14th day of Frostfall
454 Years after the Defeat of Discord by the Sisters

The streets of Everfree were a riot of color and motion, creating a din that pierced Pallas’ ears far more than the clash of battle. She folded her ears back against the cheers from the ponies on both sides. Flowers had even been thrown in front of them as they walked to serve as a colorful carpet of petals.

Pallas looked ahead, to where Luna was leading the parade. She’d had the Night Guard form up into a well-ordered column, something that had taken longer than it should have. Close-order drills in formation were something they’d never practiced, on the field or otherwise. Luna preferred they know how to fight, since an enemy didn’t care how well-polished your armor was or how well you stood in a line.

Pallas was marching with the other officers, which made her feel self-conscious, like half of the city was looking right at her. It seemed like everypony in Everfree was a unicorn. She didn’t see a single earth pony among them, and there were few pegasai, most of them wearing the golden armor of the Solar Guard and working to control the crowd. She had a feeling that none of them had ever seen a thestral in their lives, and since she was right near the front, and standing taller than anypony around her save the Princess herself, she stood out.

Her ears folded back as she realized that she was, in fact, being stared at by half of the city. Wonderful. She tried to ignore the ponies and focus on the scenery. Everfree was heavily wooded for a city, with long boulevards and open courtyards with trees standing tall above the buildings, many of the trees older than any structure built by ponies. Almost all of them, though, bore the marks of civilization. The trees were hung with garlands of lights and color, the trunks carved and painted. Nothing natural had been left where it could instead be improved upon.

It made Pallas feel uneasy. The whole city felt artificial, like a grand stage instead of a functioning city. It was too carefully managed and manufactured, and the castle loomed behind it all like a backdrop of hard granite walls and marble facing. She could just make out the banners and flags flapping in the light wind, and couldn’t help but glance up to see pegasai working to keep the day bright and pleasant despite a few stormclouds trying their best to converge on the city.

“It’s a bit much, isn’t it?” She yelled, trying to be heard over the crowd. “It wasn’t even this loud when I was cutting griffons in half!”

“They’re just very enthusiastic!” Quel shouted. “Try to ignore them and keep looking forwards! We’re officers, remember!” Pallas was still getting used to that.

“Where’s Hungry Ghost?” Pallas asked. “He took off before we even got to the city!”

“If the Dragoons were here the crowd’d be too busy screaming and running away to cheer!” Silver Tongue put in. “Trust me, this is a lot better! You really don’t want to see what a stampede of panicked civilians is like!”

“You sound like you’ve caused a few stampedes!” Quel said, looking at Silver Tongue with a grin plastered across his scarred face.

“I was researching high-energy magic!” Silver Tongue snorted. “Of course I caused some stampedes! Ponies would see me running away from my lab with something smoking and glowing behind me, and they’d make damn sure they kept up with me!”

“No wonder you got kicked out!” Quel laughed.

“That was different,” Silver Tongue frowned, his voice low. “I had a difference of opinion with the Dean. The only thing as short as his sight was his horn! If that toothpick-head had a grain of sense in the empty container other ponies use for a brain…” his grumbling was quickly drowned out by the crowd.

As the march continued, Pallas couldn’t help but notice that not all of the faces in the crowd were so enthusiastic to see them. The front ranks were largely smiling and happy, but behind them was a layer of discontent ponies who shot glares at the troops, and even at Luna herself.

Pallas sensed a worrying aura from the crowd. It felt like danger, like a predator hiding in tall grass, cloaked and waiting for the right moment to strike. She shook her head, trying to ignore the feeling. It wasn’t like they were in battle. Nopony would be crazy enough to do something when both the Solar and Night Guard were on the field. Sure, the Night Guards were tired and looking forward to collapsing into bunks and getting some rest, but it wasn’t like they were defenseless.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment to calm down. The glare of the sun and roar of the crowd was just getting to her. When she opened her eyes, she realized Bianca’s flank was right in front of her, the mare’s tail flicking just slightly and her hips swaying as she walked. Pallas blushed, trying not to react, and averted her eyes upwards to see Bianca looking back at her and giving her a knowing grin.

