Iris dove under Kathe’s legs as he took a wide swing at her with a practice longsword. With a quick flap of her wings she turned and brought her short sword around to slice his legs. However, Kathe anticipated this and jumped into the air to land in front of the small gryphon. He could have performed a back flip to land behind Iris with the aid of his wings, but he often refused to use them when they practiced.

Kathe smirked at Iris and waved a talon at her disapprovingly, “What have I told you about those brazen moves?”

“That they are reckless and just as likely to fail as they are to succeed,” Iris said with a sweet smile, “But they tend to work on beat up old gryphons, don’t they?”

Kathe clicked his beak and tossed his sword between his claws, “Dirty fighting has a good chance of working if you are taking on an individual who doesn’t normally fight dirty.”

Iris shifted her stance slightly and raised her sword but was caught off guard by her teacher’s action. Kathe tossed his blade into his left claw and used his right to unfurl his blue sash. In an instant, he whipped the sash around Iris’ sword and relieved her of her weapon. Iris blinked once in shock, when she opened her eyes Kathe was standing over her with two blades at her throat.

“One of these days you are going to run out of those slick moves and won’t be able to surprise me anymore,” Iris said as she picked herself off the ground.

Kathe flipped her sword around in his claw and handed it back to her, “When that day comes I’ll have to get creative and find out new ways to trick you.”

Iris took the sword and assumed a new stance, “Come at me again Kathe. We’ll see who tricks who this time!”

Kathe smiled and prepared for whatever Iris had planned, but then lowered his guard at that last minute.

“Kathe? What’s wrong?” Iris asked.

The blue priest looked past Iris and watched a flock of birds fly out of the practice yard. Everything had become strangely quiet in the past minute, but he had not realized it right away. His stomach twisted in knots, something was wrong. Kathe saw Iris’ eyes widen as she stared at something behind him.

Kathe turned around to face three golden armored gryphons. Each bore the crest of a nest with a gold cloak to match the armor. Their beaks were hidden by golden neckwarmers and each wore red tinted goggles fastened closely to their eyes.

The middle gryphon stepped forward and extended an armored claw. “Princess Iris, there is an insurrection in progress, we have been sent to see you to safety. Please come with us.”

Iris did not move, she never admitted it, but the golden gryphons had frightened her ever since she had known about them. Theirs was a reserved and secretive culture. They were a wealthy kingdom and preferred to reveal as little information about themselves as possible. This applied to everything from their trade partners to the way they dressed and spoke.

“Kathe?” Iris whispered.

The blue priest held out his claw, Iris remained still.

“What are Golden Nest warriors doing inside the castle?” Kathe asked. “And why are you armed?”

The middle gryphon gave a muffled chuckle under his neckwarmer. To his left, his companion took a step forward and unsheathed a longsword. “Be gone priest, or you’ll regret it.”

Kathe leveled his practice blade at the gryphon who threatened him, “That’s some shiny armor you three have there. Doesn’t look like its seen much action.”

The gryphon with the longsword stalked toward Kathe, “I assure you its seen plenty of action, so has this blade. In fact, it's seen its share of priests, just like you.”

The golden gryphon raised his right arm and swung the blade at Kathe, who ducked under the blade and pivoted to bring the hilt of his practice sword into the throat of his attacker. In fluid movement that seemed like leaves floating on the wind, Iris watched as Kathe spun around the armored gryphon and wrapped its cloak around its eyes. The blue priest kicked out the golden gryphon’s leg from behind and pulled a shortsword from his assailant’s belt. Before the gryphon could do anything Kathe plunged the blade into the back of his neck. The two golden gryphon’s that remained drew their blades and charged Kathe.

“Kathe! Watch out!” Iris screamed as she pointed to the side of the practice yard.

Kathe barely had time to dodge the crossbow bolt as it sped over his wings taking several feathers with it. Another golden gryphon had landed at the edge of the practice yard and loaded another bolt. The gryphon fired the crossbow again. Kathe flapped his wings once to dodge backward and avoid the bolt. Two blades flew forward at Kathe as he ducked under the first and parried the second. Kathe flapped his wings once more and rolled toward the body of the slain gryphon. In one motion kathe picked up the fallen warrior’s longsword and threw the shortsword at the crossbow gryphon. The blade pierced the gryphon in the neck which caused him to drop the crossbow and fall to the ground.

