We spent the remainder of the day in the cave, myself brooding before the tree and the prophecy shimmering in the air, and my girls huddled together napping. As the sun began nearing the horizon the blue glow of the words dwindled and faded away, the light in the cave became muted, the only light radiating softly from the crystal-like tree. I sat in a lotus position before it, my elbows resting on my knees and my hands steepled beneath my chin. I focused on the tree. Six gemstones, each representing an element of harmony I am told, adorned it's branches. The trunk bore the symbols of Celestia, Luna, and Twilight, almost mocking me.

I finally reached a decision, I reached for the inner calm and channeled a small flow of magic in to the limiters that adorned my hands. They fell away with a soft clink. The voices did not come. For the first time since I came in to my power I was at rest without the aid of the magical devices. Reaching in to the calm I felt prevailing me I spoke two words in my mind.

Earth Mother?

We hear you lost child. Came the immediate reply.

I sat in shocked silence. I was speaking to...I had no idea, God, the personification of Equestria, a rather gaudy looking tree? I knew not which answer was truly correct. I knew only I needed answers before setting my course of action.

Earth Mother, do the princesses know of this prophecy?

The reply came instantly. She who moves the sun and lights the world knows.

So that was it. She knew. The one I tried to forgive, tried to have sympathy for, she knew. In this place of peace I could only feel the barest hint of anger. The voices were silent, my rage was silent, all I felt was deathly calm. I honestly was terrified of myself at the moment.

Earth Mother, the Ape Tribe is scattered across another world. We are all alone in the night. The Morning Star banished us for partaking of your wisdom. Now I know she knew of the prophecy and believe she spoke lies when telling me she banished us only out of fear of the power we had gained. I do not know what to do.

Gentle child of the Ape Tribe, no being is without flaw, not even she who moves the sun and lights the world. Remind her that not only does the sun bring life but it can also blind and burn.

Earth Mother how do I forgive her? Should I forgive her?

Both answers are part of the intrinsic nature of your soul child of the Ape Tribe.

I sat pondering, trying to conjure meaning from the Earth Mother's words. The intrinsic nature of my soul? What could that possibly mean? These last years...I have felt nothing but hate and wrath directed at either myself or others. The only light in my life since her passing has been these two pegasai that have started nesting in my heart.

I thought back further to the night Celestia came to me in Canterlot. Is she truly contrite? I did speak words of forgiveness to her but made it clear I could not absolve her. I thought back further to my life before coming here, before even Yvette. Bullied by my peers as a youth. never quite living up to the expectations of my family. I became friends with books and history. The years I spent years in school only to come out with degrees in Theology and History much to my family's dismay. I wandered from odd job to odd job to stay afloat. Then finally I settled down at a job working on computers for a small shipping company. Then over time moving out of their IT and became a customs broker. Then I met Yvette.

My time after school and working, maybe the answer was there. I could think of only a string of failed relationships and burned bridges. Where is the commonalty, where is my answer? The answer soon hit me like a ton of bricks. Forgiveness. I never held grudges, bullies, users, gold diggers, people who took advantage of me, all forgiven. Why, why did I forgive so easily?

I meditated on this as the moon rose and the air turned cold. After a time I felt a warm hoof touch my shoulder, "Bear?"

"Yes Shy?" I replied.

"It's getting late. We should get back home and get Scootaloo fed and put down for the night."

I nodded, "Of course Shy."

I stood and made to replace the limiters on my hands but paused. I looked at the tree and spoke silently, Earth Mother, can you see what is to come?

Only what is and what was my child.

Can you offer me any further wisdom as to how to proceed?

Every soul carries some burden or pain. We grow stronger when we share that burden with others.

Earth Mother, you sound like a fortune cookie.

The wind picked up for just a moment causing the crystal-like leaves of the tree to tinkle and chime in a sound that almost reminded me of laughter.

As I turned to leave words came to me once more, Your offspring will be born before the first snow.

I paused, What...how?

All the tribes of this land can create new life together my child, even ones gone for oh so long.

