It is often said by so many, “Fortune favors the bold” or they might attribute favorable outcomes to fortunate circumstances and lucky coincidences, but that is only the wishful thinking of those too ignorant to know any better. Those who know the truth, know that all that is or ever was, was put into motion by powers that the mortal mind cannot hope to comprehend. There are threads everywhere, pulling and controlling Equestria’s inhabitants like puppets. Take the ending of the recent famine and new treaty we ponies have with the Domain of Earth, seems to be a little convenient now doesn’t it. While we might be the puppeteer’s favorite for now, I fear for the day when that ceases to be.

- Broken Quill the Mad, Listen to me Young Grasshopper: The Ramblings of a Madstallion

Dawson could feel the wind rushing through his feathers. When he heard the wind whistling in his ears, he felt a strange sense of dread running up his spine, but didn’t quite know the reason why. He felt someone besides him, their silken fur felt wonderful against him. Inhaling deeply, he caught a hint of their scent. They were definitely female, and smelt strongly of lilacs and freshly falling snow. Opening his eyes, he let out a loud cry of surprise as he saw the ground rushing towards him. Seeing the imminent danger, he grabbed ahold of her, opened his wings, and prayed to Lady Zephyr that his wings would save them from their eminent doom.

Gunhilde breathed in deeply, enjoying the scent of her male companion. She felt safe in his strong talons, as the wind rushed past her head… “Wait, what?” she groggily thought. “Wind, am I falling?” Opening her eyes, she almost panicked when she saw the ground below rushing up to meet her. Suddenly she felt strong arms grab a hold of her tightly, and felt herself thrust against her savior’s chest as their descent slowed. They were still falling slower than before, but it was still not enough for a safe landing.

Gunhilde looked up and saw the black wings of her savior. “Tsch, let me go faen,” she shouted at him. “I have no need of one of that monster’s spawn to rescue me.”

Dawson gave the reindeer a hard look, and thought about dropping her for the insult. He could sense no magic was flowing through her hooves, without magic she would drop like a stone to her death. “Sorry battlemage, but you’re my prisoner,” he shouted at Gunhilde, pressing her body against him with a vise like grip.

“We’ll both die if you don’t,” Gunhilde shouted back to the griffin-half. “Besides, I could never live down the shame of being your prisoner.”

“No way,” Dawson replied, “you’re my ticket to fortune and glory. The Slave King is sure to reward me for capturing one of Lord Cerynitis’s battlemages.”

“Let me go!” Gunhilde cried out, doing her best to wriggle free of Dawson’s grasp.

“Stop moving!” Dawson growled, before biting down hard on Gunhilde’s antlers with his sharp beak.

Screaming in pain and terror as the ground came closer and closer, Gunhilde’s eyes went wide with fright as she was sure, she would soon meet her ancestors.

Fawhoosh! The sounds of another pair of wings opening hit their ears. Right before they hit the ground hard, they slowed to a gentle stop. Suddenly, Dawson and Gunhilde both fell to the ground when whatever had just saved them let go.

Looking up, Dawson saw the smiling face of a white pegasus sitting on top of his head wearing a big grin. “Sorry about that friend,” Bucky said, blowing a few loose strands of his yellow mane from out of his eyes and pointing towards Gunhilde with his hoof. “But that battlemage nearly flash froze me back there.”

“I owe you one Bucky,” Dawson said with a smile, before wincing as he tried folding back his wings. “Damn it! I think I pulled my right wing out of its socket.”

Gunhilde listened to the enemies that had rescued her, talking with each other. She grinned when she saw that they had foolishly turned their backs to her. Stupid mudslingers, she thought menacingly. We’ll see who makes who their prisoner! Charging up her antlers to attack them, she smiled as she thought about how she would make both of them dearly pay for humiliating her!

While Dawson was shifting his right shoulder uncomfortably, Bucky felt his tail twitching and his back left knee throbbing slightly. That meant somepony was gonna get badly hurt or even killed by magic! It would be a mare most likely, judging by how much his tail was twitching. The magic would certainly be from the water domain, possibly of the freezing ice variety. Most likely it would be an area effect spell, judging by how bad his knee was throbbing. Anypony caught in the blast radius would definitely have a bad day. Wait, the reindeer that Dawson saved was a battlemage wasn’t she? They cast ice spells! But why would she hurt herself, did she have a death wish or something?

Knowing he needed to alert Dawson the impending blast, he turned towards Gunhilde’s charged antlers and pointed. “Dawson, watch out she’s going to explode!” he shouted.

Dawson’s eyes locked on Gunhilde. He could see the fractures in her rune covered antlers from where his sharp teeth and beak had chomped down on them. He knew the backlash from the spell would most likely kill everyfeather. Seeing the massive magic building up in her damaged antlers, he knew he only had one chance to save his prisoner’s life.

Shoving Bucky away from him, Dawson reached out and grabbed Gunhilde’s antlers. Once again, the magic in her antlers flowed through his talons and up his arms, shocking them both. Screaming in pain from the magical backlash, both the griffin-half and reindeer fell to the ground unconscious.

Bucky looked down at both of them, gingerly prodded them with his hoof. A few moments later, he was rewarded with a few soft moans coming from both of them. He felt relief wash over him, happy that nopony had ended up dying. Looking at the battlemage at his feet, he thought about how his superiors would reward him for saving Dawson and assisting in capturing a valuable enemy asset. That was worth at least two of his remaining ten, combined with the battle he would probably be granted a third. With three more of his ten done, he would finally be free. Perhaps they might even recommend that he be granted a chance to wear the Slave King’s personal brand!

