"It is always a pleasant sight to see Canterlot during your time of celebration. The snow and festivities would be envied by any zebra, I am sure."

Elder Mwolan'e kept pace at Celestia's side, craning his neck to see the myriad decorations that had been placed over the weeks to mark Hearth's Warming Eve. Equestria's biggest holiday, it was said, celebrated the unification of the three races under King Argo Navis, long before even the Princess was born. It was a time of great joy, one that not even war and deceit could hope to tarnish. All across the nation, Equestrian citizens exchanged gifts and supped with friends, family and neighbors alike in a week-long run-up to the grand day itself.

On the front lines, soldiers received rations of familiar Hearth's Warming foods. For a short time, at least, they could be comforted by a little slice of home.

Even the Whitetail, so staunch in their resistance and entrenched in their cities, had not attacked since the start of the celebration. Whatever their views of their equine neighbors may have been, the deerfolk were a people who were deeply traditional. Everyone hoped it would last, perhaps none more so than Celestia herself.

Her week had been more of the usual -- negotiations, letters, tactical discussions, and many hours of seeing to Equestrian citizens' needs. It was a small comfort that no one else had had to die for several days, but even that felt hollow at the inevitability of Whitetail's continued aggression.

More than anything, she wished Luna could be at her side. It was the first Hearth's Warming she'd spent by herself, and she knew that it would be many, many years before it was no longer so.

"You are too kind, my friend," she said politely as they stepped through freshly fallen snow. It was a cold, cloudy day over Canterlot, even for one as accustomed to it as herself. She could only wonder how the appointed ruler of Zevran's many tribes managed to hide his shivers. "Hearth's Warming is a wonderful time for us all, no matter who we are or where we come from. I don't suppose I could convince you to stay as a guest of honor for a few days? You'd get to see our day of celebration in all its grandeur."

Mwolan'e laughed, his breaths coming out in wispy clouds. "You are most gracious, Princess. Your offer is quite inviting, but I am afraid I cannot afford to stay more than a day. Zevran's weather is decidedly more...temperate, shall we say, and the beginning of Thatch Season is nearly upon us. My eldest son may be stronger than his father, but he is not quite as patient. And patience is of the utmost importance in many things." He kicked a clump of snow out of his path and shrugged. "Still, a change of scenery is always welcome. Perhaps soon, after your war has ended, I will bring him here to see the snow. He will not believe his eyes."

"I did not start the war, Esteemed Elder, I only wish to see it ended," Celestia reminded him.

"Of course, of course. Forgive me, Princess, for I did not mean to offend."

"It's alright. I would be delighted to meet your son, but I would want him to see us at our best. Let us hope for next year's Hearth Warming to be free from strife."

"It will be," Mwolan'e said confidently. "And then, finally, young Zul'neya will get to meet the 'pony princess' he hears so much about." He smirked and said, "I call him 'young', but he is old enough to have a family of his own. He is a good boy. Strong and cunning. His mother would be so proud, spirits rest her soul."

Celestia watched him draw a spiral over his heart with his hoof and bowed in respect.

"I know she is watching over us, for our crops were very strong this year. That is why I was not hesitant to send some to your soldiers. I trust our supplies have been reaching your stallions?"

"They have indeed, and you'll be pleased to know that your medical stores and foodstuffs have saved many lives. I really cannot thank you enough for all that you've done for us, my friend. This war has depleted our stockpiles to a sometimes dangerous degree, but with your help we are at peak condition once more."

Mwolan'e beamed with approval, his neck rings clinking as he trotted. "That is excellent news! We zebras are not a people of conflict, not anymore, but we also realize that the rest of the world does not often share that view. We offer our support to any who ask."

They stopped at a railing that overlooked the great city below, countless plumes of smoke from fireplaces dotting the snow-covered buildings. Thousands of ponies went about their daily business, unaware of the careful political balancing act that took place above them. It was a game that Celestia had become accustomed to, even excelled at, and only once in a great while did she get the chance to talk with a diplomat as an equal. She wished more leaders were like the zebra at her side.

"The whitetail may think of you as their enemy if they found out about our agreement," she said. Elder Mwolan'e simply shrugged.

"Had they asked, I would have gladly sent supplies to them as well; but they have not, so I don't." He looked up at her, his thick winter clothing obscuring part of his face. "I cannot presume to imagine what it is you are going through, Princess, but it will get better. You are a good soul."

Celestia choked back a tear, both at the sincerity of his words, and at the thought of what she was missing. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I have seen it. Before I came here I consorted with the spirits, in a trance, and they showed me the path ahead. I saw Equestria free of strife, prospering as it always has since the time of your parents. One day, harmony shall be the very thing it is known for."

"When?" she asked simply. She wanted to believe him.

"I do not know. But it will come to pass, Princess. So long as you live, so will Equestria."

Alone in his apothecary-appointed room, Tercio wiped the sweat from his brow with a rough cloth and sat on the edge of his cot, his worn tunic resting beside him as he took in deep lungfuls of air. Lying in bed for nearly a week had taken its toll on his body, and his usual fitness and stamina had been sapped by the trauma of near-death. Not even sleep came easy; plagued, as his thoughts were, by glimpses of the evil that had tried to consume him.

