"Tell me how you got the others to approve of us sharing the same cabin." Arkon says to Daring.

"Research and questions." Daring says.

"Uh huh." Arkon says not convinced.

Daring smiles. "I'm serious. I need to know more about the area and what Skyhold has so we can be prepared for when we are attacked."

"He commanded me only to show you the way." Arkon says.

Daring nods as she takes out a sheet of paper. "So what can you tell me?"

"What do you wish to know specifically?" Arkon asks.

Daring smiles as she holds up a quill. "Well, what defenses are in Skyhold?"

"When I was raised, there were more than five thousand elite defenders there with many magical defenses as well." Arkon says.

Daring raises an eyebrow. "Any magical wards or traps we can use?"

"I cannot say if any still are there." Arkon says.

Daring sighs. "We'll make our own then. Now, what's the last you remember before being frozen?"

"Anything particular like the battle of red fields or the culture of Arkado?" Arkon asks.

Daring stops as she slowly stares at him.

"Seems I have hit the nail on the head there." Arkon says.

Daring slowly nods.

Before Arkon could say anything there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Arkon says.

Rainbow peeks her head in the door. "Hey, want to come to get some food?"

"I'll go get some and I will be back with something for both of us." Arkon says getting up and leaving Daring staring at a staff that would be a perfect museum piece.

Rainbow chuckles at her expression before closing the door slowly. "So cool." She whispered.

Dusk fidgeted nervously as he tried to stay still. "I don't know about this."

Sentire smiles. "Well, this will happen once you have eyes of my mates on us so it's only right."

Berry chuckles. "Come on Dusky. Just do it."

Dusk frowns and groans. "Fine."

Sentire giggles as she lays back against Dusk's chest. "Well, I'm waiting."

Dusk grimaces at the thought of others watching from the other side of the room as Applejack raises an eyebrow of them, Elusive just held a smile, Butterscotch was blushing heavily as he bled from his nose and Berry was…well…smiling. Dusk sighs and hugs Sentire and brings her in close and cuddles her. "This is so uncomfortable." He whispered into her ear.

"I can't believe any of you have such little self-respect." Applejack says leaving.

Berry chuckles. "He'll fall in…soon." He said in an evil and echoey voice until the door swung open and smacked him in the face and sent him to the ground.

"Shut up Berry." Applejack says before slamming the door shut again, unaware he hit Berry.

"Yep, I can feel the choice entering his mind and conforming him to the dark side." Berry said in a mechanical and breathy voice before sticking his head out the door. "We have cookies, want some?" He calls to Applejack.

"Berry, that is enough and why must I be her pillow?" Dusk asks.

Sentire giggles. "Because you have soft feathers." She said snuggling into him.

"You know Butterscotch has feathers too right?" Dusk asks.

Sentire looks over to Butterscotch who eeps and ties to hide behind his wings before Sentire sits up and walks to him before bending down to his height. "Will you be willing to hold me?" She asks.

Dusk, using this distraction, tries to sneak away.

"Don't even try and get away my future mate." Sentire said looking to him as he freezes. "Get over here." She said pointing near her as Butterscotch starts to hold her in his lap.

Dusk groans.

Arkon walks in with two portions of food to see Daring examining his staff.

Daring smiles as she looks it over. "Amazing. This is a very good metal."

"Let me guess, not one was ever retrieved or studied?" Arkon asks setting the food down.

Daring nods. "Yes, one of the most famous magic staffs maybe. Just need more time with it."

"You know why the staff was never recovered?" Arkon asks.

Daring looks to him. "Because it was trapped with you?"

"No, because all staffs like mine have a series of magical security along with self destruction in case of capture. You know the ruins of Yndar or did records of that place not survive?" Arkon asks.

Daring looks slightly surprised. "You know of Yndar?"

"It was before I was born, but the records of the temple told we got a request to go there because the town was taken over by demons and they were raising the dead. An entire team was sent. None returned, but a blast that destroyed the town was theorized to be one of the mages activating his staff's self-destruct function before he died." Arkon says.