Seeing the unconscious doe, Bucky wondered where she might end up. Her antlers would be broken off for sure. Looking at her unmoving form, he saw she was rather beautiful. She would probably end up as somepony’s tentmare, he thought. Tentmares were the colloquial term used by the soldiers of the Slave King for female prisoners of war who served as unwilling entertainment for their captors. It was not unheard of for a tentmare to service a whole unit after a successful battle.

Thinking about what fate would probably befall her. Bucky began feeling a bit sorry for her. Looking up, he could see the flash frozen cloud above him and hardened his heart. She had tried killing them after all. If he turned a blind eye to her, she would probably try doing so again. Knowing what needed to be done, he roughly shook Dawson awake.

Dawson groaned in pain. “Oh, my head…” he moaned, clutching his head gingerly with his talons. Looking down at the unconscious doe at his feet he narrowed his eyes. “Bucky, did I ever tell you that I absolutely hate magic.”

“Nope, can’t say that you have,” Bucky replied, helping his fellow soldier to his feet. “Let’s restrain her, before she wakes up.”

Grabbing a length of rope, Dawson began binding their prisoner, in preparation for presenting her to the Slave King as a sign of their prowess in battle.

Gunhilde’s purple eyes fluttered open as she felt the bite of the ropes against her white coat. “Release me!” she demanded, flaring her nostrils in defiance as her tail twitched in fear at what they had planned for her. She had heard the stories of course, everydeer back home had. About how beautiful does like herself would be treated if captured. Of course she had giggled with the other does at the thought of a barbarous mudslinger having his brutish way with her. But now that the stark reality was upon her, she was filled with terror and dread for her future.

“What, what are you going to do with me?” Gunhilde asked, desperately trying to hide how afraid she felt.

Dawson gave her a flinty look. “I’m going to present you to the Slave King,” he said. “When he sees how I singlehandedly…”

“Hey!” Bucky objected, when he heard he was being left out. “If it wasn’t for me, you would be a griffin and deer sandwich.”

“Oh sorry Bucky,” Dawson said, giving his pegasus companion a pat on the shoulder. “When he sees how we brought you down together, he will reward us greatly with honor.”

“You brutes! You monsters!” Gunhilde shouted, attempting to fight back the tears that threatened to escape her proud eyes. “I hope when Lord Triton comes to avenge us, that he drowns every last one of you black hearted mudslingers! You might take my virtue, but never my honor.”

Dawson looked down at the frightened doe, bringing his beak close to her muzzle. “As if I would stoop to rutting with one of Lord Cerynitis’s ice witches,” he said. “The Slave King will decide your fate. He’ll most likely have you work in the mines hauling out gems. Then after your ten years is up, he’ll cast you out of his domain and back to your people.”

When she heard the griffin-half announce her most likely fate, she cried. Ten years of never seeing the sun, or dancing in the snow? Ten years of back breaking labor working for the enemies of her people, and in the end to be tossed aside like refuse. “No!” Gunhilde shouted, freely crying in anger at the injustice of her cruel fate. “I’ll never willingly serve filthy mudslingers like you.”

“Hey,” Bucky said, sitting on his haunches beside her as he wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks. “I know it seems frightening now, but after the first year it’s not so bad.”

In response, Gunhilde bit his foreleg as hard as she could. “Argh!” Bucky cried out in pain, before kicking her in the side, and knocking her to the ground. “That’s the last time I try helping anypony.”

“Just leave her,” Dawson said, “all the deer are the same. Thinking they are above the children of the Earth.”

Gunhilde scowled at Dawson and Bucky, as they waited for the battle to end and as she waited to learn of her ultimate fate.

Princess Celestia was doing her best to console her weeping sibling. “Dearest sister,” she said, laying her head against Princess Luna’s. “Tell me what happened between you and Lord Cerynitis.”

“Sister,” Princess Luna said, wiping her eyes with a silken hoofkerchief. “We ask that thou not speakest the brigand’s name in our presence again. The foul brute uttered a curse most foul against us. Wishing we rot in the Pit with the Slave King of all ponies. We shan’t be able to show our face in public again after such a humiliation!”

“While a cruel insult might be discomfiting, Luna,” Princess Celestia said, trying to point out how silly her sister was being. “It’s hardly a reason to exile yourself from our subjects.”

“But he was our oldest and dearest friend,” Princess Luna objected, “and surely the rest of the pantheon will know of our embarrassment, er long when we attend the Slave King’s inauguration. We darest not show up, lest we be mocked and slandered by their cruel rumors.”

“Dearest Luna, I will be by your side the entire time,” Princess Celestia said, hugging her younger sister. “I’ll make sure nopony says anything to you.”

“Sister, thou sweareth it?” Princess Luna asked, looking her elder sister in the eye from beneath her disheveled mane.

“I promise Luna,” Princess Celestia said, giving her younger sister a warm smile. “Nopony will mock you, not Lord Cerynitis or anypony else. If they do, I’ll see to it that they are banished to their domain for at least a century.”

Princess Luna smiled at the thought of Lord Cerynitis, imprisoned in the Forever Ice Keep and being unable to leave it. “Very well,” she said, drying her tears and blowing her nose, “we shall agree to attend the Slave King’s inauguration.”

