Silver, the Apples, Fleur, and myself made our way back to Ponyville. I was a quarter of the way back before I remembered something. "You guys go on ahead," I say. "Just remembered something."

"What," Fleur said.

"You'll see," I say before turning back to the battlefield.

I shook my head at the sight. The Caribou forces had come back to get Dainn, I guess that was to be expected, but had left all the females, mare and doe alike. I swear, I thought the one good thing, however twisted it is, about the Caribou I could say is that they look after their pets. Apparently not. But it was two mares, one black collared and one red collared, that got my attention.

Both were standing, and trying to reassure those that were crying. At least the Caribou couldn't remove that out of them.

I stopped behind them and stood at attention, the sound of crunching grass causing them to turn around. "What do you want?" Luna asked.

"I simply wished to offer you, your sister, and all the females here a place to live in safety," I say. "And given the fact the Caribou abandoned each of you, you need it."

"Why should we accept," Luna said.

"Because I am probably he only one who can defeat Dainn," I say.

"And how's that?"

"This," I say, holding my mauler in front of my chest, the rainbow glow emitting from it. "I'm sure you recognize the colors?"

"You," Celestia said. "You're the one who absorbed the Tree's power."

"Indeed, I am, Celestia," I say. "I am curious: are you a slut, or did you wear that collar to make Luna do the same, saving her from physical punishment at the Caribou's hands?"

The look on both alicorn's faces was priceless. Luna's was one of anger, while Celestia's was a mix of surprise and joy. Luna opened her mouth to retort, but Celestia answered first. "You are intelligent, if you could guess my reason to begin with," she said. "Yes, I did it in hope that Luna would submit and save her the pain." She looked at her sister. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, Lulu. I wanted to, but I didn't have a chance." Back at me. "What's your name?"

"Mau'ual," Highness," I say. "Newly appointed Valus, think general, of the Resistance. One of the battalions, at least. This was my first battle against the Caribou."

"So you are from another world," Luna asked, still looking at me with slight hate.

"I am," I say. "I detest what the Caribou have done." I shrugged. "I can understand ponies wanting to do that kind of stuff in private, but when you overthrow a government that's run well for more than a thousand years simply because of the gender of their ruler. . . well, not even the gates of Tartarus can save you now."

"Why did the Tree choose you?" Luna asked. "If what we saw earlier, you are but nothing but a killing machine."

"Because I understand why the Caribou fight," I say. "Same with the resistance. Both see themselves as good, and the other as evil. To actually win a war, you must understand that, and the Tree knew that, so it gave me the last of its power."

"What do you mean, 'the last of its power'?" Celestia asked.

"When I found it, vines were draining its energy. It asked the question as to if I was fighting for good, which relates back to what I said about good and evil, and I answered correctly, and it gave me the last power it had, which included the ability to give mares their horns and wings back."

"And the new alicorn?" Luna asked.

"That would be the bit of consciousness the Tree transferred with the power. Now, it determines who is ascended," I say. "So, what do you two say to my offer?"

Both sisters looked at one another, but it was a different voice than their's that answered. "Well, we are." I turned behind me, and saw a group of mares and does, a doe in front. "Most of us just submitted to avoid torture," the doe said. "Your the first one that even has a chance at defeating Dainn." Both the doe, and those behind her, to my honest surprise, bowed to me then. "We will assist you if needed."

Wow. Honestly, that's all I can say. Wow. I did not expect this at all. I mean, I figured some of the mares would want to join, but not just about all of the females the Caribou had brought them. "I thank you, then," I say. I then turn back to the sisters. "I still await your answer, you majesties. If you choose to join the fight, you will be my superiors."

Again, both sisters looked at each other, and I think I saw a slight mischievous grin on Luna's face that Celestia returned. "Actually, Mau'ual," Celestia said, "when my sister and I found the Tree, we also made a pact with it that, should one rise with its power, we would follow them, and step down from our thrones."

"And, seeing as how you wield the Tree's power," Luna continued, "that would mean we are to step down, or would, if we still had our thrones, and give you the throne of Equestria."

Under my helmet, I smiled. Damn, I hate politicians. "I would be honored to accept the position, your majesties," I say with a bow. Rising back up, I say, "Head back to Ponyville." I then look towards the forest. "One more thing I need to check." Before anything else could be said, I activated my thrusters, flew up, and made my way for the Everfree.

I landed at the outside of the old castle of the Royal sisters. It was in the same state it was from what it would have been if this world had made it to season four. Hopefully what I needed was inside. I walked into the old castle, and made my way past the throne room. I knew what I wanted wasn't there.

I was probably in there for ten minutes before I found what I was looking for. A large room with broken windows on one side, and, near the center, broken, baby blue armor. There you are, I think as I walk over to it.

Just before the broken armor, I felt a sharp sensation in my head. Are you sure this is a wise idea, Mau'ual? the Tree asked.

"Not really, no," I say. "But, with your help, will I be able to at least complete the first part of it."

Yes, but after, I have no guarantee as to what will happen.

