It was a strange feeling, somewhere between unease and surrealism as we walked on the ancient railroad embankment north from the Black Hoof. We were walking home, HOME. Yet it felt like I was walked away from it instead of towards it, and into strange foreign lands. As if my home laid elsewhere... In all honesty, it was mostly just a matter of experiences and me growing fond of the town we left behind. Perhaps mixed with me being the one idiot among hundreds of eggheads?

Yeah, the explanation certainly made sense and was the most logical option. Yet still... I felt something tugging at my heart, at mind and at my soul. Something calling me, calling me westwards. Towards Vanhoover according to the map. Needless to say that I decided to ignore whatever enchantment was on me. I was going to my real home, and nothing would stop me.

So naturally I was very disappointed when nopony tried. No raiders, no angry steel rangers, no ghouls, no angry monsters, no nothing. We did run into some scavengers and other traders but nothing hostile. Suppose that is a given considering everything. It is a fairly common caravan route, and the mountain range to the west kept us mostly isolated from any potential threats. Sure, there were raider tribes in the north but they were largely seasonal in their activities. And while we did have a forest in the east it was a popular hunting spot for the ponies down south.

Some part of me twitched, I looked the row of white bars on my E.F.S. The guard zonies had already noticed us, and thankfully they weren't idiots so they didn't shoot us. Hm, was the rampart always that high? It was a downright chilling feeling to trot over an open field towards the wall filled turrets and zonies with energy rifles. No wonder we usually didn't have any problems with raiders, this was one heck of a killzone. Anything would die in seconds.

And in this moment I saw my home and my kin from the viewpoint of an outsider. A society with roots in wartime Equestria, highly advanced technology and a policy of general isolationism. Frankly, how many fragments of zebra culture were there among us? Enough to freak out the already worried outsiders would be my guess.

Was everypony hoping for the steel rangers to wipe us out? Whatever my opinion of them, it was evident that a lot of ponies viewed them as a positive force in Vanhoover. But what about the Institute? What have we actually achieved since the end of the world? Sure we had a prosperous town and all, but what did we do for Equestria?

My thoughts turned to my mother and my grandfather, we were definitely up to something. And I was reminded of my real purpose of coming back, figuring out what the stars my family were doing and if necessary: Put an end to it.

We were met by a black buck with a white mane in combat armour carrying one long and slender beam rifle (something poked my memory when I saw it but I couldn't figure it out), and he was highly amused at our arrival and worn out looks. Of all the various zonies in the security force, of all the hundreds of zonies in this place it had to be HIM. I groaned audibly as he opened his rude snout.

"Hey, Wingstripe! Heard you are causing troubles to everypony else for a change."

"Wrong name, Snow Mane." I didn't have the patience for this.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyhow. Who are your two new friends? Amber I recognize, her mother is looking for her by the way. But who are the new gals?"

"...That's two."

"What?"

"One more rude comment from you and I will shut you up."

He didn't take me seriously.

"Look, you might be the director's granddaughter but I can still throw you in jail. Again."

"..."

I took a few steps towards him, putting my eyes real close to his.

"You have no idea what we have been through. The raiders, the monsters... You are just yet another pathetic bully, one out of hundreds. So, back off."

"Fuck it kid, I am the head of security!"

He was pissed, but he was also a pushover.

"Then act like it for once!! These are my friends, and I have gone through Tartaros for them! So either you will start behaving or... I. WILL. BREAK. YOU!!"

By now I was staring down at him as he shrunk back, I could even taste the fear in the air.

"Yes ma'am..."

He practically whispered.

"The pony is Violette, she is applying for residence. The zebra is Xera, and they are my de facto bodyguard. I have no time for your brahmin shit, go tell the Director that we need to talk to him! In the meantime, we are going to our rooms. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

His voice barely above a whisper. Then he turned and fled in a panic, fully fearing that I was going to shoot him just on principle. And, really. It was a bit tempting. The rest of the security zonies were staring at us, but no one interfered. They looked almost as terrified as the idiot I had just threatened. It could have been my imagination but I thought I could hear them whispering "Just like Blackhorn."

"Freaking idiot..."

I muttered.

"Anyhow, we're going straight to the stable. Both me and Amber got our own rooms so we can have some privacy from the other bullies around. Violette, I was thinking you could stay at Amber's place. Sure, he is a colt and all but at least you don't have to look at my wings all the time."

She nodded with a faint smile. I looked at Xera who simply nodded, ever the patient follower and guest. Celestia's mercy, now there are four of us and I still do all the talking. I doubted any of them would be in a talkative mood the next few days, so I was worried that I would have to face my greatest weakness. BOREDOM.

It was nice too finally lie in my own bed, my very own bed. Not all things remained the same of course, I had a zebra sitting next the other bed looking confused. Was this a thing now? Pony culture confusing the strange foreigner? Oh well, I suppose I should be a gracious host.

"You got a question, out with it."

I said in a slightly tired voice.

"You live with your mother, yes?"

"Huh, no? I'm an adult, why would I do that?"

"Two beds, and you have no lover. Why?"

My brain needed a few moments to process the question.

"Uhhh... Oh! Yeah, we usually get a roommate. However half of them complain that I am too noisy, the other half tease me until I beat them up and then they run off. After the first twenty I got the room to myself."

"And Amber?"

"Got some quiet girl who works in maintenance, they mostly ignore each other."

"..."

"What now?"

"Who is your father?"

"Some pegasus buck, dead or gone. Don't know, don't care."

"..."

"WHAT??"

I half shouted at the undeserving zebra.

"Nothing."

Finally back at home, and yet even my new friends act like everyzony else. Why do people keep bringing up that dead old stallion? I never met him, mom never cared to explain, so clearly there was nothing there to be bothered with. As such, I do not care. Two relatives is more than enough, one lying mother and one conspiring grandfather.

Needed a distraction, and I felt desperate enough to try something drastic: Reading. The book I chose was even a very eggheady book: "A Generalized Introduction to Advanced Spellcraft". Why did I even have It? I know it is my mom's favourite book, but I'm an idiot. Not even a unicorn. Did she give it to me with the implication that she rather have a unicorn as her daughter? Should have thought of that before she slept with a pegasus.

