like my father's name and Alternis... A name that my mother gave to me when I was born, also it is a demonic name. I have only used it in extremely rare occasions. Son of Albion? Long lost god of dark magic and outcasts? The name is strange to me who or what is this Albion? An elder spirit? how did he know me...’

"In due time Alkeyore, all in do time." Said 'Grimmnjor' and lowering Moonlit to the ground by his feet and then gestures towards the ruined city with one hand, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Now come, you should be tried from journeying through my realm."

"Not until you explain yourself.'' I said feeling my stigma react to my emotions casing it's flames to burn brighter. Kren gave me an alarming look, he knew about the powers of stigmas while Nara looked at the flames intrigued by the magic that was leaking from me. Luna's horn dimmed slightly as she shifted on her hooves as she felt Nightmare stirring along her back before nuzzling the back of her mother's nape. We weren't in a shape for a fight, and Grimmnjor knew that... The battle would be a bloody one indeed and I could no doubt deal out some heavy damage, as could Kren, but in the end we would be overwhelmed by his beasts. Not an option I was fond off.

"You said we meet again, what do you mean by that! Who are you!!''

"Please Alkeyore lower your stigma.'' Said the god of the wilds in a knowing tone. ''You're frightening my Timber wolves who I remind you are made of wood, I will explain myself to you when we are in private, because such words we will share are not meant to spoken in the open."

"You wish to speak with me alone..." I said as the flares started to die down but I didn't eased out of my combative stance.

"Yes, I promise that no harm will come to you or your companions.'' said Grimmnjor in a clear attempt to calm the situation, ''Though we are a wild people we still are quite civilized." ''Something I hope you ponies could learn one day but it could be too much to ask of you."

The look of Luna's face was telling, she did not enjoy that jab at her race. While Nara seem to wholehearted to agree with Grimmnjor.

With a sigh I nodded towards Luna and the others silently telling them to stand down to which made the wild god smile and turn towards the city. With some reluctance, we started to follow him to the city.

As we walked I made sure to keep Luna near me, despite Grimmnjor gave us his word I did not trust him to hold on to it, though his beasts made no motivation towards us, I subtly cast my own enchantments to make sure that when they did made their move they'll pay dearly including Grimmnjor.

After all fire and darkness are my dominions of power, both were very effective against nature based magics thus outmatching the abilities I suspected Grimmnjor to have in his procession. We watched as green marble pillars of the city passed us, informing us that we had entered the city proper, from what I could see from what I assumed to be the cities' civilian denizens I was right about my earlier observations the city was indeed was on it's last legs, many of the buildings were in various states of disrepair, lack of much needed resources, man power or in this case beast power, as the city stands it would laughably fall quickly in one single assault. This was no city, this was a tomb.

A tomb for a people that was barely even alive, I frown at some of the cities bestial denizens that was gather around a pit fire with what looked like a hydra minor cooking, the cooked hydra smelled sickeningly sweet, Luna gaped that the smell before entering a light gallop in order to get away from the smell quicker.

Thankful we passed the pit fire quickly but not quick enough for me to notice that one of the beast at the pit fell over dead his belly covered with festering wounds that looked like they were very old yet never healed properly. Very reluctance beasts bit onto his hind legs and pull him in a diction I hope was the burial site. Then I saw a pair of armored Manticores dragging their fighting cubs from each by their tails revealing that they were fighting over the right to eat a fouled face rabbit that quickly ran away the moment it saw that it wasn't going to be lunch then a armored snake swallowed it whole causing the cubs to pout. The snake laugh a hissing laugh before slithering away into the undergrowth.

We traveled deeper into the city, showing us with each site that it was indeed a tomb, long dead armored beast covered in cobwebs stood guard along crumbling walls and terraces, their spears despite their great age gleamed in the sun. When we reach the gates of the great hall Grimmnjor stops.

"This is far enough." He then looks down towards Moonlit "Daughter please take your... friends to your mother, while I have a talk with Alkeyore.. she is cooking stag for dinner."

"Stag Yay" cried Moonlit happily, clapping her hoof-claws. She then herded the others inside but not before I cast one last spell on Luna, a simple locating spell to inform me her whereabouts should Grimmnjor and this 'mother' tried anything. The midnight Alicorn shared a look with me before the door to the hall closes.

"You have what you wanted Grimmjnor" I said harshly ",here I am."

Grimmnjor looked at me sadly before walking over a nearby terrace one that looked over the whole of the ruined city and lean his elbows upon it. I soon joined him at the terrace, wondering why he lead me here but I wasn't given long to ponder.

''I'm sure you have many questions Alternis- '' he pauses as if trying to gather his thoughts. "Many questions indeed but I doubt you will like what I have to say."

"Explain then I'll decide if your 'answers' have any worth."

"Hen, that's what I would expect from an Ageless, yes I know what you are... '' said Grimmnjor with a dark toothy smile ''you are not the first Ageless or Gaeaish to walk these shores, it been what? ten? two? thousands years? since I saw your kind in Avalon then again I did help design you or least the bestial side of you for your grandfather the archangel Gabriel and his mistress Harmony for their war against Dust." his smiles deepens at the look on my face "Ah you know him don't you."

''Who are you.'' I repeated, my mind was ripping itself apart, he knew... he knew too much. Grandfather, this has your foul hands all this, what did you do? to this, this creature before me. you killed your own child with his own sword when you learned that he mated with a demon... now I find you and your works another world.

"That the funny part in all of this,'' said the wild god breathlessly. ''I am Grimmnjor son of Tortorba but at same I am John O'Reilly chief bio engineer of United states of America or if you prefer call me King Eorro Aeonn of Meaus.''

I grabbed the dead man by the collar and pulled him from the terrace till we were face to face ''What the hell are you!!'' I spatted into his face. ''Eorro Aeonn died ten thousand years! he-''

Was killed by Tydorel himself as Meaus was destroyed by the demon legions,'' finished the men who revealed himself as an dead centaur from ten thousand years ago "now you understand why I wanted to speak with you alone. " " the Avalonians have no idea that the men they call gods are actually a collection of enslaved souls brought back to life for sole reason to create bio weaponry for the Entities, among other things. You yourself Alkeyore were a part a major project ordered by Mistress Harmony for a specifically design weapon to fight arch-demons and your sister races which your true form is made of. But thanks to us and Master Darkness we were able to remove you from Avalon before Sleipnir burned down our main lab and our city Annwfn which you were created to rule as it's king. We also conferenced Gabriel to sow his seed into your grandmother and wait till you popped out of Amdula your mother, grow into the man you are now before pulling you back here to complete the circle.''

"I-I dont believe you."

"If you dont belive me then go ahead and kill me, if I just come back then I would be right ... perhaps I'll come back as oh I dunno an bear... I wonder if I'll like bearing a bear oh that must be John talking again "

"I-I dont believe you." I said again as my arms morphed back into ash blue claws... I stared at the claws, my mind noting just how similar they were to Nara's. I already knew that a part of me was artificial by my kind's very parentage the angels but if what this forgotten creature said was true then.. just how much of me is me? But I was born.. was I born? are Talos and Amdula even my parents...

"They are your parents" I hear Caldorel whisper into my ear, he hisses in pain thanks to my rage emotions which in turn affected my stigma " look at this pathetic creature and his domain, it would easy to burn them all, dance in their misery. Yet why you even care about what Grimmnjor or whoever he is says? your are Nephilim, you already know that you're an artificial being. Gabriel is only but a set back on our plans for domination you will get your rightful revenge, he murdered your human family and placed you onto this path from the very beginning ... you are his death.''

Thank you Caldorel I mentally told the demon part of me, I felt the demon nod before returning to the deep places of my mind. But I knew that Caldorel was only calming my mind for his own benefit, if I lost control of my emotions then the Hades could verily take me completely and what happens to me, happens to him. Though I wonder why now he decided to be more active now than when I first entered this world. Perhaps the magics of this world is afflicting him somehow.

"If you don't believe me then go ahead and kill me, but if I just come back then in the end I would be right'' said Grimmnjor in a tried voice

''Why tell me this? Eorro... why you tell me all of this?'' I said as I watched my arms recovered their disguise '' this is knowledge better left forgot.''

''You could say because simply I'm dying or to satisfied some twisted sense of guilt perhaps I just want to watch this world burn, either one is good enough but the world is changing, as you can clearly see that I and my creations are failing, both Sleipnir and Gabriel need to be stopped before they cause the ruination of this world, each with their own personally designed plagues that originally meant to help the denizens of this land, no matter how good their intentions were at one time they must be stopped.''

"Yet thanks to my allies’ I knew exactly when you would return and how that every single path they saw in the seeing stones, everything pointed to you and your dark brides."

"Brides?'' I asked wide eyed, ''What brides? what in Alvae's flying teats are you on about?''

"Ah hen hen, you should better than to seek the knowledge of the future Alkeyore but I can tell you this, you already know a number of them just the final pieces is yet to be seen. Yet if you are going to save this world then you'll need certain items first The Book of Souls which located far away in Northern Awan; second The Lunar Saber it can be found in the grave of the first Vampony king; Then The Crown of Sapphires, the former crown of the wendigo queen. It sleeps far into the south. But of course, all this will be only possible if you also find all five of your mates, meaning your dark brides, that can stand by your side and help you and all have a key role to play in doing so."

