Here it is guys another down. I know some of you were a little disappointed with the city's assault chapter and I felt I need to put more gore into this story. Just so you know though the gang is going to undergo a little time skip after this chapter so be prepared for it. Another thing I forgot to put in the last Chapter is that Princess Amore, the former Crystal Empress, will be joining the Black Bulls Squad. Enjoy the chapter and leave comments and idea's who would you like to see in the story, who would you like Asta to fight or crossover with, let me know.

The princess looked over with Caribou’s city once stood. Since the assault had taken place on the Caribou’s Capital city and there was nothing left of the once appalling capital that so many had been proud to call their home. No, now there was only the massive smoldering blackened charred field where it had been.

“This worries me deeply sister,” Celestia said with a quiver in her voice. “To think Asta could so easily take lives and order to do so without hesitation. He’s always said he wanted to live a quiet life then he changes slightly after the Crystal Empire, says he wants to help ponies.”

“I don’t think this was a subtle change Tia,” Luna looked out to the scorched plains. “Asta has always done the right thing with the best of intuitions behind them. I know he planned this in advance but had not intended for it to go this way but had a plan set up in case things fill through.”

“But not this,” Celestia turned her head to look at her sister. “He was powerful before and I’m sure that he couldn’t do this before he left.”

“Yes, he’s gained a new ability from this other world but you must remember this is the nature of the Displaced, he told himself,” Luna placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder before turning his gaze to the scorched fields. “Though his mindset is troubling. To be able to so easily give orders and take charge. It is the mark of one who commands respect, but Asta has always been playful. I can tell once he’s decided on something there is one who could change his mind.”

“I can too, but-” Celestia looked at the mage in question.

“But the mental shift is still concerning.” Luna’s gaze shifted as well. “He is a good person and the fact that his goal in this was to get the Element Bearers back proves this. Though, the fact that the sit fire to the entire city without remorse-”

“It deeply troubles me as well,” Celestia added as the sisters’ heads shifted to the opposite direction to see Free Fall and Haze approaching them. The Shadowbolts stopped and kneeled to their mistress. “Rise you two and speak,” Luna commanded.

“The refugees wish to have a council,” Free Fall said, raising his head.

“I thought it would take them longer than a night to become organized,” Luna said in shock.

“There was a hierarchy already in place amongst the slaves as most would meet in secret, or so they thought,” Haze said, raising his head. “From what I’ve managed to glean from a majority of the prisoners, the soldiers, and nobles, they were very much aware of the slaves’ organization and the later just cared not for it and never saw it as a real threat.”

“Yes, most of the traders were actually the ones helping the slaves,” Free Fall added. “Many of them are either of a majority of pony descent or have families with them.”

“I see, please inform them that we’d be more than willing to meet with them,” Celestia softly smiled.

“I’m sorry princess, but the wish to not only meet with you but the leader of the one whose lead the charge,” Haze interjected.

The two princesses looked at each other and then they anxiously looked to Asta in the distance who was sitting with his friends before returning to the Captain and Vice-Captain.

“Very well, tell them that we shall meet them in our tent and that the Leaders of the operation will be attending, most likely,” Luna orders her soldiers who saluted and then swiftly turned and left.

“You think he’ll consent to it,” Celestia whispered to her sister with concern.

“I think he will if I ask him,” Luna murmured. “He’ll at least listen to me Tia. I can tell he's not as angry with you anymore but he still doesn’t care to listen to you.”

“As you say Lulu,” Celestia sighed.

Asta had requested that the princesses bring Ymir and Nero to the main camp as to not leave the tangent of the Shadowbolts that he and Spike had left behind to watch over them. The Shadowbolts were more than happy to oblige with the request as they had been itching to take a crack at the battlefield only to be met with much disappointment upon their arrival. Ymir tackled her partner and began to pin him to the ground then heavily nuzzle him. She was even happier to see the girls, especially Fluttershy, with Spike at their side.

Fluttershy was doing her best to get by but she’d rarely leave her tent without Asta or one of her friends to escort her to wherever she’d needed to go. It was clear that even though there had been no physical rape the now deceased prince had left his mark and mentally raped her.

