Tempest's POV
Flame Geyser Swamp

"Oh yes, escaping into the flaming swamps was a great idea, Chrysalis!" I yelled out my complaint at her after dodging another flame geyser. She was just up ahead of me and appeared to have no trouble dodging the geysers before they were able to burn her to death. Much to my irritation. "And how do you dodge those geysers so well anyway? You say that we are almost through and most of my tail is gone with a burn on my ass."

Chrysalis didn't stop walking but she did turn her head back at me with a quick dismissing shrug of her shoulders. "What, we got rid of Emmit didn't we?" I simply glared at her while following directly behind her to make my life a little easier. She stopped only for a couple of seconds to wave a dismissive hoof at me, "Now don't give me that look, Tempest. I know exactly what I'm doing."

"Care to fill me in then? After all, we are in this swamp together." My ears picked up the sound of a geyser that was fixing to erupt from the hole right in front of me. I've learned very quickly that the holes would gurgle right before an eruption. So, I quickly dashed to the side just before a column of flames erupted from the hole.

"Quite true and you are learning how to navigate this swamp," Chrysalis said back to me more cheerful than I liked because there was nothing cheerful about this.

"You could have told me that earlier without me burning my ass off," I growled to her, frustrated with how everything has gone so far.

"Alright, alright," Chrysalis said back to me with a tone that said that I might finally know what her plans were. "Let's get out of this swamp first and then I'll tell you."

"Fine," I acknowledged her and didn't hear the gurgling from the hole that was right beside me. "AAHH!"

"Listen for the gurgling!"

"Buck you, Chrysalis!"

^_^

Emmit's POV
Canterlot
Hours later

It was nearing suppertime, so the only thing that I wanted to do was update Tia so we both could head back home for the night. After arriving in Canterlot, Ember didn't want to wait up, so she went on ahead home. The Captain, crew and the team was taking stock and refreshing their supply while waiting for their next orders. Right now, I was trotting my way down the hallway toward the throne room where tia has set up the war room, so to speak. Because we are in a state of war, day and evening court has been postponed and the war room was set up. And because the throne room is now a makeshift war room, the guards have been doubled with them wearing war-level armor.

The guards didn't say anything as I approached, just snapped to attention from their relaxed ready position giving me a quick salute before I opened the door and stepped inside. Because the only ponies that would be at the table would be the princesses and the day and night captains, the war table wasn't that big. As a matter of fact, I noticed that they took my advice and made it a round table.

As I walked up, I greeted the Solar Captain first, "Captain Thunder," with a nod. "Captain Wind," I greeted the thestril captain of Luna's guard. Swift Wind wasn't an actual thestril, just a regular pegasus with an illusion because of her armor. She was also the one who was always teasing me. I asked Tia and Luna about her teasing me and why they haven't stopped her and they just replied that she wasn't being serious about it. That it was all in good fun. However, this time, she kept her face serious and both Captains gave me a solemn and somber salute as I walked around the table to be by Tia's side. After reaching Tia's side, I wrapped a couple of tails around her and pulled her gently against me. And proceeded to give them a full report sense they were waiting for me to arrive and report what happened.

"It went easier than I expected," I began telling them while Tia leaned against me, telling me that she was happy I was home again. "We arrived about four hours before sunrise and set up a temporary command of operation right across from where Tempest was staying. She had taken over Verko's place as her own. Verko was the city's crime boss. Anyway, right after setting us up, we started killing soldiers across the city. She woke up the next morning with seven dead soldiers at her hooves. She was shocked, naturally, and I decided to prove how we did it right in front of her. There were two soldiers carrying another dead one over and when they got close enough we dispatched those two right in front of her. Making it ten dead soldiers at her hooves. I could see the beginnings of fear and panic in her eyes right before she ran back inside."

On the table in front of me was the complete map of Equestria and outlying countries. I paused for a couple of seconds to study it. And the information it provided on the Storm King's movements and what countries he's hit already. Like Panthera and Mount Aris. I noticed there were about six airships on the map spanning from Klugetown all the way up Equestria's east coast up to the Manehatten and Bostrot area.

"Before she ran back inside, I basically told her that she has one hour to either leave Klugetown or surrender. I don't know what happened inside. But she was pissed and spitting nails when she came out. She called out to me wanting me to prove to her that I could restore her horn. While I was transferring the restorative magic into her that's when she told me that the Storm King basically told her that he didn't have the means to restore her horn nor would he. The locals started attacking right after I was done with the transfer. And only when Tempest found that her horn wasn't immediately restored did she start to run away with Chrysalis while calling me a liar. I tried telling her that it would take a few days or so but at that point, she was far too emotional to listen to me."

I paused for a second for a deep breath before continuing. "After that, we watched her take off in her airship while killing the rest of the soldiers on the airdock below her. After that, it was a simple matter to tail her until we lost her in the Flame Geyser Swamp where we then destroyed the ship she left behind." I watched Tia ignite her horn and made the red airship by Klugetown on the map disappear.

