It was early March and I had resumed my studies with Twilight. My progress in casting unicorn magic was marginal at best. With my limiters on I could still only manage a simple light spell and empathic healing. The former being the same basic spell most every unicorn could cast while the latter seemed to be a subtle use of my sorcerous abilities that somehow was not suppressed by the limiters. Despite my best efforts I still could only manage the simplest levitation, quite handy if I need to pick up a quill from across the room, not so much for most anything else.

"I just don't get it!" Huffed Twilight, "You seem to be doing everything right but the only progress you are making is for your leylines to get stronger!"

"Well that is a good thing is it not?" I replied.

"It's a frustrating thing is what it is! With the amount of arcane energy in your chakras you should be able to lift a house, but you can barely lift a feather! I just don't understand!" Twilight griped as she paced back and forth.

I admit I had become somewhat frustrated myself. We had even resorted to Twilight using "questionable" magic to piggyback my mind and cast spells through me. Much to her chagrin even though she herself formed the magical formulas in my mind and pushed the arcane energy from my chakras through my leylines and out my fingers, she had no better luck than I. To say she was perplexed was an understatement and a perplexed Twilight is an unhappy Twilight.

"Twilight, maybe we are going about this all wrong." I said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well in many human mythologies people who could supposedly do magic focused it through totems, or channeled it through wands and staves, or even spoke aloud magical words." I said.

Twilight went stock still for a moment then shouted, "That's it! Incantations!"

"Pardon?"

"Your magic is latent to you, not an integral part of your makeup like unicorn or alicorn magic. I bet you have to use primitive incantations like the ancient unicorns before Starswirl's time had to!"

"OK so you are saying I need to speak some magic words?" I asked with a bit of doubt in my voice.

"Well yes and no...you see as magical theory evolved over the eons we have learned incantations are just a crutch. The thought patterns they help you form are what count. You could speak any gibberish really as long as they have meaning to you and help you focus the magic!"

I was still skeptical, "So what, I throw up my hands and shout 'Fiiiiireeeeebaaaallll!' like some anime girl an-" As I held my hands up in a mock gesture a baseball sized ball of fire flew from my hands, narrowly missing Twilight's head, and blew out the back wall of the training room.

Twilight and I sat there in shock, both of us looking at my hands then the back wall. A moment later Spike poked his head through the nearly six foot hole in the crystal wall and said, "I'm not cleaning this up." in a deadpan voice before disappearing back in to the corridor beyond the wall.

I slowly put my hands down, feeling only the slightest of strain from the effort, I looked to Twilight, "OK, as ridiculous as that was...am I a wizard now?"

Shaking her head with a chuckle she replied, "Not hardly...but it seems you have the potential to get there some day."

Score one for team Bear.

Twilight walked over to a trunk in the corner of the training room and opened it with her magic then levitated a strange device over to me. It looked like a stick with a ball at the top and bottom. "This is a magical focusing device, we use them with some foals with weak magic to help them build strength or with older unicorns who have damaged their horns. Try holding it and levitating that rock over there." She said while passing the object to me.

I held it in my hand and looked it over. It was heavy, likely made of solid gold, somewhat familiar as well. I had seen one of these before. Ignoring Twilight I walked to the table that held my bag and retrieved my tablet. I immediately called up texts on world religion and thumbed through it until I found what I was looking for. I held the tablet up to Twilight. "We have myths about these and some religions use replicas in their ceremonies. The Tibetans call it a dorje, the Hindus a vajra. It is believed to be a weapon of the gods."

I stared down Twilight, "Princess did you just hand me a weapon?" I asked in an even voice.

"N-no! Of course not! This is a magical focus, nothing more!" She stammered.

I looked over to the rock she had instructed me to lift, I held the dorje before me and taped in to my magic while focusing on one thought, "BREAK!" I shouted.

With a sound like a thunderclap the football sized rock shattered and only a quickly erected shield by Twilight saved us from being peppered with slivers of granite.

"Tell me again this is not a weapon."

"It...it isn't what you think." She stammered while backing away from me.

"Truth Princess. What game are you playing. Why did you immediately give me a weapon the instant we figured out the trick to making my magic work."

"I...I...can't tell you...." She mumbled.

