The Alter Accords

Chapter Twenty Three: The Tale.

After the discovery of his rather unique expertise in the field of language as it were. Lego was called to come and stay in Canterlot for a time to prove that he could actually read what he said he could. He wouldn’t lie…he hated the idea, he hated the idea of coming to the city of snobs and mingling with them more then he hated the current jackasses he had just left arguing about if the meaning of the word water he gave them was right or wrong.

‘Buck they are hard headed, worse than dragons as at least dragons can tell if someone, anyone of any species was lying to them. Or at least eat them if they thought it was that way. Those ‘scholars’ will keep barking and arguing till the end of time if you told them even a small thing that was contrary to their beliefs.’ Lego sighed bitterly as in the end it didn’t matter if they believed him. He already knew Celestia did and that was why he was currently writing out the translation of the book by her father.

As he got to his room he wasn’t all surprised to find somepony already there sipping a cup of tea. “Hello Sunbutt. How is your afternoon so far?”

The co-ruler of Equestria gave a small bit of laughter from behind her tea cup that was floating in her magical grasp before setting it down and looking at him. “As well as it could be I suppose. Many of your translations are coming through from the academy and I have to say it has been enlightening to learn some of these new words, or rather old ones that have been lost to time.”

Not able to help himself he smiled hearing that, not because the scholars were letting his translations through, though at a trickle it seems, but that he was helping others. It was something he was very unfamiliar with lately even to himself. Pouring himself a cup of tea which he was surprised at himself that he only spilled some before filling it up half way he made his way over to Celestia and sat himself down, though for a moment he thought he seen the Princess frowning but it was only there for a moment.

Hearing a sip from the other side of the table the princess continued speaking as he sipped from his own cup. “Alicorns grow at a different rate than normal as such my father was already used to the new languages, which is what he taught Luna and I the most, and only had a chance to briefly teach us some of the old language.” The book was on the table, the same book her father wrote that was just about as old as the Princess herself. “I do not suppose I could trouble you to find if you have translated anymore of the text then before could I.”

Lego got up with a chuckle setting down the tea up and making his way upstairs, he hated these stairs but they were good exercise. There was a sound of ruffling papers and other things as he gathered up what he had so far and set it in the saddle bags to help carry it downstairs. Going downstairs was always a worse of a challenge then going up and it was usually why he slept downstairs on the couch provided.

“I am back, and yes I have some of the translation here in this copy. Go ahead and take it, I made a few extras both in literal translations and ones with a more modern syntax like the one here.” Nodding to the bound papers he felt the slight weight of them leave in a golden glow as Celestia took them.

“I know I have said this before Lego, but I am really grateful to your work here. Though I am still curious as to how you knew the language in the first place.” He smiled and shrugged to give the Princess her answer. “Oh well, if you ever remember let me or Luna know, we would be most interested in-” a flash of a scroll in midnight blue came before her before it was taken hold of in her magic. Giving it a quick glance she sighed. “I must leave; one of the nobles is giving Luna a hard time and is telling her that I have said things that honestly I do not remember promising.”

Giving her a smile he waved her off. “Go on Sunbutt, family first.” she gave a grateful smile and vanished with the bound papers he gave her. “Well it’s nice to know my efforts are appreciated if nothing else I suppo-.”

A coughing fit interrupted him as he spoke aloud to his home. Quickly grabbing hold of a paper towel nearby in the kitchen he held it to his mouth as the wet raking of air came and went. He wadded up the tissue quickly after seeing what had splattered in it, it was happening more and more lately. Tossing it to the garbage can he went to the couch and decided to call it a day and hope he could work on some of the book in the morning.

A city of magic users might have been feared elsewhere but this one knew the truth, he knew that they were mostly pompous individuals that could barely lift up eating utensils, let alone defend themselves. Did he need to stalk this mare he watched from the rooftops? No but he wanted to and he could, that was the point, nopony could stop him. His ruby colored eyes followed her as she took the wrong move tonight and went down a dark alleyway; no doubt it was a shortcut of some type.

