The seed pod drifted, its fine gossamer wings unfurled as it rode the air currents, searching for fertile soil to spread it's dark roots. With a flick of its wings, the seed descended through the night. Below it lay a bustling community of ponies laying asleep within their tiny homes. Smoke lightly wafted in the air from their watch fires as they lit up the darkness with their light. Sentry ponies yawned as the seed flitted over them unnoticed. Descending through the community, it dropped to the ground and burrowed itself deep into the rich soil. Softly a heartbeat began to thrum its steady rhythm in the night.

Luna snapped awake with a whimpering cry. Something was terribly wrong! She could feel it! Crawling out from her spot against her mother's breast, Luna leaned up on her mother's neck and began shoving at her. "Mama! Mama! Wake up!"

Celestia blinked her eyes open from her spot along their mother's side and yawned. "Go back to sleep, Luna. It's too early to play."

"What is it Sweety?" her mother murmured sleepily, lifting her head up to look down at her.

"Mama, something bad is here." Luna told her hurriedly.

"Oh, my little moondrop, you just had a bad dream." Her mother assured her. Gathering her into her hooves, she tucked her close to her chest. "Go back to sleep. I'll make sure that nothing bad will get you."

"But mama!" Luna complained.

"Shh," Her mother shushed her. "Just close your eyes and go back to sleep. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Luna thought about continuing to try and convince her mother that something bad was there, but already the feeling she had been so sure of when she woke was fading away. Was it really just a bad dream?

"Celestia dear," her mother called out to her sister. "Please add a few more logs onto the fire for your little sister, won't you? Thank you."

Luna settled against her mother. Despite her mother's assurances, she still felt that something was wrong. When she finally drifted back to sleep, she felt something watching her.

The next morning, she went with her mother to the big meeting house. As her mother met with various ponies about one problem or another, Luna settled down with some of her toys to play. A really nice stallion named Timberline, had carved little ponies for her out of wood to play with. Carving amazing details into them like cutie marks and eyes.

She was in the middle of plowing an imaginary field when she suddenly felt cold eyes on her. Leaping up, she turned to look into a shadowed corner. She didn't know how, but she knew that something was there looking back at her. She didn't like that. "You go away now!" She ordered, glaring into the shadow. She felt a strange surge rush through her and the hidden eyes suddenly fled.

"Luna?" Her mother called to her. "It's time to eat."

Luna smiled and rushed to her mother. "Nummies!?"

"Only if you finish all your greens first," Her mother answered sternly.

"Aww," Luna let out a disappointed whine. "Not like greens."

"Now Luna. You have to get used to big pony food," her mother lightly scolded her. "I can't be nursing you forever."

"No!" Luna replied fiercely. "I never give up nummies! Never, never, never, never!"

Her mother smiled as she picked her up. "You'll feel differently as you get older."

Luna shook her head. "No get older. Stay little forever!"

Her mother laughed. "Well, lets see how that turns out in a few years."

Dark sat patiently on his mat waiting. Sitting next to him, Stratus occupied himself by preening one of his wings while Starless stiffly sat, anxiously tapping her hoof as she stared off into the fire. Dark could understand her feelings. She had a very difficult decision to make.

The sound of hoofsteps approaching the door drew their attention to it as Ground and his father escorted the prisoner inside. The stallion was a deep blue with a black mane and tail. His hooves had been hobbled so he could only walk in short shuffling steps as he moved inside the hut.

Ground and his father held their spears out and halted the prisoner. The stallion looked up at Starless and sneered, earning himself a sharp jab in his side with Ground's spear-but.

Starless examined the prisoner, her face hidden behind her mask. Her anxiety had vanished, replaced with a coldness that bore down on the prisoner like a avalanche. After a long while she finally spoke. "What is your name?"

"Like I would tell that to you! Witch!" the prisoner spat at her in disdain.

Hoof Strike moved in a flash and slammed his hoof into the prisoner's stomach, beating his son to it. Gasping and retching from the blow, the prisoner collapsed to the ground. Reaching down, Hoof Strike hauled the stallion up by his mane "You will answer her."

The prisoner glared at Starless with hate. When Hoof Strike moved to hit him again, the prisoner flinched away and cried out. "Nada!"

"Good," Starless said pleased. "Now. Tell me Nada. Are there any more hunting parties within my lands?"

"There are dozens. No. Hundreds of us," Nada hurriedly confessed. "Soon they will find this place and take you all! If you wish to save yourselves, release me and I will lead them away! You have my guarantee."

Starless let out a weary sigh. "How unfortunate," she lamented regretfully. Turning, she looked at Dark. "You were right. This one isn't going to be any use to us."

Dark kept his surprise off his face. He'd never said such a thing to her! Starless was up to something clever.

Starless' horn lit with her magic and she lifted Nada off the ground. "I had hoped that this wasn't going to be necessary." Nada flailed in her magical grasp, terror on his face. "If you have anything to say before I rip your head from your neck and feed you to the fire, I suggest you do so swiftly." Starless advised coldly, wrapping her magic around his head she started to pull.

Nada screamed and began pleading as he felt his neck being stretched out. "Please have mercy! I'll tell you the truth! I promise! I'll tell you whatever you want to know! Just don't kill me! Please! I beg you!"

Dark watched as the stallion's neck strained as far as it could go. Shooting a quick glance at Starless, he wondered if she really was going to do it. "Perhaps he is worth keeping alive." Dark offered, keeping his voice under strict control. "He seems quite willing to talk now."

"Yes! Yes!" Nada insisted, a wet pop sounding from his neck.. "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"I am disused to granting mercy, even in its smallest measure, to those who displease me." Starless said to Dark, holding the stallion right at his breaking point. "In honor to our good friendship, I will defer to your judgment in this."

