Author's Notes:

I hope everyone had a good holiday season. I know that I had a crazy time of it. I miss having someone special to spend it with though. Maybe someday. But in the meantime, I have my writing to help me along.

Cherished Ties hummed happily to herself as she sat swinging her legs below her on a branch in her crystal tree. The sun was high in the cloudless, blue sky, casting its radiance across the endless fields of flowers. A figure appeared in the distance, walking across the sea of flowers, their hooves kicking up blue petals to drift away on the breeze in their wake.

Cherished continued to hum as she watched the figure ascend the hill to her. Stopping below her, Bountiful looked up at her with a stern face. "Cherished. What have I told you about getting involved in things you're not ready for, huh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cherished said, blinking down at her sister. "I've been here the whole time."

Bountiful's stomped her leg on the ground. "Oh, don't give me that wide eyed innocent look! I know you too well."

Cherished fell over backward and hung down from her branch. "And you also know you love me." She booped Bountiful's nose with her hoof.

"That is besides the point!" Bountiful snapped, rubbing at her nose. "I told you that it's too soon for you to be getting involved."

"But something needed to be done!" Cherished shouted. "Ash is my friend!"

"Then you should have brought this to me, and let me handle it!"

"You were off somewhere and I couldn't find you," Cherished said, sitting back on her branch and crossing her hooves angrily. "I don't see why you're so angry. I was really careful and everything worked out in the end. I thought you were going to be proud of me."

Bountiful let out a sigh and her voice softened. "I am proud of you. I just worry. If the Madness discovers you, I don't know if I can protect you. Don't you understand? I don't want to lose you."

"You're such a worrier," Cherished sulked. "I don't need you to watch over me; I can take care of myself."

"This is not a game!" Bountiful said, glaring up at Cherished. "You and the six bloodlines need to be protected."

"Yeah, yeah. I know," Cherished muttered sullenly, waving her hoof. "For the sake of the future."

"And as for my sake too, Cherished," Bountiful added. "You're my little sister. I love you. Everything I do is for you. Even if I fall to the Madness, I want you to live on in the world I am fighting to make possible."

"Really, sister," Cherished said, leaning back on her branch. "You can be so dramatic at times."

Suddenly, Bountiful noticed something hidden in the soft grass at the base of Cherishe's tree. Feeling a sudden suspicion, she stepped closer to look. Laying, nestled together in a nest of grass, Celestia and Ash slept. Upon each of their backs were a pair of soft, feathered wings and standing prominently from each of their foreheads was a long, elegantly twisted horn.

"What are they doing here?" Bountiful asked, looking up at Cherished with an accusing look.

"This was not my fault!" Cherished answered, shaking her head hurriedly. "They somehow found there way here on their own."

"Oh?" Bountiful mused looking back down at the pair. "Well, that's interesting."

"They've been asleep the whole time they arrived," Cherished said, leaning down from her branch.

Bountiful smiled and tenderly brushed her hoof across the pair. "The poor dears. They gave everything they had, and a bit more. They deserve a long rest." She stood for a time, watching the two sleep. She felt saddened for the hardship she was placing onto their tiny backs. They were never going to experience a normal life. Destiny had touched them and etched its mark onto their souls. Despite their young ages, the two faced down monsters with unflinching strength and perseverance that belied their short years of life. And because of what they shared together inside the den, Ash and Celestia were now eternally bound to each other. A piece of them will forever live on in the other.

"Cherished. Please continue to watch over them. They've taken a big step today."

"Really!?" Cherish's ears perked up as her tail began to wag happily.

"Don't think that I'm not still angry with you, but..." Bountiful looked up at her little sister. "I'm also thankful to you for saving them. They are very special to me. More so than ever. The stars know the dangers that lay ahead of them. I pray that they will have the strength to face what's coming."

Turning, Bountiful walked away. Descending back down the hill, she vanished among a flurry of windblown petals.

It was finally over. The dreaded spiders were gone. Mustard thought that she would feel relief at this, but as she walked next to Morning, she felt a tightening of her gut as they headed back home. Her thoughts dwelt on Celestia's words as she arrived that morning.

She had thought that she had been ready. She had thought that she had wanted this, but... now it was just starting to really hit her. This was really happening. There was... life growing inside her.

