(Celestia’s PoV:)

I sat on my throne, Sunset’s outburst was replaying in my mind. It took everything I had to pay the slightest bit of attention to the problems that were brought before me by my little ponies. Many of them were mundane things that honestly could be dealt with themselves if they put just ten minutes of thought into them. I love my subjects dearly, but there are days where I just want to shake some sense into them. It was even harder to fight that urge and keep the practiced smile on my face with Sunset’s words bouncing around in my head.

The only complaint brought to my attention that wasn’t pointless was a land dispute between a low-ranking noble and a young changeling drone. Granted, this was a dispute more suitable for the mayor of their town, but official help was needed nonetheless. Once Day Court was adjourned for a recess of sorts, I allowed myself to sag into my throne a little.

I shot up when the doors to the throne room opened again. I instantly relaxed when I saw who it was. Queen Chrysalis strode up to me wearing a long, green dress that was the same color as her eyes. It seemed a size too small for her given the way it strained to contain her generous curves. Though I’m sure that was more than intentional. It’s always a little surreal seeing her after meeting one of her counterparts. It didn’t help matters that like her counterpart she had become the leader of the changelings after Chiton had stepped down to attend to other matters. Said matters tended to be “gathering love” in exotic locales if her letters and the attached photos were anything to go by.

“So, have your subjects figured out how to walk and talk at the same time yet, or are they as spectacularly incompetent as always?” Chrysalis asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. She flashed me a teasing smirk, showing off her fangs.

I returned her smirk, leaning on the armrest of my throne. “I don’t know, can your subjects go two minutes without screwing to actually get anything done?” I shot back.

We stared each other down for a few moments before breaking into laughter.

“Glad to see the stresses of running a country haven’t dulled your wits yet,” she said.

I chuckled, getting out of my throne to walk up to her. “Oh trust me, it’s been trying to,” I told her, shaking my head. “One pony tried to bribe me to order the Wonderbolts to have a private party for their foal.”

Chrysalis chuckled for a moment. “Some nobles tend to have more money than sense.” She eyed me up for a bit before saying, “You look exhausted, when’s the last time you had a day off?”

I groaned and let my shoulders sag. “I have no idea, it’s been a while.”

She put a hand on my shoulder. “Then I think you need to go and have some fun today.” She grinned at me. “Or just get blitzed and let loose for once.”

I pushed her hand away and frowned at her. “You know I can’t do that. I still have serious matters to attend to today.”

Her grin grew for a moment. “Oh no, if only you knew someone who could make a perfect stand-in for you? Oh wait,” a green ring ran over her body and in an instant she looked exactly like me, “you do.”

I perked up a little and I glanced at the throne room doors before meeting her gaze. “You’d really take over the rest of my workload?”

Chrysalis waved me off. “It’s not like I had anything better to do today. Unlike you, I give myself breaks.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at her and lit up my horn. In a flash of light, I had taken on the appearance of a pink maned, white furred pegasus mare. I decided to keep the attire simple with a pink tank top and jean shorts that hugged close to my rump.

Chrysalis gave me a once over before shrugging. “I’d have made the tits bigger but I suppose that’s a decent disguise.”

I laughed and sashayed towards the throne room doors. “I doubt there’s a pair of breasts that you wouldn’t say that about.”

Her muzzle spread into a toothy grin. “But of course. Boobs are like the drop on a rollercoaster, the bigger they are, the more fun you’ll have.”

I shook my head and slowly pushed one of the doors open. “I’ll be back in time to lower the sun.”

She took a seat in the throne and waved. “Take all the time you need.”

I closed the door behind me, rushed to my room in order to grab some bits and set off in search of something to do. I turned the heads of the nobles I walked past. Of course, it was probably due to my choice of attire. Not that I minded. I could put up with a few dirty looks for the sake of comfort.

My wanderings led me to Canterlot’s Restaurant Row. My muzzle scrunched up on reflex as soon as I saw the fancy lettering on the signs. Ever since that poor excuse for a food critic had appointed herself the arbiter of cuisine the quality had gone downhill. She should count herself lucky I’m not a tyrant. Otherwise I would’ve had her banished for her crimes against tastebuds.

I walked past that section of the city as fast as my legs could carry me and before I knew it I was in the central area of Canterlot. I felt a small smile tug at my muzzle. The center of Canterlot primarily housed families that could be considered middle-class as well as a few that just barely qualified as members of nobility. I continued my aimless meandering through the streets until my growling stomach and parched lips steered me towards a tavern.

