The Manor sat before them. The past day had been awkward, but at least the group of them were finally here, at the manor, ready to carry out the treasure. Rainbow Dash hadn’t done much, although, according to Fluttershy, the thief did find another treasure trove within the vault. The prismatic mare was now doing the backstroke in pile upon pile of platinum bit coins. When asked if Rainbow was still naked, The Sol Priestess just nodded.

“Same ol’ Dash,” AJ mused, “Well, come on, let’s ‘er done.”

It took most of the morning, between AJ, Big Mac, Endymion and some charms worked up by Twilight, to get all the loot loaded. The Apple Family wagon was loaded with all the weapons, save for a still pristine war axe that Applejack appropriated. The bits, gems, and other valuable pieces, were loaded into Pinkie’s Vardo, under protest from Rainbow Dash. She was hoping to have it in AJ’s cart, but she was overruled because all that cash would make their party a tempting target and the Vardo had compartments galore wherein which the lucre could be stored away from prying eyes. It was a minor miracle they weren’t set upon by other thieves when the hauled out the vault’s contents.

Traveling back to town was slower because the two wagons were fully loaded now and even with Twilight’s enchantments, things took much longer than expected. There was also a brief delay to a cadre of highwaymen who attempted to lift the party’s treasures from them. The fight to protect the carts was over swiftly as both AJ and Big Mac presented the brigands with an impossible choice: death by great sword or death by war axe. They fled with all haste after AJ hewn down their leader with single swipe of her axe. Although a stream crossing somewhat perilous, the party was able to cross it with no less of property or life. From there, it was a straight shot to Ponyville.

Once back in town, Twilight disembarked and head for The Golden Oak, to check on Spike. Pinkie stayed with her Vardo although Dash wanted her to keep away from her horde of gold. The thief did ultimately have to step away awhile in order to meet her fence, a fellow Pegasus. Before Dash went away, Endymion gave her a scrying orb, or palantir, to contact them once she had her fence established. Twilight had one as well, so she could come over to help inspect the pieces, although she already had a good assessment of the arms and armor they had.

After Rainbow left, AJ directed the rest of the party to an open field in Sweet Apple Acres. The place was where they could park the wagons and expect some privacy. Shortly after setting skids against both wagons wheels, Applejack and Big Mac went home to help out with what chores needed doing. An hour passed and as Endymion was working on something in the Vardo, a pair of shadows passed over the group. He looked up to see Rainbow flying by with another pegasus mare. He thought, maybe that’s our fence. If so, they missed us. Taking out his palantir, Endymion signaled Rainbow Dash and told her where they were parked.

A few moments later, Rainbow Dash returned with a Pegasus mare in tow. Endymion nearly did a double take because the mare very closely resembled his Twilight. The Pegasus had the exact same face and body proportions; her mane and tail were cut in the same way that Twilight’s were. While her coat colors as well as the streaks in her mane and tail were different, but should very well Twilight’s doppleganger. When this duplicate Twilight inspected the weapons they brought, she even geekd out the same way Twilight did. Her voice was different, though, much huskier and deeper.

“Guys,” Dash announced, “I’d like you all to meet a good friend of mine as well as my favorite fence, Blossomforth.”

“Hello, everypony,” Blossomforth said, “I see you brought some quality stuff here. Looks like the bulk of it is Solarian Revolt era. That will fetch a pretty penny, for sure.”

“You got a buyer in mind?” Dash asked.

“I might know some ponies,” Blossomforth confirmed, “there’s a stallion in St. Clydesdale that loves Solarian Era material. But there’s also a few lords and ladies in Canterlot that would take all this off of you for a small fortune. Depends on who has the better bid.”

“You wanna auction this stuff?” Endymion asked, catching Blossomforth by surprise.

“The Crown Prince…” Blossomforth murmured, “Your Highness, I didn’t know-”

“Save it,” Endymion ordered, “yeah, my mother is Princess Luna and I’m next in line for the throne, if you don’t count Princess and Master Sol Priestess Celestia as most ponies do, but I don’t expect anypony to venerate me. Neither moonlight or sunlight pours out of my every orifice. I know it might be difficult, but just think of me as any other stallion.”

“Oh! Of course, of course,” Blossorth said, “I’m sorry. We don’t get many celebrities here in Ponyville.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Endymion muses, “so, our goods, you think you can get a good bid on them?”

When Blossomforth nodded, Endymion continued, “Piece by piece or in bulk?”

