On Swift Wings

by Jade Ring

First published 18th of January, 2017

As Ponyville struggles to rebuild after the Changeling invasion, possible new allies arrive in the form of the last of the ancient pegasus tribes. But are their intentions as pure as they say?

It has been six months since the Changeling invasion. Ponyville is struggling to rebuild, some wounds have not yet healed, and tensions are rising with Canterlot after the revealing of Princess Celestia's greatest secret.

As storm clouds gather on the horizon, possible new allies arrive in the form of the last of the ancient pegasus tribes; the Children of the Hurricane. They promise aid and order, but are their intentions truly as pure as they seem?

Meanwhile, Princess Celestia decides to seek out the apparently still alive Starswirl the Bearded. Her search will lead her to the darkest pits of Equestria, to the far-flung Frozen North, and will unearth a legendary evil that she has spent centuries hiding away.

And in the floating city of Zeph, stronghold of the Children of the Hurricane, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy will finally come face to face with their mysterious origins along with enemies both old and new.

Across Equestria, the forces of fate continue their unending march towards their ultimate conclusion;

A storm is coming... and it comes on swift wings.

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The second in a trilogy that will conclude the continuity of stories that began with 'Dear Sweetie Belle.'

Cover art is the latest Swirling Line masterpiece.

For Those Who Came In Late

It all began with the Changelings.

Chrysalis, the last of the Changeling queens, knew that her species was dying. In a last ditch effort to save her kind, she transformed a captive from the Royal Wedding, Prince Blueblood, into a creature the likes of which Equestria had never seen. For the first time in their long existence, the Changelings had a king.

But the salvation of a species was the last thing on Blueblood's mind.

Now called King Carapace, the stallion still nursed a grudge against the mare who had embarrassed him at the Grand Galloping Gala so long ago. Using emotional manipulation, Carapace convinced his new wife to use Ponyville as a breeding ground for their new brood.

Working with Filthy Rich (in exchange for providing safe passage for his family from Ponyville before the invasion proper) the Changelings thoroughly infiltrated the quiet village and waited for Chrysalis to begin bearing young.

They did not have to wait long.

The result of Carapace and Chrysalis' union were indeed Changelings, but unlike any ever seen before. Not content with emotions to feed upon, they nursed an unyielding and unstoppable craving for flesh. When they were unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace, the ponies of Ponyville could have just rolled over and accepted their fate.

But they didn't. They fought back, and the Battle of Ponyville was waged.

When all seemed lost, the mare called Applejack called upon the latent powers in her blood to bring life to dormant plunderseed vines in the soil beneath Ponyville. The Corrupted Changelings were dispatched and the remainder of the hive fled into the Everfree Forest.

Carapace, Chrysalis, and Molt (Chrysalis' most loyal drone) escaped to Canterlot... but not before Carapace fulfilled his revenge and killed the true love of his hated Rarity; the dragon called Spike.

In Canterlot, Carapace's plans to overthrow his aunt were foiled by the combined efforts of Prince Shining Armor, Captain Golden Haze of the Royal Guard, and Trixie, personal student to Princess Luna herself. While Trixie and Shining Armor gave their lives in defense of the princesses, it was Chrysalis herself who made the ultimate sacrifice. Recognizing at last the monster she had created, Chrysalis allowed herself to be killed in order to return the remaining Changelings to their original equine forms.

Molt, revealed to be the famous explorer Mareco Polo, entrusted Golden Haze with the last living Changeling larva; a new queen.

The former hive has rejoined Equestria, though the effects of being drones for so long have yet to be seen.

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Meanwhile, Princess Celestia uncovered a mystery.

After battling and defeating the beast known as the Smooze in the caverns beneath Canterlot, a weakened Celestia eagerly joined her former pupil Twilight Sparkle in trying to learn about the lost prophecy of Clover the Clever. While their search was ultimately fruitless, they did stumble across something else; evidence pointing to the fact that Starswirl the Bearded, the greatest of Equestria's sorcerers, was somehow still alive.

An attack from a mysterious being called the Emissary of Shadows led to the release of the Smooze and the near destruction of the Archives of Truth. Only Twilight's combining of the Archives with their keeper, the blind Brother Veritas, saved the priceless knowledge therein. Finishing the Smooze once and for all nearly killed the now very mortal Celestia and she had no choice but to watch as Ponyville was invaded and her own castle was infiltrated.

In the aftermath, Celestia sought hope in the form of the last Changeling queen while Twilight willingly left Equestria entirely with a mysterious unicorn called Nevermore, a member of a group known only as the Guild of Time Defense.

She will return... no one's quite sure when.

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And in Ponyville, things have never been worse for some.

After relocating to Ponyville to raise his young son Diminuendo, Crescendo, biological father to one Sweetie Belle, struggled with reawakened feelings for Sweetie Belle's mother; Rarity. Aid came in the form of Cheerilee, Ponyville's beloved school-teacher. The mare was no stranger to issues of the heart, as she herself was struggling to get over her feelings for Macintosh Apple and trying to accept his marriage to the Bearer of Kindness, Fluttershy.

The two's passion was quick burning... but stifled early when Cheerilee gave her life to protect those of her students in the Battle of Ponyville.

There were moments of brightness, such as Rainbow Dash struggling to find her way out of the drunken depression she'd been in since the death of Pinkie Pie and ultimately, through the love of her marefriend Applejack, learning to kick the habit and learn to live again.

There were moments of darkness, like Rarity's world being shattered by the death of the drake she loved, the redemptive death of Filthy Rich to save his daughter Diamond Tiara, and the brutal end of the beloved Cakes, leaving their twins orphaned and in the care of Lyra and Bon Bon Heartstrings.

As for Applejack, her victory over the Changeling horde was a hollow one as her own beloved sister, Applebloom, died while defending Macintosh and Fluttershy's young daughter, Scarlet. Blinded by sorrow and rage, she accepted the offer of Princess Luna to take part in the painful end of Prince Blueblood.

When the ponies of Ponyville begged to know how she'd saved them all, Applejack finally revealed her family's greatest secret; that the blood of Princess Celestia herself runs through the veins of the Apple Family.

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The past is only prologue.

The story continues...

Prologue: Prey

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"Když dvě duhy zářit , pak vy a já musí zemřít."
-Ancient Pegasus Proverb

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They were gaining on her.

Scootaloo spared a glance back at her armored pursuers. The winged creatures gained another inch, their faces hidden behind their gleaming helmets.

Forcing away panic, Scootaloo quickly started forming a plan. They had been chasing her for almost an hour now. If exhaustion was starting to set in for her, then surely they were starting to feel the same way. Exhaustion, she knew from personal experience, tended to have an impact on reaction time.

A daredevil smirk that would have made her sister proud flashed across her face.

Without another look back, the orange pegasus angled herself downward. She heard the pair behind her also adjust their course. Tongue clenched between her teeth in concentration, she stared at the approaching green of the ground below. She had to time this next move just right…

She passed through the last layer of clouds and popped her wings. They did their work well, slowing her speed to almost nothing.

Tired as she was, she still managed a small victory cheer as the two chasing her blazed past her, unable to copy her maneuver in time. Grinning in victory, she turned to take off in the opposite direction…

…and plummeted into darkness when an armored hoof collided with her chin.

The third pursuer, unseen by the young mare, shook her head in disappointment as her prey collapsed onto a cloud, unconscious. She glared at her two subordinates when they arrived shortly afterwards. “You should be ashamed of yourselves. Unable to keep up with a single filly?”

"Toto není obyčejný klisnička.” One protested gruffly in ancient pegasus. “Krev Storm Rider protéká žilách.”

"To je opravdu ji pak? Uhánět na záchod?“ The younger one giggled at the embarrassing name.

“She is. And the Queen General will want her delivered as soon as possible.” The leader lifted her helm from her head and ran a hoof through her blonde mane. “We make for Zeph immediately.”

"Měli bychom ji přivázat?“ The older one grunted.

"Of course.“ General Lightning Dust reached down to stroke the filly’s head. "One should always wrap a gift before it’s given.“

Chapter 1: Reconstruction

Lyra Heartstrings sighed heavily as she read over the latest reports from the east-side reconstruction team. The park around her was in constant motion as ponies went this way and that, working steadily on their reconstruction efforts, but Lyra paid them no mind. Another house had collapsed into yet another unmapped Changeling tunnel. That made six in just under two weeks. She made a small reminder on her notepad to chew out the tunnel exploration crew when they returned from their latest break. Her magic lifted her cup to her lips and she frowned when she saw that it was empty of the precious liquid she craved.

“Does the Deputy Mayor need a refill?”

Her wife’s sweet voice and perfect timing brought a smile to her tired face. “Thanks Bonnie.”

Bon Bon Heartstrings passed over a fresh cup of coffee, nimbly leaped onto the bench, settled beside the mare she loved, and peeked at Lyra’s latest reading material. “Ouch. Another house?”

“Yup. Thankfully this one was already abandoned.” Lyra took a deep draw of coffee and flipped to the report’s next page. “Now I have to pull ponies from another department to get the clean-up started.”

“You won’t be so short-hooved for much longer, will you? I heard Braeburn’s bringing a whole crew from Appleloosa in the next few days.”

“Yeah, but thanks to the drought they’re facing out there, they’re only sending twenty stallions. Maybe thirty if we’re lucky. That’s not gonna be enough to make a dent in this workload.”

Bon Bon rubbed her head against Lyra’s side to comfort her. “And the Mayor?”

“Is still refusing aid from Canterlot. Even though they’ve offered numerous times.” Lyra threw the reports into the air in frustration. The sheets of paper danced in the wind like restless spirits left behind from the battle that had wrecked the town. “It’s like every step forward we make in this recovery, we take two steps back!” She buried her face in her hooves. She tried to change the course of the conversation to something more pleasant for the sake of her nerves. “…How are the twins?”

“Better today.” Bon Bon smiled as she thought of the Cake Twins, left in the Heartstrings’ care since their parents were killed in the invasion. “They always seem happier when I let them help out in the kitchen.”

“Pumpkin had another nightmare last night.”

Bon Bon looked at her wife sadly. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Lyra looked up at her, a hint of the familiar mischief in her eyes. “If we’re going to go through with this adoption, I get to do Mom stuff too.”

Bon Bon giggled and nuzzled the unicorn. “I need to get back to the shop. Need help with anything else?”

Lyra looked around at the scattered papers. “I guess I could use some help cleaning this… mess…” She trailed off as a strange golden aura surrounded the bits of paper and began reorganizing and stacking them in mid-air. “That’s strange.”

“Uh, Lyra?”

Lyra paid her wife no attention and continued to stare at the papers. “Who in town has magic that shade of gold?”

“Lyra.” Bon Bon nudged her oblivious love and smiled awkwardly at the two mares now approaching the bench.

“And they’ve managed to get everything back in order. That takes some serious magical skill…”

“LYRA!” Bon Bon physically grabbed her wife’s head and turned it so that she was looking at their visitors.

Lyra’s eyes became as big as dinner plates. “Oh.”

Princess Celestia of Equestria smiled down at the pair, the reassembled reports floating beside her. “I believe these are yours, Deputy Mayor.”

By her side, Captain Golden Haze of the Royal Guard tried to suppress a laugh at the looks on the mare’s faces. “I told you we should have announced your arrival, your Majesty. It might have lessened the shock value.”

“Surprising ponies is one of my few guilty pleasures, Captain Haze.” Celestia placed the reports at Lyra’s side and gave a slight nod to Bon Bon. “And are you doing well, Mrs. Heartstrings?”

Bon Bon nodded slowly, slightly amazed at exactly who was talking to her.

Celestia turned her attention back to Lyra. “I imagine the reason for my visit is clear, Deputy Mayor?” When Lyra did not immediately answer, Celestia raised an eyebrow. “My envoys?”

Lyra shook off her shock and tried to regain her decorum. “Yes. Your envoys. I’m sorry that the Mayor hasn’t had a chance to send you a reply, your Majesty.”

Celestia’s face did not change. “It has been six months since the invasion, Deputy Mayor. I have sent an envoy on the first and last of each month. That is twelve separate offers for aid in your recovery. And yet I have not received one response.” She offered a small smile. “Would you be so kind as to explain that?”

Lyra laughed with embarrassment as she jumped to her hooves. “It isn’t that we didn’t want to respond, your Majesty. Things have just been so busy around here and…”

“So busy you couldn’t send a note to your Princess?” Golden Haze frowned.

Bon Bon glared at the armored pegasus. “Forgive my bluntness, Captain, but Ponyville sustained a bit more damage than a wrecked throne room.”

Golden Haze started to respond but cut herself off when she looked around. Celestia’s arrival had been noticed and was drawing a number of ponies closer. They were whispering to each other, some in excitement, some in suspicion and anger. There were more than a few glares in the growing crowd. She looked up at her Princess. “Perhaps we should move along, your Majesty.”

Celestia took in the crowd and frowned. “Perhaps you’re right, Captain.” She looked back at Lyra. “I’d like to speak with the Mayor.”

“She, um, asked not to be disturbed.” Lyra wilted under the flash behind Celestia’s eyes. “What I meant to say was ‘right this way, your Majesty.’”

Bon Bon watched Lyra lead the pair from the park towards Town Hall. A heavyset chartreuse mare sidled up to her. “I it just me, or does she seem… different to you? Bon Bon?”

Bon Bon shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure what it is, Miss Sour.” She picked up Lyra’s reports so they wouldn’t fly away again. “Maybe we’re just looking at her differently these days.”

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Rainbow Dash shivered in the dark office. She stood before the Mayor’s large desk, the only light in the room coming from a pair of candles on either side. The Mayor’s chair was turned away from her. She stood stock-still, waiting to be addressed. When she could take the silence no longer, she cleared her throat. “You, uh, wanted to see me, Madame Mayor?”

The great chair slowly turned, but the form of the Mayor herself was still lost in the darkness. “I did. We have some things to discuss, Miss Dash.”

“What sort of things, ma’am?”

“Things of a… personal nature.”

Dash shuddered again at the tone in the Mayor’s voice. “How personal are we talking?”

“…you’re a beautiful mare, Miss Dash.” The Mayor leaned forward so that only her eyes were visible, flickering in the candle light. “You’re special somepony is a lucky girl.”

Dash’s ear flicked, the new golden bauble that had recently been added to it bouncing slightly. “I’m not sure my fiancée would appreciate you making comments like that, Madame Mayor.”

She could practically hear the Mayor’s smirk. “Aw, she’d never have to know, would she? Anything that happens in this room would stay in this room. The perks of being the most powerful mare in Ponyville.”

“You know who my fiancée is…”

“Yes I do. And I know how… heartbroken she would be if Ponyville decided to invest in another crop. Carrots, perhaps…”

“You can’t do that!” Dash blurted. “I’ll do anything!”

“Anything?”

Dash gulped… and nodded.

“On the desk.”

The command sent a wave of emotions through the electric blue pegasus’ body. She ascended to the desk with a flap of her wings.

“On your back.”

Dash did as she was told, suddenly and strangely excited despite herself. She tensed, waiting for the Mayor to make her next move…

The door flew open. The candles were extinguished and light flooded the room. Lyra strode in. “Madame Mayor, I know you said you didn’t want to be bothered, but…” She trailed off as she took in the scene before her; Rainbow Dash, on her back atop the Mayor’s desk, staring at her with horrified eyes.

And Applejack Apple, Mayor of Ponyville, leaning over her fiancée with a look that managed to convey shock, fury, and embarrassment all in one perfect package.

“I’ll… see you when you get home?” Dash stammered, looking remarkably red for a pony so blue.

“Yup. Love you.” Applejack’s eyes stayed fixed on Lyra.

“Love you too.” And Dash was gone, a faint rainbow trail marking her escape past the intruding unicorn.

Lyra’s eye twitched. “Applejack, I can explain…”

Applejack’s face was frozen, unreadable. “Deputy Mayor Heartstrings?”