Now healthy enough to resume his usual regimen of exercise, he intended to bring himself back to fighting shape. At least, as much as he could while confined to the medicae building. Sprinting from corner to corner, using a pair of stools as impromptu weights, and practicing combat maneuvers with a dull fruit knife wasn't the same as sparring with other soldiers or running through the palace grounds, but it would do for now.

He ran his fingers over the uneven scar on his chest and frowned. So much worry and drama he'd caused for everyone around him, and for what? Because he wasn't strong enough to control himself, to resist the thing that had resided within him? Plunging Nocturne into himself had been an act of desperation, and if Victus hadn't saved him...

He still could not believe what Victus had told him. Had he really become some sort of vessel for Nocturne's will, caught in a place between life and death? It was all so hard to believe. But then, he probably wouldn't have believed that someone could host a physical embodiment of violence and hatred had he not lived it himself. The world was a stranger place than he could have imagined. How quickly things had changed in the last year.

For now, he would put those thoughts behind him. He was still a Praetorian, and no amount of excuses or introspective would save him from the verbal lashing Stonewall would give him if he wasn't at peak performance when he returned to duty. With a deep exhale he pushed himself up and took on a fighting stance, throwing punches at the air, imagining the faces of whitetail enemies with every jab. He'd be prepared for them, wounds or not.

Within a scant few minutes he'd become so immersed in his exercises that he didn't notice the tall, regal figure that stood in the doorway. Celestia leaned against the door jamb and watched him with a mix of amusement, adoration and pride; despite what had happened, Tercio remained committed. It was the very thing she'd seen in him the day they first spoke, and she found it wonderful.

It didn't hurt that his physique was strangely alluring, different though it was from everyone else. A lack of a coat made his musculature stand out, especially in his legs and torso, as he dodged and moved with precision. It was the first time she'd seen him without at least a tunic or formal toga, stripped down, as he was, to a simple undergarment to hide his modesty. Perhaps she could allow another moment or two to pass before she made herself kno--

"Hello, Princess," Tercio suddenly said. Celestia tried to hide a startled jump, quickly composing herself so that she was fully standing once more. Judging by his wry smile, she hadn't done a very good job of it. It took a few seconds for her to realize she had yet to tuck her wings back in. "Forgive me for breaking your...concentration," he said teasingly, laughing at her accompanying blush. "Enjoying the show?"

"I-I came by to check on you. I wanted to see how you were holding up," Celestia answered as unwaveringly as possible, clearing her throat nervously. How ridiculous she felt! Over four hundred years of practice apparently amounted to nothing when in the presence of someone attractive.

"I have been better, but I have been worse, too," Tercio said, grabbing a cloth to wipe the sweat from himself. "Forgive me for my informal attire, I was not expecting company, though I cannot complain." He leaned in and added, "neither can you, apparently." At that moment he decided that Celestia was indescribably adorable when she was flustered. No doubt she would have objected to him saying such a thing aloud. "The apothecary says I should be healthy enough to rejoin the Praetorians tomorrow. It will be good to return to duty, both for my mind and my body. These last few days have been taxing, to say the least."

Celestia smiled warmly once she'd regained her composure. "That's wonderful news. Worrying about your well-being has occupied my mind often since your return." She kissed his cheek and said, "Please promise me you'll stop returning to Canterlot with sword wounds, for there are only so many times a scar can be considered attractive before it starts to become ridiculous."

"I'll do my best, though I make no guarantees," Tercio replied, then touched the recent scar on his chest. "I'd prefer not to have this one, but it's not as if I can will it away. I can only hope to avoid adding to it. The life of a Praetorian is fraught with danger --in my case, from inside as well as out."

Celestia placed a hoof to his chest. "I know, but it doesn't make it any easier."

"Nothing worth fighting for ever is," Tercio said, brushing her neck with his fingertips. "Do the others know about what happened to me? Does Stonewall?"

"He does, but we decided it would be best to keep the truth of the matter from your fellow Praetorians. You may tell them if you wish, but it is up to you, and you alone. As far as they know, you were asked to assist in training a local Guard unit, the 18th."

"I see," he said. "I'll consider telling them at some later date, but it's only recently I've started earning their trust again. Nevermind my brother! The torment I've put him through as of late..."

"Victus would not despise you for what you've done, Tercio," Celestia reassured him. "It was his dedication that ultimately saved you."

"I know, and I'm infinitely thankful, but I still regret what he had to see. He returned to his unit a few days ago, but before he left he seemed different somehow. Angry, I think. He would not explain why."

Celestia knew exactly what had been eating away at Victus since that first morning, when his parents had revealed to him the truth they'd fought so hard to keep secret for so many years. How Tercio would react, she could only speculate.

"Victus is a proud stallion. Perhaps he could not bear the thought of what had nearly happened to you. In any case, take all the time you need before returning to your unit. And don't worry about what they'll think; they'll trust you, because you've proven yourself time and again." These days, Celestia lamented, trust was something that was hard to come by. Soon, she might very well lose his. The thought of it left a sour taste in her mouth and twisted her stomach into knots.

"Is something wrong?" Tercio asked as he stared into her pink eyes.