“Well, the buyer in St. Clydesdale would buy them piece by piece, but the Canterlot buyers buy in bulk,” Blossomforth explains, “Fair warning, the Canterlot buyers are going to want wholesale rates, even if the whole is appraised for higher. The stallion in St. Clydesdale will offer at 10% above market for any piece he has and it's assured he’ll go to 25% for one he doesn’t.”

“Sounds like the guy in St. Clydesdale is our best bet for a good payday!” Dash exclaims.

“Quick question,” Twilight says for the first time in this process, “how do we know your St. Clydesdale contact hasn’t already attained the pieces we have here?”

Blossomforth smiles and Endymion has to acknowledge that her smile is the exact same as Twilight’s too.

“There’s a reason I brought a camera with me,” the Pegasus said, “I’ll snap some shots of what you have and send them down to my guy. If he has what you got or if there’s a piece or two he hasn’t got yet, he’ll let me know.”

“And you’ll facilitate the buy?” Twilight asked, to which Blossomforth nods, then Twilight continues, “what’s your take?”

“Oh, about five percent,” Blossomforth answered, “on the whole lot. Dash and I are friends from back in Cloudsdale, so I’m giving her a discount on my nominal ‘finder’s fee.’ How you guys split up the remainder is up to you.”

“Ah think we got that all settled, already,” AJ said, coming up the road, “howdy, Blossom! Ain’t seen you in a dog’s age.”

“Hey, AJ,” Blossomforth replied, “you know me, busy bee!”

“Darn tootin’,” AJ replied, “so, whatcha thinkin’?”

“St. Clydesdale,” Blossomforth answers, “better price, less hassle, almost no questions asked.”

Twilight queried, “‘Almost no questions asked?’”

She shrugged her shoulders, “There’s almost always going to the the most general questions asked. What’s the story behind the weapons, is there traceable paperwork, that kind of thing. Typically when it comes to something that adventurers found in their travels. The questions really only boil down two two questions. The first being the story behind the weapons, and the second one being will they be missed. From the look of these weapons, I’m going to there’s a very interesting story, and that no, they won’t be missed.”

“How long do ya reckon it’s a gonna take ta sell em off?”

She rubbed her chin, “Between a couple of weeks to a month. The buyer I have in mind is good for it, but he’s all about presentation. Each time he purchases a new piece, or a few new pieces, he likes to open up his collection to friends, other socialites, and let them bask in his newest trophy. He’s got a few friends with the Equestrian Historical Preservation Society; he’ll might send one or two members down here to appraise the gear. He’s a really stickler for authenticity and even with the photos I send him, he’ll want somepony to examine in pony.”

“That’s a lot of work for selling off some old weapons,” Dash complained.

“Maybe,” Blossomforth retorted, “but that Canterlot crowd would take a lot longer. Do you know the sort of paperwork, tariffs, inspections, and other sundry bureaucracy is needed to bring in even a single piece of Solarian Revolution Army equipment into Canterlot? My St. Clydesdale contact will take a month at most; the bare minimal time you can expect a paycheck from the Canterlot fold is nearly half a year! And for all this gear? Try closer to two years.”

“Dang,” AJ murmured, “and here Ah thought taxes were a nightmare.”

Blossomforth began to take pictures of the various collection of weapons, crossbows, short axes, long swords, daggers, and a couple of matchlock hand cannons. Endymion had seen one like these two used during a ceremony and it had been loud, powerful, but it wasn’t the most reliable weapon. She lifted one, seeing that unlike its sister hand cannon it was loaded, ready, and could, in theory, fire if worked with.

“This is interesting,” she said holding it.

Endymion looked at it and noticed what she meant, “It’s still loaded.”

She nodded, “Yeah, anyone of these things that are loaded like this often go for more. It’s a piece of history that has proof of use.”

It was at that moment that Blossomforth realized just how close to Endymion she was standing. Despite the fact that he said to treat him like any other stallion she couldn’t get past the fact that this was the crown prince of Equestria. She could smell the other mares in his group and tell from their odors that three of them were in heat. And Endymion smelled of sex; she detected two mares on him, one of them that Twilight Sparkle filly and the other- the other had a scent like jasmine. Some of the earth ponies mares had herbal scents to them, while Pegasi like herself smelled of spices. She didn’t know what unicorns smelled like, because they had some weird hang ups about estrus. For all she knew, Twilight’s ozone and woodsmoke perfume was how all unicorns mares presented to their mates.