“Yes ma’am?”

“You saw nothin.’”

Lyra nodded quickly. “Nothing at all.” She looked back towards the door. “But as to why I interrupted…”

“Was that Rainbow Dash making a quick escape there?” Princess Celestia walked into the room, Captain Haze by her side. “That’s a shame. I feel as though I haven’t seen her in ages.”

Applejack said nothing. Her eyes remained locked on the mare who had literally just strolled back into her life. At last, she swallowed hard and pointed back out the door. “Lyra, I think that the Princess’ escort might like something to drink. Would you please show her to the kitchenette?”

Golden Haze glanced up at her Princess. When Celestia nodded, the pegasus offered a smile at the Deputy Mayor. “Some water would be great.”

Lyra, overwhelmed and utterly lost, just nodded and led the way.

Celestia’s magic closed the door behind the two, but her eyes remained on the Mayor of Ponyville.

A tense silence passed between them.

“…Would you like a seat?” Applejack offered at last.

Celestia smiled. “No thank you.” She sat easily on the hardwood floor, her tail curling around her haunches. She looked around the room. “Mayor, hmm? Unable to resist the call to lead that roars in your blood after all, were you?”

“Hardly.” Applejack snorted as she leaned back into her chair. “I wasn’t even gonna run until I found out that most of the town was plannin’ on writin’ me in no matter what. Me? I was gonna vote for Lyra.” She pulled open a drawer and placed a bottle and two glasses on the desk. “Cider?”

“Please.” After Applejack poured, Celestia took the glass in her magic and sipped. She relished the flavor for a moment before getting to business. “You know why I’m here?”

“I’ve got a pretty good idea. And the answer is still no.” Applejack drained her own cider in a single gulp.

Celestia frowned. “You need help, Applejack. The ponies who made you their leader need help.”

“Not from you, we don’t.” Applejack poured herself another glass. “We ponies of Ponyville have always done things on our own. Ain’t no sense in doing it differently this time around.”

“Nothing like the invasion has ever happened to Ponyville before.”

“I don’t know. We had a pretty nasty little bout of parasprites a few years back…”

Celestia’s frown deepened. “This is no laughing matter, Applejack. This isn’t just property damage. You lost a lot of ponies…”

“I don’t need you lecturing me about that.” Applejack slammed her empty glass on the desk. “I was here. You weren’t.”

“You’re right. I wasn’t here.” The alicorn took another sip of cider. “But from what I hear, you handled things fairly well on your own.”

Applejack faltered in the refilling of her glass. “How did you…?”

“Did you think the rumors of your powers had been contained?” Celestia smirked into her cider. “I’d wager they’re talking about you all the way in the Crystal Empire by now.”

Applejack glared. “If that’s the case, I’d imagine certain other rumors have started spreadin’ as well.”

Celestia barely suppressed the cough that came when she choked on her latest sip. Her gaze hardened as she took in her great-granddaughter. “You are correct in your assumptions. Many ponies now know that their benevolent and perfect ruler has flaws. The scandal.” She sniffed derisively. “I hardly see why it matters in the grand scheme of things.”

Applejack smiled as she successfully refilled her glass. “It just makes them question other things, I suppose. Like why you’re hitting Appleloosa with that drought?”

“I’m working on that.” Celestia finished her cider and floated the glass over for another fill.

“Should be a simple fix, right? Just move the sun…”

“I don’t presume to tell you how to do your job, Mayor Applejack. Kindly extend me the same courtesy.”

Applejack shrugged her shoulders as she refilled her great-grandmother’s glass. “Hey, I’m the just the Mayor of a backwoods earth pony town. I couldn’t imagine being in your shoes.” She considered pouring herself another glass, thought better of it, and put the bottle back home in its drawer. “So besides offerin’ to further complicate things, is there any other reason you’ve decided to pay us a visit?”

“Where is Twilight?”

Applejack started. “I was gonna ask you the same question. I ain’t seen her since before Spike’s funeral.”

Celestia looked at her reflection the amber liquid in her glass. “Nopony in Canterlot has seen her since the day of the invasion. Her parents write me every day. They’re sick with worry. So am I, for that matter.”

“All of us are.” Applejack tugged at the streak of white in her blonde mane, a tic she had picked up in recent years. “Is it true what I heard? About her balloon?”

Celestia nodded sadly. Twilight’s balloon had been found crashed in the Macintosh Hills two weeks after her initial disappearance. By all accounts, it had simply run out of fuel and gone down. There was no evidence of struggle or violence. “She was my student for a reason. I know she’s alright. I just wish I knew where she was.”

“If I hear anythin,’ you’ll know.”

“Thank you. The same for you, of course.”

The silence returned briefly.

“I’m sorry.” Celestia said at last. “I heard about your sister.”

Applejack said nothing.

“She was of my blood, too. Just as you and Macintosh are. Just as little Scarlet is.”

“You sound a lot more accepting of that fact than you did when I first brought it to your attention.” Applejack chuckled without much humor.

“I… spoke rashly that morning. I apologize.”

Applejack laughed. “Well shoot.” She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “That makes it all better, don’t it? That’s all I ever really wanted to hear… Granny.” The word brought a small smile to her lips.

“Please don’t call me that.” Celestia was wearing a small smile of her own. “I know that I can never take back the mistakes I’ve made, especially when it comes to Eden and her descendants, but I can try to atone for them.” She gestured out the window at the slowly rebuilding town. “Your family, these ponies… this town itself, is the legacy of my only daughter. And I wasn’t here to defend it when it needed me most.” She looked at Applejack with pleading eyes. “Won’t you please let me help to mend it.”

Applejack looked into the eyes of the alicorn. When she’d first seen Princess Celestia all those years ago, she’d been astonished by their brightness, their vibrancy. They gleamed with the light of the sun itself. That vibrancy was still there, but something new tinged the edges. It took Applejack a moment to place it, but when she finally did it gave her more pause than the realization at how sincere Celestia was being.

Celestia looked… older.

“Well?”

Applejack sighed and nodded her head. “I suppose we could use a little extra help.” She looked up sharply. “But nothin’ major. The smallest unit ya got.”

Celestia considered. “That would be the Wonderbolts.”

“Perfect.”

Celestia finished her cider and let the glass return to the open drawer. “And you’ll let me know if you hear anything about Twilight?”

“That’s a promise.”

Celestia stood and cocked her head at the small golden earring dangling from Applejack’s left ear. “Oh, and congratulations on your engagement. I wish you and Rainbow Dash many years of happiness.”

Applejack smiled and blushed lightly. “Well, thank ya kindly.” She paused to consider her next words. “Would… would you like to come to the wedding? It won’t be until after we get the town rebuilt, but…”

“Thank you, but I couldn’t impose…”

“Impose nothin.’” Applejack offered her hoof. “Yer kin, no matter how distant.”

Celestia considered the gesture for a moment, then smiled and touched her gold-crowned hoof to the farmer’s own. “We’ll have to be careful. I still can’t recall everything that happened the last time I attended an Apple Family wedding.”

“I’ll make sure to cut you off after your second barrel of hard cider.”

Celestia giggled. “I’ll have the Wonderbolts prepare for deployment post-haste.”

“Good. Maybe that’ll get my Deputy Mayor off my back.”

The two shared a small laugh before Celestia started for the door. “Oh.” She paused and looked back at her great-granddaughter. “There is one more thing I wanted to see you about.” Her magic opened the door, revealing a patiently waiting Golden Haze. With a nod from her Princess, the pegasus reached into her saddlebag.

“What’s tha…?” Applejack’s question was cut off by a thump on her desk. At first, her mind couldn’t quite process what she was seeing; it was a rope. Just an ordinary, plain rope. The kind that she had dozens of on the farm. It was one of the newer ones, barely used.

She saw the specks of red on it and suddenly knew where it was from.

He was nearly done now. He was bleeding from a dozen places. His vocal cords were ravaged from screaming. His limbs were bruised and swollen from where she’d broken, separated, and then reset them. He whimpered in her general direction, barely able to see her from his one remaining good eye.

She knew Luna was waiting for her to finish it.

She looked up at the noose she’d tied from the beams on the ceiling.

He flinched when she reached for him, some part of his ravaged mind knowing what she intended to do. Her muscles strained beneath her fur, already slick with sweat from the work. She used strength she didn’t know she had to lift him.

She raised him up with teeth and legs, with will and sorrow, and finally felt grim satisfaction when his neck slipped inside…

She looked up from the rope and stared at the Princess. “I don’t…”

“A long time ago, an earth pony mare paid me a visit to let me in on a little secret she’d stumbled upon. I pressed her to tell me what she wanted, what she desired to gain by letting me in on this bit of information.” Celestia crossed the room and stood over the desk. “And do you know what this mare told me?”

Applejack said nothing.

Celestia leaned in closed. “‘What I want… is for you to know that I know.’” She whispered. “’And if I know…anypony else could.’”

Applejack closed her eyes and bowed her head slowly. Celestia’s meaning for giving her the rope was now clear.

“You told my secret. Now I have yours.” Celestia pulled back and smiled sweetly. “Try and remember that the next time your Princess takes the time to send one of her envoys to see you, Madame Mayor.” She walked out, Golden Haze following close behind.

After a few minutes of silence, Applejack opened her eyes and stared at the rope. “Lyra?”

The Deputy Mayor poked her head into the office. “Yes?”

“Princess Celestia has informed me that the Wonderbolts will be coming to town to aid in the reconstruction. Please see that we have bunking for them somewhere.”

Lyra sighed in relief. “Yes ma’am. Anything else?”

“Yeah.” The Mayor of Ponyville slung the rope around her shoulders, grabbed her hat from a nearby rack, and jumped down from her chair. “Cancel the rest of today’s appointments. I’m goin’ home for the day.”

“But it’s only ten in the morning…”

Applejack was already out the door, her eyes focused on the distant Sweet Apple Acres. Her birthplace. Her home. Her world.

The one place in Equestria where things were still simple.

Chapter 2: Look to the Skies

“Jack! Please be more careful with your sister!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Higher, Jay-Jay! Higher! Higher!”

Fluttershy Apple couldn’t help but smile at the sound of her little daughter’s exuberant laughter. She finished pouring the last of the slop into the pig’s trough and turned her eyes skyward. Jack was turning slow loop-de-loops in the cloudless blue, his thrilled sister attached securely to the harness on his chest.

“And here I was hopin’ she’d have an earth pony’s natural fear of heights.” Her husband rumbled as he finished dragging over the bag of chicken feed.

“Maybe you’ll get lucky and she’ll grow into it.” She giggled as she kissed his cheek.

Macintosh Apple grinned and caught his wife’s lips in a sudden kiss.

“W-what was that for?” She stammered when they’d parted.

“’Cause it’s been too long since yer last one.” He winked with his one good eye before turning to go fetch the next bag of feed.

Fluttershy sighed dreamily as her hunk of a husband walked away.

“Mama, why are you staring at daddy’s butt?”

Fluttershy gave a little shriek of surprise and spun to find that Jack Junior had landed behind her. Scarlet was already squirming to get out of her harness. “Mama wasn’t staring, little one.”

“Because it’s rude to stare?”

Fluttershy smiled and nuzzled the little earth pony. “That’s right.” She plucked her daughter from the harness by the scruff of her neck and gently lowered her onto her back. “Are you two ready for lunch?”

The two young ponies nodded enthusiastically.

“Looks like I made it home just in time.”

The three turned to see Applejack strolling up.

“Auntie AJ!” Scarlet squealed. She tried to leap off of Fluttershy’s back and it was only the yellow pegasus’ wing that stopped her from taking a tumble.

“Hi, Miss Applejack.” Jack Junior waved.

“Jay-Jay, if I have ta tell you one more time to call me Aunt AJ, we’re gonna have issues.” She smiled to show the threat was empty.

Fluttershy ruffled her adopted son’s mane before looking back to Applejack. “Decided to come home early?”

“Yeah, Lyra seemed to have things under control. Not much we can do ‘til Braeburn and his crew get here anyway. Figured I’d come home, get some grub, maybe take a na…”

“She’s upstairs. Got home not too long ago.” Fluttershy dead-panned.

“Thank ya kindly.” The earth pony was gone, a small cloud of dust marking the place where she’d just been standing.

“Miss App… Aunt Applejack really seems to enjoy her naps.” Jack Junior observed.

“I like naps.” Scarlet punctuated her statement with a small yawn.

“Good. Because you’re both getting one right after lunch.” She looked towards the barn where Macintosh was heaving large bags of feed onto his back. She blushed hotly as she took in his muscles. “Mama and Daddy have some work to do in the barn while you’re sleeping.”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Macintosh tossed the last of the bags onto his back and relished the familiar tenseness in his muscles. It felt good to be doing work again. The months he’d spent recovering from the invasion had been the longest of his life. It had killed him to have to sit back and just watch as others did his chores for him. Now that his recovery period was finished, he needed to prove to everypony, and to himself, that he was still the most dependable and strong stallion around.

He sure missed his depth perception, though.

The eyepatch didn’t itch anymore (thank Celestia) but it was still awful embarrassing when he ran into the occasional wall or tree branch.

Scarlet and Jay-Jay thought it was hilarious.

And Fluttershy…

A soft flutter of wings alerted him that his wife had landed behind him. He grinned and turned towards her. “Just about done now…”

It wasn’t Fluttershy.

Before him stood two pegasi clad in gleaming silver armor from mane to hoof, a mare and a stallion. The pieces of armor were sleek in design, obviously designed for flying. Their tails were cut short, barely visible bobs of color. They stared at him from beneath stylized helms with plumes of dark feathers running along the center. Strange bracelets ringed their front forelegs, near the hooves. Something strangely sharp seemed to be folded back along the metal.

“Uh…” Macintosh struggled to understand what he was seeing. “Howdy?”

“Budete mluvit, když mluvil, bláto kůň!” The stallion shouted loud enough to make Macintosh jump.

The mare glared at her partner. “Peří mozek.” She looked back to Macintosh, her look softening. “Please excuse my comrade.” She said in perfect Common Equestrian, her accent something very thick and one he could not immediately place. “He is still learning your tongue.” She put a hoof to her chest in apparent greeting. “I am Captain Cross Wind. The rude stallion beside me is Lieutenant Cumulus. We have come to speak with your community’s leader.”

“Well, my name is Macintosh Apple. Folks around these parts just call me Big Mac.” Macintosh smiled uneasily. Something about these newcomers was throwing him off. “Ya’ll part of the Royal Guard?”

“Yes.” Cross Wind nodded enthusiastically. “Special Pegasus Division.”

“…so wouldn’t that be the Wonderbolts?”

“To se ptá příliš mnoho otázek.” Cumulus muttered, his hoof pawing the ground anxiously. The metal on the ring clicked ominously.

“Můžete to udělat rychle? Bez hluku?” Cross Wind asked him, her eyes not leaving Macintosh’s and her smile not fading a bit.

“Nebude křičet.” Cumulus tensed…

“Mac? Would you like some lunch?”

The three looked up to find Fluttershy hovering just above.

She cocked her head at the new arrivals. “Oh, do we have visitors?”

Cross Wind and Cumulus stared in amazement at the mare above them. “Proč je tady, že jeden?” Cumulus muttered.

“Ona není jemný vánek, hloupý. Podoba je neskutečná.” Cross Wind tried to snap but was apparently too amazed to be irritated.

Macintosh smiled up at his wife, more comfortable with the visitors now that she was there. “Sugar, this is Cross Wind and Cumulus. I think they’re here to see AJ.” He looked back at the two pegasi. “This is my wife, Fluttershy.”

Cumulus stared at Mac in shocked horror. “On zotročil ji!”

