The next morning, Christopher woke up to a thestral mare pacing up and down the length of the room. Rainbow was still snoring in his arms whereas Bon Bon was awake, sitting up in bed as she just watched Midnight.

“Did I miss something?” he asked, trying not to disturb the sleeping pegasus. Dash was adorable when she was asleep.

“Somepony’s just impatient,” Bon Bon said. “Well, not that I blame her. Though, if your daughter fails to pull through, the upcoming wedding might have a funeral attached.”

“Ah,” Chris nodded. “And here I thought she was going to be upset about being regulated to a babysitter for two rambunctious human youths.”

“Them I can handle,” Midnight snapped at him, her tail flicking like an angry snake. She paused and put a hoof to her head, taking a few deep breaths. “Sorry… just, I am anxious.”

“I can imagine,” the human nodded. “So. I guess the question boils down to, do you trust her?”

“No,” Midnight said. “I am sorry my love, but I do not trust Changelings. I do not know if I ever will. It is only because you have asked me to take her word that I have.”

Chris sighed and looked away. “So I guess that means you don’t trust me then, either. I mean, I only formed the first of their kind myself out of nothing more than the spare magic and what I could find in the Badlands.”

“Do not turn my words back at me,” Midnight said. “Look, I am stressed and…” She just sighed and closed her mouth, not willing to talk any further.

“They were meant to be my replacement,” Chris continued. “Something to blend in with Ponykind and defend them against the dark when I could not. I...I am one man. They are legion. If they worked out...I could hang up my sword for good.”

“To be fair, when was the last time you actually used that blade?” Bon Bon asked. “I mean, discounting Discord and Nightmare Moon, there hasn’t been a significant threat to Equus in centuries.”

“A fair point, but I never discount evil springing up when we least expect it,” the human replied. “Tartarus still has its prisoner, after all. And he was put there by none other than Megan, all those years ago. Until such a time as he is truly defeated...there will be a need for my blade.”

“What prisoner?” Midnight spoke up. “Tartarus is home to many a foul creature is it not?”

“There is one...that is the reason Tartarus is chained shut,” the human replied. “The reason Megan was called over on the Rainbow of Light. The first foe we ever faced. Tirek...Aspect of Darkness. A demonic centaur that was obsessed with bringing an eternal night to the world, who wielded a mighty artifact of evil, the Rainbow of Darkness. The only reason we succeeded is because he unleashed it on the nascent Rainbow of Light...and the darkness was subsumed by the light, making the rainbow all the stronger, able to banish him beyond Tartarus’ walls and chain him there for his deeds. But there was one thing the Rainbow could not do.” He shook his head. “It is the same limitation the Elements of Harmony have, as they were formed from it. It could not kill. Banish, redeem, seal, yes. But kill? Never. That is not good, that is not harmonious.” He drew his hand across his neck. “But sometimes, there is evil that cannot be redeemed, cannot be banished or sealed...which the world needs to be dealt with. Which is where I come into play.”

“So… why not just go there and strike him down while he is weak?” Midnight asked with a flick of her wings. “Would it not be a simple task for someone of your strength?”

“The doors...are chained shut,” Chris explained. “It would take another immortal to force them open with me. And none of them agree that killing Tirek is right. Thus, he has been left to stew in Tartarus for his deeds.”

“Why do all the badguys want Eternal Night?” Rainbow murmured, having woke up during his talk. “I mean, isn’t there something more original?”

“Tirek was the original, he wanted eternal night before it was hip,” Chris joked.

“So Nightmare Moon’s just copying? Lame,” Rainbow snorted as she nuzzled into his side, cooing as she got scritchies behind the ears. “Your pegasus form is hot, but hands are the best,” she hummed.

“Yeah, I can do things with fingers that hooves just can’t,” the human agreed. “So...Midnight wants to murder Chryssy unless she produces the thestral sister that’s missing, Bon Bon is probably a little anxious over Lyra’s previous predicament during the last wedding, and Dash...is too awesome for drama, I’m guessing.”

“I’ve already seen to Lyra and she’s fine,” Bon Bon said as she adjusted her position slightly. “As were the others. Seems the Changeling’s took excellent care of them… I more pity them for having to deal with Lyra.”

“And your words sum me up just fine,” Rainbow nodded. “I’m always awesome.”

“And excuse me for missing a sister I presumed dead,” Midnight said, much less amused than the other two.

“And I’ve just been informed I have a brother that is missing myself,” Chris riposted. “I don’t know what to feel after two thousand years of not remembering him at all.”

“Oh yeah, that’s apparently a thing,” Rainbow said in a low tone.

“Would he have partaken from the Fountain?” Bon Bon asked. “Because… if not…”

“I don’t know, I have absolutely no memory of ever having a brother in either world,” Christopher replied. “I know that he followed me here only because he went missing according to Megan.”

“Well, perhaps we should ask her the next time we meet,” Bon Bon said as their door burst open and a unicorn maid strode in, looking at the foursome.

“What are you all doing!?” she stated. “The wedding starts in less than three hours! Up! Now!”

Chris carefully pushed Dash away and flashed—

And suddenly the maid was looking at an Alicorn staring her down. “I hereby decree that we shall be left alone until we are needed,” he proclaimed airly.

The maid blinked, before narrowing her eyes. “Princess Celestia said you might try this,” she said with a sigh. “And gave me permission to counter with… and I quote, ‘If Father does not heed your words, Then we shall see to it that he is honored for saving the city from a demon, and a massive parade, honor party and reward shall be given’.”

“She wouldn’t,” Aspect replied. “She knows how much I hate the spotlight. Besides, I was the reason the demon got out.”

“That was blamed on the Changeling’s actually,” Bon Bon lifted her hoof. “Basically, Chrysalis took the fall for the entire thing. And since everypony was hiding in a bunker or the like, nopony saw what really happened.”

“I could still speak out against it,” the currently-an-alicorn Aspect replied. “Really cut into the whole mood.”

“She said you wouldn’t want to draw attention to yourself like that,” the maid replied. “Now look, you are all awake. Breakfast is being served in the dining hall, and the wedding will take place just before noon.”

“...You know what, fine,” Aspect said, flashing into his pegasus guise. “I’ll grab a quick bite to eat, then I’ll go see to a thing. In the meantime…” He grinned maliciously before nuzzling Dash. “You can try getting her up before she wants to be.”

The maid looked at her and cracked her neck. “Challenge Accepted.”

“Wut…” Rainbow blinked as the door was closed behind Aspect. All he could hear was her muffled squawks of protest.

