Pyrite’s head throbbed. It felt like all the blood in his body was rushing to his head. He opened his eyes in bewilderment. Everything was upside down. He could see the room as though it was dimly lit, just like before. He closed his eyes again, thinking it might have been one of those weird dreams. When he reopened them, everything remained the same. Pyrite felt something shift across his chest and realized two soft, but strong hooves were holding him up. He tilted his head up toward the floor and gulped. A bat pony mare let out a quiet sigh and bent down to look at him. She had the same red piercing eyes as Thule.

Pyrite remembered being near a bat pony mare like this before. She was just like Eve, and Eve bit him. Pyrite squirmed in her grip and managed to free a hoof.

“Hey, calm dow- oof!” she grunted as Pyrite elbowed her chin.

“Let me go!” Pyrite shouted as he continued to squirm.

The mare simply shrugged, “Okay.”

She released Pyrite just long enough for him to scream, “No!”

He fell down and was caught by the very tip of his tail. As he dangled, he saw several shadows shift on the floor. More of those creatures were roaming about. He counted at least five or six underneath him. One looked up and saw him, crouched low and jumped up with a roar. Pyrite screamed as it’s hand came close enough to brush against his mane.

“Ahh! Pull me up! Pull me up! Please!” Pyrite wailed as more creatures took notice of him dangling just out of reach.

The mare grabbed lengths of his tail, and with two strong pulls, had Pyrite safely out of reach back where he was before. Pyrite saw several more creatures come into view. Some had glowing eyes of different colors. They moaned and growled as they tried in vain to climb the pillars in the room and jump to reach him. Pyrite’s body quaked with shivers. He wrapped his stubby hooves around the mare’s neck in a death grip and buried his face in her shoulder.

“Why did you do that?” Pyrite muttered into her fur.

The mare chuckled, “You told me to.”

Pyrite began to get angry. “I didn’t mean it!”

The mare was about to respond with something witty, but stopped when she felt her neck getting wet. The child was beginning to cry. He was struggling to hold back the tears.

“There there,” she whispered, “It’s alright. I’ve got you.” Pyrite choked back tears and stared down at the creatures circling them. He shuddered again and clenched his eyes shut. The mare took notice and nuzzled the top of his head, “Those things are scary, huh? We don’t have to look at them.”

Two large membranous flaps opened on either side of her. Pyrite noticed her wings were similar in size to Thule’s, and they also had clawed wrist joints. The bat pony flexed her left wing, then the right. She gently folded them together and hooked the claws, creating a cocoon closed off from the world around them.

Pyrite had seen bats do this before. He often shared spaces with them when Ruby and Frost would find shelter from the rain in Manehatten. They always looked so comfy and warm.

Pyrite nuzzled the mare’s chin and whispered, “Thanks, I’m sorry I hit you.”

The mare’s red eyes illuminated the darkness from her closed wings, “You’re welcome little one, no need to apologize. What’s your name?”

“It’s Pyrite,” he replied, “I wasn’t expecting one of you to be here. Actually I wasn’t expecting anypony to be here.”

“One of me?” the mare asked with a chuckle, “What do you mean, Pyrite?”

Pyrite felt safe in the embrace of this mare, yet it still was unnerving when he looked at her fanged smile. “You’re a bat pony.”

The mare chuckled and bent her head down to Pyrite’s ear, “Not just a bat pony, the bat pony. Call me Saros, Pyrite.”

Pyrite pondered the name for a moment, then remembered the dream Andromeda had showed him. Thule called himself a Sarosian. So that meant... “You’re a special type of bat pony...” Pyrite reasoned.

“The very first,” Saros cooed, “But enough about me, why were you down here banging around with those weapons? They aren’t toys you know.”

Pyrite scrunched his muzzle. Of course he knew they weren’t toys. “I was trying out different ones to see which I liked best. I uh... got a little carried away.”

Saros giggled and rested her chin on Pyrite’s head, “Bit of an understatement. You’re lucky I was here.”

“Why are you here?” Pyrite asked.

“I’m here to see the smith who forged all those weapons.” Saros answered plainly. “He’s been working on some things for me, and I came to pick them up. I wasn’t expecting to find a little colt in trouble. Those things don’t deserve a tasty little earth pony like you.”

Pyrite laughed as Saros slipped him a playful wink. “Too good a meal for them, but what about you?”

“Well...” Saros pondered, “Foal’s blood is sweet...” She flipped Pyrite around and examined his neck, “But it looks like somepony beat me to it.”

Pyrite knew she was referring to his encounter with Eve, “Yeah, a filly bit me.”

