As March became April I was officially put on staff as Celestia's expert on the Nazi threat and as chief adviser to the ongoing investigation in to their motives, means, and point of origin. So far the investigators and I had drawn blanks in all three categories. Fluttershy and Scootaloo meanwhile had moved in to a small set of apartments in the castle. Applejack had been kind enough to escort Tripod and Angel to us and reassured Fluttershy that Big Mac had the rest of the cottage animals well in hoof. Angel seemed to take to his new surroundings in the palace and delighted in ordering the castle maids to bring him carrots.

Tripod for his part stayed close to either myself or Scootaloo. He had grown rather protective of my adopted filly and even more in size. He now stood three feet at the shoulder and was weighed in at almost seventy-five pounds of soft fur and hard muscle. He was officially bigger than Scoots and almost as big as Fluttershy. Twilight, when she had occasion to stop by, would only speculate that somehow my magic was making him larger and smarter than the average house cat. Tripod's opinion on the matter seemed to begin and end with him curling around Scoots at night and using her for a body pillow. Somehow I felt she was safer with him than any amount of guards we could have posted.

Fluttershy in the past month had started awakening feeling ill in the mornings. I had expected this but she said nothing to me playing it off as stress. Perhaps it partially was but after the Earth Mother's revelation I knew at least part of it was the new life growing within her. She was busying herself mostly in the castle gardens, always two guards with her by my order. She would only tell me she was making up for something to the exotic animals that lived there.

It was a Thursday and I was meeting with the investigating staff, Captain Shining Armor, husband to Princess Cadence, was leading the investigation. We sat around a conference table with reams of reports and nearly useless intel. So far our only real leads were the few prisoners still alive from the first attack and the wreckage of the airship from the second.

"Let's step back to square one ponies, what do we know." Shining Armor said to the other investigators gathered around the table.

"They attack from the air?" Piped up one pegasus.

Shining facehoofed and groaned a little. For the last two meetings I had sat quietly trying to absorb their processes. It didn't help that Shining Armor had made it clear he did not entirely trust me. That's not to say he had been anything but cordial, but in his mind since this was a threat that seemed to originate from my world then I may be a threat as well. I couldn't fault him for his line of thinking.

Finally, after listening to the collected ponies spout out various details that were examined and reexamined numerous times, I leaned back and pulled the brim of my hat down over my eyes. It was an old and rather impolite habit of mine, but it helped me think. I went over everything. All the captured prisoners were unicorns. None had cutiemarks. All looked identical. All refused to talk once captured. All wore the crooked cross. White fur, golden mane...eugenics? That couldn't be it could it? Some sick attempt at Aryan ponies?  The thought made me shudder. I turned my thoughts to my personal interactions with them.

"You will surrender the element bearers to us Mayor or by the Father I will begin executing captives starting with these foals!"

My mind started spinning. Then another remembered encounter.

"And how do you propose to stop five unicorn blood mages Ape?"

My mind ground to a halt. The Elements? Blood mages?

In Virtue's blood he charts his course.

I sat bolt upright, "Captain Armor!"

"Yes? You finally have something to add to the discussion other than napping?" He grumbled at me.

I bit back a sarcastic reply and instead said, "Captain, they are after the Elements."

"What? How do you figure that?" He spit back at me.

I explained my train of thought, primarily the few words I had spoken with the Nazi unicorns. I tactfully left out the lines of the prophecy as the princesses had chosen not to share this information. After only a moments debate the decision was reached, the remaining Elements would be relocated to Canterlot castle until such time as the crisis had passed.

Shining Armor himself went to brief the princesses while I went in search of Fluttershy and Scootaloo. I found Shy in the castle garden as I expected. I stood back and watched my mate at play, flying around and chatting with a number of exotic birds and at least one large snake...that's a cobra. I slowly made my way to her, keeping myself between the cobra and Shy. "Um, Shy dear?"

"Hmmm? Oh Bear!" She chirped and Fluttered to my side and planted a kiss on my cheek.

"I have made so many new animal friends here!" She smiled up at me, it was that smile, I always seemed to feel weak in the knees when I saw it.

