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Around 2000 years ago...

"Sombra, I truly think you should wait."

The group of four was standing beside the main doors of the Crystal Palace, saying their goodbyes. One of their number would soon depart and not return for some time.

King Sombra let out an exasperated sigh, still quite unconvinced. He met his most stalwart friend's eye with a frown, his deep voice rumbling out his words, "And We say each day of delay is one less day to share the potential boon they could be, based on the readings we have taken so far. The energies bear such promise."

The blue-robed gray-coated unicorn shook his head, the bells on the brim of his broad blue wizard's hat making a soft jingle, his voice mild and unassuming, "What would it matter if the oddities I also found prove more dangerous than any benefit we might gain? There are simply too many unknowns at present for us to be so careless. To say nothing of my gut telling me something is wrong with them. All I ask is you delay further study until I can return. Then we can watch out for each other as we move forward."

Though Sombra frowned even deeper, not one pony had ever been called his friend for no reason, snorting and grumbling, "We do not promise, but...We will take your counsel into serious consideration, Starswirl."

Stepping towards his oldest male friend, Starswirl touched a fetlock to Sombra's cheek before he touched his own cheek against Sombra's open one, taking a moment to savor the presence of the friend he would not see again while off on his coming journey, "You are as close to me as a brother, Sombra. There have even been times we have been more. I fear for you because my intuition tells me something is seriously wrong with those crystals, regardless of the potential boon. Wait, and we can deal with them together upon my return. Perhaps you could even spend more time with Celestia. The Crystal Empire is more than strong enough to allow you time away."

Sombra leaned into the touch for a long moment, then pulled back, "As We said, We will take your counsel into serious consideration. Our trust in you has never once been undeserved."

"That is all I can ask of you, my brother. I wish I could tell you and the Sisters why I must make this journey but the time is not right," Starswirl turned to the other two royals present and gave them a small smile, "Celestia, Luna, please keep an eye on him for me. You know how he likes to get into mischief when I'm not around to keep him out of it."

"Starswirl, We shall try to visit often. We know well how sharp your portents of trouble can be. Are you truly unable to tell Us the reasons for this journey?" Celestia spoke in a gentle tone, moving to stand close to Sombra, nudging him with a wing and giving a faint smirk before returning her gaze to Starswirl.

Starswirl only gave another soft shake of his head, the bells on his hat jingling again and his white-bearded face giving her a smirk, "Not until the time is right for you to learn, Celestia. Same with Luna. All I can tell you is I must go make preparations for something to come. Worry not, though, for I will not be working alone on this task I must undertake."

Luna moved close and ducked her head under the brim of his hat to give an affectionate, familiar nuzzle to Starswirl, "We dislike seeing you depart, Starswirl. Promise to visit Equestria upon your return? We miss your company."

Returning the nuzzle in kind, his mouth turning into a sly smile as his enchanted hat hid the glow of his horn and what he attached to her peytral before Luna stepped back, "I will look forward to seeing you again upon my return. I should have some time to spend, Luna."

Celestia and Sombra both caught his eye with hidden smirks, though Starswirl kept his face clear of anything to give him away when Luna could see his face.

Luna smiled, starting to think she succeeded until she noticed one of the bells on his hat was missing. One of the three she had enchanted in secret as he slept beside her last night, having intended to track him after he left. She pouted, realizing her ploy may not have worked after all, but there were still the other two to hope for. As she shifted she found herself surprised as a jingle coming from the peytral on her chest led her to look down to see the missing bell hanging from it.

"Luna, my dear, did you truly believe I wouldn't notice your enchantments on that bell?" Starswirl gave a warm chuckle at her expression, deciding not to hold her in suspense, "I share your bed a few times and now I have you trying to claim me. Even your sister knows not to try, though I have spent time with her on occasion as well. From any other mare it wouldn't be so endearing. And yet you somehow just make it seem so adorable."

Luna grew flustered as her face heated, now quite thankful there were only two guards anywhere near their group to witness goings on, spluttering even as she tried not to call attention to the other two bells she'd enchanted, hoping he had somehow missed them as she stamped her hoof in emphasis, "Silence! We are not adorable! P-perhaps you just mistake Our fondness as claiming, you philandering knave!"

Starswirl grinned a little wider, "Still adorable."

Celestia and Sombra leaned against each other a little as they shared a quiet snicker at the Lunar Princess' embarrassment.

"And don't think I didn't notice the other two bells either, Luna. I already removed the enchantments. Although, the one I gave you does have a particular enchantment of my own design on it. I know how you worry, so once you figure out how I locked it you will be able to know if I am healthy and alive. This is the only concession I can give you, however. You must not try to come after me. I will be fine, but this must be done a certain way," Starswirl said in a warm but stern tone.

Putting her embarrassment aside, Luna moved in to nuzzle him again and sighed in resignation, "You do worry Us, Starswirl. We know how you go seeking trouble on your mysterious journeys. May We at least know whom shall be with you?"

After returning the nuzzle, he gave her a sly smirk, aware none of them knew the full story behind his traveling companion as he did, "Her name is Embertouch. I'm sure you've all heard of the mare. Very driven and strong-willed? Loves hunting down corrupted mages and wild demons? Blew up the entire Order of Belinus tower last year because the archmage there was trying to sacrifice ponies to some denizens of Tartarus?"

