Aspect hadn’t made it far before he heard voices from a nearby room. It was easy to make out Rainbow’s scratchy tone, and it was a sure bet that he just found the room Twilight was in. Seems her friends were paying her a visit.

Time to see how much of his new nature he could tap while so bound by the Elements. He knocked on the door before pushing his head in. Inside was brighter than his or Tia’s rooms, given that the curtains were tied up and the warm sunlight streamed in.

In the crystal bed, Twilight sat, propped up by a few pillows, an odd, glittery bandage wrapped around her horn. All of her friends were present, Fluttershy by her bedside peeling an apple as Rarity tsk’d about the decor of the room.

A weight on his back told him a blue pegasus had settled there, a hooftip prodding his horn.

“Huh, what’s this?” she asked him. “Pegasus not good enough anymore?”

“Came about when my magical core settled in,” Aspect replied as he walked up to Twilight with a smile. “So, how bad is it?” he asked gently.

Her soft smile faded as she looked down. “My horn has multiple stress fractures and cracks. There’s no crystal unicorns, so… they have no idea how to treat something like this. T-Thankfully my horn’s core is undamaged else… I… I would…” She shuddered as Fluttershy put a hoof on her shoulder.

Rarity stepped up to speak for her. “She came dangerously close to losing her magic permanently Aspect. We still need to get her back to Canterlot as soon as possible, so the specialists there can look over her.”

“Hey, can’t you do something?” Rainbow asked. “I mean, you have all that fancy crap like Runes and stuff.”

“Eh, Runes are a bit too advanced right now,” Aspect replied, before explaining himself to their puzzled looks. “The last thing I did, tapping into the magic of all beings, aka Harmony? Yeah, I’m not meant to do that. So the Elements decided to put a damper on me for the time being. Buuuut, I think if it’s not for myself, but for the one that risked herself for other’s sake, and one of the Bearers besides, I might be able to muscle a little of my new nature out to heal her with.”

Twilight took a shuddering breath and shook her head. “No… it’s too risky after all that’s happened. I’m okay… it hurts but… I’ll live with it.”

Rarity looked at her, then… looked at her own tail for some reason before her eyes widened. “Darling, I have an iiideeaaa~” she sung. “Remember the first time we used the Elements? When we freed Luna?”

“Yes?” Twilight said, not sure where she was going with this. “How could I forget? It was the first time I realised I truly had friends as amazing as you.”

“Well,” Rarity smiled slyly. “My tail grew back remember? And how we all felt so… energized afterwards.”

“What are y’all gettin’ at?” Applejack asked. “Jus’ get to the point Rares.”

“Honestly, you all have no sense for drama,” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Well, what if we could do the same for Twilight? Maybe the Elements could heal her horn.”

“Hmm,” Aspect mused, tapping into his link with Yggdrasil. Could it work? Could your children heal her? I would be willing to be the bridge to undo that which my folly allowed to happen.

It took a moment for him to respond.

‘I am unsure. The Elements cannot just be activated on a whim. They need a target after all.’

Tell them this. ‘To restore harmony to the one that suffered so, Light shall be the bridge so you may shine yours on her.’ I’m fully aware it might burn out the rest of my magic for the day...or longer. But hey, if it means Magic doesn’t have to worry about her horn snapping off at the slightest pressure...I’ll make that sacrifice.

‘Well isn’t that noble of you,’ Yggdrasil chuckled. ‘I’ll pass it along. But right now… Try to keep an open mind in the near future eh? Don’t go jumping the river before you can see the other side.’

My only stipulation is that if I do that for Twilight, I want my bloody magic unsealed, Aspect chuckled as he cut the connection. “Well, good news bad news time,” he said to the mares. “Good news, thanks to my new nature, I can, briefly, channel the magic of the Elements, of Harmony, through me. I’ve learned my lesson though. If they agree to do such a thing, I’ll pass it to all of you so you can heal Twilight without needing to go back to Canterlot.”

“Wait… you can do that?” Rainbow blinked as she leaned on his head and poked his horn again.

“That sounds rather risky,” Twilight said. “When Princess Celestia used the Elements against Luna, they became inert for a millennium.”

“Yes, well, like I said, I’d act as the bridge so you don’t have to go all the way home. It wouldn’t be me, it’d be all of you,” Aspect pointed out. “The bad news is twofold. First, they have to agree to this, and I sorta ticked them off with my earlier stunt. And it might sorta burn out even my magic for a bit if I do it.” He shrugged. “Eh. I’m less concerned about the second than I ought to be.” He crossed his eyes and took a breath. “But I should be able...to give you a little relief at least. Something to dull the pain.”

“I can’t let you do something like that,” Twilight said, wincing as she shook her head out of reflex. “I’m okay. And it’s my fault I got hurt. I… failed the Princesses test and… got in the way. Sombra… was right. I just, thought I could—”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” Aspect said, holding up a hoof. “The fact that you were willing to try to stand up to him is the most noble thing I can imagine. Do you know, the first time Celly, Lulu, and I heard about his dominance over the Empire, not a single guard accompanied us on our trip? They were so afraid of the most powerful unicorn controlling, well, an Empire built on magic, that they basically just sent us off with the Elements and a promise that the keep would still be there. You’re braver than all of them combined. We did all we could to defeat him then, and he still ended up a shade in this time, before retaking his corporeal form. It was not. Your. Fault. Repeat that.”

“But if I’d just stayed with the Heart instead of hoofing it over to Spike—”

“Then that attack of his would have gotten through and seriously hurt, possibly even killed somepony!” Aspect countered. “You saved lives. At the cost to yourself, perhaps. But you did the right thing. Never, doubt that.” With that, his horn started to glow, emitting a soft light. “Now...let’s see about dulling that pain and promoting some healing, shall we?”

His power was so… muted. It had been a long time since he felt this weak. As he did so, Yggdrasil spoke up once again.

‘The Elements have agreed. On the conditions that one, you realise the bounds you have overstepped. And two, the consequences for your actions.’

Living comes with consequences. Living as long as I have means that dropping a stone a thousand years ago creates a tidal wave in the now. I admit, perhaps I went a bit too far in touching all the mortal hearts to bring that power to bear on Daybreaker and Sombra. But what choice did I have? What choice...to save my daughter and defeat Sombra, or at the very least pin him until the Heart denied him entrance? Yes, I overstepped. But as a father, I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

There was a moment’s pause, the girls looking at the series of facial expressions he was making.

‘Honestly, everyone is so dramatic today,’ Yggdrasil chuckled in his mind. ‘Prepare yourself, and the others. This will be no walk in the park and will likely sting quite a bit. Hold hooves to secure a connection.’

“Everyone hold someone else,” Aspect spoke up. “The Elements are about to loan us some power.”

Rainbow took one of his hooves, Rarity the other. Around the room the other followed, including Twilight as she started to look a little worried.

“Now, be aware...this hasn’t been done before,” Aspect warned. “So we’re setting all sorts of new trends today. But if it works, I’ll be happy.” He felt his connection to the Light part of his nature return…

Just in time for the Elements to use it for their plan.

“Oh sweet Celestia I’m going to die aren’t I?” Twilight moaned as the Cutie Marks of the five mares started to glow in tandem with Aspect. He could feel the power rising up, was this what the girls felt each time they used the Elements? Such power… And in the hooves of normal ponies. It was a wonder they didn’t go insane from wielding it.

A bright, blinding light filled the room…

When Aspect awoke, all he felt was pain. His whole body hurt, like a herd of ponies had stampeded over him… then backed up and done it a few more times for good measure. He put a hand to his forehead and…

Wait a minute…

...Well, he couldn’t say he wasn’t expecting that. At least he wasn’t having a hornache. That would just make this ten times worse.

What was worth it though, was seeing Fluttershy peek under Twi’s bandages and gasp, before taking them off. Her horn was in pristine condition, brand new in fact. “My goodness,” the pegasus mare smiled. “Oh that’s wonderful Twilight.”

Twilight looked up, before glancing a mirror that Rarity held up. She smiled and beckoned everyone to come closer. The human groaned as he pushed himself to his feet and looked up at Twilight’s horn, smiling at what they’d done.

“Now, I don’t want to hear from anyone that you think I don’t like you, d’you hear?” Christopher asked mock-sternly.

“I…” Twilight flinched. “W-Who told you…”

“Doesn’t matter,” Christopher waved a hand. “Point is, I never not liked you, Twilight. You may send some confusing signals about whether or not you’re interested in a pony, but I never stopped liking you. Buck’s sake, you saved my Lulu, you imprisoned my greatest foe again, and you even stood up to Sombra for the sake of those you barely knew! You’re an awesome pony, Twilight. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I feel sorry for the poor stallion or mare you eventually find to be worth your attentions.”

And now Twilight was blushing and mumbling under her breath. Oh dear gods it was bucking adorable! Even her friends were melting at the sight.

“Now all I need to do is recover from this magical burnout and I’ll be golden,” Aspect sighed.

“You still didn’t have to do that,” Twilight murmured as she climbed out of bed, against her friends wishes and moved over to the silly human. “Let me know if you need any magical help okay? I’m going to refrain from casting for twenty four hours just in case, but then I’ll happily lend a hoof until you’re well.”

“It’s fine, I’ll recover sooner or later,” Chris replied, running a hand through Twilight’s mane and scratching her behind the ears. “Just got one last thing to catch up on before I can head back myself.”

