I spent the rest of the day practising my control with five life elements. I can cast a beam for ten seconds before the strain becomes too much. Celestia and Luna continued to pummel each other with the foam swords laughing like children, but Luna mentioned that these are flawed as without the fear of pain, the guards or us would become careless during a real fight.

So with that in mind, we got discord to rework them. After a couple of hours tweaking every sword he made, they now zap the one hit for a second along with the random sound.

Once we finished practising, Which Luna playfully slapped my ass with a sword which hurt worse than a training sword, though thankfully left no marks. She then apologised repeatedly for hurting me to which I assured her I was fine. We head back into the Dining Hall for dinner, where Cadence and Shella are here with my parents and my wives parents as well.

"Hello, son! How is your training going?" my dad asks me.

"It's going well. I can hold five life elements for about ten seconds now," I reply and sit down.

"That’s great. We've just popped over to say hello since we have a few days off from the store," he tells me.

Solaris lets out a light chuckle. "Indeed. Your father has told us a lot about Terra and its traditions," he says with a smile.

"I see, so what do you plan to do here now?" I ask my parents.

"Mostly look around Canterlot. Rarity has offered to show me some new designs she made while I show her mine," mom replies.

Dinner goes by pleasantly as we talk and laugh. It almost feels like there isn't a psychopathic necromancer or bloodthirsty gryphons out there wanting to kill us all.

When it comes time to lower the moon, our parents are in their rooms while I stand beside Luna and Celestia as they lower the sun and raise the moon.

"Beautiful as always," I comment getting Luna to hug me when she finishes.

"We thank thee for thy kind words, our love. We just hope thou canst put up with our sudden shifts of mood in the coming months," she tells me with a kiss.

"Don't worry, I survived Tia's mood swings, I'll survive yours," I playfully say getting a mock glare from her in return.

With that, we get into bed and go to sleep.

---

---

My training with five elements is progressing slowly, but my swordsmanship is progressing quickly now that I have the fear of getting zapped repeatedly by Solaris. He is relentless, hitting me as many times as he can to get me to react faster. I believe I have been shocked at least two-hundred times in the last four days... My body still feels kinda numb.

Luna's control of her Champion form is making progress. She can hold it for a minute and twenty seconds before it collapses. Celestia has also begun her attempts at forming her Champion form, though with much less success than Luna. Shella and Cadence are looking after the foals as tomorrow Shella lays her next batch of eggs, and Cadence is just twenty or so days from giving birth to her own foal.

Once Cadence's foal is born, we'll have a small family and friends only wedding with Celestia, Luna, Shella, and I marrying Cadence into our family. While a bit upset, she agreed to the small wedding as to not invoke another possible attempt at our lives.

Shining and Silk have gotten even closer to the point that they've now moved in together at Silk's house near the castle. There's even rumours buzzing about the castle staff that they're thinking about having their own foal in a year or two.

The Lapis Hive and its new residents are thriving with the help of the Ponyvillians that decided to stay there. What books that could be salvaged from the destroyed town was added to their library as well as a new school built where Cheerilee and two changelings are now teaching both foals and hatchlings alike. Though we've gotten a report about a few other changelings detected near the hive, but these aren't Chrysalis' changelings. These are from a new previously unknown hive.

There's been a few more reports of gryphon attacks on our border with a few casualties, but thanks to our mages and weapons from Terra, they're being pushed back and suffering more losses than seems worth it, but yet they continue to attack us. I'm betting it's an insult to their pride that a prey species is pushing them back or becoming the hunters now.

As for undead sightings. Nothing has been seen or heard of Grogar lately, and that has Solaris on edge for some reason. Galaxia and my mother have been doting on their grandchildren every chance they got and the little guys are loving every second of it.

Twilight has been getting worried as she told us she felt elven magic near her now and then, and it wasn't her doing anything. I know elves are very good in portal magic, and I'm thinking they're trying to find a way to either get Twilight's books to stop their secrets on their magic getting out, or both them and Twilight herself. We've had guards posted to her to keep an eye out just in case something does happen. Twilight herself has started studying for a way to block or negate portal magic near her to prevent anything happening.

---

"OW!" I yelp as I get zapped for the tenth time in today's sparring match with Solaris. Luna is in a corner of the room and has refrained from using the new training swords to prevent any harm to her still growing foal and is focusing on her Champion form from now on.

"Faster, Adrian! You need to react faster!" Solaris tells me sternly and gets ready again. I raise my shield and frown in concentration.