Stretching out his wings he glided down towards the alley, oh how he loved this freedom, it was addicting and he would relish every moment of the time he had. He watched the trot she had in her step, her sense of purpose where she had one, her nose uplifted to the air: A noble.

He was arrogant as well landing right in front of her only separated by a few feet. “Such a nice night isn’t it?” The fear wasn’t there, she didn’t fear him instead she waved her hoof haughtily in front of her in a shooing motion. It made the moment he grinned that much more fulfilling as his pearly white fangs gleamed in the pale light of the moon, it was also just enough light to see her superior attitude melt away and a look of fear slowly spreading over her features: so lovely.

He lunged at her and had to quickly dodge to the side as she unleashed a stun spell. Still unused to moving his wings it clipped one, not enough to stun it but it did rip a few feathers from it which he was slightly upset about. Though it was a few feathers to him it was a nice big hole in his wing for her.

She must have thought she caused him damage, thought she gained the upperhoof: his laughter silenced that as a black ooze seemed to ooze into the spot where the hole was, both closing it up and making new feathers. True fear was on her face and finally she let out a scream and a second as he rushed her while she was too terrified to cast.

A shortcut was what this mare sought, something to cut the time from one place to another, and a dark alleyway to use it with. Cliché as it was to meet one’s end here, he found some pleasure in it as he watched the life drain from her eyes. One bite, one tug and her throat was gone with blood splattering all over him and the ground.

Spitting the piece of her larynx out that he held in his fang he started chuckling as the dark ooze absorbed the blood that had splattered on him. Each night he tested his limits, each night he found he was growing stronger. This was his first kill, but not his last.

Celestia was worried about her knight, even if he insisted he was a former knight now. She hated watching him struggle to do things that normal ponies took for granted, that and what else she had discovered in his home while waiting for him to get there. Sadly though, even with advanced magic and medicine there wasn’t anything they could do for his condition to help him any.

Shaking her head she tried to think of other subjects, speaking of she now had the chance to giggle over the reaction of the noble that she had surprised. She had teleported right behind him as he was in the middle of saying ‘-however Princess Celestia has commanded-’ she had loved placing a wing over him and asking him the obvious question. ‘What was it I commanded my little pony?’

She was rather amazed at how fast the pony could run away considering he was easily twice the weight a pony his should have been. It had done well to temper the attitudes of the others it seemed as a lot of them had left at that point, though Luna didn’t mind as she had told her sister that they had come in with said stallion to complain.

Any day she could help her sister out was a good one, though she had made a point of issuing a fine to the stallion as he had told a lie with her word as truth. That was something that was technically illegal and could be caused for imprisonment or beheading, though Celestia had not been forced to do that in centuries.

Lying down upon her bed she had been about to call it a night finally when she seen the bundle of white paper she had set there. Lighting a candle she smiled as she took hold of the pages in her magic. She had been waiting for this as she had opened it up to the first page after the title.

I remember the glory days, the days when there was no earth, no sky, and no magic feeling separated from one another. The paradise that was woven by the chosen Alicorns was no more. Now were days when the Alicorn race will slowly die out and nothing can be done for it. However to know of what is to come isn’t my forte, it is recording what has happened that I am good at. As such to whoever may find this know that the words here are only what I have witnessed, be they the full truth I won’t know nor should anypony know. My name is Terra Cotta and this is the truth as I know it as well as why there are now only six chosen and not eleven.

I have been a scribe for more years then I can count at times; as such it came to be a surprise to me when I found myself called upon by the chosen. The chosen as the name implies are those who are chosen by the great mother herself to guide all of the Alicorns to prosperity and each had a duty that was to be fulfilled. Each one had come to being in an order, though none can claim to be as old as Premier Legerdemain.

