Everypony turned to Coltyn, who cringed at the utterance of that word. The black mare dropped her hood and looked around the room. Celestia was encased in a cocoon being drained of her love, while everypony else was held down by the changeling’s slime.

“Looks like everypony is here.” The black mare smiled harshly. “Excellent work, Chrysalis.”

“Thank you, Midnight Vengeance,” Chrysalis smiled, bowing slightly. “With everypony caught up in wedding planning they didn’t realize that Twilight was correct in doubting me,” Chrysalis said, lifting Twilight’s head to look into her eyes.

Applejack turned to Twilight. “We’re sorry Twilight. We should have listened to you.”

The others apologized as Twilight turned her head back to Chrysalis. “It’s not your fault. She fooled everypony.”

“Which is why I freed her from Tartarus. I needed a creature that could naturally change forms,” Midnight Vengeance explained, walking up to Coltyn. “Isn’t it wonderful? You get to witness the dream set down by mother so long ago come true,” Midnight exclaimed, her horn glowing. “The world shrouded in darkness!” The moon rose and centered itself in front of the sun causing an eerie red glow to fall on Equestria.

“You know nothing of her dream,” Coltyn retorted. “The world free from war and tyranny was her dream. We won! Though it took time to see the victory; we were victorious none the less.” Coltyn hung his head. “Though it seems that the darkness has fully consumed you,” Coltyn said, looking into his daughter’s crimson, dragon-like eyes.

Midnight broke into maniacal laughter. “Consumed? No dear father, I welcomed the darkness. It gave me power and showed me the way to make the true dream mother had a reality. You on the other hoof betrayed everything you once held dear: your friends, your mate, me,” Midnight bellowed. “You even murdered the only pony who stood by me.” She turned to Twilight. “So maybe I should do the same to you.”

“No!” Coltyn screamed. “I’m the one who did you wrong. Don’t punish them for my mistakes,” Coltyn pleaded.

“Hmm? Very well, I won’t kill her,” Midnight said, her magic grabbing Twilight. “She’ll kill you.”

“What?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Or I kill your friends. Starting with her,” Midnight said, holding a spear above Fluttershy’s head.

“Do it, Twilight. Your friends’ lives are more valuable than mine,” Coltyn smiled.

Twilight lifted a spear and leveled it to Coltyn’s chest. Tears streamed down her face. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this,” Twilight repeated, the spear shaking.

Tired of waiting, Midnight threw Twilight aside and with her magic she pushed the spear into Coltyn’s chest. Coltyn smiled. “Love freely given can conquer the darkness.” With his final words his eyes fluttered shut, his life blood running down the spear. The ponies gasped as tears formed in every eye.

Midnight began to laugh maniacally as Chrysalis looked over the changelings in the city. Twilight found herself next to Cadance and quickly freed her from the slime. “Go to him while you have a chance.”

Cadance nodded and ran to Shining Armor. Tears fell as she embraced him. Her outpouring sparked her magic, and her horn lit as a small heart floated in front of him. His eyes returned to normal as he shook his head. “Huh? Where? What? Is the wedding over?” Shining Armor asked confused.

“It’s all over!” Midnight sneered.

“Your spell! Perform your spell!” Twilight shouted.

“What good would that do? My changelings roam free,” Chrysalis retorted.

“No!” Shining Armor said, concentrating on his magic. His horn flickered but nothing happened. “It’s no use. I don’t have the strength to repel them.”

Cadance, remembering Coltyn’s words, turned to Shining Armor. “My love will give you strength.”

“Preposterous,” Midnight scoffed, turning to a window.

“What a lovely but absolutely ridiculous sentiment,” Chrysalis mocked.

Cadance and Shining Armor looked at each other, faces set with determination, as their horns touched and glowed together. A small sphere formed at the tips of their horns growing to encircle them both. Everypony looked on in awe until a voice called out.

“Open your hearts to them. Power the spell!” Coltyn shouted, freeing himself from the wall.

