Chapter 18

"You've constructed another beautiful night, Luna," Cepheid approved as his sister put the finishing touches on the new evening. Most nights she would embrace her taller brother, but tonight her heart weighed heavy. A shy glance to him acknowledged and appreciated the compliment.

"'Tis my duty to create this every night. A duty I carry for my sister."

"Perhaps I should have at least waited an hour or two after sunsets to see for myself. Just that Tia's work has been my clock for as long as I can remember."

"It is not your lack of attention in the past, brother. It is another piece of said past that troubles me."

"The past is what it will always be, Luna - the past. The present is fleeting, and the future is never fixed. You're restored yourself and your reputation. It'll be my turn at the Summer Sun festival next year."

"Do you think of our brothers when you are up here, Cepheid?"

"Aphelion is too tough to die. Solaris may still wander the world. I do not know, our paths never crossed again after....."

"Lapis is alive."

"Of all the family.... why hasn't he come home? He's a snotty little brat, but I've never held a grudge."

"He does."

"Want me to talk some sense into him?"

"I fear it will only escalate things. Though it was clearly not his intent, it is because of Lapis that myself and Celestia have reunited. Something still troubles him deeply. Very deeply."

"It troubles me as well," the male alicorn responded. "You know how hard it is for me to see our family like this?"

"You of all would want us in the same room no matter what, just to see if this wound can be healed."

"My hope is that our remaining brothers are around to have this reunion.

musical interlude

o/` All this time, far apart, reaching out into the distance...
Holding hope, since I don't know, it's troubling me
This sundered family o/`

o/` Will we be okay? I breathe in, wondering if they're out there
I've been holding back the fear too long
I don't want us to be alone. o/`

Luna glanced up to her brother's sorrowful song.

o/` We're just glad that you're back here, facing the future without fear
Stay by our side as Seasons' Guide.
We don't want to be alone. o/`

Cepheid nodded to her.

o/` My greatest fear is losing you, never wanna be the one to fail you.
I see it's true, you miss them too, they should be here and it haunts you. o/`

o/` I believe in them, I believe in them... I know, I know I KNOW that they're out there.
We've been holding back our fears as well
I don't want us to be alone o/`

Cepheid's expression morphed from worry to hope.

o/` I'm just glad I came back here, facing the future with you near
As you pull the tides and tend this sky.
You don't think that we're alone.... o/`

o/` For you know I cannot wait, to see that crowning day
As if not a day had passed.

It's the reason I won't break, and why I always say,
That they'll come home to be, more than just memories ... o/`

Luna's surprised glance gave Cepheid pause; she finished the ballad, eyes glistening with emotion.

o/` Yes, It hurts that it's this way, I hear your words, and I do pray
This truth is right, neither day nor night
Will stop them from coming home. o/`

They repeated the refrain together, a plea into the evening sky. Celestia could hear them, a single tear shed in her sleep.

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The sad song did not penetrate the walls of Drakengard that evening. Even if Lapis Umbral had heard the words, he would not have believed them. Luna chose to return to Canterlot and leave him behind, then Cepheid locked away from the sun.... not a single word from anypony in Canterlot about him, not even from Gallant Lionheart. All that the dark alicorn knew was his brother remained in Canterlot someplace, hopefully not in chains and the sun giving him life again.

"Master Lapis? I said I was ready."

"Apologies, Morning Star. Let us begin."

The two met once more in the windowless room where he had done much of his dark magic. It had been many years since he attempted to teach another pony his signature spell, but he was confident that Morning Star would not only learn, but master it quickly. To test her, he brought her to the room to see how she'd respond to not seeing outside. She was unfazed, and that calmed him.

"So we shall begin," he finally exhaled. "What I am about to show you is magic that will NEVER be taught in Celestia's school. Be warned that shadows are dangerous to play with and your focus must be complete. I will accompany you on this journey. Do not fear the dark, not even the dark of Absolute Night. Fear is their nectar, face this darkness with me."