"No offense to your friends Shy, but can we step back inside...snakes make be a bit nervous." I said in a hushed tone.

It was apparently not hushed enough as the cobra raised it's head up and puffed out its hood.

"Oh don't be silly Bear, Mister Hissyface won't hurt you!"

I eyed the snake skeptically as I led Shy back in to the palace proper, "Let's go find Scoots, we have made a bit of progress in the investigation and I want to tell you both at once about what steps we will be taking."

"Oh my! It must be big if you want to tell us both." Fluttershy said softly while clutching my hand.

I dismissed her guards who had been keeping well back from "Mister Hissyface" since we were going to be walking through the palace proper I saw no need for extra security. We made our way through the maze of the palace to the library. There we found Scoots with the tutor who was helping her keep up her schoolwork. "PapaBear! MamaShy!" Squealed the filly as she bounded over to us.

Fluttershy wrapped a wing around her in a warm hug and nuzzled her cheek as I bent down and ruffled her mane, "How is the studying going Scoots?"

"PapaBear it's soooooo boring here without Applebloom and Sweetie Belle." Whined my little filly.

I glanced over to her tutor, a rather dour looking earth pony mare with a text book for a cutiemark, "Thank you for your service today Ms. Common Core."

She merely turned her nose up and began putting away her lessons and papers. I couldn't wrap my head around Common Core, she seemed alright but Scoots had real trouble learning from her. I honestly couldn't make heads nor tails of some of the math homework she sent home. I made note to ask Luna if we could have Scoots assigned a more traditional teacher.

We made our way back to the hallway only to be joined by Tripod slinking out from between the library shelves with Angel bunny riding on his head. I was unsurprised, wherever my little girl was Tripod would not be far behind. Strangely of late, wherever Tripod was, Angel was probably nearby too. I think they were becoming friends or they both at least shared a mutual love for Scootaloo. The five of us made our way back to our apartments. I noticed that aside from a chambermaid exiting our room, presumably having just cleaned, there seemed to be no guards present. Probably a shift rotation. I would have to bring this up with Luna too.

I reached to open the door and was mildly startled when I heard a loud pop then a prolonged hiss as I turned the handled. Suddenly a voice I did not recognize called out. "Master! Get down!"

My world went silent as I was deafened and thrown back against the corridor wall by the bomb.

My eyes shot open and pain infused my very being. The heavy door to the apartment was blown outward, only splinters of the oaken portal hung from the ornate hinges. I took stock of myself, I was leaning against the corridor wall, I could vaguely hear alarms in the distance through my still ringing ears. My right hand was a mess. Blood and bones protrude from the back of my hand and all four fingers and thumb were blackened and broken. Several large splinters of wood were sticking prominently from my chest. That heavy door probably shielded us from the worst of the blast. Us...Shy! Scoots! I looked over to see Shy was none the worse for wear having been furthest from the door, merely knocked down, shaken, and covered in sooty ash. Angel was fretting over her making sure she was OK. I looked over to Scoots. I saw Tripod hunkered down on her and several fragments of wood lodged in him as well. Blood was flowing freely from a large cut running from his forehead and down the right side of his muzzle, just missing his eye.

Tripod opened his mouth and spoke quite clearly, "The young miss is safe Master. I could perhaps use the aid of the Mistress. You too from the look of it."

I was gobsmacked. My cat just talked to me. He also had a British accent. I must have hit my head very hard.

Setting the issue of articulate felines aside for a moment I turned to my larger concern.

"Fluttershy, Scootaloo, are you OK girls?" I croaked out.

"I'm OK PapaBear...Tripod saved me...PapaBear your hand!" Scootaloo started crying only to have Tripod wrap tighter around her and emit deep and soothing purrs.

"O-oh my. My head...Bear your hand...your chest! We need to get a doctor right away!" Fluttershy cried.

I Stood wobbly to my feet. I dared not pluck out the wooden slivers not knowing how deep the punctures were. Instead I said, "Shy don't worry about me, I have been worse off and you know it. I am more worried about you and your little passenger.

"My passen...you know?" She timidly asked.

I did my best to give her a sly wink...it came out as more like a wince but nodded in affirmation. I leaned back against the wall and waited for help to arrive. What was taking so long?

