Night-Captain Knight found himself in an awkward position. He was locked in a chokehold beneath a brutish earth pony after being beaten by a churlish unicorn likely under the employ of a conspiracy of traitors. Yet the far graver threat was the azure unicorn wielding a cursed blade advancing on them with evil intent in her glowing eyes. She was known to all branches of the guard as Trixie Lulamoon, a stage magician who had earned her place on their collective watchlist after she defeated and exiled future Princess Sparkle and took over the settlement of Ponyville. While this proved to be a brief crisis and the Element of Magic assured the peacekeepers that her defeated rival had turned over a new leaf, it appeared that Lulamoon had fallen back into old habits.

“Block!” Lockpick shouted as the unicorn took a swing at his neck. “Help me!”

“But what about him?” The earth pony looked from his imperiled partner to the glaring thestral.

“He’s not the one with the fuck huge sword!” The unicorn sidestepped a stab. "Shit!"

Block kicked Knight once in the ribs in an attempt to keep him down for a bit and charged Lulamoon. The two collided and plowed through displays before tripping over the still grounded pegasus. As the two grappled on the floor, Lockpick took a moment to catch his breath only to instead catch a hoof to the jaw courtesy of the Night-Captain. The thief responded with a flurry of unfocused bolts. The thestral flapped his leathery wings and let the assault pass beneath him before he dove on the unicorn. Meanwhile, Block had pinned the smaller mare beneath him and knocked the sword out of her magic. He stuck her once, twice across the muzzle but as he pulled back for a third, Lulamoon reached up and got her hooves around the hilt of the blade. Her stab was clumsy and awkward but the potency of the artifact more than made up for it.

“Ack hugule…” Was all the earth pony could gurgle out as he felt the icy grip of death seize his soul. A faint wisp-like light left his body and was absorbed by the Khthonic crystal before the lich yanked the sword out of his neck and let him fall dead to the floor.

"More..." Lulamoon muttered in a voice not entirely her own as she gripped the Kingslayer back in her magic and returned her attention to the struggling thestral and unicorn.

“Give it up!” The bat-pony hissed past bared fangs as he stamped down on the back of Lockpick's head.

“Screw you!” The unicorn took a blind shot at the guard.

Knight did not even both dodging as the underpowered bolt dissipated against his armor and retaliated by stomping a hind hoof into the thief's spine. The stallion screamed in pain and then terror when he noticed Lulamoon approaching with his partner’s blood still dripping from the sinister sword. He tried to scramble out from under the thestral to no avail.

“Move, Knight.” Lulamoon growled.

“Stay back!” The Night-Captain shouted. “He's beaten! Drop the sword and stand down!”

“Don't let her kill me!” The unicorn babbled quickly. “I'll talk! I know everything Blueblood's planning! I'll tell you everything!”

"You heard him, Lulamoon!" Knight loosened his hold as he tried to placate the maddened magician. "We can-!"

Lockpick did not wait to see if the guard could talk her down as he squirmed out from under the thestral and half-stumbled, half-galloped toward the exit. The Archmage stalked after him with purpose, the sword demanding his death which she was all too pleased to provide. The Night-Captain flew after her and made a grab for the blade only to be caught in a claw of negative light. With a small huff of indignation, the azure unicorn tossed him against the far wall hard enough to dent his armor and fill his vision with stars. The thief made the mistake of looking back to see if Knight had been slain and bumped into the hapless pegasus who had just managed to get to all fours.

"Move, damn it!" Lockpick berated the once again floored thug as he shoved past him.

"Boss! Wait for me!" The crippled stallion pleaded as Lulamoon briefly shifted her attention to him. "No! Stop!"

Without breaking her canter, the lich held the blade to the side as she passed. The keen edge slid across his neck with all the effort of a gentle caress; a brief moment of pain followed by a numbing chill. The pegasus brought a hoof to his throat in a futile effort to staunch the sanguine flow before he slumped back against the floor for the final time. A faint wisp escaped his body and joined his partner in crime in the crystalline core.

Come on! Come on!" The panicked thief reached the doors only to forget which way they opened. "Seriously?!"

A push followed by a pull later, Lockpick forced the doors opened and caught a glimpse of the halls beyond before Lulamoon seized his tail in her magic and dragged him back in. The thug twisted onto his back as he struggled against the former magician's hold. The khthonic grip shifted to his barrel and pinned him in place as the lich held the sword high.

“Wait! Please!” The thief pleaded as he crossed his hooves in front of him to protect himself as the blade fell with a deathly thrum.

The unnaturally sharp blade cut clean through his forelimbs like a hot knife through butter. Lockpick did not have time to scream as the sword split his horn down the middle and bit deep into his skull. The Archmage jerked the blade free from the twitching stallion as another wisp wafted from the fresh corpse and into the phylactery component of the reaping longsword.

“Mortal fool." Lulamoon spat as she wiped the blood off the sword with Lockpick's shirt.

The lich inspected the blade and her own reflection before she noticed movement in the mirror-like sheen. Knight froze as the unicorn rounded on him and held the sword just beneath his chin. The thestral grimaced as Lulamoon glared daggers at him but did not move. From what he had seen, the former stage magician was no trained swordsmare; her experience with blades likely limited to the tricks of her trade. He just needed an opening.

"Lulamoon, listen to me." The Night-Captain said carefully. "Put down the sword. It's controlling you."

“How about the Keen and Deadly Trixie puts you down instead?” The azure mare retorted.

The blade twitched in her magical grip but stayed poised at Knight's throat. The azure unicorn trembled as if she was struggling against an unseen foe. The thestral stood primed as the murderous weapon drifted away from his neck and then he lunged forward. He felt his hooves brush against the grip of the blade before his vision was filled with a negative light and a sharp crack deafened him.

"Get back!" Lulamoon shouted as she blasted the Night-Captain in the face, sending both him and the blade flying.

The thestral slid across the floor and came to a stop with a pained groan. The lich rushed toward him, snatching up the sword as she passed. She stood over the unmoving Knight and raised the black blade over her head. Before she could add him to her growing tally, Lulamoon hesitated for a moment and forced the sword into the tiles beside his head.

“Enough!” The Archmage shouted to the ethereal whispers urging her to kill the Night-Captain. “You do not command the Great and Powerful Trixie! Be silent and Trixie will return you to your owner.”

Either the sword heard her or it detected her unique connection with the deathly daemon as the whispers ceased. Back in command of her faculties, Lulamoon sank to her knees as the rush wore off. After a few calming breaths, she checked on the deathly still thestral.

"Knight?" The lich felt a pang of worry before she finally found the bat-pony's heartbeat. "Ah, still alive. You're going to have a nasty headache when you wake up."

