I charged outside with the princess as she was in full armor with several swords with her. Soon we were joined by other guards as we sprinted outside and I got a good look at the terrain. Snow was everywhere as the blizzard set in. griffons and dragons were coming in from the sky and the guards were taking massive casualties while the mercenaries were not. Gripping my sword the group continued without me. "You there Love?" I asked as I watched the group engage the dragons and griffons.

Yeah… kind of went out for a while after you got stabbed. Whatcha need and what did I miss?

"I need help out here… you two ready for a teamwork exercise?" I asked with a smile on my face as I brandished my sword.

I'm up for it and Lust is to… just let us know when you want some help alright?

"I'll give you the signal…" I stated as I charged my legs with light magic and sprinted towards and then past the group of guards defending the line as citizens retreated towards the castle. Sprinting past running civilians I soon used a dead guard's body ti launch myself into the air towards a large group of flying griffons. "Time for a spin cycle!" I started to spin around midflight as I created a tornado around my body. As I went flying straight past them they were caught in my tornado as I slowed my spin and allowed myself to plummet out of it… straight towards a large dragon…

Landing on its back it moved its head to look at what was on its back as I charged towards its head. "Triple terror!" immediately both Love and Lust appeared in front of me with swords out. They charged the head as Lust made a single slash as he jumped off soon followed by Love doing the same… and then me doing the final blow…

We plummeted towards the ground as the head of the dragon fell with us soon followed by the body. Soon landing in the middle of a large group of them we all got back to back. "No hard feelings Lust?" I asked as they stayed back…

"Nah… although I will say I feel quite different being connected to your mind. It makes me feel so…" his voice turned kind of creepy. "Warm…"

"Note to self-keep him out of my fucking mind."

"Agreed." Love said with a laugh as he brought out his shield.

"Hey! I'm not that lustful!" he yelled as I got in a stance with my sword above my head.

"Note to self is to later get some light armor."

"Again agreed…" Love stated as they charged.

"One for all…" Lust started.

"And all for one!" we yelled as we charged into the hoard.

Quickly sweeping out the legs of several griffons I kicked one into the air before kicking him into several more approaching. Quickly moving my sword I deflected several arrows with surprising skill before grabbing one of the deflected arrows in the air and then flipping it and then stabbing behind me. A griffon screamed in pain as I let go of the arrow and the slammed my elbow backwards… pushing the arrow through the griffons head. "Luke I suggest we… create some havoc!" Love yelled as I heard a loud thunk…

"I couldn't agree more…" I stated as I pushed back the griffons near me as I started to spin… Love and Lust did the same as we created three separate tornados… all three massive in havoc and destruction as many griffons were pulled into mine… I stopped my spin as I begun to jump from griffon to griffon towards the top of my tornado as I killed them in the process. Soon leaping out of the top Love and Lust were already out and engaging the stragglers of our little party trick. Rolling as I landed I thrust my sword upward into the skull of an armored griffon as it came out of the top.

Quickly ripping the sword out I then kicked the armored griffon away from me and into a griffon leaping at Love from behind. It crashed into the griffon as the dead and alive tumbled on the ground. Only for the crystal guard to run over and finish off the griffon. The other guard ran over and gave some assistance as we soon finished off those around us… as all the others began to retreat via dragons flying in and pulling them out.

The guard cheered as Love and Lust ran over to me. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Love stated as I nodded.

"They will be back…" I said as Lust nodded. "They need to have a leader or something…"

"Agreed… they need someone to be given and give orders." Love stated. "Lust… you are best with Dark magic among the three of us."

"I'll be back then…" he said. "And I better get something for my return…" he disappeared into shadows as both me and Love shivered.

"We have no time to celebrate ponies!" a large armored guard yelled. "We need a supply check and wounded seen to! So get moving!" all the guards begun to scramble around. "That means you two!" he yelled at us.

"How about you go fuck yourself." Love stated before he turned to me. "I'm going to go and make sure not a single one of those griffons or dragons stayed behind for recon." I nodded as he ran off.

"I thank you… I mean… we thank you for your help." The princess stated as she approached. She had a few cuts and scrapes but nothing to serious.