Of the two gryphons that remained, one whirled around and charged Kathe while the other spread his wings and took to the air. Kathe removed a silver amulet from his leather armor and raised it above his head. He offered a prayer to one of the Matriarch’s children as the amulet began to glow. Kathe slid the trinket across the blade of the longsword then plunged it into the ground. There was a small boom as a shockwave spread from Kathe across the practice yard. Both golden gryphons faltered for moment as the shockwave impacted them. Kathe used the moment to remove the longsword from the ground and parry the gryphon who swung at him. He followed through the motion and spun around to decapitate the heavily armored gryphon.

The remaining golden gryphon climbed higher into the air and sped toward the direction of the castle courtyard. Kathe knew he had to act fast before that gryphon got away and was able to summon help. He sheathed the longsword in his belt and raised the silver medallion in the air once again. He offered a prayer to another child of the Matriarch and slid the medallion across his right claw and forearm. Kathe curled his claw as if he was holding a spear as a shaft of brilliant light began to form in it. He took a deep breath and extended his left claw to aim, then threw the spear with all his might. The shaft of light soared through air and pierced the golden gryphon’s chest plate. With a sharp scream of pain the gryphon fell out of the air and crashed atop the roof of the castle.

Kathe scanned the area to make sure there were no more surprises then quickly took Iris behind one of the pillars at the edge of the courtyard.

“Are you alright, Iris?” Kathe asked.

“I’m fine, Kathe. How did you do that? I didn’t know you could use magic.”

Kathe grinned, “That wasn’t magic, those were simple blessings.”

Iris raised an eyebrow, “Blessings?”

“Yes, Blessed Walk of Peace and Sunspear specifically, but we don’t have time to talk about that now.”

“What's going on?” Iris asked, “Why did those golden gryphon’s attack us?”

Kathe put a claw to her mouth and pointed to sky as a shadow passed overhead. An airship with bright gold markings flew down toward the city while several sparkling figures could be seen jumping from its sides.

“The Golden Nest kingdom is invading,” Kathe said, “Most of our army is gone in the north, we won’t be able to repel the attack.”

Iris’ eyes opened wide in sudden realization, “Then they are after me and daddy! We have to save him!”

“We can’t save him now, Iris. But I assure you, your father has planned for a situation like this. I’m sure he’s fine. However, I need to get you to safety away from the kingdom where the Golden Nest gryphons can’t find you.”

“Where should we go?” Iris asked.

Kathe watched as more golden gryphon’s flew over the practice yard, “We need to get to the docks. Follow me.”

Kathe and Iris took to the skies making sure to fly low and not be spotted by the golden gryphon’s patrolling the skies. As they approached the docks, Kathe could see three small airships over the city and one large airship hovering outside the city’s borders. They didn’t bring many ships or troops with them. They must have known most of our army was gone, which could only mean one thing...

When Iris and Kathe reached the city’s port they found it unguarded. The port was for airships so the piers were built out of a cliff face for the ships to dock. There were at least eighteen ships docked at the moment and several were preparing to get underway.

Kathe landed with Iris behind him, “That one is getting ready to cast off,” Kathe said as he pointed to a large airship full of grains and oats. “Hurry, the sooner we are out of here the better.”

“I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Kathe,” came a voice behind them.

Kathe whirled around, blade in claw, to find a gaunt, slender gryphon walk out of the shadows behind two shipping crates. The gryphon’s face was obscured by a grey hood.

“I see the golden warriors failed to capture you, Iris. Predictable I must admit, given your present company. Never send a foreigner to kill one of the greatest warriors alive today. No, that task should fall to a fellow native gryphon, don’t you think, Kathe?

The slender gryphon removed his hood. Kathe’s face twisted in anger, “Thest, I should have known.”

“Yes, you should have,” Thest replied, “But you didn’t. Now, my dear Iris, I need you to come with me back to the castle, there is the unfortunate matter of your father.”

Iris snarled in rage, “What are you talking about, what unfortunate matter?”

Thest stood on his hind legs and unsheathed two curved daggers from his belt. He casually twirled the right hand blade that was colored red in blood, “I’m afraid King Ziraal is dead.”

“You’re lying!” Iris screamed with tears in her eyes. “There’s no way he’d die to a rodent like you!”

Kathe turned to Iris, “Iris, look at me, you have to go now. Get on that ship.”

Iris’ whole world seemed to fall apart in a matter of seconds, “B-but what about you? I can’t leave without you!”

“I’ll be right behind you, Iris. I promise, now go.”