Cross Wind planted her hoof in her face. “Kdybys nebyl můj bratr, byl bych tě zabít už před lety.” She recovered quickly and smiled up at Fluttershy. “It is a pleasure, Fluttershy. And yes, we would very much like to speak with the lady Applejack.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Applejack took another sip of the celery soup Fluttershy had prepared for lunch and took in her family’s guests.

The one that called herself Cross Wind had already finished her soup and was now chatting animatedly with Fluttershy about bird migrations. Now that she'd removed her helmet, she could see that her coat was a dull silver, her mane as black as pitch. Cumulus, the stallion and her apparent twin, hadn’t touched his bowl and was simply staring at Scarlet. He watched as the little earth pony ate her lunch with gusto, a peculiar look on his face. It was almost as though he’d never seen a filly before.

Macintosh and Jack Junior ate their soup in silence, each with an eye on the armored stallion.

Applejack cast another look at the counter where the pegasi had placed their helmets. She’d never seen anything shaped like them before.

“Is Dash joinin’ us?” Macintosh asked.

“She’ll be down in a minute. Takin’ a shower.” Applejack turned her attention to Cross Wind. “Look, can I be frank?”

Cross Wind smiled at her. “Of course.”

“You ain’t Royal Guards. I’ve been to enough royal functions to know what their armor looks like and, believe me, it ain’t that. So I’m a mite curious.” She leaned over the table. “Who are you? Really?”

The smile fell from Cross Wind’s face. “We are Royal Guards, but not to the princess you serve. My brother and I are Children of the Hurricane.”

“Létající nadvládu!” Cumulus suddenly exclaimed, his chest sticking out proudly.

Cross Wind shook her head as though embarrassed by his behavior.

“And just what are ‘Children of the Hurricane?’”

“In the ancient times, there were tribes that were not so… keen on the idea of forging a whole new nation. Several of those pegasi tribes united into one and set off to find their own destiny.” Her own chest swelled with pride. “And destiny we found! For all these years, we have survived on our own. Free from control! Free to go where the winds take us.” She looked out the window. “We established our home in the great floating city of Zeph. We soar across the lands, always careful to stay out of Equestrian affairs.”

“Why?” Fluttershy asked.

“Our way of life, the way of the ancient pegasi, is precious to us. We would be destroyed utterly if we were asked to give it up.”

“You’re nomads.” Jack Junior spoke up.

“Forgive me.” Cross Wind smiled at the colt. “I do not recognize the word.”

“It means you have no home.”

Cross Wind’s wings ruffled. “Zeph is our home. We need no land. We only need the sky. Like true pegasi.”

“If yer so ‘keen’ on bein’ left alone, then why are you at my table right now?”

“Word reached Zeph of the great misfortune your village suffered at the hooves of the Changelings. Our tribe is not unfamiliar with them. We have dealt with their incursions before. Our Queen-General sent my brother and I to offer aid to you.”

“That’s… that’s mighty kind of ya.” Applejack was impressed by the generosity. “But I'm afraid that just the two of ya’s not gonna make much difference.”

Cross Wind laughed. “You are very funny, Miss Applejack. No, the Queen-General is not offering us only. She is open to sending as many pegasi as you could possibly need.”

“What’s the catch?” Macintosh rumbled.

“No catch. Only…”

“Only?”

“The Queen-General would like an ambassador to come to Zeph. It is her hope that this could be the start of something truly great between our societies.”

“I’ll go.”

All eyes turned as Rainbow Dash made her way down the stairs, her mane covered and being dried by a towel. “A pegasus might be for the best.” Cross Wind nodded. “My brother and I fly fast. We would hate to be slowed by something like a chariot.”

“You fly fast? That’s cute.” Dash whipped the towel from her head, letting her multi-colored locks fall messily about her face. “Wait’ll you get a load of me.”

Attention was drawn to Cumulus as he jumped to his hooves. He saluted. “Královna Generální! Co tu děláš?”

All eyes turned to Cross Wind, anticipating another irritated reaction to her brother’s lack of social graces, but she too was on her hooves. She stood straight and tall, at full attention. “Madam, proč jste celou tu cestu?”

Rainbow Dash stared at the two saluting pegasi. “Uh… I didn't really pay close attention to Firefly's lessons in ancient pegasus.”

Cross Wind and Cumulus blinked slowly before looking at each other. “Hříva ... to nemůže být náhoda.” Cross Wind whispered in amazement.

“Musela jít s námi. Pokud tohle je Valeria dcera...” Cumulus looked at Dash with something like reverence in his eyes. “Pak Storm Jezdce krev proudí v žilách.”

Cross Wind smiled at Dash, visibly relaxing. “We would be honored if you were the one to return to Zeph with us, Miss…”

“Dash.” She flipped her still damp mane in an attempt to look cool. “Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack hid her face in her hooves in embarrassment. She took a deep breath and looked at Cross Wind. “Okay, we’re very flattered that you’ve decided to end an isolation that’s lasted over two thousand years just to help us out. But I’m still not clear on somethin;’ what exactly are ya’ll expecting to get out of this?”

“We ask almost nothing in return.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Almost?”

“Well… there is one thing the Children of the Hurricane do not have that we understand you Equestrians have in great abundance.”

Ah. Here was the catch. Applejack leaned forward. “And that would be…”

Cross Wind’s grin nearly cut her head in half. “Friendship.”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at the exaggerated sounds of retching come from the bathroom. “Aren’t you overdoing it a little?”

Applejack stepped out and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, but that was the corniest and most sickeningly sweet thing I’ve been forced to listen to in years.”

Dash smiled. “Somepony’s forgotten that friendship is magic.”

Applejack ignored her fiancée and looked out her bedroom window. Fluttershy and Macintosh were showing the pegasi the barn. Cross Wind looked mostly interested. Cumulus was keeping an eye on Scarlet. The filly was crawling along the ground towards him, Jack Junior not far behind. “Do you trust them?”

“I don’t think we have a choice but to trust them.”

“How do ya mean?”

“You mean besides the fact they’re offering us enough help that we could get Ponyville back to normal in a week?” Dash pulled her saddlebags from the closet and started packing. “AJ, if these two are legit then this could be a very big deal. Not just for Ponyville, but for all of Equestria. An entire society of pegasi that still follow the old ways? Think about what they could teach us.”

Applejack smirked. “You just wanna see the city.”

“Duh.” Dash grinned widely. “I used to read all about the ancient floating cities. To think there’s still one out there somewhere…” Dash looked into the blue sky and sighed dreamily.

“Okay, so yer going.” Applejack leaned against the wall, noting that it didn’t feel as sturdy as the old one had before this whole part of the house had been reduced to cinders. “By the power vested in me by the ponies of Ponyville, I do so name you Ambassador to the city of Zeph. That official enough for ya?” She looked away, almost pouting. “But I don’t much care for the idea of you goin’ alone.”

“You wanna come?” Dash looked up hopefully.

Applejack laughed. “Sure. The Mayor of Ponyville will just up and leave to go gallivanting to Luna knows where. Lyra’d have my head.”

“What about ‘Shy?”

Applejack considered. “That’s not a bad idea, actually. If there’s any mare I trust to keep you out of trouble, it’d be her. Do ya think she’ll go for it?”

“One way to find out.” Dash slung the bags around herself and did a little spin. “Something’s missing.”

Applejack stepped closer and gave her a once-over. “Don’t see nothing…”

“My Daring Do pith helmet!” Dash stamped the ground in sudden realization. “Is it up in the attic with…”

“You ain’t leavin’ this house with that hat on your head.” Applejack swatted her fiancée with her own hat to emphasize her point. “That hat only comes out for two occasions; Nightmare Night and those dag-blasted conventions yer always tryin’ to drag me to.”

“What about Wish-Fulfillment Wednesdays?” Dash asked with an eyebrow wiggle.

Applejack blushed and made for the door. “Th-three occasions!”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

While Macintosh continued talking to their visitors, Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked Fluttershy a good distance away and made their proposal.

When they’d finished, Fluttershy looked back at her family. “I don’t know girls. Scarlet needs a lot of attention and the boys have so much work to do…”

“Shucks, ‘Shy. You know the ponies in town are trippin’ over themselves to help the family out. I’m sure I can find somepony to sit her at the very least.”

Fluttershy ran a hoof through her short mane. “I don’t know…”

“Look, let’s make this simple.” Dash pulled Fluttershy close. “You’re my mare of honor, right?”

“Right…” Fluttershy answered carefully.

“And you have to throw me a bachelorette party, right? And it’d gotta be something wild, especially after that amazing one I threw for you.”

Fluttershy blushed. “I still can’t look Bulk Biceps in the eye since you had him give me that dance…”

“Then here’s the deal; you come with me to Zeph, keep me out of trouble, and you’re off the hook.”

“Really?”

“Yup.” Dash hugged her close. “Think about it; with all the help these two are promising us, we’ll get the rebuild done in no time.”

“It… it would be nice to see Ponyville back together again.” Fluttershy admitted.

“So you’ll go?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy thought about it, hesitated one last time, and then nodded.

“Great! Let’s go get your stuff packed.” Dash started flying towards the house.

Fluttershy looked back at Macintosh and let a small smile cross her lips. “Actually, would you mind terribly if I asked you to do my packing for me? And AJ? Can you keep the little ones occupied for a few minutes?”

“Why?” Applejack looked over at Scarlet who was now sitting at Cumulus’ hooves and looking up at him quizzically.

“Because I need to give my husband a proper good-bye.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared a look.

Applejack groaned in realization.

Rainbow Dash giggled.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Cumulus watched as the yellow one floated over, whispered something into the big red one’s ear, and then urged him into the barn. His sister shook her head and lifted into the air, letting the winds carry her back towards the farmhouse.

He felt a small hoof touch his own.

He looked down at the red earth pony filly. She was smiling up at him. “Hi.” She squeaked.

His muzzle wrinkled in disgust. “Udržujte své špinavé míšenec kopyta pryč.” He spat into the dirt. “Ohavnost.”

Scarlet, not familiar with ponies not smiling back at her, began to whimper.

“Ready for your nap, little sis?” Jack Junior asked, scooping her into a wing.

Scarlet cheered and enjoyed the ride, her strange encounter with the pegasus all but forgotten for the moment.

Cumulus watched them go, thinly veiled disgust etched onto his face.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Half an hour later, Applejack and a disheveled (but pleased looking) Macintosh waved as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy took off into the clouds, their guides not far ahead of them. “Think they’re gonna be alright?” Applejack asked.

A stupid grin plastered to his face, Macintosh nodded. “Eeyup.”

Applejack watched until her sister-in-law and her fiancée were fully out of sight. Something felt off, but she couldn’t quite place it. Then, with a start, she realized that she knew exactly what she was feeling. It was a sensation she’d felt many times over the years. “The wind’s died down.”

Macintosh smelled the air and nodded. “Sure did.”

“The calm.”

He looked at her. “Huh?”

Applejack pawed the ground nervously. “It feels like the calm before a storm.”

Chapter 3: The Mysterious Fate of Starswirl the Bearded

Princess Celestia patiently took another sip of tea while she waited for Brother Veritas to complete his task. The two were seated in her private study, the room filled with sunlight from the open sky-light overhead. She looked on as the stallion who had until recently watched over the Archives of Truth sorted, filed, and examined every secret and bit of hidden history that had once filled the thousands of tomes that had been collected over the centuries.

At least, that’s what she assumed he was doing. From her perspective, he was standing motionless in the room’s center, the hollow sockets where his eyes had once been gleaming with yellow light. Only his steady breathing and occasional rustle of the simple robe he wore gave any sign of life.

It could be argued, she thought, that Brother Veritas was no longer a simple pony anymore. The spell Twilight Sparkle had used to imbue him with the collective whole of the Archive’s collection had pulled him apart and reshaped him into something else entirely. He still had a pony’s body, of course, but his mind was now a nearly eternal compendium of Equestrian knowledge.

Celestia could not suppress a self-satisfied smirk. Her centuries of preparing the spell had been well worth it.

Veritas inhaled slowly and the light faded away. He blinked rapidly and looked around. “How long?”

“Half an hour. Did you find anything?”

Veritas shook his head sadly. “No. Nothing even hints at possible Starswirl sightings after he set off for the Bad Lands.”

Celestia sighed and lowered her tea cup. “Can you repeat the last journal entry?”

Veritas nodded, the glow returning. “'It has been two weeks since my self-imposed exile.'” His voice echoed against the room's stone walls. “'My supplies are running low. The burning sands torment me endlessly. Already I have seen the specter of death approaching me in the night. His horned visage portends darkness waits for me beyond the veil. I have done my best. Forgive me, Luna. I will love you always. Forgive me, Celestia. The mirror...'” The glow faded and he shrugged. “That’s all there is.”

“His mention of the mirror continues to trouble me.” Celestia put a hoof to her chin in thought.

“I seem to recall a relic the Crystal Ponies had in their possession when they were first encountered. Wasn't it a mirror with mysterious properties?” Veritas suggested.

“The Crystal Mirror is still in the Empire, but it hasn’t worked in centuries. The spell that my sister and I cast on Sombra not only sealed the Empire away for a millennia but also drained the Crystal Mirror of its magic.”

“Hmm. Well, Starswirl did write of his experiments involving the studies of All-Is-Well, the unicorn scholar from Saddle Arabia.” Veritas’ eyes were glowing once again. “What happened to the mirror he created to banish those invading sirens?”

“The Dazzlings.” Celestia smiled. “Starswirl was so proud of his solution to their attack. He reasoned that All-Is-Well’s theories on timelines could also be applied to dimensions. Knowing the siren’s natural vanity, he cast his new spell on the largest mirror he could find. By the time they realized it wasn’t their own beauty drawing them towards the surface, it was too late.”

“Where did he send them?”

“Nopony knows. We discovered later that the creation of the portal in our dimension had created corresponding portals in countless other dimensions. After Starswirl left, I kept the mirror here in Canterlot in the hope that we would receive visitors from these other worlds.”

“And did you?”

Celestia’s face darkened. “Unfortunately, yes. The brothers Tirek and Scorpan, a centaur and a gargoyle from another world entirely. They came through with kind words and promises of peaceful collaboration and study. Sadly, it was all a ruse.” Celestia stared at her empty cup. “It was Scorpan who came to me and told me of his brother’s sins. Tirek had an insatiable hunger for conquest and he sought to make our version of Equestria the next notch on his belt. Scorpan had grown weary of his brother’s delight in savagery and sought a peaceful existence with us.”

“What happened to him?”

“Tirek murdered him when he discovered his treachery. And then he came for me.” A small smile crossed her lips. “His last mistake.”

“You… you killed him?”

Celestia laughed airily. “Goodness no. Does that sound like something I would do?”

Veritas said nothing. Now that he had the full knowledge of Equestria stored in his head, he knew full well the acts Celestia was capable of when either she or her subjects were threatened. He simply waited for her to continue.

“I drained him of his magic and locked him away in Tartarus. He’s still there, I believe. Centaurs age much slower than ponies.”

“And the mirror? What became of it?”

“There was… another visitor. A unicorn. A young mare barely out of fillyhood. She claimed that she had come from one of the worlds Tirek had conquered and had no home left. I was impressed by her tenacity and I took her under my wing. She was my last student before Twilight.”

Veritas’ brow creased. “I can’t find any record of her. What was her name?”

Celestia’s smile faded. “…Sunset Shimmer. Her name was Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia bowed her head sadly. “And everything Twilight Sparkle has now was meant to be hers.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Prince Moon Shadow cocked his head.

His reflection copied him.

He smiled and waved a hoof.

The other him mirrored his actions perfectly.

Giggling now, the dark unicorn colt reached out his hoof and bopped his copy on his nose.

The other Moon Shadow sneezed (adorably) and was consumed by a flash of green flame. The flames faded, and the hardened shell of the infant queen of the Changelings gleamed in the sunlight. The niyad pouted and stuck out her tongue. “No fair. You know my nose is sensitive.”

