‘Glimmering Wisp. We are close to the nest. I’ll guard while you scout from the northern ridge,’ the cloaked creature spoke in it’s thoughts as it jumped down from the tree branches, landing silently within a circle of wingleaf bushes choked by honeysuckle vines. The figure quickly scouted the surrounding area and noticing no immediate dangers, calmed down, loosening its vice-like grip on the cherry wood bow in hand; then waited.

‘Alright Xaldon I’ve reached the ridge... Cac! We’re too late! The nest has been overrun by trolls and it seems they even killed the drake mother,’ the bookish voice answered inside Xaldon’s head after a few minutes. ‘Alright, Xaldon, what should we do? Trolls aren’t supposed to be this far north!’

The cloaked Zaurask’s head lifted up a little and closed its eyes to focus his answer. ‘They breed like rabbits, and they’ve already gotten a taste for drake and wyvern blood. We must eliminate them before they become a threat to our friends.’ The youth then opened his eyes and jumped over the bushes, barely dodging the creeper vines, he rushed up a moderate incline and met up with a lavender unicorn. Slowing down, he calmly stepped up next to her.

Not even flicking her ear in response to his arrival, the lavender filly spoke. “Took you long enough. I figured out a plan to take out the trolls without any survivors, but it’ll require that I handle them personally while you watch for stragglers, alright?” She then met his green slits with her own lavender pupils.

“I see no problem with it, but how will you keep them from escaping? I thought you didn’t like killing?” The green scaled ranger asked.

“I’ll walk in there acting like a wounded pony from one of the distant villages and when they get close enough, I’ll spring the trap and divert the stragglers in your direction. Your bow should be able to take care of the rest.” Twilight smiled, knowing that it would work. ‘At least the trolls are stupid enough to think with their stomachs rather than their minds,’ she mulled grimacing as the gruesome creatures continued about their activities. “Don’t get me wrong: I despise killing, but there are some creatures I'll make an exception for.” She looked back over the ridge and spied one of the lanky creatures meandering around while the others fed on the dead drake mother’s insides and the bodies of the unhatched drake young. “I’m surprised they still exist,” the unicorn muttered under her breath.

Xaldon chuckled a little at her whispered comment. At the unicorn’s questioning look, he explained “it’s impossible to be rid of them entirely. We found out quickly that they couldn’t really be wiped out; their breeding habits, cowardice, and tenacity made it so. They could hide for months with their stolen food stores, not to mention if there’s a female in the group they can pretty much overrun the area within the span of six months. The only thing we can do is make sure they don’t spread outside the borders they’ve kept so far.” The cloaked Zaurask shook his head and chuckled softly. “Their only virtue seems to be their inability to die out.”

Twilight continued staring over the slate gray mass of creatures crawling over the nest. Their monochromatic coloring making it somewhat hard to distinguish between them. Their lanky features, batlike ears, and long limbs ending in sharp tipped fingers. Some of them held gnarled wooden clubs while others went without. She looked deeper into the mass and noticed one of them holding an aged sword obviously stolen from one of the abandoned pony forts. ‘Found their leader.’ “Alright I’m going in, watch for my signal before moving in.”

After the warning was given she quickly jumped down from the ledge and started cantering towards the nest. Slowing down as she reached the edges of the meadow below it. She transitioned to a limping gait while entering the clearing as she looked up wearily at the nest then started the slow climb up.

The trolls having immediately noticed her arrival began hiding outside of the obvious path waiting till the mare was far enough in to be unable to escape their trap. they saw their opportunity as she reached the nest.

Twilight looked over into the nest as she reached it, shattered eggs and unhatched drakeling body parts scattered across the floor, the broodmother was dead her belly having been torn open and her entrails shredded by the trolls.

With a false scream the lavender unicorn turned to run only to see a wall of gray bodies blocking her path. However instead of freaking out and trying to run the other way, she paused her panicked eyes calming instantly and a grin appeared on her face as she charged her horn the trolls began charging her unaware of the slaughter they were rushing into.

Twilight quickly launched a dual action spell onto the field as she called her ‘staff’ from her back forming it into dual blades to ward off the trolls and give her extra time to finish closing in the trap. The spell completed before the first troll even got close to her. She released the spell lowering her gaze to the ground covering her eyes with her mane and smirking. “Too easy.” she muttered quietly to nopony in particular. As she released a swiftly charged lightning bolt from her horn underneath the dual fireballs streaking towards the back of the horde, striking several of the trolls in a straight line from her position. They quickly fell over from the shock while others charged onwards still thinking they could overrun the little pony before she could cast again.

They were dead wrong in the space of three seconds Twilight summoned several more base spells to her horn in the form of elemental magics she learned under Zecora’s tutelage, then quickly formed them in similar ways to how she manipulated her ‘staff’ which was currently warding off a small pack of trolls that had tried to pincher her from within the nest. A pair of fireballs, four bolts of lightning and a sharpened wave of wind; all of which cut the horde of trolls down with deceptive ease.

The lead troll nimbly leaped over the wind slash and noticed his predicament. Already more than half of his followers had fallen to her magical barrage, noticing this he screams for a retreat; Just as he makes the call Twilight blasts him through the chest with a blue bolt of focused energy. Twilight summoned a simple ward that ripped energy out of the air turning it frigid and slowing the remaining trolls significantly.

A slew of arrows begin arcing out of the forest cutting down several trolls that tried to escape into the woods.

Twilight stopped casting her magic and wasting energy casting spells the remaining trolls inside the clearing turned to face her rather than chance the unseen assailant in the woods; she knew her staff would be enough for dealing with the cowardly creatures before her. She made short work of the remaining trolls quickly cutting them down without mercy, while Xaldon shot the remaining ones having joined into the fray.

‘Xaldon, Did any of the trolls make it out of your range?’ The lavender unicorn asked while trotting towards the forest to meet up with her fellow ranger.

The Zaurask hopped from the trees landing next to the unicorn. “No, no Glimmer none escaped.” His eyes shimmered in amusement. “You have done well for a ‘draoi do lia’.” He spoke in amusement that a simple druid was able to cut down a small army of trolls. “Let us return and speak with the elder.”