Iris took one last look at Kathe and Thest then turned away and flew to the ship.

Thest’s  face remained expressionless as he regarded Kathe, “She can run to edge of the world if she wants, we’ll still find her eventually.”

“She’s more resourceful than you realize, Thest.” Kathe said as he leveled his blade at the gaunt gryphon.

“I don’t doubt it,” said Thest, “Sad as it is, I always thought she was smarter than her father.”

The two gryphon’s circled each other, the tension in the air was so thick it could be cut by either gryphon’s blades.

“I see the spirit in your eyes, Kathe. I see it brimming with confidence, but you should know your blessings won’t work on me.” Thest said while he crouched low.

“We’ll see, Thest.” Kathe said as he switched his stance again.

“Its been a long time since I killed a warrior in open combat,” Thest admitted, “I’m going to enjoy this. Goodbye, priest.”

Iris stuck her head out the porthole of the bottom section of the airship as it floated away from the docks. She could hear the sound of clashing steel for a few moments before the ship was too far away to hear anything. Iris crawled over to a corner and curled up in a tiny ball. She didn’t know what she was going to do now, and she didn’t care. All she wanted to do now was cry.

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

Five changelings trotted through the everfree forest with an unconscious Aldus. The trees tops were whipping around from the wind that seemed to pick up just after they captured their target. The largest changeling carrying Aldus on his back hissed in irritation. He had been carrying the unicorn since they left Canterlot and was getting tired.

The changeling hissed louder to get the attention of their leader, “How long am I supposed to carry this pony?”

The leader turned around to glare at the large changeling, “You’ll carry him until we reach Silth if you keep hissing and complaining.”

“I can’t wait to see what Silth does to this wizard,” another changeling said with a laugh.

“If she’s anything like Chrysalis, she’ll keep him all to herself.” The large changeling said.

“Like mother like daughter, right?”

“Shut up back there!” the leader hissed as they entered a small clearing.

Aldus stirred on back of the large changeling, he slowly began to open his eyes.

“He’s waking up again,” one of the changelings said in irritation, “I thought you said he was in a trance.”

“He was,” replied another changeling, “He is a wizard, he probably is resistant to this sort of thing.”

“Well put him into a deeper trance.” the leader snapped, “I don’t want to -ahh!”

The leader of the changelings was struck in the back of the head with a bolt of green magic. Each of the changelings in the party surrounded Aldus and scanned the forest.

“What’s going on?” the large changeling asked. “What was that?”

“I don’t kno-”

Another bolt of magic hit another changeling and it crumpled to the ground. Aldus fell off the back of the large changeling and watched as his captors panicked and ran in all different directions only to be taken out by the same green magic. Aldus attempted to stand up but was too weak. He saw a large black figure approach him and hit him square in the forehead with a blast of green magic.

-----------

Selene searched the blackness of the dreamscape in an attempt to find Aldus. Twice now Aldus’ mind had been under assault by some type of magic. She was beyond worried as she concentrated and tried to find where he was. If he is asleep or unconscious he should be here somewhere.

Finally Selene noticed a faint green glow in the distance. She rushed across the barren blackness to find Aldus suspended in a green sphere of magic. He wore a blank expression as the energy in the green sphere kept him aloft. Selene yelled his name at the top of her lungs with no response. She used her most powerful magic on the sphere and couldn’t make a dent in it. Transforming the dreamscape didn’t seem to affect the sphere either. She saw Aldus, her little colt, completely entranced in this magic and she could do nothing to help him. The one place she said he would always be safe, the one place she said she would always be there for him.

Selene touched a hoof to the magic sphere and could not control the tears bursting forth from her eyes. I’m sorry, little one. I’ve failed you.

----------

Several hours later Aldus stirred from what might have been the most exquisite rest he ever had. Every muscle felt rejuvenated and he had the best dream ever. When he opened his eyes he felt water flow over them and when he tried to move he felt as if he was in some weightless environment. Something wasn’t right. Once Aldus finally came to his senses he realized he was suspended in some sort of liquid inside a green pod. Aldus had read about these before. Harvesting pods. Changelings would suspend their victims inside these personal pods for storage and safekeeping. Once inside the pod, the occupant was put into a magic induced sleep where they were given all necessary emotions and best dreams to ensure they were bursting with love for the changelings to feed on. It was sinister, but Aldus could think of far worse ways to keep a prisoner. Even awake, Aldus felt great and he even had a dream of her... somepony he hadn’t thought about since near the end of the civil war.”