"No, I've just been scared of losing you," she said comfortingly. Tercio put his strong arms around her and kissed her with a sincerity she'd not felt since his return, and for a wonderful, lingering moment in time she was without concern or doubt.

"You'll not lose me so long as I have any say. I swear it."

She hoped he was right. The love and dedication in his voice was evident, and he'd always treated her with nothing but respect; not only as his superior, but as the mare he'd fallen for, his confidant. She worried that, after today, he might not feel the same way.

"Would you care to join me for a walk?" she asked cheerfully. "You must grow weary of being confined to this building, I would imagine," she said.

Tercio looked around his room and said, "if it meant I wouldn't have to see another potion bottle, I'd gladly clean the palace store room if you asked me to."

Celestia giggled at the thought. It felt so rare to simply act casual with someone else, so much of her life consumed by pomp and formality as it was. "I was hoping you'd agree.Though...you might want to put on something warmer. It's quite cold out, and you are not so well equipped for the weather as the rest of us."

"I could always rely on you to keep me warm," Tercio suggested.

"Somehow I doubt it's your loins that need to be kept warm, my dear. I'd argue there's too much heat going that way already. Perhaps if you spent more time coming up with better vague attempts at occupying my bed...?"

"Ouch," Tercio laughed. "You wound me, Princess."

"You poor thing," Celestia said dramatically with a hoof over her chest. "Now come, a bit of fresh air would do you good. I'll be outside when you're ready."

For the first time since his arrival, Tercio was free to take a deep lungful of cold, clean air. Compared to the musty, heavy smell of the medicae building, it was like standing atop the highest mountain in Equestria. Snow crunched under his winter boots and caught the scattered sunlight of mid-day, and from his vantage point he could see the business quarter of Canterlot going about its daily routine, its citizens' spirits seemingly unfazed by the conflict that raged so far away. In a way, it was comforting to know that the efforts of soldiers like himself had managed to keep most of the reality of warfare squarely where it belonged -- away from Equestria proper.

"Feeling better?" Celestia asked as he approached, a white and gold winter outfit hanging loosely from her body in sheets of soft fabric. The edges glittered and sparkled like her mane and tail, and for a moment Tercio found himself awestruck, as if he'd never seen her before.

"More than I can say. I'd almost forgotten what it's like to see the sun..."

"Good. Then we'll enjoy it together." Celestia smiled brightly, and with Tercio at her side she began to follow the winding path that would take them through the royal gardens. "Is this truly the first time you've left the building in nearly a week?"

"It is! The apothecary has done a fine job of stitching me back together, as it were, although his bedside manner could use a little work. He is apparently a firm believer in keeping patients such as myself away from the others, as if I am likely to spread some sort of pox," Tercio said.

"He's just being cautious. Your situation is quite unique, though I think we can safely say that you're recovering remarkably well." Celestia looked at his chest for emphasis. "It is not every day that one is brought back from the dead, or something close to it. In fact, I cannot think of a single time this has happened in all of Equestria's history."

Tercio rubbed his scar nervously. "I am either gifted with exceptional luck, or exceptional misfortune, it would seem. I would not wish what I have been through on anyone."

"At least you're alive, my love," Celestia said, kissing him on the cheek. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something about that." Tercio looked over at her curiously. "I've heard what happened from Roughshod, as well as Victus, but it still leaves me with unanswered questions. I know it's a difficult thing to ask, but, if you're comfortable with it, would you be able to tell about the ordeal as you saw it?" When he hesitated to answer, Celestia pushed onward. "No one would know better than yourself, and if it helps shed light on your situation, then I can't imagine it would do anything but help."

"The ordeal," he repeated with a short, humorless laugh. "I suppose that's one way to put it. I couldn't possibly have explained what happened to my parents before they returned to Summervale, but if you think it'll help, then I'll tell you everything I know."

"Thank you," Celestia said, relieved. She could only imagine what kind of traumatic memories would linger within him for the coming months, or even years. Such things were sadly commonplace among soldiers, and none of them had had to face what Tercio had faced.

"Right. I don't believe I've told you everything that happened before I left..."

As far as she knew, Tercio's last encounter with the dark force inside him had been during the fight with Lacertus, the assassin that had nearly taken her life. She was shocked to find out that it had surfaced twice more in combat -- once during training in the mountains, and soon after during the whitetail ambush in the woods. He had not wanted to alarm her, he emphasized, so he had kept it to himself. And besides that, it had appeared that he'd learned to control it to some extent.

That line of thinking turned out to be tragically wrong. A discussion with his brother had turned into an attempt to rid himself of the "darkness" once and for all, or at least negate its influence, but it was strong in the ways of the arcane, far more than he'd witnessed prior to that moment. Perhaps, he speculated, it sensed it was in danger and finally revealed itself as more than just a blood-thirsty state of mind.

When it did so, Nocturne -- the very sword that had watched its previous owner fall to the corruption of evil -- had placed a very clear image within his mind, one that was at once terrible in its finality, and enthralling in its optimism. Nocturne would use its very power to destroy the entity. And so, with only a moment's hesitation and a tearful farewell to his brother, Tercio had plunged the blade into his own body.

The pain, he said, was beyond description, and as the life drained from his body he feared that he had made a terrible mistake.