At the dining table, Celestia was present, along with Cadance, Twilight, Shining, Twilight Velvet and a blue coated unicorn stallion he didn’t recognise. Upon his entry, Tia raised her head and gave a small wave to him. Outwardly she looked as radiant as always, but a few subtle tells she had told him she was exhausted.

“Mmm,” Aspect walked along the table, reaching Tia and nuzzling her...to hide the direct energy transfer that was better than any coffee cup.

What? He still had some excess from absorbing lightning for Gungnir last night. And Air bent a lot easier to his will now that Arabus was gone.

“Thanks,” she hummed before the unicorn stallion spoke up.

“Look son, we just think you should rest for a bit. You in particular have been through a lot…”

“No, we should have the wedding today,” Shining said and looked at his wings. “Plus… hide these things for a while. Until we can come up with a good story as to why I have them. But the wedding is a must, if only to boost morale and…”

“And he’s impatient to be wedding his adorable bride,” Velvet chuckled. “Oh, and good morning Aspect. How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Aspect said, walking around to where Shining was, studying him for a bit…

Before poking him under the wing. That was a pressure point for pegasi, that would reflexively cause them to shoot their wings out. He wanted to test something.

Shining yelled… loudly.

And in a pinkish glow, Aspect was flung clear across the room, Celestia barely catching him before he hit a far wall as Shining hissed in pain, his wings twitching every now and then…

“As I thought,” Aspect mused, motioning for Celly to put him down. “Ascending doesn’t come without its price.” He looked over at Cadance. “You’re going to need to nip down to the infirmary, ask for a special kind of ointment. Wing-growth and muscle-relaxant. You’re going to apply it to his wings every morning and night for...about two weeks, until they stop hurting. Then he’s to join his Pegasi for morning exercises, so that his wings work right when he uses them.”

“Didn’t even want the damned things,” Shining grumbled under his breath. Aspect perked his ears up at that and walked forward, staring at Shining with such intensity to make him feel uncomfortable.

“W-What?” the uni-alicorn blinked slowly and looked at Cadance for help.

“Cadance was ascended by Yggdrasil, and never asked for her horn,” Aspect said. “You were also picked by the World Tree. You may not have asked for your wings, but he did it more than to give his ‘daughter’ to the immortal family somepony to eternally love. You earned those wings. Don’t dishonor them like that.”

“Oh leave him be grandfather,” Cadance poked him with a hoof. “I freaked for a solid week when I got my horn. Even more so the first time I used magic.”

“Yeah alright, fair enough,” the stallion groused. Giving Shining the stink-eye one last time, he walked around to a sufficiently large, open place, and sat down in it.

“Oh,” Velvet spoke up and looked in his direction. “I don’t suppose I’ve introduced my husband have I?” She pulled the blue unicorn closer. “This is Night Light, father of Shining and Twilight and head of the Canterlot Observatory.”

“Cheers,” Aspect nodded at him. “I’d introduce myself, but my titles tend to drag on.” He gave Cel the stink-eye next. “Especially when somepony threatens to add to them to get me out of bed in the morning.”

“Huh… usually Vel just threatens not to make my morning coffee,” Night chuckled and moved over to where Aspect was, shaking his hoof. “But, my little Twiley already gave me the rundown on who you are. I’m just glad to not be the oldest stallion in the room anymore eh~”

“Yeah, if I want to feel like a young guy, I’m basically limited to hanging out with dragons now,” the pegasus groused. “And they’re pretty far away.”

“Don’t mind the old grump,” Celestia giggled. “He himself likely hasn’t had his coffee yet, so he gets a bit touchy.”

“Oh!” Cadane slid up next to him. “I don’t know if I myself gave you a proper answer, but… I would be most honored to officiate your wedding Grandfather.”

“Oh good!” Aspect beamed. “I honestly don’t know when it’ll happen, but knowing that you’ll be there for it makes it all the better.” He hummed as he thought of something. “Now all I have to do is nip over to the griffon lands before your wedding to take care of something and somehow get back before noon.”

“Father,” Celestia said sternly. “I’m sure that can wait for now. The griffon’s aren’t going anywhere. And you could afford to relax a little.”

“Look, Air is just going to get stronger the longer I hold onto it,” Aspect replied. “I think I know what I want to do to pass it on now. I’ll pull an Arthur with it and Gungnir.”

“I’m sorry what?” Twilight piped up, though Celestia just rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Always trying to show off aren’t you?” the alicorn mused.

“Well it’s that or hold onto it for another forty years or until a worthy griff steps forward,” Aspect countered. “This takes me out of the equation. Gungnir will pick one that will uphold the honor of the immortals and then they’ll meet us eventually.”

“But isn’t Gungnir fond of Midnight and Rainbow?” Celestia pointed out. “What’s to stop either of them getting it?”

“Simple, I’ll ask it to pick a griffon,” Aspect replied. “Plus I’ll fly to the center of the largest city of theirs I can find and stick it in a stone. Maybe through an anvil too, for posterity.”

Celestia sighed and shook her head. “You can do it tomorrow. Rest for today, that’s a Royal Order, Sir Christopher Gale.”

“Oh fine,” Aspect groused. “I just wanted to pass on an Aspect now that it’s been cleansed, but nooooooo…”

“You should try having a little patience,” Celestia said as she sipped her tea. “Honestly, one would think that two thousand years is enough time to mature, but you are very much a young colt in many ways oh father.”

“Is it so wrong that I never needed to really grow up?” the stallion asked. “I mean, I have changed a little. I’ve grown somewhat. But I remained true to my nature. True to my purpose. Not just guarding ponies, but helping them grow. Helping better the world for their presence.”

“Fine fine,” Celestia waved a hoof. “Well, at least she’ll help you out in a few ways. Now moving on…”

“The ceremony will start in two hours,” Cadance said. “Miss Rarity has generously said she’ll handle my dress and makeup. And a friend of hers is going to help Shiny.” She looked over a list. “My wedding party will be a bit large, because I want both my bridesmaids selections. As such…”

“Well I have Spike,” Shining said, “along with a few of my Guard friends.”

“And guests?” Twilight asked.

“Just a few, as well as some media,” Cadance replied. “However, the reception will be open to all. So we’ve a big party planned in the Royal Gardens tonight.”

“Mm,” Aspect nodded. “I don’t think Megan’s girls will be here. They have school, that’s an all-day thing. They’ll likely only show up after dinner. But she might be here for a few hours.”

“It’ll be good to see her again,” Celestia said as a racket got Aspect’s attention… Ohno… those voices sounded familiar.

“I’m telling you,” Nightmare hummed. “Nopony will know. I’ll head to the throneroom, proclaim myself Queen and bam, I’ll rule Equestria.”