“Huh? What do you have to check up on?” Twilight blinked, slowly turning her head in a cute head tilt.

“Old daughter to check in on, now that I remember her,” Christopher said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “I can’t imagine that she’ll have any nice words for me.”

“…Huh?” came the collective retort of the six mares, before Rainbow found her voice again.

“Geeze Chris. Just how many kids am I even getting outta this relationship?”

“I’ll make a list,” he returned with a smirk. “Come on, you’ve all seen her, maybe she’ll talk to you when I catch up with her.”

“List!?” Twilight perked up as the purple pony nerd invaded his personal bubble. “I can help with that as thanks for healing me!”

“I keep one on me more often than not,” the human chuckled as he gently pushed her back. “Come on, let’s go talk with her, see how she’s doing.”

Despite her protests, Twilight was still escorted by Fluttershy and Rarity, insisting she lean against them should she start feeling strained from the walking. Pinkie just pronked along as she chatted with Applejack while Rainbow sat on Chris’s shoulders. The pegasus mare was scarily light.

“So, you just forgot your own kid?” she said with a teasing grin. “What a great dad you are.”

“Sombra bound the empire to his power, and pulled it with him when we banished him,” Chris said as he led the way through the castle, heading for the base. “From song, from book, from even memory. When he went...so did all our records of this place. But now that it’s back...so is she.”

“Huh…” Rainbow mused as she drummed a light beat on his head with her hooves. “So, what’s her name?”

“Oh, you all will recognize her when we arrive,” Chris said as they made their way outside of the palace...and he began walking right up to the Heart itself. It was nestled between two pointed spires, spinning endlessly. Dozens of Crystal Ponies were nearby, simply taking in the sight of the Heart in a sign of comfort and that Sombra’s reign was finally over. Chris walked as close as he dared before bowing his head.

“Hey,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I came back when I remembered. I...I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him the first time. Can you forgive your old man for taking a thousand years?”

He was met with silence, the Heart simply spinning in place.

“Guess it was a little much to think you wanted to talk to me right away,” Chris sighed. “I’m...I’m well and truly sorry, you know? If I had known...I wouldn’t have left him here. I wouldn’t have let any of the things that had happened happen if I could have stopped them. But I’m not attuned to Time, nor can I time-travel. I just...have to take things as they come.”

More silence. The mare’s present all looked at him with pity as the Heart simply spun.

“Sorry girls...guess she’s just not in a talkative mood,” Chris let out another defeated sigh as he turned to walk away. As he did, a small filly ran into his leg. She had a crystal blue coat with a slightly darker blue mane and tail, bound in silver ribbons. Her eyes were… odd, like a pale rainbow hue. She looked up at the human and gave a toothy smile.

“Oh, hello little one,” Chris smiled at her and stepped aside. “Come to see the heart, have you?”

“Ehh, more like taking some time away from it,” she said and looked him up and down. “You’re tall.”

“Mm, will be for a little while, until my magic comes back in,” the human nodded. “Then I’ll be able to blend in again.”

“Why?” the filly blinked. “What’s wrong with being yourself?”

Chris shrugged. “I’ve felt less like being a human when all the other humans left. Once it became clear that the ponies were taking center stage, I decided to blend in and not raise awkward questions.”

“Well, that sounds like their problem,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “I mean, you are who you are. What you look like doesn’t change that. But I think you should at least be able to be yourself.” She looked up. “You there, Miss Pegasus mare?”

“Me?” Dash blinked. “Sup kid?”

“You love him right? I know you do. I can tell. Does him being human bother you?”

“No,” Rainbow said, more confused about the kid’s bluntness than anything else.

“See? Then what’s the problem?” the filly sighed. “Honestly, you get worked up over every little thing. You need to learn to relax once in awhile Daddy-O.”

Chris blinked a few times, looking from the filly to the Heart to the filly again. It...she couldn’t be. There was no way. She’d only said she was looking into it when he last checked in, she couldn’t…

“Hold that thought, gotta discharge all this positive energy,” she said. The filly vanished into light, fusing with the Heart as it begun to spin and then with a pulse of energy, washed over the city.

And had the nifty effect of ‘Crystalizing’ any non-crystal ponies.

A moment later, the filly reappeared and shook herself off. “Phew, and that was just from walking around town a bit. These Crystal ponies sure are happy today.”

That was all she got out before she was wrapped in the father of all hugs, Chris hugging her close and smiling. Luna hugs were bad.

His were, at this moment, worse.

“I’m...gonna...shatter…” the filly croaked out as she tapped his arm. “Haaaaalp!”

The human didn’t let up for a second, picking her up and holding her close to his chest as he spun around to introduce her to the mares. “Girls? This is the Heart’s avatar. She’d been looking into making one before, well, you know. Hearty? These are the Bearers.”

“I kaff know… urgh! Who they are,” the filly croaked as she got her breath back. She took a deep breath and then waved with her usual enthusiasm. “Hiya! I’m the Crystal Heart… well, in this form you can call me… hmm…” She paused and tilted her head. “I need a name. Eh, later. Sup ladies?”

They were too busy looking at their crystal forms to notice at the moment.

“You just had to go and distract them,” Chris chuckled as he used one hand to scratch the filly behind the ears.

“Unintended side-effect,” she shrugged as she looked at them. “I happened to be thinking about blending in when I discharged… might keep it though. They look cute like that.”

“And you look cute like this,” Chris said as he turned the filly over and began tickling her stomach as he cradled her close. “Attack of the tickle monster!”

She just gave him a deadpan stare. “No nerve endings. I’m not a real pony pops. Nice try though.”

“Eh, it’s my natural reaction to having a filly in my arms,” the human replied. “Either making them happy or playfully teasing them.”

“You’re silly,” she giggled and booped his nose with a hoof. “So, you knocked Sombry around then huh?”

“Mmhmm,” the human agreed. “No idea what happened afterwards. I sorta passed out when you did your thing after being put in place.”

“Ohh,” Heart nodded and smiled. “Well, You, Sombry and Sunbutt got smooshed between harmony magic and my own. It was a right royal clusterbuck of magical shennanigans. It’s a wonder that you all survived it.”

“Oh well, as long as we-” Chris trailed off as he raised an eyebrow. “‘All survived it?’”

Heart rolled her eyes and poked him again. “What are you again? Hint, you gave it to the Phoenix race.”

“Yes, but there were...implications there,” Chris said. “I know Cel and myself survived, but ‘all’ implies...things.”

“Well, Somby’s immortal too ya doof,” she giggled. “Unless you used your overgrown letter opener, you were never gonna actually kill ‘im after all.”

Chris slowly looked up, wondering how long it would take his sword to arrive in the Empire. Maybe he’d have it shipped.

“Apapap,” she poked him again. “I know that look. Sides, only you can pick it up remember?” She hopped out of his grasp and smiled. “You should see him. It might even be educational.”

“I…” Chris took a few deep breaths. “He took you from us. We couldn’t even remember you. He took the very memory of this place from our heads. Why...why should I give him a chance?”

“Because, he’s not so dissimilar from you,” she said and smiled. “And besides, you have to ask yourself a very simple question that’s going to change your mind. Because if you don’t ever find out, it’s gonna eat at you forever.” She smiled and looked at him. “He did all that you said he did. But… you never did find out why.”

“...Fine,” the human grumbled. “Where is he, then? I’ll...try to be civil.”

“Ask the new Princess,” she said as she looked at her filly form. She could have chosen an adult pony, but she didn’t want to undermine the fledgling Princess. “She’ll have your answer.”

“Apparently I’m on a bit of a quest today, girls,” Chris said as he mentally prepared for it. “Hopefully one that doesn’t end in bloodshed.”

“Huh?” Rainbow poked her sparkly head up. “What’s that mean?” she asked him, trotting closer. Goodness she was breathtaking like that. The way her coat literally glimmered in the light. Her mane slicked back in a windswept style, tied down with a golden headband.

“Apparently this is the era where none of my foes die,” the human replied as he began walking back into the castle.

Not even a word about her cute looks. She poked her tongue out at his turned back and headed back to her friends. He sounded like he needed to be alone on this one. Well, she had a plan for later that would surely get his attentions.

Chris liked the Crystal Palace. The Heart had done a good job of keeping this castle simple. Even he could find his way around here. It took him less than five minutes to reach the throne room and knock on the door. It opened at his touch and taking that as an invitation, he nudged it open further to slip inside.

Shining and Cadance were busy talking with a few Crystal ponies, Chris getting the tailend of the conversation.

“As much as I loathe it, we’ll need a military force,” Cadenza said. “The Heart kept Sombra at bay, but we need to be vigilant for the while. Is anypony up for at least temporarily volunteering?”

“I’ll ask around,” an older stallion said. “I think we should be able to at least get enough for a standing force.”

“I’ll run them through some basic drills and outfit them,” Shining nodded, wearing his old guard helmet and leg armour. “At the very least, I should be able to get them a rushed course in two weeks.”

“We might need help…” Cadenza said and rubbed her head. “Who knew running a newly emerged Empire would be so hectic?” she chuckled weakly.

“The founders, Celestia, heck even picking up after Discord wasn’t easy,” Chris said as he walked into the room. “Guess you’re the new ruler, eh Cadenza?”

