She stood atop her balcony, the light morning breeze teasing her mane and tail as the sun finished lifting over the mountains to the east. Before her and stretching as far as one could see was the whole of her kingdom. A vast and diverse land of multi-colored talking ponies and humans, a land of magic and love… for the most part.

Yes she loved and cared deeply for her realm, but she would trade it all to her sisters, to have a peaceful life with him…

"Hello sister." Red Dawn announced himself as she joined the princess of the sun. "Enjoying the view?"

"Indeed," she flashed him a soft smile before returning her gaze to the spectacle below, where Twilight Sparkle was teaching Alicorn'd Max to use his magic.

"So how is he fairing," the smaller death pony asked, in his colt form to keep herself from using magic.

Yes, he's fucking with the author by switching genders every few seconds.

"He has the simple spells down, like levitating small objects and using his horn to create light," she said as they watched her male counterpart trying to form a shield spell while Twilight pelted him with a basket full of red kick balls. For the next few minutes Dawn tried not to laugh too hard as Max took hit after hit from the balls, yet it was the look in Celestia's eyes that reminded him of something from the past.

"You love him." It wasn't a question.

"I… I have deep feelings for Max," she acknowledged, though he could see she was holding back.

"Have you ever given any thought, you know, that he might just be the one for you?"

With a half hearted sigh the sun princess slowly shook her head. "Regardless of my feelings for Max, you know full well I am destined for another."

"Yeah yeah…" he rolled her eyes, "I know the whole Storm King prophecy." And yet he couldn't stop thinking of his meeting with HER. "But have you given any thought to Max, why he's here and why he has such an effect on you?"

"Max is here because you and Luna brought him here." Celestia said while keeping watch over what was happening down in the garden. "As for his affect on me, I thought everypony liked how he affected me. I haven't been more upbeat and happy since Luna returned."

"That's not what I meant, Aunty," Dawn shook her head.

"Then what do you mean?"

"He nearly took out the castle and Ponyville when he appeared here, whispered something in your ear and within two weeks, you made him your royal consort."

"Dawn, you're exaggerating…" she started to say but he cut her off.

"Then take what happened with Nightmare Moon, when Mark and I walked her into the throne room," she pointed out. "You flipped your shit and were ready to destroy her, and yet Max calmed you with just a touch…" To her ass, but that's white noise at this point.

"…I…" her resolve faltered and she took a step back. Dawn knew that she had her cornered.

"And Celestia, out of all the humans that have come to Equestria," save for Sergio, "Luna and I didn't bring Max here…" He still couldn't figure out who brought him, though he had a sneaking suspicion that it involved that accursed town in the Everfree...

"Then who did?" She questioned.

"I think it's high time I showed you…" Dawn sighed, looking down at Max.

"Show me… show me what?" She demanded. "What in the name of the ancients are you talking about?"

"Look, just trust me for now," the death pony didn't relent under her gaze. "Call Moon and Luna and meet me in your room in half an hour…"

[half an hour later]

"Come on Dawn, how can I be expected to master my magic if I don't practice…" Max was saying as he followed the death pony, not paying attention to where he was going until Dawn closed the door behind them.

"You can go back to Twilight once we are done here." She said.

"Err… Did I miss something?" The male Sunbutt asked once he took note of the three royal sisters (technically four at the moment) standing about the room.

"We are wondering that ourselves." Luna remarked, looking to Dawn for an answer.

"All questions will be answered in a moment, I assure you dear Lulu," he said as he turned towards Max once again. "Do you remember what happened between us, in your room, after Mark and I reintroduced Nightmare Moon back into the royal family?"

"You mean when you hopped up onto my desk, went all glassy-eyed, and then started to cry?" At this little tidbit, all three princesses turned their undivided attention toward the death pony.

"Yeeeah… when that happened," Dawn sighed. It was not one of his finest moments, but that was still better than the time he went binge drinking. God, his liver hated him for that.

"We would have liked to witness that," Moon gave out a light chuckle.

"Oh indeed," Celestia nodded. "To see death weep would be an exceptional treat."

"Oh hardy-har-har," Dawn snipped back. "Do you asshats mind if we get back to the reason we are here?" If it wouldn't be incredibly painful, he'd grow a hand out of his hoof just to flip them off. Too lazy to go human.

"I wish you would," Max sighed. "I really need to get back to Twilight…"

"You. Sit!" Dawn commanded, getting the startled alicorn to flop down on his white rump. "Now if the rest of you will join your horns to mine, we will be taking a small trip into Max's mind…"

"MY MIND?!" Squeaked Max in surprise, yet before he could mount (perverts) a protest, the three sisters bent their heads and touched their horns to Dawn's.

"Where are we?" Moon asked as she glanced about the shadow filled room.

"We are in Max's head," the death pony said while 15 to 20 picture frames slowly floated about, silently playing bits and pieces of Max's life…

"And why again are we inside my consort's mind?" Celestia asked. She respected Max's right to keep his memories secret, though now that she was here, she couldn't deny that she was curious.

