Chapter 16

It would be a rare morning that Twilight would actually sleep in. Spike was awake even before her, tidying up the library and re-shelving books. A peek out the window told the little dragon that Twilight's suggestion of moving the apple stand was paying its dividends already. Ponies were jumbled around between the stand and the library, Applejack happily trying to keep up. There were still a few ponies peeking back at him, but most had their attentions that morning on fresh apple juice and still-warm apple turnovers. Applejack caught Spike watching, and she replied with a swift wink before turning to the throng anew.

Upstairs, Twilight had slept a little better, her wings calming through the nights. She still wasn't accustomed to sleeping with them, and the occasional night twitch would rouse her or toss her blanket across the room. She'd worked physically hard the previous day, so the wings had no interest in waking her.

Her dreams occupied the night and well into the morning, one of her walking through a vast library, larger than Canterlot's and the Crystal Empire's combined. Bookshelves with no ladders, old oaken tables, racks of scrolls - more history and knowledge then she could ever want to read and research. Row after row of information - seasons, the tides, the sun, the moon, the flora and fauna of Equestria. Everything she ever wanted to know at her hooves! She paused at a shadow around one bookcase, looking up to see -

"SURPRISE~!!"

Twilight unceremoniously bounced out of bed by a bright pink alarm clock armed with confetti and streamers. "That was better than the other surprise!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Were you surprised?? I hope so, this one had to be SUPER SUPER Special to make up for the other one where it was just me and not the others cause it was so late and since it had gotten late so the toast was cold and all the ice for the drinks had melted and and the others were wondering where you were and I kept telling em 'Twilight's coming, don't worry!' and I was right!"

The alicorn couldn't remain angry, despite the startling. "Pinkie, never stop being you, OK?"

Pinkie paused in the air in mid-bounce. "I have to, I don't really know how to be anypony else. I could try but I like being ME so much I don't try very hard!" She resumed her bouncing, thrice on the bed before landing next to Twilight.

"Wait, how did you get past everypony this morning?"

"I wasn't sure if I could have anypony else over after I was here with CAKE and half of Ponyville followed me inside! You were kinda upset because you didn't want everypony in the library and I didn't have enough cake to go around so Applejack has everypony distracted and I tiptoed around to this side of the library and bounced on my trampoline til I could come in your window!"

"Applejack's stand is really busy?" Pinkie nodded. "Good. I'm sure between that and Sugarcube Corner - wait, aren't the Cakes out of town today?"

"They left this morning and I miss em already! The twins are alllllllll better, so the Cakes took the twins to see granponies in Baltimare for a few days! Don't worry, I remembered to lock the front door and put a 'Back soon' sign on it so nopony thinks we're closed-closed!"

This gave Twilight the perfect idea. "How fast can you whip up a quick little party back at Sugercube Corner? Just in case have enough ready for quite a few guests, including yourself."

"OOOH!" Pinkie accepted. "I can have a party together faster than you can say -"

"Purple pickled pincushion planted on a pine tree?"

Pinkie only bounced higher. "YOU KNEW!! I'm gonna make this party even MORE specialer than the one we tried to have in Canterlot! Wait, who should I invite?"

"I'll take care of the invitations, you just get Sugarcube corner ready."

"Okey dokey lokey!" Pinkie bounced out the window, a familiar "boing" sound outside signaling her safe arrival on said trampoline. Satisfied, Twilight trotted downstairs to see Spike still tidying up.

"Spike, I need some parchment and a fresh quill," she announced. "I have invitations to prepare."

"You don't want me to write it?"

"It would look like you were inviting yourself," she smiled, "But I'll make sure you get one."

Spike understood and quickly produced the requested items. Just so Spike understood what she was up to, she dictated herself as the quill hurried across the page. "You are cordially invited to Sugar Cube Corner for a special Friendship Party in one hour. If you are unable to attend, I understand. Know that I do appreciate you still. Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle." She used her magic to make six copies, one of which plunked itself into Spike's hands.

"So I get to go, too?" Spike brightened. "What about everypony outside?"

