I spun and glared at the silhouette that just asked a question. If my wary senses were not tricking me, a ghost was talking to us.

   Spike gasped and pointed his claw. "Aaah, ghost!"

   He hid behind Twilight, slowly peeking over her side.

   The silhouette laughed. "Oh no, little Dragon, I am no apparition I can assure you."

   Luna raised her eye brow, then her eyes grew as wide as saucers. "No, it cannot be!"

   It smiled. "You do recognize me, do you not?"

   Twilight also shared Luna's shock. "Um, P-Princess, are you seeing who I am, or?"

   I looked at him and shook my head. "Well, that's very interesting."

   "Starswirl, at your service."

   He bowed and smiled.

   "My friends called me the Bearded for reasons obvious." He pointed at his white long beard and laughed.

   Twilight squealed, like if Rainbow Dash was asked to join the Wonderbolts.

   "I can't believe it! This is sooo cool!"

   She quickly got up in her excitement.

   "I have so many questions-"

   Twilight stumbled, gripping her side. "Ow."

   Spike ran to her. "Twilight!"

   I was going to run and help, but a light-blue light enveloped her, freezing her in mid fall.

   "Are you alright, my dear?" Silhouette Starswirl trotted up to her.

   Spike grabbed her hind leg and pulled trying to keep her from falling.

   Twilight waved a foreleg at him. "I'm alright, Spike."

   Starswirl chuckled.

   "No fear, I have miss-" He gave Twilight a questioning look.

   "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Twilight Sparkle."

   He smiled. "-miss Sparkle in my capable grasp, little one."

   Spike shot an irritated look at Starswirl. "The name's Spike."

   Twilight rasped out, "Spike, be nice. I'm sorry mister Starswirl."

   The old mage laughed. "Oh no, miss Sparkle. I am liking Spike more every second."

   Luna and I helped Twilight back on the bed. "You must take it slowly."

   She pouted, "Yes, Princess."

   Luna walked up to the silhouette of Starswirl and eyed him. "Tell me, how is this possible?"

   He cleared his throat. "Well, I had nearly three thousand years to figure it out."

   Starswirl turned his eyes to the desk which had a large crystal on it. It was glowing and light streamed from it to where he was standing.

   Luna inspected it. "A projection?"

   He nodded. "You have not changed a bit, Luna."

   Three thousand years? What?

   I held up my hand. "Wait, how are you alive?"

   He grinned at me, like I was a long lost relative or something. "Make no mistake, I am quite dead."

   Twilight looked at him confused. "But, how is that possible?! You said in the Laws of Life that-"

   Starswirl held his hoof up.

   "Very old magic, lost to the Crystal Empire of old."

   He disappeared then reappeared somewhere else.

   "Though my body has long turned to dust, it is just a function my dear, life is eternal."

   He looked over to the desk. The same skeleton still lied on the floor. "I merely kept my life force from returning to eternity."

   I nodded. "Okay, you killed yourself and sealed your soul away inside a big crystal?"

   "Life force not soul, yes basically."

   He tilted his head. "And what is your name?"

   "I'm Argyle."

   "What is your last name?"

   I laughed.

   "Why? You taking me out on a date?"

   I waved my hand, "Thanks, but you're not Patrick Swayze."

   He smiled. "I am being serious."

   "Orion."

   Starswirl blinked, then gaped awestruck. "Of course."

   I lifted an eye brow at him. "Of course...what?"

   Luna asked, "What importance does his full name serve?"

   "A world of importance."

   Walking over to the desk he pointed his hoof at a dusty object sitting there. "Tell me, does this look familiar to you, Argyle?"

   Curious, I walked up to the desk. A metal disk lied there.

   Picking it up I rubbed the dust off of it. "A pocket watch?"

   It was very old looking for a simple silver hunter case watch. The engravings on the front cover were beautiful. A cloud opened up with sun rays shining down on a harp over a bed of clovers. The numbers 69th was also engraved just below it.

   I knew that symbol from the Civil War.

   "No way." I pushed the top and opened the case. The name Carrick Orion was engraved inside the case, along with the words Fighting 69th above it.

   I smiled. "What a little treasure, but this can't be right."

   Luna walked up to me. "Argyle, what is it?"

   "It's a pocket watch that-"

   I was going to put it down and ask Starswirl why he had my ancestor's watch, but my hand would not open. I stared at it surprised. My hand would not open no matter how hard I tried.

   A light started to shine from my hand, freaking me out.