“Oh I’m so glad sister,” Princess Celestia said, lowering her head against her sister’s.

Before Princess Luna could respond, a shimmering pearl as bright as the full moon appeared in the air above their heads. “Who coulds’t have sent this dispatch?” Princess Luna asked.

“It must be from Lord Triton,” Princess Celestia pointed out. “It appears to be one of his pearls.”

“Surely his need must be great to send us yonder pearl,” Princess Luna said, examining the large pearl.

Before anypony could say anything more, the pearl took on a blue sheen and started glowing. Levitated in the air, it showered the room with a mystical light as blue as the Western Sea. Standing before them was an image of Bosun, Lord Triton’s secretary. Looking at both mares, he bowed respectfully once before addressing Princess Celestia.

“Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, the Domain of Water hails you and sends you grim tidings,” the spectral image said with a heavy sigh. “The Slave King’s forces have sacked Bone’s Landing, and we found out too late to send reinforcements. Lord Triton has personally gone forth to challenge them…”

“But he’ll be cut off from his domain there,” Princess Luna pointed out. “He’ll be in an extremely vulnerable position, if the Slave King decides to take offense to Lord Triton’s trespass.”

“As always Princess Luna, your intellect is only matched by your fair beauty,” Bosun said, making her blush profusely.

“How can we help Lord Triton? What aid does he seek,” Princess Celestia asked the projection.

“Lord Triton bids me to ask you for your intervention in this matter,” Bosun said. “I beg you to aid him, for I greatly fear for my liege’s safety. The Slave King himself was seen watching the battle.”

Celestia looked down at Bosun, and carefully considered the request. On the one hoof, the Lawgiver had always been a staunch defender of justice and keeper of the peace. But on the other hoof the Slave King’s trade network had made him immensely wealthy, and he had large armies patrolling her domain’s borders. If the Slave King decided to retaliate for her interference in a spat between the Domains of Earth and Water, there was little she could do to stop him.

“Has Lord Cerynitis agreed to come to Lord Triton’s aid?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Unfortunately no, Your Majesty,” Bosun said. “Of late, there’s been a rift between my liege and Lord Cerynitis.”

When she heard Bosun mention Lord Cerynitis’s refusal to answer a summons, Princess Celestia knew immediately something was wrong. Perhaps Discord had escaped his stone prison once more, and was up to his old tricks again. Narrowing her eyes, she looked Bosun in the eye. “How long has there been a rift between them?” she asked.

“For the last few decades at least, Your Majesty,” Bosun replied. “I’m not privy to the details, but I believe that my liege and Lord Cerynitis had a falling out.”

“But they wert as brothers! Perchance even closer than we and our own sister,” Princess Luna said, confused at how their friendship could have deteriorated so quickly in such a short period of time.

“This is grim news indeed,” Princess Celestia said, concerned that the situation could easily escalate into unnecessary bloodshed outside the conflict. Knowing that she couldn’t afford to allow Lord Triton to perish, she decided to pledge her aid. “Very well, I shall come to parlay with the Slave King.”

“Oh thank the Lawgiver!” Bosun said, relieved that his liege wouldn’t be facing the Slave King alone. Before his image disappeared, he bowed, “The Domain of Water is forever in your debt.”

“Thou shalt not go alone, mine sister,” Princess Luna declared. “We shall accompany thee to assist thee in disciplining the wayward child.”

“Luna, he’s hardly a child anymore,” Princess Celestia said, admonishing her sister. Lighting her horn, she drew on the power of the sun as she prepared teleporting them the vast distance to Bone’s Landing. “We must approach the Slave King as a peer, and appeal to his better judgment. Perhaps a compromise might be reached.”

“We find thy faith in reasoning with the Slave King highly dubious,” Princess Luna replied, as her sister’s magic enveloped them.

“I have to hope there’s a better way,” Princess Celestia replied, before they both winked out of the material plane, following a ley line towards the Domain of Earth.

Worriedly pacing her bedchamber, she kept looking impatiently at the entryway hoping that somefeather would bring her word of his whereabouts. “Oh where are you my dear hatchling?” she said, lying down on a silken cushion.

She could still remember the last conversation they had together over a fortnight ago. He’d angrily accused her of smothering him, before storming out of the palace. She loved him dearly, and only wanted to keep him safe from harm. Was that such a crime, wanting to protect somefeather from needless suffering? He was just like his father, so headstrong. When she thought of his father, she felt a renewed sense of loss. Her son was the only piece of him she’d managed to hold on to. If she lost her son as well, she didn’t know what she would do.

“My son,” she wept, “where are you?”

A soft knocking was heard at the door. Looking up, she dried her eyes and looked at it expectantly. “Enter,” she said, dreading that there would be no news of her son, or worse that he’d been badly hurt in the wilderness.

A large male griffin entered the room, holding a scroll in his talon. “Lady Zephyr, forgive the intrusion,” he said, with a low bow. “But you wished to be informed the minute we received word of your son’s whereabouts.”

“Where is he?” Lady Zephyr demanded, staring at the messenger with eyes reddened by worry and tears. “Where is my son?”

“We just received this dispatch from the Slave King,” the messenger said, handing her the scroll.

When she heard his name, her heart leapt with joy. Perhaps he cared for her after all. However, when she read the meager contents of the message, her ire rose. The contents of the message said, ‘I have your son. Come and retrieve him.’

