Early Morning

29th July, 112 BNM

Salaman Empire, Main island, Mountain slopes

Abandoned Tigaoist shrine

They'd packed for the journey last night, though the news of Mutsae town's attack had reached them yesterday when Starswirl returned from his travels. No news of any pressed attacks from the Ru'saik province, and Chack insisted on walking.

He wished to get to Mutsae town, knowing he had plenty of time before he felt he wasn't needed or should go.

But when Chack had said this, Starswirl had not heard exactly what he planned to do. He'd probed Chack's mind, and found a surprisingly resilient mind, but on the surface there was the burned idea of Daimyo Hisao, and his rule being weak at the moment.

Starswirl resigned to go with the Ronin, wanting to get to the town himself to study the situation, and perhaps convince Hisao he was not aligned with those Equestrians the Ru'saik province had as a trade partner.

Still, he couldn't shake the idea that he and Chack had diverging objectives regarding Daimyo Hisao, and anyone close to him that were loyal to him.

The events to come would at long last put Starswirl on the path to return to Equestria, and yet also cast doubt on the very ideals he had spent a year of his life over centuries learning of from others, and how useful they would be in the world as it was.

Walking with all their gear or possessions packed, they left the mountain which Chack had not once ventured from, the beckoning path to the north winding down miles before them.

Before long, the shrine vanished from view over a ridge, and yet the whole time Starswirl couldn't shake a vibe he was getting.

Turning to Chack, who was wearing his full blood red and brown coloured samurai armour, the Grey Unicorn magically kept his hat in place as a gust picked up on the slopes, asking the Salamander:

"What might we expect in Mutsae after an attack like we heard?"

"Reconstruction, fearful citizens, and by the sounds of it, many of the army in the province gone to retaliate against the Ru'saik province, the ones with the weapons and fleet that did it."

"Like you did 20 years ago with your band under your old master, Daimyo Jaien?"

"Yes. I expect they'll have actually been ordered to do this. Hisao lacked Jaien's, 'restraint'."

The tone with which Chack spoke of the current Daimyo, Hisao, reminded Starswirl all too well the tense state this Salamander might be in when they visit the town.

But Starswirl had questions that needed answering, and Hisao's ties directly to the Equestrian Royalist faction, despite all the factions united in the war against the New Gryphon empire, presented an opportunity.

The rest of the journey would prove uneventful, as they stuck to the country roads, with Chack occasionally diving into rivers and lakes to rehydrate his amphibious body along the way, or swim in a river if it was going towards Mutsae town's general direction.

But within 2 days, they came to the hill ridge, and saw Mutsae town's state, half it burned to scorched black skeletons and corpses of buildings, the main palace somewhat harmed itself, and the docks in utter ruin.

Late-Morning

31st July, 112 BNM

Salaman Empire, Main island, Mutsae province

Mutsae town, inner town

Eyes turned to them as they entered the town, but rebuilding efforts by those out and about distracted most attention from them.

Starswirl stared around at the many blackened and semi skeletal buildings, while those that remained now housed more than they normally would. Scaffolding and construction work surrounded a taller shrine tower, while amidst the rubble of some completely collapsed buildings families, even children Salamanders, sifted through the rubble.

Amidst the rubble of a larger market shop, her magic helping lift some larger burnt wooden beams clear, Starswirl was surprised to see a Unicorn Mare there, the same one who had been wearing that strange letter S crest made of lightning symbols on her cloak.

The White furred Mare turned, her blue/grey mane somewhat ash coated from working in these shop ruins for a few hours now. Teal Quirt, the royal court magician escorting the Royalist Ambassador Ash Clincher, whom himself was in the palace right now.

But as she saw the Grey Unicorn wander up the street, flanked by the Red and brown armoured Salamander, an intimidating looking Samurai, they both reminded her of someone each.

The Salamander resembled descriptions of the infamous Ronin. The Unicorn however, she thought the blue cloak, the pointed hat, and the grey and white bearded body were-.