“It’s not gonna work,” Artemis replied, their voices carrying down the hall. “Dad’ll spank your black butt red.”

“I could just paint it that way, save him the effort,” Realm spoke up. “It’d be faster than trying to paint ‘the conquering Nightmare’ on her throne. Mainly because you’d be tossed out of there in ten seconds flat.”

“Oh come on, I said I’d make you my Royal Artist. You’d even get to repaint this tacky castle,” Nightmare huffed as the door opened and the trio stepped inside, the small alicorn spying Aspect. “Oh bucking horseapples…”

Aspect sighed, got up from his seat, and began making his way over to where the three were, his eyes focused on Nightmare the whole time.

“Um...I was kidding?” the little filly winced and smiled awkwardly.

The stallion didn’t slow or stop his gait until he was standing in front of the filly, glaring disapprovingly at her. He let the weight of his stare bore into her, carrying all his stern fatherly disapproval.

Nightmare looked left and right, her ‘brothers’ abandoning her to fend for herself. She looked up at him with wide eyes and bacturned ears, Cute set to maximum.

“I’m not mad,” Aspect stated simply. “Just disappointed.”

Plan B it was then.

“Flashbang!” she cackled and detonated a bright light from the tip of her horn at point blank range, running off and cackling louder as she made her escape.

“She’s just like Luna,” Celestia giggled, having shielded the others.

“Too much like Luna, really,” the stallion groused as he closed his eyes to get rid of the spots in them. “Still, at least she got scolded.”

“Mhm, fantastic job you did there, now we have her running loose in the castle,” Celestia chuckled.

“Sorry for coming unannounced,” Artemis said. “But Miss Twinkle said it’d be best if we stuck close to you this time.”

“It’s a pretty big event coming up, you should be here to see it anyways,” Aspect sighed. “And at least you can have breakfast with your new brother in the immortals family.”

“Huh?” they both turned and saw Shining there, the stallion rubbing a tender part of his wings.

“Oh sweet, I’m not the only colt with a horn and wings anymore!” Realm crowed as he flew over, hovering around Shining.

“Uh… hi?” Shining blinked at the little alicorn colt flying around him. “And, who are you kid?”

“That’s Realm, my adopted son,” Aspect spoke up. “Also known as the Aspect of Art. His Aspect magic has already begun manifesting, to the point where if he wasn’t suppressing it, he’d be inspiring everyone, like a Muse.”

Realm blushed and looked away. “I didn’t mean it,” he muttered. “It was an accident.”

“Yes, but it’s a good reminder to Shining that he’s going to get more powerful,” Aspect rejoined. “Your magic, physical strength, and when you can use them, your wings, are going to be at their peak performance within a year. You’re going to have to basically go through training exercises for your magic all over again so that you don’t use too much when picking something up and accidentally crush it. Basically...you’re going to not enjoy your time, colt.”

“You’re making me like these wings less and less,” Shining deadpanned.

“He does that,” Celestia said with a light giggle. “But worry not, Cadance will be with you to help. As will Luna and I.”

“It seems my family just got more interesting,” Velvet chuckled and looked at Twilight. “Maybe you’ll sprout wings if you marry an alicorn too dear. Celestia, you’re still single yes?”

“MOM!” Twilight burned a deep crimson as Aspect was treated to the rare sight of his daughter’s cheeks turning slightly pink and looking away for a moment.

“Oh dear,” Aspect chuckled as he shook his head. “Well in any case…” He slipped back into his seat and sipped his coffee, sighing as he had his morning caffeine. “This day is going to be interesting,” he noted aloud. “Let’s hope the second attempt goes off without a hitch.”

“Well, there’s no invasions scheduled for today,” a unicorn mare said as she entered the room. “And nopony likes a smartass Christopher.” Chrysalis said as she looked at his coffee. “Are you still dependant on that swill?”

“I know right?” Celestis said, gladly changing the topic. “Tea is much better.”

“If you want me functional for the wedding, you won’t bemoan my choice of morning beverage,” the stallion grumbled. “The only time I got up earlier than this was when I was adventuring, and I don’t think we want a return to those times today.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Chrysalis scolded him. “It’s your cute granddaughter’s wedding. At least try to show a little enthusiasm hm?”

The stallion harrumphed as he had another pull of coffee.

“I’d apologize for him,” Realm said as he landed in one of the nearby seats. “But I think the only thing he’ll actually brighten up for this early is his mares.”

“I figured as much,” Chrysalis sighed and rolled her eyes. “Celestia… if you would?”

Celestia chuckled as her horn glowed… and a rather surprised Bon Bon was teleported into his lap, looking up in bewilderment. “Huh… what?”

“Bonnie!” The difference was like night and day. The stallion leaned over and began kissing her, now quite thoroughly awake.

“Huh… that actually works?” Shining mused. “Well, I know it does,” he leaned over and nuzzled Cadance as Velvet chuckled and kissed Night Light on the cheek.

Eventually Aspect’s kiss broke, and he hugged Bon Bon with both his hooves and wings, nuzzling her softly.

“I appear to have missed something,” Bon Bon said as she looked around. “Um… could somepony please explain?”

“No reason,” Chrysalis said and smiled. “Just tell Aspect to enjoy the wedding. He’s being a grump.”

Bon Bon raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you being a grump Mister? Do I have take away your snuggle privileges?”

“‘M just not awake yet,” Aspect muttered. “They wanted me awake before coffee, Bonnie. ‘S unponylike.”

“Awww,” Bon Bon pet his head gently and cooed. “My poor baby, were they picking on you?”

“Mmhmm,” the stallion muttered as he kept nuzzling Bon Bon.

“You spoil that idiot too much,” Chrysalis sighed. “You need to crack the whip every now and then, else he’ll just get lazy and dependant.”

“Aww, he’s adorable,” Bon Bon giggled and booped his nose. “Alright. Hurry and wake up then… if you can’t,” she leaned in close. “I’ll help you wake up~”

Aspect let out a little grumble before he picked up the coffee mug and downed the rest of it in a mighty gulp. He let out a sigh and shuddered a bit, before smiling and nuzzling Bonnie again. “There, awake now,” he chirped. “Let’s go cuddle.”

And with that, she was carted out of the room before she could even mount a response.

“And that,” Celestia said to Realm. “Is not how you get a mare. Don’t use your father as an example for growing up.”

“He seems to have gotten three just by being himself,” Realm pointed out.

Celestia opened her mouth to argue… but she couldn’t. “Well buck…”

The colt looked smug as he sat down to eat breakfast. What? If his dad was gonna leave it behind, it fell to him to dispose of this fine castle cooking.