The three of them looked at him like he had suddenly grown a second head, somewhat alarmed at the name they were so familiar with. And how often the mare was at odds with Starswirl.

It was Celestia that spoke first, giving him a calculating look, "You mean to tell Us you are going to travel with Embertouch the Deathwalker? The same mare you have been known to get into fights with as often as talk when you meet?"

Starswirl gave her another sly, knowing smirk, "You listen to too many rumors, Celestia. We don't argue that often."

Sombra snorted and shook his head before giving his friend a flat stare, "So says the same stallion that once battled with her and the two of you alone destroyed an area nearly half a mile across by the time you were done. Without using any widely dispersing spells, no less. Still, assuming the two of you are not trying to attack each other while together, We suppose there are few better to go with you into whatever danger you are neglecting to mention. You are always keeping secrets in whatever you do, so even if you say you will be safe, We do not entirely believe you."

"I will have you know we weren't actually fighting that day. It was merely calculated testing, even if it was rather dramatic. Embertouch asked for help with some abnormally dangerous ranged combat spell applications she was working on, and I'm one of the few that could safely assist with her in a full power effort. Besides, we only argue because we're passionate about how best to use our talents. We just tend to make some...powerful arguments towards each other...that happen to make things explode now and then... You worry too much," Starswirl gave a somewhat sheepish grin as he twirled a hoof in the air, knowing his obvious dodge of Sombra's insinuation of hiding the complete truth would both be noticed yet also unchallenged.

He wouldn't try to hide the fact he was hiding things from the three before him, knowing they knew his games too well.

Beyond that, he also knew they trusted him to be upfront if he was truly going to place others at risk. The fact he wasn't going to be traveling alone and still claimed little danger ahead was the main reason his friends were not putting up much of a fight over him being more secretive than usual in his plans.

The four of them looked over when the main door of the Crystal Palace opened unbidden just then.

A tall, black-robed unicorn mare entered, her coat a rich magenta and her good right eye the color of red metal. She stood almost as tall as Sombra, who himself stood a head taller than most ponies on his own. Her exposed mane and tail were wild masses that spoke of living fire in their reds, yellows, and oranges. The faint magical radiance from long exposure to powerful spells left her almost humming with magic, the ambient effect giving a few wisps of her mane and tail a life of their own in a way vaguely reminiscent of the Royal Sisters. It was something Starswirl used an enchantment in his robes to suppress.

Embertouch was not the same kind of unicorn as others, carrying herself with the easy, confident stride of a veteran. She had fought more battles in her time than many legions had seen in a century of history. The Royal Sisters alone were more experienced in combat than she, and only by weight of time lived, with her own age hidden by her youthful look of a mare in her late twenties.

The only other living pony that shared a similar state and not truly immortal was Starswirl himself.

As Embertouch approached the group, her milky left eye had a soft glow as a faint bit of white mist made a lazy trail off to the side before fading. The eye was a gift of sorts designed by Starswirl, after a sword had nearly taken her life instead. The otherwise useless enchanted orb allowed her to see living auras and energy fields, leaving her immune to most deceptions as a result.

Her chiseled face was deceptive in it's lack of marks or scars, having removed any lingering evidence of her countless battles. Most beings didn't know how to remove scars, let alone had the magical skill required, and it left many failing to recognize her level of experience because of what they saw. It was a ploy that let her end a number of battles quicker against opponents that failed to give their all at the start.

She stopped when she stood next to Starswirl, his average stature looking small beside her, and gave a respectful bow to the three royals before turning her gaze to her traveling companion, her gravelly contralto was steady and strong, "Starswirl, we can delay no longer. It is time to go."

Starswirl sighed and gave her a nod, turning his gaze back to his royal friends, "I suppose that will be it then. We may return in a little more than a year, but it may be as long as two. Please take care of yourselves. Luna, try not to worry so much. Celestia, look after my brother in spirit. Sombra, stay out of trouble for once. Farewell."

After the three royals had given their own parting statements, the two wizards left without another word.

The two of them wasted no time and headed out of the Crystal Empire to the southwest, intending to turn north once they were well beyond sight. They could have no witnesses to their journey, heading beyond the protective field and into the blinding snow that surrounded the Empire in silence. They both knew the tasks ahead and did not feel like talking.

Once they had traveled a fair distance, certain they were not being followed by friends, or others, the pair made their turn north.

Most would have found it difficult to travel through flank deep snow and blasting wind, but Starswirl and Embertouch were not most ponies. The protective field enchantment they both placed over themselves kept them warm, kept snow from melting from their body heat and soaking in, and kept the wind from affecting more than Embertouch's whipping tail. Even their flowing robes were protected. It was only the slightest layer of magic, thinner than a hair against their skin and fur. It also prevented them from sinking into the windswept white they traversed, their weight dispersed over the snow as each step pressed a radius three feet in size into the snow and lifted none.

Though far away from any roads or other signs of civilization, they knew where they were going.

A few minutes after they made their turn north, a glance to her right made Embertouch finally speak up over the wind in her steady voice, a note of understanding behind it, "I can see the tears you weep as they freeze and blow away, Bastard. They are for Sombra?"