With a startled cry, Nada fell to the ground when Starless abruptly released him.

"This creature will be spared for now, but my patience with him is near its end." Starless finished, gazing down at the whimpering stallion.

"It would be wise for you to answer her questions." Dark said down to Nada. Internally, he was breathing a sigh of relief.

Nada quickly nodded. "We were alone!" he blurted out. "We picked up the donkey's trail a week after we were called in to search for the escaped slaves. We knew that there was only three of them, so we followed them, hoping that they'd lead us to the rest."

"You knew you were entering Unicorn land," Starless continued. "You knew what would happen if you were caught here. Why did you come knowing this?"

"We were promised slave mares of our own if we recaptured the runaways." Nada confessed. "We thought that they might be hiding here. We were obviously wrong."

"You were obviously foolish." Starless corrected.

Dark leaned forward. "Tell us about Minos."

"Minospotamia is a vast and beautiful land." Nada said, his voice filled with pride. "It starts where the Tigress and Hoofrates rivers emerge out of the northern mountains, and extends all the way to the endless sea to the south. The city of Minos is ruled over by Cerus the Great Bull, glory be his name." Nada bowed his head and oddly touched his hoof to his lip.

"City of Minos?" Dark asked. "What is a city?"

Nada began laughing, his mirth slow and mocking. "How little you understand." He looked up and met Dark's gaze. "If you truly knew the scope of what we are. You are like a mouse standing before a dragon! When our warriors come, you will all be slaughtered and your mares taken as our mates! This valley will run red and burn with our coming! You cannot stop us, we are thousands!"

"Our prisoner here seems to be backsliding," Stratus observed, leaning forward.

"Indeed," Starless agreed. "Through he does have a concerning point."

"Uniting the three races is even more important now than ever." Dark added.

"As well as gaining the secrets of their metal," Stratus finished. "Having copper weapons will be invaluable."

"I know much about copper melding!" Nada exclaimed, hopefully. "I'll teach you everything you want to know if you let me go free!"

Starless considered the prisoner for a long while. Dark began to wonder if she really was thinking over his offer. "I'm afraid that your fate has already been set." She then lifted her horn and it glowed for a moment as a ringing chime filled the room, a moment later, Jennet entered with Snap and Tiger Lily flanking her sides. With her eyes averted from Nada, Jennet crossed over to Starless along with Tiger Lily and her daughter. Stopping by Starless' side she finally turned to face Nada.

"What is this!?" Nada exclaimed, looking up at Jennet. "Why is that thing here?"

"You will be silent." Ground growled, jabbing the stallion with the butt of his spears-haft.

"Jennet is our honored guest and she is here to witness my judgment being passed down on you," Starless declared, her commanding voice cutting through the room like a blast of winter frost.

"On your knees!" Ground forced the prisoner down with a heavy hoof.

"Nada of Minos," Starless continued, her voice cutting down at the quivering stallion. "You have been found seizing travelers for the act of torture and enslavement ." She then levitated a basket over and she lifted out the leather straps. "You and your fellow slavers used tools made from flesh, to bind your victims and inflect horrible and viscous acts upon them." She took out a whip and distastefully cast it to the ground before her like a dead snake. "You and your fellow slavers then forced yourselves onto your captives and forcefully bred with them for your own perverse pleasures. You then participated in having one of your captives unborn young ripped from her womb and eaten while she lived to watch. I myself personally witnessed many of these acts and have no reason to doubt Jennet's testament to the rest"

Tears streamed down Jennet's face as she listened to the accounting of the horrible acts while Tiger and Snap tenderly wrapped their comforting hooves around her and held her close.

Starless paused as she stared down at the prisoner. "For your monstrous acts, I hereby decree that your life as a pony be ended. When the preparations are ready, you will be taken to the Enchanted Beast Pool, and cast into it, where then you will live the rest of your life, however long or short that may be, as a simple animal."

"No! Please!" Nada pleaded. "Have mercy!"

"You ask for mercy?" Starless asked, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Did you show your victims mercy? Even in its smallest degree!?"

"They were only Donkeys!" Nada exclaimed, spitting out the word like it was dirt.

Starless' eyes flashed behind her mask. "You would be wise to choose your words more carefully. There are fates far worse than the one I have judged for you." She gazed fixity upon the quivering stallion.

"You can't do this to me!" Nada snarled. "I'm a stallion of Minos! A loyal servant to the Great Bull!"

"I am The Enchantress!" Starless glared down at the stallion, her horn crackled with her power. "Your Great Bull has no power over me, nor of this land and the ponies living here! If you wish, I can simply tear your head from your neck and be done with you. I'm sure that there are some here who would rather that happen!"

Nada gaped up at her, his mouth moving without any sound coming out.

"I am finished." Starless said to Ground. "Please see to it that this thing is returned back to its cage." She flicked her hoof at Nada, dismissively.

Radiant felt ill. Standing beside her mother, she watched from a raised dais, as a mare was dragged across the ground by two Casters to a tall upright stone. With their magic, they lifted the struggling mare up and shoved her against it. One of the Casters, cast a spell and the mare's forelegs were suddenly pulled back and magically sealed in place against its face.

Smiling cruelly up at the weeping mare, the two Casters moved off, leaving her dangling from her place on the stone alongside a dozen other mares on their own stones.

Her mother's garden was growing.

A new mare was hauled forward and thrown to the ground before them. "This one was heard speaking favorably about the heretics, telling of how they have food for all who go to them."

Her mother, Matriarch Astral gazed down at the shivering mare. "Who told you these lies?"

