A/N: Hi every pony! Chapter 3 is up, just so every pony is aware, this chapter is going to be kind of dark at the end, but i hope you all like it.

Chapter 3

Twilight Looked up the stairs in the Library to where her brothers room was, he hadn't come out all of the day before, and before that was the...Trixie fiasco.

"I wonder if I should go and talk to him..."

"I already tried that Twilight." Spike said while dusting some of the books. "I don't know who upset him this time, but I haven't seen him like this since that argument with Shining Armor."

Just then realization hit her. Shining! They must have gotten into it again, why oh why did she have to be cursed with brothers. Men could be so stupid sometimes.

"Welt,that's that then, I am not letting him spend a week in his room brooding like he did the last time this happened." she said and walked up the stairs to Dusk's door.

"Dusk, open the door."

"Go away" was the muffled reply.

"Open the door, or I banish it, you're choice."

"Who are you, Mom?" he asked but he used his magic to open the door just the same.

Twilight came into see Dusk face down with his face in his pillows.

"Okay, so what did Shinny do this time?"

"Nothing..." he said lifelessly into the pillows.

"Liar, was it about You're application again?"

"He thinks I'd be better off working in a Library like you and Mom." he said peaking out at her from his pillows.

Twilight winced. She knew full well that dusk didn't want to work in a Library. True, the three of them (Twilight, Dusk and their Mother) all enjoyed a good book. But Dusk was a Social Pony. He couldn't sit still, or stay quiet for too long. He needed something he felt was more freeing. Of course she knew the real reason he wanted to join the Guard was to prove to Shinning Armor he could do it. Then Shinning Armor had found out and cut off his application. That was almost three months ago, and they were still at it. Not that she was totally ignorant of their relationship. Shinning Armor had a habit of sticking his hoof in it with their younger brother.

"It can't be all that bad..."

"I punched him, I punched him in the face."

Twilight bit her lip "Okay, so maybe it's a little bad... But you know how he is. I'm sure he didn't mean it the way it sounded."

"It was exactly what he said to me last time! Of course then I sat there and listened to him talk about how I could never make it through the training, and I was too emotionally sensitive to deal, SCREW that!" he said sitting up so as to better go on his Tirade.

"Alright, I'm not going to defend him." Twilight said. She knew Shinning Armor probably hadn't meant it the way Dusk took it, but she didn't doubt that that was how he had said it. So he was on his own for this clean up. "But staying up here and brooding isn't going to help anything. You have every pony worried about you."

"I'm not brooding..." he said with a pout.

"You're Totally brooding" she said with a cheeky smile she didn't usually employ. "Now come on, it's a beautiful day outside, and I refuse to let you spend it in here." she said slowly dragging him out side.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

About an hour later found Spike, Dusk and Twilight outside.

"Thanks Sis, I think I needed to get out after all." he said watching some kids play ball nearby.

"I told you." she said, but her sight was soon drawn to the sky that had a trail of black smoke running through it. "What the-" suddenly Spike belched up a letter from the Princess.

"What is it Twilight?" Dusk asked.

"There's a Dragon in the mountain nearby." she explained.

"Yeah, so what? Dragons don't usually produce this much smoke, whats he doing?"

"Snoring."

"Are you kidding?" he asked with a disbelieving glance.

In answer. Twilight showed him the letter. After that they agreed to delegate duties. Spike and Dusk would come up behind them, in case something went wrong and they needed back up. While Twilight got the group together to go up there and convince the dragon to sleep somewhere else.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

Thant afternoon Spike and dusk were just rounding a bend when they saw AJ pulling a petrified Fluttershy towards them.

"Hey. Whats up?" Dusk said in greeting.

"Nothin' Fluttershy just don't like heights much."

"Why don't you let me take her and we'll meat you up there?" Dusk offered.

"Much obliged Dusk" she said happily

"Here, take Spike with you, maybe he can talk to the Dragon for us."

once AJ and spike were gone he turned to Fluttershy.

"Okay, spill whats up with you? You've been jittery since before we left the town."

"I'm scared of dragons." she answered quietly

"really?" he asked to which she nodded. "You know you can't turn back now right? You're here, and we have too at least go to the top."

"I know..."