So after some serious snuggling and other preparations by everypony else, the wedding was set up and it was time for the ceremony to commence. The castle had been cleaned up nicely and as Cadance had said, the ceremony itself seemed to be a bit more downplayed. Rarity had done a wonderful job with the outfits, thought like Celestia and half the other ponies, she was exhausted on the inside.

Aspect couldn’t help but notice that Dash was way too excited about something.

He had been about to question it...when the ceremony gained an unexpected guest. In the form of Megan Williams being escorted by two of Celestia’s guard to the room.

“Alright, I don’t need pushing,” she sniped at the guards. “Just because I have two measly legs to your four.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow before cursing under her breath. “Ah, I forgot to mention you to them.” She looked at the guards. “Miss, er… Mrs. Megan here is an honoured guest and old, personal friend of mine. She is to afforded all the luxuries we have to offer and given anything she may ask of you or the staff. Is that clear?”

The two guards looked sheepishly at each other before snapping off a salute and briskly marching away. They had friends to go inform of the strange biped’s status.

“Well, at least that’s over with,” Megan dusted off her jeans, before looking the ceremony over. “Oh boy, does this call me back,” she chuckled. “Not long ago...though I guess it was ages by your reckoning, I was where you are, Cel. So many asked me to bless their unions. Like I was some sort of great figure or something.”

“Yes well, you’d certainly earned the title, ‘Oh Bearer of the Light’,” she smiled and put a wing around her. “Mayhaps you should come when Father marries his trio of brides hm?”

“Hah!” Megan laughed. “If you’d asked me twenty years ago, I’d have spat in your face at the thought!” She turned pensive though, and looked at the stallion. “Now...well, I guess there’s no better way to show that I do forgive you for all the fights we had, eh?”

“I never blamed you for your optimism,” Aspect replied honestly. “I just knew that the world itself wanted those imbalances corrected, and I was its tool to do so.”

“And all I saw was a bloodthirsty teenager playing make-believe,” Megan sighed. “You saved my life on...multiple occasions. I don’t think I could ever pay you back.”

Aspect smiled softly and walked forward, putting a hoof on her leg. “Friends don’t pay friends back,” he said softly.

The human mulled it over, before nodding herself. “I’d like that,” she replied.

“You know,” Bon Bon spoke up. “Something confuses me. You say you two never got along, and yet, all I’ve heard from Chris is endless praise whenever he mentions you,” the mare mused. “That ‘the Diplomat’ was someone that he wished he could be. That her ways would be the preferred ones over his if he could.”

Aspect blushed and looked away, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. While Megan snorted a little in amusement, looking down and ruffling the mane on his head.

“Guess that shows he’s still human under there,” the woman teased. “Many people think the taking of a life is an aberration, a crime against the natural order. I just thought that he was a terrible influence on the foals he was raising, considering how many threats he sought out to slay. It’s only when I had kids of my own that I realized...he was right, all along. Because to make the world a better place for your progeny...sometimes, you have to remove the worst people.”

Bon Bon blinked. “Don’t tell you’ve done so in your world…”

“No, but I have been active in the community, to make sure my children are as safe as can be,” the female human replied. “It’s not all roses and tea parties on the other side, you know. I won’t have them exposed to anything I can vote to have removed for the greater good. They’ll experience danger when they’re old enough to face it on their terms.”

“Well, I’m sure you don’t have centaur demons and undead goats on your end,” Celestia chuckled and hugged her with a wing. “In any case, places everypony. We have a ceremony to start.”

“Ah,” Megan blinked as everypony got in their spots. “Um...where do you want me?” she asked, for once at a loss for what to do.

“Have a seat in the front row,” Celestia said as she led the woman over to a seat next to Midnight Song, before the alicorn walked up to the podium, where Shining stood, looking rather nervous.

Aspect chuckled and shook his head. The poor colt was going to be just like him. He was never going to grow out of certain aspects of his personality. He could already tell. As he sat there, a page approached and asked if he could step out into the hallway for a moment. Apparently Cadance was asking for him.

The stallion left his post and quickly ducked out into the hall, wondering what could be up.

Outside, the mare paced up and down the corridor. She looked stunningly beautiful in her dress and her eyes widened when she noticed the stallion, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Okay, what is it?” he asked. “You can’t be nervous about marrying Shining. He’s already nervous for you both.”

“No… No it’s not that…” she mumbled as she pawed at the ground. “I um… I have… a selfish request actually.”

“Okay?” Aspect blinked.

“You see,” Cadance said and looked at him. “I… don’t have any parents. No real family to speak of… And, I know you’re not really my grandfather but…” She looked away. “But um… if you wouldn’t mind… do you think that maybe, you could… escort me down the aisle?” She looked at him, ears down and eyes wide with a hopeful glimmer.

“Awww,” Aspect cooed. “Fine, but I’m doing this like this.” He flashed into an adult alicorn form, one just as regal as Celestia...minus the flowing mane and tail. His magical core was still unfinished after all. “‘S not like Yggdrasil could do it, anyways.”

“You’ll have to take me to meet him,” Cadance smiled and hugged him. “Thank you, this… means a lot to me.”

“One day,” Aspect agreed. “So...ready for this?”

“As I’ll ever be,’ Cadance said, taking a breath and sweeping a hoof out from her chest. “Okay. Let’s go!”

The ceremony had been beautiful, and coming to a close, Celestia leaned down and whispered something to rainbow. The pegasus beamed and shedded her dress in an instant, rocketing off into the sky above Canterlot.

“Um...what?” Aspect asked, having retaken his normal pegasus guise for the coming party.

Then there was a resounding ‘BOOM’ as Rainbow broke the light spectrum and created a Sonic Rainboom above the palace, the mare soon landing back on the balcony, a glowing rainbow of light still trailing her.

“Holy cow,” Megan whistled. “That...well, if whatever turned my mirror into a gateway didn’t do it, that probably would have created another Rainbow Connection like Firefly did all those years ago.”

“Huh?” Rainbow asked as she tilted her head. “Whatcha mean?”

In the background, Twilight had pulled out a quill and scroll from… somewhere.

“Well, twenty years ago, or two thousand by your scale, Firefly flew over the rainbow, and landed in my well,” Megan elaborated. “She brought me back to help against Tirek...which is when I met this idiot with his sword.”

“To be fair, the Moochick never helped me,” Aspect huffed. “He only liked you because you weren’t armed and dangerous. I’m sure if I’d had the Rainbow of Light, I might’ve used it on everything I had to kill.”

