Lightning cracked across the sky in Manehatten to accompany the pitter patter of rain. The wind whipped through the city streets as it passed by a large apartment building. Several of the tall skinny trees yielded to the ferocious gusts as their branches scraped across the windows of higher apartments. In one such dwelling, a small earth pony colt tossed and turned in his crib as the branches clawed at the window outside.

Pyrite cracked his eyes open and saw jagged claws scratching on the windows. He shut his eyes and shook his head, his sister had told him they were only trees. The silver earth pony rolled over again and brought his teddy bear close and wrapped his hooves around it. His head lolled to one side to see the bedroom door creak open. Pyrite slowly closed his eyes again and they remained closed for what seemed like several minutes. When he was finally able to open them again he saw the door open a little more and felt his teddy being dragged away from him.

“No...” he whispered, to no avail as his eyes shut again.

The next moment he was able to open his eyes his teddy was nowhere to be found and he felt his crib slowly sliding away from the window. Pyrite could only roll his head from side to side as the bedroom door creaked open further and the crib was pulled closer and closer to whatever was opening it. The young earth colt gripped his blankey and prepared for the worst. The crib reached the middle of the room and hit something on the floor. Pyrite was jolted completely awake as his crib tipped forward spilling him and his toys onto the floor.

Pyrite looked forward as he recovered from the fall and saw his bedroom door swing all the way open with a slight creak on its hinges. The long hallway lay beyond covered in a sea of black. The occasional flash of lightning illuminating it via the small hallway windows. Pyrite knew something was wrong, and he needed to find his teddy. With a deep breath, he mustered his courage and grabbed his blankey. Pyrite didn’t take two steps before nearly jumping out of his skin from hearing sounds coming from his closet.

One of the two places monsters lived, in the closet and under the bed! Pyrite didn’t let those thoughts deter him. His sister always told him to be brave, and his teddy might be inside the closet. The young earth colt crept over to the closet and listened closely, hearing a shuffling sound coming from the other side. He looked up and saw the handle was too high for him to reach. Pyrite trotted over to his sister’s stool and pushed it in front of the closet. He climbed up and strained to reach the door handle. Eventually Pyrite found purchase and with a grunt he slid the door to the side and was immediately knocked off the stool and buried by a collapsing mountain of blankets and clothes.

Pyrite untangled his limbs from the blankets and felt a particularly heavy object on top of him. He was perplexed when he touched a hoof to it and it moved. In a few rapid motions he pulled away all the blankets obscuring his vision and the first thing his silver eyes saw were a pair of soft blue eyes staring right back at him.

Both Pyrite and the pony on top of him screamed as they pushed away from each other. Pyrite got to his hooves and tripped as he tried to get away. The pony that landed on top of him jumped back into the pile of blankets in a poor attempt to hide herself.

“Who are you?” Pyrite asked while gripping his blankey tightly.

“I’m not telling a monster who I am!” the pony under the blankets squeaked.

“Hey! I’m no monster!” Pyrite yelled

“You aren’t? Really?”

It was then that Pyrite was able to get his first good look at the other pony as she poked her head out from under the blankets and cautiously approached him. She was a pegasus with a soft blue coat and her cutie mark appeared to be a black splotch with a crescent moon. Her mane was like light blue silk and parted beautifully across her face. Pyrite also saw what looked like a tip of a horn protrude from her head as her mane swished about.

A horn and wings? Pyrite had never seen pony like that before besides the princesses.

“No I’m not, see?” Pyrite said as he wiggled his stubby hooves.

The blue pony smiled at him, “Aww you’re no monster, you’re just a cute baby earth pony!”

Pyrite wrinkled his nose and glared at the blue filly. She was bigger than pyrite and was probably a year or two older, “I’m not a baby,” Pyrite said as he crossed his forelegs and sat on his haunches.

The blue filly was about to say something when the whole building shook from a clap of thunder.

“Eeep!” she squeaked and rushed over to Pyrite to scoop him off the floor into a bone crushing embrace.

“Ack!” Pyrite grunted

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the blue pony said. She loosened her grip but did not let go of Pyrite. The young earth pony did not object. He loved hugs and this blue pony was soft and warm.

“Are you afraid of the thunder?” Pyrite asked.

“Umm yes, a little,” the blue pony admitted, “But I’m more afraid of the monsters.”

“Monsters?” Pyrite gulped.

“Yeah.”

The filly turned Pyrite around in her embrace so his back was pressed against her chest. She held him close and rested her chin on his head as she flew them over to the window. The two foals watched the rain come down and the trees beat against the building.

“The monsters come out on nights like this to snatch away ponies like us,” the blue filly said.

Pyrite looked up at the filly, “Well I’m glad I won’t have to face any monsters alone. I’m Pyrite, what’s your name?”

“Call me... Woona.” the filly said with a smile.

“Its nice to meet you Woona, but what are you doing here?”

“I- I don’t know,” Woona squeaked, squeezing Pyrite tighter, “I fell asleep and the next thing I knew I was falling out of your closet.”