"We don't have to go anywhere, Spike. I can 'send' these to the others, and that will give them all time to get there. Applejack can get Big Macintosh to run her stand, and I'm sure everypony else will find their way there."

"Need me to do anything before we head over?"

"Only if you want to - but this is a Pinkie Pie party we're talking about." She trotted back upstairs. "I probably don't need to dress up for it, but just in case...."

Spike watched Twilight trot back to her room. "This party needs a few more guests," he decided, adding some names to the invite and sending it out a ground floor window in a flutter of green fire.

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Lapis Umbral had his Wildforce split up to practice with their new trinkets. Night Ash and Morning Star paired up to help here with her necklace of Senses. The unicorn zebra giggled to herself as she walked with her ally, piquing the younger's curiosity. "You're really excited about this," Morning Star observed.

"This necklace that was made for me is going to let me see again!" she laughed. "I've not seen anything in many years, I'm ready to see the world before me!"

"We have to test more than just sight, though....."

"Oh, we will. I want to start with Sight. The rest I have, and probably still better than what the necklace gives me."

Morning Star's ears twitched about. "Actually.... start with Hearing."

"Oh?" Night Ash tapped the gemstone, carefully swivelling her ears. The world's volume turned up around her in a cacophony of stories. She could hear Hatchet and Cloud Slayer talking to Umbral; she could hear Slurry talking to herself in her room; outside, she heard wild birds, the rush of wind through the valley, and the near-silent thrum of a colt's footsteps.....

"Dustmite, is that you?"

Morning Star looked around the room. "What? he's in here with us?"

Dustmite appeared, hoof over his charm and shock on his face. "Wow, you even heard me with this thing running?"

Night Ash turned toward Dustmite's voice. "Spying on us? That's not nice of you."

"But this thing really works! I've been in Slurry's room while she was trying hers out - she really CAN be anything she wants, dunno why she's still mad. Stony's with Boss, Hatchet and Cloud Slayer, not sure what's up with that....."

"Where's Desert Sun? Is she not with Lapis?"

"Nah, she said she had to practice outside. She took Violet and Silver with her to -"

A rumble from outside the valley startled the three ponies. Night Ash staggered from the noise. "That...works.... TOO well," she managed as she "shut off" the hearing enhancement.

The colt bounded toward the window, looking south. "Whoa, that's a pretty big fire. Now I get why she took those two with her."

Night Ash joined him at the window and tapped the stone again. "This time I WANT to see it!"

She could already smell the burning fauna yet couldn't hear their voices over the roar of the flames. She slowly opened her eyes, the light of the day initially hurting them. The world in her vision swirled in a variety of colors, as if trying different "Modes" - simple outlines, then heat signatures, then the color around her settling to crisp afternoon outdoors, where some distance into the valley she could see two pegasi. One, a colt of deep purple, the other, a mare with a coat of gray so pale it seemed to shine. Both hastened to bring rainclouds in to put out a large blaze suddenly started by their unicorn friend. She blinked, memories of her home coming back in a rainbow flood, reminding her of what colors and shapes would be. She could even she the rippling flag of lustrous red and shocking yellow of Desert Sun's mane from this distance! With a little more focus, she could count feathers on a moving pegasus wing! She looked back into the room, where Dustmite and Morning Star looked back at her in fascination.

"Your eyes are light green," Morning Star noted.

"And you're pure white!" she responded proudly. "And you, little one, a blue reserved only for star sapphires! Is that a BUG for your cutie mark?" She looked around the room. "The spire of Drakengard - like many of the spires in this valley, magically constructed....." She concentrated on the wall. "dragon magic. It's likely that a colony of dragons wanted to settle here before they found their Caldera to the north."

"Wow, that's some sight."

"Dustmite, it's more than sight! I don't just see colors and shapes like I did before the volcano - I see history, I see chemistry, I see....." she glanced again the two. "I see magic. Dustmite's necklace sparkling, and you, Morning Star, looking much like your namesake."

"Remember what Master Lapis said," Morning Star reminded her. "you can't have that 'on' ALL the time."