He was the tallest and oldest of them all, being the most powerful as well as he was the Alicorn of Magic itself. His coat was a deep royal purple, almost black with its depth, as his coat spoke of his regal nature so did his mane. It was a deep blue that pulsed with light at times giving off light each time, it was so commented that as his mane pulsed the book that was the symbol on his flank changed as well though always having the six pointed star that represented the search for magic.

It was he whom had called me in this day. His kind voice had been heard many a times by me when he had given a speech but this was the first time that I had heard it when it wasn’t spoken with magical augmentation so that all in a crowd could hear.

“Ahh Terra Cotta, I have heard of you and I am pleased to meet you. As you know I am Premier Legerdemain leader of the chosen. Though feel free to shorten my name to either one of those words for the sake of simplicity.” I remember him being taller than me, imposing in nature from a distance, but now that he was up close, I saw him as something I had never thought to see him as: Another Alicorn like myself. “I suppose you are wondering why I have called you here. It seems my last scribe has chosen to no longer try to write down what is needed and has vanished. Last I heard she decided to fly north just because she could, or she was bored, though I tend to agree with the latter statement. So as it stands, I have heard you are dedicated and are one of the best at recording word for word and action for action things that happen around you is that correct?”

I nodded and pulled out my book showing him my writing instrument which must have surprised him as he was surely expecting paper. No I write in stone sheet a thin piece of stone enchanted to withstand the passages of time and were really only used for permanent records. I told him that since my special talent was manipulation of rocks and minerals I could write down in stone sheet as fast if not faster than in paper. He seemed pleased and I was hired then and there.

I was so excited to have been hired that I didn’t see the mare that had arrived and almost ran into her if not for the fact that she held out a metallic rod to stop me from doing so. To my shock I was staring at the cream colored coat of another Alicorn that was known to all. Looking up further I could see a smile gracing her lips playfully as her closed eyes let her truly be identified as the one and only blind Alicorn of Generosity herself: Abundant Charity.

“Such a nice colt you have found Prem.” She said as she moved past me as if she knew where I was the whole time, her white mane shimmered as if it had crushed diamonds in it, waving ethereal like her compatriot. Of the chosen she was said to have been the loveliest of them all. Her symbol was also one that spoke of her nature perfectly, hooves extended out to relay friendship. If I had been a weaker stallion, as well as single, I might have been tempted to be one of the very large number that has tried to court her.

Premier looked to her as she came in with a chuckle. “He is new, I am sure he will get used to it eventually.” The pulsing maned Alicorn took a seat nearby and waited for his companion to do the same. “What brings you here this time Charity?”

The smile that was on her face slowly vanished before gave a sigh. “Dreamer was arguing with another Alicorn today.”

“More nonsense I take it?” Primer asked of her only to get her nod for an answer. “He needs to learn that Alicorns do not need to change if we are already happy.”

I had heard about this, it seemed that one of the chosen: Hopeful Dreamer, often was found arguing and even shouting at times at other Alicorns wanting them to change their ways or something along those lines. Or at least that is what I thought back then. Hopeful Dreamer was the seventh of the chosen to come about and represented, but what else, hope.

Charity sighed again and looked to her leader and spoke more candidly then I think she meant to with me there, though she may have forgotten about me at that point. “Something needs to be done, we need to all gather and talk to him and ask him why he wants our Alicorns to change. I would like to understand his reasoning as no one should be this adamant about something unless they truly believed in it.”

“No pony you mean Charity.” I personally don’t know why he corrected her there though no one did sound a bit strange. “As for a gathering, maybe you are right. For now as long as he is shouting and just arguing in general though nothing needs to come of it. If he starts abusing his station as a chosen though that is when we will step in. After all we all have our quirks; he could just be quirky and see something that is perfectly fine but in his mind isn’t.”

I personally wished it had been so as well. The meeting ended there and I was dismissed and told of the next time I would be needed. I couldn’t wait to tell Caeli Cor* that I had been accepted by the chosen as their scribe, it would make a really nice third date ice breaker.