After another clap of thunder, a flash of lightning illuminated a shadow on the wall next to the window. Woona whirled around to see the shadow being cast by something big in the hallway. She practically squeezed the life out of Pyrite as she darted from the window into the closet adjacent to the hallway door. Pyrite didn’t notice his blankey appear in his hooves when Woona released him.

“Get down!” Pyrite whispered before he spread his blankey over Woona and himself.

The two foals watched as a shadowy figure limped into the room. It made some sort of gurgling sound as it moved about the perimeter of the room. Woona was shivering uncontrollably as it shambled toward them. Taking notice of this, Pyrite wrapped his stubby forehooves around Woona’s neck in an effort to calm her. The figure moaned and left the room, its hoofsteps becoming fainter and fainter until they could not be heard at all.

“Don’t worry Woona, I won’t let anything happen to you. We should find my sister, she is big and strong and can protect us.” Pyrite said as they both emerged from the closet.

“You know, you sound a bit like my own sister.” Woona said.

Pyrite grinned, “You have a big sister too?”

“I do,” Woona answered, “They really are the best.”

Pyrite peaked around the corner into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. When he was certain it was safe he started to move forward but was levitated off the floor in a magical field and floated back to Woona.

“What are you doing?” Pyrite asked as he was deposited in front of the blue filly.

“Hold still,” she said with a slight giggle, “If you are going to be a hero, you ought to look the part.”

Pyrite watched as Woona tied his blankey around his neck like a cape. His sister had told him stories of the heroes of ancient times with their robes and special armor.

“This is feels really cool but I’m no hero, Woona.” Pyrite said as he examined his blankey.

Woona laughed, “Oh but you are, Pyrite. If you’ve seen all the things I have then you would know, and you will know... in time. But danger grows as we linger, where is your sister?”

Pyrite didn’t know what Woona meant by that, she was only a little older than he was. But she was right, they needed to find his sister.

“This way,” Pyrite said as they raced down the hallway, “Her room is down this hallway and to the right. Its connected to the living room.”

The two foals arrived at the door just as another bolt of lightning arced across the sky. Pyrite was too small to reach the door knob. He considered sliding a chair over to climb on but Woona simply scooped him off the floor and hovered in front of the door knob. Pyrite reached out and opened the door. Both foals winced as it creaked loudly on its hinges. Woona returned to the ground and remained behind Pyrite.

“Ruby... Ruby are you there?” Pyrite whispered as he peeked his head into the room.

He saw a lump under the bed covers and breathed a sigh of relief. Safety at last.

“Come on,” he said over his shoulder to Woona, who picked him off the floor again and flew over to land on the bed.

“Ruby, wake up I’m scared. I have a friend here who is scared too. Ruby...” Pyrite nudged the covers and watched in horror as they deflated, collapsing into the bed with nothing inside them. A low moaning sound came from behind the door to the living room. Pyrite frantically looked around the room for a good hiding place, but there were none.

“Woona, under the bed!” Pyrite whispered.

The blue filly nodded and crawled under the bed with Pyrite. The sound of a door opening was heard throughout the room as the monster shambled into the room. It approached the windows and checked the closet before stopping at the bed. Woona held her hooves over her mouth to prevent any sound from escaping. Just as Pyrite thought the creature was going to leave Woona screamed and was dragged out from under the bed.

Pyrite froze, he didn’t know what to do. But the sound of Woona screaming was one of the most heart wrenching things he had ever heard, he knew he had to do something. Pyrite rolled out from under the bed on the opposite side from where Woona and the monster were. He climbed onto the bed and was able to finally see the monster. Pyrite froze stiff as a board. The monster was a large black and grey pony with a head that was bent to the side, motionless. Its eyes were glazed over and its tongue stuck out the side of its open mouth. Woona was held in some sort of claw appendage where hooves should have been. Pyrite almost threw up when the chest and neck of the monster split open revealing an enormous gaping maw with at least three slithering tongues. The beast was about to devour Woona.

“No!” Pyrite screamed as he ran as fast as he could and leapt from the bed onto the creature’s back. Pyrite wrenched the creatures head back and jammed a hoof in one of its eyes. The creature shrieked in pain and dropped Woona. It bucked and kicked as Pyrite desperately held on, but eventually he was thrown from the monster to land between it and Woona. The young earth colt recovered and turned to Woona, who stood terrified behind a dresser.

“Run!” Pyrite shouted. “I’ll keep it busy, get out of here!”

Pyrite faced the monster and winced as it reached out to grab him, but nothing happened. Instead of being lifted into the creature’s gaping maw, Pyrite heard it scream in pain as a shaft of silver light shot from behind pyrite and pierced the monster. The light gathered inside the creature and consumed it.

Pyrite turned around to see Woona floating in the air with eyes of pure glowing white. She seemed slightly larger and her wings pulled the darkness from all corners of the room. She looked down upon Pyrite as silver light seemed to drip from the tip of her horn. Pyrite fell to the floor and crawled backwards as fast as he could.