“Moon Shadow. Play nice.”

Moon Shadow winced at the warning tone in his mother’s voice. “Yes ma’am.”

Princess Luna reclined on her canvas couch and smiled. “Good boy.”

A small flutter of wings announced the arrival of Golden Haze. She landed beside Luna and smiled at the princess. “Everything going okay?”

Luna nodded. “Perfectly fine. Your little one is…”

“GLORIOUS HOPE!” Haze nearly shrieked when she saw the young Changeling just sitting in her natural state. “What have I told you about…?”

Before her adoptive mother could finish her sentence, Glorious Hope coated herself in green flames that quickly became her normal disguise.
The white coated filly smiled up at the other pegasus from, beneath a long mane of pink. “I’m sorry, Mama.”

Golden Haze was a battle-tested warrior who had once gone wing to wing against a squadron of rogue griffon invaders intent of seizing all the gold in the Canterlot vaults. Never once had she given an inch to her enemies nor shown them that slightest trace of emotion in her face.

Yet she crumbled at the very sight of a filly’s smile.

She sighed and smiled back. “Just please be more careful. When you’re out in the daytime, you need to be disguised.”

“I remember.”

“Carry on then.”

Hope giggled and bounced back over to Moon Shadow who was already proposing the greatest game of hide and seek ever.

Haze sighed and sat heavily, her armor clanking on the marble floor of the balcony. “Children.”

“They are a blessing and a curse.” Luna chuckled, conjuring a glass of lemonade. She offered it to Haze who accepted it graciously. “How goes the inspection?”

“The Wonderbolts will be ready to depart soon.”

“The barracks are in order?” Luna summoned another glass of lemonade and sipped from it slowly.

“Impeccable.”

“And the new guard recruits?”

“They’re a bunch of mealy-mouthed maggots, but I’m sure we can make something respectable out of them.” Haze chuckled as she raised the glass to her lips.

“And did my sister sleep in too late this morning?”

Haze exhaled contently as the cool liquid soothed her parched throat. “Not too late at all. I make sure she’s up and at ‘em before daybreak.”

“I would expect nothing less.” Luna smirked and waited for Haze to take another drink. “You do share the same bed after all.”

The hoof-polished marble quickly gained a new coating of lemonade and saliva. Haze finished spitting the rest of her drink and stared in shock at the Princess of the Night. “How… how did you know?”

“I didn’t.” Luna calmly took another sip of her drink. “Until you told me just now.”

Golden Haze’s head drooped. “Well, I always figured this day would come. I suppose I’ll be dismissed now.”

“Now why would I do something like that?” Luna giggled, both at the playing foals and the embarrassed mare beside her. “You make my sister happy. I would never do anything to damage that.”

Haze raised her head and smiled. “Thank you, your Majesty.”

“Just don’t break her heart.” Luna finished her lemonade. “Or I’ll condemn you to a nightmare from which you will never awaken.”

Golden Haze laughed for a moment… until she realized Luna wasn’t laughing with her. “You… you were joking, right?”

Instead of answering her, Luna gestured at Glorious Hope. “She’s remarkably advanced for her age. She only hatched six months ago, yes?”

Haze nodded. “We had Brother Veritas consult all of Mareco’s writings on the Changelings for an answer. Our best guess is that since the queens needed to lead the hive as soon as possible, they tend to develop at a much faster rate.”

“Beware the terrible twos, then.” Luna muttered. “They approach rapidly.”

Haze chuckled and flapped her wings. “I should get back to the inspection. Thank you again for watching her.”

Luna waved her off. “Please, she’s practically family.” The alicorn winked at her. “As are you.”

Haze grinned and looked down at her adopted daughter. “Hope. You be good for your Aunt Luna.”

Glorious Hope stopped tickling Moon Shadow to again beam her brightest smile at the pegasus. “I will, Mama.”

“That’s my sweet girl.” Haze felt a swell of love in her heart and, as Brother Veritas had taught her from Mareco’s journals, pushed it outward.

Glorious Hope’s eyes lit up, figuratively and literally, as she soaked in the emotion she used as sustenance. She drank from the spectrum happily and giggled when she was done. “I love you, Mommy.” She punctuated this statement with the most adorable little burp either of the two mares had ever heard.

Haze blew a kiss before she lifted off the floor. “I love you too, my little princess.”

Moon Shadow watched the golden-armor clad Pegasus fly away. He looked at Glorious Hope, his eyes narrowed. “You and your Mom are kinda weird.” He squealed when he felt a brief, hard tug on his ear.

Luna shook her head as her horn’s magic faded. “I swear, when it comes to social skills, you truly are your father’s son.”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Sunset had an astonishing gift for the magical arts. I had her pegged early on as the one who might possibly solve Starswirl’s last spell and ascend to alicorn status.”

Brother Veritas sat in rapt attention, his cup of tea untouched beside him. “What happened to her?”

“She wasn’t who she claimed to be.” Celestia quickly brought her own cup to her lips to hide the scowl that suddenly came across her face.

“Yes, her land had been conquered by Tirek… but she was a willing accomplice. She worshipped at his hooves and had come into our world to find and release him.”

“What happened to her?”

“Her treachery was discovered when I found her at the gates of Tartarus. She had dispatched the guards and Cerberus was barely holding her back. Before I could capture her, she vanished.” Celestia sighed. “We searched for days before somepony spotted her in the castle. The guards gave chase, but she escaped back through Starswirl’s mirror.”

Veritas frowned. “This must have occurred just before I took on the mantle of Brother Veritas. Why didn’t my mentor ever mention any of this?”

“Because I asked him not to.” Celestia smiled at the librarian. “For only the second time in Equestrian history, I commanded that something not be recorded in the Archives of Truth. Sunset Shimmer never existed, officially speaking. As you’ll recall, not long after you became the keeper of the Archives, I adopted a young mare named Mi Amore Cadenza and took a certain purple filly under my wing.”

“Did nopony attempt to follow her through the mirror?”

“It’s hard to follow through something that’s broken.” Celestia giggled at the look on Veritas’ face. “A guard chasing her tripped against the frame and sent the whole thing crashing to the floor. Since then, nopony has been able to replicate the spell Starswirl used.”

Veritas perked up. “So Starswirl had a spell that only he could use.”

“Right.”

“One that only he understood all the functions and variables of.”

“Yes.” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“Well, what if Starswirl created another mirror and escaped through it?”

Celestia shook her head. “No. Starswirl was much too careful for that. He would never take such a risk unless he absolutely had to.”

“And if he absolutely had to? If not only his life, but his knowledge was also being threatened?” Veritas’ eyes glowed as he searched his inner Archive. “Is there nopony in Equestria who had magic so great that it would frighten Starswirl the Bearded?” He flinched at the sound of a teacup breaking and returned to his normal state. “Your Highness?”

“No.” It was hard to tell from her pristine white coat, but all the blood had left the alicorn’s face. “No pony.” She vanished the shattered cup with a flash of magic and looked again to the stallion. “What was the last part of the journal entry again?”

Veritas’ eyes glowed. “'Already I have seen the specter of death approaching me in the night. His horned visage portends darkness waits for me beyond the veil…'”

Celestia shot to her hooves. Of course. The sequence of events was too perfect. He would have been in the Bad Lands in those days. If he had been the one to find Starswirl, then that would explain his sudden increase in magical power before he returned to the city and... “Please find Captain Haze and tell her we will be departing immediately.” She started for her bedroom to pack an overnight bag. “And inform Luna that she will have the throne until I return.”

“Return?” Veritas hurried after his princess. “From where?”

Celestia paused at the door. She looked back, her eyes narrowed and tense. “Tartarus.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

The last train from Canterlot was nearly empty save the two mares sharing the large private box towards the caboose. Celestia reclined on the plush bed and watched as Golden Haze finished stowing their belongings. Something about the pegasi’s quick, shortened movements struck her as odd. “Is something the matter?”

Golden Haze shook her head as she began undoing the straps that would remove her armor. “Not really. I’m just… well, it feels like we just got home.”

Celestia smiled. “You’re worried about Hope.”

“Of course I’m worried about Hope.” The last bits of heavy armor hit the ground with a dull clang and Haze stretched her body. She always loved how light she felt in the moments just after shedding her uniform. “And I don’t understand why we’re taking the train. Wouldn’t it be faster to fly?”

Celestia watched her most loyal defender’s movements with great approval. “Faster? Yes, but even I like to take things slowly sometimes. Besides, it’s only a day’s ride. If everything goes right, we’ll be home by this time tomorrow.” She held out her forelegs. “Is it so terrible? Sharing a private train car with me for a whole night? Nopony to bother us?”

Haze noted Celestia’s invitation and smirked. “Actually, that does sound pretty nice.” She popped her neck and looked towards the door. “I’m afraid that I have to tend to my duties before…”

“You are relieved, Captain Haze.”

“Thank you.”

Celestia giggled as the yellow mare flew into her embrace and kissed her.

Haze hummed happily against her love’s lips as she felt the alicorn’s legs closing around her. She always thrilled a little at the size difference between them, how safe she felt when her princess held her tight. She reached up and wrapped her own forelegs around Celestia’s neck and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

Celestia moaned softly as the kiss became more heated. Her hooves began to drift down towards…

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

Celestia and Golden Haze didn’t scream. They simply froze, pulled their lips apart, and turned as one to see Luna beaming at them from the open carriage door. “L-Luna?” Celestia stammered. “Where did you…?”

“I took the liberty of reserving the next car over for my own conveyance. I figured you two would enjoy some privacy.”

Celestia felt Haze pulling away and reluctantly freed her from her grasp. “What are you doing here?”

“Did you really think I would let you go all the way to Tartarus without me?” Luna looked genuinely offended. “The realm of monsters has always been my forte. You know that.” She tilted her head back to the still open door. “I even brought my war-hammer.”

“I left instructions for you to take the throne in my stead!” Celestia jumped to her hooves and straightened her crown. “If you’re here, then who in Equestria did you leave in charge?”

“The next in line, of course.”

Celestia’s eye twitched. “Luna, you didn’t.”

“He’s in good hooves.” Luna waved off her sister’s concerns.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

The stallions who took the mantle of Brother Veritas shouldered many burdens over the centuries. They were the sole guardians and keepers of the greatest accumulation of knowledge in all the world. They were privy to secrets and pieces of history that, if known to the public at large, would create outrage and chaos. They watched over relics of ancient magic and immense historical significance. To bear the name of Veritas was possibly the greatest honor a pony could achieve.

The current Brother Veritas reflected on all of that and decided that, if given the chance, he would go back and reject his appointment when it was first mentioned to him.

The two little ponies left in his charge peered up at him quizzically.

“Now, as I’ve said already, your mothers have left me strict instructions to…”

Glorious Hope vanished in a blaze of green flame and suddenly there were two Moon Shadows smiling at him. “Let’s play hide and seek!” They cried together, their voices identical.

“No…!” But it was too late. They were gone, vanished into the depths of the castle. Brother Veritas sighed heavily as he began his sure-to-be-long search for the two, hoping he wouldn’t blindly bump into any walls during the ‘game.’ “Foals. Why did it have to be foals?” He muttered irritably.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Celestia resisted the sudden urge to bang her head against the wall. “Luna…”

“You said it was only a day-trip, sister.” Luna had made herself comfortable in a nearby easy chair. “With the new magical protections and increased guard patrols since the Changeling attack, everything will be perfectly fine.” She smiled. “Brother Veritas is the most responsible pony in all of Equestria. I’m sure he can…”

“Luna, he’s blind!”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Details…”

Golden Haze nodded her head towards the door. “Should I tell the conductor that we will be returning to Canterlot immediately?”

Celestia pursed her lips and shook her head. “As much as I am loathe to admit it, Luna is right. The foals will be safe in Veritas’ care for the next day or so. I’ll send a letter to my staff to postpone court until we all return.” She settled back on the bed and used her magic to remove her golden horseshoes. “This trip is too important to postpone. Time may be of the essence.”

Luna cocked her head. “We’re going to Tartarus, yes?” She looked to Golden Haze. “Who is it we’re going to see that has put my sister on such an edge?”

Golden Haze shrugged. “She hasn’t told me.”

Celestia stared at the roof of the carriage, imagining the dark night sky beyond. In her mind’s eyes, two red orbs blazed to life in blackness. She imagined she could still hear his dark and terrible laughter, feel his hot breath on her neck as he taunted her. “We’re going to see a beast that I hoped never to speak to again. He is a monster, utterly without conscience or morality. He exterminated his entire race in the pursuit of his ultimate goal; immortality. If he is indeed the one who took Starswirl so many years ago, then I truly hope that my old friend did not suffer too terribly at his hooves before his inevitable demise.” She looked over at the other mares, her eyes suddenly very old and weary. “We are descending into the abyss to see the ram called Grogar, the monster the old ponies called ‘the Doom that Came to Tambelon.’”

Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm

“Mom?” Sweetie Belle’s magic pushed the door to Rarity’s bedroom open. The young mare peered into the darkness and spotted the unmoving form under the bed’s covers. She sighed as she entered, a tray with coffee and pastries floating in behind her. “I heard you moving around a little while ago.”

“…I took a bath.” Rarity’s voice was a monotone, flat and emotionless.

“Are you hungry?” Sweetie Belle asked, already knowing the answer.

“No.”

Sweetie Belle put the tray on the nightstand anyway, knowing from past experience that Rarity would eat them long after the breakfast had gone cold. “The ponies from Appleloosa are arriving today. I heard a rumor that we’re also getting some help from the Wonderbolts.”

“That’s nice.”

Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up. “I was thinking about going and saying ‘hi’ to Braeburn when he gets here. Do you… do you wanna come along?”

Rarity said nothing. She only shook her head.

Sweetie Belle’s hope deflated and she sat heavily on the bed’s edge. “Mom, it’s been months since you left the boutique. A little fresh air will do you some good.”

“I’m just fine in here, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle used her magic to smooth the bed’s covers. “Your friends miss you. Fluttershy was just here yesterday, remember? You said you didn’t want to see her.”

“It’s her who shouldn’t want to see me.” Rarity murmured. “It’s my fault Macintosh lost his eye…”

“Oh, please don’t start this again.” Sweetie Belle huffed and jumped to her hooves. “Mom, you can’t let what that bug monster said to you mess with you like this. What happened here, to everypony, that isn’t your fault.”

“And Spike?” Rarity turned her head, her weary eyes glinting in the light from the open door. “Was his death not on my hooves?”

“Mom…”

But Rarity had already turned away. “No matter what they might tell you, Sweetie Belle, everpony who lost somepony lays some of the blame on me. Applejack, Rumble, Crescendo…”

“Mom, you have to stop this.” Sweetie Belle pleaded. “Nopony blames you for anything. If you would just talk to somepony besides me, you would see that.”

“What’s the point?” Rarity curled tighter into a ball. “What’s out there besides death and destruction? Death and destruction that came here because of me…”

“Mom!”

“I’m going to take a nap, Sweetie Belle.”

Sweetie Belle bit back her response, knowing that it would be pointless to continue the conflict. She spun and trotted from the room. There had to be somepony in town who could break through the shell of misery Rarity had built up around herself. Surely there was somepony who she would see, somepony who hadn’t visited in a while…

The answer came to her and she increased her pace down the stairs.

In her dark bedroom, Rarity’s horn lit only slightly, the familiar blue tinged with the slightest of greens. The door slowly swung shut with a click, leaving her in the complete blackness that had become her home since her light had left her life. “Spike…” She sniffled. She pulled the covers tight against her and wept.

For the umpteenth time, the Bearer of Generosity cried herself to sleep.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“You did WHAT?!”

