Chapter 19: City of Ghost Lights.

From her perch on the balcony connected to Celestia’s study, Twilight listens to the haunting toll of the Canterlot Castle bell tower. Shortly after the trial had ended yesterday, and after she had drawn some strength and comfort from her friends, she had declared the night directly after the trial to be one of collective mourning.

“I’ll never get used to hearing bells toll in mourning,” a voice comes from beside Twilight, its worn and weary quality making Twilight remember just who she is standing with.

“Nor will I, Star Swirl,” Twilight remarks, doing her best to not squeal in joy when she says the name of one of her idols.

“Still,” a second voice echoes from the other side of Twilight, “better the bells to toll for the fallen heroes, than for the entire city.”

“Better for none to fall at all, Shiro,” Twilight replies, her tone somber. “Too many have given their lives this past few weeks. If Celestia was here…”

“She would be as hard pressed as you, I am sure,” Star Swirl states firmly as he looks out over the city. “If I know that filly, she’d be just as distraught over losing so many good ponies, but she would do what needed to be done to ensure it never happened again.”

“I still feel like I’ve failed them all. I stayed away for too long,” Twilight mutters. “And I wish there was something more I could do to ease their pain.”

“Perhaps, there is,” Star Swirl says slowly as he looks past Twilight to Shiro. “Old one, do you remember how to cast Compassion’s light spell?”

“I believe so,” Shiro whispers, his brow furrowing. “It has been a long while, though.”

“Then simply follow my lead,” Star Swirl chuckles as he turns attention to Twilight. “You as well, Your Highness, you are the new Compassion after all, you should learn this spell.”

Nodding, Twilight watches closely as the archmage closes his eyes and channels magic into his horn. At first, it is simply the glow of his own magic, silver in color, but then, as the spell builds, she watches as flashes of another color start to appear. As the color becomes more prominent, she realizes it’s a deep indigo, much like the magic she had seen when she had touched the Tree of Harmony! The magic calls to her, tugging at a part of her deep within, causing her to react with her own magic and innately cast the spell as if she had been doing it her entire life.

Closing her eyes she gets lost in the feeling of the magic, which starts out as a small feeling of warmth in her chest and spreads out to fill her entire body. Analytical mind racing to try and put words to the feeling, she finds her words failing her, as the feeling of simply comfort and compassion wraps around her like a warm blanket, or perhaps even the hug of a lover. The feeling simply takes her breath away, and brings tears to her eyes, as somehow it felt as if the magic had simply been waiting for her to find it...

And what’s more, she can feel the same magic radiating to a lesser degree with Star Swirl. Instinctively, she reaches out partially with her magic and partially with the feeling growing within her. As she does, she opens her eyes, watching almost breathlessly as wisps of indigo magic drift from her horn into the area around her. The part of her mind not subsumed by the feeling of warm comfort likens the spreading magic to a cloud, and yet even that barely describes it as it drifts out and connects to a growing field of magic from Star Swirl’s own horn.

As the fields touch, Twilight has to suppress a sharp gasp as she suddenly feels Star Swirl’s presence.

Yet, the feeling that suddenly fills her isn’t one of discovering something new, rather it is as if she has discovered something that she had lost and had not known she had yearned to find it again until that exact moment. The magic filling her greets Star Swirl with an almost overwhelming feeling of relief, of joy, at once more being reunited with an old friend it had feared lost. The intensity of its greeting, which she can feel reciprocated by Star Swirl, nearly drives Twilight to tears as her heart swells near to bursting under the crashing waves of pure compassion she feels at the rekindling between Star Swirl and the Virtue he had dedicated himself, and nearly lost his life, to serving.

And then just as suddenly, another presence reaches out, and she turns her attention to Shiro. Like Star Swirl, his own horn is emitting it’s own slowly spreading magical field, but his is a different color. His own dark red magic is tinged with a rich green that Twilight instinctively knows belongs to Strength. The two magics for a moment clash, the deep indigo and the green acting almost surprised at each other’s touch but after a few hesitant moments they rush together as if embracing. Instantly, a feeling of profound joy washes through her, and distantly she can feel it washing through Star Swirl as well, as the two virtuous magics mix, the feeling not unlike what she feels when she embraces her brother after a long period of time without seeing him.

Closing her eyes again, Twilight lets go of herself. Allowing the magic to take over, all sense of self is washed away beneath the warm glow of the pure joy she feels. In that instant, perhaps more so than when she had touched the Tree of Harmony, she feels connected to the previous Compassions. She lets them guide her as she gathers up the feelings filling her until she feels as if she will burst, before she channels it all towards her horn as she takes a deep, slow, breath.

And then, she exhales.