Celestia blinked back a few misty tears that suddenly flowed to her eyes. ‘Mother, I haven’t heard your name in so long that I had nearly forgotten it.’ At the bottom of the page she noticed what the asterix was for as she then learned the name of her mother in modern day equestrian. ‘Hmm, it is Sky’s Heart. That is fitting for mother.’ Thinking about what she had read so far her mind came to a few thoughts of her own as her state of mind slowly drifted into slumber. Mostly that if Terra Cotta was shorter than the chosen, they must have been massive. Celestia liked to think she gained her height from her father and Luna their mother’s size.

Celestia’s last thoughts that night were of her mother’s pale rose colored coat and lavender mane.

First Lieutenant Cold Irons watched as the Princess of the Night was approaching. He had not wanted her to be called on but the circumstances were unusual where not only had it stumped him and others but his higher ups as well.

“Salutations Lieutenant please entreat us to why you have called us here.” The midnight blue Alicorn asked in the third person, something he thought was rather cute though would never say it out loud because of protocol.

The guard pony just sighed and ran his hoof through his enchanted mane that was the color of all the other Lunar Guard. “Sometime earlier this evening a murder occurred.” He would not have noticed the slight change of her face had he not been looking carefully as how she managed to wipe all traces of emotion from it. “The victim was a local noble of very minor rank. Seems her herd was gaining some reputation around Canterlot and she was out hobnobbing with others.”

“Please, spare us the details of her status for now and explain what has happened here.” Luna cut him off before he could continue to explain the professions of said victim’s herd.

The Lunar Guard just coughed into his hoof before turning his head. “Well the victim seemed to be taking a shortcut when she was accosted by a Pegasus who…if I am to believe the signs, bit out her throat. The problem is it looks like it was done solo yet there are signs that are getting mixed and implying more than one without any other signs.” He looked up to the Princess who had the same neutral look as before except it seemed to have a question in it, one that was easy to read: would you continue? “That isn’t all but I will get back to it. The reason some of the Guard think it may have been two is the two pieces of evidence, one the bite marks…they are fanged.”

There it was a change in the mask, a slight frown that vanished completely before she spoke up. “Signs of a Pegasus and fangs, surely you do not suspect a Thestral?”

Giving a sigh he held out his hoof and gave it a roll. “That is one of the theories yet I do not believe it. Mostly because there are also feathers from a black Pegasus at the scene, however there is no Pegasus in residence in Canterlot with a black coloration that matches which is why my colleagues are thinking two assailants. There is also the other matter.”

Raising an eyebrow at him he said nothing but led her into the alleyway. In the alleyway he knew she saw the guards being treated by high level unicorns as they got to the source of the problem and he heard her hiss.

On the ground were several black feathers, no doubt from the perpetrator of the act, except they were half melted and seemed to be made of some type of dark ooze. “Dark magic. Lieutenant, We take it the magicians treating the others have been treating them for magic poisoning as well?” Irons gave a nod and watched as her horn started to glow, that and every other pony in the alleyway was watching as well as she zapped the feathers from existence. “We are sorry but We cannot leave them here lest some other pony trod upon them and be tainted. Lieutenant you have our permission to treat any scene like this one as a quarantine zone but notify either myself or my sister when it happens.”

Giving a nod Cold Irons started giving the orders as he watched the Princess walk away, he didn’t want to tell her but there was one other theory one he didn’t want to say so as not to upset her. The third theory that it was Nightmare Moon who was doing these things, but he was sworn to protect his Princesses from all harm, even if it was just a bit of verbal harm.

Celestia had called him in for a reason today and as such he had brought more of his translated notes to give her, something he had not done for a week since he last gave her some, but there was just one problem: he was out of breath from the stairs and was currently taking a break on the bench at the top.

‘Novo, you back yet?’ There was no answer. ‘Buck, get back soon I know looking for our brother takes top priority but…never mind you can’t hear me anyways.’ Lego was lonely, simple as that, he had not heard from either brother of his for a while and while it was worrying he doesn’t feel any different hoping that confirmed they had not merged back with him.

