Tempest's POV

Because Emmit and Princess Luna have invaded my dreams before, I recognized the feeling of a lucid dream. Although, I wasn't in a dream but standing on a nonexistent ground while surrounded by the stars of the universe. After taking a quick look around at the vast blanket of stars and recognizing this as a lucid dream, I just knew that both Emmit and Princess Luna would show up. I was proven right a couple of seconds later as they appeared a few hooves away in front of me. With one look between us, we all knew why we were all here. They were going to talk to me about my horn again. My anger quickly grew hot and wished beyond anything that I could actually attack them right now. Along with the anger, I felt the familiar changes in my body as my heart quickened for a fight. My heart began to beat louder in my chest, my eyes widened with righteous fury, and my breath deepened.

"You dare show yourself to me again after using me just so you could cop a feel," I growled at him and instinctually readied my body for a fight even though it wouldn't do any good.

"I wasn't using you, Tempest," he reiterated again to me. "It takes a couple of days for it to work. You can tell it's working because your horn will itch. Derpy's eyes itched as they slowly corrected themselves. Scootaloo's wings itched for a couple of days as they grew to normal size." I blinked at him in total disbelief. He was lying. I shook my head violently at him. "Does your horn itch, Tempest?"

"I think we know the answer to that question," Princess Luna said as she looked over at me.

"SHUT UP!" I shouted at them, firing off a beam of raw magical energy at them. It was something that I've never done before but then again this was a dream, so anything can happen. Naturally, it didn't do anything to them, just phased right through them. "LIARS! ALL OF YOU!"

"Your horn is being restored, Tempest," he reiterated again to me as I sat down and put my hooves over my ears in a vain attempt to block him out. "And I expect you to keep your word as a soldier and surrender when you find out that I've been telling you the truth and that I wasn't using you as you believe."

Keeping my eyes closed and my hooves over my ears, I tried drowning him out by shouting louder, "LIARS! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! NOPONY EVER TELLS...

"...ME THE TRUTH!" I shouted into the room as I woke up finishing my statement from the dream. And like in the dream, I was sitting up in the bed with my hooves covering my ears. That, of course, woke up Chrysalis.

She woke up with a startled snort then rolled over to look up at me with an angry half-asleep expression on her bleary-eyed face. "If you are going to have a nightmare, at least do it quietly." That was the only thing she said to me. After she said that, she rolled back over and eventually went back to sleep again.

I couldn't. I sat there in bed feeling like I'd just come from a fight. Eyes wide, heart beating hard in my chest, and my breath coming out in short quick deep bursts was all signs of a body going into fight mode. All while his words were echoing in my head like a sounding bell. Especially one phrase. Does your horn itch? NO! It's not possible! He's lying. But if he's lying, how could he know that my horn was...is still itching? As I sat there in bed with that question running through my mind, I tried shaking my head in another vain attempt to block that single question from running through my mind. How could he have known my horn itched if he was lying to me?

With that question still running through my head, I had to get out of the room. It started to feel too confining as my heart began pounding for another reason. It was as if the walls were closing in on me. No! Not possible! He had to have been lying to me! Nopony ever tells me the truth! I rolled out of bed, quickly left the room, through the lobby that doubled as a saloon, and then out the door into the open night dusty air. I slowed down and stopped in the middle of the dusty so-called street and took a few deep breaths while gazing up at the night sky. After a few deep breaths, I managed to calm myself down a little. But even so, the question of how could he know that my horn was itching was still racing through my mind.

With my mind still racing with thoughts, I started pacing up and down the street in front of the lonely and dusty pitiful excuse of a hotel. Muttering to myself between the possibility that it might be true and sure that he was lying the whole time. He was just using me to cop a feel and to just get his hands on my body. Everypony has either lied to me or used me for their own selfish ends. It couldn't be true. But how could he have known that my horn was itching? And it was itching. I stopped my pacing to reach a hoof up to carefully scratch around what's left of my horn. Though, not as much as it was before. And even though I tried my best to deny there was even the slimmest chance that he was telling the truth, I couldn't help but latch onto that very slim possibility with every fiber of my being. I hated that everypony has lied and used me, but I wanted to be normal again. He was right that I desperately wanted my horn back. Desperately wanted to become just Fizzlepop Berrytwist once more. Especially after so long.

My mind was such a whirlwind of thoughts that I didn't even notice the sunrise or Chrysalis' approach and grabbing me with a hoof. "Hey, stop pacing in the middle of the street and talking to yourself," she growled at me after grabbing my shoulder with a hoof stopping me in my tracks and my thoughts. "You're starting to draw attention to yourself." She was right, though. I noticed that there were a few ponies now out and about in the small town that were looking at me with either concern or confusion. "So, stop pacing around, and let's get back on the train." As if on cue, the train's whistle rents the air to signal the last call to board. "Let's go because I've got an idea."

She took off with me following beside her and she didn't tell me what that idea was until we boarded the train. This time, we chose a car that was empty and sat in the back closest to the caboose. After we sat down, and I reached into the bag that had what was left from yesterday that Chrysalis remembered to bring, I started munching on a meager breakfast while she explained her idea.