In the silence that followed, the Archmage got to work. Tearing lengths of cloth from her own Barathrum-made gown, Lulamoon fashioned a makeshift scabbard and baldric for the Kingslayer and slung it across her back. After some thought, she also procured a few of the smaller trophies she thought would better serve her not the least of which was the horned helm of Dugore.

"If anypony should have this, it's Armor." The azure lich muttered as she secured the helm by her side with a cord. "Alright, if tall, pale and handsome is done playing with the Princess, we should meet in the dungeons."

With loot in tow, Lulamoon quietly left the gallery and snuck into the quiet halls of Canterlot. Far above the now-empty gallery, hanging by a hoof from a chain in the ceiling, the last of Blueblood's goons had seen everything. The earth pony kept his hooves over his mouth and dared not breathe until the hoof steps and the jostling of the corrupted unicorn's prizes had faded. Out in the corridors, the unaware lich kept her steps light as she searched for stairs or signs for direction.

"Not all who wander are lost but Trixie certainly is." The azure unicorn muttered as she cantered down an unfamiliar hall. "If she keeps heading down and avoids-!"

The Khthonic mage rounded a corner and came face to faceplate with a trio of Solarii. She briefly wondered if she could play the part of a lost party guest but between her loot and failed disguise, that appeared unlikely. The elite of the Solar Guard ignited their horns as their leader pointed an accusatory hoof at the lich.

"Interloper! Defiler!" He shouted as Lulamoon dropped a smoke bomb and galloped off in the opposite direction. "Take her! After her!"

---

A gentle waltz filled the air of the Canterlot ballroom to match the now romantic mood of the gala. Couples old and young alike were given the floor as they danced with their partners. The rest took this time to raid what was left of the buffet or head outside to enjoy the fireworks. Among the dancers were Princess Sparkle and Captain Sentry. The other guests had given the pair space in the center of the room as a courtesy to two of the most powerful equines in Equestria. Without the risk of colliding with another, the couple danced freely and gracefully. Or rather, they tried.

“I should have studied the waltz more.” The bookish pony mentally lamented as she did her best not to trip over her own hooves or the hem of her dress. “Stupid tax reports, taking up all my time.”

“Are you alright, Princess Sparkle?” Sentry asked in concern. “I feel like I’m dragging you.”

“I’m fine and please call me Twilight.” Sparkle replied with a sheepish smile. “I’m just letting you take lead as I’ve been told my dancing is, er, undignified.”

The lavender Alicorn did a quick jig to demonstrate that her version of dancing was more in line with hapless flailing. The orange pegasus had to fight the urge to laugh.

“I am nopony to judge.” The Captain said quickly before his dance partner could notice him cracking up. “I’ve just been leading us in circles since we started.”

The scholarly mare looked to see that they were indeed just going in a small circle roughly in time with the music. Their unskilled display had gained the attention of a few of the guests who either offered silent encouragement or snickered like vicious schoolfillies. A mischievous thought told Sparkle to cut loose and show them just how undignified she can get but the feeling passed.

“Ignore them Twilight.” The Alicorn commanded herself. “No need to concern yourself with the opinion of every single noblepony.”

“If only this was ballet.” Sparkle muttered as she repositioned their hooves with her magic. “Let’s just stick to the gentle swaying, Flash.”

“Fine by me, Pri- Twilight.” Sentry said as one of his forehooves wound up just above her wings while the other gently took her free hoof.

As if the conductor of the band was watching what they were doing, the music transition smoothly into a slow piece that encourage more intimate forms of dancing. The two enjoyed the tempo change as they swayed back in forth in each other’s embrace. Sentry mentally debated if he should do something bold but missed his chance when Sparkle leaned in and nuzzled against his neck in a friendly hug.

“This is nice.” The pegasus said softly as his wings twitched approvingly.

“Mmhmm. I’m glad you asked me to dance.” Sparkle whispered back. ”Rarity was right. I needed this."

“It's been a rough few weeks for all of us.” The Captain agreed. "How's the barrier treating you?"

“I have a slight headache but nothing serious.” The lavender Alicorn admitted with a shrug. “It's based on one of Shining's shield spells with a few tweaks. A villain would have an easier time digging through the mountain.”

“If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to put me out of a job.” Sentry chuckled as he moved a hoof through the Alicorn’s mane. “Have either of the other Princesses offered to help?”

"Both have offered to take over should I need a break." Sparkle replied in a low tone. "I might just take them up on that so we can both be 'off duty'."

“Wait, that did not come out right.” The Princess of Magic thought as her brain caught up with her mouth.

“I...uhh...” A blush crept into the pegasus's features as his wings twitched. "I know a good spot to watch the fireworks. You could show me those ballet moves."

"Like this one?" The lavender Alicorn saw a chance to defuse the moment by putting some distance between them and struck a simple croise.

The Princess followed up with a pirouette that flowed into an arabesque. Her form was shaky due to lack of practice and the wrong hoof wear but she earned a few rounds of polite applause nonetheless. The hoof stamps grew into genuine cheers when Sentry slid beneath the dancing mare and lifted her into the air, balancing the now giggling Alicorn on one hoof while he struck the most dramatic pose he could think of.

"Self-taught!" The Captain declared to the onlookers. "Only move I know but it still counts!"

"Yes, very impressive." A not quite critical voice said above the cheering equines. "You may want to put her down. You're giving the Wonderbolts a thrill."

"Boo!" One of said stuntponies jeered as the pegasus set his partner down on her hooves where she composed herself.

"Cadence!" Sparkle said brightly as faced her former foalsitter. "Sunshine, sun- oh!"

As she approached the other Alicorn to initiate their customary greeting, a pair of crystalline guards intercepted her with stamped hooves and hard glares. Sentry felt an instinctive need to come to her aid but the Princess of Love forced them to stand down with an exasperated buffering of her wings.

"For goodness sake, I've known her since she was little!" Cadenza berated. "Just go stand somewhere until I need you."

"You know we can't do that, my lady." One of the guards shook his head as he stood at attention by her side. "Danger can come from anywhere and anyone."

"I know but... ugh!" The pink mare gave up with a groan. "I swear, Twilight, I can't take them anywhere."

"They act like they're in enemy territory." Sparkle thought as the bodyguards continued to shoot her untrusting looks. "I know we're not popular in Neo-Crystal City but..."

"I get it; my guards jump at every shadow too." The Princess of Magic said with a short laugh. "I missed you at the stairway greeting."

"These two recommended we take a side entrance for 'security reasons'." Cadenza explained with a roll of her eyes. "Now, are you going to introduce your dance partner?"

"You remember Flash Sentry." The lavender Alicorn gestured toward the pegasus. "Our new Captain of the Guard?"

"Ah, so it is." The Crystal Regent's eyes lit up in recognition of the name. "Shining mentioned you once or twice but I don't think I've placed your face."

