Mid-Morning

May 28th, 74 BNM

Equestria, North-Western forests

50 miles from Baltimare

Compared to the lush wilderness and trees, flowers blooming and birdsong in the air, the rather gaunt looking Black Unicorn, his grey cloak up and hiding his face, seemed out of place.

But he had heard tales of this mare, thought to be a mage among her kind, one not tied to any Equestrian faction so much. And yet, from what he gathered of her seldom spoken of past, she was ex-Separatist. Ex, for good reason.

Separatists had no pleasure for Alicorns, born or ascended, and knowing this, she left before too much trouble came of it. She apparently had a reputation for avoiding trouble, avoiding confrontation, and living in her own little domain alone.

Still, if anything, Siral would have slapped himself silly for not considering her sooner as a 'candidate'. After all, he knew her well, and she was the only Alicorn who he could actually seriously consider sparing what he envisioned for most others, be it punishment, depowering or death. She was the one exception to power mongering he'd seen in Alicorns, as she shirked away from power over others by comparison.

For this reason, above all others, she was already a fitting candidate for a being he could craft to spread subtle lethargy and dropping of one's guard among many Alicorn power bases, for his other forces to then pounce. She had her way of spurring relaxation, lethargy, even outright blissful ignorance while in her mini-realm in the forest she had crafted.

More immediately however, as he had told her of the 'unfortunate souls' he'd been taking under his protection, she had a use that he would genuinely appreciate, which would help her get to know the 5 so far that would, if all went well, be enhanced like her and 1 other to come.

She was after all, good at helping sow tranquillity among others as it already stood.

But even so, Siral hid from her that he didn't view her as anything more than an acquaintance, for the simple fact that Lady Ave-Dol was, before anything else in his mind, an Alicorn.

Mid-Morning

Equestria, North-Western forests

50 miles from Baltimare

Lady Ave-Dol's forest home

Sat on a small quilt on the small grassy hill, Ave-Dol's pale blue body was relaxed as she focused her magic, her golden yellow mane loose as usual down to her relaxed wings, while her pale blue horn shone its white magic faintly.

Before her, the wind was rustling many petals off the trees that were already shedding for the summer, and with the faintest use of her substantial, but seldom exercised Alicorn magic, she made the petals dance in a gentle aerial display. Her barest of input simply kept the floating array of flower petals in the air, fluttering around her small cottage's front garden, for her to watch. Such simplicity brought her never-ending joy.

She knew every facet of her humble domain, and how to bring out its true beauty.

And she sensed a familiar presence approaching, appearing as quietly as he often did.

"It is a pleasure when you drop by Siral, even if it is usually unexpected."

"I hope I am not intruding on anything you are doing." His rather deeper, sometimes gaunt voice, seemed like a rumble amidst the peace of her domain.

The flowers on the wind fluttered away, as Abe-dol stood to turn with a gracious smile on her features, while Siral kept his hood over his scarred black face, out of habit. The pale blue Alicorn gestured to her little cottage as she replied:

"Not at all. Come, whatever you wish to discuss may be best done inside, where you'll be most comfortable."

With a smile, Siral replied smoothly as he followed the Alicorn inside her small cottage: "You know me well."

That was more of a lie, as time would show, but she was right, he did feel more comfortable out of open spaces.

Lady Ave-Dol's cottage

"2-weeks leisure for them AND yourself, you must have grown more lenient in recent years." Lady Ave-Dol gently sipped her honey tea, while Siral drank plain hot water. The Unicorn finally had his hood down, revealing his mosaic like scarring across his black face and body, despite still wearing his grey wizard cloak.

"Until the 7th of June, yes. But, things have been quieter in recent weeks, and this is the first time all 5 of them have actually been together all at once. Comradeship can help them readjust."

"Wise of you, they could use the help, but I have some, worries, about some of them. A dragon, among them for one thing. But they all have misgivings about Alicorns it seems."

"Which is why I wanted ask of you. If you come, you can help them get over any 'trust' issues, more easily. I know your skill with sowing calm can help immeasurably."

"But the distrust of Alicorns remains."

"Distrust of Alicorns with political power. You I feel would be an exception they quickly see is not like them. And exceptions help them get over prejudices."

Pondering for a moment, Lady Ave-Dol asked outright: "What do you intend, if I succeed in helping their well-being and possibly bonds between each other?"

Siral was quiet for a moment, as he replied calmly in his deep voice: "To help them live their own lives as best as they can, whatever fate decides that may be."

