The three guards that had been accompanying Princess Celestia awoke, not having seen their Princess for three days since she fled from them. They were worried, for what she might be going through mentally.

But when the earth shook, they all looked at one another and hurried outside. What they found wasn't what they expected.

Princess Celestia, her usual pristine coat marred in scars. One down her neck, ones across her shoulders and near her wings. A deep claw-like mark down her flank, going clear across her Cutie Mark.

That wasn't what disturbed them though. They were guards, scars like that were badges of honor. A scar on them meant none on a civilian or their Princess.

But the scars she bore now? They were aged… old. She'd had them for a long time…

Her head turned, looking away from the evil doppelganger she faced as she saw them. Dawnbreaker also pausing it what looked like a rather destructive fight. The ground was littered with craters, scorch marks and places that still burned.

“Seems my barrier dropped,” Celestia murmured. “Sorry to wake you. I'd hoped to have had this done by now.”

The three guards weren’t stupid by any stretch of the imagination. They all clearly saw the doppelganger Celestia was fighting. If the two of them fighting each other could do this much damage to the environment as collateral, they wouldn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Tartarus. So they opted to watch. If they were going to be court-martialed by Princess Luna for failing in their duties, they wanted as many details to offer in their defense as possible.

“Hmhmhm, seems they’ve already decided you’ll lose,” Daybreaker chuckled. “Well, I’ll let them live when I win, I’ll need somepony to announce their new Queen after all.”

“You’ve won nothing yet,” Celestia panted.

“They aren’t even moving to defend you, guess your little stunt the other night upset them~”

“That was you and you know it!”

“Oh? You still haven’t realised it yet have you?” Daybreaker sighed and looked at the guards. “Tell you three what. Pledge yourselves to me, and I’ll see it you live the rest of your lives living whatever dream you see fit. Money, mares… whatever you want~”

“As Princess Luna would say,” the Pegasus of the trio said, “‘You can stick that offer where my sister’s sun shineth not.’”

“We aren’t moving to defend her because it’s you attacking her,” the Earth Pony agreed. “Honestly, we’d be about as effective as ticks. Plus if you hurt us, she’d spend her magic defending us instead of beating you into submission.”

“We’re being strategic, not traitors. Our Commanding Officer taught us better,” the unicorn finished. “If we knew where we were in relation to Canterlot, we’d be raising the alarm right now and trying to get the Element Bearers mobilized.”

“So in short,” they all said in unison. “Buck you.”

Daybreaker was buffing her hoof on her chest. “Oh, are you done? Goodness, and they say the villains like to monologue.”

“It was your greed that made me assault poor Twilight, twisting the love I have for her into something… lewd and wicked,” Celestia snarled. “Twice I nearly lost control to your lust for power. But I will defeat you!”

“How?” Daybreaker smirked. “I art thou, and thou art I… as Luna would say.” Daybreaker shook her head. “You still don’t get it do you? And until you do, you’ll never win.”

Celestia launched herself at the other alicorn as they battle began anew, the three guards having to retreat a distance to avoid getting incinerated.

It was an odd morning for Aspect. He’d awoken to it being awfully bright today. As well as three exhausted children that had stayed up all night watching the TV. Pupal, Realm and Artemis were little better than zombies.

“Honestly, that thing was an awful idea,” Bon Bon sighed. “I think you need to do some parenting dear.”

Aspect smiled wickedly as he carefully maneuvered the three young spawn in a line, before clearing his throat.

Celly and Lulu had learned the Royal Canterlot Voice from him after all.

“GOOD MORNING!” Twilight heard from clear across town. The unicorn mare blinked, shook her head before turning back to her lessons.

“All… my… haaaaaaate,” Artemis groaned, having been knocked to the ground.

“Pupal c-can t-t-taste c-colours…” the changeling said.

“Better than being able to feel sound,” the alicorn colt muttered, having been directly at the center of the blast and thus, the one who got blasted back to the wall.

“And what have we all learned about staying up late watching television?” Aspect asked.

“P-P-Pupal has a-all the regrets.”

“.......ow,” Artemis groaned.

Then Aspect felt a chill go down his spine.

“There… had better be…” Chrysalis whispered in his ear. “A damn good reason you chose to wake up my entire fucking hive!”

“Ahehehe...whoops?” Aspect chuckled. “Just...doing some parenting. Teaching the young ones what happens when you decide to stay up all night and aren’t Luna. Blame Megan, she brought the TV over.”

“I’ll smack her later,” Chrysalis groaned and yawned. “Whatever… I have to go to work.” With a flash of eldritch flame, she took the form of Celestia. “Gods I hope the nobles aren’t too insufferable today.”

“...And suddenly I realize we don’t pay you enough,” Aspect said, turning more fully to her and hugging her. “Feel free to weed out the parasites that get under your chitin,” he whispered to her. “I’m sure Celly would appreciate it.”

“Hmm, do a little house cleaning eh?” her eyes flashed green and she gave a fanged smile, a wicked, rather sinister laugh filling the room as she teleported away.

“M-Mommy is f-f-funny,” Pupal giggled.

“She always has been,” Aspect agreed, using his magic to right the foals. “Now, I think a strict TV limit is the way to go. You all can keep watching until...oh, let’s be generous. Nine PM. But after that it goes off. And it only gets turned on if you all have all your homework done. Otherwise, you all get a wake-up call again. Sound good?”

“Yes sir…” the three murmured.

“Christopher dear?” Bon Bon called. “Why is there an odd mare in our garden?”

“Define odd,” Aspect called back.

“She’s just… looking around our garden. This place is kind of out of the way.”

“Hmm,” the stallion hummed. “I’ll go ask her if she’s here for a reason. We’re not exactly a tourist destination.” He trotted through the house, reaching the front and giving Bon Bon a kiss as he passed her, before stepping outside and looking for the mare she’d been talking about.