"We are here for that," Dawn said as he spotted the frame he was looking for. The moment he had singled out the frame it began to emit sound.

"Momy, daddy… Look out!" The three sisters became transfixed as a blue sedan was slammed into by a huge semi, and a shrill scream filled the room as 5 year old Max watched his parents die.

"How horrible," Luna and Moon both flinched.

"Dawn, how could making us witness the death of Max's parents be…" Celestia started to demand, only to have her words die in her throat.

"Sssh… It's ok little one, I've got you…" Spinning around, Celestia found herself, as well as both her night sisters, frozen to the spot. Before them a familiar white alicorn with a deep red mane and tail, was holding little Max with her wings, gently nuzzling the frightened boy. "Yes," she smiled warmly while slowly rocking the child, "I think you will do nicely…"

"Wait, NO!" Luna suddenly cried out when the picture faded away. Dawn knew that feeling, but kept his/her mouth shut.

B…but," Moon shook her head in disbelief. "It couldn't… there is no way…"

"That's it, you want to be firm, to get the tangles out, yet gentle enough as to not pull the hairs out of her tail." Dawn activated the next frame he remembered, the one were 12 year old Max was brushing the tail of a young foal… while the white alicorn stood next to him giving tips.

To Dawn's surprise, while Luna and Moon moved from one frame to the next, desperately trying to find more memories that held the Queen… Celestia hadn't moved an inch. Instead she stood stock still, mouth agape and trembling. He was about to ask her if she was ok, when he felt somepony step up behind him.

"Little pony, be not afraid
The rain pounds harsh against the glass
Like an unwanted stranger
There is no danger
I am here tonight,"

This time when Luna and Moon turned, they became speechless for before them, stepping up to Celestia's side… Queen Mother Faust softly sang a lullaby as she gently nuzzled her eldest daughter.

"Little pony, be not afraid
Though thunder explodes
And lightning flash
Illuminates your tearstained face
I am here tonight…"

"…Mama…" the Princess of the Sun whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks as her legs threatened to buckle underneath her.

"And someday you'll know
That nature is so
This same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
And forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you see
In the morning"

As she sang she nodded towards Luna who quickly rushed over, the eyes of the moon princess tearing up as well.

"Little pony, be not afraid
The storm clouds mask your beloved moon
And its candlelight beams
Still keep pleasant dreams
I am here tonight…"

Quietly she let the song fade before looking her two daughters over. "My how much you two have grown, my beloved little ponies," yet as she spoke she looked up and gazed at the dark horse in the room. "But I must ask, why do you not join us?"

"We are Nightmare Moon your highness, we are… were an evil aspect of your daughter Luna," she stammered. "We… I have no place…"

"Silence, I may not have birthed you," the Queen hushed her, though she never lost her warm smile. "But you are part of this family, now come dark daughter and join your family."

With feeling welling up within her Moon bounded over. "You too Red Dawn, get your shebs (yes, I've watched Star Wars) over here," Faust happily smiled as she wrapped her wings around her offspring. The reunion while joyous was unfortunately short lived. "While I know you all have so many questions, I'm afraid my time here is short…"

"Short," Luna gasped. "But why?"

"While I have may have found a loophole in the curse that banished me," the Queen sighed sadly, "I cannot say long."

"…But…"

"Luna, let her please explain," Celestia calmed her sister, if only for the moment.

"Thank you my dear," Faust gave her eldest a wink. "But first, a warning about the Crystal Empire."

"Why the warning?" The sun princess inquired. "I have seen the signs and know of its soon return."

"Yes, but you will need more than just the Elements of Harmony to stop Sombra," she acknowledged. "Ponies who have only known love and harmony can easily corrupted by his hate and anger, yet the humans have lived with hate and are not so easily swayed by it. When the empire returns, you must send the humans as well."

"I will… ask for their assistance, mother."

"Good, Now if you will all lend me your horns…"

"Helloooo." Max waved a hoof as the 4 ponies before him went from pressing their horns together to a combination of laughing and crying while hugging each other tightly. God he was really confused at this point. "Look, anypony mind if I head back to Twilight?"

"Yeah," Dawn sighed contently. "Go have fun…" To see mother again, even briefly, was a good feeling for him. Like sex, but less perverted.

"Max wait." Celestia called as she broke away from the hug and trotted over. "I just learned that some humans have more than just a first and last name, so before you go, can you tell me yours?"

'Fucking took you long enough, Celly.' Dawn thought as she eyed the white alicorns.

Blinking in slight confusion, the male Sunbutt gave a shrug as he answered. "I thought I told you already, it's Max Tarrant Rex."

"Thank you Max," she flashed him a warm smile as he turned and left.

"You do know what the name Tarrant translates into," Dawn asked once the door had closed.

"It means Thunder," Luna gasped at the realization. "His name translates into Great Thunder King."

"I know," Celestia whispered, her heart fluttering with joy. "The Storm King, my future husband, is Max."

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