I glance to my right and see Discord hammering his squeaky hammer on new types of training weapons including a halberd, mace, and zap arrows for archery training. Twilight is also here reading her books while practising offensive magic as she's worried about the bursts of elven magic she's feeling now and then, seems she's getting paranoid as she hasn't slept well in two days.

"Discord?" Twilight says getting uncle's attention.

"Hmm? What is it, my dear?" he replies and looks at her while lifting his protective face guard off.

"Have you heard anything from the Order Aspect?" she asks him getting mine and Solaris' attention as well.

Discord sighs and rubs his temples. "Maybe. There's a rumour saying she's been sealed away by some powerful being on Terra. I'm still working on finding out who has her trapped. She can't be contacted through her orb nor can she reach us in the aspect realm," he tells her.

Twilight looks sad but static starts to fill the room as Twilight goes wide eyed. "I can feel elven magic! And it's stronger this time!" she yells and looks up.

We follow her gaze and see a few sparks above us what looks like a portal is trying to open up. Twilight reacts and starts mumbling a few words and her hands begin to glow light purple. The portal above us is trembling as Twilight begins to sweat from the strain she's under.

After a minute of struggling the portal snaps shut and a burst of magic fills the room before fading away. Twilight gasps and pants heavily as she sits down.

"They... they almost got through..." the elf says raggedly.

"Well I say! Those pompous buggers are trying their luck I think," Discord says wearing a fancy suit and tall top hat while sipping from a cup of tea. He's sitting on an ornate looking chair as well. "Jolly good show, my dear. That'll teach those bally seers who they're up against!" He then raises his tea cup up at her and sips from it again.

Discord then stands up and the fancy clothes, tea, and chair vanish. "Now excuse me while I'll go see what they're up to," he tells us and snaps his fingers, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"Erm. Shouldn't we warn King Vortigan that the elves are up to something?" Twilight says to us.

Before I could reply Discord reappears looking shocked. "Uncle? What's the matter?" I ask him.

"Those blasted elves have found a forgotten relic that can suck out the magic of another being permanently and they had it set up ready to drain Twilight!" he says and gulps. "And they almost got me with it!"

I frown at this new development. "And what can we do to stop it?" I ask.

"Well... my magic would be stronger if I have a contract, but you still need to learn how to control both the chaos and order elements before I can make a contract with you. The best I can do for now is set up a barrier around Canterlot to disrupt their attempts to get in. I would try to pinch that relic, but if I'm caught by it, it will kill me," he replies grimly.

Solaris then speaks up. "Do it, Discord. I'll not have these elves threaten us and attempt to take one of our people!" he says angrily and then heads towards the door.

Luna has been silent during the whole incident before walking over and kneeling down next to Twilight. "Are thou alright, Twilight?" she asks the tired looking elf.

"Yes... but this is getting out of hand... why are they after me?" she replies and asks sadly.

"The elven council of mages are very protective of their spells and magic. The fact you seem to have a near complete guide of their magic is worrisome for them as if they fall into another's hands, they could find weaknesses in them. I would think they're trying to prevent that and since you're not affiliated with them, they want to remove you as a threat," I reply and hold my hand out to her.

She takes my hand and I pull her up onto her feet. "But I just want to learn my new magic! Why are they so against it?" she says with a pout and tears forming in her eyes.

"We know that, but they just don't care. Until Discord gets his barrier up, I recommend staying near your brother or Spike. We don't want them trying again," I tell her.

She nodded sadly and sighs as she sits down on a chair. I glance at Discord and see him fiddling with a crystal ball with a built in stand.

"What's that uncle?" I ask him.

"This will project the barrier around Canterlot. It will need recharging every couple of days but it should keep out the elves... though it won't stop them from making a portal outside of it," he tells me and then fills the orb with his magic.

The crystal starts to glow yellow until a thin, barely even noticeable barrier extends outwards and phases through the training room. We all head outside and look around but can't see it anymore.

"And that should do it. But I wouldn't be surprised if they send someone here to infiltrate and recover the books and or Twilight," Discord says then turns to Twilight. "May I see those books for a moment?" he asks her.

She frowns but hands him the books. Discord casts a spell on them and hands them back. "There we go, anyone other than you or I who touches these will get a rather nasty shock and knocked out for an hour or two. Should help keep them safe," he says making Twilight smile.

"Thank you, Discord. But what will we do about the elves?" Twilight says and asks.

