The magical batteries had finally drained themselves, leaving the ship roughly two days travel from Canterlot. Luna closed her eyes, desperately wishing that what had happened could have been avoided. There was many questions she knew her son wanted answered, questions she wanted answered, and yet the only response had been an excessive show of force. On top of that she had seen her son’s reaction to what had happened. Something had sparked some kind of memory, and he had been a nervous wreck since.

She had spoken to Twilight and Ms Pie, asking them both to take him into his cabin, do their best to calm him, and during that time she had set upon doing the small repairs she dared to do with just magic. It was a good way to help ease one’s self into understanding a situation that was beyond comprehension. Off to her left side she heard the near silent argument between two of the mares that went on adventures with her son.

“Not a scrap of treasure AJ, not a scrap! Do you know the kind of hole this puts us in? Oh for Sol’s sake we might as well drop trowel, bend over, and lift our tails, that’s the situation we’re in!” Dash whispered harshly.

“Rainbow, look, it weren’t nopony’s fault. Nopony knew those other ponies were a gonna show up, and nopony knew they were a gonna start a fight either.”

Rainbow Dash glared balefully at AJ for several seconds before looking over the side of the ship, “I guess, but this always happens. There’s a ton of treasure back there, a ton, and we didn’t even get a taste.”

“You will all be compensated,” spoke an imperious voice.

Both of them looked toward Luna, and bowed swiftly before returning to their more relaxed state, and Luna continued, “I would not have it any other way. You risked your own lives coming with us, and as such you will be paid.”

“Princess Luna, that’s right descent of ya,” Applejack replied, “but ya ain’t gotta do that.”

“Yes, she does!” Rainbow Dash interjected.

AJ went on as if Dash hadn’t spoken, “Yer Highness, we dun knew what we were a gittin’ inta when we came,” then AJ looked over the side of the ship, “Sure, Ah ain’t gonna lie, going back with somethin’ ‘stead of nothin’ would be a blessin’, but ya dun’t havta do that fer us.”

“On the contrary, Fair Applejack,” Luna stated, “I do so because you were willing to risk your lives to help my son on a personal quest, and to help me on a Diplomatic mission. I fear this is far from over, and soon I may need to call upon your group again.”

“Ya think they’re a gonna come start trouble?” AJ asked.

“I’d like to see them try,” Dash seethed, “I got knives for everypony!”

Luna turned toward the both of them. Applejack was as far removed from motherhood as her friends, but could see it in her eyes, that Luna looked conflicted.

“Yes, I fear that they will start trouble, and I fear it will be over Endymion,” The Lunar Diarch explained, “He is one of their kind. He is my son, albeit not of birth or blood but he is my son. Yet I fear that those we faced today will want to track him down.”

She motioned in front of her and they walked over taking a seat on a couple of crates that Lyra Heartstrings had helped bring up from below, where most but not all the damage the alien ship had done to Lunar Light was repaired.

Luna went on, “The first mare of his kind we met seemed surprised by his ability to use magic. That tells me that they will want him, if for no other reason.”

“You think they just want to use him for his magic?” Dash asked with an incredulous look on her face.

Luna nodded, “The strange armor she wore, it was powered by a magical battery, a powerful one at that. I’m certain of that. I have no doubt that their airship was much the same. Endymion has potential to be a powerful magi. He has abilities he hasn’t even realized yet, and I fear that they will want those abilities, that magic for their own ends. I pray to Sol that I am wrong.”

They looked at her and then at each other. Worry filled their minds as they thought about their fellow adventurer and friend. Those beings had crazy powerful weapons and equipment but from their first encounter with those “terran empire” folk, it could easily be assumed that they had no skill in magecraft. The encounter with Endymion had shown a human who deeply in touch with their arcane powers. There was a likelihood that skill of his would come to bite them all in the flank somehow.

He was on his side, shivering, his eyes screwed shut, and memories, so many memories were flooding into his mind. Memories he didn’t understand, memories that made his mind feel like it was going to explode. There were lovers, family, friends, places, even experiences that were not wholly his own and yet he could recall them as easily as if it were something he saw just yesterday.