While we waited I asked, "Shy, when did my cat learn to talk?"

"Um...what?" She replied.

"Master, I have always been capable of speech...well since your magic bonded me as your familiar. I just have never had anything of value to add to a conversation." Came Tripods reply.

Scootaloo and Fluttershy both just looked at the large feline. Our life had just gotten a bit more interesting it seemed.

I willed the limiter from my left hand, with the twisted and broken state of my right there was no easy way to remove the one on it. I intoned the word "Balm" and the pain in my body lessened but was not completely muted. It had been several minutes by my estimate and help had yet to arrive.

"Shy, something is wrong, the alarms are still blaring but no help has come yet." I said gravely.

Fluttershy gathered Scootaloo up and wrapped a wing around her protectively, "W-what should we do."

"We find Luna and the Sovereign, they will know what to do." I replied back.

Both nodded their understanding. I turned to our animal friends, "Tripod can you walk?"

I was talking to my cat...

"Yes Master, though I would prefer a nap and a bit of nip."

"You and me both brother."

Angel bunny hopped up on Tripod and nestled between his shoulder blades as we limped towards the throne room. It took several minutes to navigate the corridors and the whole time we saw no guards. I was becoming deeply concerned...as well as dizzy. I was hurt more severely than I let on, only by the grace of my magic was I mobile.

We finally approached the doors to the throne room where we found Shining Armor and a group of heavily armed guards.

"Captain Armor, what is the situation?" I called out.

He turned his attention to us, his eyes widening the only indication he gave of our haggard and hurt appearance.

"Bear, Fluttershy, Scootaloo! What happened!?" He exclaimed.

"Someone planted a bomb in our apartments. They must have miscalculated since the door was enough to shield us from the worst." I answered. "Now, what's the situation? The palace should be crawling with guards."

Shining's voice took on a grave tone, "It's a coup. The estate guards from house Platinum as well as some hired mercenaries stormed the palace during a guard rotation. They were wearing the Nazi symbol."

"House Platinum? Isn't that one of the oldest unicorn noble house?" I asked.

"The oldest. Dating back to before the founding of Equestria." He replied.

I took in his words and as I did I felt the whispers of the voices but couldn't make them out. The one limiter on my ruined hand was still doing it's job if barely.

"Where are the princesses?" I asked.

"Cadence is back in the Empire, Twily is in Ponyville, Celestia and Luna are locked in the throne room along with most of the house Platinum guards maybe forty in total. They also have hostages and are threatening to execute them unless the princesses surrender to the noble houses." Shining informed me.

I looked to my soot streaked girls and my injured...familiar. I felt anger building in me. They tried to take the life of my family. The realization hit me so hard all my dizziness and pain faded like dust in the wind. Retribution. Now is the time of retribution.

"Captain Armor, do we have prisoners?" I demanded in an icy tone.

"Yes a few, why?" Bring them to me.

"What are you planning Bear? We can't risk the hostages or the princesses!"

"Just bring them to me." I demanded once more.

Shinning warily nodded and after a moment two unicorns wearing the crooked cross with limiters slipped over their horns were brought before me. One a gray mare with a pink mane and the other a tan stallion with a green mane. Not the Aryan ponies I half expected.

I addressed them, "You are with house Platinum?"

"I have nothing to say to you filthy ape." Spat the mare.

So be it. I stalked forward and placed my left hand on her head while looking her in the eyes, "If you won't talk, then you are of no further use to me."

The familiar golden glow of my healing magic suffused my left hand and I pulled. The mare's eyes went wide as I drew life out of her healing my wounds. After a brief moment and a loud sound of grinding and popping my right hand was restored. A moment after that and the wooden shrapnel was expelled from my body and clattered to the floor. I was now whole. The mare however now sported a ruined right forehoof and multiple bleeding punctures. Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed on the floor convulsing in pain and gasping for air.

I turned to the stallion, "I can snuff your life out with a single word. Speak. Who is giving you orders."

A look of abject terror crossed the stallions face as he fell on his rear, "M-monster...you're a monster..."