"I suppose there is no harm. But might there be more like them to come?"

"No, not yet, but I expect there will be in the future."

Raising her honey tea in her magic grip, Ave-Dol clacked the mug against Siral's warm water mug, replying serenely: "If it will help them, I shall come to your Citadel. What help for their souls I can give, I shall give it, however long I feel I should stay. I can come by the week's end."

"And I shall ensure they give you a fair chance." Siral replied smoothly.

The Alicorn and the Black Wizard indulged in idler talk, with Ave-dol even indulging Siral with some songs she had written in her wealth of leisure time she had.

As the day went on, Siral felt himself relax much greater than he normally did. He knew he had definitely found his 'candidate' for number 6, and a psychological 'control' for the other 5 [4, he had no pressing concerns with Teal Quirt].

Next Day

Late Morning

May 29th, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

Lower catacombs lake

Walking across the narrow viaduct bridge, Siral gazed down into the dark waters, fed by the lake high above by magically operated drainage means. Ahead, the garrison support chief was going through the building done and still underway on this expansion, and with it, a one-way escape tunnel, and a labyrinth going the other way.

In short, leaving was a safe route out to the mountainside, exiting at a cavern mouth to a small stream. Entering the Citadel by this route however, one had to navigate a series of chambers, like a branching tree, where only one route was safe and led to this basement level.

In the 'dead ends', Siral was commissioning obstacles to claim any would be intruders. Local gas pockets were easy, carved tunnels leading to fatal falls down vertical crevices, one of which paired with another dead end leading to an underground pond filled with magically enhanced, voracious leeches.

Stopping at the top of the viaduct, Siral listened as the construction chief gestured down to a small grated gate being raised, to open up a small inlet chamber level with the water:

"So any larger creatures, besides those leech hordes, that you want, we store them in there, then release them into the water when ready."

"And how big is the chamber? What sort of aquatic creature would be too big?" Siral asked. Shrugging, the black armoured Earth pony stallion remarked offhandedly as he recalled the size of the flooded side chamber:

"I'd say, anything longer than 80 feet is going to be uncomfortable cooped up in there for too long. What did you have in mind?"

"Something serpentine perhaps. A Basilisk perhaps? What would you suggest?" Siral asked, noticing the Earth Pony's nervousness as he replied:

"With all due respect my lord, might that be excessive?"

"And if interrogated by hanging over the water, a prisoner may be killed by a glance alone. Perhaps just a sea serpent, easier to capture as well."

As Siral suggested this, the Earth Pony looked at the gated chamber, remarking quietly: "Better. May have to extend the holding chamber…"

"Get it done, however you see best. Now, about that other matter you wished to speak to me of?"

"Yes. We had a pair of workers go missing in the Labyrinth, checking the dead ends under safe instructions. At these dead ends listed." As Siral took the small paper in his magic, the Earth Pony remarked: "Just a few distant screams, then nothing."

With a sigh, Siral rumbled under his breath: "Demons, won't use them as much. How Geldrath kept an entire nest for as long as he did I'll never know…"

"What was that about demons?"

"Nothing. Just, those dead ends are fine, don't send any other workers down to check them, whatever you do. Unless they are to vanish too."

Siral finished the statement simply, while the Earth Pony garrison worker took Siral over to see progress on the custom built prisoner 'dunking' cells suspended by chains over the lake, near the viaduct's pathway.

Down in the waters immediately below, a hungry school of leeches had learned to always hang around from the test animals alone.

Late Afternoon

May 29th, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

3 miles from the Citadel

Giants valley

Relaxing his magic, Siral gave a smirk of success. He had picked wisely, as this valley housed a handful of perhaps his strongest assets at present, even if they could only be used sparingly.

The Stone Giants were dormant, laying against the mountain as seamlessly as mountains themselves. The largest was around 800 metres in length, and 500 in height, shaped like a bulky tortoise if anything, with the others mostly 400-500 metres tall and slightly longer, shaped like thick legged bears. One was a 'juvenile' only 100 metres tall, and 200 metres long, but the one Siral could as a result use before any of the others due to its ease of acquiring energy.

"I thought I'd find you out here master."

A familiar voice behind Siral made him turn slowly, as Teal Quirt came waltzing up behind him. The white Unicorn flicked some of her blue/grey mane out of the way, his own magic keeping her looking and feeling younger than she actually was, as she regarded the valley.

"You tend to them like plants."