The group was currently eating breakfast together and simply enjoying being with one another for the time being. They had a plan of sorts in the making, they planned on helping around the camp while they were there then heading back to Equestria within the next few days.

“So what’s the plan?” Spike asked as he finished his breakfast.

“The plan is to help these people while we’re here,” Asta explained as he set his dishes down. “I don’t think anyone here is in the right shape to travel any further than a few miles away right now. I can heal people with my ancient magic and by manipulating their ki but there are still a lot of limits on what I can actually do with it.” Asta placed his hands together in front of his face as he closed his eyes. “Magic puts a strain on me mentally and physically and ki is limited to the individual’s bodies.”

“So you're doing it for training,” Twilight looked at the mage. “Oh, our grimoires I hope the Caribou didn’t sell them.” She said in a panic.

“Relax Twilight,” Asta smirked as his Grimoire floated up next to him and opened up. Asta reached in and pulled out Applejack and Twilight’s Grimoires. “Sorry, I forgot I stashed them in mine last night.”

“Thanks, Asta.” They said in unison.

“No problem girls and guess what you get to do with them,” Asta said with a smirk. “Your job is to help the refugees with housing. I want you to try and focus on using smaller spells with as little mana as possible. Don’t make houses just try and help in the construction. Spike,” he turned to the young drake. “Your job is to meditate and concentrate on opponents that make you angry and use Image Training to fight with them while simultaneously invoking your magic.”

“What are you going to do?” Applejack asked.

“See what the Princesses want then help with the construction and stay with Shy,” Asta’s gaze shifted slightly to see the two Princesses coming to join them.

“Good morning,” Luna and Celestia said in unison.

“I hope the day finds you all in better spirits than yesterday,” Luna said with a soft smile.

“Asta, the council of the refugees wishes to speak with the one who heralded their freedom,” Celestia explained. “Will you please come along so you may hear what they have to say?”

“Hmm…” Asta looked at the princesses. “Let me get Shy and I’ll meet with them,” He got to his feet. “I’ll meet you both at your tent. Tour three,” he looked at Applejack, Spike, and Twilight. “You know your parts to so I’ll leave you to it.”

“You got it,” they all said as they stood up and then all walked away.

“That was, different,” Celestia said in shock.

“I’ll meet you two at your tent,” Asta said as he walked away.

Asta and Fluttershy met up with the Princesses outside their tent and also met with Nightingale, Free Fall, and Haze along the way. The Princesses walked in first and then the Shadowbolts top trio walked in after them. After the Princesses had taken the places Free Fall announced Asta and Fluttershy who proceeded to enter. Asta took a spot in the middle of the room while Fluttershy was escorted by Haze to stand next to the Princesses.

“Council members,” Celestia announced as she motioned to Asta. “This is the man who was head of the original operation to help your people.”

“It is nice to meet all of you,” Asta gave a slight bow. “My name is Asta Ferris, Captian of the Black Bulls Magic Knight squad.”

“So that explains why we were saved by the princesses forces, a knight,” An elderly pink-haired Caribou male with a pink beard, blue eyes, and ragged clothes stood in front of a small group of Caribou and Ponies remarked. “My name is Tinder Roots. I must thank you and your princess on behalf of the others in our community.”

Asta stood back up, “I ‘m sorry to interrupt you, elder, but I must correct you. I’m no Knight under either of the Princesses. I’m not even related to Equestrian origins at all. I operate outside their jurisdictions.”

“Then why help use and why are the Shadowblots who only answer to Princess Luna with you?” Tinder asked in confusion.

“Because of her,” Asta motioned to Fluttershy who shrank behind Celestia. “She is the reason I wanted to help in the first place. Her name is Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness, and the woman I love with all my heart. I used the Shadowbolts because I have a better relationship with Princess Luna than I do with Princess Celestia and this was a black ops mission, off the books.”

“Ah, she is part Caribou,” Tinder stroked his bearded chin. “Her scent reminds me of a mare that was with an Elder of our organization about two decades ago. If not for him we’d never have become organized as well as we are now. He was the only noble to ever help outside his son.”