As she does, she feels it all flow out of her, her eyes opening slightly, and she watches passively as she directs the magic from her two companions to spread out over the city. The translucent cloud slowly drifts over the city, and as it does Twilight watches as it seems to almost start to snow as bright white balls of light start to drift lazily down from the magic to almost dance amongst the burned and shattered streets of the wounded city.

A small warm smile slowly creeps across Twilight’s face as she feels tears streaming down her face as she feels the magic starting to run its course. When the last of it leaves her, she sits down and closes her eyes fully once more, the tears freely flowing down her cheeks to lightly splash against the marble of the balcony beneath her.

“It’s… so beautiful,” Twilight whispers reverently.

“I had almost forgotten,” Star Swirl agrees, his own voice soft as he sits down next to Twilight, leaning against her slightly. “To serve Compassion again… Words fail me to describe just how much I have missed it.”

“It has been far too long,” Shiro states in a voice so soft Twilight almost doesn’t hear it as he too joins her and Star Swirl on the floor. The feeling of a wing gently laying across her back causes Twilight’s eyes to open and, as she looks up towards Shiro’s face, she sees a serene smile on the ancient alicorn’s face. Tears streaming down from his closed eyes, he has one of the orbs that are falling from the sky clutched tightly to his chest, and as Twilight looks closer she can see images dancing just beneath the surface.

“What exactly are they?” Twilight asks, looking over to Star Swirl.

“Ghostlights,” Star Swirl answers, reaching a hoof upwards to catch one of the dancing lights as it lands softly on his hoof. “It is a spell Compassion rarely used, and was one that was created with the help of Lord Nox.”

“Nox…?” Twilight starts, blinking rapidly to clear the tears in her eyes. “That name is familiar… but I can’t seem to place it.”

“A brave stallion,” Star Swirl says softly as he pulls the orb close to himself, clutching it with both hooves as if letting it go would allow it to vanish. “Celestia and Luna’s father, and Shiro’s brother in godhood.” Looking down into the orb clutched between his hooves, Star Swirl smiles softly. “Before Luna, he was the steward of the Night and of dreams. He was also, and I suppose still is, the shepherd of souls.”

“You mean… the Princess’ father is… death?” Twilight asks slowly, her eyes growing wide.

“In a sense, yes,” Star Swirl agrees. “Though, he does not kill anypony, so much as is there to offer them comfort and to help them go to their rest.” He pulls the orb against his chest and closes his eyes. “These were his greatest gift to us, as I am to understand it.”

“What are they, exactly?” Twilight presses.

“I fear my words would not do them justice, take one, and look into it and you shall see,” Star Swirl whispers, his own eyes opening and staring into the orb he is all but cradling against his chest.

Shrugging, Twilight reaches up with a hoof and watches as one of the orbs actually changes its slow descent to float over and land softly on her hoof. Silently, Twilight pulls her hoof back, marveling at the fact the orb weighs absolutely nothing and yet she can still feel it pressing against her. At the same time it feels almost as if it’s pulsating, like the beating heart of a small animal, yet with each pulsation the feeling of comforting warmth radiates outwards and into her hoof.

Clearly, they are made of the magic she had channeled earlier, as the warm feelings she felt when channeling Compassion’s, or rather her, magic is burned into Twilight’s mind in such a way that she doubts she’ll ever forget it. Yet, as she levels the orb with her eyes she can see strange magic held within, alien and unknown to her she can almost feel an otherworldly quality radiating from deep within the orb.

And then, deep within the glowing orb, she spies movement.

For a brief moment, she can’t be sure, but then the image within the orb comes into sharp clarity as she can see a younger version of herself bouncing around excitedly as she goes down a familiar hallway in the Castle. For a moment Twilight is confused as to what she is seeing, until the younger self stops and turns to look directly at Twilight with a smile.

“Commander Aegis, you don’t have to follow me everywhere,” Twilight’s younger self says innocently inside Twilight’s head.

“Your teacher asked me to, little filly,” A voice, male and unmistakably that of Captain Aegis replies. “You don’t want to disrespect Celestia’s wishes, do you?”

“No, Princess Celestia is really nice to me. I guess you can follow me around…”

“They’re… memories?” Twilight states to nopony in particular.

“Of the fallen,” Shiro answers to nopony in particular. “My brother was… is crafty, and a gentle soul. When Compassion asked him to help find a way to ease the hearts of those who had lost loved ones, this was his answer.”

“But how?” Twilight asks, turning her attention to Shiro. The older alicorn is still staring down at the orb clutched against his chest, his eyes still shining with tears.

“Such is easy for the one who once watched over dreams, and who guides souls beyond the veil,” Shiro replies, almost cryptically. “Even the memories of those long since passed.”