" A quest... of course there always a fucking quest.'' I deadpanned. "Just when I thought my hero days were over, I shouldn't be surprised, though I did plan to stop the Dahirm-hal from repeating what they done to Gaea to Avalon anyway."

"Ohh you shouldn't be so surprised. After all you are a Blood-raven, your family lives for heroics... and there just one more thing needed, you must have sired six foals with them by the next winter."

"SIX!!!!"

''Yes six... Herne lord of the hunt; Aisling the mare in the mist and secrets; Kell the Alicorn of the dead; Selene the foxpony; Nrekk the dark prince; Alistair the Phoenix Prince.”

"Why four of them ponies…And the other two?... Way to lay it on me..."

‘’ Blame the Seer, she wants lots of grandchildren for her ponies.''

"That doesn't answer my question… Hell it just creates a bunch of new ones!"

"Never argue with the Seer, also it's bad luck to argue with the Seer. The birth of you children must happen if you are to survive besides you were designed for this task, I am both a bio engineer and a god to these Avalonians.. they must never learn the truth, there's a fail safe built into them to shut down their minds permanently if they learn that we are not real gods, something Aronnos and Harmony insisted upon. Me and my wife was as far we know are the last ones that know this truth and once we are gone then the children of projects Albion, Forsaken and Avalon would be free from the kill switch." said Grimmnjor. "Failure at finding your brides and the birth of the six will result with the Dahirm-Hal claiming dominion over this plane of existence."

"How long I have to prepare." I asked while pinching my brow, at least I had what I wanted, some knowledge of the past. ‘Though it was not was I expected, Dust would of had been better 'suited' for this... questionably terms of events. But some of the information did seemed to be sound, Grimmnjor had knowledge of things he shouldn't my name; The Entities and Grandfather; the existence of other worlds; The Ageless. Based on that alone I should lend my ear to his words yet.. should I trust this man? No I don't, something doesn't seem right.‘

"You leave at sunrise." said Grimmnjor looking up to the sky taking note of the hour. "Moonlit will led you to the edge of the forest then she will travel with you, I had plan for Wildheart and Ishtir to join you but seeing that you was expected to arrive weeks ago I can safely assume that they are dead... after you leave here in the morn, you will never see me again as I am... I'm planning to diminish with my children, our time has long since passed. Your children will replace us in time... go and inform your companions but remember the fail safe."

I left Grimmnjor there at the terrace without a single word more to the dying god or spirit. My mind furthering my plans with each step I took towards the great halls and how I would explain this quest to the others without bringing harm to Nara and Moonlit the only natives among us, I doubted the Luna and Nightmare had this fail safe since the ponies were originally from another land. Either way my plans in the end went unchanged just only delayed.

When my hand touched the door, I immediately found that I was teleported to a room with Luna, Nara and Kren sitting at what seemed to be an old rounded council table while Moonlit and Nightmare moon were busying themselves with another nap.... Should I be worried with how much time they spend asleep both magical and naturally.

"Luna.." I started.

"Grimmnjor's wife cast a sleeping spell on them as soon we found ourselves locked in this room." said Luna with both annoyance and motherly protectiveness sounding in her voice, she then lowers her head and her muzzle burrows into nightmare's mane attempting to groom the foal.

''I already tried breaking down the door but the enchantments proved to be equal to mine Alicornian might and there's wards placed throughout the room stopping us from simply teleporting."

"Then Lady Valeria said that you had something to tell us when Grimmnjor was finished talking with you." said Nara ''Something important."

"Aye, '' I replied taking the seat closest to Luna, my eyes studying the sleeping foals, they are indeed in an enchantment but it wasn't a sleep spell. It was a growth spell, but I couldn't dispelled it. the spell was from an school of magic I haven't seen before, without knowing the school should I attempt to remove it then... well the outcome would be very fatal, it would be best to allow the magic to run its course. At least for now.

''Alkeyore, I know that face.'' said Kren. "They want us to do something for them, don't they."

''It seems that there been a change in plans." I said in a low voice before sharing what I was willing to share with the others.

I told them of Sleipnir and his servants that were waiting to take us, the quests that were handed to us and how we should be able to find the three objects yet I kept the dark brides and my destine children to myself.

It was never wise to argue with Seers hence that fact that they held the power of foresight at the cost of their sanity, there had been many times when kings and heroes had refused to listen to the babbling ramblings of seers only to find out that the seers were right and thus the person ending with a knife slitting their throats or any other horrible death as the kingdom burned because of their refusal of the seer's insight.

Yet I could not but to help to question the insight what Grimmnjor gifted me with, five wives whom will bare me six children and all must be met by next winter if I was to prevent Avalon from suffering the same fate as Gaea... It was a lot to take in. And my only clue to their identities was that I had already met a number of them, or will meet.

That and four of my children are ponies.... Sweet Alvae does that mean that I married and have foals with Luna? My heart skip a beat at that the thought, I have a strong feeling that she had blossoming feelings from me and I for her in return but it was too early to even entertain such thinking.

I have just discovered these new feelings and I think she also has and... And it doesn't sound too bad, the mental image of a sweaty content Luna looking up at me from some bed sheets as I’m looming over her came to mind.

I then mentally face palmed why in the seven hells am I even thinking about this? We aren’t ready for such fantasies, if ever. No woman would want a dark mage as a lover, so I have to face reality on that one, the seers have really giving me a hard task to achieve this time, it almost feels like I’m doomed from the start.

"So, what are we going to do Alkeyore?" Asked Kren, looking stoned faced just now learning that some in the land believe us to be gods especially the natives which Nara belongs too. ''Dahirm-Hal, quests, and gods that want our heads. This sounds like one of your legendary adventures."

"And just as much at stake Kren.'' I said my eyes tracking Luna's and Nara's eyes, they both had storms brewing in them.

" Luna, Nara you know the layout of the lands. What say you?''

"We head for the Natives, High King Elron is gathering the remaining free kingdoms for the coming fight against the Alicorns. We would be welcomed there... even if we have Alicorns at our side." smirked Nara.

"Neigh," said Luna shaking her head. "I still believe that we should leave for Canterlot Alkeyore even if Celestia is enlisting Sleipnir's aid, the city is the heart of Equestria's rail way system, we would be able to freely move in any diction. The Vampony’s dwell in Transylmaneia the territory of the bat ponies who have little love for Celestia but with winter approaching the mountain passes quickly are closing up with snow and to travel over the mountains on hoof or wing in such weather would not only slow us down but will prove fatal to the foals unless we leave now."

''There are three items we need to collect, two of them in the north. What we need to do is to split up, this would not only cover more ground but kept Sleipnir and his servants from being able to discover us since we would be in smaller groups yet it will also have it owns risks each group could verily well be overwhelmed if it came down to a fight then we would need to worry about regrouping and finding allies which we have great need of if we are to warn the nations of the Dahirm-Hal threat...'' I said laying out what I could see happening in strategic terms. ''Either way I see it we will be forced on a side in the end the ponies or the natives. Nara what does your High King Elron and the other natives fights for?"

"Our homes and our people!" Said Nara with much passion in her voice.

''The ponies destroyed countless of Avalonian lives over the centuries; the great cites we built are gone; our libraries that held thousands of years of knowledge were burnt along with our temples; many of our people murdered in genocidal purges while Equestria refused to lift a single hoof to help us despite the many claims that they are a just nation and many more enslaved; More and more of our dwindling territory is stolen from us each and every year. We are fighting for our very survival just like you Gaeaish. For over two thousand years we had tried and tried again to beat back the encroaching ponies from our lands with little success, but the day will come when we natives reclaim our birthright and revenge."

I nodded before placing my hand overs Luna's hoof ''Luna, what stake have the ponies in this?"

"I don't know what the other pony nations fight for anymore.'' said Luna sadly.

''Because I spent the better part of the last thousand years trapped on the moon I had yet to fully requite myself with most of the current day pony nations, but I do know this Equestria is a peaceful land and that's all we want to live in peace yet we been attacked numinous of times. The Changeling invasion, Gryphon raids on our trade fleets and old defeated enemies rising up from their prisons, Alkeyore... Celestia would of been better suited for such a question since she had lead Equestria over the last thousand years. Equestria just want to be left in peace."

"Alkeyore I'll seek out the book." said Kren forcibly changing the subject. "Me'lokr eish Lvae." he said in old Gaeaish.

"Me'lokr eish Lvae." I repeated before my magic picked up something faint. I followed the feeling and found the source to confirm it, it was Nara... This something I felt I would never sense or figured happen with Kren in question, well at least not with a certain young female orc in question.

"Nara est jur bra, enda fukra matus?" I added with a knowing smile. Luna rises her brow at me questioningly not understanding the words but Kren's reaction was swift.

Jumping out of his chair with his face erupting in ruby red '' Niri eish Alkeyore!" He said while waving his arms about, ''Nara una matus demi! Nort fal'dol Duln fuckis ecciu Bakqur!''

"What the flying feather are you talking about?! Speak Avalonian for Amothos's sake!" Growled Nara, her wings spreading wide. She then turned towards me and pointing a talon at me while pouting. "Kren what did he say about me, was it something rude!?"