Applejack, seated behind her desk, winced at her Deputy Mayor’s outburst. “Lyra…”

“No no.” The mint green unicorn began to pace in front of the heavy oak desk. “Let me just make sure I have all this straight. After literal months of ignoring offers of aid from the alicorn who rules this entire land, she has to personally visit us in order for you to accept help from the smallest division of the Equestrian military. Have I got it so far?” She continued before Applejack could reply. “So later that same day, you get a visit from two ponies who claim to be, and let me know if I’m getting this detail wrong, members of a tribe of ancient, nomadic pegasi. They offer help, and not only do you accept this offer without question, but you also sent two members of your family to act as ambassadors IN FIRST CONTACT WITH A SOCIETY WE DID NOT KNOW STILL EXISTED!” Lyra’s voice had steadily grown louder as she ranted. She glared at the Mayor of Ponyville, panting slightly. “That sound about right?”

Applejack pulled her Stetson down across her eyes. “Well, I suppose it does sound a mite stupid when you lay it all out like that.”

“Stupid? What you did wasn’t just stupid, Applejack.” Lyra leaned forward. “It’s borderline treason.”

“Now ain’t that goin’ a bit overboard?”

“Applejack, you are the Mayor of a small town. You were way out of line sending Dash and Fluttershy to meet this tribe’s leader.” She sighed. “You don’t have that kind of power.”

Applejack snorted. “So what was I supposed to do?”

“Contact Princess Celestia for starters.” Lyra snarled at the earth pony’s following eye-roll. “Will you stop that? Your personal issues with her aside, that mare is still the supreme ruler of all pony-kind.”

“Fine. We’ll tell Celestia what’s going on. I’ll even invite her to come back and talk to me face to face.” Applejack opened a drawer and pulled out a bit of parchment and her official pen.

“If this is going to go the way I think it is, it’ll be you being summoned to stand before the throne in Canterlot.” Lyra muttered.

The room was silent for a while, the only sound the scratch of the pen on paper. When it was done, Applejack folded the brief message into an envelope, pressed her hoof into a waiting pad of ink, and sealed the letter with a perfect hoof-print.

Lyra floated the message into the air and concentrated. There was a small flash of light and the letter vanished, magically sent to the desk of Princess Celestia.

Applejack wiped her hoof clean. “Anything else?”

Lyra shook her head sadly. “Since you can’t call your new ambassadors back…”

“Look, I trust Dash and Fluttershy. They’ll be fine.” Applejack tried to offer a reassuring smile. “This is all going to be fine.”

“I hope so.” Lyra looked at her superior. “Applejack, you may not have wanted this job, but the ponies who elected you wanted you to have it. They trust in your tact, your devotion to this town, and your honesty. That’s why they voted for you.” She smiled. “That’s why I voted for you.”

Applejack sighed. “I know. It’s just… I’m still gettin’ used to bein’ in charge. On the farm it’s easy, but with everything else…” She took off her hat and examined the interior. “Twilight was always the leader.”

“Well, you’re the leader now. And the task of a leader is to get their ponies from where they are to where they need to be.” Lyra stretched out her hoof. “I believe you’ll get us to where we’re going; a rebuilt Ponyville.”

Applejack smiled, returned her hat to her head, and tapped her hoof against Lyra’s. “You sure you don’t wanna trade jobs?”

“Ha. Nice try, but maybe I’ll reconsider if this…” Her words were cut off by a flash of light. An envelope bearing the royal seal floated to the desk. “Well, that was fast.”

Applejack watched as Lyra opened the letter and read the message inside. “Well?”

“’Her Majesty, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is unavailable at this time. She should return within the next few days. Your message will be answered in the order it was received.” Lyra’s brow creased as she read. “’Additionally, due to the devastating effects of a sudden outbreak of Ferian Flu, Princess Luna will also be unable to hold court or answer messages for the time being. The crown thanks you for your continued patience and loyalty.’” Lyra looked up. “That’s odd.”

“It’s about what I’ve come to expect from her.” Applejack muttered.

Lyra shrugged. “I guess she’ll get the message when she gets back.” She glanced at the clock on the wall and blanched. “The Appleloosan delegation will be here any minute. I better get down to the station and greet them.”

“I’ll come too.” Applejack jumped from her chair and headed for the door. “Suppose it’ll look better if both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ponyville show up.”

Lyra smirked. “You want your sash and top hat?”

Applejack shuddered. “I wore that get-up for the swearing in. I don’t intend to ever wear it again.”

The mares laughed as they trotted out the door, but something about the message was still bugging Lyra. During her education in Canterlot, her parents had insisted she try and learn a different language every school year. Year four had been Germane.

She’d never heard of ‘ferian flu’ before, but the word ‘ferian’ struck a chord for some reason. She grimaced, trying desperately to remember what ‘ferian’ was in Common Equestrian. It came to her just as they headed into the beaming sun of another beautiful day.

‘Ferian’ was Germane for ‘vacation.’

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Professor Crescendo watched as the train rolled into the still being rebuilt station. With an echoing blast of its whistle and a screech of brakes, the locomotive came to a full stop and began unloading a bevy of ponies in western attire. They gazed open-mouthed at how wrecked most of Ponyville still was. Some had joyful reunions with friends and family. Others held tight to the survivors of the battle that they cared for, weeping for the fallen. The vast majority seemed genuinely excited to be there, ready to help.

The unicorn chuckled as he sipped from his flask. “Yeehaw.” Settling better on the wall on which he leaned, he watched as the Mayor and Deputy Mayor came trotting towards the train station. “Getting the VIP treatment, I see.” He laughed lowly again as he brought the flask to his lips.

“Dad.”

Crescendo almost choked on his drink. Coughing, he turned his head and grimaced at his eldest child. “Are you trying to give your father a heart-attack, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Dad, we need to talk about Mom.”

Crescendo pursed his lips. “It is far too early in the day for that sort of thing.”

Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow at the still floating flask. “But not too early to get toasted?”

Crescendo grinned in embarrassment as his flask floated back into his vest. “Touché, filia.”

Sweetie Belle considered continuing the topic but decided to let it hold until another day. “We need to do something about Mom.”

“Still not leaving the house?” Crescendo smiled, already nursing a good buzz. “Celestia above, I wish I could do that. Do you have any idea how tiresome it is inspecting those bug tunnels? It seems we find a new entrance every day.”

“Dad.” Sweetie Belle admonished him, a bit of her mother slipping into her tone.

“Well, what exactly do you expect me to do? Go in there and drag her out by her back legs?” Crescendo rolled his eyes. “Your mother is a grown mare, Sweetie Belle, and she is dealing with a tremendous amount of grief. We all are.” He nodded towards the flask in his vest. “And we all have our own ways of coping.”

“Dad, that’s exactly the problem. She isn’t coping.” She looked back in the direction of Carousel Boutique. “She’s depressed. She’s blaming herself for everything, including losing Spike.” She looked back at her father and snorted angrily when she saw the flask floating out again. “Can you stop for just a second and listen to me?!” She reached out a hoof and smacked the flask to the ground.

Crescendo stared at the fallen container. “Was that really necessary?”

Sweetie Belle’s lip trembled. “Why won’t you go see her? I thought you were her friend.”

Crescendo closed his eyes. “I am her friend, Sweetie Belle. And that’s exactly why I won’t… why I can’t go see her.”

Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to continue the argument, but thought twice and chose to pursue a new line of conversation. “How’s Dimmy?”

“Doing very well with his grandparents.” Crescendo floated the flask back to him and brushed dirt from the side. “Is there anything else you’d like to question me about, Sweetie Belle?”

“How’ve you been sleeping?”

Crescendo started and looked at her. “What?”

“Before he left, Dimmy said you’d been having nightmares.” Sweetie Belle looked at her father with genuine concern. “Are you doing alright?”

Crescendo stared at his daughter…

Here is the moment, the chance he has been waiting for. He can end his pain, his longing, in a single moment. And in that same moment he can prove his love and devotion for…

No! Why are you standing in the way!? WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING ME?! DON’T YOU KNOW?! DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?!

YOU BASTARD! YOU CAN’T HAVE THIS! LET ME HAVE THIS! THIS SOLVES EVERYTHING!

LET ME DIE…!

“…for her.”

“What?”

Crescendo shook his head and took a great swig from his flask. “Nothing.” He spat out quickly, relishing and hating the burning in his throat at the same time. “Sleeping just fine.” He saw his rescue from further questioning coming down the lane. “Isn’t that your Button Mash chap? Why don’t you go say ‘Hello?’?”

Sweetie Belle sighed and turned to go meet her special somepony. “I’m worried about you, Dad. You and Mom both.”

Crescendo watched her go and examined his flask. “We’re in pain, Sweetie Belle.” He whispered. “And we must each deal with our own.”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Caramel!” Applejack greeted her cousin with a hug. “Seen that doofus relative of ours yet?”

“Ya mean Braeburn?” The stallion rolled his eyes in an over the top fashion. “I imagine we’ll hear that blowhard well before we see him.”

“You’re probably right.” Applejack smiled at Lyra. “He’ll see us and yell something over the top like…”

“AAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAPPLEJACK!”

Applejack and Caramel busted up laughing as Braeburn Apple galloped over and grabbed them both in crushing hugs. Lyra watched the three with a smile on her face.

Applejack pulled away and grinned at her cousin. “How was yer trip?”

“T’weren’t nothin.’” Braeburn shifted the pack on his back. “I’ll be glad to be sleeping under apple trees tonight, though. Those train cars get awful cramped.”

“Sorry ya’ll have to sleep in the field.” Caramel grinned apologetically. “We had to use all the boarding space in town for the Wonderbolts.”

“Think nothin’ of it, cousin.” Braeburn motioned at the stallions and mares getting off the train. “Most of them’d probably prefer bunking out on the grass for the time being.” He shuddered. “Ponies weren’t meant to spend all their time on the sand. It's awful stuff. It's coarse and rough and it gets everywhere.”

“Uh, Madame Mayor?” Lyra was looking up. “I think our other delegation has arrived.”

The three earth ponies followed her gaze and found two dozen pegasi in matching blue and gold uniforms floating down towards them. Their leader landed first, her blazing orange mane giving away her identity before she even removed her hood and goggles. “Mayor Applejack?”

Applejack stepped forward. “That’s me. Pleasure to have you, Spitfire.”

Spitfire smiled and saluted. “The pleasure is all ours, ma’am. The Wonderbolts have been chomping at the bit to get out her and help since the invasion.” She looked around. “Looks like there’s a lot of work to be done, huh?”

“Yeah, but I think with all this help we might finally make some head-way.” She looked over the relatively small platoon. “Why don’t ya’ll just get settled in today and we’ll get started bright and early tomorrow. There’s some things we need to go over before we decide who needs to go where.”

“Understood.” Spitfire turned to her troops. “Atten-tion!”

The pegasi snapped to.

“The Mayor has graciously found us accommodations in the town for the duration of our stay. With that being said, I know that some of you have family in Cloudsdale. If you’d prefer to stay with them, you’re welcome to. However, the first time that any of you are late for morning muster, that privilege will be revoked and you will be spending your nights in the orchards with delegation from Appleoosa.”

“And we cuddle.” Braeburn smirked.

One of the uniformed stallions chuckled.

“Be at City Hall at 0600. Dis-missed!” Spitfire did a smart about face and smiled. “Now that that’s taken care of, if you’d be so kind to show me where we’ll be staying.”

“We?” Lyra repeated.

“Captain Soarin and I will be sharing accommodations. Will that be a problem?” Spitfire looked back at the already dispersing troops. “Where did he go?”

“Probably lookin’ to wet his whistle.” Braeburn started towards the town proper. “I’ll go look for him.”

“Thanks, Brae.” Applejack turned back to Spitfire. “It won’t be an issue, but it does make me curious. Why, exactly, are ya’ll two boardin’ together?”

Spitfire grinned, reaching towards something shiny on her ear. “Well, you see…”

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Braeburn had barely passed the city limits when he was snatched by a pair of hooves and pulled into a shadowy alcove. His words of protest died on his tongue as his lover’s lips crashed into his. His breath was pushed from his lungs as he was pressed against a nearby wall. When he finally had a chance to breathe, he laughed lowly and licked the stallion’s cheek. “Well, that’s one way to say ‘How-de-do.’”

Soarin groaned as he nuzzled his face into the earth pony’s neck. “Celestia above, I missed you.”

“Missed you too, sugar.” He kissed Soarin’s cheek and embraced him tightly. “You have no idea how happy I was when I heard you’d be in town.”

“I can imagine.” He kissed him again, this time at a much slower pace. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in months.” He said when they parted.

“You haven’t.” Something popped into Braeburn’s head. “Soarin?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Spitfire said ya’ll were gonna be roomies. Ain’t that gonna make our little rendezvous’ a little… suspicious?”

Soarin froze against his lover’s body. “We… we need to talk about that.”

“About what?”

“About Spitfire.”

Braeburn blinked twice and pushed the stallion away, falling back to four hooves. “You said you were gonna break it off.”

“I know, but…”

“That was months ago.”

“I know…”

“Are you still seeing her?”

“It’s… it’s more than that.” Soarin was staring at the ground.

“What do you mean?” Braeburn felt a sliver of ice in his heart at the tone in his special somepony’s voice.

“We’re…” He sighed. “We’re engaged.”

Braeburn stared at the stallion for a moment, then turned and started trotting away.

“Brae, wait…”

“No, you made your choice. I hope ya’ll are happy.”

“Brae, it isn’t like that.” Soarin nimbly jumped over the stallion’s head and landed in front of him. “I’ve got an appearance to maintain. If it came out that I was seeing a stallion, it would shake up my standing in the Wonderbolts and…”

“Aw, don’t give me that!” Braeburn raged. “Staying in a relationship with Spitfire for appearances is one thing, but engagement?! Marriage?! And did you just expect me to stay yer dirty little secret for the rest of my life?!”

Soarin looked away. “You’re being irrational.”

“No, I’m makin’ sense.” Braeburn grabbed Soarin’s chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “And I’m givin’ you the ultimatum I should’ve given you from the start; it’s her or me. I ain’t gonna be just yer roll in the hay.”

“Brae…”

“Her or me.”

Soarin pulled away from the earth pony’s grasp. “I… I need to think.”

“You do that.” Braeburn snorted and started to leave. “You’ve got until I leave town.”

Soarin watched him go and sighed heavily.

If this was how his time in Ponyville was starting, then how could things possibly get any worse?

Chapter 5: To Reign in Hell

The three mares made their way deeper and deeper into the depths of Equestria’s most secure prison. Golden Haze led the way, a lantern dangling from her teeth to supplement the dim light of the blue torches that lined the stone hallway and the ambient glow of the magic from her princess’ horn. Princess Celestia followed her most staunch defender closely, her eyes laser focused on the dark passage that seemed to stretch on forever ahead of them. Princess Luna brought up the rear, peering at the many barred doors set into the walls at regular intervals.

Luna peered into one cell and found it empty. “In which of these will we find this ram of yours, Celestia?”

Celestia shook her head. “Monsters like Grogar are too dangerous for cells such as these. As per our original plans for this place, these are meant for mortal ponies who are simply too dangerous for the normal dungeons.”

“Are any currently occupied?”

“Not at the moment. And not for a very long time.”

Luna lit her own horn so she could better see the inscribed letters above one door in particular. “What was this Stone Heart’s crime?”

“He founded and led the second Court of the Full Moon.”

Luna looked at her sister sharply. “The Court of the Full Moon? I fail to see why a private society that I personally endorsed should be criminalized, even after my banishment.”

Celestia shook her head, her eyes still focused on the dark path ahead. “The court that you founded willingly disbanded not long after you were sealed away, sister. The second court came together some time later… and committed many terrible crimes in your name.”

“Ah. I see.” The Princess of the Night sighed and turned to catch up. “I suppose I must have missed that while I was catching up on my historical texts.”

“Oh, you won’t find the second court in any common text. I thought it best that they be forgotten. The only records that still exist about them were locked away in the Archives of Truth.”