I slowly backed away from the tree and looked back to Fluttershy. She smiled at me sweetly and motioned for me to hurry up not knowing what had just been revealed to me.

I was in a daze when we returned to the cottage. Fluttershy was...is...I'm going to be a daddy...again! Part of me was filled with dread, part of me was so excited I could burst. I chose to bite my tongue and keep my silence. I quickly did the math in my head, the first snows come in late November...she might not even know yet... I admit I was a bit giddy. My mood turned sour once Shy had finished feeding our sleepy adopted filly and putting her to bed. She sat by my side wrapping a wing around my shoulders and resting he soft hoof on my hand. "What are you going to do?"

I sighed heavily, "Tomorrow I will visit Twilight and ask for her to call a meeting of the princesses. I will tell them of the prophecy and I will offer up my help against these Nazis."

Fluttershy clung to me and rested her head on my shoulder, "I'm scared Bear."

"I am too Shy, I am too. That's why when I go to Canterlot I am taking you and Scoots with me. I want you under twenty-four hour guard until this situation is resolved." I stated determinedly.

"O-oh my, if you think that is best." Came her timid reply.

I stroked her mane and kissed the top of her head. "It will be OK Shy, this world saw fit to give me great power and as a wise man of my world said 'With great power comes great responsibility'. I can't keep ignoring the responsibility that comes with this power inside me."

Shy sighed and leaned in to me melting a bit at the petting. "Tomorrow, first thing, you and Scoots pack bags and get ready to head to Canterlot, I'll be meeting with Twilight, OK?"

Shy softly murmured, "OK..." quite drowsily and through half-lidded eyes.

I thought a bit about what was possibly to come, I knew what I was half-planning to do on meeting with the princesses could lead to Shy and I being separated until this crisis was resolved. Finally I decided I would do something for her just in case we had to be parted, something that would give her a very happy memory in times to come.

"Shy?" I whispered in her ear.

"Mhmmm?" Came her sleepy reply.

"You go in to heat soon right?"

"Urggghmmm." Came her slightly unhappy reply.

Putting my mouth closer to her ear I whispered oh so quietly, "Why don't we go upstairs and make that foal you want."

Her eyes and her wings shot open. She looked at me with dilated pupils, grabbed my hand in her mouth, then dragged me up to our room. There was no rest for the wicked that night.

Arranging a meeting with all four alicorn princesses of Equestria was strangely easier than I thought it would be. Once I had asked Twilight to request an audience with the other three on my behalf, it was less than thirty minutes before all replies were received with an affirmative response. Two days later Shy, Scoots, Twilight, and myself ascended the stairs to the throne room of Canterlot Castle.

On a raised dais Celestia sat regally, her emotionless mask firmly in place when she laid eyes on me. Cadence and Luna however greeted me with warm smiles. Celestia stood and walked forward, approaching our group.

"Princess Twilight, Bear O'Hara and family. To what do we owe this visit?"

Twilight spoke up, "Princess, Bear has asked me to call an audience with the four of us on a matter of grave importance dealing with the recent attack on Ponyville."

"Oh has he now. You who spurned our call for aid before now seek to offer it perhaps?"

It took a supreme effort on my part to not close the gap between us and punch her in the royal face. However, given the guards in the room and the fact that my family was present I kept myself in check. Instead I chose to roll the dice and open with my gambit. I stood up strait, letting my hands fall to my side, I locked eyes with her and spoke the words burned in to my mind, "Six and One shall the enemy of creation seek. Six and One virtues of the meek. Life he takes without remorse. In Virtue's blood he charts his course. Six and one must stand. Six to form a valorous band. One to judge the fate of Pony and Man. Six and one to find the Font of Life. Six and One to end the Strife. Six to reenact what has come before. One to ensure the cycle repeats no more."

The room was silent, perplexed looks on three royal faces while the fourth...the fourth quivered in what I could only guess as a mix of fear and rage.

"How...how do you know these words?" Celestia finally asked.

"The Earth Mother revealed them to me." I replied with ice in my voice.

"That's not possible! The Earth Mother has spoken to no one in over a thous-"

I cut her off, "Did you ever try speaking to her first?"

