Prince Shining Armor gave his wings a stretch as he approached the Crystal Castle after another session with Captain Cumulus. While he had continually called on his military experience after resigning his commission from Canterlot's E.U.P., having frequently taken a personal hoof in training the Crystal E.U.P., he had to admit that it had been quite some time since he had to break routine and open himself up to learning again, ever since his sister bestowed him with his wife's magic that had turned him into one of the first stallion alicorns in millennia. When he returned from his visit to Ponyville with his new set of wings, he had asked his Captain of the Guard for some pointers, and Cumulus had done much more than that; having set aside time for one-on-one instruction with the Crystal Prince each and every day since. He still considered himself an absolute novice, nowhere even close to being able to stand hoof to hoof with any of his E.U.P.'s aerial guard, but he was improving every single day, and there was certainly an undeniable freedom in taking to the sky. So far the greatest challenge was overcoming the airsickness that he had ever since he was a colt. As he learned how to control himself in the air, it seemed to lessen rather quickly. He had yet to see if it would still be a problem when he was on board an airship, however.

It had been three months since the final defeat of the Storm King and his armies, and rebuilding efforts in Ponyville, Canterlot, and the northeast coast were very much ongoing, and would likely continue for years. He had called for skilled volunteers to postpone their responsibilities here in the Crystal Empire, and go to the most affected areas to help build, comfort, and feed those who needed help building, comforting, and feeding. As such, the population of Equestria's northernmost city dropped by about a quarter.

Shining approached the underside of the Castle, where the Crystal Heart was currently on display, and stopped to see the freshly carved memorial that had been placed out front, just before the Heart's receptacle proper. It was an obsidian pedestal, and a white stone larger-than-life Crystal Heart, atop which stood a proud and valiant pink quartz statue of Princess Cadance.

On the obsidian base, there was a gold engraving which read;

This memorial dedicates and honors the selfless determination, courage, and kindness of the citizens of the Crystal Empire, who took in over two hundred Ponyvillians in their most desperate hour. May Amore forever watch over them.

The memorial was simply beautiful, and what had astounded Shining the most when it was delivered barely a week ago was the age of the sculptor, Chipcutter; he was barely a colt, and he had been one of the refugees who had taken shelter up here for several weeks after the Everfree Forest had engulfed the town. He had made this statue in a matter of weeks, along with another one for Ponyville, also dedicated to what the Empire had done for them.

One of the first things Shining had done upon returning to ascend to the Crystal Empire's throne, was oversee as much of a 'funeral' that he could without a body, for his wife Cadance. But afterward, instead of observing a traditional city-wide period of mourning, he implored the Empire's citizens to help Equestria's healing efforts however they could with their time, talents, and resources.

"Spread the light and love of the Empire wherever it is needed. That's what Cadance would want us to do." He had told them.

One of his first fears in the aftermath of everything was figuring out how and when to explain things to his infant daughter. But to her credit, the alicorn foal seemed to have somewhat of a grasp of what had happened. He could almost see it in her eyes when she had touched the Crystal Heart in the closing minutes of the memorial service.

"Mama..." Flurry had whimpered as the Heart glowed brightly with her touch.

Luckily, it wasn't just within Equestria's borders where effort was being made. The sparks of friendship that the Elements of Harmony started had bore fruit as the nation slowly got back on its hooves. The Yaks farther north had donated several wagons worth of blankets. Princess Ember and the dragons aided with building materials. Sadly, Gilda, Greta, and Gabby were the only three griffons who helped with correspondence as loved ones made efforts to get in touch with one another, especially in the coastal cities. The Hippogriff Kingdom was only able to send minimal help as well, as they were also in the midst of rebuilding their fallen capital of Mount Aris. Rescue efforts in the four major cities hit hardest on the northeast coast were greatly aided by King Thorax and the Changeling Kingdom, who had also helped Twilight retake Canterlot in the closing days of the Storm King's occupation. Of all the kindgoms beyond their borders, Equestria owed its survival most of all to the changelings.

As the days passed, Shining found himself able to take more breaths of relief. As challenging as rebuilding and getting used to his new powers were, they were challenges he relished. As close as everything had come to the brink months ago, he took the chance to recover at all as a blessing. Thousands had perished in the attacks on the northeast coast, which meant thousands more had lost loved ones. So when he considered what he had lost, he found it easier to carry on when he considered what other ponies had lost as well.

A tragic few had lost virtually everything that they had built their lives on and around.

He got salutes from the guards on duty as he passed the Crystal Heart and ascended the stairs into the castle, the first floor of which was nearly two stories up directly over the Heart. He walked through the corridors up to the throne room, and stared at the throne that he had inherited from Cadance.

"Hang in there, Twiley."

And thus I begin my 50th story here on Fimfiction.

Thanks for reading! Your comments and feedback are everything to me.

Twilight's ears perked at what sounded like wind whistling through leaves and branches. She felt what she's pretty sure was dirt under her hooves. She could only assume she stood in a forest, judging from the sounds, which was all she could discern, because there was nothing but black all around her.