"Alright, I want to stop by Ponyville for a number of reasons," she whispered as the train's whistle sounded once more just before the train jerked as it began moving. "One is because I can ask the antique dealer there what the latest news is as Daring Do. Daring Do has many places around Equestria to give her leads on possible powerful artifacts. The antique dealer in Ponyville is one of them, so after we get to Ponyville, I will disguise myself as Daring Do and see if he has anything for me. The other one is to see what Emmit, Celestia, and Luna are up to. And maybe get some revenge on them."

Yes, I knew what she was referring to. And I didn't like it. I was a soldier, not a murderer.

"His family lives there and there is very little protection compared to the castle," she whispered with murderous glee.

I shook my head fiercely at that. "No, I won't be a part of murdering the innocent!" I whispered forcefully at her.

We were alone enough that she leaned back on the bench for a long belly laugh. "Are you kidding?! How many...innocent...creatures have you murdered as the Storm King's stooge?"

I nearly put my nose against hers and growled out in protest, "That is different and you know it. I've never killed an innocent colt or filly and I've always told the soldiers to never kill the innocent. And I won't be a part of anything that does."

There was a maniacal evil glee in her eyes as she giggled out her response. "But you will anyway. You're not a soldier anymore. And we're both on the run from Emmit and the princesses. And don't forget how he used you just so he could get his hands on your body." She paused, pulled back away from me, and looked away for a second in thought with a hoof to her chin. "Although, even I'll admit that Emmit's a great buck. I tricked him into bucking me when I was disguised as Daring Do and his seed was the only one to take."

"I don't want to take part in-"

I tried telling her again before she quickly turned her head at me and used her magic to bring my head toward hers again. Almost nose to nose again, she growled out in a low tone of voice. "Enough, Tempest. You are no longer a soldier. You are nothing more than a lost evil villain and you need to accept that. He was only using you just like everypony else was doing. Nothing can restore a horn. Get that through your thick head. You're not going to get a new horn. You aren't going to regrow it or anything. It's just us and whomever we can get on our side." And with that little speech done, she turned my head loose. Then fell into companionable silence.

As the silence spanned the time between us, I decided not to tell her my own plans for when I reached Ponyville. There were two ponies there that I wanted to talk to. And they were Derpy and Scootaloo. I had to find out if what they experienced was similar to mine. And if it was... If it was... The closer we got to Ponyville, the more hope I began to have in spite of not wanting to build it up. And if by some outside miracle of a chance that he actually did restore my horn, then Chrysalis and I would have to part ways. Probably rather violently.

^_^

"PONYVILLE!" came the conductor's call just after the train whistled our arrival at Ponyville's train station. Immediately upon stopping, Chrysalis said a quick and quiet, "Come on," before getting up and heading toward the door. Of course, never having been to Ponyville before I had no choice but to follow her as we left the train station and made our way through town to the antique dealer. We were still disguised, so the local residents didn't pay us any attention as we left the station and started walking around the outskirts of town. Chrysalis told me that the antique dealer was on the north side of town.

From what I could tell from the train, Ponyville was laid out in a large circle with a stream flowing around the Southeastern part of town, and the train station was situated in the Northwestern part of the town. Chrysalis had obviously been here before because of the way she walked like she knew where she was going. She was walking rather quickly, so I had to trot at a good pace just to keep up with her. And while she was looking straight ahead and looking out for the antique store, my mind was on Derpy and Scootaloo. I had to find a way to get away from her long enough to try and find those two ponies and ask them if what I heard was true. Even while my mission was to find and talk to both Derpy and Scootaloo, I still took the time to take a look around the quaint small town. It was almost noon and so everypony was out and about doing their thing. And from what little of the town I've seen so far, it looked to be a nice quiet little town. So, hopefully, it won't take long to find those two ponies and ask them.

The store itself was a basic square-looking unassuming store with a single front door in the middle with two windows on either side and a flat roof. Inside the two windows were just some of the antiques that he was selling. Immediately upon reaching the door, Chrysalis paused at the door to take a quick look around. At first, I didn't know why she was looking around. That was until she used her magic to make herself look like Daring Do then motioned for me to follow her and walked inside the store.

The layout inside looked almost haphazard with the smaller antiques on what looked like tall bookshelves on either side of the room against the wall. In the middle of the store from the front door to the back wall was another row of tall bookshelves back to back with smaller antiques on them. Between them were the larger antiques on small antique tables or floor display cases. Hanging on the walls were all sorts of old pictures, picture frames, and mirrors of all sorts. Dangling from the ceiling were chandeliers of all shapes and sizes. Chrysalis, now disguised as Daring Do walked around the tall bookcase in front of us and down the row to the front of the store where a stallion waited behind the counter by the cash register.

"Daring Do!" the store proprietor called out as he saw us walk up to him. He had a wide smile on his face as he stood up from his seat to stand on his hind legs and put his front hooves against the counter beside the cash register. "Welcome back to the small crazy town of Ponyville."

Chrysalis jumped up and placed one hoof against the counter and laid the other down on the counter so she could lean in closer. "Got anything for me?" she asked in a hushed whisper after she leaned in closer.