"What's life without a little risk?" I ask, bringing my mauler up, the rainbow aura around it. "Here goes nothing," I say before walking just short of the armor.

I then bring my mauler up before slamming into the ground, the broken armor being enveloped by the glow.

The armor floated up, and began to reassemble as I stepped back, beginning to shield my eyes, even with my helmet on, from an extremely bright light. Once all of the armor bits had been enveloped, the light took on a darker shade, turning nearly all black, and a being could be seen growing in the orb.

When the orb faded, the being was a mare with black skin, an etheirc, purple tail and hair, a sharp horn, and majestic wings, wearing the armor that had reassembled. "Who has summoned me?" Nightmare Moon asked.

"I have, you majesty," I say, bowing. "My name is Mau'ual, and, though they are unaware of it, Equestria needs your help."

"How so?" the alicorn asked, to which I replied with but one word.

"Caribou."

Her eyes widened. "Those beasts have invaded?"

"And conquered," I say. "It has been three years since then, and this has been the only chance to summon you."

"There is only one way you could have brought me back," she said. "One is Luna gave herself willingly, which I doubt happened, or," again, her eyes widened, "you wield the power of the Tree."

"It would be the second one, highness," I say, holding my mauler over my chest, the rainbow aura glowing.

"What of Celestia and Luna," Nightmare asked out of the blue. "What happened to them?"

"When Canterlot fell, they were enslaved by the King, but I was able to free them earlier, and, due to a pact they have with the Tree-"

"No need to explain it," she said. "I am bound by the same pact as they are. And even if I were not, I would at least tolerate fighting along side them to remove the Caribou." And, to my surprise, she bowed. "And I also made my own pact with the Tree before Celestia's student and her friends used the Elements that, if the Caribou were to return and it passed its power to somepony else, I would do so. I imagine the only problem would be Celestia trying to remove me."

"If she tries, I'll give her back to the Caribou," I say. Not like she'd give me a reason to so long as I kept fighting for the ponies. Still, if she did, I would. "You need not worry about her."

"Thank you, I suppose," she said. "Shall we leave, then?"

"That would be best," I say. From there, the two of us left the castle, and, upon exiting, took to the sky, and made our way to Ponyville.

We touched down near the town square. Either fortunately or unfortunately, Celestia and Luna were there, and it looke dlike they were helping Fleur and the others get stuff ready for travel. In the time I had been gone, the two had gotten clothes, for Celestia, it was a white T-shirt with blue jeans on, while Luna had the same, only difference being her shirt was black. Good to know that there were a few pairs of civilian clothes still in the town.

Both turned around, and Fleur looked up, and began to slowly back away. Can't really blame her. "Ah, Mau'ual, you're- WHAT'S SHE DOING HERE?!" Luna said, and both her and Celestia took a defensive stance. Oh, did I mention Nightmare's got her horn and wings? Yeah, they can't do shit to her if they tried.

"Relax," I say. "She is bound by both your word to the Tree, and she made her own that if the circumstances we are in were to happen, she'd look past her. . . history, with you two, and help remove the Caribou."

"I still don't see why we should trust her," Celestia said.

"Because I say so," I say, crossing my arms. "If I so much as even get a hint you tried to get her out of the resistance, I will personally give you back to the Caribou with a note saying they can do anything sexual to either of you, and I won't have an issue there. Are we clear?"

Both begrudgingly said yes. "Good," I say. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there is one other thing I must take care." With that, I activated my thrusters, and flew up to the same height I had two days prior before plunging downward in the two handed mauler strike position, hitting the ground with enough force for a crater to form. I was a little shaky upon coming out of it, but I was still up, and saw that the unicorn and pegasus mares had regaied their horns and wings, respectively, which meant Celestia and Luna had regained both. I had impacted close to town hall, so I made my way there, which is when I saw my guess was right, as well as the three alicorns, not counting Fleur in that count, also had on Psion armor. Okay, next time I talk to the Tree, find out why the armor is made with the wave. Luna and Nightmare, expectedly, had Void flayer mantles, while Celestia had Solar. Go figure.

"And with that, we are. . .," I trail off, looking at Fluer, who caught on instantly.

"Nearly ready," she finished. "Just need to get the remaining supplies situated, which should take about an hour."

I nodded. "Get it taken care of, and get the three new flayers oriented," I say. "We leave today even if we need to leave supplies here." God knows we've had too many interruptions as is.

She saluted. "Got it, Mau'ual." She then turned to the other three alicorns. "Come on, ladies." With that, she turned and left, the other alicorns behind her. Damn, she definitely makes a good Val.

Anyway, an hour later, the members of the Resistance, those who stayed behind, Ponyville that wished to fight, and those from the plain, I'm not going to say fight, honestly, more like us showing up, and only one of them fighting. Beside me were Silver and Fleur. "Everything ready?" I ask Silver, who had her helmet off. When the others had found out, I gave them all the same threat I had Celestia and Luna, so she didn't worry about others attacking her.

"Yep," she said. "Just waiting on your order."

I nodded. "Move out."