One of the more familiar images was one he could identify with very easily. In it, he could see thousands of ponies, just like him, gathered together, working as one, and he could feel the thrum of magic as it filled him. The interdicting barrier forced a legion of ungulate foes from charging over the mountain range that served as the westernmost border of the realm. Ponies, no people, cheered as the leader of the charge, a barrel chested figure with a plethora of antlers on it's head, fell onward to the barrier, only to be consumed by curse that powered it. It's soldiers followed suit until none remained…

It changed again, flipping forward; he was in a room, lit by candlelight, and he was lying on the floor. He could see a glass rolling in front of him, for it passed by the wooden legs of the dining table he was seated at formerly. The taste of wine and nightshade filled his mouth. The mare, no woman, in the room with him was smiling sadistically. Her cackling filled his ears with pain and he desperately tried to breath. It was to no avail for he was being murdered then and there.

“The great Ambrose,” the woman chided, “champion of the House of Endymion! Yet, look upon you now, so weak. They claimed that you helped those three stop The Smooze, and that you single handedly stopped the destruction of our great nation. But here you are… gasping for breath, trying to hold on for one more second. You’ve lost, and with you dies the power behind the House of Endymion. ‘Tis said that revenge is a dish best served cold. I say, it is a play, an act of most deliberate and epic proportions that finally bears fruit when all are convinced that all is well. This night will bear witness to the end of The Elder of House Endymion. By first light tomorrow, the entire House shall be expunged, it’s name whispered as a fable and a warning. None shall that name Endymion without a thrill of fear. And you want to know the best part, Ambrose? It was House Proletariat that ended your arcane tyranny! Now die, you heretic.”

He felt the entire world go black, and his eyes shot open. He felt two mares beside him, his arms snaked out and wrapped around the one in front of him. He pulled her close, burying his head in her bosom, not caring who it was, not caring that it might be awkward, but at that moment he cared only there was a warm body which could bring him some comfort. He felt another body snuggling up behind him. As he snuggled against the body in front of him the smell of blackberries filled his nostrils.

Pinkie hugged Endymion from behind. He’d stopped shivering, and he wasn’t shaking anymore. She felt the pain he had been in, and she shared it as best she could. It was just simply part of who and what she was. She could always sense things that others couldn’t tell when things were going to happen, and feel things about other ponies. She had been with him long enough to know about his nightmares. For some strange reason, she couldn’t reach into them the way she could his waking thoughts.

She spoke with his mother about it and she too expressed frustration on that front. She informed Pinkie that Endymion;s nocturnal theater was virtually impregnable, no matter what line of attack she had attempted.. His dreams were protected by numerous layers of logic bombs, dead ends, traps, and red herrings, all controlled and contained within a deep and powerful firewall. It frustrated the salmon colored mare, too, but she rode with it. He was her stallion and Faust be damned if she gave up when the going got tough. She would stay by his side, firewall or not, and she would carry his burdens with him, because that wasn’t just the Earth pony way, that was the very core of the Roamani culture.

Holding him, snuggling behind him, and giving what comfort she could, Pinkie slowly thought about her stallion. Endymion was hers as much as she was his. By the guidelines of the Roamani culture they were just as married as if there was a ceremony. Oh, she knew that an actual ceremony would have to take place. Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz would have a massive conniption fit if their youngest daughter didn’t at least give them some pageantry of a marriage ceremony. Maud, Limestone and Marble would love to attend, as well. Maud, of course, would be her Mare of Honor.

Plus she was certain that Endy’s mama, Princess Luna, would want to have a ceremony as well. She thought about all of the ponies that would be coming from his family, and then she thought about Twilight’s addition to it. The ceremony would have to include Twilight. She looked at her blushing magi friend. She could smell Twilight’s arousal right now, her friend desperately trying to act like she was just comforting him, and not actually getting off on Endy having his face planted between her breasts.

As far as herd mates went she could do a lot, a whole lot, worse than Twilight. It was just getting Twilight to realize this was something she wanted. Her friend was super smart when it came to books, studying magic, knowing trivial and historical facts, but she was sooooo clueless when it came to important stuff like knowing what the heart wants. She’d do what she could to help, but even she wasn’t Supermare. Eventually Twilight was going to have decide for herself.