“You think?” she snarked back on reflex as the Crystal ponies took their leave. She slumped to the ground, not comfortable with sitting on that throne yet. It wasn’t her place. “Hopefully we can organise a government soon. Apparently they used to have a Princess, the only Crystal Unicorn, but she vanished before Sombra took his rule.”

“Speaking of which, the Heart told me he’s still around,” Chris spoke up. “Mind directing me to him?”

Their expressions darkened, before Shining sighed. “The ‘Heart’ told you? Why am I not bloody surprised.”

“She apparently mastered the art of growing an avatar for her own use while I wasn’t looking and only broke it out now,” the human replied. “Cutest little filly I ever saw. Well...maybe that’d be unfair to Cel and Lulu.”

“And life just throws more curveballs at us,” Cadance sighed and hung her head. “I’m exhausted. And the day’s only getting started…”

“Just tell me where Sombra is and I’ll get out of your mane,” Chris promised.

“I’ll take you there,” Shining said. “Need to check up on him anyway.” The stallion motioned with a tilt of his head for Chris to follow. “So, what’s with the look anyway?”

“How would you feel if someone took away one of your daughters for a thousand years and you couldn’t even remember that she was gone?” Chris riposted as he followed the stallion out of the room.

“I was mentioning your appearance, but I guess that works too,” Shining said and looked at his wings. “To be perfectly honest. I’m not even going to try to understand you immortals. I’ll just take things as they come thanks.”

“Best attitude to have about it,” Chris agreed. “And in response to that question, well...I just sorta...burned out my magic healing your sister. Or more accurately acting as a bridge for the magic that would. Won’t come back for a bit. Means no shapeshifting until it does.”

“You… healed Twiley?” the stallion stopped and turned around.

“She’s still staying away from using magic until she can get her horn looked at by professionals, but I’m pretty sure the light of Harmony did it’s job,” Chris replied.

The stallion took his hand and shook it. “Thank you,” he said in a low tone. “I… should have been there. I should have protected my little sister… ever since Celestia sent her to Ponyville, I…”

“Hey,” Chris said, using his other hand to stroke the stallion’s mane in a soothing manner. “I get it, I do. You want to protect the ones that you love, that you’re close to. But you can’t always do that. You’re going to need to help Cadance now, get this Empire back up to what it used to be. You’re the alicorn of, what, defense, protection? This is a place that needs it, trust me.”

“Yeah, I’m still figuring out the whole ‘I have wings thing’,” he said and his cheeks suddenly lit up. “Ahem! Well, let’s uh… go see the prisoner huh?” No way was he going to mention that he lets Cadance preen him, and that it was the most amazing thing ever.

“Mmhmm,” Chris said as he put his hands in his pockets and followed the stallion to wherever they were keeping Sombra.

Deeper down, they reached a section that was clearly not in the original plans. Seems Sombra had built quite the dungeon in his days as King.

How fitting that he himself was now locked in here.

Shining led him further in, ignoring the various torture devices as he headed to a cell at the back.

Inside was a lone stallion. Bound around the ankles and neck by heavy-looking iron collars and chains, he simply… sat there. He looked up at the two visitors, but said nothing.

Chris stood there, staring at the much-reduced stallion for a moment before nodding once. He didn’t even turn to look at Shining as he said the next part. “Leave us. We have...much to talk about.”

"Uh... sure,” the stallion nodded as he backed away. Yeah, he wasn’t gonna stick around for this. He bolted as soon as he was out of sight.

Chris waited a moment before opening with a simple question. “How much do you remember?” he asked.

The stallion looked at him, but so far gave him the silent treatment. He just opted to sit in the shadowed corner of the cell.

“Being silent only serves yourself,” the human pointed out. “We need to know what you recall before we can work out anything else.”

“What’s the point,” he rasped, his voice cracking a little. It had lost all the power and confidence it once had. Merely the voice of a broken, beaten pony. “You’ll just stick your sword in me in the end. Why dance when my epitaph is already written.”

“I didn’t bring my sword,” Chris pointed out. “It’s a country and half the globe away. And depending on what you remember, you might have options. You were heavily into dark magic, after all. So was Nightmare Moon, also known as Luna before she fell. But she’s been redeemed, and even the Nightmare is getting a chance at another life.”

“What… gone soft in your old age?” he coughed. “I mean really. You’re not a pony. So you’re likely lying through your teeth.” The chains clinked, echoing in the empty dungeons. “I remember everything. There. Happy?”

“What do those memories make you feel,” Chris immediately followed up with.

“Feel?” he muttered. “I don’t feel anything Christopher. We Umbral ponies don’t have those.”

“That!” Chris seized on. “What was that? I’ve not heard that term before.”

“What, feelings?” the stallion snarked. “Sorry, fresh out of dictionaries down here.”

“No no no, Umbral. What is an Umbral pony? What makes you different from other ponies? And why are you here, of all places?”

“Oh that,” he said and coughed. “Sorry, don’t feel like telling you. You know, after you and your crazy daughter beat me within an inch of my life.”

“And you’re going to claim you had absolutely no blame in that?” Chris raised an eyebrow. “You made me forget the entire Empire. The Heart is my daughter, I planted her here thousands of years ago simply telling her to grow up mighty and strong. I’d say for that alone you earned the asskicking you got.”

“You killed for less,” the stallion pointed out. He moved from the shadows and Chris saw that he’d changed. No long did he had the dark taint of black magic flowing from his eyes. His black coat now more of an ashen grey as his mane was a mix of darker greys and blues. His curved, crimson horn now a a spiral unicorn’s one, but still retained the curve and his tail was long, ending in a tuffed tip. He honestly looked more like a classical unicorn from the stories Chris had in his books.

“I killed when there was a clear and present danger to the balance of the world as a whole,” Chris countered. “When those who drank from the fountain let their power get to their heads and abused their station as Aspects. Instead of helping to keep this world spinning, they decided to gorge on the pain and suffering of others. That was when I killed. And granted, you might have earned that, but for once, I’m playing the diplomat here. Be glad the actual Diplomat wasn’t here to witness this. She’s more into shooting first, asking questions later. Motherhood will do that to a person.”

“Huh… so the little human brat grew up hm?” he mused on that thought for a moment. “So, you truly have no idea do you? How very interesting.”

“Oh no, I still have questions,” Chris replied. “But you’ve already proven you’re not going to answer them. Apparently the idea of hiding some secrets from us is something you like more than, I don’t know, possibly a lighter sentence. You’d be surprised what an immortal can live through, after all. I should know. I have firsthand experience thanks to Discord.”

“Ohh scary,” Sombra chuckled. “But you and I know that whatever you came up with would pale compared to what I or that mismatched monstrosity would do.” He sat back and seemed to get a little life in him. “Maybe get that cute new Princess down here. I like her. She reminds me of the good old days.”

“Hmm,” Chris mused, before smirking. “You know, the worst thing I can do? Absolutely nothing. See, every citizen seemed to think that you might be just around the corner, ready to send them back into the mines. But you never exported any of the crystals you were digging up. That tells me one thing. You were looking for something. So how about I just leave things lie...make sure that Cadance never goes digging anywhere you did...make sure it, whatever it is, never gets found? I’m good at that.”

“Oh do go ahead,” he chuckled. “You’ll be doing my job for me and maybe they’ll finally shut up…” he blinked and sighed. Well shit, seems he’d gotten him to talk after all.

“Umbral ponies, but I only see one, and you were digging...which implies that…” Chris’s eyes widened and he fell to his knees. “Oh sweet god...did...no. I...I can’t have…”

“Ohh, I wonder what’s going through your head right now?” the stallion mused.

Chris clutched at his heart as he thought that line through. It...no. It couldn’t be true. He can’t have…

“Sombra,” he said slowly. “I’m going to ask you a question. For more than your own sake, I hope you answer it honestly. How long have the Umbral ponies lived under this icy north I chose to house the Crystal Heart?”

Sombra looked at him and smiled. “How long have you been on this world Christopher?”

“Over two thousand years,” the human replied.

“Then let me put it like this… you’re but a mewling foal. For example, sans the time sealed away, I’m almost ten times that age.”

Christopher took a deep breath and shook his head. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t know,” he replied. “I put the Heart here so there would always be a good place close, relatively, to Gelgeth and his charge. Someone needed to watch over the souls of the slain Aspects. They’re much too strong to trust that some idiot necromancer wouldn’t try calling them up. I...have done your people a great wrong.”

Then… to his great surprise, Sombra let out a heaving laugh, a few coughs finding their way in there.

“A disservice? Is that what you think? Oh if only you knew…”

“What?” Chris blinked a few times. “I thought...that was why you took over. Render the Heart impotent, find the rest of your kind and break them free.”

“Oh, not break them free,” the stallion mused. “They would cover this world in a darkness the likes you have never seen. The Umbrum are formless. They inhabit the bodies of others and incite feelings of rage, anger and unparalleled fury.” He leaned closer to the bars and smiled. “None would survive. Your precious magic doesn’t work against them. The races of Equus would destroy themselves in an orgy of violence and blood.”

“Then why were you digging for them? Why did you want to find them so badly?” Chris asked.

“Because they would NOT stop!” he hissed. “I am Umbra! They gave me a physical form, the the Heart rejected me, threatened to destroy my body. So…” he smiled wider. “I shattered their precious Princess and sealed the Heart away. You ponies never expected me for who I really was after all.”