Closing his eyes for a moment, allowing a faint smile to show at the name she called him before he made a sad frown, still marching forward over the snow, voice tired for reasons that had nothing to do travel, "They are, Touchy. I very nearly failed to maintain my composure before we left. With the corruption of the crystals already working on him, he has less than eight months at most before he falls to the darkness if he doesn't leave with Celestia, which I very much doubt will happen. It causes me such pain to know I could stop it, yet I know it must come to pass in order for us to make this journey and prevent something far worse. We have not lived these ageless hundred years just to falter now. Not for personal anguish. Not for an empire. Nor for anything else."

Embertouch snorted, a faint smirk on her face, "Still calling me that, are you?"

Giving her a cheeky grin as he pushed his darker thoughts aside, Starswirl replied, "My dear Touchy, I shall never forget that rather explosive-to-the-surroundings argument we had a week after we first met. Nor how prickly you were about a stallion that wouldn't just bow to your skills at the time, to say nothing of matching them. You might be a better battlemage, and I a better enchanter, but we remain close enough to ensure a good challenge, even after so many years. Now if I could just get you to admit researching the improvement of spells and protections has more long term benefits than your own shortsighted notions of hunting dark ones directly..."

With a dramatic roll of her eyes at the reminder of their old argument that gave them a false reputation for often fighting each other, she sighed with another ghost of a smirk, "Ah yes, there it is. Considering our task, I suppose I am little able to argue this time. Still planning to travel with me for a time when we are done?"

"That I am. After so long in their service, I am still a little uncertain what to do with myself after we are released and begin to age again. Have you considered my suggestion yet?" Starswirl said.

Embertouch hummed to herself, the quiet sound lost in the wind, "I have, but I am unsure of the full merits still. Considering this final set of tasks they have us undertaking before releasing us to less intensive service and only calling for our assistance once a year or less thereafter, I believe I wish to make my final decision after we are done. I shall not deny it is tempting, but creating an Order would place some binds upon my calling. That is not something I am very comfortable with. There are times I must be gone to places far removed and away more than a year. I am not certain how much I would gain or lose by having students of battle with me to aid in my hunts. Or the other view, those that would be less capable being something for me to worry over. It could be a weakness to cause me hinderance, were I needing to watch over other ponies when I fight against rogue demons of Tartarus and mages with dark intent."

They marched onward in silence for another hour through the evergreen forest they traversed, the wind dying down and the brilliance of Luna's winter night sky appearing from behind the wild northern storm. The snow-covered forest looked quite lovely in the moonlight.

The only sound was the faint crunch of their steps, little evidence of their passing over the snow left behind them. A few more hours of steady travel, they could rest in the veritable fortress that would be their home for at least a year. Starswirl lamented the fact they would be sealed away from the world and unable to see the night sky until they were done.

Without an outward sign, Embertouch stopped and scowled, her ears perked forward as she scanned the area with a slow pan of her gaze.

Starswirl froze in place and waited, knowing her skills were second to none.

A full minute passed before she began walking again, returning to the same ground-eating pace they had been keeping as she put her hood up, her steady voice low and eager in the silent night air, "Prepare. My favorite eye informs me of a detection field for noting passage, but no trap or sensing capacity. Our path was not planned. No road or settlement is near. We should have fun soon. I did hope to get one more battle before our seclusion. We shall continue in silence from now. Perhaps they may assume us ignorant when they come."

As she spoke, her black robes began drawing tight against her to become more like a bodysuit that left her free to move, revealing a physique of lithe, solid muscle. The carefully enchanted fabric made for a very deceptive armor. Her heavily enchanted steel hoof and leg guards coming into view as her personal armor choice completed the transformation, still exposed around her eyes as the mask formed over her face. The robes had even melted into her mane and tail to shield her skin underneath, leaving them both wild and free.

No other wizard had yet figured out how to replicate her creation, though she did entrust the secret to Starswirl. All those that attempted to replicate it were unable to fathom what she had done to turn a partial liquid into such flexible armor only magic-imbued weapons could pierce, nor how it hardened only when and where a strike managed to catch her.

Starswirl made no response, knowing she was aware he was paying attention, but inside he smiled at the thought.

Although he wasn't as interested in fighting as she was, he had to admit the long isolation was going to be dreadful. A good fight side by side to begin it with would be welcome. He started spinning more powerful, shorter-life enchantments and defensive wards into place within his robes and in the air around himself for several minutes.

He knew Embertouch had a rather different approach from most mages, the enchantments on her robe armor often getting some amount of reinforcing whenever she was silent or idle so she could always be ready for battle. She lived for her calling as a hunter of beings with dark intentions.

It was another half hour before Embertouch made a quiet click with her tongue, signaling Starswirl she had spotted an incoming presence.

As the two unicorns entered the clearing, their pursuers were stopped in the middle and stood waiting for them. Starswirl noted they were at least smart enough not to fight wizards in an enclosed environment with lots of potential projectiles in easy reach. Unless they did have their own mage as they suspected, it didn't make that much of a difference either way. He was already forming numerous darts of hardened ice under the surface of the snow, his hat hiding both his magical aura and any magical radiance that would warn another caster he was using a spell at all.