As they lay there none of them knew that above their heads Captain Spitfire had found the ship, reported in to the Princess, and under strict royal command had been ordered to include military training back into the Wonderbolts. They didn’t know that Luna was preparing for the worst, and that she was hoping her little ponies would be strong enough to endure it.

Twilight walked near Pinkie and Endymion as they headed toward Lucky’s. Pinkie had the day off, and she seemed content to enjoy it being near a good friend and her stallion. Twilight still had some chores to do at the library, but Spike had agreed to finish them for her. Of course, in return she had promised to get him a sapphire cupcake from Sugarcube corner. And Endymion was trying to clear his mind of everything that had been happening. There was questions, lots and lots of questions, and so few answers. He knew that some of the answers were back at Mount Gloom, back where those others like him had been, but he also knew that they were dangerous, and the last thing he wanted was to get his friends, or his family, into more trouble.

He wasn’t paying attention and ended up bumping into somepony. He looked up to see AJ standing there. She shook her head.

“Yer gonna end up falling into some mighty big trouble one day a doin’ that.”

“Maybe, so what’s going on?”

She pointed a sign that showed two ponies grappling, “Big fighting contest. Filthy Rich puts it on every year, and Sweet Apple Acres always makes some good bits selling Filthy our apple treats, zap apple jam, and just some good home cooked food,” she stretched, and Endymion noticed the cart hooked up to her waist for the first time, “This here’s the first load. Kinda makes me wonder how much he’s a makin’ off of all of it.”

“I’d say he’s making a killing,” Dash said as she floated down to the ground, landing right beside Applejack, “I mean, how else does he pay for that mansion, the staff it comes with, and that extended carriage? And Sol only knows how much his wife and daughter blow through with their fashion expenditures.”

“And ya’ll know all that how, Dash?” AJ asked with a smirk.

“Well,” Dash started, “somepony has to make some money for us! So, I sometimes take on a part time cleaning gig with the Rich household. He pays a pretty bit even though there is the indignity of those maid uniforms…”

“I don’t need you paint a picture, Dash,” Endymion said and the cerulean Pegasus’ tongue darted out to him, “I’m just glad you’re not hurting for work. Sol bless her, but my mom still sends me an allowance.”

“Seriously?”

He closed his eyes and nodded, “She says it’s a royal stipend, and that there’s no shame in it, but it feels like an allowance. That’s part of the reason I like to adventure with you two, and Fluttershy, because I like the idea of getting some treasure, and being self sustaining for a while.”

“Then enter the fight.”

He looked at AJ, “What?”

“Enter the fight. It’s just a show of strength, although they’re fine with anypony that knows Steel Way, Still Way, or Hoof-Fu. Ah ain’t a gonna do it, too demeaning fer me, but ya tend to go with yer fists swinging anyway. Ah’d say go fer it. The grand prize is a gold statue with magical batteries made inta it. Figure it’s gotta be worth a small fortune.”

“Yeah! Do it! We can make a killing with the bets!” Dash exclaimed.

He looked at the poster again, “Where’s the sign-in?”

Walking over he listened to Dash as she talked about how much she planned on making with the bets, and then he looked to see the group standing outside of the sign-in area. Several of the stallions he knew, and one of them was Thunderlane. While he and Thunderlane weren’t best of friends or anything, he knew that the Pegasus was a decent fighter, and an adventurer as well.

Still, Thunderlane tended to fight using storm clouds, choosing to use lighting to get rid of enemies. The rules stated that no clouds, unicorn - or other - magic could be used. It was to be a test of strength and stamina. Pinkie Pie giggled for a moment.

“What’s so funny Pinks?”

Pinkie looked at Dash with a wide smile, “He’s got the stamina part down.”

Rainbow looked between the two of them, her eyes widened, and then she shook her head, “Nope! Nope! Not gonna think about that!”

With that Rainbow flew into the air.

“Just… Pinks, that’s.. Eeeew,” she said before she flew over the arena itself.

