Iron Fist watched as Nick walked away before driving on towards the residential district. It had been about five years since he last visited Omskbeak, too long since he had seen his old friend. As he drove past he got some odd stares from the towns folk since he was driving through with a big caravan train. Before long he arrived at his destination, an old house with near the western wall of the city. The front door seemed to have been made of all metal with heavy locks.

The walls were made of stone with a wooden roof. Iron jumped down onto the cobblestone road and walked up to the door before cocking back his fist and throwing a heavy punch at the door leaving a large dent and a crack or two in the stone around it.

“HEY YOU OLD NUT GET YOUR FEATHER BRAINED COCK SUCKER LITTLE ASS OUT HERE!!!!” Iron shouted at the top of his lungs.

“SHUT YOUR DAMNED BULL HEADED SHIT EATING MOUTH YA OLD FAT ASS DOOR KNOCKER!!!” Came a reply.

“DON’T MAKE ME BUST DOWN THIS OVERSIZED PAPERWEIGHT YOU DAMNED PIDGEON!!!” Iron barked back just as the door opened.

“Pigeon? Really? You're going senile you old….. Fart……?” A large hippogriff as tall as Iron said confused at seeing his old friend, but instead of an old fart pushing sixty there was a young bull no older than twenty five.

“Buckbeak!!!” Iron said giving the old hippogriff a bear hug.

“Iron? Is it really you?” Buckbeak said not believing his eyes.

“In the flesh! Why is something wrong?” Iron asked innocently.

“You're..you're…” Buck beak stuttered and proceeded to poke Iron a couple of times.

“You been hitting the joke a bit to hard or something?” Iron asked playing on his old friends old addiction. Ironically Buckbeak held up an old pipe with a bit of smoke drifting up.

“Think I got a bad batch this season….” Buckbeak said before walking inside oblivious to Iron trying not to burst out laughing the moment he turned his back.

“Ah don’t worry bout it, at least you didn’t grow a dick on your forehead this time!!” Iron bursted out laughing under the disguise of that memory of his friend waking up in Lady Typhoon’s tent with said appendage flopping about and the goddess of the sky looking down at him with crossed arms and an eyebrow raised.

“Don’t remind me… she made mer concubine for that entire year..” Buckbeak remembered that year that gave him three broken pelvises, healed personally by the goddess that broke it.

“You weren’t complaining, at first” Iron said chuckling at the memory of his friend coming out tiered as buck whenever he was called to her.

“So, umm… I’ma go lay down until the joke wears off… you know the drill, my home is your home.” Buckbeak said heading upstairs.

“Alright, I hope you don't mind but i have a couple of traveling companions here with me.” Iron said

“Who all is wi-GAK!!” Buckbeak said before he was tackled by an azure blur.

“Uncle Buckbeak!!!” Trixie said bear hugging his neck.

“Trixie….. Can’t… breath…” Buckbeak choked out as he was turning blue.

“Oh!! Oops. sorry.” Trixie said getting off of him.

“Good to see you to Trixie.” Buckbeak said giving her a hug.

“It’s so good to see you again!” Trixie said returning the hug.

“Alright, I’ma go get some things from the caravan.” Iron said walking out.

“Caravan?” Buckbeak asked Trixie.

“Long story, we’re on the run from Steel Hands” Trixie said.

“What?! Why? What happened?” Buckbeak asked.

“Like I said, it’s a long story, better if dad explains.” Trixie said rubbing the back of her neck.

“If you say so, but first I need a nap, had a bad hit of joke.” Buckbeak said holding a hand to his head.

“Again!? Honestly, you would think you would stop after that trip where you thought you were an animal in a world of magic hairless talking monkies.” Trixie said crossing her arms and pouting. She remembered it, especially when he kept pointing at her and calling her harry… whatever the hell that meant.

“In my defence, your dad did pack too much in the pipe.” Buckbeak defended.

“Mmhmm. And you were the one that took it all in one go.” Trixie said giving an unamused face.