   Starswirl looked at Luna. "You might want to stand back, Princess."

   Warm feelings washed over my hand. The light got brighter. Instead of freaking out more I calmed down. Somehow I knew it was a good thing.

   Luna was yelling at my right. I did not hear what she said. Light enveloping me, the whole room washed out.

   I looked around. All I could see was white, just pure white nothingness. "Where am I?"

   "Wherever you want to be."

   A figure walked into my view from nowhere out of the white blank background. "Whenever you need to be."

   "Hey, you!"

   I pointed at him. "The Librarian, right?"

   He put his hands behind his back. "Yes, I was once."

   I tilted my head confused. "What do you mean?"

   "I mean, it depends on whether all goes to plan."

   I shook my head. "Whatever, I distinctly remember you saying see you soon. Well, where have you been? I need your help-"

   The Librarian held his hand up. "Argyle, it is you who needs to listen."

   I was not in the mood for a lecture on destiny. I crossed my arms. "Alright."

   He began walking around me. "I do not have the luxury of bringing this down on you softly."

   I did not like him circling me. "What are you-"

   "So, I must dive in and ask you one thing."

   He stopped in front of me. "Tell me, who are you?"

   I almost laughed at such a silly question. "Um, Argyle Orion, but you kno-"

   "No, that is incorrect." He slowly shook his head.

   I lifted an eye brow at him. "Come again?"

   "You are and you are not."

   I frowned. "Where'd you get that, a fortune cookie?"

   The Librarian walked closer and stood just an arms reach away. "Let me give you a hand, all will be clear."

   He touched my forehead with his index finger.

   "What the-" Before I could recoil a light hit my eyes.

   My body tensed up as huge waves of images and information forced into my mind like a bursting sieve.

   In mere minutes, I relived and recovered what would've taken three hundred years to live and learn.

   The memories were scattered around in shards. Happiness, boredom, sadness, pain, in bits and pieces they came and went. None of it made any sense.

   He let me go.

   I opened my eyes then fell to my knees, holding myself, shaking. "I-I...."

   He put his hand on my shoulder. "Let it sink in. Now, what is your name?"

   "M-my name is Argyle Orion, born October 28th 1924."

   I grabbed my head in panic. "Wait, no that's wrong."

   "Who are you then?"

   I stared into space. "I-I don't know."

   Emotions stirred and I felt water filling my eyes. The aimless array of memories in my head were twisting my world apart.

   "Hey." He shook my shoulder.

   I looked up at him.

   "Plans are only as good-"

   "As the legs carrying them." My eyes widened.

   I've never said that before in my life, so why did that feel so familiar?

   He smiled. "Correct."

   "How did I know that?"

   "You know many things. You just need the time to process them."

   It was like I was two people, two lives still living, but as one person. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

   "Oh, can't have that. Stand up." He helped me get to my feet.

   I looked at him, like I was seeing my own reflection, not a separate person. I touched my stomach, my chest, my arms then eyed everything else.

   I felt like I was in someone else's body, like I was my own stranger. "What am I?"

   "What are you?"

   I touched his face, then recoiled when I felt his warmth. "Am I you?"

   He smiled. "Once."

   My face contorted while my eyes widened. I felt somehow it was true. "How?"

   He pointed at himself. "Our lives are one."

   I wanted to scream.

   "Go ahead."

   I stared at him, blinking.

   "Cry out."

   He gestured around him. "Let the universe hear your rebirth, our rebirth."

   Why does he keep saying our?

   A picture hit my vision, my rebirth. I fell to my knees again, panting while gripping my head. Flashes of strange memories fleeted passed my eyes, open or closed they sped and blinded.

   "Rebirth? Rebirth?!"

   I saw two worlds at once, like I was looking left and right at the same time. One new, one old, both melded and with it came a pain. My eyes hurt, my lungs felt tight and it was extremely hard to breathe. I fought it, desperate to breathe, to live again.

   My lungs finally gave in, filling painfully with wonderful clean air, then I let it all out. All of it, not just the air.

   "Aaaaaaaahhhhh!"

   I gasped for minutes, until the pictures stopped and my lungs stretched back to normal. My blurry eyes adjusted and numbed no longer hurting from the light. My tight muscles stretched with snapping of sinew and bone joints, like I had never moved before my whole life.

   I looked around, seeing all of it, both my lives. The white room had become a theater of memories, all surrounding and encompassing me, flashing, popping, flickering. All turned solid and focused when I stood up.

