When we returned to Twilight's temporary room in the castle I found a small purple and green creature standing in middle of the room organizes some quills. Naturally I flipped to find out that the "Spike" that Princess Luna was referring to earlier was a baby dragon serving underneath Twilight. I never get any of the cool thing; only the weird ones! Thanking Twilight for her assistance I carried myself back towards the center of the castle where I heard four distinct voices radiating from the dining hall, Luna was not one of them.

"Hey guys how was you meeting with the Miss Loyalty?" I inspired towards them trotting into the hall.

"Miss who?" Lightning started confused.

"Dash?" Shadow questioned putting down a glass of milk.

"Yes Dash, it is just that Luna and I call her Miss Loyalty because of her relationship to another princess here in Equestria." Celestia explained.

"Is she another one of the holders of an element?" I asked towards Celestia.

"What do you mean an element? Dash is the daughter of an old friend of ours and I was just checking in on her." Shadow objected. "What are these elements you speak of?"

"I am surprised you know about those Bladz; did Princess Sparkle inform you of this?" Celestia posed. "And it is nothing to worry about Captain Carnivorous or Lightning."

"Actually we were discussing some things and it happened to be one of the things we brought up. According to a book she showed me one of the elements is loyalty so I was just going off a limb and guessing the two have a connection."

"Very nicely done, yes this is correct."

"Excuse me sister but can I please have a word with you" Luna demanded from the doorway. "It is important."

"Excuse me for a moment." Celestia excused herself moving to Luna's side and converting to a faint whisper that I could barely make out. "What is it?"

"How good is your memory?"

"Decent. why?"

"Bladz's cutie mark. Why do I feel like I have seen that before?" she stated in near silence. Celestia proved what I heard was accurate by turning her head for a moment to look at my cutie mark.

"No clue? What are you trying to hint at?"

"I just feel like I have seen that before and the only thing that could come to my mind was the Complex."

"What have I told you about that theory! It takes known principles and tales, and paves them into a relationship that we cannot prove. Is that why you asked about my memory?"

"Yes I want to know if you remember anything from that time."

"Luna you know that neither of us can remember anything from that long time ago."

"Lord Armonia remembers a few things."

"No he doesn't! He just understands a few things and holds them as superstitious beliefs that are not backed by evidence."

"It is all we have though and it makes sense!"

"Many things make sense if we are too ignorant to see how they are wrong. They were named the elements of harmony as we have discussed because Armonia discovered them and named them after himself, we have no evidence that they have anything to do with him and his reasoning for giving them to us is not concrete itself. The first thing either of us can remember is getting the elements from him and using them to rid Equestria of it's former state of chaos. We have discussed this before and you have to remember to not go off on the vivid tangents!"

"He has these seals that are different than the ones we are used to!"

"Of course he does, I did not put those seals on him!"

"Then who did?"

"I do not know; however, any unicorn of greater strength could have done it, It does not have to be me. Armonia could have done it and we will never know because his mind functions on the moment and he could've done it and not remember it."

"In order to break a seal the caster has to unlock it or the seal has to be overloaded by a greater force. You really think Bladz would've been able to overload a seal that Armonia, a very, very powerful unicorn could have did?"

"He did not break that seal on his own. Hope shared her power with him and did you not say you had faith in him? In that regard your hope transferred power to Princess Hope which provided Bladz with additional strength. I have to admit that a large amount of power laid behind that seal; however, that means little about what could be behind the other ones."

"But what if you are wrong and the tales are true? What if I am correct? What then?"

"Listen my dear sister Luna. Bladz is the only real chance we have to restore our relationship with Serentia and more importantly Armonia. Also, he has shown true generosity to Hope in taking her in when he say she needed it. If you do not want to consider Equestria in your considerations of Bladz please at least consider her."

"I understand" I heard Luna sigh. "It just sort of makes sense."

"What?"

"What if Bladz is the evil force that Armonia used to talk about in a new form?"

"Highly unlikely my dear; he is too innocent to be even a dark apprentice. And even if he was good at hiding it that would not correlate with the talents in nature we have seen."

"Are you saying that some pony cannot be talented and a dark accolate?"

"No what I am saying is his magic would of been tainted towards the dark arts in some way." Celestia huffed. "Believe what you want Luna; however, do not think about harming him in any way!"