“Pinkie, why did you say that to her?”

She smiled at Twilight and giggled, “Because it’s true, and because it was funny.”

“Seriously, though Endymion,” Twilight chided, “why would even think of fighting in this in the first place?”

“Well,” Endymion said, “I think of it as further adventurers training. And I think AJ agrees I could use it.”

“Eeyup,” the farm pony said, “Endymion maybe pretty skilled in fisticuffs, what with him used to fightin’ minotaurs an’ such, but really skilled combatants, he ain’t really faced yet. This here tournament might the thing he needs to see how other’s handle hand-to-hoof fightin’.”

“20 bits says he’s on his rump after the first round,” Dash says, “fists aren’t gonna help you in there, Sport.”

“Dashie…”

Rainbow Dash glared at the pink mare, “Not a word about Endymion or stamina, ‘sides I’m trying to help your stallion by letting him know what he’s up against. There’s some skilled fighters in there, and at least one of them is a Steel Way master. No Hoof-fu masters, but I did see a pretty good Still Way fighter. He’s a part time guard for Ponyville. I don’t know why he thought it was funny, but he said he used to go on adventures until he took an arrow to the knee.”

“Maybe because certain of the heroine types aren’t very sturdy in the legs,” spoke the soft voice of Fluttershy, “or maybe it’s an adventurer’s inside joke. Frankly, I never understood why an arrow to the knee would stop anypony, unless they were less skilled than they harp on about.”

“Good point,” Dash said, as the group approached the tournament sign up sheet, “Good luck!”

“I hope I won’t need it,” Endymion said, then he was next in line to sign in.

“Move it, peons!” Shouted a voice, “The Earl of The House of Thunderhead cometh!”

The group looked in the direction of the voice but only Endymion noticed the paling Fluttershy undertook at the mention of the name. Why was the Earl of Thunderhead, a Cloudsdale family, here in Ponyville for a martial arts tournament. The idea lodged in his head and he couldn’t shake it, even as he caught sight of the Pegasus in question.

He was an imposing bruiser, to say the least. Applejack stood eighteen hands easily but this Earl of Thunderhead was taller than her by at least another hands taller plus a few fingers, say three. He was broader at the shoulder than Endymion with legs like tree trunks and arms that could easily bust open barrels. He strode in through the crow wearing traditional Cloudsdale Calvary Armor, but that didn’t hide his medium gray coat, not his strict, military-cut mane of ebony. The cobalt irises he had punctured all that swept across his gaze. He was an intimidating stallion, though Endymion thought he put too much pride in his heritage.

“You,” The Earl of Thunderhead directed, pointing at Endymion, “move, peasant- whatever you are. I am here to sign into this mockery of a martial prowess tournament. Oh, and what better luck than I should be accustomed to to find my fiancé here, as well!”

“It wasn’t luck Skyblaze. You contacted the temple and found out that I asked to attend on the temple’s behalf,” Fluttershy said as she rolled her eyes, “Maybe it would be best if you leave, now, before you cause any more embarrassment. In fact, I’m sure that there is something, anything, that you’d rather be doing right now.”

“My dearest Fluttering Warbringer Deathgaze Shywing, perish the thought! Why I shall dedicate this win, this wonderful victory to you!”

“Oh Sol…” she looked at Endymion and smiled, “Thank you Skyblaze, but my champion is fighting. As such I serve and cheer for him, if it be Sol’s will that I do so.”

Skyblaze turned to see who she was pointing to. His eyes widened as he looked at the human. He studied him, looking him over, and then finally he looked back at Fluttershy.

“Did Sol play a joke on you? He seems no better than a mud pony,” Skyblaze said as he studied Endymion, “Why look at him. He may have strength, but I’d wager that’s all he has. Such a pitiful creature.”

“Skyblaze!” Fluttershy admonished, “First, that is so tribalist of you! And while that may seem to be the case I have chosen to follow through with this, if it truly is Sol’s will, then Endymion will make a valiant and noble champion one day. Even if I am unsure of when or how that will happen.”