“I see...” Saros said, “Are you enjoying your emerging night powers?”

“My what?” Pyrite asked.

“My wings are keeping us snug, warm, and in the dark. But you can see, can’t you?” Saros asked.

Pyrite saw everything. Saros’ soft fur and light leather vest. Her membranous wings that were folded around them. Her dark purple mane and golden necklace. “I can... so that means...”

“You’re family, yes.” Saros said with a gentle smile, “Whoever bit you carries my blood. I wasn’t about to let my own blood get eaten by one of those wretches.”

“But... what if-” Pyrite stammered, “What if I don’t want your blood? I don’t want to be a vampire bat pony!” Pyrite began shaking again, “What will everypony else say when they find out? I’ll start craving blood! I’ll be dangerous! I don’t want this! What can I do?”

“Shh...” Saros shushed him and squeezed her forehooves in reassurance. “Calm down, Pyrite. Calm down. Listen to me. This wasn’t consensual? You didn’t want this? ”

“No, she danced with me, then bit me. I really don’t remember much.”

Saros shook her head, “My people, they never learn. Does this filly have parents?”

“Yeah, a father. He’s like you.” Pyrite replied.

“Good,” Saros said. “If you don’t want the gift, just tell him what happened, and ask him to remove the blood.”

“He’ll do it?” Pyrite asked, more than a little skeptical.

“He will,” Saros said with a nod, “Tell him what happened and say you didn’t want it, he’ll fix you up.”

Pyrite felt a lot better hearing Saros reassure him. He knew something was different, but he never thought he was in the process of turning into a bat pony. It was more subtle than he imagined. Pyrite decided to think about something else, worrying wasn’t going to help anything. He looked at the belt around Saros’ waste and spotted two blades.

“You killed one of those monsters?” Pyrite queried.

“I did,” Saros replied, “Ugly thing, he wasn’t so dangerous missing his arms and half his guts.” she said with a chuckle. “I had to use these old things.” Saros gently released Pyrite and let him lay against the soft membranes of her wings. She reached back and produced her blades. One was a dagger with a slight serrated edge, the other was larger, possibly a form of short sword. “They barely got the job done.”

Pyrite looked up past Saros and wondered, “Hey, just how are we hanging like this? You don’t have claws on your hooves, do you?”

Saros laughed and rubbed Pyrite’s belly with one of her hooves, “No silly, I’m not some lizard. But I do have a prehensile tail. It’s pretty useful, as you can see.”

“What in Tartarus is going on in here?!”

Pyrite jumped when booming voice shook the room. Saros reached down and collected him in her forehooves once again. She whispered in Pyrite’s ear, “The smith is back. He’s a charming fellow. Just wait til he sees what I’ve done to one his pets.”

Saros opened her left wing so Pyrite could see what was going on. A large figure came into view from the far side of the room. It was one of the gargoyles that were in Seabreeze’s castle, but this one was different. It was as large as the ones he had fought, but more developed and... real. It moved and acted like a living, breathing creature. Rather than some stone construct.

Pyrite couldn’t help but smile when Saros pressed her head to his and laughed at the smith’s constant cursing. He spoke in some form of a truculent Trottingham accent. It reminded Pyrite of an old police pony in Manehatten who walked the parks at night. He could never catch Frost or Ruby when they ran, and constantly shouted obscenities at them.

“What in Rixis’ glorious majestic mane are you shits doing out of your cages?! Get back! BACK!”

The gargoyle smith produced a whip from his belt and cracked it menacingly at the creatures. They backed away toward their cages, most of them. Some roared defiantly at their harasser. The smith reacted swiftly, he cracked the whip again and kicked the nearest creature in the mouth, sending it reeling backward. After all the creatures were back in their pens, the smith locked them in and assessed the damage to the room. He noticed the dead creature and balled his fists.

“Who did this?!” 

Saros dropped from the rafters and flew around the smith’s head. She landed in front of him and sat on her haunches while holding Pyrite against her chest. “I’m afraid I did, Gargy. Sorry about the mess...”

The smith was livid. He grabbed the minotaur head and shoved it in Saros’ face. “I need these! It took me months to get them moving, and you just come in here and hack them to pieces? Why?!”

Saros chuckled and sat Pyrite down in front of her, “This little one was down here and about to be torn to shreds. I wasn’t about to let that happen.”

The gargoyle finally noticed Pyrite and narrowed his eyes. “What’s this little cub doing in the castle? He’s not even dead. But that could change in a few minutes if he doesn’t explain himself to me right now!” he roared.