"Oh certainly not! but I can 'see' why the temptation is there!" A reluctant tap to the necklace and the shadowy world surrounded her again. "Intoxicating indeed."

"I know, right?" Dustmite bounced around them excitedly. "I've been able to get everywhere in Drakengard! Hopin this means I actually get to go out and do something, there's only so many times - "

"That you've been getting your jollies spying on everypony?" Morning Star finished flatly.

The colt's ears dropped. "Can I help it if I haven't found the right mare yet?"

"Spying on your teammates is NOT what that's for!" Night Ash scolded.

"So I'm not allowed to watch?"

The two mares chased him out of the room, Dustmite turning himself invisible once halfway down the hall. "Creepy little......" Morning Star grumped.

"At least I'll be able to catch him the next time," Night Ash beamed. "I better take this off before I get any more ideas."

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Lapis escorted Sandstone, Hatchet and Cloud Slayer back into the grand hall, making sure they had their Phalanx armor secured."It's a simple thing," he explained. "Sandstone, your charm is to take away your fear. Hatchet's is to scare. I'm unsure how the necklaces will interact with your armor, this has never been attempted before."

"So this is gonna be dangerous..?" Sandstone mumbled.

"My kinda trainin," Hatchet leered. He watched the big zebra recoil. Cloud Slayer cackled.

"Now, each of you place yourselves in the room, separate from each other. When I give the signal, Cloud Slayer and Hatchet will go after Sandstone. Hatchet, you may use your charm at any time. Sandstone, do not use yours until you do not feel you have any other options."

Sandstone's hoof had already left the ground. "Not yet," Lapis warned.

"2 on 1 ain't fair, even if I'm bigger...."

"Larger, stronger, and much more confident even when we first met. And the battles we'll be fighting, there won't be much 'fair'," Umbral reassured. "but if you do tap yours before Hatchet does, then Hatchet will use his immediately. Understood?"

The three ponies nodded, each finding a place in the grand hall so they could see each other. The alicorn raised a wing; the two pegasi crouched, Sandstone tried to steel himself. With a small nod Umbral whipped the wing downward.

He barely saw Cloud Slayer cross the room, pummeling Sandstone and shouting unladylike epithets. Hatchet was there a second later, not even bothering to taunt as he poured on the abuse. Their speed was too much for the big stallion, and he could only retreat, growling nervously. Umbral's typically neutral expression soured. "You're not even trying, Sandstone!"

The big zebra continued to be pushed back by the assault, raising a hoof in a strange debate of whether or not he should tap his necklace. Hatchet had not touched his yet, and was still enjoying that he hadn't needed it so far. Cloud Slayer hovered in Sandstone's face and buffeted him about the ears with her wings. "All that size and no 'stones'," she shrieked at the much larger Sandstone. "You're not gonna last long out there!"

"He ain't," Hatchet agreed, playfully shouldering her aside to get in the big lug's face. "BOO!"

The big zebra found his resolve on that basic taunt and headbutted Hatchet. The growling was a little more confident now, enough for the pegasus to raise a hoof toward the charm. "Don't make me use this!"

"Don' make me use THIS," Sandstone roared back. That only made the two pegasi laugh.

"Me first, just like boss said!!" Hatchet pawed the gem just above the moonstone.

In that instant Lapis' attention focused on the two stallions, comparing as the magics interacted. The Fear charm blazed to life and the armor did not resist. Hatchet wasn't sure what was happening at first, but the nightmarish duet played loud and clear in the armorsmith's mind- the armor welcoming a chance to scare somepony even more than it already could! Laughter erupted around the music as the spell took hold of Sandstone to try and scare him with his absolute worst nightmare.

With some concentration Lapis could see the magic radiating off Hatchet, blossoming into a fearsome image of a large-mouthed beast covered in thorny tentacles. Cloud Slayer apparently could not see it - the form would not alert allies to its presence. The alicorn traced the outline in his own mind, savoring Hatchet's delight as he pressed his illusion down on Sandstone. The larger pony reared, eyes wide at the new threat, staving it off with his forehooves as he thought the creature ready to use him for food.