“Excuse me, but loitering around the royal palace is a punishable offense, please remove yourself at once.” Lego looked over to see a white coated stallion looking down on him with his nose raised up in the air. The very air around the blonde maned pony seemed to be as stuffy as him and had Lego been in good health he would have been tempted to remark about it, however he wasn’t.

“Sorry about that, I was a bit winded from the climb; I will be on my way to my meeting now.” Lego said standing up despite the protests of his body, he doubt he would get much more done today at this rate of exhaustion.

“You are heading the wrong way, the exit to the castle is that way. Please leave and make sure you do not touch anything with your filthy hooves peasant.” Lego couldn’t believe what he was hearing from the pompous, arrogant…who did he think he is.

Giving an internal smile he looked over to him and spoke calmly. “Ahh I suppose so, I guess when I am locked up for missing a royal meeting I was summoned to, by Princess Celestia no less, I will have to give the Guard my best description of you, friend.”

He knew this noble jackass had heard him stretch out certain words in that sentence such as the Sunbutt’s name and title, as well as the word friend of course all this made him do was scoff. “As if somepony such as you would get summoned, but fine, I will escort you to the royal chambers just so I may see you get turned away then I shall have you arrested for using the word of the Princess in falsehood.”

The sickly body of Lego was protesting with each step that he had to keep up with the semi-trotting noble no doubt done on purpose if the glances of the grin on his face whenever he let out a cough was evident enough. The guards at the throne room opened the door for them both though it seemed the Princesses were discussing matters that they didn’t want others to hear as all conversation stopped when the door was opened.

“Auntie, I have brought this one here as he claimed to have a meeting with you. I apologize for the interruption.” Mr. Compass Rose spoke with as much false subservience in his voice as possible, or at least it seemed that way to Lego. “I am sure it is false and as such I will remove him at-”

“Ahh Lego come forward please we have much to discuss.” Celestia spoke over the fawning snob. “And thank you very much Prince Blueblood, I am sorry if it was an inconvenience.”

“-once and make sure to, what? I mean, of course Auntie it is the duty of those of royal blood to help others. Now I shall take my leave.” Blueblood claimed with the unspoken words of ‘before I make myself look more foolish’ added to the end…at least in Lego’s mind.

Making sure the royal heel was gone he turned back to Celestia and raised an eyebrow. “Auntie?”

The royal white pony just giggled into her hoof and smiled at him. “There are many greats implied in there.”

He was about to make a comment on how many greats there was in there but a coughing fit interrupted him making him pull out a hoofkerchief that he had started to carry around recently.

“Are thou alright Sir Lego?” Came the voice of the Night Princess in concern or at least it sounded that way as his eyes were closed from the intense coughing.

When the coughing was done he looked at the rag as he pulled it from his face and cringed, he had pushed himself more then he should have keeping up with the royal pain in the backside earlier. Quickly crumpling the rag up so that the Solar and Lunar pair wouldn’t see, he smiled and put it back in his saddle bags though he thought he saw something flash over Celestia’s face.

He waved his hoof and smiled wanting not to make them worry. “I am fine, it happens sometimes cause of my condition.”

“If thou are sure then We are glad to see thee recovering well.” Luna stated though Celestia seemed to want to say something but was interrupted when a guard came in.

The guard saluted and spoke loudly. “The train from Ponyville have arrived your majesties. The Elements will be escorted to the palace momentarily.”

Lego watched as Celestia dismissed the guard with some kind words and chuckles lightly and again asks her in a single word. “Elements?”

Giving a sheepish grin she rubbed her hoof across her other leg. “I may have called them here to give them a task and I may have forgotten as I have been caught up in a few things, one of which is namely your translation of our father’s book.”

“Ahh yes, We have found the read of your translations to be quite informative so far on the Elemental Alicorns. Though We are unsettled by the one known as Hopeful Dreamer.” Luna remarked which made both himself and Celestia as well curious and Luna slightly embarrassed it seems. “He just…reminds us of ourselves…before our fall.”