“Very well, still, I will dedicate this win to you,” he looked at Endymion, “And I shall enjoy make your end quick, bald monkey.”

Endymion stood there, his fists clenched tight, and before anypony could say a word he walked straight over to the sign-up table and signed in. A young earth pony filly was manning the table with another filly about her age. He’s seen them before, hanging out in Sugarcube corner, but hadn’t been introduced to either of them yet.

“Okay, Mr. Everfree, you will be number sixteen, and that’s the end of the registration,” the silverish gray filly with glasses said, “Hmmm… Everfree, that name sounds so familiar, doesn’t it Dia?”

Diamond Tiara looked at him, studied him for a second and shrugged, “He’s weird enough to know, but honestly, I don’t… wait… You’re the one that made that loudmouth maid of my daddy’s run around without her shorts and panties aren’t you?!”

“Ummm…”

“Yeah, he totally ripped her shorts off. Everypony told us all about it. Some of them even said that you were both drunk and she tried to claim you. Wouldn’t surprise me, I think she’s got terrible tastes anyway. Her mane is so trashy.”

“And her flank is so narrow,” Silver Spoon added.

“And her boobs are too small.”

“And she sounds like she’s been chain smoking.”

“Why I oughtta!” Rainbow shouted as she was held back by AJ.

“Oh there she is. Look, I’ll give a bit if you do it again. We could use a laugh.”

“No, it was an accident, and I’m not doing that to one of my friends.”

“Suit yourself… Oh, father said that you have to report in this evening. I made sure to make you feel wanted, and there’s a nice big mess in the kitchen.”

With that Diamond Tiara got up, stretched, her frilly baby blue sun dress fitting her young form, and she left with Silver Spoon following her.

“Ya know, what those two need is a good colt, maybe somepony that knows what it’s like ta be on the other side of things. ‘Course, Ah gotta figure he’d havta know business ‘fore Filthy’d even consider lettin’ date that spoiled brat of his.”

“Yeah, and you’d want some poor colt to deal with that? The only what that’d happen was if she was just dropped off somewhere she didn’t know, and she had to behave,” Dash said as AJ finally let her go.

The group moved inside, Pinkie was still holding on to Endymion, her hand holding his own, and slowly moving it toward her tail. She felt him realize what she wanted, his hand wrapped around her tail, and he gave it a slight tug. She suppressed a soft moan, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“So lewd,” Fluttershy murmured, “I don’t think a real champion would be playing hoovesies with any filly he comes across, let alone a filly he’s mating with.”

Pinkie kissed his check, for luck, Twilight hugged him, and once more he smelled blackberries. Assuming she must had eaten some he waved as they, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack made their way to the stands. He walked toward where the fighters were gathered.

“Everyone here that is entering the tournament, the rules are simple. Since we have sixteen contestants there will be eight matches. Each of those matches will pit each one of you against the other. The winners from these eight matches will then move on to face each other in four different matches, and the winners of those matches will move to the final round which is two different matches. The ones who win those two matches will move on to the grand final, where the two of you will fight for the grand prize. Does everypony understand.”

The collection of fighters nodded.

“Very well. Contestants will be chosen in a random order. Match one will be fighter number one and fighter number fifteen.”

Skyblaze walked into the ring, minus all of his armor, weapons, and nothing other than his skill and loin cloth that was covering him. The Pegasus noble was surprisingly still large, but much of the intimidation factor was gone with the armor. Across from him was Thunderlane. The rules stated that storms, lightning, and clouds couldn’t be used for fighting, and Thunderlane looked a little more worried.

“You can do it!” a teenage pegasus colt shouted.

Thunderlane circled the bigger pegasus, and then when there was an opening he rushed forward. Thunderlane wasn’t an expert at any certain style of fighting, but he was a decent scrapper. He did manage to get a couple of good hits in on the larger Pegasus before Skyblaze finally grabbed him by his wing.

It was dirty, it was a trick that Pegasi didn’t do to one another, and right now that was exactly what was happening. Skyblaze was pulling a dirty trick by bending Thunderlane’s wing in a way that it shouldn’t bend. Thunderlane tried to get out of the hold, tried to move, but Skyblaze didn’t let go. Instead there was a snapping sound, and Thunderlane screamed before he fell limp. His wing hung loosely around him.