I reached forward and placed my hand on the stallion's face and gave it a gentle, almost loving, caress. "Son...your people have brought harm to my loved ones. You haven't begun to see the monster I am capable of being."

The sound of liquid preceded a growing yellow puddle beneath the stallion, finally he spoke, "Blueblood. We are here by the command of Prince Blueblood to secure the princesses in the name of his new regime. To return unicorns to their rightful place of power."

I stepped back with a wicked smile on my face. "See now, that wasn't so hard now was it?"

A look of relief swept over the Stallion's face just before I snapped my finger and intoned one word, "Burn."

A look of horror came over the guardsponies and Shining Armor as the stallion was incinerated in a pillar of arcane blue flames.

"What the buck was that?" Shouted Shining Armor

"That was the battlefield execution of an enemy combatant." I coolly replied.

"You killed an unarmed pony after he gave you what you wanted!" he angrily replied.

I stared down the stallion, "He was an insurgent against the crown, a terrorist. You do not negotiate with terrorists. You show them no pity, no mercy, no remorse. Because I promise you they will show you none."

"You are NOT military, that is not your call to make!" Screamed the irate unicorn.

"No! I am not a soldier, I am a man fighting for my home and my loved ones and I will show no mercy for the merciless. Do I make myself clear? Every one of these Nazis are are animals to be put down, nothing more." I angrily shouted back.

Shining Armor stepped back and began speaking softly among his guards, all seemed shaken by what they had just witnessed, but not as shaken as my girls.

"Bear...you killed..." Fluttershy stammered.

"I left one alive," I said looking at the bleeding and gasping mare that the guards had started to tend to, "Though considering how things look perhaps not for long."

Fluttershy cringed and clutched a shuddering Scootaloo to her.

"Shy, Scoots, Anyone...anypony that tries to hurt you two has forfeited their right to exist. I love you both too much to let anything happen to you." I said sincerely.

"P-PapaBear...please...please don't be a monster like them." Cried my little girl.

My heart broke but I remained calm, "Scoots...these ponies have chosen to be monsters...I have tried to live a quiet life with you and MamaShy...it is all I have wanted since you two came in to my life and they want to take that away. I have the power to fight the monsters so that's what I have to do. I have to do my part and become the man who fights the monsters."

I held my arms out and my sobbing girls ran in to them and hugged me tightly. I held them for several minutes before letting go. I walked over to Tripod and asked, "How you doing little buddy?"

"I have felt better Master."

"Please don't call me Master."

"Of course Master."

Rolling my eyes I removed my other limiter and reached out both hands allowing the golden healing light to come forth. I drew Tripods hurts in to me, I felt his pain and I willed the pain away. I then pushed healing energy in to him. Within a few moments he was none the worse for wear save a white fur covered scar going down his muzzle. I rubbed my thumb almost it eliciting a nuzzle and a purr, "You got quite the battle trophy there bud."

"All the better to woo the lady cats Master."

"Might have to find you a panther. You've gotten a little big."

"That would be delightful Master."

I stood and approached Shining Armor and his unit of guards. "Captain, this situation has gone on long enough. I am going to resolve it."

He bristled, "You will do no such thing!"

"Stop me."

We locked eyes but after a moment he sighed, "I don't suppose I can talk you out of whatever violence you are about to visit on those poor ponies?"

"No."

"What should my guards and I do?" He asked.

"Let no harm come to my family."

"You have my word." He intoned solemnly.

"Tripod?"

"Yes Master?" Came his reply.

"You ready to show these ponies how predator species get things done?"

"Of course Master."

"Everypony get to safety."

Shining Armor shuffled Fluttershy, Scoots, and Angel to one of the nearby guard stations while the other guards dragged the half-dead house Platinum mare behind them. As he left Shining looked at me and said in a serious tone, "You are a terrible father."

"I know."

With a sigh I looked down to my familiar and held out a balled up fist which he bumped with his paw and then gave a Cheshire smile. Ready or not it was show time. I held my hands in front of me pointed at the throne room doors and spoke the first incantation I ever learned, "FIIIIIIREEEEBAAALLLL"

The throne room doors blew inwards in a burst of magic and flame. Tripod and I walked side by side through the wreckage and smoke until we stood in the throne room proper. I held my hands loosely at my side, azure flames dancing across my palms and fingers. Tripod stood beside me, his back arched and his tail bushed out with a low growl in his throat.