Twilight raised a hoof to both pause the Zaurasks action and steady herself. ‘Ughh what a headache, I really need to let up on casting so quickly.’ She then subtly shook her head then spoke calmly into her companions thoughts. ‘Not yet let me check the nest to see if any of the hatchlings survived.’ she mentally spoke before lowering the limb and turning and walking back up into the nest. Twilight looked around at the unnerving sight as she stepped amongst the carnage for the second time; remembering a few spells from her time amongst the healers of Ru’I’vah she quickly summoned forth a small mote of white energy to the tip of her horn which she then released into the ground; upon contact it exploded outwards in a yellow field covering the nest, after a few second the film of magical radiance died down except for a small mote of bright white light underneath the broodmothers body.

Twilight sighed dejectedly ‘One. Only one survived.’ The lavender filly sighed again as she lit her horn and telekinetically rolled the broodmother’s carcass over and spotted the shining mote of light. Dispelling her magic and dropping the telekinetic field over the drake’s body as she trotted over to the brightly pulsing egg. ‘Xaldon, come over here I need your input on what to do with this.’ She called out mentally, telekinetically lifting the egg and cleaning the gore off of it.

‘Coming!’ Half a minute later there was a light whisper behind Twilight as her Zaurask comrade arrived. “If there’s nothing left, grab the egg and let’s leave.” Twilight nodded assent and put the egg in the largest pocket of her saddlebags while reweaving her staff into her cloak; lifting the cloak’s hood over her head Twilight and Xaldon left entering the surrounding forest like shadows.

Their sprint back to the village was silent and uneventful as they reach the front gates Xaldon holds a hand out to stop the softly panting lavender filly. “You get some rest while I tell the elder what happened, keep the egg with you unless the Elder decides otherwise.”

Nodding in agreement Twilight quickly walks over to one of the nearby barns and rests on a bed of hay next to a few basilisks, waiting on her scaled companion to finish his debriefing before sending her in to tell the second part of the story and decide the fate of the smooth orb under her protection. Unconsciously stroking both of the basilisks with her magic, she mulled over the events of the day.

A few minutes later her body cooled off and relaxed Xaldon enters the wooden structure. “Elder Sha’seeth wishes for your side of the story, you’ve rested, come.” Without waiting for a response he turned and walked back out.

Twilight smoothly stretched to her full height before trotting after the swift Zaurask warrior; as she steps out of the barn she gives the basilisk twins a good night scratch before rushing to catch up with her companion. They arrive swiftly to the settlements main longhouse; it’s semi rotted entrances, a testament to the ferocity of the forest to reclaim that which is within its borders. Sitting in the middle of the room was a pale yellow Zaurask with bright red spines and three green horns sticking out of the back of his head.

His scales dull with age barely twitch in registration of the two new bodies in his presence. A soft ringing voice slowly bounces of the walls as the Elder begins to stand turning towards the two visitors. “I hear that you managed to suppress a troll encroachment. I... congratulate you on the success, Trolls have been known to be ... difficult to eliminate, especially in packs.” The elder nodded, then gestured with a patchy green scaled arm over to a small circular set of clean wooden mats. “Please have a seat and let us continue. Young Journeyer; would you or KaYa Xaldon like some honeysuckle tea?” He queried before turning and heading over to a small fire pit with a small brown water filled clay pot sitting over the red coals.

Twilight walked over to the mats and laid down alongside her green scaled companion who opted for a more accommodating sitting position. She spoke up as the elder started pouring a cup of the warm nectar.“Actually I’d like some tea If it’s not too much trouble.” The lavender filly then settled her head between her front hooves while waiting on the soothing elixir. Xaldon understood the stress the filly was going through killing is definitely not something that comes easily; especially to herbivores such as her. Silently he lifted his hand over and slowly started scratching the unicorns back moving up the spine till he reached the sensitive area between her ears causing the unicorn to purr in delight, Happy to be distracted from the events of the previous mission.

“Ah I see you two have gotten along well together. I guess RuKo Maha was right placing you two as a team.” Elder Sha’seeth spoke aloud, causing Twilight to visibly jump and Xaldon to lift his hand till the filly calmed down, then start scratching again. Chuckling to himself at the team’s antics the elder continued speaking as he placed a cup of tea before the unicorn. “Heres some tea to calm you down, ‘Sylvack’ knows you’ll need it; considering you’re not used killing other living creatures. Xaldon here has already let me know the bare events of the mission so I know not all was lost. Do you still have the drake egg young pony Phléasc?” He Queried.

“Yes, actually it’s right here.” Twilight magically unlatched a large pouch on her saddlebags and pulled out the yellow speckled green egg and placed it in the middle of their circle. The elder reached out a hand and softly placed his palm on its surface, closing his eyes he visibly drops into a deep meditative state. Twilight watches the elders actions carefully as Xaldon switches from scratching her back to simply rubbing in circular motions, his palm softly rubbing the fur in soothing patterns, helping remove the last vestiges of the filly’s internal conflicts.

The Elder Sha’seeth finally opened his ice blue eyes and sighed regretfully.“The egg is almost ready to hatch and its too late for us to try and reintegrate it into one of the other drake nests, nor can we raise it like our basilisk or wyvern steeds. The only option left is that I leave the creature in your capable hooves young Glimmering Phléasc,” The elder sighs again; Twilight gives him a funny look from her position. ”It is sad that we're losing her brood, she always made a good... companion, especially on missions deeper into the Everfree.” The elder nodded his head as the lavender unicorn continued watching him, perplexed by one of his statements.

She opened her mouth and asked. ”Wait so you're leaving the egg in my hooves... but I’m still under your tutelage and learning of the forest though there really hasn’t been much for me to learn over the past few days that I couldn’t have learned out on the field or haven’t learned already.” She lifted her hoof her her mouth unconsciously in thought. Xaldon smiled down at the filly while the elder shifted back to a more comfortable sitting position.