She didn't say anything to Morning about it. She didn't know why. Her feelings wouldn't settle down. They kept swinging wildly all over. She felt like she wanted to press in close to him and feel his comforting body against hers, but at the same time she wanted to run away and hide. What was wrong with her!? Why did her gut feel like it was tying itself into a tangled mess of knots? It took everything she had just to keep herself from throwing up.

Walking ahead of her, in the lead, was the heartbreaking sight of old Gravel Biter being carried on a litter by two of his stallion friends. The old stallion died early that morning when his heart had given out. Surrounding him was the rest of his herd as they solemnly followed him back on his final journey to their new home. Dark had been saddened by the old herd leader's death and wanted him to be carried in the lead.

The other ponies that had been bitten had been visited by the new spider queen before she left. She excreted something from one of her fangs and applied it to their lips and after a short while, they all began to wake up. Grand Vista had let out a happy sequel and quickly hugged Tranquil Charm the moment the young mare's eyes opened. Dusty, who had been helping Grand care for Tranquil, also looked enormously relieved as he sat nearby watching, and was surprised when Grand suddenly reached out and dragged him in to hug along with Tranquil.

Celestia and Ash were still unconscious from their ordeal with the dark magic that was infesting the spiders. Mustard had never seen such a horror before, and screamed in terror when she saw it break free and charge right at the colt. Dark and his sister, Mirage, carried the two on a litter held between them.

One of the mares, Spring Glimmers, began to sing. Her voice was clear and mournful as it rang out across the fields. She sang an ancient song of a pony's long travels across the endless lands until he finds a good place to rest. There, the pony lays down his old and weary body to sleep and becomes part of the land. In his place a tree grows and spreads its branches out to cast its shade down so that other ponies could rest in the cool soft grasses below it.

Mustard felt moved by the mare's song, and felt tears come to her eyes. Without saying a word, Morning stepped closer and let his shoulder touch hers. This show of comfort from Morning was surprising. Normally he would joke and tease her at such a display, but now he was just looking ahead with an oddly serious look on his face.

Mustard felt a flush of heat come into her cheeks as she looked up at him. "Morning?"

He glanced down at her. "Yes?"

Mustard felt the heat in her cheeks spread down her neck and her heart began to beat a bit harder. Afraid of ruining the moment, Mustard smiled softly and shook her head. "Never mind. It's nothing." She leaned a little more into his side.

Traveling down the long valley, they crossed through the western woods. Breaking out of the trees, the sight of the settlement came into view. At last, they were home. Ponies began to rush out and wave at them as they called out their welcome. Passing through the wall, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by cheering ponies. Dark had sent Comet Tail ahead to bring the news of what had happened.

Lovers embraced while mothers rushed forward to welcome their loved ones back. Dark had Gravel Biter's body placed in one of the huts to await the decision of his old herd of what they wanted to do with him. Anxiously waiting for them to arrive, Meadowlark quickly took Celestia and Ash to the healing room to look after them.

Mustard and Morning moved off together to the side of the celebrations. Mustard felt her gut twisting again as she scanned around them for their mothers. They were bound to be around somewhere looking for them. How were they going to react when they see them? What should she say to them? So many thoughts were running through her head, she felt dizzy. Lifting her hoof, Mustard rubbed it along her belly. How were they going to react to this?

Mustard thought that having a foal was something she wanted. She imagined to herself about what it would be like to have a little one of her own. They were fun daydreams of a smiling, cooing foal she could hold and snuggle with, but the moment that Celestia looked at her with those strange eyes that seemed to look right into her, and told her of what now grew within her. Mustard suddenly felt the reality of it slamming down onto her like a fallen tree.

She wanted to talk to Morning about it. She tried several times, but couldn't get the words to form in her mouth. She was such a fool! How could she think that she was ready for this!?

"Mustard!... Morning!..." voices called out.

Stepping along the edge of the celebrants, Mustard saw her and Morning's mothers calling out as they looked for them. Trailing just behind them was her sister Dandelion Fluff. Seeing her mother, Mustard suddenly felt a strong desire come over her and before she knew what she was doing, Mustard trotted a few steps towards her. "Mama!" she called out to her.

Hearing her, the two pause to glance over. When her mother's eyes fell on her, they widened slightly with surprise, then instantly brightened as she smiled at her. "Oh, there you are! My goodness. It is true. You look absolutely adorable! After Dandelion Fluff swore that she saw a stallion that looked like Morning, we went to Meadowlark and she explained to us what happened."