Those thoughts passed through her mind when she saw the rifle Endymion had strapped to his back. The Crown Prince wielded the strangest weapon she had ever seen and she had facilitated the sale of ordinance as far back as pre-Unity Era. (There were very zany weapon designs back then, including an antiquated Pegasus wire trap, meant to capture Pegasi like herself while in flight.) It was the most unique piece of the collection she had seen in this lot and she had ideas of whom would willing to pay a mountain load of bits for it.

“That’s quite the find,” she said pointing toward the rifle Endymion was carrying on his back.

“Yes, yes it is. I decided that it was too unique of a find to simply sell off.”

She grinned, oh how she loved this game. She’d played it a thousand times over. Getting somepony to sell a treasure they swore they’d never part with. It was a challenge, but like all challenges, the harder it was, the sweeter the victory.

“I can understand why. It’s design is similar to the two hand cannons, and yet, it is obviously their superior in every possible way. Just looking at it, honestly looking at it, one can see the complex, and intricate design that went into crafting it,” she neared him, playing to her strengths, not once forgetting that above all else she was a mare who knew how to get things done, “I’d dare say that if you were willing to part with it anything you ever desired could possibly be yours. I know of several collectors that would sell everything they own, put all of their family fortunes forward, and even sell off their own foals in order to purchase it.”

He shook his head, “Then their foals can rest easy, because I have no desire to part with it.”

She grinned. Wealth wasn’t appealing to him, and that meant that she needed to see what his price truly was. There was a thousand things that it could be, and she’d find it. Being that he grew up as part of the royal family, wealth most likely wasn’t the most important thing for him. But wealth wasn’t the only commodity.

“Of course, consider the attention you can gain by agree to selling it. Hundreds, if not thousands, of influential families in Equestria, if not all of Equus, would know you. You could have the daughters, or sons, of those families at your attention. The ability to hold so much sway over the more influential families in Equus would be intoxicating.”

He shook his head, “No, I’m happy as is.”

So offering a different type of power wasn’t appealing to him either. He was a stallion, and considering that, she unsnapped the top button on her shirt, letting her clevage show a little, “What about the potential benefits of gaining another herd mate? Any number of those families would gladly allow their daughters, and potentially sons, to enter into a herd with you.”

He laughed and shook his head, “Currently I’m fine. Honestly, I just want to hang onto it. It interests me.”

Sex didn’t work, power and wealth didn’t work, and to be honest she wasn’t sure what else to offer other than her own body. She wasn’t going to do that. He was nice enough looking male, but her special somepony would be somepony she chose for the right reasons, not because they could land her a huge payday.

She huffed, not sure where to take this, when she saw his grin. He reached forward toward her hand. She offered it, and then she felt him kiss the back of it. It was a simple gesture, one that those with manners offered one another, and most of the time she never really received that kind of gesture.

Her cheeks blushed, a sheepish grin crept across her lips, and she giggled like a school filly. Looking into his eyes she leaned closer, “Maybe, if you’re not willing to sell it.. You’d entertain the idea of a lunch, together, today, just the two of us?”

Twilight, who had considered heading over the Golden Oaks Library, stopped and watched. She saw Endymion smile, but it wasn’t a real Endymion smile. It was something she’d seen Princess Luna do a thousand times a day when talking to the nobility. Part of her felt relieved that he was being pleasant and not openingly accepting her advances.

“I don’t know, I mean I was going to treat both of my fiances to to a nice lunch, but you’re welcome to come along as well.”

She smiled, her top loosened by another button, and Twilight’s eye twitched. She was trying to get his attention with her cleavage!

“Well, maybe they could enjoy a nice dinner, but I thought.. The two of us, could discuss some things, privately,” she said, before she stepped closer, gently reaching out and touching his shoulder, “And, who knows what kind of adventure a short lunch could create. Perhaps, you could come away, with another treasure.”

He smiled, backing up and shaking his head, “Thank you, but no; the offer stands for you to join us, but I’m afraid I couldn’t leave them out.”

She looked toward the pink earth pony mare. She was smiling, but her eyes weren’t shining and carefree as they had been. Instead, her years of reading ponies told her that the pink mare was daring her to try and cut in on her stallion, just to try it and see what would happen. Twilight, the unicorn Rainbow Dash had spoken of, seemed to say the same with her expression. She raised an eyebrow at them. Neither was openly saying a word, but their body language was more than saying it for them.