“Yes throughout the previous month you have proven to be an excellent student and have even become friends with the local wildlife within our borders, the basilisks love you and the wyverns even dote on you.” The elder’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Thanks to the potion recipes you brought from your shaman mentor we’ve received fewer losses to our camp, even the best tamers are pleased to have you around .” Sha’seeth sighed in resignation. “What I’m trying to say is, though we wish for you to remain here you have already learned that which we could teach, and since we cannot watch over the young drakeling we would have you watch over the child as a final mastery gift from our village.” Throughout the elders short speech the filly’s eyes and smile grew wider with joy until realization struck.

With a grimace she responds.“Wait if I’ve graduated from your teachings then who will be Xaldon’s Companion?” Twilight asks innocently while still receiving rubs from the ranger in question.

Xaldon held up his hand halting the elder before he could speak and answered for himself. “I shall seek my YaKo De’isu to continue my training as a Shade.”

Twilight nods acceptance before turning back to the Elder. “I thank you and your kin for helping teach me your expertise in most other fields. Is there anything you need help with before I return to my Mentor? I think now I’m ready to take her mastery test.“

“We thank you young draoi for the alchemical assistance. It is sad that we must see you go but to your own path must you follow. May the journey see you and your new charge well, young Phléasc.” The elder spoke as he placed the drake egg inside the lavender unicorns bags, smiling as he helped see her to the door to the ancient long house and to the end of the pier.

Before she left the village behind, Twilight turned back to the Leaf Green Elder. “Oíche maith Elder Sha’seeth. I will see you at some distant time.” With that final promise stated she bows her head, turns around, and starts trotting into the forest.

---------------------

After half an hour Twilight senses another presence nearby and quickly halts her progress as she enters a clearing the runes for a quick ward already at the forefront of her thoughts as she looks at the trees surrounding her. She quickly notices the figure landing from a tree to the forests floor and beginning to walk towards her. Smiling and letting the runes fade back into the recesses of her mind she calls the visitor by name. “Ah Xaldon I was wondering when you’d catch up”

Xaldon steps forward into the brighter clearing his aquamarine scales glistening in the intermittent sunlight filtering somewhat through the foliage. He nods confirmation, but says nothing else.

The filly shuffles a bit rubbing the back of her neck reluctantly.“I guess this is goodbye?” She questions carefully.

Xaldon nods confirming the statement. “As Elder Sha’seeth said, beidh tú a bheith chailltear.” The young KaYa slowly dropped a few crystalline tears for his companion.

Twilight nods in thanks. “I will always remember you but don’t worry maybe someday when I’m settled down I'll visit.” She lifted her lips and smiled half heartedly. “But that won’t be for some time, till next we meet.”

Xaldon nodded “Till chugainn linn freastal.” Then he rose back to his full height and leaped back into the foliage, fading into the forests backgrounds without a sound.

Twilight softly reached out with her magic and wrapped it gently around a small thread of energy coming off of her mane, winding down to the source she comes upon a curious item, an aquamarine scale of vivid sparkling brilliance buried deeply within her mane. She gently caresses it and coaxes it to the surface of her mane untangling and disjoining it from the fibers holding it there, slowly but surely the scale comes out of the mane softly she lifts the scale still attached to her by a few threads of magic. She gently overlays an image within her minds eye of the night sky, and projects it down her link into the scale which glows a bit brighter in response as it transfers the thoughts through its connection, this final gift she transfers to her former companion as she breaths in the crisp night air. ‘It has been a nice month, I’m glad I had the chance to work with you.’

Twilight watches as the last few fibers connected to the scale dissipate and blow away in the wind, as the scale begins to disintegrate at an accelerating rate. Feeling the last vestiges of the metaphysical connection fade away; Twilight turns face the forest and feels the shadows for the direction of her mentor, finding the directions quickly enough she leaves the clearing assured of her destination and entering the forest with only her staff and the gear within her saddlebags.

-----A day and a half later-----

The lavender filly stood before a familiar wooden moss covered tree hut. A mask of welcome in front of the door; a joyful sight as the filly stepped up to the wooden portal. Her mane and fur ruffling slightly as a small wind picked up around her, she smiled lifting her hoof and tapping the threshold of the door twice, announcing her presence, stepping back Twilight watched as the door opened to the interior of the small hut with a black cast iron cauldron a new potion simmering in its belly, the most notable item though was the creature that answered the door her black and white striped fur with a mohawk with patterns only broken intermittently by ceremonial gold rings helping solidify her place as a shaman.

“Welcome young filly have your travels been enlightening?” The zebra greeted in her lyrical feminine voice.

Twilight looked up at her mentor with shining eyes. “It was amazing, the spells and magic which I had learned from you was only the beginning of what they had to teach, And I can’t even thank you enough for teaching me your alchemy it has saved many of the animal patients I came across.” The lavender filly rambled as she entered the hut. She then turned to her mentor and asked. “Hay Zecora? Do you need any Vampyre roses I accidentally picked more than I needed.” the lavender filly murmured sheepishly.

The zebra only smiled at the unicorns honesty. “Fear not young child, I have need for a vial.” Zecora smiled not unkindly down upon the unicorn before her, as the filly used her magic to unstrap one of the bags on her saddle and pulled out the small bottle holding a full rose head the very center held a small mouth, ringed with sharp teeth and several black stained tendrils coming out of it. Zecora looked on impressed at her apprentices skill, capturing a Vampyre rose and making a potion out of it immediately afterwards is one thing actually preserving the rose head for use at a later time is entirely another story and here was her apprentice offering it to her as if the plant were a trivial item to give. Zecora grasped the glass container floating before her and put it away for later. “Thank you Journeyer Wisp, I foresee that you seek my judgement for your mastery of alchemy?”

Twilight nodded. “Of course Zecora, though thats not the only reason, I also wanted to see you one last time before leaving the forest.” The zebra trotted over to the unicorn filly and sat down next to her as the unicorn lifted out a small ceramic pot with twin cups. “Would you like some tea Mshauri?” The filly asked kindly, Zecora nodded with a small smile on her lips as the unicorn pulled out several rare spices that were even harder to hold for an extended period of time than the flower the zebra had been given. Twilight made the tea swiftly using a few heating and water condensing spells, then she poured the contents, equal parts into both cups bringing one to her lips while passing the other to her mentor who gathered it in her hooves gracefully.