"N-No, nothing like that. He said-"

''Shir ir pregir i." I interrupted, Kren's eye shrank into pinpoints as the word sank into his mind then I turn my attention towards the Gryphon. "Its Gaeaish business, but I’m sure that you can talk to Kren about it in a few months." I then focused on other things and taking a glance towards Kren that had sat down again and now is blushing and poking his fingers together, lost in thought about his recent discovery.

"Are you planning to tag along with Kren, yes?" I asked.

"Of course he's my boyfriend." Nara says while rolling her eyes. She then moved closer to Kren and patted his shoulder. "Besides this tree hugger wouldn't last without me."

I could see that Nara was pressing her body more into Kren’s side and a low purr could be heard as she was getting comfortable, Kren by instinct put an arm around her barrel while still looking like his mind was elsewhere.

"Good." I nodded before standing up to signal an end to the meeting. But as I stood up from the chair, I felt something that I shouldn’t feel, some wind flowing from my back. My wings were struggling to break from my enchanted disguise... The spell was failing.

Somehow the spell was breaking, undoing itself. Why? Tis have to be an omen of some kind, the spell was meant to be unbreakable, was there something about this land affecting me and my abilities? I need to get away now before the spell breaks fully.

''Be sure you get a restful night's sleep. We'll leave before sunrise; the solace of night will cover our tracks." I said in the passing to further end the meeting.

With hurried steps, I took to one of the side rooms of the chamber we had be sealed in, both Nara and Kren was too busy with each to notice me leaving since the hen was trying to understand the Gaeaish language while Kren's mind was reeling yet from the discovery I had thrown his way.

I enter one of the rooms and looking around to take in the interior. It was a fairly Spartan looking room; a big wooden bed took up most of the space, some simple shelves, and other furniture was strewn around the room, a big circle rug was placed on the floor. All in all the interior was a blend with wood elves and druid in design, meaning all wood based.

I then spotted what I was looking for, of to the left side I saw what appeared to be the entrance to the bathroom, but before I could disappear into the room I heard hoof steps behind me, causing me to stop and turn my head towards the sound and finding the midnight blue Alicorn Luna standing there.

" Yes?" I asked my voice straining a little by itself as I felt the spell breaking further and further.

"Alkeyore, what did he say?'' Asked Luna her eyes carefully watching my body language.

"You seem upset... did Grimmnjor said something-"

"There's a bathing room beyond this door...'' I interrupted as I felt my amber eyes morphed into their demonic counterparts, Luna's own eyes widen at she stared into them then I felt my throat run dry as to what I was going to say next. ''Would you like to join me? If I recall I promised to tell you a part of my story..."

"J-Join you? '' She understandably squeaks. Her cheeks turning into a nice rosy color. She shakes her head a little, coming back to her senses before looking back towards the exit to the room. "What about Nightmare?''

"She will be safe, while Kren isn't a warrior per say, he's just like his father... A healer by nature, but he is still a capable fighter. He would keep her safe at least until help can arrive, in this case me." I pointed out. Removing myself from the bathroom doors way, I let a reluctant Luna pass by me. Once she was inside the bathroom I followed and then I quickly shut the door and locked it just as the spell fully failed once again revealing my Nephilim self to the mare I was falling in love with. Luna sat down in the middle of the bathing room on her hunches, unsure of both of herself and what to do now.

"Luna if it helps I promise that I won’t look.. I came into this room to prevent Kren from seeing me like this." said I as my wings nervously twitch begging me to take flight. But the room was just big enough for me to open my wing span halfway. " I don't know why my spell started to fail so suddenly."

"Alkeyore you know that you don't have to hide away your appearance anymore." Luna said while standing up from her sitting position and nuzzled my side.

I sighed. ''I sent almost my entire life protected by my disguise, it will take time before I’m comfortable enough to cast it away. Even now more so with both the natives and ponies believing that I am a god. I don’t want them to think I’m some sort of ‘evil’ demon.''

"Aye, that may be but you don't have to hid like that from me." said Luna looking up at me warmly, her cheeks still burning ruby red.

"Could I.. could you remove your shirt? I want- I want to see your chest." She asked nervously. I gave a little sigh.

"Since we are in here together... The least you could do is helping me wash my wings.... But be warned, you will get wet."

With a snap of my fingers, my silk shirt melted away into the shadows of the room, revealing the mess of white spidery scars on pale blue fur that was my chest, Luna stared at them with widen eyed before softly tracing them with her left forehoof. I fought the urge push her away as she traced the lines in my flesh... But soon the feeling disappeared as it felt nice to be touched so softly by her hoof.

"How did you get so many...'' Luna said softly, "I know that you fought in wars but now as I look at them, there's even more than before when I caught glimpses between the parting of your robes."

"The Gaeaish way of life." I said in plain tone. ''Just as we said before tis a harsh life."

She lowers her hoof and stop rubbing against my chest. ''I know... what was the story you wanted to share with me?"

Snapping my fingers again my magic started the tub filling it with warm water, then gestured for Luna to settle herself in the water. turning my back to her I heard her enter the water, sighing with relief as the warmth of the water worked into her muscles.

My mind wandering astray at the sound and mental images my mind was creating with this situation and setting, I felt my own cheeks burn... What in the seven hells and Alvae's love is happening to me? I’m one of the most deadliest mages to ever walk Gaea's shores why am I acting like this? If I wasn't in near complete control of my emotions and my demonic instincts then I would have forced myself on the mare, feasting on her innocence...

‘I AM IN CONTROL’ , I mentally roared at myself. Then I recalled the dark brides... Could Luna really be one of them I wonder? Then who are the other four? The sound of Luna humming ripped me from my thoughts.

"Ahhh the water feels so good." Luna said in a happy merry tune, I heard her splash the water a little with her hooves. ''You can look now Alkeyore."

Turning to face my Alicorn friend I felt a yearning starting to form deep within me... A demonic hunger. There she lay with wet mane plastered along her neck, water droplets dripped from her chin while the rest of her body was under the warm waters. My demonic instincts screaming at me to claim her right then and there, she was mine . with a mental growl, I forced those instincts back down, it was this forms fault, my Nephilim body always been more susceptible to my demonic instincts than my human form. My silver and black eyes flashed, drinking in every detail of her form, oh how the little hairs of her midnight blue coat shines in the fading accursed light.

" I-.... You look nice like that.'' I said in a honeyed voice while stabbing my claws into my leg slightly forcing the demon away with pain and making sure Luna didn't saw it, with a bit of magic I used the blood to draw a rune on myself, a rune designed to suppressed my instincts both demonic and angelic. That is if I had any angelic instincts to begin with.

"T-Thanks…" Luna stuttered her faces burning a deeper red.

I summoned The Raven's Talon and sat it upon my lap.

"You asked me many times to share past, there are things I will never share with anyone but I will tell you some parts. My father is or rather was Talos Blood-Raven and my mother was the Arch-Demoness Amdula Arusi, I was born in the spirit realm before my mother gave me to my father in order hid me from the demons of the Fallen Realms while she lead a rebellion against the Demon King. Then my human kin were killed during my ninth year of life where I was forced to watch them be tortured to death by my very own grandfather the Archangel Gabriel and a company of Tahuians he hired to erase the very existence of the Blood-Raven Clan because my father had a child with an demoness, So Gabriel killed his own son with this, his very own sword... The very blade here in my lap.

When I saw, my father butchered, the Hades stigma activated for the first time then I woke up covered in blood and Caldorel the demon that was fused into my soul at my very birth revealed himself to me and told me that the only reason I was myself was because of him and since he is a part of my very soul if I died then he also would die if the hades conquered me then it would also do so to him. it was soon after that I met my first master Val-nore, who uncovered my true magical powers, black magic.

I was his student until he decided ten years later that if I killed him then I would be ready to take my place as mage, so I killed him and journeyed to Tahuia the homeland of the men that helped to murder my family. I hunted down each every one of those men that was in that group and slaughtered them leaving their bodies to found in the most unspeakable of states, the Tahuians are an extremely cruel race and no one mage had ever attacked them in their own territory... They couldn't accept it so instead they preached and prayed their revenge to a legendary devil of the shadows, known for cutting down Gaea's Mage-slayers, the Tahuians in ages past, thus I took the marker Shadow Devil when I defeated and devoured him on the very steps on of the Tahuian capital city Aversa,"

"You a-ate him!'' gasped Luna.

''Yes,'' I chuckled darkly. "Years passed as I plagued the Tahuians, slaying everyone I came into contact with, the legend of an Tahuian hunter grew and grew with each slaying, and in my journeys in the Tahuian lands my malice and hatred grew with each sight of wrongs I bore witness to slavery; the examination of entire clans of magi and the kings not lifting a finger to stop the magi genocide. Then suddenly magi poured into the Tahuian country side looking for me... Not to stop my killings but to join me. That's how the hollow steel knights got their start, vengeful men and women seeking out a merciless serial killer. And I used them accordingly, breaking into slave camps by offering out their services as mercenaries. Bahu the overlord of the Tahuians sent entire armies to hunt us down but we always were several steps ahead of them it was also at that very time I found Kren in a slave camp."

" Kren was... a slave? but he seems to be so..." She tails off, her ears folded back.

"Yes, he was but that was before I saved him and placed him in the protection of the Orc Royal Family, a very old ally of my clan. After ensuring his safety I returned to the fight, it was another five years before Rohnir called to me, she was under siege by both Ern and The Beron Empire... They called it 'The Three Kings War.' I led my knights to aid my former homeland.