By the look of things they were mercenaries with experience, at least according to the look of their gear and winterized armoring. Their uniformity said they were all from the same mercenary company. Three griffons, a minotaur and two earth ponies. In the end, they were standard fare and not likely to give them much trouble in the present situation.

What really caught Starswirl's attention, revealed by one of his hat's enchantments that let his eyes pierce the illusion when he drew closer, was the winged demon trying to hide as the second minotaur.

He knew Embertouch was already aware of this discovery, lacking a distance limit on her eye. It functioned with her sight and allowed her to know the difference as far as her eyes could have seen the illusion to begin with.

The two wizards met the demon's eyes, each knowing the other wasn't fooled.

Embertouch and Starswirl dropped the original planned act of lost travellers and smiling dark smiles, one behind her mask, their eyes narrowing. Things had gotten interesting.

Taking a step forward as Embertouch held a fierce stance, her gaze alone sometimes enough to shake stronger minds free of minor compulsions and control with the extra push. She spoke clear and firm, white puffs of breath slipping through her mask like it was not there at all, "You, mercenaries. I know you shall not listen, but you may depart unharmed. I wager it is one of your minotaurs paying you. They are a demon of Tartarus and I shall not suffer such foulness to walk upon Equus wherever I find it. Stand aside in this fight and live. Meet me in battle and your remains shall bleed out and freeze upon the snow. I am Embertouch the Deathwalker. Battlemage and hunter of demons. I shall show no mercy."

One of the griffons and one of the earth ponies started blinking before the demon was engulfed in black flames for a moment, then stretched his now unhindered leathery wings and grinned as his eyes gave a red flash, strengthening his control. The griffon and earth pony stopped blinking as their own eyes flashed with red, their surprised expressions hardening once more.

The winged demon that looked much like a minotaur with leathery wings growled as he spoke, a feral grin on his face, "Hah! I had heard you could shield some minds with only a look. Pity that my will is stronger than these pawns. Those two are more disgustingly honorable than most soldiers and one even has a youngling at home. Will you deprive a youngling of their parent when they aren't in control of themselves?"

Embertouch only narrowed her eyes further, her horn aglow as her let her magic charge for the battle ahead, now knowing it wouldn't take them long but still kept herself aware for any surprises, "You are almost not even worth the effort, and yet you chose face two of us, weakling. Your betters amongst your kind know such words have no meaning for me. Better a quick death for them than to suffer a demon's control. It is clear your master seems to have guessed wrong on what you face in us. Anything you wish to say, Bastard?"

Beside her, Starswirl grinned wider and gave a soft shake of his head as he responded in negative, the pleasant chiming of the bells on his hat calling out, then continuing to ring even as he went still, "Nothing you do not already know, Touchy. Fascinating sword though. Appears enchanted to shield the wielder against ranged attack spells. Likely to go right through your robe's defenses, too. I am sure it will not bother you much, or slow you down."

Starswirl's chiming bells kept going, the sound echoing against itself and drilling into unprotected minds, making them grow as hazy and slow as if feeling the effects of a night of heavy drinking, or severe motion sickness. As a result of playing with sound and stimulus, rather than more direct influence, most mind control spells did not account for it.

The mercenaries were already starting to sway. Maybe the unlucky group would survive to see the dawn, assuming none of them were in league with the demon of their own free will. Some were just that foolish.

Just over twenty feet separated them as the now stumbling mercenaries began to move forward, drawing weapons while having no apparent defense against the disorientation and causing Starswirl to smirk even as he grew more cautious. The demon stood back, watching his group that seemed to have no idea who they were coming after, despite knowing enough to be in the area to detect them. Either they were that careless, which was unlikely, or a certain winged biped from Tartarus was trying to be sneaky and thought he had a hidden advantage.

In the back of his mind, Starswirl groused at how smart most demons liked to think they were around ordinary mortals. Always thinking they were better than they were. Still, that arrogance only played in their favor here.

Starswirl and Embertouch were far from ordinary.

Embertouch made a sudden tss-tss sound heard only by her companion, causing Starswirl's focus to change away from the immediate vicinity as he started looking for what was missing in the group, once Embertouch had gotten enough of an idea to suggest the missing one was pretty far off and not hidden nearby with illusions or invisibility. Focusing on a spell for detecting disturbances in ambient magical presence within a few hundred feet told him the rest.

The missing mage was a little more than two hundred feet away, hidden amongst the trees.

"Set," Starswirl replied, his own magic charging as he waited, a remote area read telling him where there was enough open space.

The two wizards held their ground as the nearly incapacitated regular fighters approached, the bells of Starswirl's hat still ringing, the echoing chimes giving the air a strange background against the silence of the winter night. A sound Embertouch was about to lose the advantage of. Starswirl mused to himself over whether or not she would finish the fight before the mercenaries even recovered.

Embertouch then made another clicking sound with her tongue three times.

The first for attention.

The second to set timing.

And the third to engage.

At the same time, both wizards made a teleport to two very different locations with a flash of light and sound. A simple burst of force threw up the snow at the same time, helping slow the response of the mercenaries just that much more.

Embertouch appeared right beside the demon, already sending armored hooves in a strike to shatter or stun her opponent's sword arm. As the demon reacted, his off hand spawned flames that indicated he was capable of combat casting in addition to carrying a blade. It did not worry her.