"Come on, I'll talk to you so you can't think about it." he said.

True to his word he talked about all nonsensical things that seemed irrelevant at the moment, but kept her distracted. At least until they heard the snoring.

With a sigh Dusk moved closer to a shaking Fluttershy. "You know when I was little I was scarred of the dark." he said randomly

"R-realy?" she asked

"Yup, and thunder and lightning. Storms were really not fun for me as a kid."

"W-What did you do?"

"Well, when I was about Applebloom's age, maybe a little younger, there was this huge storm back in Canterlot. I was so freaked out that I hid where ever I could. It didn't matter if it was under a bed , a table, behind Curtains. It was bad." he said smiling slightly at the memory.

"Why are you smiling if it was so bad?" she asked forgetting her own fear and unintentionally ignoring the monstrous snores.

"Well, that was also the night I felt safer than I ever have. My brother came home and found me crying behind the sofa with a blanket over my head. He picked me up and brought me to my room and laid with me until I calmed down."

"That's it?"she asked not thinking about the fact that he had just mentioned he had a brother.

"he also told me something, something I still live by today."

"What?"

"Being brave isn't about not being scared. It's about not letting the fear stop you. Fear can actually be a good thing. It tells us to be wary and use caution. But that doesn't mean it should rule you're life."

"Wow, you're brother sounds really nice."

"Yeah...I guess he has his moments..." he said back, thinking maybe he should send an apology to Shining when this was all over.

They reached the top to find the others waiting for them. It took a little prompting, but eventually Fluttershy went in repeating, over and over 'Being brave isn't about not being scared. It's about not letting the fear stop you.' like it was a mantra.

And with that, the dragon ended up leaving without much of a fight.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

The next day, Shinning was sitting at his desk looking over some of the watch schedules he had been given to sign, trying to ignore the dull ache in the side of his face where Dusk had punched him, when one of his Guards came in.

"Sir, this just arrived for you by mail pony."

Shinning took the package and was surprised to see Dusk's name on the return address. Opening it up he laughed. Inside was no letter, nor any written message, but rather a simple container of bruise salve. It would seem he was, at least partially, forgiven.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

Almost a whole week later and dusk was bored. He was out in the Everfree forest collecting more ingredients to replace the ones he had used to make that salve for Shinning.

"Maybe I'll bunker down at the castle, it looks like it might rain before I can get home." he said looking at the sky through the trees.

Unfortunately, this led him to accidentally trip and fall down a steep incline.

"Owww," he said when he hit the bottom.

"Oh me, oh my. Is that a pony that I spy?" came a voice from his left looking over he saw a zebra standing there looking at him curiously.

"Hi," he said trying to stand but then fell when a sharp pain shot through is right front leg, a sprain...greaaaat.

"Do not worry about you're leg, I have a fix, made from herb and egg." said the zebra coming over and helped him up.

"Thanks, my names Dusk."

"Zecora is my name, and brewing is my game." she said with a chuckle at the slightly over used rhyme.

"You're from the southern tribes aren't you? I had a teacher who spoke like you." Dusk said as he leaned some of his wait onto Zecora.

With out even meaning to, Dusk ended up spending the whole night with Zecora discussing different potions he knew and ones he was working on. In the morning, when the weather had cleared he returned home surprised to find that his sister had, had AJ and Rarity spend the night. So he figured he would look into something that Zecora had asked him to.

"Hey guys." he greeted coming into the Library.

"Dusk!" don't tell me you had to spend the whole night in the forest." Twilight said seeing her brother.

"Actually I met a zebra named Zecora who let me stay in her hut." here he noticed how the other two stiffened at the name.

"By any chance, you ponies couldn't tell me why it is whenever she comes into town all the shop's are mysteriously closed, could you." he said eying their reactions. The following discussion ended with both Twilight and Dusk giving them an earful over their reaction to Zecora. Twilight then went out to set the rest of the town to straights. Then she was going to take the girls to apologize to Zecora.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

The next morning Dusk woke up feeling great. He had used an herbal bath mix Zecora had made for him and sweet Celestia did it ever work out the kinks in his back! Sadly his euphoria was ended by his sisters scream. Quickly jumping out of bed with his mane a mess he ran to his Sisters room.

