After a nice night of rest and food from the kitchens, the entire group was ready to finish the letter and be on their way from there.

     "And that should do it!" Spike enthusiastically chirped as he waved the quill around in the air. The letter just barely took up the last of the parchment, explaining the group's predicament and the confirmation that they were safe.

     Sevilin had urged Twilight to leave out the fact that Changelings were present in the city. "But that's a lie!" she had said. Instead Sevilin used his serpentine power of speech and whispered reassuringly, "It's just leaving out a bit of information. I know now that that is unlike you, but they have not posed a threat so far, have they? Trust me, it'll all be fine."

     That seemed to do it, but Twilight asked Sevilin if she should include him in the letter. "Of course. I should be first and foremost. If they would wish to speak, we will do so away from here. My interests are placed solely in my people, and I will keep their whereabouts unknown until I know I can trust the Princesses."

     The letter consisted of the human's appearance and attitude, as well as an overview of the city's technological capabilities. Included was a proposed meeting location for the Princesses and Jacobs.

     "Bitterbrooke Springs. Hmmm, never heard of it." the orange farmpony stroked her chin, peering at the document. "Where's that?"

     "Several miles away. I'm not giving an exact distance, I don't want Twilight picking up that tidbit of information." the human grinned as Twilight's ears flopped back down in disappointment. The group's supplies were returned to them, but their weapons were withheld for the time being.

     "And how is Force, huh?" Rainbow Dash crossed her fore hooves over each other, levitated by her strong wings. Sevilin turned to her and smiled grimly.

     "He's awake." Then his expression turned more serious as he followed up. "And he's pissed."

     "Watch it!" Terrace sidestepped a fellow changeling-turned-projectile. The unfortunate insect crashed into a bureau across the room. Grunts and yells of fury were heard from the point of origin.

     "Unhoof me immediately! I'll molest you!" a middle-aged stallion trashed about on the bed, barely restrained by magic bonds. His dirty-blonde mane stuck to the sides of his head, matted down by sweat.

     "Calm yourself, dammit!" A female Alloy Dog with a clipboard and white nurse's cap and gown skillfully dodged the stallion's vomit bowl. She bared her canines. "You've got one more chance to behave yourself…" she hissed in a voice several octaves lower.

     "Lieutenant!" Silk Shot bounded up to the bed-ridden guard, only to receive a swift punch to the jaw.

     "HA! Better luck next time, changeling scum!" he grinned victoriously. This victory was quickly turned to shame as the rest of the group, led by the human, came into view.

     "Wow! You knocked him out! Silky sweet dreams to you, Mister Shot!" Pinkie hopped up and down around his unconscious form.

     A changeling wouldn't act like that. That's really Pinkie Pie.

     Force was then surrounded by the group, asking how he was and how he was treated. Force grunted then mumbled, "I might have overreacted to their care. I am feeling better."

     Sevilin took this as the time to properly introduce himself. "I believe this is the time to properly introduce myself!" Scary.

     He extended a hand to Lieutenant Force, who grasped it with his soft hooves. "Pleasure to meet you."

     "Not so pleasant for me." Force tapped the bandage on the side of his head.

     "I'll make this up to all of you. I know you were-" he glanced over at Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and then back to Noble Force, "-surprised to behold something like me. So I'll give you time to explore the city. I've already set up scheduled activities for all of you."

     A Timberwolf darted to his side, a clipboard in its mouth. Sevilin casually snatched it from the wooden beast's mouth. Skimming over the pages quickly, he glanced up to see the reaction. "Save your jaw muscles, there will be plenty of time for that."

     For Rainbow Dash, he assigned The Gym. Not to be mistaken by its name, The Gym was actually a huge complex filled with air and ground tracks, all outfitted with equipment to keep time and scoring. Inside were also different varieties of treadmills, weights, and other body-building equipment fit for equines, dogs, and changelings. Located underground, it was really the last place Rainbow Dash wanted to go, but a few encouraging, and slightly challenging, words from Sevilin sent her there immediately.

     Smiling to himself, Sevilin led the group across the city, checking the clipboard carefully. Just then were the citizens beginning to crawl out from their homes.

     Still no sign of Chrysalis or Trixie. This is ridiculous. Sevilin grunted and went ahead, leading the others across the city square. All eyes were on them, terrified and awed at the same time. They remembered what those ponies were capable of, and they didn't want to have to face that again.

     "Calm down everybody! They're with me. This is a friendly visit and they mean no harm. You'll see them around here partaking in activities and festivities, so don't mind them. I've also taken whatever weapons they had and placed them in the armory. We've had  ponies here before, so this shouldn't be a very big deal. Carry on, citizens." he spoke with a great reassuring tone, and all of the populace seemed to visibly be rejuvenated.

     Some changelings shook hooves while some Dogs offered strong four-clawed paw shakes. All in all the city was friendly. Pinkie Pie was having a blast, accepting the hooves and paws all over.

     "Hi! My name's Pinkie Pie! And this is Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, Spot On, Windshear, Silk, and Lieutenant Noble Force Quentin Jr. IV Esquire!" she fired out her words as fast as she could. Force stared at her like she was possessed by the devil himself.