"Understood" Luna whispered with conviction before swiftly disappearing down the hall. Celestia readjusted herself and made her way back to us.

"Sorry about that once again, I have no idea what has gotten into her" she admitted taking a small serving of baked apples to bypass whatever she might of been assuming could've resulted from that small interruption.

"So what was that about?" Lightning questioned breaking the ice of the atmosphere.

"Princess Luna has an overactive imagination and she was just going off beliefs that are not to be proven either way." Celestia stated stuffing her face more more apples to delay further questioning in hopes of killing the conversation.

"It is fine; how did packing go you two?" I addressed to both Celestia and Hope.

"Oh rather well! We were able to get most of my things together." Hope notieratized.

"Oh you guys must of worked hard to get that done."

"Actually not really... I do not need to spend much time on something that is so basic; I do not have very much that I can call my own." Hope explained joyously in an attempt to extinguish a hint of sorrow. "Princess Celestia, it it getting late, especially for you and you need to get some sleep as you want to be on time tomorrow morning."

"Wisely determined Miss Hope. I am sorry you guys that our time has been cut so short; however, I see what I can do to assure that we spend more time tomorrow to enjoy your visit." Princess Celestia apologized radiating a mild scent of uncertainty. "Do you need me to show you all to your rooms?"

"No I think I can handle it" Hope protested without delay.

"Upper floors, northern corridor." Celestia informed to us.

"why not the guest area?" Hope stated plainly in confusion.

"I see no need to impress you guys with elaborated rooms that will make you guys feel out of place. The northern corridor is where Hope and I stay; you guys will feel more at home there." the white alicorn cheered.

"Thank you Princess for you hospitality!" Lightning declared upon picking up one of the last servings of baked apple. Celestia bowed and departed on her way to bed.

"I do not know about you guys, but I honestly am ready to retire!" Shadow yawned stretching out his wings and laying himself down on a table with lackadaisical interest. "How you doing?" Shadow posed at Lightning throwing an apple at Lightning who caught it in his mouth.

"Alright; we can call it a night if that is what you want, if that is okay with you Miss Hope."

"Well that is eventful" Hope giggled. "I think you two lasted about thirty seconds longer than Celestia."

"Well you had a good idea with sleep." Shadow determined.

"You do not have to justify yourself; follow me the Northern corridor is almost impossible to miss."

Hope to say the least was not lying when she said it was impossible to miss; the atmosphere upon moving upstairs and slightly down the right gave the entire a new atmosphere as the exaggerated chandeliers became simple lights, enormous dome shaped rooms became a single linear hallway, and framed photographs and portraits decorated the walls instead of declarations of Equestria.

"This room contains two queen beds if you two would be okay sharing a room," Hope directed to Lightning and Shadow. "Bladz you tired as well?"

"Not at all to be honest" I admitted to her. "Can I put this book down for now though?"

"Of course! Just put it next to that door for now." She replied pointing to a door. "Sweet dreams you two."

"Good Night!" Lightning declared with Shadow supplying a simple night afterwards promptly launching himself upon the mattress as Lightning closed the door officially retiring inwards.

"So what do you want to do?" I inquired.

"I do not know really but let us not waste time thinking about what we could be doing! Let us go for a walk and I am sure we could figure something out. Canterlot is a beautiful city at night afterall." Hope cheered launching herself into a loop nearly knocking a chandelier out with one of her hooves.

"Quite a night owl I see!" I sneered pulling her down from her personal cloud of energy.

"Well honestly I am more of an all-day owl! It is just I am in a relatively good mood tonight! Anyway let us get on with that walk!" I nodded and we motioned our way through the castle once more; however, this time the castle held an uncanny stillness to it everyone it seemed had departed on towards their homes for the night. The dishes from the dining room had been removed most likely by the last departing chef we noticed when we passed by and besides for the standard guards on their shifts Hope and I were alone as we departed the castle.

"So where we heading?" I questioned her taking myself to the edge of the castle grounds.

"I do not know to be honest; this city is nice and all but I do not know much around here."

"That's right you do not like to be seen in public." I pivoted to express my face of concern.

"Not without a hat or a dress or something to hide either my wings or horn; I rather not cause a scene. Here I have a place I want to show you." Hope mentioned partially sighing.

"How far of a walk is it?"