Anger. For the first time since coming to this world I felt anger at someone I thought my friend. Gripping the dorje in a white-knuckled grip I channeled forth my magic in to in and said, "Speak the truth Twilight Sparkle."

I saw sweat begin to bead on her forehead. Soon she was covered in froth as she fought the compulsion I had placed on her. Tears began to stream down her face as I repeated my command. Finally she said, "Celestia told me to train you to fight! She though you might be the only weapon we have if those Nazis ponies returned!" She gasped out.

So that was it, if she couldn't conscript me she would have someone else do her dirty work. I threw down the dorje in disgust.

"I told Celestia that I had found peace and purpose. Still she tries to take it from me." I roared.

"Please Bear! I'm sure she had a good reason!" Twilight pleaded.

"Good reason? I will tell you her good reason Twilight Sparkle. I refused her. She asked me to lead the investigation in to those who attacked Ponyville and even threatened to conscript me in to the army to try to force my hand. That is her good reason Princess. I had the audacity to tell her no!" I raged at the purple princess.

"But why? Why won't you help us?" She continued to plead.

"Why? Because I am a murderer five times over is why! Once in my world and four times here. I will not be party to any more killing either by my hand or aiding another. I want peace. Ponies of all beings should understand the desire for peace. Just because I come from a world of war, strife, and tyranny doesn't mean I desire it!" I shouted.

"I just want to live out my days with my mate and daughter and I won't let you, Celestia, or anyone else take that from me!" I continued as I loomed over the now cowering alicorn.

Seeing her abject fear I stepped back and took deep calming breaths.

"Twilight," I said much more calmly, "You told me at the beginning of my training that every known sorcerer had fallen to corruption and darkness. I will not allow myself to be made a weapon. I have once crossed the line between fury and evil. I will not be put in a position to do so again. Am I understood."

Twilight hung her head sniffling as tears flowed freely, "Yes Bear...I understand..."

With a heavy heart I sat down on the training room floor and patted my lap, "Come here."

Twilight looked at me with trepidation but slowly approached. Sitting as I was we could see eye-to-eye with neither of us having to look up or down at the other. We could look in to each other's eyes as equals. I looked at her and reached out and pulled her to me, hugging her as I gently stroking her mane. "I forgive you."

The dam broke and she sobbed in to my shoulder, "How can you forgive something so rotten so easily?"

"You were only doing what your mentor instructed you, my ire is with her, not you. You are a kind and gentle soul, she...has let people put her so high on a pedestal that I think even she believes some of the rhetoric."

Twilight pulled back and didn't seem happy, "Please don't blame her, she is just doing what she thinks is right."

"Said every tyrant throughout history."

Twilight looked at me with a mix of contrition and revulsion. I couldn't say I blamed her. I was badmouthing her mentor and exclaiming my rage with her.

"Twilight, no one, man nor pony is perfect. Not even Celestia. I don't hate her, but she has much to atone for in my eyes."

"What do you mean?"

"Twilight, it is best if she tells you. It would mean more to me and perhaps to her."

Twilight simply nodded, "O-OK...I'll take your word for it."

I stood and ruffled her mane. "Come on, let's get this wall fixed."

We worked together for the rest of the afternoon practicing my magic and various incantations repairing the blown out wall of the training room. I hadn't used this much magic since the Battle of Ponyville and I didn't even feel winded. Apparently there was some truth to the old stories about magic words...or maybe I had simply grown stronger...perhaps both. Either way we cleaned and repaired the wall good as new. The dorje was placed back in its trunk with the promise that I would never be asked by Twilight to use it again.

As the afternoon turned to early evening I set about keeping my promise to talk to Spike about why he had been avoiding the Crusaders. Part of that discussion was that the Crusaders were planning to surprise him with a sleepover. I can't say I entirely approved of this without knowing what was bothering the boy but Pony ways are not entirely my ways. I found Spike in the palace kitchen washing dishes in preparation for the evening meal.

"Hey little man, what's up?" I inquired.

"Huh? Oh. Just doing the dishes." He replied emotionlessly.

"Hey Spike, why don't you let the dishes sit and come hang out with me for awhile, we can do guy talk and stuff. Bet you don't get enough of that with all these mares around." My God I sounded lame.

