Changelings guarded the entire perimeter of Alptraum's castle, as there were few vampires left in his army. The changelings arrived shortly after he caught word of his Indigo Rose's defeat and the retaking of Mystwood. He sat on his throne doubtfully, frustration taking hold of his cold sense of logic. He knew the ramifications of Luna's victory; soon she would have the Eclipse Blade, it was only a matter of time. If he had any hope of keeping the city under his flag, he had to leave it to the Four Generals and Fang.

Fang and the generals sat around a large circular table placed right in front of Alptraum's throne. General Cain stood, as no chair was large enough to accommodate the gigantic, three meter Zhophziis bull. He was a quiet one— never speaking unless he voiced his opinion. General Moreau held a teacup filled with orange pekoe, occasionally sipping from his glass as he formulated battle strategies. Ambassador Fang flicked his tongue out like a snake, his impatience getting the better of him as he tapped his finger on the table, working through his nerves to focus on the task at hand. General Sky Runner sat with her right leg perched atop her left knee, dramatically moving her head about like some actor in the midst of a soliloquy as she calculated the possible outcomes of the battle.

"Hmmm..." General Sky Runner scratched her chin as she sat on her chair, looking down at the map of Caven Isle that laid flat on the table. "I suggest we reinforce the river— place cannons and snipers at key positions along the banks."

"Nah, a water dragon would wipe em' away in an instant," General Racer said in his usual drill instructor style of speaking. "We can afford to pull our defenses from the river."

"I concur," General Moreau nodded as he sipped his tea like a proper gentlecolt; he was a Ccrondil noble after all. "We'll place the handful of vampiric soldiers we have left at the banks; they are expendable. They'll provide us ample time to assess their attack as it occurs."

"Hmm," General Cain nodded, pointing to Caven Isle's harbor on the map. "They will most assuredly loop around the river and deploy their troops from there. Our army shall keep them from the castle. If not... we four will confront them directly to land the killing blow to their offensive."

"That will be the perfect time to release our secret weapon..." Fang chimed in, standing up straight and setting his hands on the table. "Doctor S has toiled in his laboratory long enough. It's time to reveal to the world the true power of Emperor Constantine and what technical marvels our nation can accomplish."

"The metal beasts?" Alptraum wondered. "If you must..."

"Those machines will definitely be a thorn in the side of the Equestrians for sure..." General Moreau added as he filled his cup to the brim with the full kettle, sitting just a few inches away from the map at the edge of the table. "However, I question their reliability... they are still prototypes."

"This will be their test run, General. And I have the utmost faith in Doctor S' scientific prowess." Fang said with confidence as the royal chamber doors flung open, foreign soldiers flooding the room. "Ah... our guest."

"Guest? You did not inform me of such a thing..." Alptraum raised an eyebrow at Fang, to which he smirked, strolling over to the entrance to welcome his mysterious guest.

The Four Generals recognized the soldiers instantly; they were Kusckons, the inhabitants of The Sands— a land of arid deserts to the far south of Ausrüstung. For the past month, Constantine had established a close partnership with the Kingdom of Kusckamaj, for they were valuable allies if he wished to take the southern nations of the Blacklands. Not only that, but Kusckamaj supplied many nations with valuable cordite, a mineral needed to create state-of-the-art smokeless propellants for ammunition. Kusckamaj also held most of the world's oil reserves, another essential resource used to build a powerful industrialized nation. And while Kusckamaj may not have understood the benefits of such a nation, they did understand the world's new dependence on their materials, and as a result, their nation became flooded with riches. Gaines relied on them, Constantine relied on them, and only then did Equestria begin to realize the opportunity in Kusckamaj. If Constantine was to gain the trust of Kusckamaj, he had to gain the trust of their king.

"Ah, your highness, welcome..." Fang bowed as the Kusckon troops clad in their white robes stood aside, letting their king pass into the throne room. "I am Ambassador Fang, and I welcome you to Caven Isle."

"Heh, heh... you changelings sure took a one-eighty in terms of manners, heh?" The King of Kusckamaj sneered as Fang kissed his hand on one knee. "So... this is the throne room of Ccrondil, heh? Pretty dinky if you ask me, heh..."

"I beg your pardon?!" Alptraum growled, disgusted by the Kusckon royal.