Right then, we heard the sound of the door opening and a set of hooves trotting quickly through the room. They paused whatever they were going to say and watched a stallion with an orange coat and a redish-orange mane and tail with glasses on quickly trot up to us. He paused only for a second when he saw the proprietor, Daring Do, and a Lunar night soldier. Then smiled wide as he recognized Daring Do, "Oh, Daring Do! You are going to enjoy the news that I was going to tell the antique dealer here."

Chrysalis grinned at him, lifted her hoof from the counter, and waved it in his direction, "Go on."

"And what news is that?" the proprietor asked right after Chrysalis.

The orange pony trotted up to the counter excitedly and told us something that had Chrysalis grinning from ear to ear about. "Remember when I bought that box from you the other day?" he asked the dealer which he returned with a nod of his head. "In that box just so happen to have Starswirl's personal journal." The dealer's eyes went wide at that in shock. Heck, I was shocked at that. Even I have heard of Starswirl. "And in that journal, he spoke of what happened to him and the rest of the Pillars of Harmony. They were going to use a portal to limbo in order to trap the Pony of Shadows. There was just one catch. They had to sacrifice themselves to do it."

The dealer waved a hoof to stop him and get his attention. "Ok, so let me get this straight. The box that I sold you had a personal journal of Starswirl the Bearded. In that journal, he spoke of how and why he and his friends disappeared so many years ago? And that was to sacrifice themselves in order to trap this Pony of Shadows in limbo?"

The orange pony quickly nodded his head so fast that his glasses were nearly thrown off his head. "Exactly correct," he said while repositioning his glasses back into place.

"What else?" Chrysalis asked eagerly. "Where's the journal now?"

"That's the beautiful part," he continued excitedly while looking between us. "That journal told us that Starswirl and the Pillars are the ones that planted the seed which grew into the Tree of Harmony herself. Emmit has spoken with the Empress and the Tree of Harmony last night and they told him to go out and gather the artifacts of the Pillars. That was because, with the journal and the artifacts, there's a chance that Starswirl and the rest of them can one day be freed."

This time Chrysalis waved a hoof to get his attention. "Hold on. Are you telling me that the journal and the artifacts could free Starswirl and the Pony of Shadows?"

With a few slow nods of his head, the look on his face went from excited to disappointed. "That's the catch," he confirmed. "Even though the Tree of Harmony herself was so looking forward to spending time with them. Emmit told her and the Empress that because of the war with the Storm King, now's not the time to free them. Especially considering that in order to free the Pillars the Pony of Shadows would have to be freed at the same time."

"So, what's happening now?" Chrysalis asked, looking very eager to get the information.

"Emmit and others are out gathering the artifacts right now," he said. "They left about three hours ago and will probably take all day. Once they return, they will come back here first for the journal that Twilight is holding and then go secure them. Sometime after the war is over is when they can work on freeing them while dealing with the Pony of Shadows in a more controlled way."

The orange pony and the proprietor looked disappointed. However, the gleeful look on Chrysalis' face told me exactly what she was thinking. She was thinking about stealing the artifacts...somehow and then going free the Pony of Shadows. "Thank you for telling us," Chrysalis told him, "that's exactly the news I wanted to hear." Then without another word, she jumped down from the counter and started trotting toward the door. I followed her out the door and to the side of the building where she reverted herself to her other disguise. Then after apparently changing my disguise from a night soldier to a day soldier, she whispered gleefully about her plan. "That's it! That's exactly what we need. Emmit will arrive tonight with the artifacts and that's when we'll steal them and the journal to go free the Pony of Shadows. Once the Pony of Shadows is free, I'm sure we can convince him to join us."

Now was maybe my chance. If she was going to go off and prepare something to steal the artifacts and the journal, then maybe I could go off on my own to find and talk to those two ponies. "But they won't be back until tonight? How are we going to steal them? And what are you going to do until then?"

She sat her butt down and wickedly rubbed her front hooves together with an insane quick giggle. "I'm going to plan something that will force him to hand over the journal and the artifacts."

I gave her a quick nod. "While you do that, I'm going to find something to eat here. I haven't had a good meal in a long time."

She rolled her eyes at me and waved me off with a hoof. "Fine, fine, go ahead. I'll find you later after I work something out."

"Thanks," I told her giving her a quick nod, then turned and left the alley we were hiding in to go find someplace to eat first. I'll admit to making my way to the middle of town with a quick trot for a couple of reasons. One was simply because I was hungry and could get something to eat as a soldier. Surely there would be some type of restaurant in the middle of town. Secondly was to ask somepony how to find either Derpy or Scootaloo. The center of town was easy to find considering it was one large circle. And because it wasn't that big of a town, I found a place to eat and it was called Sugarcube Corner.

And apparently, it was the place to be for lunch because there was already a short line out the door. Being hungry, I got in line behind a light purple coated pegasus with light orange and yellow mane and tail. Seemed to be a good enough pony to start with, so after tapping her butt to get her attention, I asked her, "Excuse me, but I have some official business with Miss Derpy. Could you help me find her?"

"Oh, sure," her face brightened with a smile as she pointed toward the head of the line. "She's the one with the bluish-gray coat and pale yellow mane and tail wearing the mail uniform."