"Yes, Master Lapis."

"The mantra is simple, three phrases that bring the darkness forward. First, 'Black as the night.', which is the darkness of evening, and all can still see. Second, 'Blacker than the night.' this is where the darkness will close in around you. Do not fear it; lacking true ears it must be close to hear your voice. Third, proclaim something that is blacker still, but never invoke the Absolute Night. What is blacker than the night, that would bring the Absolute Night to you?" She nodded in understanding. "Begin."

"Black as the Night," she breathed, eyes closed. Lapis watched closely as the room did darken to her command. "Blacker than the Night," she continued, blackness seeping into the room and swirling around him before investigating the new voice. They paused for the third line. "Blacker than Canterlot should Twilight Sparkle ever rule it."

The room instantly brightened, blinding Lapis momentarily. "Not.... quite... like.. that," he half-growled, "a PLACE, not a concept. Start again, and quickly!"

"Canterlot IS a place-"

"But you describe a CONCEPT, and you anger more than the shadows!" His ire more from the invoking of a name than the disruption of the spell. "Begin. Again!"

Morning Star trembled as she tried to calm her mind and steady her voice. "Black as the Night," this time more authoritatively. The darkness crept back toward her as her confidence kept her focused. "Blacker than the Night!" she announced, and the darkness complied. "Blacker than the hallows of Tarterus itself!" she finished, and indeed the darkness deepened.

"Very good," Lapis whispered to his student. "You did this without demonstration. Now in this darkness nopony can see you, perhaps they can hear you or sense your magic.... but they cannot be sure of your presence. That is how darkness creates fear. Take this darkness, take the fear of the night and plant it like a seed at your feet. See what grows from there."

Morning Star focused again, coalescing magic into one black seed in the darkness and pushing it through the stone at her feet. "Can the Shadows still hear me when planted in the ground?"

"They will know your voice if they have graced you in this darkness."

"Shadows, aid me in my cause," she intoned, "The force of Light threatens your existance. I know their ways, I know one of their 'knights'. I can help you. Come to me."

The small groove from her planted "seed" cracked the floor audibly. She flinched, noting a bluish glow before her. Eyes still closed, she repeated her plea, until something hovered near her.

"It has heard you. Continue to control your breathing. Open your eyes and face this creature without fear. This will be the beast that tames the Unworthy, and she will be helpless at your hooves."

She dared a peek, a bluish vine swaying near her like an expectant cobra. She steeled as the tip of the vine erupted in eldritch magic, the tip blossoming into the shadowy head of a fanged, sightless pony screeching in her face. Sparks from her horn cowed it. Their voices kept its attention.

"You are here at my choosing," she said to the creature. "I am Master to you as Lapis is master to me. Hear my very words. I have brought you to life to tame one pony - one pony whose shadow is not dark, and is worshipped because of favoritism over talent. Too many ponies have suffered as one has been chosen above all others because she was favored over more powerful casters. She is to suffer at your fangs, and will in turn leave two Princesses powerless as their 'chosen' slowly fades away..... by OUR doing."

The creature roared in agreement, siphoning all of the darkness of the room into itself while locking eyes with the white unicorn. She watched as the vine and the beast grew spherical from the shadows closing together, dusting her with blackness and frosting her coat. A glance at her coat changed to one of approval as the sphere shattered into the shape of a large, grayish-black rose in full bloom. She nosed it gently. "Blair.... you will be the catalyst that brings Canterlot to its knees."

Lapis' pride blossomed with the rose, savoring her triumph. "Your boasts are not misplaced, Morning Star. You understand this magic even wihtout a demonstration by me. And it suits you well."

Her gaze peeled from the rose to her master. "Thank you. What next for Blair?"

"We'll need to deliver that to Aurora, and I have two ponies that can take care of such errands..."

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Violet Force and Silver Shimmer pushed more fog clouds and cover through the area, trying to further obscure Drakengard. No patrols had followed up on their original "work" before they left Canterlot; both very relieved at this news. Who knows what Luna would do to them now! They settled on top of the cloud cover, looking northeast toward Canterlot.