After a couple of seconds to absorb the information, Captain Thunder commented, "So he lost a ship as well as his second-in-command and Chrysalis. Do you think it was a good idea to restore her horn, sir?"

"I do," I told him with a quick nod. "I think it's pretty safe to say that she's gone rogue, so she's not going to help the Storm King. And I truly believe that she will surrender once she realizes that her horn has indeed been restored. What can she do during that time we'll have to see. The Empress herself told me that restoring her horn was the best course of action."

"I just hope that it doesn't come and bite us in the ass later," Captain Wind commented softly as she looked like she disagreed with it. Not that I could blame her any. Tempest is an enemy combatant after all.

"I hope it doesn't either, Captain," I looked over at her with an understanding look of my own. "Even though she doesn't have full use of her horn yet and even though she doesn't have any soldiers or weapons, she could possibly still cause trouble. Chrysalis is still with her, so with the two teaming up together, both of them could still cause some trouble. I suggest putting out an APB on them although it might not do any good." With a slight shrug, I simply told them, "All Chrysalis has to do is disguise them both and they could walk freely around Equestria. Chrysalis has disguised herself as Daring Do and Princess Cadence. And with the new changelings in our ranks, it's not like we can put up changeling alarms anymore."

"So, she could disguise herself and Tempest as soldiers and simply walk in here?" the solar captain asked, though it was largely a rhetorical question.

"Which we will have no defense against," Captain Wind commented with a sigh. "Unless somepony comes up with an alarm that can tell the difference between Chrysalis and the new changelings. In the meantime, we've got enough resources to send out a squad with a civil defense rep to every major city within Equestria's borders. Once there they will coordinate with the local authorities to pass out those help kits and start building a defense plan for those cities."

"Those help kits with material requests and victory garden seeds came from what happened in your home world, sir?" Captain Thunder asked me, curiosity in his eyes.

With a smile, I told him, "Yes. It was during the second world war. It was during a time when our nation could still produce what we needed for our own military with our own manufacturing plants. But we needed materials like metal, rubber, and the like. So the government started to ration what the public could have so the majority could go toward the military. The public could help by growing victory gardens and give a portion of their crop to the military to feed the soldiers. I decided to do that here. Get the general public involved in helping to defend their cities. If you give a pony a meal, they will thank you for the meal. If you teach the pony how to farm and or fish, you will help them feed themselves for their lifetime."

"So, basically, help them defend themselves."

"Correct, Captain Thunder," I gave him a nod and a smile. "What about communications?"

"At the moment, we've sent out dragonfire scrolls with the squads in case the Storm King's forces attack," Captain Wind pointed out. "We're just using those until we manufacture more communications orbs. It won't take long to produce and distribute."

"Good! What about ship movements?" I asked them with a growing smile because of how well this was starting out. I just hope that it would stay going well. However, I knew from history that any plan never survives contact with the enemy. Meanwhile, Tia was happily leaning against me, content with letting me take the lead.

"So far," Captain Wind began as she pointed to the ships on the map, "We've spotted five other ships along Equestria's eastern seashore."

"Patrolling, we think," Captain Thunder commented.

"And because you reported that Tempest was in the process of building a ship, we are hoping that these ships all are he has. Hopefully, that's why he's using what he has to simply patrol," Captain Wind finished.

I nodded in agreement with them. "Hopefully, he doesn't know that Tempest has gone rogue with Chrysalis yet. The more he delays, the more we'll be prepared to defend against his coming forces. I'd say, we've got a good start. All we can do is prepare and wait. And hope it ends quickly."

"Hear, hear, sir," Captain Thunder agreed with a quick nod and a hopeful smile.

"Thank you for your time and your reports," I thanked them then watched as they saluted then left to take care of their other duties whatever they were. After they left, I felt Tia slowly turn her head and give me a soft lingering kiss on my neck. Closing my eyes with a slight hum of contentment, I tilted my head to the side to give her more access. And felt all the worries and concerns slowly melt away.

"Not bad for someone so young being in charge of a military for their first time," she teased into my ear softly.

"Thank you, dear," I whispered to her then gave her a soft lingering kiss. Then advised her with a knowing smile, "But now that the business is over I think we better get home or our daughter will be angry at me for staying away too long."

"You're quite right," she quickly kissed me and then started leading me around the table toward the side entrance. We were going to the teleportation room next to her old bedroom. The teleportation room was made to quickly teleport us between Canterlot and my herd community in Ponyville quickly. I wanted to raise my children all in one place, so this was what we came up with. "She does love her daddy," she giggled and teased as we walked through the side door and into the hallway. "Not that I blame her any, I love her daddy, too," she winked at me with a schoolgirl-like giggle.

I teased back with a wink of my own, teasing her with, "I hope so, you're married to me after all."