"Forgive me Great Mistress!" the mare began quivering in fear as she huddled below her. "I... I heard it whispered among a group of mares in the shadows. I... couldn't see who they were, and... I was too afraid to approach them."

Radiant saw her mother scowl. This had been a reoccurring answer. Always just whispers in the dark, or mutterings in a crowd. There were some who even swore they saw the Enchantress slipping through the tunnels at night, spelling ponies with her magic. Radiant didn't believe those accounts. What mare would be foolish enough to come within the very mountain her mother ruled over.

"Hang her up with the others." Astral reached up and touched her necklett, tenderly stroking the deep blood-red jewel set around her throat. "Give her a full day to contemplate her sin for spreading lies."

The two Casters moved forward and snatched up the whimpering mare and took her away, to be hung up with the other mares, some of which had been up for days.

"Come daughter, let us go see if time has brought sense to that mare yet." Astral moved off, descending the raised dais to the ground.

Radiant felt her chest tighten as she followed her mother across the clearing to a single stone that had been set apart from the others. Splayed out on it was a dirty-grey mare with white mane and tail. On her flanks, she bore a rare destiny mark that depicted a moth with outstretched wings that looked like two gazing eyes. The mare was a Mystic, a reader of dreams. A rare talent, only seen once in a century or two.

She had been caught telling ponies of a coming savior that would cast down the High Bloods. For three days she had hung there without any food or water, refusing to recant her claims. Radiant didn't understand her. Why would she choose to suffer if all she had to do was confess to her lies?

As they approached her, Radiant could see the mare's chest rise and fall with a strained wheeze as her head hung limply down. The sight of the mare's horrible state twisted at Radiant’s gut.

"I dreamed of you again," the mare murmured, opening her eyes to look down at Astral. "I saw your death,"

Her mother frowned with a look of irritation. "Still unwilling to come to reason?"

The mare let out a dry cackle of mirth. "Your fate approaches like the sun and its light glows bright on the horizon. Soon the dawn will break."

Her mother's horn flashed furiously. "You dare threaten me!"

"It is not I that will bring your end!" the mare smiled down at her mother. "Your fate was set by your own hoof. The savior will come to do away your vile corruption and return the Unicorns to the true path! I have seen it in my dreams."

"Who!?" Her mother demanded. "Who could possibly challenge my power!? I, the one who command the heavens and make the day and night come at my bidding! Who!? Answer me Mystic!"

"The one who you seek but cannot find, will come with the dawns morning's light and cast you down to the Beast of the Crystal."

Radiant was surprised to see fear flash across her mother's face.

"Where did...?" Her mother quickly brought herself back under control, her face becoming dark. "I think those eyes of yours have become rather bothersome. " A nimbus of magic enveloped her horn. "I think it's time that I relieve you of that burden." The Mystic suddenly screamed in agony as Astral's magic flashed, sending a pair of bolts into her eyes with a crack that seared them from their sockets.

Radiant turned and retched into the grass, revolted at the sight of what her mother had just done.

"There, isn't that so much better?" Astral smiled up at the whimpering mare. Turning, she moved off. "Come along daughter. I’m finished with her now"

Radiant collected herself and moved to rejoin her mother. Pausing a moment, she looked up at the mystic. "I'm sorry." Her offered words seemed small and insignificance, but it was all she had to give the poor mare.

"You, the daughter of Astral, offers me sympathy?" the mystic murmured, her voice trembled weakly.

Radiant felt her heart twist in shame.

"For your kindness, I give you this warning." The mystic said, her now sightless eyes gazing blindly down at her. "Dwell not in thy mother's shadow. Only destruction lies there. Seek out the True Path and embrace your destiny, or fall into darkness forever."

"What do you mean?" Radiant tried to understand the mare's warning. “True Path? What is that?”

"What are you doing?" her mother called to her. "I said come along. Don't doddle."

"Yes mother." Radiant turned to go but hesitated a moment to look up at the mare. "Would you tell me your name?"

"Eclipsea," the mystic answered, a tiny smile coming to her lips.

Turning, Radiant jumped into a trot. Catching up to her mother, she fell in by her flank, making sure as she did so to not walk in her shadow, recalling the warning Eclipsea gave her.

Wild Bolt panted for breath as he stumbled around. His opponent, Shadow Play, stood lightly on his hooves as he stood ready for his next attack. They had been sparing for most of the morning, and Wild still had yet to land a single blow on the gelding. Fighting with him was like fighting with a shadow! Every time he thought he was going to make contact, Shadow Play somehow slipped around his blow and smack him with his training spear.

Gripping his training staff more tightly, Wild roared and charged the gilding again. Throwing his head around, he swung his staff at Shadow Play's chest.

With a smile, Shadow Play took a single step back and let Wild's staff swing past.

Again and again, Wild stuck at Shadow Play, and each time, the gelding easily avoided his attacks, stepping lightly around his strikes with apparent ease. Wild grew increasingly frustrated at his failure to land a single hit. "Hold still!"

"Come on. You almost had him that time." Journey said, watching from the side.

Wild stumbled around, and whirled his staff at Shadow's legs, but ended up smacking his staff into the dirt when Shadow jumped over it. Wild Bolt was getting angry, and it was making him more sloppy. He knew he should tighten his control and focus on the fight more, but he just needed to bash that smirk off Shadow Play's face!

Letting out a roar, Wild hurled himself at Shadow, but was driven to the ground by a stinging blow of Shadow's staff. Slamming his hoof down into the dirt in anger, Wild quickly gathered himself and collected his staff. Regaining his hooves, Wild turned to face Shadow again.

Rushing at him wildly wasn't working. Perhaps he should listen to the advice Ground had told him earlier. Draw strength from his heart without letting it control him. He firmly clamped his will around his anger and forced it back under control.