“You- you’re a monster too?! You tricked me?! Why?!” Pyrite stuttered as tears formed in his eyes.

Woona’s glowing white eyes narrowed in what looked like sadness to Pyrite. She floated lower to the ground, and that same silver light now dripped from her eyes.

“No child, I have not deceived you. I am not a monster, not anymore.” Woona said in a voice that was soft as silk.

Pyrite backed up against the wall, but Woona did not move to follow him.

“I never wanted to frighten you, Pyrite. I had to wait for the nightmare to reveal itself before I could act. I am here to offer safety, comfort, and reason, if you wish me to stay.” Woona gave a small smile and spread her forehooves.

Pyrite stared into Woona’s eyes as the white glow began to fade, replaced by a calm pristine blue. Woona radiated calm and serenity while the darkness of the room seemed to bend toward her. Ruby had always told him to trust his gut instinct, and he did not want to believe Woona was a bad pony. Every fiber of his being wanted to run to Woona. All it took was boom of thunder to jolt Pyrite to his hooves, and send him running into the outstretched hooves of the little blue filly.

Pyrite buried his face in Woona’s chest as she held him aloft effortlessly. “I was so scared!” the colt sobbed, “What was that thing?”

Woona ran a hoof through Pyrite’s mane, “Shh... there, there. It was just a nightmare, it can’t hurt you now.”

Pyrite felt his shivering cease and all his fears and bad emotions drift away. It was like they were being absorbed by Woona. This felt just like when Ruby would comfort him after a bad dream. He nuzzled Woona’s chest as she swayed back and forth in the air.

“I’m proud of you Pyrite, so very proud.” Woona said as she continued the calming movements, “We had just met, and you were willing to put yourself in danger to protect somepony you didn’t even know. It warms my heart to find such valor in one so young.”

“You are warm...its true” Pyrite muttered into Woona’s chest.

Woona chuckled and extended her hooves to examine Pyrite, “Why did you do it?”

Pyrite looked at his sister’s bed, “I did it because it was the right thing to do, and because I don’t want to lose anymore friends or good ponies. I think you are both, just like my sister.”

Woona floated over to the bed and deposited Pyrite onto a blanket, “I’m glad you think I’m a good pony. You talk a lot about your sister, but what about your parents? Did they influence you at all?”

Pyrite shut his eyes and turned over on the blanket, “My sister and I don’t have parents anymore, all we have is each other and our friends. Ruby has told me stories of knights in armor, beautiful armor of all different colors. They make promises to fight for others who can’t fight.”

Woona plopped down next to him and playfully bopped him on the nose, “They serve and protect princesses too.”

“Yeah they do,” Pyrite agreed, “They are so cool, and they have lots of friends. I want to be like them when I grow up.”

Woona giggled and snuggled up to the young earth pony, “You are more like them now than you realize. You just saved a princess, Pyrite.”

“I what?” Pyrite stammered.

He saw that Woona now wore a small black tiara and a peytral plate. She was staring right into Pyrite’s eyes, grinning.

“Oh wow!” Pyrite said, squirming out of Woona’s hooves, “What are you doing here? I mean, surely you have other important things to do.”

“More important things? Perhaps I think you are important, Pyrite. There is no place else I’d rather be right now.” Woona waved a hoof across the room, “This is my domain, Pyrite. I sensed you were in trouble so I came to investigate. I don’t intervene all the time, but I’m glad I did tonight.”

Pyrite looked at Woona as she flew over to sit beside him, “Your domain... but this my parent’s old apartment. Wait... no...”

“No...?” Woona squeaked with a chuckle.

“My sister and I have been moving from orphanages to the streets for at least two years now. Is this a dream?”

“Bingo!” Woona shouted with hooves raised in the air.

“Oh sheesh, Woona. I- I mean, Princess Woona. You should have told me you were a princess sooner. Theres probably a special way to act around princesses.”

Woona blew a raspberry and casually waved a hoof, “Oh wheres the fun in that? You saved me from that monster, remember? You’ve got all the browny points you’ll ever need with me you little cutie. Besides, I like to keep things fun if I have the opportunity.”

Pyrite yelped as a wet, slimy hoof was jammed into his ear and Woona fell over laughing.

“Hey!” Pyrite shouted, Woona simply grinned at him.

“Two can play at that game!” said Pyrite as he jumped on the princess and began tickling her.

“Stop! Haha! I’m not ticklish! You won’t-haha-you won’t succeed!” Woona proclaimed between fits of laughter. But Pyrite was taking no prisoners. He reached under her wings and found the weak spot. Woona convulsed and shrieked as she tried to grab the little earth pony. Eventually she found purchase and threw him off.

Woona blew a few strands of mane out of her face and smiled serenely at Pyrite, “Told you you wouldn’t win.”

Pyrite let out a chuckle as he produced a small black tiara and put it on his head, “You were saying?”

Woona rubbed a hoof atop her head but could not feel her tiara, “Oh its on now!”