“Gargy...” Saros chided while wrapping a protective forehoof around Pyrite.

“It’s Gargarensis!” the smith shouted with balled fists. His tail slithered forward and quickly wrapped Pyrite up. He brought the colt within inches of his face and breathed hot steam through his nostrils. “Well?!”

“I-” Pyrite stuttered, “I was just, exploring and...uh...” Pyrite knew he needed to think quick about what he said next. If this thing was really intent on hurting him, Saros might not be able to help. His mind raced until he came to Frost. What would Frost do? He’d seen Frost talk his way out of problems before when they were about to get pummeled by bad police ponies or gangs. That was it. “I saw your warhammer’s and mace’s. I’ve never seen them like that.” Pyrite gulped and managed to free a hoof. He pointed to the flanged mace on the floor, “I was testing that and accidentally hit the pillar. That’s when the monster came and Saros saved me.”

“Those aren’t toys, little pony. Misuse them and you’ll be meeting Rixis under more normal circumstances...” he warned.

“I know...” Pyrite said. “I apologize, Mr. Gargarensis. It’s just that, my friend and I read stories of knights and warriors. They use these weapons all the time, and these are just like how they’re described in the books. The edges on that flanged mace look like they could smash plate to pieces.”

“Aye, that’s a fact.” Gargarensis agreed. “Takes a certain type of warrior to use bludgeoning weapons. Not as flashy as blades, so underappreciated.”

“I guess I just got carried away. Seeing all these things from my imagination right in front of me was just too cool. You’re very talented.” Pyrite complimented.

Gargarensis nodded, “Aye, lad. That I am.”

Saros flew up next to him and spread her hooves apologetically. “See, he’s not so bad. He even loves your work.”

“Lad’s got better taste in weapons than you, I’ll say that much.” Gargarensis said with a grunt. “I’d take a good strength weapon any day over those pig stickers you love so much.”

“Right...” Saros said with a roll of her eyes, “My ‘pigstickers,’ they stick more than pigs as you can see,” she said while reminding Gargarensis of her work killing his creation. “Speaking of them, do you have my new set?”

Gargarensis grumbled and nodded, “Aye, I do. But first the matter of the little cub.” He dropped Pyrite from his tail and into an outstretched claw. “Don’t go wandering off into places that could be dangerous, not unless you want to take an early trip to the shores.”

He bent over and sat Pyrite down, then picked up the flanged mace with the tips of his claws and sat it back on the crafting table, “Next time you hold one of those, it’d be best if you knew what you were doing.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Rixis said while materializing out of the wall. He bent down and smiled at Pyrite. “So, what weapon do you want?”

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

Frost stood in front of a great mirror. He didn’t know exactly what is was, but as he looked on, a scene seemed to take place before him. The image in the mirror reached out from the glass and encapsulated the room. Frost held his breath when he saw the scene in front of him.

A nurse rushed out of a large tent drenched in blood. More ponies ran in and out. It was frantic, then he heard a scream.

“LEAVE!”

Princess Celestia screeched as the rest of the ponies emptied from the tent. She bent over the pony on the makeshift operating table and grabbed his gauntleted hoof in her own. “Sharp Sun, please... don’t go.”

The stallion gurgled blood and turned his head to the side. “I’m sorry, princess. I’ve failed you.”

Celestia felt a gentle wing fall across her shoulders. Luna nuzzled into her neck for comfort.

“You haven’t failed anything, you’re going to be fine. My magic is already starting to take effect.” Celestia said with a half smile.

Sharp Sun smirked and looked down at the gaping hole in his chest, “I believe you.” he lied.

“The dragons are in retreat,” Luna said. “We’ve driven them back, thanks to you and your soldiers, we’ve won.”

Sharp Sun gulped and nodded, “I’ve fulfilled my duty to the princesses.” He rested his head on the pillow and started to shut his eyes, “I- I need rest...”

“No! No!” Princess Celestia sputtered, “Stay here, stay awake. I’m your princess, I forbid it.”

“I’m sorry, Princess.” he muttered, “I wish...”

“No. NO!” Celestia shouted, “You can’t, you’re not just a soldier. You’re my soldier. I need you. I love you...” she whimpered.

Sharp Sun’s breathing slowed, until it stopped altogether. Celestia pressed her head to the stallion’s neck and emptied her tears into his coat. Luna grabbed her sister in the warmest embrace she could muster, “I’m sorry, Tia. He’s gone.”

Celestia lifted her head and swallowed her tears. She wiped them away with a hoof and shook her head, “No. No Luna, he’s still here. He hasn’t taken him yet.”