"What is it? What's going on?" he asked looking around then he saw his Sister standing there with her horn floppy and spotted.

Dusk snorted.

"It's not funny!" she said vehemently

"It's a little funny, what happened?"

"I don't know! It was fine when we got back from Zecora's last night."

"Which way did you take, out of curiosity?"

"What do you mean?"

"Did you go through a clearing filled with blue flowers?" he clarified with a smirk.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Sis, did you not study potion brewing at all? That's Poison Joke! It's a magical plant that pranks any pony who touches it." he said then started laughing again.

"Well how do I fix it!"

before Dusk could answer they heard a commotion come from downstairs.

Deciding to check it out both Dusk and Spike fell over laughing when they saw the girls.

"Oh, this is hilarious!"

"It aint funny! That Zecora put a curse on us!" a very small Apple Jack said causing Dusk to sober.

"Not that you wouldn't deserve it with that attitude," he said making all of them save Twilight look abashed. "But this isn't a curse. You guy's walked through a field of Poison Joke is all. Zecora should be able to mix up a remedy in no time."

Sure enough Zecora was more than willing to mix up the remedy they needed, and even got a contract from the local Spa for her herbal baths.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

Dusk yawned as he got off the train. He was spending today in Canterlot with some of his old friends since he hadn't seen them in a while.

"Dusk! Over here!"

Dusk looked over with a smile to see Moon Dancer and Dust Glimmer waiting for him.

"Hey Girls!"

"It feels like it's been forever!, oh and you'll never guess what happened while you were gone."

"Dare I ask?"

"Upper Crust got married!"

"No way! Seriously?" he asked astounded any pony could deal with her.

"I know right! But then again she did marry Jet Set."

"Wait...Jet Set got married? Since when is Jet Set straight? Must have been for the money, cuss I know for a fact he doesn't swing that way." Dusk said laughing.

The day was great, he and his friends spent the whole day catching up and shopping, until he bumped into another familiar face.

"Tre?"

"Dusk?" asked the white Unicorn with a light pink mane.

"It is you! I thought you moved to Mane-hattan?"

"I did, But my modeling career brought me back here. What about you?" she asked giving Dusk a brief hug.

"I'm just here for a couple day's to visit friends. I know! Why don't you join us for lunch."

"That sounds lovely."

of course he had noway of knowing that at that moment back in Ponyville they were facing a Para-sprite infestation.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

When Dusk came back home he was surprised to see remnants of some form of destruction or another.

"Um...What happened here?"

"Para-Sprites. I already took care of 'em" Pinkie said popping up from behind him.

"Pinkie." he said surveying the scene and how bad it could have been.

"Yes Dusk?"

"Don't ever change." he said with a smile.

"'Kay!"

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

Dusk was not a lazy pony, not by any means. However he did enjoy his sleep, and there were times, where disturbing said sleep was bad for a ponies health.

"Dusk come on wake up it's winter wrap up day!" Twilight called up the stairs. When no answer was forthcoming she decided to go and wake him up herself.

"Come on Dusk-" but she was cut off as a stream of snowballs was hurled out of the now open door and into her face. Well, that explained why Spike had opted to sleep in his room last night.

Grumbling about stubborn boys she made her way downstairs and out the door where she realized it was too early to get up.

Four hours later and all three of them were up and on their way to the Town Square.

"I did warn you about trying last night, didn't I?" Dusk said giving her a speculative look.

"I still can't believe you set up an enchantment to pelt any pony who open you're door with snowballs!"

"Well it worked didn't it?"

Twilight just shook her head fondly at her brother. "So whats with the vest?"

"What do you mean?" he asked looking at his light brown Vest that Rarity had given him for the day.

"I mean, you never wear anything in brown."

"First, it's more tan than brown Second, did you not listen to a word Big Mac said when he stopped by the other day?"

Dusk then launched into an explanation of the 'team' system they employed on Winter Wrap-up Day.

"So then...You're on the Animal team?"

"Yup, I'm gonna be working with Fluttershy.

"Then what Should I do?"