“Who do you see,” Twilight asks, leaning over towards Shiro’s orb.

“My wife,” Shiro’s voice is soft, and Twilight is struck by the sound of what could only be called love echoing through his words. “The day my son was born…”

“I see,” Twilight’s own words are soft as well as she averts her gaze from the orb. Obviously, whatever Shiro is seeing is quite private, and Twilight doesn’t wish to intrude. Looking back over to Star Swirl she smiles softly as she spots her idol staring into his own orb with a soft and loving smile of his own. “I think I will leave you two to your memories,” Twilight states calmly, gaining the attention of the two with her. “I have to go see to the Guards, and do one final duty tonight before I am free to join into the mourning myself.”

“Are you sure,” Star Swirl asks, tearing his gaze away from his orb to look at Twilight. “You said earlier you were worried about what was planned…”

“No, I think I will be fine, Star Swirl,” Twilight sighs as she stands up and releases the orb she had been holding. To her surprise it floats up a ways, then stops to hover near her head. Smiling brightly, she looks down at Star Swirl, the next words out of her mouth filling her with confidence and pride. “I am Compassion, after all. I think I can handle this.”

Nodding with a wide, and perhaps proud, smile Star Swirl reaches over and lightly pats Twilight’s shoulder. “That you are, my dear. Good luck.”

Returning the smile, she turns and walks back into Celestia’s study, turning once to watch as Star Swirl scoots over to lean against Shiro’s side. The sight of the two widowers sharing in their collective loss, and silently sharing memories of better days, warms Twilight’s heart almost more than the spell earlier.

With one final sigh she goes to the desk, and pauses as she looks at the regalia she had worn during the trial. For a long moment, she debates putting it on, after all this will be a semi-formal thing she will do. However, showing up in her regalia seems wrong for some reason, and instead she levitates a black and gold cloak off of the back of the desk’s chair and sweeps it over her shoulders with a flourish. Once it is settled across her shoulders she goes to the door and draws herself up before enveloping the handle in her magic and pulling it open.

Striding out, she is met by a small squad of guards, equal parts Day and Night shifts, who all snap to attention as she exits the study. Like her, the guards are all wearing black and gold cloaks, though they still retain their armor and weapons beneath them.

Raising a hoof, Twilight smiles warmly at the Guards. “Please, everypony, at ease. Tonight I am just Twilight, not a Princess.”

Nodding, the ranking officer in her escort turns with a smile. “Then, please, allow us to escort you to the practice yard.” The rest of the guards follow suit, lowering their salute and waiting for Twilight to start forward before taking up positions beside her. As they walk, the small orb beside Twilight continues to lazily float beside her head and draws a few glances from the Guards who also look out the windows at the snowfall of the things.

“Princess, might I ask a question?” a Night Guard pegasus mare beside Twilight asks slowly. She is smaller than the average mare, and seems rather young.

“Of course,” Twilight replies with a warm smile.

“What is that?” the mare asks, gesturing with her head towards the ghostlight.

“A ghost light,” Twilight answers, her smile growing slightly sad. “It’s something Star Swirl showed me… it shows memories the fallen had of us.”

“I see…” the mare says softly in reply. When she says nothing more, Twilight can’t help thinking she has said something wrong, so she clears her throat and makes her smile warm again.

“What’s your name?”

“Silver Skies, ma’am,” Skies says quickly. “Lieutenant Silver Skies…”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Skies,” Twilight chuckles. “Are you new to the rank?”

“Y-yes ma’am,” Skies replies softly. “Th-the lieutenant before me didn’t make it. We got pinned down and…” As she trails off, Twilight slows down a bit and unfurls one of her wings to gently drape it across the smaller mare causing her to jump slightly at the contact.

“I’m sorry, I wish you didn’t have to go through that,” Twilight whispers, her eyes full of regret. “I should have come sooner with the forces I gathered.”

“It’s not your fault, Prin-,” Skies starts, but is cut off by Twilight.

“Please, just Twilight,” Twilight says with a smirk.

“R-right, Twilight,” Skies continues hesitantly. “You couldn’t have known how bad it was… you were so far away in Ponyville…” Skies’ speech quickly turns into just stammering and squeaking, most likely from embarrassment.

“I could see the city burning from my window,” Twilight offers to Skies. “But I was afraid to get involved… I thought that perhaps you all had it under control, that if I got involved it’d only make things worse…” Twilight’s smile slips and she hangs her head slightly. The sight prompts Skies to frown and lower her ears against her head. “I wish to apologize, Lieutenant, for failing you and the other Guards.”