I opened the index and found "Astral Magic" as a chapter, so that was the chapter I turned to and began reading.

"The Canterlot School of Thought

In the Canterlot tradition astral magic is more commonly known as royal magic, or alicorn magic, and contrary to popular thought it wasn't defined by Starswirl but by princess Celestia during the early years of Luna's exile. Through experimentation and hard study she found that there are five forms or five Aspects of royal magic. These are as follows:

-Elementalism: The ability to utilize pure magical energy in order to manipulate the five classical elements. These being fire, air, water, earth and light. This is an odd one, as specialization into one of these elements is fairly common in unicorns. However, it is far easier for an alicorn to wield such magic than even a unicorn specialist.

-Gravity Control: It is fortunate that few unicorns are capable of casting spells affecting gravity, as the potential risks involved are immense and the gain for the average scientist isn't worth said risks. However, thanks to the work of the Ministry of Arcane Sciences gravity modifying spells are involved in the design of the latest generation of cloudships.

-Spatial Control: Typically manifested in the form of teleportation magic or, in rarer cases, as a planar gate in order to seal away a monster or otherwise hide something from prying hooves. Tartaros, for example, is technically an extra-Equestrian plane of existence.

-Temporal Mechanics: Time distortion can be done well, but should only be performed after strict scientific methodology. Time travel on the other hand, should not be attempted by any unicorn not cleared by the minister of Arcane Sciences or the Princess herself. Unfettered time travel is extremely dangerous and fortunately nigh impossible to achieve.

-Apotheosis: This is an aspect where I had to consult the minister of the MAS as it is an undeveloped science. What has been concluded is that an alicorn is capable of sharing their status with certain ponies with the right magical aptitude and the right psychological profile. The exact nature of this process is still only known by Celestia.

"Hey, Xera. This book has a chapter on star magic. Is it true that alicorns can turn others into alicorns?"

"..."

That weird head tilt again.

"It is known those corrupted by star magic can spread curse to others."

"Can I grow a horn with this stuff?"

"You... I... I do not know. Maybe?"

"Aren't you an expert on this?"

"No, I was not trained. Legion wants warriors, not shamans."

"So you are like me, forced to learn the wrong shit because of the whims of the tribe."

"Yes. Defecta."

Of all the words the zebras could use, they had to go with that one.

"No offense Xera, but I don't think I like the legion."

"Agreed. They are idiots."

The Vanhoover School of Thought

One thing that ponies trained in Canterlot might find surprising is that there is a rich tradition of astronomy and by extension astromancy in Vanhoover. In this tradition it is held that there are seven, not five, aspects of astral magic. The final five remain the same, but before them (presumably to empathize the potential for misuse) there are two more. These are as follows.

-Animancy: More commonly known as necromancy, although the experts insist that it is merely a corrupted form of this art. The spirits of ponies native to Vanhoover are known to be far more active and the locals are remarkably comfortable with the idea that ghosts walk among them. The high magic saturation in previously mentioned city could be attributed to the high spiritual activity around the cathedral and the various graveyards nestled within the city.

-Empathy: Technically a form of low frequency telepathy. I have personally asked princess Twilight about and have it confirmed that she is able to sense the general mood of ponies around her and occasionally notice individuals at remarkable distances. However, it is largely limited to detecting emotions and not actual mind reading.

"...WHAT??"

"Yes?"

"This. If I understand it right, this is practically mind control?? And NECROMANCY?!"

"Yes, we have many stories about star sorcerers wielding great magics and horrors caused by them. You now know why legion avoids Vanhoover? Why Caesar fears it?"

"Yeah... place seems to be messed up. Haunted at least."

"They say reality is bent and broken in Vanhoover. A labyrinth of streets and ruins to trap foolish ponies and zebras for eternity. We lost several of our best scouts once, now legion avoids it like an ursa's lair."

"Noted. Staying away from the place. No wonder the Steel Rangers struggle to conquer it."

"I do not think one can conquer it."

"Unless the star wills it?"

"Like a golden princess..."

I looked at my strange zebra companion with a sense of mutual understanding. Perhaps there was more to my stripes after all? Do ponies understand how weird these things are, or do they just accept them? Should I reevaluate my view on the princesses (the real ones that is)? Are alicorns some form of startouched creatures, twisted ponies who rule over others since they have bowed to alien powers? Wasn't there something like that in the old stories? About Luna? And Nightmare Moon? Sure sounds familiar. Hold on...

I twisted my neck so rapidly that I could hear a crack as I turned back to the book.

"Twilight Sparkle was a princess?!"

"What?"

"It says here! Princess Twilight!"

"I have not heard this story, are there not two pony queens?"

"Not really, there are at least 3. Princess Mi Amori Cadenca ruled the Crystal Empire up north, but this is the first time I heard that a minister was an alicorn. Is she an alicorn? Is it just an honourary title of some kind? Who wrote this?!"

I closed the book to look at the cover. Starlight Glimmer.

"So she did know strange secrets? I knew coming back here was a good idea."

I muttered to myself.

I walked through the same corridor I had walked dozens of times before, every time I had received a scolding from my grandfather for causing trouble. Beating someone up, sleeping through class, running away, listening to the radio instead of doing my chores and so on. The list was long. Once again I had caused trouble, yet this time it was different. So had he, and I was not a little filly anymore.

The door opened with a hiss, and behind his desk he sat white mane on white coat. Director Marble of the Starlight Institute, my grandfather. Too my surprise he didn't have the usual scowl, he looked more amused than anything. Maybe a bit tired. As our eyes met he just shook his head in disbelief.

"Captain Snow Mane just sent in his resignation, you wouldn't have anything to do with that would you?"

"He was rude, incompetent and insulted my friends. Why did you ever make him head of security in the first place?"

"Back then he wasn't even half as obnoxious. To be honest, I kind of looked forward to this moment."

"Wait, you waited for me to shut him up?"

"It used to be your mother who shouted threats at him, kept him well behaved for the most part. And now... there are two of you, so he had enough and decided to retire. Good riddance, most of our security is automated anyway."

"So... I am not in trouble then?"

"I should have someone throw you in jail for a few days, but I doubt I will find anyone willing to make the arrest. Instead, care to tell me about your new friends? Some zonies have been betting on who you would bring back, and if you would come back at all. I don't think anyone bet on you bringing back a zebra though, where did you even find one?"