And then came the blackness. The impossibly dark, unending void of nothingness that he'd found himself in. It was not a place of death, Tercio explained, but of the mind.

"It was as if I was trapped within myself. I could feel myself moving, though I had no form, and shortly after I became aware of the presence that had sought to consume me. It was so powerful, and I thought it to be everywhere at once. I was convinced it would take away the last remnants of my being -- and then I saw the most brilliant, pure light, like the sun condensed into a single point. It was Nocturne."

Though she had seen and experienced many things in her long years, Celestia had a hard time wrapping her mind around such a thing. Tercio had been lost within himself, and the living spirit of Luna's sword had appeared before him? It was all so difficult to imagine. She urged him to continue.

"But not even Nocturne was strong enough on its own. The darkness, it surrounded me and battled with the light, like two colossal beasts of pure magic. It was at this time, I believe, that Victus had considered me dead, and dragged me through the forest." Tercio was quiet for a long time after that, tears welling in his eyes. He truly regretted everything he'd put Victus, and everyone else, through. His voice faltered as he continued. "At some point, Victus tried to remove Nocturne from my body, and that was when he was drawn in with me."

From his tortured point of view, deep within his own subconscious, Tercio had all but given up on trying to resist. Even Nocturne's great power had failed to keep the evil away, and he had waited for the last remnant of his soul to be devoured. But then, by some great miracle, Victus had appeared in the distance, a white speck against the infinite night. Nocturne had found a vessel for its will, filling Victus with great power and sense of purpose, and for what seemed to be many hours Tercio felt his brother's presence grow stronger, more confident. Magical spells, their complexity and power unrivaled by anything he'd witnessed, flowed from Victus' incorporeal form like water from a great river.

"I spoke with him about it, briefly, before he left," Tercio said. The royal gardens were caked in a layer of snow, and all but the evergreen trees and magical plants had withered. He tore a small twig from a nearby fir tree and began to remove its needles, a nervous act of comfort carried over from his younger years. "I do not think Victus remembers much of what happened, perhaps for the best. Or it could be that he simply does not wish to speak of it. Either way, it was through his efforts, and those of Nocturne, that the darkness was finally destroyed, or so I hope. I have not felt it since. And even if it does come back, I no longer have Luna's sword to protect me."

Having been silent for most of his explanation, Celestia placed a hoof on his back and said, "Nocturne gave itself to protect you, because it knew you were good. You were worth saving, Tercio, and were Luna still here she would say the same thing."

"I know, but it does not make it easier. It was a gift from you, a cherished piece of your family, and now it's gone because of something I had no idea even existed until several months ago. The gods have a fickle sense of humor," he said and shook his head in disappointment.

Celestia stopped at the edge of the garden, where a row of sparkling bushes gave way to a low wall that overlooked the city. To her right, beyond the front gates of the palace, a towering spire glimmered with reflected sunlight from the scattered clouds. She considered it for a long moment as Tercio peered over the edge, watching a line of armored ponies trot to their posts. Much had happened since that first incident in the training circle, and since that day Tercio's life hadn't been the same. No longer could he focus solely on his duties; now he had to contend with the idea of some thing eating away at him from inside. It had brought pain and suffering to not only him, but those around him. It had threatened to consume him, to twist the good man that he was into something far more sinister and dangerous. And it had very nearly cost him his life.

He deserved to know the truth. Celestia had dreaded this moment for over three decades, had done her best to keep it hidden. She could not justify secreting it away any more, not after Grace's heartfelt pleas upon seeing her adopted son struggling for hold on to life.

"Tercio?" she asked quietly.

"Yes?" Tercio looked into her eyes and saw the uncertainty within them, immediately concerned. "Is something wrong?" Celestia hesitated to answer.

"Have you ever wondered where you came from? Why you're the only one of your kind?"

"Of course, many times," he answered suspiciously. "But, as you've said yourself, I fell from a star late one evening. It is the will of the gods that I am here, though for what purpose, and why they cursed me with this dark magic, I do not know." He paused. "Why do you ask?"

"Because...because there is something you need to know. Many things, in fact. Your parents and I talked about it while you were being operated on, and it was decided that it would be best if I was the one to show you."

Tercio felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. "Show me what, exactly?"

"The truth."

There was not much said while Tercio kept at Celestia's side. The winding path to one of the tallest spires in Canterlot took them past the royal gardens and beyond the castle's training pits, the silence broken by nothing more than the crunching of snow and the quiet clack of hobnailed winter boots on stone tiles. Occasionally he would look to his superior, his love, his Princess, and see her attempt to comfort him with a half-hearted smile or a few quiet words of encouragement, but such things felt hollow compared to the frantic streams of worries and thoughts that occupied his mind.

For his entire life he'd been told that he was the benefactor of extraordinary luck, a child who fell from the stars and was taken in by the kind, loving family he'd grown up with. Had it all been a lie? Celestia had promised him the truth, whatever that may be, but he fretted that he may not want to know at all. Yet he knew that if he didn't take her offer he would spend the rest of his life wondering "what if", and that was no way to live at all.