It was during that war I was named Rohnir's greatest general and hero because it was thanks to my leadership alone the Kingdom survived, I was loved by the people, many calling for me to reclaim the throne. The Blood Ravens are the ancient kings of Rohnir but the throne was stolen from us by the white falcons our sister clan a hundred years ago, now the white Falcons had died out leaving their closest supporter the Ire-Hearts to rule the country. An clan of weaklings they are, it was their fault that the kingdom was nearly taken by our enemies...

So the peoples' cry out for change angered Dulaman; the head of the Ire-Hearts and to make matters worse his daughter was obsessed about me, so when I was caught practicing black magic it was easy for him to order my execution and justified it with a secret new law, it was during that time I first met Dust who along with my knights rescued me, a broken man from being burned at the stake."

I finished with a hollowed feeling. "That is just an overview of my early life just when my legend started I was only nineteen in human years... At least I think I was, hard to tell sometimes since I age differently, Kren is twenty-eight so that would mean I'm... oh my it seems that I can't tell how old I'm really am…"

"This princess, did you...?"

"No, I never desired for human women, they were too dolled up like at best and very undesirable at worse but I had slept with Orcs; Shokrs; Dragons; Dryads even an drunken she-elf once. I believe it may have something to do with my bestial form I inherited from my mother... Her fur was a deep red where I am pale blue and she was wingless where I am winged."

"She also had brilliant red and yellow hair to my white hair."

"What she was like?'' Asked Luna with a far off look in her eyes ''Your mother that is.. I haven't seen mine since I was six years old."

"She was a very lovey and very clingy woman which I understood since I was her only son out of twenty-eight children, all from different men and races over her ten thousand years of life. Again understandable, with our abilities as Ageless, we can outlive both mortals and immortals thus it not unreasonably for us to seek out many partners in the years that pasted.

She had by the way no problem getting any male to not notice her thanks to her ageless beauty. She could really turn heads with her curvy figure that what from I head have made many females literally green with envy, both mortals and Immortals. You also couldn't help but notice her as her present seemed to demand it, also with her height of about nine feet tall, just like all Gaeaish. You would have be hard pressed not to notice her and to top it off a warrior beyond caliber, but despite all that yet very motherly...

I don't know what happen to her and her rebellion, the last time I saw her and my demonic siblings was when I was very young. If I remember my D'haran correctly Amdula means Lovely Sunset." I said banishing to sword away from sight. "Spread your wings if you may."

"Oh... Yes of course." Said Luna turning her back to me and spread her wings to their full width and I begin to gently brush my claws through her feathers, she grunts when my claws removes the broken feathers and sighs when I pour warm water on her the wings, easing away the discomfort of removing the bad feathers. "You done this before haven't you?" She hummed.

"My wings at one time had feathers but that was before I matured, turning them into the draconian ones you see now." I replied while working.

Luna's hoof reaches back and places itself on top of my claw, momentarily stopping me from my work. "Thank you,'' she said softly, turning her head so her soft eyes once again looking into mine, warmly ''For sharing a bit of your past with me. I think that I understand you a little better now Alkeyore."

"If you understand something then it loses the enigma of mystery thus making the journey to understand it in the first place hollowed. Is it not better to leave some mysteries alone and forgot then let the wonder become an empty husk?"

I said with Rohnirian wisdom, the talons of my claw warping itself around Luna's hoof as I pulled her closer to me, my nose and her muzzle almost touching. ''The path of knowledge and understanding often leads to the darker paths because the road to the seven hells are paid with good intentions. This is a truth that cannot be denied my dear. Yet with a creature as dark as I, the paths come to light for if there is to be Darkness then must Light... Thus, you and Nightmare know the means to save yourself from the path I had seen."

" I care for you Luna... and Nightmare I care you too much to allow you to walk with me in the Darkness within our souls."

"But what if I choose to walk with you..." said Luna breathlessly, her eyes half lidded.

"Then we are both damned." I said breathlessly before I by some instinct started to nuzzling the side of her face, which burned like fire from my touch. But her coat felt so soft, like fine silk, and I could detect her special fragrance. When I pulled back the whole of Luna head was bright red. I chuckled sheepishly at her reaction to the sudden nuzzle before standing to my full height, I was not as tall as my mother yet due to my being much younger but to Luna I was every bit of a giant.

''Will you be the first light that I will see in the morn?"

Shyly Luna nodded yes before I recast my disguise and took my leave of her, never allowing her to see my own blush. Closing the door behind me, I let a long sigh and mentally scolded myself for taking it too far with that nuzzle... I had nearly kissed her, it is too early in our relationship for such activities. We need to explore our ties of friendship first before thinking of courtship. Once my eyes focused themselves from their unexpected transformation, they felled upon a woman just entering the far side of the room with Nara in tail while Kren had seemed to disappeared into one of the other rooms, the sight of the woman left a extremely foul taste on my mouth. She was pure, too pure... the kind of purity that Demons and Nephilim found too sickening. I do not trust her and as dark mage I must despise her with the whole of my being.

Moonlit and Nightmare was once again snuggling with one another, crossing their heads with the other and wrapped with a large fluffy pink blanket on what seemed to be a sofa, seeing that they were safe and warm I casted more wards around them. Then once my spells were set, I entered another room this one a bedroom before slumping against the door and slide down it till I was sitting on the floor. I raised my hand to my face and watched as the disguise melt away, my claw balled itself into a fist before relaxing.

"What is wrong with my spell?" I said to myself aloud then I felt a burning pain coming from my heart before disappearing as if it was never there... only replace by the feeling that I had forgotten someone. Someone dear to me, the one Dust claimed to be my wife...

‘Artemis... who are you? What had been stolen from me?’

________________________________________

Luna's PoV

Placing my hoof over my racing heart, I sank further into the tub. The warmth of the water matched the burning of my cheeks, I really thought the he was going to kiss me yet the sensation of his fur against mine was heavenly, Alkeyore... oh Alkeyore how you have capture my heart so. Despite the warmth of the water I shivered heavily with a great smile, if he have kissed me I would of offer him no resistance, Mother had always said that a mare's first kiss held a special kind of magic to it, one you could never forget.

Moving my hoof from my chest, I placed the both of them on the sides of my head and I couldn't but help to squee like a filly with her first crush. In a scene that is what exactly what I am. I left the tub with a skip in my step with dozens of heating spells drying and grooming my coat, Alkeyore's parting words rang in my ears he wanted me to be the first thing he sees in the morning, my heart fluttered at the idea of making his wish true but it wouldn't be proper would it? For me to sneak into his bed since we are yet to be courted? No, it would be scandalous of me to do so..

Pouting at the mirror along the wall, I made sure that I was properly groomed before giggling like a school filly at the idea of meeting Alkeyore in a such a way but I must put out an good example for my daughter. Leaving the bathroom I smiled at the sight of my daughter snuggling with the Kirin again, perhaps they will become the bests of friends in time but my smile morphed in a scowl when my eyes landed on the witch that placed the enchantment on my filly.. Valeria the old goddess of purity. I let out an divine growl in her diction, one only she and her husband would be able to able to hear, she glares at me before turning back the Gryphoness to continue their talk, with an snort I walked over to my sleeping daughter and rooted through her mane to prevent it from becoming a bird's name when she awakes. I linger there with the fillies just a while before lighting my horn with dreaming spells.

Little cyan butterflies danced amongst the fillies before vanishing, helping to ensure that the little fillies had sweet dreams, and that they were protected from creatures from the dreaming realm.

"mm Mommy? " muttered Nightmare sleepily before falling back into deep sleep.

I had a sweet smile on my muzzle as I kissed my daughter forehead "good night my little one" then I left for my own sleep. Entering one of the side rooms I found a bed covered with dark blue comforter, lighting my horn I pulled the blankets down just enough for me to slip into, I hummed at the feeling of the cool to the skin sheets. Closing my eyes, I ponder what Celestia was doing, was she truly so desperate that she would enlist the likes of her father and the Pantheon?

Surely not, she is not that foalish... was she?

________________________________________

A few moments ago

"When do I expect hatchlings from you and Kren?" asked Valeria with a gentle smile. "As the goddess purity I by nature lack the ability have children with my beloved husband but unfortunately thanks to Alicorns he himself can't have offspring... yet Moonlit filled that void in our life when we found her abounded in the forest. The fate of being a mother is a fulfilling one, surely you had thought about it?"

Nara wave it off, blushing madly "A lowly gryphoness as me have no chance getting pregnant by a godly being such as Kren. My womb is just not worthy for such a blessing."

"So you will not mind him then shooting his life giving essences into you and trying to get an offspring?" asked the old goddess with a raised brow.

"Haha he can try, he can fill my womb to the bursting point and leave my belly bulging with his seed, and it still will not work. But I'm just happy that I can stay at his side and relive some of his tension." said Nara with a very small stained smile before catching a glimpse of Luna rooting though the little Alicorn foal's mane. An jealous burn erupted in her heart at the sight.

"So if he wants to have some little ones then, what do you do then. If you can't give it to him, who will?"

Nara bit her lower beak at that, looking to the side. watching as Luna left the foals and entered one of the side rooms.

"I will see what I will do when that time comes, but for now I want to enjoy his closeness. Even if I say he is my boyfriend, I know in part that is just wishful thinking on my part. I have mated with him a couple of times now. But I know it is selfish of me to think that he would take me as a mate just for that. When he will find his true mate as if fitting for his statue, I will stand down and watch from the side."