"It's weird," Violet mused to his sister. "I almost miss Thunder Arrow some days."

"Why? All he did was give us boring work since we didn't have enough to do otherwise, so we did our own thing."

"Not that, really. Yeah, the work was stupid, it was just fun to watch him steam."

"Silver Bardiche was much better for that. I heard he's retired now."

Violet sighed. "But our current boss - he doesn't do much of anything with us, does he?"

"We're his Phalanx co-captains," Silver said proudly. "We get to order these ponies around!"

"Well, yeah, that's cool, too. But that's only recently. All we did was crappy weather duty and some occasional scouting....."

"You weren't with me when I got chased around Canterlot a few times by the Pegasus corps last winter."

"Why the hay did you do THAT?"

She shrugged. "I was bored."

"You could have been followed back here! And if Luna HAD caught you-"

Silver smirked. "She would have 'forgiven' me. Otherwise she'd be out here with us."

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Twilight Sparkle gazed out the window from her bedroom - another beautiful day. Why was she inside, again? The book in front of her still had much to tell her, but something tugged at her hooves and wings to bring her back outside. Leaving the library weighed more on her mind as the days had passed, debating a new disguise to sneak outside and help with cloud-shaping. With half of Ponyville's weather patrol going to the Crystal Empire, things would be fairly quiet. She turned back to her book to discover a scroll had landed there, Spike covering his mouth in mild embarrassment.

"It's ok, Spike," she comforted the little dragon. "I was expecting a message from Canterlot. I didn't even hear you come in."

"I wasn't expecting it," Spike coughed. Twilight smiled to him as she magically opened the scroll to read.

"Dear Princess Twilight,

I am bringing you advance news that Aurora will be visiting Ponyville in the next couple of days to give you her answer about the Magic Council. She is currently awaiting delivery of a gift that she will be presenting in celebration of her answer. The rest, she will only tell me, is a surprise! I look forward to hearing from you when she - and the gift - arrives. Sincerely, Princess Celestia."

"Aurora's coming all the way from Canterlot just to answer a question? That's just weird."

"I understand, Spike. Remember, face-to-face communication is still the best communication. I'm glad she's making the trip, I don't know if she's even been to Ponyville before."

"Hope she brings ME something."

"You might have to go talk to Pinkie about 'gifts'," Twilight gently replied. "But it sounds like Aurora is going to join the council. I'm looking forward to this meeting."

---------------------------------------------------

"You've picked a poor time to be asking me this, Slurry."

"Every time I've asked is a 'poor time'. I said the necklace was fine but it still wasn't what I asked for."

Lapis turned away from the copied layouts of Canterlot he was studying before her arrival. "Everything is about to start and you're still asking about the curses? The necklace is more than adequate."

She snorted in frustration. "It's STILL not permanent! I'm still going to wake up in the morning with five unicorns still laughing at me. Including one that strung me along.... Just. Like. This." She dared walk up to Lapis' face. "I've done way too much for you to walk out now, and I have a feeling at this point I CAN'T leave."

"The choice is always yours, Slurry. But I will need the necklace back."

The pegasus glared at him, perhaps considering giving it back and starting again. "You've given me work and reassurances but I need an answer. Are you going to fix this permanently or not?"

The dark alicorn put down the rest of his paperwork. "Again, this is not the time-"

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" She snarled, expression as dark as her employer's.

"The necklace makes you look normal. You did not specify permanent. As for what you've done for me, I've done much more for you. Once I have taken care of this nasty little business, then we will round up those five unicorns and I will let you deal with them as you see fit. Once they've cleaned up all that they did or did not do to you, will we then be settled?"

"You're stringing me along."

His response was lost to screams and laughter outside. "We WILL talk about this again," she spat before launching out the window.