Smiling in an apprehensive way, Blossomforth said, “Aw, what a shame… Well, I’ll take a rain check on that dinner, then. Seriously, though, what is going to take for you to part with that very unique rifle of yours?”

“Short of world peace?” Endymion mused, “nothing. I’m kinda attached to this thing and I haven’t yet put it through it's paces, yet.”

“Oh, pooh,” Blossomforth said, “I was really hoping to see that at auction… Oh, well. I’ll get in contact with my stallion in St. Clydesdale and see what he’ll offer. I have all the pictures he’s going to want to see. And Rainbow, don’t be a stranger, huh? I still owe you that cider.”

“Oh, you know it!” Dash replied, “Catch ya later, Blossom!”

Blossomforth waved to Dash and everypony else, but she winked at Endymion, with a little wiggle in her rump, and flew off. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie and Twilight were at his side, staring daggers at Blossomforth’s retreating form, clutching him in a possessive way. His arms were going to have marks where Twily and Pinks gripped him. He didn’t understand their attitude; he looked towards Applejack for understanding. SHe only gave him a shrug of her shoulders, giving him nothing.

“Ah, Twilight,” Endymion said to end a rather prolonged silence, “did you contact with that professor of yours? The expert numismatist?”

“What?” Twilight started, “Oh. Oh, yes, I did. He’ll be coming into town tomorrow to appraise the coins. If they really are old platinum marcs, then they would virtually priceless. He’ll be coming down with a chemist associate, to ensure they really are made of platinum. My understanding is that the SRA used platinum bits, but not all of them were really platinum and even fewer were pure platinum. If these are pure platinum, the Historical Society would pay a sizeable ransom for them all.”

“What about all my bits?” Dash asked with worry.

“I asked an associate with the Royal Equestrian Bank,” Twilight explained, “according to her, as long as they originate from before the Currency Equivalency Accords of 128 AU, then there isn’t any claim that can be filed by survivors of the SRA or their families. So legally, their yours, as you reclaimed them from their secreted location.”

“Awesome,” Dash breathed.

“Finally, some good news,” AJ said, “

“So the money that isn’t SRA lucre is ours for the taking?” Endymion asked.

Twilight nods, adding, “Technically, its Equestrian tender and as such, could be spent anyway you want. Or thrown into a Royal Equestrian Bank account. Mind you, these coins are ancient, even more so than the SRA cash, so they would be worth several magnitudes more than their face value.”

“So we could have them appraised, sent to auction and- Dash, how much in bits is there? You did a count, right?”

Rainbow Dash nods, adding, “My personal count was 253, 927 bits. Almost all of them are from 96 AU or before. I only spotted a few that were after Celestia’s banishment but before the Solaran Revolt.”

“Some time before the Accords,” Twilight remarks, “this is good. You guys could stand to make quite the fortune if you play your cards right!”

Endymion could practically see bit signs turn up in Dash’s eyes; her friends rolled their eyes, knowing full well how avaricious their Pegasus friend could be. As if the betting stake she earned from the Ponyville tournament wasn’t enough, this new bounty would probably cause her to lose herself in a pool of gold coins. Just like last time…

“If’n ya’ll don’t mind, Dash an’ Ah are gonna moved the coins inta mah storm cellar,” AJ announced, “cain’t trust that somepony ain’t heard of the haul we have and not try and rip us off. Them fellars on the road wasn’t the only ponies that might be tempted by all o’ this.”

“I’m with AJ,” Dash said, “I know Pinkie, I trust Pinkie, but her wagon is a huge target!”

“I see no reason to protest,” Endymion said, “outside of a safe deposit box, which none of this treasure would fit anyway, there isn’t any place I can think of that be safer. I don’t think Fluttershy has any place where she can store it, right?”

“No,” Fluttershy confirmed, “my cottage is only secure because of it’s remote location adjacent to Ponyville, but I don’t lock the doors or windows because of my animal friends. If anypony were willing, they could just walk up to my house and enter whenever they like.”

“What stops them, though?” Dash asked.

“Harry,” Fluttershy replied and when she received questioning looks, she continued, saying, “Harry is a bear.”

“Like, a really big stallion or-” Dash asked.

“He’s a brown bear,” Fluttershy answered with a smile, “he can be ferocious when he wants to be, but he really is a big softy. I think of him as a giant teddy bear.”

“I’m afraid to ask,” Endymion said.