"I'll admit. I was surprised, but then again, Morning was always a bit of a colt in the first place." Pixie Wink added. "Though I am still very upset that Morning decided to avoid us when he was here a few days ago." Morning's ears wilted at his mother's stiff gaze.

Seeing her mother standing just before her, the emotions she been holding inside suddenly rose up and broke from her tenuous control. Tears suddenly flooded into Mustard's eyes and she rushed to her mother and threw herself onto her. "Mama! I'm so scared! I don't know what to do!" She bawled into her mother's neck as she wept.

"Oh sweety," her mother said into her mane as she hugged her. "I know that change can be scary, especially when it's unplanned like this. We love you just the same, no matter what."

"No, it's not that," Mustard said, shaking her head against her mothers neck. "We... Morning and I... we... I thought I was ready but I fear I made a mistake!" Mustard's heart was racing as she leaned back and glanced over at Morning. "I'm... I'm pregnant."

Mustard heard her mother take a quick intake of breath. "What!? Really!?"

Mustard nodded, sniffing her runny nose. "Celestia told me. She saw it with that magic of hers. She's never been wrong before." She looked back at Morning and saw him standing rather stiffly as he stared back at her with a shocked expression.

"Pregnant?" Morning muttered. "You're having a foal? I mean, we're having a foal?" His eyes were growing wider. "I didn't think... I mean... So many things happened I just thought... well, I guess I knew it was possible, but I just didn't think it would actually ..." Morning started gasping for breath. "I'm... I'm going to be a father!?"

Suddenly, Morning's eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed to the ground in a dead faint.

"Well, that settles it," Pixie Wink said, looking down at Morning. "He's definitely a colt now."

Dandelion Fluff sighed and rolled her eyes as she peeked around her mother at the comatose stallion.

Starless stood awkwardly among the festivities. Ponies were laughing and excitedly telling stories of their adventure away while ponies danced together and sang about their joy at their victory over the spiders. Starless was at a loss. She had never seen ponies acting so jovial and carefree. Unicorns hardly ever sang, and if they did, it was usually solemn and cheerless as they toiled at their work.

Walking to the fringe of the celebrations, Starless found a place to sit. Her thoughts turned back to those two foals and what she had overheard when Celestia told Ash about the dark magic that was infecting the spiders.

When she was young, there was a game she and the other unicorn foals played when they were being taught to use their magic. They were each given a crystal that had been smashed into pieces. Taking each piece up in their magic, they were to puzzle out how to fit them all back together again without setting the pieces back down. There were things that kept bugging her about what had happened and she felt like she was trying to fit pieces together much like she did those crystal shards when she was younger.

Where did the dark magic come from? What was its purpose? Starless had been racking her brain for any explanation. Magic could sometimes go wild if the caster was careless and didn't set the right limitations to their spells. Whatever this dark magic was, it was well beyond that.

"Are you okay?" Ground asked, stepping over to her.

Starless jumped at his sudden appearance. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to notice the large stallion approaching her. Starless felt her heart flutter in her chest as she turned to look up at him. He always had that effect on her whenever he was near. Riding on his back was his little sister, Snap Dragon. Ever since they found her, she had been annoyingly persistent about staying with her brother. Starless attempted to be friendly with her, but Snap seemed indifferent to her attempts for some reason. Starless didn't understand the cold shoulder that Snap was giving her. Could it be because she didn't like unicorns?

"I'm okay," Starless smiled up at Ground. "I was just thinking of some things."

"You mind if I join you?" he asked, moving over to a spot next to her. Snap jumped off his back and quickly settled herself against his side, putting herself between the pair. "If you don't mind my asking, what is it that has your mind so occupied?"

Starless sighed and scratched the back of her head. Maybe if she talked to somepony about it, something new would come to her. She was getting tired of ramming her head into this rock. "It's the spiders. Or rather, the dark magic that was corrupting them."

"Oh?" Ground tilted his head. "What about it?"

Reaching out with her magic, Starless picked a daisy. Focusing her mind, she built and released a simple spell. The snow-white daisy sparkled for a moment, then, starting at the center and spreading out to the tips, its white petals began to turn a deep red.

"Magic, even simple and small as this one, is done because there is a will behind it, directing it." She held the blood red daisy up to show Ground. "The dark magic didn't infect the spiders by random chance. It was done with a purpose."

"A purpose?" Ground asked, looking surprised. "Why would somepony do such a thing?"