"You could say that. They do grow after all, in their way."

Siral's remark about the slumbering, invisible giants amidst the rocky valley before them were true, but Teal Quirt had her own questions.

"And what of this, and I cannot believe you still, Alicorn you are bringing? You realise some of the others really do not like them."

"They will tolerate her, or else I'll have words with them. Besides, what better weapon, aside from lethargy that she shall spread when she and you all are enhanced, is there than cruel irony from? An Alicorn working against them all in Equestria."

"Is she powerful?" Teal asked cautiously. Siral replied cooly, sensing the innate envy Teal held for any magic user more powerful than she could be, as a result of her wounded horn regrown she'd had for 38 years now.

"She has power, but not overt. Subtle, and I'm certain you and some of the others could overpower her if the need did arise. Her lifestyle of self-exile and calm makes her, soft."

"SO why bring her in again before even enhancing her?"

"Some of your brethren could use some 'therapy', to ensure cooperation."

Teal was quiet, as was Siral. Until Teal remarked the obviously inferred remark:

"You want any tensions ironed out, so one of them doesn't try to kill another."

"Perceptive, as usual."

As Siral turned back to walk to the Citadel, Teal turned back too, walking beside her master as she asked: "And what of number 7?"

"Not needed yet. But he will be."

Teal didn't probe any further, as Siral kept quiet about the identity of who 'being' number 7 was going to be. But had something on her mind still.

Coming to walk along the dirt path beside the lake, trees lining both sides, and the Citadel towering ahead amidst the valley lake view, Teal asked:

"If I may, but have you heard any news of that Salamander Starswirl brought back with him so long ago?"

Siral said nothing, as he walked on beside Teal. After a bit of time, the Black Wizard remarked to the Unicorn mare: "I know as much as you do. Despite my saying that the last of Starswirl's exemplary beings has by far failed to live up to destiny, he has proven very elusive."

"Maybe searches for him are not thorough enough."

"Teal, enough of this. Finding that Salamander will accomplish nothing."

"He robbed me of my horn, he must pay." Teal Quirt said fiercely, but not before she settled into meekness with a glare and words from Siral:

"You will, when you are more powerful. What better victory would there be than a decisive one, where like when he struck you down in his reckless escape from a massacre he did, the victim is utterly powerless and caught by surprise."

"I have waited 38 years, and I am still waiting." Teal urged, somewhat complaining.

"The wait shall be worth it; you must trust me on this more than anything else."

Teal said nothing for the rest of the walk back to the Citadel with Siral. As much as she was loyal to Siral, she had a sore spot about Chack slicing her horn off, permanently denting her magic potential, and why she was guaranteed to never reach Alicorn level. Even if her promised enhancements let her exceed that potential lost, the pain Chack caused her remained.

Wherever he was, she wished to find him.

Late Morning

June 1st, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

'Living quarters'

Lady Ave-Dol arrived at the Citadel at week's end, as promised. Siral had ordered the other 5 to meet her, a formal arrangement, with only Teal Quirt knowing her true reason in the long term for joining them.

The pale Blue Alicorn calmly stood her ground as she saw Golmov scowling at her, the large, albeit shrunken 50 foot black and gold striped dragon not at all pleased to see an Alicorn. Odi Viscer however, was quiet, yet not as harsh as Golmov, the grey, furless Earth Pony adolescent keeping his gaze away from her in the meeting chamber.

Satio seemed reasonably open, the portly Minotaur the only one actually smiling slightly, whilst the light green, white maned Pegasus mare, Iena, met Ave-Dol's gaze with indifference.

She knew from the outset that these individuals could use a more sympathetic approach, and she was quick to set to work with them all on a one on one basis.

Recollections of Lady Ave-Dol, concerning Siral's 5 'proteges'.

Mid-Morning

June 2nd, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

Lady Ave-Dol's atrium

"So, you were humiliated, that is your issue plaguing your mind for years now."

"How observant…"

"But it was by one, or two Alicorns. How does that reflect on all of them?"

"They all flaunt their authority, bolstered by power, their claims to territory that belongs to others already, as that accursed royalty did to my crystal mountain horde."

As Golmov finished his curt reply, Lady Ave-Dol gave a small sigh. They'd been going in circles, this dragon was not budging in his greedy tendencies, natural as they may be for him.

"So why help Siral? Aside from the wealth and riches he promises?"

"What else is there to desire?" Golmov honestly answered, to which Lady Ave-Dol replied in her own curt, but still peaceful way:

"Companions, a home, peace, to name a few."

