LonnaKitty

She glared a bit at the pony that had startled her and stood as tall as she could muster. She was about the height of Princess Luna. "As true as that may be, it is also close to my border so I was making sure it wasn't anything bad!" a small blush had crossed her features, she was pretty embarrassed at the situation she was placed under. She kept her guard up, she wasn't about to just take anything this pony threw at her.

@@Illiad Easle, When he was shocked at the attempt to touch her, she winced in pain. The shock felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. She hoped he would be able to get it one her, the pain was getting rough. As she watched him take off the cloak and mail she was filled with awe at his body. When he dropped the enchantments and saw his hooves she looked at him with new light. Not in scorn, but with admiration. She smiled at him gratefully, though she was quite curious at his form, she didn't shy away or be repulsed, she looked at him with all the thankfulness she could convey without speaking. She laid there panting, words couldn't form cause her mouth had turned dry from the magical exhaustion. She moved her head around attempting to write out that she would like some water. After she, very badly, spelled out water, she laid there and watched, and looked. Her amethyst eyes never looking away from him. She looked at each scar one by one, her eyes never sticking to one spot. She wondered about the stories he could tell her. Since he had lived so long, she was sure he had many to tell, but it would of course have to wait. She laid in wait, feeling like she was quite close to passing out.

@@Illiad Easle, The pack looked to each other still growling at the pony, however with their leader down they had to regroup, so they turned tail and ran deep into the forest again. Argante let them go, she had other plans. She ran up to Midnight and stared at him in awe though, impressed at his strength. "That was truly amazing! You are quite strong!" she was as excited as a filly but then, she became very serious. She walked to the edge, right where the old barrier used to be. She looked at it sadly, who knew that their prison protected them so much. She took a large breath and concentrated very hard. A small shimmer rippled through the air, the magical trace of the old barrier, she traced it all around, figuring the dimensions of the old barrier circle. "Got it. Midnight, I know I am asking a lot today, especially for a guest but I must have you do one more thing for me." she then held up her forearm showing the bracelet to him. "I am going to take this off, when I finish with what I need to do, you will have to snap it back in place, cause I wont be able to..." she trailed off and bit her lower lip. She knew the risks that she was placing herself under, however with the bracelets on she only had mild amount of magic, and what she would do would require a bit more. She smiled, and snapped the bracelet off, it fell to the ground with a thud. Argante winced as sparks flew around her body, she trembled a bit and took another deep breath to steady herself. She knelt down and touched her horn to the ground. The once blue sparks turned green, traveling around her body and to her horn. The slow color change was brilliant, as her white mane and tail turned green, the ground began to shake, the earth started to rise. The color change continued to her cutie mark, the white crystal changing to the same forest green hue as the rest. She was making a small wall to protect her citizens. The wall stretched outward, covering the circumference of the old barrier. Her body started to shake once more, the magical strain on her body was apparent. She fought though, with all her might. She traced in her minds eye, leaving a small gap for ponies to go to and fro, that is when she collapsed. Her breathing was labored and the sparks continued to cover her body, she was practically leaking magic. Her normal body colors returned as she laid on the ground.

She looked a little bit longer than she should, her curiosity piqued. She shook her head though. There was a time and a place, and right now was neither. She smiled as she met his eyes. "Thank you so much!" She went and led him to where the young colt said he saw the wolves. They headed out of the main courtyard and over a bit away to the farmland that grew the fruit. Argante begain scouting, her ears ever moving to listen for anything. Looking for any trace that they could be found. Then she heard it. The small snapping of twig. She ducked behind a cart, hoping Midnight followed her along. She looked around and saw the pack. It was small, thank the sun, but still they shouldn't be this close regardless. She made a small mental note that the barrier needed to be worked on at the farms first. She counted the pack. One...two...three...five all together. Small numbers and good odds. She thanked the blessings that she had for such luck. As long as they don't reform. She thought to herself unsure if they should attack now or wait to see if they left. She wasn't very good at battle, only having been in a couple scrapes herself.