Woona flew into the air and tackled Pyrite sending both foals tumbling into the bed pillows. Each of them picked up a pillow and proceeded to smack each other silly. Eventually, Pyrite surrendered and returned the tiara. Pyrite walked over to Woona and gave her the biggest hug. “This has been so much fun, Woona. I don’t want to wake up.”

Woona laughed and kissed the young earth pony’s forehead. “You’ll have to wake up eventually, but I don’t mind staying longer to play with you.”

Pyrite frowned, “Things aren’t as fun in the real world, Woona. Will I ever see you again after tonight?”

Woona held the colt in her hooves like she never wanted to let go, “Oh sweetie, of course you will. I look after all my precious little subjects each night. As for you and your friends,” Woona raised Pyrite’s head to stare into his eyes, her own now glowing white, “I think fate has something special in mind for you all tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Pyrite asked.

“Don’t worry, Pyrite. You are going to be okay from now on. Now, I think its time for round two!” Woona exclaimed as she released Pyrite and picked up another pillow.

“Alright Woona, you’re on!”

-------------

Pyrite stirred in the hooves of the yellow pegasus. She had been asleep as well until the little earth pony began to move. She looked down at him and watched his eyes dart about rapidly and noticed the small smile appear on this face. Every now and then he would kick or twitch one of his hooves. It was adorable.

“Antares, I see you’re awake now. How is Pyrite?”

Antares blinked to see a familiar red unicorn filly standing over a kettle preparing to light a fire beneath it. “He’s fine now, Ruby. He must be having some good dreams for him to smile like this.”

“He’s probably dreaming about you, Antares” said a blue earth filly behind Ruby. “He loves spending time with you and thinks you’re beautiful.”

“Very funny, Blue Bell,” Antares said with a chuckle, “Little Pyrite is like the brother I never had. I’m flattered if he thinks that.” she said while kissing the colt on the forehead. “What were you two able to find?”

Blue Bell winced as some rain was blown under the bridge where they were staying. The central park of Manehatten was large enough that nopony would bother them, even if they were discovered. Since it was so big it made had the perfect structures to provide shelter from a storm.

“Ruby found some herbs and plants, and I managed to get some pasta noodles from a dumpster behind a corner store. I even found a few packages that weren’t opened!” Blue Bell exclaimed with a smile.

“Good, now if Frost would hurry up and get back with whatever he found out there.” Antares said as her stomach rumbled. “Where was he going again?”

“At this end of the park we’re close to the docks, I think he went there.” Ruby said.

“He better get back soon, I’m starvin!” Blue Bell whined as she looked into the downpour.

--------------

Iris waited until most of the crew had disembarked before emerging from her hiding spot below decks. The ship had sailed to two other ports before arriving in this city. She had considered jumping ship at the earlier destinations but there were golden gryphons at the first stop, and she did not feel she was far enough away at the second. However, it took a full three days to arrive at this city. To Iris, it felt like they sailed around the world.

Once she was no longer able to hear the sounds of the crew above her, she exited the ship through a porthole and crept along the docks. The smell of fresh caught fish was everywhere, and Iris had not eaten in days. Iris followed the smell of fish until she discovered the source. Behind a warehouse there were two boxes of fish pushed up against a wall. Iris could hear the sound of machinery atop the roof and assumed this was a freezer for storage. She picked up a fish from the box and discovered it was cool to the touch.

Mmm, cold fish is better than no fish She thought while taking a bite. But what are these doing outside?

As if to answer her, there came a loud bang from inside the freezer and two voices shouting. Iris dropped a piece of fish from her beak as a flash of blue light appeared in front of her, depositing a small blue unicorn pony face first on the ground.

“Ouch!” the pony exclaimed.

A pony. Iris attempted to place what city she was in. She had some knowledge of the pony kingdoms from Kathe, but not much. But, on the bright side, she did know almost all of them were very far away from the gryphon kingdoms. She also knew some gryphons lived in the pony kingdoms, so her being here shouldn’t seem too out of place.

The light blue pony whirled around to see Iris sitting near the boxes with bits of fish on her breast. “Hey! Just who do you think you are? These are mine!” the blue pony shouted

Iris considered herself an even tempered gryphon, but she did not enjoy being yelled at.

“Yours? Really? I don’t see your name on them!”

The blue pony trotted over to the fish and put a hoof in one of the boxes, “The boxes say ‘Frosty Fish’, and my name is Frost Wind.”

“Oh, I see...” Iris said.

“They aren’t really mine,” the blue pony said while deadpanning Iris.

“So you’re stealing them?” Iris asked

“No, I’ve just been sneaking around in the dead of night teleporting fish from a freezer to practice my magic. Of course I’m stealing them.”

“So you won’t mind if I have some more fish?”

“Actually I do mind,” the blue pony said, now becoming annoyed.

“Why?” Iris asked, now enjoying antagonizing the pony.

“Because...” the pony said while grinding his teeth

“Because?” Iris asked in high pitched voice.

“Because this isn’t just for me, alright? Why don’t you get lost? What's a gryphon doing at the Manehatten docks this late anyway?”

Manehatten, eh? Iris thought.