Landing near his more distant target, Starswirl found it was a rare Basalt Bear wizard, much to his actual surprise. Large bodied with black fur and standing half again taller on all fours alone, the bear was wearing red and gray robes with symbols that suggested he hailed from a far off clan to the west. Following a disruption spell from Starswirl canceling whatever ranged effects the bear had been using or preparing, he raised a shield with decent reflexes and turned towards the unicorn that had appeared so close without warning.

Starswirl's blue robes whipped about as the enchantments within grew more active in the rush of power. He began sending his prepared ice darts crashing at random against the bear's shield while building up more magic, the teleport having taken most of his immediate preparatory charge. His own shield began to ripple as the bear started peppering him with ice and stones, the bear's swift response speaking of a decent level of skill as the duel began in earnest.

Embertouch danced and wove around the demon's sword again as it clanged off an armored foreleg blocking it, the injured arm that wielded the blade now weaker, slower. She had been surprised how resistant he had been to a charge of force, for his bones did not shatter. No matter, she had already noticed his worried look. Perhaps wondering why his mage had not begun to help. She had at least ten seconds before the mercenaries would be able to recover their stability enough to be more than shambling distractions.

With a savage grin behind the mask of her robe armor, Embertouch whipped around as she formed a small shield wall without even looking to deflect the blast of hellfire from the demon's off hand. Though her robe armor could withstand such things, she really didn't want to waste time regrowing her mane and tail if she didn't have to. A forehoof planted itself in the snow as she slipped past the demon's guard to drive an armored hind hoof charged with lightning up into his chin, causing a sharp crack of thunder and flash of lightning to accompany the impact of her armored hoof with bone, the mass of the demon toppling backwards and much slower to get back up as she surged forward for the next blow.

Pity it would be over so soon, but she wished to be ready to attempt to incapacitate the mercenaries if they chose to engage. She would not spare them if necessary, but neither were they required to die if they could instead be set free.

Starswirl, more out of amusement than anything else with his gaze blocked by a stream of flames dancing over his own shield, gestured with his right forehoof as he deflected the flames to the side, his shield holding with ease against a spear of stone from the left. A boulder flew forward to shatter against the back side of the bear wizard's shield a moment before it was followed at a straight down angle by a brilliant beam of moonlight he had picked up from Luna. Right behind that, a blade of solidified shadow cracked the bear's shield open and cut into him. Not enough true dynamic adaptivity in the shield, Starswirl noted.

It was more of a chance to experiment than a real duel of wizards to Starswirl. He watched the bear raise a paw and put up another shield, only for another blade of shadow to form and cut through it again, severing the raised paw.

The bear's head rolled a little as Starswirl ended the fight an instant later. The mercenaries could be dealt with, but a mind controlled mage of any kind was too dangerous. The least he could do for the bear wizard was a quick death. Though fighting out of his league, the bear had been reasonably creative in the wild seconds of a wizard's duel.

Embertouch crushed the winged demon's skull beneath her hoof, just to ensure he would

remain dead long enough for her to perform a proper banishment and leave him imprisoned once more. She had already shattered his sword.

She was half relieved and half disappointed the mercenaries had kept their distance, all of them watching with wide eyes, weapons held but not raised. Keeping an eye on the demon's carcass and the mercenaries, she stretched her limbs in the light of the full moon. It was very intentional for the mercenaries' sake that she made a show of inspecting the bloody steel-covered hoof that had crushed the demon's head. So long as they did not do anything foolish, they might be able to allow them to live.

Starswirl appeared nearby with a flash of light and sound, teleporting back over with the body of the bear wizard and dropping it in the snow.

A quick once over for his own peace of mind confirmed Embertouch was as fit as she had been hardly more than half a minute ago. He caught her eye after, knowing she had just done the same to him, though they had never admitted to it out loud.

One of the griffons took a single step forward as the fighters put their weapons away, but he made no aggressive moves as he spoke in a gruff tone, a lilting accent in his Equestrian, "She is Embertouch. You are Starswirl the Bearded. Both of you are peerless. I know our lives are at your whim, so I ask this for my companions. Will you allow us to see the morning? That bear wizard is not one of ours."

Turning to the mercenaries as he called forth what looked like a ball of white fire and a ball of light, Starswirl approached them. There was some relief that they all looked nervous in some way, but he had to be certain.

Stopping a few feet away as he looked them over, Starswirl's voice was stern, "Your lives depend on if you cooperate. Each of you hold out a limb. The orb of light will tell me if any of you still suffer mind altering magics and ensure you are cleansed of such. It will not harm you. The orb of fire will tell me if you have been...behaving badly with demons. While the orb will not harm you for it, such means your life is forfeit. We are on a tight schedule, so we do not have time to argue when we still have to perform a proper banishment on the demon. Now please present as asked, if you do not mind."

The lead griffon glanced at his companions before looking back at Starswirl and raising one of his talons, holding it out as asked. The others followed his example and held up a limb.

Moving the orb of light to touch each raised limb, Starswirl was pleased to see they had only been under rather minor compulsions after all. Perhaps following a vague yet plausible story for a job or other reason they might have accepted the trip, allowing a window for greater control if needed. He had not expected any issues, and the orb of light had a dispelling effect that removed anything that lingered within them. It only took a few seconds per mercenary.