“You keep mentioning this ‘Rainbow’,” his like-named pegasus mare asked. “What the heck is it? Is it like the Elements of Harmony?”

“Actually,” Aspect mused. “I’m pretty sure the Rainbow exists now in the Elements of Harmony.”

“Christopher,” Megan paled. “What did you do.”

“Aheh,” the stallion chuckled. “I uh...fed the Rainbow and the Flashstone to a magical tree...which produced six magical fruits that the ponies call the Elements of Harmony?” he said.

“...Does it still work like the Rainbow?” she asked.

“Oh yes, villain defeating, all-powerful. I think it’s actually stronger now. Granted, these days it’s wielded by six mares at the same time, but it’s relatively easy to get them to agree to save the world.”

“We’ve done it twice already,” Rainbow nodded proudly. “Even put a stop to that jerk Discord.”

Aspect let out a little shudder at that. “In any case, rest easy Megan. The world still has the Rainbow in one form or another. The Moochick’s gift did not go to waste.”

“...Fine, but I want to see them,” the human said. “I want to know what it is that holds the power again, in case something happens.”

“Later,” Celestia promised. “Now, this ceremony is complete. We have a little time before the reception. So…”

“We should get pictures!” Megan said. “I wish I’d brought my camera…”

“Ah, of course,” Celestia chuckled and nodded her head. A guard left the room and she smiled. “The photographer will be here soon.”

“I’m sorry, I just didn’t think my phone would get reception in another world,” the woman replied.

“...How does that have anything to do with a camera?” Aspect questioned.

Megan looked like she’d just seen a puppy kicked and patted his head. “You poor thing, living without technology over these past years,” she cooed. “Don’t worry. You’ll learn.”

Nopony else could really add anything, they had no clue what the heck she was talking about.

Said photographer soon arrived and it was followed by an hour of picture taking, the old stallion was very fussy in the way they had to be done. But the end result was dozens of expertly taken photos.

Megan very carefully did not mention that in her world, technology had advanced so far that she would have been done in minutes. In any case, Aspect looked to Celestia to determine if it was time for the reception yet.

“Nearly,” she chuckled. “Has anyone seen Chrysalis? I don’t think she was actually at the ceremony.”

Now that she’d mentioned it, the Changeling was absent, nor could Aspect sense her nearby.

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed. “I’ll wager she’s busy getting Middy’s sister here...but it does bear looking into.” He nodded to everyone as he started to leave, ready to look for his wayward daughter.

And Midnight was by his side, her wings twitching idly. It was easy to tell the pony was anxious… or borderline murderous, one of the two.

“You need to relax,” he told her. “Otherwise this won’t go well no matter the outcome.”

“I am… cautiously optimistic,” Midnight said. “I… I just…” She stopped whatever it was she was about to say as she looked ahead, her eyes widening. Chrysalis, in her unicorn form, was walking towards them. Next to her was, well what looked like Midnight Song, only with a shorter mane and tail, a faint scar running down her left cheek and her eyes were gold instead of green.

“I take it this is the sister Midnight is so anxious to meet again after so long?” Aspect quizzed Chryssy.

“That would be—”

*crack*

And thaaaaat would be Midnight delivering a punishing slap across the new thestral’s face, the mare reeling and falling to the floor.

“Oww!” she yelped, rubbing her reddening cheek. “Midnight. What the fu—”

And now she was hugging her?

“I take it this is normal,” Aspect commented dryly.

“Ești idioată,” [you idiot] Midnight murmured as she held her sister close. “Noi ... am crezut că erai mort.” [We...thought you were dead]

“Didn’t have to hit me,” the other murmured, not having Midnight’s accent. “Way to greet your sister by the way.”

“Making sure your weren’t a Changeling,” Midnight murmured as she kept holding the mare close to her. “I-It is really you is it not?”

“Yes,” she mused. “It’s really me batbrain.” She leaned up and nuzzled Midnight. “I guess… we have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes we do,” Midnight replied.

“And all’s well that ends well,” Aspect summed up. “See? Chryssy didn’t kill your sister.”

“She nearly did,” the new mare commented. “Look, tl:dr, I was on a mission that involved working with some Changelings. We were about to bring down a huge crime ring, only things went to shit. My cover was blown harder than a colt hiring his first hooker, so…”

“I set up one of my best Changeling’s to assist in helping Mrs. Xiphos here disappear.” Chrysalis concluded. “And she had to remain so until this was sorted… But of course, Miss Midnight had to threaten me like that and… I panicked.”

“Aaah, is that going to be an issue for you?” Aspect asked his daughter.

“Not as long as Midnight keeps quiet, we’re just about done anyway,” the Changeling shrugged. “No matter, family comes first. You know that.”

“Fair enough,” the stallion replied. He looked to the new mare and smiled. “Hello, it’s nice to meet the sister of one of my fiancees.”

“I’m sorry what?” Xi blinked and looked at Midnight. “You? You’re getting married. Who the absolute fuck is crazy enough to stick their dick in you?”

“I’m glad you think so highly of me,” the stallion deadpanned.

“Rude,” Midnight nodded as she stood up, helping her sister to her hooves.

“You know she’s married right?” Chrysalis said as Xiphos’s jaw dropped.

“Is she now?” Midnight narrowed her eyes as Xi backed up a step.

“To one of my Changelings~”

“CHRYSSIE!!” Xi yelled.

“Welp, it was nice knowing you while you were alive,” Aspect saluted the mare.

“Mother is going to kill you,” Midnight sighed and shook her head. “It would appear we have a good deal to talk about.” She turned to Aspect and nodded. “Apologies. It would appear I will not be at the reception. I wish to… spend time alone with my sister.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Aspect bowed his head to his mare. “I’ll tell the others you’re occupied with family matters.”

Midnight nodded and drew close, kissing the stallion. She had a smile on her face, a pure, genuine smile as she trotted off with the other thestral in tow.

“Thank you,” Aspect said to Chryssy when the others had left.

“Well… I was planning on bringing her back to her family eventually,” Chrysalis said with a sigh. “Honestly, these last few days have been exhausting.”

“You didn’t have to, but you showed that you’re more than your exterior to more than just me.” Aspect walked closer and wrapped a wing around Chryssy’s unicorn form. “Thanks for that.”

“Yeah yeah,” Chryslais said, enjoying the moment more than she let on. “I’m hungry, let’s go to that party so I can steal some love~”

“Or you could just bask in my fatherly love for you,” Aspect pointed out.