Pallas huffed and looked away, trying not to stare at the albino thestral’s rear end. Especially not in public, with hundreds of ponies staring at them. The castle’s looming battlements finally eclipsed the blinding light of the sun, and Pallas blinked as her vision cleared in the comforting shade. Ahead of them, the doors into the central courtyard loomed at almost twenty paces tall and ten wide, easily large enough for the column of troops. A house could have been passed through the gap.

The doors parted smoothly, creaking as the massive portal was opened by a team of guards, the clanking of the chain and gears audible even from outside the castle’s battlements. Luna walked in without breaking her stride, everything perfectly ordered and timed.

“You’d think they could have opened it sooner,” Pallas muttered. This close to the castle, the noise of the crowd was dying out, and her ears were left ringing.

“It’s Everfree,” Silver Tongue replied. “Everything here happens at just the right time. Celestia is obsessed with her schedules.”

“Wonderful,” Pallas grumbled.

“You’d be obsessed too, if you had to make sure you woke up at the right time every day to raise the sun,” Silver Tongue shrugged. “I never got used to it myself, and I lived here for most of my life.”

“Welcome back, Luna,” boomed a voice from within. A white light erupted like a flare and the courtyard lit up with a blinding light. Pallas winced, shutting her eyes against the glare. The voice had been so loud it almost had a physical presence to it, a hot summer wind blowing across the army. Pallas strained to look into the radiance, barely able to make out the shape of a pony with her wings spread wide, standing on a balcony over the courtyard.

The light died as the pony lept down, almost hopping the twenty paces to the ground as if merely stepping off a tall stair. Pallas blinked and tried to clear the spots from her eyes, her vision returning in time to see Princess Celestia and Luna embracing.

It was the first time Pallas had seen Celestia, and she was just as ethereally beautiful as her sister. She was even taller than Luna, a pure white mare with a mane of flowing pastel colors. Her frame was thin and lanky, without the tough muscle Luna had built up. Even their garments couldn’t be more different, with Luna still clad in her silvery armor and her sister in golden regalia.

“It has been too long,” Luna sighed, nuzzling her sister fondly. “While we may have disagreed about some things, I am very glad to be back. I have missed you greatly.”

“And I’m very glad to have you back,” Celestia said, smiling. “I was so worried about you. I heard so many horrible stories… I thought you’d end up getting yourself killed.”

Luna snorted. “You and I both know that’s impossible,” Luna said. “I cannot just be killed like that.”

“I still worry,” Celestia sighed. “There are worse fates.”

“There is no need to worry,” Luna said, rolling her eyes. “Not only have I returned, I return victorious! The griffons have been driven from our lands, our little ponies are safe, and they have learned a harsh lesson about our willingness to deal in steel.” She turned to the Night Guard. “Behold, sister, a company of heroes who have all done great deeds in Equestria’s service.”

“Oh my, who is this?” Celestia asked, looking at Bianca. The young thestral smiled up at her, completely unconcerned about the power and position of the royal sisters.

“My apprentice,” Luna said. “I never expected to find a dreamer, but fate works in mysterious ways.”

“I’m glad that you haven’t turned all of our ponies into soldiers,” Celestia smiled.

“Not all,” Luna smirked. “Bianca’s talents lie in other directions. She has been very brave to stay at my side during this time of troubles. She is perhaps the most talented dreamer I have ever met, though she has yet to learn, ah, what did Morning Glory call it… propriety.”

“No wonder you chose to make her your apprentice. You two clearly have much in common.” Celestia smirked, raising a hoof to try and cover her expression.

“It’s really great to meet you!” Bianca said, almost buzzing with excitement like a foal. “Luna told me all these stories about you!”

“I hope she didn’t tell you some of the stories she knows…” Celestia looked at Luna knowingly. The night princess coughed and motioned towards the Night Guard.

“Perhaps you should meet some of the other heroes in this procession?” Luna suggested.

“I think I recognize some of these 'heroes',” Celestia laughed. She smiled at Silver Tongue. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again. I was afraid you’d go build yourself a tower in some dark corner of Equuis and end up doing something regretful.”

“I might still do that,” Silver Tongue grumbled. He bowed politely. “I was lucky enough to be given a second chance by Princess Luna. I like to think that my contributions to the war effort and saving lives will at least make some at the Academy reconsider the bad reputation I left in my wake.”