Sandstone's armor protested - lightning in the fog of his mind erupted as his mind begged to flee while the armor demanded battle.The big zebra flailed helplessly in his own armor, losing control of his resolve and legs shaking from the crossed signals. His desperation finally made it to one foreleg, tamping the gem as a plea to shut off his fear.

Lapis watched closer, fearing a mental standoff would paralyze the pony. He was unable to see inside Sandstone's head, where the armor's demands were defied. The necklace's shadow joined the debate, ending it seemingly by wrapping itself completely around both.

~~Fight~~ the only word spoken in Sandstone's mind, a request, an order and demand all at once. Sandstone's movements briefly slowed.

"Get yer head in the game!" Cloud Slayer taunted, landing a kick to the side of the earth pony's face. Hatchet followed it up by grazing him with a wingblade.

~~blood~~ the voice asked and confirmed at the same time, and the resolve inside Sandstone blossomed in a red haze. Sandstone roared in defiance, eyes darkening from gold to a blood red. The magic permeated the armor, turning the moonstone red and flecking the armor as if sprayed with blood. Before the first real drop had fallen from the cut on Sandstone's face, a forehoof caught Hatchet full and sent him careening into the wall. Before Cloud Slayer could scream out his name, Sandstone smashed her away as well. His vision now a red blur, nothing mattered anymore. Something hurt, something must be hurt back.

Lapis startled at the sudden rage and speed of the earth pony as he plowed forward, pushing Hatchet deeper into the wall. Cloud Slayer had recovered from the initial blow, but somehow Sandstone knew she was coming. Even her speed wasn't enough to catch him off-guard as he bucked her back into the wall, incomprehensible protests to stay away from him until he finished his first victim! Wheeling back to Hatchet, he saw the pegasus Phalanx soldier peeling himself from the debris, keeping a sharp wing forward. "BACK!" Hatchet demanded, "I actually felt that -you want some more o' this?" The other wing opened, slowly. "You need some red stripes for that~"

Sandstone silenced him with a hoof over Hatchet's back, flooring the pegasus. Cloud Slayer was up again but moving slower from the attack. Though unsteadily airborne, she tried to distract Sandstone from his chosen target, only to be brutally slammed to the ground once Sandstone grabbed a hind leg in his teeth. The alicorn cursed under his breath and magically split the three from each other. "Enough!"

The two pegasi weren't resisting. Sandstone thrashed and bellowed at the trap - he wasn't done yet! The armor and the necklace begging for more, Sandstone somewhere inside pleading Lapis to help him. Lapis answered the plea with a second spell that calmed the Shadow within, allowing Sandstone to return to control. "ow..." he whispered before his legs finally gave.

The alicorn puzzled his lack of satisfaction. The necklaces worked well with the armors - perhaps a little TOO well. A telepathic summons to Morning Star sent so that the combatants could be properly healed. Lapis then settled himself between Hatchet and Sandstone so that the fighting would not erupt again. Cloud Slayer wobbled over to her master, half-bowing and half-flopping before him.

"As it was said," he whispered unsteadily. "This will not be 'fair'....."

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~~Have you decided what you're going to do when it comes to the magic council?~~ Morning Star thought to her friend in Canterlot, Night Ash permitted to "listen".

~~I'm still not sure what I should do - I want to help Equestria and I'm overqualified for it. I should be running that Council, Princess Suck-up can go back to ruling libraries!~~

The white unicorn nodded to herself. ~~Maybe you should tell her you want to be in charge of it - just for the look on her face!~~

Aurora sighed. ~~It's just a huge opportunity.... but it's Twilight.....~~

~~I won't be mad if you say "Yes".... Master Lapis probably wants you to accept. I know you'd be under Twilight Suck-up, but this way you can show her up to her face~~

~~I still haven't decided,~~ Aurora resigned. ~~If I can outscore her I should have wings, too. I bet there's something about THAT in the Archives if I look hard enough!~~

~~The only book you should seek is Star Swirl's,~~ Lapis interrupted. ~~Morning Star, please come to the grand hall and assist in healing some of our complement.~~