She hummed in agreement as she leaned against me as we walked. "And happily so. I'm so happy to have a family and our daughter. And happy to have her daddy back with me." After that, it was a silent walk to the teleportation room where we teleported directly to my herd community.

^_^

"Daddy!" And to the excited face of my daughter. Instead of the gazebo, almost everypony was at Fluttershy's place at the edge of the community and right nearby the teleportation stone. Considering the teleportation stone was so close to Fluttershy's cottage, Solar saw me walk up to her cottage soon after we appeared. More than likely she heard the sound of the stone activating and fluttered up to take a look. Then launched herself at me with open front paws. Fluttershy's backyard used to be fenced off but because it's now part of a larger herd community, that fence is now gone. This meant that Solar, and the rest of the girls present, could see me from afar off. Solar's wings were buzzing on her back as she flew over to me with the most excited face.

Sitting my butt down on the soft grass, I threw open my front paws for her and then wrapped them around her as she latched onto me. She was giggling up a storm as I held her and Tia leaned down giving Solar a quick kiss on her head. While Solar hugged me, or at least the best she could, I looked up to smile at Fluttershy, Ember, Scootallo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom off in the near distance. They were all surrounded by animals of all sizes. "I missed you, daddy." The look on her face and the way she said it was really pulling on my heartstrings.

So, I lifted her up, blew some quick raspberries against her belly, then kissed her, and then told her, "I missed you too, sweetheart. So, I came back as soon as I could." She giggled happily as I teased her belly then kissed her and when she fluttered up to my head to lay down on it.

"Daddy, I'm hungry," she was so happy that I was there that there wasn't much whine in her voice when she said it.

"It looks like Fluttershy, Ember, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo are helping feed the foals, so I'll recruit Sweetie Belle to go make us some dinner for us," Tia told Solar, sounding quite the happy and content mother.

That got Solar excited and bounced on my head, saying, "Ok, mommy." And with Solar happily giggling on top of my head we followed Tia into Fluttershy's backyard. While Tia and Sweetie Belle went inside to make some dinner, I spent time greeting the girls and the rest of my foals. Scootaloo was first as she held Bruce Knight, Rarity's foal, in her front hooves. She looked nervous as she held Bruce in one leg and the bottle with the other hoof. With an amused smile, I stepped onto the large plush quilt and behind Scootaloo gently kissing her cheek.

"I fear that I might do something wrong," she whispered to me while intently watching what she's doing. My son had his front paws against the bottle as if to hold it himself while feeding nicely.

"You're doing just fine, Scoots. Just remember to always support the head and you'll be fine," I whispered to her then looked over at Apple Bloom who was holding James Aggregate Pie, Pinkie's foal.

Just when I looked over was when little James started to push the bottle away indicating that he was done. And I think that Apple Bloom has had some experience with this because she put the bottle down and gently raised James up onto her shoulder to burp him almost like an experienced mother. "You're doing just fine as well AB," I said to her softly then gave her a soft lingering kiss which she returned with a slight hum.

"Well I did grow up on a farm," she giggled a little, gently patting James' back. "I think I've taken care of my share of young animals. This is no animal, but the intent is the same."

"Both of them have been doing really well so far," Fluttershy told me as our daughter, Midnight, suckled on Fluttershy while Ember held and fed Shadow Blaze, our son.

While I was talking to them, little Solar was playing on my back. When she landed there, I moved some tails on and around her for her to play in. So, she was happily giggling away in my tails.

Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom started blushing when Scootaloo mentioned quietly, "Well, I think it would be a good idea for us to practice if we want to have foals of our own with you someday."

"True," there was a certain alluring teasing tone in my voice as I leaned my head down and spoke softly into her ear, "and I would like to have a foal with you one day. When you are ready, of course." Then gently and slowly kissed her neck while touching her neck with my tongue. I felt her body shiver ever so slightly. Not to mention the huge blush she had.

"I'm not there yet, but I think I would like that as well," AB said to me with a deep blush around her wide smile.

So, I leaned over and gave her a lingering deep kiss as well which she returned.

"We've got dinner!" came Tia's call as she walked out of the house with a bunch of food floating in her magic.

^_^

Tempest's POV

"You want to do what?!" She had finally told me about her plan and I simply couldn't believe it. We had exited the swamp and were working our way up the edge of the badlands toward the train tracks. She had already told me where we were headed and now I knew why. Stunned in disbelief, I sat down on the dusty ground and simply stared at her for what she was suggesting.

"What?! I've done it before," she said to me so nonchalantly and matter-of-factly that it was mind-boggling. She turned around, stepped up to me, and sat down in front of me. When I didn't say anything but just stared at her with wide shocked eyes, she continued. "I've lived just as long as Celestia has," she pointed out with a slight roll of her eyes with a "duh" tone of voice. "And I've known her for a very long time and have been at odds with her for that long. Do you really think that I haven't studied my enemy before? In the past, she's always had changeling alarms around her. However, considering there're changelings in that army of hers, she can't use that alarm anymore. That makes it easier to simply walk into that precious castle of hers under a disguise for you and me."