“Match one, number fifteen, Skyblaze, Earl of the house of Thunderhead!”

Skyblaze left the floor, and two earth ponies helped get Thunderlane out. Rainbow Dash stroked her wing as she watched. She’d been on the receiving end of a fracture before. It hurt, bad, and she knew what it was like to not be able to fly. She could see Thunderlane’s mares, Flitter and Cloudchaser, coming over to help. Maybe they’d keep him from freaking out when the doctors had to tie him down in order to splint the wing.

“Match Two, numbers three and number sixteen.”

Endymion walked onto the match floor and saw his opponent. He was a unicorn, he couldn’t really come much past Endymion’s shoulder, and his white mane and tan coat didn’t look too impressive. But it was the confidence in the way he walked. He seemed ready, although he was favoring his right knee.

“Begin!”

The unicorn took a stance, standing perfectly still, his arms outstretched, his hooves planted, and Endymion had watched his mother enough to know this was Still Way. Direct fighting didn’t work against Still Way. The only offense that worked against it was letting the Still Way master come to you.

He took his own stance, which looked like a mockery of Steel Way. The unicorn moved, fast, running toward him, and he dodged just barely in time. Or he thought he did. He felt the trickle of something wet, and realized the his cheek was bleeding.

“You missed most of the attack, that won’t happen again, leave the ring.”

Endymion growled, anger getting the better of him,and before the Unicorn could even begin to defend himself he grabbed his horn, causing him to lose balance. He felt the thrum of magic, the unicorn had been cheating! He decked the unicorn hard, causing him to stumble. He let go of his horn and began hitting him hard, in the muzzle, in the chest, anywhere a punch could land it landed. The unicorn couldn’t defend himself quickly enough and the last punch found the jaw of the unicorn knocking him onto his ass. Endymion came toward him and the unicorn flashed away from him.

“Disqualified! Number Sixteen, Endymion Everfree advances!”

Endymion watched as the other matches took place. Match three had been between a masked Minotaur named Long Shot, and an Earth Pony called Crusher. Long had ended up winning by throwing Crusher against the wall of the arena and knocking him out.

After that the fourth match had been between a pegasus and a gryphoness. The two had fought hard, both had scars, but it was the gryphoness that won with a well placed kick to pegasus’ head. The fifth match was two earth ponies, both Steel Way masters, and it lasted for well over an hour. Both of them obviously showing the mastery of their skill. It wasn’t until they traded blows again that the one on the right collapsed to the ground. That pony got up, and when she did her shirt fell exposing that she was a mare. Why she cared, since mares weren’t banned from fighting or anything, he didn’t know, but she covered her breasts, cried that her opponent was a pervert, and ran from the floor, which ended up disqualifying her.

The entire thing seemed way too familiar to Endymion. The sixth match was two Pegasi again, and like Endymion they seemed to be just scrappers. The two of them traded hits, kicks, and what ended up happening was one of them grabbing the other and diving straight toward the ground after they had flew into the air. They both hit with a thunderous sound, and when the dust cleared, both of them were out cold. Since neither could continue, at the moment, both were deemed as losses, and it was announced that there would be one fewer match.

The seventh match stunned Endymion. It was an Earth Pony against a Pegasus, and the Pegasus was in the air, avoiding the Earth pony, but what was stunning him was the language the two of them were using. This wasn’t friendly banter, or even attempting to rile somepony up. This was somepony mad at a special somepony.

“How could you?!”

The Pegasus shouted to the Earth Pony, “We’re supposed to be something special, and you do this?!”

“Lightning, come on down, let’s talk ‘bout it.”

She came down alright. She swooped down and hit him with force that was enough to knock him on his ass.

“You dishonest, cheating, good for nothing per…” she was silenced by his kissing her.

Unsure of what was happening he watched her return the kiss, break it, and look at him, “But I’m still mad ‘bout Cherry Jubilee!”

With that she hit him hard, knocking him out.