Early Afternoon
27th October, 72 BNM
Equestria, western lowlands
Nokotaford, Royal Palace

Two months had passed, and the passing of King Nova amidst the devastating attack on Canterlot had changed a great many things.
In wake of it being discovered the Nationalists were using rumoured, and confirmed, monsters, high level magical beings, the Royalists responded in kind. Magicians and those of arcana profession were all but conscripted to begin brewing and concocting spells, potions, training of magical users and producing magically enhanced weapons for both magic and non-magic, such as Pegasi, Earth pony or the odd mercenary, to use.
This arms race had sprung up on both sides though, as tensions within the more dominant Nationalists had given rise to paranoia, and trying to make sure they wouldn’t be overwhelmed by any other. Only the forceful hooves of the Trumanes and ruling Alicorn families kept the Nationalists from beginning to test their new weapons on each other, instead of the Royalists.
As such, and in wake of Canterlot’s attack, the official capital of the Royalists was moved to the north western city of Nokotaford, where a second palace of the royal family, less used overall, resided for their use.
News of small skirmishes, and yet the war had come to a standstill at the moment, as both sides built up their forces.

Royal Palace, throne room

Queen Aurora sat upon the throne, a hard look on her face as she regarded the messenger before her with some irritation at the news the Pegasus bared:
“Why was I not informed sooner?”
“Forgive me your majesty, but it was only yesterday that the Las Pegasus ports were raided.”
“You presume such a delay wouldn’t give them an advantage of any sort…naïve fool of a stallion. Begone, I must confer with my generals.”
As the Pegasus stallion gulped while bowing, before flying out, Queen Aurora stood up with a snort, knowing she would have some words with the generals about a retaliatory attack on a Nationalist town or something. It wouldn’t be the first time raids were done simply to irritate each side, and it clearly worked.
The white Alicorn, with black and pink striped mane, had changed a great deal. No longer warm, inviting, now withdrawn, cold, and instead of regal, bright dresses of garments, she wore nothing but blacks and greys now if given the choice of attire, which being queen, was almost always.
She’d stopped shedding tears for her husband, and now merely wore her subtle mourning in her language of clothing, as she set about ensuring her Royalists had ultimate victory in the end.
Walking through the doorways to one of the castle drawing rooms, Aurora heard hoofsteps, as Celestia rounded the corner, heading in another direction:
“Mother, what was the news this time?” Celestia tried to strike up conversation, her tone bright and hopeful, to a degree.
“Another raid by the Nationalists, Las Pegasus. Do not fret over it daughter, I will have a retaliation strike on the way soon.” Aurora said in a dismissive tone, to which Celestia’s face fell while her mother continued past with a small nod in her daughter’s direction. The elder Alicorn princess stared at her mother with a forlorn look, shaking her head as she walked to the castle library, where she wished to research something:
“Mother… What have you become?”

Mid Afternoon
27th October, 72 BNM
Equestria, western lowlands
Nokotaford, Royal Palace
Archives

It was later that day however, that more reminders of how much had changed with ponies she knew and loved came to Celestia, and her sister.
Luna had become withdrawn, she had been more of a father’s daughter, in the same vein as Celestia was to their mother, slightly more relatable to one parent. In her withdrawal, Luna had buried herself in studies and training in magic and tactic books.
Luna urged her sister that they would have to be ready to fight, but Celestia knew Luna was always to be the one more inclined to combat by her more passionate nature. Celestia was always the more reserved sister, even and especially in wake of their father’s death. With their mother turning cold and even cruel, somepony had to keep a level head.
As they found that even Starswirl had started to change significantly.