Zecora took a sip humming in delight at the delightfully calming aroma of alizeti tea with a hint of mwandamo ua essence, and laced gently with honey. “Jinsi ya kufanya hii samling? This I wish to understand.” Twilight chuckled gently as she finished her tea cup alongside the shaman.

“It was quite simple really, once I figured it out. Apparently the honeysuckle when mixed with réicheach sghiahean creates a potent enough mixture to cancel out the opposing forces between the Sun and moon flower powders add a little honey to the mix and you get this.” Twilight smile at Zecora as she finished her explanation.

The zebra mare just stood there dumbfounded, yet impressed at her pupils ingenious work-around. When she finally relaxed her mouth enough to speak she began.“Your skills have improved greatly from the time your journey had began, I do not see why you should need my teachings much more, you have achieved a level of Alchemy many would envy.” The zebra’s smile extended widely in joy as she continued speaking melodiously. “It is my joy to title you master of the alchemical arts.”

The lavender filly’s face brightens in joy and then lets out a loud cry declaring in joyous accord ”YES! YE...” She stopped mid bounce her face flaring redder than a rose as she turned to Zecora who was barely holding back a laugh at the unicorn’s antics and settled with a hoof covered chuckle. “Aghm... sorry. O hay Zecora mind if I stay the night one last time?”

“You may stay the night if you wish.” Zecora relented within a moments thought. “So long as you show me what you’ve accomplished.”

Twilight smiles widely before opening her mouth and for the next few hours Twilight reveals to Zecora some of the complexities and skills the Zaurask had taught and revealed to her. She showed some of the advanced techniques she had developed with her magic mostly based upon the healing spells and the utility abilities she saw use for. She even showed the egg given to her by the Ygg-Nyishi tribe in the village of Lahn’I’tal.

It was night when Twilight and Zecora looked each other in the eyes and nodded accepting and knowing imperceptibly that it was time to call it a day and so Zecora blew out the candles one by one while Twilight weakened the flames below the cauldron into cinders and hot coals adding self sustaining spell on the heat of the coals to keep the contents of the container simmering. After darkening the hut Twilight and Zecora simultaneously rolled out their bed mats and layed down next to the cauldron, the heat from the coals keeping them warm as they slowly drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

----------------------

Twilight’s eyelids cracked open as she woke up from her restful sleep noticing movement to her left as she rested on the mat, quickly she summoned a mote of magic to her horn which she then expanded in a small seeing matrix allowing her to see the creature next to her. Quickly she realized that the creature was not a creature at all but a very specific zebra that was still awakening through her morning ministrations, Twilight already awake enough to cast spells, opened her eyes fully and stood up without needing any promptings, and without difficulty; completely startling Zecora who was still trying to wake up, ignoring the zebra’s minor protest Twilight called forth her magic and pulled out a mint leaf and two flower petals one a vibrant blue with yellow speckles and one a deep crimson red.

Zecora being fully awake now cautiously stares at the ingredients the lavender unicorn pulls out of her bag. She shivers as the unicorn pulls out a pot with her magic and places the petals in the pot first along with a pint of water. she studies her former students actions for a few minutes before deciding to no longer worry about it. Zecora stretches again then quickly follows her morning routine of placing a small pot next to the still glowing coals till the liquid inside simmers then dropping a few chamomile leaves inside and watching as the liquid turns a soft amber. She then pulls it away from the coals and takes a look over the mixture and nods while pulling a mug from the cupboard and pouring the contents of the pot into the container, the calming aroma filling the room pleasantly.

Twilight looked over at her former mentor over her cup of Vampyre joke tea the mild taste belying the potent effects; her vision sharpening along with her teeth, her hearing being sharp enough to hear a pin drop in the middle of the forest in mid summer, and her magical reservoir becoming much deeper than before. The tea’s effects may be enabling but still temporary as she understands that they would only last throughout the morning, and when the effect wears off she’ll have to eat a few réicheach sghiahean to chase the after-effects away. Twilight decides to speak up after a few minutes of silence noting the patient look on her former mentors face.. “Umm... I guess this is goodbye.” The zebra nods at the lavender filly who checks her saddle bags to make sure everything was in place and the straps are tightened right. Twilight steps out of the cabin her eyes subtly darting throughout the foliage watching for predators or just simple dangers as she enters the clearing around Zecora’s hut, the zebra in question leaving the building alongside her. “Well Mshauri I guess I’m off, oh do you have any advice on what a drake hatchling eats? I know I can catch meat but I’d rather get the youth on a diet more suited to a creature living in pony lands.”

Zecora nods. “Meat is what drakes eat, however precious stones make a fine substitute alongside a few processed pony foods. The youth though would require a mother’s milk before developing the right dietary abilities.” Zecora finished calmly reciting from memory.
“Do not fret the path you will tread, the child you carry is a mild creature to care for.”

Twilight smiled a bit brighter at the answer “Thanks for the advice Zecora I'll be sure to contact you sometime and let you know somewhat about my adventures.” The lavender filly waves then turns to leave and opens her mouth again. “Goodbye Mshouri Zecora may the forest watch over you.”

The zebra nods thank you as the lavender filly melts into the foliage with nary a whisper. Zecora sighs softly seeing her apprentice master the skill that she had worked on for a good fourteen years years within the space of sixteen months. ‘It’s nearly unbelievable however the filly succeeded with little difficulty along side her magical exercises. That filly’s voracious appetite for knowledge is almost irrepressible.’ The zebra mare then smiled warmly her good memories of the times her and the filly spent together as she entered the cottage and continued her day.

←----------------------------->

Twilight smiled joyfully, the forest around her blooming with life as the snows dried away, the trees blooming in vibrant colors and shades as the flowers bloomed and the leaves regrew the new plant life and the emerging creatures. She revelled in the life and vitality of the forest as she passed through. She watched the paths she traveled, spotting tracks both predator and prey noting their shapes, sizes, and how recently they were formed all of this information processing in the back of her mind as she continued enjoying the scenery of the Everfree Forest in the spring time.