“He?” Luna asked, perplexed.

Celestia unfurled her wings and summoned her power. Her eyes began to glow pure white as the tent billowed in the wind. “I know you’re here! You won’t take him! I won’t let you!”

Luna backed away after receiving a menacing glance from her sister. “Tia, please. He’s gone.”

“Reveal yourself!” Celestia shouted, “Come out!”

Celestia summoned a pulse of magic to her horn and gathered energy. The magic sapped the color from the room and expanded outward. It encapsulated the entire tent before revealing a large misshapen biped. Luna gasped and retreated behind her sister. Celestia exploded the magic from her horn and ended the spell. The color returned to the room as the air around them shimmered and coalesced. The hooded figured leaned on a large axe and looked down at the two alicorns. Two golden eyes glowed from beneath the tattered green hood. It stepped forward and with a lizards claw, removed it’s hood.

“Princess Celestia,” it said with a respectful bow. It noticed Luna as well, and likewise performed another, “Princess Luna.” The creature stood up and shook it’s head, “This is most irregular.”

“You won’t have him, Rixis.” Celestia snarled.

Rixis looked at Sharp Sun, then at Celestia. “Princess, I don’t want him. It’s merely his time, and I’m merely a guide.”

“No, you can’t. I need him. I’ve been so long without a stallion like him. I won’t go back to the way it was before. I can’t!” Celestia sputtered.

Rixis paused, then frowned, “I see, he was your lover. I promise he’s going to a safe place. I’m sure he’ll always love you.” he stepped forward and reached out his paw.

Celestia screamed and conjured a powerful beam of white hot magic. She teleported in front of Rixis and shot him directly in the face.

“TIA!” Luna shouted as she grabbed her sister and tried to hold her back.

As the obscuring steam from the spell cleared. Rixis face was almost completely melted away. One of his eyes was gone, and his mane was burnt to a crisp. Where muscle sinew once held a lion’s muzzle, now was charred black along with the white of bone. The impact dislocated his jaw, which caused it to hang sideways, almost comedically.

Despite the injury, Luna didn’t think his expression changed. Rixis rested his executioner’s axe against his shoulder, then cupped both claw and paw around his face. Black writing tentacles wrapped around his head until the damage was repaired. He cracked his neck and stared down the alicorns. “Do you realize what you just did?”

“Sh-she didn’t mean it!” Luna stuttered, “She’s in mourning, she needs to come to her senses.”

“I’m fine!” Celestia shouted, “I can make him better, he stays here!”

Rixis looked around the tent and let out a long sigh, “Warrior!”

A sound behind Celestia and Luna caused the alicorns to turn around and gasp when Sharp Sun began to breath again.

“Ri- Rixis...” Sharp Sun whispered.

Celestia rushed to his side and cradled his head in her forehooves, “I’m here, I’m right here!”

Rixis appeared in front of the pony and stared down at him, “Warrior, do you know who I am?”

Sharp Sun slowly nodded, “I-I’ve seen you before, on battlefields. I’ve seen you ever since I killed my first foe. A phantom, a ghost. I thought I was just seeing things.”

“Perhaps you were,” Rixis said with a lighthearted chuckle. “I’ve watched you, and all your brethren. I’ve watched you win, and I’ve watched those who oppose you, lose.”

“You’re death,” Sharp Sun muttered.

Rixis leaned over slightly, “Are you afraid of me?”

Sharp Sun swallowed and leaned against Celestia, he knew lying to Rixis would be a mistake. “I’ve killed many, it’s only fair I meet you when it’s my time.”

Rixis smiled and nodded, “Well said.” He looked at Celestia, then at Luna. He knew the Moon Princess was petrified. Once he got her attention, he slipped her a quick wink.

“Warrior, do you love your princess?” Rixis asked.

“I do,” Sharp Sun replied.

“Love her as more than just your princess?”  

“Yes,” Sharp Sun answered.

“What would you be willing to do to stay with her?”

Sharp Sun looked at Celestia and smiled, “Anything, I’d do anything.”

“Would you not attempt to cheat death like so many others, and instead attempt to obtain your desire honorably?”

Sharp Sun raised an eyebrow, “I would, but how?”

“You are a warrior, skilled in battle and ending lives. I challenge you, Sharp Sun, to a duel. To the death.”

Sharp sun paused. “If I lose, I go with you? If I win, I stay with Celestia?”

Rixis nodded, “If you win, you will live as long as Celestia lives. This I promise.”  

Celestia grabbed Sharp Sun and held him tightly, “No! He’s the spirit of death! He’ll cheat, you can’t kill him!”