The queen looking at the young gryphoness for a little while. She then reach out her hand under her chin to turn Nara's face towards her.

"Who knows what the future hold my child, but don't lose hope." Valeria sweetly says. "After all, life has ways to surprise you when you least expect it. You think that you're unworthy? Merlin said the same exact thing when he fathered the Changeling race, as did Amothos when he created you Gryphons."

"B-but Amothos is a god and Merlin is a hero king! I'm just a Gryphon hen " countered Nara " Lady Valeria how am I worthy?

''Pray to Tmos the god of hope or take the paths of Noric the sorrowful god, perhaps the madness of Adalricus would serve you better. Yet in the end only you can decide if you desire Kren enough to carry his children.. I have a task for you.''

" A Task?!'' asked Nara taken back ''But we're already on a quest."

"Yes mate with Kren tonight in my name, fulfill his every desire.. and then I and Grimmnjor will use our powers to ensure that his seed will take root, Kren is too replace Amous the last one to bear the title of the god of the earth, Grimmnjor's own father was the original to hold the title. you must awaken the power sleeping within Kren.''

"You just want to watch us fuck. '' Said Nara getting straight to the point.

"In a sense'' giggled the purity goddess "It always been though such primal hungers that we gods find our true powers."

"If that's true then how did you..."

" my mother.."

"Eh?'' said Nara in a confused tone before her eyes widen with the implications ''Your What!!! she squawks. ''Ohh Tartarus no…"

"It was a different time and different set of morals, back then you would of been married when you turned nine, I was on the cusp of womanhood when Grimmnjor married me... would you like to heard the details?”

"Fuck no!!! squawked Nara, shaking her head furiously.

"But it might give you some ideas for pleasing Kren.. I wonder if he would like for me to use age spells to make you look younger."

"How in the flying feather are you the goddess of purity?!!! I think I need ale!"

"Because there was nobody else to take the job." said the not so pure Purity goddess plainly.

"Either way you are going to get your man and I and Grimmnjor will feel like we are doing something again... it been so long since the last time we felt that our role as gods fulfilled. Please Nara will you do this for us? your gods? and make us feel that we are not so useless in this world ruled by Alicorns."

''Of course,.'' said Nara greened in the face, then it changes into one that was of defeat, she by both her race and culture must obey the wishes of the gods. To refuse was on the likes of cutting off one's own leg, she had no choice but to see it done. ''The gods command and the Gryphons will see it done as we had always done."

"Good,'' smiled Valeria ''now before you go to get your man, I have some advice for you.....''

________________________________________

Nara had opened the door and sneaky stepped inside and spotted Kren deep in thought sitting on the bed. Her body shuddered a little, her feline cunt dripping with need.

“Hi Kren do you mind if I sleep here tonight? Call me a little spoiled but I think I wouldn’t get some decent sleep if I don’t cuddle up to you.”

“Ohh… Ummm… Sure…” Kren said, his thoughts interrupted by her entrance.

“I just need to use your bathroom really quick to make myself ready.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Kren said, standing up. He could help but watch Nara as she entered the bathroom, her hips swaying in an inviting way.

She closed the bathroom door and moaned a little, her juices leaking from her puffy snatch.

‘By Amothos, I’m so horny, my feline snatch feels so hot. So, time to do some praying and making myself ready. Kren and I will not sleep much tonight.’ Nara placed herself into a praying position and started her ritual and praying.

Kren had just removed his clothes and with a sigh laid down on the big double wooden themed bed that took up most of the guest room. He was feeling a little tired and wanted to sleep and think about what they had talked about during the meeting and also what he needed for his journey. But it seems that food needed to be gathered along the way as this city was a little poor on that, but other items and material he had access to.

He maybe would need to do some side tracks to maybe gather some herbs and roots also. He would need talk to a herbalist for that.

He then sighed. The thought that he tried to keep in the back of his mind popped up again.

‘I can’t believe it, Nara is…. Well I can in a way say that it is no surprise, with how much we have done it on the way here and she was in season but still… I’m I ready for such a thing… Is she…?’

Kren then heard the bathroom door that was located on his right side open and Nara came walking out with a towel over her shoulders and her feathers and fur damped and glistening with wet water drops.

She used the towel to dry her face and front a little before she flexed her wings to get rid of some water. She then walked towards a red gem that was seen beside the door and she put a claw on it. It started to glow a dull red and then a same dull red aura was seen around the gryphoness. He could see that her fur was getting drier as the water was evaporating in the glow of the aura. Seems it was some kind of water dryer. Her fur and feathers getting a little fluffy thanks to that but she paid it no mind.

Nara then turned around and jumped up into the bed and pressed her body against Kren and started to cuddle him. He put an arm around her to hold her closer.

But then Nara noticed his naked state and she also notice his buddy downstairs. She gave Kren a smirk and used her foreclaw to rub his member and looking at him with alluring eyes.

“Can’t it wait until later Nara? I’m a little tired.”

But she didn’t ease up on her rubbing and soon his member started to get hard as she was teasing him.

“Your little buddy disagree with you tree hugger. It seems that he wants to play.”

“That is because… *grunt*” Kren moaned as Nara then leaned downwards and gave his member a lick or two, and also looking up towards his face with a teasing smile.

“Well let’s have some fun big guy.” She said and then straddled him. She then started to rub her moist feline sex against his human rod in a slow teasing manner.

Kren tried to resist, but it was a futile effort and his body reacted to her soft body and teasing touch with her private part, also part of what he had already done to her made his member stand erected quite quickly, he looked down at his member with a frown.

‘Traitor…’

Nara just giggled and shuffled a little to better guide his member towards her moist sex that was dripping and leaking her juices quite a lot, her talk with Lady Valeria and the ritual had put her in quite a lustful state, and she plan to have some fun.

She gave a pleasurable gasp as she then lowered herself and let Kren’s big member part her feline folds and sink deeper inside her welcoming depth. Kren grunted as her feline cunt was swallowing more and more if his member. Nara could only find it cute as she was seeing his expression as he was trying not to moan and resist her wishes.

She gave a load purr as he hilted inside her, the vibrations making Kren gasp as he felt it through his member, making his member throb and Nara coo at the feeling. It seems that tonight Kren’s member was quite eager for some reason, it felt more lively more eager to spill its load. She didn’t mind, in fact she wanted it really bad right now.

She started to move her lower body, gyrating and rising and lowering it, riding Kren slowly at first but soon picking up speed.

Pretty soon she was riding him with a steady rhythm. She could feel his member slide in and out of her in a pleasurable way, his tip hitting her deepest part and making her moan in delight.

“Y-You seems quite aggressive tonight…” Kren grunted as he placed his hands on her flanks and gave then let his hands travel to grope her ass cheeks, which earned a big purr filled moan.

“Had a meaningful talk with Lady Valeria.“ Nara purred and leaned down to give Kren a deep kiss.

“What about?” Kren said after Nara had removed her mouth beak from his and she started to nibble his ear and rub her chin against his, being really affectionate, and acting like a cat.

“Just general things, and also about mating and cubs.” Nara moaned as she felt Kren hilt inside her once again, his member jolting at the mention of cubs.

“Cubs... as in children, little ones…” His member throbbing and jolting again, it was hitting a sweet spot inside her so she came a little due to that, her juices spilling out and coating his groin, and making his member even slicker and easier to glide in and out of her.

“Yeah, we had a meaningful talk about it, it got me in such a mood.” Nara said and she raised her hips and then slammed them down, making Kren hilt fully inside her and both moaned loudly at that action. Kren had to shut his eyes and concentrate hard, because he would have cummed right then if he didn’t.

“She gave me some tips and also her blessing.” Nara moaned and looked down at Kren with a alluring expression on her face.

“So let’s use this night and try to make some little ones, my gryphon womb is open and ready for your godly foal making seed. Please find my lowly but eager womb worthy for your seed...” Nara moaned and then patted her stomach with one of her front claws.

“Breed me! Put your godly offspring in me, use me as like a Diamond Dog breeding bitch!”

“Nara…” Kren moaned and looking up at the blissful and lustful expression of the gryphoness as she looked down at him. He felt her feline cunt clamp down around his member and more juices coat his member as she cummed as a result of her talk. She then placed her front claws on either side if his head and looking down at him with a eager and lustful expression.

Kren then grunted as she started to ride him at a faster pace. Her mind only on mating and reproduction. He could feel her warm, wet and slick snatch squeeze and milk his member as she rode him.

Kren didn’t last long thanks to Nara’s dirty talk and actions. He cummed inside her with some force. His throbbing member shooting out his seed in an eager manner, granting the horny gryphoness her wish.

Nara loudly squawked, her wings spread wide as she rode out Kren’s orgasm and her own as she came again as she felt his seed fill her.

They both was breathing heavily and composed themselves somewhat. But then Nara looked down at Kren.

“So, tree hugger, ready for round two?”

She then without waiting for his reply started to move her hips slowly again. Kren could only moan as she started to ride him again.

''Oi keep it down it there ya gits! Folk are trying to sleep!" growled the dark voice of an very grumpy dark mage. " Druids!"

"And there are foals here!" added the midnight blue Alicorn banging on the wall with her hoof.