“How dare he!” she fumed, furious with her son for disobeying her by going to the Domain of Earth, and enraged by the Slave King’s callous dismissal of him. Getting up from the cushion, she moved forward to exit her bedchamber.

“Lady Zephyr,” the messenger asked, “where are you going?”

“To go get my son,” Lady Zephyr replied. “Tell the council I will be gone several days at least.”

Unfurling her great wings, she let the cool breeze caress her feathers. The feathers adorning her plumage were the same color as the midday sky, and many considered them to be quite striking. Drawing upon the potent magic of the Domain of Air, she disappeared in a flash of lightning and a gust of wind. “Don’t worry my son,” she said, following the ley lines that flowed south towards the Domain of Earth. “I will return you safely to the nest.”

“Master Scourge!” a minotaur shouted from behind the remains of the collapsed building he was using for cover, as the sounds of dozens of spells being flung at them nearly drowned out the sound of his voice. “We must fall back, there’s too many seapony mages and reindeer battlemages to continue this way!”

Scourge’s hackles rose when he heard the suggestion. Fall back at their moment of triumph? Never! The doomhound wouldn’t allow it. Looking over the wall, he saw the tower protecting the heart of the city where the defenders were making their final stand. Turning towards the minotaurs near him, he motioned towards the tower. “We’re going to take out the tower,” he said, bearing his teeth. “I want everyhound to pound the ground as hard as they can on my signal. Pass it down the line.”

As the message made its way through the ranks, moos and bellows were heard as the minotaurs began psyching themselves up for their attack. Looking towards his officers, the shadow knight saw that each bull was ready to proceed with his plan. The plan was a risky one, but if successful would allow his forces to breach the inner keep of the city. Nodding once to his officers, Scourge tapped into the ever present ley lines of the Earth accessed their power, and drew it into his heavy armor. As the armor became super saturated with the power of the Earth, the metal plates took on a decidedly green tint.

With a mighty growl, Scourge stood up and charged at the tower. Seeing the doomhound reckless charging them, the defending seaponies and reindeer began throwing all that had at their assailant. Though the watery deluges might slow him down, it was the ice attacks that would seriously give him a hard time. Weaving back and forth, he managed to evade most of defender’s magical onslaught. Every once in a while an attack would hit him, but fortunately the magical energies of his armor held fast and was able to absorb them.

Nearing the base of the tower that held the defending seaponies and reindeer, Scourge pushed his paws hard against the pavement preparing to propel himself head first into its foundations. “Now!” he roared, moments before he leapt forward.

When they heard his shout, his minotaurs, each of them experienced veterans, lifted their hooves as one and slammed them down hard against the Earth. There was a sharp crack as the earth groaned, and a heavy clang as Scourge slammed into the tower’s stone foundation. Examining where he had smashed into the tower, Scourge noticed a small hairline fracture running up the length of the tower. Satisfied with the results, he retreated back to where his bulls were waiting for him.

The seaponies and reindeer in the tower could scarcely believe their good fortune. They had successfully repelled Scourge, the terror of the battlefield himself. Letting out a victory whoop, the defenders resumed flinging their spells at the retreating doomhound and at the minotaurs who were just out of the range of their spells. However their elation soon turned to confusion, when they saw the shadow knight staring up at them defiantly. Slowly, the minotaurs he was leading joined him out in the open, and their confusion quickly changed to fear as the doomhound continued starring menacingly at them. As their fear turned to terror, the defenders redoubled their efforts to strike them down with their spells, but found that their enemy was out of the effective range of their magic.

Scourge looked at the tower, then looked to his officers and nodded once more. In turn the minotaurs began beating their chests and stomping their hooves, causing the earth to tremble. Even inside their tower, the defenders felt the vibrations of the earth trembling as the tower slightly swayed to and fro. Erratically they began casting their spells with a fury, but still failed to hit any of them. Eventually after several minutes, the casting slowed down as the defender’s minds were overwhelmed by exhaustion and fear.

Knowing it was time to land the fatal blow, Scourge faced the tower. Immediately, the minotaurs under his command fell silent and stopped stomping the ground with their hooves. The doomhound, who was still infused with the power of the Earth, walked forward confidently, shrugging off the meager spells of the defenders who still had the strength to cast at him.

Stopping just before the base of the tower he looked up at the defenders. Scourge, whose armor emanated the soft green light of the Earth’s power, dug his claws into the pavement before opening his mouth. “Be removed,” he said to the tower in a low growl that was as quiet as a whisper.

Satisfied with what he had done, Scourge slowly walked away not even bothering to look back at the defenders who were shouting threateningly at him. Seemingly nothing had changed. The hairline fracture from where he had impacted against the foundation seemed no different, but suddenly a large crack was heard from deep within the tower.

Slowly, the hairline crack grew, crawling up the length of the tower. As the crack grew larger, the mortar holding the tower’s stones together began crumbling. Shuddering and threatening to collapse, the tower began swaying back and forth as its structural integrity was compromised. In a panic over the tower’s imminent demise, the reindeer attempted escaping. However, the overuse of their magic had left them severely weakened and unable to fly. The seapony mages were no better off, though their innate ability to float still worked, leaping off the top of the tower safely was out of the question.

They should have taken our offer to surrender, Scourge thought to himself, as he heard the doomed reindeer and seaponies cries of terror as they tried escaping before they were crushed in the tower’s collapse.