   The hole I had my whole life, the longing I never really paid much attention to, was gone. I felt complete.

   I laughed, then shook my head.

   "Jimminy Christmas."

   I froze, never had I said that before in my life, yet I did. "Jimminy Christmas? What the hell?"

   "Two lives, both similar, not all the same."

   I saw the Librarian still standing there, only with a memory behind him this time. It was just a cobblestone room, with a bed, desk near it, table in the middle, a single dresser across the room and a plain wooden coat hanger in the far corner. No one was in that memory, just a room, blank.

   "How do you feel?"

   He rubbed his chin. "Hmmm?"

   I looked at my hands, then gripped them smiling. "Indescribable."

   "Good. Then tell me who you are?"

   I eyed around, then waved my hand. "You mean am I a reincarnation? Maybe, but I'm not him, not anymore. I am Argyle."

   He raised his eye brow. "Are you sure?"

   "Alastar, you died."

   I pointed at him. "You died on that frozen hill, fighting Mael, after you cast those two spells, if I remember correctly."

   He gestured to himself. "But yet I stand."

   I thought to myself, then remembered what he actually was.

   "True."

   I nodded. "And you did well."

   He laughed, catching on that I remembered him, then waved his hand. "Well, I did my best, considering."

   "It's all still a little fuzzy." I rubbed my forehead.

   "Yes, it will take time for you to immerse fully and antiquate again."

   What now? I am and I am not. What do I do now?

   "All will be made clear, soon."

   He nodded.

   "I need to go, but before I do, tell me. What happens next?"

   He pointed behind him to the blank memory. "What happens there?"

   I grimaced, just remembering enough about that day. "I think you already know the answer to that."

   He lowered his head, then chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose I do, predictable."

   He walked backwards while waving goodbye, then faded into the memory, becoming apart of it once again. He moved, talked and reenacted it, oblivious he was ever apart from it.

   "Hello, Son."

   I jumped, then turned around. The memories around jerked and melded into one room, a room I remembered.

   There stood a middle aged man in a trenchcoat with an officers hat. His well kept salt and red coloured beard was just like I remembered it. His coat shoulder had an all too familiar patch, 369th and under it another patch that read Harlem Hellfighters.

   Part of me wanted to hug him without thinking, but I was Argyle, not Alastar. "Who are you?"

   He tilted his head, answering in his warm Irish accent, "Ho there, Son. You don't remember me?"

   A spur manifestation of pent up emotions burst inside. I fought and brought them under control. "Kind of, are you special somehow?"

   "I see. You said this could happen."

   He sighed, then held his aged muscular hand up. "Hold on, there's someone you should see first."

   A hand popped out from behind the older man and waved. "Hey, Champ!"

   A younger redheaded man, dressed in a full Navy uniform, walked out from behind the older man.

   I just stared at him, my memory of him was foggy.

   He whistled. "Whoa, what happend to my little bro? Geez, you're a man now!"

   My eyes alternated between both men, trying hard to remember exactly who they were. I knew they were important at least.

   The older one shifted in his stance, while lowering his head.

   The younger man shrugged. "Hey, what's with the look?"

   He stepped forward.

   I backed away from him.

   He froze, then nervously smiled. "Alastar, what's wrong, bro? It's me, Liam."

   I raised my eye brow. "Who?"

   Both of them looked at each other.

  Liam's eyes widened, shocked and afraid. "Uh, Owen, what's goin' on?"

   Owen sighed. "It is as I feared. His soul remembers, but his body forgot."

   "What?!"

   Liam looked at me. "What the hell does that mean?"

   Owen frowned. "It means he has forgotten us and will need to remember."

   "How long will that take?"

   "Days, weeks, months, years, who knows?"

   Owen rubbed his chin. "Alastar said the spell was highly unpredictable-"

   "Years?! No." Liam quickly walked up to me and knelt down while gently grabbing my arms.

   I just stared into his pleading eyes and felt rather sorry for him.

   "Alastar come on, don't you remember me, or anythin'?"

   I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I'm not Alastar."

   Liam's brow furrowed. "What? Then who are ya and why do you look like him?"

   Owen answered, "That is not important. We are here to deliver a message."

   Liam coldly stared into space, then nodded while letting me go, then got up.

   Curious for some answers, I tilted my head. "What message?"

   Liam cleared his throat. "Listen, Skipper, do ya know what you have to do?"

   I frowned. "What do you mean?"

   Liam cleared his throat. "He's still alive, that undying blight. You must stop him, it's your purpose."