There was indeed a mare there. She was… oddly plain. A white mane and tail, and a chocolate brown coat. What was odd was that she was a blank flank. She leaned down to sniff a flower, humming slightly and smiling.

“Good morning,” Aspect said as he walked closer to her. “Are you lost?”

“One cannot be lost if they never had a destination in mind,” she smiled, unfazed by his appearance. “But no, I’m not. I am exactly where I wished to be. You are the one dubbed Balanced Aspect yes?”

“That is indeed correct, but now you have me wondering about why you sought me out,” the stallion countered.

“Oh, I was just curious is all. Much has happened recently and you seem to be at the center of it quite a bit.” She picked herself up and smiled. “The Crystal Empire was a doozy was it not?”

“For multiple reasons, yes,” the stallion agreed. “But I’d like to think we all came out of it a little smarter and stronger.” Which reminded him, he still had a stallion to make sure got hit with the Elements before he unleashed the master of fear and shadows on the world at large. “Oh, but look at me being so rude,” Aspect said with a small bow. “You know my name, but I’ve not done you the courtesy of asking for yours.”

“Oh, you need one of those yes… hmm…” She rubbed her chin and nodded. “Call me Epona. How do you do.” She gave a light bow. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your morning. I just thought I’d stretch my legs a little.”

“What a lovely name,” Aspect said, standing back up. “I can’t help but feel I’ve heard it before. Well, if you’re not busy, would you care to join us for a quick breakfast? Bon Bon makes the best food I’ve tasted in a long while.”

“Oh no, I shouldn’t intrude for much longer,” Epona smiled. “Just, a few small things really. Your name, it’s something on a conundrum. You say Balance is needed, yet you only allow the light to shine. Such a way is what led to Luna losing control of her power no?”

“True,” Aspect sighed. “It was more a symbol of what was needed in the bad old days. What my job still is. There was far too many monsters drunk on their power. One of these days I’ll hang up my sword for good. One of these days I won’t need to be the other side of the coin. There will be plenty of good to outshine me. Then I’ll simply let the sword gather rust at the roots of Yggdrasil.”

“The world is a mysterious place dearest human. Many dance to a song they cannot hear. Still, you all do the best you can. Mistakes are simply a part of growing up, as long as you learn from them.” She smiled and looked at him.

Aspect blinked a few times and looked at her a little more closely. “Whyyyy do I get the feeling you didn’t need to learn that from the locals?” he asked. “And why do I get a distinctly motherly feeling from your advice?”

“You’re a parent yourself, is it not the job of the parent to make sure their kids grow up right?” she asked. “Besides, I’m not being too subtle. And you’re one of the few that wouldn’t ask too many questions. I’d love to meet that little Twilight filly, but I’d likely never leave the clutches of her adorable curiosity.” She giggled at her words and nodded. “Still, I must get back. I have a lot to tend to after all. My garden is an ever changing one and needs constant care.”

Aspect blinked a few more times before sighing. “I’ve just recalled where I heard your name,” he said, opening his eyes. “If I ask my son about you, I’m sure I’d hear it from him...but I only have one question of you. The fountain...it was always a test, wasn’t it?”

“In a way,” she said as she raised a hoof and called his sword to her. “You know, I’d almost forgotten about this guy. Has he been treating you well dear?”

The pommel flashed a few times.

“Oh goodness, well, I am glad to hear that,” Epona smiled as she held the blade to him. “He seems happy. I trust you’ll look after each other for the foreseeable future.”

“Well, he did save my behind multiple times when we were starting,” the stallion chuckled as he took the sword back and placed it on his back. “It’s been...interesting meeting you,” he said finally. “Though I do have more questions, I get the feeling those will have to wait for another day.”

“Perhaps,” she said. Small flowers bloomed around her hooves. “I love this world Christopher. I love everyone and everything in it. It’s one of my most favourite creations you know.”

Oh?

Ohhhhh…

“I bet I can name some you don’t like,” he teased. “But that’s neither here nor there. I just hope Grogar’s final words weren’t true.”

“We’ll see. After all, everyone has a purpose. I may have made that a little easier for ponies to find out with Cutie marks, but they’d look silly on other species.” She giggled as her own appeared. That of the World Tree. “You wouldn’t have half your children if not for the essence you got from them no?”

“That I wouldn’t,” Aspect agreed. “Though...I have to wonder why you left the Runes behind as well.”

“Oh you’ll find out,” Epona smiled. “It’s no fun if I give you all the answers now.” Small flowers bloomed around her hooves as she sighed. “Well time’s up. Though it was nice meeting you. I wish you well, and your lovely brides too.” She paused and nodded. “And… leave the Sun be. She’ll pull through, I hope. I look forward to her company.”

“...You know that saying that is just going to make me want to go there with a big cake, right?” Aspect pointed out.

“Oh, you won’t have the time,” she giggled as Aspect heard a shout, several shouts, coming from down the path. “Good luck dear.” He turned away for just a moment, and Epona was gone.

...Okay, that was...not something he was ever expecting to happen to him. So...who was trying to get his attention now?

Turns out, it was Fluttershy and… Sombra?

“A-Aspect!” the pegasus mare panted as she drew close. “I-It’s a disaster!”

...Okay, if it was enough to make Fluttershy run all the way to him, that got Aspect’s hackles up. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“It’s the Everfree,” she said. “All the animals are leaving the forest. It’s out of control, the trees are moving on their own!”

“It’s unusual,” Sombra said. “She insisted on notifying you.”

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed as he thought about it. There could be a few reasons as to why the Everfree was acting more unnatural than usual. “One moment,” he said, holding up a hoof to point at Sombra. “We’ll talk about this later,” he promised. Son, he asked through the ether. What is going on with the forest?

