It was still dark when Victus awoke to the cold touch of falling snow. He winced as he pulled himself up, his body aching and his tired mind struggling to gain a sense of where he was. Then he heard it: the rasping, strained breath beside him.

"Tercio?" He stepped closer, hardly able to believe his eyes. Tercio was alive.

The night's events came back to him in a flash -- the anguish of watching his brother seemingly take his own life, the long hours dragging him through the forest. Then he'd been drawn into some place, dark and foreign to anything he'd experienced before, a vessel for Nocturne's will as it fought against the darkness that had sought to enslave Tercio's soul. And he'd won. Nocturne had given everything to see the foul corruption destroyed once and for all.

He could hardly believe it himself. There were so many things he didn't understand, but none of them mattered at that moment. Tercio was drawing breath once more. Tears rolled down his face, except now they came from relief and elation.

But Tercio was not out of danger yet. Though he was alive, the strain of his struggle had clearly taken its toll. His breathing was labored, and Victus knew everything would be all for naught if he froze to death in the winter air.

Thinking quickly, he dragged Tercio under the cover of an uprooted tree, then removed his red cloak and wrapped it around him. It would have to do for now.

"I will return as quickly as possible," he said in an unsteady voice as he straightened out his wings, swallowing back a lump in his throat. "I am going to need help if you are to survive once more." For a moment he hesitated, watching the rise and fall of his brother's chest. An ugly, jagged scar had formed formed over the sword wound, and dried blood still stained his face and arms. How was he going to begin to explain such a thing? "I...I hope you'll forgive me for dragging Father into this."

With a powerful flap Victus took to the air, taking only a heartbeat's time to find his bearings, and with his destination in sight he flew faster than he'd ever flown in his life.

Roughshod was still awake when Victus pushed open the door, the sudden intrusion causing him to jump out of his seat in surprise. His son stood in the doorway, breathing heavily, and he quickly trotted over to his side.

"There you are. Your mother was worried sick, you know how she is. Asked me to stay up and--" Only then, in the dim candle light, did he notice the dark streaks of crimson covering Victus' face and armor. "Is...is that blood? What happened to you? And where's Tercio?" he asked in concern.

Victus leaned against the wall to catch his breath. "Father, I need you to...come with me. Something's...happened."

"What do you mean? What is it?" Roughshod asked as he hastily threw on his winter coat and grabbed a small pack of medical supplies. He'd pulled his boys out of trouble on more than one occasion when they were young and reckless, but he'd never imagined having to do so now. What was so drastic that Victus would abandon his brother? A dozen things came to mind at once, none of them reassuring.

"I can explain on the way," Victus said after taking a drink from his flask. "If we hurry, we can be there in half an hour. Tercio needs our help, and bad."

Roughshod swore under his breath. "Alright. Your mother should be fine by herself for now. Which way is he?"

"Due east, through the woods." Victus quickly grabbed a small stack of blankets from a storage closet as his father took a torch from its sconce just outside the door. The night was cold and biting, and the wind blew stinging snowflakes against his face. He looked into the distance, into the dark expanse of untamed forest. Somewhere out there, his adoptive son was in danger, and he'd be damned if he was going to let anything happen to him.

"I'll follow you," he called above a chilling gust. "And Victus? I want to know everything, ya understand?"

It took longer than expected to return. Roughshod was not a young stallion anymore, and it was slow going through the snow. Along the way, Victus had told him all he knew about Tercio's strange condition; the trigger words, the "darkness" that had been inside him for so long, the sword gifted to him by Celestia, even the strange place he'd been taken to, a place of the mind deep within the subconscious.

Roughshod could barely manage a word. Silently he cursed himself for not being more diligent, but none of the warning signs had been there. How could he have known? Tercio had seemed like a perfectly normal, if different-looking boy for his entire childhood. Luna's fears had proven to be unfounded, much to his relief. But now it seemed she had been right from the very start.