"It is not a walk," she proclaimed as a green aura surrounded me and carried me upwards as Hope spread her wings and flew carrying me beside her to the top of the mountain that Canterlot stood on. She released me allowing me to regain my footing from the sudden levitation. "Here" she proclaimed pointing downwards, provoking me to approach the edge in hesitation. "Do not worry I will not let you fall." Over that edge laid Canterlot with a stunning display of little and large, graceful and bold lights filtering through the darkness overhanging the city.

"It is beautiful up here; do you come here often or something?"

"When I need to think I sometimes do or when I cannot sleep. Really is a wonderful sight isn't it?" she smiled pulling something out of a small bag she must of had to her side that I missed.

"Yes; what is that thing?"

"It is a crystal that I found I think when I was really young, it does not really serve any purpose that I can figure out; however, I just could never find it to get rid of it."

"Can I see it?" I asked holding out my right forehoof towards her and was met with a small gemstone in my grasp.

"I know it looks like a dumb old gem but I just like it." Hope stuttered.

"It is very nice Hope, you should not be ashamed with putting value into something that you think is worthless because to you it is not worthless and that is something that you absolutely should never be ashamed of because it is part of who you are. Also, I think this stone is nice as well and is a very nice find by you; I feel like I have seen this shape and design before but I do not believe I have seen one of this color that I have held before." I laid down and invited Hope to do the same.

"Have you worked with a lot of gemstones before?"

"It is part of being an Angelo, you work almost daily with gemstones; or at least see a couple dozens daily of various shapes and sizes." I informed her and she nodded in understanding.

"Yea I forgot for a moment that you are Armonia's student and just recently started dealing with him a lot more often."

"So you never told me when you got that stone."

"I have had it before Celestia found me. She told me it was one of the only things that I had when she took me in." Hope explained moving herself closer to me and placing a hoof of hers on one of mine. "Are the stars not wonderful tonight?"

"Yes they are; it is making it hard for me to decide what I like better: the sight of the city or these stars."

"Why did you do it?"

"Do what? It was the only thing that I could have done."

"But you did not hesitate nor did you do it impulsively. What would you have done if Armonia said no to it?"

"He didn't though"

"But let us say that he did say no. What would you have done?"

"I would've argued with him to figure out why not?

"Why though? Is he not your mentor? Is he not supposed to be your guide, your leader, your teacher?" Hope demanded. I was silent. "You remember me talking about a feeling that I did not quite understand and I have only felt it once before?" I nodded. "I have been thinking about it and I think I might know what it could have been."

"What?"

"Fear; fear so intense that my powers would not be extinguish it. Fear that drives you to insanity then leaves you to beg and scream and cry and just sit there trapped in a prison from reality bound in nothing more than your own anxieties. But this feeling has a second side, an aftertaste that contradicts reason and causes you to desire such fear, like you crave it, like it is part of who you are and without it you are incomplete, lost and broken until you discover the something that transforms the fear into something greater, something that does not cause fear, something that causes a new emotion, action, or something of the sort." Hope responded in hasteful speak making her words almost undecipherable.

"Hope you know that fear is a powerful emotion of ours and without it when would not be able to  survive. Fear, however, has another purpose in that it causes hesitation and when it comes to fear there is a single thing I try to remember; it is better to know what you fear than fear what you know." I started wrapping my hoof around the one that she had rested on my foreleg. "Think of fear as a star here: to us small and far... ahh where are the stars?"

'What!" she jumped her head up to see that the stars that we had just admired had disappeared. "Where did they go? Stars do not just disappear! That is not natural! That is not possible!"

"Why are you panicking?"

"Two things can remove stars from the sky so quickly and there are no clouds in the sky right now."

"What else can wipe an entire sky clear of stars?" I demanded in trepidation of the answer. "it isn't..." Hope moved her head to confirm my terror. "Dark arts," I whimpered. My heart held still as I witnessed silent flashes of purple lightning above me originated without source leaving behind a dark violet mist in the atmosphere that began to condense around a central point above us. No. The mist hardened together and turned to blackness, the lightning stopped and a new found calmness was found in the air. The silence moaned on until the cries of blackness purged the skies and two immense violet eyes opened to stare down at us. No! The eyes narrowed as below them a new line of violet mist emerged taking the form of razor teeth. Then it launched itself towards us constructing a body of darkness on its way down. "NO!"