Before me were about a dozen palace guard, bound and gagged, surrounding them were the unicorn guards of house Platinum. Sitting stoically on their thrones were my Sovereign and Luna, each with half a dozen Platinum guards holding spears to their throats. I addressed the room, "Forces of house Platinum, lay down your arms and surrender. If you do so you have my vow that none of you will come to harm. If you don't..." At that moment a magically propelled spear hurtled towards me. I snapped my hand up and shouted, "No!"

The spear stopped in mid air in defiance of all physics then clattered to the ground. The soldier who had propelled it locked eyes in terror with me. It was the last thing he ever saw as I simply spoke, "Die."

Seeing one of their compatriots explode in to visceral chunks served as an object lesson as every armed pony in the room dropped their weapons. In short order the palace guards were freed and the surviving insurrectionists were taken to the dungeons. I calmly replaced the limiters on my hands now that the danger was for the moment minimized and felt my fury somewhat abate.

I finally addressed my Sovereign, "It would appear there are serpents in your house Sovereign."

Emotionlessly she replied, "So it would seem Bear O'Hara, though I wish you had not handled it so...messily...I am pleased you were able to aid us in our time of need."

"Forgive me Sovereign, Princess Luna, but why did you not act? Surely you had the power to stop them."

"Indeed Bear O'Hara, it was in our power to deal with these miscreants." Replied Luna.

"However my sister and I stayed our hooves when we saw the hostages. We could not risk the lives of our subjects. Nor could we risk a magical battle in the middle of Canterlot." Luna continued.

"I don't understand."

My Sovereign spoke up, "Bear part of our oath of office is to not take up arms against our little ponies. If such action is ever necessary it is the job of the guard to take action. Never us. We have great power and are seen by many as goddesses, we must appear to be merciful...even when we do not so wish it."

Though it pained me it made sense, "I understand Sovereign. I must inform you as I fear Captain Armor did not have the chance to, the Nazis are after the Elements. That is why they have only attacked Ponyville. I recommend all the Elements be brought to the castle under heavy guard until the current crisis is at an end."

Luna spoke, "We find this most disturbing but we shall have the Elements escorted here post haste."

"Sovereign, Princess, please know also that someone...somepony placed a bomb in Fluttershy and mine's apartments. We were very nearly killed and only by the providence of a sturdy door are we and our daughter still alive."

"I am so sorry Bear...I never meant for this kind of trouble to be brought down upon you." My Sovereign spoke with sincerity.

"Be that as it may, there is a more pressing matter. House Platinum. We have it directly from a prisoner that this coup was instigated by Prince Blueblood himself. He is sure to learn his forces have failed in short order. With your permission I will personally deal with Blueblood." I informed her.

"Might we speak to this prisoner ourself?" Asked Luna.

"He was summarily executed after revealing this intelligence." I stated.

Both my Sovereign and Princess Luna looked somewhat ill but spoke no rebuke.

"Sovereign, Princess, I will take my leave to deal with house Platinum."

"Wait." My Sovereign intoned.

I did as I was bade. She turned and addressed the all present in the room using the Royal Canterlot Voice.

"By my royal decree on this day I strip all members of House Platinum of noble titles, lands, and assets and revert them to the crown until such time as a worthy successor may be found. For this time forward House Platinum is expelled from the Nobility, they are expelled from Canterlot, and they are expelled from Equestria."

A wry smile crossed my face, "Excommunication? My Sovereign sometimes I do like your style."

With a cross look she replied, "I did not decree this for your benefit. No house that betrays the crown can be allowed to stand, no matter how deep their noble roots go."

"Bring me Blueblood alive Bear." Ordered my Sovereign.

"By your command."

I turned to leave, motioning for Tripod to follow.

"What dost thou plan to do Bear?" Luna called out.

I looked over my shoulder and replied, "I'm going to bring down the house."