He prayed that whatever Tercio had done to save himself had truly worked. If the power within him still lingered, he did not think he could stand to see his son that way.

At a half-gallop, the fastest his tired old legs could carry him, it took nearly an hour to find the right place. Victus had flown above the bare tree tops and returned with a hopeful shout. Bracing himself, Roughshod stepped around an old, dead tree, the torch at his side casting long shadows and an orange glow against the dark forest.

There, wrapped in Victus' cloak, was the bloodied figure of his adopted son. With a look of horror he rushed to Tercio's side and cradled his head, lifting his upper body from the cold, snowy ground. Tercio's hair was matted with dirt, and his tunic was stiff with dried blood.

"Oh gods, my poor boy," Roughshod said in a wheezing voice as an overwhelming sadness took the breath from his lungs and sent tears down his face. As terrible as Tercio looked, he was, at least for the moment, still breathing, but the sound that escaped his lips was wet and ragged, and his skin felt cold to the touch. "It's okay, I'm here now. I'm here." He removed the torch from his saddle-sconce and set it down on a nearby rock. "Here, this'll keep you warm. Stay with me, boy. You hear me?"

Calling upon his years of military training long passed, he patted down Tercio to check for fresh blood, relieved to find none. The sword wound had healed itself, by some miracle, but something was still wrong. "Victus, I need you to do something for me," he said as he unrolled a blanket and place it on the ground, then carefully dragged Tercio on top of it.

"Of course, Father. Anything you ask," Victus said.

Another blanket went over top of the Legion cloak. It wasn't perfect, but it would hopefully keep Tercio from freezing anymore than he'd already endured. "Bridle Falls is about an hour's flight from here, if you hurry. There's a permanent Guard station there. Find Centurion Spring Hearts -- he's a pegasus, like you -- and tell him to bring four stallions and an apothecary sky wagon as quickly as possible. Have him follow you back." A small bit of color blanched Tercio's face now that his body was beginning to warm, but his breathing was still labored and unsteady. "Tercio needs more help than we can provide him. Do you understand?"

Victus nodded, already removing his bulky armor so that it wouldn't slow him down. "I'll return as quickly as I can," he promised.

"I know you will, son. Now go! Go!"

In a heartbeat Victus was off, taking off into the night like a javelin. Roughshod watched him until he was he out of view, then turned back to Tercio. He stroked the short hair of his head and wondered what he could have done to stop it from ever happening. The thought of his boy taking such a desperate action ate away at him, and he sobbed to himself in shame. "I'm sorry we never told you. How could we? It was our greatest fear, losing you to that damned corruption, and we thought if we never brought it up, then maybe it would never happen. But here you are," he said. "Just hold on. We'll get through this."

"Good news for once, Your Majesty. It appears that clearing out the Nightmare Moon camp in the Midlands was a success. We've even been receiving gifts from the local whitetail in that area as thanks for ridding them of the threat." Legatus Lentius strode over to the map with a proud bounce to his step. Celestia hadn't seen him so pleased since the start of the war. "With their hub destroyed, the cultists will be scattered and easier to finish off. Victory is in sight." He smiled to himself. "Feels good to say that."

"Let us hope you're right," Celestia said as she gave a final burst of magic to set the sun on its gradual course across the morning sky. She hadn't even had the time to drink her morning tea before she'd been called to the war room. "Now if only we could get Whitetail's government to speak with us again," she muttered after a yawn. She wished the deer weren't so damned stubborn and proud. How did they possibly think they could still win the war? What was left of their army was hiding within Evinwiir's walls -- walls that had nearly fallen thanks to the emerald flame explosion. It was chaos inside and out for the poor people of Whitetail.

"Shadowstrike tells me his spies have picked up words of dissent from some of Whitetail's citizens. It is spoken of only in hushed tones, lest they face retribution by the overzealous leaders, but it's there. If we can kindle that small flame of rebellion...who knows? It is an unfortunate fact that Evinwiir is locked up tighter than Skytalon's gold coffers. Travel into and out of the city is tightly controlled. But I'll see what I can do."