Daring looks back to the staff. "That powerful?"

"Yes, these staves are one of our weapons that give an edge." Arkon says.

Daring raises an eyebrow as she looks closer at it. "Edge?"

"More blunt hit then cutting, when facing undead, more effective to bash them then cut." Arkon says giving her the food.

Daring smiles as she starts to eat. "Anything else?" She asks trying to look it over more into the designs.

Arkon sit down with his food. "Rainbow did make a request." Arkon says.

Daring hums as she looks at him. "What request?"

"For some reason, she wants me to continue this with my hood down." Arkon says before pulling his hood down.

Daring stops and stares at him.

"So shall we continue?" Arkon asks taking a bite.

Daring gulps. "I don't…I…" She tries to say as she still stared at him.

Arkon keeps eating as he waits.

Daring blinks as she tries to regain control. "Wha…what happened to you?"

"Was frozen in time for more than a thousand years when Artemis and Solaris were barely a hundred years old." Arkon says.

Daring reaches out to him. "The markings…?"

"Ah, the tattoo they are…actually never discovered what they mean. Maybe rank or something to do with me." Arkon says looking into the mirror to see the root like silver tattoo from the right side of his forehead to his right eyebrow.

Daring moves into view and was about to touch it before stopping. "Can I…?"

"You may. I mean it is just a tattoo. It's not a snake that will bite." Arkon says.

Daring slowly touches it and feels the raised ridges of it. "Wow." She breathlessly whispered as she leans in close and sees the fine detail. "This is…amazing."

"Yeah, so are the tattoos in this time as good?" Arkon asks.

Daring shakes her head as she keeps looking his markings more. "Are there…anymore?"

"No." Arkon says.

Daring then looks to him in the eyes. "Do they…do anything?"

"I do not know." Arkon says.

Daring sighs as she finally looks away. "I hate being like that. Sorry."

"No need." Arkon says looking out the window.

Daring tilts her head at him. "What's wrong?"

Arkon says nothing as he keeps watching the scenery go by giving off a vibe that he was afraid of something to her.

Daring puts her plate down and goes over to him. "Arkon, is something wrong?" She asks again.

"A…a part of me doesn't want to return." Arkon says.

Daring sits by him. "Why?"

"I'm afraid of what I will find." Arkon says.

Daring has him slowly turn around. "And what do you think you will find?"

"Skyhold's priesthood believed in having agents constantly in the field no matter the risk. If one hasn't been seen in so long, it stands to reason…" Arkon trails off.

Daring sadly looks down as she lets go of him. "I see. You believe that your kind is all dead."

"Yes and Skyhold must be a ruin or a nest for monsters by now." Arkon says.

Daring grabs him and completely turns him around. "Arkon, we will get it back and I will help, for you."

"What is lost can never be recovered, but the legacy can live on." Arkon says.

Daring nods. "And we will bring it back. Stop doubting all this and just at least give it a chance."

"There is something that a priest told me as a child that I am remind of now." Arkon says.

Daring smiles a bit. "And that is?"

"The one thing you can never run away from is yourself and the one thing you can never recover is your past." Arkon says.

Daring looks down sadly again. "Do all your kind just tells you that you can forget about your past and think it will be forgotten?"

"No, that was not the meaning. He meant you mustn't become unable to move forward and accept what has happened or who you lost along the way. Live on is the main thing he was saying. That was the final thing the old stallion told me before he passed on." Arkon says.

Daring sighs in relief. "Good, so why can't you?"

"Maybe…the past is all I had for the longest time." Arkon says before he explained what he was and that he originally was just created for a single purpose. "I am trying to move forward, but it is far harder than most think and this world is so used to peace, that they have forgot true pain and despair. Ironically, we achieved the dream of many, but now we are weaker from it." Arkon says.