“Princess…” Skies starts pausing for a moment and looking at the floor as she walks. When she looks up again she is smiling slightly, though there are tears clouding her eyes. “Twilight, we live to serve the Princess. We live to protect Celestia, Luna, the entire city of Canterlot. Five-hundred of my brothers and sisters gave their lives not because you were late, but because it meant one more civilian might make it out of the line of fire.” She clears her throat and looks ahead. “In the end, you came, and the battle ended. That’s all that matters…”

“But, you’ve lost so many,” Twilight answers shaking her head. “How can you not blame me? What if I had come faster? What if I had already been here?”

“It would not have mattered,” Skies replies, her smile slipping slightly as she reaches out with one of her own wings, which Twilight can see is a pure white with blue tips, and pokes Twilight in the side. “You, of all ponies should know how irrational they were. You sat in judgment over them, heard what had been done…” She trails off, a low whimper escaping her throat as her smile slips and she looks forwards again. “Ponies were going to die that night, Princess. Better us than those who can’t fight back.”

Before Twilight can continue to try and argue her case, the guards in front of her stop at a pair of large steel bound wood doors. Stopping as well, Twilight takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly as she tries her best to put aside her own anxiety so she can appear at least somewhat strong before the Guards. Once that is under control, Twilight slowly retracts her wing from over Lieutenant Skies’ back and looks down to the smaller mare with a warm smile.

“Before we go out there, I’d like to give you something,” Twilight says softly, her voice meant to be heard by nopony else but Skies. The smaller mare looks up, her brow furrowing beneath her helmet in confusion, as Twilight reaches gently up towards the ghost light floating beside her head. Gently, as if the flickering orb was the most fragile thing in the world, Twilight offers the orb to Skies. “I want you to hold onto this for me. Right now, you need it more than I do.”

“I-I…” Skies starts before accepting the orb and clutching it against her chest protectively. “Thank you… Twilight…”

“Keep it close,” Twilight states as she draws herself up. “And do not be afraid to cry, my little pony, because everyone else will.” Looking forward, she nods to the other guards who promptly open the door.

As soon as the doors swing all the way open, Twilight starts forward, Lieutenant Skies beside her. Bracing herself, Twilight does her best to keep her head high as she strides into the open air to face perhaps the toughest task she shall ever face.

And then, a short distance into the practice yard, she stops as the scene before her hits her in all its glory.

The packed dirt courtyard that serves as the Royal Guard’s training grounds is full of ponies, so many in fact that more than a few of the pegasi are forced to fly above the crowd with even more perched on the roof looking down. However, a good many of the ponies present are injured, or in various stages of recovery, with the entire front row of the group directly opposite the doors dedicated to nothing but ponies on litters and stretchers.

However, that is not the part that truly takes Twilight’s breath away, nor the thing that causes her heart to skip a beat in shame.

In the center of the yard, in neat rows, are five hundred helmets mounted on swords. Before each, where the blade meets the ground, a single ghostlight floats as if having been called to stand in for the ponies the helmets represent.

Twilight is brought back to the present as as one the entire complement of Guards in the yard snap to attention. Even the most injured do their best to raise a hoof to head or chest to salute the Princess that had come to save them. With a soft sigh, Twilight fixes an image of Celestia in her mind, and draws herself up as best she can.

“My friends, please. Be at ease,” Twilight’s voice echoes through the yard, her words clear and sure of themselves. The guards go to ease, many slumping down a bit as they’re allowed to rest and no longer put strain on their injuries. As soon as she is sure everypony is no longer saluting, she steps forward a few paces and stops before the helmet of Captain Aegis. Looking at the faded gold helm, she commits every detail to memory, lest she forget the final sacrifice one of her brother’s former Commanders had made. Once done, she turns her attention to the living guards who are waiting patiently all around her.

“Today, we mourn our fallen,” Twilight’s voice is less sure of itself, but she holds herself firm. “Our brothers and sisters, not in blood, but of choice and of oath.” She raises a hoof to her chest, placing it gently over her heart. “Although I have no right to call them my brothers and sisters, for I am not a warrior. Not truly. Not like the brave souls who have given their lives for us to see one more sunrise. And not like you all.” She pauses, her gaze sweeping over everypony present before she lowers her hoof back to the dirt below. “This fact is no more apparent than now, as I stand before such valiant heroes, for surely I am but a child beside her elders in this field of gold and silver.” She reaches out with her hoof again, gently resting it against Captain Aegis’ helm. “And yet, they were my friends. The silent guardians that watched over me as I played, as I learned beneath the wings of Celestia. Words shall never, could never, be able to express the depth of my sorrow, nor the breath of my gratitude, I feel for those who once wore these helmets.”