Sharp Sun calmed Celestia and smiled, “I trust him, Celly. I’ll win.” He nodded to Rixis, “I accept.”

Celestia looked at the towering spirit and grimaced, “It’s still an unfair advantage.”

Rixis chuckled and extended his claw down to Sharp Sun, “I respect your honesty and confidence. Your actions in life have earned you a fair fight, and a fair fight you shall have.”

Sharp Sun reached out and took hold of Rixis’ large claw. When he did, a bright light began to envelope the spirit. The light wrapped around him in long billowing bands until his figure was completely obscured. Sharp Sun continued to hold Rixis’ claw, until he felt something different. It was as if he himself caused the change. The light began to fade, and where a towering amalgamation once stood, only a pony remained. A stallion, one of similar build to Sharp Sun.

He stepped forward, revealing hard leather armor with an axe and rapier attached to either side of his belt. As the stallion held his hoof, Sharp Sun was reinvigorated. The gash in his chest had closed, and he felt like he was in his prime again. Sharp Sun let the adrenaline flow through him and gripped Rixis’ hoof harder. Both Stallion’s smiled like children about race.

“To the death,” Rixis said.

“To the death,” Sharp Sun replied.

And with the agreement, both stallion’s disappeared in flash.

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

Frost blinked and snapped himself out of the moment. It was as if he was there the whole time. The mirror rippled and returned to normal as if the entire scene never happened. Frost didn’t understand what he just witnessed. Rixis seemed quite selfish when he was pretending to kill Frost, and his justification for why was also self centered. Yet, he was willing to indulge that warrior. He could have murdered Celestia and Luna on the spot for attacking him, but he did nothing.

“Ssssearching through memoriessss are we?” a female voice cooed from behind Frost.

He turned around to find a large blue cobra slithering through the doorway. She shut it behind her with her tail and raised her head high above Frost.

Frost gulped and backed into a mirror, almost knocking it over. “I umm... I guess. You can talk?”

“Of coursssse, child. Why couldn’t I?” the cobra asked with a chuckle.

“Well, I’ve not seen too many talking snakes,” Frost said with a nervous laugh.

The cobra slowly slithered around the room, trailing her long body around the mirrors, and Frost. She stopped when he was completely encircled. “Sssso, what are we watching?”

“I’m not sure, I just saw Rixis agree to fight a stallion in a duel. If he lost, he would have let the stallion live forever.”

“Forever? No... I don’t think sssso.” The cobra hissed with a chuckle, “He didn’t win anyway.”

“He didn’t?” Frost asked, he was somewhat disappointed to hearing that. “How do you know?”

“I wassss there, little pony.” the cobra replied.

Frost remembered seeing Rixis’ tail, and it was indeed a snake. “Yes, I did see you, umm...”

The cobra smiled and gently brushed Frost’s mane with the tip of her tail, “Call me Gari, little pony.”

“Ok, you can call me Frost.”

“Yessss,” Gari said with a smile, “The one who Dissscord hid inside when coming here.” She wrapped her tail around Frost and lifted him up to her head, “Delicioussss.”

Frost winced and shut his eyes, “Why are you here? Am I in trouble?”

“No ssssilly,” Gari said with giggle, “I’m here to make sure you don’t get in trouble.” She tossed Frost up such that he landed atop her hood. Her body uncoiled as Frost slid down it’s length and came to a stop in coils near more mirrors. These were locked inside metal cases.

Frost couldn’t help laughing when Gari’s tail tickled his nose, “Gari stop!” he pleaded.

Gari leaned down and flicked her tongue across Frost’s cheeks, “Who knowssss what trouble you’d have found yourself in if I hadn’t arrived.”

Frost squirmed in her hold and eventually freed himself. “What are these for?”

“They are memoriessss,” Gari hissed.

“Why keep memories in mirrors?” Frost asked.

Gari tilted her head to the side, “Why, to revisit them of coursssse.” She picked Frost up again and placed him atop her head. “You ssssee,” she began while elevating her body up toward the high ceiling, “When you live as long as Rixissss, you tend to accumulate many memoriessss.”

Gari stopped at one of the many mirrors and used her tail to remove it from it’s rack. Frost was amazed at just how long her body was. She didn’t appear nearly this big when attached to Rixis. Gari lowered them both to the ground and placed the mirror on one of the receptacles, then nudged Frost toward it.

“What?” Frost asked.

“Rixissss is...” Gari paused, “A complicated spirit. I understand what reservations you might have, but perhapssss it’s too early to pass judgement.”

