Zelgius stood watching the guard's training. "Seems they have got better." A year has passed, since Zelgius breakdown in the garden. He still stays away from crowds, but he found himself two.....friends. He even earned the friendship of Luna and Celestia. He chuckled at the memory.

Zelgius stood in front of Faust and Solace as they talked to one of the generals. Zelgius kept looking for any dangers, but saw two fillies sneaking up behind their parent's. The two opened their mouths behind their mother when. "Don't even think about it." The two pouted, coming in front of their mother. "Mom, how do you keep doing that?"

Faust chuckled. "I'm your mother. I know everything." She turned to Zelgius smiling. "Zelgius, could you come here." Zelgius, sighed but did as he was asked. "Yes my queen?" Faust rolled her eye's. "How many time's have I told you not to call me that?" She didn't receive a answer. "Anyway, Tia, Lulu, I want you to meet Zelgius."

"Mom/Mom!" Celestia and Luna whined at their mother who just smiled. The two fillies then looked at Zelgius. The three stared at one another. "Wonder when they are going to run away."

"You tall." Zelgius blinked underneath his helmet. "What?"

"You armor reminds me of the night." The two fillies were poking Zelgius, who stood there not really sure what to do in this situation, all while Faust just smiled.

"Why do you wear armor?" "Why don't you show you face?" "How do you eat?"

"Uh..."

Solace, was done with talking, turning towards his mate only to laugh at Zelgius, who was being swarmed by his children. "Poor Zelgius, can't handle some fillies?" Zelgius, glared at him from underneath his helmet. "What will the enemies realize, when The Black Knight can't handle children?" Everyone in the land feared The Black Knight, which caused enemies to not attack the ponies in fear of him.

Faust had a fake scared look on her face. "Your right! They must be planning to send children after Zelgius." The two rulers laughed while Zelgius was still being.....'attacked' by the fillies.

"Still hard to believe those two like me." Zelgius thought. "Sir." A voice spoke from beside. Zelgius looked to see a guard. "Lord Solace wishes to speak with you." Zelgius nodded his head, walking past the guard who sighed with relief. "I know he's on our side, but that armor makes him really creepy."

Zelgius walked in the hallways passing the guards who stared at him with looks of admiration and fear. "I wonder how they can have both?" Zelgius walked through a door, where he saw Solace and Faust, along with the generals. "Zelgius." Solace spoke. Zelgius, saw the looks and could tell they were serious.

"We just received a message from the griffon king."

"The same one who tried to kill us all?" Zelgius asked.

"The very same one."

"He want's to make a treaty." Faust spoke.

Zelgius, stood there for a minute then spoke. "I smell a trap but," The ponies stared at him. "We can get rid of him."

"You want to assassinate him?" Solace asked with shock. Zelgius, had never did anything that was dishonorable. "No. However, if he want's to make a treaty then we let him. If he doesn't." Zelgius trailed off, causing the ponies eyes to widen at what he was saying.

"If he attacks then we be forced to kill him, while if he does what a treaty, then he won't attack."

One of the generals scoffed. "It's definitely a trap."

Solace stood up. "I shall go meet him." The generals protested, but were cut off. "I'll go as well." Faust spoke.

"No. I need you here, to keep a eye on things."

Faust opened her mouth. "He's right. You needed here Queen, and besides," Zelgius spoke causing the ponies to look at him. "I'm going with him." Faust sighed.

Zelgius stood outside with ten other guards, as they waited for Solace. Zelgius watched Solace talking to his mate, and daughters, then watched as he hugged them, before walking over towards them. Zelgius walked over to the three. "Don't worry. I'll make sure he returns safely, my lady."

Faust pulled Zelgius into a hug. "You better come back yourself young man." Zelgius nodded his head, then looked at the fillies. "Will you come back, and play with us?"

Zelgius smiled underneath his helmet. "Of course. What are princesses, without their night?" The fillies smiled, then hugged Zelgius leg. He watched as they then ran off, then turned walking towards the guards.

The group marched towards the area, where the king wanted to meet. As they walked, Solace smiled and began to sing to which his guards gave him looks, but began to join in.

Zelgius just watched, but had a sweat drop on the back of his head. "....interesting song." Zelgius thought. They arrived at their destination. There were the same amount of griffons, as there was guards. Zelgius had his eyes narrowed as they walked towards them. In the center of them, sitting in a chair was the griffon king sitting in a chair and across him was another chair.

"Aw, King Solace, pleases sit." The griffon said mockingly on the word king. Zelgius narrowed his eyes but Solace didn't pay mind to it as he sat down. "Lord Metalbeak." Zelguis stared at the griffon to see, he wore a metal piece over his beak. "Guess that's how he earned his name." Zelgius thought, as well as staring at a red amulet around Metalbeak's neck. "He didn't have that before."