Spike shrugged and shut off the water and began to follow me as I walked to one of the many sitting rooms near the central library. I made myself comfy on one of the plush couches and motioned for him to get comfortable as well. I reached in my bag and pulled out a bottle of Apple Family Hard Cider and popped the cork taking a long draw. I then surprised the little guy by offering the bottle to him. He took it wide eyed with an expression that said "For real?" and I nodded permission.

Spike took a small sip of the cider and then leaned back trying to imitate my relaxed stance. This kid definitely needed a male role model in his life.

"So Spike, how you been?"

"Eh, fine I guess."

"Really now, so nothing going on, no filly you have your eye on?"

Spike just looked at the bottle and took another sip, "Nahh."

OK, this was too much.

"Spike, we need to talk, man to dragon."

"About what?"

"Your friends are worried, from what I hear aside from the New Years party you have been avoiding them since Ponyville was attacked."

I laid it out plainly, I figured the best way to handle it was to talk to him as an adult instead of treating him as a kid. Though kid he was.

"I don't want to talk about it." He said while casting his eyes downward.

"Spike, we have spilled the same blood in the same mud. That gives us a bond few others have. You can tell me anything and I won't judge you. Everyone, man, pony, or dragon needs someone to talk to on occasion." I said to him sincerely.

With a sigh and another sip of cider he finally said, "How do you handle it?"

"Handle what?"

"The...killing...how do you handle knowing you have had to kill another creature?"

So there it was. I had been hoping it wasn't this but sadly it was. I felt a deep sense of guilt for having let him fight by my side. For having let the magic I carried for a brief time turn him from an innocent young dragon in to a blooded warrior.

I reached out and took the bottle downing a gulp of liquid courage before answering him.

"Honestly Spike, I don't deal with it. I don't think about it. I just look at Fluttershy and Scootaloo and let my feelings for them overshadow anything I may have done."

Spike sighed and slumped down on the couch, "Well that's no help."

"Really? Spike why did you insist on fighting by my side that day?"

Spike twiddled his thumbs for a bit before replying, "I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Of losing my friends."

I nodded sagely. I understood where he was coming from.

"Let me clue you in on something little man. When I walked out those castle gates I didn't go out there to save the town, myself, or even you."

Spike looked up at me curiously. "But then why did you fight?"

"I fought to save on pony, the one who's feather I wear around my neck. Nothing else mattered to me."

Spike looked at me with new found understanding, "So is that what you meant when you said you aren't a hero?"

I nodded affirmatively.

"So it's OK that I only fought to save the people I care about."

"Spike, as far as I am concerned the only good reason to fight is to protect the ones you love."

Spike started sniffling a bit then moved from his spot on the couch and up in to my lap hugging me as tightly as his little arms could, "So I'm not a monster?"

I wrapped my arms around the little dragon, "No more than I am little man, no more than I am."

The Crusaders arrived around eight along with Fluttershy, Big Mac, and Rarity. The three girls immediately pounced on Spike when he greeted them and apologized for being a recluse. He simply explained he had some things to work out and I had helped him get through it. Twilight was able to lighten the mood when she produced pizzas for everyone. Spike and the Crusaders immediately dove in to the pies while Fluttershy and I sat back giggling at the antics of our adopted daughter. In the meantime Shy and I did not fail to notice the mooneyes Big Mac and Rarity were making at each other nor did we fail to notice when the two of them slipped off together later in the evening while I was curled up using Fluttershy for a pillow while reading to Twilight and the kids. I have to say "A Princess of Mars" was going over very well with my audience.

Eventually eyes grew heavy and we tucked Spike and the girls in to their sleeping bags in the library. Twilight bid us goodnight and made for her chambers. Fluttershy and I walked to our guest room, well I walked while she took advantage of me carrying her. As we passed one of the guest rooms we could hear the unmistakable noises of passion followed the occasional "Eeeeyup!"

Fluttershy and I both gave each other a silly look and did our best not to crack up. Though as the evening wore on we probably gave the happy couple a run for their money for noises in the night.

