Chapter fifty seven

A few days later…

Cadance eases down an alcohol soaked cotton ball on to her husband’s temple. Cleansing one of the many cuts and scrapes along his body so it doesn’t get infected. Although for the last couple of days the pink princess has been up tending to all sorts of injured that resulted from the fight, cleaning herself of blood staining her coat, wiping away the tears of those that come in to find their loved ones dead, or on top of all this losing countless hours of sleep considering the fact that due to the last few days. The alicorn is bordering on the line of deliriousness.

Though through all this, she still manages to crack a smile across her face at the sight of seeing her Shining now wincing like a child being treated. “Oh come now, was that really so bad?” Cadance puts the blood stained ball in the trash and takes out a needle and thread in her magical aura.

Rather glad that the original rush of patients has now left, either to the care of their families, or to a less welcoming embrace, a body bag. This never the less, has allowed her a more personal level of treatment when it comes to the special colt in her life. Especially when you consider that he is the only one in this small ward for her to treat while the other beds remain empty.

“You weren’t the one being tossed about like a foal’s play thing…” Shining recalls the rather vivid imagination of Sombra enjoying his torment. Having absolutely no chance against the over powered stallion, “Seriously if it wasn’t for Twilights’ little tip I’m pretty sure he would have had my rump in no time at all…”

“And that’s why you don’t go against a king, alone, dear…” she threads the needle and passes the point through his skin to stitch up the wound.

“I wasn’t… going… alone… not all the… time,” Shining gets out between his teeth biting down in to one another and grinding away as the needle pokes him and gets through the skin over and over again.

“At least not for the last half…” Cadance rolls her eyes at the dunce of a husband at times.

Although he can be the sweetest, gentlest, most wonderful colt that she has ever known. One of the many reasons she said ‘Yes’ and married him. Shining does have those moments of not knowing exactly what to do, and almost losing his head from time to time as a result. Sometimes more literally, than metaphorically. A slight yelp escapes her throat as Cadance feels herself pulled in to the bed with her stallion, not even having the chance to speak as his soft, white, sweet lips meet hers unexpectedly. Soon enough the worries and thoughts of having her captain injured in a fight, or even worse, all melt away as she cuddles up to him and welcomes the warm affection with her own.

“…Oh now that’s cheating…” she pouts while those lips part with hers and leaves a little gasp to escape past his cheek.

“Well any other way I wasn’t going to hear the end of it…”

“Hey now…” she presses a hoof back in to him as he tries to get up from the position. Meeting his curious face with a glare to put forth her intentions, “…I never said I wasn’t willing to end it… though I can name a way I would like this to, end,” the princess winks at him.

Taking the cue full force, the colt grabs the curtains used to give some privacy to the beds and shuts them instantly. Allowing him and the misses a moment alone to one another while they relinquish the mourning about them with their own play.

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Twilight for the better part of yesterday morning was in the same position as Cadance is in now with her own lover. Though while having finished up treating Flash the best she could, the mare, with coltfriend in tow close behind her, now walk about the castle to ensure that all is going well for the coming memorial for the ones that were lost. While having a more, private, viewing to attend to afterwards.

For now, the celestial princess has asked her to ensure that things are going as planned, in truth only getting this task after pestering her mentor for something to do other than sit and mope. Already having visited her friends that are scattered about the castle in various areas, upon their confirmation that all is well. Twilight is only left to have her thoughts wander here and there, clearly displaying that on her face.

“What’s eating you dear?” Sentry nudges her a bit on her rump with his own, trying to break the silence between them.

“You can read me like a book, can’t you?” she teases right back.

“Well if that was the case. I don’t think it would have taken this long to get you to be my marefriend…” he ponders the thought before continuing, “… though never the less, it was worth the wait. But that doesn’t answer my question, now does it?”

“No… I guess not,” Twilight looks over her guard. Although he may have been injured not too long ago. The wing has healed up quite well, as best as it could possibly get to be at least, and after having gone through a couple procedures himself. The guard has come out with most of it missing now. Leaving him with what seems like only a fragment of his aerial self behind. “How does your wing feel?”