Spotting several Bitter Bramble vines and a Roseluck bush as she entered one of the Everfree Forest’s many clearings, Twilight quickly trotted over to the roseluck bush, levitating a glass jar from her saddlebags to the barely budding roses as they started opening and spreading their pollen, immediately she picked one of the small violet-red flowers and placed the velvety carnation within a rune sealed glass container the preservation rune taking effect almost immediately after filling it with energy. Twilight smiled Roseluck flowers were potent ingredients for potions that removed curses and other magical maladies that were known to happen including the rare virus known as horn rot that unicorns were highly susceptible to.

Her Ingredient finally put away in her bags she finally took a second to examine the area, immediately she spotted something she quickly jumped back from the bush barely dodging the ever present creeper vine that commonly lurked within the leaves and branches of the more alchemical plants; then she turned and spotted a pair of glowing yellow eyes watching her from the brush outside of the small meadow. Rather than run in fear of the predator she knew was hiding in the shadows ready to charge in and strike at her she sat down on the ground in the middle of the clearing and watched the yellow eyes with equal intensity until they turned and she heard the sound of paw steps growing fainter as the creature walked away. Twilight then turned and continued her trek through the woods.

Twilight watched as the forest returned from day to night during her trek to the north-east after a time watching as the glowing plants passed by and the occasional predator taking an interest in her, she watched as a massive chasm came into view she pulled the name of the site instantly from memory as the Ghastly Gorge she smiled as she walked over to the edge knowing if she wanted to avoid Equestrian towns and speed up her trek to the border she’d have to cross the ancient scar rent into the land by water and time.

Twilight looked north and south of the massive trench searching for a path across when she saw an interesting protrusion of shadow just above the mists across the way, on a hunch she slowly trotted along the side of the rift, being careful to be at least a meter away from the edge lest the shelf she stood on shattered from the added weight.

Slowly she walked along the edge of the canyon the faint sound of the unseen roaring waters below was the only sound throughout the monotonous trek. Eventually she found what she was looking for, a pair of semi rusted steel posts sticking out of the ground a few feet past the edge of the chasm with snags of moldy rope the remnants left behind by the trials of time, the four points of rope contact two rings on each of the posts the remnants of a rope bridge that connected both sides of the chasm at one point in time.

It was all she needed to know, softly the lavender filly lit her horn she quickly pulled a vial of silvery powder from her saddle bags wrapped in an ethereal glow the same color as her own as she called her staff from her back and formed it into a sword. she walked over to the edge of the chasm with her sword shaped staff before her and cast a simple sight spell to detect if bridge survived the disconnection and was hanging off the other side of the chasm, she smiled as the spell came back with a positive response. Slowly the sword deformed and flowed back into her cloak like a liquid as she replaced the vial of silver dust with a small length of creeper vine and a jar of basilisk saliva. putting the two materials on the ground Twilight focused her energy on the other side of the canyon feeling along the wall till she touched the remnants of the bridged slowly she levitated the mass of the structure pulling it up till it was visible then she moved her levitation to the end of the bridge and pulled it over to the chasm’s edge, acting quickly she used her levitation to both sever and attach lengths of the vine to the to the ends of the bridge quickly binding them together solidly with basilisk saliva mixed with salamander oil. The lengths firmly bound together Twilight used her telekinesis to tie them firmly to her side of the chasm now with her way open she placed the potion and vine rope back within her saddlebags, and trotted across.

As she reached the other side Twilight noticed that the bridge was about ready to break off on the side she was reaching and quickly broke into a gallop using her forestry skills she was able to traverse across the rickety construct, using as little of her weight as possible jumping off at the very last second as one of the rope supports snapped on her side of the bridge, then in slow succession the other rope supports began to fray and snap until the last one broke and the bridge fell away and crashed on the other side of the chasm. Slowly shaking her head in amusement at her dumb luck the lavender filly released a small chuckle just watching the steel supports that once supported the bridge on her side of the chasm just a few minutes ago.

In a good mood Twilight turned around only to be caught by surprise by the massive castle that stood before her she looked left then right trying to spot any sign of other visitors or those that might live in the massive building only to find that it was home to mostly small rodents and other lesser creatures. The lavender unicorn realizing her find smiled and quickly ran up to the massive double door entrance of the structure and used her magic to softly push them open she entered only to find that the building unlike most of the others abandoned within the everfree forest was nearly empty of furnishings and relics from the time before the forests massive growth. Silently she walked amongst the corridors her hooves tapping a staccato rhythm within the empty halls, the bare walls echoing the sound as she paced forward deeper into the castle.

Reaching a T-shaped junction the lavender filly looked down both the empty corridors ‘Hmm... I wonder... ok the right path is a little bit broken and the cracks on the floor would suggest a weak support structure underneath, not to mention the corridor is a bit too dark...’ “I’m not going to chance anything till I’ve set up camp and have had a good rest.” She whispered under her breath before turning to go down the left corridor. ‘At least this path is brighter, and the walls and floors look like they’ve seen less abuse.’ There paused in her step. ‘But looks can be deceiving.’ She remembered a previous event where she almost broke her left foreleg when one of the battlements she assumed was sturdy broke from under her. “I’m just glad Zecora was there to catch me.” With a determined gaze she carefully walked along the inner wall.

Eventually she arrived before a large set of double doors, without incident. Twilight pauses and examines the tarnished gold and silver leaf barriers; immediately she realized what she must be in front of, and smiled excitedly. Quickly examining the floor and surrounding walls for structural weaknesses, Twilight carefully steps into the hallway. Taking each hoof fall into consideration carefully testing her weight before shifting her balance on that leg to take another step. After ten or so hoof falls the lavender filly stopped facing the door, she then called upon her magenta aura. Slowly she probed the ancient pieces of architecture marveling at their ancient beauty. Finding no magic residue she carefully wrapped her aura around one of the massive doors and pulled.

Nothing happened her magic dissipated and ran off the door like water, instantly she recognized the problem. “Mage bane laced rune stone!” She growled out the material as if it was a curse. “Damn it why do I always run into you especially in the older ruins.” She spoke rhetorically to no pony in particular, knowing that unicorns a thousand years ago had problems with the new rule of the twin princesses and were more often than not untrustworthy. The lavender unicorn glared at the massive door in annoyance for a few seconds before rolling her eyes and pulling out a small jar of glowing yellow liquid and laid it before her. ‘Alright this has gotten rid of the mage bane on the other items hopefully it works for this one. However purified hydra blood mixed with wyvern venom tends to nullify any magical surface that it touches. Hopefully this works and I don’t have to resort to using my staff to move the damn door.’ Twilight sighed pulled a few drops of the liquid from the jar.