"I don't know Sis, you'll have to figure that one out on you're own." he said just as Mayor Mare gave the order to find their team leaders.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

Later that day Dusk was put in charge of waking up the Reptiles, since it seemed he had a gift for speaking to them. 'Course, none of them were very happy to be woken up whilst there was still snow on the ground. But thankfully that problem had been taken care of. After causing all kinds of problems, of which Dusk was sure were he fault. Twilight took over the organizing of all the ponies, so now there was at least there was aq lot less fighting going on and allot more work being finished.

Just then, Dusk noticed one of the baby running lizards making it's way for the Everfree Forest. It must have come from the den he had just woken up.

"Hey now! Don't go in there right now! It's not safe!" he called chasing after the little guy.

He managed to catch him just at the edge of the tree line. "Phew! Now look here, you little imp. The Everfree forest is not a place for you to go and play in alone." he said and put the lizard back on the ground. Where it turned back to where it's Parent was waiting. "Now head on back to you're Par-!?" suddenly Dusk was cut off as his mouth was covered and he felt something slipped over his horn as he was pulled into the tree line.

The little lizard turned just in time to see a pair of bi yellow talons dragging the Silver pony into the Forest. Now scarred and worried for the pony who had caught him. The little lizard ran back to it's Parent and reported the problem.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

back in Ponyville Town Hall, Twilight was managing the Teams."Good good, how are things going with the Northern birds Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked looking over her check list.

"They should be back any minute."

"I have all the Nests done now. I really appreciate the help by the way." Rarity said with a kind smile.

"Excellent, and it's no problem, we could afford the pony power. Now Fluttershy...Fluttershy?" Twilight turned to ask about the waking process but was stopped when she saw Fluttershiy speaking with a couple of highly animated Lizards.

"Whats going on?"

"I don't know, Reptile really isn't my strong suit." Fluttershy said picking them up and placing the lizards on the table between them.

"Now try again." she said encouragingly.

The larger of the two bent onto all fours and changed it's color to a silvery gray before acting like a horse, or a pony.

"A gray pony? Do you mean Dusk? He was set to wake up the Reptiles wasn't he?" Twilight asked curious. This guess was rewarded when the Lizard pointed at her and nodded.

Then it went behind the smaller of the two and pretended to reach out and grab it, dragging it away.

"Kidnapped? Dusk was Kidnapped!?" Rarity asked very worried. To which the lizard nodded again.

"Where?" Twilight asked.

The Lizards jumped down and ran outside, the Ponies following close behind, all hoping they weren't too late.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

In a small cave just off the beaten path in the Everfree Forest. Dusk was plotting how to get back at this particular pain in his Flank while being chained to the cave wall.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming back here and pulling a stunt like this, kitty cat." he ground out through clenched teeth.

"The name is Gilda!" the Gryphon roared in his face, then punched him in the stomach for good measure. "And you're gonna pay for what you did."

Dusk wheezed a little from the blow, and tried on instinct to activate his magic, only to be shocked by the black ring she had placed there.

"Ha! I had to fill allot of Pockets to get that bind ring, but it was worth it to see that look on you're pathetic face!" Gilda said happily.

Dusk just glared back at her. "You're calling me pathetic? I'm not the one who had to spend a small fortune on a highly a illegal magical object, and then sneak up on a single pony, just because I'm afraid of being turned into a kitty." the last part was punctuated with him spiting in her face. "If anyone here is Pathetic, it's you."

"SHUTUP!" she screamed and hit him repeatedly. Occasionally there would be a 'Crack' or a 'Pop' that would gain a choked scream form the captive unicorn. When it was done they were both panting, though for different reasons. Dusk was sure he had a couple cracked ribs, and at least one of his legs was diss-located, but it wasn't anything life threatening.

"So what?" Dusk asked spitting some blood out to the side before continuing. "This is you're big plan? Kidnap me and beat me bloody? Great plan, but what about afterwords? If you think that Equestria as a whole is just going to let you off the hook, you're wrong." he said puffing a little bit from the pain in his chest.

"Who's going to tell 'em?" Gilda asked with an evil grin as she turned away from Dusk to a fire she had started before. "You Unicorns aren't the only ones who read up on history you know." he she pulled something out of the fire that had dusk paling. A brand.