“Honestly, I’d be easier for you to see yourself,” Yggdrasil said to him. “Your reaction should be interesting indeed.”

“Bloody ungrateful tree sons,” the stallion muttered as he opened his eyes. “Alright, fine. I suppose I’ll take a look myself,” he said. He looked at Sombra with a critical eye, before looking back at the sword on his back for effect, before looking at Sombra again. “No funny business now,” he said. “I might need this and I’d rather it not be for you.”

“Aspect!” Fluttershy gasped and frowned at him. “It’s bad enough the poor stallion was locked up. There’s no need to threaten violence as well.”

“He was locked up for a reason,” Aspect muttered as he still didn’t take an eye off the dark stallion.

“And yet, nopony has tried to help him either,” she said. “Luna got a second chance. As did you, or have you forgotten about unleashing Arabus in Canterlot?”

“Chrysalis goaded me into that, so that she could conspire with Thantos to finally kill him,” Aspect countered. “I would have gladly taken the fall for it. I should have known better than to think I could contain something whose power only grew with time.”

“Yes, but many were still hurt,” she said. “Look, I shall worry about Mister Sombra. But something is wrong with the forest, and I can only handle so many critters.” On that note, seems one had followed and… ohsweetholygod! That was a big spider!

“Aww, you as well,” she sighed, rubbing one of his many legs. “Don’t worry. Mister Aspect will fix things.”

The spider clicked it’s nightmarish maw and nodded.

“Clearly, I missed at least a few spiders in my purge,” Aspect muttered, shaking his head again. “Fine, fine. Send the stallion into the forest alone after it’s had a thousand years to go wild. What’s the worst that can happen?” he asked sarcastically.

“I really want to go home…” Twilight whimpered as she followed Rainbow. Who was following Aspect.

“Hey, you’ve gotta get over this fear sooner or later,” Rainbow said. “Look, if you really freak, I’ll fly you home. But for now, consider this part of your training young grasshopper.”

“Fine… doesn’t mean I have to like it,” the little unicorn said.

True to Fluttershy's words. They hadn’t encountered any large animals since entering. And every now and then, Aspect swore he saw something move from the corner of his eye.

“Trees moving, creatures leaving, where have I heard this before?” he muttered. “It’s on the tip of my tongue, I know it is…” What could possibly alter the forest on this scale? It had always been a font of wild magic, a natural haven for plenty of things not seen elsewhere in the world. It was also the only place where Discord’s Poison Joke could grow as fast as it did. Nowhere else was chaotic enough.

Then a large root burst from the ground in front of them, blocking their path. And Aspect and Twilight came to the same conclusion.

“Geomancy?” the unicorn asked.

“On a scale I’ve not seen before, but yes,” Aspect agreed. “...I wish I’d brought Artemis here,” he moaned. “He’d be perfect for countering it.”

“Hey, we’re all super awesome,” Rainbow huffed, but Twilight held up a hoof.

“Aspect, Geomancy works well when you’re attuned to the land yes? Then, who or what could be attuned to the Everfree of all places?”

That...was an excellent question. He turned his head and listened. Not just with his ears. He reached out with his magic to try and figure out who had done this, where it had come from. Everything left a trace…

And he felt it, there was someone nearby, likely the Geomancer.

“I know you’re there,” Aspect said. “I’m impressed you have enough control over one of my gifts, and enough attunement to this forest of all places to use it. But unless you come out, I’ll start using an older gift to counter it. I’d rather not make an enemy today.”

“Your gift… how laughable,” came the voice as someone stepped out. It… it was a deer. A young buck to be precise. “We have cultivated this ourselves. You, I know not who you are, but your kind is not welcome here in this forest. Leave now or you’ll be punished like the others.”

Aspect chuckled a little bit, before lifting the sword off his back. “Before you ever came to possess Geomancy,” he said, “It was a dark power held in the thrall of Crunch the Rockdog, who turned all to stone with but a touch. I slew him and distributed his power as Geomancy, in an age that was not even written about. I turned darkness to light, because that is what I do. I am Balanced Aspect, and you are angering me, young bucker.”

“It is you, that spit on our history and tradition with your lies!” he shouted, vines rearing up around him. “You were warned, now I’ll be rid of—”

“ENOUGH!” came a more powerful voice as a pulse knocked the plants inert. Even Aspect’s eyes widened. He’d felt that. Whoever it was, it was on par with his own Geomancy. From the treeline a powerful looking doe stepped out, draped in a red scarf and jewelry. “Honestly, stop picking fights buck. And you, you’re older than him and should know better. Honestly….”

“S-Sorry mom…” the buck whimpered.

“Guilty, but I figured the commotion we’d be causing would draw someone older and more likely to be in charge of…” Aspect pursed his lips. “This restructuring of the forest.”

“Not my doing… but this is hardly the place to talk about such things. Follow me back to our city.”

“Mother!” the buck shouted. “W-We can’t bring outsiders in to the city!”

“We’ll do so because I say so,” she snapped, making him wither under her gaze. “Now you three, follow and touch nothing.”

“Understood,” Aspect nodded, putting the sword back on his back. He looked back to Twilight and Dash and raised an eyebrow, wondering if they really wanted to follow along. Dash looked a bit put out, and Twilight?

Her eye were sparkling as she pulled out a quill and some paper, starting to write.

“Just remember to follow the rules,” Aspect said. In his mind, he added the ‘for now.’ He would be entering into negotiations with these deer.

When they reached the ‘city’, well… that was an apt term. It was most impressive. A city likely built with geomancy, trees altered to look like the houses were grown right out of them. Deer wandered about as he saw they’d incorporated the power into everyday life. Several stood on a large leaf as it lifted them up into a building, while one carrying a foal altered the flowers framing her doorway with a wave of a hoof.