________________________________________

Before sunrise

Alkeyore awoke with curses and hexes on his tongue, his demonic claws slashing deeply into the soft bedding leaving horrid gashes in the fabrics, for the first time in years by his recolation he actually dreamed instead of walking the inky blackness of the dark corners of his mind as all dark mages did to deal with the darker influences of their magics. He dreamt of Luna and his supposedly destined children yet the faces of the children and the brides were blacken all of them minus Luna. With a low growl he flipped out of bed with all the graceful movements of a feline, his wings were spread wide shielding his form from the fading moonlight and the hints of coming light of the sun. The claws on his feet tapped against the floor as he began to walk to a bowl of water he left out before laying down to sleep. For a moment he stared his reflection in the water and pondered his dream.

"Such useless fantasies." he said to his reflection before disturbing the waters with his clawed hands "No matter how blissful it was....'' he tails off as one specific event of the dream came back to his mind's eye, Luna dressed in red and her leading him to an private garden of nightshade flowers where an picnic was awaiting for them yet they ignored it as they started to passionately disrobe each other. Ripping his mind from the scene playing in his head he find the effects it had on his body, with an another growl he started washing himself and forced his baser needs away in old teachings of total control.

To Alkeyore's blissful ignorant there was another who woke in a similar state.

Luna with burning cheeks jumped from her soaked bedding, her coat was hot and sweaty thanks to her time in the dreaming realm. She stared at the ruin bed wondering if her head was going to catch on fire with all the blushing she had been doing over the passed few hours, placing a hoof over her lips as the ghostly images of an red dress slowly falling to her ankles and Alkeyore looming over her in a similar state of undress. Her body shivered at remembering his touches as she wrapped her hooves around his neck and the teeth along her neck.

Lighting her horn she banished the images away and back into the dreaming realm before plunging her head into an bowl of ice cold water she left on the dresser the night before. The coldness of the water felt heavenly to the midnight blue mare, since she was an immortal she didn't needed to breathe, thus leaving her free to stay in the cold water as long she needed. Once she could not feel the burning of her cheeks, she lifted her head from the water and stared herself in a nearby mirror.

" Luna.." she said slowly to the mirror, eyeing her wet mane. ''First we need an shower, then talk with Alkeyore..''

Nodding to herself she quickly groomed herself before trotting towards door, nudging the open with her hoof she hesitates in the doorway pondering what could be the inner meaning of the dream. Dreams always had a reason to them, yes often hidden to the dreamer but as the goddess of the night dreams were apart of her domain, thus the secrets of dreams were her secrets. She instinctively knew the reasons of each dream once seen by her guidance yet for some reason this dream was beyond her and she not knew why. Her eyes harden as she began to question her abilities as the goddess of the night.

"Luna." said a voice ripping her from her thoughts.. a very familiar voice. " Eat, we leave momentarily."

"Alkeyore!" Luna yelps in surprise snapping her head to the right side of her doorway, there she found Nephilim leaning against the wall with his gaze fixed on her , both the sight of him the sound of his voice instantly made the events of the dream replay themselves in her mind, subconsciously and instinctively her tail lifts itself.

"It seem that you need to be more aware of your surroundings.'' said Alkeyore his amber eyes flashed with the pale blue flares of his dark magics. ''You were standing there for an hour it seems."

"Was I? " asked Luna before noticing the wind on her flanks, with a grasp she forces her tail down "D-D-Did you...." She stammers before tailing off at the just now noticeable blush on the Nephilim's cheeks.

Alkeyore's blush darken as he turns his head to the side " Yes.. if it helps you have a very cute looking.. ''

With a great yelp Luna tugged her tail between her hind legs harder, her face full of shame and embarrassment. Lowering her head she began to gallop away but in a quick movement she found herself face to face with the Nephilim, his flaming eyes stared in hers, she tried to cast her gaze away completely ashamed of herself that she would do something so crude and feared that Alkeyore would think less of her. Closing her eyes and folding back her eyes she waited for Alkeyore to.... her whole body freezes as she felt Alkeyore nuzzling her, opening her eyes she saw Alkeyore pulling back from the nuzzle and his flaming eyes soften to their disguised amber.

"Luna, I do not think any less of you.'' He said softly, suddenly a low whinny came from one of the foals on the couch. They both smiled softly and approached the sleeping fillies, Moonlit was kicking in her sleep as she dreamt while Nightmare the one who the whinny came from was nosing around in the blankets sleepily looking for something or rather someone. Seeing that her daughter was looking for her, Luna lowered her muzzle down to the little Alicorn and bopped her nose with Nightmare, instantly the little filly was calming down instinctively knowing that her mother was there.

Pulling away from her daughter, Luna looked up to the towering Nephilim and asked.

"Alkeyore... is Nightmare going to be okay? She shouldn't sleep this much."

" When it comes to magic." He replied softly "It’s difficult to say, magic will work as magic sees fit. The enchantment she is under by nature isn't harmful from what I had seen... yet I can see that the spell is fading now, she will wake soon enough perhaps a few hours or a day."

''Do you think so?" asked Luna with a hopeful look about her.

"Aye." Alkeyore says simply before motioning to the table, and blinked wildly at the sight of a glowing Nara dragging a limp Kren behind her as if he was a rag doll before dumping Kren at the table and seeing that the druid was passed out she dumps a bowl of ice cold water over his head instantly waking him up shuddering at the feeling of being cold and wet.

"M-Morning" Said Kren as he raised his head weakly from the round table.

"Do you know and have everything you need for your journey?" Asked Alkeyore taking his place at the table with an serious look on his face, while Luna took her place by his side and raised an eyebrow at the bowl of flowers before her, they seemed to be sunflowers mixed with honeysuckles. She then looks at the other dishes, Kren had a large plate of biscuits drowned in sauces while Alkeyore had a large teapot of his nightshade tea or at least she guessing it to be his tea but she felt her stomach drop at the sight of Nara's dish... meat.

"I believe that I should go foraging for herbs and among other things... This city appears to be 'lacking' in some supplies I need." said Kren plainly before picking up a biscuit, looking at it and even taking a sniff at it before taking a bite.

"I think that my half of the quest should take about one month or possibly two if we run into trouble. Plus, I still need to pay Nara back the money when I get the chance."

"You better tree hugger, and remember if it will take too long, I will be taking interest."

Commented Nara pawing at her own meal, baked rabbit with hints of blueberries in it seems to be. Luna tried her best to ignore the dish but she found it difficult to do so, knowing that Gryphons often eat such choices of dishes... loudly.

"And about the lack of supplies? Kren you are being too kind; the city is dead." said Alkeyore taking an sip of his tea " Yet you may be right on the time frame, while my knowledge of this land may be limited this quest should take no longer than four months by logic's reckoning, but that is if the sands of time is the same as Gaea's for all we know it might had of been years since we left Gaea."

"You could be right old friend" nodded Kern "And we have to add the coming winter to the time table, if the winter here is as bad as the Gaeaish winter then we should abandon the paths though the mountains all together."

"Winter is often mild in Equestria and unnoticeable in the south. But in the north? that is another story as I said before if we are heading for Tanslymaneia then we must do it now, before winter comes to the land." said Luna

"we could go by sea.'' said Nara ''We Gryphons are the best sailors in all of Avalon, that is one thing Alicorns could never take from us the mastery of the seas."

"Perhaps,'' said Alkeyore taking another sip ''but for now we stay on the land... Gaeaish never do very well on the sea. Now where do we meet up? Grimmnjor is planning for him and this city to pass on so to speak, thus meaning we need a new place where we could met up safely once we collected what we need. "

"Ire, the capital of Awan the diamond dog kingdom." said Nara as if it was final.

"No Canterlot." disagreed Luna with a shake of her head.

''Ire." growled Nara

''Canterlot.'' said Luna narrowing her eyes at the Gryphon hen.

''Ire!!'' screeched Nara.

''Canterlot!!!'' Whined Luna.

"Where can we find the Wolfponies?" Interrupted Alkeyore calmly pouring himself another cup of nightshade tea. He shares a small smile with a questioning Kren before he too shared in the smile.

"The Wolf Dens." said Luna and Nara at the same time, the two then glared at each other.

"And where are these...dens?" said Kren with a knowing grin.

"The borderlands between Equestria and Awan" Said Luna with a questioning look.

"Then that is where we shall meet." said Alkeyore knocking back the last of his tea and frowns when he finds the tea pot empty. With an snap of his fingers, the pot was once again fill with hot streaming nightshade tea, the action unfortunately reminded Luna about Discord and most importantly her sister. Suddenly she didn't felt hungry and pushed her salad away magically but that was before the meaning of Alkeyore word's hit her

''What!'' she and Nara cried.

"You heard me,'' Said Alkeyore placing his cup of tea down on the table. “we shall met up at theses Wolf Dens, tis a fair compromise between your two fractions yes?”

"Yes...'' said Luna and Nara slowly. ''But-"

"No, it's a fair compromise." said Alkeyore leaving his seat to stand " Kren.. sliver swords drawn in moonlight''

" Standing tall on the black rock keep, with blade and staff in hand,'' replied Kren with a slight bow of the head. "Only blood can repay blood."

Alkeyore returns the nod before turning away and walked towards the sealed door, he studies it for a time before punching it with a fist burning with dark magic. Instantly there was an click from the door before it swung wide open.