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The screams and laughter echoed from the base of Drakengard, where Cloud Slayer, Violet Force, Silver Shimmer and Hatchet enjoyed a laugh at Sandstone's expense. Backed against the spire in fear, trembling as the skeleton ponies continued to load up carts and stare him down. Slurry frowned even harder as the lich-pony watched from a short distance, disinterested in interference. The little zombie filly flopped about like a ragdoll, joining the others in their laughter. She landed solidly next to Ichor first. "And you're not going to stop this?" she demanded. Ichor didn't move.

"Why should I? Fear is the food of the undead. That large earth pony is a feast, and your winged friends are serving me with larger helpings from him. Eventually he will learn not to cower before them and we will search again for nourishment."

Sweetpea gazed way up at Slurry, the tiny earth pony falling to rest on her back. "Duagaseee...." she giggled.

"What did she call me?"

"Sweet Pea 'sees' things differently than you do. It was not an insult, but a small memory."

"What I'm seeing over there is an insult," she shot back to the creature before launching toward the others. The laughter trailed off as she challenged the four of them.

"Here t' save yer boyfriend?" Hatchet mocked.

"Kiss all his little boo-boos," Cloud Slayer added.

"You're holding up your own work just for a laugh?" Slurry's incredulous question. "You want that ore back up at the forges, right? You've got armor to make."

"Sure, but even I need a laugh.... and these two had a great idea!" He pointed a wing back at Violet Force and Silver Shimmer, who stood behind him wiping their eyes with their wings. "B'sides, you said it yerself- he needs to grow a backbone!"

The mud-colored pegasus backed up to Sandstone, who remained paralyzed against the wall. His pinkish eyes flicked back and forth between the skeleton ponies, Ichor, and the pegasi. His jaw flopped as though disconnected, no words able to find their way out of his mouth. Seeing Slurry might have only made things worse; his body withered before her in shame and apology.

"GET UP!" She yelled at him, "DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!" Sandstone only curled up tighter. The pegasi laughed even harder. Already frustrated with her talk with Lapis, she would have to force Sandstone to "do something about this".

One hoof reached in to his curled forelegs, forcing one loose. "Don't make me do this," she hissed at him.

"NOW KISS!" Cloud Slayer shouted, only increasing the laughter.

Sandstone helplessly locked eyes with Slurry. Again his mouth moved, but all that came out were mousy squeaks. "This time you ARE going to do something about it!" she growled at him. He shook his head no in absolute surrender. "Ok, I warned you......"

One swing of the sharp tip of her bat wings left a small but clean cut directly under his nostrils. She then tightened her hoof over his and slammed it into his necklace. "Sic em," she whispered before shouldering the carts and launching clear.

Within moments the laughter switched abruptly to screams and roars. Slurry dumped the carts of ore through the window of the forges and sailed into the cloud cover, more than satisfied.

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Aurora made sure to touch base with Morning Star as she packed for her ride to Ponyville late the following day. ~~Is it ready?~~

~~I've even wrapped it!~~ Morning Star mentally giggled. ~~How would you like it.... "delivered"?~~

~~Might be too risky to bring it into Canterlot proper..... can you get it to the Ponyville train station?~~

~~Have Dustmite meet her there,~~ Lapis tapped into the line. ~~He can give her the package without anyone's notice~~

~~Ooo, I like that~~

~~Master, how fast can Dustmite get to Ponyville?~~

~~I will have him on his way shortly. He will wait at the Ponyville train station until you arrive, and he will track you with Voice of the Mind. You understand what needs to be done?~~

~~I do,~~ Aurora responded hesitantly.

~~I assure your safety. The Shadowbane will see you as a friend. Have something of Morning Star's on you when you get that package. Follow it here.~~

~~Of course.~~ the unicorns felt Lapis disconnect.