“Relax, I’m just seeing your dad as a young bull this time.” Buckbeak said running his hand over his head.

“Oh, no yeah that's real, my coltfreind can reverse aging.” Trixie said. Buckbeak looked at her as if she had grown a second head before leaning back a bit and poking her in the shoulder and backing up farther.

“I think I need a drink..” Buckbeak said walking over to his liquor cabinet, “Wait. You have a colt friend?!” Buckbeak said as it finally clicked.

“Yep, he’s amazing to, he’s as strong as dad and has crazy powerful magic.” Trixie said.

“Wait, there's no way a unicorn could be that strong, is he a kirin perhaps..?.” Buckbeak wondered.

“How many times do I have to say it. I am not part of your herd.” Midnight deadpanned as she walked in.

“And who the buck are you?!” Buckbeak said facing her.

“Uncle, this is one of our traveling companions, Midnight, Midnight this is my uncle Buckbeak” Trixie introduced the two.

“Well, a pleasure to meet you.” Buckbeak said reaching out a hand that Midnight took and shook.

“Likewise” Midnight said.

“So, where is this coltfriend of yours Trixie?” Buckbeak asked.

“He’s out exploring the town.”

“Hey Trixie have you seen Twilight?!” Iron came rushing in.

“No, why?” Trixie asked.

“She isn’t in her cart.” Iron said.

“You don’t think..” Trixie said with rising worry for Nick.

“We Need to find Nick asap.” Iron said.

“Buckbeak we’ll be back in a bit, we need to make sure she hasn’t started trouble.” Iron said.

“Ok..?” Buckbeak said not entirely sure what was going on. A rival mare perhaps? One wanting to be this Nick character's alpha?

“Silk wait here it isn’t safe out there for you with her on the loose.” Iron said as Silk walked in.

“Silk! How have you been?” Buckbeak asked.

“I’ve been doing well thank you.” Silk said walking over to the coach and taking a seat.

“Alright we’ll be right back.” Iron said as midnight and Trixie followed him out. They ran out and head towards the town plaza in hopes that he had already returned, it had been only about an hour since they parted so for all they knew he might still be wandering around town.

“Trixie wait here, i told him to meet me here around twelve, I saw him head down over to the market next to the docks, Midnight you and me will head down there and search for him, look for him from the air, I’ll look for him on the ground.” Iron said getting a salute from both.

“What if we run into Sparkle?” Trixie asked.

“Maintain your distance, she isn’t Celestia’s personal student for nothing.” Iron said making Trixie pale.

“She’s Celestia’s personal student.. I could have been executed if I hadn’t left Equestria when I did….” Trixie muttered.

“I can take her, her mana pool is about the same as mine, but my kirin magic art’s will trump her unicorn arts.” Midnight said confidently before flying off towards the docks as they were running they missed a White unicorn with Silver hair walking out of the club behind them.

“Alright Trixie just wait here and send out a blue flair if you see Nick and a red flair if you see Twilight, alright?” Iron said receiving a nod as Trixie took a seat on the edge of the plaza fountain.

“Dead… I could have been dead..” Trixie muttered

Celestia sat on her throne with her fingers folded together as she stared at the large doors across from her. It was still a few minutes until court started. Her mind was elsewhere however. It had been several weeks since the spell went wrong and she had lost her student to the unknown. What was happening to her? Was she safe? But at the forefront of her mind was her student’s loyalty. She had spent most of Twilight’s life hammering in values such as equestria being the greatest nation on the planet, all other races were beneath ponies, carnivorous races were not to be trusted, and many others. None however more than being loyal to her and her alone.

She could have ordered her to kill her own parents and she had no doubt that Twilight would obey her. She would never jeopardize that loyalty by giving such an order, but that’s simply how successful she had been in indoctrinating her. She had so many plans for her, especially once she ascended. With a fourth deity on their side they could expand their lands. Saddle arabia would have no choice but to be annexed into equestria, they had no deity on their side to aid them after all.