"We actually first met during one of his inspections, Princess Cadenza." The orange stallion said with a polite bow. "He did that bit where he builds up a rant only to say everything's in order."

"Heh. I'm curious as to what he would say if he saw you doing that with his sister." Cadenza gave him a piercing look that was both suggestive and threatening. "Speaking of, may I borrow her? Princess talk."

"Oh, uh, d-don't let me stop you." Sentry stammered as Sparkle trotted up alongside him. "Meet you outside later?"

"Of course." The youngest Alicorn nodded. "I'll find you."

The two shared a long look before the pegasus excused himself and flew over the crowd. The Princess of Love glanced down at her junior Alicorn who seemed lost in thought. She let her fantasies wander for a bit before she nudged her with a wing.

"Was I talking to a future prince, Twilight?" Cadenza teased.

"I don't know." A blushing Sparkle said as she rubbed a foreleg shyly. "He's doing most everything right but..."

"But?" The pink Alicorn needled as they trotted back toward the VIP table. "I know I taught you never to rush into these things but it looks like you've got a winner."

"He's... a bit older than me." The Princess of Magic said lamely. "I mean not by much but-!"

"Twilight, take advantage of that while you can." The Alicorn of Love said sagely. "Before you know it, every suitor will be your junior by decades."

"What does she mean by... oh!" The newest Alicorn thought as she realized another facet of her immortality. "Okay, rapidly closing window and Flash is already standing at it. Noted."

Back at the VIP table, the two remaining occupants watched the pair approach. While Celestia already had a warm smile on her face, Luna had sunk into her seat with an apprehensive frown. Her sister shot her a critical look.

"Luna, if you want the crystal ponies to stop seeing you as a villain you probably shouldn't slouch like one." The Solar Alicorn whispered.

"Right. My bad posture is the reason why they detest me." The Lunar Princess rolled her eyes but sat upright regardless.

"You know what I mean." The alabaster mare shot back before greeting her adoptive niece. "Cadenza! Good to see you again. Did you have to rescue Twilight from a bad date?"

"Oh, hardly." The pink Alicorn smiled as she patted Sparkle's head. "This one can take care of herself."

"I have good teachers." The youngest Princess beamed. "Now you said there is some Princess talk we need to do?"

"There is." Her former foal sitter nodded as a slight blush came into her features. "First some good news."

The three Alicorns gave the crystal regent their attention as she fidgeted nervously. She scanned the table as if looking for a prop to help her but found nothing but empty plates and glasses. As the suspense began to mount, she gave up and focused on Sparkle.

"Twilight..." Cadenza paused to take a breath. "...you are going to be an aunt."

"Oh my gosh!" The aunt-to-be gasped as her eyes shined in excitement. "Cadence, that's great!"

The lavender Princess ignored the expectant mare's guards and embraced her tightly. While Cadenza returned the hug, Sparkle patted her midsection only to find that she was much bigger than expected. The gravid mare detected her surprise and giggled.

"The doctors said that I'm carrying twins." The Alicorn of Love smiled brightly. "A little filly and colt."

"Congratulations, Cadence." A now misty-eyed Celestia clapped her hooves together happily. "I have heard rumors that you were with foal but to finally have them confirmed... I only wish I knew sooner so I could have fitted a foal shower into today's events."

"There will be another time to celebrate this momentous occasion." Luna said with notably less enthusiasm. "Still, I am sure their sire is smiling at you from beyond."

"I'm certain Shining is." Cadenza shot the Lunar Princess a look as her smile faltered for a moment.

"When are you due?" Sparkle asked as she tried to gauge the mother-to-be's progress.

"Around the Winter Solstice but I'm honestly hoping sooner." The pink Alicorn said with a wince. "Which reminds me there is something important I need to discuss with you, Celestia."

"Just me?" The eldest Princess arched a curious eyebrow.

"Involving the old Amore-Equestria treaties and such." The Crystal Regent explained. "Political junk that I should deal with while I'm here; it shouldn't take long."

"Well, no point in leaving it hanging over our heads." Celestia sighed as she stood up from her seat. "I assume we should find a private room?"

"Do let's." Cadenza nodded before she regarded Sparkle. "It was nice to see you again, Twilight. When I get some free time we should catch up away from the public eye."

"I'll try to keep a spot in my schedule open." The studious Alicorn replied as her pink and alabaster counterparts departed with the crystal guards in tow.

Left alone with Luna, the youngest Princess was about to ask what the other two could be discussing but the disinterested look on the navy mare told her not to bother. She stood by the table in awkward silence, her thoughts occasionally turning toward her pegasus dance partner. Finally deciding to return to the good captain, Sparkle was about to ask for the last of the cake when the navy mare pushed it toward her unprompted.

"A treat for your new paramour, yes?" The Lunar Diarch asked knowingly.

"If you don't mind." Sparkle said as she fashioned a goody bag with a few more treats and a hoof towel. "I can stick around if you'd like the company."

"It would be hypocritical of me to deny you the embrace of the sterner sex." Luna dismissed her concern with a wave of her hoof. "Go to him young Sparkle."

With an eager yet respectful nod, the lavender mare gathered up the sweets in her magic and flew off. Now alone at the table, Luna watched as the gala steadily shifted outside. With the plates clean and no pony deigning to seek an audience with her, the Lunar Princess excused herself and headed for the fireworks vista as well. Along the way, she passed the room Cadenza and her sister had disappeared into. While the posted guards shot her hostile looks, the Nocturnal Diarch could just discern the voices behind the doors. They did not sound happy.

---

“One oh four... one oh five...” The Dark Lord mentally counted the cells as he trotted through the dungeons of Canterlot. “Moon really couldn't drop me any closer?... one oh six… and here is one oh-!”

"I'm sure all those muscles are really impressive to your cows!" A harsh voice cut through his thoughts as it echoed about the dingy undercroft. "But you'll never bend these bars no matter how many push-ups you do!"

The pale horse crept closer to see an ill-kept guardsmare berating an unseen prisoner. It did not take long for the lurking theoi to determine this was the guard the sleepy sentry was talking about.

“Figures that this is the cell I’m looking for. Hope this isn't a sign of my luck turning.” He thought as he read the number above the cell. “Let’s get miss happy here out of the way.”

“I bet everything in Knossos has forgotten you exist.” The mare spat at the burly prisoner as she kicked the cell and bounced off. “And for good reason. Why would they waste the effort on some thug like you?”

“Hey! Sunshine?” The Dark Lord did his best impression of the lazy guard as he called out. "You still flirting with the inmates?"

"I told you not to call me that!" The irate guardsmare shouted back.