Luna considered pursuing the topic further, but chose to mentally shelve the discussion for the time being. She looked back the way they’d come and smiled wistfully. “I cannot believe how big Cerberus has grown. I remember when he was only a puppy, tugging at his chain and nipping at the hooves of the work-ponies as they constructed the gates.”

Celestia found herself smiling a little despite the butterflies in her stomach from the encounter that was still to come. “I’ve always made sure that he’s well cared for. It was the least I could do for you after…” She cleared her throat. “…after you went away. I know how fond you were of him.”

Golden Haze stopped when her light revealed a large stone wall at the end of the path. “Your Majesty?”

“Here we are. Just a moment.” Celestia passed the pegasus and touched her horn to the stone. It shimmered before their eyes and became hazy, like a fog at sunrise. She gestured onward and passed through the barrier first.

Golden Haze and Luna shared a look before quickly following.

The trio now stood on the rim of an immense chasm. Before them, rising from the abyss, were three raised pillars with long staircases leading from the rim on which they stood to the flat tops of each protrusion. A beam of crackling pure magic arced down from the ceiling and encircled the circumference of each pillar.

Luna glanced at the first pillar and spied an emaciated red centaur. His yellow eyes glared at them through the darkness. “I take it that this is our destination.”

“Indeed.” Celestia started for the stairs that led to the top of the second pillar. When her companions made to follow, she stopped and held out a hoof. “I’m afraid that I must face Grogar alone.”

“Yeah. Sure. Like that’s going to happen.” Golden Haze snorted.

“I stripped Grogar of his magic long ago, Haze. He’s no threat. And even if he did plan on attacking me, that magical barrier can be broken only by an alicorn’s touch. I’m in no danger.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “If I had known you were going to lead us on this hike only to deny us the very reason for this visit, I would’ve stayed on the train.”

“I’ll remind you, sister, that you weren’t supposed to be here in the first place.” Celestia looked down at her guard. “You will stay here and protect my sister.”

Haze motioned around at the huge and virtually empty space. “From what, exactly?”

As though in response, a roar that was more like a low earthquake came from the depths of the abyss.

Luna nodded thoughtfully. “Really should have brought my hammer, I think.”

Celestia turned, took a breath to steady herself, and began climbing the stairs before her.

When she was sure her sister was out of ear-shot, Luna smirked as magic flashed from her horn. She began to follow in her sister’s hoof steps and was only deterred by Haze jumping out in front of her. “Are you truly attempting to impede my path? Me? You do know who I am, don’t you?”

Golden Haze was undeterred. “Celestia told us to stay here. Do you really think she’d appreciate you ignoring her wishes?” She paused. “Again?”

Luna sighed. “Please, Golden Haze. Do you think me daft enough to follow my sister and not cast an anti-perception spell upon myself first?”

Golden Haze raised an eyebrow. “And you were… what? Planning on just leaving me here?”

Luna leaned in close and looked into the pegasus’ eyes. “You can still see me, can’t you?”

“Of course I…” Realization dawned on Haze’s face. “Oh.”

“Yes. Oh.” Luna was already at the stairs. “Are you coming?”

Golden Haze shook her head and quickly followed. “I’m starting to think you might be a bad influence, Princess Luna.”

Luna giggled. “Oh my dear Captain Haze; did you think I only became a pain in my sister’s neck after I became a monster and tried to steal the throne?”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

She smelled him before she saw him.

Her nose wrinkled at the stench of ages, of filth long gone to rot. “Perhaps I should have the guards bring you a bucket every now and then.” She said as she climbed the last step.

Before her, resting comfortably with his legs settled under him, was a huge ram of midnight blue. Enormous horns as black as pitch curved up from his head, crowning him with darkness. His eyes had been shut, but they’d shot open at the sound of her voice, bathing his magical cell and the ground beyond with an awful red light. He grinned, exposing a mouth lined with dangerously sharp teeth. “My my my, isn’t this a surprise?” His voice was the crashing of boulders, deep and dangerous. The slightest hint of an upper class accent tinged his words. “You know, when you’ve been down here as long as I have, you stop keeping track of the years, let alone the months or the days. How long has it been since you graced my humble abode with your presence… Princess?” The ram let the last word roll around in his mouth, caressing the last syllables with his tongue like they were a tasty treat.

Celestia shuddered with revulsion. “Not nearly long enough, Grogar.”

He chuckled and stretched, popping his back with a sound like a chestnut popping over an open flame. It echoed across the vast emptiness of the prison. “In any case, I am glad to see you. Tirek stopped being pleasant company some decades ago.”

Celestia took in the form of the ‘Doom that Came to Tambelon.’ “Remarkable. You haven’t aged a day, have you?”

“Not in the slightest. I remain the same strong ram that I was when you cast me in here and tossed away the key.” He stood and did a small turn. “My fur hasn’t patched, my sight has not dimmed, and my fangs…” He grinned at her. “Just as sharp, as I’d be happy to show you.”

“Spare me your threats, beast.” Celestia rolled her eyes. “Even if I were to release you from your bonds, you still wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight against me without your magic.”

“Who said anything about a fight?” The ram licked his lips and did his own appraisal. “You look so like her, you know…”

“Enough. I’ve come here with a purpose.”

He pouted. “Would a social call really be so terrible every now and then? We could play chess...”

“I need information.”

“And in return?”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “This is not a trade, Grogar. You are my prisoner.”

“Yes I am. And there’s nothing you could do that could worsen my situation, therefore I see no reason why I should willingly impart any information at this juncture… outside of friendly conversation, of course.” He grinned. “Did you bring tea for us to chat over?”

Celestia was unmoved. “Things can always be worse, Grogar. I promise you that.”

Grogar sniffed derisively and gestured around. “I have no bed. I sleep on stone. I have no food or drink, even though I still have hunger and thirst. I have no companions, no entertainment… nothing but my memories to keep me sane.”

Celestia’s horn flashed. “I could take those from you as well. I could rip everything from you except for that damned immortality of yours.”

“You could.” Grogar winked. “But then you still wouldn’t have the information you seek.”

Celestia pursed her lips and dimmed her magic. “What is it you want?”

“Later. I need a chance to go over my options. Right now, I’m curious as to what you want to know.” He settled back on his haunches. “It must be something very important for you to come all the way to me.”

“Where is Starswirl?”

Grogar grin grew even wider. “Now there’s a question you should have asked centuries ago.”

Celestia sat and removed several sheets of parchment from her saddlebags. “I know you found him wandering in the Bad Lands. His writings speak of a horned visage approaching in the night. You would’ve been doing some wandering of your own back in those days, as I recall. After your exile.”

“The fools.” Grogar snorted.

“So you don’t deny it. You did find Starswirl.”

“I did.”

“You kidnapped him.”

Grogar laughed, a deep booming sound that echoed through the chamber. “Kidnapped? Oh no, my dear Princess. I saved the poor stallion. He was on the brink of death when I stumbled upon him. I carried him to a nearby oasis I’d found and nursed him back to health.” The ram smiled nostalgically. “He became my friend.”

“That’s a lie.”Celestia snapped. “If Starswirl had survived his wanderings, he would have contacted us.”

“He intended to, at first anyway. He kept raving about some spell that he had to find an answer to. It took me a while during his recovery, but I eventually convinced him to aid me in my own studies. He was ashamed, you see. He considered himself a failure because of his inability to master that spell of his. He saw my work as an opportunity to restore some shine to his magical reputation.”

“He considered himself a failure?” Celestia was stunned. Nopony outside herself and Luna had any idea about the spell that Starswirl had been working on so diligently. For a millennia after his disappearance, he was still regarded as the finest practitioner of the magical arts in Equestrian history.

“That was part of it. Another part was the simple fact that immortality has a nice ring to it when you reach the age Starswirl had reached. I imagine the chance to spend eternity working on that last spell had a certain attraction for him.”

Celestia shook her head. “This doesn’t make any sense. Unless…” She looked up sharply. “Was Starswirl with you? When you returned to Tambelon, I mean?”

“Of course. He and that halfwit mule Bray moved into the great tower with me.”

“And you imprisoned Starswirl after you destroyed Tambelon.”

Again, Grogar laughed. “Is that what they say? That Tambelon was destroyed?”

“It was destroyed. I’ve been there. I’ve seen it.”

“What you see is a shell, dear Princess. A husk left behind when the whole of the city was spirited away. Tambelon still exists.”

Celestia leaned forward. “Where?”

Grogar made a vague, waving gesture. “Somewhere out there, in the vastness of eternity. The last time I saw him, Starswirl told me that his calculations were off. He had no way of knowing where we’d sent it.”

Celestia’s blood froze. “You’re telling me that Starswirl…”

“…used the spells of All-Is-Well to send Tambelon to a different dimension, yes.” Grogar finished for her. “Or was it another timeline he sent it to?” He shrugged. “I suppose it doesn’t matter.” He smirked at the look on her face. “Did it never occur to you about what remains at the site of the great tower?”

“A silver lake that never ripples.” Celestia’s mouth was dry with horror. “The lake is a mirror, isn’t it? One of Starswirl’s portals.”

Grogar nodded, the grin back on his face. “I told the fools that I would preserve the city and all her knowledge. I kept my vow.”

Celestia tried to shake off the shock that came with learning that one of her oldest friends was the force behind the 'Doom that Came to Tambelon.' “And the rams? Do they exist as well?”

Grogar raised a cloven hoof to his chest and tapped his heart. “In a way.”

“…what?”

“Starswirl spirited away the city, Celestia, but it was I who dealt with my fellow rams. I used a spell of my own to… harvest their essences. My immortality is a false one. I live on the stolen timelines of my species.”

Celestia gaped at him. “That’s more monstrous than if you had just killed them.”

Grogar shrugged. “They live on in me in a way. It’s you who has wasted all their time by keeping me trapped in this place. Think of what I could have accomplished if you’d simply left me alone with my beloved…”

“What happened after Tambelon?”

“Starswirl was furious at me for what I’d done to my kind. We dueled. I would’ve slain him had that idiot Bray not shielded the old wizard’s body from my final attack with his own.” Grogar again settled on the floor. “The last time I saw Starswirl the Bearded, he was leaping into his own mirror.”

Celestia sighed. “Then my search continues.” She returned the papers to her saddle bags, stood up to leave, and gave the ancient beast the slightest of nods. “Thank you for…”

“Ah ah ah. We had a deal, didn’t we? Now you must tell me something.”

Celestia grit her teeth. “What is it you wish to know?”

The ram’s grin faded. He stared at her with deadly seriousness. “Where is she, Princess? Where is my beloved?”

Celestia gestured into the abyss. “There lies a prison far deeper than this one, Grogar. It is there where she is kept in chains.”

A look of hope crossed the ram’s features. “She lives?”

“Of course. She’s immortal, after all.”

“May I see her?”

Celestia shook her head. “I think not.” She turned and started back down the stairs. “I’ll send down a guard with some food and water…”

“Hang your food and water!” Grogar bellowed. “You say my beloved has been here this entire time? Let me go to her. Let me gaze upon her beauty once more.”

“The two of you nearly destroyed Equestria together, Grogar. I would sooner turn you loose upon my kingdom than reunite you with her.”

Grogar snorted and charged the barrier. His horns struck with a terrible sizzle, but he did not yield. “Damn you, mare! What do you demand of me? What price must I pay to once more lay eyes upon my beloved Phoenix Queen?”

Celestia paused. “As though you have anything to offer...”

The ram pulled away from the barrier and glared at her. “Before I departed from Tambelon for the last time, I left behind a bell.”

“I’m sure it’s very pretty, but I have many baubles…”

“The bell is a twin. Its sister remains in Tambelon. If the bell is rung, then the city will return.”

Celestia turned and looked at the ram. “You said Starswirl lost the city.”

“He did. I didn’t.” He began to pace his cell. “I’m offering you the lost magical knowledge of the rams, Celestia. Ages upon ages of advanced studies into the arcane, spells that have disappeared into the annals of time. There’s a spell that can turn stone into gold. I imagine that could be quite beneficial to your economy. What about my old mentor’s charm to raise the dead and draw secrets of the past from them? Surely that is worth a single visit with my beloved.”

Celestia considered his offer carefully. Grogar could indeed be lying, but there was always the chance he was telling the truth... especially when one factored in his continued devotion to her. “…Here is my proposal. I will release you from your cell until I return from my journey to the ruins of Tambelon. You may search the abyss until you find her or until I again set hoof in Tartarus. If what you say is true, then I will allow you to visit her once a year. If you’re lying…” Her eyes flashed dangerously.

“I’m grateful for your kindness, Princess. “ Grogar did the smallest bow he could manage.

“Spare me. You’re still a monster.” She headed down the stairs. “Your cell will open the instant I leave. When I return, you’ll be teleported back inside. Enjoy your walk-about.” She ignored his farewells and trotted in silence until she reached the main walkway once again. Only then did she look back at the stairs. “I know you’ve been listening this whole time.”

As Haze reappeared, she gestured wildly at the Princess of the Moon. “It was her idea.”

Luna paid the mare no mind. She looked at her sister carefully. “Who is she, this Phoenix Queen that the ram loves so much? Some other foe you had to battle without me?”

Celestia turned and continued towards the exit. “It isn’t important. We need to go further north, to the ruins of Tambelon.”

“I’ll send word to our embassy in the Crystal Empire to expect us.” Haze flapped her wings and started after her princess.

Luna was not to be deterred. “Celestia, I know when you’re hiding something from me…”

“Tell them to prepare lodging for us.” Celestia told her protector. “I don’t know what hospitality we can expect from Cadance…”

“DO NOT IGNORE ME.” Luna boomed, the walls shaking with the force of her voice. The withered centaur flinched and drew back to the farthest edge of his cell.

Celestia sighed and faced her sister. “Luna, listen; many things happened while you were locked away. You’ve had plenty of time to brush up on the history…”

“Do not treat me like a foal.” Luna snapped, getting in her sister’s face. “This is not some band of disenfranchised nobles with aspirations of releasing a deposed monarch. This is a notable threat from the past. I could hear it in your voice when you spoke of her.”

“What are you saying?”

“When Grogar mentioned this Phoenix Queen, your voice changed. You sounded…” Luna took a deep breath and stepped back. “You sounded scared, Tia.”

Celestia closed her eyes and sighed. “All these years later, and the very thought of her still chills my blood. I thought if I excised all mention of her from history, then eventually she would just fade away. But it seems her light is just too powerful to be extinguished.” The elder alicorn looked down at her sister. “Forgive me, Luna. If you wish to know, then I’ll tell you.”

“Ahem.”

Celestia looked around at her protector and lover. “And I suppose I should tell you as well.”

Haze smiled uneasily. “I’d like that, but…” She was cut off by an enormous roar from the abyss. When the echo had at last faded, Haze tilted her head at the exit. “But maybe you should tell us this story someplace more comfortable. Back on the train, perhaps?”

As the mares set off back the way they came, Luna looked again to her sister. “What manner of villain was this mare to put you so on edge?”

Celestia considered her words carefully. “You understand why I used the Elements against you all those years ago, don’t you?”

“You were afraid of the pain and devastation I would wreak on the land.” Luna shrugged. “I don’t blame you. I know you thought you were doing the right thing for Equestria.”

“But that’s just it, Luna. I wasn’t sure. For years after I sent you away, I was plagued with doubts about my actions. I would torment myself with questions about whether you could have been reasoned with, that maybe I could have done something more than just lock you away for a thousand years. And then she came.”

Luna looked into her sister’s eyes and was stunned by the haunted look she saw therein.

“She came, and she reigned… and she taught me the hardest lesson of all; that I had been right in sending you away.” Celestia closed her eyes, and a single tear ran down her cheek.

“Celestia… what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that everything the Phoenix Queen did was my fault. I’m saying that Equestria would have been better off if I had locked us both away when I had the chance.”

Chapter 6: the Great City of Zeph

“Ugh! Are we there yet? It feels like we’ve been flying for years.”