     How does she know my… Too late, she was gone. Sevilin ran after her. "Wait! The clipboard! You were supposed to go to Candy Cane Lane!"

     "Oooh, where's that?" Pinkie Pie appeared right next to him.

     "Shi-!" Sevilin fell on his ass before standing and brushing himself off.

     He then proceeded to brush off the dirt on his clipboard and spun around to face the group.

     "Let's finish this up."

     "… and Twilight. You're with me." Sevilin smiled right at her, tucking the clipboard beneath his arm. "To the library." he declared, impassioned by knowledge.

     "And what of my friends?" Sevilin glanced down at her. "It's just an honest question, which I believe I deserve after you split us all up. I mean, you sent Fluttershy to the Nature Center, Applejack to the Fair, Rarity to your local Boutique, and Spike to something called an Ar-Cade. I'm feeling more than a little worrisome."

     Sevilin's smile dropped, replaced by the building stress. "You think that's worrisome. I've got the Elements of Harmony flanked by four Royal Guards entering my city and causing a ruckus. Then I severely injured a Lieutenant. The Royal Guards are free to peruse my Armory, and the Princesses are coming to visit. The city is practically on a platter waiting to be gobbled up and destroyed by one, if not several, cultures and nations. I am really stressed right now."

     Twilight placed a hoof on his shoulder, finally possible now that he was sitting on a wooden bench. "I'm so sorry that we caused so much chaos." she chastised herself, "We're the Elements of Harmony, we shouldn't be capable of this."

     "Don't worry about it. Now." Sevilin shrugged as he composed himself. "Who wants to go read alien material?"

     Twilight flashed to his side, a mile-wide smile on her muzzle. "Let's go!"

     The library seemed to hum with energy, the spells placed on the books stating their presence. The low sound calmed Twilight's mind as she perused delicately created books. They seemed new, which Sevilin told her they were.

     "We just managed to get a steam-powered printing press running a few weeks ago. It can print several hundred pages at a time. What to do with all these books is the difficult part…" He put a hand to his chin in thought.

     Twilight surrounded a book in her magic, and seemed surprised to find a Binding Spell. Sevilin smirked.

     "Placed on the books are Binding Spells. That book in your hand will not leave this Library unless run under a Spell Cracker. He waved his hand at a large steel structure with a similar hum emanating from it. "Run that book under there and the spell's defunct. Took me two years to get it working after a unicorn mare showed me a thing or two about magic in Manehatten."

   Even though she knew what he was talking about before he even started talking,  Twilight closed the volume on Earth's early history. She cocked her head towards Sevilin. "How were you in Equestria so long without us knowing?"

     The human snorted and then giggled a bit, "Maybe I haven't been in Equestria for so long? I spent a solid year and few months in Zebrica. In fact I-" his face went blank in an instant, seemingly lost in a flashback.

     He stood up and smiled, "This way."

     Twilight followed Sevilin's speedy pace until he came to a small room lined with only twelve small books. "These," he said as he held a green journal in his hand, caressing its surface, "are the journals I wrote before we founded Sanctuary." He tossed the journal at Twilight, who caught it in midair with her magic. "Read up."

     Spike was enjoying an ice cream Sundae, eating as many as he pleased by order of Sevilin. He let out a thunderous burp, startling everyone in the parlor, to which he gave a sheepish grin. Delicious bananas, covered in strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, cherries, and… a letter?

     Spike snatched it up and unfurled it, and he was soon out of the shop and into the streets, getting directions for the Library.

     Twilight sat in the posh recliner, poring over Sevilin's many journals, when Spike collapsed at the doorway.

     He panted and groaned, "Twilight… letter, for you… Princesses, urgent…"

     Twilight tore the letter out of the dragon's grasp and turned pale beneath her coat.

     Twilight Sparkle,

A meeting with Sevilin Jacobs will have to wait. Gather the Elements and cast a Beacon Spell. An old enemy has physically manifested again to retake the forgotten kingdom of the Crystal Ponies. He is known as King Sombra. We must stand against him, or all will be lost.

     Sincerely,

     Princess Celestia

     The Elements gathered at the Gates with the Guards, taking in the ornate stone carvings around them while Twilight explained the situation to Sevilin.

     He visibly paled. "Sombra? Sweet Lord… I read a book of lore, I thought that was only a legend." He shook his head in disbelief. "He must be stopped, for the sake of the Crystal Ponies. They can not be put through that torture again." He thought carefully, his chin in his palm.  

     "Orion!"

     The Dog jumped, but approached quickly. "Yes sir?"

     "Prepare for war. We're going to fight a Legend." Sevilin stared at him with his new steely expression. Orion blinked twice, then grinned.

     "We'll set a new definition." Orion darted off into the stone city, its spires and statues quickly obscuring their view of him as he ran up a huge flight of stairs.

     Sevilin turned his attention to Twilight Sparkle.    

     He handed her a small metal ball. "This is for Celestia. She channels her magic through it and any sent messages are relayed directly to me. Keep in touch, and we'll be there should you need the support."

     He dropped the ball into Twilight's satchel. "Keep me posted."

Next Chapter: Chapter 6- Breach Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 32 Minutes