Widening his stance, Wild took a deep breath and let it out with a snort. It was time to show him that he wasn't a push over. Holding his staff at the ready, Wild took a single firm step forward.

Shadow Play adjusted his stance and watched him guardedly, confused by his sudden change.

Wild Bolt pictured himself being a rock. Hard and unyielding. Despite their similar ages, Wild Bolt was bigger and stronger than Shadow Play, but that also made him slower. It had been a mistake to rush the more nimble gelding. With a tight grip on his staff, Wild suddenly thrust it at Shadow's chest.

Shadow rotated and attempted to parry with his staff.

With a loud crack, his staff struck Wild's and shifted it only slightly away. Shadow's eyes went wide and he had to quickly lunge away to avoid being struck by Wild's surprisingly solid thrust.

Wild adjusted his grip and turned his thrust into a slash that nearly clipped Shadow across his hastily ducked head. Bringing his head back up, Shadow swiftly stabbed his staff up at Wild's shoulder. Wild knew he couldn't bring his staff around soon enough to parry his attack, but that didn't matter, he had another option. Lifting his hoof, Wild caught Shadow Play's staff point on it with a solid thunk, halting his thrust. A look of surprise flashed across Shadow's face. He had him!

Reversing his staff, Wild brought it around into Shadow's side, striking him solidly across his shoulder. A hit! Shadow cried out and clutched at his shoulder.

"Halt! Staves up!" a deep firm voice ordered.

Wild, panting for breath, rested his staff up against his shoulder from the crook of his leg while Hoof Strike moved to Shadow Play to look over his shoulder. "Wild. During practice, you need to hold back so you don't injure your opponent." Shadow Play winced as Hoof Strike probed his shoulder. "Doesn't look like anything is broken. It'll be sore for a while so try to not overuse it for the next few days." Turning to Wild, he frowned at him. "As Earth Ponies, we need to be careful of our strength. Unicorns aren't as durable as us."

"I'm sorry." Wild Bolt apologized. "I really am. It's just... I got a little too excited, I guess."

Hoof Strike pursed his lips as he considered him. "I understand," he said with a nod. "Just be sure to be more careful next time." Hoof Strike then slapped his hoof across Wild's back, nearly knocking him down with the slight blow. "Okay you two. Training's over for today."

Wild sighed and moved over to the racks to return his training staff. As he set it into place, a shadow fell over him. "You did much better today."

"I was running around like an idiot," Wild said, shaking his head.

"You were indeed," Hoof Strike agreed, then set his massive hoof onto his back. "But then, you gathered your senses and started thinking. A remarkable achievement if you ask me."

"All I did was listen to what Ground told me."

"Oh?" Hoof Strike lifted an eyebrow.

"He said that my greatest weakness was that I let my emotions run wild." Wild explained, "he told me that I could turn my weakness into a strength if I learned to control it. I thought he was just talking out of his rump, but during my fight with Shadow Play, it suddenly made sense to me. My anger was keeping me back. I wasn't actually fighting Shadow Play, I was fighting against myself."

"That is indeed insightful, my colt" Hoof Strike suddenly blinked with an embarrassed look. "Ah... pretend you didn't hear me call you that."

Wild felt a pleasant flush at the stallion's affectionate slip. His own father had never shown him any real affection during his time growing up and he was surprised at how nice it felt to receive it, even if only by a slip of the tongue.

"You took a big step today," Hoof Strike continued. "You should be proud of yourself."

Wild nodded. He did feel proud, but there was something that he treasured even more. Hoof Strike's praise.

With another slap on his back, Hoof Strike sent him off to enjoy the rest of his day. Groaning about his aching back, Wild Bolt gathered his cloak and spear started towards the settlement from the training field. Suddenly, he found two colts dashing up to him. One was Snap's little brother, Journey, and the other was Dark's fosterling, Ash, who was wearing his customary obsidian knife, sheathed around his side.

The two colts fell in beside him and walked along with him. "Where you heading?" Journey asked, looking up at him.

"Back home I guess."

Journey pursed his lips. "Hmm... that sounds boring. We're going to do a little exploring. Do you want to join us?"

Wild blinked in surprise. This was the first time Journey asked him to do something with him. "I was kind of thinking of seeing if Snap wanted to go for a walk."

Journey shook his head. "She's busy taking care of baby West. He's got a bellyache or something and needs to be constantly tended over. I wouldn't go unless you like being around a fussy baby and being spit up on."

Wild paused as he considered Journey's offer. Being spit up on by a baby wasn't very enticing. He didn't understand why Snap liked it so much. And Jennet was busy with Bright Star, helping him make something called a kiln. "Okay. So where are we going?"

Journey smiled and waved his hoof for him to follow. The two colts led him up the valley to the lake. Ducking under the waterfall, they came to the path that led up to the heights.

"You want to go exploring up there!?" Wild exclaimed. He'd never been up there before and felt a little apprehension at the thought.

"Yeah," Ash answered with a nod. "We think we found a way into the eastern valley."

"And we're going to see if it does." Journey added. "If we're right, that means that we found another way out that could be useful."

"Now that sounds like fun!" A voice suddenly announced from above. "I'm coming too!"

A Pegasus filly suddenly swooped down and landed next to them. Tucking her wings away, Wild recognized Stratus's daughter, Butterfly, as she smiled at them. Journey’s entire body went stilff and he suddenly had trouble keeping himself from gaping at her.

"Hay! I know you!" Butterfly exclaimed leaning in close to Journey to examine him. "You’re that funny colt that keeps staring at me!"

"I... ah... I... ah..." Journey babbled.