I awoke to a muffled explosion and the castle shaking. Moments later I heard a sound I had dreaded since the first test of the system after the attack, the Ponyville emergency siren. Fluttershy jumped up in a panic as I struggled to don my pants and shirt.

"Wh-what's happening?" She cried fearfully.

"I don't know but I mean to find out." I said grimly pulling on my boots. I hastened over to my bag that housed my tablet and other odds and ends from my homeworld and brought forth my grandpa's hatchet and my knife I took camping. Affixing both to my belt Fluttershy and I made our way to the library where we had left the kids.  

Twilight made her way in to the library at the same time we did. Spike and the girls were all up and looking around in confusion. "What's going on Twilight?" Spike yelped as another explosion rocked the castle.

"Everyone stay calm," Twilight said, "We are under attack again."

I felt Fluttershy press up against me while Scootaloo leapt in to my arms trembling, "PapaBear don't let them get me or MamaShy." She cried.

Something in me broke at that point. I do not remember my exact thoughts, only the building rage inside me. I don't remember willing the limiters from my hands, just the sound they made as they hit the floor. I looked to Fluttershy, "Just like last time, head for the hospital. You will be needed there. Twilight, send two guards with her."

Twilight called over two pegasus guards and instructed them to escort my mate to the hospital where she could do the most good. Shy and I shared a quick kiss before she flew off without a word. Big Mac and Rarity came tumbling in to the room at this point and we quickly filled them in that Ponyville was again under attack. Rarity and Twilight declared they were heading to the castle towers to give magical fire support. Big Mac and I looked each other over and the only words we exchanged were, "Eeeyup" as we began to head for the castle gates.

I was stopped by Spike before we departed, "What about us, what should we do?"

I looked at Spike and remember our conversation from the day before, "You four stay here in the library. Hide somewhere safe."

"PapaBear! I want to stay with you!" Bawled Scootaloo.

"And Ah wanna stay with Big Mac!" Yelled Applebloom.

"I just want to hide with my sister until this is all over." Cried Sweetie Belle

I looked at them sternly. "Girls, find a safe place to hide. Spike will protect you."

"Wha? Me!?" I knelt before Spike and drew my knife, placing it in his hands. It was almost a sword for one his size.

"Spike you are the combat veteran here. I am trusting you. Protect my daughter. No mercy."

Spike looked at me trembling, then at the blade in his hands then to the three scared fillies. A look of determination came over him. He inhaled sharply then hocked a flaming loogie on to my blade which began to burn with a green fire.

"I will protect them with my life." He said boldly.

"When you are older, you have permission to date Scootaloo."

"PapaBear!"

"Girls, listen to him as if he was me. Now go! Hide!"

The four of them scampered off deeper in to the castle while Spike led the way.

Big Mac and I made our way to the castle gates. There we found five guards with spears at the ready, four earth ponies and a pegasus.

"Who is in charge?" I barked.

A tan earth pony in golden armor stepped forward, "I am. Lieutenant Rock Jumper."

"What is the situation Lieutenant?"

He pointed with his spear at the airship overhead raining lightning bolts on the town. "All the civilians got indoors the minute the alarm went off. So far no reports of casualties but we have seen those black wolves falling from the sky on the town."

The pegasus suddenly spoke up in a fearful voice, "They are headed this way!"

I looked and saw a roiling mass of the black wolves charging towards the castle. Above us streaks of purple and blue magic began to rain down on the approaching pack to little effect so many were their number.

I saw the pegasus trembling, "What's your name son?"

"Flash sir, Flash Sentry."

"Your first fight?"

"I...I'm a new recruit...not a warrior."

I looked at the approaching mass, moments away, "Very soon you will be."

At that moment a large ball of purple fire exploded in the front ranks slowing their advance. Big mac picked up a spare guard spear while I drew out my hatched and grabbed a spare shield.

Seven against an army. Part of me deep inside chuckled, seven against the odds. This was somehow fitting.

"They're still coming." Whined Flash.

I looked to Big Mac then to the other five guards, "Then they should have gone the other way."

I reached within to the sorcerous power inside me and I prayed.

Mother Earth, one of your lost lambs has returned to you. He asks not salvation from the wicked but the strength to protect others. Please, grant me the strength to bestill the fangs of the wolf. Grant me the courage to do what must be done.