“I’m glad my sister was able to give you that chance, and that you accepted it,” Celestia smiled. “I’ll talk to the Academy. Now that things have settled down, I’m sure all of you would like to do something less dangerous.”

“Less dangerous, and you want to put Silver in a lab?” Quel smirked, Silver Tongue shooting him a glare that could have turned a pony to stone.

“Primus Quel,” Luna said, her voice making the thestral instantly snap to attention. “You might want to remember what Captain Morning Glory told you. I do expect respect to be given to my sister, and that includes not interrupting her conversations.”

“Oh Luna,” Celestia giggled. “It’s fine! I see that Silver Tongue’s reputation for energetic experiments hasn’t gone away, though.”

“I do mostly jest, your highness,” Quel said, bowing. “I apologize for the interrupting you. Magus Silver Tongue has been a huge help to us. The Night Guard has historically lacked much magical support, and he’s been a great force multiplier with creating enchanted items and setting up rituals for us.”

Celestia nodded, obviously pleased. “I’m glad to see that despite your teasing, you’re all good friends.” She stepped past them and looked at Pallas. Her expression faltered for a moment at the sight of the still-wounded thestral.

Pallas bowed politely. “Your highness.”

“You must be one of Luna’s newer recruits,” Celestia said. She looked away. “I’m sorry you got so badly hurt. The difficulties with the griffons should never have escalated so far.” She sighed and gave Pallas a sympathetic look. “Once we’ve finished with the peace treaty negotiations, I’m sure you’ll be able to go back home to your family.”

“I don’t have a family,” Pallas said. Celestia blinked at that. Pallas looked past her, to Luna. The Night Princess nodded, and so Pallas continued. “The Solar Guard pulled back from my village and left most of the civilians there. The griffons attacked when they left, and my parents and almost everyone I knew were killed. Then they violated me and chained us up to bring us back to their homeland as slaves. If Luna hadn’t come, I’d probably already be dead or worse.”

“I… what?” Celestia shivered. She looked shocked at the story.

“That is the evil I have been fighting, while you remained here,” Luna said, her tone flat. “It’s why I took the Night Guard to the field. Almost every town and village along our east coast is home to a similar tale. Hundreds and thousands were suffering.”

“I had no idea…” Celestia seemed to shrink, her wings drooping. “But I still don’t think going to war is ever right. Killing a few griffons won’t bring her parents back.”

“Two hundred thirty eight griffons, including seven high ranking officers. Five minotaurs. And one minotaur khan,” Silver Tongue recited, his horn glowing for a moment. “I keep track.”

“Two hundred-“ Celestia actually took a step back, as if in fear, like Pallas was a monster herself. “That’s…that’s so much death and killing.” She stopped herself, and stepped forward to hug Pallas for a moment, nuzzling her neck and putting a wing around her. “I’m so sorry. It should never have come to this. I hope you can forgive me someday.”

Pallas had no idea how to react to this. Luna had foreseen that Celestia would speak to her, and had asked Pallas to be very blunt about what had happened to her. She hadn’t, however, coached her on how to handle being hugged.

Celestia pulled away after a few moments, her eyes wet with tears. “I’d like to speak with you later. For now, I’m sure you – all of you – would like to get some rest.”

“That would be just grand,” Quel nodded.

“Luna, the West Barracks have been cleared and cleaned for your guard.” Celestia walked back to her sister, trying to avoid glancing back to Pallas. “The castle staff is already preparing food, and the mess hall should be ready for them in an hour. I was hoping we could have dinner together?”

“Of course,” Luna agreed. “Would it be acceptable if I brought my apprentice with me? I fear she’s terribly excited about meeting you, and I expect if I refused her she’d still find a way to appear at dinner.”

“I’d love to have her join us,” Celestia beamed. “I’m so glad you found somepony to teach. You’ve been so lonely lately…”

“We can speak at dinner,” Luna said, holding up a hoof. “Night Guard, at ease. No guard need be posted tonight. Spend this time resting. You have all done far more than any pony could have asked you to, and I am proud of you. I believe our next large duty will be celebrating peace, once the treaty has been signed.”