"Oh, ran into them at some old observatory. Seemed lost and confused, wanted to tag along so I let them. Xera ran away from the legion down south and didn't have anywhere to go. Honestly, better of a friend than most of the idiots around here."

"Your marefriend then?"

"What? No. Xera is far too weird for that."

"Really? And here I thought you started dating a zebra as some form of rebellion, your mother was like that you know?"

"Oh, and who did she date?"

"A courier. And I have no idea why, their arguments sent everyone running and I had to send them away so they wouldn't thrash the Institute. How she managed to find another with the same explosive temper I have no idea."

"... Which courier was this?"

"Number Seven, supposedly the worst one in the group. And I can believe it."

For once, it was my time to facehoof. I had a nagging feeling I knew exactly who this courier was, and it explained something. But really, mom?? Of all the ponies in Vanhoover you had to pick her?

"Who is the other one? The traumatized filly? I gather she's Amber's marefriend or something, but there seems to be more to the story."

"Violette, met her out in the wilds. Utterly terrified at the time. Some kind of doctor or engineer or something, wants to join as the wasteland is no place for eggheads. We ran into her sister, nastiest pony I have ever met. Freakishly good flier too. Sounded like Violette got thrown out by her family one way or another, and now she freaks out at the sight at my wings. She supposedly lost her own, possibly her family's fault. So I can't really blame her."

He was silent, first time I ever saw him stupefied. No, not stupefied. He looked scared, utterly terrified.

"Is she from New Pegasus?"

"No, somewhere else. Seems to be some other pegasus settlement somewhere, heard about some other pegasus causing trouble as well. No idea where the place is, no one else seem know anything either... Wait! Pear Cider knew about it, but told me to stop asking around. Saying it was dangerous."

"..."

So, there is something going on?

"What is it? Where is it? And why are you scared of them?"

Seriously, why have I never heard about this before? This was seriously bothering me, then I had an epiphany.

"Wait, are they changelings? I know they exist at least, saw them at the same place I met Xera."

Hold on, Xera isn't a changeling right? No, there is something definitely zebran in that individual.

"No. I don't think so at least. I will need to talk to the filly about this though."

"About what?? And you better not think of throwing her out or something, she is harmless!"

"Don't worry. Just need to make sure nopony is after her."

I raised an eyebrow, he is definitely hiding something. And I got a feeling he wouldn't tell me anything, something had him scared real good. Still, something to keep an eye open for. Time to change the subject and take control of this discussion.

"Ignoring that, care to tell me just what you are doing with Goldstar? I mean, I suppose I can understand what my mother is doing there. But it goes deeper than that, doesn't it?"

He frowned, not expecting it.

"Why wouldn't we work with somepony trying to bring a bit of civility and civilization back to Equestria?"

"Because she is cursed by a star? Because she is a freaking psychopath? Because she is some freaky unicorn prodigy from the war? Seriously, how many reasons do you need?? That mare doesn't need any help, she needs a bullet between her eyes, a decapitation and a pyre!"

"..."

A second time I had him stunned silent.

"Seriously! If you are going to throw your lot in with anypony in Vanhoover, why not the Steel Rangers? How about the Black Hoof? Anyone but that monster, why are you listening to her?!"

"I had a son once you know?"

"What?"

"It was before you were born, your uncle went to New Pegasus. Got shot without any chance to explain who he was, the steel ranger who fired didn't bother listening to the caravan he was with. Just another stripe, shot dead and abandoned in a dyke."

"You could have told me..."

"What would be the point? Besides, Starlight was there alongside Stormcloud back in the day. Helped setting up the whole town. She convinced the caravans to actually trade with us, then her mercenaries destroyed every raider gang that caused us the least bit of trouble. In all honesty, without her there wouldn't be an Institute. We would still be shut in the stable, too terrified of the world outside to leave."

"OK, so what is her angle? Why would she do that?"

"She wants engineers specializing in arcano-tech, it is the one thing we are good at. And to be honest, the ponies around here numbskulls bashing rocks together like some sort of primitives. We owe her, and I intend on paying back that debt."

He paused for a dramatic moment, his face turning into a scowl.

"However, that is all I am willing to do. She does creep me out, always did... Even before she started going out with Blackhorn, the mare is older than me for Celestia's sake!!"

"So... My family is not a secret cult of star worshipers then?"

"Goddesses no, why would you even think that?!"

"Phew... Anyhow, mind letting me browse through Glimmer's old stuff? I want to see if there is something more about the pretender, anything that we should be afraid of or otherwise know. Oh, and anything about Twilight Sparkle being a princess."

"You what?"

He blinked in surprise and confusion.

"Was I unclear?"

"No, no. Just, you have never been serious about studying before."

I yawned, stretched my legs and was thoroughly annoyed by my wings having a mind of their own, fortunately I lived alone. My memory was slightly off, I couldn't place when I had gotten back home. Didn't I leave? I could have sworn. And then I jumped high enough to hit my head in the roof at the sound of snoring.

"What? Who??"

For a brief moment my mind imagined some beautiful mare in my bed then I noticed stripes across the room and got confused.

"Wha... Wait, what??"

Then the cogs of my memory began to turn. Flashes of visions from my recent past burst through my mind. I blinked, trying to process them. Fortunately I recognized them and began to structure them somewhat, and I was back in the present. Kind of, still no idea what day it was. Didn't I have a date thingy on my pipbuck? Seems to be four days since we got back.

"Hey, Xera. Wake up".

I poked the snoring zebra on the nose.

Grumble

I poked them a few more times.

"Go away!"

Wow, grumpy much?

"Not getting up?"

"No. Never had bed before. I stay."

Then they hid completely underneath the blanket.

"So I have to eat breakfast alone?"

"YES!"

And so I went to have breakfast alone, Amber was in a bad mood and Violette still jumped when she saw me. Great, just great. As I walked to the diner I noticed zonies avoiding me. The moment they saw me they turned and took another route or stepped to the sides as if to let me through. When I ate the table I sat at was empty, the two tables closest were also empty, and I could hear them whispering and see them glancing my way. Fantastic, now everyone was afraid of me for some reason? Although, knowing my attention span they might have always done it and I just didn't notice. Eating alone was boring, but at least I had something to read. Let's see if there is anything else that could be useful in the old textbook.