"S-stupid...root...let...me...go!!!" she zapped the root that had her tangled a bit and as she did so she flung backwards landing upon her rear. She groaned in pain. "Stupid tree root..." she pouted and stood up dusting herself off. She then looked around trying to find the trail again but coming up short entirely. "Oh no." She sighed and sat down a bit dejected. If there was one thing she hated, it was not satisfying her curiosity. She closed her eyes and pondered for a bit, wondering what she should do next, if anything at all.

Argante walked through, checking the new barrier slowly, the process of building a new one that would keep things out was very slow indeed. She sighed and sat down, resting her body. She was bored and tired. She felt like she was going to be on the verge of a small nap when she heard a twig snapping in the distance. She sat up quickly, alert and almost hyper aware. She stepped out of the small bubble of magic and started to the sound, hoping what she would find was a friend and not a foe. She kept going and found the branch in question that she was positive was the source of the sound, she looked around, looking for signs of which way this creature went. Her curiosity was piqued and she became extremely excited, even with the possibility of danger. She followed the trail, looking at the forest floor to make sure she stayed the right way.

@, She sighed and let it be, placing the bracelet back on as quick as possible, the sparking died down immediately and she took a breath. Removing her bracelets was always hard, it made her feel a bit dizzy. She looked upon the stranger with curiosity and tilted her head a bit to the side. "If I may be so bold, but why are you looking for this pony?"

@, Argante eyed it and then him carefully. She turned to a guard and whispered to him. The guard silently nodded and ushered everypony in the vicinity away, making them go into their homes. She looked again at the spell reading over it once, twice, three times, before nodding. The spell was complicated and very powerful, she removed one bracelet from her forarm. A small spark of light illuminated her body and she winced in pain. It had been long since she had removed these bracelets. She looked over the spell once more, a double check, and breathed deeply. She looked to the sky her mane started to swirl with purple colors, her tail and cutie mark doing the same. The black light shot from her horn. She made the black mass form at 35 meters high, the use of magic made her body more stable, confident even. She held it and watched what the others would do.

@, She smiled a very playful smile and lifted her forleg showing off a bracelet. "These bracelets are not just for show, they keep my magic in check. So to answer your question, quite powerful." she watched him carefully, she was treading on thin icy and she knew it in her heart. She wanted to help though, he was searching for somepony, and with that notion, she could entirely sympathize.

@@Illiad Easle, Argante stared wide eyed as her mood skyrocketed forward. "That's amazing! I would love to meet one and have a nice long chat. I am sure once we get our bearings we will open ourselves up for ponies of all kinds to come around, that is what we believe in after all. Harmony above all. As long as ponies come with no ill will they are welcome. Ohhhh I am just on the edge to find out what we have missed, what has changed!" she was literally on the edge of her seat as she spoke, her true nature coming out. "Oh so many questions, I mean, we have time, plenty of it, but how to pick is very..." her words were cut short as a ruckus happened just a short distance from them. A small pegasus colt was tussling with an earth pony, biting a kicking at the other colt. Argante glared, a flash of red coursed through her mane. "Please excuse me one moment..." she excused herself with grace, using her magic she removed every gem off herself along with the gossamer fabric, her crystal mark showing with pride as she walked to the two. The crowd parted ways to let her through, and she stared at the colts who were ignoring everyone but each other. "Enough!!!" She shouted, bringing her hooves upon the ground, causing it to shake beneath the two and quickly levitating them apart. She handed one to a respective guard and looked at the two. "Now you will tell me whats going on...NOW." "He tried to tell me that there were timberwolves approaching us and I called him a liar! Cause they cant see us!!" the small earth pony yelled. Argante's eyes went wide with shock, a murmur spread through the crowd quickly. She turned, looking to the pegasus. "Is it true?" her voice was at an eerie calm. "Y-y-y-yes princess, I saw them, n-n-no one would believe me." he looked like he was about to cry. She knelt down and gave him a reassuring nuzzle. "I believe you small one, you have no reason to lie." she whispered to him softly and touched her horn to him, a soft glow illuminating his body before fading just as quick, the effect seemed to bring him to a calm and he looked at her with awe. Argante stood and looked around. "Begin the lockdown! Everypony who can not fight return to your homes quickly till this problem is resolved, spread it around that everypony must stay indoors!" she began walking and talking putting the plan in motion and walked back to Midnight Star. "I apologize for asking this of our guest but...." she bowed to him, "Can you help protect my ponies!?" she asked, her voice strained, she thought of possible strategies in case he said no, but she held onto hope that he would help.