"Just so we can get information?" I asked her with a "Really?" look on my face.

"Information that can gain us enough power to either conquer or destroy Equestria. Or at least enough power to open Tartarus," she shrugged. "There are powerful creatures in there that can help us. But we'll need a disguise to get onto the train, so hold on a second..." Chrysalis used her magic against me, but I didn't feel any different. But when I looked down at myself I saw some dark armor on me, my coat was different and my tail was different. "It's just an illusion," she clarified for me as she used some magic on herself to change her appearance. "Such as this," she raised her front hooves and spread them out. Now she looked like a normal young unicorn mare with a gray coat and white mane and tail. "This is just an illusion as well and I've used this many times to get around Equestria, Canterlot, shops, and the like. With you looking like one of Luna's night guards, it will be so easy to sneak into the castle and get the information we want."

"Alright, let's just get going. At least I can play the part of a soldier easily enough," I told her with a roll of my eyes then followed her to the train tracks.

^_^

Twilight's POV

It was dinnertime and I was having dessert in the library to try and catch up on some reading. You'd think that being surrounded by pregnant mares would help me prepare for being pregnant. One of them was...

"Aww, Twilight, I wanted the last bits of that ice cream," came Spike's whining voice as he walked up to the library table I was sitting at. I waited until he pulled up a chair and sat down in it to push over the nearly empty bowl of ice cream toward him. There was a smirk on my face as he licked his lips, grabbed the spoon, and then paused while staring down at it with a disappointed look. A second later, he pushed the bowl and the spoon back over to me. "On second thought, I think I'll pass."

"Sorry, Spike," I giggled out my apology as I dug into the bowl to finish what was left of it. "But Missus Cake told Celestia then Fluttershy and now me that you weren't really an expectant mother unless you've had pickles and ice cream."

He made a soft gagging sound before saying, "Twilight, I love you like a sister and happy that you've found somepony, or fox in his case, to love. But some of your food choices lately..."

With another amused giggle at him, I reached over and rubbed his head. "Look on the bright side, Spike. You will never have to worry about going through it."

He rolled his eyes, saying, "Yes, thankfully. And I think it's obvious that you've been eating meat considering the frig is stocked with it."

I cringed a little when he said that, "Yeah, our foal is definitely going to be an omnivore because I've already started getting meat cravings." I paused to finish my pickles and ice cream, pushed the now empty bowl aside, and flipped the page of the book I was reading. "And besides all that, Emmit and his foals will need meat also. So, it's just in our life now."

"Yeah, I even tried it. And liked it, so..." Spike shrugged at that bit of news with a sheepish smile before continuing. "And Aqua Jewel, Nightlight Blossom, and Crystal Moon have left already."

"Yeah, Emmit decided that making them stay here during a war wasn't productive, so he let them go and freed them of their obligation," I told him without looking up from the book or even stopped reading. What stopped me from reading was when Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst suddenly burst through the library door. We didn't see them right off, but the suddenly excited bang of the door opening startled us and pulled me away from the book.

"Twilight?!" Starlight called out from the door. She couldn't see us because we were in the back of the library with a few bookshelves between us.

So, I called out to her, "Spike and I are back here, Starlight!" A couple of seconds later was when we saw both Starlight and Sunburst practically run around the bookshelf in front of the table we were sitting at. And then got startled again when Sunburst slammed an old dusty book down onto the table in front of me after shoving aside the one I was reading.

"Twilight, you've got to read this!" Starlight said with such excitement and with such wide eyes.

That was also echoed by Sunburst when he said, "Remember when we went to the antique store and I bought that barrel?" I nodded my head. "This was in it! This is Starswirls personal journal!" That's when my eyes went wide and used a hoof to pull it over to me and open it up. "Most of it is everyday stuff of missions that he went on with his friends. However, skip to the end and he writes about how they planned to trap the Pony of Shadows in limbo." That bit of news startled me into looking up from the book with wide eyes. In awe of what that bit of news means.

"We never knew what happened to him and the rest of the pillars," I whispered in awe of the implications. Then quickly flipped through the book to the last passage and quickly started reading.

"Exactly!" Starlight exclaimed, now sounding giddy with excitement. "He says that they planned on sending the Pony of Shadows into limbo at Ponhenge."

As the words from the page, and what both of them were also saying to me, started filling my mind, hope also started filling my heart and I started realizing why they were so excited. "And I've been researching for the past week after finding this out. That depending on how it was done, there is a chance that we could free the Pillars from limbo."

That got my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water and I wasn't the only one. Spike was also looking between the book and us with shock as well. "This...this is..."

"I know, right?!" Starlight commented distinctly.