Flash attempts to stretch it out, but even with the Band-Aids working with him and giving more movement. The torture of the attempt is as clear on his face, as the wandering mind was on hers, “Sore to no end… still. Sterile says that with most of it having been removed, I’ll be lucky if I can even manage to glide, let alone fly…”

She watches as his expression falls down even farther to the ground. For having never been born with wings, it’s rather hard for the princess to imagine losing them and being not being able to cope still. After all she lived a long time without any, though as for her magic, if that were to be taken away… well… needless to say, it’s something that she doesn’t want to think about.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it Flash, I’m sure it will improve to some degree as it heals more and more,” she nuzzles her head up in to his neck. Thankful to feel the growing heat rising up in his face as her guard takes the words to heart.

“Thank you, Twi…” he nests his head on top of hers, planting a tender kiss atop it as they reach a door.

Not even bothering to knock, considering it is a public area, Twilight and he ease it open as they come in to a med ward. Looking around at the empty beds, this was to be expected. They were here earlier to check up on Shining and saw the last occupant leave before him. Though any thought that he ended up leaving on his own is thrown out, when the audible moans make the curtains vibrate as the escaping rapid breaths seem to do the same. The couple’s eyes widen for a second before snickering to themselves at the antics of the princess and the Captain of the royal guard.

“Well I think it’s safe to say that my brother is feeling mighty better now…” Twi jests, closing the door behind her and heading back down the hall with Flash.

“That much I can believe… he did go through a lot while at the ruins,” Flash recalls the events not too long ago that are still very much fresh in his mind. Dawning on him that one in particular she may be able to answer, “oh… and speaking of your brother,” her ears twist around after hearing her brothers mention, “What’s his deal with spiders?”

The princess tries to fight back her laughter, knowing that even with the door closed and them being halfway down the hall. Shining would still hear her bellows from the mare had she opened her mouth. The fond memories of his childhood experience with the arachnids flooding her mind as she remembers them like it was yesterday, “oh… Shiny… he went ballistic in the ruins didn’t he?”

“Almost got us killed while we were trying to be sneaky,” Flash awkwardly scratches the back of his head while they walk.

“Mhmm… that’s all?” she says, almost having expected more to have occurred, “Well I can tell you on our way to the procession… it should be starting soon anyway,” they start to trot down the hallway to get to the Canterlot grounds where the memorial ceremony will be held.

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The grounds have been flooded with many a pony representing those of the families that lost somepony close to them. Or those that lost a battle friend in the fight. Even with this, the residences of Canterlot have also made a hefty turn out as the elite come to show their support and even stand right next to the simpletons among them as they both share a common loss. The tears flowing freely as more and more fall in to watch the procession as names of those that have been set about to meet the white alicorn in the sky are listed off, along with the surviving kin of such.

Waiting till the very end to even say their piece, the younger of the two regal sisters has decided to take center stage as her sister did when they first left for this fight. Luna takes a stance up on the podium. While Twilight and Flash, along with their friends sit in almost the front row. Twi shooting her brother a slight grin as their eyes lock for a second as he and his wife enter a tad late, Shining already getting the expression of ‘I know what you two were doing’ from her. Though even with that, they remain quiet to hear what the princess has to offer them.

“Friends, loved ones, companions…” Luna lowers her head a bit before taking a deep breath, this part is never easy. Though as Celestia brings about the warm day, Luna brings about the night for not only those in Equestria. But at times like this, it is appropriate for such a princess to be the one to close out ones’ life story just as she does with the day. “The events of days prior cannot ever be wiped clean from our memory, of course time heals all wounds. Both mental and physical, though when a part of you is lost in the form of a loved one or a dear friend, or even one that you looked to for a shoulder to lean on. That void is one much harder to fill… although with the loss of one. We are forced to look back and reflect the moments that we shared with that pony to make them special to us, and give a solid reason to keep on moving. Not so we may forget them… quite the contrary. You never want to forget a loved one, even when they are no longer with us. Because if you don’t forget them, are they ever truly gone?” she poses the question.