Shadowfang wasn’t so foolish as to anger four members of the pantheon by denying them shipments of lyrium. They could pressure Magnus into sharing his secrets, they had come so close last time, with Twilight by their side on the pantheon he wouldn’t risk another war. She could make Golden Horn give them his metalworking secrets and shipments of mithril.

Unfortunately she would likely have to stop there without Cadence on their side. She should have done the same when training her, now she was only an ally of Equestria instead of annexing the empire like Celestia had originally planned. There was only so much she could do before the other nations banded together to wage war with her. With the unification of the four pony tribes her nation had become the largest nation in the world, giving her the largest single army in the world. Her army was three times bigger than any other, the only magical threat she could face were the kirin or caribou, and the caribou were under a very powerful banishment spell by her mother’s guard dogs.

Her earth ponies were not as strong as minotaurs, but they were faster and more agile, and the same could be said with her pegasi when pit against the griffins. The dragons would be her biggest threat. She hoped to change that with Spike. Soon he would be of age, and during that time Torch would have to pass the torch of dragon lord to a new dragon. She had been doing all she could in order to make him an obedient little dragon. With Twilight being the first living being he saw, he imprinted on her, and had grown to believe many of the same things Twilight had because of it.

Unsealing Spike’s Magic completely would give him a tremendous advantage, especially if he got his dread mark, then his power would skyrocket, not to alicorn level, but his strength would be on par with an elder dragon and his magic would trump even a kirin’s, his speed and agility would be like a pegasus, and thanks to growing up with Twilight he was already as smart as her. If she could get spike under her control as the Dragon lord, her armies would be unstoppable and she would have a fifth deity on her side. She was broken from her thoughts as the doors to the throne room opened. It was time for court. In walked a stallion in cuffs escorted by two guards. Behind them was a group of seven noble mares.

“Presenting the case of the Lis herd against their current stallion.” The guard said reading from a scroll, she then stepped aside for the mares to walk forward leaving the stallion behind them.

“Princess, it is a pleasure to see you again, I wish it were under better circumstances.” The alpha of the herd said walking forward ahead of her fellow mares and bowing.

“Likewise, I see you have finally finished your herd, Flur.” Celestia said to the tall unicorn mare.

“Indeed, persuading miss steel hord to join was difficult, but with our combined wealth we have become one of the richest herds in canterlot, much of which the crown will be seeing of course.” Flur.

“Good to hear, your herd shall be well rewarded for your contributions. Now, on to the matter at hand.” Celestia said turning her gaze to Fancypants.

“Yes, I think that would be a good idea. This is the third time in the past week that our stallion has ran off. I paid a large sum of gold for him to his herd, thirty thousand bits in fact, but he continually runs off. We have tried everything from restraining his magic, tracking spells, and even a shock collar.” Flur said looking to the black collar magically sealed around his neck, “we tried being nice, intercourse nightly, reducing his chores, allowing him a daily trip out of the mansion with one of us, continuing his profession, but still he refuses to know his place.” Flur said looking back to her goddess.

“I see.. *sigh* stallion, why do you disobey you herd? They have given you everything, all you have to do is please them and do your job.” Celestia said looking at the stallion that refused to look at her.

“She asked you a question stallion. I suggest you answer her.” The guard next to him warned.

“Calm down now. Give him a chance to speak.” Celestia said raising her hand.

“My apologies your highness.” The guard bowed.

“Now then. Fancypants, I believe I asked you why you continue to disobey your herd” Celestia asked sweetly.

“I am not property.” Fancypants muttered.

“I’m sorry?” Celestia asked.

“I am not property” He muttered through gritted teeth, still to quiet for the princess to hear.

“One more time please?” Celestia asked.

“I AM NOT PROPERTY!!!!!!!!” Fancypants shouted.

“How dare you! You Insolent stallion!” The guard next to him said and went to draw her sword when she felt an immense pressure suddenly pushing her to her knees.

“Do not step out of line again.” Celestia said darkly and lowered her presence around the now panting mare.