   I wondered what he could've meant, then my stomach rutted into a knot. I shook my head at him. "No...you mean?!"

   He looked to the floor and nodded.

   "Jiminy Christmas, holy shit." Both of me swore and died a little inside. Mael was still alive.

   "Well, that's two ways of putting it."

   I glared at them both angrily. "Why, why tell me that?!"

   "You needed to know the truth, Son."

   Owen stiffened his posture. "You are strong enough for it."

   I held my head with my hand, thinking for a moment.

   "Listen, gather the Aegises again, as the Elements of Harmony alone will not stop him."

   Owen sighed.

   "And that will not be easy, my boy. The Solar Empire will do everything in its power to stop you."

   He pointed a finger at me. "You will need an army behind you every inch of the way."

   I slowly nodded. "You're right. I cannot do this alone, but who?"

   "And now I wish my boys were still here."

   Owen sighed, then chuckled. "Those men could turn a devil white."

   "I wish I could get the Eldridge to help. That was a fine crew, until the egg heads killed 'em." Liam took his hat off and held it to his chest.

   I shrugged. "I'll have to figure something out. For now, I need to get my friends to safety."

   "Very well, Librarian."

   Owen saluted me. "Glad to see you're in good health by the way. You said you were not sure if you would."

   Liam gave me a navy salute. "Yeah, it's a God send to see you strong for once."

   "Why would I not be in good health?"

   I shook my head. "Look, thank you for the help, but I really need to go-"

   One of the pictures flashing through my mind suddenly made sense.

   Wait, Owen? I think I heard of him before, back home....

   I pointed at the old man. "Is your last name Orion?"

   He smiled. "Yes, it is."

   I gasped. "Then, you're my Great, Great, Grandfather!"

   Liam's smiled beams. "Hey, he remembers!"

   My eyes widened. "And he's my- he's my brother?!"

   "Yep."

   Liam enthusiastically nodded. "Thank God, you had me scared, Champ!"

   Emotions stirred, I felt out of breath as more memories came, all of myself and him. I realized then, my dreams before were not dreams, but memories.

   I gave into my emotions and hugged Liam like how I would've if I got to see my little sister again. It felt so right, so justified. I suddenly wanted him to stay, to never leave, always be there, forever.

   "I thought for a second there I lost you again." Liam sniffled.

   I remembered him and the pain when he died in my arms, my brother.

   Quivering, my voice shook. "Never."

   Owen sighed relieved , the warmest of smiles beaming off him while he walked up to me.

   I looked at him with red eyes, then went to hug him. "Grandfather!"

   He laughed and returned warmly. "Welcome back, my boy."

   I let go. All the fears, the doubts, the pains, they ran out in rivers. I tightened my grip.

   Owen knelt down. "Shhh."

   "I don't understand this. I know you, yet I don't."

   "I know. Let it out son."

   He tried to comfort me by rubbing my back, the way he used to when I fell and got hurt while playing when I was little. He was always there, a pillar that held my world up.

   Owen gently pushed and stared, still beaming at me. "We have to go now, Alastar."

   "Argyle."

   I turned as my emotions settled. "It's Argyle."

   He just nodded. "Alright, Argyle."

   Liam gave me a thumbs up. "Names are just words, you're still my Skipper!"

   "This is still so weird." I slowly shook my head.

   "You'll be fine."

   "Yeah, I know my Skipper. He's tough as nails!"

   Liam smiled. "See ya, Bud!"

   Owen waved. "It was good seeing you again, Argyle."

   They both faded, then disappeared.

   Seeing the watch on the floor, I took it in my right hand and closed my eyes.

   I felt the skin on my back chill. "Vale in truth."

   I bleakly turned around, facing again the gray between the dark and white.

   A hand touched the outer edge of the black blot, red eyes staring right at me.

   "Ebb this dark to gray."

    "No." I turned away.

   I heard an angry grunt.

   "Ebb it now!"

   I heard loud thumps, like a fist was beating a wall. "Release me!"

   I did not trust him, whatever he was. Ignoring him while focusing on my old room, the watch glowed and the room materialized around me.

   Everyone was yelling and standing over me.

   "Argyle!"

   I got up and dusted myself off. "Phew, what a ride that was."

   "What happened?"

   Luna eyed me from every angle. "You appear to be unharmed."

   Spike added, "Yeah, this bright light flashed and then you just fell to the floor!"

   "Don't worry Luna, I'm alright."

   I looked at Starswirl and some memories came back, of me and him, an old friend it seemed.