Glimmers Theorem of Mass Causality

"In the case of an event with sufficient significance, every consequence occurs concurrently." This is the core of the theorem that revolutionized the theoretical work on temporal mechanics and and the threads of fate. To clarify, the term "timeline" is a poor fit as time isn't entirely linear but has a strong tendency to branch off in multiple directions. In the case of a rare event that will hereto be called a "Singularity Event" the effects on the timeline are so immense that the timeline splits not just once but dozens if not hundreds of times. I have personally observed and studied one such event (albeit in hindsight through fairly risky methods), and have reached the conclusion that the outbreak of the Great War must be considered a Singularity Event in its own right. For the common pony such an event has no effect on their lives, but those who dabble in the art of time travel needs to be wary as travelling forward past such an Event is extremely difficult due it being nigh impossible to navigate past a Singularity Event. An ill prepared traveler might find themselves lost in the wrong branch or even between them.

"Whu? Wait, what? Am I understanding this properly? Are there hundreds of different Equestrias there with Celestia knows how many different ponies living in their own realities?"

Sounds unrealistic, not to mention a bit too freaky for my taste. Then again, Starlight Glimmer is supposed to be one of the best experts on experimental magic in Wartime Equestria. Oh right, and there am I remembering that I am surrounded by a bunch of super geniuses and I am the one idiot.

"I hate this place."

Then I noticed the hoof or horn written note that had fallen out of the book.

While technically true, I find this explanation a tad bit too simplistic and too rigid. In practice, there are plenty of branches that are partially merged and partially divergent. Not to mention that they weave through and between each other as the timestreams dance around each other endlessly. It is fully possible for a pony to meet somepony else and for their respective fates to simply not exist in the other's reality. As a sidenote I would like to clarify that the Last Day is by far the largest Singularity Event in recorded history, even by the standards of Vanhoover.

G.S.

"REALLY?!"

I shouted at the note, suspecting the name behind the initials.

For once I decided to do the sensible thing and visit a doctor regarding my memory loss, concussions and other forms of physical trauma. Fortunately Doctor Tenderheart was one of the more reasonable zonies around, that or she had orders to be extra patient with me. Which might really be the case all things considered. After a full on medical scan she gave me the news.

"Well... Not sure how to tell you this, but you are officially brain damaged."

"Look, I already know that I am the stable idiot but can you please be serious?"

"I am, from the sounds of it you have been in several fights without wearing a helmet and hit your head more than once. Most of it will heal, but some of the damage is permanent. SIGH, look Windstriker... there isn't much I can do. You literally have been hit in the head one too many times now and short of a cybernetic brain implant I don't have many ideas."

"So, can I get one of those then?"

She held both of her hooves in front of her face and sighed even louder.

"Not without proper authorization. We don't exactly have Logic Co-Processors lying around in bulk and with your habit of hitting yourself in the head it might get ruptured and cause even further damage, brain surgery is a sensitive science you know. "

"And since I am not an egghead I'm not worth it, right?"

Wow, she really looked dejected and filled with pity.

"Hm... You know what? There is another option."

She began digging through the drawers and pulled out something, a box of medicine by the sound of it.

"Here. These should help you, follow the instructions to the letter. Never take more than the prescribed dose and NEVER mix it with alcohol of any kind. Got that?"

I looked at the label, Mint-Als.

"Sure... but what is it?"

"An old zebra drug designed to help people to focus, but it was frequently misused as a party drug in Equestria and got a bad reputation as a result. Supposedly even the Ministry Mare of Morale was a heavy addict of them and the M.O.M smuggled them everywhere."

"Wait... you got medicine that helps people to focus and you never gave them to me?? Do you have any idea how it was to sit in front of a book for hours and not have a single word get stuck in your head? To try to listen to angry teachers and instructors while my brain took a nap?!"

"I know, I know. Back when your issues became obvious I did suggest it to your mother but she was adamantly opposed to the idea, and nozony wanted to start fights with her in those days. Sorry, Windstriker. You should have had more support than you had."

"Yeah yeah..."

I looked at the little metal box in front of me.

"Thanks for trying at least. Anything more I should know about these? Risks? Suggestions?"

"As I said, don't take too many. Don't drink anything alcoholic, no matter how weak it might seem. Ponies who overdose on them become reliant on them, they need to take them to even function at normal levels. So they take more and more to compensate for their brains breaking down until they cease to function. Oh, and if you find something called Party Time Mint-Als, trample them in the dirt. It is a hyper concentrated variant that is far far worse. Usually it is a pill or two and you are hooked."

I shuddered, what kind of idiot would knowingly take hard drugs like that?

"Got it, I'll be careful."

And now I had yet another subject to shout about with my mother. Great.

I stared at the framed photograph for several moments in confusion. Sure, I had expected something new and had planned on reevaluating my understanding of Wartime Equestria. In honesty, I thought I was mentally prepared for nearly anything.

Yet this... This was just... Sigh

The picture did indeed have Ministry Mare Twilight Sparkle in the nude, with a pair of definite wings. That much I had expected, but the filly in the picture that she was hugging. A pale pink pony with a pair of wings of her own, and a horn. Just what? Are there even more alicorns around that I never heard of?? If so, then there is some serious alicorn inflation going on. If there are two or three then it is rare and magical but by now it seemed to be a regular thing. Who even was this filly? The princess of pinkness?

Then I decided to stop bothering to think about it. If I found any more info then great, and if I didn't then who cares? Not all that important as she is evidently not around anymore. More to the point, the rest of Starlight Glimmer's old possessions. The most tempting part was a purplish memory orb, and I was very curious as to what she had recorded. Fortunately I had asked around and found a practical alternative to carrying a unicorn around with you wherever you went.

Warning, hardware not certified by Stable-Tech detected. Please confirm synchronization.

I clicked Confirm.

Please standby while Starlight Institute Memory Reader software is installed,

Program installed,

Installing drivers,

Drivers installed,

Installing updates,

Updates installed,

Installation routine complete.

"Okay... now let's figure out if this thing works."

I actively thought 'Run Memory Reader' and was met with a new text message in my vision.

Please connect cables to memory orb.