@@Illiad Easle, "Well then how about we leave the second half of my story for another time then?" she smiled a little bit of the light coming back to her eyes. She took some bites of the fruit that she asked for and nodded to him saying how good it tasted. "Well lucky for us when the barrier was place that included some of the farms, we have been growing our food for a very long time, since we could not trade with others. though we had to improvise the sun with a sunlight spell when the forest grew around us. We managed though." She listened to him talk curious about the outside world. She was brimming with questions, but she would pace herself. When he asked her about the festival she pondered for a moment. Her head tilted to one side and she closed her eyes to think about it. "As much as I would love to pick the festival back up again, the world has become very foreign to us. We have to be careful where we tread, at least for awhile. And to answer your question about how long its been, its been about..." she thought about it for a moment and then finished, "About three thousand years, maybe more?" as she let it set in on how long it had been she decided to ask her first question. "So here is my first question, albeit a simple one, what kind of pony was that messenger?"

She smiled, and though the smile was genuine it was full of sadness, "Yes I will happily answer, and a thousand years hm? Well then do I have a story for you, come, we will sit outside the tavern so you may eat if you like." her demenor that was once open now seemed to close in on itself. Her eyes became sad as she walked to the tavern that was a little bit away. Argante remained quiet and tried to gather her thoughts, she hoped that her long story would not be very long. Then again she did not know how much she could say, but she would speak only truth. As they reached the old wooded building, she took a seat and motioned to the seat across from her. As they sat an older mare who was a dull orange and came out. "Princess, welcome back, the usual?" she asked. "Yes Orange Blossom please." her voice sounded strained but she tried to cough it away as Orange Blossom shifted to look at Midnight Star. "And what will ya have sir?" she asked, and once she got her answer she trotted off to get them their things. "Well then how should I begin? I guess at a few years before the incident would be best." Argante shifted and took a deep and shaky breath. "When I was a filly, my mother and father were the current Shards of Protection, the Shards would protect the Great Tree and provide it power once every few years. It was a grand festival with games, and food, and art. Ponies across the land would come to this festival. Well, that year me and my brother, were to participate in the ceremony. Solano was to be the new Shard, he had his mark and even gained the power of flight after beating the wolves. I was determined to follow in his footsteps, as long as I could prove that my magic was good enough..." she trailed and messed with the bracelet upon her forleg. "That year though two very important ponies came to see the ceremony, me and my brother were so nervous, the ceremony went off without a hitch, the crystal was so bright and wonderful after I poured my magic into it, my brother was to place the crystal onto the Tree to complete the ceremony. However...we were attacked by a large manticore. My brother rushed out to protect us and, being the young filly I was, followed him into danger." Argante tried very hard to keep her voice from cracking, the memories fresh even though it had been very long ago. "He took a lot of damage and I was in such shock that something, I guess snapped would be a good phrase..." she looked up and took a small breath and then exhaled, the gems on her bracelets glowed for a moment and she returned to her story. "My magic was multiplied, our great mage thinks it was the Great Trees power, but even now we still don't know. When it happened though everything seemed to run in slow motion and I...I hurt that beast, his paw was...blasted off, and before I could even fix the damage I had brought, it had left." she looked away, she was obviously a pony who wished no harm upon anything. "When I brought my brother back everypony was stunned, my parents, my nanny, the guests of other lands, I took the crystal and completed the ceremony by placing the crystal upon the Great Tree. It had glowed as bright as the sun, when the light faded I had both my mark, in the shape of the very crystal I placed, and a pair of brand new wings." as she finished her first half of the story and let him take it in, Orange Blossom came back with the Princesses usual order of cider and Midnight's order as well.