“Hmmm, but Cady’s love is just soo gooooood~” Chrysalis purred and licked her lips. “Yours is like… mm, I guess a nice home cooked meal. Cadance is like, the most decadent chocolate you could imagine.” Her belly was rumbling just thinking about it.

“You are just utterly insatiable,” the stallion chuckled. “Well, let’s go see the reception then. I’m sure it’ll have started by now. Or will soon.”

“Indeed,” Chrysalis hummed.

The party was in full swing by the time they got there. Again, Aspect’s legendary sense of direction saw them delayed by a few minutes. As the reached the open garden, a white unicorn DJ had set up a large booth to play music from, just as Twilight took a microphone and started to sing a song. It was no Heart Song, and her natural singing voice was actually quite lovely.

“Mmm, this is a lovely party,” Aspect hummed as he took in the sensations of it all. From the pleasant chatter to the guests themselves, he simply got a feel for the room. He was no changeling with their empathic senses, but he’d gotten used to feeling out a room from his adventuring years.

“So, do you have plans for after?” Chrys asked him as she moved up next to him. “When you return home I mean?”

“Yeah, a brief stopover in the griffon lands, then...I guess I need to plan my own wedding,” Aspect replied. “After today, there’s not a whole lot left to threaten the world anymore. Might actually be able to hang up my sword.”

“You?” Megan asked as she walked over. “Going nonviolent for once? What alternate universe did I walk into?”

“You know, I recall stories about the Diplomat being much less… brutal in her opinions,” Celestia chuckled as she joined their little group. “Whatever happened to that sweet little girl that used to play with Luna and I?”

“She grew up and had kids of her own,” Megan countered. “Little girls that wanted nothing more than to have adventures like their mother.”

“Yeah, that’ll change your priorities,” Aspect chuckled as he glanced over the crowd, looking for Bon Bon.

“Well, I wouldn’t know about that would I?” Celestia huffed.

“Oh right, poor Tia here is the lonely virgin amongst us,” Chrysalis chuckled lewdly.

“True, but she has had others that she looked after over the years,” Aspect pointed out. “She knows a little about it.”

Celestia just looked away and sighed. “I need to check on Luna,” she said and trotted off rather suddenly, leaving Chrysalis and Megan very confused over the sudden departure.

“Guess we needled her too hard,” Aspect sighed. “Ah well. One day she’ll have a kid of her own, rather than a student.”

“What’s stopping her?” Megan asked.

“Her attempts at getting one of her guard in her bed border on the criminally incompetent...and that’s just her pick-up lines,” the stallion explained.

“So?” Chrysalis shrugged. “She’s Princess flipping Celestia, all she’d have to do is flag her tail and half the stallions in Equestria would tap that. Hell, she’s my sister and I’d tap that.”

“She probably wants an actual relationship, Chryssy,” Aspect warned her. “And nobody can see Celestia for the Princess.”

“Aaaah,” Megan noted aloud. “Well, it seems like they all need to stop putting her on a pedestal for once in their lives.”

“Pfft, good luck there,” Chrysalis scoffed. “She publicly admitted to pacifying an entire species and they still love her. At this point, she could likely take over the world and the ponies would help her do it.”

“Hmm,” Megan thought for a moment, before snapping her fingers. “Got it. The easiest way to dispel an image like that is to be caught being wrong about something until they finally get that you’re not perfect. It’s how parenting works. Your kids think the world of you until you prove you’re human, just like everyone else. Then they realize that you’re not infallible...just their mother.”

“Hmm,” Chrysalis rubbed her chin. “Curious. How would you go about doing that then?”

“In parenting it happens by accident,” Megan explained. “I never learned things like trigonometry. I learned a little physics and geometry, and enough math to be able to do the books around the ranch. But when Stacy started learning those things in her high school...then she realized her mother wasn’t all-knowing. It shook her a little bit...but she rebounded. And when Becky started learning how to care for the horses, I started teaching her what my dad taught me...and she corrected me with things she’d researched, hesitantly. As though she were afraid of speaking up against me. But my girls are smart and bounced back from having their worldviews rocked. They know I might not know everything...but I know a lot, and that they’d be fools to not listen to me when I chip in with some wise words.”

“When the child learns to grow,” Chrysalis looked at Celestia’s retreating form. “Perhaps… that would be best. For Celestia to step back and allow the ponies a little more independence.”

“I’ve tried for a while now to help her take herself out of the equation,” Aspect sighed. “The ponies love her too much to let her leave.”

“And they’re far too stupid to take care of themselves,” Chrysalis sighed. “It’s like a nation of toddlers. Honestly, she’s less their Princess and more their foalsitter.”

“They’re not all that bad,” the stallion demurred.

Chrysalis turned and uttered two words. “Spoiled Rich.”

“Okay apart from that one, they’re not all that bad,” Aspect muttered.

“Blueblood,” Bon Bon said, having appeared next to him from out of the crowd.

“Don’t remind me of the spoiled twat,” Aspect growled under his breath.

“Hmhmhm, I am going to have words with both of them,” Chrysalis chuckled. “In any case. Let us forget the woes of reality and enjoy this party for what it is. A celebration of love and life.”

“Hmm, that was actually pretty nice,” Bon Bon smiled and pat her shoulder. “Momma Bon Bon is proud of her lil buggy daughter.”

“...wat?” Chrysalis deadpanned.

“Get used to it,” Aspect smiled. “If they marry me, they marry into a big family...and they’re already getting into the role.”

“Sakes, Chris, how many kids did you have?” Megan asked.

“I...lost count,” the stallion admitted. “Two whole species will do that.”

“Not counting the Griffons and Phoenixes,” Bon Bon giggled. “He has six, plus the two that Midnight and I are brewing. Though those will be the first of his actual progeny.” She bumped his flank and rolled her eyes. “Would’ve preferred a pony foal. But oh well.”

“His form changing is getting too crazy to follow,” Megan muttered.

“Comes with having an unfinished magical core,” the stallion replied. “I can shape it to form my body into anything else that I’ve ‘sampled’ over the years.”

“And I’m suddenly glad I don’t have one of those,” Megan deadpanned.

“Hey, nothing wrong with being a mare~” Bon Bon winked and kissed Aspect. “He’s certainly never complained when we request his human form for a little fun~”

“Being a pony would attract far too much attention back home, thank you,” Megan shook her head. “I’d like to live as quiet a life as I can even with a dimension-crossing mirror in my living room.”

“Normal is overrated,” Chrysalis mused and nudged the woman. “And don’t tell me you haven’t been counting down the days until you came back here.”