Coltyn saw the opportunity he had waited for and quickly, with Twilight’s help, freed everypony who was stuck. The love spell began to draw the ponies in as Coltyn looked at Midnight. “I need you,” Coltyn snarled, grabbing her with his magic. Coltyn’s horn lit and a magic circle appeared under Cadance and Shining Armor, who had floated up above everypony’s head. The spell put Midnight across from Coltyn and Thunder Snow across from Celestia at the cardinal directions. Power flowed through the circle starting with Coltyn on the south and moving right through Applejack, Fluttershy, Thunder Snow, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Midnight Vengeance, Princess Luna, Rarity, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, and Big Macintosh. A square formed connecting Coltyn, Princess Celestia, Thunder Snow and Midnight Vengeance. Coltyn took on Celestia’s broken horn, concentrating on repairing it, even as Midnight Vengeance lost her horn and Thunder Snow grew one. With the spell done, Coltyn released the power of the circle into the love spell, causing a heart shaped explosion as the barrier forced the changelings out of not only Canterlot, but beyond the boundaries of Equestria and all the way to the edge of the known world.

Midnight, Celestia, Thunder Snow and Coltyn fell to the ground. Coltyn cringed in pain, his horn split to the skull. Looking around he saw that his gamble had paid off. Then, a choked sound drew his eyes to his daughter, and he felt as though his heart were being crushed in a vise.

Everypony tensed as Midnight spoke, reaching for Princess Luna. “I… I tried… moth… er,” she gasped, her last breath escaping her lips with a soft, lost sounding whinny.

Coltyn couldn’t hold back the tears, dropping his head between his front hooves and covering his face in an attempt to hide his weeping, as Celestia got to her hooves with Twilight’s help. “I’m fine. You and your friends have a real wedding to put together,” Princess Celestia said, coaxing her student to take her friends out of the room.

Twilight nodded. “Come on girls, we have a lot of work to do,” Twilight said, leading her friends out of the hall.

Luna approached Coltyn, kneeling beside him and wrapping her wing around the distraught stallion. Coltyn looked up to the Princess. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Coltyn choked, his throat tight with grief.

Luna looked at the lifeless body of Midnight. “She was born in darkness. She couldn’t survive in the light,” Luna offered, understanding why he wept.

“No matter how much she went astray, I… I still loved her,” Coltyn cried. “I should have been able to save her!”

“’Tis only natural to mourn your child,” Luna said gently, lifting his head to force him to meet her eyes. She smiled, even as he noticed she also had tears misting her eyes. “I remember how proud you were when she was born.” Coltyn looked at Luna confused. “Seeing you in your armor sparked the awakening of my memories. I have many questions as – I’m sure – do the others.”

Coltyn looked at Thunder Snow, who was running her hoof along her new horn. “Would somepony please explain to me why there is a horn sticking out of my head?”

Cadance was staring, wide eyed, at the blue mare. Then, she turned to look at Celestia. “Mother? What’s happening?”

Celestia let out a long sigh. “A miracle.” She turned to Coltyn. “I was told that the damage to her horn was too extensive, and that it would be impossible to salvage it.” Turning to Thunder Snow, she continued, “You were foalnapped on the day you were born, and when you were returned to me, your horn had been snapped off. The best doctors in Equestria examined you, and told me that letting you keep what remained of your horn could cause you serious harm as you grew. Allowing it to be removed was the hardest decision I ever made.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I gave you up to your foster parents. Let them raise you as a pegasus because I was told that you would never get your horn back, and I wanted you to have the most normal life possible.”

“A normal life?” Thunder Snow snarled. “My life was a nightmare.” Turning to Cadance. “Did you know? Is that why you didn’t join in the teasing I received daily.”

“No! I didn’t know any of this,” Cadance replied, paling.

Thunder Snow turned back to Celestia. “Have you any idea of the hell I went through?”

Celestia lowered her head. “Yes, I couldn’t do anything without risking having you discovered.”