Argante nodded and smiled most, moving slightly pass him she motioned for him to follow her back outside. "Yes but we were very..uhm..shocked I guess would be the right word. We had never seen a pony like that before. I am happy to answer any question I can. Also you can leave your things there, a maid will pick it up and take it to your room, which I hope will be fine, and I have many questions for you as well." she walked down the steps to back outside and waited for him to join her. When he did she walked out into the clearing, several ponies would stop and bow, she would nod to them in return heading for the small stage in the middle. "If you would join me atop the stage." she spoke softly as she walked up its steps, walking to the center of the stage, she closed her eyes and her magic swirled around her, looking like a purple mist is shot out and dissipated. Soon after ponies started to walk to the stage and gather round. She turned to her guest, and smiled motioning for him to stand beside her. If he did so or not was his choice but Argante went and started to address the ponies that surrounded the stage. "Everyone! This is the emissary who is visiting us for awhile, his name is Midnight Star, please be hospitable, and answer questions he might have." she glanced around and noticed some were whispering to themselves. She frowned a bit. She could understand their unease. Being from the outside world has made everyone very wary. She glance to Midnight and smiled softly then went back to the address. "I would also like to announce that we would like any stallion or mare, if you wish, we will need new trainees for the guard, if you would like to join or help, go speak to Flame Lance." A couple of ponies nodded and a few started to leave already, but a lot were curious about this stranger and stayed for a couple more moments before going of to their own tasks. Argante faced Midnight and tilted her head to the side. "Well is there anything you would like to speak about or do first?"

When Midnight walked into the clearing it was quite a bustling little town, the middle held a small circular stage and around it, was surrounded by small cart filled with fruit and veggies. There were small houses and large ones, a tavern that had some tables outside. The houses were made from old stone and thatch, much like that of the olden days. It was like stepping into the past so to speak. Ponies were gathered around doing their tasks of the day and most if not all were very dark ponies, from dark yellows to dark grays. Some would glance his way and then move along quickly, doing whatever it was they were doing and keeping to themselves. A guard saw the newcomer and went to him quickly. "I suppose you are the emissary? Follow me." his tone was gruff, his dull blue eyes bore into the stranger, but he turned on his heel and walked to the back side of the clearing. An obvious and somewhat curt sign to follow him. What stood at the back was a moderate sized keep. The stone walls on the outside were covered in ivy, the gates were very large and imposing wooden doors, on its inside was another small courtyard with a small fountain that had stopped running a very long time ago. The two guards at the main door bowed to the head guard and opened the doors, leading the two inside. "Please wait here for the princess she will be here shortly." the guard place his hoof upon his chest, bowed and then left. Leaving the stranger in the large main entrance. If he looked around the stone around him was polished and clean, very much unlike the outside, the carpets that made the pathways were slightly plush, and were the color of white with black trim. There were several tapestries hung about but one was much larger, and very unlike the others. It was a picture of the Tree of Harmony, all aglow as ponies danced around it with one pony holding a crystal. It looked like the pony was offering the Tree the crystal as the others danced and played. Further in the castle Argante was preparing for the emissary. Her nerves were shot as she was dressed by her hoof maidens. They brushed her coat, mane, and tail till they were pristine. Her long white tail was then adorned with several gems. Her white mane was next, placing each gem on strands of hair took time, and Argante was running thin on her patience. She was too nervous to be worrying about this. She didnt even want to put the gems on, but the council demanded they put their best hoof forward and it was tradition that any time royalty met with any pony outside the borders the gems would be placed. She looked into the polished glass and sighed, this wasn't really her. Not anymore at least, she thought to herself. A knocking at the door caused everyone to freeze in place, and an old unicorn came in. He looked like he could barely stand as he stood in the doorway, his knees wobbled shakily. "He is here...princess." he bowed to her as the last hoof maiden placed a light purple gossamer fabric upon Argante's flank. She tensed and wanted nothing more than to hide. She nodded and the moment she stepped through the door, a calm was upon her. She walked the familiar hallways all the way to the main entrance hall. Hoping that she could be like her mother before her and have all calm and grace, and her fathers courage and wisdom. She stood at the top of the stairs and looked to the stranger before descending. Her curiosity was now piqued as she looked at him. She descended the stairs and made her presence known. "Welcome Midnight Star to our humble home, I am Princess Argante, the keeper of crystals," when she reached the last step and drew herself to full height she was just a bit shorter than him, honestly she was about the size of Princess Luna. The gems in her mane and tail caught what little light was coming through the windows and glistened along her body. She moved a hoof upon her chest and bowed to the stranger. When she sat up she continued to speak. "I hope your stay will be both knowledgeable and comfortable." she finished, a very charming smile on her face as her amethyst colored eyes danced with curiosity.