Tripod and I made our way through Canterlot towards the Noble district. No guards accompanied us. Truth be told guards would likely have been a liability. As we walked through the streets, the sight of an enraged plains ape and his giant three legged cat did a fine job of ushering innocents indoors. We rounded a corner and saw the gates to the Platinum estate along with about fifty heavily armed guards waiting for us. Without breaking stride we approached. A pink unicorn mare stepped forward and issued a challenge, "Halt! In the name of Prince Blueblood, rightful leader of Equestria!"

I looked down to Tripod who looked up at me. "Should we try to spare some lives?" I asked.

"That decision is in your hands Master." He shrugged and replied stoically.

I turned my gaze to the mare who challenged us, "Little Lady, I will give you and yours one chance. Just one. Lay down your weapons and leave."

She laughed, "An arrogant ape and an overgrown cat against a whole company of the Prince's elite guard? You must be mad."

I smiled disarmingly, "Miss, I am not mad, I am very...very cross and I aim to have a frank exchange of views with Blueblood. Now if you will excuse us we have business inside."

My reply was fifty spears and swords leveled at myself and my cat. I had tried to do this politely. Slowly the azure flames began weaving upwards from my palms and entwining my arms. Then the voices came. The same phrase over and over.

Suffer not the wicked.

"Last chance Miss...the only beings in Equestria that can stop me are behind me in the palace. You are in front of me." I stated with cold determination.

With a cocky grin the guardsmare shouted, "Kill this bucker!"

I let them make the first move. As they charged forward with murder on their mind I shot both hands forward sending a bar of sorcerous azure flame in to the midst of the charging guards. Wherever the flames touched screams erupted and were quickly snuffed out. Tripod leapt forward in to the fray raking his hind claws across and through the spines of multiple ponies while his jaws found the throats of others. It was over in minutes. Where stood fifty brave if foolish fighters now stood one lone pink guardsmare staring at us in horror.

"You...you killed them all..." She said in a shaky voice while barely able to hold up her spear.

"I told you to leave." I said while helping Tripod clean his muzzle on the cloak of a fallen guard.

"What...what are you going to do to me." She asked fearfully.

I turned and looked her dead in the eyes. "Nothing. Your penance will be to live with knowing you could have saved those you commanded."

I turned and pushed my way through the gates as I heard the mare break down sobbing behind me. A flow of magical flame provided Tripod and I easy entrance through the main doors to the estate. More guards challenged us and more guards became ash. I could have been more merciful but they had tried to take my family from me. No clean deaths this day, today they burn. Many minutes and many dead ponies later we reached a pair of reinforced doors with two heavily armored unicorn stallions standing guard.

They wasted no words and shot forth bolts of lightning from their horns. Tripod deftly dodged thanks to his feline reflexes. I was not so lucky and took the full force of the blast, staggering to a knee. I was getting too cocky, the other guards were just wielding weapons with their magic. These guards are weapons.

Tripod pounced the closer of the two, knocking him to the ground. Fierce hissing and spitting could be heard as the loyal cat began tearing through the metal armor to reach the chewy interior. Paying no heed to the plight of his compatriot the other guard moved forward to menace me. Though I was hurt I was not out of the fight yet. Summoning my anger I channeled it in to my right arm and lashed out with all my fury. I felt no pain as my hand made contact with the steel helmet, nor when said helmet caved in. I pulled my fist back from the crater I had made in the guards helmet and watched as they fell lifelessly to the ground.

I glanced over to Tripod in time to see him lift his bloody muzzle from the other guard's throat. I had no need to ask if the guard was still a threat. Wasting no time I blew open the door to the Prince's private chambers. Cautiously Tripod and I entered, not knowing what to expect. What we found strangely didn't surprise us. Before us defiantly stood Blueblood, fully decked out in the black coat of the Father's Nazis. Held aloft in his magic was a slender sword glowing heavily with enchantments and dripping with a dark coating of blood.

"So my worthless guards didn't seem to be able to stop you. Typical. You can't find good help short of what the Father provides." The prince said in a haughty tone.

"Blueblood, the only reason you are standing is that I was ordered to bring you back alive."