Whatever you might learn, it does not take away from who you are, he told himself. The times he'd spent with his adoptive family, the laughter and tears, the nights huddled near the fire as their father regaled them with tales of his youth, the sweet taste of his mother's honey cakes, all of it was his to keep.

Yet as he approached the spiraling tower, its golden, curved steeple shining like a beacon in the scattered sunlight he could not help but feel a deep sense of dread, like a great stone had been pressed into his chest. One way or another, he would return a different man.

No guards stood watch over the entrance, for few ponies ventured to the old building these days. Tercio had heard what was contained within its walls, of course -- the collected history of Equestria, countless shelves filled with books and scrolls dating back to the time before unification. He was surprised to find it impeccably clean, free of the dust and grime that should have accumulated with the passage of time. Whoever was in charge of this place obviously cared a great deal for it.

"The Royal Canterlot Library," Celestia said, finally breaking the silence. "I used to come here far more often, during my younger years. I had an insatiable lust for knowledge, and my parents were only too happy to let me explore its expanses. When the castle was finished, this was the first place I said I wanted to go."

A set of tall, heavy doors stood before them, inscribed in ancient Equestrian hieroglyphics. Above the writing, a beautifully carved night sky gave way to scenes of mountains, rivers and fields of wheat. A stylized sun, somewhat similar to Celestia's, shone with brilliant rays, casting light on the lands of pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony.

"Be it forever known that thine land of Equestria turneth not away the good soul; neither race, nor belief, nor blade of combat shall sunder Her in twain, for so long as we remain fast in stead, so too shall the principles held dearest to Her founding. By these truths we strive, that we may not falter."

Celestia ran her hoof along the door as she read, smiling as she reached the end. "My mother wrote those words, many centuries ago. She believed that knowledge was the basis of all good things, and so she dedicated this library to preserving the history of Equestria. You may have been to the library in the center of Canterlot itself, but this place is unique. Far older."

On either side of the entrance, two figures reared up with flowing manes and long horns, their wings outstretched in a grand display. "I miss you," the Princess said quietly, bowing her head and offering silent words for their passing. Then she turned to Tercio, a new resolve evident in her expression. "Come. We must go where few have set hoof."

The great doors swung open with a creaking of wood, giving way to the towering expanse that seemed to be never ending. Everywhere Tercio looked there was another stack of scrolls, another chest full of documents. Countless piles were arranged in ancient Equestrian, lining the walls and filling nearly every available inch of free space with everything from shipping manifests to military orders, grain counts to astronomical observations. More information than one could conceivably read in a single lifetime. The air smelled musty and worn, but not stale, and the wooden shelves were, to the last, in a fine state of repair.

The Princess led Tercio to the back of the main hall, then up a set of spiraling stairs. A large mosaic, made of colored tiles and shaped gemstones, took up an entire wall and cast a multi-colored glow on the surrounding area. A younger Celestia, with a pink mane, was depicted raising her forelegs to the sky, the sun rising above her head opposite her sister, whose shining moon was praised by masses of gathered ponies.

"My father had that created to celebrate the first time Luna and myself learned to successfully raise the sun and moon," Celestia explained as Tercio found himself entranced by its beauty. "Controlling such power is not something that comes naturally, even for someone with such an understanding of magic as myself. There was a brief period of a few months where the sun and moon would rise and fall irregularly across the land. One minute it would be dark, then the next it would be mid-day. Quite a few farmers were confused, I can tell you that."

The spiraling stairs seemed to go on forever, passing floor after floor, until finally, and mercifully, they ended at a nearly featureless wall near the top of the tower.

"Here we are," she said, taking a moment to catch her breath. Tercio felt around for a door handle, a hinge, a seam in the wall -- something he could use to get inside. He found only a flat slab of polished marble and stone."This is a very special door, one accessible only to members of our family." Celestia lowered her head and focused her magic, a wavering cloud of sparkling yellow traveling down her horn and spreading over the wall. A small hole surrounded by arcane symbols appeared in the center, and she carefully inserted her horn into it as she whispered a phrase to herself. There was a loud series of heavy clicks, a grinding of stone on stone, and in seconds the wall split down the middle to reveal a small, windowless room.

Tercio stepped inside, finding it pitch dark except for the light coming from the doorway. Celestia followed, lighting a series of magical, cold-flame torches along the walls that sparked to life with a sound like distant wind chimes. Their glow revealed the room to be surprisingly bare, with only a single table at one end and a series of marked, oaken chests stacked beside it.

And then he looked up, his jaw falling open as the ceiling twinkled with a thousand points of light against a midnight sky, representations of stars beyond number flitting across in seconds.

"What is this place?" Tercio asked, reaching up to touch the false night. The stars swirled around his fingertips like water in a stream, returning to their paths when he pulled away.

"The best-kept secret in Equestria. When Canterlot was nearing completion, my father thought there should be a place we could keep information that only a very select few would ever know about." In the corner a small stack of chests, roughly the size of a bread box, leaned against the wall. Each was marked with a different wax seal, the top-most adorned with Celestia's mark. "The ceiling was Luna's idea, a relatively recent addition. Not being able to see the night sky was something she always found distressing, so she recreated it here," the Princess said with a touch of sadness. A simple, purple cushion was levitated from a wall over to the table. "Please, sit."