Celestia looked at me with unabashed hatred in her gaze, so intense were the feelings of wrath radiating from her Twilight, Shy, and Scoots all stepped back behind me. Even the guards looked nervous.

"You...you come to our world, you poison my sister against me with truths best forgotten, you wield forbidden magic, you murder other ponies, and you... You dare to question me? I who have lead Equestria single hoofed for a thousand years!" Screamed Celestia.

"Bear what does she mean about truths best forgotten? What's going on!?" Cried Twilight behind me.

"Indeed Aunt Celestia, what do you mean?" Came the cool voice of Cadence from behind her.

Luna narrowed her gaze but kept her silence.

"Should I tell them or should you Celestia?" I bravely said.

"You now threaten me ape!? You would seek to bring even more strife to my land?" Growled the enraged alicorn.

"Threaten? No Celestia. I came here as you said to offer my service. But my service comes with a price." I snarled back.

"Oh a price? I see greed is indeed one of the traits of your species. I should have banished you to the moon the moment you set foot in my land."

"No! MY land Celestia." I barked back.

"Your land? Celestia what is he talking about?" Twilight asked nervously.

"That is none of your concern my student." Celestia replied coolly.

No, I was not going to let her deflect the question, "Answer her Celestia."

"You dare to command me?" Came the rage filled voice once more.

Something inside me went cold. I don't recall willing them off my hands, only the sound of the limiters clattering to the floor. I stared in to Celestia's eyes as one word flowed from my mouth but not in my voice, but rather the voice of two-hundred thousand years of mankind, "Confess!"

Celestia visibly winced and stepped backwards. A sheen of sweat began to form on her brow much as it did when I used the same magic on Twilight, save this time I did not require the dorje.

"CONFESS!" Shouted our collective voices momentarily deafening the room with its volume.

"I...I...no..." Celestia stammered, visibly cringing.

I stepped forward, not knowing if I was guiding my actions or the collective memory of my race. Either way the outcome was the same. I placed one hand on each side of Celestia's muzzle and pressed my forehead to hers and spoke quietly, "We each carry a pain, a burden, or a shame. Share yours Celestia. Share your burden and become stronger. That is the price of my service to you. That is the price that binds a sorcerer to your cause."

I stepped back and waited. Celestia fell heavily on her haunches and looked to her sister who nodded. Then to Cadence, to Twilight, to my girls, and lastly back to me. Finally she spoke, "My...my little ponies can't know."

"I think that is best for you and your peers to decide together Celestia." I replied.

Luna raised a wing and motioned for the guards to clear the room. After the room was cleared Celestia took in a shuddering breath and spoke, "Over a thousand years ago, before the coming of Nightmare Moon...just before Discord was defeated...When the three tribes were still new to Equestria and had not explored the interior...I felt a disturbance in the balance of magic in the land. I followed it to what is now the Everfree Forest in secret, not wanting to distract my sister from the war against Discord. There I found the Tree of Harmony. I also found Discord away from his army among a tribe I had not seen before. The Ape Tribe. He was teaching them the ways of civilization, tool use, some rudimentary magic. He gave them...other elements...that were once part of the tree. I managed to frighten Discord off...He was not prepared for a fight just yet. I....I..."

Celestia shuddered and began to sob. Luna walked to her and rested a comforting wing on her, "Let it out sister then continue."

Cadence sat in silence while Twilight with an uncharacteristically stern expression on her face said, "Yes. Please continue Celestia."

Choking down a sob Celestia continued, "I...I gathered the remaining elements and as I did so the Earth Mother...the spirit of this entire world spoke to me. She spoke the same words that this...descendant of the Ape Tribe just spoke to me. The Earth Mother explained to me that Ape and Pony were meant to live together in peace but one day an Ape would be tasked by the Creator with choosing which civilization would rise and which would fall."

Celestia began to sob once more. Twilight and Luna both remained silent when Cadence spoke up, unmasked fury on her face, "Finish it Celestia."