So I did.

Memory Orb detected.

Security enchantment: Negative.

Run Memory Recording?

Yes.

This time I knew what to expect and was prepared for it. So the lack of wings wasn't nearly as horrifying but still felt wrong. The horn though... was weird. Are unicorns constantly annoyed by the extra weight how the bony object sticking right out of their foreheads? Because it was definitely annoying me!

My attention was promptly distracted by knocking on a wooden door. It was opened with telekinesis and was that what magic felt like? Wow, no wonder Unicorns keep using it for everything. Now I kind of want a horn.

The purple earth pony mare had a golden mane and was quite elegant. She was visibly nervous and had a desperate air about her. Must say that I like her gilded dress, it looked expensive but it was worth it in my opinion. Then I noticed the angry filly following her. A short, grey and golden unicorn filly. Really now?

"Thank you for sparing the time to help us. To be fully honest, I am not sure where else we can go."

"No need to thank me, miss Starshine. Even if it wasn't a request from the princess I would still make time, I was quite a loner as a child as well. I know how hard it can be."

"Still, thank you."

The mother showed a faint smile but still looked worried.

My eyes turned to the filly.

"So you are the filly with my name then?"

We asked in a gentle patient voice.

"No. I am not!"

She shouted back with a highly offended look on her face.

"Then what should I call you?"

"My name is Ètoile Van Hoof. Not Starlight. Not Golden. And certainly not Goldie or whatever you stupid ponies come up with. I have a real name, why can't anypony use it?! It shouldn't be all that difficult!"

The little filly was certainly verbose for her age.

"So that is what is going on."

I whispered to myself.

The other mare began explaining.

"We are exiles, my mother disapproved of my choice of lover. I thought moving to Canterlot would a good environment for her, suitably cultured and mostly unicorns. Yet the other foals began bullying her for being an outsider, and with how proud she is she began to retaliate."

"They are numbskulls, rude, spoiled and SOMEPONY had to set them straight!"

The little filly stated with confidence.

"There was an incident and princess Celestia decided that it was enough."

Her mother continued in a hushed tone.

"I have never been more frightened in my life, never knew she could get that angry."

There was a slight uncomfortable pause before I asked.

"Étoile, anything you want to say about it?"

"...How was I supposed to know her mane could turn into fire?"

I felt a shiver go down across my spine, not just as an expression but for my host as well. Her mother felt the need to elaborate further. She was half panicking at this moment, and hugged her filly.

"It didn't really happen. Étoile, she... sees things. Some of my relatives have similar gifts, but it never manifests at such a young age. I fear it alienates her from the peers, and and I have no idea what to do. She has episodes where she talks as an adult and has this facial expression no foal should have. As if she were an old mare."

"..."

The filly had this awkward expression, like she wanted to explain but couldn't.

"I... I know I am weird. I can't help it! It isn't my fault... I swear, I try to be normal! Promise!!"

"I know. We are quite similar, Étoile."

My voice had an emotional element that I couldn't quite place.

"I used to be the weird one when I was a filly. Never managed to get any friends, only had my books to keep me occupied. I became quite skilled at magic, but a pony needs friends."

"..."

The filly tilted her head curiously, her eyes shifted to that weird stare I had personally experienced. Her tone had change completely, and the way she talked didn't fit a filly at all.

"Interesting. You have seen it, haven't you? The ashen landscape where the wind carries naught but poison and dust. Where the sun is dead, and the only light comes from the emerald embers lit by long dead fools..."

I felt the blood drain from my face and my coat hair stand on end, this freaked out even Glimmer. Somehow I got the impression that this was more than just a spooky filly, as if my host really had seen the wasteland. And it was a hidden secret she never told anypony.

The filly became woozy and her despairing mother continued her story.

"It was when she was talking about that place, a colt tried to pick on her and she used some spell neither I nor Celestia recognized. They aren't sure if the colt will ever talk again, they can't even figure out what form of magic it was. And then Celestia showed up at my doorstep with my filly in a magical stasis, only for Étoile to break out of it as she had a new episode..."

"I see..."

I lifted my mug with coffee and took a sip as my host tried to process things. There was a tense silence as nopony knew what to say. My host was in an emotional turmoil, and the mother seemed broken as she had been through far too much stress and trauma over the years. The filly was leaning on her mother's forelegs in a daze. In the end it was Glimmer that broke the silence.

"I accept."

"Thank you..."

The other mare said with a tired expression on her face.

"I don't have much in the way in money, so I can't afford to move to the Crystal Empire..."

"We have dormitories, I'll help her settle in and make sure she is taken care of."

The filly broke out of her daze and was on the verge of tears.

"So I am thrown out of my home. Again."

"Your mother only wants the best for you."

My host said.

"No. I am a problem and she wants me gone. Just like my grandmother and princess Celestia did. Do you have any idea what it feels like when the princess everypony prays too decides that you are worthless? The kindest pony in Equestria hates me. Everypony does."

There was another moment of awkward silence, then the room faded away and the memory ended.

"That was certainly something... Mostly creepy and weird. But something I guess?"

I didn't really know what to think, most of what I got out of the memory at the time was that the mare had always been crazy. And that even Celestia recognized it. Still, there was a lot of stuff to dig through. Most of it in books and various terminal entries that I didn't have the patience to sort through. There was two holotapes however that had been marked as important. One was a recording from the before the bombs and the other was from when she reappeared a five decades ago. It felt most natural to listen to the old one first.

The first pony seemed to be Glimmer, and judging by her tone she was about to explode with anger.

"Calling Aurora names on the day her parents are buried, that is low. Even for you, Starlight."

"Yeah. I know..."

Her voice sounded more disappointed than anything.

"...It won't happen again."

"Care to tell me WHY you did it?"

"I was in a bad mood at the time, and angry at her."

"No, Starlight. You are lying again. Whenever you act like this then there is a point to it somewhere. So what was it? Still upset that they don't recognize you? Over the name thing?"

"Hm... Not bad. Yes, miss Glimmer. I am still frustrated by the fact that I have to hide who I am while Amethyst is treated as an aristocrat and Aurora is praised as a genius. All your rules that somehow only apply to me, all the lessons on self control, I'm avoiding magic as far as possible and she is encouraged to do the opposite? Don't you get it?? It doesn't matter what I do, the end result is the same. I get chastised, they get praised."