"That is what I have been struggling to figure out," Starless said, shaking her head. "Things just don't make sense. Out of all the places to go, why did they come here? What was it the spiders were being driven to do?"

"Didn't they come to eat us?" Snap asked, speaking to Starless for the first time. Realizing what she had done, Snap clamped her mouth shut and glared down at the ground.

"I don't believe they came here to just eat ponies," Starless said. "If they did, then why did they all leave here when they had all the ponies trapped like flies in their web to go after a smaller group of ponies? Their actions went against their nature. If you have your prey sitting helpless before you, you don't just leave to go after another."

"Perhaps they are like moths that were attracted to a campfire," Ground offered thoughtfully.

Starless was about to dismiss this, but then a piece of her crystal puzzle fit together. She had been assuming that the dark magic was driving the spiders to come here, but what if it was the dark magic was being drawn here? The deep hunger that the spiders felt. Could it have been the dark magic's hunger? Starless felt her breath catch as more pieces began to come together. It wasn't the spiders that came here! It was the dark magic!

"Starless?" Ground said to her in concern. "Are you okay?"

Her mind was working really fast now. Pieces were rapidly falling into place. The dark magic was drawn here by something. Something it hungered for. Something it wanted very badly. It all came together and she finally understood what its purpose was! "I got it!" she exclaimed. Turning, she reached out and hugged Ground, smashing Snap between their bodies. "Thank you, you clever, clever, stallion!"

Feeling Snap pushing at her, Starless felt her face heating up when she realized what she was doing with Ground and quickly released him. The two shifted awkwardly beside each other while Snap scowled at Starless as she clutched possessively at her brothers leg.

"I'm sorry," Starless apologized, feeling like her cheeks were about to ignite into flames.

"No! Don't be," Ground quickly exclaimed before falling into a awkward silence.

Starless nibbled at her lip as she tried to calm her thundering heart. Why was she acting like such a filly over a colt? And an Earth Pony, at that! If her mother knew the thoughts she was having about him, she would voluntarily exile herself to the wild in shame!

"There you are!" Tiger Lily exclaimed as she stormed up on them from behind.

Snap Dragon let out a terrified scream and attempted to dash away, but suddenly, a large shadow appeared and snatched the filly up by her tail. Ground's father, Hoof Strike, with his struggling daughter dangling down, carried her over the furious looking Tiger Lily and set her down before her.

"I have been searching everywhere for you!" Tiger snapped, glaring angrily at her daughter. "Do you know how much trouble you are in, my little filly!?"

"But mama!" Snap complained. "I helped defeat the spiders! I saved ponies! I saved big brother!"

"And what does that have anything to do with your punishment?" Tiger growled back. Suddenly, she reached out and wrapped her hooves tightly around the surprised filly. "You have no idea how scared I was. I thought I lost you two. Hoof Strike had to hold me down to keep me from chasing after you both. I even bit him!"

Hoof Strike rubbed at a mark on his shoulder with a pained wince.

"I am proud of you," Tiger said, leaning back to look into her daughter's face. "You helped to save a lot of lives, including Ground's. But that also doesn't excuse you for sneaking off like you did. Even though it all worked out in the end, it could easily have turned out with you all dying out there in those woods, leaving me to grieve over the loss of my foals."

"Mama," Snap blinked down at the ground. "I'm sorry."

Tiger smiled softly and shook her head with a sigh. "I don't know what I am going to do with you. You've grown up so much you're almost a mare. Whatever happened to the little filly who would hide under me whenever you saw a bee fly past?"

Moved at the touching scene between mother and daughter, Starless wiped at her eyes. She had never been close to her mother. When it had been discovered that she had a strong talent in magic, her mother pushed her to improve her skills. Harshly berating her whenever she made a mistake, and any affection she had for her mother, ended the day she began to beat her to make her remember her lessons.

Starless felt a sense of jealousy towards Snap. She had a whole family that loved her, and even though she did something wrong, they were still quick to forgive her. Snap was surrounded by love she herself had never had nor experienced, but had always yearned desperately for.

Suddenly, Tiger turned her attention to her and eyed her disapprovingly. "My dear. What have you done to yourself? You look a frightful mess! Your mane is as tangled as a robin's nest and what have you been dragging your tail through!? This just won't do." She walked over and pushed her toward Snap. "Come along, the both of you. You both need a wash and a good brushing. There is going to be a big celebration tonight, and you both need to look your best. Ground, go down, jump into the river, and wash off whatever you've been wallowing in. Hoof dear, go hunt down that other colt of ours and and make sure he joins him."