Celestia nodded. "It's certainly worth trying. And what of the redtail involvement in all this?"

Lentius could only shrug. "Despite following up on our leads from the encampment, it's hard to say. Personally I don't trust the Empress as far as I can throw her, but there's been no outwardly hostile signs from them. We've found scattered redtail assisting the cultists, but there's also been zebras, griffons, and Saddle Arabians. It could just be that Luna's reach is broader than we thought."

Celestia wasn't so sure. Her research had led her to the 9th Arcane, an old, seemingly defunct branch of Whitetail's magical studies. If the 9th was active once more, a lot of lives on both sides of the border could be in serious danger, especially if they were being covertly funded and led by Cervidae. And if they found Tercio...

"We can't take any chances. Shore up the western edge of the border with Whitetail. Call upon reserves if you must."

"Of course, Princess, as you wish," Lentius said. "But if I may ask, what information do we have to act upon? Resistance on the western flank is light. Most Whitetail reinforcements come from the east, near the sea."

"I know, but I am preparing for a worst-case scenario," she clarified. "Corvalix may seek to finish off Whitetail himself, either under Elinwynn's command or as his own initiative."

"You really think he'd do that?" Lentius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I wouldn't put it past him. Everything I've learned about him tells me that he is someone who can only be trusted to not be trusted. He could charge across the border, destroy Evinwiir, and claim Whitetail for Cervidae. That's why I need troops in the area. His grudge is with Whitetail, just like his sister, and their parents before them, going back generations. He has a chance to finish them once and for all."

Lentius rubbed his chin as he considered the map. "I suppose it makes sense. Very well, we'll divert some of our soldiers to the western flank. If we can stop Cervidae from slaughtering their cousins, we'll have done something right."

In truth, it wasn't Whitetail that Celestia feared for, but her own nation. So many things had pointed her in Cervidae's direction; the Nightmare Moon communication medallion that matched the one given to her by Elinwynn. The powerful doe overseeing the Midlands camp. The captive, Alinalyys, who had spoken of Brother-General Corvalix as if he acted without care for the consequences, and the apparent reformation of the 9th and its connection to the dark times of The First and The Second. If she could take small comfort in anything, at least, it was that there would not be a Third. Not while she still lived.

With a knock on the door frame Legatus Stonewall bowed his head and entered the room. He had that look about him, the one that said "you're about to hear something you'd rather not." It was unmistakable.

"Excuse the interruption, Princess, but there's something -- or rather, someone -- you need to see. They just brought him in to the head apothecary's surgery room. I think you'll want to be there."

Somehow, Celestia already knew who it was.

The room smelled of bitter potions and earthy salves as Celestia entered the doorway, and she could only give a groan of worry as her fears were confirmed.

In the center of the room, Lead Apothecary Lifeline stood over the unconscious form of Tercio, his horn aglow with silvery magic and his eyes shut tightly in concentration. To either side a pair of aides kept their hooves against his waist, channeling their own power to sustain his in a trail of sparkling energy, as a glow slowly moved through Tercio's chest.

"My Princess," someone said, and Celestia saw Legionary Victus bow his head with a foreleg over his chest. He looked ragged, with sunken eyes and a matted coat. Specks of red and brown dirtied his short-cut blonde mane.

Celestia was lost for words. Tercio had seemed to be recovering quickly before he left to see his family, and now he was motionless on an operating table. She cautiously approached him and touched his bloodied arm with her hoof, watching the rise and fall of his chest to be sure he was alive.

He had been stripped to his undergarments, his clothing tossed into the corner in a pile, and for the first time she saw the extent of the toll his military life had taken on him. Large scars slashed across his upper arms, waist, back and shoulders. Rough, discolored skin from cauterized wounds stood out in pinkish-red reminders of battle. And directly over his chest, still darkened by dried blood, a wide slit had been covered by fresh scar tissue.