“Would that have been so terrible? If you would have been honest with everypony I wouldn’t have had to suffer the ridicule that was heaped on me every day. My special talent,” she sneered, “is summoning freak snow storms. Even in the summertime. When I was a filly in Vanhoover, living with the ponies I called my parents, it was possible to hide the occasional accident, but here, in Canterlot? If you wanted me far away, why did you make us move back here just in time for me to go to school with cruel, bullying unicorns that thought it was the most fun thing in their lives to torment me, calling me names and attacking me whenever they thought they could get away with it? I’ve had to fight for every bit of respect I’ve ever had, and now I find out it was ALL a LIE?” As Thunder Snow raged, the room gradually darkened, and a cold wind began to blow. Her eyes were flashing, her nostrils flaring, and as she shouted, rumbling came from outside. “You LET me be treated like a freak, when all you would have needed to do to stop my pain was to TELL THE TRUTH!” Suddenly, a great blue bolt of lightning flashed, striking Celestia and knocking her off her hooves.

The deafening thunder clap echoed throughout the chamber causing everypony to cringe. Everypony stood in silent shock at what they had just witnessed. Cadance ran to her mother, tears in her eye as Princess Luna addressed Thunder Snow. “Come walk with me. You will do nopony any good in a blind rage,” Luna offered.

Thunder Snow snorted, rolling her eyes, before following her evident aunt out of the Grand Hall. Coltyn slowly got up and walked over to Celestia, Shining Armor, and Cadance. “Is she alright?” Coltyn asked, rubbing his throbbing head.

“Why would she do this? After all we’ve been through, how could she turn on us?” Cadance asked openly.

“She just realized everything she knew was a lie. She is going to need time,” Coltyn answered. “She is going to need you all more than ever before.” Coltyn saw the small scorch mark on Celestia’s chest. “We should move her to her chambers for some rest.”

Shining Armor lifted Celestia onto his back. “What about that one?” Shining Armor asked, motioning towards Midnight’s lifeless body.

Breathing heavily, Coltyn replied in a tight voice. “I will see to her burial.”

Shining Armor and Cadance looked at each other, confused. “You want to give her a burial?” Shining Armor asked.

“I owe her that much,” Coltyn said, looking up to the heavens. “And to lay the burden of my past to rest.”

Cadance and Shining Armor exchanged another look, and quietly left to get Celestia to her chamber. Coltyn grabbed one of the white banners with his mouth and wrapped Midnight Vengeance’s body in the cloth. He lifted her body onto his back and slowly trudged out of the hall. As he was making his way down to the halls, he met up with Luna and Twilight.

“How’s Thunder Snow?” Coltyn asked wearily.

“She is out flying while she tries to figure out what to do,” Luna explained, with a sigh. “She is understandably confused, and feels betrayed. It will take some time.”

“Umm… Coltyn?” Twilight began.

“Yes?”

“Your horn. It’s… well…”

“Split. I know. I fixed Celestia’s horn by taking the damage onto my own.”

“Does it… hurt?” Twilight asked, cautiously.

“It’s nothing headache potions can’t help,” Coltyn sighed, clutching his head as a wave of pain hit him. “Lots of potions. It will heal… eventually.”

“So what are you doing with her?” Luna asked, tilting her horn toward Midnight’s body, sidestepping nervously for a moment.

“I want to lay her to rest, with your permission of course,” Coltyn asked, lowering his head.

“Where?” Luna asked.

“I was thinking of returning her to Everfree, to the ancient palace where she was born. It just seems… right,” Coltyn said.

Luna looked down for a long moment, and then lifted her gaze to meet Coltyn’s. “I would… choose to be present when she is laid to rest. It’s only fitting.”

Coltyn smiled slightly. “You would be welcome. I would teleport us there but my magic isn’t stable with my horn like this.”

“I can get us there and back,” Twilight offered. “I’ve been studying that augmentation circle you taught me for long distance teleportation, and I know I can get all of us back to Ponyville. The ruined castle is only a short distance from there.”

Coltyn looked to Luna who nodded. “Whenever you’re ready,” Coltyn said, smiling weakly.

With a flash of Twilight’s horn the three ponies were standing at the edge of Everfree Forest. Coltyn slowly and silently walked into the forest with Twilight and Luna flanking him. The somber mood among the ponies was reflected as the forest seemed to sing, mourning the passing of a creature of darkness. Approaching the ruins, Twilight couldn’t help but notice that they were being followed. Looking back, she noticed bats, crows, timberwolves, manticores, and further back more shapes she couldn’t distinguish moving through the shadows.