"Hen, I expected an stronger charm then that poor excuse of an spell '' Alkeyore comments as he stepped though the door, '' Luna walk with me.'' he calls without turning his head.

________________________________________

Luna's Pov

I blinked wildly at the sight of how easily Alkeyore forced the door to open, the same door that my own Alicornian strength and magics failed to forced to release us from the chamber. Shaking my head I followed him out of the room, leaving Kren and Nara alone with the foals... He said that Kren was capable of protecting the foals or at least hold the foes back long enough for Alkeyore to come to relieved the duty of guardianship from the druid. Despite my instincts, I trusted the Nephilim to know what he was doing.

Once we were on the outside of the room, I quickly shielded my eyes from the light of the coming dawn, just how quickly we found only selves outside of Grimmnjor's halls I didn't know. Whatever magics and wonders the old gods had spilled in this realm was beyond me. My hooves clopped nosily as I walked over the ancient stones of Indolia, the lost city in the woods as Star-swirl called it. According to him Indolia was one of the great kingdoms of old Avalon before ponies became the masters of Avalon. But there was something bothering me other then the state of this ruin city, Alkeyore's parting words to Kren, "Alkeyore what was that? Sliver swords drawn in moonlight?'' I asked.

" Tyey paga ja,'' Alkeyore said with a soft voice, his eyes directly focused on the paths ahead, making sure that none of the beast dared to cross us as we walked. ''or in the common tongue, 'The oaths of steel', it's the code of the Lords of Magics.'' '' Every mage in Gaea knows the code well, after all we govern the scattered magi clans... it's rather more like we gave them the guidelines to the natural rules."

''Guidelines?" I asked.

"Somebody has to make sure that some idiot doesn't get us all burned at the stake because he turned the one of kings' sons into a toad or causes another wizard war." he replies offhandedly leading us into what seemed to an garden of sorts. The garden like the city was barely alive despite it being far from the time of the frost, Alkeyore simply shakes his head at the state of the garden before taking a wilted rose in his hand and instantly it grew into a bright red healthy rose.

''Another wizard war?'' I asked rising a brow at the dark mage, and pondered just how he manage to bring back the flower. It didn't seemed to be dark magic or was it? Alkeyore you are quite the mystery indeed.

"The age of the red moon, that is what we called it.'' he says, his amber eyes looking straight at me " After the original lords of magic saved our world from The Demon king by offering their own lives in exchange to seal him into stone, their untied army of mages returned to what was left of Gaea and was put the stake by the remaining Gaeaish kings for the sin that The Demon king was originally was a mage himself. Millions of mages and magical creatures were burnt alive, then in retaliation Baldoel the bloody raven and the first of my clan gathered every able bodied warrior magi and waged war against the remaining Gaeaish kings of the time.. in the end so much blood was spilled it dyed the moon herself red for five thousands. ''

"B-but.. that's impossibl-'' I stammered, my mind started to list the impossibles but those thoughts quickly died when remembered exactly what I was talking to, a man from another world. '' perhaps we should talk about something else?"

"Agreed, the age of the red moon is a time period even to this very day mages find difficult to speak of. '' He said with a small nod before plucking the flower and levitated it behind my ear casing another blush to darken my cheeks. "A beautiful rose for a beautiful mare, this in something to be cherished."

"T-Thank you Alkeyore '' I said with an genuine smile. '' It's lovey.''

"You are most welcome, Luna '' he said before looking up to the sky, he stays silent for a time allowing for the natural sounds of the dying garden to play all about us. " I'm getting to old for this hero business, I thought that after all these years I was finally free of it, now it just rips me back even further.

"What do you mean?"

"Dahirm-hal; Ageless; secrets; gods; wars; now quests" he lists off ,'' Luna one of my greatest regrets is becoming an hero in the first place.. so much of my life could've of been so different if I never started this never ending path then again because of me so many lives are free to live, all of them enjoying the freedom that should've been mine... Once this is over, your sister and Avalon; I shall create a enchanted realm to dwell in and to be forgotten by all."

"Alkeyore..." I said softly, reining up unto my hind legs I placed my hooves on the Nephilim's shoulders, using him to steady myself while I nuzzled the side of his face. As I nuzzled him I felt his flesh morph into his more demonic self, his pale blue fur rubbing against mine.

He pulls away from my nuzzle allowing me to looking deeply into his now silver and black eyes, "Would you like to join me?'' he asks.

As soon those words left his lips, I almost squeed yes but something stopped me from saying yes. The thought of leaving my home and Celestia, could I really leave them now? especially leave them to suffer under Sleipnir? ''What about Nightmare? Moonlit? and Equestria? Alkeyore I want to be with you but what the others?''

''They will-'' Alkeyore began to say before his head snaps towards another part of the garden with a deep rumbling inhuman growl '' Daru onyx fhear rhoi Vaaa!" his fangs gleamed in the sunlight as his arms warps around me protectively, forcing me to feel him as the whole of his body forcibly morphed into his true Nephilim form ''Show yourself Dahirm-Hal! I can smell your filthy soul!"

"Ahhh, I never expected this...'' a dark voice chucked '' Luna...''

My eyes widen at the voice. One I had hope to never hear again, Sombra... it can't be. The steel colored red horn step out from the shadows of the garden, looking exactly how I remembered him a thousand years ago, young and powerful his neon green and red eyes stared at me hungrily as purple flames licked at the corners of his eyes.

''Sombra.'' I said flatly as Alkeyore released me from his arms before setting me down behind him, placing himself between me and the monstrous stallion before us. Alkeyore crouched down and spread his massive wing span almost eclipsing the light of the sun, growling darkly as he claws dug deeply into the earth. Sombra looked at the Nephilim coolly as if the Ageless was nothing more than a insect before returning his gaze to me.

"Ah you remember me? I so flatted because I sure remember you my dear, very clearly in fact.'' Said Sombra smiling darkly as he started to approach us before embers of black fire escaped from Alkeyore's maw giving him the eerily look of an dragon forced the red hoof to take a step back to avoid the embers, ''It had been too long since I last seen you~'' the red horn stallion said wishfully

"So we finally meet face to face Sombra '' sneered Alkeyore, the embers from his mouth burning away the very earth below us as if the very fires themselves were magical toxins '' Looking at you now, I can't say that I am impressed nor see why you are an fellow dark mage, such weakness you are.''

''It's King Sombra to you beast!'' spat Sombra, the purple flares in his eyes blazed all the brighter ''Luna... You should had taught your pet some manners, such an beastly thing is unbecoming of an Princess let alone a goddess."

''Oh, a pet am I?'' said Alkeyore mockingly. ''Cheap talk from an Dahirm-hal, you are nothing more but a slave, so tell me who was it that you sold your disgusting soul too? a frost demon maybe or maybe some other low demon? oh well no point in devouring the both of you since you just taint the meat. " In a flash of movement Alkeyore disappeared even my enhanced sights and then reappear with his claws warp tightly around Sombra's throat lifting the stallion as he stood to his full height...

Despite the talons along his throat, Sombra didn't seemed to fear for his wellbeing and instead the red horn chuckled. '' Ha, kill me? you can't kill me Alkeyore because it will be you and Luna begging for death when I give you two to my master.''

'Master...' I thought, before a burning hatred erupted in my heart,

‘Sombra was working for Sleipnir. This only confirmed it all the more, Sombra was the one I sensed with Sleipnir back at the castle... I thought that I was only seeing things as the shadows shielded us before taking us to Dust. Sombra my old friend how much more will you fall?’

With a swift movement Alkeyore ripped out the stallion's throat before washing the body with his black fires. The sound of a rustling sound in the bush next to me was the only warning before another Sombra leap out of it, his hooves reaching out for me, thanks to the surprised attack I struggled to form a spell to defend myself but in a faster movement Alkeyore thrusted out his hand sending his shadowy chains out from his own shadow, each warping themselves round Sombra's hooves, with a flick of his wrist Alkeyore pushed Sombra’s body back, bashing the stallion head against the garden stonewalls with a wet smack.

With another flick Alkeyore pulled the now very dead chained stallion to his face and simply watches as Sombra melted away into dust, leaving the chains empty with nothing to hold onto. Seeing that the chains were empty Alkeyore had them warp round his own arms, creating makeshift armor that could be used for both offense and defense.

"It appears that I was correct in my assumptions that he was an Ghost Dancer stylist...'' Alkeyore's voice rumbles as his eyes scans the garden, "Luna stay close to me, he's going to send more of his 'ghosts' till either my guard fails or he's too damaged to continue."

"I had fought Sombra once before'' I said keeping close to Alkeyore, ''he's using the very same tactics you speak off, back when Celestia and me banished him to the shadows of the frozen north... the battle lasted three days before we found a opening to hit him with the elements of harmony"

''What are you going to do now Luna? Big sister isn't here to protect you and no elements.'' said the real Sombra from the shadows of the garden, "ohh what will she do? oh what will she do? Methinks that she is a useless naive foal playing at dress up! Dishonor! Dishonor she is! The Moon must weep sorely to have you as her mistress! Foalish filly!" he taunts.

'Don't tell him get to you' I sternly told myself but still I felt the divine rage building within me with each insult Sombra taunted me with. Sombra before his fall was an brilliant stallion even improving Starswirl's magical theories and hunted Necromancers for years by the time I met him, if he haven't fallen into evil he would of been one of Twilight's idols instead of his father. When Sombra saw that I wasn't going to fall for his trap, he released another series of insults.