Looking down at Silver Skies, who has stayed beside her, Twilight smiles warmly. Extending her wing and gently laying it over the young guardsmare, Twilight looks back up towards the crowd. Specifically, to the two Commanders who are standing slightly in front of their respective guards.

“To do that, however, I must ask of you all a favor,” Twilight’s voice is once more confidant, her posture radiating that confidence. “Please stand with me in vigil, as your Commanders read the names of those who have departed. Let our respectful silence, and the tolling of the bells carry them into the waiting arms of those who have come before, and to their just reward.”

Striding forward, Dawn and Knight both come to stand beside their fallen Captain’s helmet. Saluting once in perfect unison, they turn and remove scrolls from beneath their armor. “Guards of the Radiant Sun, and Luminescent Moon, if you are able please stand at attention and remove your helmets!” Dawn commands, his tone cracking like a whip. “Should you not be able to stand under your own power, please remain seated and silent.”

As one, the entire company of guards stand, including many of the injured, those wearing helmets raise hooves up and remove their helmets before lowering them to the ground. Once everypony who is able is up, the entire compliment goes to attention, heads held high and eyes forward.

“Captain Aegis,” Dawn starts, signaling a small bell near the barracks to ring. “Private Poppy,” another toll…

The names continue, and five hundred times the bell tolls on the other side of the yard. With each toll, Twilight watches the guards, including Skies beside her. She watches as, despite their stoic looks, despite their straight backs and heads held high, that many weep openly and silently as the names of their comrades and friends are listed. Even Skies, who is beneath Twilight’s wing, cries; the feeling of the mare holding back sobs causing Twilight to draw the smaller mare towards her with her wing.

As the final toll rings, Twilight stands and walks the short distance to where Captain Aegis’ helmet is. Pausing before it, she reaches down and gently picks up the ghostlight at the base of his sword, and lifts it to hover in front of her face.

“Go now, and be at peace, Adamant Aegis,” Twilight whispers. “I pray you’ve found peace beyond the veil, and that you can trust us to take up the duty you have left.” She lifts the ghostlight into the air, where it hesitates for a brief moment on her outstretched hoof before floating up towards the sky.

As it floats skyward, it is joined by the others that had gathered at the base of all the other swords.

Stepping back and sitting down beside Skies, Twilight once more puts her wing around the smaller mare as both of them, as well as the entire complement of guards, watch a Captain lead his troops to their final rest.

-----

Walking slowly down the deserted corridors near his rooms in the Castle, Star Swirl cannot help but feel melancholy. He had released the orb that had come to him earlier, and had bid his farewells to Shiro to allow his fellow widower to continue to be lost in his mourning. For Star Swirl, Hope’s death felt like it was merely yesterday, but for Shiro it had been well over a thousand years of heartache.

And, for all the comfort he drew from his friend, Star Swirl really felt like being alone with this thoughts right now.

Stopping beside a mostly intact window, the old wizard looks out over the cityscape currently being illuminated by the ghostly light from both the conjured ghost lights and the brilliantly full moon hanging in the sky above. The ruined and shattered buildings beyond the Castle’s walls bring back memories of Equus, of Roan… Coltenhagen… of Hope.

And also of two smiling fillies he had taken under his care in the wake of their parents deaths. Two beautiful mares he’d watched grow into monarchs, into princesses he had been proud to have considered as much a part of his family as his own daughter and his wife. Closing his eyes and leaning against the wall, Star Swirl closes his eyes and takes a deep shivering breath.

“There’s a grief that can’t be spoken,” he whispers softly, “there’s a pain, goes on and on…” His words echo through the empty hallway, the mournful tone drifting like a cold wind in the silence. “Empty chairs at empty tables…” Taking another shivering breath, he squeezes his eyes shut as tears come unbidden. “Now my friends are dead…” he chokes back a sob. “And gone…”

Pushing off from the wall, he starts down the hallway again, blindly walking as his singing mingles with the soft sound of his hooves against the stone floor.

“Here they talked of revolution, here it was they lit the flame,” Star Swirl’s almost haunted voice continues to drift forth from him, the words streaming forth from a place well beyond conscious thought. He does not fight it, the simply act of singing his woes causing his heart to feel slightly lighter. Stopping in front of a pair of doors bearing Celestia’s cutie mark, Star Swirl looks up at its polished wooden surface through tear stained eyes. “Here they sang about tomorrow, but tomorrow never came…” Lowering his eyes from the door, Star Swirl continues on down the hallway, the soft patter of his tears mingling now with that of his hooves and his voice. “From the table in the corner, they could see a world reborn,” Star Swirl whispers as he moves ever onwards, his beard nearly dragging against the floor. “And they rose with voices ringing…” he pauses, once more choking on the lump in his throat. “And I can hear them now, the very voices they had sung… Became their last communion! On the lonely barricades at dawn.”

