Chapter 8: Earth

"Equestria has always housed the greatest beauty that thought has thus far created on Earth. Even in the darkest times, there have always been those among us able to preserve and protect this heritage of ideas."

-Jessica Sotheby, 1st Duchess of Cloudsdale

The second of the six month terms passed quickly, and soon enough Celeste found her wish granted. Flying round a bluff in the mountains, she let a contented sigh pass her lips. Nestled in its protected vale, Aquos' school called out to her mind, welcoming her home. And even though she had lived more than thirty years under Discord's shroud in Eridian, she felt more at home here in the mountains than she ever had.

The grounds of the school were a hive of activity, as students rushed about making preparations. It was a momentous occasion, after all. Both of the two sisters had completed their training to the satisfaction of their respective teachers. They were ready now for whatever the future held in store for them. But all Celeste really wanted right now was to see her sister again, and talk with her about everything that had changed since that fateful night one year ago.

She set down at the base of the main tower, near the ornately braided columns that straddled the mountain stream, supporting Aquos' working areas above. The place had changed little from what she remembered. The orchards were now ripe with fruit, which was being harvested hurriedly for tonight's celebrations. The air was heavy with the sweet smell of the Earth's bounty. Celeste allowed herself a deep breath, savouring the rich aroma. Indeed, she was happy to have a moment to relax.

She and Altas had eventually managed to come to an arrangement concerning her studies. While she still didn't appreciate most of his ideas, she had agreed to practice the skills he extolled. In exchange, he had allowed her to continue practicing her magic in her free time. Over just a few months, Celeste had expanded her personal spell library to include several new creations. Perhaps they were relatively minor pieces of magical machinery, but she was eager to demonstrate them to Aquos in any case.

Hearing the sound of a door closing behind her, Celeste wheeled to see her sister exiting the grand entryway beneath the tower. Her heart filled with elation, Celeste ran over to her, quickly climbing the magnificent staircase that stretched over the river. At the summit of the arc, the two sisters came together in a loving embrace.

"I missed you terribly, sister," Claire said softly.

"So did I," Celeste replied.

The two remained together for a moment, then Celeste pulled back to examine her sister anew. She was shocked at what she saw, but pleasantly so. "You've grown up, Claire. So different, in only a year."

"Is it that obvious?" Claire replied. "And look at you, sister. I see a new fire burning in your features. The worries and cares of Eridian have passed from you."

"Simple; I didn't have to worry about you anymore!" exclaimed Celeste with a laugh. Taking her sister close, she led Claire through the orchard. The two of them had indeed changed much, but the spark of their relationship remained. If anything, the separation had probably driven them closer.

For a few minutes, the two sisters simply walked in silence, admiring the forest bowed low with heavy fruit. It was Claire that spoke up first. "It was me that first told you we were special, right? One year ago, to the day. But I'll be the first to tell you, Celeste, I had no idea just how right I was."

Celeste nodded in agreement. When she looked back at her past life, she could only marvel at how such talent could possibly have been put to such inconsequential use. Now that the innate power of her awakened mind was at her disposal, Celeste felt capable of moving mountains, reshaping Equestria on her own if needed. There was only one obstacle left standing in her way, and that was Discord.

She could see as well that Claire now bristled with tapped potential. Her power seemed different, borne of a separate fortitude, but substantial all the same. Together the two could indeed be the light of hope that Equestria needed. But with that thought Celeste felt a mote of sadness fall on her heart. She thought again of her conversations with Altas. The Masters only need one Triumvir. At some point, one of them would have to make that choice, to leave the other behind for the greater good. But she wasn't about to let such concerns cloud their afternoon together. So the two of them walked and shared memories and stories with each other, even unto the close of the afternoon. For the first time in a long time, they were just sisters again.

That evening, the whole of the school gathered on the grounds of the academy for the feast. Massive pots of steaming vegetables had been cooked for the occasion, and the freshest grains had been brought in from the outlying country. Unicorn chefs had been busy all afternoon, infusing the food with exotic flavours as they laboured over the preparations.