"Glad to help. One of my boys is scouting the mercenary's leaders while my second is checking to see if any of them stayed behind." She nodded.

"That is a smart move… but why did they retreat?" she moved right next to me as we both stared at the makeshift wall that they retreated behind. "They could of killed us all…"

"Something's up that's for certain… I'm thinking that these aren't your noble mercenaries…" Lust stumbled out of the shadow a nearby building was making. He stumbled before he fell to his hands and knees. "Lust!" I ran over to him as he looked up.

"They aren't just mercenaries…" he stated.

"Then what are they?" I asked him.

"It's an entire fucking army… I watched as they received reinforcements… griffon reinforcements when they arrived tore off this…" he lifted something made of metal. "From their armor…" I grabbed it and looked at it. It appeared to me an insignia…

"That's the symbol for the royal army." The princess stated as she walked over wide eyed. "But that would mean…"

"that they have something more to get then just simple coin… and Luke you're not going to like who's in charge of both species…" he said sounding saddened.

"I'll find out for myself. How many?"

"You don't want to know…"

"Number?" I asked once more.

"Enough to make sure they kill us all…" the princess paled at what he stated as she started to pace around. "They are already preparing for another assault. I expect them to attack within the hour."

"Then we don't have much time to prefer. Princess." She looked at me with worried eyes. "How strong are those crystal houses?"

"Quite strong. They should be able to withstand a full grown dragon sitting right on top of them… or maybe even a full grown dragon jumping on them."

"Have the guard station themselves inside of the houses. We need to try and bait them into staying in this road section so we know where they are." Love soon appeared in a flash of light.

"Took care of a few stragglers but nothing major. What I miss?"

"Besides that the griffons are a part of the royal army and the dragons are most likely the same no big reason."

"Well now that is going to screw us over pretty good isn't it?" he stated as I nodded. "Whatcha need?"

"We need to figure out a way to kill large amounts of them at the same time but try and keep them in this area."

"I could just overload the magic inside of my body and go boom. But then I would need an hour or so to get a body back."

"How big a blast radius?" I asked him.

"Depends on the amount of magic I have and I don't have enough to take out a large chunk of them… maybe a 5 foot radius at least…"

"How long until you get it all back?"

"Several hours… which I'm guessing we do not have."

"That is correct from what I saw." Lust stated as he stood up.

"Well shit… how much you got left in the tank Lust?"

"I used quite a bit just staying in stealth mode." He stated. "All I got left is about 10 percent light and dark and 23 percent wind."

"Then we need some sort of plan." Love started.

"As I was saying we need to keep them in this area. I am quite tapped off so I should be good. Although if I can learn how to use my wings I would have a better time staying evasive." I stated.

"Wings?" the princess started as I smiled.

"He's got the wings due to his magic. Only problem is he prefers ground level." She smirked.

"Hey!" I stated.

"If you desire after we… stop… this onslaught of attacks I could be of assistance."

"Gladly appreciated…"

"Luke I think I got a plan." I turned my head towards Love. "Why not do what they wouldn't expect us to do?" I raised an eyebrow. "Both me and Lust can be behind enemy lines hiding while we play a decoy offensive strategy. That way most of them might be pulled away while me and him try to find all that we can and kill those we find that stay behind."

"And what if they just all attack? What good would that do?" the princess asked slightly enraged.

"I think I get what you're saying… although I doubt we have the numbers to defeat them…" I stated. "Even if it's for a few minutes with the firepower and numbers they got we would be roasted barbeque before we could even say charge."

"Not unless it's a three man assault…" Lust started as we all looked at him confused. "I think I know why they retreated. From what I saw during combat none of the ponies here are that good with magic. They barely used any in the defense of the area so they were expecting barely any magic. We show up and decide to twist things up a notch and then they almost immediately retreat…"

"They aren't prepared for a magical assault." I said with a smirk on my face.

"If there was a way we could absorb magic we could take out quite a big chunk of those idiots and then retreat… but if we retreat there is a possible way of them killing us in the process."