Placing the drops on the left leaf of the door the results were immediate, the entire door began to fizzle and smoke as the mage bane root laced within the door burned away under the purifying effects of the potion. After a few minutes when the smoke and noise had died down, Twilight decided to test the door again gathering her magic she softly pressed it around the ancient portal and pushed softly it moved inward, the petrified dust falling away as the door groaned inward. The lavender filly smiled as she walked forward onto the entry way however she paused there.

Twilight not wasting any more time quickly trotted into the room instinctively noting the decaying magic in the interior along with the objects those signatures are attached to. Noting a new magical signature she hasn’t noticed before she pauses and quickly orients herself in its direction. Passing off the lack of traps to being within an important room that needed little security, she quickly trotted in the direction of the signature. After several meters heading towards the far side of the nearly unaged room she found a small undamaged hand mirror, her magic pointing at the mirror as the source of the untapped magic. Twilight carefully encases her magic around its handle softly lifting the mirror into the air facing away from her incase the innate spell should activate.

Out of all the things she did in the ancient ruin sites the past time and activity that grasped her attention the most was finding ancient artifacts that were enchanted with unique spells from the days gone by. Twilight's favorite part was being able to break the enchantments down into their base components, then with the new parts and ideas she had learned from the broken enchantments and her existing knowledge create new unique spells that could work with little difficulty. After examining the runes and wards around the mirror, she quickly packed it away deciding it would be better to examine its spell construction on the road.

Twilight then finally after putting the mirror with the new enchantment away had a few moments to herself to finally examine the expansive room and gazed upon the ancient walls. Her gaze swiftly fell upon a pair of broken seats on top of a raised dais on the far side of the room from the double doors she had entered through. ‘Oh!’ It then clicked as the final pieces fell into place. ‘This must’ve been the ancient Castle of the Pony Sisters. which means... I’m in Silverwind Nexus the Citadel of Light.’ Twilight felt her eyes widen in joy of the prospect of being inside one of the most prestigious structures of equine history, however as quickly as her excitement bubbled forth a yawn just as quickly pierced her reverie. ‘I guess it can wait, need to conserve supplies, I’ll just rest over there.’ Slowly she walked over to a patch of floor next to one of the massive marble pillars that was clear of debris and set up her small camp.

Summoning forth a small light crystal from one of her utility bags, she made quick work silently tracing the crystal in a quick starburst formation at several points on the floor around her campsite, then finally ducked underneath her manticore hide tarp, and rested upon her meditation mat knowing the flash traps would wake her should their be any unwary predator stalking her. Closing her eyes the lavender filly slowly drifted off into the realm of dreams.

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Twilight jerked awake feeling the unfamiliar sensation of another presence, swiveling her ears from left to right she tried to detect the sound of movement outside the tent. Then she heard it but not from outside the tent instantly she froze as the sound pronounced itself a soft tap tapping from just behind her within the bags. The lavender unicorn turned her head towards the strange sound, wondering where it came from until it hit her. “The egg.” She whispered her eyes widening from the revelation.

Thinking quickly she lit her magic and opened the saddlebags and pulled out the oblong object from its snug resting place and held it before her. After a swift examination she noticed the faint outlines of a crack from the inside of the egg, about to probe the shell further she placed it on the mat right in front of her, immediately it jumped as the creature inside slammed against the shell harder than before, causing the crack along the side of the egg to become even more pronounced. Twilight’s smile grows wider even as the cracks on the egg grow in size with a noticeable crack the shell begins to break out ward as the small creature within continues it’s rhythmic living beat, striking at the shell and pushing it further and further outward. Finally the egg shatters and the miniature drake rolls out onto the mat landing directly in Twilight’s warm plush hooves.

The lavender filly gazes warmly down at the small beige colored creature before her its curious green slitted orbs staring wonderingly back into hers, then without warning it let out a high pitched belch releasing a small flicker of magical fire just touching the tip of Twilight’s horn. Twilight blinked at the unexpected action then blinked again as she remembered that hatchling drakes shouldn’t be able to breath fire. ‘However this one seems to have little difficulty with it. Hmm this requires some further st...’ Her line of thought is suddenly cut off as the young drakeling begins rubbing its scaled neck along hers in a symbol of both familial affection and nips at her hair in instinctive hunger searching for it’s nourishment.

(Warning NSFW ahead involving mammaries and breastfeeding read at your own discretion.)

Twilight’s cheeks burn furiously in embarrassment as she’s reminded that she’s the drakeling’s pseudo mother. ‘Oh right.’ she thinks to herself as the drake pulls back to look her in the eye. ‘Heh I guess I forgot that part. Ok, same situation as the Wyvern hatchling.’ Had the lavender filly’s cheeks not already been burning bright red they definitely would have been now as she summoned the spell to her horn and aimed it for her lower half, causing the two small mounds to swell and leak a small amount of their precious white fluid. ‘Hopefully it works a second time.’ Her spell completed Twilight panted softly from the exertion. ‘It’s one thing to cast highly damaging spells it’s entirely another thing to cast a spell that creates, modifies, or heals the body.’

Twilight squeezed a small amount of sweet nectar from her left mound and lifted it to the newly hatched creature between her forelegs, and held it in the form of an orb before the drakeling’s snout immediately the creature sniffed at it before flicking it’s small tongue out and tasting the floating elixir. It’s eyes shoot open as it instinctively strikes and swallows the remainder of the orb before turning it’s face back to it’s caretaker cocking its head quizzically then letting out a small chirp for more. The lavender filly smiles back at the drake then kisses the young creature on its scaled forehead before using her left foreleg to gently guide the creature down to her swollen pouches of sweet deliciousness, the drake sniffing the source of the sweet elixir he just had before immediately shoots it’s head down and latches painfully onto the delicate tissue, then greedily begins swallowing the juicy serum in great gulps. Twilight couldn’t help but moan softly as her mounds were milked for all they were worth.

