"I'm sorry, what?" I asked, not believing what my ears had told me.

While yes, it had suddenly clicked where I had seen this mare, which had been the distant figure of Princess Platinum outside of Ùllahdmaiden. Ok sure fine, maybe this actually was Princess Platinum in the flesh. She was the one who laid siege to Ùllahdmaiden! Killed many of the Ponies I knew! And then she had the audacity to claim to by my Aunt?! As in, sister to my Mother! How absurd! Mom had been a warmage! Not a Princess! She grew up in- Wait, where did she grow up? Peasants didn't get to be warmages... So theoretically the two would've grown up in similar circles... At about the same period of time...

I looked up into Platinum's face, looking for any similarities between her and what I remembered of Mom. It was... Comparable. The bone underneath her eyes and across her nose were similar, giving them similar shaped faces. It was one Tia also shared, increasingly more so as she got older. One that I wasn't sure I was also developing...

"Perhaps I should start from the beginning-" the figure that was beginning to look more and more like somepony who might be close family.

But she was Princess Platinum! The daughter of the mare that forced Queensford to starve and she herself went onto siege Ùllahdmaiden!

How could I trust her?!

"No that won't be necessary-" I tried to interject. I looked to the side towards Clover, trying to communicate with my eyes.

'Get me out of here.'

Clover's expression was one of shock and surprise.

Great.

"Uh..." I tried to interrupt 'Princess Platinum' as gently as possible. "Look, I'm sure you knew a Nebula Glow, but there's a possibility that you are mistaken."

"But- But-" she started, but then took a moment to compose herself. "Very well, you raise a good point. But I would like to discuss this with you at a later time."

"... Right..." I said, trying to think of the quickest way out of this situation.

"So Chancellor!" Smart Cookie suddenly exclaimed, interrupting any further discussion. "You made it! I'm so glad!"

Oh thank the stars.

"Wasn't easy!" the older mare replied "But it sure was breezy!"

I took a step back, eager to not be the center of attention again. It worked, for the most part. As the conversation continued, Platinum's eyes were fixed on me.

"Then let's get you warmed up! We've got fire and safety for the time being."

"Hold it!" Commander Hurricane exclaimed. Everypony stopped, even Platinum's gaze and shifted to the Pegasus. As the Commander flew above, Pansy stood below, saluting sternly. "What makes you think we'll come with you?" she challenged.

By now, the commotion had drawn in other groups, curious why so many Ponies were suddenly rescued. Even if every Pegasi present were to join the Commander, they were hopelessly outnumbered.

The flying mare seemed to realize this as Ponies started getting closer.

"Be as it may Hurricane;" the elderly Unicorn began, rolling his eyes. "I for one, am in dire need of a proper meal and warm bed." Ignoring the stand off that Commander Hurricane was losing badly.

That broke the brash Pegaus' demeanor.

"... Ok we'll come." the Commander relented, softly landing on the ground.

"Excellent!" Cookie exclaimed. "We'll getcha all warm and cozy!"

That seemed to settle any conversation, and the Ponies milled about, reorganizing themselves to go to their destinations. The old Unicorn, and all of his compatriots gravitated towards Cookie and Clover. Pansy however followed closely behind Commander Hurricane. By unspoken agreement, it seemed like our group were the ones who would take care of the leaders of the tribes.

I didn't want to abandon the group, despite Platinum's presence, so I followed behind as they started leaving. A cart was soon brought over so the rescued Ponies could hop aboard. As they were packed away I took the opportunity to wave Cookie down for a brief conversation.

"I thought you said we'd be discussing the whole 'single tribe' idea... Why are we playing along with these Ponies?" I asked, probably sounding a bit harsher than I meant to.

"Things aren't ironed out at all yet." Cookie replied. "Until we can get everypony together to discuss, I don't want to antagonize anypony we don't have to."

"Luna!" Clover suddenly butted in. "Why didn't you tell me you were the niece of THE Princess Platinum?!"

I jumped slightly at the aggressiveness of the mare, but the look on her face wasn't all out rage, merely upset.

"How was I supposed to know?!" I rebutted. "I was too young to hear her secrets when she died!"

"Old enough to kill a hydra!" Clover stamped.

"Now hold on everypony!" Cookie cut in. "Clover, look at 'er." she gestured towards me. "She's almost in as much shock as you are."

Was my pose displaying surprise? As I turned my attention inwards, I found that my ears twitched and I found myself digging in agitation at the ground below.

Damn my Moon mark! I hadn't even noticed my reactions!

"Er... Right." Clover relented, seemingly coming to her senses. "Sorry Luna, guess I got caught up in the revelation..."

"It's fine. Let's just get this over and done with so I can leave it behind." I turned away and left the two to further discuss things.

I winced as I realized that had probably been rude.

I stepped off to the side by the cart, letting Ponies tuck the four rescued Ponies in with cloaks and blankets.

But then again... Looking back on it, was I not justified? I mean really, who meets somepony new and proclaim for the world to hear that you're their Aunt! What's more! It was Princess Platinum who had done it! The same who abandoned Queensford to its fate and the one who lay siege to Ùllahdmaiden! What else was I supposed to feel if not agitation?!

"Excuse me, Luna was it?"

I looked over to see the old stallion watching me from the cart, a woolen blanket wrapped around his own cloak.

"Sorry, yes. Was lost in thought. How can I help you?" I blurted out.

Wow, I must be more out of it than I realize.

"My apprentice said you were the one responsible for killing those spirits... May I inquire as to how?" he asked.

"Uh sorry, all I know was that I swung a sword and they died... Mister...?" I trailed off, trying to remember his name.

Had I heard his name? I vaguely recalled that Clover had said it once, but so much had happened since then I couldn't for the life of me recall what it was...

"Starswirl, Starswirl the Bearded." he extended a hoof.

I reached over and gently shook it.

Was that what Clover had said?

"Nice to meet you Mister Starswirl the Bearded." I nodded.

"Ho ho!" the stallion chortled. "It's been a long time since anypony has called me 'Mister' little filly. So long I had forgotten what it felt like."

Oh... Kay?

"Uh... Should I be sorry or-?" I trailed off, hoping he would fill in an answer.

"Oh no! You're quite alright little filly." the elder stallion smiled. "I've been called much ruder things than 'Mister'."

I snorted in amusement, despite myself and my gloom.

"Before today, I'm not sure the last time I was called 'little filly'." I responded.

"When you get to be my age, everypony is a 'little colt' or 'filly'" the old stallion said coyly.

Feeling emboldened, I tried to match his humor.

"You said it, not I." I grinned.

The stallion froze.

Aw shit... Had I gone too far?

"Hohohohoho!" he chortled merrily. "You've got some wit to you!"

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"In all seriousness however;" Starswirl continued. "Is that all you did? Swing a sword?"

"Sorry sir, that's all I know." I shrugged.

"Hm, I see..." he hummed, stroking his beard with a hoof.

The stallion seemed to get lost in thought, so I turned away and let him be.

The cart, and all of its passengers and escorts, soon started to move.

Next Chapter: Chapter 89 The Memories Part 48 Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 48 Minutes