~~The password is "Blair",~~ Morning Star told her friend. ~~You don't necessarily have to use 'Blair' as a name, either....~~

~~Perfect. I will see you soon~~

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The tracks near the Crystal Empire now bustled with multiple activities - ponies checking in for duty at the train station proper to be designated for every branch of the operation. Many were locals, but their numbers easily matched by the militia washouts and a small group of volunteers from the far south. The arriving pegasi cleared the tracks and several feet to either side of the blowing snow, Rainbow Dash helping with a "dead space" of wind so that work could continue uninterrupted. It was late morning and most ponies were taking a few minutes to get acquainted, learning much about their neighbors. Rainbow Dash and Snowcatcher, however, seemed to already know each other too well.

The multi-colored pegasus swooped past the cold unicorn, seeing a snow sculpture nearly completed and standing at the artificial weather border. Snowcatcher's artistry matched her weather control, and Dash recognized herself as the icy statue. The pose was of the stature completely neutral, to the pegasus' dismay. Dash hesitated approaching Snowcatcher at first, but felt a lot more compelled when a hoof was raised threateningly toward it.

"So explain something to me," she began as she appraised the sculpture. "The first thing you did when I stepped off the train was to tell me not to goof off. What's this for, then? I mean, it's not bad, but this isn't gonna help with the railroad project."

Snowcatcher lowered the threatening hoof, feigning disinterest to the question. She magicked up a clipboard and started a headcount. Rainbow frowned. "Hey, I'm talking to you!!"

"Shouldn't you be breaking up that crowd so we can get started?" She flatly responded, nodding to the ponies all talking with each other, especially to a green earth pony.

"I will when you explain to me why you get to make snowponies while some of us are actually working!"

"Not what I'm seeing," Snowcatcher responded, gaze not leaving the clipboard. "I'm using that as a temperature comparison. You didn't notice how it was positioned, since it was a statue of you."

"Why should I care where you put it? If you were gonna do THAT, I'd have modeled for it!" The multi-colored pegasus snapped through several poses and maneuvers, still not pulling Snowcatcher's attention away.

"I have it facing inward to remind you to keep working." She nodded toward the posterior that slowly gathered snow. "Given the temperature I have to keep in the work area, I get to watch your face slowly melt away....." she then nodded to the statue's posterior. "Watch your flank get bigger as the normal weather continues outside."

Dash gritted her teeth and resisted every last urge to swoop at the unicorn. She knew all too well that Snowcatcher was a high-ranked offical with the Canterlot Weather Bureau, who knows what stories she'd spread! Her wings pumped a few times in frustration until she could respond rationally.

"Wouldn't it have made more sense if I was straddled on the weather line?"

"And only see half your face melting?"

"Whatever, I got more important things to worry about!" the sky-blue pegasus rocketed over to the gathered earth ponies, breaking up their gazes on a recent arrival from the far south. "Clock's ticking, everypony! We've got work to do! Earth pony teams, start getting the supplies distributed. Weather team, keep the winds minimal over the tracks and try to get some sunshine down this way! Unicorns, uh...... magic up whatever the other two teams can't do!"

Snowcatcher simply continued to write on her clipboard.

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"It was nice speaking to everypony, but I think we should get to work now," The newcomer agreed to the orders from the multicolored streak of a pegasus. Most of the earth pony stallions groaned before turning to their chores. She savored their gazes as her lime-green hair caught a few stray snowflakes and her deeper green coat set off ice-blue eyes filled with secrets. She made sure to report to the grumbly unicorn who stood in the snow for no other reason than to get everypony else to leave her alone. "New arrival," she announced.

Snowcatcher remained unfazed. "Name?"

"Siren Song."

"Earth pony?"

"Correct."

"You okay with hauling stuff? Sounds like you're more an entertainer than a worker."

"My duty is to Equestria," Siren demurred. "I'll do whatever is needed. However I do manage to hold some attention with the stallions."

"Don't distract em from the work, just keep them moving and out of my mane."

Siren mock-bowed to Snowcatcher. "As you command."

Snowcatcher wanted to roll her eyes. "Just get to it. I've got you here, and you brought someone for night shift?"

"Night Watch is resting at the temporary quarters, she will be my relief."

"Whatever. Get back to work."