Daring looks away. "Yes, it will do that to you. But we have prevailed and made more connections than ever thought possible. Share the glory and further pain."

"You, like I actually understand pain." Arkon says.

Daring sighs. "We have felt pain. Another way than just a sword cut. We have felt loss and emotions too strong for their body to take it.

Arkon wraps his arms around her and his horn lights up and the light dies down soon after. "I see you have lost others."

Daring nods. "Yes, my travels are dangerous which is why I try and work alone."

"So he was a good friend you were developing feelings for?" Arkon asks.

Daring sighs. "Almost."

"It wasn't your fault he couldn't control his greed and doomed himself." Arkon says holding her.

Daring lays her head against him. "Arkon?"

"Yes?" Arkon asks.

Daring looks up to him. "Can I see more of you?"

"We will be seeing more of each other for this entire trip. From there, we shall see." Arkon says.

Daring smiles lightly as she rests up against him. "Welcome to the new world."

"And soon to be entering the old." Arkon says as it starts to snow.

Daring giggles as she tries to look outside as well. "Just know…this contacting between us is the best life I have had in a long time."

"Does every meeting you have involve a kidnapping attempt?" Arkon asks.

Daring shakes her head. "Not all the time. Sometimes they want to use a body."

"Oh come on, what did you do to piss off ghosts?" Arkon asks.

Daring rolls her eyes and smiles. "Just found very important things that are like keys to the start of a treasure hunt."

Arkon does a facepalm. "And you never wonder if they are cursed or something?"

Daring chuckles nervously. "I do my research."

"Before or after the curse?" Arkon asks.

Daring sighs. "After."

Arkon facepalms again and says nothing.

Daring looks away embarrassed. "I gave it back."

Arkon looks at her carefully.

Daring shakes her head a bit. "But there a few things I won't give back."

Arkon starts moving his staff out of her reach.

Daring chuckles. "Not that. Something entirely different."

Arkon raises an eyebrow at her.

Daring nods. "But…maybe later. Right now we have worry about Skyhold."

"Uh huh?" Arkon asks.

Daring sighs. "Any case, what else can you tell me about Skyhold?"

"Not much to really say about it though it's more of a castle or fortress than a temple." Arkon says.

Daring smiles. "And that's what we need. Maybe we can restore it soon and make it better even."

Arkon says nothing as he resumes eating.

Daring looks to him carefully. "Aren't you happy at least we are heading back?"

"Not all too excited to tell the truth." Arkon says.

Daring tries to smile as she eats again. "Well, maybe we can try to enjoy it. Seeing an all-powerful castle, highlight of my life."

Arkon just shakes his head as he eats away as Daring joins in her eating.

Sentire hums happily as the last few days have been enlightening. Talking with the rest of Dusk's friends and getting to know them, minus Applejack, have been fun and was figuring out their likes and dislikes while also getting some free cuddles and even a chastise kiss from Elusive.

"Naughty stallions." She said to herself giggling as she heads down to the dining car. She hums again and walks past the stallions' rooms until one quickly opened and pulled her inside by her blouse collar and then the door closes behind her before being pushed against the wall.

"Listen missy, what you are doing is shameless as it is. You can't be like this." Applejack said holding a deep frown.

Sentire just held a smile. "But is it shameless to you or your friends and the ones around us?"

Applejack reels his head back. "What?" He asks confused.

Sentire giggles. "Dusk isn't shameless, in fact he's willing to give this a try. Berry is…well…Berry. Elusive, as he would like to put it, a romantic partner I think is the term. And Butterscotch, very loving and very nice feathers. Not as soft as Dusk, but still good. However, there is something holding you back, isn't there? Those stallions don't have shame and would rather be a loving family, why can't you?"

"Because I have standards and know how to act." Applejack says.

Sentire gains a pondering face. "So what about being in public? Kissing and holding?"

Applejack's frown grew.

Sentire gets confused. "So you don't want to tell you're in love? Keep your whole life locked up in private?"