Wiping away the slight tear that balls up in her eye, as she draws another breath to speak, “We move on so that we can have more moments like that which made that pony special to us, so that we can find more and more like them. Not to replace, but to relive, all that made us happy… we have lost many in the last few days, but none of this will weigh us down. As we push forward stronger than ever before, so that we can remember those as the reason we push ourselves. The reason to keep on living. The reason we have to keep on loving those we still have, and cherishing the memories of those that are precious to us,” the final word is uttered as she holds up a hoof to silence some of the hoof clops that come her way.

Giving only a moment for herself, Luna recomposes her heart so as to fight back the tears while she herself carries on, “for us, the fight is over. And while the wounds may still be fresh, they won’t last like that forever now, will they? No, in due passing all will move on, all will carry forward whether we choose to or not. But know this, if you are struggling to keep up. You can always find a helping hoof of those to your left…” the night mare watches their heads shift, “…and your right…” the crowd does it again, as she speaks, “…ready to pick you up when you fall short. And help you over the next hurtle you face, and on towards where ever your path is taking you. Because even if you don’t know where it leads… where ever it is, you’re on your way,” Luna closes now. Leaving the light applause to be lost upon her ears, while the crowd disperses after the soft spoken words of the regal sister.

Now only the families remain while they get personal condolences from the royal family to whoever special was lost to them. Taking upwards to two hours to get through the group as a whole, while at the same time leaving Twilight and the gang there as well, waiting. Not that they are complaining at all. The castle has been opened up for them yet again, and after the past few days they just had.

Not having to go back home immediately, is a welcoming thought.

Luna gives a light embrace to the last widow, and even foal without a father, that’s left. The mare almost losing herself when she sees her own niece, Rose, put her fore hooves around the young counterpart that lost her dad, and show her own caring gesture. Having released them now, the royal family is left with now their close friends here.

“That was a beautiful speech, Luna…” Rarity even has a mild tear as she recalls it.

“And one I do not like having to say…” she responds with a heavy heart, “Though for now, I think I can put it to rest.”

“And indeed you shall…” Celestia wraps her natural hoof around her sister’s shoulder, while Rosebud plants herself atop her mother’s head. Discord snickering from the motion, as he tries to even hide the sorrow in his gut. Knowing full well what is coming next on their list of tasks…

“This one, this one, I must do myself…” Tia says as they follow her down the street and up in to the castle. To the next procession that is at hoof this evening.

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While the sun now starts to make its way towards the evening side of the horizon. Many of those that participated in the clean-up routine of the castle, and the subsequent relief efforts of those injured afterwards, are headed home to be with their loved ones and families. And on any other normal occasion Celestia, her husband, his sister in law, Twilight and the rest of the gang would be doing much the same.

But then again this is anything but a normal occasion.

As of now the group gathers out in the Canterlot castle gardens. A beautiful place home too many different varieties of flowers and other wild life that make their quaint little homes here to remain undisturbed and only admired from a distance. A place that will now house the remains of a colt that was loved by all, despite his appearance, and missed more than he’ll ever know by those that held him close.

Discord resides in the middle of them all, occasionally snapping his fingers to get a tissue for those friends amongst him, and himself included. Luna tries to maintain the strong look that only a younger sibling could hope to achieve. Though at the same time, somewhat failing miserably, as several dozen tears pass between her screwed tight eyes and fall to the ground below. Celestia manages to fight through the tears, long enough to pull herself together so she can look at the tombstone in front of her.

Reading only the quote on the bottom to herself, ‘Resting as a young prince with much potential, a son with so many ones to call friends, and a pony with so much heart to give… Rest in peace Havoc,’ Celestia smiles lightly.

Allowing only the slight glimmer of water to make its way out of her tear ducts. Upon seeing this, Discord takes his place beside her as they dare not even turn around to look at the casket still out of the ground, not just yet.

“It’s a lovely quote, my dear…” he kisses her lightly on the top of the head while draping a lion paw over her side.

“I thought it would be…” Celestia looks at the top of her head as she sees a small pair of hooves come in front of her. Rosebud grasping her long horn while looking at the same stone, “…though, I didn’t come up with it entirely, that was in part to this little one as well,” she scoops up her daughter and rests her easy on the ground. The slight giggle in Rose fading fast, even with the kind hearted expression on both her parent’s faces, as she turns back around to see the marker.