I felt calm descend upon me and those by my side. As before, time seemed to slow down and I felt the line of my people guiding my hand as well as my brothers in arms. Then I heard the voices speaking as one.

Your Mother hears you lost lamb.

No words were wasted, no screams for glory or for crown and country. As silently as ghosts we charged forward towards the jaws of the pack as ten thousand generations of human warriors guided our movements. With a clap like thunder the army of hundreds and the army of seven met. My body rang like a gong as my shield crashed in to the jaws of the lead wolf, shattering it's skull with inhuman strength born of sorcery and desperation. We worked mechanically, weapons striking in all directions, each defending our neighbor in battle. Even young Flash fought with valor, his spear making quick work of wolf after wolf. I looked to my left and saw Big Mac twisting and turning, his spear rapidly impaling foe after foe while his powerful back legs crushed skulls and sent enemies flying.

Above in the tower Rarity sent bolts of magic in to the roiling mass like a surgeon with a scalpel while Twilight launched larger bolts like strategic artillery. I couldn't tell if minutes or hours had passed, it all became a blur. Eventually we seven found ourselves with no enemy within reach. We stood, uneasy smiles on our faces. We were alive surrounded by a field of the dead. Seven against an army. Then the howling began. I looked and before me a second mass of wolves descending like rain from the hovering airship. Somewhere inside I knew we would not survive another wave like the previous one. I looked to Rock Jumper.

"Lieutenant."

"Sir!"

"Hold the line."

"What about you?"

I pointed to the airship overhead, "I'm bringing that son of a bitch down. Today...everyone lives."

The guardsmen smartly saluted me. I didn't really understand why, I was not their commander. I was just a man protecting his home. Though being the personal student of a princess may have been a factor.

I looked to Big Mac and held out my fist which he bumped with his hoof, "You stay alive for Rarity big guy. I will be cross with you if you make one of my friends cry."

"Eeyup"

With that I tapped in to the magic inside me channeling it in to my body, healing my fatigue and my minor hurts. I then launched myself forward towards the oncoming mass and with a mighty leap jumped completely over them and allowed my momentum to carry me past the second wave towards town hall, directly beneath the hovering airship.

I quickly scaled the stairs past the huddled and hiding citizen that had taken refuge there. I made my way to the bell tower that topped the building. There I stopped in surprise, five white unicorns with golden manes wearing black coats emblazoned with the crooked cross stood waiting for me.

"The Father sends his greetings Ape." said the lead unicorn as simultaneously all five let loose bolts of lighting.

I can say with authority I have never felt such pain as five bolts of lightning striking me at once. Ever nerve in my body was on fire. I dropped my shield and hatchet from numbed hands and went to my knees, the protection of my magic the only thing keeping me alive.

"So, you are not invincible after all. Oh yes the Father will be pleased." Boasted the unicorn in that vaguely German accent.

"We still owe you for what you did to our brother the last time we were here. Blood for blood. Hmmm, yes I know. I think I will rape that little pegasus you live with...both of them." He chuckled evilly.

All pain left my body with those words. I felt the rage building in me. Ten thousand generations of humanity screamed their fury in my mind and for once I did not resist. I stood and brought myself to my full six foot height, towering over the quintet of unicorn stallions before me.

"You will not harm another pony now nor ever again." I said with ice in my voice.

Shakily but with some bravado the lead unicorn barked back, "And how do you propose to stop five unicorn blood mages Ape?"

I steeled my gaze on all of them and intoned a single word backed by the full might of my magic, "Fall."

Like puppets with cut strings all five fell lifelessly to the ground. It was so easy, simply will a little blood vessel in their brains to rupture. Just a little pinch and by my will five lives were snuffed out. Looking down at the corpses before me I felt no remorse for the lives ended. I turned my gaze to the airship above. I couldn't let it escape like last time. This time I will send a message to this "Father".

Slipping in to the flow of my magic I stretched my senses out, feeling every mind in the town. All were safe, all were alive, for now. I gently whispered to each of them.

Count to ten and close your eyes. Today Ponyville stands.