"Ignore him.'' grunted Alkeyore noticing the look on my face.

"I know, I’m trying...'' I said though gritted teeth. Lighting my horn I started gathering my lunar magic, despite it being day time the magic still came to me and in a flash all of the garden's shadows vanish forcing the real Sombra and his copies out. There were at least an small army of his copies whom from which melted in the sunlight of the sun revealing them to be shambling copses of long died ponies. Sombra's body flicked for a second as he readjusted to the world outside of the shadows.

''Typical.'' said Alkeyore shaking his head before inhaling and released the air yet but instead of air thousands of tiny insects flew out of his maw like a great cloud of pestilence before feasting upon the undead felling them one after another but an pulse of magic from Sombra set his remaining undead aflame killing the insects with the smoke and of course the flame.

''Sombra surrender!'' I called out to him, I knew it was useless to do so but I still had to try.

''Thou art outmatched in this fight!"

The Red Horn snarls before throwing blacken crystals at us but though the combine actions between Alkeyore and myself shielded our forms from the shards. Then the burning undead ponies charged at us leaving flaming hoofsteps in their wake, before I could form another spell, Alkeyore thrusts his hand out at the group of undead, Shadow tendrils burst out from the ground and coiling around their hooves and still traveling upwards so that it started to cover their hole bodies, robbing them of their abilities to move and with ethereal screams the undead crumbled into dust as the tendrils seems to suck out their energy and also crush their bodies. Sombra seeing that he was losing stomps the ground beneath his hooves, making an impact crater and pushing up some black crystals around him, he then uses his magic to crush and pulls the shards of the black crystal back to him, mixing the shards of earth and crystals he then creates an stone golem.

''Luna, have you noticed that none of the beasts are coming?'' asked Alkeyore in cold tone.

" Yes, I have noticed...'' I replied 'but why?' I silently asked myself as Sombra and his golem just sat there waiting. the beasts should be here this is a part of their kingdom why are they not here to defend it?

''If you expecting for the aberrations of this foul forest to aid thee, you are solely mistaken. '' said Sombra confidently. '' My master had made sure that we won't be interrupted... please Luna surrender unto me before you embarrass thyself further.'', he then turns to Alkeyore.

''Beast...Alkeyore why you stand against me? we are both Dark magi’s you should be assisting me yet you have the audacity and diverted to denied me of the right that is due me.''

''Enough of this foolishness'' I cried, learning that Sombra still sought my hoof, why doesn't he get that I don't love him like that. He was my friend... '' Sombra if you're still the stallion I called friend all those years ago, stop this!" '' Please!"

"No! Luna, you belong to me!'' hissed the Red Horn as toxic neon green magic leaked out of his horn

'He is running low on magic...' my mind commented as I felt a great wind blowing against me, looking in the diction of the wind, I saw Alkeyore flying just a few feet above us.

"No matter what form nor shape you take Dahirm-hal, I will stand against you!'' said Alkeyore simply as the first time I had ever seen since learning of his true form, his horns glowed with dark magic yet instead of just flames, blacken lightning arched crisscrossing the twisting unicorn horns on his head. Then the whole of Alkeyore's body starts glowing with shadowy power, the sight of my friend stole my breathe way.

'So this is when he isn't holding back.' I though recalling our spar back in Dust's home.

"You forsook the Darkness the day you sold your soul, Sombra and return the Darkness forsakes you!" Alkeyore's deathly voice called out as arches of lightning leaped out from his horns and ripped through the very earth before striking Sombra. The Red horn shrieked an unearthly wail as the lightning ripped though his form leaving large gaping holes in him, he falls to the ground charred and barely alive, sparks of the black lightning dance from him and the equally blacken ground.

Seeing him laying there helpless and barely alive, I felt the need to go to him, my hoof raised slightly before lowering to the ground as I remembered why he was here in the first place... I could only blame myself for what he had become then I felt Alkeyore return to my side, turning away from Sombra I looked to the man I loved, dressed in his human disguise.

''So you survived.'' said Alkeyore coldly to the charred pony ''It seems that I need to try a little harder the next time we met... well played Dahirm-hal, sending another to take your place.''

''Another?'' I said questioningly'. ''But how?''

'' Yes, Sombra is a ghost dancer.. he was here and not here.'' said Alkeyore vaguely.

''Correct.'' Rumbled the stone golem before it's earthy shell crumbled away revealing another yet wounded Sombra while the 'Sombra' on the ground melted away revealing it was actually a very dead red coated crystal pony mare, the corpse smiled an distorted cheshire grin as she rose from the ground using her dead weight to support Sombra, I saw the hint of a puppet cutie mark on her flanks. ''I-it appears that we had reached an impasse.''

''That's much is certain.'' said Alkeyore with sparks of magic licking off of his hands, the lightning aspect fading into the burning light of the black flames that often poured off of the disguised Nephilim. His now amber eyes studying the corpse mare with a deep hatred in them, ''Interesting use of necromancy and geomancy, what was the bargain you used to gain her soul as your corpse thrall?"

''I have underestimated the level of foalish defiance, I'll will not make the same mistake the next time.'' said Sombra smiling darkly with his confidence unscarred while ignoring Alkeyore's inquiry '' I-I'll retreat for now... Luna my queen, I'll come for you another day.''

The wind picked up then Sombra and the corpse mare's body faded away into the twisting leafs on the wind leaving us alone in the garden. We stood there for awhile, waiting to see that it's was just another of Sombra's tricks but neither the Red horn stallion nor his corpse mare made an reappears, sighing softly I relaxed my muscles and started reprimanding myself for trying to get though my old friend and for doing so little to aid my protector.

''Cowards.'' scoffed Alkeyore with a grunt before smiling at me. ''You did well my friend.''

''I-... how? how did I do well?'' I questioned, my ears flat against my head. ''I barely helped you in fighting them of... I was next to useless in the skirmish.''

"Your mere present not only distracted Sombra but also made him go very easy on us, unless he was just testing our defenses or simply gauging our strength. Either way I get the feeling he was trying everything to avoid harming you while gauging my powers." replied Alkeyore. ''You done enough damage to him by just been there.''

His words made me feel a bit better yet my guilt still remain, claiming that I should've done something more to stop the monster my old friend had become, but what could I have done? what I could I've done differently? I couldn't come up with an answer to my own thoughts, ''... your right. '' I said slowly the words rolling off the tongue. ''Yet I still feel guilty for what he is now. He is a true monster, the stallion I knew once is long dead but I can't but help to wonder if there was something I could've done to help him."

''Many ask that very same question when one falls to the mantle of Dahirm-hal or a friend simply changes into something completely unrecognizable.'' said Alkeyore in an tone that bore the feeling that he knew the very emotions that I was currently feeling all too well. '' It is just one of the things that comes to us in life, people change, the best you can do for him now Luna is to remember him for who he was once was before..." he tails off.

"Before what?'' I dared to ask, despite somewhat already knowing what he would say...

''Before giving him a quick and painless death. '' He finishes, I felt my heart fall at the words, I had the feeling that he would say that but the truly frightening thing to me was.. I had nothing to differ, not even the beliefs in harmony I grew up with could give me another way. Seeing the look on my face he reached his hand out for me as I went to lean in his comforting embrace , an large magical circle burst under us with dark red runes catching us both by surprise.

"Luna!" he cried pushing me out the circle, before it grew into an magical prison trapping him in it's grip. My eyes grew wide as I reached for him with my horn glowing with a counter spell. Both the cage and my friend disappeared into thin air.

''Alkeyore!" I cried entering the space where that the trap slept before we somehow activated it, all along the ground were the dark red runes each brunt into the very earth. Pouring my own magical energy into the runes I attempted an counter spell only for the runes to change colors from dark red to green.. changeling green then back to dark red. My heart sank at the change in color and ceased feeding the counter spell, instead I reached out my senses though out the space detecting more of the foul changeling magics and importantly where the magic took Alkeyore, far to the south... The Badlands.

''How dare they" I seethed though gritted teeth as divine rage surged though me,'' How Dare they steal my mate! They don't know what forces they angered this day." my body grew hot as my horn glowed brightly with ancient magics but yet before I can truly form a spell I felt a ripple of power in the air and felt the ground rumble as if something stiring beneath it then the light of explosions burnt along the sky filling it with great booms.

At the sudden explosions the rage within me displaced itself, freeing me from it's blinding hold and disspelling the ancient magics. I didn't have long to question the sudden explosions as an young armored timber wolf skidded on it's thorn like claws before digging deep gauges into the already ruined earth.

''Luna" said the young wolf out of breath '' Hurry to the great halls now! ''

''What happen!?" I asked

"No time, no time get to the halls!'' grunted the wolf using his head to push me towards the gates of the garden, ''King Grimmnjor can't keep them out of long!"

"Them?" I said questioningly.

''AHHH for the love of Valeria! Just get the the halls already!" cried the wolf before a great ball of fire crushed him, burning him to death instantly.

Author's Notes:

Edited by Portal82 and a few suggestions from BluegrassBrooke and xluferx in the beginning scene.

Man, now this is one of heck of a chapter! New enemies and of course the number one calling card of fantasy quests .... What in Alvae's name have I done?!