Rose knows what death is, and as of now, she knows the pain it can cause one when it strikes so close to home. The young princess doesn’t even try to fight back the anguish that she feels from having her only sibling taken from her. It’s nothing that she could have prevented, nor could have helped fight against while she was in the room literally only feet from his last breath taken. Though more likely than not, she would have been killed as well, had the queen gotten ahold of her.

This hasn’t dawned on the foal, as the tears and sobs from her gut come out while resting a hoof on his name plate. “Why…?” Rosebud mutters, both her parents standing back for her to have her own moment alone with her brother, “…why did it have to be this way Havoc? What could I have helped you with to stop the meanie changeling from hurting you? What did you ever do to hurt another pony?” Rose recalls the small little sibling arguments that she had with him from time to time.

Though all of them were nothing but petty squabbles here and there, nothing that would have made her hate him to no end. At truth she will miss him, with all her heart. Considering in her mind, Havoc had so much of one to give. As her whimpers continue, it soon becomes contagious and it spreads to the others. Discord getting in the same state, while Twilight and her friends, even her coltfriend Flash let the water works flow freely right now. Luna who had tried so hard to hold it in, now finds herself lost in the mists of the child’s pleads.

The night mare almost would have crumpled down to the ground in response, had it not been for both Shining armor and his wife to help hold her up on either side. Though the last to fall is Celestia, having held it in all day from knowing this moment was going to come. The solar princess now fails to even hold up her own appearances and resides herself next to her sister now while the regal pair ball their eyes out to the sound of the ropes going tight, as the casket is finally lowered down in to the terrestrial abyss.

Dissy finally gets himself back under control enough to lean down and give his daughter a helping hand, or talon, in this case. Resting her head against his goat leg at first, Rose pouts downwards as she lets herself be taken. The father is careful not to let her see the casket going down, something that no child should ever have to see of a sibling. The daughter in the last moment, as the coffin hits the bottom and the others try their best to pull themselves back in to one piece, holds out a hoof pointing towards the tombstone. Trying her best to reach it, as her father obliges, leaning back down so she can touch it.

“I’ll miss you, Havoc,” she lowers her head a tad as one more tear falls from her eye, “Please, will you be there when I dream? I’d like to see you still, let me know how you’re doing…”

Luna bites down on her lip as she and her sister look at Discord for a response to give her, “Rose… if you want him to be there in your dreams,” he nuzzles his horse like muzzle in to hers playfully, trying to lift her spirits, “all you have to do, is hold him here,” Discord leaves a single claw across her heart. Watching as her frown starts to quiver back in to a smile as they all file out.

All except for Celestia at first.

“Sister?” Luna calls back to her, “are you coming?”

“I will be, Luna, don’t worry,” Tia never adverts her gaze from the stone marking the ground, while the dirt is swiftly filled in by the unicorns around her as the deed is done.

As they leave, she finds herself oddly alone. Not even the sounds of the insects or the chirping of birds is present while she sits calmly before what painful reminder she has, of her child falling in to her own matters.

“I’m sorry, my son…” Celestia quivers, “…I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for you or any pony to get hurt. I didn’t want this to happen, I didn’t want you to get in harm’s way, if only I had tried harder perhaps you would still be here,” the thoughts of all she could have done start to enter her mind. Going over the almost recording of her fighting Chrysalis, thinking what she could have done differently, “…I don’t know if there is anything that would have made a difference, what’s done is done… and I can’t change that.”

Tia rests a motherly hoof on the top of the stone as she stands herself up to follow the others, which have already gotten back in the castle. “I will miss you Havoc, your father and sister as well. Everypony you know, holds you dearly… and we all love you very, very much,” wiping away the single tear that has now formed in her eye again. The only thing she can do is look up at the sky that slowly starts to turn from brilliant light to a sort of fiery orange, yellow mix while the sun does its own thing and time passes by. “Take care of him, Faust… he’s a good boy,” she whispers under her breath as the princess trots back to her home.

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While the small dinner is only really accompanied by those that are closest to the royal family. It none the less feels much like a home in itself. Having friends and loved ones all around you can bring about joy in even the darkest of occasions. But that can only last for so long. Needless to say only the two parents of the deceased have taken it upon themselves to break open a bottle or two of scotch to share with one another. Sipping the drink gingerly, it thankfully warms their insides to the fullest, as Twilight takes notice of the bottle.