Captain Cross Wind cut eyes at the blue Pegasus keeping pace with her and grinned. “Getting tired, Rainbow Dash?”

Dash returned the grin, making a show of pushing forward a few inches ahead of the armored mare. “Not at all. Just bored is all.”

Cross Wind stuck out her tongue and tasted the wind. “We’re nearly there. We would’ve been there already, but the winds shifted some hours ago.”

“It’s fascinating. The way your city works, I mean.” Fluttershy called from just behind the pair. Unlike them, she was clearly straining from the long flight. Her coat was thinly veiled with sweat, and she panted every other breath. “Do you simply go wherever the wind takes you?”

“Not always.” Cross Wind looked back at the yellow mare and ensured that her brother was still in position, bringing up the rear. “There are certain places that we must be for certain times of the year. There’s a bay we seek each summer to stock up on fish, and a tribe of earth ponies trade with us for fruits and vegetables each autumn.”

“And all of this outside the boundaries of Equestria.” Rainbow Dash shook her head in disbelief. “And you’ve lived this way for nearly two thousand years.”

“It is not an easy life.” Cross Wind looked ahead and smiled when she saw a familiar spire. “But it is one that I would not trade for any other in the entire world. See! Behold the great city of Zeph!”

The four pegasi looked ahead and beheld, at last, Zeph; last of the legendary cloud cities of the Pegasus Tribe. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stared, mouths agape, at the sheer size and scale of the place. Compared to Zeph, Cloudsdale was barely a village. The city was miles in diameter, with huge towers ringing the impressive perimeter. The city was a series of perfectly sculpted circles, each filled with finely crafted buildings and statuary of various heights. Everything was formed from clouds, from the streets to the houses to the statues. As they drew closer, they saw sentries posted in each tower. All were clad in the same armor as their escorts, and they saluted Cross Wind as they passed into the city proper. Cross Wind flew low so the new arrivals could take in the detail of the great city.

Rainbow Dash marveled and thrilled as she took in every detail. There were weapon shops and cloud smiths. She spied an open courtyard where an aged cloud artisan guided several students in shaping different kinds of cloud into precious works of art. A platoon of what appeared to be new recruits performed a series of combat maneuvers at the behest of a shouting instructor. The scene was almost identical to her own training in the Wonderbolts Academy, except Spitfire had never shouted her corrections in what was supposed to be a dead language. It was all so overwhelming. She’d read about the great cloud cities since foal hood. To finally see one with her own eyes was beyond her wildest dreams. If only Firefly could see her now…

Fluttershy was likewise amazed, but something else quickly caught her attention. “Where is everypony?” Besides the students and recruits that were plainly visible, there were only a few pegasi in the streets, milling around and visiting various shops and the like. Far too few than were to be expected in a city of Zeph’s size.

Cross Wind shook her head sadly. “Our numbers have dwindled these past few decades. We once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but now barely a thousand remain. This section of the city is the only one still populated. The far rings lie abandoned, I’m sad to say.” They flew towards the city’s center; a huge dome with a spire reaching towards the sky. Lightning flashed from time to time, striking the spire and making it glow in the fading sunlight. “This is the Eye, the home of the Queen-General and our base of operations.” Following her lead, the other pegasi landed beside the Eye and looked around.

Rainbow Dash was practically bouncing in place. “I’m standing in a great cloud city!” She nearly squealed. “Scootaloo is going to flip the next time I see her.”

Fluttershy sighed in relief as she was finally able to fold her aching wings. She wiped the sweat from her brow and looked back at her escort. “You haven’t said much. Is everything okay?”

”Neztrácel bych na tebe slova, zrádce závodu!” Cumulus muttered. He caught his sister’s piercing glare and quickly looked away.

“Please forgive his tone. My brother is young, Fluttershy. And foolish.” She rolled her eyes and doffed her helmet, letting the ambient wind of the city flow through her short mane and cool her skin. “It’s why he wasn’t able to promote with me.”

“It’s hard for me to be offended when I have no idea what he’s saying.” Fluttershy giggled. “Does he ever get jealous that you get paid more than he does?”

Cross Wind raised an eyebrow. “What is the meaning of this word? Paid?”

“You get more bits than he does, don’t you?” Dash stopped drooling at the architecture and turned to the conversation. “Or whatever form of currency you have here.”

“I do not know what currency is.”

Fluttershy cocked her head. “But how do you pay for things? Do you have a barter system, like with those earth ponies you mentioned?”

Cross Wind scoffed and shook her head. “You must understand some things, Fluttershy. This is Zeph, and we are the Children of the Hurricane. Our ways are different than yours.” She pointed to herself. “When each of us comes of age, we are inspected and assigned to whatever position we are best suited for. Most, like my brother and me, were born to be soldiers. Those unfit for duty may become attendants to lower generals, weaponers, or shopkeepers. A precious few become cloud artisans or homemakers.”

“Then how do you have shops if nopony can pay for anything?”

“You mean food? One’s station determines one’s rations. The higher your station, the more food and supplies you can receive from shops.”

“So, correct me if I’m wrong.” Fluttershy bit her lip. “You get assigned a job, right when you come of age, and that job determines your station?”

“Correct.”

“And what about after? Can you ever change jobs?”

Cross Wind snorted with laughter. “Change jobs? What a ridiculous notion…”

Fluttershy’s follow-up was lost when a thin pegasus wrapped in a filthy brown shroud landed close to Cumulus. She reached out a hoof and stroked his armor plated barrel. “Dlouhý let, vojáku?” She whispered, her voice low. “Mohl bych vám pomoci odpočívat …”

Cumulus drew back like he’d been burned. He raised a hoof to strike, the metal on his gauntlet flashing dangerously. “Nedotýkej se mě, děvko!”

Fluttershy saw the mare cowering and hurried to her side. “Stop! What in the world did she do to you?”

At the sound of her voice, the cloaked mare looked at Fluttershy in shock. “Můj ... můj motýl?!” She reached for the pegasus slowly, almost as if she was afraid of her being frightened and running away. “Ale to nemůže být...”

Cumulus struck without warning, smashing into the mare with a full-on tackle. She cried out as he took her to the ground and bound her forelegs with a rope he produced from his armor. Her thin wings, pale gold, emerged from her shroud and beat once in desperate escape before a second length of rope bound them as well. He stepped back and gave his work a once over. He cut his eyes at his sister and commanding officer. “Objednávky?”

Cross Wind wrinkled her muzzle in obvious distaste for the bound mare. “Do buněk.”

Her words seemed to stoke the fears in the mare’s heart, and she began to struggle against her bonds more bodily. She looked desperately at Fluttershy. “Zachraňte mě, můj motýli! Zachran se! Poslal jsem tě pryč! Proč jsi se vrátil?!”

Cumulus kicked the mare in the ribs. She cried out in pain, but otherwise became still. With a salute to Cross Wind and a nod to Rainbow Dash (pointedly ignoring Fluttershy) he hefted the mare onto his back and set off in a brisk trot towards a tall structure in the distance.

Fluttershy looked at Cross Wind in fury. “What in Equestria was all that about?”

Even Rainbow Dash looked taken aback by the viciousness of the encounter. “Yeah, what gives? Was she a criminal, or something?”

“Worse.” Cross Wind spat. “She is nedotknutelný. She is… Untouchable. And I will remind you, Fluttershy; strictly speaking, we are not in Equestria.”

“Untouchable? Why? Is she sick?” Fluttershy thought at once of little Scarlet, still undersize and still dangerously prone to sickness of any kind. She unconsciously wiped her hoof on the clean cloud beneath her. “Is that why she can’t touch anypony?”

Cross Wind shook her head. “That mare betrayed her calling, her purpose. She betrayed the Will of the Hurricane.”

“What did she do?” Dash inquired, more out of curiosity about the society than any real concern about the mare’s wellbeing.

“I cannot say. That particular Untouchable became so when I was but a foal. But her crime must have been a grievous one. Otherwise, the Queen-General would have simply executed her.”

Fluttershy’s ears flattened. “You… you have executions?”

“We have survived these years by being strong, Fluttershy.” Cross Wind replaced her helm and turned back towards the Eye. “More often than not, the strong have no time mercy.”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Dash yelped as something tugged on her tail and pulled her backwards away from Cross Wind. She glared at Fluttershy and yanked her tail out of her sister-in-law’s mouth. “What is your problem?”

“We need to leave. Right now.” Fluttershy looked around at the walls of the hallway in the Eye they were now travelling down, illuminated by special stones that flickered with captured lightning bolts.

“Leave? Why?”

“You saw what happened out there!” Fluttershy hissed, trying to keep her voice down. “You heard Cross Wind. There’s something bad about this place. I can feel it.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “So they’re a little backwards, I’ll give you that. But that’s what they came to us for, right? To show them the magic of friendship.”

“This is way beyond friendship, Dash.” Fluttershy flinched at a noise down the hallway. “For Celestia’s sake, they execute ponies.”

A memory flashed before Dash’s eyes, like a fading photograph. A memory of a drunken old fool pleading for mercy as she dove forward towards the ground. “Maybe… maybe they had it coming.”

“…What?”

Rainbow Dash backtracked quickly. “That’s not what I meant. I’m not saying its ok. Hay, I’d even say it’s the first thing we need to talk about them not doing anymore. But it’s their culture. We have to be more, uh, tolerant.”

“Tolerant.” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “To murderers.”

“Look, ‘Shy. You’re looking at this the wrong way…” She started to turn away.

Fluttershy reached out and turned Dash back around, looking at her with desperate eyes. “You aren’t looking at it at all!” She pointed a hoof at Dash’s chest. “You’ve been goo-goo eyed at this place from the start. You’re being blinded…”

“From what?” Dash pushed her best friend’s hoof away. “What am I being blinded to?”

“I… I don’t know.” Fluttershy looked down the hall from where they’d come. “But I’m going to find out.”

“Ahem.”

The two mares looked back to find Cross Wind standing before a great door of what looked like solid ice. Dash exhaled and looked Fluttershy in the eye. “I know you’re feeling a little culture shock right now. But me? I feel… I dunno.” She looked at the frozen door. “I feel like I’ve come home, somehow.”

The reason for Dash’s behavior, her willingness to go with the flow, suddenly became clear. “You think your parents lived here.”

Dash nodded. “I do. And I think this Queen-General could be the one to tell me what happened to them.”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The doors of ice swung shut with an almighty bang, and the two visitors from Ponyville watched as Cross Wind ascended to a raised dais in the center of the room. Moonlight shone down on the dais from a large open port in the roof of the Eye, illuminating a throne made from storm clouds. They watched as Cross Wind landed before the throne, removed her helmet, and bowed low at the figure seated therein.

“Kdo je to válečník, který klečí přede mnou?” The shadowy figure called out in a rich voice, soaked in absolute authority.

“Tento válečník se jmenuje Cross Wind, generál královny.” Cross Wind replied without rising. “Přivezl jsem velvyslance z Ponyville.”

“Excellent.” The voice switched immediately to pitch perfect Common Equestrian. “Place them before me.”

Cross Wind rose and looked back at the two other mares. “Come.”

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy obeyed, floating up towards the dais.

The mare in the throne spoke as they approached. “I thank you for your hastened arrival, ambassadors. I am Valeria, Queen-General of the Children of the Hurricane, Lady and Sovereign of the Great City of Zeph, and I bid you wel…” The voice cut off abruptly as the two mares landed before the throne and gave perfunctory bows. “Im…impossible.”

Rainbow Dash rose. “Your highness, thank you for the invitation and the offer of aid. We…” She stopped and unconsciously stepped back in shock. The mare in the throne was an electric blue, albeit one a shade darker than her own coat. Around her shoulders was tied a cloak of free-floating turquoise material the likes of which she had only seen twice before. The mare wore an enormous helmet of gold with plumage a deep and fiery red. Her eyes…

The Queen-General’s eyes were identical to her own.

“What… what is this?” Dash stammered.

Slowly, with shaking hooves, Valeria reached up and removed her helm. A cascade of rainbow colored mane flowed free, trailing nearly to the floor and dancing lightly in the breeze that flowed from the open sky-light. “It… it cannot be.” The helmet fell to the dais with a clatter, but neither mare seemed to notice. “Ma… Malá Duha?”

Rainbow Dash blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry. I don’t speak…”

“Rainbow. My Little Rainbow.” Tears were gathering in the corner of Valeria’s eyes. “It must be you…”

Cross Wind’s wings flared and she grinned savagely at Fluttershy. “I knew it! Při východním větru, I knew it!”

Fluttershy looked back and forth between the nearly identical mares. Valeria was clearly years older and their coats were different enough, but the resemblance was still uncanny. And the mane! She’d never seen anypony with a mane like Dash’s. This was no coincidence. It was impossible.

“Years and years ago, my Malá Duha, my Little Rainbow, was taken by a thief in the night. We searched for her, for days we searched, but the trail had gone cold. The night she was stolen, there was…”

“A terrible storm?” Dash finished, her eyes widening.

Valeria nodded.

“I… I don’t believe this.”

Valeria’s wings flapped once and she crossed the dais to Dash and ensnared her in an enormous hug. “I can hardly believe it myself. After all this time, my daughter has come home to me!”

Rainbow Dash, frozen in shock, automatically returned the embrace. Her hooves felt the material of the Queen-General’s cloak, and she sucked in a breath at the familiar texture of her oldest possession; the blanket she’d been found wrapped in. “I… I always hoped you were alive…”

Valeria sniffled and squeezed her long lost daughter. “And I you, my Rainbow. I always hoped.” She pulled away and smiled. “Let me look at you.” She appraised her, from mane to tail and nodded approvingly. “You’re built like your father; thin but strong.”

Dash’s eyes widened. “My father! Is he…?”

Valeria’s smile faded. “Um… no. He…” She shook her head and kissed Dash’s forehead. “But we will discuss all this later. You are here on business. This village you call home… you require aid?”

“It was the Changelings, your Majesty.” Fluttershy offered.

Valeria nodded solemnly. “So I’ve heard. We’ve clashed with them many times over the years. Never had I heard of an attack the likes of which your village suffered, Lady…?”

“Oh! Uh, Fluttershy.” She offered a small curtsey. “Just Fluttershy. Mayor Applejack is my sister-in-law.”

The corner of the Queen-General’s lip twitched. “Indeed? How nice of you to represent her. It shows tremendous character.”

Fluttershy was struck by how much Valeria’s praise meant to her. Maybe it was the tone of voice or just something about the way the Queen-General carried herself, but the small compliment sent a flash of pleasure through her body. “Her Majesty is too kind.”

Valeria laughed, a high and ringing sound. “I’ve been called many things, Fluttershy. ‘Kind’ is not usually one of them. Kindness does not serve much purpose here in Zeph.” When she saw the reproach in the other mare’s eyes, she shrugged. “But it does not mean that we cannot be kind when the situation calls for it.” She looked to Cross Wind and stood at attention. “Captain!”

Cross Wind snapped to attention at once. “Ma’am.”

“You will assemble our infantry and depart at once for Ponyville, rendering whatever aid they require.”

Cross Wind’s visible confusion was evident on her face. “The… the whole infantry?”

“Zeptáte se svého generála královny?!” Valeria’s voice became as loud as thunder, as chill as ice.

Cross Wind did not cower, but stood straighter. “The whole infantry. Yes, my Queen-General.”

“Leave behind your brother and a few sentries to guard the towers. They will escort us when we follow you on the morrow.”

Cross Wind saluted sharply and was gone in a flutter of wings, vanishing out the sky-light.

Rainbow Dash looked at Valeria (could this amazing mare be her real Celestia-blessed MOTHER?!) and cleared her throat. “We aren’t going with them?”

“Not as of yet.” Valeria embraced Dash once again and breathed in the smell of her mane. “You’ve come back from the dead, my Little Rainbow. We must celebrate for at least one night. Surely you must be hungry.”

