FSE

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"The balance of power in the world is not what it once was... The gryphons have stepped down from their former glory to be replaced by pony kind. And as such we must entrust you with this world's greatest secrets." Echelon spoke to us, as we neared the bottom of a winding stone stairway carved into the cavern walls. The light far below shone brighter at every step, promising that there was something even more amazing to be seen than the complex subterranean architecture.

"To allow you quick understanding I will simply say that this world has several sites of power, each an extension of health and vitality made tangible. Equestria is home to the tree of harmony, which the elements you have heard of come from, and the mirror pool, the full extent of it's secrets still lie outside of our knowledge..." Echelon's eyes met with Xane's for a single moment before flicking away.

"What lies below is another one of these secret sites of power. Some call it the pillar of Fate, others know it as the pillar of Truth.

When I say these sites are tied to the vitality of our world I say so in all seriousness. When the ponies you now know as the changelings defiled their site of power it changed them irreversibly, making them into what they are today and turning their land into vast desert wastes.

The day that it occurred, the world trembled. The mirror pool became undrinkable and it's powers altered, the tree of harmony splintered and leaked out its sap to create the elements. And from the pillar four fragments of the purest essence, each unique, crumbled away. Ever since that weakening of our world, evil has found it much easier to slip into our lands and even into the people's hearts.

During the imperium invasion our greatest blacksmith crafted the bands of power from the four fragments that had fallen from the pillar. In this way the pillar of fate has shaped history up until the present, the Alicorns currently wielding its power."

As we left the final step my eyes slowly adjusted to the intense light shining from the center of the cavern floor. I bathed in the light surrounding the monolithic spire in quiet reverence, drawn towards it like a moth to flame. Looking towards the foundation I was instantly filled with remorse, seeing that the seemingly happy light that spewed forth actually seeped from pitted holes along its otherwise smooth circumference.

I could hear a muddled voice speaking to me, but I ignored it, the overwhelming purity of the pillar's light masking the brokenness. I lifted a hoof to touch the unknown surface, as if I could will the pillar to be whole again...

"Stop!" Xane cried, crashing into me, his wingtip lightly brushing against the pillar.

The light wavered for a moment and Echelon and Kira rushed over to my side, Sentry to Xane's.

"My deepest apologies, I did not know you would react so strongly to the presence of the pillar." Echelon stumbled quickly through the words. "Did you touch it, even for an instant?" His voice was nearly frantic.

"No... But I think-"

"Xane, please, wake up!" Sentry's cry cut us off.

Xane's head shot up, his beak hung open in a silent call as his eyes swirled with white light. His voice spoke, devoid of inflection or emotion.

"The ancient evil has returned to power, none shall be spared from the end unless fate is rewritten. A trail in blood leads to the shadowed isles."

The light left his eyes and Xane went limp in Sentry's grasp.

"Xane?!" I called rushing over as sentry held his limp form. I placed my hoof on his neck, feeling checking his pulse. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the blood pump gently below the surface of his otherwise unmoving form.

"He's... Alive?" Echelon sounded surprised. "The last gryphon to touch the pillar... No, let's not dwell on that. Quickly, let's get him to the hospital."

~

Echelon whispered to the King in hushed tones, causing a pallor to fall across Aeoulus's regal features. "It can't be... Are you certain those were the exact words of the prophecy? And what of Xane, is he..."

"Resting and it looks like he should wake shortly. Somehow his... condition saved him." Echelon looked back at me, obviously hiding some secret about Xane.

"See that our guests find their way back to their rooms," the Nestking spoke. "There's nothing we can do until the regiment of soldiers I sent can corral the storm wyvern into new hunting grounds. I can only pray that we have misinterpreted the meaning of his prophecy."

"You and I both know what it means."

"That is what I am afraid of."

~

"Come on!" I nearly cursed as I stared at the mirror, looking upon an empty throne room. "Where could they be?" I wondered aloud, watching as an ominous black and green thorned vine writhed across its surface. Whatever was happening in Equestria couldn't happen at a worse time. The prophecy had even the fierce Nestking worried, and if Twilight couldn't solve things fast Equestria would be unable to send aid.

"Kira?" I asked, dropping the magic connecting me with Equestria.

"Yeah?" She replied, jumping off the bed and walking over to me.

"Do you have any idea what this prophecy even means? Aeolus knows but he seems right beaked for now."

"I'm the last one to ask, any ancient evil I know about has had its ass kicked to the curb. I mean, you took care of Sombra, Luna's whole nightmare moon phase is over, that crazy changeling bitch chrysalis hasn't been seen around, and Discord has supposedly decided not to be a dick for a while. And really at this point even if any of them do go rouge there are measures in place to stop them." Kira tried to reassure me.