Applejack huffs.

Sentire then smiles. "But what are your standards?"

"Learn public standards." Applejack says.

Sentire leans in. "You can have a private life. You don't have to bring public into this. Unless you want to?"

Applejack glares and storms off away from her.

Sentire smiles gently and blocks his path. "Just tell me, do you have an interest in me?"

"Not until you clean up your act." Applejack says.

Sentire sighs and looks away. "I see. I won't stop you if you don't have an interest." She said before stepping aside for him.

Applejack walks out steaming mad.

"Taking bets, how long his stubbornness will last?" Berry says.

Elusive smiles. "Just a little harmony test and he'll be all over her." He whispered back as they peek out the door.

Sentire smiles sadly. "I guess I can go with Berry's list instead of Dusk. At least decent stallions are on it unlike Dusk's amazing stallions list. Guess he was wrong about one." Sentire said taking out both the lists and throws Dusk's away to Applejack's direction.

"What list?" Berry asks.

Dusk smirks a bit. "I made a list of the stallions who would be good for her. Then I also told that you know the ponies in town so you must have a list of good potential stallions. Though I'm sure she's guilt tripping him."

"I didn't make no list." Berry says.

Dusk smiles. "And she's smart enough to bluff."

"Was I supposed to?" Berry asks his reflection in his own little world.

"No, just bluff your way through if Applejack asks." Another pony like him said.

"What's this?" Applejack asks picking up the paper.

Sentire smiles to him. "Dusk's list. He did point out that the stallions on that list were the best they could be for me. But he was wrong about one. Like any other pony. I guess I have to go with these stallions." She said holding up another list with random names from Ponyville. "Who's Wheat Brew like?" She asks looking at one.

"A stuck up drunk." Applejack says.

Sentire nods as she crosses that name off. "I guess that's bad. "What about…?"

"A swindler, can't tell up from down…" Applejack says going down the list.

Sentire grabs his hand and stops him. "Why are you helping me if you have no interest in me?"

Applejack says nothing and leaves the train car.

Sentire giggles as she walks away. "I'll get him." She whispered to herself.

"No Berry, I just want you to double check the script." Berry says to the mirror.

All the rest of the stallions don't give a reaction as they think normal things as Sentire comes back into the room. "So how did I do?" She asks to some smirking stallions.

"So tell us." Rainbow says looking at Daring with Spitfire.

Daring sighs. "Well…I can tell you he's afraid of being the last one."

"Oh?" Glide asks interested.

Daring nods. "Yeah, try being frozen for a thousand years and come back to a dead castle where most of your kind lives."

"I see." Spitfire says as they have a seldom moment before Glide tries to change the subject.

"So what did you think of his looks?" Glide asks.

Daring grins. "They are amazing. Very unique and better than the other stallions out there."

"What about his tattoo? You know a lot about ancient history, what do you know?" Glide asks.

Daring sighs. "I don't know about this one. I have never come across this. Maybe we would be the first to understand what is going on."

"So best guess right now?" Spitfire asks.

Daring shrugs. "Maybe it's an end of rite tattoo for the school he went too…maybe?"

"Yeah, maybe like…" Rainbow suddenly stops.

Daring and the rest look to her. "What?" Daring asks.

"I just realized I never seen his cutie mark." Rainbow says.

All the mares now become confused. "What would that be?" Glide now wonders.

"I don't know…" Rainbow says before all four mares started to get a smirk and the same idea.

Daring chuckles. "Shall we go ambush him?"

"He has to go to the bathing car sometime." Rainbow adds.

They all grin at the thought. "Wonder how his coat looks like?" Spitfire asks.

"To the bathing cart, but someone go get Sentire to get him to go take a bath." Rainbow says.

They all look to her.

"Alright just get set up." Rainbow says.

All the mares chuckles as they quickly got up and Rainbow grumbled as she headed back to the room car. "Why me? Why do I have to do this?"