A loud bang interrupted the two ponies as one of the warehouse doors flew open and two angry looking earth ponies stepped out into the night. Each wore a blue jumpsuit with a hard hat. One of the two ponies flipped on the light attached to his hard hat and spotted Iris and Frost Wind.

“Oh, Celestia! Run!” Frost Wind shouted, picking up the two boxes with his magic.

Iris followed him into the narrow alleyways between the buildings. The duo continued to run but found themselves approaching a dead end with a high brick wall. Iris looked behind to see their pursuers gaining on them. As a gryphon, Iris was naturally larger than most ponies, and she was quite a bit bigger than Frost Wind.

Iris stretched her wings, “Hey Frost!”

“What?” the blue unicorn asked between breaths.

“Don’t drop those boxes!”

“I won’t- Whoa! Hey!” Frost shouted as two claws wrapped under his forehooves and shoulders, and he was lifted into the air.

Iris grinned and looked down at him as they ascended higher and higher. Frost turned around to find the earth pony workers running back to the warehouse.

“Ahh, feels great to stretch my wings! Are you okay? This isn’t your first time flying is it?” Iris asked, concerned for the blue unicorn whose face was turning green.

“I’m... okay, I have a friend who is a pegasus and she has carried me places before. I just ate some fish from the warehouse before this.” Frost said while trying not to look down.

“So you were going to bring this food to your friends?”

“Yep! They are in the park under a large bridge at the east end. You’re already flying in the right direction.” Frost said.

“You don’t mind if I’m coming with you?”

The blue unicorn looked up at the gryphon and grinned, “After that? No Way! You helped me when you could have just ran off. I’m sorry for being nasty earlier, its just my friends and I haven’t eaten well in a long time. I didn’t want the food to be stolen.”

“You mean... stolen again?” Iris asked with a chuckle

“Erm... well, yeah” The blue unicorn admitted with a laugh.

“Theres no need to apologize, I’m new to this place and I need some new friends.” Iris said.

“Well, we don’t have much, but one thing we can give is friendship. There, right down there.” Frost pointed and Iris descended for a landing.

Frost carried the boxes under the bridge with Iris following behind. A tarp had been hung across the top of the bridge to shield against some of the rain and wind.

“I’m back guys!” Frost shouted as Iris noticed the other ponies.

“Well its about time!” a blue earth filly said as she grabbed a box and carried it over to a red unicorn.

“Yeah, it's seriously been a while. What took you so long, Frost?” a red unicorn filly asked as she examined the contents of the boxes.

“Shh! Quiet, all of you! He’s still sleeping.”

Iris saw a yellow pegasus filly slowly trot over to the boxes with a small silver earth pony colt asleep on her back.

“Sorry, I ran into some trouble... but I found a friend. She helped me escape the warehouse guards.” Frost said as he motioned for Iris to join them. “This is Iris.”

“Hello,” the gryphon said while waving a claw.

“A gryphon huh? Well, if Frost vouched for you thats good enough for me. I’m Bluebell.” the blue earth pony said while extending a hoof.

“I’m Ruby Glint,” the red unicorn said while levitating some fish into a kettle. “The pegasus is Antares, and the young one on her back is my brother, Pyrite Glint.”

“Its good to have another flier around,” Antares said with a smile.

Iris smiled and bowed her head, “Its nice meeting you all. Thank you for letting me stay with you tonight.”

“Bah, don’t mention it!” Blue Bell exclaimed, “This fish is going to make an awesome stew. Why don’t you tell us about yourself while Ruby gets it ready?”

Iris didn’t notice Frost had disappeared and was now sitting in front of Ruby. The red unicorn was examining Frost’s horn closely with a concerned look on her face.

“What did you do?” Ruby asked.

“I just teleported and did some levitations, thats it I swear.” Frost said while staring at the ground. Ruby glared at him. “Okay, okay,” Frost relented, “I teleported a few times, I couldn’t help myself! It worked perfectly each time!”

Ruby touched her horn to his and conjured a soft white light, “If you overdo it, you risk permanent damage, Frost. You know that.”

“I know, I just... it felt so good.” Frost said

Ruby hugged him and lifted his head with a hoof, “Come on, help me with dinner.”

Iris hadn’t heard what Antares and Blue Bell were saying. She thought she saw a small scar or fissure on Frost’s horn when Ruby performed her magic.

“Iris... Iris... hello!” Blue Bell waved a hoof at Iris.

“Oh sorry, I zoned out. I’m really hungry. Lets sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.”

----------------

The children all sat around the fire and ate their warm meals while Iris told them about the gryphon kingdom. Kathe had told her not to reveal who she really was if she ever found herself in a foreign nation without him or any of her father’s gryphons. Iris said that things were changing for the worst back home and she didn’t want any part of it, so she ran away and ended up here. She wasn’t lying, and the ponies seemed to believe her story.