“See, this is impressive right here,” Aspect muttered. “It’s what I always hoped we’d be able to do with the Everfree one day.” He sighed afterwards. Such a shame they were being so rude about their powers. They’d likely have to alter quite a bit of it.

“Follow me,” the tall doe said as she stepped up onto a leaf. “Buck, you go and fix your mistake.”

“But I—”

“You weren’t supposed to send them to the pony settlement,” she snapped curtly. “Now fix it!”

“Yes mother…” he said as he skulked off.

With a nod, the leaf lifted them off of the ground and up into a large room. It was open, allowing them to step off and into it. It was lined with a soft, mossy carpet and adorned with various trinkets. Once they were alone, the doe dropped the tension she was carrying as she turned to them.

“I am so sorry your town was put out, that was not our intention.”

“You seem to have read our intention very clearly just by having us come here,” Aspect pointed out. “While yes, the animals being forced to leave does weigh very heavily on the caretaker we have for them, that was not my main concern when coming here.”

“So what was?” the doe asked. “Oh forgive me, my name is Lady Titania, the leader of this city.”

“Balanced Aspect, but I’m sure you know that already,” Aspect said with a dip of his head. “See, I have no doubt that the forest will be...what’s the word I’m looking for,” he tapped his hoof a few times. “Less chaotic under your care, but there are a few points I’m going to make to make sure of so that a foreign power, which is what you are, doesn’t start abusing the nearby settlement of ponies.”

Titania looked at him and tilted her head. “We’ve never done so in the past. Not in the seven hundred years we have lived here. Why would you think we would start now?”

Aspect deadpanned, before looking at where her son had been before she sent him off.

“Right,” she sighed. “He’s hotheaded, and he does have a reason. We are losing our forest. And the interlopers will be punished for their transgressions.”

“Fair trade then,” Aspect proffered. “You show me to where this is happening, and I’ll make sure it stops. In return, you agree to my few, reasonable demands regarding the forest.”

“What demands?” Titania asked with a raised eyebrow. “The Everfree is a delicate ecosystem. We do not touch it unless absolutely necessary.”

“Just a few,” the stallion promised. “Such as leaving a certain set of ruins alone until we can figure out if we want to rebuild that old castle, or just tear it down.”

“Ah, the Castle of the Two Sisters,” she said. “Do not worry, that falls in pony territory, as does the crystal tree. We stay well away from them.” She looked at Twilight and chuckled. “I take it you have many questions?”

“I do!” Twilight beamed, but before she could launch a verbal assault, several books were handed to her via vine.

“Here, a written history since we settled into the forest, as well as a medical text and oneon Geomancy,” the doe smiled. “You may borrow them, but must return them.”

“Of course!” Twilight beamed like a foal on Hearth’s Warming. “Oh thank you!”

“Now… please follow me my friends,” Titania said.

Aspect nodded, he still had a few stipulations he wanted to talk to her about, but he’d get into those once he’d helped. He wanted to frame them correctly anyways. It wouldn’t be good of him to ask and risk looking the fool when it backfired on him.

He’d expected a lot…

He’d not expected this.

The forest was just… gone. Tree’s stripped down to torn stumps. Grass and flowers replaced with upturned earth and… barely a pulse of life left in the ground. Geomancy would be weak here…

And some distance away, lay large construction equipment. And a large billboard advertising… a theme park?

“Hmm,” Aspect hummed as he looked the damage over. “I could help on my own. It wouldn’t be hard to just turn back time. The problem is, if I did, you’d be back to where you started. And I’d be out of commission for days. Plus, it’d get Tempus mad at me if I did it again. The problem with replacing it is that the forest is dead, something we have a proper Aspect for to fix. But getting them to stop…” He looked at the billboard again. “Someone’s put a lot of money into making this. Trying to make it seem like the Everfree is safe to play in.” He grinned. “I think I can rustle up some lights and sound illusions as part of my magic. What say we make them think these lands are haunted? Possessed, even?”

“The forest is only part of the problem,” the doe said sadly. “It’s what’s sealed here that’s the issue. But that… that idiotic brute will not listen. If they keep going, all of Equus will be in danger!”

Aspect blinked a few times. “Okay, you’ve lost me,” he admitted. “What evil in a can have I forgotten about? I dealt with most of them.”

“Found it,” Twilight spoke up, having read the book about the deer’s history the whole walk. “Five hundred years ago, the current Lady and Princess Celestia? Huh… well they worked together to seal away something called… Um, what’s this word? My ancient Coltish is a little rusty.”

“The Absolute, it called itself. A terrifying monster that can mimic another’s powers,” Titania said. “And considering the last to fight it was the Sun Princess…”

“Ah, not a good thing,” Aspect noted aloud. “Well then. We simply have to make sure their deforesting stops now. I have no doubt that with a bit of help from the Aspect of Earth, the deer will be able to get what was lost back. The problem is getting them to leave. If I show you this hoof of friendship, will you agree to my plan to run them off?”

“We shall, we do prefer our privacy, but if deer and pony can work together once, they can do so again,” she nodded and sighed. “I just hope we are not too late.”

With a heavy thud, Celestia hit the ground hard, actually bouncing a few times as she skidded to a stop some few dozen feet away from Daybreaker. Her feathers were bent, broken or outright missing, flight was impossible now. Her coat was marred with scorchmarks, cuts and bruises…

And even worse? Daybreaker was virtually unharmed.

Celestia slowly rose to her hooves, but her legs buckled and she fell…

Only to find herself being supported by her guards. “You know, you think you’d have learned this lesson by now,” the Unicorn of the three pointed out.

“Sarge says being a guard means being good at one of two things,” the Pegasus said. “The spear or the shield.”

