Six hours had passed since they had left Kevil. Iron was able to sell the property for a modest sum considering it was little more than rubble and ash. He had enough to buy the materials needed to build onto Trixie’s cart turning it into a sort of caravan train. He and Nick worked on expanding the main cart and adding a few more that connected to the back like carts on a train.

Nick had tried asking where Iron had hidden the fragment out of curiosity as when they took apart the cart to modify it, Nick found nothing that could have been hiding it. Iron consistently said that it was safe for now much to Nick’s frustration. Trixie and Nick had decided to share the same cart with Iron in the second cart with Silk Sheets in the third.

All four carts needed an independant magic engine and a stronger set of wheels to compensate for all of the extra weight that the caravan needed to move. Iron wanted to make it more than just a home, he wanted to make it a business. So he made his cart into a mobile smithy. This of course was difficult to accomplish, but with careful designing he managed to fit it in, and end up having a cart as big as Nick and Trixie’s.

Now while they were on the move he was able to work on his craft and had a means of maintaining the caravan without needing to stop at a smithy every couple of years. This also presented a source of income as they could offer all the services of a smithy on the road.

Silk liked the Idea and asked to have her cart outfitted with everything to continue her craft as well adding another source of income and a way to keep their clothes intact or have a means to replace them. Using her mastery with a needle she furnished the inside of the caravan with silk carpets and made all their bedding materials.

Nick had said that aside from expanding the cart to house them, he also suggested they make a few ‘additions’ to it. He had been working on something for a while called a “gun.” No one was sure what that was until Nick explained it. Iron wasn’t all that happy with it thinking that it had no honor behind it, but conceded that it presented several advantages that could prove invaluable in a pinch.

So aside from a smaller gun that Nick had been working on, he added a much larger one on top of Trixie’s Cart that swiveled in a full circle and another one on the fourth cart they added for storage. In the end they had a very impressive setup. Currently they were making their way through a forest heading towards Griffonia.

Iron had said it was likely not safe in Minotauria anymore thanks to the likes of Steel hands. He considered taking them into Yakyakistan, but the yaks aren’t known for their hospitality, at all, and with the recent return of the Crystal Empire they have been very unhappy about having to relinquish much of the lands they claimed after it disappeared.

Needless to say the temperamental yaks would be less than welcoming to them. The Griffins are a bit better, unlike the yaks their temper was more militaristic than anything. They had thought about heading towards either the hive or the capital, but Iron said that might not work as that would be the first place Steel might look.

“So why are we heading towards Griffonia again?” Trixie asked.

“I have a friend there that might be able to help us. If Steel knows we have the fragment then he would likely be paying off mercenary groups and assassins to find us. This friend of mine can get us safe passage to the Kirin kingdom. If Nick’s magic is like we think and is like a Kirin’s magic, than he might be able to learn from them.” Iron said.

Currently Nick was forging bullets for later use and trying to figure out his pistol. The gun didn’t work in the same way they did on earth. He had no idea how to make an actual gun, but he knew the basics of how it worked. All he needed to do was find a way to shoot the bullets down the barrel so that they were traveling fast enough to break the sound barrier. It had taken him months to figure it out, he wanted something that would be less likely to jam, so he decided to make it with magic.

In the end most of it was for looks as the mechanism was simple enough. Speed runes stamped onto a series of rings that made up the barrel, these caused the bullet to speed up as it traveled down the barrel, while ammo was fed in by a magically extended clip, the clip was the size of a normal one of this gun’s size, but was able to fit double the normal amount of bullets. The hammer set the bullets on their way through the barrel. All this was relatively easy on the big guns on the caravan, but bringing it down to a pistol sized one was going to be difficult. With the big ones on the caravan, the barrel was big enough to fit enough speed runes to get the desired effect and then some, but with his pistol he had very little room to work with.

“Nick, would you like some vegetable soup?” Silk asked timidly as she walked into his cart. She shied away at his glare, but stayed to hear his answer.

“Just a small bowl please.” Nick sighed and went back to his work. He had been trying to get past his grudge against her, but it was difficult to considering she had tried to rape his virginity away.

“Alright, I’ll be right back.” She said and went back to her cart.

“Now where's that damned chisel?” Nick said looking around for his tool.

“Here you go..” Silk said levitating the bowl onto his table. He gave her a curt nod before she left. Suddenly Nick’s mark started to glow. He felt like something was pulling him, and it felt familiar.

“Not this time bitch.” Nick said and pulled back.