"You think you are being treated unfairly."

"YOU. DON'T. SAY."

The discussion took a weird turn as Glimmer was the one trying to explain herself to her furious student.

However, first Starlight continued with a frustrated tirade.

"Look, I know why you do it. I don't need an explanation. This isn't about that. But what did expect was going to happen when I am singled out among dozens of students as a problem child since day one? You want me to make friends and then you isolate me from everypony else."

"Tell me, what do you want me to do then? You still have episodes when you condition flares up and could hurt ponies badly. I understand that you are frustrated, but don't take it out a mare who just lost her parents!"

"As I said, it won't happen again."

"You don't regret it at all do you?"

"... What, you think I am some form of sociopath who does this for fun? SIGH... Look, as I keep telling you... They were my friends once, my only friends. Now there isn't even a hint of recognition in their eyes, not even at the mention of my real name. Their memories of me seemed blocked by some form of enchantment."

"You should have asked me for help, not bully a mare in mourning."

"To what end? I now know that it wasn't a a simple memory block at all. Somepony have removed me from their memories entirely. From every singular memory. The real me never existed in their minds."

"You're being paranoid again Starlight, there is no memory magic that advanced."

"Uhm, yes there is? I read the spell formula as a filly. With a bit of practice I could probably cast it if I wanted to."

"So you think it is your family again?"

The tone sounded skeptical.

"Yes, I do. They singled out me for things out of my control, just like Celestia did and you are doing."

"Can you at least promise to stop bullying the other students?"

"Sure. I have more important things to do anyway."

The mare was far too casual about the whole thing.

"The vision thing again? Isn't it better to focus on enjoying life instead of chasing a doomsday hallucination?"

"I still find it strange that you of all ponies deny it. And I don't see why I can't do both?"

"Before you leave. I was planning on retiring from teaching and start focusing on research instead. As you said, you are a good student apart from the social issues. You could spend your life doing what you are good at. Are you interested?"

"A new research institute was it? On the eastern slopes of the Unicorn Range's northern end? Thank you, but the answer is no. As you are going to hire Aurora I rather not accept, it would be volatile if I were to be present as well. Besides, I am looking for a position in princess Luna's new government in Canterlot."

"You are having an episode again, Starlight."

Glimmer's comment sounded more like a warning than anything else.

"How can you tell?"

"Princess Celestia still sits on the throne."

"Littlehorn hasn't happened yet? How odd, I could have sworn."

"What is going to happen in the Littlehorn Valley?!"

"Don't. You couldn't prevent it even if I did tell you."

"If anything is about to happen to all those foals then you need to tell me!"

"sigh... I hoped to not have to do this, sorry Glimmer."

"Wha-"

There was a strange sound in the recording.

"Sorry, I seemed to have blanked out for a moment."

"It's OK, I was already leaving. And I will not cause anymore trouble, I promise."

"Please try to keep it this time Starlight!"

"Yeah yeah yeah..."

"Wait, Littlehorn? Haven't I heard that name before?"

I began digging through my history book, found a chapter titled The Littlehorn Massacre and I felt my blood turn cold as I read. The Littlehorn Valley was the location for Luna's personal School for Gifted unicorns, and the zebras had used some necromantic bomb to kill everypony. Worse, it was almost impossible to gather the bodies for burial as the corpses had melted into the environment. The book called the weapon a Pink Cloud.

"Hold on... Pink Cloud, half melted ponies?"

I had flashbacks to my nightmare maybe a week prior.

"Did they do the same thing to Canterlot as well? They used THAT against defenseless foals?!"

It was a good thing that Xera was out or I might have become violent. Now I was just disgusted and furious, with no healthy way to ventilate my rage. Instead I collapsed back on the floor and covered my eyes with my forehooves and wings, trying to block out the visions that haunted me.

By now I had just about enough of the Stable. The exclusion, zonies treating me like a child and the fact that I literally had no place or anything to do at home. I was the grandfoal of the director and the daughter of Blackhorn, but me as a person? Back here I was no one. If it wasn't for my mother or grandfather, would they have thrown me out years ago? When I was still a filly? Wouldn't surprise me to be honest.

Point is I was making my way to Amber's room, wanting to know when he and possibly Violette would be ready to travel again. I had healed as well as I could, and if I stayed here any longer I would probably end up breaking something and getting into trouble.

When I reached his room I could hear his mother through the door, and saw a familiar robot standing guard in the doorway. Amber's mom was the robotics expert, and liked to flaunt her position as much as possible. She even had the visor of her personal guard robot changed to a crimson visor to match her name, but I suspected that it was mostly for intimidation. Fortunately I didn't scare easily.

So I just walked up to the door, opened it and walked in. And saw Amber sitting a corner with his hooves over his ears and Violette curled up in a bed. Great, JUST GREAT. Again it was up to me to sort out a rude idiot as nopony else could be bothered to. She noticed me, turned around and shouted at me.

"Can't you see that I am talking to my daughter?!"

"More like bullying him."

My voice was low and calmer than I thought possible.

"That is none of your business, Wingstripe!"

"Yeah, it kind of is."

I walked up to her, staring into her eyes the whole time. She was just yet another loudmouth that picked on those weaker, all talk and nothing behind it. Pathetic.

"Amber is my friend, and I don't like people picking on him. So shut up, get out and preferably never talk to him again. NOW."

For a moment there was a hint of hesitation, then the rage took over again.

"Are you threatening me?"

She asked in a voice that was probably intimidating, but I didn't care.

I took a short step backwards, she smiled triumphantly for a moment. And then I altered my weight to my forehooves, propelled myself backwards with them and bucked as hard as I could into the faceplate of the robot behind me. A satisfactory CRUNCH was heard as the metal gave way and its electronics sputtered and and the lifeless machine fell to the floor with a thud.

"Yes, Ruby. Yes. I. Am. Since you are an idiot I'll put it in simple words. I hate people like you, a lot. And recently I have discovered that I don't really have a problem with killing ponies if it keeps them from hurting others. Oh, and you know what? Amber is my first friend, so it is kind of personal."

Her facade of rage and superiority melted away. She sat on the floor, her eyes transfixed into mine.