“You… knew my grandfather?” Fluttershy squeaked out.

“Mmm…” Tinder looked at Fluttershy more closely. “Yes, there is no mistaking it. You are Craven’s granddaughter. I thought you’d perished in the wild along with your mother the night the guards came for you. It looks as if she made it to her homeland and raised you well. Why’d you come back here child?”

“I… “Fluttershy started to say. “I wanted to help Asta and help the ponies here.”

“Things make more sense now that I have more information,” Tinder looked back at Asta. “But others still elude this old mind.”

“I must confess that the invasion and slaughter of the guards were never my original intentions,” Asta explained with deep sincerity in his voice. “I’d planned to come here and buy as many of the slaves as I could so there’d be no bloodshed.”

“Then why the assault on our city?” Tinder asked with a skeptical look. “Even if it was an abominable hell hole of a place to live for many of us, it was still our home. Why attack it and kill so many? Why burn it to the ground after?”

“For many reasons,” Asta started to explain. “This was a joint operation between the Shadowbolts and the Black Bulls to liberate the slaves through legal means. I had more than enough money to buy a large portion of them outright. Then I had Timberwolf wood needed for housing that I was willing to trade for. After that was said and done then we’d use the Shadowbolts to undermine the black market and rescue the rest of you through the underground smuggling system that had been set up to get you in.”

“Then why didn’t you Mr.Ferris.?” Tinder’s vision narrowed.

“It comes back to me not being an Equestrian, or from this plane of existence altogether,” Asta looked to the side slightly as he rubbed the back of his head with a heavy tone in his voices. “I was called away and unaware that a band of Hunters had been watching me and my friends.”

“So the took it upon themselves to take your friends for profit, but why not have the Shadowbolts rescue them, they were with you,” Tinder remarked.

“At the time it was supposed to be a black ops mission thus the Shadowbolts inclusion,” Asta’s tone started to darken a bit. “We were traveling so as not to arouse suspicion. I never thought that I’d be summoned away and that Hunters would be watching us in such a larger number.”

“We were overpowered by the hunter who called himself Red Stone,” Fluttershy rushed over to Asta. “It’s not your fault Asta.”

“I could’ve better prepped you girls instead of solely relying on Spike,” Asta softly wrapped his arms around Fluttershy before he looked at Tinder Root. “As for why the way things went down the way they did, it goes back to the Hunters,” Asta said trying to keep his rage in check as he clenched his fist. The Princesses could see a small bit of blood hitting the floor coming from Asta’s palm. “The head bastard took my friends hurts my student hurt my family sold Fluttershy to that fucking rapist of a prince. One is the personal student of the princess, the other is someone I’m very fond and the third is the one I hold dearest to my heart.”

“And from what I heard from vice Captain Haze, all three are Elements of Harmony, which all nations know are Knight of Equestria.” Tinder nodded as he acknowledged Asta’s anger. “Meaning that the hierarchy knowingly committed an act of war.”

“Either way,” Asta held up a fist and emitted a stifling amount of killing intent. “Those involved were all going to die, regardless of who they were.”

“You planned on killing them even if it wouldn’t have been an act of war,” Celestia shot up as she looked at the mage in shock.

“They hurt my friends Princess, so I was going to hurt them back severely, mostly just lost limbs but not outright death, for most,” Asta glared back over his shoulder as Celestia shrank.

“But why to burn the city after the fighting stopped,” Tinder said as he did his best to stand tall against Asta’s bloodlust.

“The city was already full of corruption, then we went and killed many of the hunters, troops, and black-market vendors that stood against the insurrection. The city was littered with bodies and no one was in the shape to clean them up. The sheer number of the body count and diseases that the city carried were already a bad combination. I wasn’t going to risk anyone contracting a defining illness. So how do you destroy a plague before it sets in?”

“Ah, that’s why you burned it all,” Tinder tapped his fist into his palm.

The princess and staff looked at one another in confusion as they’d never heard of such a process of destroying sickness on that scale.

“You completely purge it and any form of chance it has of setting in,” Asta explained. “The city was a cesspool of many things, no offense,” Asta looked to the council members who merely shook their heads. “Source and all.”