Within minutes, the last remnants of the cities defenses were nothing more than a broken heap of rubble and corpses. Turning to face his cheering minotaurs, he scowled. “What are you waiting for?” he demanded, focusing his ethereal glowing eyes on each of them. “The city waits, and our banner is not yet flying victoriously over the keep.”

With a mighty bellow, one of his officers raised his large axe above his head and rushed into the undefended city. Not needing to be told twice, the other minotaurs followed suite and rushed in after their comrade. Looking overhead, Scourge saw Aria and her squadron picking off some of the stragglers near the southern gate and smiled.

“My student,” he said, with a small hint of pride, “this shall be your victory.”

Waking passed the ruined tower and into the city proper, Scourge could hear the panicked screams and cries of the citizens as his minotaurs were looking for anyhound who might offer resistance to their king’s rightful claim over the city. Spying several minotaurs who were preparing to raise the Slave King’s banner, he tilted his head. “Why do you raise the banner?” he asked. “Has the city been completely pacified?”

“No Master Scourge, but…” one of the minotaurs said.

“But what?” Scourge interrupted, with a disapproving snort. “Did you think to grab honor for yourself by raising our king’s banner?”

The minotaur said nothing for a minute, before dropping his shoulders in defeat. “Yes,” he said, cowering under Scourge’s withering glare. “Forgive me Master Scourge, for my greed.”

“Soldier, see to securing the city,” Scourge ordered. “I shall see to raising the banner.”

“Of course Master Scourge,” the minotaur said with a bow, before hurriedly leaving the shadow knight’s presence.

As the screams of the citizenry echoed in the background, Scourge sat down on his haunches and waited. Within ten minutes, the shadows of several griffins, pegasi, and a feathered folk passed by overhead.

“Master Scourge, a brilliant strategy as always,” Aria said, landing gracefully before her revered teacher. Folding her wings against her back, she bowed her head respectfully. “Why hasn’t the king’s banner been raised yet?”

“My pupil,” Scourge said, giving Aria a kindly smile. “I have decided the honor of raising the banner over the city will be yours.”

“But the victory is yours by right! It was your brilliant strategy that broke through their defenses,” Aria objected, before her master raised one of his heavy paws, silencing her.

“My pupil,” Scourge replied, “had you not freed me from my icy prison, there would have been no victory.”

Aria said nothing. Instead she bowed before her master, picked up the offered banner and raised it above the cities keep. Looking up at the fluttering black banner bearing the silver and gold mark of the Slave King overhead, she was filled with conflicting emotions. Would he smile at her safe return? Would he be pleased with her performance today? Would he be proud of her? Would he finally tell her that he was pleased with her?

Seeing that his pupil’s heart was troubled and uncertain, Scourged walked over to Aria and stood beside her. “Come, let us walk together and inspect the spoils,” he said, giving her a plaintive look.

Aria looked down at her master, and remembered how as a young child he would let her pet him. “Master, may I?” she asked, longing for a simpler time.

“Yes, my pupil,” Scourge replied, walking next to Aria, allowing her hand to touch his armor. Though he was mostly intangible, he could still feel the warmth of her fingertips against him. Silently, they surveyed the carnage of the smashed storefronts and broken homes.

“My pupil,” Scourge asked Aria, as they passed a weeping seapony foal crying over the body of its slain mother. “What boon will you ask from our king, for delivering the city to him?”

Looking down at the seapony foal, Aria remembered her own childhood. She could still hear her mother singing a gentle lullaby softly to her as she held her under her wing.

“Today you will meet your father,” her mother said.

“What is he like?” Aria replied, immensely curious about him. “Is he a diamond dog?”

“No,” her mother answered. “Though he rules over the diamond dogs, he isn’t one of them.”

“Then what is he?” she asked, looking at her hands and noticing for the first time how different she truly was from her mother.

“Well…” her mother said, placing a feather besides her beak. “He has hands just like yours.”

“Hands?” Aria asked, amazed that anyfeather else might have them. “And even fingers too?”

“Yes Aria,” her mother said with a musical laugh. “Even fingers too.”

“Why haven’t I ever met him before?” Aria asked, curious why she had never been told about somefeather as amazing as her father.

Her mother’s eyes suddenly became distant and looked a bit sad, before she looked back down at her daughter. “Aria,” her mother said, with a sad smile, “your father wasn’t quite ready to meet you just yet.”

“Is he ready now?” Aria asked, bouncing excitedly at finally meeting somefeather else who had hands and even fingers.

“I believe so,” her mother said, attaching a green bow to her plumage. “Come Aria, we shall see him together.”

Several hours later, they were waiting in large and musty room. Aria didn’t like it. It was nothing like her home. Back home, everything was light and smelled wonderful. However everything here was a mess. The tiles on the floor were cracked, and the air was heavy with dust.

Soon, a large diamond dog entered the room, who bowed respectfully to her mother. “Lady Suzaku,” he said, “forgive the wait, he has been busy in his vault.”

“Is he still laboring over the gem even after all this time?” her mother asked, with concern etched on her face.

“As often as he can,” the diamond dog replied, “he is a hound possessed.”

“That poor grieving soul,” her mother said, holding her daughter closely. “I have come to have him meet Aria, his daughter.”

When the diamond dog heard that, he wore a look of concern on his muzzle. “I don’t know how he’ll react,” he said, looking down at the little girl. “Perhaps we should speak with him first before showing him the pup.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” her mother said, before turning to Aria. “Aria, love, mother needs you to wait here. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yes mother,” Aria said, giving her mother a hug and sitting down on her chair like a good girl.