“Do you hear them even now?” Chris asked, starting to get an idea of what they would have to do.

“Thankfully no,” he said, calming down slightly from the fervor he’d worked up to. “Perhaps because of these magical bindings I’m in. Or perhaps they know of my defeat and are already plotting anew. Patience is something of a virtue of theirs. And immortality is not out of reach. All it would take is another Umbrum drawing from the fountain…”

“Wait, wait, wait...there’s a fountain on your side?” Christopher asked. “Oh boy. So not only is the legion of shadow going to keep trying to break free, but they’ll never actually die?”

“Gods you never shut up, do you?” he sighed. “Either bring me some water and food, or figure the rest out on your own.”

“Well excuse me if I start worrying about what you’ve told me is only the first escapee from your home!” Chris snapped. “Okay, so pretty much mining anywhere you were has to be suspended. Hell, mining in general should be stopped until we know where they are, then we just avoid ever digging around them. We need to figure out how to seal them away even stronger than before…”

“If only you knew somepony that knew them and their world,” he chuckled in that rasping tone.

“Oh no, I have a plan in mind for you,” Chris said with a grin. A very wide grin.

Sombra shuddered and stared at him. “I feel as though I should be concerned.”

“You’re learning!” the human didn’t drop his smile for a moment. “Just keep in mind, you earned this.”

“Oh wonderful,” the stallion sighed…

“...And so that’s why I want to take him back to Equestria,” Chris explained to Cadance and Shining Armor. “He could be of great use to you, but he needs to undergo some...public trial first. And what greater trial than the friendship cannon? My hope is it’ll take the body the Umbrum gave him and turn him into an actual pony, one they can’t keep in contact with. Then he’ll be able to help you figure out where the Umbrum are, where not to dig to release them, and how to properly seal them away. Plus if another breaks through, he’ll recognize them first and be suited to combat them.”

“You cannot be serious,” Shining said with an exasperated sigh. “First is that he somehow survives the Heart powering up. Now you want to try and make him a pet project like the Nightmare?”

“Assuming he survives everything, then yes, even he will be redeemable,” Chris replied. “He said Umbrum don’t feel. They’re the violent spirits that everyone thinks the Windigoes are. Speaking of, remind me to introduce you to your neighbors. But back on topic. If he gets a normal, pony body, he’ll be feeling things he’s unfamiliar with. That means he’ll need someone to help him understand everything he’s been missing out on. Cadance would be perfect for that.”

“Forgive me if I’m feeling a little biased against him right now,” the alicorn mare said. “Grandfather, you’re asking a lot right now. And if the Crystal Ponies found out he still lives, they’d be calling for his head on a platter.”

“You could try,” Christopher said. “They have a fountain on their side. He’s just as immortal as you or me. Meaning that if we don’t do this, we could have a very patient legion of shadows just waiting for a chink in our armor to appear.”

Shining and Cadance visibly paled at that one. The idea of an army of Sombra’s seemed to scare them quite thoroughly.

“Yeaaaah...so, all in favor for trying to turn Sombra to our side?” Chris asked.

Cadance and Shining simply shared a look at one another. Seems they weren’t overly convinced this was a good idea.

“Okay, I get it, I do,” Chris sighed. “But if we don’t, then you won’t be able to dig anywhere for fear of uncovering their home and letting them loose. And I’ve been told that if they do get loose...it’s an extinction level event waiting to happen.”

“And how do we know he’s telling the truth,” Shining stomped a hoof. “He’s harmless where he is right now. And you’d be taking him right back to Equestria, to Ponyville!” He narrowed his eyes and glared at the human. “I will not let him within a thousand miles of Twiley again!”

“Then you have very few options,” Chris calmly replied. “You can keep him here and hope he decides to work with you. Though, considering how we’re treating him, I’d doubt it. Or you can have the Elements of Harmony shipped up here on the next train so that we can hit him with them and see if it works. But if you absolutely refuse to do anything that might help us crack his shell, then I suppose when we’re all raving hate-beasts, we’ll know who to thank.”

“Now now you two,” Cadance held up her wings. “I think that’s enough male posturing for one afternoon. As for what should be done, I’m sure you must understand our position Grandfather. We’re dealing with an entire city that has been gone a thousand years. Many of the ponies here are scarred by what has happened. Some, may never recover. And the cause of that is in our basement. I understand the desire for a second chance… but can he truly change? Can you give me your word that this will not come back to bite us in the flank?”

“It’s not just about Sombra!” Chris threw up his arms. “It’s about his entire race sitting under the ice and waiting to burst free like an angry hornet’s nest! This is literally the only thing I can think to do to stop them! Take him, give him a proper body with proper emotions, and make him work off his debt to the world by working for you to keep us all safe!”

“And how?” Shining asked. “How are you planning to stop a whole species from doing these things?”

“I don’t know,” Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He’s the only one with enough knowledge about where they might be and how to stop them. But he’s not talking because, surprise surprise, he doesn’t feel like he needs to. We’re sitting on a ticking bomb here. And we don’t know how to turn it off. The only one with enough knowledge is one of our worst foes. We need to turn him from that body the Umbrum made for him into a proper pony, so he’ll feel things like sorrow, joy, actual emotions. Otherwise, we’ll make no headway.”

“And we know for sure the Elements would do that?” Cadance pointed out. “They’d banished a pony to the moon, sealed a creature in stone, twice. And separated two entities. They’re not exactly a… reliable source here.”

“They also healed Twilight, and created an entire body for the Nightmare to have as her own,” Chris countered. “I think turning Sombra into a pony isn’t outside of their capabilities.”

“I think it’s a doable,” a new voice said, as the three turned to see Celestia step into the room. Her mane and tail were still limp and unmagicked, but she was up and walking. She also appeared to have the same ‘crystallization’ effect that the others were under. “I’m actually rather vested to see if this can be done.”

“Daughter mine,” Chris walked over and knelt down to hug her. What? She still needed all the love and attention she could get right now.

“Hello,” she nodded and returned the hug with a foreleg. “Do not worry Cadance, Shining, I will personally see to it that Sombra causes no harm. But father, while abrupt, is correct. The Empire has just returned to us and we must see to it’s safety.” She paused and looked at the stallion. “And you have my word that Twilight will have nothing to do with this. I’ll keep her out of it.”

Shining snorted, but didn’t raise his voice against her.

“In any case,” Chris said, standing up and letting his hand rest behind Cel’s ears, occasionally giving her a scratch or two. “Cadance, while we do that, you have something far more important to do. The Heart amplifies the positive emotions of the denizens...but they’re still suffering from Sombra’s reign. If you don’t find a way to help them cope...not even the Heart will be able to keep this place safe.”

“I’m already working on that,” she said, only slightly offended that he assumed she’d been sitting on her hooves the whole time. “I have to wait for some ponies to arrive from Canterlot. Professional counselors and the like. Alicorn I may be, but I’m only one mare.”

“Good,” the human sighed, relaxing a little bit.

Before freezing up and widening his eyes.

Unbeknownst to anyone else there, the effects of channeling the power of the Elements of Harmony had finally worn away an ancient seal…

...That Christopher had placed on himself.

“...Dan...iel?” he asked, before shuddering and holding his hands to his head.

The three alicorns paused and looked at the oddly behaving human. Celestia reached up, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Is, everything alright father?”

“I...I…” the human shuddered again. “I...remember. I...put a seal on my memory, to forget...my brother. I put a seal...on everyone’s memory…”

“Brother? This again?” Celestia frowned. “First Megan and now you. This is hardly the time to try a joke fath—”

“His name,” Chris took a deep breath. “Was Daniel. Codry. Gale. But...we know him by another name in this day and age. He...didn’t like that he had to compete for your affection. Didn’t like that he was just the weird uncle...and he drank enough from the fountain to get his own set of powers.”

“Father,” Celestia’s gaze turned stern. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve never known any ‘uncle’ by that name, nor anyone else for that matter. Perhaps you’re stressed from what’s happened. Come, we’ll get you to bed and you can sleep for a while.” She held out a hoof to him…

Chris took it and drew her in, his robe flashing as he reached for the Runes, pushing his overtaxed magic to do one last thing. “Hold still,” he urged her. “This will only take a moment, as I know what to look for.”

“Father! You aren’t supposed to use magic, especially something as taxing as Runes,” the mare exclaimed, trying to push him away.

Chris just grunted, holding up his hand as he reached...pulled his understanding of the runes to the forefront...and found the seal in Celestia’s head that he’d put there.

With a twist of magic, the seal was broken, leaving the human to pant as he let the magic sputter and die afterwards. As he collapsed, Celestia gasped as her memory started to return, the alicorn froze, stunned into a stilled silence as pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

“Told you,” Chris managed to get out. “But...there’s a reason...we forgot.”

“Are you two okay?” Cadance hurried over to the pair. “What on Equus is going on with you two?”

Celestia shuddered as she closed her eyes. No, she couldn’t afford to get too emotional now, in case she came back out.

“A...very old seal on my memory just broke,” Chris replied. “One I put there myself, and on everyone that was around at the time, to make them forget one person’s identity. Nowadays, we just remember the beast. We’ve forgotten that he used to be human.” The human in the room growled a little. “With good reason,” he muttered.

“I… I…” Celestia took a step back, then bolted from the room as fast as her legs could carry her, her hooves clacking loudly on the crystal flooring.