Now more curious than ever, Tercio did as he was asked, sitting cross-legged across from the small chests. He could only wonder how old they were, and what secrets they held. Equestria's history was a long and storied one, full of infighting and intrigue, unification and expansion; what had been withheld from the history scrolls?

Celestia closed the door as she sat down beside him, then pulled the box from the top, dragging with it a small cloud of dust that quickly dissipated. For a time she held onto it firmly, opening her mouth to speak but unsure of what to say.

"When you were brought in with life-threatening injuries several days ago, your mother was very distraught," she said quietly. "Not only because of your condition, but because she felt that we could have avoided any of it happening in the first place if we'd just told you the truth. I do not know if it would have been so simple as she thinks, though I was not about to argue with a grieving mother. Your father did manage to calm her down, at least, which am I grateful for.

"Roughshod and Grace are wonderful ponies, and the turmoil they must have felt over seeing you on that apothecary table must have been immeasurable, but still...it was not an easy decision. We had to tell Victus, due to what he'd seen and what he'd experienced. That is why he could hardly stand to come around for most of the time he was here, waiting for you to recover. Please do not hold it against him."

"I would never hold a grudge against my own brother," Tercio said firmly, "though I am somewhat perturbed that I am the last to know the 'truth', as you call it, when it is I that has to fight against it."

Celestia frowned sympathetically. "I know, and I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but you must understand: this has been not just for your own good, but the good of those you know and love. Were Luna still here, she would say the same thing...though perhaps not as gently. Since that day, I've spent many hours searching through the archives for anything I could find that might shed light your situation. Everything I've found is contained right here." With a deep breath Celestia passed the box to Tercio, using a small portion of her power to unlock the seal with a soft click. Before he could open it, she placed a golden shoe on his hand and met his gaze with her deep, pink eyes that he found so entrancing.

"Tercio...once you go down this path, there is no turning back. You are going to find some things that may be deeply upsetting, that you might wish you'd never read, but I want to make something very clear to you: nothing, no matter its import, can take away from the life that you have made for yourself. The love of your mother and father, of your brother, the hardships they've endured to see that you grew up healthy and happy, despite how different you were; the dedication and countless hours of hard work you've committed to bettering yourself as a soldier and as a man -- those will remain with you. Nothing can change that."

She leaned in and kissed him lovingly, her breath faltering with the fear that she might lose him.

"The love that I feel for you is as genuine as a warm day, and so much brighter. We're so different, but with you I feel a connection I have not known in many, many years. I love you, Tercio." With a final kiss she rested her head against his and spoke at a whisper, fighting back tears. "I love you. I always will."

Tercio was very close to rethinking his decision, and he considered pushing the box away and forgetting it even existed. But the truth had to be known, and not just for his own sake. "I love you too, Celestia. No matter what I may come to know." He placed his hand against her chest and felt her unsteady breaths, looking into her eyes as if, somehow, it might be the last time.

"I realize it is a foolish thing to ask, but I feel I must: are you sure you want to know these things?" Celestia said.

For a moment Tercio hesitated, the weight of the moment bearing down on him like a crushing stone, yet still he nodded.

"If there is a chance to know what has caused this darkness to appear, and what I can do to make sure it never comes back, then yes." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he brushed the seam with his hand. "I have to do this."

"Very well." Celestia removed her hoof. "Go ahead, then. I will try to answer any questions you have, I promise."

Not sure of what to expect, Tercio braced himself as he pushed the lid back. Sitting at the top was a small stack of documents, wrapped in unassuming white canvas and sealed with a wax stamp. Beneath that, a pair of scrolls bound in twine. For something that was supposed to be life-changing, it was all so...simple.

"Be careful with them, they are well-worn," Celestia cautioned.

Delicately, then, he pulled the draw string on the first scroll and unrolled it, cocking his head at the strange symbols and images that appeared before him. He'd seen enough Ancient Equestrian to know what it looked like, but he could make neither heads nor tails of it. At the top of the worn page, a striking design of two eyes with some sort of whirlwind between them stared back at him.

"This is the record of an incident from nearly six hundred years ago, well before I was born," the Princess explained. "The text at the top says that it is from a Legate of the Court named Primarius Hapsis, addressed to the personal care and view of King Argo Navis. It is marked 'urgent', and dated as mid Autumn's Reaping, in the 377th year of the First Era. Quite some time ago."

Tercio furrowed his brow at it. "I do not quite understand what such an old scroll has to do with me."

"Patience. I will read the rest for you." Moving it slightly to catch the light better, Celestia began to recite the ancient words. "To my King and High Sovereign of Equestris, First of His Court -- as requested, the report of our recent conflict shall follow. I pray the words find you well.

On the first night of the waxing moon, scouts from the 2nd Pikes descended upon the Great Hollows after hearing word of a conflict that had recently taken place. A servant roused me from my slumber at a dreadful hour, whereupon I was met by a stallion who insisted I come with him. After gathering a small contingent of soldiers I set course to the Great Hollows, coming upon the area in question just before sunrise."

"The Great Hollows?" Tercio asked. "I've never heard of such a place."

"Few have. In antiquity it was a place of great import, a vast cave system that spans an area along what is now Whitetail's western border. I'll explain more in a moment."