"Fine, sweet-cheeks." The hidden king smirked as she pantomimed strangling him in rage. "Just thought I'd let you know that our relief showed up. Pack it in so... *yawn*...we can leave."

"About time." The surly warden huffed before she spat into the occupied cell. "Hope you die down here, scum."

With only a grunt from the inmate, the guard briskly trotted away. The pale horse pressed himself against the wall and all but melded into the shadows cast by the flickering torches. The guardsmare passed by none the wiser, muttering a string of obscenities under her breath until she rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.

"Simple enough." The Theoi thought as the sound of hoof steps faded. "Now for the prisoner."

He approached the cell where the inmate had transferred from push-ups to sit-ups. As he could have guessed from the guard, the minotaur was indeed an impressive specimen but that was not what caught his attention. Distinctive scars running diagonally from the hip to the opposite shoulder flashed in and out of view in time with the thug's reps.

“Is that you, Stone Skin?” The Lord of Shades asked.

“If you're here to wave another red cape in front of me, shove it up your ass.” The incarcerated former legion vanguard froze as he eyed the tall stallion. “Wait, I know that voice. Have I tried to rob you before?”

“No, but you tried to ambush me at Broken Horn.” The former Lurker said candidly. “Not the best first impression.”

“Broken Horn...” Stone's eyes widened in recognition as a faint pain manifested across his chest. “By Minos, it's you! The smoke-fiend-necromancer-thing!”

“'Lurker' is the word you're looking for.” The Theoi said plainly as he tested the bars to find them solid. "An aspect that I buried in the Frozen North."

"In time I may do the same with 'Grey'." He mentally mused.

"Meaning you're not going to kill me?" The minotaur asked to which the stygian horse shook his head. "How about busting me out?"

"That I can do." The pallid pony gaged the lock and hinges.

"How? The keys trotted off with that-!" Stone was interrupted by the Theoi placing a hoof against the lock and pressing until it buckled and gave way with a snap of metal. "That works too."

"If anyone asks, you muscled it open yourself." The pale stallion said as he swung the door open.

"Well, I was working on that until you showed up." The earth-tone minotaur did one last sit-up before he jumped to his hooves. "So is it Canterlot's turn to be invaded? It could use a good war to flush out some of the trash."

"Must be related to that 'red cape' comment." The Dark Lord inferred. "A minotaur in a predominantly equine city may be treated as a spectacle."

“I am here of my own accord." The equine explained as he stood aside to let the inmate out. "Just so happens that I need to get into your cell.”

“Hey, I'll take it.” Stone shrugged. “Don't worry; I never saw you.”

The former vanguard took a few steps out into the corridor and was about to make a dash for freedom when he hesitated. Getting out of the dungeons was one thing but there was still the matter of the Canterlot garrison and patrols no doubt covering the mountain. The minotaur turned back to the pale horse with a sheepish smile.

“Uhh, do you mind if I stick with you for a bit?” Stone asked simply. “I didn't plan much between 'get out of cell' and 'head for the border'.”

“He's no Lulamoon but an extra pair of hands could have its uses.” The Dark Lord mused. “Plus I can keep an eye on him.”

“Very well.” The tall stallion nodded as he entered the cell. “Grab a torch and bring it here.”

The minotaur took one of the torches off the wall and held it aloft. With the marginally improved lighting, he could see that some of the bricks of the far wall were discolored as if they had been put in at a different time than the rest. His new partner approached the wall and began tapping it with a hoof.

“Don't tell me there was a secret passage here the whole time." Stone frowned incredulously.

"An escape tunnel in the event someone important needed a discreet, non-magical exit from the city." The Theoi explained as he rapped a brick and was rewarded with a hollow echo. "This cell is supposed to be empty but given the quality of the guards posted here, they either forgot it existed or stopped caring a long time ago."

The pale horse turned around and gave the wall a solid buck. There was a click followed by a low rumble as one of the bricks depressed and ancient mechanisms were sent into motion. A section of the brickwork receded into the wall a bit and then sank into the ground.

"...and there it is." The burly bull snorted as he looked into the revealed tunnel. "After you."

"Last call, Trixie." The Lord of Shades checked for any sign of the Archmage catching up to him but found none. "Guess I have to make do without. Hope she's safe."

The Khthonic Theoi and earth-toned minotaur crossed the threshold into the secret passage. They made it a few steps before some timing mechanism ran its course and the entry resealed itself. With the flickering light of the torch illuminating the only way, the two descended into the depths of the quiet earth. With only the clip-clop of their hooves breaking the silence, Stone decided to take a risk by striking up a conversation.

“So last time I saw you, you were standing out in an ice field while I got Dugore.” The minotaur said as he stooped beneath a sagging support beam. “Didn't think we would meet again, particularly with the Crystal City getting mooned and all.”

“Nor did I yet here we are.” The pallid pony shrugged. “I take it you ran afoul of the Equestrians before said mooning."

“Yeah. Killed Fleabag and locked up Max and I after we skipped town." Stone said bitterly. "Poor bird was extradited to Gryphondom a while ago. Turns out that bounty on her head had been renewed.”

“I am sorry to hear that.” The seasoned stallion gave a sympathetic nod. “You three seemed close."

"Nothing makes friends like 'ah propah scrap' and 'sticking it to those losers.'" The ex-vanguard gave a fair impression of his lost colleagues. "I'm sure the mutt is tearing it up in the afterlife but I can still look into Max. We still have a bet to settle."

"I don't know about 'tearing it up' but Fleabag has served well thus far." The Lord of Shades thought. "I have not heard of the griffoness so she may yet live."

The two continued on until the carved stone gave way to dirt and loose rock. The scarred minotaur held his torch up higher to see that the escape tunnel had opened up to a massive cavern. Towering crystals of a myriad of colors stretched from the floor into the stalactites on the ceiling. Pickaxes, shovels and other disused mining equipment lay scatted across the floor, likely abandoned by the miners once the mine was closed. An old wooden cart sat on a rusty set of rails that lead further down into the depths. Beside the tracks was what appeared to be a field office for the forepony. The pale horse looked around the dusty station on the off chance a map of the mines had been left behind and was pleasantly surprised when he found one.

“Huh, another abandoned crystal mine.” Stone shuffled his hooves in clear unease. “Any ghosts I should be worried about?”

"A fair question." The Dark Lord reached out and felt around for any displaced subjects. "Hmm, it appears Celestia took better care of her laborers than Sombra."

"Not exactly a high bar to clear." The minotaur scoffed. "Freak tried to turn me into a meat pu-!"

"Ah, I spoke too soon." The Theoi interrupted as he noticed the unmistakable presence of lost souls. "There are some down here but... I can sense a few clearly but the rest are... obscured."

"Something tells me that isn't Sunbutt covering up a fatal cave-in." Stone gripped the touch tighter. "It's also telling me that is where we are headed."