"Celestia is at Fluttershy's with the CMC and the foals. She needs to know about this," I said while quickly gathering up Starswirl's journal in my front hooves and flying toward the library door. Carefully flying because I'm pregnant. I wasn't flying that quickly for a couple of reasons. One was also because I was pregnant. The second was so they could follow me to Fluttershy's house so we could tell Celestia of this. "I remember Celestia telling me that she knew Starswirl personally," I said back to them as I flew out of my castle toward Fluttershy's cottage. "Luna did as well. Starswirl was their personal teacher. They will want to know about this right away."

Wasn't much else said between us as I flew through town and they were running along beside me. In this town, nopony gave us a second thought about us running through town. They've seen me running through town all the time. So, our trip through town was uneventful. I knew that they would be in her backyard and that the foals would be with them. Because of that, I decided to mentally call out to them. "The foals are around, so no shouting please," I told them as we approached her cottage.

Celestia? This is Twilight. I'm coming with Sunburst and Starlight and we've got something very important to tell you.

Twilight? Alright.

As we went around the cottage and spotted them in the backyard, they were laying around in a circle with Emmit's five foals asleep in the center. Emmit was there with Fluttershy, Ember, Celestia, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom with it apparent that they finished dinner. So, now they were simply laying around and softly talking to each other. While it was a beautiful day for some good news to give to our large herd family. After landing nearby, I held Starswirl's journal in one hoof as we all hobbled over to the now expectant group with Sunburst and Starlight behind me. "Celestia, you've got to see and read what Starlight and Sunburst found at the antique store," I whispered as excitedly as I could then held out the journal to Celestia when I walked up to her.

She took it, now curious as to why we were so excited, and used her magic to open it up. "It's Starswirl's journal," Sunburst whispered to her, "where at the end of the book is his last entry explaining how he and his friends were planning on trapping the Pony of Shadows in limbo at Ponhenge." She was using her magic to flip through the pages and then simply paused to stare at us in total shock. The look on her face changed to the same look I had when Sunburst said to her, "From what I've read so far, Starswirl and his friends are trapped in limbo. So, there is a chance that we could free Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars from limbo."

It took a couple of seconds for Celestia's mind to start back up again. When it did, she just whispered, "I don't believe it," while using her magic to quickly flip to his last entry. "We never knew what happened to our old teacher. It just seemed like he and the pillars just up and disappeared." She read aloud the last journal entry where Starswirl wrote about Stygian being caught wanting the Pillar's artifacts for himself and turning himself into the Pony of Shadows. Then she started reading the really important part. "The pillars and I must make a brave sacrifice. But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day, it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time. We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have. I only hope it will be enough." When she read the last words, she closed the journal and held it to her lovingly. "We never knew, just what happened."

"So...what happened?" Apple Bloom asked.

"If I was hearing that correctly, it appears that in order to trap the Pony of Shadows in limbo they had to be trapped with it, right?" Emmit asked, still whispering because the foals were still asleep.

"Yes, but there might be a chance to get them out," Starlight told them excitedly where I had to admit to also getting excited about the possibility that I could meet my idol one day.

"Maybe," he nodded slowly while in thought, "however if I understood it right then we can't free them."

"What?! How can you say that?" Sunburst asked forcefully though keeping his voice down.

"Because if you free him and the pillars, then you would also free the Pony of Shadows as well," he told us, and at first I wanted to deny it. But after a minute of thinking about it. I had to sit my butt down next to Celestia and meet her eyes with mine as we came to the same conclusion. He was right. In response to that new knowledge, Celestia held his journal tightly to her as Emmit continued by saying, "I realize how much Starswirl and these pillars mean for Equestria's past. But we must keep in mind that according to him, they had to go with the Pony of Shadows in order to trap him. Thereby the opposite is true that if we free them we also free the Pony of Shadows. And right now, we've got a war going on with the Storm King. We can't afford to have another Equestria-ending evil bad guy on the loose while we are also fighting a war. No nation, no matter how strong or big, can successfully fight a war on two fronts and win. That's from human history. With that said, when this war is over, we can explore doing this in a secure way so that we can deal with the Pony of Shadows securely. But right now, I'm afraid that we'll just have to shelve this for later."

"But the pillars-"

"He's right," Celestia said softly with sorrow in her voice for her old teacher. She said it while holding the journal to her, like the precious prize that it is to her. "As much as I would love to see my old teacher again, he's right. We are in a war right now and freeing the pillars would also mean freeing the Pony of Shadows. We won't be able to concentrate on both the war and dealing with the Pony of Shadows at the same time."

"And heaven forbid if the Pony of Shadows got with the Storm King as the new second-in-command," Emmit mentioned in thought.

"That's a good point," I told him, sorrow also in my voice as the hope of seeing my idol faded away. "I got so excited that I'd finally meet my idol soon."

Celestia put a wing around me and pulled me against her, "And one day you will, Twilight. Just not right now. Emmit's right, that we will look into finding a way to deal with the Pony of Shadows after the war securely. Until then, we will live with the knowledge that they are alive and can one day be freed. That this journal will be put away in a safe place until we can free them."