"We're not going to be punished?" Snap asked.

Tiger let out a light laugh, "Oh, of course you are! But that can wait until tomorrow. Now start marching, the both of you," she ordered, flicking her hoof at Starless and Snap to move them along. Walking along beside the young almost-mare, as Tiger directed them to the bathhouse, Starless felt a strange warmth within her. For some reason, it felt good to be included.

Glancing down at Snap, Starless was surprised to see her looking up at her.

"I won't let you have him," Snap hissed at her. "Big brother is mine."

Starless blinked down at her, and quickly glanced back over her shoulder at Ground as he walked away to the river. She liked him. In fact. She liked him more than she should, but he was an Earth Pony and she was a Unicorn. Any union between them would be anathema for her kind. Whatever her feelings for Ground may be, no matter how much she wanted it, or how much it may hurt her to do so, she could never allow herself to act on them.

"Something wrong, dear?" Tiger suddenly asked, seeing her looking back.

Quickly, Starless pushed her feelings back down and smiled at the tiny mare. "It's nothing important."

Next to her, Snap frowned up at her. She had been watching Starless the whole time and she witnessed the look of pained regret that came over Starless's eyes as she looked back at her departing brother.

Later, Starless stepped out into the night a changed mare. Her coat gleamed in the firelight and her mane and tail had been done up in a long braid that nearly touched the ground. Feathers being popular with many of the mares now, she had white dove feathers tied into her mane, just behind her ear.

Standing awkwardly next to her, Snap Dragon gazed out nervously at the festivities. Her deep violet coat glistened, and her white mane had long strands of pond grass woven down its length. "I feel silly," she complained.

"Don't be. You look beautiful," Starless complemented her. It was true. Snap was on the verge of becoming a fine mare. Her body was already developing the fine, smooth curves that were attracting the eyes of many of the older colts.

"That's not true," Snap scoffed at the idea. "I'm ugly."

"If that was true, then I would be a donkey," Starless said back.

"I saw donkeys, once," Snap said. "We came across a small herd of them a few seasons back. I thought they looked adorable with their big ears and funny faces."

"You kept asking me if we could keep one," Tiger Lily added, walking up behind them. "You had a fit when I told you no." Her light yellow-orange coat seemed to glow in the firelight, and her mane was decorated with bright crimson cardinal feathers that seemed to flash in the night. Following along behind her was Skye Twirl, Dusty Stride, and Tranquil Charm, who was helping Grand Vista hobble along on her broken leg.

Skye still had her wing bound in place and she walked with a slight limp. Her waist was slightly pudgy as it started to show the first signs of her pregnancy. Her light grey coat was freshly washed and her light mane had blue jay feathers tied into it that help bring out the natural blue that ran through it. Dusty kept glancing worriedly at her as he walked closely along her side while the young Tranquil Charm flanked Skye's other side. Tranquil's normally dull russet colored coat looked vibrant and glossy, while her freshly brushed golden-orange mane had large, yellow roses worked into it, down its long length. Grand simply brushed out her mane and tail and just left them hanging loose, though she did relent and let Tranquil tie a single goose feather just behind her ear.

Looking around, Starless was amazed at how much had been cleaned already. All the webbing had been removed, as well as all the spider remains. Many of the defensive fire-pits had been lit to cast their warm light far out into the night and a large area surrounding the cracked stone had been cleared and decorated with bundles of flowers and colorful glitter-stones.

The sound of Silverglint's flute drifted over the celebrations as she and other ponies gathered to play music for ponies to dance to. More and more, ponies were coming up with new and inventive ways to create music. Drums, made of hollowed out logs, kept the tempo while the newly created stringed instruments, thrummed in counterpoint to Silverglint's flute.

Within the healers room, Celestia blinked her eyes opened as the sounds outside woke her. Sitting up, she found that she was lying alongside Ash. Reaching out, she gently touched his cheek and felt his warmth and smiled. He was alive.

"Celestia?" her mother's voice called to her. Looking over, Celestia found her standing at the doorway, her eyes red from crying. Taking a few steps closer, her mother paused as she dropped her head down. "Celestia. I'm so sorry. This was my fault. You tried to talk to me and I didn't listen. I thought... I thought I knew what was best." Flopping her rump down, she began to weep into the back of her leg. "I should have trusted you. If I did, then Ash wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Climbing up to her hooves, Celestia was surprised at how weak she still was. Walking over to her mother, Celestia hugged her around her neck. "Don't cry, mama."