I sigh and shake my head. "The best thing we can do is talk to Vortigan about it and see if he can do something about the elves. If not? Then it would seem you're stuck in Canterlot until we can make a more permanent solution," I tell her.

"Well then. I'll leave this orb in your room so you can just use your mana to refill it every morning," Discord tells me and vanishes.

With that done, Luna and I head to the portal to Terra and make our way to see King Vortigan about the elves.

---

---

During the last two weeks, The barrier is working wonders as Twilight has felt faint traces of elven magic outside Canterlot's barrier. Though we've not seen nor heard of any elven sightings as of yet. Discord has made a more portable version of the barrier as a necklace for twilight so a portal cannot be made near her while she's wearing it. Including herself unfortunately. But that is the price to keep her safe. Although, ponies can still use their teleport spells as the barrier only affects elven magic.

Vortigan has told us that the elven king Sylvaan denies any accusations of attempting to make portals to Canterlot and says it could be extremists who are still doing experiments on animals and possibly want the ponies for said experiments. All of us agree that is bullshit and Vortigan believes that after Elune turned back into an elf after Discord turned her into a pony told King Sylvaan about the books and Twilight.

The best we can do is keep up the barrier and if an elf comes through to capture him or her and interrogate them.

Shella has laid her eggs and I've impregnated her again. Cadence and Celestia are kinda jealous that she can have so many children in such a short time without the major pain of childbirth. Though, they don't think they could give up a single child like Shella does for her Hive.

My training is going very well. I can now hold a five element life beam for thirty seconds and I've also tried a fire beam, which I can hold for twelve seconds before the strain starts to burn my hand.

The guards aren't fans of the zapping training weapons but agree it's still better than making trips to the infirmary for bruises, cuts, and broken bones.

The Lapis Hive has been feeling those changelings nearby again, some of Chrysalis' old infiltrators say they're most likely scouts getting information on us. Shining has sent a few more guards down to help bolster their defences in case these changelings decide to attack.

Discord has been searching for the Order Aspect and the rumours have lead him to a derelict castle with a cyclops living in it. He says he can feel a faint trace of her in the castle and it seems the cyclops is wearing a crude necklace with an orb attached to it. The problem though is that cyclops are immune to all magic and prevent any spell being cast near them, also they're very strong physically. Though they're dumber than dirt. So Discord is planning to sneak in and take the orb physically before getting out and teleporting away.

There's been a few more gryphon attacks, which one has resulted in a town being destroyed due to the lack of a mage and guns and half its population to get killed or taken. The rest evacuated in time and made it to Manehatten. Celestia is now absolutely livid with the gryphons and is about to lead an assault on Aries Peak with eight-hundred ponies, one-hundred and ten human mages, and four-hundred mixed forces from the Reymorah army sent by Vortigan to repay for our aid defending his city from his brother.

---

I yawn as I wake up. Today is the day Celestia and Solaris march to attack the gryphon capital Aries Peak. Celestia is cuddling me tightly as this will be the last time she'll be able to until she comes back. We all get up and get ready for the day.

Shella and I will be staying with Cadence in our room with the foals as she'll be giving birth any day now and is getting clingy with me. Luna is starting to show a baby bump after a month and a half of being pregnant but is taking court today with Galaxia.

Celestia, Solaris, Cadence, and I are in the courtyard where the airships above us are stocked and ready to head out with the troops to provide air support.

"This will only take a month at best," Celestia says as Solaris is in a new suit of armour made for him since I have his old set now. He’s taking my place in the attack since Cadence wants me here for when she gives birth.

"I may not be as strong as I could be since sending you my armour and gifting you with our magic, but I still have enough fight in me to take on ten gryphons by myself," Solaris tells me watching the troops get ready.

"Just be careful," I say getting one last hug and kiss from Celestia.

"We will. Take care of Valiant until I get back," she tells me with a sad smile.

"You can count on it," I reply and let her go.

They both get on board the E.A.F Nightingale and order the army to head out.

Cadence is sitting next to me in a wheelchair as it's too difficult for her to walk long distances by herself now.

"They'll be okay won't they?" she asks me with a worried expression.

"Yeah. She has Lux and Solaris to watch over her," I reply and keep watching until they're no longer in sight. I then sigh and start pushing Cadence back into the Castle. "Come on. Shella is waiting for us with the foals," I say as we enter the Castle.

Next Chapter: Chapter 92: Training Continues Part 3 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 51 Minutes