Finally! The spell was ready. It had taken several attempts to get it right, but now she could bring here familiar back! She was worried that Celestia had brought her guard and was decked out in her armor, but she trusted her mentor’s judgment. All that was left was to cast. It had to be her that casted it as it was her familiar, but since she might not have the magic required to reach him, she was going to have Princess Luna feed her magic into Twilight’s mana pool to strengthen it.

“Twilight, are you sure this will work?” Princess Celestia asked slightly concerned.

“I know it will. I have checked every thing three times and haven’t found a single flaw.” Twilight said confidently.

“Alright, but remember, once the spell is finished you need to get out of the way as fast as possible, we aren’t taking any chances this time. My mother herself said he is a key player in our future, so we need to keep him here. Do you remember the plan?” Celestia asked.

“Yes. Pull him back here, Teleport up stairs while you and your guards capture and restrain him.” Twilight said.

“Correct, the magic restraints must not have been enough to hold him last time, so this time we will but stronger ones on him as well as some other measures in case he get’s out of hand. Afterwords I will station guards here to watch over you two while you reform him.” Celestia finished.

“Is all that necessary? I’m sure we could do this peacefully.” Twilight said with her ears drooping a bit.

“I’m afraid so, we cannot take any risks this time, he is vital, but let's not forget that he is dangerous.” Celestia said.

“Alright then, let’s get started then.” Twilight said taking a deep breath before channeling her magic. She felt Luna’s magic begin to pour into her like a great river into a small lake. She reached out with their combined magics looking for her familiar. When she finally did find him she used the mark to concentrated on forcing him there. What she did not expect was him pulling him back, the book didn’t mention anything on a familiar fighting back!

She used more magic to try and pull harder until it turned into a game of tug-of-war. His magic was strong, but hers was much stronger, especially with luna aiding her. However when he suddenly started getting stronger she began to lose her nerve. How was he getting so strong? How!? She had both her magic and Princess Luna’s at work! She pulled as hard as she could, but the moment she did she felt it. He was eating her magic! This was bad if she didn’t stop pulling now he might-

“bitch! I! Said! No!” Nick shouted as he began pulling as hard as he could and absorbed her magic to pull harder. He gave one last mighty tug before it was over. In a bright flash of light he was sent flying through the door and into a tree.

“Nick!” Trixie shouted and jumped off the side of the cart she had been sitting on.

“The hell is going on?” Iron said while stopping the cart.

“The one who summoned me here tried to pull me back. I think I ended up pulling her here though….” Nick said popping his neck.

“Well, let’s see… who… it…. Is….” Trixie started before she looked at the fuming lavender unicorn starring daggers at her. Or at least she was lavander before she bursted into flames and her coat turned white.

“You're a dead mare.” She said stomping towards her.

“Now Twilight, come on, were both reasonable ponies here.” Trixie said nervously backing away from her and behind Nick.

“And you're about to have a lop sided chest if you don’t back off!” Nick said growing his heavy chitin armor and his new horns. They started one inch above his ears in a wide diamond shape they were tilted upwards and extended outwards until they hit a sharp turn aiming them forward. They curved until the points were roughly six inches in front of Nick’s face and an inch above his eyes. “God I love anime.” Nick smirked.

Twilight took a few steps back reverting back to her normal state at the sight of the terrifying horns her familiar had grown in seconds. She tried forcing him to the ground with her Mark, but it had no effect as she had not finished their contract.

“Now calm down now, no need to get violent…” Twilight said shakily.

“Then what was that a second ago?” Nick deadpanned.

“She stole you from me!” Twilight said pointing at Trixie.

“I didn’t steal anything! You drove him away and he became MY stallion. Deal with it Sparkle!” Trixie said smirking and clinging to Nick's arm.

“Now hold on just a minute-” Nick said but was interrupted by Twilight.

“Your stallion!? He’s my familiar. If he's anyponies stallion he is mine first!”

“Now wait a minute, what makes you think-”

“Ha, and what makes you think you have any claim to that position? I am the first mare in his herd, so it naturally falls to me. Face it Sparkle, you lost, and now you're rival now has your familiar in her herd.” Trixie gloated.

“Got any three’s?” Nick asked looking at the cards in his magic.

“Ha! Go fish!” Iron said.

“Oh yea? Have you bedded him yet? If not then you haven’t claimed anything yet.” Twilight said grinning at Trixie’s nervous expression.

“Checkmate!” Iron said moving his bishop into place.

“Are you kidding me?!” Nick said double checking the board.

“Nick! You. Me. Bed. Now.” Trixie said.

“Now wait a minute-” Nick said as he was pulled by the hand by Trixie towards the cart.