According to pony history, branding was used as the highest level of punishment in olden days. They would heat the brand then push it into the the flank of a pony, right over their cutie mark, The Princess's had discovered it and put a stop to the barbaric practice, but it had still happened, and now apparently she was planing to do so to him.

"I see you've figure it out." she said putting the brand back into the fire. No pony who was branded ever showed their face in pony society again. How could they? They considered themselves freaks, and deformed.

"When I get out of this Gilda, I swear-!"

"You'll what? Transfigure my into a cat again? You'd have to find me first." she laughed but then stopped when a new voice called from the entrance of the cave.

"Get Away from my Friend!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she sped in full speed and knocked Gilda clean into the opposite wall.

Dusk looked over to see the others were all there and smiled. Finally, now he could take that nap and remove him self from the pain in his chest for a while.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

Nurse Redheart came out of Dusk's room wiping her brow with a single hoof.

"How is he? Twilight asked nervously.

By this point everypony had heard about what happened and was waiting for an update. Although only the mane six was in the library, every pony else was waiting outside, having put the winter wrap up on the back burner.

"He's very tired, as is to be expected. But he'll live. This however," she said pulling out the bind ring she had taken off him. "needs to be destroyed. It was literally turning his magic against him."

"So it is a bind ring? I'll need to contact the Princess immediately. She'll want to know tat there are still some of these things left." Twilight glaring at the ring as though it was the foulest thing ever.

"What happened to the Gryphon?" Redheart asked.

"She's being taken Canterlot bu some of the town guard." Rainbow dash said glaring at nothing in particular. She couldn't believe she had ever been friends with that...monster.

"Well good. I hope they through the book at her for this." Redheart sounding unusually angry. "Now, Twilight, he's going to have to be kept in bed for a few weeks at least. And thats only because Zecora has sent some of her potions to help."

"Understood. I'll make sure he gets lots of rest. Can we see him now?"

"He's asleep right now, so just try and stay quiet alright."

"Thanks again." Twilight said as the nurse pony left.

All the girls went in and were all somber as they saw Dusk laying there fast asleep. He had one leg in a cast as well as bandages all around his middle, but thankfully, it could have been allot worse. Twilight could only imagine how the Princess's were going to react when she told them that Dusk had been attacked with, not only a bind ring, but the threat of branding as well. And that wasn't even going into how Shinning and her parents were going to take the news. She shivered at the thought of what her older brother would do to the Gryphon when he saw Dusk.

"I have to go and send some letters..." she said absently. No pony answered her as they all just continued to stand there and watch her brother sleep.

Spike was downstairs Sweeping, trying to distract himself from what had happened. And was eager to do something that would keep him busy. Once the letters where written she went to spike and had him send them to the Princess. Before she went back upstairs. She doubted any of them would be going back to their own homes tonight.

_._._._({[/|\]})_._._._

the next day, Twilight woke up to a knock at her door and got up to answer, being careful to step around the ponies who were camping out in the main part of the Library. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see, not just Princess Celestia, but Luna and her parents.

"Princess!"

"Twilight Sparkle, I received your letter. Tell me, how is Dusk?" Celestia asked stepping in and sounding concerned as the others followed her in.

"He's still asleep right now, but nurse Redheart say's he'll make a full recovery."

"Excellent, now I must ask you before my Sister and I can leave you and you're Parents to go see him. Are you absolutely sure that a bind ring was used on him?"

in answer Twilight summoned the ring in a clear bag that Nurse Red heart had left there the night before. At the sight of in Celestia closed her eye's in resignation, while Luna looked about ready to blow her lid.

"Thank you Twilight, rest assured that the Gryphon Gilda will pay for her crimes." with that she left. Luna also thanked her then took the Bind ring and followed her sister back out. Once they were gone Twilight wias quick to hug her Parents and give them all the reassurance she could. She was worried about why Shinning Armor wasn't there, but her mother assured her that he was overseeing the Prisoner, and that was why he couldn't make it. Apparently the Princess had put him in charge of overseeing the whole situation in the Gryphon Kingdom with Cadence.

Twilight thought that it was more that the Princess was afraid he wouldn't be able to refrain from killing Gilda if he saw Dusk as he was.

And she was right.

Chapter 3 END

TBC