As the minutes passed, Aria began to get impatient. Surely her father wanted to meet her as badly as she wanted to meet him. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she flapped her wings once for good luck and snuck out of the room.

Wandering through the dark and winding passages, Aria felt lost and a little scared. Looking up at the gem studded walls she marveled at the murals they contained. Several of them were stories she was familiar with. She wondered if any were about her father. Suddenly, she heard the angry voice of her mother speaking. Hearing her speaking so sternly made her freeze and she crouched down so she wouldn’t be spotted by anyfeather. Slowly she crept down the passage until she came to an intersecting passageway. Her father was right around the corner, she just knew it! Poking her head around it, she was disappointed to find just another empty corridor.

Unhappy that she hadn’t found her father yet, Aria was about to give up. Before she did she heard a low gravelly voice say something she couldn’t understand. Was he her father, she wondered. Then she heard her mother’s muffled reply. It was her father! She was so excited, she wondered if he would find her bow cute, and what color his feathers would be. Squealing with excitement, she hurried down the hall towards the source of their voices.

The passageway led out onto a balcony. Slowly she crept up and poked her tiny face up over the retaining wall. Down below her she saw her mother, several diamond dogs, a shadowy creature, and somefeather unlike any she had ever seen before.

Like her, he walked on two legs. She spied his arms and saw that he had hands, two of them, though one seemed strangely colored. When she saw his fingers, she counted them twice just to be sure and found that there were ten, just like her! He had to be her father, he just had to be. She was so sure of it. She was surprised to see he had no feathers at all, but instead wore what looked like the skin of a diamond dog on his shoulders. Trying to discover what his face looked like, she peered down and was disappointed that the crown on his head hid his face from her. The only thing she could see were a pair of burning green eyes, they seemed to be focused angrily on her mother for some reason.

She saw her mother approach him, with a pleading look in her eyes. Her father said something she couldn’t understand before pointing towards the exit. Her mother began weeping as she kneeled on the ground pleading with him. Aria saw her crying mother and suddenly felt angry, her father must have said something to upset her. She wanted to fly down there and give her mother a hug, but didn’t know how to fly yet. She watched as her father pointed once more towards the door, and saw her mother dejectedly leave the throne room.

Deciding she needed to get back to the waiting room, Aria quickly began backtracking as best she could. Trying desperately to get back to her seat before anyfeather found out, especially her mother. But try as she might, the twisty and winding passages were difficult to navigate. And soon Aria was completely lost. Afraid her mother might find out that she had disobeyed, she curled up into a little ball and cried.

“Pup, why do you weep?” a deep voice asked.

Looking up, Aria saw the largest and strangest looking diamond dog she had ever seen. Unlike the other diamond dogs, he was blue and she could see right through him. “Excuse me sir,” she said, “I’m lost and don’t know where to go.”

The diamond dog pushed his muzzle into Aria’s face and breathed in her scent deeply. “I see,” he said, giving her a gentle smile. “Lady Suzaku is your mother isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Aria said, wiping some tears away from her eyes, “I was supposed to meet my father today, but now I’m lost and all alone.”

“Well I’m here now,” he said, “so you’re no longer alone. And I know the palace, so as long as you’re with me you aren’t lost. Follow me, and we’ll get you to your mother before you know it”

“Okay,” Aria said, following closely besides her guide. “What’s your name?”

“I am called Scourge,” he said, plodding forward silently. “Little pup, what’s your name?”

“My name is Aria,” she said, with a slight smile.

“Then little Aria,” Scourge said, looking back at her over his shoulder, “follow me, and I’ll return you to your mother’s side.”

As the child and diamond dog moved through the empty and winding corridors, only the faint sound of Aria’s feet and breathing could be heard. Looking at her strange guide, she was overwhelmed with curiosity. Why did Scourge look so different from the other diamond dogs she’d met? Why was he blue? Why could she see through him? But most importantly, did he know her father? With so many questions running through her mind, Aria opened her mouth to say something, but stopped before she could speak.

“Little one, ask your question,” Scourge said, breaking the silence.

Plucking up the courage, Aria picked the most pressing question on her mind. “Do you know my father?” she asked, desperate to know if the person she had seen earlier was indeed her father.

“Has your mother told you who he is?” Scourge asked, before stopping at an intersection in their path.

“No,” Aria admitted, holding up her tiny hands. She counted her fingers once more to be sure. Ten, she had ten fingers just like the person she had seen on the balcony. “But she told me he had hands like mine.”

“My king has a hand just like yours,” Scourge said, “the other is gone. He lost it long ago.”

“Oh,” Aria said, not quite sure she understood what Scourge meant. “I hope he finds it soon.”

Scourge gave a low chuckle. “No, he lost it in battle,” he explained. “He wears a false arm now."

“I hope my father likes me,” Aria said, looking at Scourge hopefully.

“All parents love their children,” Scourge replied. “I’m sure your father is no exception.”

“Then why hasn’t he ever visited me before?” Aria asked, looking for an answer.

“We’re here little one,” Scourge announced, gesturing towards a room to their left.

“Thank you Scourge,” Aria said, giving the doomhound a small wave.

“Little one, be well,” Scourge replied, turning to head back the way he came.

Entering the room, Aria saw that she hadn’t been missed. Deciding to wait for her mother’s return, she sat back down on the chair in the musty room. Within minutes, her mother returned. Looking up at her mother’s face, she saw that her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

“Mother, are you alright,” Aria asked, concerned for her mother’s well-being.