~~Is it ok if I "Help"?~~ Aurora offered. ~~I know Morning Star can heal, but she might want another pair of eyes on this~~

~~That would be most welcome, Aurora. I'll leave it to you to strengthen the connection so that you may "watch"~~

Morning Star hurried to the Grand Hall. ~~Can you see where I'm going? It might help if you close your eyes~~

Aurora did so, and the dark of Drakengard surrounded her in her mind. ~~That's such a dreary place. No wonder Lapis can't laugh~~

~~That's not why - I bet Luna's quarters are almost as dark~~

~~Dunno, I've never been.....~~ Aurora's voice soured. ~~Twilight Suck-up has though! Grrrr.......~~

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Strife had little trouble navigating the woods between Hollow Shades and the Badlands, and thankfully did not have to stop at Dodge Junction for more supplies. His pace slowed by startling a wild stag in the woods, then the splitting headache that followed. He shouldered his bag off near a large tree and settled in to try to get his headache to dissipate.

He noted a faint twinkling of blue on his gear - had Belmonte soaked it in Lyrium? Maybe his body experienced withdrawal after being exposed to so much of it at once! Checking through his bag, the old whip had been returned to him with a note from Silverback:

"This old whip belonged to a proud Spellbreak Soldier. Let's see if you can live up to Richter! -Silverback"

The dark green earth pony had to mentally research that. Richter was the leader of a Spellbreak contingent near San Palomino, whose base was abandoned over a century before when Richter himself was thought lost searching the valley for more allies. He recalled that one of Lapis' cronies found it in the mines they had been using, perhaps there was more to that area? That gave him something to think about and ignore the migraine that followed him out of Hollow Shades.

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"Doubt this will calm you down, but let's see if you can sit still for 5 minutes!"

Thunder Arrow shoved Hot Head behind a desk stacked high with papers. "Paperwork can't fight back," he told the new recruit. "you can't argue with text. Read ALL of that over, and report to me when you're done." The pegasus captain turned to leave, but paused a moment. "Oh, and if you're not up to THIS - I'm sure Flank Attack would be happy to find something else for you to do."

"Only because Flank Attack probably can't read," Hot Head muttered.

"I heard that!" Thunder Arrow rebuked. "You're about five words or wingbeats away from getting kicked out of the Guard. Flank Attack would have done it by now if it weren't for your times and wingpower readings."

Hot Head clamped his mouth shut until he could no longer hear his superior's hoof-steps. The little one relaxed, reading over the paperwork.

~~Master Lapis, got some info for you - gotta read all this crap over, you might get something from it~~

~~Good, I shall do so~~

Hot Head then shuffled the papers two at a time, allowing his true master to see what most soldiers would see as "Boring correspondence", "work schedules" and other basic seat work that marked one of the harshest punishments given to a Solar Guard. The little one had secured his dungeon duty so he could talk to Master Lapis any time he was down there; guard rotations and running commentary from the newly-minted soldier spoke volumes to the alicorn.

~~How much more of this stuff you gonna need? I can't sit here all day!~~

~~No, but you will have to. I have one other request - see if you can be placed on a later shift so that your relief will be a Phalanx soldier. Clear it with Gallant Lionheart as well~~

~~That lazy - ~~

~~who is leading the Phalanx and is aiding me in our cause~~

~~really?????? whoa, you got it~~

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In the hour from when the invites appeared to Twilight's friends, Twilight herself took a little time before teleporting over. Pinkie would want her to slip in the back door to Sugarcube corner, just so the rest of Ponyville won't crash it. The young alicorn thought of throwing on her birthday dress for the occasion, but Pinkie preferred "Come as you are" parties - just to get them started even quicker.

Twilight smiled to herself before checking the time. One more minute. Just enough time for her to soak in the last few days and how much she missed just hanging out with her friends. She lowered her head at not getting to see her parents, much less spend quiet time with her brother or Princess Celestia. Even Spike had been neglected over these ceremonies! Shaking her head clear, she used that fifty-ninth second to teleport to Sugarcube Corner.