“Isn’t that the same type you gave me a while back? Aged in the mines?” she tries to make small conversation.

“Why yes it is…” Celestia laps her tongue around her lips, feeling the burn, “I have quite a few of them, though I have to ask my student, have you tasted it yet? I know you were hesitant to try it that night when I gave it to you. Wanted to save it for a special occasion, I believe.”

Every single one of the mane six, along with Spike and Flash look at one another. Barely remembering the night they had that was, more or less, kicked off due to the scotch. Each of them rather pleased on how it turned out. Two of them more so than others, while both Twi and Sentry look away from one another, flushed in the cheeks.

“I think they did a little more than taste …” Discord nudges his wife in the ribs, while young Rose remains oblivious to the play around her as she sips her own juice.

“It wasn’t anything like that,” Twilight grinds her teeth trying to keep her tone down.

“Well…It kind of was…” Flash rolls his eyes, while the youngest alicorn in the room immediately shoots him a playful glare, as a couple of the friends there start to snicker with one another, “What? They did dare you.”

“Oh please, I’m sure you would have gotten the same treatment, had it landed on you and you picked ‘dare’.”

“Are you complaining dear?” he snickers at her. While only those who were present actually know what happened.

“Well I can’t say I wasn’t asking for it…” Twilight leans in to his side as she sits next to him. The colt readily accepting the gift of her body pressing against his.

“Well it seems my protégée has a knack for making less than rational decisions while intoxicated…” Tia giggles at the thought of seeing Twilight plastered to no end, and tries to imagine the events of that evening, “Though as I can see, it worked out in your favor in the end… any other less than stellar actions that night?”

“Well let’s see…” Twilight tries to think back to some of the fuzzy memories, “Truth or dare with spin the bottle is always fun…”

“You try and say that when your head looks like a chess board…” Rainbow pouts as she crosses her hooves over her chest, “do you know how hard it is to explain to others how that night turned out, when they weren’t there?”

“Probably as hard as it is to get the taste of hard cider out of your mouth, after getting if from another pony’s,” Spike picks up. Causing all that were present to snicker at both the Pegasus and country gal, after their own dare.

“O-o-or,” Applejack drones on to change the subject, “harder still to beat Fluttershy at a drinking game,” she gestures a hoof over to the usually quiet mare, who now starts to blush across her cheeks while keeping in her laughter.

“Oh Fluttershy has a taste for the drink?” Luna instantly perks up at the thought of going against the mare. Recalling the numerous games that come to mind at just the thought, “would she be willing to partake with myself, on some occasion?”

“A casual drink? Or competition?” the timid mare asks.

“What do you say to Battle Shots, Mhmm?” raising her virgin drink of strawberry cordial to her mouth, Luna grins deviously at the yellow Pegasus. All the while Celestia taking note of her sister’s actions.

“How long has it been sense you’ve done anything that wild, sister?”

“Far too long…” Luna almost groans at the thought of having lost many occasions to indulge, ‘Though it has given me the time to upgrade my Arch mage in Colt Slayer 3, which is probably why I’ve been whooping Celestia’s rump more often than not lately…’ Lulu thinks to herself, ‘perhaps I should try out a different character class? The Tank seems to be suitable and if I beat her with the same one that she has been using, than that will just give me even more bragging rights… also…’ the others are left to sit there and watch the lunar princess deep in thought, on a matter that they can only imagine.

“What is the princess doing?” Rarity asks while she watches the almost glassed over appearance of the mare’s eyes.

“Probably trying to think of more ways to kill me in that absurd video game of hers…” Celestia rolls her eyes at even the notion of sitting down and playing it again with her. Though knowing full well that she will be roped in to doing it, at some point.

“You’re just mad because she kicks your flank, every time,” Discord snickers.

“Discord…. Honey…” Tia manages to grab his attention while there is a slight glow to her horn as she puts her prosthetic hoof up to his side. Releasing the tension built up in the suspension spring. The metal hoof socks the prince in the gut as he winces over in his chair. The action painfully bringing up a laugh from those around, as they see the prince in a moment of pain at the hooves of his beloved.