“Yes, love,” her mother said, embracing her child. “The air in here is so dusty, it’s been making my eyes tear up.”

“So can I meet my father now?” Aria asked, excited to finally meet him.

“No Aria,” her mother said, “I’m afraid not. Your father is still not ready to meet you yet.”

Remembering the angry look the person on the throne had given her mother, Aria wanted to believe her, but knew deep down her father didn’t want to meet her. “I understand mother,” Aria said, doing her best to hide her hurt.

The words of her master Scourge awoke her from her memory. “My pupil,” he asked once more. “What boon do you desire?”

“The one that he can’t give,” Aria bitterly said, looking at the hill their King was viewing the battle from.

“I’m sorry my pupil,” Scourge said, viewing the broken city.

“So am I Master Scourge, so am I,” Aria replied, grasping his armor as hard as she could with her two hands and ten fingers.

“Look, there it is!” Melody the Yellow squealed with excitement, pointing towards the Slave King’s banner that was now raised over the port of Bone’s Landing. Removing her lute, she began plucking its strings as she sang a song commemorating his victory.

In the south, the doomhounds are vicious to a hound.

Get too close, and they’ll tear you apart anyway they can.

The watery knights of ole Triton, with tokens shinning bright…

Should ever face the shadow’s blades, they’ll quiver with such fright.

They’ll quiver with such fright…

Don’t forget the minotaurs, their hooves will trample you quite flat.

The griffins flying overhead, will rake you with their claws.

The seaponies of ole Triton, with scales that are quite wet…

Should ever face Scourge’s wrath, he’ll devour them in his maw.

He’ll devour them in his maw…

The feathered folk are quite a sight to behold, as they fly high overhead.

Should you chance to hear their songs, soon you’ll be quite dead.

The followers of ole Triton, and reindeer's of Cerynitis too…

Should chance upon the Slave King’s throne, they’ll soon know their doom.

They’ll soon know their doom…

“Melody, wonderful as always,” the Slave King said, folding his hands in his lap.

“It’s my pleasure, king daddy,” Melody replied, plucking a few more notes on her lute.

“Melody,” Harmony the Black growled. “It’s inappropriate to be so familiar with the Slave King.

“Aw, but sister…” Melody objected, before being silenced by the Slave King raising his finger.

The wind was beginning to pick up wildly. The Cloak of Darkpaw that the Slave King always wore on his shoulders was being pulled hard by a wild gust of wind. Far off in the distance, the Western Sea began getting choppy and the water took on brackish green color. In the distance a great water spout could be seen.

“Slave King?” Harmony said, looking towards the Slave King questioningly. Looking at the size of the water spout she knew exactly who it was, Lord Triton. He had come to exact his revenge against the Slave King, for attacking Bone’s Landing.

“Come Melody,” Harmony said, drawing upon the latent magic’s of the domains of fire and earth that flowed through her being. As the green and red energy coursed up and down her body, she flexed her wings once preparing to defend her king.

"Certainly sister,” Melody said, with a mischievous grin. “No one defies king daddy.”

“Be still,” the Slave King said, looking at both of them.

“My king, at least let us prepare our air defenses,” Harmony said, looking worriedly at the water spout that was coming closer to the beach.

“No Harmony, it will be all right,” the Slave King said, with a placid look on his face. “Prepare for Lord Triton’s arrival.”

“Yes, my king,” Harmony said, bowing slightly before flying off to greet Lord Triton on the beach.

“Melody, play something festive for me,” the Slave King said, leaning back into his great stone throne.

“Of course, my king,” Melody said, looking worriedly at her sister who was well on her way to the beach. Should Lord Triton decide to be vengeful, Harmony would be the first to know his wrath. As her fingers skillfully plucked the notes on her lute, she tried not worrying about her sister’s safety.

Seeing his harper’s worry, the Slave King placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’ll be all right,” the Slave King said. “Your sister is skilled and powerful, Lord Triton wouldn’t attack a mortal unprovoked.”

On the beach Harmony waited patiently for Lord Triton’s arrival. As the waterspout drew nearer and nearer to her, she wondered what his first words to her would be. This was not the first time she had to deal with an angry deity before. In her line of work, she often had to act as an intermediary between the Slave King and some other member of the pantheon who was upset about something or other. However, this was the first time she feared for her own safety.

Officially the attack against Bone’s Landing had been by ‘The Order of Shadow’ and not the Slave King. Because it was mortals and not a fellow deity that had annoyed him, Lord Triton would be free to take out his anger on the servants of the Slave King and be considered well within his rights.

By now the wind was clawing at her clothes and feathers roughly, threatening to knock her off her feet. The waterspout was less than thirty lengths away now, and it was quite large. Within spitting distance of the shore the waterspout stopped and collapsed in on itself, leaving behind a calm sea.

“Welcome to the Domain of Earth, Lord Triton,” Harmony said with a bow. “The Slave King bids you welcome to his domain.”

The Western Sea frothed and boiled for a moment, before a stream of water spat itself out of the water and onto the beach in front of her. The water formed into a rather upset looking Lord Triton who glared down at Harmony with displeasure etched onto his face. When he saw that she was unfazed, he scowled and ground his teeth. “Take me to your father,” he demanded, giving the hill where the Slave King sat a dark look. “He and I have much to discuss.”