“I must ask, you mentioned the prince earlier,” Tinder was a little hesitant and he noticed Fluttershy shrink back into Asta’s arms.

“The bastard and the king, as well as their entire entourage of guards, are nothing but ash in the wind now,” Asta remarked flatly. “They tried to kill me after I stopped the prince from rapping Shy.”

“That makes you the new leader of the city by default,” Tinder said in outright shock.

“By what right or logic do I have to claim the throne,” Asta looked at Tender and the other councilman with a serious look.

“By right of succession,” A caribou man with a very long white beard, long eyebrows, and balding on the top of his head as he walked forward on an old cane. “There is and always has been a struggle for the thrown going on in Savannah. It’s the main reason the cities are so spread apart, to prevent invasions from other high nobles from challenging the current leader of the Caribou race. It’s the only law that is still followed since ancient times.”

“I’ve got some bad news for you elder,” Asta started to walk out of the tent. “I’m not fit to lead a whole city if I can barely manage my own Squad. Find someone amongst yourself that is a better fit for it. We’ll be here for a few days helping to build homes for your community but beyond that, I don’t plan on being your king or leader of any kind to you.” Asta walked out and Fluttershy quickly ran after him but not before she quickly turned and bowed to the entire tent.

“Asta,” Fluttershy came up behind Asta as he was reading through his Grimoire.

“Catch,” Asta tossed his girlfriend her Grimoire.

“Oh, thank you. I thought I’d never see it again,” Fluttershy said as she clutched the book to her chest. She walked and looked at Asta’s face who was in serious thought mode. “I know that look,” she smirked for the first time feeling truly happy since Asta’s return. “You're thinking about something that happened last night,” Fluttershy reluctantly said.

“I did things with my swords last night that I never knew I could do Shy,” Asta said as he flipped through his Grimoire. “I’ve never been able to call my swords to me before, but last night I was able to call them to my hands as if it were just as if it were second nature to me.” Asta continued to look through his book. “But I’m not finding any new spells in my Grimoire, a few new items have been unlocked such as a flute and some armor as well as a few others. But nothing to do with spells. Then again, my Grimoire is Anti-magic and not magic. I’ve never been able to use my Ancient magic in tandem with my Anti-magic as the latter would eat away at my magic to fuel itself. It might provide a quick power boost in a snap but the risk would be greater than the reward most of the time.”

“So, you’d only use it as a last resort then,” Fluttershy asked unnerved.

“Yea, but this new ability to call my swords, I need to explore it more,” Asta stroked his face. “I’ve never thought of what I could do with my blades other than hack and slash with them. Perhaps they have abilities all their own.” Asta smirked slightly. “Looks like I’ve got my training regiment to undergo along with everyone else in our group.”

“Everyone else?” Fluttershy tilted her head.

“Yes, that includes you too love,” Asta smiled softly as he pulled Fluttershy into his side and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You're going to help me with the traders and former slaves. I have that Timberwolf lumber and you need to practice using your magic in small quantities and over and over again.”

“You’re going to be there right?” Fluttershy managed to stutter out.

“Always and forever my darling Fluttershy,” Asta said softly to her as she snuggled up close to him as they walked through the camp. “I won’t let anything like what happened ever happen again,as long as I live, I will protect you, now and forever. Now let’s get started on those houses.”

“Right,” Fluttershy smiled as she looked up at Asta with tears in her eyes.

“That went better than expected,” Haze smirked.

“Indeed,” Free Fall agreed.

“I never expected him to up the position as king but to also admit that he’s not fit to lead,” The elder stroked his beard. “He has a long road ahead of him but he is most definitely the one best fit to lead our people.”

“I agree Elder Wood,” Tender Root nodded. “But it is not yet his time to take the thrown.”

“Perhaps, but he may ever be fully ready for such a position,” Celestia added her thoughts to the mix. “Asta is… complicated when it comes to many things and seeing as how those he cares for drives many of his actions, you’d best tread carefully on certain subjects.”