Sticking to my soldier persona, I gave her a quick salute, saying, "Thank you, ma'am." Then left the line and walked up to the entrance to Sugarcube Corner. I saw Derpy at the counter ordering food and just as the mare said, she was wearing a mail uniform. Not wanting to draw any more attention to myself than I already have and also not wanting to appear to be cutting in line, I waited for her to finish her order and walk out the door before speaking to her. That didn't take long and after a few minutes of waiting, she thanked the mare at the counter and then turned to leave the store.

"Excuse me, Miss Derpy? Can I ask you a few questions?" I immediately asked her when she walked out of the store and got close to me.

She stopped and blinked at me a couple of times before stepping up to me with curiosity on her face. "Me? Sure. What do you need?"

My heart was beating rather hard because of the questions that I was going to ask. The possibilities that it would bring. "I was wondering if you could verify that the one called Emmit healed your eyes. Is it true...that..."

"Yes, it is," she told me with such a wide smile and a figurative glow on her face. "I used to be a great flier when I was a filly until I got lazy eyes. It didn't come suddenly either, but slowly over about a year. I went to numerous doctors and there was simply nothing that they could do for me. That was until Emmit healed me shortly before the last heat season started. I heard that he healed Scootaloo's wings and went to talk to her. I know how weird and disbelieving it sounds that he was able to heal her wings. She's always had small wings and couldn't fly but one day, Emmit unexpectedly healed her. And now she's flying everywhere. So, I asked him to heal me as well. And he did. I'll forever be in his debt."

My heart swelled and my emotions began to run wild. It's true? "How did it feel? Did your eyes itch?" I asked as my voice trembled slightly.

"Yeah, they did," she confirmed as she nodded her head. "For about a day and a half, they itched. But I could tell that it was working because my sight was getting better. I could tell when it was done because my eyes stopped itching. I've been seeing straight ever since."

A tear crawled out of my eye as I sat my butt down in realization that my horn hasn't itched since I got to Ponyville. While staring at her with wide hopeful eyes, I lifted a trembling hoof up to my head to feel my horn. Chrysalis said that this was just an illusion and didn't affect me physically. I knew that to be true because I could feel my real self and not the illusion that everypony else was seeing. This meant that I would be able to feel whether or not my horn was been fully restored or not. So, I reached up and touched my horn.

And froze.

My horn...

Tears started falling from my face as I ran my trembling hoof up and down my fully restored horn. "Hey, are you alright?" she asked me, now concerned for me while I reached up with my other hoof and did the same. My horn has been fully restored. He was telling the truth all along. My horn is normal again. I've got my horn back. He wasn't using me. He really did help me. His words from last night came back again. And I expect you to keep your word as a soldier and surrender when you find out that I've been telling you the truth and that I wasn't using you as you believe. As tears fell from my face, I felt a hoof around my shoulders. "Hey, whatever it is, let's go see Twilight. She'll be able to help."

I gave her a few quick nods and with a trembling voice, I lowered my hooves down, telling her, "Y-Yes. P-Please take m-me to her. There's s-something I need to tell her." From where we were, we headed North through the town and toward the large purple crystal castle in the Northern part of town. She stayed by my side the whole time as we walked through town. And all the way there my emotions ran high. I was so elated and happy that I could be Fizzlepop Berrytwist again, but also now feeling so terrible for what I've done. The whole time we were walking, I was going from giggling because I was so happy to crying about what I'd done. I was crying when we got to the castle.

I'd never seen a crystal castle before and my turmoil of emotions was temporarily forgotten as my eyes took in the foyer I was in. The front door opened up into a large foyer with a door on the left, the right, and in front of me. "I don't know exactly where Twilight is right now, so why don't you wait in the map room over there while I go and find her?"

With my emotions in such turmoil, the only thing I could do was nod at her then turn to my left and walk into the map room. Whatever that was. But I found out after walking in. The room was large and circular with a crystal table surrounded by six stone thrones each one with a cutie mark on it. Above the table hung a chandelier that appeared to be made from real tree roots. It was definitely a room to admire. But I got the start of my life with my heart pounding inside of my chest in fright due to what appeared inside the room with me on the other side of the table. She must have appeared when I was staring up at the chandelier because she was there when I lowered my head. I gasped hard in shock and started backing up in fright. She was a semi-transparent pony that looked to be made from crystal. She was purple in color with a horn and wings. And when she spoke, it was a very soothing and calming voice. "Do not be afraid, Fizzlepop Berrytwist," she said softly with a voice that echoed slightly like tinkling bells.

"Who are you? Are you Twilight? And how do you know my name?" I asked and noticed that my body was calming down again. Even when she started to walk around the table and got closer to me, I was still starting to calm down.

"I am glad you are here," she said as she slowly walked around the table toward me. "I am the Tree of Harmony. I have been watching you and suggested that Emmit heal you of your horn."

"You did?" I blinked at her as she approached me.