"Ohh. I get it." Butterfly said with a knowing nod. "You're one of those simple ponies, aren't you? There's a mare back home like that. One day she was flying and she wasn't watching where she was going and flew right into a mountain! Bam! Now she likes to give everypony great big hugs whenever she meets them, and shows them her leaf collection!"

"I... ah... I... ah..." Journey continued to babble, his eyes unable to leave hers.

"He's normally not like this," Ash cut in, defending his friend.

"You sure?" Butterfly asked, leaning in close to Journey, she lightly tapped him on his forehead with her hoof. "It seems like all the nests in his tree are missing a few eggs."

"Snap out of it!" Ash hissed at Journey, whacking him with his hoof.

"Ow!" Journey exclaimed, shooting a look to Ash. "What'd you do that for!?"

"I was trying to knock your senses back into place!" Ash answered evenly. "And it appears that I was successful."

"You didn't have to hit me that hard." Journey complained. "I was just caught off guard, that's all." He turned back to Butterfly. "And I don't stare at you."

"Oh, yes you do." Butterfly rebutted, nodding.

"I do not!" Journey exclaimed, his voice cracking. Blinking at his outburst, Journey cleared his throat. "We're wasting the sun. We should get going."

"Okay fine." Butterfly agreed. "So, would it be okay if I walk right here?" she asked, swinging herself around and planting her side against Journey's.

Journey let out a strained squeak as his ears started quivering uncontrollably.

Ash let out a sigh and planted his hooves to Journey's rump and began pushing him along.

Wild looked down at the filly. "You're doing this on purpose. Aren't you?"

"Of course." Butterfly answered with a giggle.

Wild sighed tiredly and shook his head. "This is going to be a fun trip."

"I know! Right!?" Butterfly trotted off happily after the colts.

Wild looked back over his shoulder. "I should have gone to help Snap with the baby," he lamented.

Collecting the supplies that Journey and Ash had waiting, they crossed under the waterfall to a rock ledge that curved along the cliff-side around the side of the valley. In spots, stones had been moved and stacked to make steps to reach higher ledges.

The trip up to the heights was terrifying, compounded even more so by Butterfly's teasing of Journey. Luckily, Ash was there to watch over him and keep him from walking off the trail and plummeting to his sure death far below. Gazing down at the distant settlement below, Wild felt his head spin. Was this what it was like to live in the clouds?

Reaching the heights, they came to the first lookout, a Unicorn mare wearing an undyed cloak to ward off the chilly wind. She was sitting in front of a simple stone structure built into the bluff with openings for a pony to look out at the valley below. Apparently Ash and Journey were known to her, and she simply smiled and nodded to them as they passed by. When she saw Wild’s green cloak, she respectfully bowed her head down to him.

Making their way south across the ridge-tops, they curved around to the east until they came to a deep crevasse. Turning to the north, Journey led them to a large boulder that had fallen in and lodged itself across the gap. Hopping down onto the boulder, Journey and Ash easily crossed over while Butterfly simply flew.

Looking down at the boulder, Wild carefully stepped a hoof onto it and tested his weight.

"Come on!" Journey called, waving his hoof at him. "It's fine. It's not going to fall."

Wild didn't have the same confidence as he nervously worked his way across. Each step he took felt like it was going to dislodge the boulder and send him plunging to his doom. Reaching the other side, Wild breathed a sigh of relief as he fought to bring his shivering knees back under control. Why did he agree to do this!?

"You okay?" Butterfly asked, her eyes dancing with amusement.

Letting out a snort, Wild rolled his shoulder. "I'm fine," he assured her. "Lets go."

Continuing on, Journey led them down a steep gravel slope to a gully and followed it a short ways to the northeast.

Scrambling up a rise, Journey paused at the top and looked around. "This is as far as we've explored so far."

Pausing to catch his breath, Wild dug into his pack and pulled out his gourd of water. Taking a drink, he listened as Journey and Ash planed their next step.

"I think we should head that way. It looks like its sloping down and It might drop into a wash." Journey suggested.

Ash turned and gestured up. "I think we should go up there and find an overlook. It might reveal a good way down, if there are any."

"I know! How about I just fly up and look around?" Butterfly cut in. "I'll just be a few moments."

"No! Stop!" Wild reacted quickly and grabbed her tail with his teeth as she started to fly up.

"What are you doing!?" Butterfly exclaimed, looking down. "Let go of my tail!"

"I said stop." Wild ordered around his mouthful of tail, pulling her down until her hooves were back on the ground.

"What did you do that for!?" Butterfly asked, flicking her tail back.

"It's too dangerous for you to fly, especially for a little filly like you." Wild explained, looking down at Butterfly. "During the welcoming celebrations, I heard some of the other Pegasi talking about how tricky it is to fly in these mountains . One of them told about how he almost got slammed muzzle first, into a cliff from an errant gust." Wild explained. "You're not fully grown and your wings are still small and weak. If you get caught in one of these mountain gusts, you could be really hurt or killed. I think that it's best if you keep your hooves on the ground and only fly if you really need to."

"I think you should listen to him." Ash added, nodding.

"He's right," Journey agreed.

Butterfly puffed her cheeks out as she looked out at the three of them. She was outnumbered. "Fine. I'll keep my hooves on the stupid ground," she relented.

With that settled, Wild then made the decision for them to follow Ash's plan to go up and find an overlook. Journey didn't look happy, but he went along with it without complaint. Ascending up the rocky slope, they crossed through a forest of short scrubby trees until they finally emerged out onto a large slab of stone that sat over a drop-off. Moving out onto the slab, they were finally able to clearly see out to the east. There another valley lay below them, stretching out easterly with a stream winding through its center.