Frost knew what she was trying to do, and her constantly swishing tail was starting to get on his nerves. He grabbed Gari’s tail and forced it to stop moving. “He was going to kill me, he did kill me. All for some petty squabble with Discord. I get that there’s bad blood between them, but for a spirit who claims to not interfere with mortals, he sure is a hypocrite. All those things he hated Discord for doing, then he does them to me and that poor pegasus pony.”

Frost didn’t realize how hard he was gripping Gari’s tail. The cobra frowned and slowly flicked her tongue. She looped her body into a pile of coils and sat her head down on it, still facing Frost.

“I know...” Gari said with a sigh, “I know. He hasn’t had an easy life. In situations like those, it’s always one cloven hoof forward, and two back. Sometimes I wonder if he’s learned anything at all.”

Frost noticed Gari sounded strange. Her lisp was gone, and her voice almost seemed different altogether, but it was hard to tell. “You said I should wait to judge, why? What should I see? This?” he motioned to the mirror.

Gari nodded, “Mhm, but I understand if you don’t want to. I’m sorry for what he did to you.”

Frost lowered his head and picked up Gari’s tail, “I squeezed kinda hard. Sorry about that. Can we watch it together?”

Gari flicked her tongue and chuckled, “I’m used to tight squeezes.” She gingerly picked up Frost and sat him next to her head, “You might recognize this pretty pony...”

Frost opened his eyes as the mirror began to project its image into the room. He saw an image of a pony and his mouth dropped, “Thats... !”

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

Seabreeze swished the paint brush across her canvas with a quick flick, then dabbed it in more paint. “There!” she said with a triumphant grin, “Do those clouds look happy or what?”

“Yeah!” the fillies and colts said with a cheer as they watched from their stools.

“Alright, now you all try.” she said while flexing her wings and levitating the small bottles of paint to the foals. “Remember, it’s not-” Seabreeze’s sentence was cut short by a colt mashing his paintbrush into his canvas with such force you’d think he was wielding a battle axe. “Clipper, dear. That’s a bit rough, don’t you think?”

The colt smiled at her and shook his head, “These are thunder clouds, Breezey!”

“Clipper!” a filly shouted next to him while waving her paintbrush and flinging paint everywhere. “She’s a princess!”

Seabreeze wiped paint from her face and saw Clipper frown. She laid a green wing across him and nuzzled the top of his head, “It’s alright Wind Walker, you all can call me Breezey.”

After gently encouraging Clipper to be less forceful, Seabreeze strolled down the hall of her castle. She had painted this place with the magic of her beloved, and it was their world to share. The castle wasn’t big at the moment, in fact it was quite cozy, as far as castles go. As she brewed a cup of coffee in the pantry, three loud knocks shook the central hall of the castle.

Seabreeze almost dropped her coffee in surprise. Nopony could enter the painting without her express permission, and right now Aldus was the only pony who knew the incantation. As she was lost in thought, she failed to notice Wind Walker innocently approaching the doors. The castle doors were large, too large for foals, so Seabreeze had Aldus install levers that could let them enter and exit at their leisure. It was a shame, the children never got a chance to see Aldus the last time he was here.

Wind Walker pulled the lever and stood at the doors, waiting to greet the pony on the other side. As the two doors slowly creaked open, Wind Walker fell under the shadow of an enormous creature. It stood taller than two minotaurs with a long green cloak and a walking stick.

“Hello,” the creature said as it looked down at the filly.

An ear splitting scream jolted Seabreeze from her reverie. She saw Wind Walker bolting through the halls, her tiny wings buzzing in frantic attempts to lift her off the ground. Seabreeze intercepted the foal and tried to comfort her, “Shh, what’s wrong?”

Wind Walker quaked in Seabreeze’s hooves and pointed to the entrance. Seabreeze noticed the sun was briefly blocked out by something large. The creature knelt down and peaked through the doorway. It reached in with it’s arm, a lion’s paw. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”

The rest of Seabreeze’s class had come to investigate and saw the creature. They screamed and ran back into the castle, tipping over canvas and paint cans as they went. The creature pulled back it’s paw as if it had been stung by a bee. Seabreeze couldn’t tell for sure, but she thought she saw a pained expression on it’s face. Whatever it was, it pushed itself to it’s feet and began to walk away. The expression she was unsure of, but her heightened senses as an alicorn definitely allowed her to hear what the creature said before it left: “I’m sorry.”

Seabreeze sat Wind Walker down and whispered to her, “Go join the others and stay inside, okay?”