“Now, I believe you said something about not being property? Well if that was true you would not have been sold to miss Flur here. Things here in canterlot are different. While I have allowed other cities and towns to choose their own laws regarding matters such as stallions not being property, here in canterlot thing’s are different. Stallions from rich herds are vital bartering tokens. You’re still allowed to pursue a profession should your herd allow it, But otherwise you are their property. Now miss Flur what is it that you have in mind that you wish me to do with Fancypants” Celestia said looking towards the alpha.

“I was hoping to have him processed. Having to be put in a cell with a large minotaur bull durring that should teach him not to disobey us again.” Flur said.

“A splendid idea. I hear Bulls can Get rather pent up when isolated to, a month of that should set him straight.” Celestia said now looking at the wide eyed stallion.

“No… no you can’t do this to me!!” Fancypants said.

“Guards, I believe you know where to take him, give him a cell with a… gifted bull.” Celestia ordered. They saluted and took the stallion kicking and screaming away.

“A shame he needs to be processed with the rest of the slaves, oh well, at least he will learn his place.” Flur said looking at the door.

“Three bronze pieces and that's final!!” The merchant said slamming his hand on the table.

“Done” Nick said smiling. He threw the pieces on the table and walked away. It wasn’t until he walked away with his prize and was out of sight that the merchant realized and looked back at his price for turnips. 10 bronze for 2 turnips….

“Typhoon damned iit!!!” The merchant screamed to the sky.

Nick walked away with his prize smiling, but then frowned, he had been looking for almost an hour now and he still couldn’t find anything that Midnight might like, it didn’t help that he didn’t know her too well. He was still set on getting her a weapon a monk would use, but then again maybe something lightning based.. Nick was browsing the stalls when something caught his eye, or rather someone. He had been getting the feeling of being followed again not long after his little confrontation with Twilight, but this one seemed less shy of him seeing her. She had a snow white coat and an awesome electric blue mane. For now he would let her follow him. Maybe he had acquired a secret admirer? Nick walked up to a stall that seemed to be selling all kinds of weapons.

“See anything you like?” The merchant asked.

“Hmm.. do you have anything a Kirin would like?” Nick asked.

“Ahh.. have an exotic lady friend do we? I think I have something she might like.” the merchant chuckled.

“Wait it isn’t like that.” Nick said.

“Oh there's no need to be shy about it, I’ve had more than a few rolls in the nest with a few lovely doves, even had a dragon once and whoa boy…. That was an adventure!” the old Griffin said.

“Uhhhhh….. Ok..?” Nick said giving him an odd look.

“Ah, but where are my manners, you said you were looking for something for the lovely lady no? Let’s see… hmmm.. No that's more for a dragon, ah! How about this?” The merchant asked holding up a staff with a crescent moon on the end that acted as a form of sickle.

“Interesting, I’ll take it.” NIck said reaching into his bag.

“Alright, that’ll be four gold bars.” The merchant said holding out his hand. Nick reached into his coin pouch and created and formed four gold bars with his stone energy before pulling them out and handing them to the merchant.

“Excellent. Now, have a nice day.” The merchant said giving him the staff.

“Nice.” Nick said walking away. He walked down the road towards the town square with his haul when the pony from before started getting closer to him. He picked up his pace and so did she. He stopped and she did the same. He began walking again and after another minute of her following him he decided to turn around and confront her. He turned and started walking towards her only for her to duck into an alleyway. He had had enough of alleyways today and instead of falling for the obvious trap, turned around and started towards town square again. He stopped when he spotted a club and went inside.

The club was load on entry, but this served as a sort of cover for him as he made his way towards where he presumed the bathroom was. It wasn't long before he found the desired lavatory and entered. Why was he making a beeline for the shitter? For privacy. Using his philosopher's stone he created a pocket dimension to store his stuff in. now with him just in his clothes he morphed his body, bringing the stone Twilight was in towards his center along with the stone containing his stuff.

He used the Unicorn DNA he had acquired from Trixie to help him take on the form of a muscular unicorn about half a foot shorter than he was originally. Using the stone he formed basic armor to substitute his clothes to complete the transformation. He had a white coat and Silver mane and he changed his eyes to blood red.