“I think we’re in trouble,” Twilight whispered to Coltyn, panic evident in her voice.

“They are just here to pay respects to the Dark Princess. They won’t hurt you,” Coltyn said, continuing forward.

A nod from Luna helped ease her worry, but Twilight stayed on guard, just in case. The ruins came into view and they saw that a few creatures had built a funeral pyre on the top stair to the castle. Accompanied by Luna and Twilight, Coltyn walked up to the pyre and laid Midnight upon the wooden frame. Coltyn then walked in front of the pyre and looked out to the gathered creatures.

“Fellow creatures of darkness and the night, we gather here to mourn the passing of the Princess of Darkness, Midnight Eclipse. She showed great determination in trying to fulfill Nightmare Moon’s dream for Equestria. To her misfortune, her plan failed and she paid the ultimate price. Though we mourn her passing, we also hope that she has found peace in what lies beyond this life.” Coltyn then walked behind the pyre, addressing Twilight and Luna. “Light the pyre, please.”

Twilight and Luna’s horns lit as small sparks ignited the tinder, a gentle breeze fanning the flames. Once the fire was established, Coltyn intoned:

“This fire in the night,
Bright pyre light,
Take this soul of dark,
And welcome it to your ark.
Cleanse the body and soul,
Make her finally whole,
Let her shine forever in the sky,
Star of a mournful good-bye.
Creatures of darkness now free,
No more your call to heed,
Your service is fulfilled,
Freed from our will.
Go now and live your life,
Fellow creatures of the night.”

Coltyn looked down at his daughter’s body engulfed by flames. “Good-bye, my Midnight Eclipse.”

The three ponies watched with silent tears streaking their cheeks dark as the body burned. The fire began to die as Coltyn, Princess Luna, and Twilight slowly left the forest. Upon reaching the forest edge, Twilight had many questions and wanted answers.

“Coltyn,” Twilight said, getting his attention. “What are you?”

Coltyn sighed. “That is a long story. We should return to Canterlot, I’m sure many wish to hear this tale.” Coltyn looked to Twilight, with a quick flash of her horn, the three of them were standing outside of the castle.

“I will see to preparations and we shall meet tomorrow and hopefully everypony’s questions will be answered,” Luna stated, taking wing.

“Could you help me back to my cart?” Coltyn asked wearily. “I’ve used a lot of energy tod…” Coltyn trailed off as his legs locked and his head fell.

Twilight cringed at the pain-filled whinnies Coltyn made as his exhausted body stood in the street. She lifted him gently with her magic and took him up to an empty guest room. She laid Coltyn on the bed, and as she covered him with the blankets the pain seemed to lessen and the whinnies turned into the heavy, even breathing of deep slumber.

*****

Coltyn woke as the sun shone on his face; the smell of fresh tea filled the air. He rolled to his feet, his head pounding as he grabbed the cup and after a few blows took a sip. It was rejuvenating and seemed to have some pain relieving plants mixed in. He slowly enjoyed the unexpected tea. As he realized that he was not in his cart but still in the castle, a knock came at the door.

“It’s time to revisit history,” Celestia’s voice called from the other side.

“I hope this doesn’t end in tragedy,” Coltyn said, opening the door.

“We must have faith that they can forgive the sins of our pasts so we can all work to a brighter future.” Celestia smiled as the two walked to the meeting chamber. “I also want to thank you for your dedication in finding a way to repair my daughter’s horn.”

“You’re welcome,” Coltyn said as they approached the door. He took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. Coltyn pushed open the door to see Twilight and her friends, Big Macintosh, Luna, Thunder Snow, Cadance, and Shining Armor sitting around a large circular table.

“Thank you all for coming. We are here to answer your questions. Who would like to start?” Celestia asked.

Twilight slowly raised her hoof and with a nod from Princess Celestia asked. “Coltyn, what are you? I saw you impaled by a spear. You should be dead, not sitting here answering questions.”