Celestia went back to the missive. "From a concealed position we observed a gathering of deerfolk from the Ochrourus Collective -- that's the old name for the deer nation, back when they were still united -- struggling to dig their way through a large pile of rubble. I decided it would be best to speak with the Ochrourians, asking Sentius to translate for me. However, the deer became enraged once I asked what had happened, and attempted to assault us with their crystalline weapons. Combat broke out, during which we lost two killed and four wounded. The deer fled after taking twice our number in losses. A young, wounded buck pleaded for us to spare him, and offered information in return. When asked about their intentions, he told us that he and the others had been attempting to recover some sort of magical font."

She stopped and turned to him. "Back then we were just discovering these places, called ley lines -- locations of vast power that tapped into the arcane forces that surround us in all things. A skilled magic user on his or her own might be able to, say, teleport or predict an opponent's movements, but with the power of a ley line they could accomplish incredible things. Soothsaying, conjuring storms, even the manipulation of life itself. Obviously these places became highly sought after, and many lives across all nations were lost in the rush to claim them. Few ley lines survive now, their stores depleted, which is why most have never heard of them."

Tercio said nothing, only nodding slightly in response, and Celestia soon continued. She saw the words that were coming, and for a time she hesitated to speak them, carrying on only by Tercio's urging.

"Apparently, the schism between redtail and whitetail had grown to the point that civil war was inevitable, and the whitetail were looking to gain an advantage over their cousins. If the buck was telling the truth, then they have found a way to open a 'tear' between our world and another, fantastic though it may sound.

Though I find it hard to believe, he then told us tale of a tall, bipedal creature with dark skin that had been pulled through this tear, one clad in crude skins and wielding a sort of spear and hide shield." Tercio felt the color drain from his face. "The whitetail attempted to communicate with the creature, but it was frightened and confused, and it soon lashed out at them. Losses were heavy, numbering in the dozens, for the creature was nearly immune to magic and moved with the speed of a trained warrior. Only after reinforcements arrived was it finally vanquished, but not before it destroyed the place of ritual. The subsequent cave-in buried it and the site. At our request, the buck has created a drawing of the creature, enclosed with this missive. More information will follow as we find it."

It was then that Tercio realized a second page was stuck to the first, held together with a spot of wax. He almost didn't want to see it, for somehow he knew exactly what awaited him. Even more so, the scroll had mentioned, almost casually, that there was another place, another world, far removed from his own. What was it, and why had he never heard of such a thing before?

He had to know for sure before he made any accusations. With a delicate touch he pulled back the second page, his hands shaking slightly and his skin feeling cold with perspiration. He looked to Celestia, but for what, he did not know. He hoped she would say there was nothing to worry about, that his fears were unfounded, but she simply pursed her lips and nodded for him to continue.

Taking the page before him, he felt the breath catch in his throat like a handful of sand. There, before his eyes, was a figure standing on two muscular legs, uncovered except for furred cloth around its loins and ankles. It brandished a broad-headed spear over its head in a menacing display, with a curved shield in front of it.

Not just a creature, but a man. Another human.

The scrolls fell to the floor as Tercio felt his head spin, a terrible sickness overtaking him at the realization. It was the only thing he could think about, and when he shut his eyes he could see that man, that warrior, staring at him from the ancient parchment.

"I'm not the first," he said with a strained voice, shaking his head as if he could make it go away. "I'm not the first human in these lands, yet all my life I have been told that I am! Why...why didn't you tell me such a thing?" he asked, not able to look at Celestia. "There is a whole other world out there, somewhere, with my people, and no one thought I would want to know?"

"I'm sorry," Celestia said sincerely. "I know this is hard to take in all at once, but you must understand: it was not that simple. There were....complications. I am hardly in a position to ask anything of you, Tercio, but I beg of you: please read the others. Things will become clearer. I promise."

Disgust crawled through him like a bundle of twisting vines. "I did not actually fall from a star, did I?" He gave a contemptuous laugh. "Fell from a star. A story one would tell a child, and I believed it all this time."

Although he felt sick to his stomach, Tercio took a deep breath to calm himself and removed the next item from the box: an old map, labeled "2E 008" -- the eighth year of Celestia and Luna's joint rule -- marked with the same, strange symbol of two feminine eyes and a vortex or whirlwind of some sort. To the north, a red line denoted the territory of Whitetail, with a white line representing all of Equestria's lands. Cross hatches showed continued areas of conflict, places where the two had fought over valuable resources of magical and industrial natures. Spread throughout were swirls of purple or pink. A quick look at the map legend revealed them to be known ley lines, with purple ones being depleted or unstable.

"Have you ever heard of the 9th Arcane?" Celestia asked.

Tercio shook his head. "No. Should I have?"

"The 9th Arcane is an elite band of Whitetail's strongest magic users, dating back to when they were still part of the Ochrourus Collective. After the split, Whitetail kept it active in order to research powerful spells they could use against the Cervidaen Hegemony -- their redtail cousins -- should they come to blows once more. With the discovery of the ley lines, and the tenacity of the whitetails' drive for greater things, they eventually came across a way to manipulate the barrier between our world and yours. To this day we do not know what methods they used, but given the four centuries it took to recreate them, it must be something extraordinarily taxing."