The sight of it brought tears to her eyes, and for once she did not try to hide them.

"Do not give up on him yet, Princess, for he is stronger than you think," Lifeline said, never breaking his concentration. "I'm afraid I must ask you to step back, however, else your life force may interfere with the procedure."

Victus approached with a respectful dip of his head. "Your Highness, if you'd join me outside? I imagine there is much you do not understand. I will try to answer any questions you have." He saw her hesitate still, reluctant to leave Tercio's side. "I have been here with him since we arrived. I want to be here if -- when -- he awakens, truly I do, but there is nothing more we can do for him right now. Come, you will only make yourself worry."

Regretfully, Celestia let go of Tercio's arm and touched her horn to his forehead. I am here for you, she thought, not knowing if he could even hear her in his mind.

With a final look she turned and left, her heart heavy. She'd been so busy for the last week, so caught up in the war and the upcoming holiday preparations, that she'd hardly given him more than an occasional thought. Now, she realized, she might never speak with him again.

"Tercio and I's mother and father are on their way," Victus said, leading Celestia to a side room where they could speak in privacy. "Once it was clear that Tercio had to be moved to Canterlot, Father decided it would not be fair to keep Mother in the dark. Centurion Spring Hearts, a Guard officer, agreed to fly them out here as soon as he could find another sky wagon. I imagine it won't be long before they arrive." He motioned for Celestia to sit on a pile of cushions, and took his place across from her. "I told Father everything I know, but I fear Mother would not take the news well. She is probably a distraught mess even now."

It was quiet for a time before Celestia finally found the strength to speak. "Victus...what happened?"

Victus frowned. "If I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure, even now. But I will try to explain to the best of my ability." He drew a deep breath, watching the sun slowly rising over the mountains, and prepared to tell the tale for the second time that morning. Even to his own ears, it was still unbelievable.

Three hours came and went before Roughshod and Glimmering Grace finally arrived, still flecked with snow from the ride over. Celestia stood aside as Victus helped his mother down from the wagon and adjusted the scarf around her neck, then gave her a comforting embrace as she bawled into his shoulder.

"Princess," Roughshod said, briefly dropping to his knees before her. On his back he carried a bag with Victus' discarded armor and cloak. Victus hadn't had time to retrieve them before leaving with Tercio.

"It's been a long time, Roughshod. Please, stand, there is no need for such formalities."

"Thank you. What's it been, five years? Somethin' like that." He looked over his shoulder at his wife, who was only now able to make her way over. "I couldn't just leave her at home, not when our boy's hurt like this. How's he doing?" he said quietly, stepping to the side for privacy. "If he's in bad shape, I don't want Grace to see him."

Celestia maintained a hopeful smile for the sake of the aging mare, just in case she was watching them. "Outwardly he's fine. They've washed the blood and grime from his body, and he has no open wounds, but he's still bleeding internally. Our finest apothecary is using his magic to mend and heal Tercio as best he can, but...I honestly don't know."

"Suppose it's better than the alternative. I'm guessing Victus told you about what happened?"

"Yes he did," Celestia said. "We always knew something like this could happen, but to see it going to such an extreme is beyond anything I'd imagined. I still don't understand why the corruption waited so long to reveal itself."

Roughshod could only shrug. "I'm just glad he's alive, Princess. I, uh, I had to tell Grace what happened. I couldn't just lie to her face. I spared her the full details, of course, but she knows he tried to take his own life to stop that...that thing inside him."

"Using the sword I gave him," she said, saddened at the thought of Luna's personal blade sacrificing itself to save Tercio. It had been bittersweet to hear Victus tell his story; even though Tercio was alive, it was one less thing she had left to connect her to Luna. Another piece of her sister had died.

"I'm not one to believe in destiny, but it seems to me that our boy wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You've saved him yet again."