"Correct." The pale horse confirmed as he checked the map against his own memory. "I won't blame you if you want to turn back now."

"Is there a way out that isn't the way we came?" The ex-vanguard looked over his companion's shoulder at the map.

"You would have to do some digging as the mundane exits have collapsed or been sealed." The seasoned stallion said as he indicated the points of egress. "Plus ever since the changelings invaded, they probably have guards posted."

"Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with the Gala infiltration." He thought.

"Ugh, those things." Stone balked as he retrieved a pick from the ground and hefted it. "I'm already in for a penny but I'm hanging on to this just in case."

"Smart bull." The pale horse gave him a small smirk. "Onwards then."

The two followed the tracks further into the mines. There was a brief discussion as to the possibility of using one of the carts to expedite their journey that ended when they saw the state of the rails. Beyond the rusted metal and decayed woods, the layout of the tracks was outright baffling to the minotaur.

"Who designed this thing?" The bull asked as they came to a sudden stop that would have pitched them into a pit of jagged crystals.

"I'm sure there was some logic behind this while the mine was operational and intact." His pallid partner said as he directed them down another tunnel. "That or magic."

"Yeah, true." Stone acquiesced. "Speaking of, I'm no mage but I can feel something in the air."

"So do I." The Theoi agreed. "Old magic mixed with something even older."

"I bring it up because I felt the same thing just before your spooks stomped us at Broken Horn." The bull continued. "So you'll understand if I ask what exactly are we doing down here?"

"Going to see an old friend of mine." The pale horse answered simply. "Similar in nature to me which may explain that feeling."

"A 'friend', eh?" The ex-vanguard arched an eyebrow. "Is it another Lurker or more like the vampire thing you got going on now?"

"I... cannot say for certain." The Dark Lord slowed his step as he thought it over. "It has been a long time."

"Great, great." Stone snorted. "Just give me a warning if it looks hungry."

"You have my word." The stygian stallion assured him.

His nerves eased somewhat by the oath-bound horse, the minotaur nevertheless stuck close by as they delved ever deeper. After traveling in silence for some time, they came to a section where the miners had widened the tunnel to act as a storage area. Just beyond was a dead-end where the passage had been boarded up and warnings plastered over the timbers.

"Think they were worried about digging too deep?" The earth-tone bull asked as he scanned over the abandoned supplies.

"Exactly." The pale horse nodded as he rolled up the map and set it aside. "This is the point where the gems weren't worth dealing with the 'bad air'."

"Well, we're a bit harder than some poncy ponies." Stone said more to himself as he passed the torch and pick to his partner. "I got this."

"Harder? Perhaps." The Lord of Shades thought as the burly thug pawed the ground and charged the blockade. "Smarter? Debatable."

Half expecting the bull to splat against the barrier as he had done in the Void, the ex-Lurker watched as the minotaur dropped and shoulder and smashed through the aged wood. The former legionnaire let out a whoop of triumph that morphed into a scream of terror as he vanished into the darkness beyond. The pale horse rushed to the opening to see the ground drop away suddenly into a yawning chasm.

"Stone?" He called out into the gloomy abyss.

"That first step is a doozy." The bull groaned from somewhere below. "Find a rope or something before you come down."

"Fall must not be that bad." The pallid pony thought as he trotted back into the supply depo and found a length of rope that was in passable condition along with a few spare torches.

After tying off one end to a stalagmite, he returned to the drop and sent the torches down first with a 'heads up'. They fell for a moment before Stone caught the lit one, revealing a decent but ultimately manageable cliff. The pallid stallion then lept off the ledge with the rope trailing behind him and landed with a grunt and a thud.

"In hindsight, I probably could have just beat it down." Stone admitted as he lit the extra torches and stacked them around their landing zone. "So where are we now?"

“The very base of Mount Canterhorn.” The Theoi replied. “Look here.”

The minotaur followed his hoof to see that there was a seam where the solid rock of the mountain met the loose dirt of the earth. The bull did not know much about geology but he knew enough that such an occurrence was not normal. It was as if something had dropped the mountain in the middle of a field rather than it rising out of the ground naturally.

“How the hell did that happen?” The ex-vanguard wondered aloud.

“Discord.” The Dark Lord answered simply. “Need I say more?”

“Nope.” Stone shook his head. "If it doesn't make sense, he did it."

"Generally." The pale horse shrugged in partial agreement. "You alright to continue?"

"Yeah, I've been through worse." The scarred minotaur grunted as he rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. "But you already knew that. Let's go."

After ensuring their only way back to the mines was secure, the two ventured into the cavern. They did not go far before dusty ground gave way to the broken stones of a pathway leading through a marble archway. Beyond was a collection of ruined buildings, some little more than piles of rubble. Stone slowed his pace as he took in the sight of the lost city.

"This almost looks like a pegasus polis." The minotaur mused aloud. "Or they liked columns as much as the flying horses do."

"You're close. This was before the equines broke apart into tribes again." The ancient Theoi said knowingly as he inspected a broken stone signpost. "The temple district of a city if I'm reading this right."

"Not enough to tell which one." He mused. "The Lord of the Sun's wound up in the North, Light and mine's in the Everfree so this one could-!"

The ancient king was broken out of his thoughts by a strange gust of wind. Carried on the gale was an ethereal charge that danced and jumped across the fallen masonry like miniature lightning bolts. The two spelunkers' recoiled as they were buffeted by the unnatural air, raw magic arching between horns and burning against Khthonic flesh.

"Nine Hells, where is this coming from?" The Dread Lord thought as he was forced to shut his eyes.

A moment later and the air was still again but the city was transformed. Flickering like a fading memory was a scene reminiscent of the closing hours of the siege of the Crystal Empire. What was rubble was now standing but scarred by battle. Echoes of warfare raged in the distance as the smell of ash and fire filled the air. The minotaur and Theoi could only gape at their new surroundings.

"Did- Fuck me! -Did we just time travel?" The bull found his tongue as he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

"I... I don't know." The normally erudite stallion struggled for an explanation.

The sound of hooves on stone reached their ears. Both turned to see a unicorn, barely out of colthood, galloping up the street toward them. He wore the robes of a mage with saddlebags stuffed with scrolls and tomes. The young stallion seemed to not notice the bull and Theoi as he constantly checked the alleys and skies as if he was being pursued.

"You there!" The Dark Lord reached out to the mage only for his hoof to pass through as if he was made of thin air.

The unicorn phased through the tall stallion and carried on down the street. He made it a fair distance before the unmistakable roar of a dragon cut through the din of war. The mage scrambled like a roach caught under a spotlight and dove into a blown-out shop as a winged shadow swooped overhead. The scene then began to flicker and lose focus before melting away like smoke in the wind as the minotaur and Theoi were left standing amongst the ruins once again.