I wasn't the only one looking sad about not being able to free them right away. Both Sunburst and Starlight now looked forlorn about the find. "I had such high hopes..."

"I know Sunburst," Celestia said gently as she looked over at him with a small smile. "But you did do a good thing for me and for Luna. We never knew what really happened to them. And now we know. That one day, after the war is over we will be able to see them alive and well once more. So you did do a good thing for us, both of you. So thank you, both of you for the comfort that you both have brung."

"Well...at least we did that I guess," Starlight said, sounding just as sad as Sunburst.

"Did what?" Luna's voice startled me a little because none of us were paying attention to her approach. She walked up to Celestia and sat down beside her where she then noticed the look on her face and what she was holding. "What is that and why is everypony so glum?"

Celestia hoofed over Starswirl's journal over to her, speaking softly with sadness in her voice. "This is Starswirl's journal. The last passages tell us what happened to our old teacher."

Luna took the book gently and carefully with a shocked look before using her magic to quickly flip to the last few entries. While she read, she began to understand what finally happened to her old teacher. As sadness slowly started falling across her face, Celestia put a wing around her.

^_^

Tempest's POV

Chrysalis and I were walking North along the tracks when she started telling me about how she got around in Equestria. That was one thing that I've been wondering about. Just how did she get around so well, especially on the train, and not have to pay train fair?

"Here's the way it works in Equestria and why you now look like an average guard," she started to explain. "When somepony is in the guard, they can claim that all expenses will go toward the royal guard account. Probably even easier now that Equestria is now at war with the Storm King because all of her precious ponies want to chip in and help."

To our left were the tracks and a forest while to our right was a rocky cliff with looked like a forest on top of it. The ground underneath was nothing but dust and rocks with no water in sight. Plus, I hadn't eaten all day and I was getting hungry. And the dust that we stirred up with our hooves wasn't helping either.

"That's why you look like a guard," she continued. "That way you can claim that you are escorting me to Canterlot and thereby get whatever we need using Celestia's money to do it." She shrugged without stopping as I heard the faintest sound of the click-clack of a train, "I've done it this way lots of times to get around Equestria. We'll just have to be careful in Canterlot and especially in and around the castle. But we can deal with that later." That's when the train's whistle sounded, letting us know that it was quickly approaching us. "And because you were a soldier, you can impersonate a guard without any trouble." After the train whistled at us, she paused, sat down on the ground, and turned toward the approaching train. So, I did the same and sat down beside her as she told me, "Now it's your job to get us on board."

With that in mind, I raised a front hoof into the air and slowly waved it to get the attention of the driver. It took a few seconds, but the driver responded by activating the train's horn before applying the brakes. The screeching sound of metal upon metal permeated the area as the train started slowing down. And came to a slow stop in front of us then the driver stuck his head out the window. "Need a lift, soldier?"

Chrysalis was right that it would be easy for me to act like a guard because I was drawing upon my years as a soldier. Giving the stallion a quick nod, I told him, "Yes, sir. I'm escorting this mare to Canterlot and we ran into a little trouble."

"Hop on aboard then," he told us with a wave of his hoof as I felt relief that getting to Canterlot would be easier than I thought. "We'll be going through the Appleloosan Mountains and make a stop in Appleloosa for supplies before reaching Ponyville and then Canterlot."

"Thank you, sir," I gave him another firm quick nod and followed Chrysalis in disguise to board the train. Right after we boarded the train into a nearly full car, we heard the train's whistle again just before the train jerked forward. Luckily for us, there were two open seats near the door, and soon after we took our seats, my mouth watered when we saw a food vendor roll her cart down the aisle. She looked to be a middle-aged or older earth pony mare with a light blue coat and off-white mane and tail.

When her eyes saw me, she pushed her cart over, then looked at me with a gentle smile, "Anything from the cart, dears?" My stomach rumbled in response to the sights and smells of the fruits, vegetables, and sweets that were on the cart. She just smiled at me with a kind-hearted giggle. "Just go on dear. It's my thanks for your service."

"Thank you," I said quietly while taking quite a few things from the cart considering how hungry I was. And immediately started to chow down on some of the fruits.

"You're quite welcome, dear," she said sweetly before moving on down the aisle. Meanwhile, I happily enjoyed my meal. Quite a good meal, actually. Now that I thought about it, that was the first time that anypony actually thanked me for being a soldier. Although, she wasn't thanking me but the guard image of me. Even so, it did feel good to be thanked anyway. Did everypony in their military get thanked in such a way? It's been such a long time since I've been in Equestria, so I don't know how ponies were dealing with this war. Does the Storm King even know that I've deserted him? What's he doing now? How is he handling my desertion? All while eating what I grabbed from the cart. Because things were hard for me while working for the Storm King, I didn't eat all that much when I was able to. So, when I got done eating, there was still a lot left over. And I didn't have a bag or anything to put it in.