“I understand your bewilderment,” Coltyn began. “A thousand years ago I looked for a way to avoid death. In dark and depraved magic I found my answer, a jet black stone from the other side of the world known as Darksteel. With a mixture of magic and alchemy I produced a potion that gave me what I sought, unending life.” Coltyn looked up to his split horn and pointed at it. “Even wounds like this will heal in a week or so.”

“So…” Thunder Snow frowned. “Why have there been so many secrets?”

Celestia sighed. “The answer to that is a long and complex story. It was the night after you and Princess Cadance were born that you disappeared. I had every available hoof looking for you.” Celestia turned to Coltyn. “I think you can fill in some blanks for us.”

Coltyn nodded. “I had returned to Canterlot in hopes of taking advantage of the weakened state Celestia was in.”

“What do you mean by ‘taking advantage of’?” Shining Armor asked.

Coltyn let out a long sigh. “I planned to kill her.” Looks of horror spread across everypony’s face. “But when I overheard the guards talking about finding Celestia’s lost foal, I knew I needed to find that foal. After the end of the war between Celestia and her sister, my own infant foal was gone from me, and I understood the pain of losing a child. I quickly tracked the foalnappers to Manehatten, where they’d gone to ground. I didn’t expect to find my daughter there.”

“Your daughter?” Cadance asked.

“Her name was Midnight Eclipse or as she called herself yesterday, Midnight Vengeance. She was born of darkness and pride, consumed by vengeance. I looked in to see Celestia’s stolen filly lying on the floor, horn broken and quivering in pain,” Coltyn voice carried the torment of this memory. “In a split second decision, I chose to give up my own vengeance in favor of saving your life, and took you away from her.” Coltyn looked guiltily at Thunder Snow. “With only a small knowledge of healing magic I knew there was nothing I could do but seal your wound and return you to Celestia. I promised myself to return with a cure but all these years of study failed to reveal to me the answer… until yesterday. I’d been finding references to the power of ‘brotherly love’ to heal great harm, but it wasn’t until the moment that your own twin and her beloved created their spell of pure love that I realized how I could use love to correct the harm done so long ago. My daughter took your horn, and her sacrifice returned it to you.”

“I see… I think,” Thunder Snow said, beginning to understand.

“After you were returned,” Celestia began. “I knew that there would be so many difficulties for a Princess without magic, and I wished for you to have a happy childhood, not a lifelong string of disappointments as you watched your younger sister be groomed to inherit the birthright that should have been yours as the eldest. So I did what I thought was best, I gave you up to my most trusted guard and his wife. I did it because I loved you, and because I wanted you to have the best opportunity possible to grow up into the best pegasus you could be, regardless of your birth,” Celestia said with a tear in her eye. “We changed your name from Belle de Wintra to Thunder Snow, something more befitting a pegasus. No matter your name or circumstances, however, I wanted to be close to you, which is why I had you and your foster parents return to Canterlot for your schooling. I know your life has been hard and I wish I could have saved you from it but I had to keep my distance.”

“So why didn’t you tell me I was an alicorn, Coltyn?” Thunder Snow asked.

“If I did you wouldn’t have believed me, and if you did believe me and I had failed, you would be disappointed. I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure myself if any attempts to heal you would work.”

“So why did Midnight attack Canterlot?” Shining Armor asked. “What was her motive?”

“Revenge for the death of her mother, Nightmare Moon,” Luna replied, her chin dropping sadly. The room went eerily silent as the ponies processed what she said. “I took the name as an alias but time and war gave that alias life. I lost myself to the rage and hate it harbored and would not be satisfied until I ruled as queen, Coltyn as my king, and our princess to carry the line.”

“So what was this war about?” Twilight asked. “How much of history is a lie?”

“Please don’t think ill of me,” Princess Celestia said. “Luna and I had been at war with the griffons over land and resources. It was actually Coltyn and his two friends that forced the griffons to surrender. I tried to be reasonable and fair in the conditions but some of the noble houses weren’t pleased. I started to fear losing my position, my power. I enacted more laws restricting everypony’s freedoms because I didn’t want to lose the power I had won. I didn’t even trust my dear sister, I became a tyrant.” Celestia had tears running down her cheeks.