Her mother whimpered behind her hoof. "I should have been there for you. Instead, I dismissed you. Ash and many other ponies could have died because of my foolishness. I could have lost you too. I'm a horrible mother!"

"Oh my," a voice broke in from behind. "I have heard and seen some silliness in my time." Dark's mother, Light Drizzle, slowly walked into the room, shaking her head. She had been steadily recovering from her illness and some of her strength had returned, though she still easily grew tired whenever she overexerted herself. "Being a fool myself, I know what foolishness looks like and I can tell you that you still have a long way to go yet."

Celestia's mother looked back at the elderly mare. "But I should have-"

"Enough." Light Drizzle waved her hoof dismissively, cutting Meadowlark off. "The world is full of I should have's, There is no need for you to add any more. There were choices to be made and you both made them to the best you knew how at the time. Now that it's all done and over with, it's time for you to move on. Hug your daughter and kiss her. Tell her how much you love her and that you won't fail to listen to her again. Always make amends. Trust me when I tell you that your time together is too short to waste."

Meadowlark blinked at Light Drizzle. Looking back down at Celestia, she smiled and wrapped her hoof around her and kissed her. "I'm sorry, sweety. I promise I will listen to you from now on."

Celestia buried her face into the side of her mother's neck. "Mama. I'm sorry for sneaking away like I did. I knew it was wrong and dangerous, but I did it anyways."

"I understand why you did it," her mother assured her, nuzzling the top of her head. "I'm just glad that both of you are now safely home."

"Ho now. What is happening here?" Dark said, stepping into the room. Held in the crook of his leg, a drooling Luna cooed as she batted her hoof up at Dark's face. Seeing Celestia, Dark smiled. "Oh, good, you're awake!"

Celestia broke away from her mother and dashed over to throw her hooves around her father's neck. Luna let out a happy giggle when Celestia turned her attention to her and nuzzled her cheek.

"How's Ash?" her father asked, looking over at the colt.

"I'm afraid he's still asleep," Meadowlark answered.

"Hmm. That's too bad." Dark said. "There's a lot of ponies who want to see him and give their thanks. Can he be woken up?"

"Papa," Celestia called, looking up at him. "I gave him what little strength I could, but he's still extremely weak. It's really important that he continues to rest."

Her father gazed down at her and nodded. "Okay, sweetie. We won't bother him, then. Mirage, did you get it?" he asked, looking back.

"It was just finished," Mirage answered, walking in carrying a white and yellow feathered headdress, followed by Bell and Dove, who was carrying Aurora.

"She's going to need to have her mane and tail brushed. They're a matted mess," Bell said.

"And I think a quick washing is in order as well," Dove added. "Strongbuck, dear, would you and Dark please fetch some water for us?"

Over the next short while, Celestia was thoroughly cleaned and her mane and tail brushed out so it flowed freely along her body. The white and yellow feathered headdress that had been made for her was settled onto her head.

"You don't have to worry about young Ash," Light Drizzle assured Celestia as she settled herself down next to the colt. "I'll keep him company so he won't be lonely. So go and enjoy yourself as much as you want."

Strongbuck then walked up to her. "I found this before we left," he said, holding his hoof out to her.

Sitting on his hoof was the other shard of her Element of Light. Deep within it, she could still see a soft glow. It wasn't totally dead. There was still magic within it. Taking it, Celestia considered what to do with it. Hearing little Aurora burbling nearby, Celestia had an idea. "Dove. Do you have some twine?" she asked, looking over to the young mare.

Dove nodded and gestured to the corner near the door where she had some wicker bins set up. "I keep some over there."

Hurrying over, Celestia used a sharp cutting stone to cut off a short length of twine. Taking the shard, she carefully tied the twine around it and then looped it back around to itself and tied the two ends together. Satisfied, Celestia walked over to Dove and stopped before Aurora, who was being held in the crook of Dove's upraised leg. Smiling at the burbling filly, Celestia slipped the looped twine over her head and settled the shard at the base of the foal's neck. She then set her hoof over the shard and closed her eyes.

"What are you doing?" Dove asked, curiously.