Lego knew what she was talking about as the first part of the translations he gave to Celestia had mostly described the confrontations between the Alicorn of magic and him. “I know what you mean, he is the Alicorn of Hope and the seventh to appear yet he seems more angry at the Alicorns then anything else. Especially in the parts I have brought you today.”

The stallion reached into his saddle bags and brought out the copies to give to the Princesses only for them to be levitated from his hold with golden light. “I am not going to lie to you Lego; I am most interested in seeing how this plays out.”

Giving her a chuckle he nodded. “I know what you mean, your father may have been a scribe but his work reads out like a novel. He was really talented.” Looking at the excited faces of both the Princesses he let out a yawn. “Well if you don’t mind I think I will take a small nap while waiting for my friends to arrive…if you do not mind Princesses, it should also give you both a few minutes to read some of the notes there too.”

It was less than a moment later with their permission that they both had their noses in the notes while he had been given use of one of the royal pillows to doze on.

Premier Legerdemain walked down the street with myself at his side and as well as another of the Alicorns who was flapping her wings lightly and moving forward. “Premier, we really ought to forgive him, we all have our places and he feels that his representation is nearly gone.”

The pulsing mane didn’t even move as Legerdemain looked to his fellow Alicorn, whom had a striking blue coat with her transparent mane looking to be made of glass. “Clear Absolve, yes we all do have our elements which we represent, of which you are doing a fine job trying to forgive others, but his is Hope for buck’s sake. How is his not at an all time high with everything in perfect harmony?”

Clear Absolve was the ninth Alicorn to appear and represented Forgiveness, her symbol was a white blazing phoenix rising from the ashes, and I thought it was rather fitting for a pony who gave second chances. “I don’t think he sees it that way Premier.”

“You can call me Prem, Clear, I do not mind at all.” Over the last few years of my interactions and being Premier’s scribe I had found that I was able to read my employer’s emotions rather well and it was obvious that the Alicorn of magic had a romantic interest in his fellow chosen Alicorn.

Clearly flustered at that she waved off the thought. “I am sorry but I couldn’t, you are our leader and should deserve the respect that comes with it.”

Legerdemain was about to say something when a flash of magic from nearby the town caused everything to turn an off white for a moment before it cleared up bringing with it the Alicorn’s frustration. “It seems our comrade is letting off steam…again. Let us go deal with him. Come Clear Absolve, Terra Cotta let us go deal with this once more.”

Taking flight I had to push myself a bit harder than normal to keep up with the larger wings of the chosen till Clear noticed myself falling behind and slowed which in turn made my employer slow his pace as well, for which I was thankful for. It took a few minutes to get out of the town but when we came to the nearby forest the flash of lights playing off the crystals nearly blinded me for a moment. Part of the forest had been turned to crystal and seemed to originate from a clearing.

Landing in the clearing it was obvious who had done it, his black hooves and fetlocks turned dark grey then light grey before finally turning white near the top of his body and head. His mane looked to be made of liquid silver, fitting as Hope had often been described as a silver lining by some. The symbol of the Alicorn was a silver thread in a circle surrounding a single silver heart.

“Hopeful Dreamer, it is my hope that you can explain yourself.” There it was another of those emotions I had learned to read off Premier, he didn’t like Dreamer it seemed, either for the trouble that his fellow chosen caused or for some other reason I have not been able to learn, but it was obvious.

Giving a snort the Alicorn of hope turned and looked at each of us with his molten silver eyes that seemed to cool slightly as he took a breath. “You hope…right, at this point you would be one of the rare ones who do.” Giving a sigh he looked around to the crystals he had made and spoke some more. “Alicorns don’t hope Premier, they are content, and as such there is no need to hope when you have everything you need in the world. Alicorns are content that is not the same as hope.”