Stopping before a large stain glass window that has somehow remained whole, the image on it depicting Celestia and Luna fighting, Star Swirl looks up as tears stream freely down his face.

“Oh my friends, my friends! Please forgive me!” He laments, his voice raising in volume. He looks to another window, this one damaged but the image of the Crystal Empire being saved still somewhat clear. “That I should live, and you are gone!” He places his hoof against the window of Celesita and Luna, looking up towards the angry faces of the two fillies he loved like daughters. “There’s a grief that can’t be spoken… there’s a pain goes on… and… on…”

Reaching a shaking hoof up to gently rest against the window, he leans against the wall beside it, his voice wavering. “Phantom faces in the windows, phantom shadows on the floor…” He closes his eyes, the tears slowing a little. “Empty chairs at empty tables… where my friends will meet no more…” Slowly, he slides down towards the floor, his voice falling to nothing more than a mournful whisper. “My friends… my friends, d-don’t ask me… what your sacrifice was for…” Slumping down further, his hoof trailing against the cool glass of the window, Star Swirl whispers between sobs. “Empty c-chairs at empty tables… wh-where my friends will sing no more….”

Burying his face in his arms, Star Swirl sobs on the floor, his side against the wall directly beneath the window. Occasionally, the words ‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,’ and ‘ I should have been there’ drift from where he is laying as he shivers under the oppressive weight of his own sorrow.

He is so deep in the darkness of his mourning, that he does not hear the soft echoing sound of hooves on the floor until they’re right beside him. Flicking an ear, Star Swirl turns his face away from whomever it is, and continues to sniffle until the feeling of a soft and warm wing resting over him draws him back into the light.

Blinking, the elderly unicorn looks up to see an ethereal white wing resting on his back, the surrounding halo of flickering light illuminating the area around him. For a moment, he can’t help but feel confused, until a voice as smooth as velvet and as comforting as the voice of his own mother whispers in his ear.

“Dear grandfather, why do you weep?”

Whipping his head around to look at the speaker, Star Swirl’s mouth hangs open as he comes face to face with the glowing face the grown mare he’d once helped raise.

“C… Tia?” Star Swirl whispers, reaching a hoof up to gently rest it against Celestia’s, only to have it pass through. “W.. what happened to you?”

“A small penance for a mistake I made,” Celestia whispers as she reaches a hoof up to gently rest against Star Swirl’s own face, the feeling causing the fur on Star Swirl’s face to tingle. “It’s just so good to see you again. When your tower exploded Luna and I… we thought…”

“I was dead?” Star Swirl finishes for her. “You think a small spell like that could kill an old stallion like me? Tia.. where’s your faith in me?”

Giggling, the sound as beautiful to Star Swirl’s ears as birdsong, Celestia smiles warmly. “I have nothing but faith in you, Star Swirl, as I always have.” She sighs, leaning over and gently resting her chin on top of Starswirl’s head. “Simply I was afraid I had lost another pony I loved.” Her echoing voice becomes nothing more than a soft whisper as she closes her eyes. “After we lost Hope… after Amore… your daughter? I… I was afraid we’d lost you forever.”

Closing his eyes and basking in the ethereal warmth Celestia is putting off, Star Swirl relaxes a little. “I’m sorry I went away, Tia… I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you protect your sister from herself.”

“Put such thoughts from your mind,” Celestia comforts the aged unicorn. “What would your wife say if she could hear you speaking like this?”

Snorting, Star Swirl chuckles weakly. “She’d tell me I’m being a fool, and an old fool at that.” He sighs and wipes his face with the back of one arm. “I miss her… I miss her so much.”

“We all do, Star Swirl,” Celestia replies, reaching over with a glowing hoof to gently poke Star Swirl in the chest. “But, she’ll always be alive in here, Star Swirl. You told me that once, remember?”

“The day after we left Fillyon,” Star Swirl nods. “You and Luna were… crying because you missed your parents… your beds, the warm safety of your house.” He chuckles weakly and closes his eyes. “We were around the campfire and I grabbed a blanket and pulled you both close… and I told you that no matter what, no matter how long they’d been gone, they’d always be there so long as you kept them alive in your hearts.”

“And we did,” Celestia offers. “We kept them safe in our hearts, and then we made room for our adoptive Grandmother when Hope passed… and then we added you when you’re tower vanished…” Shaking her head and sighing Celestia grows quiet, and for a moment Star Swirl swears he can see tears gleaming in her eyes. When next she speaks, her voice is serious, but still soft and comforting. “Star Swirl, I came here to tell you something, something very important.”

“Yes, Tia?” Star Swirl asks, his curiosity peaking.