@,@@Missklang, Argante sighed softly at the commotion, lifting her wing to signal to her guards that all was fine. She stepped forward and stared at the strangers. "Well welcome to our home, unfortunately stranger, you and the other one are the only strangers who have stepped into our home in a very long time, we have met no pony matching the description that you describe. However I am not so rude as to deny you help. We have lived in this forest a very long time so we know it fairly well, I will help you in your quest if you so desire. As long as you do not harm any of my ponies, you will have full cooperation. I have met your princess, they are very nice and lovely alicorns, so if you are under them then I have no quarrel with you." she then turned to the other one who was lovely enough to jump to her defense. "You are also welcome to stay as well, we don't mind visitors just don't cause any trouble...we have enough as it is." she waited for their replies, looking to and fro from the two strangers.

There was panic as the spell was shattered, no one knew what was going on, certainly not the Princess Argante. She looked around and ran towards the part of the barrier that was closest to going to the Tree of Harmony. She was met by the council members who looked at her. "Princess, did you do this? Did you figure it out!?" A small unicorn mare quizzed her. She wanted answers and quickly. As did Argante. "No I did not, I suspect the new owners of the Elements did this, they found the tree, and in good time I might add, those plants were covering the dome of magic pretty bad we would have lost what little sunlight we got. Come on we need to start prepping to visit the new Equestria." she turned her body quickly and ran back to the small castle with her council in tow. Ponies were already being gathered in the center courtyard, no pony ever thought that they would be able to be free from their prison home. Argante stepped up on a small stage and a hush fell over the crowd, she looked up to the canopy of trees and started to cast her magic. Her mane and tail started to glow first, a lovely green that matched the forest, her crystal cutie mark was next. The familiar tingling of magic coursed through her as she pushed and pulled at the trees, opening them up so that her, and her ponies could see the sky for the first time, in a long time. As it opened, ponies gasped, and cried, and some collapsed with joy. As she finished her job she looked back to the crowd, her normal colors returning. "Everypony!! We have been freed from Solano's curse!!!" she yelled and was met with loud cheers and stomps of joy. She smiled at their excitement but raised a hoof to quiet the crowd. "I know you are excited. I am too. However we must be prepared. This Equestria we know is now different. We were not a part of its history and were most likely forgotten. So for now we must stay here for a little while longer, we need to do some work before we can fully leave." she paced along the stage as she spoke, ponies nodding or looking down as she spoke. "Well spoken princess. Everypony! For now, we need every able bodied unicorn. Meet us in the circle room!!" A old stallion had stepped up and looked across the crowd with a stern look. Several unicorns filed out of the crowd and headed to the castle. The council members followed suit, leaving Argante to continue her address. "Everypony should go to their usual duties till we figure things out." She finished and turned. As confident as she was, she wasn't sure of the new worries that will be piled on now that this has happened. She looked to the ground her thoughts everywhere and yet nowhere. She walked through the old castle wandering around till she came to the circle room. Everyone was already speaking animatedly, voicing concerns, fears, hopes, dreams. Argante rubbed one of her bracelets and steeled herself. Everyone went still as she entered, watching her as she moved her way to the head chair. She sat down and looked to everyone and nodded for them to continue the debate. Remaining quiet as they spoke. "We have to make a new barrier!!" "And trap ourselves again!?" "We need the protection!!" "We NEED to recruit new guards, the ones we have are too few in number!" "And what of the timber wolves? Do you expect our princess to be on constant watch?! We need a barrier." "If we do that we can't leave, its like making a new prison!!" "ENOUGH!!!" Argante shouted and every pony flinched at the harsh tone of the alicorn. She sighed and thought for a moment. Yes a barrier was needed, they had been under protection for too long. The wolves will know they can come through this area soon. Then it came to her. "For now we will make a barrier, however a part of it will remain open, and guarded, from there we will make a path out of this forest." She stood up and looked at the council and other unicorns. "Will this be a sufficient compromise?" Before anyone could answer a guard rushed in. Argante rushed to him wondering what could cause such a panic. "T-there is a unknown pony...c-creature....we don't know. T-they wish, to see you, princess." he looked at his princess with worry. She stood tall and went out to see what was going on. When she stepped outside and saw this pony creature she was filled to the brim with curiosity. "Hello and welcome, I am Argante, can I help you?" her wings fluttered in anticipation. The creature in question looked at her handed the letter to her, bowed and left without a word. Flying away through the new hole in the canopy. She stared dumb founded and opened the letter reading its contents quickly. Her eyes went wide and she turned to the guard accompanying her. "Quickly prep a room and tell the council we will be receiving a guest in one day! BE QUICK ABOUT IT!" The guard faltered over his feet and tripped running to go tell the appropriate ponies. Argante bit her lower lip and started to pace, causing others to stare. This was going to be a long week, she felt it. (sorry if this is too long @~@)