"I think I can help with the magic part." The princess started as we looked at her. "The surrounding area is known to have crystals that boost magic as well as hold it. But it all depends on the crystal and the crystal shatters after use. The crystal heart is a good way of giving one single kind of magic."

"Which kind?" I asked.

"Light… to light the darkness you need the love and compassion of its citizens." She said with a smile.

"If that's a riddle I am no longer calling you princess…" she giggled. "But sounds like a plan. What is this crystal heart?" she pointed towards the underneath of the castle.

"It's what holds the magic of its entire occupants. Protecting the area from forces of darkness… but with what's been happening recently… we haven't been able to get some help recharging it… the citizens are just too afraid…" we began to walk towards it. As soon as we got close to it I could literately feel the pureness of magic coming from it… how I didn't feel it when we first left the sanctuary of the building I will never know.

"Good thing we are able to turn light into dark and dark into light…" I muttered. "So we basically are full on magic…"

"I can already feel my magic quickly regenerating at fast speeds. Suspecting 10 minutes before fully charged with both light and dark." Love stated.

"Same here." Lust said. "Oh how good this feels!" the princess smiled.

"I will send some of my scouts to collect the crystals… they will take at least 20 minutes to charge one fully." She stated motioning over one of the guards.

"If it's possible your fastest flyers could fly in and drop off a single crystal to recharge us. Although they will have to do it immediately and not fear death." I stated as she nodded grimly. "But if we do this right… then let's just say that you might want to start making war preparations…" she nodded.

30 minutes later the three of us were fully charged in both light and dark magic as the guard begun to charge several crystals at a time to prevent magic overcharge. The three of us were running towards the makeshift wall and as soon as we got there I had Lust take a look… "Clear…" he stated as we went through a hole in the wall and then begun to sneak our way through the camp until we reached an area griffons and dragons were.

"Luke stay behind as planned… when you hear a large boom and yelling that's your time." I nodded as Lust disappeared into the shadows while Love disappeared in a small flash of light. I sat there and waited until two large explosions went off… the griffons and dragons nearby yelled in anger as I smiled and stepped into view. "Am I too late for the party?" I quickly darted at them and eliminated the griffons just as the dragon blew a breathe of fire missing me.

After eliminating the griffons I rolled behind cover as the dragon blew fire once more. I brandished my sword and held it in the flame for a few seconds as it glowed with hotness. When the flame stopped I charged for the dragon as it prepared to breathe fire once more as I made a slash across its chest downwards… barely breaking the scales as I created a small wound on it as it threw its arms down.

Jumping I rolled under the legs as its arms hit where I used to be. Quickly jumping up and slashing it across the back creating yet another small wound I ducked to avoid its tail as I ran into the nearest tent and hid. I waited as the dragon walked inside. "Where are you pesky creature?!" I heard it yell as it stomped its feet.

Two more explosions were heard outside as it once again looked towards the opening. Using this chance I leapt from my hiding spot and charged it. Catching it by surprise I fueled my sword with both light and dark magic as I began my onslaught of attacks on its main body…

Blood spurted from the wounds I inflicted onto its body before some of it got onto my left arm… stopping my onslaught after that the dragon stayed standing up as I saw no movement. Feeling a warmth on my left wrist I smiled when I saw the symbol of a dragon head appear in the 4 o'clock position.

Exiting the tent I stopped as I got into a stance… the entire area was surrounded by both griffons and dragons… Lust and Love were tied up in a kneeling position in front of two armored species… both dragon and griffon… "So you're the fly that we heard about…" a familiar voice stated as I tried to pin it to a face in my dimension.

"Luke… Run!" Love yelled but was knocked to the ground by the armored griffon.

"Shut up!" the griffon yelled.

"Who the fuck are you two?" I asked getting into a stance.

"What do you think? Should we let them die knowing who killed them?" the dragon suggested as I raised an eyebrow… when they began to take off their helmets my eyes grew wide as I gasped…

Lightcrest…

And Dracul….

Not suspecting this were ya? Glad to get a second chapter up today I am glad to say. Although now I will say this… I'm sorry I forgot last chapters riddle so here's the next one.

Next Chapters Riddle:

What would you do if you saw two of your lovers… and they tried to kill you?