Aldus called upon Selene who answered immediately, fraught with worry. “Little one! Aldus, are you alright?!”

“I’m fine, Selene” Aldus said, “I’ve been captured by changelings.”

“What do I need to do?”

“The only thing you need to do is lend me as much power as I require. I will do the rest.”

Aldus saw two changelings come forward. They enveloped him in a magical field and removed him from the pod. He could not see where he was, but it seemed to be in some type of cave not far below the ground since slivers of moonlight came through the cracks in the ceiling.

Aldus looked up as a large black figure with a purple mane approached him. She regarded him with cool purple eyes. “I apologize for the rough treatment, I thought some time in one of our pods might help heal you.”

“You apologize?” Aldus asked, still sitting on the ground. “Why is queen Chrysalis apologizing to the likes of me?”

Aldus heard several cackling and chattering voices throughout the cave, and the massive black changeling cracked an amused smile.

“I am not Queen Chrysalis, Aldus.” the changeling said with a chuckle, “I am one of her daughters. My name is Ciaran.”

“Chrysalis has daughters?” Aldus asked.

“Yes, and you were being taken to one of them before we rescued you.”

“Where was I being taken?” Aldus inquired, now interested.

“The changelings who captured you belong to a colony controlled by sister, Silth. They were taking you to her.” Ciaran answered.

“Why?” asked Aldus

“I can only speculate, but if I know my sister, she learned about your return some time ago and now wishes to capture you to present to our mother as a gift, or to keep you for herself.”

Aldus pondered Ciaran’s answer, “So... why did you rescue me?”

“I rescued you because I have a proposition for you. Will you hear me out?”  Ciaran asked while she extended a hoof.

“...No...”

Ciaran was taken aback, “No?”

“No. I think I’ll just kill you all instead.”

Ciaran jumped back as a blast of dark magic streaked by almost taking her head off. The daughter of Chrysalis was now facing a hideous unicorn with a torn apart face and maddening green eyes. Several changelings leapt from the darkness to protect their matron, but Ciaran saw Aldus smirk as more changelings rushed to fight him.

“You fools!” Ciaran shrieked, “Coming into the open is what he wants you to do!”

Ciaran watched in horror as Aldus fired a blue beam of magic from his left hoof. The beam  connected with the changeling nearest him and branched out in different directions like a spider’s web. Each changeling that was hit by the beam shrieked and spasmed in pain as the whole cave was briefly lit by a blue glow. Aldus released the spell and all the changelings in the room fell to the floor, motionless.

“That leaves just you and me, Ciaran.”

Ciaran backed up slowly as the monstrosity stalked toward her, “I- I know how to defend myself against dark magic. Y-you won’t have an easy time defeating me!”

Aldus laughed with seemingly two voices, “Who said anything about dark magic, Ciaran? There are far worse things in the world of magic than simple dark spells, as you’re about to find out.”

Aldus tore away the right sleeve of his drenched green robes and exposed his right forehoof. He touched his horn to it and ignited a bright red light. The light seemed to flow from Aldus’ horn into previously unseen crevices in his skin. Several red marks appeared on his hoof in strange intricate patterns. The patterns ran all the way up his leg and stopped at his chest.

Ciaran had no idea what sorcery this was and she did not intend to find out, but before she could escape Aldus blinked in front of her and reached out with his glowing red hoof. In a moment of sheer panic, Ciaran fired a hypnosis spell and hit Aldus right between the eyes. She saw him falter as the green glow faded from his eyes and they started to roll back. Ciaran grinned as she pressed her advantage. For whatever reason, Aldus seemed to be vulnerable to the simple spells changelings often use to seduce their victims.

Ciaran now advanced on Aldus and hit him again with another hypnosis blast. “Go to sleep,” she said in a soft, soothing tone.

Aldus fell to his haunches with a small submissive smile appearing on his face. Ciaran’s predatory instincts began to get the better of her. She licked her fangs and prepared to lock lips with her prey to feed. However, at the last moment she felt Aldus gain significant ground in fighting her hypnosis and stopped himself from going completely into a trance. Ciaran was too close and did not have time to move. Aldus touched his glowing red hoof to Ciaran’s neck and she screamed in the worst pain she’d ever felt in her life. The roof of the cave shook as the scream caused stalactites to fall everywhere around Ciaran and Aldus. Both of them dodged the falling debris and stopped fighting for a moment.