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Sun, rain or snow, Hollow Shades hid in its own gloom. A dark cloud of solitude domed the tiny village, the rail station nothing more than an empty and poorly maintained platform, and a dirt slope into this pit of sanctuary for those against magic. Its long standing tradition rarely allowed a pegasus or unicorn to stay; one born to a family would usually be sent for adoption, never to know of their past. Every earth pony born, however, is raised with the belief that nature alone is the master of one's fate, not some distant pony wearing a crown! Foals are trained in combat and educated in the use of weapons and Lyrium, considered a miraculous mineral brought by their forebears and cultivated in the cold, dark caverns of the Spellbreak HQ. Some, once they come of age, are sent into the world to see what all the fuss was about. Many understand, some stray from their teachings, but most continue to speak of their education and try to bring new blood to their cause.

The danger, many know, is that word will eventually reach the crown of their existence; yet for four centuries, Spellbreak has remained hidden from the wary eyes of Princess Celestia, their village prospering and producing earth ponies built for other things in life than simple farming. None of this history had been lost on Belmonte, who spent the day walking the village with Silverback, Strife still hanging in the back of their minds. Some of the other patrols walked the upper perimeter nodded to the two senior officers as they watched and listened to the rest of the world go by.

"It's not been a week yet," Silverback mused. "I still think we would have heard something...."

"If the alicorn knows better, he will play by our rules. Salvino chose to reach out, I look forward to when we reach back.... with our whips."

"So eager to fight. I would have hoped for something less.... angry."

"No taste for bloodshed, hm?" Belmonte smirked. "Salvino's taken too much out of you. We ran out of words for Canterlot. And we have no patience for -"

Belmonte snapped his whip upward, catching what looked to be messenger bird out of the sky. "Tricks," he finished as he slammed the bird to the ground. Silverback had little chance to register what Belmonte did.

"You're even more paranoid than Salvino. That's just a messenger bird."

"Look with more than your eyes, Silverback!" Belmonte rebuked as he dragged the "bird" closer. "Is it a messenger bird? Or a flying curse?"

"Looks more like a messenger bird to me....."Silverback's voice trailed as the bird's feathers began to smolder under the confines of the whip. "Still, it bears a message."

"Take the message from it, I'll keep it still." A shake from the whip and it looped around the bill of the bird. It's muffled cries of pain still gathered some attention as others looked on. Belmonte closed in on the creature, expression stern. "What 'message', I wonder, did you bring? A curse? a threat?" The light green pony looked closer. "Just a note. I'm almost disappointed."

Silverback carefully pawed the anklet from the bird's leg and gathered the message. "Let's see who sends us such bad tidings."

Belmonte leaned in on the creature some more. "You might be spared if your message is truly for us." The bird squirmed even harder, feathers melting from under the weapon's grip.

Silverback opened the scroll and read it carefully to himself.

"Brothers, forgive the use of this putrid beast to send news but the alicorn childishly insisted. Our time is coming, but only on your word that you will back Lapis Umbral's forces against Canterlot. Much as I would'vefer you to dissect this creature for your amusement, it must have the return message at the alicorn's order. Things will begin the following morning, which should give you four to five days to prepare and march to Canterlot. Your safety otherwise is not guaranteed. With your word, we shall have this child and three of his siblings in proximity, with the two newest to be dealt with as needed."

Silverback let the scroll snap itself shut. "The would-be future King of Equestria cannot guarantee OUR safety unless we agree to send troops and soon."

"Does he have any clue who he's talking to!? We shouldn't have to agree to anything."

"This is just a formal 'pretty please' that the alicorn didn't read. Salvino will be required to respond."

"What about this... thing?" Belmonte deliberately dragged the whip across the ground and raised, letting the creature thrash and burn.

"Much as I'm sure our scientists would like to cut it open to see what color its organs are, the note is very specific. It's coming with us."