Dash’s stomach betrayed her. “We have been flying for a while…”

Valeria pulled away and clapped her hooves together twice in quick succession. A stallion, well-groomed but with no armor, materialized as if from nowhere and bowed lowly. “Inform the cooks that I will have guests for dinner this evening. And tell them that this is a special occasion.” She beamed at Dash. “Our princess has returned home.”

A wide grin spread across Rainbow Dash’s face. She was dazzled, bewitched, and entranced by the past few hours. For the moment, she couldn’t think of Ponyville. She couldn’t think of Scootaloo. For the moment, she couldn’t even think about Applejack. She lunged and was welcomed into another embrace. “I knew.” She whispered. “I always knew you didn’t abandon me.”

“Never.” Valeria whispered back. “I would never let you go.”

Fluttershy watched the reunion and smiled, but behind the smile her mind was racing. There was something wrong here. Every instinct in her body was screaming that they were in danger, that something terrible was lurking just beyond where she could see. But what could it be? Ponyville was about to be getting all the aid they’d ever need. Rainbow Dash had found her birth mother. Everything was perfect and amazing…

Fluttershy’s smile faded as the first part of the puzzle clicked into place. Yes, everything thus far had been perfect.

A little too perfect.

She looked back at the great ice doors and swallowed hard. The mare that Cumulus had taken away. Maybe she had the answers she was looking for. She resisted the urge to excuse herself and seek her out then and there. Suspicions or no, this was no time for rudeness. She would dine with the Queen-General.

Then she would get her answers.

Chapter 7: the Legend of the Phoenix Queen

The interior of the train car was dim, the sun had long since set. Up ahead, the mighty engine chugged along, drawing its cargo to its destination in the Far North, all the way to the Crystal Empire. The dinner plates had been whisked away by gracious staff and the three mares had been left alone to their own devices. They were relaxing now on plush cushions, watching their shadows dance on the wall from whence they were cast by the sole flickering candle in the whole of the space. Around the candle were spread seven others, yet to be lit. The air was still, the room silent save for the distant grinding of the engine and the occasional squeal of metal on metal from below.

Golden Haze and Luna watched as Celestia sat with her eyes closed, clearly gathering her thoughts. Her breaths were deep and rhythmic, almost meditative. Without moving an inch, she lit her horn and lifted the burning candle into the air. It floated close to her face, and now she appeared to be as so many believed her to be; the very embodiment of the sun, the sole light in the darkness. “These candles will represent the past few centuries. Together, we will cast the light back upon them as we travel towards our destination.” She finally opened her eyes and stared unwaveringly at the flame mere inches from her eyes. “This is the century in which we currently live. We were devastated by an attack from a foe we had long thought defeated. Old enemies returned and became allies. A simple unicorn ascended both the deeds of her supposed peers and the boundaries of her own flesh and blood to become something more.” The candle dipped towards the first unlit candle and set the wick ablaze. “Two hundred years past now. A cult rises in the west, but after a bitter political struggle it is struck down. Descendants of the supposed spiritual leader now teach philosophy in universities around Equestria.” Another dip, another light. “Three hundred years past. A pegasus general is possessed by a powerful relic and declares herself the Perfect Storm. She is defeated, but the cost is great. The heroes of that terrible final struggle are venerated as heroes even to this day…”

So it went on. With each lit candle, Celestia told of the most important events of the past century. Golden Haze and Luna watched, spellbound, as the small circle of candles began to increase the light in the room.

At last, Celestia lit the seventh candle, creating a perfect circle of dancing light. “Eight hundred years past. The second Court of the Full Moon is convened and attempts a coup. They are defeated, but not before many innocent lives are lost. Their leader, Stone Heart, becomes the first mortal pony in history to be imprisoned in Tartarus.” She looked across the circle at her companions and smiled gently. “Eight candles. Eight hundred years. The Second Golden Age of Equestria.”

“But the First Golden Age ended when Luna was banished.” Golden Haze looked at her lover and princess in confusion. “You make it sound like there’s a two hundred year gap.”

“Sister.” Luna swallowed hard. “What happened after I was banished?”

At first, Celestia said nothing. She stared at the ring of light, like she was praying for it to give her the strength she needed to continue. Three unlit candles floated over from some dark corner. The first was identical to the rest, but the other two were split and uneven. “This represents the true beginning of the Second Golden Age.” She said, lighting the taller of the two stubby candles and placing it along the perimeter of the circle. “And these?” She nodded towards the last two unlit candles. “These are the years that I have tried with all my heart to bury. They are my greatest shame, my most unforgiveable sin. These candles represent the reign of the Phoenix Queen. For one hundred and seventeen years, nearly four generations of the ponies I swore to defend, she reigned over Equestria and nearly destroyed it.”

“But how?” Luna leaned forward. “Who was this mare who bested you?”

Celestia sighed and lit the two candles, then placed the original candle in the center of the circle. The two remaining candles began to slowly float around the perimeter of the circle in a counter-clockwise motion. “When Twilight ascended and became an alicorn, she published a thesis on the nature of the tribe she had just joined. In it, she posited that the reason you fell and became Nightmare Moon, Luna, is that you allowed yourself to be consumed by a single, strong emotion; jealousy.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Twilight’s theory was that since we, by our very nature, are tied to the greater magics of Equestria, the potential lies within us for two extremes; great good and great evil. She suggested that if we succumbed to the opposite of our nature, we could become corrupted. For you, you allowed jealousy to break apart our sisterly bond. We came to this world together, and together we shall leave it. The idea that you would be envious of me to such an extreme as you did allowed you to be corrupted.” She sighed again. “And now I fear the same is happening to Cadance.”

“You’re saying this like it’s not a theory.” Golden Haze offered.

Celestia nodded. “I couldn’t tell Twilight how right she was, how perfectly she’d mirrored my own findings just after you fell, Luna. Everything Twilight ‘discovered,’ I had discovered already.” She looked at her sister, tears in her eyes. “I was lost in those first days without you, sister. I sealed myself in my lab and poured myself into my research. I had to understand what had happened to you, so that maybe I could bring you back when the thousand years had ended… and so I could ensure the same did not happen to me.” She slumped on her cushion. “And, in my hubris, I created a monster.”

“The Phoenix Queen.” Golden Haze breathed.

“The Phoenix Queen.” Celestia repeated. “The Day Breaker. The Nightmare Star. The Flame Eternal. The Fury. The Doom That Came to Avalon.”

Golden Haze raised an eyebrow. “Avalon? The earth pony city of gold? That’s just a legend.”

“Oh no, it was all too real. As were the tens of thousands who lived there.”

“Tia, what did you do?” Luna was holding herself now, her sister’s tone of voice unlike any she had heard her utter before.

“As I said, I was terrified that what happened to you would happen to me. If that happened, then there would be no one to stop me as I had stopped you. Once I discovered the possibility for great evil lay inside me, I knew I only had one course of action.” She grinned, bitterly and without humor. “I had to purge it.”

“You tried to purge part of yourself?” Golden Haze gaped.

“I didn’t try. I did. It took weeks of preparation. I acquired one of the few crystals we still had from before Sombra had cursed the Empire and altered it so that it would hold my proverbial dark half. On the chosen day, I sent all the staff from the castle and sealed the doors. I cast the spell… and I drove the darkness from my heart. I’d originally meant to simply imprison it in the crystal, but I altered my plans at the last instant. I gave it form and substance. I gave it consciousness.”

Luna gasped. “But why?”

“Because I was desperate to save you.” Celestia looked at her sister pleadingly. “I reasoned that if there were two minds such as mine, we could double our thinking power and solve the problem even faster. But I miscalculated. My darkness had no interest in saving you. It just wanted what I never did; domination.”

“What happened?”

“I’d miscalculated how weak I would be after the separation. My shadow easily locked me away in the very prison I’d meant for it. I was reduced to simple consciousness, my body broken down to atoms and merged with the crystal. It took what was left and created a vessel for itself, one that looked like my own reflection. She made a few cosmetic changes, of course, such as crowning herself with a flowing mane of magma and flame. And she named herself the Phoenix Queen.” Celestia lowered her head. “And then she made me watch as she ruined the land I loved.”

She fell silent for a while. Golden Haze and Luna waited patiently for her to continue. After a few minutes, Luna’s magic fetched over a bottle of wine. “Tia…?”

“Please.”

Luna smiled a little before pouring three glasses of the dark red drink. When all had been served, she settled back once again.

Celestia brought the glass to her muzzle and took a deep sniff. “As you can imagine, the ponies of Equestria were quite shocked when a mare that looked so much like their beloved sun princess emerged from the castle and began issuing new decrees. At first, they were small and inconsequential. An additional tax here, a drafting of stallions to bolster the military there… but as her confidence in her new powers grew, she began to revel in the power she wielded. While I drew my greatest pleasure from the happiness of my subjects, she relished the opposite. The more miserable the populace, the happier she was.” She sipped. “She wanted an excuse, you understand. A reason to show just how powerful she could really be. She wanted a conflict. So she purposely began to go out of her way to spread pain and misery across the land. She taxed the poor to starvation, and when they appealed she suggested they rid themselves of those who had become too elderly to contribute. She instituted prima nocta, and would not bless a marriage unless one or both of the ponies submitted themselves to her. She made the smallest transgressions punishable by death or petrification.”

Golden Haze started, almost dropping her wine. “The statues in the garden! They aren’t…?”

Celestia nodded sadly. “I freed as many as I could, but some had been driven mad by the process. I had no choice but to leave them as they were.” She took a long gulp and drained the glass. “And when all these things had been done and still the ponies had not risen up against her, she finished what you started Luna.” She tipped her empty glass. “She took away the sun.”

Luna gasped. “For how long?”

“Long enough for the season’s crops to die. Long enough that more than a few small villages simply froze to death in their entirety. She finally returned it to the proper place in the sky, but by then she had what she craved.” She refilled her own glass. “A rebellion.”

“How badly did it go?” Golden Haze asked, already dreading the answer.

“Well, there’s a reason that Avalon is still believed to only be a myth these days.” Celestia sighed and gazed into the red abyss. “The earth pony city of gold was the rebel’s base of operations, and in a single day and night of misfortune it was wiped from the face of the earth. There were no survivors, no single pony left to tell the tale. Only the ruined, scorched earth that I sank into the sea myself so that nopony could ever find it. Hundreds died, but the Phoenix Queen finally had what she wanted. Now everypony knew who the strongest alicorn really was. And, as an added bonus, her actions at Avalon caught the attention of an admirer.”

“Grogar.” Haze and Luna said in unison.

“Doom called to Doom. They were drawn to each other and became lovers almost immediately. Now she truly had everything; a world that feared her, endless misery, and an immortal monster to rule by her side. And that’s how it was for one hundred and seventeen years.” Celestia’s breath caught in her throat. “And I could do nothing for all that time but watch.”

“How did you escape?” Luna hated seeing her sister like this, and she knew that the sooner the tale was told she would be better.

“It took over a century for me to gather my strength while trapped in the crystal. I drew upon its ambient magic and leeched off of whatever magical artifact the Phoenix Queen stashed in the chamber in which my prison was held. When I believed that I was strong enough, I shattered the crystal from the inside and restored my physical form. That action alone took nearly all of my strength, and I was forced to hide in the castle for nearly a year while I recovered my strength and restored my magic.”

“And the Phoenix Queen never once noticed you’d escaped?” Haze asked.

Celestia shook her head and actually managed a small smile. “That was her mistake. She’d grown bored of forcing me to watch the actions of her rule around fifty years before. That was when she’d taken my prison out of the throne room and stashed it in a storage chamber. If she had even thought to seek me out even once, I would be dead and Equestria would still be under her rule.” She tipped her glass to Luna. “Or be destroyed in the inevitable conflict wrought by the returning Nightmare Moon.”

Luna smirked bitterly and tipped her own glass.

“I hid and bided my time until I was able to secure the Alicorn Amulet. The thing had been intended by Clover as a means of studying the effects of alicorn magic when wielded by normal ponies. In my possession, it amplified my own powers to the point that I was able to stand on even footing with both Grogar and the Phoenix Queen simultaneously.” She drained her glass and waved off another refill. “Our battle was terrible, but brief. In the end, I stood victorious over both the necromancer and my shadow. I sealed them both in Tartarus, far from each other, and set about repairing the damage they had done over the past century.”

“Why haven’t I heard about any of this?” Golden Haze asked. “Wouldn’t this be in the history books somewhere?”

“It would be, but I allowed myself one final sin to close off the story.” Celestia stood and stretched, her wings spreading behind her. The shadow she cast was huge and imposing, and Golden Haze suppressed a shiver. “I instructed Brother Veritas to purge the historical records. No written account of the Phoenix Queen’s reign was allowed to exist. When every scrap had been collected and burned, I cast a powerful charm on all who had survived that rendered them unable to speak of either her or her foul deeds. Within two generations, none lived who could recall those terrible days.” She lowered her wings, and her shadow followed suit. “And thus did the Phoenix Queen pass into the abyss she deserved.” Her magic blazed, and the two circling candles melted to nothing. “It’s as though she, and the years in which she ruled, never existed at all.”

“Threats have escaped Tartarus before.” Luna pointed out. “You would be in a poor spot indeed if she managed to get free and Twilight had no idea what she would be up against.”

Celestia nodded. “This is why there’s a special charm on her, one that I’ve only cast once. So long as I live, she cannot pass the gates of Tartarus.” She smiled. “And I’m not planning on dying anytime soon.”

Golden Haze and Luna shared a look, remembering the terrible day of the Changeling invasion. Remembering how Celestia and Luna had been bedridden during the final battle with King Carapace. How they were recovering because their hearts had stopped beating.

How close had they been to this monster’s liberation?

Celestia saw the look and shook her head quickly. “Even if she did escape, she has no power left. She would have to do as I did and hide, bide her time. But she hasn’t the patience for such things. She is pure id, pure drive and ambition. She would reveal herself almost at once and be returned to her prison. Believe me, the Phoenix Queen is gone.” She put a hoof to her chest and bowed her head. “She is my greatest sin, and I alone must carry her memory and the memory of her deeds.”

Luna stood and embraced her sister. “You aren’t alone anymore, Tia.”

“Luna’s right.” Golden Haze flapped over and wrapped her forelegs about her lover’s neck. “I know it wasn’t easy, telling us all of this, but I’m glad you did.”

Celestia sniffed. “I’m… I’m so sorry. I never told anypony what she truly was. I never told anypony before now that her reign was entirely my fault. I never… I never apologized…”

“You’re forgiven, my love.” Haze whispered into her neck.

“Thank you.” Celestia sobbed. Her knees buckled and she collapsed to the cushion, her sister and her lover not breaking their embrace. “Thank you so much...”

They stayed there as Celestia rocked herself and cried. Nearly a thousand year’s worth of tears poured out and still they remained. When Celestia had finally calmed herself, it was past midnight. Luna finally pulled away and looked at the clock. “You need sleep. Both of you. We will need all of our strength for tomorrow.”

Celestia wiped her eyes and nodded. “Yes. That’s really why I told you everything, you understand? Because I fear that what happened then may be happening again.”

Luna nodded solemnly. “I had my suspicions when I talked to her at the memorial.”

Golden Haze looked back and forth between the much taller sisters, understanding dawning. “You don’t mean… not Cadance?”

Celestia looked at her with red rimmed eyes. “It happened to Luna and I. It could happen to her. We aren’t just going to the Empire to search for Starswirl.” She gave a determined look to her sister, who returned it. “We’re going to ensure that another Phoenix Queen isn’t rising.”

Haze shuddered at a sudden chill in the air. “And if there is?”

Celestia said nothing. She leaned over the circle of candles and blew out a small breath. The light was gone at once, the flickering flames extinguished, and the three mares were left in the darkness, blanketed in the unknown.