Opening my eyes I brought my hands together willing pressure between them. I could feel space compacting as if I was pushing against the very fabric of reality. I suppose I was. A light began to shine between my palms, pure, white, and blinding. I turned my gaze upwards to the airship as my silent count reached ten. Then thrusting my hands forward I let forth a primal cry, "LET THERE BE LIGHT!"

A blinding beam of radiance shot skywards and impaled the airship. It hovered for a moment transfixed by the spear of light before listing heavily and slowly drifting downwards to crash just outside the Everfree forest. I turned my attention away from the airship and back to the fight at the castle. Summoning my magic in to my legs I sped from the town hall and back to the army attacking the castle gates. I found my six comrades in arms blinking their dazzled eyes while the fell wolves milled about in confusion.

"What did yah do?" Called out Big Mac.

I didn't answer, instead I turned my attention to the remains of the attacking army. They were beginning to regain their senses and started turning to we seven with blood lust on their faces. Channeling my power in to the earth beneath my feet dozens and soon hundred of small stones began to rise to chest height. The fell wolves looked at the spectacle in confusion. When I felt enough stones had risen before me I thrust my palm outward and whispered, "Bang."

My companions were rocked backwards as each stone instantly accelerated past the sound barrier and straight in to the mass of wolves. Blood and ichor flew as the army was torn to shreds. With that the second Battle of Ponyville was over.

~~~

I made my way back to the castle despite the protests of Rock Jumper and Big Mac. Apparently being covered in blood and burns makes ponies worry. Who knew. Using a bit of magic to amplify my voice I called out, "Spike! Scootaloo! Where are you?"

Soon I heard crying from a storage room. I ran as if lives depended on it. I was not prepared for the scene I found. Huddled in the back of the storage room was Spike hugging his knees to his chest. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom were all tightly hugging him crying. Laying before him was another white unicorn, the knife I had given Spike buried to the hilt in his chest.

"PapaBear!" Cried Scootaloo when she saw me and jumped in to my arms hugging me in a death grip.

I held her tightly and stroked her mane, "It's OK baby girl, it's OK, PapaBear is here."

As I held her I looked to Spike then the dead unicorn, "You did this?"

He nodded, tears in his eyes.

"You protected my daughter. Words can never express how much I own you little man."

The other girls nodded emphatically. "He's a hero!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

I bent down and rested my hand on Spike's shoulder, "You did what you had to son, come on, Let's go find Twilight."

It didn't take us long to find Twilight and Rarity, Sweetie immediately went and clung to her sister while regaling her with the story of Spike slaying the unicorn that had infiltrated the castle. Applebloom meanwhile bounded towards the foyer as a bloody and bruised Big Mac trotted back to the castle. She leapt on his back and clung to him not saying a word. Spike slowly approached Twilight and was grabbed up in her wings in a hug as he cried, "Mommy!" over and over. I quietly told Twilight what happened and promised to be there to help Spike through it. She nuzzled Scootaloo and I in thanks.

Soon the rest of Twilight's friends made their way to the castle. Fluttershy clung to Scoots and I sobbing her eyes out, especially when she saw the electrical burns covering my chest. I almost sobbed too when I began to feel the pain through my power. Pinkie was able to inform us the attack had indeed been directed at the castle and despite some damage to the town, no one was seriously hurt. Applejack and Rainbow Dash meanwhile were heading out with the castle guards to inspect the downed airship. Twilight busied herself with writing a letter to the other princesses informing them of the attack and the downed airship.

Near evening I had been bandaged up and fed a healing potion or three. Apparently despite my healing magic these burns were being stubborn. We could not determine if it was the fact that I had been injured by magic, burned, or some combination of the two. My girls and I made our way home. We settled in on the couch, huddled together just cuddling. Scootaloo slipped in and out of a fitful sleep alternately mumbling "PapaBear" and "MamaShy". Shy for her part kept silent simply holding on to Scoots while leaning on me with her head in my lap.

We three awoke to a scratching at the door. At first I thought it was Tripod trying to get out but I saw him curled up at my feet. It was then I realized that the sound was something outside the door. Carefully rising as to not wake my girls I made my way to the door and opened the top panel. I was not prepared for the sight before me. In the early morning sun sat the scarred, one-eyed face of the former timber wolf Alpha.