Iris reached into one of the boxes and grabbed a few more fish to eat raw. Frost was entertaining Ruby, Blue Bell, and Antares with their escape story. Iris felt a pair of eyes on her as she swallowed another bite. It was the little earth pony colt. He was trying not to stare, but couldn’t help glancing over at Iris every few seconds. He held a teddy bear between his hooves that looked as if it would fall apart at any second.

Iris wound her long, wiry tail behind the earth colt and tickled his nose.

“Hey! Haha, that tickles!”

“Why are you staring at me, Pyrite? Haven’t you seen a gryphon before?” Iris asked while continuing to harass him with her tail.

“No, not really. Well, not up close. A few live in the city but they usually keep to themselves. I don’t think they like ponies.” Pyrite said as he batted the tail away.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Iris admitted, “My teacher always said we gryphons sometimes have too much pride, and that we take ourselves too seriously. I try not to be like those other gryphons.”

“So you like ponies, Iris?” Pyrite asked.

Iris smiled, this child was adorable. She wrapped her tail around one of his rear legs and brought him to dangle upside down in front of her. He laughed as she poked at his stomach with a talon.

“I like you ponies,” Iris answered with a grin, “I also like to have fun.” She said while tickling under Pyrite’s shoulders.

“You’ll get along great with him then,” Ruby said with a sigh, “He can be quite the troublemaker.”

Iris lowered the earth pony to ground and retracted her tail. “Really? Thats great! Does that mean I have a new pranking buddy?” Iris asked while extending a claw to Pyrite.

“Sure!” Pyrite said as he hoof bumped Iris’ claw.

“Oh boy, thats just what we need.” Antares said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ruby suddenly stood up and looked out behind Iris. Frost got to his hooves as well. Iris heard something and spread her wings protectively in front of Pyrite. Blue Bell trotted up to Iris, “Do you hear that? It sounds like... singing.”

It was true, but it was so dark they could not see beyond the light cast by their small fire. However, years on the streets taught the ponies to be ready for anything. Iris and Blue Bell listened as the singing became louder.

“Sunlight failed, but only for a while...”

“In the moonlight pale, somepony made me smile...”

“What’s going on?” Pyrite asked, stepping around Iris’ wings, “Who’s singing?”

Iris wrapped her tail around Pyrite and placed him on her back in case they needed to make a quick escape. Blue Bell squinted as two shapes came into view out of the darkness. A red unicorn colt with a black pegasus colt on his back. They were both singing together, but stopped when they noticed the ponies under the bridge.

“Hello there, strangers. Do you mind if my friend and I take shelter under your bridge? Its starting to get a little chilly out here.” The red unicorn asked.

Frost trotted up next to Antares, the red unicorn and black pegasus didn’t look much older than they were. Perhaps they were homeless too, and they didn’t look threatening.

“Who are you? Why are you here?” Frost asked, suspicion clear in his voice.

“The red unicorn smirked and bowed, “My name is Red Sun, at your service. This is Black Star.” The black pegasus smiled while not taking his eyes off Iris.

“We’re just homeless colts who happened to be passing by.” Red Sun explained, “We understand if you don’t want unfamiliar ponies staying with you.”

“No... its alright,” Ruby said. “We don’t have homes either, and its only going to get worse out there. Come out of the rain and get warm.”

“Oh, thank you!” Red Sun said as he ran up to Ruby and kissed her hoof.

“Something smells good,” Black Star said in a cold tone.

“We’ll share some food with you,” Frost said, its actually really good. I snagged it from the warehouses tonight.

“Did you?” Red Sun queried, “Well I won’t turn down grub that smells this good, what about you Black Star?”

“What’s a gryphon doing in Manehatten all by herself?” Black Star asked, glaring at Iris.

“She’s not by herself, she’s with us.” Pyrite said between Iris’ wings. She hadn’t realized she’d raised them, something gryphons did when nervous.

“Thats right, Black Star. Gryphons can be friends with ponies, lets not be rude.” Red Sun chided as Ruby poured him a bowl of stew.

Black Star grunted and trotted over to join his friend by the fire.

“What’s his problem?” Frost asked.

“I don’t think he likes gryphons,” Pyrite said, peeking over one of Iris’ wings.

Iris nodded, “I think I might have an idea why.”

“Why?” Frost asked.

“Don’t worry about it, Frost. Lets go get warm.” Iris said while accompanying Frost back to the fire.

The group talked for a bit while Red Sun and Black Star ate their meals. Frost and Iris couldn’t figure out why, but something about their two guests didn’t seem right. They looked the same age, but seemed to have quite a vast knowledge when it came to Equestria and its politics. Red Sun perked up when Pyrite talked about being visited by a princess in his dream. Red Sun claimed to have met Princess “Woona” before and even knew some of her closest servants. When asked about their past, it was Black Star who answered. According to him, they had been gone from Equestria for a long time and only recently returned. They were only staying in Manehatten for a few days, then they were returning to Canterlot. Black Star finally dropped his guard enough to talk to Iris, while Red Sun entertained the fillies with some show magic in gratitude for being offered shelter.