"Okay, I get ghost ponies." Stone broke the stunned silence. "But ghost buildings?"

"That was not a ghost." The pale horse said thoughtfully. "Of that, I am sure."

"So what then?" The bull asked as he slapped a wall to make sure it was real. "Temporary safe time travel?"

"I would not rule that out." The Dark Lord tapped a hoof to his chin as the gears in his head turned. "Let's hold here and see if it happens again."

"I don't like this, Lurker." The ex-vanguard grumbled. "Red flags going up like crazy."

The two braced for the anticipated gust of weird magic. They did not have to wait too long before another gale wafted over them along with the ethereal charge. This time, they managed to keep their eyes open and see the city reform itself in a murky haze. Again, the city was under attack and again the young unicorn galloped past them only to dive for cover when a dragon flew over. The vista melted away not long after and all was still.

"Not so bad the second time." Stone let out a breath he was holding. "Did you get anything from that?"

"This is beyond my expertise but if I had to guess, I'd say this is a magical anomaly." The Dark Lord said plainly. "There is magic here of such magnitude that it's turning the laws of reality into suggestions."

"Like Discord again?" The minotaur asked as he tried to comprehend the phenomena. "Or whatever is making the ruins of the Crystal City float?"

"Or a spell powerful enough to seal away a Primordial." The stygian stallion mentally added.

"Fair comparisons, yes." The pallid pony nodded. "What we are seeing are the sights and sounds of events leading up to it; afterimages and echoes of the past."

"So we are time traveling, kind of." Stone surmised. "We can look but not touch."

"As far as I can tell." His partner said as he started trotting again. "Again, not well versed in this type of magic."

The pair pressed on, wary of any oncoming flashbacks or other magical shenanigans. They reached a small plaza where they found the crumbling bones of what they presumed to be the dragon that harried the mage. Their theory was confirmed a moment later when a timely gust revealed the beast dropping from the sky, its body stricken by a blast of magic. The slayer, another unicorn albeit far older compared to the first and wearing armor, finished off the drake with another blast to its face. As the corpse burned, he turned toward a stack of crates where the junior mage peeked out.

"Thine stalker is vanquished, Starswirl." The veteran warrior said roughly. "Art thou hurt?"

"Only mine pride." The young unicorn shook his head. "Gratitude, spellblade."

"Was thine mission to the Bibliotheca successful?" The older unicorn did not wait for an answer as he looked through Starswirl's saddlebags. "Ah, good."

"I can only hope these will be enough." The mage said hurriedly as the sounds of battle seemed to grow louder. "Let us not tarry any longer."

Stone and the Theoi watched as the two unicorns galloped away, the scene dissolving not long after. They took a moment to regain their bearings before following the same path as the ancient mages. The Dread King checked to see if the dead dragon's soul was still lingering but found no trace.

"Starswirl?" The bull asked. "As in 'the Bearded'?"

"I know of no others." The Theoi replied. "He was an accomplished wizard even in his clean-shaven days..."

"So if anyone is to blame for this flashback fuckery, it'd be him." Stone finished smartly. "By my horns, if he is that young then we must be going back to before the Alicorn's showed up."

"Very astute of you." The ex-Lurker complemented genuinely. "The Late Dark Ages before the Age of Discord to be more precise."

"I have my moments." The former vanguard brushed some dust off his shoulder. "Just don't quiz me after this."

After another flashback that only showed Starswirl and the spellblade galloping down the thoroughfare, the present-day travelers came to the temple itself. The once hallowed house of the ancient Theoi was in better condition than the surrounding ruins but only just. The main structure still stood while most of the marble columns of the colonnade laid around the perimeter. It was clear that more than the weight of ages and the mountain lead to the decay of the temple as evident by the scorch marks and half-melted masonry.

"Don't need magic to tell a dragon tore through here." Stone said with a grimace as he noticed claw marks in the stairs leading up to the temple proper. "Dugore would do much the same whenever he decided to get stuck in."

"A big one at that." The pale horse added. "Perhaps we'll catch a glimpse with the next flashback."

As if on cue, another gale blew past the pair. Unlike the others, however, this one was preceded by a hollow boom that rumbled beneath their hooves. They did not have time to comment on this new development as they were shifted back to the Dark Ages. Starswirl and his companion were joined by other mages and warriors at the base of the stairs, most of which appeared to be tired, terrified or both. Apart from the main group, the future wizard was speaking with an elegant and fair unicorn mare whose eyes glowed with power.

"I had thought this lore was lost to the flames." The clearly senior mage praised. "Starswirl, thou hath performed admirably."

"Thou honor me, Mistress Arcana." Starswirl bowed his head. "May these hurry the defeat of the villain."

"I sense thou hath more to say..." Arcana whispered coyly. "Feel free."

"Mistress, I uncovered other secrets beyond those." The younger mage glanced at a few scrolls still in his saddlebags. "Verily, I hath complete faith in thine plan but... if Suneater truly cannot be slain..."

"Banish such thoughts!" The battlemage said sternly. "Lest the sacrifices of thine fellows be for naught."

"Mistress!" Another mage shouted as he galloped up. "Urgent news: enemy reinforcements art approaching from the north and west. It will be all our allies can do to delay them."

"Then there is no time to be lost!" Arcana raised her voice to address the assembled equines. "Mine friends, the hour is nigh! We make our stand here in the house of the Sky King!"

"May he shelter us from the coming storm." Starswirl muttered as he and his fellows rushed into the temple. "If he has not already abandoned this world."

"Never heard of Arcana." Stone said as the vision melted away. "I take it she didn't trot away from this."

"No." The Dark Lord shook his head. "Starswirl was the only survivor."

"And this 'Suneater' they were fighting?" The bull left the question hanging as he had already guess the answer.

"Indeed." The Theoi nodded as he trotted up the stairs. "Sealed away here by Starswirl after Arcana wounded him."

"All in the temple of my youngest brother." The ancient Lord thought. "Were he still around to witness this."

"Hey, remember when Stone Skin helped a shadow fiend wake up his demon-dragon friend and they torched the world?" The ex-vanguard grumbled to himself as he followed after the pale horse. "What a tool."

A short climb up the stairs later and the pair stood before the entryway of the temple. They were greeted by a quartet of various armored dragons hovering about the blasted entrance. Unlike the temporal ghosts the bull and Theoi had encountered, these were of the more traditional ilk. Before the Lord of Shades could speak to his displaced subjects, another boom shook the structure followed by a flood of temporal magic. The flashback of Starswirl galloped out of the temple, his robes now scorched and torn. The dragons ignored him save for a coiled serpent who fixed the mage with a fanged sneer as he fell to his knees.

