"OK, let's get going then." Lance said. Venquis then closed a map and the group headed towards Crystal Cove, the largest settlement for hundreds of kilometers.
As they walked cobra asked Lance a question. "So, what can you tell us about Crystal Cove. Anything important about it and who are we meeting".
"Crystal Coast is the largest town for hundreds or maybe thousands of miles from here. The town itself, thanks to other races like the Zebra and Griffon's helping us have achieved building a settlement that is the size of Manehatten in nineteen years instead of about eighty if we were by ourselves. The town is the key strategic point and the only route towards Equestria that can guarantee you a safe journey as everywhere else is seen as hostile to the colonists. As i have said before, there are other races here like Dark Unicorns in the mountains and intelligent diamond dogs from the deserts in the very far south just to name a few. Most of the time, they are tribal races but the Diamond Dogs and Unicorns here have attempted to build a civilization similar to what Venquis's Ryborian civilization was....."Lancer paused. "When did the Ryborian's know of this place?" she asked Ven. "Sixty Thousand years ago or maybe longer,and even then it's discovery was accidental." Venquis answered. "Sixty.....how exactly old are the Ryborian's?" she asked him. Venquis smiled a little bit. "Even i don't know that question, but i think our first evolution was about thirty seven million years ago and our modern civilization before the destruction of our homeland was forty thousand years ago. But there is evidence that might prove that we were around before then." "Wow.. so your an old bunch." Lancer then looked at Cobra again. "I have three friends and two other colleges here. While these three are military, scientific and a former mercenary. The other two will have to tell you themselves, i can only tell you that their professions are more...secretive."
"So at least. We have some experienced ponies on our side. If it was down to me I would place the griffins up front as the sort of tanks in heavy armour, zebra's as the basic infantry with potion bombs and also as medics. Finally we have the ponies. The unicorns are the ranged guys, pegasi are the agile arial units and the earth ponies work alongside the zebras".
"Im sure that's how it's going to happen, i depends if we succeed or not. If we don't, then the other kingdom's will hold the line at Fillydelphia. If this eneny gets past and capture's Fillydeplhia, then nothing would stop it." Lancer said. "We have a long trip ahead of us, so let's some shut eye for now."
"Okay then. How about here". He points to a small collection of trees surrounding a large hollow one. He then proceeded to string up a hammock between two of them.
The group slept for the night until early sunrise. When Lancer and Cobra woke up, they seen Venquis alone looking at the campfire that kept them warm. It was only recently lit, and it looked like he caused by casting a spell on it. Venquis remained silent but knew about Cobra and Lancer waking up, he could hear them even if the whole world was screaming in his ear. He remained there silently until he spoke. "Good Morning, hope you slept well..."
“ I didn’t sleep last night. I had one of....those dreams again, what are they called in your language “Nightmare’s?” Venquis said. “I spoke to Celestia last night while you were asleep, and i have more information on our enemy. They are based on slavery, slaughter entire towns that don’t join them and their numbers are enormous. But there was one detail that she told me that i found the worst. It’s led by a Ryborian several thousand years older than me who i thought i killed several century's ago.” “And who was it?” Lancer asked, finishing off her breakfast. “His name used to be Dovian Frenzia but he had it changed when he betrayed Ellion and led a small army that aided Equestria. He was very intelligent and was the top commander of the spell swords. The Ryborian Elder’s and the Royal Family immediately threw him off the chain of command for high treason against Ellion and led an enormous Equestrian invasion alongside Prince Eclipse against the homeland. He was also obsessed with immortality. Without the numbers to face against the Equestrians, there were an extreme few who survived the war but what i had seen at Shattered Hoof wasn’t a battle. It was a massacre......” The group then went silent until Venquis spoke again. “The Forever Five, my mentors and the most powerful Ryborians in known history died that day. Five of them against Seven Million of them. They took care of me and trained me since my parents died twenty years earlier. They told me to run away from that battle, saying that this was their fight. I understand now, because if The Lone Assassin didn’t kill Eclipse, Ellion and the Ryborians would be wiped of the face of the earth. I happened to know The Lone Assassin, we lost contact over the years.”
“That’s good. Let’s move then.” Lancer said. They made it to Crystal Coast by sunset and had a pleasant trip along the way, but Cobra and Lancer knew that Venquis was troubled about Dovian’s reappearance. The town was enormous, exactly the size that Celestia said it would be. While the town they arrived at were scared for their lives, this town went around their business like nothing happened. They knew about the enemy coming to take them over, but strongly believed that help would come and turn things around. And they were right as Celestia had helped raise every nation and was currently on their way to Ardelan. The group headed to the tallest building in the city, the Crystal Coast palace. While the palace was nowhere near as big as the one in Canterlot was nor as old, it was still impressive. They walked into the castle and came in view with an Alicorn Princess, who served as leader. She looked extremely attractive and looked like a capable fighter.She was also quite young for an Alicorn but old enough to be in her adult years. She smiled at the thought of a Ryborian, a duelest and a traveller walking into the palace but knew something that troubled her. She wasn’t the only one who knew about Dovian... “You were sent by Auntie Celestia, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Princess Sunset and i rule the area around the colonies. My auntie and uncle are Princess Celestia and Prince Midnight Dawn from Equestria. Pleasure to be of service.” Sunset introduced. “I have heard about this Dovian pony and how he plans to invade the homeland. Im sorry about how he turned out.” “I appreciate the thought princess, but Dovian betrayed Ellion at the turn of the Black War and killed our own people for his own personal gain. To call him a pony is mealy an understatement, he is more of a monster now. He was my former captain.” Venquis said. “And it’s an honour to meet you.” “Thank you. Auntie Celestia sent a letter to me telling me about yourself , the duelist Cobra and Lancer here. She also told me about an immident war with Dovian. It would be an honor to fight for you Venquis. We might look weak but we have over fifty thousand at our disposal, the same amount of soliders that numbered the population of Ellion. I know how it feels to have a extremely low birth period, Alicorns are simular.” Sunset said. “What do you think of our odds Cobra?”
"depends on the loyalty, strength and training. Little to no training and they're just angry farmers with a pitchfork. No loyalty and they might as well work for Dovian. Just a quickie but is this Dovian an Ardvak Lunarvis or whatever they're called".
Sunset shook her head. "Dovian is a Ryborian like Venquis. Ardak Luvanius are rare indiviurals who has highly increased power,speed,strength and so forth and that Ardak Luvanius are only Alicorn's. Even with the four strongest Ardak Luvanius being defeated, one of them being my uncle Dawn who survived and the other three who were killed, the rest of them have gone into hiding. Ryborian's are different...." "Ryborian's are exactly like Unicorn's, in appearance with the exception of their red iris. They are consider to be super pony's by other races, especially by the Equestrian's. They have super speed,super strength, super agility and stamina and their magical power makes even the strongest unicorn wizard look like a child and have been known to defeat entire armies by themselves. It's like the saying goes, "One Ryborian is Ten thousand stallions." so imagine what that would have been like when the entire race fought and almost made sure Equestria would never pose a threat to anypony ever again?" "And in terms of loyalty and Strength, they are well equipped by our standards. They consist of different races and are well supplied and they are trained by one of the top Royal Guards. So even if Dovian attacked, we would hold out for a long time." Lancer then asked something to the princess. "You know her?" Sunset smiled. "More then know her...she was my personal military advisor until she politely stepped down and wanted to train our soliders. She's a nice mare." Lancer then had the biggest smile on her face. "Our odds just got alot better...."