After she walked up to me, she lowered her head toward me and gently tapped me on my forehead. Looking down, I watched the illusion Chrysalis gave me disappear and revert me back to myself again. "I did," she confirmed with a slow nod of her head with a gentle smile on her face. "Because you were hurt so deeply in your past, you are just misguided. While I cannot help what happened in the past. There are those that can help you now. Emmit being one of them."

"I thought...I thought he..." I tried telling her but my voice was trembling as tears started to fall again.

She actually giggled slightly, "I know. You thought he was just using you as the Storm King has been. And like Chrysalis was doing. He's not like that, although his method is a bit...intimate." When I didn't say anything but just stood there crying with my front hooves over my eyes, she gently asked me, "Are you ready to become Fizzlepop Berrytwist again?" Without being able to say anything because of how hard I was crying, I was left to simply nod my head. And that's when I heard soft hoofsteps walk up behind me.

"Even though I'm happy to hear that, Miss Berrytwist," I heard the same voice as Harmony's from behind me, "that will not be easy. This is war and you were the Storm King's second in command."

When I lifted my head and turned it around to look back, I saw the same purple pony standing there. After using a hoof to rub the water out of my eyes, I stepped back to look at the crystal purple pony to my left and the normal-looking purple pony to my right. "That is Twilight Sparkle, Miss Berrytwist," I heard from Crystal Harmony as I looked at her duplicate. A very pregnant duplicate.

"It's a long story," Twilight said with a small smile with kindness in her eyes. "I take it you are here to surrender because your horn has been restored?"

I was able to turn toward her and give her a slow nod. "I am," I told her while my voice still trembled with the sea of emotions running through me. Closing my eyes, I bowed to her, "I, Tempest, formerly Storm King's second in command, surrender to you. I want to be simply Fizzlepop Berrytwist again. I also need to warn you that Chrysalis is in town and knows about your quest to collect the artifacts and secure them. She knows that he is returning here with them here to Ponyville."

"Is she?" Twilight asked rhetorically.

"Yes, I'm sorry for what I've done," I told her with my head still bowed to her. "I thought that he was lying to me about restoring my horn and just used that to cop a feel. I'm sorry."

"If he really was using that just to touch you, he'd have a burnt ass right now," she told me with some heat in her voice. There was only a slight pause before she continued, "I accept your surrender, Tempest. You may stand." When I did and looked up at her again, her face still held kindness in it but there was also a firm look in them. The look of a princess. Of authority. She also didn't say anything for about a minute as if she was thinking about something. Then she blinked and addressed me again. "I've just told Princess Celestia and Emmit that you have surrendered and about what you told me that Chrysalis is up to." I kept silent and just gave her a slow nod.

Just then, we were joined by a small green dragon. He walked in and up to Twilight, "Say, Twilight? Is there...anything..." Then he paused when he saw me. His eyes went wide when he recognized who I was. "Is that...?"

"Yes, Spike, it is," Twilight told him with a calm voice to calm him down. "Tempest has surrendered to us, so would you please get me a suppressor ring?"

"Uh," he looked between us before saying, "yeah, I'll get it."

"Thank you, Spike. We'll wait for you in the dining room," Twilight told him as the small dragon sped off to get this ring.

"Because you were an enemy combatant, it is required that you wear a magical suppressor ring over your horn," she informed me. I gave her an acknowledging nod of my head. "I don't exactly know when you will be allowed to take it off, but I'm sure that you are happy to have your horn back again even if you will have to do without magic for a while."

"Yes, your highness, I am," I said with a slow nod and a small smile. "I expected as such."

"Good. I was just fixing lunch, so follow me to the kitchen and dining room." After saying that, she turned toward the door and started walking away. I followed her for a couple of seconds before remembering her duplicate. But when I looked back at where she was before, she was gone. So, I followed Twilight to the kitchen and dining room of her castle. We were quiet until she walked into the kitchen where the smell of food permeated the air and had my stomach growling. After walking in, she looked over at me with a giggle and a smile. "I take it by that rumble you haven't eaten yet?"

I shook my head. "No, just had a light snack this morning from leftover train food."

She motioned to the table just in front of me, "Then have a seat. I'm not that great of a cook but I've made cooked some vegetables with macaroni." The dining room table and the kitchen were part of one large room. The table in front of me was not as large as one might expect in a castle as it had only eight chairs. It also didn't look like it got a lot of use either. And because it didn't feel right to sit at the head of the table, I took a seat on one side of it.

"I really don't deserve this good treatment, your highness," I said while looking down at the table. "But thank you."

There was kindness in her voice as I heard her say, "You're welcome, Miss Berrytwist. I am the Princess of Friendship after all. And I've learned a long time ago that how could I ever be the Princess of Friendship if I didn't offer my hoof in friendship to a former enemy who wanted a friend?" There was a pause before she added quietly, "Though many would agree with you that you don't deserve kindness because of what you've done. And some would also say the same for Discord, Trixie, and Starlight Glimmer as well. And all three of them are living quite well here in Ponyville."

I tried speaking, but nothing would come out until finally said quietly, "I'm sorry."

"I believe you," I heard her say but didn't see because I was still looking down at the table. My ears picked up the sound of food cooking and the clanking of pans on a stove. The smell of food hitting my nose had my stomach demanding to be fed. "But I think you already know that the road ahead for you will be a hard one."