“But what he likes most is those that try both,” the Earth Pony finished. They didn’t outright say anything, but the implications were there for the battered mare to pick up on.

“I won’t let her hurt you… or the rest of my ponies,” Celestia panted. “But… I’m failing… as I always do…” she looked down. “Father’s right… this should be his job… I’m just, a figurehead…”

“No, you’re just trying too hard to be one thing,” the Unicorn of the trio pointed out. “She’s the other side, yeah? The one that’s supposed to balance you out? What do you think happens when magic and antimagic meet? They annihilate each other. If you keep this up, the same thing will happen here. She’ll destroy you, because you’re everything she’s not...and without you to provide a self for her to be the opposite of, she’ll wither and die too.”

“Then maybe, that will be for the best,” she said. “Father will find a suitable Aspect for the sun. Young Twilight… would be good.” She’d been grooming the mare for just such a role. Somepony that, could potentially replace her. “I’ve made so many mistakes… too many…” She narrowed her eyes. “If I can rid the world of one more disaster, maybe, that’ll finally make up for it. Maybe… maybe father will finally tell me, that I’ve done a good job…”

“Oh for the love of—” all three stallions said at the same time, before hoofing the back of her head. “Stop fighting and use your brain!”

She turned, her eyes watering as the force of the blow had knocked the weakend mare face first into the dirt. “T-That hurt…”

Then the stallions found themselves on a nearby cliff, teleported as a new mare sat between them. A rather plain looking earth pony mare sitting there.

“Careful now, it doesn’t mean anything if you hoof her the answer,” she smiled. “She’s stubborn, but have some faith in her hm?”

The three stallions looked at her, before looking back at the princess they were sworn to guard. “With respect, ma’am,” the unicorn said. “We’re sworn to guard her. Even, it would seem, from her own stupidity.”

“You must like her a lot hm,” she smiled and looked down at the battling alicorns. “Is she a good princess? Is she a good mare?”

“She’s done her best in the situation she was given,” the pegasus answered. “She just needs to believe in herself a little more. She seems to think her father doesn’t love her.”

“Well, a child can sometimes feel like that, her father can be very… flippant,” the mare giggled. “Do you think, that she can shine? That she’s good to lead Equestria?”

“Will all due respect, there’s a reason we’ve volunteered to become her guard,” the earth pony answered. “Not because we thought we were needed. Because we wanted to help her, however we could. If we could in some way help her become herself again, we’d have all the faith in the world in her ability to reconcile who she is with what she’s done, and be better for it.”

“And who is herself exactly?” the mare asked. “The perfect, infallible Princess? The scarred, frightened mare down below? Or perhaps the mischievous filly she used to be? Perhaps the master manipulator, whose plans play out for generations at a time.”

“Who you are changes as you grow,” the unicorn answered. “I am not the same colt I was ten years ago, and I doubt I’ll be the same stallion twenty years from now. The answer is not ‘who are you’ but ‘are you comfortable in your own skin’? But that?” He pointed a hoof down at the two battling alicorns. “That is not my princess. Not until she realizes that she needs to come together. Then...then she will be the one I pledged to serve.”

“You mean, that princess down there. The one fighting with every iota of strength so her little ponies don’t have to?” Epona said calmly. “Yes, she might be a foolish filly right now, but she’s also still her in a way. Sacrificing herself so that others can live peacefully, free of burden and worry. How heavy that must be for her…” She shook her head. “Perhaps she is not ready…Or maybe she has been for a very long time.”

“The princess we vowed to protect was wise, regal, and understanding,” the pegasus countered. “True, she might be powerful and ready to lay her life on the line. But the one we know wouldn’t have to, because she would understand that she has friends and family she can call on to help her understand this doesn’t have to be a fight.”

“True, one can always call on another,” Epona nodded. “But, she was alone for a long time. Sending away her sister, abandoned by her father. She had to saddle that pain, along with leading a fledgling nation all on her own. Her own ponies mistrusted her, and yet she kept them safe and happy as best she could, as you can see, often at great cost.” Epona smiled. “Now watch, you three about to see something no mortal has ever witnessed.”

The three blinked before turning to look down at the crater as one.

Celestia panted, barely standing before Daybreaker. “I will not… let you win,” she gasped.

“Honestly, your tenacity is impressive though,” the dark mare chuckled.

“But… I guess, I finally understand,” Celestia added. Daybreaker paused and raised an eyebrow. “For so… so long, I have strived to be perfect. If I were to lead Equestria, I had to be. If I faltered, then ponies would in turn, lose faith in one another. I buried my greed… my selfishness. My anger and rage. Even my lust. Evey attribute… I saw as negative.”

The alicorn stood a bit taller. “But that simply gave you more room didn’t it?” she asked. “You’re not some evil parasite, nor is Nightmare Moon.”

“So you finally get it,” Daybreaker said. “Alicorns are… different, especially should we become an Aspect. No, I am no such thing. As I said… I am you…”

“And you’re me,” Celestia nodded and chuckled. “I’ve been so foolish.”

“Immensely so,” Daybreaker mused. “Or maybe I’m lying. Maybe I’m just trying to gain control of your form.”

“You’d have done so, after all, you have my impatience,” Celestia mused. “But, even so… am I allowed? Am I allowed to be selfish? To follow my own desires?” She hung her head. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”

Daybreak just stood there.

“Well, I guess.. We can find out,” she said and looked up. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I ignored you, pushed you out and shut you down for so long.” She held out a hoof. “But I’m not done. There’s still much to do. But, we’ll do it together.”

“Indeed we shall, but there is no going back,” Daybreaker said as she neared the alicorn.