"H-Hello?" She asked. The breeze was chilly against her coat, and it sent a shiver up her spine.

"M... M-Mercy..." A strained voice echoed through the trees.

Princess Twilight bolted up in bed, nearly sending her comforter flying off of the end of the bed as she drew in several deep breaths, remembering where she was, her castle in Ponyville. She looked over to her bedroom window, and saw the sky begin to glow orange with the imminent rise of the morning sun.

Taking another deep breath, she swung her back legs over and got up out of bed, stretching and taking a few more deep breaths. Starlight was largely unable to combat these recurring nightmares because of how short and sudden they were. For the past three months, the Princess of Friendship found most of her nights like this. Even if she couldn't remember what she had dreamed about, she rarely woke up feeling well rested.

Quickly running a comb through her mane to get rid of the bed head, she stepped out of her bedroom into the corridor, and began to make her way towards the kitchen, wondering if her mind was ever going to give her a break during her sleeping hours. She honestly wasn't sure if it was part of the grieving process, or survivor's guilt. The memorial up in Canterlot was nearing completion, would that grant her any reprieve?

She supposed she would have to wait and see.

Over the last quarter year, nearly all the homes in Ponyville were either repaired or rebuilt, decreasing the size of and eventually eliminating the vast camp that had been placed behind the castle. If she was honest, she badly missed having displaced ponies in here every evening and morning, it gave the castle a badly needed life to its halls. But as homes were rebuilt, the castle began to empty out, as did the camp behind it, which had been an almost nightly gathering spot for snacks and songs.

Now that the town was beginning to inch back towards what could be considered normal, Twilight began feeling as empty as her castle. In the first month, funeral services were held almost daily for the lives lost in Canterlot. She had made it a point to personally attend as many as she possibly could, watching as the cemetery on the west side of town expanded faster than in any other time in the town's history.

Knowing that she wouldn't be able to bear attending all of the separate services of her fallen friends, she had asked each of their families if they would agree to a group service for the six heroes who had met their ends in Canterlot. Completely understanding the Princess of Friendship's point of view, they all agreed. She wasn't able to keep it together during her dedication, and truth be told, there wasn't a dry eye in the group of hundreds who had come to pay their last respects to the modern heroes of Equestria. Twilight had hoped that it would start to get better after that, but seeing how there was nothing left to bury, her emotional state didn't improve much. The ghosts of the past were all around her. Sugarcube Corner, Carousel Boutique, the cottage, the farm, and the weather patrol all reminded her of the friendships that had been cut short.

For as brutally as she had defeated the Storm King in the throne room of Canterlot Castle, it wasn't that action that was keeping her restless at night. No, what she still had trouble accepting in hindsight was what she had done to his lieutenant, Tempest Shadow, outside an old cave-turned-mineshaft in the town of Foal's Peak. After following residual traces of her magic down the northeast coast, she had descended to a small town, that had been massacred by offensive spells. Because she wasn't going to risk Tempest getting away, she hadn't taken the time to look for survivors. It had been a close match, but Twilight triumphed with the amplified power of three alicorns and the Elements of Harmony.

When the crippled unicorn had asked for mercy, Twilight blasted her into the cave, and collapsed it down on her, along with half the mountain, burying her barely alive. The look of fear in her eyes had stuck with the Princess of Friendship every day since.

When the dust had literally settled from their fight in front of the mountain, a small detachment of E.U.P. came down and confirmed that there hadn't been any survivors hiding; forty ponies had been killed in the streets and in their homes. It was one of the most horrifying things she had ever seen, and so far, the only residents lucky enough to escape had been away on travel; an old mare and her grandson. The E.U.P. had directed them to Ponyville, and Twilight had put them up in one of the castle guest rooms while she figured things out. It didn't surprise her when she came into the kitchen and saw the elder earth mare already there, pouring a fresh cup of hot coffee.

"Good morning, Quartz Crystal. How's Citrine?" Twilight asked, grabbing a clean cup of her own.

"Sleeping in. She's been improving."

"I'd actually like to talk to you about her situation, and yours. I'll be honest, I really don't see Foal's Peak recovering, at all." Twilight told her.

"I've started to come to the same conclusion, Princess. Hard not to expect something like that when nearly the entire population is wiped out. Pour souls..."

"Miss Cheerilee's classes are starting up in a few weeks. If you'd like, I can assist however I can in helping you and Citrine settle permanently in Ponyville." Twilight offered.

"Th... Thank you, Your Highness. It would probably be an easier transition for Citrine than if we were to move somewhere bigger. I know things will only get better as further rebuilding is done."

"I know it's a daunting task, but if you'd like to return to Foal's Peak and help with laying the victims to rest, we can arrange foal care services."

"I don't think I'll be going back, Princess. Besides, last I heard, somepony has already started with that."

"Really? Somepony else made it out?" Twilight asked.

"No, she had moved away quite some time ago. Her name is Glitter Drops. When she heard what happened, she returned and has been working with your E.U.P. squad for the past couple weeks."