Celeste and Claire walked together through the assembled multitude, approaching the head of the proceedings down the central aisle. Both of them were dressed in their best fineries, long gowns that stretched down to the ground. Celeste had opted for a snowy-white configuration, decked in jewels to complement her shimmering mane. To show off her independence, Claire had opted for a more colourful arrangement, but it was nevertheless still haughtily formal. As the pair came up to the elevated platform that stood just under the tower, Celeste helped her sister up the steps.

Aquos and Altas were there waiting for them. The unicorn had done up her mane into an intricate set of curls, framing her face perfectly, and matching her very conservative outfit. Altas, meanwhile, had on a white suit-jacket and red bowtie. His mane was parted casually to the side, although at least he had taken the time to comb it. Still, the two Masters stood out in opposition to each other: order and individuality.

When both of them were in place on the platform, Aquos called for order. Speaking in her usual commanding tone, the Master of Water began her speech to the assemblage.

"Students of Air and Water, esteemed guests, trusted companions, friends: welcome. We are gathered here tonight in celebration, for these two students here by my side, Celeste and Claire Albright." There was a moment of respectful applause, and Celeste tried to suppress a proud smile as she felt the warm attention.

"They came to us a year ago, and at that time we toasted their rebirth as free ponies: released from the shackles of Discord's tyranny. Over this time, they have grown; matured into new beings. They have learned the unifying harmony of mind and spirit, as emphasized by our separate disciplines. They have found power by looking inside themselves. They have excelled in their chosen fields. My children," she stated, turning now to the two alicorns with sincerity in her tone, "you are students no longer."

There was another outbreak of applause, which the Master of Water immediately quieted with the wave of a hoof. She now spoke directly to the two sisters, and Celeste felt the eyes of the audience drawn in toward her as well. "You go forth now to fight the battles that must be fought; to spread peace, justice, and harmony as far as you can; to reclaim this land in the name of all that have fallen in defending it. May harmony stand with you."

Reaching for a crystal goblet that seemed to appear beside her out of nowhere, the Master raised it in a toast. Her magic cascaded around the glass in an azure shimmer. Looking down for a moment, Celeste was startled to see a similar glass in front of herself. With a tiny effort, she raised it with her own magic, and Claire did the same. Over the field, she was joined by the multitude, as more than a thousand snifters glinted in the moonlight. With finality, Aquos finished her toast. "A year ago, we drank to new beginnings. Now, allow me to reaffirm that pledge. Celeste and Claire, you are once again born anew; free from the self-imposed prison of ignorance. We wish you the very best in future endeavours, as we work together for ultimate victory and a free Equestria once again!"

In unison, the crowd drank to the toast, and all four of the ponies on stage did so as well. The wine tasted, somehow, mystical, full and round while still sweet on the tongue. It was a majestic moment, one that Celeste wanted to go on forever. The light of the moon glistened off the buildings of the school, casting its inviting aura over the congregation. The air was still, comfortably humid from the bubbling brook, which danced to its own music in the background.

Soon enough, the toast had completed, and the rest of the students got down to the business of the meal. But for the four on stage, the ceremony was not complete, or at least so it seemed. Aquos turned round to address the two sisters, speaking in a calm voice. "Come, Celeste and Claire. We have something wonderful to show both of you."

The four made their way down off the stage, and reverently climbed the curved steps that rose over the stream to the base of the tower. They came together under the structure's base, on the small landing that straddled the river. In the background, the night air was broken by the ebullient sounds of dinner getting underway. But the two Masters had eyes only for their new companions now.

"Well, that's finally over with," chuckled Altas as he hurriedly undid his bow tie and tossed it into the river. "Congratulations to the both of you. You've earned your spot here. Few are able to pass the trials both of you have faced; even fewer can reach your level within only a year. Aquos and I are both proud of all that you have accomplished."

Claire beamed with satisfaction, and Celeste also couldn't hold back a satisfied grin. It had been a rough year for the both of them, filled with vicissitudes. Finally, the end was here. Looking up, Celeste even noticed the barest hint of a smile on Aquos' features.

Behind them, at the railing, Altas spoke up again. "So both of you are probably wondering when you get to eat, right? I'll admit it sure does smell good over there."