“Soon, a call will go out that will send many of our ponies North, to the Crystal Empire,” Celestia explains, turning her gaze back to Star Swirl, her eyes full of concern. “Though it shall pain you greatly, you must go with them. You must travel north. You must seek your daughter.”

“Celestia I-” Star Swirl starts.

“But, most importantly, you must aid my sister,” Celestia continues, cutting Star Swirl off. “She is with the Wonderbolts, and she will need your guidance. You must also ensure Shiro travels north with you. His destiny lies with Luna, and he must be there upon their arrival.”

For a long moment, Star Swirl sits there quietly, his brow furrowed as he does his best to figure out what to say. A part of him wants to refuse this order, to tell Celestia that he should stay here and assist the new Compassion with her duties. Twilight will need him to teach her things, important things! But, that voice is quiet, nearly drowned out by the father in him that makes him want to get to his hooves and run to the nearest window and teleport himself to the kingdom his wife once ruled over. And yet, all of that, the voice of fear and the voice of logic, is drowned out by the warmth of Celestia’s presence beside him.

And so, he nods slowly, eyes closed as he sighs.

“I’ll do it, Tia... “ Star Swirl whispers, shivering slightly at the prospect of going north.

“That’s all I ask, my dear adoptive grandfather,” Celestia whispers before leaning over and gently kissing his forehead. “I love you, Grandpa…”

And then, the warmth and light vanishes, leaving Star Swirl alone in the corridor. Opening his eyes slowly, Star Swirl finds himself alone, Celestia having vanished.

Slowly, almost frightfully, he reaches up to his head and gently touches the place Celestia kissed as tears well up once more in his eyes.

“I love you too, my dear grandfilly…” Star Swirl whispers to the empty air, somehow sure that Celestia had still heard him.

------

“Come on, Moonshadow! Star Swirl told us to stay in his suite!” Midnight Wind shouts after his sister, who is keeping ahead of him as she runs down the corridor.

“But I heard him singing!” Moonshadow replies curtly. “He sounded sad and I don’t want him to be sad!”

“Cosmos, sis,” Midnight sighs as he tries to catch up. “I swear to Mom, if you get us in trouble I am going to hold it over you until you die from embarrassment!”

Moonshadow doesn’t reply, instead she puts on more speed, her wings coming out from beneath her cloak as she takes to the air and keeps ahead of her younger brother. In response, Midnight Wind takes to the air too, quickly putting as much strength as he can into his wings just keep pace with his alicorn sister. Right before he catches up, she turns around the corner and lands in the hallway.

Landing beside her, Midnight opens his mouth to speak, but is cut off when a voice comes from nearby.

“I thought I told you two to stay where you were.”

“I heard you singing…” Moonshadow says slowly, walking towards Star Swirl, who is sitting beside the large window depicting Celestia and Luna’s battle. “I was worried. You sounded really sad..”

“A lot of that going around tonight,” Star Swirl sighs, “but your worry is touching, little Moonshadow.”

“I told her to stay put,” Midnight sighs as he rolls his eyes. “But she wouldn’t listen! I told her you’d be angry, but she still ran out of the rooms to come find you.”

“I’m not angry,” Star Swirl says softly.

“See! He-” Midnight starts before pausing. “Wait, you’re not angry!?”

“I’m not,” Star Swirl chuckles, smiling warmly as he walks over. “In fact, I’m glad you came to find me… I… I don’t want to be alone right now, and you two are the only others besides Shiro who are not of this time.”

Walking over and leaning against Star Swirl, Moonshadow smiles softly. “You’re not alone, Star Swirl.”

Gently, Star Swirl pulls Moonshadow into a hug, followed by Midnight, who has wandered over as well. “Thank you, both of you.”

“You’re just lucky that this period of time is just as not fun to live as it is to listen to during school,” Midnight laments, a slight blush on his face from being hugged by the elderly unicorn.

“I’d imagine it’d be a lot of fun to listen to,” Star Swirl chuckles as he releases Midnight. “Though, I admit when I was your age I didn’t exactly enjoy the history lectures I had to sit through during my time as an acolyte.”

“Yeah, but you got to learn about cool ancient history and stuff!” Midnight counters. “I bet you learned about all kinds of cool battles and heroes!”

“No, not really,” Star Swirl states with a shrug. “We mostly learned about the history of the Virtues, mostly Compassion, and we learned things that pertained to our duties.” He sighs and shakes his head. “Honestly, the history of Equus was mostly peaceful, with the occasional skirmish and other such small things… at least until the end.”