“What was…that?” Discord questions at the surprising hit.

“It’s quite interesting actually… even only having this thing on me a week or so. I’ve learned so much about it, and what I can do with it as well,” Celestia admires the rather humdrum looking appendage upon her. Though its ruggedness far would out last her own body, regardless of how long she has been around. “For example I learned already that I can use my magic to hold back the springs on the inside used for shock absorption, and release them at will… it can make a mean right hook, wouldn’t you say?”

“Well…” Dissy coughs for a second while trying to get some air back in his lungs, “…I wouldn’t call that a right hook. But as for a solid punch, almost makes me want to remove my own limb.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Only a thought…” he assures her, “I mean lets be real, my magic is far stronger than that will ever be.”

“And, I plan on upgrading it…” Tia gets a few images of a newly designed hoof in mind for her to wear.

After all if she has to live with it for the rest of her life, she might as well make it less frightening to those around her, and even more appealing to her little girl. Who at the moment still gaps at the appendage in awe from what it’s made of, to even what it can do.

“Can I help you pick out a new one, mommy?”

“Of course you can, dearie…” Tia leans down and nuzzles her horn against the top of her daughter’s own. Watching the beaming foal that doesn’t quite understand the gravity of what has happened to her mother. But that she’ll understand later on in life, as for now she can grow used to it.

“As much though as I’d hate to ask…” Twilight regretfully brings up the subject that has been hankering her mind for a while now, not having fully understood what happened to them after the fall of the king and queen, “…what decision did you come to when it came to those that threw their hooves up at the end of the fighting?”

“Hmm well…” Discord takes the place of his wife for a second to answer, covering up her mouth so she can’t speak, and at the same time hoping not to get another swift hoof to the side as a result from the intrusion, “they have been banished from Equestria’s borders… it doesn’t matter where they go, just so long as they don’t come back here,” he releases Celestia’s mouth, “And if a single one is caught with in the boundary line they will be put to execution without a proper trial, seeing as they already broke the original agreement.”

“We wouldn’t have had to worry about a breach of contract, had we followed through with my threat…” Celestia huffs over the matter.

“Dear, as much as I would have loved to do the same to them… there has been far too much bloodshed in the past few months, from all those that have been lost,” Dissy reminds her, eyeing his wife’s glare as she sits next to him, “besides, somehow I don’t think even you could have lived with… oh how did you say it? Something along the lines of ‘burning them in to the landscape, and the slaughter of those under her command and those not’.”

“Hell hath no fury like a mare scorned…” Celestia rolls her eyes at her husband, “even if it is another mare, which did the scorning.”

“Yet somehow, we did manage to talk you down from mass genocide… seriously I thought I was the twisted one.”

“And you still are,” she leaves him speechless for but a moment with a quick peck to the cheek, “but, you’re my twisted, little, Dragonoci.”

“Yes I am…” Discord brings her in closer with a snap of his fingers as the chair literally walks itself over to him. Delivering a tenderer kiss on her lips, much to the dismay of their daughter who playfully gags at her parent’s show of sweet affection. The father pulling back after the moment, just in time to poke fun at his sister in law, “besides, you should see this one in combat,” he gestures to Luna.

“Hey now!” Luna snaps out of her visions of the console game to defend herself, “there is nothing wrong with how I act, when I’m in battle.”

“Oh no absolutely not… I mean there is nothing wrong with having a devilish smile on ones face, while cutting in to others.”

“What about removing an enemy’s liver with your bare claws, or freezing them solid to only smash them to pieces, or even playing golf with your hammer?” the night mare calls him out on, “where does that come in to play?”

“That? That’s nothing more than sport.”

“My point, exactly,” she folds her hooves over her chest in a tuff.

“Though I do have to say, we make quite a team…” Discord has a moment of no lunacy as he admits to her.

“And we’ll probably be at each other’s throats out in the field, as much as we would be at the enemy’s,” Luna sticks her tongue out at her brother in law.

“Imagine what would happen if we got Tia in the fray?” Discord beams at his wife, all the while the irritated expression on Lulu’s face grows stronger and stronger.