The two stallions dragged the little beast through the town, letting it flail and muffle its curses openly. The villagers jeered and spat, not intimidated as the feathers dropped off in clumps to reveal the bird as some infernal beast. Wracked by the Lyrium in the whip, it could do nothing but convulse, unable to scream or protest. Belmonte snapped the little thing through the door of a meeting hall, unspooling it so it slumped before Salvino in a burned a bloodied heap.

"Sickly bird you've hunted, Belmonte," Salvino observed. "Why is this here?"

Silverback followed Belmonte into the hall. "A messenger 'bird' from Strife's alicorn. He's asking for troop complement from us."

"He insults us by sending this thing? Very well." Salvino's cold gaze settled on the creature. "Silverback, have a message of compliance completed immediately. Belmonte, you and Sonia will watch the creature until the message is completed."

Silverback bowed and hurried to task. The female soldier stepped away from Salvino to stand next to Belmonte, one hoof hovering over the creature. "Watch this creature carefully, I have some preparations of my own to attend." The leader turned and tapped one hoof on a panel in the meeting hall, opening a secret staircase back to his chambers.

Sonia's dark brown eyes turned away from the thing in Belmonte's whip to the wielder. "So what did they send? It looks more like a vulture carcass."

"Whatever it is, I don't want it breathing much longer." The creature struggled even harder, finally freeing its beak.

"TARGH~!! GHALARAN~!!! ALARISEY, ALARISEY!!! Call me monster, call Master monster!! Here faster, call to war! Wanted war? Come!"

"'Alarisey'?" Belmonte snorted. "You're no ally of mine or of Spellbreak's. You're a toy."

"Sh, Belmonte. If he's a toy, we're 'playing along'."

"No play! Hurts, burns!! Alarisey, ghan'tao shrangha......"

"I'm not about to release you. I hope Silverback writes very slowly."

Sonia sat herself next to the creature. "Little toy, let's play a game."

"Games? Gameses, but all pain! hurt, sleepy, dying? free me."

"Oh, you're dying?" Belmonte mocked. "Blame your master for sending you to us."

"I think it's a test."

"Sonia, whatever this alicorn wants with us, he continues to disrespect Spellbreak by sending magical items or spells here. How long before Hollow Shades is over-run with the Royal guard if we keep allowing this?"

"Test, yes, test!" it shrieked. "Note say no kill Nightwake...."

"So that's the monster's name," Sonia mused. "Nightwake, do you wish to live?"

"Live on, note says so! Do for ponys nice things! promise no magic til gone. Live?"

"Then you'll be a good 'bird' and take Silverback's message to Strife?"

"Yes, take quickly! live? Nightwake live?? Nightwake faster than birds...."

"That's all I need," Sonia stood. "I'll start gathering the troops, join me once this thing is on its way back."

"But - "

"And DON'T kill it." she nosed the creature carefully. "Alarisey." She trotted out the door, leaving Belmonte disgusted.

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Aurora breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped off the train into Ponyville. It had been a strange few days, "talking" to Morning Star about this bizarre plan, stalling to Princess Celestia and hoping that she could maintain her facade. She wandered slowly through the station, saddlebags half-filled with books and notes.

~~You're here~~

Aurora startled at the voice, since she had been lost in her own thoughts. ~~I am. Where are you?~~

~~Closer than you think~~ she felt a slight tug on her saddlebag.

~~I can barely detect you,~~ she mentally noted, ~~But it's better this way, we couldn't take any chances in Canterlot.~~

Dustmite carefully slid the package into her saddlebag. ~~Good luck. Morning Star's pulling for ya~~

One more deep breath and the unicorn trotted off to Ponyville proper. ~~Still with me?~~

~~Sorry, mission accomplished, sneaking a train back. Morning Star said you're more than ready for this~~

Another deep breath. Why was she having second thoughts? Maybe it was how beautiful the autumn day was; maybe it was the gentle peace that settled in the small village, almost unaware of the fame it had gathered in the recent years. She walked past a cafe, seeing two ponies sharing lunch and conversation. She paused near a store that sold writing quills and comfy couches. Each humble building with its own story, and ponies of all types passing the time as though nothing important was happening that day. She found it almost comforting, even the elaborate boutique that shimmered like its own jewel in the midst of a quiet town.