He made no outward reaction, but the griffon on the end had been under no compulsion and the discovery made him sigh inside.

The orb of white fire was something Celestia had refined quite well. Looks aside, it was only responsive to demons and their magics, or those that spent a lot of time working with them. A quick pass was all it took, as the harmless flames were a only marker that stuck to the magics and residual energies it sought.

The mercenaries were all fine until Starswirl passed the orb over the limb of the griffon on the end. The flames stuck as the orb moved away.

Starswirl already had the spell charged, stunning the griffon before he had more than an instant to react to being discovered. Instead, the griffon fell over on his side, helpless on the cold ground.

"That is a pity. I fear I have to take him from you. He has a trace of demon magic years old," Starswirl stated in a calm, cold voice.

The lead griffon hissed, bowing his head and starting to shake, then wide-eyed as he whirled on the betrayer that lay stunned on the ground, "You vile, insufferable piece of filth! Your treachery this night could have killed us all! My daughter adores you and you willingly work with denizens of Tartarus?!" his eyes shot to Starswirl, flexing his talons as he took heaving breaths, "Sir, this dishonorable coward is my cousin. For my family's honor, and that of Talon Company, I ask for the right to end him for his crimes. I know your reputation and your honor, Starswirl the Bearded. Enough that I would stake my own life on the truth of your words. I know you speak no lies in such matters."

Starswirl gestured with a hoof at the griffon he was keeping incapacitated, "He is yours to do away with as you wish. He is carrying no items of magical power, so you are free to claim any equipment or trophies, short of major body parts. We will send the corpse to Tartarus with the demon. The amount of magic that lingers in his flesh is enough it might be found and abused."

The lead griffon gave a sharp nod and drew his sword, stripping the stunned griffon's helm from his head as his eyes bulged in fear, unable to speak or move in his final moments, "The only mercy I do you this day is a quick death in memory of all the times you gave my daughter laughter. May the part of you that treasured her help you find atonement in another life someday."

The lead griffon drove his sword through the betrayer's skull, giving a sharp twist to be sure it was done.

After wiping the blade clean of blood and putting it away, he yanked out a few primary feathers before turning back to Starswirl, his words causing white mist to drift from his beak as he resettled his wings, "I want nothing to do with tainted equipment such as his. The primaries are to give my family something to grieve over when I tell those that could not bear the truth that he died in battle instead. Our camp should not be very far. Once we have rested, we shall depart for the nearest town. May we have your leave, Starswirl?"

There was a brief pause before he responded. Two clicks of the tongue from Embertouch, only audible to him, said her own check on the unfortunate group was clear.

Starswirl nodded to the lead griffon, "You are free to go. Consider some manner of mind protecting charms in the future, expensive as they can be. This night should demonstrate the worth of such investment, regardless of how rare you may need it."

The lead griffon gave another sharp nod, turned to his companions and made a short whistle, meeting Starswirl's eye once more before leading the group into the forest.

Both wizards watched the mercenaries depart in silence, waiting until the sound of their passage over the snow had vanished before they turned back to what they still had to do.

As Embertouch cleared an area of snow and began laying out the first parts of a banishing circle, Starswirl gave a pass of the white fire against the dead bear wizard. He only frowned when the flames stuck, turning his attention to a more thorough look for magics he should dispel before he would place the body with the dead griffon and demon.

When he found what appeared to be a demon-made amplifier for area spells in the form of a small translucent glass pyramid, Starswirl's face darkened. Such a thing would have changed the fight if they hadn't located the bear at the start. A corrupting charm like it appeared, it might even be the reason the ursine wizard had met the fate he did.

Forming a scoop of ice out of the snow, Starswirl took care not to touch it with direct magic that might give the foul creation a conduit back to him. It also meant he could not study the thing as much as he would like. A quick glance between himself and Embertouch was all that was needed as she gave him a short nod before returning to her work preparing the banishing circle, the body of the bear wizard joining the other two.

A short application of levitation a short distance away, Starswirl had another area of ground clear of snow. Needing a much cleaner surface to perform the dispel on the corrupting amplifier, he cleared away debris before applying heat enough to liquify some of the rocks and soil. In short order, he was cooling the circle of glass-smooth stone, guiding the heat high into the air so it would not melt the surrounding snow and risk the water interfering.

Once he had the polished slab cooled, he began to etch intricate designs and runes into the surface. Layer upon layer, he built out the complex spell circles involved. Here and there, a short spire of stone pushed up from the surface of the slab as locations were prepared, with each short spire gaining it's own etchings.

By the time he was done some time later, the five foot slab of polished stone was covered in intricate carvings of power.

Not long after a hum of power and a few seconds of light nearby as the banishment on the bodies was performed, Embertouch came to stand beside him, looking over the slab of stone, "I see you are using several substantial overlapping shield layers in the circle. And...an isolated empowerment point for activation? You could not perform a proper study of the trinket?"

"No. Passive appearance is corruptive. Without a crystal isolation array available, I don't like the possible risks of direct contact of any kind. I am just going to remove all the enchantments and render it inert," Starswirl replied as he lifted the ice scoop holding the corrupting charm and deposited it in the center of the dispelling array he had constructed.