Archive, drawing room

The grey wizard was poring over the last of the maps, open to the Equestrian midlands, a large swathe of woodlands that for a strange reason, were largely uncharted.
Rolling up the maps with his magic, Starswirl floated them into a shrinking bag as he looked up to see the two Alicorn princesses come walking in, at his summons.
“I would have thought promptness was a trait valued among royals.” Starswirl remarked, to which Celestia’s eyes narrowed in some disappointment, while Luna admitted with some meek apology:
“We had to sit in with the Generals’ meeting.”
“Hopefully something not repeated if I have success.” Starswirl finished packing as he replied, to which Celestia and Luna stood across from the table which he sat at now. Looking sadly at Starswirl, Luna offered:
“Must you leave though? Thy presence would be sorely missed.”
“No it would not, I do not socialise enough for that.” Starswirl replied curtly, to which Celestia frowned, before she reminded Starswirl:
“By us, Starswirl. By us.”
The Grey wizard stopped for a moment, as he quietly sighed in his paused pacing stead:
“I will be gone 2 months at most. No more.”
“But why?” Celestia asked the wizard, who merely span to face her and Luna with a slightly loud edge to his voice, grey beard dishevelled slightly from a few nights with little sleep it seemed:
“So I can end this damn war, that is why!”
Celestia backed away slightly, while Luna stood fast as Starswirl replied in a calmer tone:
“If our enemies, enemies among whom there are those who can, and want to kill, you two and other Alicorns, they have great power. I seek something to tip the scales in our favour, for once in my life. It is getting to the point where if this war keeps up, nopony will truly win in the end. You’ve seen your mother; you’ve felt the needless losses mounting. Needless, pointless, deranged and unjustified by those who did it”
Luna looked down slightly as Starswirl finished his ranting, while Celestia openly questioned him:
“Those who did it? The Nationalists, or your old friend from the Citadel you told us of after we’d grieved for father?”
Starswirl was quiet, as Celestia sensitively finished while Luna stared on with a look of trepidation on her face:
“I know he betrayed you, but you aren’t acting like yourself Starswirl.”
“Good, my old self didn’t take this threat seriously enough, or see what I should have seen all along. As far as I am concerned, my old ways can go hang at this point.”
As he shuffled the maps off the desk, Luna grew hurt at her former teacher’s tone, her hoof stomping in aggravation as she rebuked:
“It wasn’t your fault, your friend was the one who is at fault, not you.”
“But my deeds may have made him this way, even a slight nudge can start an avalanche, a small breeze a thunderstorm.”
“Then why are you leaving on a journey, without help?” Celestia demanded. Staying quiet, Starswirl let Celestia continue:
“For years, even before either civil war, you’ve been distant, antisocial, but you were experienced enough that many accepted it. But you must understand there are those who can, who want to help you.”
“I have a moral obligation to do myself, now cease pestering that which I alone must deal with!” Starswirl insisted, jabbing a hoof at Celestia as his temper began to fray slightly.
Luna and Celestia exchanged a glance, before Celestia gave a saddened look, before nodding in agreement: “Very well. All I’ll say is I hope you succeed.”
Starswirl looked down slightly, even as the two Alicorns before him, taller than he, seemed to feel small to him. So much ran through his mind, but he had to at least reassure his former pupils:
“But if it will help alleviate your worry for me, I won’t be alone. I have one ally coming with me, I need his help anyway. But as for who it is, I want to ask of you a favour.”
As Starswirl began, Luna shared a worried look with Celestia, wishing the reasons for what was said were simply not true:
“You recall the Salamander I know, Chack? He will be coming with me, where we’re going. What concerns me is to do with your mother, she may not take too kindly to somepony aligned with the Nationalists aiding me after recent events. But Chack is my eyes and ears into the Nationalist armies, I trust him with my life enough to not endanger it. May I ask that if she asks if I am alone, say yes.”
Celestia recalled the tales she’d heard of Chack, while it was Luna who replied:
“Yes, we will.”
“Good. He may well have learned about those creatures that attacked the city anyway. This is more than just a journey, also a way for me to plan how to deal with them.”
“Just, please remember you have friends here Starswirl.” Celestia pleaded quietly, as Luna also stood with a similar look on her face.
The Wizard merely grunted in reply, intent on leaving soon. And yet only the slightest twinge of guilt for his mannerisms hurting Celestia and Luna plagued his mind.
Slightest being the exact description, drowned by his sense of duty.
He would be gone by tomorrow morning

Same day
Late Afternoon
27th October, 72 BNM
Equestria, eastern coasts
Bayland port town, outskirts

The bronze Alicorn walked proudly through the streets, the smaller Salamander packed with travel gear and some minimal dark red bushido armour bearing the Nationalist symbol beside him.
Chack had become known as a friend of Aubelles, an odd companion for an Alicorn thought to view those lesser than he with amusement in his ego. Egotistical, but never outright cruel or malicious, with a sense of honour still.
“You are certain you do not wish me to accompany you?” Aubelles offered again, to which Chack dismissively replied.
“I can handle myself Aubelles, even if my years are starting to grow numerous, I already did for decades before coming here. And for all I know this could end up being a wild goose chase.”
“Still, the troops will miss you. As will the blacksmiths I expect.”
“Spare me, they only like me for my expertise in blade crafting. Still, I will miss the coastal places the army group frequents.”
“Yes, ever since the Canterlot success, things have been easy for ourselves.” Aubelles remarked, at which Chack became slightly quiet, while he probed once again:
“Aubelles. Success it may have been, what do you make of these, creatures, that serve our alignment on the Citadel’s direct control?”
Aubelles stopped for a moment, thinking to himself as he put a hoof to his mouth in some thought:
“Formidable, if tales are right. Perhaps on par with Alicorns, even me.”
“Does that trouble you? A rival or rivals perhaps?” Chack questioned, a slight hint of humour in his voice as he poked Aubelles’s ego in a not so subtle way.
“No. Just a waste, I once visited Canterlot long ago, to think that magnificent city is missing its palace and King now.” Aubelles admitted.
“I suppose that is true. Too much fighting means there’s no spoils to be had.” Chack reasoned, to which Aubelles gave a slight laugh as he laid a hoof on the Salamander’s head in a semi mocking/heartfelt goodbye:
“Have a pleasant trip Chack. Though my offer to arrange a flight for your-.”
“Please, I can walk Aubelles. However it turns out, I will see you again.”
The bronze Alicorn gave a small smile as the Salamander turned to walk the long dirt track that led inland from the port town, a few weeks, no more than two months of supposedly spying on Royalist territory for any easy targets.”