She stood a moment at the back door, one hoof off the ground. Pinkie always told Twilight about the "Secret Knock" to get in the backdoor to the shop but never really implemented. After all, why would Twilight sneak into Sugarcube corner? Well, before the wings, anyway. She rapped out a "Shave and a haircut" knock, expecting a response.

"Nope," Pinkie's voice came from inside. "Try again, Twilight."

"Pinkie, you KNOW it's me, just let me in!"

"Nope, you gotta do the Secret Knock - 'Shave and a Haircut' is one everypony knows!"

Twilight didn't think Pinkie could resist a simple thing. Shaking her head, she tapped out another rhythm on the door, thinking Pinkie's patience would run out first.

"Nope," Pinkie repeated, "it's like this!" And she quickly rapped out the code on the door from the inside. Using her head, of course.

Twilight then repeated the knock with her hoof, thinking how much of a "secret" this knock really could be.

The door finally creaked open, the inside of the store surprisingly dark. The normally bouncing pink pony peered around the door, wearing dark sunglasses and expression stern. "What's the password?"

"Purple pickled pincushion planted on a pine tree," Twilight carefully repeated from their conversation.

"That works," Pinkie gleefully replied as she yanked her friend inside.

The store remained dark despite Pinkie's sudden change of attitude. "Why is it still dark in here?" Twilight protested. "I gave you exactly an hour to set up, that's usually longer than-"

"SURPRISE~!!!!!!"

The shades on the windows flapped up, pouring sunshine into the shop and surrounding Twilight with her dearest friends. Rainbow Dash hovered over the group with a mischevious grin; Rarity gave a royal nod but didn't bow this time. Fluttershy peeked out from behind Applejack, who coaxed her out into the open.

"Twilight Party, take 2!" Pinkie announced, clapping her hooves twice. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, ACTION~!"

Twilight crouched to leap for her friends but something caught her from behind. She stumbled from the embrace, one hoof around her shoulders and the other suddenly planted next to her horn. "HOOFNOOGIE!" Pinkie cheered.

Twilight wiggled free, wings and eyes wide open in shock. "Brother??"

Shining Armor saluted. "I heard something about a disturbance at Sugar Cube Corner so I had to investigate. Since this was a Royal matter, I brought reinforcements."

"But I only set this up an hour ago! How did you -"

"You might have a snitch in your ranks," Shining Armor's official reply.

"And there was apparently a princess in the center of it all, so there was a security issue," a gentle voice added.

"The disturbance could last well into the evening," another voice added. "So I was requested to attend as well."

Twilight wheeled again. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood proudly before her. At least now she knew how her brother got to Ponyville so quickly! But that still couldn't summon a proper reply from her.

"This was the sort of celebration I attempted to arrange," Celestia explained to her speechless student, "but events within events within events kept getting in the way."

Pinkie randomly swung through the scene, tossing streamers with a free hoof. "ALICORN PARTY~~~!!!"

Another alicorn slipped up beside Twilight and gently pushed her mouth shut. "Someone told me if you gawk too long, someone will fill your mouth with candy or cake."

"Candy and CAKE and marshmallows and cookies~!" Pinkie listed as she presented tables full of each, and treats from Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight finally found her voice.

"Cadence!" She hugged her sister in law before the two of them dropped happily into their "security measure".

"This is what we tried to do in Canterlot," Cadance apologetically added.

"But...how? I mean, I had sent invitations out just an hour ago-"

"An it don't take long for me to drag Big Macintosh into town to work the stand!" Applejack announced.

"It's an informal formal gathering, otherwise I might have needed another hour," Rarity admitted.

"Caught me with one hoof out the door to the Crystal Empire," Dash bragged. "But I wasn't gonna miss this!"

"I... I had to come too," Fluttershy cooed.

"But how did-"

Spike finally chimed in from his seat in a corner of the store, feet up on a table and happily downing a turquoise sprinkles cupcake. "Oh, sorry Twilight. Guess the word got out." He playfully winked before tucking back into the cupcake.

Pinkie marched to the center of the room. "But enough talk!" She demanded. "THIS IS A PARTY!"