Chris just sagged as he let the memories wash over him. Of how his brother had twisted his power and himself into something bestial, in a jealous rage…

Of how his daughters had to fight him…

Of how the pain had been too much to himself, to everyone...so he came up with a solution...and sealed the memories away.

Cadance and Shining shared a look. Today was going to be another one of those days wasn’t it?

“So… back again?” Sombra mused as he stared at the stallion on the other side of the bars. “Tell me King of Aspects. Have you come to slay me yet?”

“You’re not the worst, you know,” Chris said flatly as he sat against the wall. “We just couldn’t remember the worst one. All sorts of memory seals are coming undone today.”

“Is that so?” Sombra said, his chains clinking softly. “So why are you here then Christopher?”

“To ask a simple question,” the human replied. “If you could be free of the Umbrum. If you could walk among the ponies without them fearing or hating you. If you could choose to live a normal life...would you?”

“And what would the purpose of that be?” the stallion asked. “Why ask such a strange, hypothetical question.”

“It’s less hypothetical than you think,” the human countered. “There is a means available to us. I’m here to ask if you want it to be offered to you, or if you would rather live a cold, empty, unfulfilling life for the rest of your days.”

“So, live as I have been this whole time, or convert to your ways?” he said calmly. “That sounds more like an ultimatum Christopher.”

“You yourself said the Umbrum don’t have feelings,” the human pointed out. “How would they know to give you anything they lack? You’d constantly be trying to fill a glass with a hole in the bottom. There’s an entire world out beyond this empire. You could explore it and find meaning to your life, but not as you are.”

“Why do you care?” the stallion said. “You tried to kill me out in that snowfield, as did that nightmare spawn daughter of yours. What possible reason do you have to go to such lengths.”

“Because if I didn’t at least try to offer mercy, a better path of life...then I am not worthy of the sword I wield,” the human stated. “I offered it to everyone I ever fought. I gave them a choice. Surrender, or die for threatening the balance of the world. This is your choice. You can choose to live as you have, for about two days until I get back home and get my sword, and you’ll never know what you were missing. Or you can choose the path so very few have...and actually survive meeting me.”

“Is that so?” he said and sat down. “And getting information out of me isn’t your sole reason for doing this I take it?” He almost smiled when he saw his expression. “Yes, I am fully aware of your plans. This castle was mine once upon a time and I hear all within it’s walls.”

“Part of it is hoping that when you get a body, a proper body, of your own, you’ll choose to help rather than be a bystander, I’ll admit,” Chris begrudgingly said. “But another part is genuinely altruistic. If the Umbrum could feel the way we do, I’d like to imagine they’d choose not to be what you’ve said they are. You’re the test case. Plus, if you’re as immortal as myself...well, I could think of worse candidates for the Aspect of Shadows. Like the one that’s sitting in Tartarus right now.”

Sombra stared at him. “My body has already changed thanks to what you did. It is no doubt why your daughter is no longer that murderous version of herself.” He stared at the human for what seemed like an eternity. “Very well, let us see what you think you can do.”

“Oh no, not me,” the human shook his head. “I’ve already tapped out my magic for a bit, tapping into Harmony twice in two days. It’ll take time to come back. But we can take you to the Elements themselves and see if getting hit from the source will change you any more, give you the emotions you lack.”

“Or maybe they’ll just finish the job you started,” Sombra shrugged, still eerily unfazed by any of this. “Well, dead if I do, dead if I don’t. Seems I have nothing to lose from this venture.”

“Actually, Harmony has one crippling weakness when used against evil,” the human illuminated. “It can banish. Redeem. Change. Imprison. Petrify. So many other things to deal with evil. But it can never kill. That has been, and always will be, my job.”

“We shall see,” he replied. “After all, I attacked one of them remember? The purple one. Let us see if she is so willing as you are to help.”

“Yes. I do remember that. I also remember healing her injuries, which is why I can’t use any magic right now,” the human replied. “So really, do keep on poking those wounds. That is precisely how you don’t win support in starting a new life.”

“I am merely stating a fact, that this will likely not succeed,” Sombra replied with an indifferent tone. “Still, I suppose we shall try.”

“It won’t kill you,” the human rolled his eyes. “Though if it had a sense of humor, it’d render you speechless. Or an Earth Pony for maximum irony.”

“Could be worse, they could make me human,” the unicorn replied in his bland tone.

Wait, did… did he just make a joke?

“I wouldn’t know about that, all the humans that were here are gone. Or bred themselves out of existence. So I wouldn’t be able to tell you how humans have it in this world,” Chris narrowed his eyes. “And that is also something of a sore point with me.”

“You say I could do with feeling more, you could do with feeling less it seems,” the stallion pointed out. “I am beginning to wonder what isn’t a sore point with you.”

“I keep discovering new ones,” Chris admitted. “Especially when a seal I put on myself to forget the fact that I even had a brother, much less how he turned into the bestial Lord of Chaos itself, wears off thanks to channeling Harmony twice in two days to clean up after your act.”

The stallion sat there, before his eyes widened slightly. “Hmm, oh. That does not bode well for your world in the slightest.”

“Oh, he’s stoned. And I’ll be taking the seals I put on my family off when I meet them next,” the human idly waved the concern off. “But you can see how I might just be a bit touchy.”

“Not that,” Sombra said, almost sounding annoyed. “The Umbra tried to reach out to me just now. It… appears that they know I have failed, and have no chance to recover and try again. It seems they have given up on me.”

“Well isn’t that just what you always wanted?” the human snarked to the pony.

“Well yes, but, that also means they will attempt something else,” Sombra said. “And given what they witnessed during that fight. It may be something quite foolish.” He looked up and nodded. “I have changed my mind. I will show you the entrance of the Shadow Realm. The land of the Umbra.”

“I’m still going to do what I can to give you a proper body, but it’s not up to me,” the human replied. “So that you can realize just what them using you meant to this world, to the beings of it.”

“Do as you wish,” the stallion shrugged. Seems Chris wasn’t going to get much more out of him at the moment.

“And it wouldn’t hurt you to try looking at this like it’s a second chance, you know,” Chris eased himself upwards. “The elements have a will of their own. It’s influenced by its bearers...but it’s also influenced by you.”

The stallion simply remained silent. Dealing with him was almost the polar opposite of Nightmare. Where the little alicorn was loud and boisterous. He was quiet and almost brooding. It was like night and day between them.

“See you back in Canterlot,” the human replied, sighing as he left him be. Maybe once he’d started feeling he’d be more amicable.

Celestia lay on her bed, her mane flickering with sparks of fiery orange as she went over the memories that played on an endless loop in her head.

*~*

“Father!” a much younger Celestia stomped a hoof in defiance. “This is stupid! You can’t… sing a song and perform magic like that. You have to be cheating somehow and making fun of me!”

“Celly, I’m not cheating,” Chris replied as he watched his Sorcery for cleaning the castle work. “Now, what your uncle does, that’s cheating.”

“Aw, come on, you know you’re just jealous of what I can do,” a black-haired, brown-eyed human said, snapping his fingers and creating a donut out of thin air for himself to munch on. “I mean, you had a good run with the Flashstone for about, what...ten minutes? Then you gave in to the power of your fillies.”

“And you make even less sense Uncle Daniel,” Celestia frowned as she looked at the second human male. “Mother is still furious as to who turned all her roses into snapdragons the other day.”

“Guess she’s not happy that they actually snapped at her, huh?” Daniel chuckled, before snapping his fingers again. “Just a harmless prank. They’re back to roses now...though I don’t know if I got the color right.”

“See, Sorcery is an art you can learn,” Chris explained to Celestia. “You can do mighty things with it. I promise you, one day, you’ll be able to move mountains with a rhyme. Whereas what your uncle does, is pure cheating. Don’t be like him.”

“Aw come on, live a little!” Daniel snapped his fingers again, creating a party hat on Chris’s head. “Don’t be such a party pooper! Why not come to old uncle Daniel if she needs something done?”

“Because then she’ll never learn how to stand on her own four legs,” Chris snipped as he took the party hat off, which dissolved into confetti.

“She is standing right here you know?” Celestia said with an unamused tone. “Fine uncle. Why don’t you fix my spell books that stupid Loona ruined with her crayons then?”

“Hey, anything for my nieces,” Daniel replied, snapping his fingers. Ribbons of color streamed through the house and gathered around him. He idly reshaped them into the outline of a car, which drove out of the castle. “There you go, spellbooks fixed.”

“I was going to teach her a cleaning cantrip for that!” Chris fumed.

“Eh, my way was more fun,” Daniel waved it off.

“It was much faster,” Celestia pointed out. “Thank you uncle.”

“No problem, squirt. Now go show your old man how quick a learner you are. Then maybe he’ll let you study with me.”

“When the valley ices over,” Chris deadpanned.

“It’s much too warm for that to happen,” Celestia said with a small nod. In hindsight, that was a terrible way to taunt Murphy like that…

Memories swirled in the elder Celestia’s head...this time focusing on a time her uncle and father had argued…

“You weren’t there for her, for us!” Daniel yelled, standing in front of a small wooden cross inside the castle’s grounds.

“I got back as quick as I could, where were you?” Chris yelled back.

“I was investigating something the Seaponies brought to my attention! Look, this whole argument could be solved with a simple snap—”

“Don’t you dare!” Chris warned him. “If you dare to bring back Written from the dead, that makes you as bad as Grogar!”