"I had no choice! This was our last chance!" The young unicorn pleaded to unseen accusers, his voice choked with ash and barely contained sobs. "Nothing else could bind that monstrosity! I had no choice!"

"You could have died with them." The dragon spat at the trembling specter. "At least we wouldn't have to listen to your infernal blubbering."

"And we wouldn't have to hear you say that for the umpteenth time!" A looming dragoness snapped in ill-temper. "Leave it be, Skoth."

"I swear to thee, this evil will never darken the heavens again!" Starswirl proclaimed as his anguish gave way to conviction. "I will seal away this accursed city! Let it be lost and forgotten!"

"Hmm, you think he goaded the draconequus into dropping a mountain on this place?" A bat-winged wyvern pondered aloud. "It'd save him the trouble of maintaining a sealing spell."

The lone wizard got to his hooves, his face grim and resolve steeled. He looked one last time at the temple before he descended the steps and the flashback faded. As the ruins returned, the flickering torchlight caught the attention of Skoth who stared at the interlopers in confusion.

"My kin?" The serpent asked hesitantly. "Have that minotaur and equine always been there?"

Three more pairs of ghostly eyes turned to look at the out-of-place bull and Theoi. One dragon drifted forward, the same type as his female counterpart but younger and thus relatively smaller. While he had regained his wings and his armor was no longer melted in death, there was no mistaking the horned helm of the warlord of the Marked Legions.

"I know you." Dugore the Marked rumbled as he pointed to Stone.

"Sir?" The ex-vanguard rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "By the labyrinth!"

"Minions of yours, Dugore?" The dragoness asked as she cocked her crested head to the side quizzically.

"The minotaur was a scout." The spectral warlord recalled. "I do not recognize the stallion."

"Well, I was a mare when we last spoke." The ex-lurker said plainly, earning an odd look from Stone. "You tasked me with undermining the Crystal Heart."

"Ah, the shadow fiend." Dugore nodded after some thought. "Have you found employ with one of Canterlot's enemies?"

"I already asked him that." The bull spoke up. "He's here to bust out- what was it called -Suneater."

"You mean to free the great one?" Skoth leered skeptically. "Why? He never courted allies among demons."

"Ironic considering who his kin is." The Dark Lord thought.

"A wise policy." He said neutrally.

"Skoth, we have been haunting this ruin for centuries." The wyvern interjected. "Demon or not, can we turn away a chance to free the Black Dragon as well as ourselves?"

"Flak speaks wisdom." Dugore rumbled. "I will admit, despite my trepidations, the fiend did serve me faithfully albeit briefly."

"I agree even if only to avoid having to listen to the wizard wallow in despair again." The dragoness said as another flashback of Starswirld started up. "Quell your flame, Skoth."

"Sssah, fine." The serpent hissed. "But if it enslaves us, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so', Zathra."

"I didn't really need their permission but it would be easier with their cooperation." The Lord of Shades suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.

Ignoring the phantom of the ancient mage, the group entered the dilapidated temple. The once opulent interior was littered with rubble and the scars of battle. The floor and walls were scorched and pitted by both dragon and magical fire, benches had been smashed to splinters and the great statue of the ancient Lord of the Skies had been toppled. In the center of the once sacred house were four more shades, each a unicorn kneeling over their earthly remains, arranged at the cardinal points around the sacrificial pit. The shallow depression was now a yawning abyss in which tenebrous smoke wafted up from the depths and brushed against a shimmering dome of magic.

"Behold the prison of the Lord of All Dragons." Zathra announced as she spread her arms wide. "And it's wardens."

"Luna told me banishment magic requires maintenance." The Theoi thought as he looked to the equine shades and the streams of magic running from them to the dome. "Looks like Starswirl consigned his peers to that task, body and soul."

"We tried driving the ghosts off but..." Flak kicked a rock at one of the mage's which bounced off a barrier. "They're shielded as well."

"So do you two have any Knossian rites or infernal devilry to undo this?" Skoth asked testily.

"I'm honestly more of a spectator at this point." Stone admitted as he took a seat on the head of the statue. "This is your show, Lurker."

"First, don't sit on that." The pallid pony chastised to which the bull immediately complied. "Second, I will need time to study this."

"Take your time, pale one." Zathra said as she settled atop the plinth the statue once stood. "I sense a delicate touch may be required."

Dugore, Skoth and Flak joined the dragoness and watched the Theoi go to work. Stone occupied himself by wandering about the temple, lighting any intact braziers he found and picking through rubble for anything valuable. His search produced a little more than a few coins that he nevertheless pocketed when he was sure he was not being watched. With little better to do, the bull found a spot near the dragons and sat down with a sigh.

"So, uh..." The ex-vanguard drummed his fingers awkwardly. "You four tried to take over the world?"

"I prefer to think we were establishing order and stability in a world teetering on the brink of chaos." The regal dragoness said imperiously. "To say 'take over' implies we were mere usurpers of proper civilizations, of which there were none."

"To be fair, there were imperial remnants, a few squabbling kingdoms and tribes cropping up like weeds." Flak countered half-heartedly. "But they were on their way to ruin long before we started torching them so they don't count."

"And didn't they just love to prattle on about how their nations will endure the storm or how they will always stand against 'tyranny'." Skoth scoffed. "As if unity under a wise, powerful and immortal race was just impossible to accept."

"I know he was aiming that at the Alicorns but..." The ancient Theoi bit his tongue and focused.

"So was that Suneater's goal or just an excuse to raid and pillage?" Stone asked casually, earning glares from two of the dragons. "I mean, I never heard Dugore here promising peace in our time. Just loot and glory."

"We all had different means and motivations, vanguard." Dugore rumbled wistfully. "When the Black Dragon came to my miserable flight, I saw the way to elevate us to greatness. A world under draconic rule was just a bonus."

"A pity your elder did not share your mercenary attitude." Flak commented dryly. "I believe he was the first to label the great one a liar and a monster."

"Perhaps but he was still our only salvation from destruction." The young dragon said firmly. "I could not stand by and let it slip away."

"You fought the elder." Stone inferred. "You beat him, rather."

"Slew him in ritual combat." Dugore said with no small amount of pride. "Thus my flight earned its place under the shadow of Suneater even if it did cost me my wings."

"It made you an excellent ground commander." Zathra said with a wave. "We already had Flak for air superiority."

"You're just saying that because you were glad to not have to share power with another full-blooded dragon, Lady Zathra." The wyvern needled playfully. "Tiamat knows you butted heads with our resident wizard enough already."

"Sorcerer! I was hatched with this power, you know that." Skoth corrected sharply. "And don't say 'what about Suneater's gifts', those just added on to what was already there."

"Sorcerers are born, wizards are made, warlocks made deals, mages... wait a moment." The Dark Lord mentally recited an old mantra to differentiate between the many classes of magic users before something caught his attention.