Iris felt a shuffling against her side and saw Pyrite shivering, his eyes trying to remain open. She draped a wing over him and ran a claw through his mane. The other ponies were getting ready to go to sleep as well.

“He really seems to like you, Iris.” Ruby said, coming to lay down next to the gryphon.

Iris pulled the small colt closer to her body, “He’s a special pony, Ruby. No prejudice toward gryphons. Thats part of being so young I suppose, but still.”

“He and I have been from the orphanage to the streets more times than I can remember,” Ruby remarked with a sigh. “I wish he had ponies closer to his age to play with.”

“I don’t think that's necessary, Ruby. He seems to love you and your friends and appears happy. Things could be worse.” Iris said

“Thats true, I suppose,” Ruby said with a yawn, “Goodnight, Iris.”

-----------

Iris had been asleep for about an hour before being jolted awake by screaming and a flash of light. Three stallions stood inside their camp, two earth ponies wearing the same wearhouse uniform and a unicorn wearing business attire. The unicorn stallion held Frost in a magical field. Antares shrieked as she ran to hide behind Blue Bell. Ruby faced down the unicorn.

Pyrite ran to his sister but Iris grabbed him with her tail and placed him safely on her back.

“What are you doing?” Pyrite yelled, “I have to help Ruby!”

“We will help her, Pyrite. But we should ascertain the full situation before we act.” Iris said.

The gryphon looked past the unicorn and two earth ponies to see another earth pony standing behind them. There was another standing behind her, both exits were blocked.

“Let him go, now!” Ruby shouted, magic flowing into her horn.

The unicorn stallion smirked, “I’ll let him go when he returns the valuables he’s stolen.”

“He just took some fish so we could eat!” Blue Bell protested.

“Oh I’m sure thats what he told you,” The unicorn said with a laugh as the magical field glowed and Frost screamed in pain. “But he’s taken quite a bit of gold from our family, and I want it back.”

“The mare told you to put him down, I’d do it if I were you.” Red Sun said while slowly walking toward the unicorn stallion.

One of the earth pony workers laughed and moved to stop Red Sun but was blown into the concrete bridge by a blast of dark energy from Red Sun’s horn. Ruby incapacitated an earth pony stallion with a paralysis spell while Black Star flew into the air and drilled both rear hooves into the unicorn stallion’s face. The stallion flew backwards and relinquished his hold on Frost.

Iris ran at the earth pony blocking the closest exit and swiped a claw across his face, almost taking out an eye. “This way!” she yelled.

Antares grabbed Blue Bell, while Ruby ran over carrying Frost. Black Star flew over to Iris and looked her in the eyes, “Can you carry Frost?”

Iris nodded, “Yeah, I can.”

“Good,” Black Star said while grabbing Ruby, “We need to leave now, follow me.”

“But what about Red Sun?” Ruby asked.

“He can’t come with us if we’re going to fly, its too much to carry. He’ll be fine, we’ve been in way worse situations than this before. C’mon, this way.” Black Star said, leading them out of the park.

Iris and Antares followed Black Star, carrying their friends along the way. Iris looked over her shoulder at Pyrite who was gripping her neck as tightly as he could. The group flew toward the wealthier part of the city while weaving between various buildings. Eventually they reached a four story building protected by very tall walls. Black Star flew over to one of the windows on the top floor and slid it open, “Inside, quickly!”

The group entered the room to find several chairs and sofas all covered with sheets. Black Star deposited Ruby and trotted over to the door. He cracked it open and looked both ways down the hallway before turning to the group.

“Where are we?” Ruby asked, “Why did you bring us here?”

“Those ponies that were after you won’t come in here, even if they follow us. You are all safe now, but I must go, there are other matters here I must attend to.”

Ruby and Iris stepped toward Black Star but became very sleepy when he raised a hoof. Iris’ eyelids felt as heavy as cinder blocks. The last thing she saw before passing out was her new friends collapsing to the floor, and the darkness of the room creeping toward them.

-------------

Pyrite opened his eyes and looked around the room. The last thing he remembered was Black Star leaving the room and everypony falling asleep. He nudged Iris but was unable to wake her. He attempted to wake Ruby and Frost but was met with the same result. Pyrite began to worry, but then he heard something strange, a voice. Pyrite trotted over to the door and opened it, there were several dim lights in the hallway but it was still quite dark. The voice was louder in the hallway, it was a mare, and she was humming a song.

Pyrite crept down the hall of the seemingly empty building and came to what was probably the lobby. He looked down to see the bottom lit by an ornate overhanging chandelier. Pyrite continued to follow the in the direction of the humming but stopped when he heard doors swing open downstairs.

Two ponies entered the lobby, they were hidden by hooded cloaks but Pyrite could hear their voices perfectly.

“It’s really coming down out there, your decision to arrive in the city early was a good one. Travelling in this would have slowed us down considerably.”

“The city has changed alot since we last saw it, Rigel. I figured it might be good to get our bearings before meeting with our guest.”

“Getting here early might have thrown off the enemy spies as well. Do you think the ambassador will listen, let alone go along with your plan, Aldus?”