"Wow. It's beautiful." Ash murmured.

"Yeah," Wild agreed, awed by the sight. He wished Snap was there to see it too, but he knew she'd never brave the climb up. Perhaps Jennet would like to come?

"Look!" Journey pointed his hoof to the south. "Is that a trail over there?"

Winding down the mountainside, they could see what looked like a goat-path descending through the rocks. Working their way along the ridge, they spread out to search for it. After a short while, Ash spotted goat tracks heading to a cleft between two boulders and called out to them.

"This is it!" Journey exclaimed, excitedly moving out onto the goat-path. "We found a way into the eastern valley! Come on!" Journey rushed off down the trail.

"Wait!" Ash called out. "Don't go so fast!" He rushed after him.

"Colts," Butterfly said with an amused sigh before following after the two.

With his green cloak billowing in the wind, Wild brought up the rear. The goat-path they were following must have been an ancient one because of how worn it had become over the years. At times, they had to scramble down steep slopes, but otherwise it was rather easy going and they were making good time.

They were nearly to the valley bottom when they heard a bleating cry off into the rocks. Pulling his knife out of its sheath, Ash moved off the trail and crossed over a boulder field along the base of a cliff.

Wild reached back and slipped his spear out from the side of his small pack and readied himself as he followed.

Moving around a large mound, they found a ram lying among the rocks. He was crying out as he kicked his forehooves in an attempt to stand. It was obvious by its awkward movements that its back was broken.

"Oh, the poor thing." Butterfly cried out, her hoof going to her mouth in horror.

"He must have fallen," Ash said, looking up.

Wild felt his heart wrench looking down at the struggling animal.

"Is there... anything we can do for it?" Butterfly asked.

"Yes," Ash answered, his voice becoming oddly reserved. "There is." Moving over to the ram, he kneeled down and gently set his hoof onto it's shoulder. Without a word, he drew his knife and thrust it into the ram's heart.

Butterfly cried out and buried her face into Wild's chest, horrified at what Ash had done.

In moments, the ram's struggles stilled as it's eyes drifted closed.

"There," Ash said, looking down at the dead ram. "His suffering is at an end."

Wild reached around Butterfly and comforted her as she wept into his chest. Oddly, it didn't feel all that strange anymore doing so.

Pulling his knife out, Ash wiped it on the ram's coat, leaving trails of red on its auburn fur before returning it to his sheath. "We should go before the smell of blood attracts..." Ash paused, his ears suddenly coming alert.

Journey noticed his friends abrupt change. "Ash? What is it?"

"Everypony. Start walking back to the trail, and whatever you do, do not run or look back." Ash ordered firmly.

Wiping at her eyes, Butterfly looked back at Ash and gasped. Standing on one of the boulders looking down at them, was a massive feline form of a Manticore. It's dragon-like wings were tucked against its sides as its long scorpion tail curled up over its back. Letting out a terrified scream, Butterfly took off and bolted, her little wings buzzing with her flight.

"No! Don't run!" Ash cried out. "It will only attract his attention!"

Too late. The Manticore's eyes snapped onto the fleeing filly. Instantly, it leapt off the boulder, its wings unfurling as it took flight in pursuit of Butterfly. "Journey! Go after Butterfly!" Without hesitation, Ash bolted to a boulder and sprang off, leaping at the passing Manticore, catching it by its tail.

Wild was left dumbfounded as he watched the Manticore fly past with Ash hanging off its tail! What was that colt thinking!? Taking up his spear, Wild threw his pack and cloak off and chased after them.

Ash could see that the Manticore was quickly catching up to Butterfly and he knew he needed to act fast before it caught her!. Swinging his leg around, he climbed onto the Manticore's back and grabbed one of its wings. The Manticore roared as its flight faltered and the two went crashing to the ground.

Unable to hold on, Ash was flung into a tree and bounced off with a with a thud to lay unmoving on the ground.

Wild Bolt rushed over to help Ash, but stopped when he saw the Manticore climbing back to his paws. Noticing him, the Manticore roared and rushed at him, spittle flying from its maw.

Wild Bolt quickly brought his spear up and thrust it at the charging Manticore. Seeing the attack, the Manticore lunged back and swiped at his spear with its massive clawed paw, nearly knocking it from his grasp. Remembering his training, Wild Bolt kept his stance firm and slashed his spear at the great cat's neck, just missing it as the Manticore quickly moved away.

Wild Bolt moved in, pressing his attack, slashing low at the Manticore legs to keep him off balance. With a quickness that surprised him, the Manticore stuck back, slashing its claws across his cheek. Ignoring the searing pain, Wild pivoted and brought his spear around, slicing it across the Manticore's shoulder.

Letting out a roar of pain, the Manticore brought its tail up and struck at Wild Bolt, driving him back with the unexpected attack. Breathing heavily, Wild wearily circled with the Manticore, each of them eyeing the other for a weakness to exploit.

Suddenly there was a squealing roar as a giant Rocboar came barreling out from the trees, it's red eyes filled with fury. Rocboar's were massive boar-like monsters with hard, rock-like scale plating covering their head and back. They were highly aggressive and extremely dangerous. Any creature with sense, knew to avoid confronting a Rocboar.

Wild barely had time to react as he threw himself out of the way as it charged at him, nearly being trampled under its thundering hooves. The Manticore roared and leapt onto the charging Rocboar, it's claws scraping across the its armored scales as it fought to find purchase on the beast's back.