"It can't be…"

Teal Quirt gaped at the Wizard as they passed further down the street, but she quickly noticed too the eyes of a guard further up the road spot them, eyes bugging slightly at the sight of them, or more specifically, the Ronin.

Teal Quirt followed, knowing she might want to be there at Ambassador Ash Clinch's behest.

Salaman Empire, Main island, Mutsae province

Mutsae town, Daimyo Hisao's palace

Main Hall

The pair had entered the palace, under guard, but cooperated enough to not be instantly detained.

Hisao was quick to summon them, wanting to know why two wanted criminals were here.

Making his skill with words known, Starswirl was the one who did all the talking:

"And why exactly should I believe you are truly this, Starswirl?" Hisao remarked. Sat upon his small throne, the elder brown coloured salamander looked over at the 2 Equestrian visitors, among whom Ash Clinch was first to speak, the Royalist ambassador gesturing to Teal Quirt as he began:

"Teal Quirt here recognises Starswirl, she studied at another Wizard's academy, one who travelled with Starswirl on his many journeys and knew him well, Siral the Savant. Records of Starswirl were available, and she strongly backs up that it is him."

As Teal Quirt began to speak, Starswirl absorbed this knowledge with some pride. Siral had started a magical academy during the apparently lengthy 60 years he had remained in time after Starswirl jumped to this era, a good use of time. Too bad he couldn't' do more than he'd inevitably tried to do about stopping the New Gryphon War in its long buildup, and Alicorn power competitiveness.

"The visage and knowledge is too close to be coincidence. It is him, and trust me when I say his ties to historical royal family lines means he is not aligned with the Equestrian families who are backers of the Ru'saik province."

Looking at Starswirl, Daimyo Hisao gave a nod of apology, as he remarked calmly:

"I must offer my apologies then. Unknown Equestrians, especially Unicorns who have potential for great power, that aren't known royalists are known as dangers."

"Yes, well an incident in a river village about that is how I met Chack here." Starswirl said, his tone amicable to show he accepted the apology at least. And he wanted to get Chack's name more cleared now, and knew exactly how.

Hisao's eyes narrowed, as he coldly remarked: "And why should I not detain this marauder right now for the dozens to over a hundred he's killed over the past 20 years I've ruled this land?"

"Chack has had a change of heart since he heard of the attack here today, by the Ru'saik. When he served your brother, and the Ru'saik attacked back then with Equestrian weapons as well, he took the initiative with others to raid their base and sabotage them. He's come to offer his knowledge and experience with dealing with, ahem, 'foreign weaponry'. He says his skills were best served back then in that role."

Hisao regarded the masked Samurai, this Ronin, in the blood red and brown armour behind Starswirl. The Salamander's face was hidden, and even Teal Quirt and Ash Clinch stared with some wariness around him.

And yet, Chack's head slowly turned to Starswirl, giving a swift nod as he remarked:

"The conflicts of Equestria mean they use our nation's rivalries between provinces as testing grounds for weapons, machinery or potions. They escalate the conflict here, and so a response in kind is necessary."

Hisao regarded this Ronin with a hardened look, but one of irritated agreement. The elder Salamander asked Chack: "And would you do the same again, for your master and province?"

Chack replied swiftly, his mask barely muffling his voice: "I would do the same again, going straight to the source of conflict, and removing its head, for my true master. Yes, I would."

Cautious, but seeing this was good, Hisao asked Ash Clinch for a second opinion:

"Would this affect anything in Equestria, stability in any way?"

Shaking his head, the Unicorn ambassador remarked bluntly: "Just like the Royalists, the Nationalist groups loan testing assets to these provinces, so that we can busy applying what is proven and tested at home against the New Gryphons."

"And how is the war going remind everyone?" Hisao asked.

"Slow, a war of attrition. New Gryphon will break before Equestria does, and Equestria isn't exerting as much war effort as they are either." Ash Clinch seemed to point this out with some haughtiness, which was picked up by everyone else, Hisao included.

Starswirl sensed the arrogance behind those who knew the political situation of the war, which made him question all the more what would happen once it ended, and the spoils were made available.