The trappings of it were fairly typical with photos and memorabilia of the local Hoofball team, the Canterlot Crushers lining the walls. I always got a chuckle out of the mascot, a cartoon knight with a manic look in its eye while wielding a comically large hammer. Nothing really stood out about the tavern except for the fairly large chandelier that hung over the center of the room and provided light.

I took a seat at the bar and ordered whatever the bartender would recommend. I waited for a few minutes and let myself get lost in the mulled conversations of the other patrons. I thanked the bartender as he placed a plate and a mug in front of me and hummed in appreciation as soon as the modest looking hayburger hit my tongue.

Before I could eat half of my meal, the tavern door opened and crashed into the wall, rattling the decorations on it. A group of stallions piled in, spreading out along the tavern. They were a mix of unicorns, earth ponies and pegasi. I took a moment to examine the stallions.

They all had a magigun on their sides and were new from what I could tell. The wood that made up most of the body looked freshly polished. In a tiny compartment just below the hammer was a small magic crystal that glowed dimly. The barrel of the gun was made of a polished white crystal and shimmered lightly with the enchantment to keep it from shattering when fired.

I quickly counted about half a dozen of them, one of the unicorns staying by the door as if to guard it. Another of them stepped up to my side and leaned on the bar. I felt a growing urge to take a shower due to the slime that I felt coming from him.

“Well hello there, sexy,” the stallion said, a cocky grin on his muzzle. “What’s a pretty mare like you doing drinking alone here?”

I ignored him, taking another bite of my burger as I weighed my options. Undoing my disguise and showing off who I was would probably cause them to give up whatever it was they were going to do. Of course, their magiguns had the potential to embolden them. In that case, keeping the other patrons out of the line of fire would be my top priority.

The stallion didn’t seem perturbed by my silence. “Aww, not in the mood to talk?” He pulled out his gun and placed it on the counter. “Is this bothering you? Don’t worry, I’d never use it on a pretty thing like you.”

I looked down at the gun. It would be a simple thing to grab it and point it at him. This would then lead to the other stallions to take aim at me. I was fine with putting myself in danger. My only concern would be if one of the other patrons started to panic.

“Y’know, my associates and I are going around asking for money.” The other stallions adjusted their guns at this. “And we’re pretty persuasive about how we ask.” He started running a hand through my mane, making my skin crawl. “Though for a mare like you, I’m willing to take another kind of payment.”

Just as I was about to snatch the gun, a loud crash came from the doorway. I turned to see a tall, cloaked figure standing in the doorframe. The cloak was a faded brown and looked like it was very old. I couldn’t see their face and the article of clothing obscured the shape of their body, leaving me unable to even guess their species.

The figure stepped into the bar, letting the door close behind them. This revealed that the unicorn guarding the door had wound up with his horn stuck into it. The being then sat at the bar, putting themself between the stallion and me.

They sighed in relief, draping themself across the counter. This sent the gun of the stallion harassing me clattering behind the bar. “Ah, feels like forever since I sat down. Bartender, I’ll take your finest ale and any kind of meat dish if you have it.”

The voice of the figure made me pause. The cloak muffled it, but it still sounded so familiar.

The group of stallions took aim on him while the unicorn who had been hitting on me stopped leaning on the bar and lit up his horn.

“Hey you stupid bastard! What do you think you’re doing?!”

The figure looked up, taking in the situation. “Gyahhh!” he cried, starting to flail his arms around and fell out of his seat. His foot got caught in the bar at the bottom of it and his flailing drove the stool right between the legs of the unicorn. Said unicorn let out a pathetic squeak, fell to his knees and cradled his damaged goods.

The other stallions took fire. I almost dropped my disguise to throw a barrier around him when he moved the stool in front of himself and blocked the bullets with it. He flailed his leg again, kicking off the stool. It went sailing across the tavern and struck the lone pegasus of the group in the head. The stool exploded into splinters and the pegasus fell to the floor. The figure jumped to his feet, “accidentally” punching the unicorn in the jaw on his way.

The remaining stallions opened fire on the figure, causing him to contort his body in order to dodge them. The bullets tore through his cloak, opening up holes along it. The stallions gave up trying to shoot the figure and drew knives. They charged him, their knives aimed at his chest. The figure seemed to be frozen in fear, remaining still as they started to converge on him. At the last second, he dropped to his hands and knees and crawled between one of their legs as their attacks went towards where he had been a moment earlier. He continued to crawl for a moment before returning to his feet.

The stallions growled in frustration and charged him again. The figure screamed again, picking up the knives on the table he was standing by and threw them blindly. At least, that’s what the stallions thought before the chandelier’s supports broke and came crashing down on top of them.