Focusing her will into the shard, Celestia called up its magic. Turning her attention to Aurora, Celestia reached within her and carefully took a small piece of her spark and combined the two together, melding it to the shard's magic. When she was done, Celestia took her hoof away and saw that the amber shard was no longer broken, it was now a whole and complete gem. Half of it was still the amber Element of Light, but now, the other half was violet colored amethyst made from Aurora's own life spark. The two were now bound together as one.

Aurora blinked her white eyes as they turned amber. Suddenly, she giggled happily and waved her hoof up at Celestia as she looked right at her.

There was a collective gasp around the room. "What did you do!?" Dove asked.

"I gave her a new light to see by," Celestia answered, sitting down wearily. "As long as she wears that gem, she will be able to see the life around her. I give this gift to her."

"How?" Dove started to weep as she buried her muzzle into the filly she was holding. "How can I thank you for this?"

Smiling, Celestia shook her head. "There’s no need."

Dark and Meadowlark both moved over and hugged Celestia together and smothered her in kisses. Luna squealed in Dark's grasp as she was pressed into Celestia and started nomming onto Celestia's ear, slathering it in filly drool.

A short time later, Celestia's papa carried her out atop of his back with her mama, who was carrying Luna, by their side. Making for an impressive sight, her parents had adorned their own headdresses. Moving out into the crowds of cheering ponies, Celestia gazed out in surprise. They were all cheering for her and calling her the Savior, and Peace-Bringer as well as other similar names.

Walking through, Dark brought her to stand just before the cracked stone in the center of the cheering crowds. "Mares and stallions!" Dark called out, silencing the crowd. "We have much to be joyful for. We have brought back new ponies to welcome into our herd, as well as made new and unexpected friends." Dark gestured to the side.

With the help of Tranquil Charm, Grand Vista hobbled out on her broken leg to stand before all the ponies. A embarrassed looking Starless Night suddenly appeared as Ground brutishly pushed her out. Smiling awkwardly, Starless moved forward and joined the other two.

"Grand Vista and Tranquil Charm have expressed their desire to join our herd," Meadowlark said, stepping out next to them. "I have spoken to them and I found them to be honest, good natured ponies. Please join me in welcoming them into our herd."

Ponies let out a cheer, and friendly calls of welcome as food was brought to them.

Starless shifted awkwardly in place, her heart beating heavily in her chest as her eyes fell onto Ground Pound. He was gazing at her hopefully. She wanted to speak up and ask to join as well, but she refused to give into her desire. Joining the herd was something she couldn't allow herself to do. She was a Caster. The first one in her blood to ever rise to such a rank. Untold generations of her line suffered and struggled to produce a talented offspring like her. How could she throw all their pain and sacrifice away just so she could follow her heart? She had a duty to her blood to secure the rites to mate with a high-bred stallion. Hardening herself, Starless broke her gaze with Ground. The agony she felt at knowing that she was hurting him, stabbed at her and nearly shattered her will.

Standing to the side, Tiger Lily watched the scene that played out between Ground and Starless with an unreadable expression.

"And now we have ponies that need to be acknowledged," Dark said. "Mustard Seed, Morning Sky, please step forward."

Stepping out, Mustard walked over to stand next to Dark. Her mane and tail had been brushed and bound at their ends with colored twine while blue morning glories had been added throughout its length, matching the color of a certain stallion's coat that stepped out with her to stand alongside her.

"Mustard and Morning started out on our journey a bit immature and irresponsible," Dark said. "This soon changed when we were attacked by the winged serpents. Mustard held back her fears to help Dusty and Morning save others by boldly running out into the swarm. Later, when Mustard and Morning encountered a magic pool that changed them both forever, they didn't give in. They pressed on and later assisted in the rescue of the trapped ponies. And finally, when the spiders attacked, Mustard held strong and lead everypony into driving them off, before leading them all to safety."

Smiling, Meadowlark stepped forward with Melodious, who was carrying two wreaths of woven flowers. Taking one, Meadowlark slipped it over Mustard's head and settled it around her neck and kissed her cheek. Next, she slipped the second one onto Morning and kissed his cheek as well.

"Now, where is my sister?" Dark shouted. "Mirage, step up here."

Mirage came out with a startled look and joined her brother. "When Mirage arrived, she came calling to us for help. She pleaded with an impassioned spirit that refused to be turned away. During the entire trip, she was always there for anypony who needed an ear to speak to and a voice to offer kind words back. I fear to think what things would have been like without her there to hold us together. Later, she was instrumental in leading the spiders away so that the rest of the ponies could escape to the wolf den. It was her and Ash's brave efforts that saved so many lives that night."