"Yes," was all I could say as the door to the hallway opened with Spike walking in with a dark ring in his claws.

"Ah, Spike. Please put the ring over her horn please then see if Starlight and Sunburst are free?"

"Alright," Spike said, though he sounded apprehensive. I tried making it easy for him and lowered my head down slowly so as to not startle him. I kept my eyes looking down at the floor when I heard his slow steps up toward me and quickly put the ring over my horn. When that happened, he quickly retreated out the door again. And I felt my connection to my magic disappear. But at least I had my horn back. From there it was nothing but silence as Twilight finished cooking. When she was done, she came back over to me and set a bowl in front of me.

"Technically speaking," she started to say as she sat down in the seat across from me, "you are a prisoner of war. Hence the magical suppressor ring over your horn." I nodded a couple of times at her before starting to eat from the bowl in front of me. "Thanks for your information regarding Chrysalis, Celestia told me that she will put all the local soldiers on high alert. She will also double the guards around her home here in Ponyville."

"That's good. She told me that she was thinking about possibly holding some young ponies hostage to force you to hoof over the journal and the artifacts," I told her out of concern for whomever she decides to take hostage. "As soon as she told me that, I told her that I didn't want any part of it. I'm a soldier. I never wanted to be a monster." When I told her that, she closed her eyes as if in thought again. So, I waited for her to speak as before.

"After telling them that, both Celestia and Emmit have decided that the best course of action would be for everypony to meet up in Canterlot tonight instead of here in Ponyville." She paused in her eating to explain. "We'll meet up in the throne room separately, so all the artifacts won't be in one place until they are surrounded by soldiers."

"I agree, that would be best," I said with a slow nod.

"So, let's talk about your possible future."

^_^

Emmit's POV
Airship Nighthawk
Aprx. 3 hrs later

It's been three hours since I got word that Tempest had surrendered to Twilight directly. Thankfully, we were already on the way back to Equestria when I got the word. Right after that, I ordered the captain for the best speed to Canterlot. Another thing on my mind was Rainbow. I knew that she would want to be part of securing the artifacts. Because the captain had a communication orb, I was able to use that to get hold of Wonderbolt Captain Spitfire and request Rainbow's presence on the ship. I knew that Rainbow would be out on patrol with the Wonderbolts around the Eastern coast, so it shouldn't be that hard for her to find us. And I was right, too. About an hour ago, she had joined us on the ship. She did that by flying up to me and laying down on my back with an exaggerated sigh of relief much to everypony's amusement. And promptly fell asleep before I could tell her the news about why I wanted her to join us.

While we were passing over the coast about two hours ago, I mentally messaged Fluttershy to check up on her. After telling me that she was done and was working her way back. I asked her if she wanted a lift because we would be passing over her position. She said that she would watch out for the ship and also joined us soon after Rainbow got on board.

So, right now there were three of the artifacts on the ship with us along with Ember, AJ, Fluttershy, and now Rainbow all with me. Now three hours later, we were almost to Canterlot as I stood at the bow of the ship with Rainbow still asleep on my back with a couple of tails over her as a blanket. Fluttershy was standing on one side with AJ on the other with Ember watching out for danger from above. We were so close to Canterlot that I could see the front courtyard where we were going to land.

"Rainbow must have been tired," AJ said softly with a smirk up at Rainbow while leaning against Rockhoof's shovel.

"Yes, but don't you think that we should wake her up? We are about to land." Fluttershy had a good point. Without even bothering to look back, I lifted up the two tails that were covering her and used the tips to start lightly poking her. From her head, all the way down her back to her rump the tips of my tails lightly poked her awake. I knew that would wake her up, but it would also agitate her a little as well.

"Hey, hey, hey," Rainbow started complaining as she woke up, "whoever is doing that-"

"That was me, Rainbow," I told her, now turning my head back to look at her. "You needed to wake up because we are about to land in Canterlot." She didn't look too pleased with being woken up, but luckily for me, I knew the perfect way to make it up to her. So, I held up Flash Magnus' shield. Her eyes latched onto it like a moth to a flame. "This is the shield of Flash Magnus. AJ has the Rockhoof's shovel and Fluttershy has Meadowbrook's mask, Rarity is already there with Mistmane's everlasting flower, Pinkie will be there shortly with Somnambula's blindfold, and Twilight is already there with Starswirl's journal."

Needless to say, that was a bit much for her. So, she hovered herself in front of me and waved her hooves. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on." She paused to point a hoof to the shield. "Are you telling me that this shield right here, is the shield of Flash Magnus?"

"Yep."

Because we were close enough to the castle, about eight pegasi soldiers flew up and escorted us to the courtyard landing zone. Four on each side, they guided us like tugboats guides a tanker. And we started our descent.

She reached out and took the shield slowly and held it in both hooves like it was the most precious thing on earth. And looked at it with wide eyes filled with awe. "Wow! So, why are we bringing them here?"