Premier scoffed at that and then started to chuckle. “They do not hope? Of course they do and it is because they are content that they do so. When you have no fear of things to harm you, no fear of being without food and shelter, you are free to dream and think of what you may do with your free time.”

I know that is what I did with Caeli Cor, at times she was all I could hope for and dream of. “Take it.” I was broken out of my thoughts when I noticed the silvery glow of levitation in front of me, it was holding a crystal that shimmered and shined in a rainbow hue. “Go on, I am sure that it will help you fulfill your hopes.”

I widened my eyes, it was the first time something like that had happened, he had read my hopes just from looking at me. That would be the first time I realized just how close each of the chosen were to their elements. It was also the first time I started to doubt the truth of my employer’s words that ponies were hopeful because they were content.

A loud laughter brought me back to attention as I had taken the crystal into my telekinetic grasp. “See, our ponies dream and hope all the time you had just proven that you are wrong here and now. So grow up Dreamer, stop sulking cause of what you THINK you believe because it isn’t the truth.”

Without another word Legerdemain left with a quick teleport spell leaving a scorch mark behind on the crystallized ground. “I am so sorry Dreamer, please forgive him.”

With that Clear Absolve took flight as did I, but I clearly heard the next words as surely as anything else. “Yeah, forgiveness, that isn’t something that will be given to me.”

I thought I saw Clear Absolve look quickly to me to see if I heard it however something told me to keep a blank look on my face which seemed to pacify and calm the Alicorn of forgiveness.

“Turn the page sister, We wish to read mo-” Luna didn’t get to finish that thought as the doors to the chamber opened and in walked six mares and one small dragon, all of whom she considered her friends. “Ahh welcome Element bearers and friends one and all.”

She watched as each of them bowed as they walked over to them Twilight herself giving an affectionate nuzzle to Celestia herself. “How are you and your friends doing my most faithful student?”

“We are doing good Princess. Though we are all curious as to why you called us to Canterlot, is something wrong?” Twilight asked of her teacher though for some reason Luna couldn’t help but find the worried look of the student as adorable with how she acted around her sister.

“Ya Princess, Ah don’t mean to sound suspicious but ya’ll don’t really call us all to the castle unless somethin’ is happenin’.” The southern drawl of the element of honesty, while charming, spoke the truth even if she didn’t know it.

“Does it have to do with Lego sleeping on the princess’ pillow? OH is he the new royal consort?” The bouncing pink mare asked as she pointed to the pillow behind the princesses that held the still sleeping stallion. Luna briefly wondered how tired he was to be able to sleep through all of the talking in the echoing throne room.

The Princess of the Night heard several of the elements speak up at once. “Lego?” Was the word spoken though it seemed Twilight herself had spoken it a little more loudly then the rest, which the Princess of Dreams couldn’t help but grin at. She never spoke about the personal dreams she had come across and governed as some were of a more personal nature then others. Especially the type that the lavender coated unicorn had about the red coated, though now grey and sickly, stallion.

All of the elements voices must have woken him up as he slowly stirred as they all went over to greet. “Oh hey everypony, it is good to see you all again.”

Luna and her sister had a good laugh at the sound of his oomph as he was hugged by them all and started to catch up to them, though Celestia pulled her sister aside to speak to her. “My sister you are better at the royal mask then myself, tell me, do you think we should tell Twilight and her friends about Lego?”

This had been something she had thought of doing many times and each time the pain in her heart held her tongue. “Tis not our place to tell them sister, Lego is aware of his limits which he is approaching and is trying his best to live ignoring them. He doesn’t want to burden others with it nor does he wish to see them sad when thinking of him. He wishes to live without them seeing his tombstone.”

“How long do you think he has left?” The Solar monarch asked seriously.

Luna shook her head. “With the remnants of the curse choking off his mana well, his general health, especially seeing the blood in his hoofkerchief, maybe a few months left, less than a year though for sure before his body gives out.”

The sisters were silent once more for a bit before it was time for another question, one that Luna knew was coming. “How is the investigation coming?”