   Starswirl beamed. "Librarian! you're back...after all this time."

   Luna bewildered shook her head. "What?! You jest poorly!"

   "Yes, there's no way he's the Librarian from your journal."

   Twilight pointed at me. "That's physically impossible!"

  Rubbing the back of my head, Starswirl and I looked at each other.

  "Sorry, Starswirl, but I'm not Alastar."

   He nodded. "Yes, I know, but you don't have to be."

   Luna walked up to him. "What do you mean?"

   I waved my hands.

   "Look, at any rate, we have got to go."

   I pointed at the stone steps. "Come on, We're going to get our friends back."

   "Argyle, what are you saying?"

   Twilight lowered her head. "Our friends are dead. Friendship has failed."

   "Twilight...." Spike robbed her back, unsure of what to do.

   I took a breath in, delving into my mind. Something was familiar about the situation. I Willed anything that could help in. Then, it hit me. I knew what really happened to my friends and remembered how to save them.

   I smiled, then shook my head. "Yes, if they were not still alive."

   "Pinkie killed Rainbow and Rarity, while the others-"

   She sobbed heavily into her hooves. "-they're all dead."

   I walked up to her. "Twilight, I know. It was horrible, but I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

   Twilight sniffled, slightly nodding her head.

   Luna asked, "What is this about?"

   "Our friends may still be alive."

   "The other Elements?"

   Luna furrowed her brow. "Pray tell, how?"

   I walked up to the stairs. "When I grabbed that watch, it took me to a place that had answers. I know what happened to them, but we have to hurry."

   "Hold on, you're not going anywhere without me." Starswirl walked to a corner.

   Something draped with a canvas tarp leaned against the wall.

   I wondered what secrets my old friend kept. I stood there waiting, while everyone just stared at him.

   Spike asked, "But, how can he join us if he's dead?"

   "With this!"

   His horn glowed, a light gripped the tarp and pulled, revealing what looked like a robotic pony.  "My best invention, the Automaton!"

   It was covered in thick metal plates. It was an awe inspiring masterpiece of clock work. Cogs, gears, springs and small pistons made up its inner workings with three large gears in center.

   "You mean you actually got it to work?!"

   Twilight blurted out, "That's amazing!"

   I smirked. That was so like him.

   More warm feelings came, while new pictures of Starswirl and I flashed by. "Of course he did, he's fricken Starswirl."

   "It was not that difficult. I just needed the right power source."

   Luna pointed a hoof at it. "Is that an Automaton?"

   "Why, yes, my dear. This ancient mechanism, I built myself of course, is comprised of technology lost to us after the Crystal Empire fell."  

   Starswirl's horn glowed. His prism shard hovered in the air.

   He grunted, "This is harder than it looks."

   "Let me help." I grabbed it gently.

   "Ah, thanks friend. Now, see that large slot in the middle torso? Put this shard in the slot."

   "Already on it." Halfway into the slot the shard shot out of my hand and slammed into it shattering into pieces.

   Oh, was that supposed to happen?

   My eyes widened and I gasped, remembering this was the make-it-or-break-it moment, the reason why the Empire kept Automatons under prototype technology.

   The few passing seconds felt like days. Still, nothing happened. "No...."

   The three large inner most gears squeaked, then started moving, making the other clockworks and pistons move and grind. The Automaton arced with electricity and hummed to life. Its body shifted. A light glowed inside the shard slot. Large outer metal plates slammed over the slot sealing it in. Every crease and space between the moving gears and cogs glowed light blue. Its eyes opened glowing the same aura of light blue.

   It stood up with a few squelches and groans. I felt a warm aura wash from the Automation as it vented a thin light blue glowing mist.

  Twilight gaped, awestruck. "Soo cool."

   "Whoa...." Spike's eyes widened in wonder.

   "Hmm, impressive." Luna smirked.

   Slots, plates and gears gritted as the Automaton smiled. "Thank you."

   I realized I was holding my breath. Letting it out, I hugged Starswirl.

   "Jiminy Christmas, I thought I'd lost you to this finicky relic." His new metal body was very warm, like it was alive.

   He laughed. "No fear, Argyle. I antiquated that old problem long ago."

   I let him go. "You're a badass, you know that?"

   Starswirl smiled happily at my comment.

   "And it smiles?"

   I looked to everyone. "Alright, ready to go?"

   Luna answered, "I suppose."

   "Yes." Twilight got up.

   "Are you sure?" Spike held his claws out worried.