“Well, hopefully I still have a reputation in the Silver Isles, I think I can make Princess Desalia see reason. I just hope she hasn’t changed in these past thousand years.”

“Knowing her, its a safe bet she hasn’t. Lets get something to eat and dry off.”

“Alright.”

Pyrite watched the two ponies disappear into one of the large rooms beyond the staircase leading down. His ears twitched upon hearing the humming again. The young colt moved further down the hallway until he saw light escaping under one of the doors. He pressed his head to the door and heard the humming coming from inside. The melody was entrancing, he had to see what it was.

Pyrite cracked the door open and saw a fire going in the fireplace and a large black mare sitting in front of it on a cushion. He stepped inside while she continued humming only to bump the door and cause it to shut behind him, alerting the mare to his presence. Upon getting a closer look, Pyrite noticed she had both wings and a horn, just like Woona.

“Are you Princess Woona?” Pyrite asked.

The black mare cocked her head to the side and laughed, “Princess ‘Woona’? No sweetheart my name is Selene. Who are you?”

“I’m Pyrite, um were you singing?” the young colt asked.

“Its nice to meet you Pyrite. I was just humming a tune, I was bored. I’m surprised you heard it. I thought you were asleep with your friends?” Selene said while adjusting herself to face Pyrite.

Pyrite shuddered and recoiled in fear when he saw several tentacles movie behind Selene’s head, casting large shadows against the walls and floor. Pyrite noticed the shadows seemed to be moving freely on their own.

“What’s wrong, Pyrite?” Selene asked

“Why are the shadows moving?” Pyrite stuttered, “And how did you know about my friends?”

Selene let most of her mane fall to her back, except for two large tendrils that came to rest in front of her. “The shadows obey me, Pyrite. You don’t have be afraid of them.”

“You control the shadows?” Pyrite asked, curiosity overcoming fear.

Selene smiled, “I do, care for a demonstration?”

A dark hole appeared in the floor in front of Selene, one of her dark tendrils slithered through it. Pyrite heard a slight tearing sound as another hole appeared in front of him.The tendril emerged through it and slithered up to be eye level with Pyrite.

“Are you tired being afraid of the dark and shadows?” Selene asked.

Pyrite remembered the feeling of fear that paralyzed him when Woona was in danger, and he hated it. “I am,” Pyrite admitted.

“The power of darkness is in what it hides, if it hides nothing than it has no power over you.” Selene said, her eyes glowing green, “You must face your fear to vanquish it, are you ready?”

Pyrite stared at the tendril in front of him, he knew what he had to do. Pyrite extended a hoof and allowed the tendril to coil around it. The tendril tensed and lifted him into the air before disappearing with the colt through the portal. Pyrite entered a void of utter darkness, he frantically looked around to get his bearings. There was no up or down, there was no floor or ceiling. He shut his eyes and was about to scream, but the tendril holding his hoof coiled around him again, suspending him in the void.

Open your eyes Pyrite.

He heard Selene’s voice in his head and obeyed, opening his eyes ever so slightly and was surprised by what was there to meet him. It was Ruby, Frost, Antares, Blue Bell, and even Iris. He felt the tendril tense again as it pulled him away from his friends and up toward a dim light. Pyrite exited the void and found himself laying in Selene’s forehooves.

“See, was that so bad?” Selene asked while she bent down to nuzzle him.

“I saw my friends,” Pyrite said, “Why were they there?”

“In the void there is nothing, Pyrite. You saw only what you wanted, what you needed to see. You have the power there.” Selene said with a smile, “And you weren’t alone.”

Pyrite watched as the tendril that held him detached from Selene’s mane and transformed into a familiar black pegasus colt.

“Black Star?” Pyrite gasped. The pegasus was smaller now, about the same size as Pyrite. He grinned at the little earth pony.

“Thats right, kid.” the pegasus replied while messing up Pyrite’s mane, “That was incredibly brave what you just did, Red Sun was right about you and your friends.”

“My friends, where are they?” Pyrite asked.

Selene gestured to the wall on the far side of the room. A black portal much larger than the ones on the floor opened revealing his friends in the furniture room, still sleeping.

“Can we go to them, Selene?”

“Of course we can, sweetheart.”

Black Star nudged Pyrite’s shoulder and raced him through the portal as Selene followed close behind. Pyrite roused everypony from their slumber and introduced Selene to his friends.

Ruby examined Frost to make sure he was okay after being attacked when she heard hoofsteps coming from the hallway. Selene was sitting with Pyrite and Blue Bell when she heard the sounds as well. She watched as the door opened revealing two cloaked stallions.

Pyrite recognized them as the ponies he saw earlier in the lobby. The shorter of the two stallions pulled down his hood revealing a grey unicorn with a silver mohawk. He surveyed the foals before him and noticed Iris.

The other pony laughed, “Looks like Selene has been busy while we were out. What are we going to do with these children, Aldus?”

Aldus glared at Selene, who wrapped a hoof around Pyrite and smiled placidly.

“Selene... what are these children doing here?”