"Oh so Auntie wants me alive...that means you can't use the full extent of your magic. You can't kill me but I can kill you. Oh this will be fun and it will please the Father greatly when I present him your head!" Exclaimed Blueblood as he lunged forward aiming the dripping sword at my chest.

Between the amount of magic I had expended this day and taking a lighting bolt to the chest I wasn't quite fast enough. The sword plunged straight through my left shoulder with no resistance. I screamed and was forced back against the wall, pinned in place. Tripod lunged forward at Blueblood only to be bucked squarely in the jaw and knocked senseless. I reached up to try and force the blade out of my body but as soon as I touched the oozing weapon I felt pain in my hand, like a thousand shards of glass had jammed in to each finger.

"I had hoped you would be more of a challenge. The mighty human, slayer of blood mages. Here I am, a novice blood mage and I have you pinned to a wall with a simple enchanted sword." He chuckled evilly, "Do you have any idea what I am going to do to that filthy pegasus you lay with once I kill you? No actually I think I will leave you pinned here and let you watch."

I felt calm descend on me, the constant cacophony of the voices went silent. Powering through the pain I grasped the enchanted blade in my right hand and pulled, slicing in to my own flesh but at the same time moving it backwards against the prince's telekinetic grip. Inch by inch the blade exited my shoulder until it was free and I could move.

"What? How are you doing this?" Blueblood growled while straining against the force pushing back against his telekinetic grip.

The golden light came sealing up my shoulder, I had to make this quick, I could feel my magical reserves depleting rapidly. Reaching out with both hands I gripped the slender blade and then with all my strength I brought the flat down against my knee, snapping the sword in two. On witnessing this Blueblood stepped back, unabashed fear on his face, "What...what are you."

"A man that will not let you harm his family." I growled.

Dropping the sundered sword I lashed out in a familiar move and grabbed Blueblood by the horn and applied leverage. With a sickening crack the appendage snapped off. He screamed like a stuck pig. I stood over him heaving and near exhaustion, his bloody horn still in my grasp. Though terribly injured he remained defiant.

"I...I won't tell you anything!" He asserted.

"Yes. Yes you will."

"What are you going to do? Torture me when I don't answer your questions?" He said in a cocky tone.

"No. I am going to torture you, then ask you questions."

"What...?" Came he wide eyed reply.

I stalked towards him, his bloody horn in hand, the screaming didn't stop for hours.

I stood with Tripod outside the gates to the estate. Blueblood...as much of him as I allowed to live at least, hung from the gated wall, neatly crucified with the remains of his sword and his own horn. He let out an occasional moan. He had told me what I wanted to know, now to keep my word to the Sovereign. Summoning up the last of my magical reserves and held my hands out towards the now emptied estate. Tapping my full remaining might I spoke the second incantation I had ever learned, "BREAK!"

It began as a low rumble, then a heavy shaking, and finally a mighty wail as if the Earth itself was crying out in pain. From the foundations up the ancestral estate of House Platinum shook itself apart until all that was left was rubble. Exhausted I sat beside Tripod and pulled a cigar from my vest and lit it with my old and battered lighter. I took a long drag and savored the aromatic smoke. I offered a puff to Tripod who gladly accepted.

"What do we do now Master?"

I took another puff of my cigar, "We go home, get patched up, and tell them what we have learned."

Not long after Princess Luna arrived with a squad of her Night Guard. Several of them looked uneasy at the state Blueblood was in. Luna herself even looked a bit green.

"You were ordered to bring our nephew in alive Bear O'Hara!" Luna admonished.

"He isn't dead. Though I imagine that would be a piece of mercy for him right now." I replied nonplussed.

Shaking her head Luna asked, "Did thou at least learn anything of value?"

By way of an answer I reached in to my vest and pulled out an old vellum map and presented it to her. It depicted the eastern coastline of Equestria and far to the south and east a group of islands were circled. "This, according to my new favorite wall hanging is where Father is."

Luna nodded, looking over the map with intense interest. Without glancing up she asked, "Hast thou learned anything else?"

"Yes my princess, our enemy now has a name." I replied.

Luna looked up from the map with burning curiosity, "And that is?"

"What can you tell me about a unicorn named Sombra?"

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