   "Yeah, I need to move this stiffness out anyway."

   "Ready, Starswirl?"

   I joked, remembering the testing phase of the old Automatons and how finicky they were. "You sure that relic will keep up?"

   His metal features frowned. "I will have you know this relic is solid Arcanium, now if you want a true relic...."

   Starswirl whistled.

   I heard bumping and knocking coming from nearby dresser. I raised my eye brow. "What the-"

   A dark figure burst out of it, then sprinted and tackled me.

   I fell to the cobble floor, something heavy squeezing the life out of me. "Gah!

   I frantically eyed at what was suffocating me. An old armoured trench coat hugged onto me furiously, freaking me out a little.

   I gasped and struggled to fight it. "What the fuck?!"

   Luna readied her magic to avail that foul attire a trip to Tartarus, until Starswirl intervened.

   "It's your coat, Argyle, remember?"

   I eyed at him like he was insane. "My coat? I don't have-"

   Wait, coat...Coat? My Coat!

   I smiled, memories flooding back. "Hey, Buddy!"

   It hugged me harder.

   "Ugh, glad to see y-your alright."

   Luna snorted, then giggled. "Shall I help you, Student? Or doth that attire have thee beaten?"

   Starswirl nodded approvingly.

   "Argyle has a pet...coat, wait, what?" Spike shrugged.

   Twilight giggled. "Well, that's original."

   Luna shook her head. "Strange, enchanted likeness in common objects."

   Coat let me go, then stood up on its own and started dancing the Jitterbug, its attached armoured pants and boots sweeping and stepping gracefully in expert rhythm.

   "Whoa, hey that looks fun!" Spike joined in.

   I laughed and nodded to Starswirl. "Thank you, Friend."

   Starswirl gave me a grinning nod back.

   "Just like I promised."

   His body hummed then lit up and flashed. He stood on the lower step. "Huzza! Now who is eating whom's dust?"

   "Oh yeah? Well, come on Coat!" Coat stopped dancing and ran up to me. I grabbed him, then tried putting him on like any normal coat.

   He just flew off, landing gracefully near me.

   I tilted my head. "What's wrong?"

   Starswirl cleared his throat. "Hold your arms out, Argyle."

   "Um, okay."

   I did just that.

   Coat jumped and flew open, robing me flawlessly while buttoning up in one quick motion. He gave me a light squeeze to signal he was ready.

   "Wha?!"

   I gasped. It happened so fast, I would've missed it if I blinked. The pants I wore was suddenly replaced with dark armoured jeans and my shoes with armoured boots. The fit was perfect and the armour plates didn't weigh me down. In fact, I felt stronger, lighter even.

   I laughed.

   "That was awesome!"

   I grinned at Starswirl. "Now it's on!"

   "Well done."

   Luna pointed to the door. "But Twilight has already beat you two to the upper stair."

   "Oh, we can't have that! Come on, Star!"

   "Right behind you!"

   We went up the stone steps. Arriving at the stone door we met Twilight and Spike, who shushed us upon arrival. We heard voices outside.

   "Get that door open! I want those heretics stringed up by tonight!"

   Great, do they ever give up?

   I looked at Starswirl.

   The white pupils on his glowing blue eyes trained on me. "Do you still possess it, Librarian?"

   I quickly cracked my neck. "One way to find out."

   I just winged it. The metal plating on Coat arced with electricity.

   Wing leader Bitterwind bowed to Colonel Windstalker. "This is where the rebels are hiding, Sir."

   "Well then, let's see why one of my Wings could not handle a mere hoof-full of heretics." Colonel Windstalker nodded to the other soldiers.

   Trail Scorcher pushed hard with four other Earth ponies and sighed. "This blasted door wont budge."

   Skydive pointed at some red pots next to him. "Just use these blasting pots."

   The other soldiers gathered some pots and dragged them over towards the door.

   Azure's eyes narrowed on the door's edge. It was glowing slightly.

   He eyes widened. "Trail!"

   She took off like the wind towards her friend, grabbing him just as the stone door exploded into a plume of electricity and heat that fanned out where both had stood.

   The lightening hit five soldiers and put them out cold, while the concussion sent thee others air born. In seconds five more of her Wing was down, with three other Spellblades. Azure backed up into a corner and put her hoof over Trail Scorcher's mouth to keep him quiet. She knew fighting would only get themselves killed.

   Trail Scorcher removed it and watched on. Figures loomed out of the dust cloud, the bringers of death.