"I hope so," she said solemnly. Grace was just approaching the medicae building doors when Celestia bowed to her and smiled warmly. She looked tired and weakened by worry. "Thank you for coming, Grace. I know Tercio would want you to--"

"You should have told him!" the elderly mare snapped between sobbing gasps, placing a hoof over her chest. "We should have told him! All this time we've been hiding the truth from our boy, and look where it's got us!"

"Come now, dear, there's no need for that," Roughshod said. "We're all upset by this, but--"

"But nothing! It isn't right, Rough! He...he could die on that table! We could have prevented this if we'd just told him!"

At her side, Victus had a plain look of confusion. "Told him? Told him what?"

Roughshod had been dreading this moment for a long time. How could he even begin to explain? He rubbed his temple with a hoof, carefully choosing his words. "Look, son; we had to keep some things from the both of you. It was for your own good."

"My own good?" he said incredulously. "I watched him die, Father! I held him as the very life drained from his body and his heart stopped! I dragged him through the forest for hours, sure that I'd lost him forever, and you'd dare say that was for my own good?"

"Of course not. I know you're upset, and you have every right to be, but I would ask you not to twist my words so."

Victus paced in place, hardly able to believe what he'd heard. "I knew about the darkness," he said as he approached his father. "Tercio told me about it. And when I told you what had happened, on our way to save him, you remained silent. You...you knew about it all along, didn't you?"

Roughshod cast his gaze at the ground, ashamed. There was no point in hiding it now."...Yes. Your mother and I, we've known since the very first day. So has the Princess. We decided, as adults, that from that day we would do everything in our power to keep Tercio safe, because it would keep you safe as well. But it couldn't last forever."

From behind them, Princess Celestia finally spoke up. "Victus...your brother is very different from the rest of us."

"That is the most obvious thing I've heard all day, Princess," Victus said with a bitter laugh, fully aware he was crossing the line with his words, but not finding it within himself to care at the moment.

"I do not just mean in a physical sense. Haven't you ever wondered why he is the only one of his kind?"

"Of course, but I've always been told he fell from a star -- or has that been a lie as well?"

"Hey, watch your tone with the Princess," Roughshod said as Victus walked off.

"No, it's fine, I know he doesn't mean to be disrespectful," Celestia insisted. She gave Victus a moment to calm himself, letting him walk around the small garden as he muttered to himself. Grace played with her scarf nervously, her eyes reddened by drying tears.

"Princess, we have to tell him. And we have to tell Tercio when he wakes up. There's no going back from this point."

Celestia watched Victus struggling to come to terms with everything that had happened in the last day, her mane billowing in the morning breeze. Thirty-two years ago she'd been in this situation with a younger Roughshod and his wife, with a strange, innocent child wrapped in a blanket lying on the grass before them, and a small colt at their side. All these years later, they still wanted to protect him, to give him a chance at a good life. She owed it to them to be honest with Victus, and, should it come to pass, Tercio.

"Very well. I suppose we couldn't keep it from them forever."

Equestria did not simply stop because of one mare's worries, no matter how important she might have been. There were still meetings to be held, battles to be planned and reviewed, and diplomats to meet and greet.

The day passed slowly for Celestia, cold and bitter as it was. Keeping an optimistic smile and air of confidence, no matter how she truly felt, had become second nature after so many years of practice, but even her advisers could sense that something was wrong. They hadn't asked, far too polite to do so, yet she could see it on their faces as they spoke to her.

Roughshod and Grace had remained in the medicae building for the entirety of the day and into the early night, refusing to leave for longer than it took to eat a quick meal.

Victus had been an entirely different case. When Celestia and his parents had sat him down and told him everything they knew, he had been furious. He'd thrown out harsh words and accusations, and they let him have his anger, for they knew it would soon pass into acceptance. Even still, he had stated that he could not sit idle and wait like the rest of them, and eventually he found a visiting Legion unit to train with for the day. He would return when he was ready, his mother had told Celestia.