Turning to the Wizard and Ronin, Hisao offered these words: "Very well. You have the blessing of my house. Go as you have sworn to."

Before Starswirl could bow, Ambassador Ash Clincher politely interrupted: "If I may Daimyo, I wish a word in private with Starswirl. I heard how he is considering a long awaited return to Equestria, and I wish for him to be able to ask anything of me about events back home since he left, particularly recent ones he may not be as versed in."

Nodding, Hisao gestured to a servant to escort Starswirl and the Ambassador back to one of the guest houses, for a more private setting. Within a minute, the Wizard and ambassador were gone. Turning to Chack, Hisao ordered another samurai to escort him to the gates.

"I'll inform Starswirl of the tavern my warrior shall escort you to."

Chack left without a word, flanked in his red and brown armour by one of Hisao's samurai guards.

With a bow to Daimyo Hisao, Teal Quirt gave a respectful smile:

"I shall return to my responsibilities; your town could still use my skills in removing rubble."

"Such gracious help is appreciated." Hisao gave a courteous nod, while a servant came over with daily reports on the day to day running of the town, mostly rebuilding and medical requirements.

Teal Quirt was gone quickly, the Unicorn exiting the palace hall into the deck hallways outside by the stone gardens. Up ahead, she saw Chack and his guard following him go around the corner to the main gate, her own direction.

Mutsae town, Daimyo Hisao's palace

Main Gate

Something was off.

Teal Quirt had exited the main gate, yet now ahead of her in town she saw no trace of the Ronin or the guard escorting him, and they hadn't gone any other way for sure.

Wanting to see if she was being overcautious, the white furred, blue/grey maned Unicorn mare waited by the main gate, wanting to see if she'd simply missed Chack somehow.

Mutsae town, Daimyo Hisao's palace

Main Hall

Walking along the hallway, quiet as he could muster, Chack knew he'd have to be quick. Only 1 guard, the one who'd been escorting him, was out cold by a blow to the head and being stuffed under a wooden rock garden walkway.

His sword sheathed, and all but one weapon inside, Chack readied the weapon he relied upon for a guaranteed kill.

Chack tied the small paper message to the arrow, and nocked it onto the bowstring.

He saw a shadow of a guard passing up ahead, but he knew the palace was understaffed due to help in the rebuilding efforts.

And Starswirl and that Ambassador, and the other Unicorn, were elsewhere.

No posturing, no confronting Hisao, what had been said was said. Chack served his true master, and in this he would finally have revenge for the brother of Hisao. Hisao ruled only by taking advantage of Daimyo Jaien when he held back against a threat, which Chack had neutralised in an unsanctioned raid into the Ru'saik province 20 years prior where only he survived somewhat shortly beforehand, letting Hisao spring his advantage.

He would finally complete his service by redeeming his master's death, after which he had other plans.

Moving fast, now that Chack saw his opportunity, he went in. A cloud passed by overhead, blocking the sun and dulling all shadows one would see from the inside of the hall, through the paper screen walls.

He rammed through the paper screen door, and sure enough he saw, amidst the handful of samurai taken by surprise, and the 2 servants, Daimyo Hisao staring at him in shock, as Chack's bow suddenly rose and drew back, letting the arrow fly before Hisao even had time to yell the order to attack.

The arrow buried itself in Hisao's lower neck and upper torso robes, and his body, the shaft and the note tied to it sticking up as he fell backwards. The arrow tip had been poisoned to ensure death, and the small ribbon like note read the simple word symbols:

For my master, Jaien.

By the time the guards had reacted, Chack was out the door of the main hall, casting aside the bow and drawing his sword as the palace's understaffed security responded to the murder of Daimyo Hisao.

Chack only hoped some of them realised that Hisao wasn't much to be admired, and leave him as they had Jaien if they were old enough, like he was.

Charging down the hallway, Chack dropped to his knees to duck under a sword swung from a Samurai that had been charging him, while he swung out his own to slice the guard's ankle and sever the foot off.

Leaping to his feet, Chack grabbed the dropped sword from the now 1 footed Samurai, wielding both swords now as the collective 9 samurai pursuing him into the palace's stone garden came after him.