The King of Kusckamaj was known to many across the world by one name, Basim Bjiora: The Laughing Deva. He was flamboyant and elegant, yet flippant and sadistic. He dressed in attire alien to most kings, sporting a sleeveless coat made from hyena's fur, a bare chest covered in runic tattoos, and a linen red skirt that went down all the way to his ankles decorated with gold embroidery, just barely covering his calves. His snout, like most Kusckons, was much shorter and filled with razor sharp fangs, and his fur was a dark brown. His eyes were deep purple, covered in regal dark eye shadow and filled to the brim with profound arrogance. On each forearm was a series of tightly wound gold rings that hugged them like a secondary skin, and around his neck and shoulders was a broad color fashioned out of gold and jewels into an exquisite floral design. His long, lime green hair was as straight as a board, extending all the way down to his stomach. His long and intimidating black horns added to his already towering stature, standing almost as tall as Cain.

He ruled over Kusckamaj with an iron fist, subjugating any pony who he deemed lesser than him, which was everypony. And he slaughtered defiant peasants in droves by burning their villages or starving them out. There was not a single pony in the Blacklands who didn't shudder at the mere mention of his name, and his atrocities sparked much conversation around the world. The only pony more powerful than him in the entirety of the Blacklands was Constantine and the Goldblood Army of Dorio.

"I said... this throne room has no style at all! It's bland, boring! It's like some old coffin that's been sitting in a tomb for ten thousand years!" Bjiora scoffed at the meager decor of Alptraum's chamber with a hand at his hip. "This room is just-... ugh, beyond saving."

"You dare speak to me in such a manner, worm?! I am Alptraum, The Sorcerer of Fear! All who hear my name shudder at its mere utterance! You are below me, peasant!" Alptraum snarled at the sassy royal.

"You dare...?" Bjiora lost his flamboyant demeanor, his face shifting into a menacing and psychopathic expression. His eyes twitched, and a wide, crooked smile stretched across his face. "You dare call me, a Deva, the descendant of the gods, a peasant?! You, Alptraum, are but an ant compared to me! You are a mere prince with borrowed power, heh! I am divinity!"

"Please, you two, we haven't the time for such silly banter! You are here merely to spectate, your majesty, nothing more!" Fang got between Bjiora and Alptraum before either of them did anything rash. "If you wish to see Constantine's good side, I suggest you behave yourselves! If you are both willing to join my Emperor, you must be at peace!"

"Very well..." Alptraum muttered as he sat back down on his throne.

"Oh, so cheeky, heh..." Bjiora snickered as he strolled over to the table, taking a seat next to General Sky Runner. "Oh my, your outfit is just gorgeous, General! We'll get along just fine! Are those epaulets silk?"

"Hmm... why yes, they are indeed," General Sky Runner replied.

"Enough idle chat, let's get goin' already!" General Racer growled, his hot-headed and impatient attitude getting the better of him. "You Easterners and your pointless ramblin'! Don't ever get down to business!"

"Ah, Ausrüstrian zeal... it never ceases to amaze me..." Bjiora chuckled to himself as he glared at General Racer.

"You shut your trap, Kusker! We Ausrüstrians kicked your ass back in the day!" General Racer shouted at the smug noble.

"Only because I wasn't king..." Bjiora sighed as sand particles seeped out of his right hand, lumping into a ball that he tossed around out of boredom.

"Alright, that's enough-..." Fang paused as he felt a vibration in his pocket; it was his crystal ball, his direct method of contact to Constantine himself. He was calling. "Excuse me for a moment, will you? I have some pressing matters to attend to..."

"Take all the time you need, Ambassador," General Moreau said as Fang exited the throne room. "We'll be waiting."

"So..." Bjiora gave a long, exasperated sigh as he leaned forward his chair and withdrew a deck of cards from his pocket, setting them on the map. "Does anypony here play cards?" As they all shook their heads, Bjiora giggled to himself. "Good! The last pony who won against me was whipped to death and crucified..."

Fang walked out into the hallway and looped around a corner on his left, trying to find a secluded area where he and his dark master would not be bothered. Hastily, he grabbed the crystal ball in his pocket, letting it drop to the ground. It stopped just inches from the ground, hovering as it projected a hologram of Constantine at the palace in his rose garden, painting the landscape of the forest nearby.