“I couldn’t stand what she was doing so in secret I gathered Coltyn and his friends to overthrow my sister.” Luna frowned. “I knew she wouldn’t just give up so I built an army headed by Grand Strategist Golden Blade, Captain of the Shadowbolts Fire Mane, and Master Mage Coltyn Pendragon. For two years the fighting raged, we were pushed back to the ruins in the Everfree Forest. It was Coltyn’s decision to try to hinder the royal guard’s advance.”

Coltyn sighed. “I did something that nopony should have been able to do. I infused the entire forest with wild magic, freeing it forever from pony control. But it drained me to the point of unconsciousness; I awoke inside the Canterlot Dungeon. I survived several days of interrogation and torture to find that the whole army had come to save me and been destroyed for their efforts.”

“Torture?” Twilight asked. “Who could do a thing like that to another pony?”

“I did,” Celestia said softly. The ponies were shocked to hear this. “I needed information, so I used any means necessary to get it.”

Twilight was at a loss, heartsick at hearing the truth of what her beloved mentor did in the past. “How? How can this be? What about the histories?” Twilight stammered, betrayal choking her as she asked.

“Twilight, please understand that she only did what she had to do. War is not pleasant and will force even the most noble and honorable ponies to do things that they wouldn’t normally do,” Coltyn stated.

Celestia and Luna nodded. “When I faced Nightmare Moon, she was easily my equal that day, and may well have beaten me,” Celestia said. “So I used my backup plan, summoned the Elements of Harmony and banished her to the moon. However, in a split second I saw my sister under that sinister form; I never had so many regrets as I did in that one moment. The elements turned to stone once I realized what I had done, and then they vanished. I tracked the elements back to the castle in Everfree but they rejected me, in the process making it clear to me that only those who truly represent their spirit could wield their power.”

“So that’s why you sent me to Ponyville, to collect the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight asked, feeling used and betrayed.

“That was part of it,” Celestia admitted. “I also knew that Nightmare Moon would be returning. Even in a weakened state she would have been too powerful for a normal pony to take on. Once I admitted you to my school I began to look for the ponies that held the spirit the other elements. Fortunately, most of them already lived in Ponyville, I only had to make sure Rainbow Dash was assigned as Ponyville’s weather pony. All the pieces were in place, I just had to wait to make the first move.”

“So what were you doing during this time, Coltyn?” Thunder Snow asked, quizzically.

“I was hiding. But after Celestia stopped looking for me I began to learn magic from others. I even traveled to the Zebra’s homeland to learn their shamanistic ways,” Coltyn said. “Ultimately, I was developing my magic in order to slay Celestia… until you were foalnapped. Then I searched for a way to undo the damage done by Midnight Eclipse. I went to Ponyville after hearing about Discord’s escape. After helping Twilight and her friends I continued my studies, and after a few more dead leads and learning how to make a Gem of the Archmage, I came here.”

“This is our past,” Celestia said. “Our mistakes have been paid for and we learned from them.”

“The sins of our past forever remembered,” Luna said.

“Our true selves revealed. The darkness now brought to light,” Coltyn finished.

“We are ponies who have made many mistakes on a grand scale, no more, no less,” Celestia said, turning to Thunder Snow. “Since that time we have all made efforts to make amends, but the past can never be undone. We can only endeavor to learn from the past in order to build a better future. If you are willing, I would begin the process of formalizing your status as a princess and return that which is yours by birthright.”

“I’ve never had anything given to me. I had to earn everything with my own hooves,” Thunder Snow said plainly. “I am Thunder Snow, Captain of the Pegasus Guard.” She pointed to her new horn. “This doesn’t change anything.”

Celestia frowned, unhappy with the response, but willing to accept it. “Very well, if anypony wishes to consult further we will be in our rooms.” She turned to go, then looked at her elder child once more and added, “Should you change your mind, I will never deny you, my daughter.” In the ensuing silence, Celestia took her leave.