After a few minutes the small hatchling released the lavender filly’s teat; expelling a small belch of contentment the grey green creature crawled back into Twilight’s awaiting forehooves, and closing it’s eyes as it fell asleep. Twilight smiled as she gently cradled the small drakeling in the crook of her foreleg while softly stroking it’s scales in a circular motion with the other; her thoughts floating between subjects. ‘How am I going to keep this one safe? Wait I’ll teach him how to catch food on his own... hmm that spell might work.’ She lifted her open forehoof to her chin contemplating the spell, whether it would be useful or not; the small drakeling stirred rolling onto its back and resting on the plush lavender cushion holding it above the unforgiving stone floor.

(End NSFW scene.)

Twilight exhaled slowly as she carefully picked the drakeling in her grasp and rolled it back over onto it’s stomach, she smiled down at the small creature as it rested. ‘Definitely male, I guess the first thing I should do is name him.’ Twilight winced as she accidentally brushed the raw flesh of her milk pouch. ‘I forgot how sharp their teeth were, hmm... teeth? No. Tooth? No. Fang? Fang!’ The lavender unicorn smiled down at the sleeping form in her protective embrace. Shifting her ears to detect even the slightest of sounds she scanned the area carefully before letting out another deep sigh. Reorienting her eyes back onto the drakeling before her her voice started out quietly; her horn lit, her words thrumming with ancient power. “I, Twilight Sparkle, name this young drake ‘Fang Shimmerscale’, by the magic and life I hold do I decree to protect and serve as mother and caretaker! In the words of the ancients; Per meum Magia, juro ad ministrabunt et custodient Fang Shimmerscale velut mater et contemnis.” The words softly spoken rebound off the surrounding chamber walls, echoing the mantra as if to capture the words in time for all eternity.

Eventually the echoes died away as the lavender filly rests with her charge nestled comfortably between her forelegs sleeping without a care in the world. Twilight spends a few minutes watching the precious creature rest between her hooves before gently pulling the young drake closer to herself and closing her eyes; her chin firmly rested over Fang’s back and nodding off back to her previously interrupted rest, her final thoughts carrying calm serenity and love for the creature placed under her charge.

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“Gerru?... Mrrrrrr...” The morning light seeping through the windows did nothing to ease the tension flowing off the mare as her semi groggy mind registered an unfamiliar presence between her hooves; rubbing itself along her neck, while making cooing noises. Slowly she opened her eyes and spotted the creature before her, its bright inquisitive eyes gazing innocently into her own for barely half a second. “Quirou?” The poor hatchling queried hungrily.

Realizing her predicament Twilight shifted over onto her side, barely remembering it she cast the lactation spell she used the night before. Feeling her milk pouches swell again with delicious white fluid; she didn’t have to wait for the small drakeling to follow his nose to the source and begin feeding. After a few minutes Fang released the nipple and dropped to his hind legs. He turned bodily towards the watching Twilight and cocked his head to the side questioningly.

Twilight couldn’t help it; the young drake’s features filled with unguarded curiosity forcing a small chuckle out of her.”Hehehe.... Well I guess now’s as good a time as any.” Without a second thought Twilight lit her horn and softly used her magic to tug at one of the young drake’s scales. The loose scale came out without difficulty or pain the young hatchling gazed at the strange sight of the scale floating in mid air. The lavender filly began incanting runes of binding upon the scale; drawing it towards herself, she began weaving the scale into her mane casting a time lock spell upon the scale as it started glowing. Twilight smiled as the spell completed gently she began weaving her thoughts and magic around the scale within her mane. ‘I hope this works... ok can you hear me?’ she thought gently into the scale.

The olive toned drake jolted and gazed left and right his wings flaring out in distress, trying to find where the unexpected sound came from; as if from nowhere yet everywhere. Twilight smiled and tried again; with an image of herself firmly within her minds eye she tried again. ‘Hello? Can you hear me?’ She asked quietly.

The small drake jerked again then froze; wings furling back and his head turning ever so slowly, he settled his gaze upon the lavender unicorn before him, and chirped questioningly. Twilight smiled; Her ability to communicate with the young still as strong as usual. Closing her eyes she grasped onto her thoughts like threads, and pulling them into simple strings of information; coloring pieces here and there with feelings she gently wove a small tapestry of knowledge. the first being an image of her back with saddle bags on it and a strong compulsion to climb onto it; the next showed her cloak surrounding him accompanied by a warm comfortable feeling as he rested on her back.

The message sent Twilight summoned her magic to bring the leather tarp down separating the binding lengths of shadow vine and packing her gear neatly into her saddle bags; with the bags firmly secured to her back she lay down on her stomach both front and back hooves on either side; Fang recognizing her position from the mental images waddled over on two legs only falling twice as he made his way over to her back. With awkward yet swift jerks of his wings he leaped up onto the side of her saddle bags using his hind legs he latched onto the bags and climbed the rest of the way and settled on the leather saddle between the bags. With little effort of thought and will Twilight commanded the staff weaved into her cloak to wrap around the young drake and help the day old hatchling stay warm.

With her gear put away and her precious cargo resting on her back; Twilight checked again to make sure nothing was loose and everything was together. With a slight nod of approval; Twilight turns to face the room again, scanning from left to right she notices several minor threats in the uneven floors however the room proves to be safe as opposed to her original thoughts. A simple flick of her horn and the flash traps surrounding her position break down into their base energy; flowing back into the crystal she summoned them from. With a nod of finality Twilight heads towards the dais she noticed the night before. The cracked and shattered thrones giving off a faint magical signature piquing her interest.

Her hooves padding softly along the floor; Twilight being ever watchful examined the room along her path even shooting a few glances towards the massive mage bane laced double doors behind and to her right; her eyes unconsciously scanning for danger as she trotted along. Reaching the thrones Twilight summons a small orb of energy to the tip of her horn coalescing into a simple orb of white energy; pleased with her work she released the orb flying true it struck the thrones and dissipating upon impact. Waiting a few seconds a soft glow the same color as her sphere began to emanate from the thrones in a pattern familiar to the lavender filly.