Dash looked at the amount of treasure coming out of the Vardo. It hadn’t been shoveled in and stuffed full either. It had been put into storage areas inside of the Vardo itself, and Dash looked at it unsure of how the Vardo had been big enough inside to do that. She looked into it, seeing that looked longer, wider, and simply bigger on the inside than it did on the outside.

It didn’t make sense, in fact it kind of flew in the face of sense. It was as if Pinkie’s Vardo was mocking the very laws of nature themselves. Then again, Rainbow Dash thought the simple answer of the fact that it belonged to Pinkie. Basically anything that had to do with the pink mare was best left alone and not tried to be explained.

She knew that Twilight had nearly drove herself crazy when she first got here trying to explain Pinkie Pie. When it was unloaded, and in the cellar, Rainbow walked down with the last armload. She looked at Applejack with pitiful, pleading eyes for a moment, “Please?”

She nodded and Rainbow knelt down to the bits, “Okay, Mama is going to be gone for a little while, but I love you, Oh, I love you all so much, and I want you to stay warm and dry. Be good.”

With that she slowly moved out of the cellar, and Applejack closed it. She watched as it was locked, and then relocked.

“Safe and secure. Plus, Big Mac and me’ll keep an eye on it. Won’t be goin’ nowhere ‘till we’re ready ta sell.”

Twilight grinned as she stepped out on the patio of the large cabin in her unitard swimsuit. Endymion had helped her pick it out, and she was still getting used to the idea that it basically was a single piece of fabric that covered her breasts, went behind her neck, and was little more than a thong on the bottom. Of course, Pinkie’s own swimsuit was a bikini that barely covered any of her curves.

She stepped into the hot tub where her parents were soaking.

“Thanks for letting us come and use your cabin.”

“It’s fine, besides, your father and I have been meaning to get out of Canterlot for a while. It’s peaceful here. I’ve actually considered making the move a bit more permanent. I know your father has too.”

There was the sound of wings flapping, and then hooves on the patio, “Mr. and Mrs… Ummm… Twilight, thanks for inviting us! This is awesome!”

“You’re welcome dear,” Twilight Velvet replied.

“No, seriously, I don’t think you get it, this is like the nicest place that I’ve ever stayed at.”

Twilight smiled at her friend, and wondered where everypony else was. She’d seen Pinkie Pie earlier, going down toward the large spring fed lake where Endymion was doing a little fishing. Fluttershy wasn’t that far from Endymion, not that it bothered her. He was Fluttershy’s champion. Although she did consider telling her friend that Endymion was a lot more noble than she was giving him credit for.

Sighing she enjoyed the hot water, and heard the sound of Dash getting into it as well.

“Ah Gotta say it’s real nice of y’all ta invite all of us… Though, it dun’t feel right being here while Big Mac tends the farm by himself.”

“I’m sure he’s okay, and besides, it’s giving you a chance to do something else with Applebloom.”

Applejack nodded, “Eeeeyup, ‘though right now she’s a down there at that lake. She was a sayin’ that she’s a gonna catch the biggest fish they got.”

“Say, wasn’t there a story or legend about some kind of ‘fish god’ on this lake?” Dash asked.

“You know, we never really bought into that,” Nightlight said, “but lately there has been some trouble with the local fishing industry.”

“We heard,” Endymion said, “fewer catches, damaged boats, something to do with a parasprite infestation?”

Twilight looked to see her beloved Fiancee. A bright smile crossed her lips, “I thought that you were going to check out the lake.”

He grinned at her, “I did, there wasn’t any boats we could rent. We tried to fish from the edge of the lake, but it was like the fish were all scared.”

Fluttershy, who walked up behind him, nodded, “He’s telling the truth. I flew over the water a little ways and I didn’t see any schools of fish for quite some time,” she seemed to adjust her swimsuit, mainly to keep from popping out, “and when I did they looked frantic.”

“No kidding,” Endymion confirmed, “I used every bait I could think of. Not even the pulled pork and onions was working. Those fish are three leagues of paranoid.”

“Wait, seriously? You used pulled pork and onions?” Dash asked incredulously.

“Long story,” Endymion answered, “My lunch fell into a pond and all the koi just ate it up. The next I went fishing on Lake Canter, I dropped a PP and O on my line. I caught so many trout, I nearly broke my line.”