Nick walked out of the bathroom and out the club to find the mare that had been following him pointing at the club and chatting with a greyish brown earth pony with jet black hair. She looked over at him and stopped talking. She gave him an odd look while the other mare was waving her hand in front of her. He walked down towards town square leaving the mares behind.

“Weird. I like having a ladies attention, but not when it’s from stockers.” Nick said shaking his head. He walked until he arrived at the town square. It wasn’t long until he found Trixie sitting at the fountain, looking like she had just seen a ghost.

“What crawled up your ass and exploded?” Nick asked rather bluntly.

“Wha..?” Trixie said eloquently and looked up at Nick, but to her he was some strange unicorn.

“Do i need to get a turnip?” Nick asked giving a hint.

“Nick?” Trixie asked.

“Call me Silver blood, got some stockers, try to lay low.” Nick communicated through their mental link. Trixie’s palm met her face at near supersonic speeds as she forgot they had a mental link thanks to Silk.

“Alright, follow me. But first let me signal the others.” Trixie said through the link and firing off a blue flair.

“The hell was that about?” Nick asked.

“Twilight’s loose, no idea where she is.” Trixie replied.

“No need to worry about her, I dealt with her.” Nick replied.

“You did?!?” Trixie asked.

“Yea, she was a bit off her rocker when she came after me, managed to spook her and make her hit herself with her own spell, she is sealed inside one of my philosopher stones.” Nick answered.

“Sh-Shes sealed away?” Trixie asked astounded. And then she thought about it and the astonishment dwindled to simply impressed. Even with Twilight, her sleep deprivation and questionable sanity made her slightly easier to deal with. She got up and grabbed his hand before walking away. The moment she grabbed his hand they both felt something, it felt like rage and jealousy with a dash of frustration and a hint of crazy.

“Did you feel that?” Nick asked.

“Move. Now.” Trixie said as her eyes dilated and walked faster with an iron grip on Nick’s hand.

“Wha-” Nick asked but stopped when he felt how panicked she was, the hell was going on? They kept this pace until they came to an old house with the caravan not far away. Trixie dragged Nick into the house.

“Trixie are you alright?” Silk asked as they stormed in.

“No, we need to hide, where’s Buckbeak?” Trixie asked.

“He went upstairs to get something why?” Silk asked worried.

“Tell him me and Nick are going down into the bunker, and if anyone, and I mean anyone except dad or Midnight ask where we are we aren’t here.” Trixie said without stopping and headed for the basement.

“O….k…?” Silk answered bewildered when as they disappeared into the basement.

“Trixie what has gotten into you?” Nick asked getting worried.

“Can’t talk now, need to hurry.” Trixie said walking up to a bookshelf near the back and pulled out a book, as soon as she did the bookshelf moved to the side. She opened the book and tapped her fingers to words on several different pages. The wall behind the shelf opened up revealing a door behind it, “Get in” Trixie said pushing him towards the door.

“Ok ok!” Nick said opening the door to find a ladder heading down, “seriously? A sub basement? Where are we even?” Nick asked.

“Move!!” Trixie almost shouted prompting Nick to shut the duck up and do as he was told. Trixie watched as Nick Climbed down into the bunker. Placing the book into a slot into the wall behind the fragmented wall she watched from the inside as the cogs and runes activate to shut the wall and heard the bookshelf move back in place. She closed the door behind her before climbing down after Nick. when Trixie walked into the bunker she found Nick sitting at a coach in the corner with crossed arms and an expectant look on his face.

“I’m waiting.” Nick said. Trixie sighed and walked over before sitting down next to him.

“Can you change back to Normal?” Trixie asked.