A pair more came out in front, and Chack saw he was surrounded in the stone garden by the 11 Samurai. And atop, he saw 2 archers stood atop the roof.

Turning around and around to point his dual swords at each of the 11 samurai in the rock garden with him, Chack gave a remark as he dragged the blades across the ground in a preparing spin, gesturing with his masked head to the dark red and brown armour he wore:

"This was once less red in colour."

Stones kicked up from the rock garden as he charged, while the arrow from an archer on the roof missed his leather boot. Swords clashed in the centre of the palace as Chack engaged each one at a time, flowing to keep the fight moving, and away from open air to avoid the archers.

It was only 10 seconds before the first blood splatter appeared on a hallway sheet doorway near the garden, and a body was sent tumbling through to tear a hole in the wall.

Swords flew, with most strikes missing by dodges and footwork, with only a few blocks or clashes of blades, while some shurikans were hurled to rip through the walls or imbed into support beams in the halls and hallways, while the odd fist of kick flew out.

Ducking down, Chack sliced open the stomach of one less armoured Samurai Salamander, while he then spun to barrel through another screen wall at force, his armour helping minimise any impact.

A blade scratched his back armour, the tough plating stopping the blade going deeper beyond just skin on his back, and jamming it mid slice, forcing the samurai to pull the blade out in a jerking move. Chack swung round, one of his swords sending the same Salamander's sword hands on both arms flying off, before his other blade came around to take his head off.

Backstepping as another samurai charged, Chack saw the sword swing down before him, and swung one of his own down to lock it on the wood and sheet floor of the hallway, before he brought his other sword flying up into the Salamander's chin, splitting the head open from the chin upwards.

Not even stopping, he brought the blade to spin around, some flecks of blood going onto the ceiling and walls as he kept the blade moving to be ready for the next attacker.

As the 7 approached him from in front, Chack kept his 2 blades, his own and the stolen one, moving. Yet he focused, calming his mind.

In the mountains, as per teachings of his old Daimyo Jaien, he was told to be attuned to all his senses, especially his hearing, where if good enough he could fight a foe he couldn't even see.

Living in the quiet mountains, he'd trained to be attuned to even the slightest of noises, even amidst chaos.

He heard the faint crack of wooden flooring far behind him, as another Salamander landed, and a bowstring was quickly drawn back, before a twang came with a very faint whistle.

Ducking sideways, Chack felt the slightly hot air of the passing arrow tickle his amphibious moist cheek, before he turned and hurled the sword he'd stolen from the first guard at the archer who'd jumped down.

The scream rang out as the katana plunged into his gut, but the archer saw the red and brown clad Salamander charge him, the leathery boot kicking him unconscious before snatching up his bow and any arrows he could quickly snatch.

Spinning around, Chack latched an arrow and fired off one into the head of one of the 7 charging samurai, before he began to run down the hallway, towards an open courtyard by the palace walls.

The others charged, and Chack swinging his sword at them, forcing back the closest one as the others pressed forwards, while Chack backed up, knowing he had not long before reinforcements-

CLINK!

Unbelievably, an arrow came screaming forwards, from the archer now stood atop the roof overlooking the courtyard, and the others stopped as they saw it stick to the helmet by its point.

But even more unbelievably, they noticed the shaft, despite hitting what looked like an eye visor hole, had not penetrated. The 'mask' was in fact not a thin layer of metal, but slightly thicker and stronger, and with a leathery outer layer painted the same brown colour that made the arrow's pointed tip actually stick.

Chack was quite literally fighting almost blind, the miniscule holes in his mask granting him limited visibility, none of them big enough for an arrow to get through at all, more like a vegetable grater hole set than a visor if anything.

The arrow had not actually penetrated through, as Chack quickly snapped his gaze upwards and whipped the arrow from his mask. He still held the bow he'd snagged from the unconscious and dying sword pierced archer, and before the archer could even respond he nocked the arrow to it from the right and fired.