Gently nuzzling against Star Swirl’s side, Moonshadow shuffles closer and rests her head against the aged unicorn’s side. “But that’s over, and you’re with ponies who love and care about you now.” Almost before the words fade from the air, Moonshadow goes stiff as a board and her cheeks turn a bright red as she realizes what she had just said. On the other side of Star Swirl, who is looking down at Moonshadow with a raised eyebrow, Midnight is snickering into a hoof.

“And what do you mean by that, little Shadow?” Star Swirl asks, a smirk on his face.

“N-nothing, Archmage!” Moonshadow replies quickly, her eyes darting around and pupils shrinking. “I… just mean that you’re just an amazing teacher and a living legend, and I bet lots of ponies around here care for you!”

“That’s not what I read in your diary!” Midnight teases, causing his sister’s blush to spread and her wings to snap open. “Perhaps I should tell him? I mean, I think he has a right to-” he gets no farther as Moonshadow rushes around Star Swirl and tackles her brother with a furious shout and intent that would make even a timberwolf blush.

“YOU READ MY DIARY!?” Moonshadow shouts as her brother yelps and tries to get out from under her. “That’s private! MOM TOLD YOU NOT TO READ IT!”

Before she can get much more into punishing her brother, there is a loud snapping sound and suddenly she is on top of Star Swirl’s back. Blinking and looking around, Moonshadow narrows her eyes as a familiar laugh echoes through the air.

“Diet Chaos…” Moonshadow hisses as she gets off of Star Swirl’s back, the archmage likewise wary.

“My my, you really are your mother’s daughter,” Discord chuckles as he seems to grow out of the floor. “But, she would be cross with me if I didn’t return you two back unharmed, and I can’t let you beat your brother to a pulp and do that, now can I?”’

“And why do you care?” Midnight asks, blinking. “I mean… not like I’m complaining... Moonshadow is scary when she’s angry! But you’ve kept clear of us the entire time we’ve been here, so why are you here now?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Discord asks, raising an eyebrow. “It’s time for you two to go home, lest your mother turn me into something natural or some other unspeakable punishment.” He paces forward, a twisted smile on his face. “Besides, what happens after this is quite… boring. And you’re both hardly old enough to take part in the rescue mission.”

“Aww, but I wanted to spend more time with Uncle Tricks!” Midnight complains, crossing his arms. “He’s always so busy in the future, and he’s never busy here!”

“Yes, yes, but I simply cannot allow you to stay any longer,” Discord snorts. “Besides, the old windbag your sister is snuggling up to knows I’m right, even if it’ll kill him to admit it.”

“Is that true, Star Swirl?” Moonshadow asks, looking up at her mentor. “Do we need to go back now?”

“Yes, little Shadow,” Star Swirl sighs as looks down at her for a moment, before looking up at Discord. “Though I loathe to admit it, Discord is right.”

“Could you say that again? Louder this time?” Discord asks as he snaps his fingers and produces a strange recording device. “I’d like to be able to listen to the sound of you admitting that I, Discord, have finally done something you agree with!”

“Don’t press your luck, Diet Chaos,” Star Swirl says with a smirk, earning an annoyed frown from Discord. “I rather like that nickname. I think I’ll keep using it.”

“No matter what time period you’re in, you always seem to suck the fun out of it, Swirly,” Discord mutters. “Anyway, time to go, chop chop!”

“Oh, alright,” Midnight sighs as he turns and hugs Star Swirl. “Thanks for letting us stay in your suite, Star Swirl.” He then walks over towards Discord.

“W-wait a moment, Discord,” Moonshadow says quickly a she looks up to Star Swirl. “Uhm…”

“Yes?” Star Swirl asks, looking down at Moonshadow with a raised eyebrow.

“It was really nice getting to know you during this time period…” Moonshadow says quickly, her blush growing.

“And it was an honor to get to know both of you,” Star Swirl agrees with a warm smile. “I look forward to officially meeting you both, when you’re supposed to be in the timeline, that is.”

“Y-yeah... Me too…” Moonshadow stammers before quickly rearing up and planting a kiss on Star Swirl’s cheek. For a moment, Star Swirl is stunned at the sign of affection, more so as he watches Moonshadow retreat over towards Discord, a bright blush on her face. Before he can regain his composure and ask why she had kissed him, Discord snaps his fingers and the three of them vanish in a bright flash of light.

Reaching up and placing a hoof on his cheek, Star Swirl smiles softly.

“Until we meet again, little Shadow…”

Author's Notes:

This chapter is dedicated to two people I lost this year:

My grandfather, Kenneth Eugene Darcy (March 24th, 1934 - August 26th, 2016)

And Nicholas David Change IV (March 5th, 1992 - July 28th 2016)

I could say more, but honestly, I'd rather let the chapter speak for itself.

Next chapter is the end, folks!