Both of the sisters stayed silent, awaiting an answer, but Celeste did have to admit that the luscious aromas wafting over from the banquet had piqued her appetite. Aquos, however, merely summoned an orb of energy into their midst, holding it above her horn for a second. In a steady voice, she addressed the two sisters. "There will be time for all that later, but first there is business to attend to. The first stage of your journeys has come to its end, but now it is time to begin anew." With a flash, she released the magical orb, which expanded out to envelop the four of them. In an instant, they had vanished.

---

Celeste felt herself floating in a shapeless blue void, a sort of limbo wherein time seemed to slow to a standstill. She wanted to call out, find something or someone to hold on to, but suddenly realized that she didn't even know if her voice would carry here. Was there even air for her to breathe? Celeste felt lost, on an instantaneous verge of panic. Then, Aquos' calming voice emerged through the fog, giving clarity to the scene, drawing out recognizable shapes in her mind's eye.

"Do not be afraid, child," Aquos intoned steadily. "This is simply a magical construct, a visual way to experience a message. Now that you are ready to join us, you have earned the right to this vision, that of the power we face, and hope for that which once was, and that which may yet be."

As Celeste looked on, lines of silver etched their way through the limitless void, forming into a recognizable outline. Colours inflamed the scene, and Celeste found herself looking at the city of Eridian, but different. It was older, and unadorned with the wicked towers of Discord's castle. In their place was a brilliant triangle of golden stone, three slender pinnacles set round a central spire of straight lines and peaked arches, reaching upward to dizzying heights. Perched on its very peak was a massive statue: three ponies reaching skyward in unison, claiming the brightness of Equestria's future.

Celeste gasped as the vision slotted itself into her memory. The Tower of the Triumvirs! This meant that the city could only be the legendary Equestrian Capital City, unspoilt in the early years of the free Equestria. Looking closer, Celeste could see that each of the secondary towers was adorned in its own way, put to the use of one of the pony tribes. The unicorn tower supported a powerful observatory, and was ringed about with banners and measuring instruments. Its ornate balustrades were etched with images of astronomical bodies; bright stars and exotic planets. Nearby, the Pegasus tower was surrounded with clouds and lightning, as the masters of the weather directed the meteorology of the nation. And finally, the enterprising Earth ponies had turned their tower into a centre of administration, and had even planted a small field on its roof, never letting a single foot of space go unused.

In the light, the city shone with all the glory deserving of its place in history. Celeste felt its reflection illuminate the depths of her soul, inspiring her as it must have inspired all ponies in ages past. But alas, for the vision was not finished. In an instant, Celeste felt darkness pushing at the corners of the utopia. Like a flood of serpentine wisps, grey evil flowed up around the city. All at once, fate turned upon ECC. The Pegasi clouds turned upon the population, unleashing a torrent of rain and destructive lightning, igniting fires and sparking panic. Confused unicorns rushed out onto their balconies, but could only watch in dumbstruck awe as their own instruments of science transformed into fearsome weapons, assaulting the populace with focussed energy. Even the earth ponies saw their machinations turned against them, as the fruits of their field suddenly grew to enormous size, caving in the roof of the tower. All throughout the city there was great distress, and nothing that the powers of any tribe could do to stop it.

Like a breath of cold stealing the life of a calm spring night, chaos spread through the city, robbing colour and creating only lifeless dullness. Finally, the malady became complete, and the Tower of the Triumvirs crumbled, falling to Earth with a deadened crash. The vision morphed then into something all too recognizable to Celeste. It was Eridian: dead and broken in the place of what had once been great. She felt determination settle into her heart then. For such a crime, there was only one justifiable punishment. And now that she had the power within her, she vowed that Discord would pay the terrible debt that he owed her country.

---

When Celeste rematerialized in the real world, she felt a wave of nausea as her body attempted to readjust. Beside her, Claire was engaged in a similar process of acclimatization. But from the passion in her eyes, Celeste had no doubt that her sister had witnessed the same vision she had.

Finally getting her head back in order, Celeste spared a glance around the area, but was immediately shocked. They most certainly were not up in the mountains anymore. The ever-present babble of the mountain stream had been replaced by a sort of living stillness; quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Taking another, longer gaze, she analyzed whatever she could.