"I...I used the elements to banish...banish his entire race from this world...I did it to try to spite the prophecy..." Celestia cried out then broke down sobbing, burying her face in her hooves and curling in to a fetal position.

Twilight walked over to Celestia and gently prodded her with a hoof, "Is this really true? Did this land once belong to Bear's people? Did you really banish them to another world because you were afraid of them? Afraid of what they might someday do?"

Celestia uncurled and looked at Twilight for a time before answering, "Yes my dear student. It is true."

Cadence and Twilight both lowered themselves to the floor and took one of her forehooves between theirs, "Princess...I...I don't know what to say...I can't consider myself your student anymore. You are still my friend and almost a mother to me...but I can't be the student of someone who would do something so...so..." Twilight went silent, no tears, no sobbing, just silence. This was truly the first time Twilight had ever unnerved me. Cadence finally spoke, "Aunt Celestia, you may be an alicorn like us but at the end of the day we are only ponies. I forgive you but I am not sure how much I can trust you. I promise you though the Crystal Empire is and always shall be a friend and ally to Equestria."

Luna laid beside her sister and draped a wing over her, "Though we knew most of the story from Bear O'Hara it is good we have now heard it from thee dear sister. We love you no less and we will continue to support thee."

I felt a gentle hoof on each hand and looked down to see both my girls holding my hands looking at me with apprehension. Finally Scoots spoke up, "PapaBear, what happens now?"

I looked to Celestia's tear streaked and haggard face.

"Princess Celestia, you have met my price and confessed before your peers. Therefore I agree to serve you against this Father and his army. Make no mistake, I do not do this of my own free will as I feel I have no choice. Creation has set my course and so shall I follow it." I said with my head bowed and my body trembling in fear at what I was about to do.

"That said Celestia I forgive you...and in the name of my people I absolve you." I said with a deep shuddering breath. The voices remained silent, no whispers of dissent or disagreement. Yes...she is forgiven.

I steeled myself for what I felt I had to do now.

"A wise man from my homeland said long ago, 'Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.'" I paused to let those words sink in then knelt down before the Princess of the Sun. "Today I sacrifice my liberty to purchase safety."

Celestia looked at me, her puffy and red-rimed eyes showing trepidation while my heart raced a mile a minute in anticipation of the pain about to come. "I am no longer fit to bear this symbol of freedom upon my flesh as I am forsaking my liberty in service of a crown." I said as I ripped my left sleeve down baring my tattoo. "In the words penned by Sir George Ripley, 'The bird of Hermes is my name eating my wings to make me tame.'"

I let my magic flow with the words using them as an incantation to form a white-hot flame in my right palm and then slamming it against the tattoo. I felt pain searing through me worse than anything I had ever conceived of. Perhaps the magic of Equestria that now suffused my being gave these symbols of ink a magical meaning in this realm...or perhaps the magic I channeled in to my own flesh was reminding me of the sacrifice I was making. Either way the effect was the same, a blood curdling scream passed my lips as the smell of burned flesh permeated the air. After a moment the flame and the pain died down. I could still feel the loss, a sense of emptiness. I knew then what I had done had irrevocably changed part of my very soul. So be it, I am sworn to defend this land I call home now, forsaking all past beliefs.

I looked up to the four princesses before me, each one with a look of shock on their face, finally locking eyes with Celestia I spoke. "Command me, Sovereign."

I took no satisfaction as I watched Celestia back away from me with abject fear in her eyes. "What hast thou done Bear O'Hara?" cried Luna looking on in horror.

"I have given my Sovereign what she desired, a weapon against the darkness." I replied steadily.

Cadence looked at me with a sick and worried gaze, "But at what cost...you burned away one of your cutiemarks...a piece of your soul...willingly."

I did not acknowledge her words, I only looked on, not breaking eye-contact with Celestia. "What is your command my Sovereign?"

Princess Celestia simply stood, tears flowing freely as she averted her eyes from me as I knelt before her. I heard no command from her, just the same phrase whispered over and over, barely audible. "Not like this. Not like this. Not like this..."

That day a princess learned that falling is easy to do. Next Chapter: 22 - Excommunication Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 34 Minutes