Sighing, the blue Alicorn shook her head. “It isn’t. Whoever is doing it though is getting bolder, the time between killings is growing shorter and shorter and the scenes are getting bloodier each time we find one. What is more is that the use of dark magicks are becoming more apparent as with this last attack he killed one of my Lunar Guard a lieutenant of mine named Cold Irons.”

“I am so sorry Lulu, was he a good pony?” Her sister asked of her.

She gave a nod. “Yes he was, he was hiding the fact many in the guard think it is I as Nightmare Moon who is doing these crimes. Though it was with his sacrifice he has managed to clear my name. Not only did he manage to spill the blood of his assailant, dark and foul blood that it was, tainted not only with dark magicks but easily shown as not mine when I had marked myself to show the guard I bled as other ponies. Crimson, not black and foul such as the one who has done these things and it is my vow to catch and deliver justice to this one who would dare take from our ponies such a valuable thing as safety.”

Again a moment of silence before Luna could feel her sister’s wing over her in comfort. “We both will Lulu.” Luna couldn’t help but nuzzle up into her sister for a moment sharing in the affection. “It seems our guests are nearly done, let us call for some lunch then we will tell them of our plans.”

Gathering herself once more to get into a more elegant way of speaking the smaller Alicorn nodded. “Of course let us give our ponies a feast of a lunch to prepare them for the hardship to come.”

The Solar Princess nodded. “Reforming Discord will be no easy task but I believe that they can do it.”

Novo sighed in frustration, he wouldn’t say he was lost but he was definitely not sure of where he was currently. He had found some interesting memories that were sealed up that he couldn’t access and had spent a good amount of time trying to open the doors and locks that kept them sealed, to no avail. However there were many chains on the doors, some of which even led away to other memories creating a series of locks he knew would all tumble if he could find the core memory that held them all back.

“Except following all the chains has gotten me lost when they started crisscrossing over each other.” Novo spoke aloud to himself. “AHH come on I know I didn’t come this way before yet there is a familiar door with that same stupid black goo over it.”

The door as if in response to him opened up showing no light from inside. Though a voice could be heard, it seemed to groan for a moment and it sparked more hope in Novo then he had felt in a long time. Not even thinking he ran right into the room as he looked up to something he would never thought he would see, at least like it was.

There hung Velox ropes of the goo seem to have all of his limbs locked and seemed to have spider webbed all over his body. “Hang on brother I will get you down quickly.”

The dark blue coat of the Pegasus stirred with a breath before he opened his gray eyes looking down. “Hey there Novo, long time no see…I really wish I could have warned you but he kinda keeps me drained down here.”

Novo’s eyebrow raised as he heard that. “Drained? Keeps? Wait warn?”

The door that Novo had ran through in the mindscape to come in there closed with a wet thud as ooze filtered to cover the door. “Ya, again sorry I couldn’t warn you.”

With that ropes lashed out entangling Novo despite his best efforts even as he screamed out he could hear a voice. “Oh how wonderful, now I have the second piece and it’s a unicorn. Oh how I can’t wait to play with Canterlot in this form.”

“Who are you, what do you want?” Novo called out to the black abyss that surrounded him.

It only chuckled at him sinisterly. “Oh don’t worry, you, Velox, and I will have a lot of time to talk about that, though I must say, I am looking forward to your screams as I drain you.”

Novo was about to ask what he meant when the ropes started to spider web out onto his coat, digging into his skin and burrowing into him. All he could manage to do was scream.

Author's Notes:

Ahh another chapter done. Sorry this one took so long, I was writing out the story that Terra Cotta has written on the side and using that as a reference to put into the story piece by piece where needed. Choosing said pieces is sometimes hard. There were also errors when writing that I had to correct so things would be how they should be and not with a huge gaping hole of logic.

You say logic when you are applying it to magical talking ponies and Princesses?

Don't you?

...This is why I don't try to use logic with you.

Cause I win all the time against you.

Yeah sure lets go with that.