"Which is why they were fighting Equestria for those places," Tercio guessed. "I can understand that much, but there must be a reason why you wanted me to see this beyond just knowing about where you fought each other."

Celestia pointed to a spot on the eastern side of the map, just beneath an area of rolling hills skirting a forest. "After the first human was pulled into our world, its existence remained almost completely unknown. The whitetail were not exactly eager to share such information, especially since it had resulted in the near extermination of their most powerful unit, and few in Equestria were privy to its existence at all. After all those years, only Luna and I held the knowledge of your people. Or so we thought.

While Equestria was fighting border skirmishes with the whitetail, the 9th Arcane had discovered documents pertaining to the human's brief life and subsequent death in that cave system. We didn't know it at the time, but they'd planned to do so again; this time, with a younger subject, someone no older than a child of seven or eight."

"And they succeeded?"

"Yes, unfortunately. It took years for us to become aware of such a thing, for the whitetail were extremely cautious in keeping him hidden. They trained him to fight and kill ponies, relentlessly, until he was an adult. Eventually a patrol from the 23rd Legion happened upon a band of whitetail magii who were attempting to move between ley line fortifications in secret. There was only one survivor, a scribe, and he offered us a series of vrisalnarii -- crystalline writing plates -- in exchange for his safety."

Tercio looked through the box, expecting to pull out the strange tablets, but nothing like it was to be found.

"Do they exist still? Can I read them?"

"I'm afraid they went missing some time ago, but I can still remember what they said. Luna had brought them to my attention one night, and I studied them intently. According to Whitetail's own research, the human child was difficult to control, even for their best magii. Humans have an innate resistance to magic, as I'm sure you've noticed by now. We are not quite sure why that is. You are also taller, stronger and faster than anyone save the largest of earth ponies, and certainly more than a match for any deer. That, combined with your dexterity, makes you and your kind ideal for combat. The whitetail knew this, and even though they could only take a single human with all of their resources, they considered it to be worth the trouble. A single human had the potential to change the tide of a battle -- or, potentially, that of history itself."

Had he not lived a similar life, Tercio might have found the statement ridiculous. His actions in saving Celestia and the others during the attack on Canterlot, however, spoke to the power of just such an individual.

"As I said," Celestia continued, "the whitetail soon found it difficult to control the human child, so they resorted to something more disturbing than harsh words. According to the tablets, they'd found a way to manipulate the ethereal embodiment of anger, resentment and the darker side of magic. A force I became familiar with not even a year ago, when Luna tried to violently usurp me."

"The darkness," Tercio said quietly, memories of all the times he'd lost himself to its influence flashing before him. "It is truly the same?"

"The evil that overcame Luna was different, far more powerful, for she, herself, was more powerful, but it is not unrelated. It feeds off strength. But whereas Luna accepted it, embraced it willingly and gave herself to it, the human child struggled against it. It existed within him, in his mind and his body, and through trial and error the whitetail found they could control it, and thus, him. That child grew up knowing nothing but pain, hatred and misery, all because the whitetail wanted a weapon of war to use against us."

Tercio twisted his face in plain disgust. "That is not just immoral, it is...evil. How could the Whitetail government condone such a thing?"

"That's just it: they didn't. Most of the leaders in Evinwiir, including the Chancellor and nearly all of the Senate, had no idea he even existed. The 9th Arcane were extremists who operated outside of most laws, meaning that only a select few were aware of the human. They were brilliant in keeping him hidden. As far as the politicians knew, Whitetail was simply vying for control of the resources along the border. And then, one day, the 9th turned that poor child, now a man, loose on Equestria."

Tercio was well aware of his own combat capabilities and of the foes he could carve through, especially if he lost control of himself, and he shuddered to think of what would happen if he were set against his own soldiers -- or worse, civilians.

"So what happened?" he asked.

"I do not think I could tell you properly, and indeed, I could not find any surviving documents from that day. But I can show you."

Tercio furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" The small box was floated from his hands and set on the floor.

"There is a way for alicorns like myself to share knowledge or memories. It is a simple process, but quite draining, and thus I have not done it in many years. I am offering this to you because I want you to know what happened the last time a human was brought to Equestria, and no scroll could possibly do it justice." Celestia chewed on her lip as she thought of a way to properly state what she was feeling. "I must warn you, however, that what you will see may be disturbing. This will not be some glossed-over, second-hoof account of past events."

A chance to experience another human from 200 years past was not something Tercio could ignore. He hoped it would give him some insight into himself, perhaps reveal something about the dark force that had caused him and his family so much grief. There was only one way to find out.

"I am willing, but only if you are sure it will not bring you harm," he said resolutely, sounding more like a soldier than he had all day.

"Always thinking of others, aren't you? I promise you, I will be fine." Celestia gave him a kiss for reassurance, but even as she pulled away she saw him setting his jaw and bracing himself for what might come next. No amount of comforting talk could truly prepare him, and they both knew it. "Very well, then. Close your eyes and clear your thoughts. I am here with you."

Gently she touched the tip of her long, spiraling horn to Tercio's head, a coil of sparkling magic traveling down its length, and she hoped he would feel the same way about her when he awoke.