“Meaning, don’t cross a line you shouldn’t,” Luna added. “Lest you incur his wrath as my sister and I have or better yet, your former royal palace occupants.”

“Noted, and thank you for all your help Princesses,” Tender Root bowed to the diarchs of night and day.

“We must return to our country soon but we will be staying with you for a few days to help in the construction of your new town,” Celestia explained in her usual motherly tone. “We must also oversee some of the prisoner interrogations.”

“Yes, while here I would like to look into this region's magics, they’re supposedly rather unique in the fact that they’re used to imbue magic into items,” Luna looked to the council members.

“We will help in this endeavor in any way we can Princess but we lower-tier Caribou weren’t really allowed to study high tier magic due to our lower incomes,” Tender Root explained.

“Money has always been a heavy amongst our kind,” Elder Wood explained as he hobbled over. “But I can help you in this study,” he stroked his beard. “Craven and his son brought us many tomes from their homes for us to study and there were many that I studied that we obtained from other sources and the black market.”

“I look forward to it then Mr. Elder,” Luna smiled.

Meanwhile, as the Black Bulls started their training slash helping in the construction of the now free people’s town not for off was a new threat.

“Sir,” a heavily armored warrior with a large set of wings came into a long hall then knelt down. “It’s as the man in the white robes had said it would happen. The entire Caribou capital was wiped out. Many of the nobles, guards, and hunters have been taken prisoner by the Equestrian forces.”

“What of my tribute? Did it make it out before the city was taken?” A large figure asked atop a golden throne. Large wings on either side of the figure.

“No sir, it would seem the slaver was captured and the other Elements taken from him,” The warrior said as his leader growled in disappointment. “But there is good news. The Elements weren’t tainted by the filth of the former royal family.”

“Former, why former?” The Dark figure asked from his shadowed throne in confusion. “The Equestrians wouldn’t just go in and not take them prisoner.”

“Sir, the castle was stormed by a single individual who wields great power, once he retrieved the Element of Kindness, I went in to see what had transpired after the Equestrian Forces had left and found that the King and his son had been slaughtered without mercy along with every other occupant that had stood in this individuals way.” the warrior bit his lip for a moment but then spat out the rest of his information. “After the city was cleared… the individual set it aflame with a massive black fire serpent that came from his arm, I saw it from amongst the slaves they’d freed under my disguise.”

“Hmmm…” the figure had a large evil grin come across his face as he rubbed his chin with a broad hand with large fingernails that ended in points, almost like one would consider claws.

“This pony seems to carry a lot of weight with his presence as even the Princess take his word with a grain of salt.” the warrior looked at his leader.

“It seems that we have a new worthy opponent, or perhaps an ally if we can persuade him to join us,” the Figure continued to rub his chin before setting his hand back down.

“What shall we do about your tribute Sir?” The warrior said with steel nerve.

“Nothing, let our new friend slash foe keep his prizes for the time being. The whole set and the princesses will answer to me soon enough,” Figure held up his hand.

“What of the town being built?” the warrior asked eagerly, wanting to take over the new place for their operations.

“We shall do nothing. We do not wish to make an enemy of a potential ally by taking a town he just founded from people he just saved,” Figure waved at the air in front of his face.

“There is also a Caribou army approaching the town. I saw them as I flew back. It would appear some of the nobles and hunters made it out and ran to the next city for help,” The warrior smirked. “I predict that the army will be upon the town in just a few days.”

“Then this should prove to be entertaining,” Figure stood up and flexed his massive wings. He stepped out to reveal a large man with silver hair a rather broad build on his back the wings of an eagle. Around his waist was wrapped a lion's. His eyes were an icy fluorescent blue and his teeth were rather sharp. He was wearing a black button-down shirt with a gold sash across his chest with black dress pants. His talons made a clicking sound as he stepped across the marble floor. “Come Screech Shadow, we shall watch the battle unfold with our own eyes. I wish to see this potential ally to our cause.”

“Yes King Wind Razor,” Screech Shadow acknowledged with a salute.

“The Griffons might have a powerful ally if we play our cards right,” The king remarked as he started to flap his massive wings and then took off from the direction his warrior came from.