“Well on that note…before you two get in a fight with one another, have to kiss and make up, and then I have to kick my sister’s hind for kissing my husband,” Celestia rises from the table, while taking her daughter in hoof. Kissing the top of Rose’s head and gently levitating her over to her aunt, who at the time is still speechless at what her sister just said. While Dissy remains giggling to himself. “I think it’s about time to go to rest now… it’s been an, eventful day,” she nods to her subjects, along with her family, “the castle is open to you all, and I encourage you to stay the night. I wouldn’t want to send you out of here in the middle of the night. Luna, would you be so kind to put our little tike to sleep?”

“Not a problem, sister,” Luna nods, while Rosebud beams on her back and Lulu almost gallops off down the hall. Smiling to herself at the thought of getting to read a bedtime story to the foal like she missed out doing on almost as many occasions, as she missed the drink.

“We thank you kindly for the hospitality,” Cadance pipes up after remaining calm for the majority of the night. Content with leaning against her husband after a well-deserved meal, and happy to get some sleep.

“It’s not a problem at all, Cadance,” Discord assures them as they all follow the celestial princess’s guidance and rise up, to head off to bed.

Giving out their goodnights to one another before retiring at the end of a particularly long day. Twilight and Flash are amongst the few who leave last, until the young princess gets a hoof on her shoulder. Turning around to see the smiling expression on her mentor’s face.

“Actually, I was hoping to speak to you two first, before bed,” Tia nods to Twilight and Flash.

“We both were…” Discord puts a bat wing around his wife, now urging the young couple to follow them down the hall as they head through the castle.

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Twilight and Flash walk down the hallway in-between the prince and princess. Oddly feeling uncomfortable with the current positioning, and not quite sure how this will play out or what is going to happen. Though the night is calm as they seem to be the only ones up at the time, apart from the occasional guard that patrols by and instantly bows to the presence of the royalty. Waving off the next pair of guards that are on their patrols, Celestia listens to the audible clop of her metal hoof hitting the ground. Easily reading the clear unknowing expression on her student’s face, and attempting to make any sort of small talk, if just to ease her tensions.

Tia glances down towards her appendage, “Well it seems the first thing to get fixed, is this annoy sound when I walk.”

“That does seem like it could get quite annoying…” Twi looks over the limb, “I would have to say look in to putting a rubber horse shoe on the bottom. Seeing as you don’t really need a metal one.”

“Well most of it is metal, so that would fit… later, as discussed, you can try and get a better one made up,” Discord points out. Now looking over to Flash’s own wing that has been torn apart almost to the roots from the previous engagement, not even looking much better after the surgery and the bandages came off, “Though your wing, that will be a different story.”

Flash looks it over, stretching it out slightly. The missing feathers have a slight chance of growing back. Though that’s only provided the roots are still intact. Most of the charred skin has been removed thanks to the doctors here in Canterlot, though that has left a lot of his bone now open to the air as the white shines on though the bright orange. And although the dried blood has been scrubbed out to keep any infection at bay, it took a lot of the remaining feathers out with it. In short, from what the Pegasus can see, the ghost of a wing won’t be carrying him far any time soon.

“My wing is going to be a completely new novel in this case,” Flash answers after folding it back in to his side as best he can. “Hopefully I turn out to be a glider, at least.”

“Hmm…” the chaotic prince scratches his chin, “I think I know a pony that could fix that problem. Same one who probably will be doing the work for my wife.”

“Well, if they can make it look normal, than I guess it’s worth a shot,” Sentry says, eyeing the skeleton that remains, “seeing as I don’t believe I’ll be able to afford much more than that.”

“Awe even being under the princess’s personal guards payroll?” the lavender alicorn teases, in reality knowing how much it would mean to him to even have it appear as a normal functioning wing.

“I don’t think that payment will be an issue, I’ll be sure to have you taken care of, Flash. Besides, you have already repaid that, and so much more, by now…” Celestia says as they come to her office door and she pushes it open for the bunch as they file in, herself close behind as she takes a much needed seat at her desk. Discord standing proudly next to her, while the young couple stands in front of them next to one another still puzzled over what the princess just said.

“It has been a very eventful past few months… don’t you think?” Celestia poses the question.