Wild Bolt snatched his spear back up and scrambled to his hooves. The two monsters tore up the ground as they struggled, the Rocboar's long tusks swiping at the Manticore on it's back. He needed to get to Ash, but the two combatants were in the way. Spinning and twisting itself, the Rockboar managed to grab the Manticor's scorpion tail in its mouth and tore the beast from its back. The Manticore let out a pained howl as he was flung to the ground. Before the great cat could recover, the Rocboar was on him, its tusks flashing red as he tore at him.

Not knowing why, Wild Bolt dashed in and thrust his spear up into the Rocboar's exposed flank. Its hide was surprisingly tough and his spear only penetrated a short ways. Squealing in rage the Rocboar whirled about to face him.

"Oh no," Wild exclaimed, looking into the wild beasts eyes. As fast as he could, he ran. Behind him he could hear the Rocboar's thundering steps in hot pursuit. He couldn't believe he did something so incredibly stupid! Dodging around a tree, he heard a giant crack behind him and a moment later the tree suddenly flew past him! With a crash, the tree landed in front of him, blocking his way.

Reacting fast, he turned and circled around to the boar's flank. Glancing back, he was surprised to see the Rocboar struggling to follow. That was it! The boar could run fast in a straight line, but couldn't turn! Tightening his turn, Wild doubled around and got as close to the Rocboar's side as he dared to go.

The boar squealed in frustration as it continuously circled around, attempting to gore him with his massive tusks. Panting for breath, Wild kept himself close, like a foal to his mother's side. Bringing his spear around, he slashed and cut at the pig's exposed flank and legs, trying to cripple it or drive it off.

Suddenly his hoof caught a stone and he stumbled for a moment, losing his place as the Rocboar's head came around. The impact drove the air out of his lungs as he suddenly found himself laying a dozen strides away. Shaking his head, Wild struggled to climb back up to his hooves. Distantly he heard thunder approaching. Turning back, he saw a mountain about to crush him under.

This was it. There was no way he was going to live through this. Letting out a regretful sigh, Wild thought about Snap and how he'd never see her again. Oddly, Jennet, and the members of Snap's family also appeared in his thoughts too.

Suddenly a flicker of color came flashing in from the side, and crashed into the side of the charging Rocboar. Squealing in rage and surprise, the Rocboar was knocked to its side and slid past Wild with the Manticore tearing at it with its claws and teeth.

Wild blink at the sight. Did the Manticore just save him!?

Bloodied and torn, the Rocboar rolled itself over and threw the Manticore off itself. Regaining its hooves, the Rocboar turned back to the Manticore.

Climbing back to his hooves, Wild Bolt cringed at the twinge of pain he felt in his ribs. Taking up his fallen spear once again, Wild prepared to rush back in.

"Stop!"

The command cut through the air like a thunder crack.

The Rocboar and Manticore both halted. Even Wild felt a powerful compulsion to put his spear down.

Ash approached, his eyes flashing with fire. Wild felt terror at the sight of the colt's gaze. There was something inside Ash. Something greater than that of a simple colt. There was a power inside straining to get out. A strange misty image appeared around Ash that appeared to be wings and a horn. Even his mane seemed to float. What was he!?

With measured steps free of fear, Ash walked up to the massive Rocboar and stopped before it. The Rocboar snorted and lowered his muzzle to the colt. Lifting his hoof, Ash gently laid it on the boar's snout. "Cool thy anger and be at peace."

Wild watched in amazement as the rage left the Rocboar's eyes. Shifting around, he moved off, lumbering back into the woods.

Ash then turned to the Manticore, who shied back at the colt's gaze. "You fought well. Go now and hunt ponies no more."

Dismissed, the Manticore turned and limped away, its right wing hanging loosely along its side.

Ash stumbled and fell to his knees. Pulling his knife from its sheath, he placed it's tip to his chest and set his hoof to its base.

Wild rushed forward and slapped the knife away. "What are you doing!?"

"I won't become him." Ash said, his voice strained with pain. "Never."

Wild was confused. The colt wasn't making an sense. "Him? What are you talking about? Who him?"

"I am Me!" Ash cried out. The misty wings and horn faded away. Gasping for breath, Ash looked up at him. His eyes had returned to normal.

What had just happened? He had heard stories about how Ash had been able to use magic for a time, but he'd heard that he'd lost it at the end of the war with the spiders. "What happened to you?"

"There is... magic still within me." Ash explained, looking very tired. "Magic that must never be freed."

"Why not?" Wild Bolt asked. "The Unicorns have magic, why not you? I think it would be amazing to have magic."

Ash shook his head. "You don't understand. This magic is different. It would change me. I would no longer be a pony. I would become... something else."

Wild felt a chill run down his spine. "Like what?"

Ash's eyes grew distant. "Ruin, the Alicorn of Destruction."

Wild let out a breath. "That sounds bad."

Ash nodded slowly. "That is why I must never allow it to happen. My talent... my Element, is to Guard and Protect those I love. Even if it's from myself."

Wild didn't know how to answer him. He couldn't imagine living with something like that hanging over himself.

Ash stood and turned to look up at him. "Please don't tell anypony about this. Especially Dark. He's the father I always wanted. It's selfish of me, I know, but I don't want to lose that. Not yet."

Wild was starting to understand what he meant. As he grew closer to Snap's family, he'd started to experience some of the things he'd never known before. A father. A mother. A brother. He'd heard of them before and even called a few by that title, but he's rarely known the support and love that came from them. His mother had been taken from him when he'd been young, and his father only ordered him to do things. Hoof Strike's affectionate slip earlier that day, had given him more happiness than all the years he'd had with his own father.

"I understand." Wild Bolt assured Ash. "You have my word I won't say a thing."

"Thank you." Ash said in appreciation.

Looking over, Wild could see the Manticore laying in a shelter under a rock shelf licking his numerous wounds from the fight. "Is... he going to be okay?"