“Oh no you don’t.” Twilight said. This was her familiar and Trixie had the gall to try to steal him from her?! She latched onto his other arm and pulled with all her might

“Do I get a say in this?” Nick said as both mares pulled him from either side.

“NO!” They shouted in unison.

“Why do you even want him?! You don’t even know him! unlike me.” Trixie grunted and pulled.

“He is a my familiar!” Twilight grunted and pulled

“And what that makes me your properly or something?” Nick said looking at his summoner.

“What!? No no no that’s not what I meant!” Twilight panicked waving her hands in front of her face.

“So what did you mean then?” Trixie said gaining the high ground.

“I…. I…..” Twilight couldn’t find the right words.

“Face it. You're desperate to get what you consider yours back. Have you even considered that he might not want to come back? Have you taken his feelings into account at all?!” Trixie said causing Twilight to shrink back.

“Trixie calm down a bit, and you.” Nick said pointing at Twilight with his now free hand, “what makes you think you have the right to control me?” Nick demanded.

“I wasn’t trying to control you, I just... you need to come back to Equestria with me!” Twilight said trying to change the subject.

“Fat chance. As far as I know the moment I do monster tits is going to throw me in a cage.” Nick scoffed at the very idea of heading back there. He had been there less than five minutes and was attacked and locked up for no reason.

“No I promise you won’t! Celestia feels bad for what she did, but she was only trying to protect her subjects!” Twilight said.

“Yeah sure, and by ‘protect’ do you mean contain or destroy anything she doesn’t understand and thinks MIGHT be a threat.” Silk asked stepping out of her cart.

“Changeling!!” Twilight shouted and charged her horn.

“Whoa! Calm you're tits lady!” Nick said stepping in between them.

“But there's a monster there! We have to get rid of it!” Twilight panicked.

“She isn’t a monster!” Trixie said.

“She’s a Changeling! She will suck you dry and leave you an emotionless husk!” Twilight glared at Trixie.

“Oh please, you're going to quote one of those trash books that have no real facts?” Trixie said crossing her arms.

“And how do you know that? Those books were written by the best scholars at Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns!” Twilight protested.

“Because I grew up with Silk. Unlike you ignorant Equestrians, I was raised in minotauria without being indoctrinated into believing groundless claims.” Trixie smirked.

“You little…” Twilight said in a distorted voice as her hair burst into flames and her fur turned white.

“Stop turning into Rapidash!” Nick shouted causing everyone to stare at him confused.

“Wha…?” Twilight asked.

“Look I don’t care what you're taught in Equestria or what you believe. If you harm any of my friends, be it Trixie, Iron, or even Silk, I will send you into the afterlife faster than you can blink.” Nick glared at Twilight.

“Ok…” Twilight squeaked as her pupils shrank into pin pricks.

“Now then. What are we going to do with you then?” Nick asked, “Can we send you back? Or are we stuck with you for now?” Nick asked crossing his arms.

“I can’t go back the same way I got here, the only reason I even found you is because of Princess Luna’s magic helping me to extend my range. And the spell only works between a familiar and their summoner. Where are we by the way?” Twilight said still wary of Silk.

“In the black forest between Griffonia and Minotoria.” Trixie said.

“What!? But that’s to far from equestria! It’le take weeks to get back!” Twilight said getting nervous.

“Then you better get walking.” Trixie said climbing into her cart.

“What?! No I’d never make it on my own, you need to come with me!” Twilight begged.

“We don’t need to do anything. You're the one who fucked up. So it’s your problem.” Nick said climbing into shotgun next to Iron.

“Wait!” Twilight said as they started driving off and leaving her behind. Thankfully the cart was only able to move at jogging speed while on the bumpy path of the forest.

“What do you want now?” Nick asked not stopping the cart.

“You can’t just leave me here!” Twilight shouted after them.

“Oh really? And what will you do if we do?” Trixie asked popping her head out the window, and regretted it when the cart suddenly stopped causing her to bonk her head on the window frame.

“Look, from everything you have done up until now, you’re really pushing your luck, but I’ll tell you what. You can stay in the storage cart for now, but you're going to have to pull your weight around here if you want to stay, understood?” Nick asked sternly.

“Fine! Just don’t leave me here alone!” Twilight said with tears streaming down her face.

“Hop in the back cart.” Nick commanded.

It had been Two agonizing weeks since Twilight’s disappearance. She had agents searching all across equestria for her, but not a single sign of her yet. She may have to look beyond her borders if she wanted to find her. This was so wrong! In just a few more months she would have been ready to ascend, but now she wasn’t so sure.