“Well let’s see,” Dissy starts to think, recalling some of the more major events, “Twilight got a personal guard, multiple changeling sightings in the area, King Sombra was raised from the dead, Queen Chrysalis returned as well, those two got together in more than one way, Twi and Flash ended up dating, the elements of harmony got stolen and then corrupted, said elements were used against Twilight…we… lost one close to us,” he pauses for a second before continuing, “and both the king and queen were brought down, while some sort of peace was returned to us.”

“A very, very eventful period,” Twilight shakes her head, after hearing all the highlights of what has happened.

“Though it’s not quite over, not just yet,” Tia backs up out of the chair for a second, feeling some strength return to her legs and gets up to waltz over to her student, “You have been my star pupil for quite some time now, Twilight Sparkle. Far longer than I would have expected, after all if there was another kingdom that needed guidance. I would have sent you there, by now, instead of having you come to me to continue your teachings.”

Twilight almost shutters at hearing this again, it has been a while sense they talked about it after all, “Princess Celestia… with all due respect I don’t believe I would even be ready to take on such a role? Not now at least. My lessons, the teachings, they can’t possibly be done with?”

“And they never will be, my faithful student… no matter how much you may learn, you will never be done learning. I am your teacher, just as much you are mine, the fact of the matter is. We all share the role of student and teacher,” she rests a hoof on the young alicorn’s shoulder, before gesturing to Twilight and Flash, “just as much as you two, have probably learned a lot about one another, from being around each other. And I’m sure you will learn even more. Although there isn’t a place for you in the role of a leader, at least by title. You will always be a leader, no matter what title you wear.”

“Though, you may still have much to learn…” Discord chimes in to play his own role, “…there is another place you can fill in right now.”

“Both of you for that matter, actually,” Tia motions to the pair as they snap their heads to one another. The princess and the guard having not a clue what they are talking about at the moment.

“Umm, could you possibly elaborate a little more, your majesty?” Flash asks of her.

“Twilight, you have proven that you are willing to take a risk if need be, in order to get what has to be done, accomplished… even if it may harm one you love,” the expression on Twilight’s face turns grim, as the solar goddess looks upon her, “I know what you did with the changeling’s spell at the ruins, what you had to do against Chrysalis… needless to say, it was cruel. Just like you doing the same thing to Discord, in order to beat me in our little duel with one another back in the park.”

“Wait a second… you did what to me?! Twilight?!” the prince snaps around, as the puzzle pieces fall in place to what happened to him then.

“I’ll talk to you later about that…” Celestia hushes him up for a second, while the slight chuckle pops up from both the guard and Twilight, “as for you,” Tia grabs her student’s attention once more, “although it was cruel, it was needed… something that I personally didn’t even think you were capable of doing. But it would seem, you have proved me wrong…” she bows slightly to her own student, “thank you, for proving me wrong.”

“I’m… glad? I could have, Celestia,” Twilight returns the bow, “though I have no idea where you’re going with this.”

“In time, Twilight… however, Flash Sentry,” the guard snaps to attention, out of pure impulse from previous moments, of having his name called out by a princess.

“Yes, your majesty?”

“You have also proven yourself far more than I could have expected. Allowing, and even pushing, Twilight to using the spell on you in order to see things through. You were willing to give it all up, just for her safety,” Celestia nods to her husband as he takes a place in front of a wardrobe that just seems out of place the more the couple look at it. It doesn’t match anything in the room, and it seems to have been brought in there only recently, “…this is something that I am happy to see in you both. Even more so that you two work so well together… so in that case. There is only one thing I can offer you in place of your own kingdom, to rule with Flash at your side…”

Dissy opens the door to the wardrobe, revealing what’s on the inside to those that didn’t already know. While Sentry and Twilight stand there in awe at what they are seeing. Rather clear to them what this means, and at the same time, what comes along with it. Both of them look back up at the regal couple. If anything for some confirmation, for what they have just been presented.

“Princess Celestia…” Flash looks inside once more, “is that really, what I think it is?”

“It is Flash, it is,” she nods once more to him, Tia now passing her gaze to the younger alicorn, “and even if there isn’t the kingdom. Flash, I’m sure, will be by your side, no matter what."