Wind Walker nodded and bolted off down the hallway. Seabreeze slowly made her way to the doors and stepped outside. She saw the prints the creature left in the ground. One the shape of a lizard, the other a cloven hoof. Seabreeze was debating whether to go after it when she saw something on the steps next to the door. It was a basket. Inside was a meager bundle of flowers, and some baked goods. Underneath the basket was a small, plain rug. Seabreeze opened it up and gasped. The rug depicted an embroidered image of her castle backed by a setting sun. Underneath in simple letters it read: “Welcome.”

Seabreeze sat the rug down next to the basket and ascended into the air. She was still getting used to the wings, but she was able to fly well enough. She saw the creature walking down the road away from the castle and took off after it.

“Wait, stop!” she called.

The creature halted and glanced at Seabreeze without turning around, “I didn’t mean to frighten any children. I should’ve known better than to come like this.” it said while gesturing a claw across it’s body, “I should just go.”

“No,” Seabreeze said while fluttering over it’s head and landing in front of it. She blocked it’s path and looked into its golden eyes, “You were just here to welcome us? That’s very nice of you. I’m Seabreeze, it’s nice to meet you.” she said while offering a hoof.

The creature offered a weak smile and touched a talon to Seabreeze’s hoof. “I’m Rixis. You... don’t know who I am?”

“I’m afraid not,” Seabreeze replied, “Should I?”

Rixis knelt down and examined her, “You’re an alicorn, you should-” he paused a moment and sniffed Seabreeze, “You weren’t always an alicorn?”

“I- no, how do you know that?” Seabreeze asked.

Rixis stood once again and shook his head, “This world resides in a realm near my own, which is why I came to welcome you as a neighbor of sorts.” he explained with a gentle smile. “It would take very old magic to create this place, I was expecting an alicorn much older...”

Seabreeze chuckled flapped her wings happily, “Well, these only recently came into my possession. I have a mentor, an older alicorn named Desalia.”

“The silver one?” Rixis inquired, “Ah yes, she watches over an ancient library does she not? That would explain where you came across the means to make this.”

Seabreeze stood silently for a moment, then clapped her hooves together, “You know, we were just about to sit down for lunch. Would you like to join us?”

Rixis raised an eyebrow, “You really want to sit down to lunch with the spirit of death?”

Seabreeze dropped her hoof and took a step back. She paused a moment and appraised Rixis, then did something he didn’t expect. She grinned, then shrugged.

“You’re still a neighbor, right? Come on, it’s only right I show hospitality. And by the sound of things, there’s a lot I need to learn about this place.”

Rixis twirled his walking stick and was consumed by light. When the light dissipated, a brown earth stallion stood before Seabreeze. “Don’t want to scare the children again.” he said with a laugh.

Seabreeze giggled and glomped Rixis, “I’m sure they’ll love you. C’mon!” she grabbed his hoof and led him back to the castle.

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

Frost leaned back and scratched his head. “So that’s how he met Princess Seabreeze.”

Gari turned her head and nodded, “It issss. The little alicorn never expected to meet a spirit, and Rixis never expected to meet such a young princessss”

Frost sat against Gari’s coils and yawned. He noticed that Gari was different in those memories. “Gari... what are you?”

“What am I?” she asked, “What do you mean?”

“Discord doesn’t have any other parts of him that talk and have their own minds, and he’s the spirit of chaos.” Frost said. “You are a separate thing right now, but when you become Rixis’ tail... then what? Are you part of him? Am I talking to him now?”

“Such a curioussss little pony,” Gari said with a chuckle, “If I told you what I wassss, I’d have to kill you.”

Frost laughed and grabbed her swishing tail, “With your lethal venom? You’d have to catch me first.” He was starting to get bored watching the memories. He wondered if he egged her on, Gari would play with him.

Gari hissed and elevated her head. She looked at her coils surrounding Frost. “One could ssssay I’ve already caught you. And I don’t need venom, I could jusssst eat you.”

Frost, now delighted that Gari was playing along, teleported on top of her head and pushed it down. He teleported away a second time and materialized on one of the many high shelves. “I hope you have magic to keep up with me, that big body seems pretty slow.”

No sooner had Frost finished his sentence, Gari exploded toward him like a spring and bit the shelf off just where he was previously standing. She spit out the wood and began to coil around one of the pillars nearest him. “Sssso, is this to be hide and sssseek?” Gari closed her eyes and started to count, “Run and hide little Frossst. Once I find you, you won’t be using that magic any more.”

Frost snickered and silently teleported to the room’s entrance. “Good luck finding me in this huge castle, and I know just the place where you’ll never think to look.” he laughed to himself as he took off down the hall.