It was late in the evening when Stonewall knocked on Celestia's door, interrupting her letter to the griffon Emperor. Wrapping herself in a loose, comfortable shawl, she tugged the door open with her magic and offered a tired smile.

"Hello again, Stonewall," she said.

"Princess," he bowed. "How fares your night?"

Celestia motioned to her writing table. "Busy as usual. At least it keeps me occupied. With all the stress and worry of today's events, it's nice to just sit down and write, even if it is to the ill-mannered Emperor himself."

"Oh I don't know, I'd say you put him in his place last time he came by," Stonewall chuckled. "Anyway, I didn't come by to pester you about stately matters. I thought you'd want to know that Tercio is awake."

Celestia gasped with a hoof to her mouth. "Is he...is he well?"

"He is understandably weak, and likely won't be leaving the medicae quarters for at least a few days, but he's alive. Lifeline tells me he's managed to stop the internal bleeding, and one of his aides even patched up a few scars. Old Tercio will be as good as new, or so I hear."

"That's wonderful news. Have his parents been informed yet?"

"They have. I believe they're with him right now."

A deep exhale of relief felt as if it had lifted a weight from her chest. Tercio was alive.

"I should go see him as quickly as possible. Thank you, Stonewall," she said, blowing out the candles at her desk.

"My pleasure." He stepped aside and allowed her to pass, but as she stepped by he said, "You'll have to excuse me for saying so, but as someone who has dedicated his life to protecting you, I feel it must be spoken: if you choose to stay close to Tercio, you may end up regretting it. You, of all ponies, should be aware that he can be dangerous."

Celestia stopped, feeling the warmth of her face flushing in sudden realization. Did Stonewall know about her feelings for Tercio? "I...appreciate your concern, my friend, but I assure you I trust Tercio as much as any of my Praetorians. He has already saved my life once, after all."

"As you say," he answered simply. "As always, I bow to your judgment. I won't keep you any longer."

Celestia did not look back as she trotted down the marble hallway, but even still, she could feel Stonewall's gaze. Nothing seemed to slip by him after all these years.

She shook her head and shoved the matter away. It could wait until later. For now, there was only one person she wanted to see.

Grace threw her forelegs around Celestia as soon as she came close. "Oh, thank the gods, Princess, he's alive! My Tercio is alive!" The old mare wept, but no longer in sadness, as she embraced Celestia. The Princess ran a comforting hoof over her back and smiled to Roughshod.

"I'm so glad to hear it," Celestia said, offering a small cloth for Grace to dry her eyes with.

"It's only been a short time since he awoke. Sounds like the apothecary did a damn fine job patching our boy up," Roughshod said.

"Lifeline is the best in Canterlot. I knew he could do it." Truth be told, Celestia had feared for Tercio's life just as much as anyone else, but she was expected to be the stalwart leader at all times. It wore on her like she could never put into words. Losing Tercio would have been a devastating tragedy. "Have you already been in to see your son?"

"We just left. He's not said much, he's so weak right now. It's a miracle he can find the strength for words at all," Grace answered. "He did ask to see you, though."

Celestia's heart fluttered, and she had to choke back a tear. It felt like it had been so long since they'd seen each other. Perhaps now they would be able to make up for lost time and enjoy the company of one another, at least once he was fully recovered.

"Did you tell him the truth?"

Roughshod shook his head. "Not yet. Actually, we were discussing it, and we thought it would be best if you told him. You'd be able to explain more than we could, since you actually lived it. Hopefully he'll take it better than Victus."

In her rush to see Tercio, Celestia had almost forgotten about his brother. She hadn't seen him since mid-day. "I don't suppose he's come back yet?"

"Afraid not. That boy is as bull-headed as he is tenacious. He'll come around, though. It'll just take some time. I'd be surprised if we don't see him before the night is over."

A weary Lifeline stepped out from Tercio's operating room and shut the door behind him. When he saw Celestia he saluted her with his hoof over his chest, the two aides at his side doing the same. "The patient will see you now, Princess. I suggest you keep it a short visit, he needs to rest and regain his strength. He should be fine on his own for the night, but I will have Minty Dream stationed one room over should he need anything."