@, Argante turned to face the voice that called out to her. The other ponies opened up like a parting of the sea, giving their princess full view of the stranger in question. "Yes? How can I help you?" she asked carefully, her body was pulled entirely upright as she looked at the stranger, unsure if he was friend or foe.

Argante shifted at what seemed to be a wall of trees. She smiled at the circle of mushrooms and her horn stopped glowing, her body following suit. She placed her hoof upon the wood, taking a deep breath she walked through, disappearing through it. When she finished walking through she looked at the clearing. A small castle sat on the other side, the clearing held several houses that were still being used. Several ponies came out and saw the alicorn. They all shouted with glee and rushed to her. "She is back!! Our Princess has returned home once more!!" Ponies yelled, she smiled and greeted them all, laughing at them as she was now stuck at the entrance of the clearing.

Argante traveled quietly, her horns glow making small glow mushrooms react to her magic, the cutie mark on her flank started to glow the same color as well. She smiled as she followed the glow path, ignoring the sounds of other creatures in the woods. She knew she was safe, her magic protected these paths. She wound over and under trees, through bushes and brambles, going ever forward at a very steady pace. Her thoughts were elsewhere at the same time. She had not been home in some time. Not since the Shattering. She wasn't sure how she was going to feel being back near the old castle. She shuddered a bit and then shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts entering her mind.

@@Missklang,@@CharChar, "Oh sorry! I am being rude..." she stood up more straight and smiled warmly. "Hello I am Argante, you wouldn't really know of me cause I was lost to time so to speak, its quite the long story hehehe," she giggled a bit and continued, "I used to live in the Everfree...sorta...agian quite complicated." she laughed nervous like and started to walk past them. "And I am sorry and don't wish to be rude but I have to go do something, it was lovely to meet you~" she bowed at them a bit and continued to walk to the forest, her horn glowing lightly to find the hidden path.

@@Missklang, @@CharChar, Argante stumbled back a bit from both the sudden booping and the transporting ponies that appeared in front of her. Well, this was not how I thought my day would be...she thought to herself. She laughed at the situation though and offered her hoof to the...pony? She had never seen a pony with those sort of eyes before. It made her curious but she did have other things she had to attend to. She then saw the pegasus that had also took a tumble approach as well. "Are you okay, that looked like quite the tumble there."

Argante stepped off the train in Ponyville and stretched her body out. Her wings were so sore. She had been flying for many days, going to distant lands and such. Discovering new things, she looked to the train behind her. Even the train was still strange to her. She laughed softly to herself and walked through the town. She nodded to ponies who waved to her, and checking on several she knew. "My lady, where are you headed to today? I don't suppose its just a normal visit is it?" A dark grey stallion had approached her with a smile, but it slowly went to worry when he saw her shake her head. "I see, did you...did you find the old prince?" he asked hesitantly. She sighed and shook her head once more and looked down. The stallion gave his old princess a reassuring head bump and a smile. "I will return to check on everyone's well being once I am done at the old castle, I will be here for another week or so, then I will be headed to Canterlot to meet with the princess at a later time." she laughed a bit and looked toward the sky. "It is strange, how much this land has changed and yet it feels like no time has passed at all..." she trailed off her amethyst eyes clouded with thought. "Well I am off, see you later." she waved to him as she walked to the Everfree, unaware of the shenanigans going on.