“What’s life without a little adventure,” Celestia said with a smile as they vanished into a blinding light… So much so and even the three guards nearly half a mile away had to look away and shield their eyes…

“Aspect, I think this is very, very bad!” Twilight yelled as she dodged a searing beam. They’d been too late, the foolish minotaur that had been excavating had released the seal, and a massive, dark dragon had emerged from the sealed ruins. And true to Titania’s words, it wielded some mockery of the Sun Aspect, it’s flames searing the ground. Rainbow had flown off to get the other Element Bearers and Aspects, but she still hadn’t returned. Aspect had also asked Yggdrasil to send a message to Chrysalis…

“I had hoped I wouldn’t have to do this, but I figured this would be the only way to fight him,” Aspect sighed as he focused his energy on his horn. “Whatever happens, don’t touch me.”

“Whaaaaat are you doing?” Twilight said as her shield shattered like glass from another beam. A vine pulled her back out of the way as the doe nuzzled her.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, thanks for the save,” Twilight said. This was annoying, even now… she was so useless on her own.

Aspect approached the dragon, his horn not the only thing shining anymore. His whole body was emitting light. “Tell me,” he whispered. “Do you know what happens to a star that can’t support its own weight anymore?” There...was a dark tone to his voice when he asked that.

Twilight blinked. “Aspect NO!” You’ll destroy everything!” she shouted.

“I am the sun, your power is meaningless,” the dragon chuckled, sunfire burning in his eye sockets.

“The sun is just another star,” the stallion said, holding out a hoof as the light in his body went blue-white. “But unlike it, you can die right now. Tell me...what will happen when your body compressess in on itself at a million times normal gravity?”

“Aspect, do not make the scary sun dragon go supernova!” Twilight yelled louder.

“Oh no, I wasn’t going to make him explode,” the stallion replied calmly…

Before his body went black, the only evidence he was there being the stallion-shaped hole of darkness from which no light escaped. “I was going to make him implode,” he finished, twisting a hoof. “Saves on mess.”

“You’re gonna make a black hole!? That’s even worse!” Twilight screamed.

“Just a tiny one,” Aspect replied. “No bigger than the head of a pin in his core. It’ll suck him in and evaporate when it runs out of things to eat.”

“And if you lose control, it’ll suck in the entire planet!” Twilight yelled as the dragon growled.

“Interesting power you have there,” he chuckled as a magic circle appeared under Aspect and the dragon. “Very interesting~ I think I’ll take it!”

The dragon’s wings changed, from bony protrusions that were filled with flame, to large, leathery wings that glittered with starlight. His eyes dimmed for a moment, the sockets going black, before he shone with light, pure starlight. His chest thrummed with pulsing energy as Aspect felt the copied power negate what he was trying to do.

“Oohhh, you are very powerful~” the dragon purred. “I like this~”

“...When did there exist someone like me in the world?” Aspect blinked. “You can change what magic you use? At will?” He had to go through quite a few hoops for his.

“Wonderous is it not?” the dragon chuckled as he held up a claw, starlight forming in his open palm. “Now, where is the Sun Princess, I wish to add to the scars I gave her last time~”

“Like I’d just stand aside and let you hurt her,” Aspect growled. “I might not be able to use a black hole on you, but let’s see you withstand the gravity of one.”

“That was an interesting trick you were about to pull,” he said as his eyes scanned the field, before looking Twilight dead in the eye. “I wonder… if I killed this one? Would the sun appear before me?” he said as he raised a claw, about to use the same spell Aspect was about to use on him.

Aspect flared back to his starry self, before runes woven of light appeared between himself and the dragon. A shield made of fire separated the two combatants from the others, the stallion glaring at the uppity dragon. “And that is the difference between power and knowledge,” he said. “The things I know, you cannot copy.”

“Then I’ll just send you to Oblivion instead!” the dragon roared as he started building up a ridiculous amount of magic. “Let’s see if you can survive a full blast!” The ground trembled as he held both claws out and fired a massive blast of raw magical power, the ground melting under the beam as it travelled towards Aspect…

Only to slam into a golden barrier, the powerful shield stopping the beam cold before it shimmered away.

And next to Aspect, a white mare stood, her mane waving gently in the breeze as she put a wing on his back. “I see you found an interesting play date again father.” Celestia chuckled lightly.

“He’s a magical mimic, like me, only he does it on purpose,” Aspect replied. “He’d be fascinating to study if he wasn’t so...what’s the word...ah yes. Wicked.”

“Hmm… oh!” she said and looked up at the dragon. “I remember you now. Actually father, he is a mimic, well, one that found a crystal that gave him quite the power boost. So, dragon form this time? Last time it was a… hm, I forget. A squirrel? No… that’s not right. A kangaroo?”

“DIE!” the dragon roared as he went to slam her with his claws… only for him to freeze a few inches away. Celestia staring at him with an unblinking gaze.

“Now, that’s rather rude,” she said.

“W-What… how are you…” the dragon seemed to be struggling to break the invisible hold. Wait… was Celestia doing this? But, Aspect didn’t see or feel her cast. She was just… staring at him. And, where had she come from? She didn’t teleport in, he didn’t see it. It was like she’d Blinked in… but, according to Luna, she’d been halfway across the planet…

“We are going to need to have a talk, later,” Aspect said to her. “So, how do you intend on dealing with him?”

Celestia looked at the dragon. “Will you behave? Life is a lot better with friends you know. Something I’ve made a real mess of recently.”

“I will tear the flesh from your bones you litt—”

Celestia backhoofed him, sending him tumbling across the ground, before blinking ahead of him and a kick buried him in a small crater. “Please… do try and listen to reason,” she said.

“How…” he coughed. “How are you so powerful… that stallion. He tricked me! His power is too weak!”

The same circle appeared under Celestia as he went to copy her power, before she flicked a wing and the circles shattered.

“W-Wha….”