“The Slave King is expecting your arrival,” Harmony said, correcting the Lawgiver. “If you follow me, I will take you to him.

“So, does your father still refuse to acknowledge you and your siblings?” Lord Triton asked, floating behind his escort.

“I wouldn’t know,” Harmony tersely replied, “I’ve never met my father before.”

“But surely, who else but the Slave King could be your father?” Lord Triton countered, raising his brow questioningly.

“The Slave King has no children,” Harmony said, her ire towards the Lawgiver increasing by the second.

Thankfully they reached the Slave King’s throne before their conversation could continue. The Slave King sat on his throne with a smug smile as he listened to his harper playing a cheerful tune on her lute. Melody seeing her sister’s sour mood began replaying the tune from earlier. The Slave King looked at her, and silently chuckled as he motioned for her to quit playing. Harmony stopped mid chord, bowed once, before sticking her tongue out at the Lawgiver and retreated behind the Slave King’s throne.

“Slave King,” Harmony said, “I present to you Lord Triton the Lawgiver, Lord of Water.”

The Slave King raised his left hand and clenched it into a fist. Immediately a chair of stone rose from the ground, perfectly fit for the Lord of Water’s form. Looking at his fellow deity from under his iron crown, he peered at Lord Triton with his burning green eyes and gave him a cocky smile.

“Lord Triton,” the Slave King said, gesturing for his rival to sit. “It’s been far too long. Lawgiver, how have you been these past decades?”

Lord Triton saw the Slave King sitting within view of the burning city, his city. Bone’s Landing was home to nearly sixty thousand seaponies, reindeer, ponies, and other members of the assorted races. Looking at the Lord of Earth’s smug grin he wanted to strike him down for his insolence, and scream in anger at the human. What the hades did the ponies of Bone’s Landing do to deserve this unprovoked attack. How had he offended the Slave King, to earn such enmity? Was this a prelude to an all-out assault, or did he have something more sinister in mind.

Calming himself, Lord Triton tried his best to resist the urge to strangle the two faced fiend for his impudence. “Slave King,” he said, taking the seat and trying to keep a veneer of civility to his answers, “truly, it has been too long. Had I known you missed my company so, I would have brought forth my legions to entertain you.”

“Ah yes, the renowned ‘Most Illustrious Order of Triton the Lawgiver’,” the Slave King replied, motioning towards his banner fluttering in the breeze over the broken city. “I believe they entertained my ‘Order of the Shadow’ earlier today. I’ll have to ask Scourge if they provided him with much of a challenge.”

When he heard the Slave King mention ‘The Order of the Shadow’, Lord Triton’s face took on three shades of angry crimson. “There were nearly twenty thousand legionaries, and four thousand members of the order guarding the city,” he said, leaning down towards the Slave King. “I expect to have my ponies returned to me unharmed.”

The Slave King turned towards Melody. “What is the second law?” he said.

“The strong rule, the weak serve,” Harmony replied.

“And the third?” the Slave King asked her sister.

“Oh, I know!” Melody announced. “To the victor go the spoils.”

“And the fourth?” the Slave King said.

“Ten years, or ten labors,” Harmony and Melody said, one after the other.

Lord Triton was unimpressed with he heard the Slave King’s crude and unrefined laws. “And what, might I ask is the first law, on which all the other are predicated?” he asked the Slave King.

“Oh that one’s easy to remember,” the Slave King said. “All things above and beneath the Earth belong to me.”

Lord Triton knew exactly what the Slave King meant by his first law. He would use it as a means to take what he wished, and use it to shield himself from the consequences. “I’m afraid I can’t allow this to stand,” he said, rising from his seat.

“And who will aid you in your cause?” the Slave King retorted, gesturing to the empty beaches behind Lord Triton. “I see you have few in the way of any allies. Not even Lord Cerynitis deigned come support you in your hour of need.”

Before Lord Triton could respond to the Slave King taunt, a bright flash of light appeared between them. “Lord Triton doesn’t stand alone today, a voice filled with authority said.

“Princess Celestia, the Radiant” the Slave King said, with a voice dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t know we had business.”

“Verily knave, we hast much to discuss with thee,” an angry feminine voice added.

“Of course, where there is light, the darkness soon follows,” the Slave King replied to her. “Isn’t that right Princess Luna the Beautiful?”

“Blackguard, why hast thou so rudely interrupted the peace between the domains?” Princess Luna demanded, her teal eyes flashing with the power of shadow and with wings that were flared and fully extended.

“You’ll address His Majesty as the Slave King, Your Highness!” Harmony said, getting between the deities. “You’ll be respectful, or you’ll be asked to leave.”

Princess Celestia bowed her head respectfully to the Slave King. “Slave King, please forgive my sister’s outburst,” she said, “If you’ll remember, she can be quite passionate.

“Indeed, I remember it well,” the Slave King replied, before casting an appraising look at her. “So tell me Celestia the Radiant, what do the Ladies of Day and Night wish of me?”

“They aren’t the only one who wishes to have words with you!” an upset female shouted from a ball of lightning that formed in front of the Slave King’s throne.

“So Lady Zephyr,” the Slave King said, placing his hands in his lap, “I take it you received my letter?”

But the only answer she gave was an angry scowl.

Author Notes:

Thank you gentlereader for reading chapter two of The Book of Water: The Marriage of the Slave King. As promised, I'm releasing the next chapter to celebrate being featured. Which couldn't be possible without your support, so once again thank you for reading.