“Sure.” Nick said morphing back to his original form. He replaced the armor with his normal clothes minus the cloak, he wanted the other stuff to remain a secret so he kept it all tucked away in his little pocket dimension, he would have to dispel it soon as it was eating up a large amount of stone energy. “Alright, talk.” Nick demanded. Trixie hung her head and sighed, she wanted to avoid this talk for as long as possible, she feared she might have to have this talk when Twilight showed up, but as far as she could tell she was more interested in making him a slave rather than any romantic interests in him. She hoped since they weren’t in Equestria she wouldn’t run into any other Unicorn mares, few ponies actually ventured out of Equestria, especially unicorns, so she didn’t think they would have to have this talk for a while, if at all.

“It’s a unicorn thing.” Trixie said rubbing the back of her neck.

“Go on.” Nick said motioning for her to continue.

“Well, you see when a unicorn mare finds a stallion she likes, after a while of dating she will brand him if she is his alpha. It’s similar to the link with the mark but instead of abilities knowledge and experience, we feel each other's emotions. If one of them finds that the other’s love isn’t genuine than the stallion can break it off at any time.” Trixie started.

“Well then why haven’t you Branded me?” Nick asked making her blush.

“Well.. it’s a very intimate process…” She answered.

“Do you mean we have to… you know… have sex?” Nick asked a bit nervous.

“No, I mean we can if you want, but it has nothing to do with the branding. We would literally have to touch souls, and mix our magic, a bit of mine in yours and yours in mine. With a pony my cutie mark would appear under your emblem, but since you're not it would appear on the back of your hand.” trixie explained further making Nick scratch his head.

“Ok then what was all that out there?” Nick asked.

“Well you see when two unicorn mares want an unmarked male and aren't in the same herd, they challenge each other to a magic duel, if it’s two mare herds hunting for a male then both herds would fight each other, even if on herd is only two strong and the other is a full herd of seven. With a marked male only the alpha of either herd fight. And since you're not branded I might have had to face a full herd by myself. And I might of lost you.” Trixie said clutching to his side.

“Wait a minute, what do you mean lost me?? I would never leave you.” Nick said holding her.

“That’s not the point, a strong enough herd could take you, I’ve seen herds that treat their stallions as property, even going so far as to threaten major bodily harm for breaking a brand.” Trixie said holding back tears. They were safe here, even if they somehow managed to get past her dad and Buckbeak they would never find this place, and would never be able to get in if they did.

“Shit, it it that bad?” Nick said wondering how bad it was in Equestria.

“Only in chanterlot. For the most part stallions in the rest of the country are treated as equals, and can’t be treated like that legally outside the city.” Trixie said.

“Then why are you worrying?” Nick asked.

“It’s unicorn law, even if you chose not to go with them, I wouldn’t be able to go near you for an entire year.” Trixie said.

“Who cares about some outdated law, this isn’t Equestria, and even if it wasn’t I wouldn’t follow it anyway.” Nick said.

“Nick, you don’t understand.” Trixie sighed, “it’s a species directed divine law. Each race with a member of the pantheon has one. Unicorns have branding, Earth ponies have Grounding, and pegasi have molting.” Trixie said.

“Ok I get the branding, but what about the others?” Nick asked.

“Well, earth ponies will “Ground their stallion, typically with a blood pact, they make small cuts on their hands and clench them together, it ends up having the same effect as branding. With pegasi they give one of their primary feathers to the stallion, the stallion will tie it to one of his, and after about a week his primaries change color to match the wings of his alpha. Again this has the same effect as branding, their just, not as powerful as Branding, since both aren't directly touching each other’s souls together.” Trixie said and looked up to Nick

“Ok, but i still don’t get what you mean, why couldn’t we be together?” Nick asked.

“It’s a divine law, each member of the pantheon can set a law for their respective race, and the magic to enforce that law is engraved into the soul of every member of the deity’s race. Simply put so long as Celestia has the law in place if that were to happen I couldn’t come near you!” Trixie said.

“So what we felt earlier was…? “ Nick asked.

“Another unicorn mare with her sights set on having you.” Trixie confirmed.

“well…. Shit.” Nick said looking up towards the town square.

Author's Notes:

does anyone think I'm making Celestia a bit too evil to redeem?