"Alpha," it growled, "Enemies in forest. Come." It then dropped a blood splattered black coat at the doorstep.

I looked over the wolf's scarred visage and said, "Wait for me."

I went back inside and gently woke Fluttershy and Scootaloo.

"Girls, I have to go in to the forest. There is a matter that needs my attention."

Fluttershy looked at me in concern, "What do you mean? I don't want you fighting anymore...please..."

I held up the bloody coat, "An...old friend...brought this. It would seem some of them are in the forest."

"I'm coming with you." Fluttershy said firmly.

"No, you need to stay here and take care of Scoots."

"I'm coming too PapaBear!"

"No!" Shy and I said in unison.

Scootaloo puffed out her wings defiantly, "Yes! I have lost my whole family! I'm tired of having others protect me! I'm gonna fight with you PapaBear, you too MamaShy! You can't stop me so you better get used to me tagging along!"

I shook my head and I didn't have time to argue. I stalked over to the door and opened it revealing the former Alpha. Scootaloo cowered back and Fluttershy gasped in shock.

"They are coming with us. Let no harm come to them."

"No harm will come to the Alpha's mate or cub. So I swear."

With a heavy sigh I realized I was outvoted three to one. Grabbing my hatchet I had retrieved on the way home I followed the Alpha in to the forest.

We walked for nearly two hours, members of the pack gradually joining us until nearly thirty timber wolves flanked us. One of the more playful ones even hunkered down and allowed Scootaloo to ride it's back while Fluttershy did the same with the scared former Alpha.

"So what should I call you since you have named me Alpha."

"Beta" it growled.

"That's not much of a name for a formidable timber wolf. How about I call you One-Eye."

It paused and seemed to consider this. Finally it shrugged and said, "Is good name. Now come. Not far now."

We approached the end of the treeline and before us was a large clearing with a gorge and the half-rotted remains of a rope bridge. On the other side were the ruined remains of a castle.

"It's the Castle of the Two Sisters!" Exclaimed Fluttershy.

At that moment the voices came to me, blasting through the limiters. One word, loud and clear, carrying the weight of human history.

EDEN!

We were led down a path in to the gorge which eventually opened to a cave. The whole time I felt as if in a trance, treading ground I had tread before long ago and far away. Eventually the path lead to a cavern.

"Found enemies here," One-Eye said, "Protected Forest Mother. Forest Mother command One-eye bring Alpha. Alpha now here. One-Eye now leave."

With that the timber wolf pack faded back in to the forest leaving Scoots, Shy, and myself at the entrance to the cavern.

"Bear, this is where the tree of harmony is. Do you think that's what he meant by the Forest Mother?"

THE TREE

The voices screamed in my head. My head throbbed like a drum with each step I took in to the cave. I had to steady myself with Shy's help. Even little Scoots did her part to keep me upright. Finally we were before the tree. A gentle voice filled the air and seemed to emanate from the tree itself.

Welcome home my lost child.

Fluttershy looked around, "W-who said that?"

Fear not Element of Kindness. I mean no harm to you or your soulmate.

I spoke through the pain in my head, "It's the bloody tree..."

Be calm my lost child, the pain is your mind trying to reject reality. Let what is be.

Slowly I took deep and calming breaths. The tree from my vision. The tree Discord had used to corrupt the Ape Tribe...I had come full circle. I accepted where I was and the pain began to fade.

Creation has not been kind to you my wayward child and I fear it has more tasks before you.

Finally I spoke. "What...what must I do."

Behold.

A soft blue glow filled the cavern and words formed in the air. I did not recognize the language...yet I knew it. Somehow I instinctively knew this language and these words.

"Enochian...the language of..." I stuttered.

"What does it say PapaBear...it kinda hurts to look at. It makes my head feel funny."

"M-mine too." Muttered Fluttershy.

I read the words before me over and over until I was sure of what they said. "It's a prophecy."

"But what does it say Bear?"

I began speaking and the words came out in a voice not my own, rather all of humanity speaking through me in one voice.

"PapaBear...wha..what does all that mean?"

I looked down at my daughter and my mate and said with a heavy heart, "It means I give Celestia what she wants." Next Chapter: Chapter 21 - Sovereign - The Book of Genesis Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 48 Minutes