"Need something to put those in, soldier?" came the question from an elderly unicorn stallion across the aisle. He looked over at me with a tired friendly smile. And with his magic, he levitated a small bag over to me, lifted the leftover food into it, and put it around my neck. I was about to say something, but he held up his hoof with a slight shake of his head. "Nah, my grandson is going through training right now. My thanks for your service." Chrysalis hadn't spoken since we got onboard. But what has already happened to me since getting onboard left me speechless. I had no clue how to respond and after our eyes met again, I realized that I didn't have to say anything. Now that I thought more about it, those two acts were probably the first acts of kindness that I've ever experienced in my life. For the rest of the trip to our first stop in Appleloosa, I was simply looking out the window in thought. What brought me out of it and back to reality was when the train whistled and we started pulling into the small train station in Appleloosa.

After the train stopped at the station, Chrysalis was quick to pull me off the train. Then pull me all the way down the train platform to the end where there would be little chance that we would be overheard. "Now all we have to do is use your disguise to get us a room for the night at the local hotel. In the morning we'll board the train again and stay on it all the way to Canterlot." I just nodded at her a couple of times and when she noticed that, she asked, "Alright, what is it?"

I sat my butt down on the dusty wooden platform and then reached down with a hoof to lift up the bag with the food in it. "it's just, I think that this was the first time that somepony has ever been nice to me."

She rolled her eyes at me with a dismissive hoof. "They weren't being nice to you, they were being nice to the Lunar Guard image illusion. That's why I picked it because I knew they would be nice to you. We can use that to get what we want. And don't forget that because of what Emmit did to you and what Equestria has done to me is why we are doing this." When I didn't say anything else, she started pulling me into town with a scoffing, "Come on, we've got a room to get."

My first real town that I walk into after returning to Equestria is this dustbowl called Appleloosa. Nothing I couldn't handle. I've been to other desert places during my time with the Storm King and this was no different. Even though Chrysalis and I were walking side by side, the ground was dry enough that dust was stirred up with each step we took. We weren't quite eating dust yet, but close to it. And it wasn't a big town either. It had just one main street that ran through the middle with two rows of buildings on either side. Just beyond the town were rows upon rows of apple trees. An apple orchard as far as my eyes could see. As we walked toward the only hotel in town, I also had to take a few seconds to admire what they've accomplished in such an arid place. Not only an apple orchard but one in the middle of the desert. I was no farmer but even I knew that took some work to be successful.

What startled me out of my admiration for the town was when a pony suddenly ran up to us and over joyously announced, "WELCOME TO AAAAAAAAAAAPAAAAALOOSA!" Luckily for this stallion, Chrysalis had reached out with a hoof and quickly lifted my head up and away from him or that stallion would have a hole in his chest right now. He had startled me so bad that my heart was pounding in my chest. However, he didn't miss a beat before he started talking about the town. Thankfully he lowered his voice down. "This little town may be small but we've got it all..."

"Braeburn," Chrysalis said to try and get his attention. And the look on her face said it all. That this was one annoying pony. And I'd believe it, too because of the way he just kept talking in spite of Chrysalis trying to get his attention.

"The Salt Lick is the best little cantina this side of-"

"Braeburn!" Chrysalis was becoming agitated as she narrowed her eyes at him with a slight curl of her upper lips. And truth be told, he was starting to get to me too. But the light yellow coated stallion just kept right on talking without missing a beat.

"And if you need a place to stay for the night-"

"BRAE-" she started to shout but stopped herself, activated her magic, and after one touch of her hoof against the stallion's nose with a quiet, "Sleep," the stallion dropped like a stone to the ground with a soft thud. And proceeded to snore way too loudly than any stallion had a right to. After the stallion was asleep, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly while saying softly, "That's better."

"I take it he does that often and that he'd done it to you and that you've been here before?"

"Yes," she responded and immediately started walking down the left side of the street to the hotel. And rather quickly, too as if the stallion would suddenly get up and start talking to us again.

A few short minutes later, we were walking into the hotel. It wasn't a big one by any means, just a simple two-story with about ten rooms total. There was only one middle-aged mare standing behind the small desk off to our left when we walked in. And the foyer was about as big as a small living room. She didn't say anything as we walked up and Chrysalis didn't say anything, so I stepped up to the desk. "My charge and I need a room for the night, please. And the expense for the room can go toward the military expense account." The mare behind the counter didn't say a word, just gave us a nod of her head, turned her head around, and gave us a key. When she still didn't say anything, I looked down to see the number of the room was on the key. "Thank you," I said to her and turned toward the hallway to go to room four where we would be staying the night.

We didn't say anything as we walked into the room. I noticed there was only one bed in the room. Luckily it was big enough for both of us. I didn't mind, being a soldier and all, because I've usually been stuck with the rest of the soldiers. It was a small room with one king-sized bed, a table by the window with a chair, and a toilet. That was it, that was the whole room. By this time we got into the room and I put the bag with the leftovers on the table, the sun was beginning to set. And the weariness of the day started setting in. "Too bad there's not a bath or shower," I said softly as Chrysalis went ahead and pulled back the bedsheet and jumped into the bed.