The archer screamed as the arrow imbedded into his bow arm's shoulder, sending him reeling and falling onto the rooftop, while Chack discarded the bow and readied his sword, yelling hoarsely as he charged the 7 remaining Samurai warriors.

Fairly soon after the fighting began, one of the servants rang a gong overhead, as the archers followed the fighting from on the roof, unable to get a clear shot yet.

From the gates, Teal Quirt heard the gong, and then also heard the faint sound of swords when she rushed around the palace walls, while the guards stayed at their posts, and others checked everywhere in the palace.

As she rushed, she saw a red and brown shape quickly clamber over the wall and come leaping down to land and roll on the pavement behind her, clearly running in the same direction she'd been heading, towards the docks.

Chack, the Ronin, in full armour, with many blood stains and a few scratch marks on his armour.

Turning, Teal readied a spell to fire, as she let loose a repulsion spell in Chack's direction. He ducked under it, and she then decided as he got within 20 feet to stop him entirely, engulfing him in a freezing spell.

But as he felt his body stiffen, Chack quickly seized a shurikan from his belt, and hurled it, the throwing star imbedding into Teal's right forehoof, causing great pain to the Unicorn mare.

Her concentration broke momentarily, and Chack closed the gap. Regaining her focus, Teal backstepped repeatedly, using her magic to deflect Chack's sword strikes as if her magic was a sword itself. Again and again they clashed, until Chack was shoved by Teal's magic into a vegetable cart.

Stumbling over, Chack span around as he staggered to his knees, but very quickly scraped his sword around on the dust covered road, and sent a wave of dust flying straight into Teal's face with his blade.

Recoiling, the dust enraging her eyes with the discomfort, Teal's magic was gone for now. Keeping his sword going, Chack span once more with his sword out, barking loudly to her:

"You help him by trying to stop me!"

His blade rang out, and as she had staggered, Teal had reeled backwards on her hooves. It ended up saving her life.

Teal Quirt screamed aloud as something sliced through her horn near the base, as while she was blinded for a moment Chack had taken his swing to remove her horn from her head.

Some blue magic sparked, along with a very slight bleeding, from the sliced stump that remained as she reeled backwards in pain, while she heard the Ronin making his getaway.

As she lay on the road in agony, Chack dove into the water, well ahead of any of the guards. A few stray arrows came from the dock guard posts, but they were literally shots in the dark given how deep the harbour waters were, and how long Salamanders could stay underwater.

1 hour later

It had been over by the time the emergency was known, and by the time they'd reached the first dead body.

Staring at the carnage that had been wreaked, Starswirl shook his head at the idea that Chack had done this, when they'd come in peace.

And yet, amidst it all, even as the Royal Court Magician, Teal Quirts, was treated for her sliced off horn, her loss in engaging Chack and inciting him, it was Ambassador Ash Clincher's remark that threw Starswirl's next goals into utter disarray.

Stood in the hallway, away from the bloodstains lightly flecking some of the screen walls, Starswirl heard Ash Clincher remark to himself:

"A shame, so much gone to waste. Now the Nationalists have more links to test their might."

At this, Starswirl had to protest:

"That is your concern?"

"It is what I was sent here for, and now our interest in this region is gone. It is not ideal, but this is how things are, how things work. Times have changed greatly since you departed so long ago, if legends are true."

"For the worst, as it seems, on all sides." Starswirl remarked with utter disgust. At Hisao for his role 20 years ago in exploiting a war situation for power, for Chack for exploiting this situation for his vengeance for his old master's final honour, and for the utter lack of compassion for those killed in this cycle of cruelty that Chack had been a product of, and Hisao had started because of a desire for power in wake of an exterior conflict brewing in the region of-..

At that moment, something clicked in Starswirl. And he knew, he realised the harsh truth.

What he was seeing here, was reflective, nay, a foresight into Equestria. If the events of 20 years prior, of the initial conflict and seizure of power echoed the current New Gryphon War in Equestria, then what of the internal conflict of those who also wished power, and those who had a vengeance against those in power?