“Don’t you think she’d want to be with her kids?” Daniel asked. “With you? With us?”

“It’s against the natural order and you know it! If you abuse your powers like that, I’ll have no choice, brother!”

The other human held his fingers together, breathing deeply...before slowly lowering his hand. “You’re right. Why are you always right?”

“Because I’m the damn sensible one,” Chris retorted. “Let the dead have their peace. We’ll just have to move on without her.”

“But I don’t want to,” Daniel muttered softly. Curse pony ears for being better for hearing…

“Y-You… can, bring Mommy back?” Luna, still a wee little one asked, the pair of alicorn foals inching closer to the arguing humans. Her ears were folded back and her eyes, puffy from crying, were wide and hopeful. “She doesn’t have to stay sleeping?”

“No, he can’t,” Chris stepped in. “Nobody can truly bring your mother back, Lulu. I’m sorry. He can do a lot...but he can’t go against nature. If he does, then I’ll have to go against him.”

“Yeah...I’m sorry kiddo,” Daniel said, eyes downcast. “Your mother doesn’t deserve to have that happen to her. We don’t even know if it’d really be her if I tried.”

“But… but you just said you could,” Luna said and stomped her little hoof. “I want my Mommy!”

“I could try, kid,” Daniel said, holding his hand up for emphasis. “But the problem is...anything I do, I can’t really undo. And what if it doesn’t work? What if we get a ravening, flesh-eating zombie with no bit of your mother in there? What if she doesn’t recognize you? That’s not your mother, then. Do you really want that?”

“You… you said…” Luna sniffled as Celestia reached out with a hoof, but Luna smacked it away. “I hate all of you!” the tiny alicorn yelled and ran towards the house.

“It’s not fair to them,” Daniel pointed out. “Can’t I at least make the attempt?”

“Do you think I like this any more than you do? You didn’t have to see the state that manticore had reduced her to! You didn’t have to spend ten minutes trying to identify her!”

“...I’m still going to look into trying it, making it a sure thing, you know,” Daniel countered.

“Is having me at your throat worth it?” Chris asked.

...And Daniel never answered that question. Celestia whimpered, why… why of all things did she have to remember that day with, with such clarity?

And the next memory that was playing in her loop…

Celestia stood there, her heart hammering in her chest, her saddlebags feeling like lead on her flanks. Luna stood next to her, an expression of grim determination on her face. Celestia looked up at the monster they were sent to face. A creature unlike any other.

He sat upon a tall backed throne, eating some kind of black seeds as he looked down at the two, barely out of fillyhood females.

“It’s over… Discord,” Celestia snapped with a clear voice. “Release our father at once!”

“Celly, Lulu, I knew you two would come to find me eventually!” The creature tossed his bag of seeds and slithered through the air to stand before them. “Look! Nothing will harm a pony again! Granted, they might have some amusing accidents...a little chaos happening here and there, but I took all of the dangerous creatures and put them behind an electric fence! I tamed the world for us all! You, Lulu, and me makes three! Let’s enjoy Chaosville together, let’s be a family again!”

“You destroyed our ‘family’ when you stole our father and became that monster!” Luna snapped at him, her eyes blazing with barely contained anger. “You… you’re not our family anymore. Just… another monster that needs to be put down!”

“Oh, my dear brother has been filling your head with so many tales, hasn’t he?” Discord hummed as he put a paw to his chin. “Now where is he, anyways? I am always losing my playthings…”

Then his tail snapped, and Christopher appeared, encased in a bubble of pure chaos magic.

“Father!” both mare’s cried out when they saw the state he was in. Celestia actually looked more pissed than Luna now.

The human coughed a few times, opening his eyes and looking down at the fillies. “R-run…” he croaked out.

“Oh yes, do be daddy’s little girls and run when he tells you to,” the chimera purred. “All of this happened just because I did something against the natural order. Something your father told me not to do. But I am ever so close to perfecting it, girls. Just give me another year, two tops. Then we’ll all be a family again. I promise you, I’ll give you back everything you lost. And all you have to do is turn and walk away. I’ll come find you when it’s time.”

“W-What do you mean…?” Celestia said and put a hoof to her mouth. “No… you, you couldn’t possibly mean—?”

“Oh, my first few tries I only raised a mindless husk, but I’m getting closer girls, I can feel it! Just a few more attempts at raising the dead and I’ll find the land of the spirits. I’ll call your mother back and heal her body. She’ll have proper immortality too, when I give her a sip from my canteen! It’ll be like that day never happened!”

“You…” Luna’s visage warped into one of fury. “Mother is dead you fucking fool! Nothing can change that! Not that painted copy, nor the false one you’d try to raise!” She stomped her hoof, cracking the ground.

“We’ll give you one chance,” Celestia said, mimicking her father’s words when he was up against a rogue Aspect. “Release father and work with us again. Be our uncle again. Or… or we’ll have to stop you.”

Discord actually laughed, which caused a thunderstorm in the background. “Stop me? But I’ve finally embraced my role!” he proclaimed as he swept a paw across the world. “You said it yourself! I am DISCORD! The lord of all chaos! What could possibly stop me?”

Luna and Celestia shared a look as their horns glowed and the saddlebags opened, revealing gix, different-coloured gems. One being a six-pointed purple star.

“You had your chance Discord,” Celestia said. “You made this bed, time for you to lie in it… forever.”

The gems started to glow brightly as the distorted space around them returned to normal as the light touched it. Even from a distance, Discord could feel the pure Harmony magic welling up. It was like staring the long lost Rainbow of Light in the face…

“...Well that’s a bother,” Discord mused as he tried snapping his claws...and again...and again, his panic growing each time. “Why can’t I touch you?!”

“Because these are the Elements of Harmony. Loyalty. Generosity. Kindness. Laughter. Honesty… and Magic!” Celestia shouted. “Things you don’t, or won’t understand. You’ve let your heart become tainted by evil. And so we will stop you here and now.Your reign of chaos and terror is over!”

The light grew brighter as the sister’s eyes lit up with a white light, the spiralling rainbow soaring up and descending towards Discord.

“This changes nothing!” he had time to yell. “I will win one day!”

“Not as long as we’re here,” Celestia uttered as the magic encased Discord in stone, a great pulse of harmony erupting out and purifying the area he’d corrupted.

And most importantly, shattering the shield around their father…

Christopher fell to the earth, his body wracked with pain. But not physical pain, no. The magic had healed that.

But the mental scars...would last a lifetime.

Christopher had been heading up to see what arrangements were being made to get back to Equestria when a few panicked nurses ran past him. Well, that didn’t bode well.

He followed them, that sense of dread increasing when he realised they were heading straight for Celestia’s room…

“Gangway,” he said, following after them. “Worried dad coming through.”

He got to the room to see a few more ponies outside. Wondering what was up, he reached for the door handle and…

Tttsssssssssss!

“MOTHERF—” he released the searingly hot handle and suckled the burn. That was gonna leave a painful mark until he could heal it. But the handle and part of the door was glowing red…

“Not good,” he muttered as he looked at the door. “Definitely not good. And me without my magic to calm her down.” The human picked a still-cool part of the door to lean against and tried calling through it. “Celly? Celly, please. You’re worrying ponies again.”

“Leave me be!” came a resounding voice, one laced with power. Oh dear no… was she slipping again? Was that thing going to come out? In the middle of the palace!?

“That’s not what a father does, and if I could open your door, I’d prove it,” Chris called back. “You need to calm down, Cel. You need to control your emotions.”

There was a moment’s pause, and Chris’s eyes widened as he yelled for everypony to get back as the door melted, the alicorn stepped through. Her mane and tail were a blazing inferno, and one of her eyes was a slitted orange… both had streaks of tears that hissed and evaporated when they touched her cheeks.

“Why should I?” she snarled, though her voice did lower a little. “Why should I have to control my emotions? Why should I always put on a brave face when I’m hurting just as much, if not more than anypony else!”

“Because ponies look up to you,” Chris said calmly. “Ponies adore you. Ponies love you. They still need you, Cel. You have to put the hurt away until you can properly express it, where they can’t see. Do you think I’m not hurting too? My memory unsealed first. But I know you need your father, not the broken man I would be if I let it affect me right now.”

“Oh, because you’re so damned perfect right?” she snapped. “Do you have ANY idea what Luna and I have been through!? Yes I’m sure he showed you terrible things. And Luna, she still may believe that Discord has the power to bring her back. You three… you were so sad when Mother died. But me? I wasn’t allowed to be sad. I had to care for Luna. I had to make sure you and Daniel did nothing stupid. Failed on both counts there.” She picked him up, her heated magic holding him against the wall. “I miss her more than anyone! And yet! I’m NEVER allowed to SHOW IT!” The scowl across her face distorted. “First mother… then I had to seal my uncle. Then banish my little sister, and to top it off, you ran away! So go on Father. Tell me. How many more family members am I allowed to lose by my own hoof before I can get upset about it!?”

Then Chris did something she wasn’t expecting. The runes on his robe glowed, and her magic faltered, letting him free. But what came next caught her off guard.