"Long story short," I began telling her as the ship slowed down and started lowering itself into the large courtyard. "We found Starswirl's personal journal where he told us what happened to them. They were going to take care of the Pony of Shadows. But in order to trap him in limbo, they had to be trapped with him. The journal and the artifacts, such as the shield, are the way to free Starswirl and the rest from limbo. However, if we do that then the Pony of Shadows would also be freed. And because we can't have that right now, we have gathered the artifacts together and will be putting them away in a secure vault for later. I wanted you here because I knew you would never forgive me if I didn't give you the opportunity to see and hold the shield before it was locked up."

"Good call," she said with a knowing smile and landed in front of me but turned the other way just as the ship came down for a landing in the courtyard. The ship landed with a hard thud that echoed through the courtyard and was immediately both tended to and surrounded by soldiers. The captain was already giving orders for the refit while the earth pony behind the wheel started shutting down the ship's engines as the ship was tied down and anchored to the ground. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ember already landing on the ground on the starboard side of the ship where the gangplank was lowered for us and the crew. So, that's where we headed.

And I wasn't surprised to see Pinkie already at the bottom of the ramp and standing beside Ember with the blindfold wrapped around her head as she watched us depart with a wide smile on her face. I stopped being surprised at what Pinkie could do a long time ago. Rainbow just flew off, so AJ went first and I walked down the ramp to plant a welcoming kiss on Pinkie. After our greeting, Ember was on one side of me with Pinkie on the other side as we followed AJ and Rainbow as they walked toward the castle in front of us.

"You know, it's really too bad that we have to store these for later," Aj commented as she walked. "It really would have been great to meet Rockhoof."

"No kidding, AJ," Rainbow agreed as she slowly flew beside AJ with the shield in her hoof. "It would be awesome to meet Flash Magnus."

"And someday you all will meet them, but not right now," I told them as a small group of soldiers surrounded us to escort us to the steps and inside. "For now, these need to be put away until after the war." As we walked up the steps still surrounded by a few soldiers with rifles, I was still feeling a little nervous in spite of everything. Because I knew that Chrysalis was out there somewhere and hopefully she didn't realize that the artifacts aren't in Ponyville. So, I would feel much better when the artifacts are secured in the vault. However, what Tempest said about Chrysalis using a hostage was still a possibility that was running through my mind as we all stepped through the large double doors and into the castle. As we all walked down the hallway toward the throne room, other thoughts and possibilities that Chrysalis could still do ran through my mind. And was making me a little nervous and anxious.

Tia, Twilight, and Rarity were already standing in the middle of the throne room waiting for us when we walked in. "Hello to all my lovelies," I greeted with a smile as we walked in and up to them. "And even though I would like to spend the next few minutes in passionate greeting, it would be best if we go ahead and secure the artifacts."

"I agree completely," Tia gave me a nod, immediately starting to walk to the door. However, she stopped beside me long enough to say, "But you are welcome to make it up to us later," and wiggle her eyebrows at me teasingly.

Rarity decided to sashay her way up to my other side as her voice took on a sexy alluring tone. "Perhaps put on a little show for all of us later?"

Right after that we were all suddenly both blinded and deafened by the magical equivalent of a long-lasting flash bang. Then Chrysalis' maniacal laughter rents the air and echoes in the throne room. "As much as I would enjoy watching him pleasure himself, I have plans for Starswirl's journal and the rest of the artifacts. When you can finally see again, you can come and welcome the freedom of the Pony of Shadows." Still in my fox form, I did my best to try and work through the blindness and cover Tia and Rarity with my tails to hold them to me. While my ears picked up the sound of Chrysalis using her magic to probably gather the journal and the artifacts for her, I also heard the cries and the whimpers of the others because of Chryslias' flash bang. She didn't waste any time in gathering them up and using her magic to leave either. Because after I heard her say a cheery, "Ta Ta," I heard the familiar sound of a magical teleport activating.

The soldiers guarding the doors ran inside just as Chrysalis used her magic to teleport out and immediately started checking on us. "Sire, are you alright?" a stallion soldier asked me with concern in his voice.

AJ and Rainbow were practically cursing up a storm, Tia was so upset that she was literally shaking with anger against me, and Rarity was also cursing but doing so quietly and in such a lady-like manner it was almost funny. Turning my head toward the stallion's voice, "Take the best soldiers present and the airship Nighthawk and pursue Chrysalis. She's heading to Ponhenge to free the Pony of Shadows. Use any and all means to stop Chrysalis from using the journal and the artifacts at Ponhenge. Stop her from freeing the Pony of Shadows. If by some chance that you are too late, then kill Chrysalis and the Pony of Shadows and protect Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars at all costs. Go!"

"Yes, sir," I heard from multiple soldiers then the rush of hooves as they left the throne room.

"Damn it," I cried out in frustration while still holding Tia and Rarity. "Sound off, is everypony reasonably alright?"

"I'm alright," Fluttershy's trembling voice called out from not too far on my right.

"I'm fine, just can't see," AJ said from my left. "And I think Rainbow is here somewhere."

"OW!" came from Rainbow a second later.

"Found her," AJ chuckled then apologized to Rainbow. "Sorry RD."

"Horseapples!" we all heard from Rainbow with a hoof stomp on the stone floor. "I can't fly if I can't see."