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

Luna ran a brush through her mane as she tracked the moon on it’s trajectory through the night sky. It was definitely picturesque here in the Silver Isles. A knock on the door captured her attention. She sat down her tea and cleared her throat.

“Enter.”

The door opened and Thule stepped into the princess’s room. He smiled and bowed, almost too politely. Luna rolled her eyes and continued to brush her mane. “Please shut the door, Thule. I wish to discuss this in confidence.”

Thule smirked and obeyed, “Oh, always in confidence...”

Luna turned around and put down her brush. “You know why I called you here?”

Thule grinned knowingly, “I would assume it’s because you wish to employ my special talents.”

Luna frowned, “Yes, just like I used to do when-”

“Nightmare Moon,” Thule interrupted, “Yes, oh starlight am I feeling the nostalgia right now.”

“I have only vague memories,” Luna admitted, “How did it go?”

Thule flexed his wings and unsheathed his blades. He placed them on the floor before his princess and knelt. “I would present myself and my tools to you, and you would ask me if I’m prepared to serve.”

“You served me then, are you prepared to serve me now?” Luna asked.

“I am,” Thule replied.

“Now what?” Luna inquired.

“Now, princess... you speak a name to me, and I end them.”

“You’re not going to kill anypony, Thule.” Luna said with a stern glare.

Thule was taken aback, “Then, forgive me princess... but why am I here?”

“Your skills can be put to other uses. I want you to find whoever is head of this child slavery ring.”

“... And then... kill them?” Thule asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No!” Luna snapped. She put a hoof to her chest to calm down. “No I mean, I don’t know.”

“You’re conflicted,” Thule said while picking up his swords and sheathing them. “I understand, this isn’t the same as it was back then.”

Luna remained silent and turned away. “Back then I wasn’t me.”

Thule shook his head, “Yes you were, I remember.”

“What?” Luna asked, “What do you remember?”

“You were a Queen back then,” Thule said with a chuckle, “Your confidence was contagious. Not all of the courtiers thought so, but I found it... enrapturing. You were different back then, but you were still Luna. We all saw it. Aldus, Rigel, Polaris, we all knew you were in there.”

Luna shivered when she felt a membranous wing fold around her side. Thule sat down beside her and looked down into her eyes. She didn’t notice if she was slouching, but Thule sitting near her was comforting. As alicorns, she and her sister were generally taller than mares and stallions, but some matched them in height. Her courtiers were some such ponies. Rigel and Thule possessed special bloodlines which contributed to their frames and stature.

Luna sighed and leaned against Thule, “I wish I remembered more, but then again, perhaps it’s best I don’t.”

“Then I assume you don’t remember what else happened during our meetings?”

“No,” Luna replied, “I don’t.”

“As Queen of the Night, you...” Thule paused, “Hmm how to put it...” He gestured with his hoof for emphasis, trying to find the words. “You demanded certain... other services from me.”

Luna raised an eyebrow, “I’m not certain I follow.”

“I think you do,” Thule stated plainly.

Luna got up and ruffled her wings in embarrassment, “I can’t believe that. I- I couldn’t have. Thule, I- I’m sorry.”

Thule shook his head got up to comfort Luna, “Nothing to be sorry about, you were Queen, and I didn’t object at all. In fact, I enjoyed myself... as did you.”

Luna blushed and turned away, “I don’t know what to say.”

Thule crept up behind Luna and wrapped his forehooves around her. He brushed her mane away and lightly kissed her neck, “You don’t remember this?”

Luna moaned and fell back into Thule’s embrace. Being held by a protective stallion made her feel so... “No... why don’t you remind me?” she asked while grinning like a filly.

Thule flexed his wings and brought them forward around them both, “You used to love it when I’d bite.” he growled.

Luna turned around and nuzzled into his neck, “Trying to turn me, are you?”

“Never!” Thule said in mock insult, earning a giggle from Luna. “Don’t imagine I’d have much success even if I tried, what with your alicorn blood.”

Luna threw her forehooves around Thule’s neck and kissed him on the muzzle. “I want you here the rest of the night, mister.”

“Oh course,” Thule said, “Who knows who might come lurking in the night to hurt you?”

“That’s right,” Luna cooed while leading him over to her bed, “The children always think nightmares and monsters are the scariest things. I wonder what they’d think knowing the most dangerous nightstalker serves me and is such a sweety pie?”

Thule silenced Luna with a kiss and fell onto the bed with her on top of him. “Shh... I have a reputation to maintain.”

“Yes,” Luna agreed with a mischievous smile, “About your reputation...”