They appeared to have materialized in a dense forest. The light of the moon trickled down through the branches, illuminating a forest floor covering in loose grass. The trees were spaced regularly, growing in harmony with the world and allowing easy passage. The two sisters seemed to be on a worn path, which ran straight for several meters before disappearing over a low rise. The forest grew thicker ahead, so it was difficult to determine where the path led. Overall though, the place certainly seemed safe. Her confidence grew when the two Masters also phased into existence just in front of her.

Aquos and Altas reintegrated with the real world far faster than their two students did, likely from experience. Both appeared quite pleased to be here. Altas took a deep breath of the crisp air, letting all of his stresses fall away with every exhalation. Aquos did the same, but in a more refined manner.

Celeste realized suddenly just how much she had changed, and how well this moment encapsulated it. Here she was in an unfamiliar environment, and the Celeste of old would have immediately brought up her guard, distrustful of anything until she got answers. She realized how open she had allowed herself to become. It was certainly something to consider later.

Claire was the first to find her voice. "That vision… that was Equestria in the past?" she asked, directing the question to Altas.

The Pegasus was engaged in ruffling his mane and unbuttoning a few of his suit-jacket buttons. "Yes," he replied nonchalantly. "That was what once was, and what we hope to restore."

"It was… beautiful," Celeste said in a voice edged with sorrow. "And thanks to Discord it is now all lost. Such an unforgiveable tragedy," she finished, hanging her head low in remembrance.

But when Celeste raised her eyes again, Aquos had on a knowing smile. Speaking in a mysterious voice, she addressed her students. "I knew that both of you were ready to see it though. Hopefully, both of you now understand the power that we face. All the might of our ancestors could mount no opposition to Discord's assault. However, if you'll follow me," she said with a wink, "I think you'll find that the future is not as bleak as it might seem."

And without any more words, the two Masters walked together toward the small hill in the path. With a look, Celeste motioned for Claire to go first, and they followed. The wood was serene in the moonlight, almost heavenly. The elder sister managed to spot the occasional nocturnal creature about its routine, but soon sensed that her attention should lie ahead. Both Aquos and Altas seemed to grow taller with every step, in clear anticipation of what lay just over the ridge. They paused for a moment just on the lip, and motioned backwards for the two alicorns to come forward. As Celeste laid her eyes on the grassy clearing below, she felt her jaw slacken in shock.

It was the Tower of the Triumvirs, rebuilt brick for brick from the original, standing tall and proud in lordship over the forest. The central spire was ringed with gold, reflecting the moonlight in a dazzling array of patterns as it stretched, story over story, to a dizzying height overhead. Each of the secondary towers stood atop its own independent mound, and each was adorned according to the individual sense of the tribe it represented. The unicorn tower was again bristled with telescopes, and the Earth ponies once again grew their crops. Only the tower of the Pegasi was blank, and Celeste remembered then that their art was lost to the mists of time.

"The Citadel of Everfree," Aquos announced with a reverent voice. "Last bastion of the free ponies, and home to Terraria, Master of the Order of Earth." Both she and Altas were looking upwards at the amazing structure, with glassy, nostalgic looks on their faces.

For the two sisters, it was as if they had stepped from a dream into history itself. Aquos' base in the mountains now seemed utilitarian, compared to this extravagant display of beauty. Even now, in such dark times, hope burned eternally. For beneath the structure, Celeste now beheld a multitude of ponies, heralding each of the distinct tribes in roughly equal proportion. They were dressed in varied robes, long and flowing garments of silk and cashmere. The crowd erupted in approval upon seeing the newcomers, pointing and applauding vigorously. Suddenly Celeste felt as though she was being scrutinized again, but no one appeared concerned, even in light of Altas' dishevelled countenance. She realized suddenly that these ponies cared not for such trappings as appearance or attire. In a free Equestria, such things shouldn't and wouldn't matter. Indeed, this little vale in the forest was all that remained of the Equestria of old, and remained a light of hope.

The perfect completion to the scene reached her then, as the scent of exquisitely cooked fruits and cereals wafted up to the ridge. It seemed that they would get their celebratory meal after all. She looked over at the Masters: each of them seemed ready to forget all the troubles of life to settle into this one moment. Celeste realized that it was time she and Claire did the same. This was the celebration they had earned, their first night as truly free ponies in the new Equestria.