"My Emperor... Basim Bjiora has arrived." Fang bowed before his master, informing him of the good news.

"Good, very good..." Constantine purred slowly and smoothly as he continued to paint to his heart's content. "And Alptraum?"

"Paranoid as ever. My does he irk me to no end..." Fang grumbled.

"Now, now, Fang. We mustn't get on his bad side. He is a Sorcerer after all..." Constantine reminded Fang.

"Yes, but he is stark raving mad, your Excellency!" Fang said, infuriated by Alptraum's stubbornness and pride. "He insists that he is the ruler of his kingdom, yet he sits uneasily on his throne like some scared child, barely able to comprehend his own memories!"

"He shall instigate his own demise, Fang, rest assured. We have no need for his presence in Ccrondil once we have won the country. Luna will be rid of him for us..." Constantine grinned as he began to paint the sunset. "This war shall bring about the dawn of my new order-- a world under my control. And then, only then shall we have peace in this world. Today marks the birth of an empire which shall span the globe, my apprentice."

"Yes, master. This world shall be remade in your image..." Fang grinned, imagining the bright future ahead. "But what of the Draconic Alliance? The Black Crystal? Do you believe they will make an appearance soon?"

"Hmm, perhaps..." Constantine pondered on the thought for a moment before returning to his artwork. "Regardless if they do or do not, our message to the world shall still remain clear. Their presence will simply add luster to my jewel of victory. Though, if they do, be sure to contact me immediately so we can confront the issue as it arises."

"What about Bjiora? Should he have a part in this battle?" Fang inquired.

"Not unless he insists on it. He tends to be more of a free spirit. Let him roam as he pleases and he'll be happy," Constantine answered him as he leaned back in his seat, eyeing his work before showcasing it to his Ambassador. "What do you think, Ambassador?"

Fang marveled at the extraordinary piece of artwork; it was truly a masterpiece. "Undoubtedly your best work yet, your Excellency. Farewell for now."

"Farewell, my son. Keep me posted if there is any change in Alptraum's mood. He's losing his grip on reality, and that makes him dangerous." Constantine warned him as he deactivated his crystal ball on his end.

As Fang grabbed his communicator off the ground and stood back up, he felt a disturbance in his vicinity, a presence. It was faint, but his Dragon Sense picked up on it nonetheless. He stood on guard as he paid closer attention to his surroundings, listening in for an out of place noise. After thirty long seconds of silence, Fang turned away. But just as he did so, he felt an overwhelming presence in the air, and without hesitation, he tossed a fireball down the hallway. The ball of flame stopped as it made contact with an invisible pony, knocking them down onto their back. As the spy's invisibility faded, Fang rushed towards the figure with blinding speed and grabbed the intruder by the throat, slamming them against a nearby wall with great force.

"I thought I smelled a snake..." Fang grimaced as he snarled at the mare in his grasp; it was the same spy who had been watching Thatchet just a few days prior. "It's you... the failed clone, Bethany. You look so much like Constantine..." Fang gripped tighter around her neck. "What are you doing here? Why have you come to Ccrondil? Are you still in the service of the Cadre?"

"Fuck off, you bureaucrat pawn..." Bethany cursed the young dragon administrator. "You won't stop us from retaking Ccrondil from that Alptraum and that bastard you call father."

"Perhaps... but you won't live to see-! Arraggh!" Fang howled as Bethany blew shards of obsidian into his eyes and stuck a sharp blade of the glasslike rock into his forearm, stunning him.

In a puff of smoke, Bethany disappeared, leaving a furious Fang in excruciating pain. He stumbled back, leaning up against a nearby wall. As two Kusckon guards ran to his aid, he waved them away, getting up by himself. He couldn't let Alptraum hear of this attack; it would drive him into a paranoid frenzy.

"Take me downstairs to get aid. If either of you tell Alptraum of this attack you'll both be executed on the spot..." He knew he could trust the Four Generals and Bjiora to distract him whilst the mess was dealt with, but redundancy was an essential part of his job after all.

Author's Notes:

Introducing Basim Bjiora: The Laughing Deva! He will play a major role after the timeskip in both Arc Four and Five. Stay tuned! We'll have two other, smaller chapters to clean up the rest of this little break before the final bout for Caven Isle!