"So here is the deal. You hurt any of my friends again, and you are dead."

I slowly closed my eyes and I heard her scrambling from the floor and running out into the hallway, as far away as possible from me. Probably a wise decision. Something she never understood is that empty threats are worthless if someone calls your bluff.

"Amber, you ok?"

"..."

He had gone mute again. He wasn't OK. Of course he wasn't. I stayed with him for a few hours, went and talked to Doctor Tenderheart and she promised to support them. I wasn't really trained for it and Violette really didn't want me in the room. So I had to wait a while before I could bring up my suggestion to get the heck out of here. In the meantime, I still had a few things to dig through.

Some more time to kill, a large pile of books and journals. Unfortunately my patience was running out so I wasn't going to read through it all. Not sure I could, even with the magic pills. There was however still a holotape that I hadn't listened to yet and if my suspicions were right this could be the important one.

The date, exactly 50 years ago.

"Huh, now that is suspicious." Way too convenient for my taste. Now, on to the tape.

The first thing I heard was the rapid flipping of pages in some book, then the hydraulic door opened.

"Wha... who in Celestia's name are you?!"

"Hm, it seems she really did teach me everything. How disappointing."

I heard the sound of a book being shut.

"Welcome back Director, I am Étoile Van Hoof. I hope you recognize the name."

"What?! Get out of my chair! How did you even get into the Stable? Or past all the security?!"

"Golden Starlight."

"Wait..."

"Glimmer gave me the override code to the stable door personally, not that it is relevant. I paid a visit here when the stable was constructed so teleportation was remarkably easy. Anyhow, please tell me when you have processed the information so that we can get started."

"How aren't you dead?! It has been over a century!"

"..."

"And get out of my chair!"

"No."

"Do I have to call security?"

"Do you seriously think they would make any difference?

"..."

"Now, I am in this chair because you need to understand who is in charge. You are an equestrian citizen, I am the highest ranking survivor of princess Luna's government. So you are going to sit in the guest chair, and you are going to listen."

There was the sound of what I assume to be a chair being moved. Then she continued with her sweet poisonous voice.

"First of order, your stable is doomed. It has been 150 years since the doors were closed, you even missed the whole debacle with Icetear setting up a provisional government in Vanhoover. A few more decades, and you will be forced to join the rest of the world or risk inbreeding."

"Did you really come here after all these years just to say that?"

"Of course not, I wanted to inform you of the state of the world outside..."

Her voice changed, and I could practically feel the vitriol dripping off her tongue.

"Equestria is dead, all of it. The wilds are twisted, the wind is radioactive, the ponies that are still around are either cannibalistic monsters, violent idiots or have enough WSD to be just as bad. Then we have the beasts, all of them eat ponies. Long story short, it is a worst case scenario."

"Is there a point to this?"

"Yes, yes there is. The ponies out there hold grudges against anything with a stripe, and they are very violent. If you open the stable door, then this little remnant of the old days is finally dead. And as we have already established, you can't stay holed up in here forever. Fortunately, I am here."

"Skip the flowery nonsense and tell me what you want, are you here to take over?"

"Hahahaha... No, Director. I don't have the time nor interest to babysit a bunch of sheltered crossbreeds..."

Her voice had turned downright melancholic.

"The point to all of this is, that I have lost my engineer. Hopefully, your stable might act as a suitable substitute. In all honesty, I doubt it. However, there are few other alternatives so you will simply have to do."

"You return after all this time for a damned engineer??"

"No, Director. I meant ALL of the stable population. Hopefully their collective skills are worth the effort."

"... And what will we get in return?"

"Apart from survival? Hope, a chance to integrate in a greater society and a chance to help rebuild Equestria. And no, that isn't just empty talk. If I can manage to reign in the chaos in the region then... then I have fair odds of fixing this mess the princesses created."

"If I say yes, what do you need us to do?"

"At the moment, not much. A decade or two and I should have prepared Vanhoover for your return to the surface. I need to establish a few contacts, gather some capital and bring a bit of order back to Equestria. Feel free to open the doors somewhere in that time span, there is a town to the south. The Pear family runs it, they are trustworthy. All you need to do is inform them you are open for trade and the caravans will handle the rest."

There was a short pause before she continued.

"Oh, and I have recorded this conversation. Please add it to the material that is required reading for the Directors of this stable. Don't bother trying to delete it, there is a separate subroutine to keep you from doing so."

The hydraulic door opened, Amber sat on the floor with some terminal and a wrench in his mouth. Violette was asleep and I realized that I hadn't seen his roommate since we returned, must be staying somewhere else or the Director arranged something. He noticed me and waved a hoof.

"Hey, Amber. Still not talking?"

He shook his head.

"Right, anyhow. We have been here two weeks now and I can't stand it anymore. Have probably outstayed my welcome either way. Think you and Violette are up for travelling sometime soon?"

Amber looked at me like I was an idiot, grabbed his chalkboard and began writing.

We aren't going.

"What?"

He erased it and wrote more.

Neither of us is in any state to travel.

More stuff.

There isn't anything for us out there and its too dangerous.

"But, adventure! Saving ponies and that stuff!"

That is your hobby, I can't do that stuff.

"You can't stay here, everyone is a jerk!"

Because you scare them, Windstriker.

"What?"

Its a stable, you act as a wastelander.

"WHAT?? Since when?"

Since always?

I sighed, I suspected this moment would come. I had been dreading it ever since they first bonded over egghead stuff. It has finally happened, I am alone. Amber and Violette were staying here, they fit right in. And Xera had grown very comfortable with the stable luxuries, even befriended some of the guard zonies. I however, was the one nozony could stand. Fuck, I really hated being alone.

He poked me with his hoof.

Sorry, Windstriker.

I stood in front of the stable door, activated the controls and felt a lump in my throat as the warning sounds blared and door slid outwards. The large mechanical limb stretched out, grabbed it and the gear shaped door rolled to the side. The outside was dark, it was two hours past midnight, the few lights still glowing came from the Institute building in front of me. The central tower was indeed impressive, but I didn't care as I stepped out into the bone chilling cold outside. On my E.F.S I could see very few zonies still moving about, probably all guards. None looked this way as I flapped my wings and took to the air.