Meadowlark stepped forward and laid a wreath around her neck and kissed her.

"Next! Every pony that was part of the rescue team, come forward and be recognized," Dark said, then he began calling out names.

One by one, when a pony's name was called, they would step out to Meadowlark so she could lay a smaller circlet of woven flowers atop of their head and kiss their cheek. Mothers wept openly as they watched in pride as one of their grown foals walked out and be recognized.

"Next, I would like to recognize Ash Cloud," Dark said, looking over the crowd. "Unfortunately, he is still recovering and cannot come out." There were looks of disappointment on many in the crowd at this. "That colt tried my nerves to the breaking point more times during that journey than I could count," Dark said with a laugh. "He faced down a charging manticore and saved Dusty while they were out searching for a special root to save Dusty's mother. Later, when the hydra attacked, he disobeyed and ran down to face it. He showed me a magic that had never been seen before. He fought the hydra and defeated it with the power of his heart. I learned, then, the magic that can come from love. It gives ponies the strength to face monsters with unwavering force that cannot be stopped. It was his idea to lead the spiders away so that the ponies could escape and he kept Mirage safe to return back to the others, where once again, Ash showed us the magic of his heart by holding the spiders at bay until help arrived." Dark paused as his eyes grew emotional. "He was there to face down the Spider Queen in the end after I was struck down. He gave everything he had and more in trying to defeat her and the dark magic that was controlling her. It cost him his magic and nearly his life. So in honor of his bravery, I name him, ‘Ash Cloud, the Courageous.’ Let none ever doubt his courage, or else they may learn of it the hard way!"

The cheering that erupted was thunderous. Waving his hoof after a time. It took Dark several long moments to quiet everypony back down. "Lastly, there are three more that need to be recognized: Journey Stomp, Snap Dragon, and my own daughter, Celestia."

Stepping out into the cleared area, Ground Pound appeared, carrying a embarrassed-looking Snap Dragon riding on his back. Hoof Strike followed after with an excited Journey Stomp hopping in place on his father's back. The two moved over and joined Dark who had picked Celestia up onto his own back.

"Journey Stomp and Snap Dragon bravely traveled out during the night to escort Celestia through spider infested forests to the very heart of the conflict. There, Celestia faced down the spiders with unflinching grace. Instead of death, her arrival brought healing. She was the one who discovered the dark magic hidden within the spiders, and with the help of Ash, they purged it from them, ending their madness, though the Spider Queen was lost when she sacrificed herself to contain the dark magic that was loosed. Soon after, when Ash exhausted all his strength and lay helpless before the corrupted Queen, Celestia refused to leave him and faced down the evil that stood poised over them and drove it off. Using the last of her magic, Celestia healed Ash, losing forever the special power she was gifted with."

Meadowlark came forward and laid three wreaths around each of their necks, kissing each in turn. Journey made a funny face when it came his turn to be kissed and Meadowlark made it a point to give him a extra long, and mushy one that made ponies laugh as Journey vigorously rubbed his cheek when she was done.

Food was brought out and music soon filled the air. Sage Brush found a good place by one of the fires to tell a new story to a group of foals. Dark surveyed the sights and smiled. Everything was good.

"Dark?" Starless called out as she walked over to him. "I would like to have a word with you, if I could."

"Sure," Dark agreed. "What can I help you with?"

Starless glanced around before stepping in close. "I think that there is something you need to know. I've been thinking about things and I think I figured out something. The spiders were hunting Celestia and Ash."

Dark's ears shot up in alarm. "What!?"

"The spiders came and attacked the settlement and even though they were driven off, they kept coming back," Starless explained. "The madness of the dark magic may explain why they were doing so, but then when we arrived, they suddenly turned and went after the group holding Ash. It was like they were being drawn to both of them. First to the settlement where Celestia was, then to the group where Ash was. I think the dark magic was hunting the two."

"But why!?" Dark asked then suddenly he knew why. "The magic! The Elements they possessed! The dark magic wanted it!"

"I believe so," Starless answered. "The dark magic was created with a purpose. It was released onto the spiders to fulfill its purpose and I am afraid that it succeeded. It destroyed Celestia's Element of Light and took Ash's Element. That is why it left. It had what it needed."

Dark felt a chill run down his back. "By the stars."