The creature had be to storming down; however, to me it felt like minutes, hours, days as my eyes locked onto those enormous balls of violet plasm bolting down. I am unaware of how far it was going to get but I knew one thing at that point and it was the only thing that mattered. In panic I strived my hardest to remain calm and did the only thing I know I could accomplish in that time; I executed a protective shield over us and Canterlot below. I ducked down to avoid eye contact because it then crossed my mind that I will be able to protect Hope and I until the time of sunrise; however, without Canterlot's shield will only last so long and there was at the moment nothing that I could do.

"Bladz?"

"I am sorry. I cannot hold this and save canterlot, I do not know what to do!"

"Bladz, the shield, it is white?" Hope exclaimed in tears. I continued with my head down. "Bladz? You know what this is don't you!"

"I am afraid so!" I whimpered as Hope moved in closer beside me and paused. "I do not know why that shield is white though."

"Bladz...it is better to know what you fear than fear what you know." Hope attempted a smile. "I want you to help me overcome my fears but first we must overcome what this is that is making us both fearful."

"I do not think I know a way of dealing with this though" I whispered to her in hug.

Hope lost her burst of enthusiasm and sighed "I did not ask if you could think of a way out of this way, I asked if you know a way out. You stopped an earthquake! You must know something at least to allow us to get down to the castle with enough time to get Celestia and Luna." she spoke near tears. A series of slams where heard above as my fear intensified by the worst sound I could've asked for, the shield above me cracked.

"I do not know. Hope, I just do not know anything that could help us." A hoof was placed on my uninjured shoulder, yet when I looked down I saw Hope's hooves firmly still around my sides causing me to jerk in turn to see a tall white unicorn staring down at me with a long mane that prismed colors downwards. We got this Bladz! The unicron trotted to the center of the shield and faced upwards where he grinned and ignited his horn that revealed a rainbow effect. The shield shattered under the white unicorns spell; however, as each piece shattered it turned into light and beamed upwards forming together an enormous pillar of white light that blinded me and eradicated darkness from the skies. When I looked up he was gone.

"What just happened?"

"I do not know, there was this unicorn with a rainbow magic color and then a white light formed that shined upwards." I stated returning to my feet.

"Really? Because what I just saw was that exact same thing except that white unicorn was you and you just sat down after you finished." Hope declared.

"That is not possible."

"But it is," Luna stated from behind me touching herself down, "and I am sorry for doing that."

"What do you mean Miss Luna?" I questioned.

"I was not entirely sure who you were and I put you and Hope in a state of panic for me to find out."

"Wait! All that was not real? You did that too us?" I demanded.

"Yes and I am sorry! Can you please forgive me for my foolishness."

"How can I not forgive you? I just something that I did not understand and I want to know more about it." I admitted.

"Thank you Sir Angelo, I mean Bladz." Luna bowed. "You two should get some sleep now, it will help if you two are functional in the morning. Why are you two even up here anyway?"

"I wanted to show Bladz the view of the city from up here," Hope explained. "We will return to our quarters Luna."

"Good night you two," Luna smiled launching herself skybound.

"Here I got you" Hope picked me up and we reversed our course this time landing on a balcony just outside of the northern upper corridor. Upon setting my legs down I could not help but notice that my balance was still shaky as was Hope's.

"So anyway I meant to ask but which one of these doors is for my room?"

"Well I did not want to say anything because I was afraid you might of been upset but there is no other room. I was thinking instead that you could crash in my room for the night since it is larger than the one the other two are in."

"Ahh, okay?" I eyes were the size of pumpkins as I took in what she just informed me and I was skeptical of her thought processing.

"No worry" she quickly started opening the door. "You do not have to sleep on the floor or anything, there is enough room on my bed for you seeing how it is larger than a king size. I have a separate set of sheets if you are not comfortable sharing sheets."

"Thank you" I replied taking in the offer and realizing how innocent Hope truly is. "it will be fine thank you for the consideration."

"What will be fine?"

"Sleeping here with you for the night," I cheered picking up the separate set of sheets and laying them out over half the bed. "Thank you again."

"No problem" she responded warmly turning off the lights and each of us crawled under our own separate set of layers.

"Sweet dreams Hope."

"Same goes to you Bladz, thank you for what you told me and did tonight." she supplied to me turning to give me a quick hug and then repositioning herself to her side.

"Oh by the way Hope, you said that you felt that bittersweet feeling of fear and desire two times. When was the other time?

"When I first saw you."