“You know,” Dash mused, “I was talking to some of the Pegasi fishing crews. A good many of ‘em are spooked. I think it was Silver Glow who told me that sometimes when she’s out for a flight out on the lake, she’ll sometimes see a shadow swimming under the surface. Silver Glow isn’t much for lying. I worked with her at a weather management course. She told this thing is HUGE! She estimated it to be some ten ponies long but she thinks it might be even bigger.”

“So what could it be?” Fluttershy asked.

“Whatever it is,” AJ said, “it ain’t our problem.”

“Are you sure?” Twilight queried, “fishing is a major enterprise on this lake. If the ponies lose their livelihood…”

“Then ponies will grow hungry,” Endymion stated, “not just here, on the lake, but elsewhere where they buy their seafood from here.”

“Endymion,” Dash warned, “what are you thinkin’.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” The Crown Prince mused, “I was thinking of going for a little boat ride. Maybe see if there’s any whoppers out on the lake still.”

“Oh no,” Fluttershy murmured, “here we go, again!”

Later That Day

The boat was one that the Twilight Family had. While it was not schooner agile or yacht luxurious, it suited the purposes of their current mission. Fluttershy was still uncomfortable with this whole thing. Well, many things during this whole “vacation” but this was something she was specifically uncomfortable with. The bikini she was wearing wasn’t something she normally wore. She felt- exposed in this flimsy swimsuit. She was far more comfortable in priestess robes.

And the fact her champion was parading out in the open without his shirt, chasing a demon or monster or whatever it was he was pursuing now. Especially in that revealing pair of shorts he was wearing. And most especially while that hussy of a mare clung to his side. She hadn’t met Blossomforth when she was with Rainbow Dash to see their loot from Lord Iron Side’s former estate. Dash filled her in the details and while she couldn’t hold anything against the mare, after watching the mare’s behavior now, she was beginning to suspect of ulterior motives of this Blossomforth. And that thong she wore was even more of a tell of her ambitions for Prince Endymion.

“I can’t believe I found you guys out here!” Blossomforth exclaimed, “You couldn’t believe how surprised I was to see you guys on the lakeshore here.”

“Well, Twilight has a family villa up here,” Endymion said, “we all felt a little vacation was due for us all. The Twilight Family is close to the Crown so…”

“That is so cool,” Blossomforth cooed, (Fluttershy noticed that AJ, Dash, and Twilight rolled their eyes at this; Pinkie was holding back some rather homicidal urges,) “being a royal sure has it’s perks.”

Endymion laughed, then gave the Pegasus a withering glare and deadpanned, “You’re still not getting that rifle.”

“Oh, phoo!” Blossomforth huffed.

Fluttershy couldn’t be more proud of her champion. Maybe what Twilight told her was right. Ssure, Endymion wasn’t the ideal candidate for being a hero with his cavalier attitude about danger, his total disregard for safety, and his utter brashness to face life with fist raised instead of thinking things through. In spite of all these flaws, Endymion was still a stallion with a big heart and a pony that thought not of himself but others.

While Skyblaze was built like a world class hero, his attitude was far too tribalist and self centered. That mare with her brother was a more typical champion: thoughtful, resourceful, and initelligent. Endymion had his own form of intellect, but he rarely used in a meaningful way. He used his abnormally strong arms and legs to pummel at his problems. While it wasn’t the most ideal way to handle most situations, Endymion seemed to make it work him. right. Maybe he really was nobler than he appeared. Blossomforth instead seemed to smile at Endymion, and Fluttershy could see her adjusting the straps on her top. To most the half top would be a terrible idea for a match with thong swimsuit bottoms, but Blossomforth seemed to be making it work for her.

Fluttershy felt her wings stiffening out in a defensive manner. This mare was moving in on her champion. She began to grow lowly, unsure if Blossomforth could hear her or not, but not really caring. Beside her Pinkie Pie stopped staring daggers at Blossomforth, and instead looked at Fluttershy. A sly smile crossed her face.

She was about to say something to her friend when something rocked the ship from underneath. Endymion, the only one with any sailing experience thanks to his mom insisting that he learn it, tried to right the ship, and when he did he saw a huge spine, something giant was indeed under the waves.

Author's Notes:

Quick timeline note: Princess Celestia, in this universe, was banished to her sun back in 101 Ante Unitas. Her return as Solar Flare happened in 1101 AU. The Solar Revolt happened between 112-113 AU. The current year in this fic is 3 Post Regresso or about three years after Celestia's return.

If you find any mistakes in this chapter, again, please just let us know in the comments.