"Eh," she dismissed with a slight shrug of her shoulders before stretching out on the bed with a soft sigh. Apparently having a bath or shower didn't mean much to Chrysalis. She also wasn't getting rid of her regular mare illusion either, nor mine. It looked like I was stuck with this illusion for now. Made sense all things considering. So, with all talking over, I walked over to the other side of the bed, climbed in, and got comfortable. And stared up at the ceiling in thought. Wondering if those two acts of kindness that happened to me today were usual for today's world or not. But I just shook my head and turned over away from Chrysalis and tried going to sleep. It couldn't be because nopony has ever been nice to me. Everypony has lied to me, especially Emmit. Using me to cop a feel of me while claiming it takes time for my horn to come back. So, yes, Emmit and Equestria will pay for what they've done to me.

And my horn started to itch.

^_^

Emmit's POV
Empress's Cove

After saying goodnight to everypony and my foals, Solar wanted to sleep with me, Luna, and Ember, so we all were together in one bed in our herd community in Ponyville. However, as soon as I was asleep, I found myself in the same area where I usually meet Red. A forest clearing with a small waterfall flowed into a small pond with crystal clear water and a raised flat rock in the middle of the pond. And I was laying on my back in my naked human form on the smooth wet flat rock in the middle of the pond. It was always the perfect day whenever I was here. Beautiful blue sky, sun shining brightly down upon the area, and a brisk cool breeze blowing through the trees.

A few seconds later, Red came sashaying her way out of the forest, into the pond, and waded through the pond up to me. All while having a look of desire and lust on her face. She wanted to play tonight. And proved it by climbing up onto the rock, and with her eyes locked on mine, she laid herself on top of me. "My Emmit," she whispered seductively, and with a lingering passionate kiss, she wiggled herself to get more comfortable. As she kissed me and I kissed her back, my arms wrapped around her. One hand rested between her wings and used a couple of fingers, on the other hand, to wrap around the base of her tail. "I want to talk to you tonight before having some fun."

"I'm listening," I told her softly as my fingers dug into her coat and skin between her wings.

"Or rather...we...want to talk to you," she corrected after a couple of seconds of pause. I wondered what she meant by we until I saw the Tree of Harmony also appear on the rock. She appeared as the crystalized form of Twilight and stood beside me. She had a smile on her face while looking down at me.

"Miss Harmony," I greeted her with a quick nod of my head. "I'm listening."

"It is about the ones that created me," Harmony said down to me with a small patient smile on her crystalized face.

It took me a couple of seconds to realize what she meant. And when it hit me, I looked at her with widened eyes, "So that's what he meant by seed. Starswirl and the pillars planted the seed which grew into you."

"Yes," she told me. "In order to free them, their individual artifacts need to be gathered first. Starswirl's journal you already have. Mage Meadowbrook's healer's mask, the shield of Flash Magnus, the blindfold of Somnambula, the flower of Mistmane, and the shovel of Rockhoof. All need to be gathered and brought to Ponhenge if they are to be freed. I know of their locations and tomorrow morning I will reveal their location to you at the map table with Twilight."

When it was clear that she was done, I took a patient breath, before telling her, "That's all well and good, but you realize that we can't free them while we are at war with the Storm King. It's just not feasible to concentrate on the war and the danger of freeing the Pony of Shadows at the same time. Not to mention the danger of the Pony of Shadows joining up with the Storm King. This war would become much more difficult if that happens."

She seemed to acknowledge that with a slow nod of her head while Red, meanwhile, was lightly kissing my neck and chest while humming contently. "However, I do ask that you at least gather the artifacts."

I thought about it for a bit while enjoying Red's kisses. "Alright, I think it would be fine to spend the time gathering the artifacts. If only to collect them and put them all away in a secure vault for later use. I can see that meeting them would mean a lot to you. And I can promise that we will look into freeing them when this war is over."

She gave me a wide smile with gratitude in her eye then she leaned in and gently kissed me on the cheek. "That is all that I ask," she said then faded away.

A second later, Red lifted herself up off of me just enough to slam her hooves down upon the smooth wet stone on either side of my head. And with her sultry lust-filled eyes locked onto mine, she rolled her hips against me. When she did that, her pussy lips parted around my hard shaft and started coating it with her juices. "Now then," she started to say then stopped to give me a passionate kiss that turned my head. "You are going," she said before pausing again to kiss my neck, hard. "To love me," she growled into my ear, lifted up her waist, then lifted up my hard cock, lined it up with her entrance, and then slammed herself down upon me in one quick motion with a loud explosive shout.

Next Chapter: Chapter Four: Gathering the Artifacts of the Pillars Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 47 Minutes