As I really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone I flew close to the western mountainside that the Stable had been built into, flew further and further until I finally reached the peak. The wind was harsh and painful, how fitting I thought. I looked down at the town where I had grown up. The place was better off than almost all of Equestria and I utterly hated it.

"Now where to?"

By all rights I should be flying south but it was in the middle of the night and the Daughters would probably shoot any suspicious fliers who randomly landed in town this late. I had another idea, or more of a longing really. I flapped my wings and flew even further upwards, up through the clouds.

I sat down on the fluffiest cloud I could find and looked up at the night sky denied to so many ponies. The countless stars with their faint light, and the moon in its full regal shimmer. It was nice to sit there under Luna's wonderful light. Wonder whatever happened to the princesses?

My loneliness and anxiety was less painful as I thought back to the legends. On why Luna was banished all those years ago, how she had been driven to rage from her pain and anguish. The princess of the night, she would understand, wouldn't she?

"Princess Luna?"

There was no answer, and praying felt silly. Not that I had any idea how I was supposed to do that in the first place. Instead I just laid down and closed my eyes. And hoped that my dreams would be free from nightmares. It felt like i lay there in hours until I was distracted by a soft gentle voice.

"Sorry, she isn't available. Is it acceptable if I aid you instead?"

I opened my eyes, turned my head and saw an elegant winged mare standing before me. Her coat was a dark blue that blended in with the night sky. It was a stark contrast to her amber mane which sent embers flying as it danced in the wind. The odd thing were her golden eyes that looked almost pleading, like she was nervous about meeting me. Then I noticed her horn.

"Uhm, can I help you? And who even are you?"

"You are in greater need than I am, as for who I am..."

She looked dejected as if she was remembering something painful.

"... I am most likely the only mare able to listen to your prayers these days."

"You're not telling me your name then?"

"I... may have forgotten it over the years."

"You forgot, your own name?"

I didn't know how to respond this.

"It isn't even half as strange as you think it is. May I have a seat?"

"Suuuure. Care to tell me what is going on at least?"

The alicorn mare laid down next to me looked solemnly at the full moon.

"You are dreaming, and this is when Luna used to show up and give important advice to ponies. These days the dreams of ponies are naught but nightmares and horrors, and the Princess of the night can no longer help."

"She is dead then?"

"Although I hope that isn't the case I can't sense her. So most likely, only her moon remains. Oh how horrible this age is, how did we go so wrong..."

"Not to be egocentric or anything, but it is my dream and I am the one with a broken life?"

"My apologies, Windstriker. I tend to ramble. You feel estranged from your kin and you are scared of being alone was it? If I may be a bit rude, you have missed parts of the picture. There are still some of your friends who look forward to your return."

"... Thanks. So where do I go from here?"

"Hm, give it some time. I think fate will take the lead soon enough. Except there was something else worrying your little filly head wasn't there?"

"Yeah, I wanted to be a hero like the Stable Dweller but all that seems to happen is that I get my flank handed to me in every real fight. How does she do it? Is it just experience? Does she have divine protection or plot armour or something?"

"I don't know who this mare you talk about is, but if you want divine favour then I might be able to help."

"What do you mean?"

"Like this."

She touched my forehead with her horn and I felt a burning pain. I was about to scream when it receded, touching my forehead I realized I had a spot where my coat had been burned off. Turning to her I scowled, and was about to shout at her when her hoof touched my nose.

"Now would be a good time to wake up, my little pony."

I slowly opened my eyes, and even before I had fully opened them I saw three red bars. I was about to rise when I felt a sharp pain in my back, it spread and I couldn't move my limbs. Then I saw the creatures that had caught me. Vaguely equine in shape, dark carapaces, eyes like that of a bug and with scorpion tails.

"Oh shi..."

Changelings, and I had let them catch me asleep. Unfortunately I couldn't do much more than lie there. The three creatures seemed very amused and a bit confused by the situation, not expecting to find me up here. Was their hive up here or something?

"A zebra with wings, now I have seen everything."

One of them said.

"Should we hand it over to the S.S.O?"

"And give them all the fun? Not a chance... FUCK, she looks just like the runaway!"

"Huh? But sarge, it has stripes!"

"I know. Which means this is S.S.O. business."

"So, we bring it in then?"

"No. Too much paperwork, let's just dispose of the stripe and never talk about it again."

There was some form of silent agreement and then I was pushed through the cloud and plummeted towards the ground. There was nothing I could do as i fell and fell, until they decided to prolong it by grabbing me, flying upwards and dropping me again. Treating me as I was some hoofball.

My muscles began to react to my desperate attempts to move them, I could barely flap my wings but I was outmatched. I tried bucking them, and missed wildly. So I entered S.A.T.S. and fired away, hitting one point blank but the bullets just ricocheted off the armoured plates.

DODODOM

The changeling in front of me explodes into bloody chunks. Before I could react I heard a chorus of machine gun fire and something far more impressive. Next thing i knew I crashed into the ground, hitting some slope and rolling down. I hurt all over, but I was somehow alive. I struggled to keep my eyelids open but I heard something heavy gallop towards me.

"She's alive. Wait... Ma'am, it is one of the crossbreeds. What do we do?"

The voice was mechanical, like that of a robot or...

"Bring her back to the citadel along with the traitors."

"Ma'am, the rules-"

"That is an order, Knight!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

The last thing I felt was someone injecting me with a painkiller before I blacked out.

Level Up

Perk Added: Fallen Caesar Technique
Either through fierce training, rigid discipline or by just being an idiot savant when it comes to fighting you have unlocked the feared fighting style of the zebrecian legionaries. All of your hoof to hoof attacks now ignore 10 points of Damage Threshold as you hit right in the weak spots of any armoured opponent.

Quest Perk Added: Divine Providence
For reasons unknown there is an individual of immense power who watches over you, forever tilting the odds in your favour and making sure that nothing short of fate itself can bring you down. Until further notice you possess a total immunity to critical hits.

Condition Removed: Concussion
Your head is now as healthy as it is ever going to be, which is unfortunately not as healthy as it should be. Although you no longer suffer the penalties of a concussion you have permanently lost 1 point of Intelligence. You really should have worn a helmet.

Reputation Gained: The Starlight Institute - Shunned

Act 1 Complete: Innocence Lost