“Honestly? Not really,” Megan replied. “After twenty years, I didn’t think there’d be a ‘next time’. So I lived my life as well as I could. That lasted a little while...then I found Mike, fell in love, and started my own family, and forgot all about Ponyland.” She muttered something else under her breath that none of them caught.

“What was that dear?” Chrysalis leaned closer, “Not all of us have thestral hearing now.”

Megan shook her head. “It’s...not for those of this world. Suffice to say, crazy things happened on the other side, and Mike wondered why I was well-adjusted to the world suddenly becoming much smaller than we thought. I revealed that, well...it had happened to me before, and he...took it rather well, all things considered.”

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, but decided to not push it further. The emotions she tasted weren’t all that palatable. “Well, if you have a problem, I’m sure father could help. Technically it is his world too no?”

“It’s not just our world anymore is the point,” Megan said, causing Aspect to raise a brow.

“What happened?” the stallion asked.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she replied.

Chrysalis just snorted. “I’m going to check on the happy couple… and give Shining some advice on how to survive his wedding night.” She chuckled and bowed her head, before taking her leave.

“Spill,” Aspect pointed a wing at Megan.

“Not here,” the woman replied, shaking her head. “It’d be a lot easier if I just showed you. We can work on that when you’ve got that mirror moved.”

“...You’re telling me eventually, and just making it worse for yourself when I pry the secret out of you,” the stallion pointed out.

“It’s not really a secret,” Megan replied. “Just...something you won’t believe until you see it.”

“Chris,” Bon Bon lightly slapped his butt. “Be nice to old friends.”

“I am being nice!” Aspect countered.

“Yeah, he’s actually being surprisingly agreeable,” the human female noted. “It’s wasn’t every day back then that he actually was civil to me. Then again, I did my fair share of antagonizing him too…”

“...I swear, if you two start,” Bon Bon warned. “I’ll sic Lyra on you.”

“Hmm...bonding or pulling Lyra into our shenanigans,” Aspect mused.

“I don’t even know who you’re talking about,” Megan pointed out.

“Trust me, it’s not something you want,” Bon Bon chuckled and nudged Aspect. “Isn’t that right dear? Especially if I tell her she can be herself.”

“Lyra’s not that bad,” Aspect demurred.

“Oh?” Megan asked.

“Sometimes, she’s worse,” the stallion finished.

Aspect was suddenly pulled away, now face to face with Cadance as she giggled and smiled. “Come and share a dance with me,” she hummed as she pulled him out onto the dancefloor.

“You’ll have to lead, I’ve been informed that formal dances are not ‘in vogue’ right now,” Aspect replied. “I can pick up on your steps well enough.”

“Oh shush and just dance,” Cadance chided him with another giggle as she fell into step. After a moment, she smiled and nodded. “You really aren’t that bad you know. You just need practice.”

“Who do you think taught Tia and Lulu to dance?” Aspect retorted as they kept up the steps. “I know most of the formal dances from back in the Everfree castle. I just didn’t get to use them in the past thousand years.”

“Well, I think you should dance with your mares more often,” she giggled and booped his nose with hers. “Thank you for today by the way. It really meant a lot to me.”

“Glad to be of service,” Aspect chuckled. “At least this time, it went off as planned.”

“Well technically the other day did too,” Cadance smiled. “Just not your plans.”

“So many plans flying around,” the stallion grumbled. “I couldn’t toss a rock for hitting three of them.”

“More than likely,” she smiled as the song came to an end. She smiled and turned him around, putting him muzzle to muzzle with Bon Bon. “Now take care grandfather. I have a husband to wrangle.”

“Oh, hello love,” Aspect bowed to her. “Care to dance?”

“I would be honoured,” Bon Bon smiled and placed one leg in front of the other, returning the bow as a slower song started up. Aspect raised himself and began leading his mare in a slow dance, befitting the song, as they simply enjoyed each other’s company.

All in all, it was a magical evening. He shared dances with his daughters and Rainbow too. The prismatic mare tried to get him and Megan to dance, but that wasn’t happening.

Eventually, the evening came to an end when Cadance and Shining rode off in a carriage, some ponies leaving to continue the party elsewhere, others returning home to their beds. And Aspect chuckling when he overheard Spike planning to throw a bachelor's party for Shining…

“So, I shall see that the mirror is moved to Aspect’s manor in Ponyville tomorrow, via pegasus carriage,” Celestia said to Megan as they saw the woman off for the evening. “So try and wait twenty four hours before returning. The last thing you need is you or the kids appearing in thin air a few thousand feet up.”

“It’s Saturday tomorrow, they’ll not be happy they missed out on any time to explore,” Megan mused. “Eh, they’ll get over it. I’ll tell them they can’t fly, and until they can, they can’t go through until this end’s been moved.”

“It could be sooner,” Bon Bon said. “We’ll send a note through the mirror once it’s safe.”

“Thank you, that’ll set my mind at ease,” Megan sighed. “Well...guess this is it until the mirror’s moved, then.” She walked forward and gave Celestia a hug, whispering something in her ear.

“I know it hurts,” the human said. “But at some point, all kids have to grow up.”

Celestia very carefully didn’t say anything as the woman released her and passed through the mirror, the surface rippling before returning to it’s normal state. The alicorn looked at Aspect and Chrysalis, before turning and taking her leave.

“Whoops, looks like she’s onto us,” Chrysalis chuckled.

“Onto you maybe, I had nothing to do with your plans,” the stallion replied. “I wash my hooves of them.”

“Psh, wuss,” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Well no matter, I have to go and oversee my new Hive. I figured it’d be best if I stuck close, so I’m constructing a new one close by. My children should be nearly done with the excavations.”

“Oh?” Aspect raised an eyebrow. “And where exactly are you planning on staying?”

“Somewhere safe, not to worry,” Chrysalis mused as she teleported from the room.

“Ah well,” the stallion shrugged. “In any case...I think it’s time we all returned ourselves.” He looked around not only for his mares, but his kids as well.

“Soooo fuuuuuuull,” Artemis groaned, apparently having raided the snack table the entire time. As for Realm…

Well, he’d been surrounded by mares gushing over how cute he was all night. It wasn’t exactly what he’d been looking for...but praise was praise.

As for Nightie… hmm, she was missing.

Aspect sighed. He would have to search for her, wouldn’t he? In a castle he didn’t know. That promised to be...excruciatingly difficult.

Nightmare Moon sat upon Celestia’s throne, the thing dwarfing her current filly form. Sure, she’d agreed that she’d only take her proper form inside Aspect’s home, but honestly, she was getting used to being a filly.