"What about Suneater's gifts?" He called out.

"We all received them, pallid pony." Zathra answered before Skoth could open his maw. "Tokens of favor that marked us for greatness and multiplied our already unassailable might."

"We were harder, better, faster and stronger than any of our peers." Flak reiterated. "They, however, did not make us invincible as I discovered when I tried to face a griffon war armada with just a clawful of greenhorns. Flak by name, flak by demise."

"Do you still have them?" The greyscale equine asked as the gears in his head turned.

In response, the quartet of dragons fell silent as they concentrated. Their spectral beings shimmered as an aura of negative light began to emanate from them. Stone, wary of any form of dark energies, scrambled from his seat as a faint yet tenebrous flame flickered over their ghostly forms.

"Lurker, that almost looks like-" The bull whispered in clear unease.

"I know." The voidian escapee said as he witnessed a glimmer of primordial power.

"In my lifetimes of battle and the fog of ages, my gifts had grown quiet." Dugore said as he quelled the eldritch flames. "It was only after that Captain dealt the fatal blow that they burned anew, guiding my spirit across the winds to my new haunt."

"A fate we all shared, if not quite so poetically." Skoth rolled his eyes. "Why the great one's call could only be answered by the dead, I can only theorize."

"It is your last rite; your unfinished business keeping you from entering my domain." The Lord of Shades mused as he noted the similarities between the dragons and the burdened ghosts of Sombra's miners. "Way to exploit the rules, Shifting Darkness."

"He was likely calling for aid the moment he was stuffed down that pit." The pale horse explained. "In life, it was muted by this dome and later by the mountain and the 'fog of ages'. In death, the call became more like a leash."

"A fascinating theory, to be sure." Zathra rumbled in flagging interest. "Is this just idle speculation or have you concocted a plan?"

"I believe I have." The stygian stallion rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Whether it's a good one or not is debatable."

"No games, fiend." Dugore stomped forward intently. "Speak."

"Simply put, I am going to send these unicorns on their way." The pallid pony explained. "Without them feeding magic into the seal, it should fail and you four will be able to return your gifts."

"I would remind you, fiend, that the mages are shielded as well." Skoth said testily. "What, are you just going to tell them to abandon their posts?"

"Yes." The necromantic Theoi answered simply.

"He can actually do that." Stone chimed in. "I've seen it with my own eyes."

"Good enough for me." Flak stalked over with a smile. "I was sick of these trips down memory lane anyway. What needs to be done?"

"You four take up positions at the ordinal points and wait." The pale horse instructed. "Stone, etch these symbols around them exactly as I've done here."

"Circle, squiggle, weird M..." The bull took a moment to study the runes. "Got it."

For the next few moments, the minotaur and Theoi prepared the site for their own ritual. The ancient king went to each enthralled unicorn and etched Khthonic runes around them, muttering mantra's as he went. The shield around them would flicker and the ghost within would regard him for a fleeting moment before refocusing on their imposed duty.

"It's magical works like this why I brought Lulamoon with me." The Dark Lord thought as he watched Stone double-check the sample glyph and run back to correct a mistake around Skoth. "She could probably undo this spell delicately while I'm about to tear out its heart; same result but who knows what mess it could make."

"Done!" The bull signaled. "Now what?"

"You stand back." The greyscale stallion advised. "I got it from here."

"I recognize both runes of anti-magic and channeling." Skoth observed. "What are you doing precisely?"

"Making all our tasks easier." The Dark Lord answered simply as he climbed atop the vacant plinth and took a deep breath. "Now let us begin..."

The Theoi began a lengthy incantation, his voice reverberating throughout the temple yet never wavering from a neutral tone. Stone winced as the scars across his chest sents spikes of cold pain through his core while the dragons suddenly snapped to attention as their imparted gifts manifested yet again. The runes around the unicorns began to glow an ethereal emerald that pulsed in time with their creator's chants. Magical channels appeared, running from the dragons to a point just above the seal. The primordial fire began to flow from them to the center, collecting into a sphere of black fire.

"So far, so good." The ritual master thought as he transferred smoothly into the next stanza.

As he continued, the spectral unicorn began stirring behind their cells as independent thought returned to them in part. Their draconic counterparts remained stock still as the last of their borrowed power as well as their secular burden fell away from them. Unarmored and unencumbered, they dropped to their knees or the rough equivalent before the miniature negative sun floating before them. By then, the wardens were becoming aware of their surroundings but did not fully grasp what had or was happening.

"Be at peace, my subjects." The Theoi passed a benediction over them all in Khthonic. "Your troubles are over."

With a flash, both the spectral equines and dragons vanished from sight with an otherwordly 'thank you' lingering in the air. The Dark Lord completed the ritual with a solid stamp of his hooves that echoed like the toll of a bell. Stone could only gape at the spectacle as he wiped cold sweat away from his brow.

"I swear I'm going to visit a monastery after this is over." The minotaur muttered. "So all hail Suneater or what?"

"Wait for it." The pale horse advised from his perch. "There is still some-!"

Far beneath their hooves, a mighty boom shook the temple and cause the braziers to wink out save for the bull's torch. Like smoke from a chimney, tenebrous tendrils began to seep out of the pit and press against the dome as if testing it. A second shock sent bits of the roof crashing down to the floor as fissures spread out from the abyss like spindly fingers. Both Stone and his partner nearly doubled over as an ancient presence made itself felt in the cavernous room.

"At... last..." A voice that could only issue from the depths of time filled the temple.

An invisible claw seized the sphere of power and dragged it into the depths, smashing through Starswirl's desperate seal as if it were plain glass. The very shadows cast by the flickering torch seemed to be drawn in after it, flowing like water down a drain. A third blow caused the floor to bulge dramatically followed by chunks of the floor falling away into a churning void.

"Oh, that's not good." The Theoi felt a sense of creeping dread as he realized his old friend was about to make a rather dynamic entry.

"Stone?" He called out to the near panicking minotaur with a grimace. "Start running."

The bull promptly about-faced and sprinted out of the crumbling temple as fast as his legs could carry him. No sooner had he cleared the ruins that the abyss erupted in a geyser of roiling shadows and eldritch flame. The pale horse nearly lost his balance as the conflagration blasted through what was left of the temple's roof and slammed into the cavern ceiling, sending semi-molten rock and Khthonic cursed debris crashing down on the ruins below. With the cavern collapsing around him, the Dread Lord saw only one option available to him as Suneater blazed a trail to the surface.

"So much for sneaking out." He thoughts as he took a few steps back before taking a galloping leap onto the emergent Primordial's back. "Fates willing, the gala is over by now."

Next Chapter: Coming Storm Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 11 Minutes