"Manticores are pretty tough," Ash assured him. "I believe it would take a lot more than that to put him down."

A little while later, Journey returned with Butterfly, walking back up the path.

"It took me a while to convince her to come down from the tree she was hiding in." Journey said walking up. "So, what happened to the Manticore? Did you slay it?"

"No." Wild answered with a simple shrug. "We... sort of come to an understanding." He nodded towards the Manticore.

Butterfly let out a terrified yelp and leapt into the air.

Wild was ready. "Nope." He snatched her back down before she could fly off again. "You're staying here."

"But! But!" Butterfly struggled in his grasp. "He'll eat me!"

"He's not going to eat you," Wild assured her. "Ash told him not to."

"And you expect that beast to listen to him!?"

"Yes." Ash affirmed, his face as serious as ever. "He will listen to me."

Something in the way Ash said that, made Butterfly pause.

"Can I pet him?" Journey asked, looking over at the Manticore.

"You can pet him later," Wild told the disappointed colt. "If we're going to make it back before night, we'll need to start back now."

Sure enough, the sun was nearing the rim of the valley. Heading back up the trail, Wild moved off to collect his cloak and pack. Seeing the dead ram, Wild thought of something. Moving over to it, he lifted it onto his back and started back down.

"What are you doing?" Ash asked, curiously.

"Just wait here." Wild said over his shoulder. "I won't be long."

Descending back down the trail, he walked over to where the Manticore was laired. The great cat paused in his licking when it noticed his approach. Removing the ram from his back, Wild set it down. "Thank you for saving me." Backing away, Wild returned to the others. The great cat watched him leave.

Like a shadow, she slipped through the trees, silently moving through the moonless night. Coming to the edge of a clearing, the figure paused to peer out. She counted five Casters, their horns glowing as they stood guard. Two of them were moving while the other three stood together, talking.

Taking a deep breath, Radiant tried to calm her racing heart. If her mother ever found out what she was about to do...

Shoving her apprehension back down, Radiant moved out as silently as she could, rushing across to one of the standing stones. Hiding behind it, she peeked out and watched as one of the Casters moved past. Lowering her horn, she let out a trickle of her magic and cast a spell at the Caster. It floated through the air like a breeze, striking the Caster in the back of her head. She continued on for another dozen steps, never suspecting that a spell was slowly working its way into her mind.

Yawning, the Caster paused to rub at her eyes. Wobbling in place, she slowly crumpled to the ground. Soon Radiant could hear the soft sound of her snoring. Hurrying out, she lit her horn and began walking, following the same path as the Caster she'd just replaced. Passing more stones, she kept her eyes down to not see the mares held suspended on them.

Sealed to the Stone. That is what ponies were calling it. She preferred to call it her mother's garden. Most of the mares were held there for a day or two before being released. Punishment for spreading dissent and lies, but a few had a more gruesome fate. Ahead of her was a stone that was set off by itself, its color nearly black. To be sealed to the black stone was to be sealed to death.

"So, you've chosen this path?" a weak voice asked down at her.

"Shh. Don't talk." Radiant whispered up at the Mystic, unsure how she was able to tell it was her. Summoning her magic, she cast a dispel on the seals holding her in place and cursed when her spell shattered against them. Probing the seals, she discovered multiple layers of added spells protecting them. This was going to take longer than she thought.

Working through each spell, she laboriously unraveled them, tugging their knots apart. Most Casters didn't have the skills to take a spell apart like this without it exploding in their face. Her older sister, Brilliant Dawn, taught her how to do it. With the final protective spell broken, she burrowed her magic into the seal and shattered it from the inside. The Mystic finally slipped free of the stone and fell. Radiant quickly caught her in her magic and moved her onto her back.

"Hold on to me." Radiant whispered before moving off. It had taken longer to break the seals than she wanted and she was going to have to hurry.

The Mystic hardly weighed anything and her grip around her neck was weak. At times, Radiant had to pause to readjust the mare on her back as she started to slip off. They were almost back to the trees when she saw a light appear ahead of her. Thinking fast, she brightened her illumination spell on her horn and focused it ahead of her, hoping the light would keep the Caster from seeing her face or that she was carrying a mare on her back.

"You were gone for a long while, did one of them give you trouble or something?"

Radiant's heart leapt up into her throat. She knew that voice! Nova Slash!

Nova was walking closer and Radiant knew that it was only a matter of time before she noticed Eclipsea.

"Why is your horn so bright?" Nova asked, shading her eyes. "I can hardly see. Wait... What are you carrying?"

With a flash, Radiant shot a shock spell directly into Nova. The mare's eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed to the ground. The three Casters that had been talking together, suddenly shouted at her as she rushed ahead into the trees.

Hurrying as fast as she could, she listened to the sound of running hoofsteps of ponies in pursuit of her. If she didn't do something fast, they were going to catch them! Summoning a glow orb, she sent it floating off down the path ahead of them before turning off another way. A few moments later, she saw Casters with their horns glowing, rush by as they chased after her wayward light orb.

Catching her breath, Radiant tried to think of what she should do. News of what happened was going to spread quickly. Sneaking Eclipsea into the mountain now was going to be impossible! What was she going to do!?

"Don't despair," Eclipsea said. "Sanctuary can be found. Trust the other half of your heart."

"Other half of my heart?" Radiant asked, looking over her shoulder. What did she mean by that? Looking back to the mountain, her eyes traveled up towards the top. She didn't mean...? Well, she thought, it did have the advantage that no one would ever expect somepony to hide there. Letting out a breath, Radiant set off for the path to the High Blood Stables. Sneaking Eclipsea into it wasn't going to be easy. She was going to need Frost's help.