She breathed, a long and deep draw of air and…

Aspect staggered, whereas the others were outright floored. That magical pressure was like an entire ocean suddenly dropping on their backs as Celestia… changed. Her mane flickered like flame… a ring of light behind her head as her coat burned a pure, pristine white. The ground under her burned away, grass incinerating and rock melted. She looked up at the dragon and sighed.

“W-What are you…?” the dragon stammered.

“Sol Invictus Celestia,” the alicorn replied. “Divine Aspect of the Sun and ruler of Equestria. You who threaten this world. Leave or face oblivion.”

“I will end you! You insuff—”

“Prominence.”

A pillar of burning flame dropped on the dragon, even Aspect looked away, as it was like looking into the sun itself as her magic burned him away. And a moment later…

Not even ash remained. Just a glowing crater as runes crawled across Celestia’s body, resealing her power once again. Her mane turned back to a pastel pink, and both Aspect and Twilight saw that her body had numerous scars, before her glamour spell kicked in, making her look like her normal self once more. She exhaled and looked at the others.

Aspect dropped the wall of flame and returned to being normal, shaking his head as the power was returned to its normal state. “Goodness, but that much strength is a bit intoxicating, isn’t it?”

“It will take some getting used to,” she said as she held up a foreleg, rings of glowing runes surrounding her neck and ankles. “I have to bind most of it until it becomes my own.” She looked at the fleeing workers, she’d deal with that mess later. She had more pressing concerns.

“It has been a while,” Titania said, nodding her head. “Hello little Tia.”

“Tani,” she smiled as he pair shared a brief nuzzle. “I see you’re keeping well.”

“I do as I can,” the doe replied as Celestia turned to Twilight, who was staring with wide eyes and a stunned expression. “And… oh dear but do I owe you a great apology Twilight.”

“I… but you…” Twilight stammered. Had, Celestia always been this powerful?

“But perhaps this isn’t the place for it,” she said as she looked around. “Titania?”

“There’s little magic left in the earth here,” she sighed. “I doubt we can regrow much, if anything at all.”

Celestia nodded and looked at Aspect. “Father, when we get home, can you summon Pyroclastia?”

“Artemis would be a better choice,” the stallion pointed out. “Given that he’s Earth.”

“Yes, but Pyro can burn away the impurities that have soaked here. Then Artemis can renew the earth and the deerfolk can start regrowing the forest,” Celestia said.

“Aaah, I see your plan there,” Aspect nodded. “Fair enough. We’ll do that then.”

“What. Is going. ON!?” Twilight suddenly yelled, her poor shattered sanity having reached it’s last straw. “First we find deer that use Geomancy! Then a flipping dragon that copies magic and now… now Princess Celestia is apparently a Super Alicorn or something!?” Her mane was frazzled as she huffed from the exertion of her little outburst.

“I think we’ve broken poor Twilight,” Aspect noted.

“I have a good deal to explain, and so much more to apologize for,” Celestia said as she lowered her head. “I’ve done… a great injustice to you Twilight. One that betrayed your trust in me, our friendship. I’ll do whatever you ask to atone for it.” She lowered herself in front of her. “I could explain it, but it would just be an excuse. To allow my love of you to become so… twisted and ugly. Your as much a part of my family as anyone else in it. And yet time and time again we have hurt you.” She turned her head and nudged Aspect with a wingtip.

“I too have abused your trust, your friendship,” Aspect said, bowing his head. “I could have been, should have been, so much more to you. But time and again, I hurt you. Whatever punishment you decide is worthy of what I have done to you, command it and it will be so.”

“P-Punish… but I…” Twilight shook her head. She frowned and her horn blazed with emotion. “Ah, would you two just… just STOP!”

Well… this was an interesting sensation. No matter how hard Aspect tried, his body wouldn’t respond. He couldn’t even move his eyes. Did Twilight… ohdear, he couldn’t even tell her what she’d accidentally done.

“All this talk of punishing and wrongdoing… seriously, are the two of you masochists or something?” the little unicorn said as she paced up and down. Titania seemed to be giggling, oh that little, she knew. “And what exactly would that resolve? What’s done is done and honestly, the pair of you are so… so damned obstinate that it’d probably happen again regardless.”

She paused and took a moment to her thoughts. “Okay, first thing is first. Christopher. I am flattered that you considered me for your relationship. But honestly? Could you honestly say that you liked me, like you do the others? Or are you just grateful that I helped in freeing Luna?” Then she looked at the equally frozen alicorn. “And Princess… You’re beautiful, very much so. But, you’re also like a second mother to me and while I may have… entertained a few thoughts every now and then. I just think a relationship with either of you would be… too awkward and in the end, just wouldn’t work.”

She sighed, finally having gotten that off her chest, She felt… lighter. “So… what do you say?”

Utter. Silence.

“You can talk you know,” Twilight frowned.

More silence.

“Oh COME ON!”

“Eeaahahahaha!” Titania laughed musically. “They cannot little one, you froze them with Sorcery.”

“...what?” Twilight blinked.

In the end, Twilight’s friends arrived and Rainbow and Midnight took great fun in laughing and teasing Aspect at his current predicament. The pegasus eventually leaving, returning a little while later with Sweetie Belle, who after a few attempts, was able to break the hold Twilight had placed on them.

“And that is why you practice safe Sorcery,” Aspect said as he worked the cricks out of his neck.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry,” Twilight bowed her head repeatedly as Celestia chuckled.

“Nonsense dear, it was a good lesson for us all. You need a little more practice and we should now actively avoid upsetting you~”

“Not helping…” Twilight pouted as Celestia rubbed her head.

“It’s quite alright, I’m glad to see you’re okay though. I was a tad worried about Equestria in my absence, seems that Luna’s done well though.”