"I'll have that once I acquire my riches and restore my honor."

"Yet you have them already if you choose to befriend the others more. You were not the only one harmed, and companionship can help you all heal."

Golmov rumbled to himself, before he remarked with some skepticism: "Merit might be in your words. I do find similar minds with some of the others."

Lady Ave-Dol probed: "Anypony in particular?"

"Teal Quirt. She was harmed, and she bears a similar feeling of restoring her pride, of sorts, though to whom, she will not say. And Iena was cast out for a so called 'shameful' way of helping her people, despite how greatly it did aide them."

Lady Ave-Dol gave a ghost of a smile, but she picked up on what Golmov said of them. Kindred similarities always helped, but sometimes they could fester if left unchecked and in the presence of others.

Early-Afternoon

June 2nd, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

Lady Ave-Dol's atrium

"So you only hate that one Alicorn?"

Odi-Viscer nodded stiffly, the bald, grey bodied Earth pony adolescent stallion sat on the other side of the table, quiet as usual. And yet, she sensed an innate tension in him. His voice, surprisingly soft, replied with a sense of uncertainty:

"He did it, none of the others. But I do think many Alicorns could be like he was if they go too far with their power."

"Luckily, not many go as far as that one did in cursing you for no reason. And yet, why do you always seem so, tense?"

At Lady Ave-Dol's words, Odi-Viscer shrugged, as he remarked: "I just am. Ever since I was affected, many say I always seem angry, even when I'm not."

"And it doesn't bother you?"

"I miss not being angry, just to be able to fully relax."

Lady Ave-Dol saw already that solving any issues of socialization with the boy would be simply a matter of finding a way to vent his seemingly cursed and endless anger and rage, coupled with his muscular build it seemed. A simple solution with many variations luckily.

"Perhaps a calming hobby, have you tried that? What do you do for fun?"

"I used to beat up animals in the woods, I don't as often anymore because Siral says it is pointless to kill for no good reason."

Now Lady Ave-Dol was slightly aghast, but not surprised. She'd heard Odi-Viscer had been slightly, feral, when Siral picked him up. She still had a few suggestions for him.

"Why not make things, instead of, breaking them."

"With my hooves? I used to make small wood sculptures before I was cursed." Odi-Viscer glanced at his grey forelegs, noting how he'd killed many animals beneath them in the past, and ever relatively recently on a venture into the woods.

Lady Ave-Dol took a small metal strip, and explained as she began to shape it before Odi's eyes to a hoof mounted shape: "Why not take up the hobby again."

Late Afternoon

June 2nd, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

Lady Ave-Dol's atrium

"Ungrateful swines, all of them." Iena muttered under her breath, her forehooves folded across her chest as she sat opposite Lady Ave-Dol.

"And that's why you don't feel up for much for others besides getting what you want?"

A small snort from the pale green Pegasus was all Ame-Dol needed to hear. Leaning forwards slightly, Ave-Dol asked the Pegasus with some honesty this time, exercising her subtle magic as she had for the sessions already to 'soften' her targets.

"So what do you want? Especially if you are here of all places?"

"Somewhere where I won't be judged for my talents, using what I was born with to my advantage. It is what I do best, and I had ways of helping my family that way, persuading others."

"You take pride in your beauty." Ave-Dol noted, to which Iena nodded, remarking bitterly:

"Yeah, too bad anypony never saw beyond that, either for them wanting it, or seeing how I could be useful for it. My talent was my curse."

"Perhaps if you get to know some of the others, you may find somepony who can be a companion for reasons beyond your beauty."

"Like who? Tall, black and ash-breath Golmov? Sickly and short tempered tight lipped Odi-Viscer? Bitter and cold Teal Quirt? No thanks."

"Maybe you should get to know them better. And I noticed you didn't mention Satio?"

"He's alright, barely talks much, seems afraid of me almost."

"Start with him perhaps."

Late Afternoon/Evening

June 2nd, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

Lady Ave-Dol's atrium

"If I might remark, you seem to favor your own hobbies, or snacking alone, over social activity."

"I don't need much to be content. Its why I wasn't very happy when I had my land taken for 'war efforts'. I worked hard, I earned that, and I just want to not bother anybody and enjoy life."

Satio was quiet as he nervously ticked his hooves together, his belly protruding somewhat as he was hunched over before Ave-Dol, nervous. He wanted to eat, he didn't feel comfortable here, even just a little bun or a bean sprout, something.