“It’s… more boring than I expected,” she murmured as she stared at the empty throne room. She’d… well she didn’t know. Maybe some kind of revelation when she sat here. So much had happened and yet…

“I don’t even know who I am,” she sighed as she sat back and stared at the ceiling. “A nameless parasite in the body of a pony? Playing pretend at a true life…” She held up a hoof, staring at the black fur. “I have the Aspect of Dreams… yet I can barely use it.” She sighed and looked out at the room again. “I have no goal… no, vision of what I want to do.” She reverted, her body growing larger until a full grown alicorn sat there, her starry mane blowing as she stared with her cat-like eyes. She spread her wings as the lights in the room grew dimmer. “I could bring Eternal Night… but what then. It wouldn’t accomplish anything in the long run. Nor can I defeat Christopher in a fight. And with Chrysalis’s return, my rule wouldn’t even last the weekend, and that’s if they gave me a headstart.” The lights grew brighter as she exhaled. “There’s no point. Not in that, nor anything else…”

“You know, I had a feeling I’d find you here,” Aspect said as he walked in the room, his eyes only slightly widening at her larger form. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“That I am defeated before even beginning?” she said, but didn’t look at him, her eyes locked on the moon visible outside the window. “The only reason I am even here, is because the Elements can’t kill. And you haven’t killed me because you’re too damned soft.”

Aspect sighed, walking closer to her. “I can’t give you a reason to exist,” he started. “I can’t give you a purpose. That’s up to you to find. And I won’t kill you, because the Elements saw something in you worth saving. If I went against that, the world would not agree, and my blade might very well shatter. From the moment you decided to stand with me...from the second you helped me against Discord...you were worth the trouble to save. I don’t know what you’ll do with your new lease on life. It might take the ponies a thousand years or more to forget the things you did. But I won’t dictate how you’ll live them. Freedom is yours by right. You could choose to simply turn and walk away. And I wouldn’t stop you.”

“There’s nowhere to even go,” she said with an airy wave of her hoof. “What about you hmm? A thousand years of aimless wandering. Surely you must have come to some kind of realization. Why you didn’t come back sooner.”

“I couldn’t stay,” Aspect replied. “I’d nearly torn my family apart permanently. I’d nearly used my blade on my own daughter. I couldn’t remain...where I’d nearly failed. So I left, to seek some deeper meaning to the world...all I found was Grogar. All I learned was despair. After I’d slain and rehoused him, I wandered to the forest where I first made the Phoenixes...and did what they can do. I purposely sought to end my life over the pain I was feeling over living by becoming a phoenix and combusting. I tried not to reincarnate.”

“Forgot you’re immortal?” Nightmare mused and shook her head. “Perhaps that thought crossed my mind. Maybe ask Twilight Sparkle and the others to use the Elements on me.” She sighed and looked at him for the first time. “Guess we’re utterly hopeless aren’t we?”

“Mm,” Aspect mused. “But in that moment between waking and sleeping, living and dying...I saw something. A vision of Equus. Wobbling like a top, with calamity striking every point on the globe. But then, across the world, points of light shone...guiding the planet back to its proper course. It took me ages to decipher. But I think...the world needs Aspects, to guide it. They all form the parts of the greater mechanism, to keep the world on balance, safe. Even one as half-formed as myself. It wasn’t done with me...so it refused to let me go.”

“The world is more selfish than you are,” Nightmare said as she got and and descended from the throne. “This place isn’t for me. Not anymore anyway. The desire to rule? I wash my hooves of it.” She flared her wings, creating a gust of wind before folding them. “As for those that harass me over my actions. I chose them, t’was the path I walked. I do not regret them.” She walked over until she was standing before him.

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded at her. “Would you like a hint as to how to use your powers properly?”

“Oh, and you would know?” she raised an eyebrow.

Aspect coughed, making it sound suspiciously like ‘Boogeyman’ a few times.

“...I am sure that imitating that thing would be rather detrimental to my already unfavourable public image,” she deadpanned.

“True, but I did kill him and get information about what he did,” Aspect replied. “I can therefor assume that I know how the negative part of the powers work...and infer how the positive should function. When he used them, he sowed fear and mistrust between the ponies before any of the other wicked beasts would attack a settlement. He hopped freely from mind to mind night after night, not bothered by anything until the sun came up and they stopped sleeping.”

“The problem is that I cannot remain in the Dreamscape for long,” she sighed. “Not without… losing myself to it. I came from there remember.”

“Then what you need is an anchor, a focus, something to draw you back when you need a rest,” Aspect nodded once. “The Boogeyman had something like that, an enchanted necklace that I didn’t know the purpose of at the time. It was only when I got a unicorn to look at it that I realized that even he couldn’t stand the Dreamscape forever.”

Nightmare paused and looked back at him. “I don’t suppose you still have that necklace do you?”

“Somewhere in my saddlebags, as a memento,” Aspect nodded. “And if you’re still after a purpose...I can tell you what I think the Aspect of Dreams should aspire to be.”

“I swear if you say something sappy, I’ll slap you,” she warned.

Aspect chuckled, and looked over in the direction where the party had been. “When Realm comes into his full power...he’ll be able to walk down a street and, if he so chooses, inspire everyone. He’ll be able to cover a city in his power over the course of the day, making them truly creative. Inspiration is part and parcel of what he is.” He then looked over to Nightmare. “You’re so much better than him. When you get into the swing of your power, you’ll be able to inspire everyone in Equestria in a single night. To valor, to courage, to bravery, to feats they’d not be able to dream of were it not for you. It’s your duty not just to guard, but to inspire ponykind to dream of what could be. For that is where the future begins. We dream of the impossible...and make it possible.”

“Hmhm, seems you have quite a bit of faith in me,” Nightmare chuckled. She dimmed the lights and started for the door. “Well, I guess we’ll see. The future is hardly set in stone after all. Whatever will be, will be… Also, that was incredibly sappy. I’ll be sure to prank you quite viciously at some point in the future~”

“The amount of sap doesn’t make it not true,” Aspect said as he followed after her. “And yes, I do have faith in you. I have faith in all my children...whether or not I was there for their raising or not.”

Her form shimmered as she retook her filly form. “Well, I’m still being raised no?” she asked and gave him a brief smile before leaving the room. She had a lot to contemplate.

Aspect smiled. Well...at least that was her found and hopefully inspired. Now it was simply a matter of herding his mares and kids onto a chariot home, so they could spend the night in their own beds.

Author's Notes:

So I've made my decision. I'll post everything Aus and I have on this story before cancelling it so we can work on it all over again.

Still, if you like what we did, feel free to drop us a dollar on my Patreon. It really will help.

Half of all funds will not be spent on birthday presents.