He would get no lesson in kindness from this era, no sudden prophetic triggered flash signalling his exemplary being showcasing true kindness. Instead, what he got, while not as idealistic and fulfilling, was something he'd ignored too long, that he'd let prophecies and foretold fates distract him from, that Siral had wised up to him faster than he had.

It was time to return to Equestria, and actually do something, whatever he could. Enough gallivanting across the world in pursuit of idealistic examples, it was time to face the world, Equestria, in the ugly state it was slowly devolving into. And even if it took years, as Siral's lack of success in 60 years after Starswirl had left for this era showed, he would do it. He had to.

He'd put it off for too long.

With a sigh, Starswirl turned to Ambassador Ash Clincher, remarking to the Unicorn:

"Teal Quirt, ensure she is well treated, as a pupil of Siral's legacy school should be. And if you arrive before I do, tell the Royal family that Starswirl the Bearded shall be returning to Equestria, permanently."

Starswirl left without another word, leaving Ash Clincher to absorb this information, be it good news or inconsequential. Too many events were already in motion.

Late-Evening/sunset

31st July, 112 BNM

Salaman Empire, Main island, Mutsae province

10 miles from Mutsae town, hidden cove

The bay was calm water, meaning he'd been able to swim easily enough.

Sat inside the secluded cove, Chack washed off the blood stains, the new ones at least. He had plenty of old ones painting his brown armour a red colour in many places, and yet today, he thought he would feel better.
He had finally redeemed his master for being betrayed by his brother in a time of tactical weakness, as Hisao gained power in wake of the Ru'saik province being temporarily defeated by Chack and his samurai rogue raid 20 years ago.

And yet, he felt nothing. No remorse for those he killed after killing Hisao. No fulfilment, just, nothing. Nothing was different.

His helmet off, Chack rubbed a moist hand over his wide head, the small green eyes squinting at the setting sun in the large bay and its many small, towering islands like shark teeth on the horizon.

A blue flash from the inside of the cove signalled a familiar Unicorn finding him, as Chack was sure he would at last.

But the sudden blue magic seizing his throat, and restraining him, surprised him slightly.

Starswirl's utterly livid expression burned into him, as the Wizard confronted the Samurai, hovering the Salamander's body backwards into the small rock face at the beach's edge:

"Words can't describe what I should be doing to you right now."

Chack did nothing, as he sensed a 'but' in that sentence. And sure enough, as Starswirl calmed himself, barely, the Wizard's blue magical grip released Chack, the Salamander rubbing his neck as Starswirl said with a voice that could cut rock:

"You are lucky that what you have truly proven yourself as is something I've disregarded for too long. I've been idealistic in my pursuits, but you have none at all it seems."

"I served my master, I went straight for the root of the betrayal of him, Hisao. The others were trying to stop my escape, I cannot serve my master's legacy in death."

At this, Starswirl was utterly quiet, as he remarked with a pained tone, as if accepting a painful reality of the entire scenario he foresaw many years ahead of him:

"You're life altered because Equestria intervened here, using the excuse of testing its means of war by letting them be used in conflicts here, exacerbating their consequences."

"If you can't prove yourself as an exemplar of kindness, then perhaps your skills may be better applied when, if all ideals fail, I require a way of getting straight to the root of issues in Equestria, which were the roots of issues here."

At this remark by Starswirl, Chack realised the final secret he'd been keeping from him, and one reason why exactly Starswirl was so angry at him.

And yet, he still didn't feel much, except perhaps intrigue. Equestria was after all, the catalyst of many issues in Salaman, and without the weapons he may not have needed to disobey his master in that raid, and Hisao may not have tried for power amidst relief in a fierce, short war.

He could best serve his master's legacy by 'helping' right at the source of the problems he'd been a victim of.

All the while though, Starswirl decided he'd finally had enough of prophecies, of idealism, of trying to bring lessons back to humble Equestria. Clearly they needed to be drawn out of warfare and glory, and callously encouraging violence to suit their needs in other nations.

Turning to Chack, Starswirl replied calmly: "We have much to discuss, before we go on. There is nothing here for me to seek any longer, and unless you seek something here still, I shall be leaving you behind."