Her goal closed in as she admired the town, hearing squealing laughter from a sweets shop and children galloping through the streets. A buzz of conversation and the calls of a farmpony finally turned her attentions to a sprawling oak, carefully carved and shaped into a residence and library. Just outside, a few dozen ponies walked back and forth from the ground level windows to a hoof-built stand, where a bright orange pony hawked all sorts of fresh-made apple treats and drinks. Only a dozen or so there, making Aurora feel a little better. The plan had to work a specific way......

As she approached the door, one of the locals gave her an odd look. "She's in, but is she expecting you?"

"I sent word through Princess Celestia herself that I would be arriving today," she responded smugly. "This is important Canterlot business."

She ignored the increase of annoyed looks as she tapped politely on the door. She took one more deep breath to maintain her composure, knowing this would be the most important "performance" within the plan. Her eyes followed the edge of the slightly opened door to see a short purple dragon peeking out.

"You must be Spike," she started as formally as she could muster. "My name's Aurora, you might remember me from Canterlot...."

The door pushed open wider, and the little dragon stepped to the threshold to look the unicorn over. His memory of Aurora wasn't too clear, only in passing when he would meet Twilight after her classes and occasionally at the library. He'd heard Twilight mention her name in the last couple of days, and the recognition registered in a blink of his green eyes. "Twilight's expecting you, come on in."

Spike held the door wide open for her as she trotted inside. She expected the library to actually be even more organized than Canterlot's, if Twilight Suck-up had the free time to work here. Most of the books were in place, save one haphazard pile of atlases and history books sitting on the center table. Twilight herself browsed a shelf, pulling another tome or two down before turning to her visitor. "Hello Aurora."

"Uhm, hi. I'm sorry that I took so much time in trying to decide."

"It's okay, Aurora. This is a very big decision and I know you still had classes to take. The Council would meet regularly but not so often to disrupt your studies. Besides, you're grades are so exceptional I'm surprised you've not graduated already."

The pink unicorn froze for a second. Was that meant as a jab at her? It was said with such sincerity that she didn’t believe it was. Could that be right? Was she talking to the same pony who never talked to anypony else in class? "I...."

"I'll have Spike make something to drink while we talk. How was your trip from Canterlot?"

"It was... fine," Aurora managed. "It was nice outside. I had to stop somewhere and pick up a gift to go along with my answer."

"You didn't have to do that," Twilight demurred, "Your answer was all I was really expecting. I'm just glad you took some time to consider it."

"So, about the gift.... " Aurora nervously removed it from her saddlebags with her magic and placed it on the table. "It's something unusual that I thought you might want to study."

"Oh???" The alicorn started nosing at the lid. "The letter Princess Celestia sent said there would be a surprise."

Aurora took a step back to allow Twilight to see the gift inside. As the lid was magicked away, the alicorn's anticipation slowly deepened to confusion. "A stone rose?"

"It's a Midnight Rose," Aurora announced. "I found someone who grows them, and thought it would be an unique enough gift. Everything ELSE you've been given, I didn't think you had one of these."

"Thank you, Aurora, I've never seen a real one, only pictures." She sniffed at the rose, taking in the scent of evening dew and night breezes. "I can't wait to research this further. So you were going to tell me if you were interested in the council?"

"Yes.... and I am going to decline your offer."

"What? This is an almost guaranteed career for you!" Confused, Twilight's attention now focused on her guest. "The knowledge you would bring to the table, the diplomatic relations you could improve for all of Equestria - "

"All still under YOU, where we walk in to silence and you get the fanfare! The flag bearers, the kneeling masses, the BLARE of trumpets - "

What happened next was too fast for Aurora or Twilight to comprehend. Spike returned with drinks.... to an empty room.