After looking over the array once more, Starswirl began to empower it.

Carved lines and runes began to glow with light, flowing along from the specific feed point he had designated. Upon reaching the point of activation, the corrupting charm started pulsing and the lines nearest to the center of the slab began to turn black, different energies battling for dominance.

Once the process of stripping away the enchantments began, the corrupted charm simply detonated without warning in a tremendous explosion of hellfire that swirled around behind the numerous shielding wards Starswirl had placed. Strong enough it penetrated multiple layers before the fury of it all was contained, leaving only the distant wails of suffering the flames carried as all that could escape the containment of the array.

All Starswirl did was snort in disgust as he watched the energies slowly being bled off by the dispelling array, continuing to feed magic into the conversion process, "Always thinking they're sneaky... I would wager that was the real purpose of this whole encounter. Far more power than that lesser demon could have wielded. There was a greater demon involved, if not a lord. It makes me wonder just what is driving the battle to come, if this much effort was put into stopping us reaching our destination. I am tempted to think some in Tartarus are going to be directly involved. They certainly have enough awareness if they thought to attempt something of this scale."

Taking a moment to release her activation on her robe armor, Embertouch lowered her hood as the black robes once again took on a flowing appearance, hiding her armored hooves from view as she watched the swirling storm of fire growing ever smaller, the energies converted into harmless ambient mana released back into the surrounding area. It would have taken a great deal of effort for such a thing to be either created on Equus, or sent here. Had Starswirl not been so methodical and careful, they could easily have met their end by it.

Several minutes passed before the fires had all faded away and the only remaining magic involved was Starswirl's own in the dispelling array, allowing him to let it all fade. The corrupting charm's physical form had crumbled to dust.

Once he had a moment to do some detection and ensure it was all safe, he began to shatter the stone slab into gravel before returning the displaced pile of snow. Embertouch was already finished with her own site, leaving them to return to their journey.

A couple more hours of walking saw them arrive at the base of a stone cliff at the base of a mountain. Part of the range near the Crystal Empire.

Without pausing, both Starswirl and Embertouch let their magic envelop themselves as they phased into the rock wall.

Even a momentary slip of focus during such an action would cause them to become part of the stone and simply cease to be. It made even reaching the magical doorway within the rock all the harder, the door itself being physically no larger than a pinhead. Size became irrelevant when phasing through a solid material, allowing them to pass right through the door that they knew would only recognize the two of them, then seal itself behind them.

As they stepped through the doorway and out of the wall of the sanctum they would remain within for at least a year, both wizards took a moment of quiet for themselves. The door would not reopen until their work was completed. Until then, they were sealed within this partial pocket dimension of disproportionate space. All they needed lay within the gray stone walls around them, glowing glass orbs sat on holders attached to the walls to provide light. Even the air around them was a pleasant temperature, despite the deep winter cold outside.

They took a quick tour of the place, passing through smooth stone hallways as they passed various rooms. There was a sizeable library, an extensive laboratory well stocked with equipment and supplies, a cavernous room that had powerful protections in the walls where they could go to exercise and let loose with their magic in both experiments and friendly duels. Each room was spacious for it's purposes, despite being underground. Furnishings were all simple and made of wood, the walls bare. If either of them grew inclined for the distraction, they could conjure up decorations later.

Embertouch and Starswirl finished their short exploration and headed to their shared bedchambers to relax and rest before they would get started with their work after sleeping off their travel fatigue.

Starswirl looked over the bedding that lay in one corner of the room, halfway between a bed and just being a pile of pillows and bedding. It looked quite comfortable. If his assumptions were correct, it would keep itself clean like the entire sanctum would, leaving them free to focus on their research.

He blinked when he felt a touch of magic settle over him moments before both his hat and robes were teleported off to land in a heap on the far side of the room, along with Embertouch's own black robes and leg armor. It took him only a few moments more to realize what happened, "Oh dear... You're in one of your moods aren't you?"

As if in response, he felt a foreleg slip under his body and heave him bodily into the air, causing him to yelp as he was thrown onto the bedding to land on his back and giving Embertouch an unamused look as she hovered above him, "Is this really necessary, Touchy?"

Something a lot of ponies didn't always appreciate or realize about Embertouch was she was as strong as a stallion her own size. Her powerful yet streamlined appearance hid just how much muscle lay beneath her pelt. And as she landed above him a mere moment after throwing him, a foreleg on either side of his head and staring down at him with a savage grin, he was reminded how fast she could move when she wanted to as well.

"You know how I am after a battle, Bastard. Do not tell me you are surprised. We have been through this enough in the past," Embertouch said with her ears perked forward, her tail swishing in eager anticipation.

Starswirl huffed, "I remember well enough. I would tell you to go sit on some ice, but I know that doesn't work on you."

"Hah! You know even a phallus of ice cannot cool me down," Embertouch said, bringing her belly against his and feeling him start to respond, "You should also take pride in the fact I shall lay claim to you as my stallion for the duration of our seclusion. You are the only one I have ever taken into my bed more than once. You should be thankful I desire you so, Bastard."

