Mr. and Mrs. Stronghoof  where standing in the Canterlot castles guest rooms. Rough sacks, worn and torn from long use, sat atop ornately carved desks and cupboards. The room itself was designed to be lively and vibrant.

Sunny Fields, was crying as her husband sat stroking her hair.

"I'm sorry… Mordane was a brilliant student and a brave hero. Without his efforts it is likely that the town of Ponyville would have been overrun. I cannot express my sorrow at his lose…I can only ask for your forgiveness.”

Stone Stronghoof nodded solemnly with tears in his eyes and Celestia lowered her head. He swallowed and answered though with some strain.

“That is all right your highness. We appreciate you coming and telling us yourself. There is no way that you could have known what he was planning when he went toward that storm…” He nodded her head “You did what you could. Being the benevolent ruler you are.”

Celestia hung her head and rubbing her foreleg awkwardly at the complement.

“Well… Yes, thank you. “She perked up when remembering something. “Oh yes. Here you go. She floated over a bag of bits. “These were in Mordane’s bank accounts. He had gathered a small fortune.”

“Thank you, Princess,” Stone said nodding.

“I’d like you to stay here under my protection… there are many ponies that would not treat you kindly if it got out who you were.”

“Yes of course. Thank you for declaring us dead. We know it was the only way.” Stone said. Still nodding.

“...of course. Have a peaceful evening.” Celestia walked out of the room resisting the urge to shake her head.

“...”

“...”

“Is she gone?” asked Sunny Fields quietly to her husband.

“...I think so.”

“Oh, dear,” she said quietly,”what are we going to do? Mordane is gone and… and she wants us to stay here!”

The stallion nodded his head.

“ I always knew she was evil, but to kill our son then come in here and just… look us in the eye like that. We have to leave.”

“Oh, Stone… what should we do?”

The old stallion stood stone faced as his namesake would imply. With a calm demeanor he rubbed his chin and considered their situation with a wisdom born of tilling the earth for untold years before sighing as if letting go of something he had never thought he would have to. Looking at his wife he answered simply.

“Take everything not nailed to the floor.”

Over the next hour they did just that; stripping the place of anything of value. They took the silverware, paintings, and mats and wrapped them in sheets.

As they were arguing on whether to stuff some of the toiletries into one of the antique vases, the door to their room burst open. Both of them froze and an armor clad Pegasus guard walked into the room.

The pony reached up and pulled off his helmet drawing a smile from the two older ponies.

“Flashwing, my son, is that you?”

Mordane’s older Pegasus brother embraced his parents smiling enthusiastically.

“Mother, Father! I’m so glad you're still here. Getting into this place unseen has been a nightmare.”

“I imagine so! What are you doing here?”

“Getting you! Come on, I’ve got a way out planned… we can take your loot as well.” He said rubbing the back of his head and turning to show his saddle bag with a few candle sticks poking out.

“Where are your sisters?” Sunny asked fearfully.

“The entire family is waiting!”

The three Stonghoof’s ran out of the room. Since one appeared to be a guard, no one even tried to stop them as they took the back entrance out of the castle and disappeared into the Canterlot underbelly.