Seeing the Wizard before him, Chack calmly walked over to a nearby rock, where Starswirl had also noticed a place to sit on his hunches, taking off his hat to run a hoof through his grey mane and beard.

Sitting down, the Wizard and Salamander sat in silence, both at fault for a great many things, yet both seeing opportunity.

For one, this was nowhere near how he anticipated this part of his journey ending before a 'triumphant' return.

Nightfall

31st July, 112 BNM

Salaman Empire, Main island, Mutsae province

Mutsae town, main palace

Teal Quirt's horn was bandaged, and with one of the Samurai inheriting the position of Daimyo, stability was returning to the town, not that with the recent raid by the ships it had recovered anyway.

And yet, as many slept, a presence slipped unseen into the room she recovered in. A presence that matched Starswirl in physical age, despite being born 60 years after the grey wizard.

In the dark of her room, as she slept, the white Unicorn mare with blue/grey mane tossed with another wince of pain from her sliced horn, while an unseen black mist curled around her bed, materialising into a solid form.

The Black Unicorn with the white mane wore a grey cloak on his flanks, with a letter S made of lightning arcs on the side. He was the founder of the Savant academy of magic.

Staying in Equestria for 60 years before going on to come out at the same time as Starswirl in this era had done wonders for Siral. His experimentation was welcomed in this warlike Equestrian linked world, though he didn't enjoy it for those who led it, or why.

Still, he'd been right to keep a watch over this student of his academy's, who had come with the Ambassador as a guard and translator. He'd sensed by following Starswirl that the next exemplar was in Salaman, as he would also be.

And yet now, the exemplar had failed spectacularly in exhibiting kindness, yet did something Siral would applaud him for. Opening Starswirl's eyes to the truth of the world as it stood.

Siral had left 49 years ago upon seeing war was inevitable, and that the Alicorns were good at playing the 'long game'. Now 8 years in an attrition war, Equestria was not the peaceful land they'd left nearly 700 years ago.

Still, as he watched over the Unicorn mare, a victim of the cruelty of one of Starswirl's 'exemplary' beings, Siral decided this mare may be worth keeping an eye on. Starswirl was going to be welcomed back, and with her horn damaged, she'd never be as strong again, and her dreams of ascending to Alicorn status like so many Unicorns were now dashed.

How appropriate that he foresaw one supposedly virtuous being may well have set another on a path to cruelty.

After all, Envy was one of the main sources of cruelty, and it all began with a single instance of cruel fate to them.

Perhaps those 7 beings to come were not a danger, but a blessing. If nurtured correctly, this Mare, and others wronged by fate like her, could very well prove to be the instruments of change he'd been searching for to solve the issue of what he called 'Alicorn arrogance'.

Author's Notes:

The Kindness arc does not 'end' with an example set and move on, this segways directly into Starswirl's return, as he sees too many parallels with the situation in Equestria foretold by the oracles/unfolding with the Gryphon war and eventual Civil War.

Chack's cruelty, and the world that he was merely made by, while it may have permanently cast doubt over Starswirl's prophecy, he won't discard Chack. After all, there is a place for peaceful means, but Chack has a desire to see peace in Equestria to restore peace to Salaman, as Equestria 'eggs on' conflicts in Salaman.

But he WILL fulfill his destined kindness further down the line. I'm talking YEARS down the line.
And meanwhile, the first of who will eventually become one of the 7 beings to be inspirations for the 7 sins has been revealed, and sent down the path towards a cruel being of Envy. Teal Quirt [her name will change later], and Siral has been viewing those prophesied 7 as a potential save for Equestria, not a danger.

The path back to Equestria was never going to be smooth, but this act of cruelty serves as the final wake up call to Starswirl.

Next chapter will have the return of Starswirl to Equestria, with Chack in tow [who will remain undercover somewhat in Equestria].

Now we are getting into the MEAT of this big story, as I will breeze past the New gryphon war to get right into business, the Equestrian Civil War.

Before that though, two royal sisters will meet Starswirl.