Rolling his eyes, Starswirl gave her another stare, "I still can't believe that you both let me try that on you that day, nor how it only served to make your fire burn hotter. I was sore for days, thanks to you. And you know how I feel about being claimed by you blasted lunatic mares. There is something wrong with me that I keep willingly sharing a bed with you."

"You are mine alone for at least the next year, Bastard. You have never truly complained. And now that you have mentioned it, I do wish to be sore in the morning...," Embertouch narrowed her eyes as she gave him an ever more hungry look, her horn glowing as she cast a spell over him.

Starswirl's eyes widened as he recognized the spell and heard her interest in being sore, already feeling his ears tingle as the spell settled, folding them back as he began to fear for his health. He was all too aware she now had an easy way to keep his stamina going for as many hours as she wanted, "Tartarus's fire! You're in that kind of mood?!"

Embertouch frowned a little, eyeing him as she moved herself into place over the stallion below her, "You complain as if you do not enjoy what I do to you, Bastard. Do you wish to deny you belong to me until we leave this place?"

Giving her a sour look that had a faint twinkle, Starswirl only made a dry response as he concealed his amusement, "Horny earth pony."

Embertouch gave him another savage grin.

They had never said it out loud.

***

Two years later...

Starswirl and Embertouch stood at the doorway of their hidden retreat, both relieved and hesitant now that it was time to leave.

They had been isolated together for a long time. Everything they had to accomplish in that time was done, along with time to make peace with what they had to do in order to prepare for the terrible battles to come far into the future. Each and every bit of their efforts had gone according to the plan, no matter how painful they might have been to put themselves through, or the questionable morality of what they had created in this place.

Both of them knew they would treasure what they had been through, but allowed themselves to hesitate in their departure. The moment they left, this entire place would destroy itself and cease to be. Not even residual magic of their efforts would remain.

As much as it was possible, all traces of what they had done had to vanish, save what they carried away for other goals.

And they were both torn between a desire to forget and to remember what they had set in motion.

The suffering they had both instigated and prevented.

All for the sake of saving a future they would never know.

Lifting her head high as she eyed the wall that was in a way a final connection to be cut off, Embertouch spoke in the soft tone she had gained, "You know, I had always wished I could raise my own foal after our service ended. Your foal. While I know we have been barren for decades as we built up the required magic for our task, a part of me never gave up the foolish hope we might be able to share such a thing after our great task was done. Instead, we remain barren. I do not like the reality of knowing it is something I shall never get to share with you."

Starswirl stood at her right side, staring at the wall that was also a door as well, his hat hovering in the air beside him, for him wearing it again was much like going through that door, "I must admit the thought grew on me after being stuck so close to you for this long. They needed our aid, so we gave all we had willingly. It is still surprising to me that we actually succeeded in completing both Clover's and Athena's works. I still cannot fathom how a low-power simplified version of the cloudwalking spell could be important to the future survival of Equus. Athena's work on human casting variances and Spellweaver practices I can at least understand to a degree for their uniqueness."

"Even though we were tasked with completing her work, I do not understand why the last of the dying immortals of Earth came to our world just to live out the remaining century of her life upon Equus. Why they brought her here. I also cannot begin to imagine what I might have learned if she had not passed just before my birth," Embertouch replied, remembering the unique spell book now tucked into her robes, "Whatever our patrons have planned for the First Guardian, at least I may take some solace in our contribution to his life. Perhaps they will tell him everything at some point."

"They said he'll get to know all that we have done for him, so I can't imagine not. It is hard to believe there could be so much riding on one being...," Starswirl added with a sigh before moving on, "I am glad you decided to go through with creating an Order. They will be able to ensure that book reaches him without risking knowledge of it's existence reaching the sisters. I just wish I knew why it was so important they remain unaware until he receives it... Hmm, well at least with you building an Order in or near the capital, we may see each other more often."

"An Order they may be, but I shall pursue it my way. My disciples shall know no fear in our pursuit of dark ones. Though most unicorns do not have power to rival ours, they may still learn to accomplish in teams what I do alone. I believe it will be best to restrict them to one hundred at most, not counting apprentices. I shall need see how many have the strength of will to learn from me," Embertouch replied, then let out a faint sigh and turned her eyes to Starswirl beside her, "And yes, I shall enjoy being around you more often. You remain certain of your offer?"

A small smirk appeared on his face, a warmth in his eyes as he met her gaze, "The past two years told me something I couldn't deny, Touchy. With exception of the Royal Sisters, I shall share a bed with no other pony but you. Though we shall not wed, it will be like an oath to me. For the first time in my life, and last for that matter, I am a claimed stallion. I am yours."

Embertouch smiled a warm smile, indulging in their final truly private moment before returning to the rest of the world that demanded a sternness of her, leaning close and touching her nose to Starswirl's own, "And I swear myself as your claimed mare, Bastard. I shall remain yours alone."

Even now they didn't say it out loud, only sharing a soulful stare with their noses pressed together for a long moment before separating to stare at the stone door.

Starswirl settled his hat on his head and they took one more moment of quiet, remembering all they had accomplished, all they had done, all they had known within the hidden sanctum. How much they gained, and how much they sacrificed.

Knowing they had done their part in order to save the future, they were able to accept all that had taken place, regardless of the pain it brought.

They stepped through the door so all signs of their time here could vanish from history.

But they would not forget.