"I cannot thank you enough, Lifeline." Celestia dipped her head in respect. "You are truly an asset to this great city and Equestria. Please, enjoy your night, you've earned it."

Once she was alone, Celestia made the short walk down the hallway to Tercio's room. Gently she nudged the door open. Inside, Tercio was lying on his side in a too-small bed, facing away from the door, supported from his knees down by an impromptu stack of pillows. Thick bandages were wrapped around his bare torso, and he struggled with a scratchy blanket that would not go past his waist. Only a few candles remained for light, placed on a nightstand just beyond arm's reach.

Celestia approached him carefully, not wanting to startle him.

"I could use...another blanket..." he said weakly as he heard hoofsteps behind him. Celestia searched for one, finding it sitting in a corner on a shelf. She floated it over and draped it across his chest, then placed a hoof on his shoulder. Surprised, Tercio turned his head. His eyes went wide at the sight of her.

"...Celestia?" he asked in a weak voice, as if she were an illusion.

She stared at him for a moment, meeting his gaze in a wordless expression of love and relief, and slowly she met him in a warm, comforting kiss. His hand brushed the hair from her face and caressed her cheek, and as they pulled away from one another she saw the soft smile that she had so fallen for. For a long moment she touched her forehead against his, and no words were needed. After all the worry and doubt, they were reunited.

"I've missed you," he said just above a whisper.

"I've missed you too, my love." She kissed the back of his hand and smiled in elation. "We've really got to stop meeting in hospital beds like this."

Tercio laughed quietly and clutched his chest. "That is a good idea. Your bed would be...far more comfortable."

Even in his current state, he could still make her giggle like a filly. She ran a hoof through his hair and kissed him once more, letting his lips linger against her. "We'll discuss it when you're better," she said teasingly. Tercio pulled the blanket down to show his bandages that were still pink from his surgery.

"It could be some time, I'm afraid. The apothecary -- Lifeline, I believe -- says it could be a few weeks."

Celestia grasped his hand between her hooves. "Don't you worry about that. Take as much time as you need to recover." She wiped a tear from her eye and said, "I was afraid I'd lost you."

"You did, for a while. Father told me about what happened with Victus. I still can't believe it." He looked ashamed to say such a thing. "I've brought all this sadness and worry to everyone I love, all for a selfish reason. Victus, Mother and Father, you..."

"It was hardly selfish to want to rid yourself of something that threatened everyone around you, Tercio. There is goodness in you, a purity that not even the darkest of forces can conquer. Nocturne saw that. It chose to save you."

Tercio frowned, pained from the loss of his sword that was so much more. It had been a gift from the mare he loved, a weapon that had seen its owner fall from grace, a one of a kind piece of history, and, at the end, his savior. And now it was gone.

"Father told me what happened. I'm so sorry," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

"Don't be," Celestia answered as she gently touched his chest. "I can think of no more fitting end for my sister's blade than to give itself in sacrifice. It could not defeat the darkness in Luna, but it did in you."

"I hope so. The things I saw, the things I...I felt...when I was between this world and the next...I could not explain them if I tried." He was quiet for a time, then asked, "have you seen Victus come back yet? I would very much like to speak with him. I am alive, thanks in no small part to him."

"I'm afraid he hasn't been seen since this afternoon, but I will have the guards look for him. As soon as he is found, I will make sure he comes to see you," Celestia said.

"Thank you." Tercio pulled the blanket back up to his shoulders and touched his hand to her chest. "It has been a very long day. Will you stay with me until I am asleep?"

Celestia smiled and kissed his forehead, touched by his request. "Of course I will, my love." Content, Tercio rolled onto his side and closed his eyes, clutching her soft foreleg against his shoulder as she began to quietly sing a beautiful song, and let himself drift away to the sound of her voice.