Next day
28th October, 72 BNM
Equestria, midlands
Hillsides

Starswirl had found Chack and regrouped when both were clear, catching up on information before they went on further south.
Chack had only rumors and tales from the Citadel to go by, but he revealed that doubts in the Nationalists about going too far were among the common forces, while the leaders were all too enthusiastic about their assets from the Citadel, and other living superweapons in the form of trained Alicorns, dangerous potions and spells, which the Royalists were also concocting. Nothing on the scale of full-fledged living beings as came from the Citadel though.
But where they were headed, may hold secrets that could be unlocked for their own gain.

Late Morning
29th October, 72 BNM
Equestria, south midlands
‘Everfree forest’

Centuries of magic ‘sculpting’ equestrian, its land, rivers and weather all falling more and more under magical manipulation to better Equestria, or serve specific functions, had created it.
After all, every action had a reaction, physics, magic, anything.
The magical energies that had been used to shape Equestria to pony ideal use had trickled through the land, concentrating.
All that would be natural, untamed, wild, had concentrated in specific spots across Equestrias. Caverns, swamps, a few notable mountain peaks.
But none compared to the great forest, the twisted woodland, the Everfree Forest, by size or by its mysteries, both wondrous and dangerous.
Great untamed magic centuries gathered lay in the forest’s depths.
And at the edge of the forest, near where in a few centuries a town would sprout at its rim, a Grey Wizard and his Salamander companion had arrived, ready to enter.

Forest borders

Standing before the forest edge, Starswirl saw how the light seemed to actually diminish very quickly into the forest.
“This place feels strange. I can only describe it as wild.” Chack breathed, the Salamander cautiously eying up the expanse of vine choked treelines that went on for miles.
“What parts of Equestria are left untamed, do their best to make up for the other reigned in terrains across the nation. None more so than here.” Starswirl remarked. In truth though, many tales were spread of this forest, of the many creatures hiding in its furthest depths.
But what great power undoubtedly resided in its depths was what was needed.
Seeing the trees beckoning, Chack gave a small breath in anticipation, giving his sword a pat in its side sheath, his armour ready in anticipation of this place.
“You lead the way, this is your domain after all.”
“And I shall lead, but not in full knowledge of what to expect. Be on your guard, there may be more to be found in this forest then what we seek.”
“And what of the war while we are gone?”
“If we can find a power to take out those beings and their master, what is lost while we are gone will be worth it. The war is now a battle of outdoing the other, and we must acquire power nopony has knowledge of, until too late to resist.” Starswirl said curtly, gesturing with a blue shine from his horn to the trees.
Chack saw the cold look in Starswirl’s eyes, and couldn’t help but feel that something was off, the Wizard hadn’t been the same since he found out it was Siral this whole time, the creatures attacking Canterlot, inciting the second Civil war with the very slightest of nudges in the form of a destroyed village here and there, impersonations, deceit, all to set Equestria on the Alicorn infighting he’d preached as inevitable.
The worst part was nobody could prove, nor expected, that if Siral hadn’t done all this, it wouldn’t have happened at all.
As Starswirl set off ahead, the Wizard carrying his own supplies and camping equipment in a smaller bag shrunken by magic, the Salamander walked briskly in pursuit, as the vine choked oaks and other monstrous sized trees of Everfree forest engulfed them in their shades.

Author's Notes:

The Everfree forest holds many secrets, and in this journey for Starswirl and Chack, what becomes some great asset centuries later is found deep in the forest.
But what they first intend to do with that they find is not the greatest power that comes from it.
As for Queen Aurora, taking notes from Queen Victoria’s later years of rule, she wears dark colours now in permanent mourning, so she can focus her mind on ruling. Celestia is the only one least affected, as Luna has become quieter and more withdrawn to a degree, and Starswirl’s change of mood isn’t helping things.
Even so, among the nationalists as Chack has insight into, some second thoughts about the sheer damage the war is doing are growing, even among its most proud warriors, Alicorn or not.