"I know, but there's something unnerving about it all. The ancient evil has returned to power, none shall be spared from the end unless fate is rewritten. A trail in blood leads to the shadowed isles." I shivered, I had checked the gryphon libraries and hadn't found a single island under that ominous name. I had asked about it as well, only to receive misdirection from gryphons who obviously knew the answers.

"Hey, I bet whatever it is lasts fifteen seconds tops against us two. What do you say? Double or nothing on the bits you already owe me?"

"If only things could be that easy, I don't even know what I'm fighting, or what this End is."

"The prophecy did say fate could be rewritten, and who better to do that than you? I trained you better than to doubt yourself." Kira gave me one of her not so gentle punches to the shoulder, her words making me roll my eyes.

"Kira?" A thought popped into my head. " I.. I didn't mean to intrude, but last night I walked in on a spell you were using. Is there any way you could show me that one again so I could learn it?"

Kira took a step away, blushing. "You... Um. You saw that?"

"Well not all of it, just a bit, I was just wondering if you could show me how?"

"Sure... It shouldn't be difficult for you, you always seem to catch the intricacies of a spell astoundingly fast. That's something about you I envy." Kira paused, letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry, I've had a lot on my mind lately."

"We don't have to do this now if you want." I assured. "Was it anything you wanted to talk about?"

"No, it will be nice to teach you something that isn't combat applicable for once. Let's just... Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes. Now find something, be it a picture, a place, or even a person in your mind. The details may be hazy at first but keep concentrating."

I clenched my eyes and looked through my mind, Kira's words guiding me to search out a specific thought.

"Now remember not only the image but any emotions tied to the moment."

I couldn't help but remember all the other training Kira had put me through, from my lowest moments to my highest... I found what I was looking for.

"Now, imagine your magic is interlaced with those feelings and memories. Use the dust and air as your canvas, lift the image from your mind and place it th....

I... What? I definitely don't remember things happening quite like that. I am decently sure that I won that sparring session. Umm... Ike. I'm flattered, but I think you are putting too much emotion and not enough memory."

I opened my eyes to look at the scene before me, the magic wavering as I realized I had allowed my mind to wander. The mote of dust fell away as I caught an uncharacteristic blush on Kira's cheeks.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"Close your eyes."

"Are you-"

"Close them, try again."

I tried clearing the embarrassed and heated thoughts from my mind, attempting to draw upon magic once again.

"Sometimes unconscious desires can slip their way into what you see," I could tell that Kira had drawn closer by the subtle currents of air tampering with the dust. " I'll have to show you how to avoid that... But that is a lesson for another time."

Sensing how close she was my eyes began to stir open. "Keep them closed," was Kira's demand yet again as a hoof slipped into my mane, guiding my head forward.

Her lips met mine and I blindly reached around to pull her closer, savoring the moment. But before I could get a hold of her Kira backed away, breaking off the kiss. "I'm sorry." She spoke, looking away as I opened my eyes.

"What for?" I asked a little surprised, it wasn't like Kira to apologize or regret things.

"For what I'm about to ask you..." She replied, sighing. "I know you have been with a fair number of mares, and that's fine. I'm not exactly the best example of celibacy myself, but can you promise to stop seeing them? I.. What I really mean is, will you be MY stallion and Nopony else's? Would you live the rest of your life with me?" Kira finished tumbling through the words, taking a deep breath at the end.

"Wait, are you proposing to me?" I questioned.

"I know It's asking a lot, and even though I hate to admit it I don't know what I would do without you in my life. I feel like we have been growing closer to-" Kira continued to ramble.

"Yes."

"And ever since- Wait what?" Kira paused, unsure of what she had just heard.

"Yes, I'll marry you." I spoke. "Kind of imagined I would be the one doing the asking when the time came."

"You would have botched it fumblehooves." Kira gave a joking love tap and pulled me into a hug.

"Oh really?" I grappled with Kira, trying to get the upper hoof

"Now how about we celebrate and give Sentry and Xane a run for their money in the 'from the noises, its obvious those two are banging" category." Kira propositioned.

"I'll lock the door." I replied.

"Don't bother." Kira playfully pushed me onto my back. "No force in all the world can stop what I've been waiting to give you."

~

Author's Note:

~

Thanks for reading!

This is a shorter chapter than average. And there might be some short ones to follow, but they are going to be packed with information and plot advancement.