Unfortunately too familiar. “Really a charged barrier matrix? I thought thrones would have a bit more of an impressive enchantment on them.” Letting her breath out slowly; Twilight calmed down. Turning to check on Fang she noticed that he was still fast asleep within her cloak. Smiling ruefully she turned back to the thrones, sighing dejectedly she turned back around to face the double door entrance to the massive room. Deciding it was useless to stay she swiftly trotted out. Entering the halls outside the room she immediately noted the conditions of the hallways now as opposed to what she saw the previous night; the floors were sturdy if pock marked with erosion and time.

Looking down the corridors on both sides of the door Twilight decided to head along the left path. Heading down the hall proved much easier this time as opposed to the previous night where she saw pit falls and innumerable structural weaknesses on the outside wall. Not one to trust her sense of sight fully Twilight sent small pulse energy waves forward five meters ahead of herself to make sure the path was safe to travel; after a few minutes passing multiple portals leading to areas that obviously led to guard and servant quarters. A small set of double doors colored a deep cerulean blue became visible as she reached the end of the hallway. She sent a pulse wave through the door; the returning wave formed a map within her mind of a spiral staircase leading up within; noting the lack of traps within she decided to feed her curiosity, opened the door, and walked in. Twilight looked at the staircase and noticed that it only reached up four floors worth of height.

Reaching the top of the stairs the lavender unicorn came across an open portal that looked to have once have held a single door. Looking into the room Twilight noticed the signs of a battle; windows shattered inward; scorch marks on the walls, roof, and floor; broken and burnt furniture and even the bed looking as if it had undergone a heavy infernal blaze before being left with only a frame. Closing her eyes she opened her senses; several unmoving magical presences besides her own revealed themselves to her. All save one coming from her pack, the last one near the shattered window on the other side of the room.

Closing her senses off Twilight opened her eyes again and looked over the room again this time she noted two tomes of knowledge seemingly undamaged by both time and the battle; laying near one of the pieces of shredded furniture. ‘Hmm not often I find a tome of knowledge in the ruins. Zecora was glad to add that treatise on shields to her collection and to the kitabu cha maarifa. Hmm these books might be worth investigating.’ Nodding firmly Twilight trotted over to the books on the other side of the dome shaped chamber upon reaching them she lit her horn casting a simple breeze blowing the dust off the ancient tomes and revealing their titles; the ‘Ars De Lumine Obligandi’, and the ’Ars De Animus Obligandi’

Lifting the tomes with her telekinesis she swiftly placed them within her saddlebags. Turning to check that they were in their proper places the lavender filly did a double take. ‘O basilisk scales I’m gonna have to find a place to put all of my gear otherwise I won’t be able to pick up anything else.’ She mentally sighed as she walked over the shattered remnants of the window.

Closing her eyes she opened her thaumaturgical senses again and detected the faint magical resonance coming from just to her left towards the window. Dropping the magi-sense she opened her eyes facing in the direction of the item. “A rock? hmm...” Walking closer to the object she noticed several of its features; it was small and black; carved extremely smooth and was shaped in the form of a teardrop. Shaking her head in annoyance she picked up the stone scale from off the floor and placed it in her saddlebag pouches for later examination. ‘Looking further through the castle will be pointless I haven’t seen any bodies yet, and the place is eerie without company; living or otherwise; not to mention my bags are out of room and I'll probably have to feed Fang sometime soon.’

As if on cue there was a small shift on her back from underneath her bundled cloak staff. ‘So the child has awakened.’ Twilight sighed inwardly as she exited the room back to the spiral staircase. Taking a quick peek over her shoulder Twilight noticed Fang popping his head out of the makeshift blanket keeping him warm. “Querrru?” he questioned cocking his head as the unicorn descended the steps to the lower floor. Twilight after exiting into the hallway took a quick note of the sun's position in the sky. ‘Midday already? Hmm I guess checking the tower must have taken longer than expected.’ Twilight mused calmly as she walked down the corridor passing the massive double doors to the throne room. ‘Hungry.. I am.‘

Twilight froze in place as the mentally projected words finished sinking in. Slowly she turned her head towards the small drake on her back who stared at her expectantly; his green orbs shining in curious amusement. He opened his mouth and cheeped again with his wings slightly unfurling. ‘Food?’ Came the thought again in a small childlike voice accompanied by the taste of milk on her tastebuds and her stomach filling with the delightful substance. ‘Ha-how... how did... Nevermind’ Twilight realized that still young though the drakeling was it probably understood the method of communication because she showed it to him. Face-hoofing Twilight coalesced her thoughts into an answer which she both vocalized and sent through her thoughts at the same time. “Yes food you will have, wait for the bright outside first.” She simplified for the small creature. Reaching the T-shaped intersection she entered through the night before she took her right and continued down the corridor reaching the main double doors to the crumbled palace.

Exiting to the main courtyard outside the front of the palace. The sun beamed through the canopy above. Not one to break her word Twilight settled down next to one of the ashen trees on the moss padded ground. Giving a quick mental nudge to the young drake to hop off and to her staff to form into a protective coat around the young creature; she smoothly rolled onto her side while casting the lactation spell again for the second time that day. Twilight calmly watched the courtyard while the young drakeling fed making sure nothing could get near enough to threaten her charge.

After half an hour the drakeling finally finished suckling and fell asleep again. Lifting the limp drake onto her back with telekinesis Twilight prompts her staff to separate into two halves one half will pull out of the cloak while the other will hold the cloak around the drake and work to keep him comfortable while on her back. She commands the other to form into a sheath for her horn until needed and disguise itself as the horn itself. looking herself over the unicorn nods acceptance and stands. Looking back at the Ancient structure behind her she turns and trots off north east towards the border.

Author's Notes:

By the shining mane of Nightmare Moon this took forever to churn out sorry for the massive amount of words and the excessive use of prose but I really tried to get people to help me clean it up. So instead of a beautiful masterpiece; you will be receiving a massive piece of rushed rubbish, sorry. Though things will be looking good as in another chapter or two within the next month as a Christmas gift to myself and maybe you. They will be probably be nothing but shits and giggles.

cheers^,=,^

Proofread by: janushyde a god amongst us.

Edited by: Freeze

Edited by: Helreal

Edited by Ebonysdagger