Ciaran and Aldus stared at each other for at least a minute before Aldus finally broke the silence, “You said you had a proposition for me, I’m prepared to hear it.”

Ciaran grinned, “Am I too much for you, Aldus?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Ciaran. I just don’t want this whole place to come crashing down on top of us. Now did you have something to tell me or not?”

“First tell me what you did to my changelings.” Ciaran demanded.

Aldus relinquished his disfigured form and waved his hoof around the cave, “They are merely incapacitated. However, I do not know when they will wake up. That was a new spell, you see.”

Ciaran breathed a sigh of relief, “I see, very well then.”

“Your proposition?” Aldus asked while tapping his hoof impatiently.

Ciaran nodded and cautiously approached Aldus to sit down on her haunches in front of him, “I wish to trade information for asylum in Equestria for myself and my children.”

Ciaran frowned as she saw a wide grin split Aldus’ face.

“Really?” Aldus asked, “Changelings living in Equestria? Okay okay, I’ll humor you. What information do you have that makes you think I’d even entertain such an idea?”

“My sister Silth’s colony is massive and it is hidden, only recently has my colony been able to uncover its location. Not only does Silth have spies in Canterlot, she has them in other pony kingdoms as well. I believe she will attack the Silver Isles.”

Aldus put a hoof to his mouth, “Go on.”

“Silth has spies inside the silver guard and is rumored to have infiltrated the silver court itself. Once she has enough soldiers she will attack and conquer the Silver Isles. Aldus, Silth is not as impatient as my mother. She has been planning this for a long time and she will succeed if you don’t stop her. And once she gets what is locked away in the silver library...”

“Why do you want to flee to Equestria to live here?” Aldus asked.

Ciaran frowned and lowered her head, “I am the weakest of my sisters and a constant disappointment to my mother. Before Silth attacks the Silver Isles she will use her army to invade my small colony. She will conscript my children into her army and kill the ones that won’t or can’t serve her. Silth will likely kill me herself, or present me to Chrysalis as the ultimate failure, and then my mother would surely kill me.”

Aldus saw a single tear fall from Ciaran’s eyes, “How large is your colony, how many children do you have?”

Ciaran’s eyes filled with hope, “My colony is small and vulnerable, there are barely two hundred of my children left alive.”

Aldus looked up at Ciaran and gave her a warm smile. “It sounds like this sister of yours is a bully, and to think she would kill you, her own family, just to obtain more power.”

Aldus gestured for Ciaran to give him her hoof, “Ciaran, my parents died when I was very young, and I had no brothers or sisters. I never had a real family, I won’t let your sister kill you, and I won’t let her attack the Silver Isles.”

Ciaran looked down at Aldus and smiled, “Oh thank you. Thank you so much, Aldus.”

Aldus shook his head, “No, Ciaran. Don’t thank me yet. You know what your mother did to Canterlot. You know how the royal pony sisters are going to react when I tell them about this. However, I do know of a way to convince them. But it will come at a high price to you and your children. Do you understand what I am saying?”

Ciaran nodded, “I understand, Aldus. Whatever price we pay will be better than what awaits us if Silth has her way.”

Aldus opened a black portal near a fallen stalactite, “Then I will convene with the royal sisters to tell them of what I have learned here. I will meet you back here in one day to inform you of their decision.”

“I understand, Aldus. Thank you.” Ciaran said.

“Ciaran, one last thing.” Aldus said

“Yes?”

Aldus turned around and stared at Ciaran with flaming green eyes, “If you betray me, there isn’t a place in this world or any other where you can hide.”

Ciaran gulped and nodded as she watched Aldus disappear through the black portal. I really hope I don’t come to regret this.

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

Rigel and Marigold were pacing in Luna’s room wondering where Aldus had gone when a black portal opened in the middle of the room and Aldus stepped through.

“What in Equestria happened to you?” Rigel asked.

Aldus looked at his soaking wet appearance, along with is torn robes, and messed up mane.

“Its a long story, Rigel.”

The door to Luna’s chambers opened revealing Luna and Celestia, “What is going on, Aldus?” Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow.

Aldus held up a hoof and cast a silencing spell on the walls. “Marigold, could you shut the windows and pull the drapes over them?”

“Sure, Aldus.”

After the room was secure from any snooping changelings that might still be lingering in the castle, Aldus took a deep breath. “You all might want to sit down to hear what I have to say.”