Even in her transformed state, when she was radiating heat and magic and almost certain death…

Even in his depowered state...when he likely could be seriously injured just from getting too close to her…

He walked forward and hugged her. “I know,” he whispered in her ear as he stroked her back. “He may have been your uncle, but he was my brother. She may have been your mother, but she was my first friend in this world. She may have been your sister, but she was my precious Lulu. They all hurt me in the most horrible of ways when they left. Don’t do what I did to cope with it, Cel. Don’t follow me down my road.”

“Why not?” she murmured. While her magic was hot, it wasn’t burning him. She… was holding back? “You got to run away. You got to mourn the losses and deal with it in your own way. Me? I went from losing my entire family, to castrating a nation because they went to war. For a thousand years, it’s been a never ending cycle of out of the pan, into the fire. And the whole time, I’ve needed to keep that brave face, that serene smile…” She shuddered from deep within her core. “I’m not… invincible. I’m not the Goddess they think I am. I… I can’t do this anymore…”

“Cel,” Chris pulled back and looked her in the eyes. “Following my path...I didn’t just mourn. After I killed Grogar, I thought that was it. I thought I wasn’t needed anymore. So I went to the birthplace of the phoenixes, assumed my phoenix form, pumped all the age and magic into it, and willed myself to die. I’m only here because the sword and I are still bound together. If it wasn’t for my family, if it wasn’t for you, I likely wouldn’t have come back. Ever. You’re the reason I’m still here, Cel.”

“Liar,” she murmured. “You only came back because you saw Luna’s seal was gone.” She’d lost a lot of her steam now, slumping wearily to the floor as she showed all one thousand plus years of her age.

“It was your magic I tracked once I saw the sun coming up again,” Chris replied, softly stroking her mane. “I knew that you’d succeeded where I would have failed. I thought it was time to find my family again...if they would still call me that.”

“I’m still thinking about that,” she half-chuckled. “Stupid, stubborn old warhorse.”

“Silly, distracted little daydreamer,” Chris teased back.

“Daydream… that’d be a nice name for a foal if I ever had one,” Celestia smiled as she closed her eyes. “Seems I’ve scared the Crystal Ponies again too. I should leave before I ruin the Empire…”

“The Empire is hardier than that,” Chris replied as he sat next to Cel, just idly petting her. “...How do you think Luna and Nighty will take the unsealing of their memories?”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Oh… oh dear.”

Bon Bon stared flatly at the blue alicorn, wielding a sledgehammer. “I don’t care what happened. I don’t think your father would appreciate you smashing chaos gods with hammers.”

“Let Us see him try and stop Us,” Luna growled as she swung the hammer, Nightie cheering her on from her spot on Luna’s back. “I shall destroy that fool once and for all! Family or no, he has crossed a line!”

Bon Bon stomped a hoof. “Luna… don’t you make me do this young miss.”

“Psh! A little mare thinks she can stand up to—”

“Luna Selene!” Bon Bon bellowed, making the paintings on the walls rattle and setting the ponies within to scamper away. “Go to your room!”

Luna blinked and stared hard at the mare. “What?”

“I said. Go. To. Your. Room!” the mare stomped closer and Luna found herself taking a step back. W-Why was she being intimidated by an Earth pony a hundredth her age and power?

“Make me,” the alicorn challenged and Nightmare facehooved.

…

…

Luna pouted from the room she used when staying with Aspect, rubbing the ear that Bon Bon had nearly tugged off when she hauled her up here. “Tis not fair… we did nothing wrong.”

“You picked a fight with Momma Bear,” Nightmare shrugged. “Sorry Loonie. You brought this on yourself.”

“You could have helped,” Luna scowled.

“I could have, but then by not helping, I only lost dessert for a day. You have to go without brownies for a month.”

Luna’s ears wilted and she made a sound not unlike a sad puppy. Her precious brownies…

“Perhaps, it will be fine,” Celestia blinked and shrugged.

“I bloody hope so,” Chris muttered. “I think all the seals were tied to ours. The only one that might be intact is the one on Discord.”

“I uh… I suppose I should tell you,” She said, putting her wings around him as her horn shone, starting to heal the burns he’d gotten. “I… might have gotten an idea to reform Discord.”

Chris blinked a few times before sighing and sagging. “Of course you would try. Cel, he was only ever nice to you and Luna because you were something he wanted. Everything in his life was motivated by trying to make mine less than his. He was never a decent brother. Even before he got magical powers to make his wishes come true, he was a downright horrible human being. He lied, cheated, bargained, negotiated, and outright swindled me for anything I had that he didn’t, then feigned ignorance when I called him on it. It’s not going to go well.”

“I have a solid plan of attack for this one. A pony that can get him on track and that he can’t corrupt…”

The human snorted derisively. “Cel, he can outright make his wishes reality. He can warp the very fabric of space and time. What can possibly stand up to that to make him want to behave?”

“Fluttershy.”

Chris raised a hand to counter that...but slowly lowered it. “Kill him with kindness?” he asked.

“It’s an apt saying,” Celestia mused. “Let’s face it, it’s not something he’s been shown in a long while. Plus, I read Twilight’s letter about her… what, scolding a full grown dragon into submission?”

“She was quite good at it,” the human sighed as he finally relaxed. “Fine. It’s a plan. It’s no less crazy than my plan to hit Sombra with the Elements at their source to try and give him a body with proper emotions. One he actually agreed to, by the way.”

“...Father, I have some bad news,” Celestia said, suddenly looking very solemn as she hung her head.

“What?” Chris asked as he looked at her.

“I fear that our family is incurably insane,” she snorted and bust out into a series of melodious giggles.

“Amen to that,” the human slouched in relief, glad it wasn’t something worse. “Amen to that, little sunshine.”

“I… still need to sort out these feelings,” she sighed. “I’m a danger to becoming a Nightmare like Luna did. And… I won’t put you or anypony in that position again.”

“Cel,” Chris shifted himself so he was laying on her back, hugging her neck softly. “Even if both you and Luna went Nightmare on me? I’d walk into the crossfire with a cake in one hand and some brownies in the other to try and talk you back out of it. I’m your dad. It’s just what I do.”

“And thus, the apocalypse was stopped by cake,” Celestia chuckled. “No… recent events have proven that I have slipped greatly as far as my power goes. I should have been the one to help you escape the Wind Fiend. I should have been more help against Sombra… So, I’m going to take a small vacation of sorts and train myself. Somewhere secluded where I can think.”

“You know, you don’t have to go all the way to Zebrica to practice your meditation techniques,” Chris said, stroking her mane. “We’ve got a zebra in Ponyville, she’s a shaman, she could help. Plus it would mean you got to see your old man at the end of the day.”

“I want to train my magic, which means I need to pick… I don’t know, an island that nopony will miss,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’m not running away and I won’t be going alone. I plan to take a pony or two with me.”

“Good, because then someone might remind you to come back eventually,” Chris poked her sides where she was ticklish. She let out a small giggle as she poked him back.

“And you were worried about Lulu?” she chuckled. “I’d be more worried that you left Miss Bon Bon alone with Midnight.”

“Ah, but you see, that was strategy,” Chris said sagely. “If Midnight gets some pregnancy cravings for sweets, she won’t have to go far to get them.”

“Poor Bon Bon,” Celestia shook her head, her train of thought going to the fact that Bon Bon was the sole pony Midnight would take out her… frustrations on.

Bon Bon gulped as she stared at the bat pony, clad in tight lacy lingerie as the Earth Pony struggled against the cuffs that kept her bound.

“Silly mare, even you can’t break those,” Midnight smiled as she lifted the riding crop with a wing. “Now, be a good filly and I will only punish you a little bit mkay~?”

Bon Bon blushed and squeaked through her ball gag…

“Well, I’m sure they’re fine,” Celestia shrugged. She slowly got to her hooves and sighed. “So… now what dear father?”

“Now, we spend a day recovering, me my magic, you a bit more control over yourself thanks to all those memories, and then we catch the first train out of here,” the human groaned as he pushed himself up. “The Empire is a highly magical place. Even with channelling harmony like I did, twice, I should absorb enough to be back to semi-normal overnight. Or at the very least, be able to take my new base form again. The fixed magical core should kick in then, and I’ll shoot back up to being Aspect of Light in a week or so.”

“So… what’s up with that?” Celestia asked as they left to find Cadance and tell her Tia destroyed a room. “Aspect of Light now? Is this another one you’ll pass off onto someone else?” She smiled. “Because you know… Lulu used to have two Aspects…”

“Nope, sorry, this one’s mine,” Chris chuckled. “Sun and Moon are all very well and good, but they both share in being part of Light. Wherever there is light, be it from the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or just the faintest light of hope in a mortal’s heart...I can be there, helping, guiding. When I’m back to full strength anyways. I asked Yggdrasil once Sombra started his takeover how to combat the shadows...and he told me how to do it. Just fix my magical core with a massive infusion of light incarnate, force it into one shape. I remembered it once the Empire came back, and took it on once he started to attack.”

“So, you’re even more ridiculously overpowered now than before?” Celestia bumped him with her flank. “Trying to impress the mares are we?”

“Eh, it’s going to come with a downside once we get back home,” the human mused. “Lulu’s going to kill me for eating one of her stars.”

“You ate one of her stars?!” Celestia exclaimed. “Father! She thinks of those stars as her foals. Death will be a reprieve by the time she’s done with you.”

“I can make another one for her!” Chris whined as he tapped his chest. “Just...not right away. My magic will have to settle in first before I can give away something like that.”