"Yeah, that's not fair," was Pinkie's whining comment from behind me.

"Unfortunately, there's nothing that we can do except wait for it to wear off," Twilight informed us. I also heard hoofsteps from her direction which told me that she was trying to find her way over to us. "And by the power of that flash, we should be seeing again in a few minutes." Her voice was getting closer and sounded as if she had just about reached us. "Ok, I'm here. Who am I touching?"

"That would be me and my tush, Twilight darling," came Rarity's amused voice.

"Oh! Sorry, Rarity," Twilight apologized then I think I heard her try and move in front of us.

"That's quite alright," Rarity's tone of voice dismissed it. "I think we are quite intimate with each other at this point."

I reached out with a paw and guided Twilight up to me when she got close enough. Where I felt her physically relax as if in relief as I kissed her. "Can everypony else come to us?"

"Yeah, just keep talking and we'll find ya," Aj called out and heard her hoofsteps get closer.

Then Rainbow as she teased, "Yeah, just think that his bad jokes will actually serve a useful purpose for a change."

^_^

Chrysalis' POV
Ponhenge

I had changed forms to a large bird to fly myself directly to Ponhenge while laughing at them the whole way there. I simply could not believe that actually worked. It was so easy. I even could have killed them if I wanted to, but I had other plans for the moment. And that was to free the Pony of Shadows and get him to join me. By the time I got to Ponhenge, I was tired but it was something I was used to. I have Ponhenge a long time ago, so finding it now was easy. It was in ruins now as the six stone Pillars were short crumbling relics of what they once were. The stone empty shallow well in the center was still mostly intact but it and the pillars were covered in forest.

I didn't bother clearing them as I changed back to normal and quickly started placing the Journal with the rest of the artifacts around on each pillar. Had to guess considering there weren't any indications of which one went where. However, I must have guessed right because of the ghostly apparitions of Starswirl and the rest of the goody goody ponies. A ghostly apparition of the Pony of Shadows appeared as well. He was nothing but shadows and stood four times as tall as any pony. While the Pony of Shadows glared down at Starswirl, he himself started monologuing about his plans to stop him. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes at the image of Starswirl, lowered my head toward the journal, and activated my magic. "Shut up you goody goody pony and rejoin the modern era." This would probably drain me of a massive amount of magic but that was something that I was used to. And will gladly accept in order to free the Pony of Shadows. After a deep breath, I activated my magic and sent a large steady stream to the journal.

It didn't take long for energy to start connecting the journal to the other artifacts. Panting heavily, I deactivated my magic and stood watching the magical energy work its way from the journal all the way around to the other objects. One by one each object was connected to the journal and to each other. Then once the connection was complete, all six pillars flashed to life glowing with magical energy. A second later, the center stone pool came to life. Some type of energy portal shimmered into existence and hummed with power. It almost looked like water. It flowed like it as the surface rippled like water. "Yes! Yes!" I cheered while facing and watching the portal with wide excited eyes. "The Pony of Shadows is free. Come to me and join me!" I shouted as Starswirl and five other ponies started appearing in front of the pillars. Their groans were a satisfying sound to my ears as I watched them lay down apparently dizzy.

With an evil satisfied grin on my face, I turned toward Starswirl that was laying on the ground in front of me. "Thank you so much, Starswirl for writing down what was needed to free the Pony of Shadows."

With a soft groan, he lifted his head and blinked a few times as if clearing his eyes. When his eyes finally focused on me, it took a second for him to recognize me. But when he did my grin widened as he growled out up at me, "Chrysalis! You fiend!"

"Yes, Starswirl. Me. Thank you for writing down everything I needed to know about freeing the Pony of Shadows," I told him then heard a loud thud behind me as if something large just landed. When I turned around, the Pony of Shadows was standing there looking down at me.

"Chrysalis? Are you the one that-AAaahh." He started to ask before suddenly kneeling down in pain. And a quick look behind him was the answer as to what happened. An airship was in the distance and somepony on the ship took a shot at him. "What is this?! Who dares attack the Pony of Shadows?! And with what?!" Thinking quickly, I darted over to Starswirl and stood over him, and planted a hoof hard against his head.

While glaring over toward the airship, I used my magic to enhance my voice at them. "Here me, you pesky soldiers! Allow the Pony of Shadows and me to leave freely or your precious Starswirl dies!"

Hold your fire! I heard faintly from the airship as it began slowing down.

"Yes, I freed you," I looked up and spoke quickly to him. "I know you want revenge against Starswirl and Equestria. I do as well. A lot of time has passed but we need to leave right now. That ship behind you has very advanced weapons that you already know can hurt you at a distance. There will be time for revenge later but for now, we need to get out of here."

The Pony of Shadows stood up while lifting up his hurt leg and looked between me and the airship. The airship itself slowed to a stop and was just hovering there about three hoofball court lengths away. "Very well, Chrysalis," he said with a quick nod of his head, "we shall leave for now and you shall tell me everything." His body instantly turned to shadows, picked me up, and left with me away from Ponhenge, the airship, and my creator Starswirl.

Next Chapter: Chapter Six: Greeting the Pillars Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 11 Minutes