“Where are you Twilight?” Celestia said looking over the map that highlighted her agents. She was hoping that when the spell went wrong that it only disrupted the trace she had placed on Twilight, but it doesn't look like that was the case, and it doesn’t look like she had been transported to any of their allied nations as the trace wasn’t working on their maps either. Since she had freed up her schedule to search for her lost student the nobles had been throwing a tantrum, which only got worse thanks to her nephew.

“Why are you wasting your time with that nobody from that nutjob family?” were his exact words if she recalled. Why did she allow him to stay Prince again? In any event it’s not like she could do much about it at the moment without resorting to the old ways. Unfortunately asking her sister to take over day court hadn’t made things much better as they still believed Luna to be a false goddess, the more zealot like ponies even saying Luna was brainwashing her and that she needed to be put down.

They had taken measures to keep such zealots out of the castle whenever possible, but they couldn’t get them all, as such there was at least one assassination attempt a week on Luna, and in every case the Night guard had made sure they didn’t even make it to a cell, let alone court. She turned to the door when one of her guards walked in.

“Report.” Celestia commanded.

“There have been no signs of Miss Sparkle anywhere yet your majesty.” The guard said. Celestia gave his words some thought before she made her decision. She couldn’t take anymore risks.

“Call in agents scratch and melody.” Celestia said simply.

Octavia sighed as she was thrown out of bed again by the “wubs” of their dish washer. She regretted ever giving that chour to Vinyl. How was it possible to wash dishes so loudly!? Thankfully all of the good dishes were stored in a soundproof cabinet ever since the last set had been reduced to glass shards when she moved in with vinyl. She checked the time to see it was ten past eight.

She walked down stairs and found her old friend dancing to her heart’s content to the music coming from the dishwasher and seemed oblivious to Octavia. She used this to her advantage and snuck up behind her. She tapped vinyl on the shoulder and stepped to the side as vinyl looked to find nopony there. Octavia stayed out of vinyls line of sight like a ghost until Vinyle was facing away from the sink she quickly got a glass of water.

She waited for her to turn back to the sink before making her way over to the refrigerator being sure to stay out of Vinyls sight before grabbing a handful of ice and putting into the cup. She stealthily made her way back to Vinyl and dumped the cups contents down the back of her shirt. She laughed as Vinyl pannicke at the sudden cold on her back and ran around trying to get it out until she felt herself being lifted in an electric blue aura.

“Ha ha Tavi.” Vinyl said turning off the dishwasher and setting Octavia down.

“Next time a good morning will do.” she said tossing her shirt onto the couch.

“Well if you could hear me then next time I will.” Octavia giggled.

“Yeah yeah… we got something in the mail today, looks important.” Vinyl said picking up a package that had the royal seal on it.

“Oh dear, you don’t think this has anything to do with the Princess’s lost student do you?” Octavia asked eyeing the package.

“Probably, but we’ll never know until we open it up.” Vinyl said opening it. There was a white box in it with Celestia’s seal on it. Inside they found a missions briefing along with several new magical items that they might need. The mission briefing said that they were to travel to where they think Nick headed and start from there as the spell likely took Twilight straight to him.

“Oh buck all kinds of duck, we’re headed to minotuaria.” Octavia said.

“Don’t worry Tavi, what are the odds that we run into her again?” Vinyl asked.

“With our luck? She will be our secondary target’s marefriend.” Octavia deadpanned and facepalmed at the thought of the azure mare and the trouble she caused on their last mission in Yakyakistan.

She hid in the dark alleyway to stay out of her target’s sight. studying them. She had gathered as much data for steel hands as she could on them, but this Nick creature had proven a challenge to her, every time she thought she knew everything about him he would do something out of left field. It was like he was constantly evolving to stay ahead of her!

And now with this Twilight sparkle that just added a new monkey wrench into her mission. She had some data on her but not much, only enough to stay wary of her. Evidently this was Celestia’s personal student. Somepony like that would prove difficult to handle alone, but with her company she had been keeping now it would be too risky to take her on, not that she would confront any of them on directly anyway. She had no magic of her own to speak of so doing so would be right out foolish, and with the procedure that Nick had performed on Iron Fist, it was like ha had the body of a twenty five year old again!

She wanted to stick to what she knew, but that hadn’t been getting her anywhere! She needed to try something new. Hiding and eavesdropping on them wasn’t getting her any new information, and for all she knew they didn’t even have the fragment on them. She was going to try and integrate herself into their group somehow, but ever since they had acquired miss Sparkle, doing so would prove excessively difficult.