“Well, so long as you are aware of the consequences you’ll face,” Celestia said. “Just… well you don’t need teeth or the ability to reproduce anymore right?”

“The empire is nice, I’ll ask Bon and Midnight if they want to move up here,” Chris muttered.

“Wow, way to include me in that,” a raspy voice said as Rainbow flew down from the ceiling.

“You have a life and a dream to chase back in Equestria, I wouldn’t take you from that in my quest to avoid my own daughter,” Chris said to Dash.

“Izzat so hm?” Rainbow shrugged. “Anyway, I’m gonna hang with you tonight. The girls are doing some sleepover frou frou crap and I am so not in the mood.”

“Fair warning, I basically have no magic right now,” Chris pointed out. “Just your standard human here.”

“Eh, so?” she looked up at him, blushed and looked away. “Fell in love with you, not what you look like… idiot.”

Chris leaned down to whisper something in her ear. “That also means no...control over my body with any shapeshifting,” he elaborated.

“Again, so?” she said and rolled her eyes. “So, is that how high you think my opinion is of you huh? They you need to look like a pony or a griffon to score with me?”

“Birth control, Dash,” Chris said bluntly. “I don’t have mine without my magic.”

“...Aaah,” Rainbow nodded and looked him over. “Can, you know… even do that with a pony in that form?”

“I’m still equipped, Dash,” the human pointed out. “It’s not like turning into a human robs you of your gender.” He then smirked at her. “As you well know. Remember?”

“Well duh,” Rainbow rolled her eyes again. “I mean, can you knock a pony up as a humie?”

“Hmm, I don’t believe even I know the answer to that one,” Celestia said and rubbed her chin.

“And you said you don’t want a foal, so…” Chris shrugged.

“Yeah yeah,” Rainbow mused and then got an idea. “Meet me in my room later mkay~?” She flew up and kissed his cheek before flying off, chuckling to herself.

“That bodes well, I don’t think,” Chris said as he looked at Celestia. “You going to be okay?” he asked his daughter. “I’m not asking if you’re okay. I don’t think anybody would be after having...that, dumped on them. Hell I’m barely holding it together myself. But what I want to know is...do you think you can see the shore for the ocean you’re in?”

“I don’t know…” Celestia sighed. “You’re lucky there. At least you’ll have Rainbow to cuddle with tonight and help distract you…” She looked up and exhaled. “I think I’ll find another room and go to sleep for a while.”

Chris reached over and booped Celestia’s nose. “Bad Cel. Go find the room with Twilight in it and cuddle her if you have to. You shouldn’t be alone after that.”

“C-Cuddle with… Twilight,” she blushed somewhat… okay, a lot cutely. “I… I couldn’t…”

“You need emotional stability right now, and she’s been a pillar of your life for the past, what, twenty years?” Chris asked, gently pushing her. “You know...they could do with a sixth now that Dash is gone. I’m sure you’d enjoy spending a night with the mares your student likes.”

“Well. I…” Okay, so she’d never been to a slumber party before. “I’m sure they don’t want an old mare like me around…”

“You know Rarity would just take it as a challenge,” Chris replied. “Come on. Let’s go find that party and get you added to it. I’m sure they know all sorts of ways for you to relax.”

“...I’m not getting out of this unless I teleport away am I?” Celestia said. “And with you magickless, you can’t stop, nor chase me.”

“No, but you won’t, because you know it’s the best thing for you,” Chris said with a sage nod. “You know I’m right, that being alone right now is the worst thing for you. And that you want to be by Twilight’s side during this...emotional upheaval.”

“...I hate the fact that you’re right,” Celestia sighed. “Fine, but if this goes south, I reserve the right to smack you.”

“I’m sure it’ll hurt a lot,” Chris said as he headed towards the room he’d last seen Twilight in.

“Not as bad as what Luna will do~” she sang as she skipped ahead, giggling to herself.

Well, at least Cel was happy again. Chris followed after her to make sure she got the right room. They found the group, sequestered in a large room in the castle, and they all looked quite shocked to see Celestia and Christopher there.

“Oh wowie!” Pinkie cartwheeled over to them. “Are you gonna join our sparkly sleepover too?”

“It’s not for me, I’m afraid, but Celly here could do with a nice, relaxing time,” Chris said, nudging her forward with a foot.

“Awww,” Pinkie said, vowing to get him into a slumber party one day. “But yay, Princess Party!” she flipped around Chris and grabbed the alicorn by the barrel, eliciting a squeak from the large mare. “Okay, we’re gonna have a ton of fun!”

“Remember, she needs to relax and unwind,” Chris said as he backed out of the room. “She’s had a rough day.”

“Okie Doke Loki!” Pinkie cheered. “This calls for a patented Princess Pony Hug Pile!”

“Um… a what?” Celestia said with wide eyes before Pinkie dive bombed on her, dragging the others with her until Tia was buried under mares. “F-Father… halp!”

“Nope, I’d say this is just what you need, right doctor Pinkie?” Chris asked from the doorway.

“Leave it to me Doctor Chris!” she saluted as she nuzzled the mare. “Go huggle Dashie for us.”

“Will do,” the human replied, leaving the mares to their revelry.

When he walked into his room, he got a flash of vertigo as something hit him, shoving him onto the bed. When his swimming vision cleared, he found a smirking pegasus straddling his chest.

“Hello lover~” she hummed as she looked him over.

“Hello Dash,” Chris said as he looked down at her. “What are you planning?”

“Things,” she mused as she moved down his body. She looked at his pants and frowned. “Hmm, lil help here? Hooves ain’t made for this.”

Chris raised an eyebrow, before slowly undoing his button and unzipping the pants. “That illuminated nothing yet quite a lot at the same time,” he stated.

“Well, I have a solution to your little problem,” she hummed as she nosed his pants down a bit and opened her maw, her heated tongue already going to work and licking him from base to tip.

“And what - haaaa - would that be?” Chris asked as he began to feel her talented tonguework. Somepony had been getting lessons from Midnight.

“You’ll see~” she mused as she traced her tongue down, licking his balls and then taking one into her mouth, suckling wetly on it as she moaned.

“I’d rather - nnng - know,” the human grunted, keeping his attention on the prismatic mare.

“And I’d rather show you,” she said after releasing his nut and moving to work on the other one, her wing extending as she started to stroke his hardening shaft with it.

“Fuuuuuck,” Chris moaned as he panted under her ministrations. “T-This seems awfully well planned for something you had very little time to think about,” he pointed out.

“I’m pretty quick at what I do,” she said. “Plus I came prepared.” She lifted her head and opened her mouth, lapping at his member from base to tip, pausing there and suckling on it.

“Prepared with - nnnrgh - what?” Chris asked, trying to hold a coherent train of thought.

She pulled back and licked her lips. “Well, let’s get you nice and hard and I’ll show you~” she purred as she turned and pressed her hips to his, rubbing her moist slit up and down his cock, her heated snatch gripping him as her wetness started making lewd sounds.

“I’m...pretty hard already,” Chris pointed out, wondering what she could possibly be considering.

“Oh?” she pulled back and looked at him. “Well, okay then.” She moved to the side of the bed and bent over, her flank wiggling as she rummaged around for something. But before he could just leap and start pounding his pegasus mate, she sat up, holding a little foil square in her mouth.

“What’s that?” Chris asked.

She tore the packet open with her teeth, putting what looked like a little piece of a round, pink something in her mouth. She looked at his cock and drew a deep breath through her nose before lowering her head, deepthroating him to the hilt in a single motion.

“Fuuuuuuck,” the human moaned at how sexy that was. She moaned around his cock before pulling back, showing that not only had she perfected that particular art of taking his whole cock, but his member also sported a condom, the mare having applied it with her mouth.

“Oh…” Chris blinked. “Okay...and this will work?”

“Well, now you can fuck me and not get me preggers,” she mused. “Unless you don’t want to?” She hid her face behind her wing, smiling sensually. Yup, somepony had spent too much time learning from Midnight. “I might just go back to the party and—”

“Oh come here you beautiful mare,” the human growled, pulling her close and kissing her. One the mare happily reciprocated as she wrapped her warm wings around him, deepening the kiss, her broad tongue wrestling with his as she hummed pleasantly. Once the kiss broke, she nuzzled his cheek and smiled.

“I was worried you know,” she said softly. “Twilight had gotten hurt. You and the Princess were unconscious. It was me that hauled your butt back to the castle.” She thumped her head against his chest. “I was… scared okay? That we might… I might lose one of you…”

“It’s just a part of my nature to go on the frontlines against any threat,” the human replied. “I’m not about to put my ability to help to the side. If I can do something...I will. I’m just too invested in seeing the ponies prosper.”

“Idiot,” Rainbow Dash murmured. “Why did I have to fall for an idiot like you huh…?”

“Because I’m loyal to those that’ll have me?” Chris asked as he stroked Dash’s mane.

“Because you care about everypony… even if you are a smug, stubborn ass about it most of the time,” she replied and prodded his chest with a hoof. “Now, make love to me?” Her expression settling into a smouldering, half-lidded gaze.

“If you still want a moron like me, then who am I to deny you,” the human said as he pulled her into another kiss. The rest of the castle might be sleeping, but they wouldn’t be anytime soon.

Author's Notes:

We are going to hit the end of the chapters Aus and I prepared one day, I promise that.

Good news is, though, we're already working on a few things to replace this story!

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