Ame-Dol had seen this before. Satio ate when he was upset, as he'd come to enjoy simple pleasures in life, and was easily upset and made slightly miserable when robbed of it unfairly.

"You didn't' have many friends?"

"I migrated to Equestria for a better life, in a fertile land. I didn't have friends on my agenda."

"Maybe you could change that. What about some of the others here?"

"…Some of them are, they make me nervous."

"How?"

"Golmov is, a dragon, simple as that. I always feel like Odi-Viscer's holding back a lot of rage, let alone his disturbing looks at times. Teal Quirt keeps to herself very much, and Iena just, she's probably got better beings to interact with then me."

"By what I gather, you are the only one among you all that she has no annoyances with."

"Just how I like it." Satio remarked quietly, as his belly gave a nervous grumble, from hunger or nerves Ame-Dol did not know.

"Maybe you could get to know them, starting with her?"

"Maybe… But how?"

"You have any talents, why not make a peace offering of a meal for her?"

Satio's eyes perked up slightly, the Minotaur knowing he could definitely do that.

Evening

June 2nd, 74 BNM

Equestria, North Midland valley lake

Military Fortress, the Stone Citadel.

Lady Ave-Dol's atrium

"I know you have this sense of vengeance against the one who sliced your horn, but you can't let that get in the way of befriending the others how you can."

"I can't let it go. I could have become an Alicorn at the rate I was going, but I was crippled, my new horn isn't as good as my old. He took what I could have been and cut me from it forever. I can't help it if I feel an injustice is still on me while he is out there."

Lady Ave-Dol feared this. Teal Quirt was the most hard headed, but also the most understandable. She hadn't even done anything wrong all those years ago, and was cut down by a warrior, who or what he was she did not say. And yet, she was also the most focused in her sense of harmful intending goals, more than the others.

Forget about making friends, Ave-Dol thought that if anybody was going to make a rash decision, it would be her.

As long as that warrior was still out there, potentially alive, Teal Quirt would never truly be calm, despite Ave-Dol's best efforts.

Meanwhile

Evening

June 2nd, 74 BNM

Equestria, Nationalist provinces

Las Pegasus lowlands, Forge smiths

Stoking the fires of the metal heating furnace, the young Pegasus stallion felt his boss's amphibious hands grip the stoker suddenly, as a harsh voice rose over the noise of the fires:

"Rainsleet, don't let the mortar pot just sit in the fires, shake it, let it slosh about and absorb heat more readily into the melting metal!"

"Yes sir!"

Chack grumbled under his breath as he walked from the forge ovens, as his other assistants were busy pounding and folding the blade weapons into shape. Steel tempered weapons were always in demand by the Las Pegasus militants, even in peacetime, as their military prestige meant they wished for the best non-magical weapons possible.

And the tempered steel blade forging methods Chack had brought with him from Salaman decades ago, combined with Equestrian magic heated forges, produced fine blades for them to use. And it made Chack's forge business profitable.

He was careful to keep a low profile though, but he had an easier time than expected with that. He was in fact no the only 'foreigner' brought in to help build up military means, be it weapons or training, and not the only Salamander either.

Chack had disguised his Salamander form as more wrinkled, aged, and with a few pale splotches on his moist black skin.

Dunking his head and hands into the blade cooling water troughs, an easy way for an amphibian to hydrate themselves among forges, Chack felt he'd acquired a steady, easy life for himself. Profiting off the situation in Equestria, and also covertly reporting to Starswirl on the Nationalist front.

Life was good for him, but he always trained in secret, as his old master would have wanted.

Author's Notes:

More characterization of the now 6 servants of Siral the Savant, though number 6, Lady Ame-Dol, is also the sort of 'mother hen' role coming into play, at Siral's insistence so not much trouble arises from these 'colourful' personalities in one place.

Meanwhile, he refurbishes his citadel with some secret areas, as seen in the ruins in the Savant mini arc in Volume 3.

As for Lady Ave-Dol herself, I decided to make her character a sort of tribute to the Tolkien character Tom Bombadil, but taking inspiration from the name from his wife, Merry Dol.

All the while though, Siral is playing the great deceiver to even her, an Alicorn. Albeit, she's good intention-ed, not as cunning or perceptive as needed to see how much Siral is hiding.

As for Chack, he's made a decent living for himself as a weaponsmith/metal forge business, such as horseshoes, etc.