"We have much to discuss." Metalbeak stated.

"Indeed."

Metalbeak, however turned to Zelgius. "Aw it's the thing that helped you win." Zelgius could definitely tell he was being mocked. "Zelgius is a loyal Knight, as well as a friend, and if I recall, the one who slaughtered some of your soldiers."

Metalbeak growled but didn't speak of the matter. "Let the treaty begin."

"What do you want?'"

Metalbeak chuckled. "Well, first we will give your lands back."

"Sound's fair. We will also return any griffon back over to you."

"That would be kind. I would also ask for another thing."

Solace stared at him with wonder, as did Zelgius. "What would that be?"

"I was going to say, that we could conquer the land ourselves, but I have another idea." Nopony said anything but Metalbeak stared at Zelgius. "The head of The Black Knight!"

Solace stood up in anger. "Absolutely not!"

Zelagius just stared at Metalbeak, who was growling. "I guess we don't have a treaty."

"I guess we don't." Solace didn't seem bothered by it.

"Such a shame. KILL THEM!" Metalbeak shouted causing Griffons to jump from bushes. Zelgius pulled his sword out, swinging it horizontally, killing five griffons who had jumped at Solace. The guards charged into the griffon ambush. Zelgius began to cut down griffon's left and right, as they rushed at him.

Metalbeak watched this from his seat but once he saw his warrior failing, he reached up pulling the amulet off and held it in his right talon, began to chant that nopony paid attention to. "On...orci...nan..sokaa....rit...gbo...dun."

Solace swung his spear around then swung down cutting three griffons necks, as he stood back to back with Zelgius.

"Just like all over again!" Solace shouted, while Zelgius thrust his sword through a griffon, then pulled it out swinging causing a shockwave that slashed down the griffons.

The guards pushed back against the griffons causing some griffons to retreat. "Well that seemed to easy." Solace commented as they watched the griffons run. "Well now to take care of him." The two turned to see the amulet glowing as the griffon threw the amulet at Solace shouting "On...orochi...ara....mitama....sowaka!" The amulet landed by Solace which shot out a vortex. Before the vortex actually grabbed hold of Solace he was pushed out by Zelgius who became trapped by it.

"Zelgius!"

"I wasn't aiming for you, but it will do." Metalbeak spoke, only to grunt in pain when Solace threw his spear impaling him through the heart. Metalbeak grasped the spear with a talon then stared at Solace before falling to the ground dead.

Solace quickly turned to Zelgius, who was being sucked in the vortex. "Zelguis!" Solace ran over, only to be blocked by a magic barrier. Solace quickly ran over, grabbing his spear then begun to hit the shield with everything he had. The guards ran over to do the same thing. "Nothing's working!"

"Stop." The ponies stopped, as they stared at Zelgius. Though they couldn't see his face, they could tell by his voice he was calm.

"Zealgius, we're going to get you out!" Solace shouted while Zelgius shook his head. "There's no chance. This is my fate.....I was kind of hoping to see Lulu and Tia when they were older."

"Don't say that! You going to see them grow!" Solace had tears dripping down his face, as did some of the guards.

"Solace, tell Faust I kept my promise.....tell Tia and Lulu....I couldn't keep their." Half of Zelgius body was in the vortex, leaving only his top half of his body.

"You will! You can tell them yourself!"

"Solace."

Solace stared at his friend. "I thank you for everything you have done for me....I will always be watching.....goodbye...my friend." Solace watched as Zelgius completely disappeared into the vortex. When it stopped, all that was left was the amulet which Solace picked up. "Goodbye.....my friend."

The ponies cheered as they saw Solace returned but stopped as they saw the gloom looks on their face's. "Where's the black knight?"

Solace walked up to his mate who was smiling, but it disappeared when she his face. "What's wrong?" She also noticed and familiar figure missing. "Where's Zelgius." Solaced didn't speak but instead showed her the amulet and told her.

"No....no...he can't be gone....how are we going to explain this to..." She trailed off.

"Dad!" Solace was hugged by his two fillies, who returned it. "Dad what's wrong?" Celestia asked noticing the look on her face.

"Where Zelgy?" Solace pulled them into a hug. "He's gone."

"Oh, when will he come back?"

"He's not." The two fillies pouted. "But he promised!"

Solace stared at the amulet. "Hold out your hoofs." The two did as they were asked. Solace reached down handing them the amulet. " He's gone......but he gave this to you.....he is always watching over you two....wherever he is."

The fillies stared at the amulet, then pulled it into their chests.

Solace walked over to his mate who had tears in her eyes. The two stared at the sky. "Wherever you are......I hope you are doing well my friend."

If anypony had looked at the gem in the amulet, they would have noticed a twinkle.

Next Chapter: Chapter 3 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 4 Minutes