“I honestly expected her to dismantle the noble courts in a day with Chryssy helping,” Aspect noted out loud.

“....wat?” the alicorn blinked, her coat going a little pale. “Are… are the nobles still alive?”

“...I honestly don’t know,” Aspect admitted. “We can easily check.”

“...later,” the mare sighed as she stretched her wings.

“So um…” Twilight started as Celestia nodded.

“You want to know where I got my new power from?”

“Yes.”

Celestia chuckled. “As blunt as a hoof to the face,” she giggled as she looked at Titania. The deer smiled and nodded, heading back towards the forest. Then the scenery was replaced with Aspect’s living room, Realm and Artemis yelping as the large group appeared out of thin air. And Aspect’s assumption had been right, she’d Blinked all of them.

“...Okay, you’re telling me how you blinked us to somewhere you couldn’t actually see later,” Aspect said, pointing a hoof at her. “Blinking works on line of sight!”

“I know… I used my minds eye to look where I was going,” she said.

“...Can she do that?” Twilight whispered to Aspect. “Can you do that?”

“I can’t do that, but I’m less skilled in typical magic than her,” Aspect replied back.

“My power has… grown,” Celestia said as she held up a hoof, staring at the underside of it. “I still don’t quite understand it, but, accepting the negative side of myself, admitting that I cannot be infallible and without error. It has allowed me to, exceed my limitations. Much like how when I first became an Aspect. I think, my power as an Aspect has… evolved in a manner.”

“We’ll have to study that,” the stallion promised. “So. Are you feeling up to retaking your mantle?”

Celestia let her hoof drop back to the floor. “As it stands… I don’t have much right to that mantle now do I? Given the complete and utter mess I’ve made of things recently.”

“The mess isn’t what’s important,” Aspect pointed out. “It’s how you deal with it that matters. You can just let your mess lie and let someone else clean it up. Or you can own up to it and try to make the world better, despite what you’ve done. One path is far more mature than the other.”

“I am well aware,” she said and sighed. “Give me a few more days to get my personal affairs in order. This power is still new to me and I wish to tame it first.”

“Fair enough,” Aspect nodded. “You might be out of a court of nobles by then, though. I think Chryssy’s been enjoying being ‘you’ far too much.”

“Of course she has,” Celestia sighed and shook her head. She turned to Twilight, before kneeling down. “I truly am sorry Twilight,” she said. “For everything I have done. What I did to you… was utterly unforgivable and…”

“That’s enough,” Twilight raised a hoof to the alicorn’s muzzle. “That… doesn’t suit you. What’s done is done, and unless you know a time travel spell…”

“Well…” Celestia started.

“I was being sarcastic,” Twilight deadpanned. Truly, the snark was strong with her. “Look Princess. You made a mistake. You’re not perfect… as much as I thought you were. Perhaps I still do.” She sighed and leaned in close, nuzzling her. “I didn’t blame Aspect too much, because he’s more socially inept than I am. Nor am I blaming you for the… circumstances surrounding that.”

“But you should…”

“I forgive you Princess, you too Aspect. Just, don’t do it again. To me or anypony else. Am I clear?”

“As soon as I figure out why you’re forgiving me for what I did, sure,” Aspect agreed.

“Because what’s the use in holding a grudge?” she said. “What would I do? Do the same back to you? What good would that accomplish? What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t forgive mistakes my friends made.”

Aspect chuckled and nudged Celestia. “She gets it, and now I do too,” he whispered, before walking up to Twilight and bowing his head. “A thousand apologies wouldn’t be enough,” he replied, “But thank you for forgiving me all the same. I will endeavor to be a better friend than I have been.”

“Not just to me,” Twilight said and kissed his cheek. “Besides, let’s face it Celestia, I’d not make a very good Princess-Consort. What would I be? The Princess of Books?”

Celestia remained oddly quiet for a moment, before giggling. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Now…” She blinked and looked around the room. “Where did you get a TV?”

“Blame Megan,” Aspect groaned. “The damn thing’s been sucking the foals in.”

“Hmm, I wonder if I can get one for Luna and I,” she mused. “Well, do you want to help me get used to this new power father? I’d like to not have to worry about sealing myself with runes.” She turned to Twilight. “You could help too. I’ll teach you some new magic as payment.”

Twilight’s eyes were literally sparkling at the prospect.

“As long as you’re not setting fire to things,” Aspect replied. “I would rather not have to rewind time again. Time gets snippy if I do that.”

“Oh, you met him?” Celestia chuckled as her fur suddenly stood on end. She suddenly stepped to one side as a blue blur shot past her, tackle-hugging Aspect instead with bonecrushing force.

“Sister, we have missed y—” Luna looked at the limp stallion in her arms. “You are not sister.”

“Bleh,” Aspect said, his head lolling to one side. The alicorn-strength surprise hug had blindsided him utterly.

“I’m here Lulu,” Celestia giggled as Aspect was dropped, the lunar alicorn turning to hug her instead. Twilight walked over to him him, chuckling as she poked him with a hoof.

“Still alive there?”

“You try getting hugged by Lulu one day, see how you feel about it,” the stallion huffed as he picked himself up slowly.

“Drama queen,” Twilight chuckled as she helped him up. “Just another day in the House of Aspect huh?”

“Well at least things are turning again,” the stallion mused. “Now all we need is to get a few quality of life improvements done.”

“Such as?” the purple unicorn asked.

“Oh, you know,” Aspect waved a hoof. “Track down that antagonist of mine. Turn Sombra nor-”

His eyes widened. “Somba...we never did make sure he was back under lock and key,” he breathed.

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Oh horseapples.”

Author's Notes:

And this may or may not be the last chapter until Aus and I work up another backlog. Depends on if I can tempt him into capping off the next. You'll know by next week!

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