The figure winced, taking in the damage he’d caused. “Um, I can pay for this.” He tapped at his sides, feeling for his money. He chuckled weakly and added, “I think.” He pulled a bag of coins off his side and tossed them onto the counter where the bartender had poked his head up to take in the scene. “I think it’s best I just go.”

He then stepped around the unconscious would-be robbers and headed for the door. I jumped to my hooves, tossed my own payment onto the counter and followed after him. I rushed onto the street, catching sight of the figure among a crowd of onlookers that had formed due to the commotion.

I paid the crowd no mind as I dropped my disguise and lit up my horn. My golden aura surrounded the figure’s cloak and I effortlessly pulled it off of him. I gasped from what I saw. There was no doubt who it was, even with the slight differences. His hair was much longer, reaching to his mid-back and a streak of black cut through the golden blonde. My emotions swirled, so many words coming to me but I was unable to say them.

Eventually, one emotion one out over the others and I spoke. “Vash!”

He turned and regarded me with a confused expression. His expression then morphed as he had to duck from a magic blast.

“You son of a bitch!” I roared, my face a mask of pure rage as my horned shined with blinding light.

He spun on his heels, making a mad dash through the crowd. I took to the skies and followed after him.

“Nine-hundred-ninety years! For nine-hundred-ninety years I’ve thought you were dead! And it turns out that you’ve been alive doing Faust knows what!” I punctuated each sentence with a bolt of magic. He dodged them all, his hair whipping around him.

He didn’t respond, instead he screamed as he ran down the streets. He tried to make sharp turns to lose me, but there was no way I was letting him out of my sights. I chased him up and down for a while, ponies watching in fascination. I paid them no mind as I closed in on Vash. Using my magic, I hauled him into the air. Then, I teleported the two of us to the castle gardens. I cut off my magic, letting him fall to the ground with an ‘oomph’.

I crossed my arms across my chest, glaring at him. “So, what do you have to say for yourself?”

He pulled himself into a sitting position and looked up at me with a nervous smile. “Um, I’m sorry for whatever it is I did?” he offered, rubbing the back of his neck.

My eyes widened as realization dawned on me. The way he was staring at me said it all, he had amnesia. I should have realized sooner. Vash would never willingly abandon us. Tears welled up in my eyes and I fell to my knees in order to hug him.

He warily returned it, patting my back between my wings. “I am very confused right now,” he muttered.

“Shut up before you ruin the moment.”

This had the desired effect and we stayed like that for some time. Once we were done hugging I took him into the castle and led him to Morning’s office. Morning’s initial reaction was to tackle and coil around him. Whether it was out of anger or joy I couldn’t tell. My educated guess was a little bit of both.

Morning eventually pulled herself off him once it sounded like his bones were about to break. “What on Equis have you been doing all this time?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Vash took a moment to catch his breath, looking between Morning and I with confused expression. “I’ve uh, been travelling all over the world.” He scratched at his cheek with a weak smile. “I was even a captain on a pirate ship for a while.”

Morning frowned, her eyes searching him. “What is the earliest memory you have?”

Vash tilted his head down, his brow furrowing as he wracked his brain. “Darkness,” he finally answered, “I was stuck in a totally dark cave made of ice. I couldn’t see anything so I had to keep my hand on the wall to feel my way out. I have no idea how long I was in there before a tribe of yetis found me.”

Morning and I shared a look, our expressions shifting to concern. “It’s just as I feared,” I said, “he can’t remember anything before the Angel Arm went off.” I turned back to him. “Vash, I think I may know someone who may be able to restore your lost memories. It’ll take a few days for them to get here, so until then I’ll have a room prepared for you.”

He scratched at his cheek a hopeful look in his eyes. “I guess a room in a castle is better than the cheap inns I’m used to.”

A small smile crept onto my muzzle. While it wasn’t quite the reunion I had ever envisioned, it was great to have Vash back. Though to be honest, any reunion was more than I could ever hope for. As I led him towards the guest room, my eyes drifted to his right arm. Memories of that fateful day came rushing back to me. The look in Vash’s eyes as he threatened to end his own life, the bitter cold biting at me and seeping into my body as Luna and I searched every the ravine, and the utter despair and self-loathing I had felt when we were forced to return to the carriage.

There was a stabbing pain in my heart. From what Vash had said it was obvious he had found himself in a cavern that had been sealed by rubble. My thoughts continued to race, guilt threatening to overwhelm me. If Luna and I had just considered that possibility at the time, pushed ourselves just a little harder: then we might’ve found him. A tear fell from the corner of my eye. I could only imagine what he had been through during his centuries of wandering alone. I shook my head, dispelling the persistent thoughts. I couldn’t afford to dwell on the past. I had to focus on what I could do for him in the present.