A few months later, Twilight was humming contentedly in her office as she finished up the latest stack of end-of-semester reports from her staff. Everything had gone smoothly as the students completed their first full year, and she was quite happy with the progress they'd all made. Even Garble had passed each of his classes, not quite with flying colors, but when the final averages were ranked, he was still among the top 25 percent of students. She suspected his sister's influence was a big part of that.

Garble wasn't the only dragon who'd undergone positive changes. Torch was now Dragon Lord Emeritus, having watched with pride when his daughter Ember passed the Gauntlet of Fire and become the new Dragon Lord. Though she was not Lady of Fire yet, Torch had begun the process of teaching her what it meant, in preparation for her assuming the Role.

Twilight had also taken time to visit Seaquestria again and visit Queen Novo, King Leo and Queen Schuberta, with Lady Aputsiaq accompanying her. The windigo leader's interactions with the three had been... interesting, to say the least, as had the lessons the five of them had held together. But all had ended well, and Lady Aputsiaq was now back in the Crystal Empire, still working diligently on improving her peoples' situation, while Cadance and Shining Armor worked to mediate between she and the Yaks when she had finally presented them with a request for the return of the windigos' ancestral homelands. Negotiations were still ongoing.

Twilight had also received word from Swift-Pad and Maxilla that their pups, born just days after Flurry Heart, were doing well; she was looking forward to getting to see them once they were old enough to travel, probably another month or two from now.

Finally, as she filed the last of her papers, Twilight rose from her desk and headed for the door.

Just then, Spike burst in. "Twilight! Urgent letter from Canterlot!"

Twilight's eyes widened as she figured out what this must mean, and quickly accepted the scroll from him. Unfurling it, she read the few words inside, and nodded happily, before pulling another parchment and quill from the desk and jotting a quick note to be sent to the Mayor, letting her know where Twilight was going and why this time. As she wrote, she looked at her son with a smile. "Spike? Fire up the skimmer. It's time."

Word had quickly spread throughout Canterlot that Luna had finally gone into labour and a massive crowd had gathered before Canterlot Castle with rows of Royal Guards and White Changelings holding back a wide line. Most were focused on keeping the crowd back while some looked nervously towards the castle for word on the royal's birth.

Above them all, a skimmer sped towards the castle's airdock flanked by the fastest fliers as protection and security. Twilight hopped out before Spike had even begun to land, gliding down to the floor and taking off before anyone could have offered her anything.

Moving down the corridors at speeds she hadn't believed herself capable of moving, Twilight spotted Celestia's pacing form, devoid of her usual attire and calm demeanor. "Twilight, thank goodness," Celestia said as she started towards her. "Come, they need your help now."

"Right," she nodded her head as her heart thudded in her chest as they entered the room. Twilight's eyes were instantly drawn towards Luna, who was already in the proper placement to ease her birth with doctors surrounding her, and then to Pharynx whose horns were glowing while he was holding Luna's hoof. Blinking, Twilight could see a shimmering portal around Luna but it was weak.

"Thank the Eternal Swarm you're here," the changeling said through clenched teeth, either from concentrating on the spell he was casting or Luna squeezing his hoof or some combination. "I need your help to make this portal bigger."

"What kind of port-" Twilight began to ask only to be cut off by Luna swearing in a language she didn't recognize and Pharynx to buzz his wings as he began to curse as Luna squeezed harder.

One to the Dream Realm, Twilight Magic said in her head, the spell already forming in her mind. There's no time to waste; Luna needs to be in there now.

Twilight closed her eyes as she began to focus on the spell, levitating in the air as she began to focus on this crucial moment.

The crowd outside gasped loudly as a massive rip in the sky opened wide, bisecting the castle. There were concerned mutterings as they began to push against the Guards and Changelings protecting the castle when Celestia appeared on a balcony.

"My dear ponies, worry not, for all is well," she said to the gathered citizens below. "Twilight has merely performed a spell that will help ease my sister's labour. There is no danger present to any of you."

"What kind of spell?" one reporter called out.

"Something associated with my sister's unique talents, and that is all I will say for now," Celestia replied as she raised her eyes to the rift to observe a range of awe-inspiring images leaping and dancing in the sky, images she knew were born from dreams - a couple holding a foal, a parent watching their child playing on some turntables, an Earth Pony stallion wearing a cape and soaring through the sky on what looked like a golden cloud, a giant pegasus and a unicorn foal sharing a building-sized muffin, a pair of unicorn foals whom she vaguely recognized as a young Starlight and Sunburst assembling a tower out of books, and many others.

Though she had to duck her head and blush when she saw another image, looking vaguely like a pony and a yak embracing and their lips pressed against one another.

It was nearing the height of the night when the portal suddenly vanished and all drew unnaturally quiet as they sensed that a great moment was upon them. Walking onto the balcony was an elderly-looking stallion who had the greatest smile on his face, with his horn glowing before a beam of light arched into the sky, flashing bright blue.

"Princess Luna has been blessed with a healthy colt," he shouted to the roaring crowd who began to shoot their own bolts of magic into the air to celebrate while hooves pounded the ground in jubilation.

Word spread quickly throughout the city as more flashes of blue exploded into the sky signaling the birth of the prince, with bells beginning to ring out throughout the mountain city and across the kingdom as fliers began to spread the news as fast as they could, with celebrations erupting to match the end of the war a few years ago. In the Packlands, with the aid of their long distance communication devices, they were already howling out to the new heir to their beloved moon and Grace. The crystal ponies poured their adoration for their Empress's aunt having a healthy birth into the Crystal Heart, causing it shine a near blinding glow. In Seaquestria, the seaponies began singing a new song, with no words but only a tone of sheer jubilation, while in Aquastria, the merlions raised their heads and roared in delight. And other nations too shared their expressions of happiness as the news came in.

All of this was nothing to match the overflowing joy and delight that Luna had as she held her foal close to her chest, allowing him to suckle for his first meal.

"A truly more perfect being, I have never seen," she said as she nuzzled her foal, kissing his horn and head. "Truly, he is the peak of perfection, is he not Pharynx?"

Pharynx nodded his head, nuzzling his son and breathing lightly on his gossamer wings with the foal whining slightly as he turned around to lick Pharynx's nose.

"He is magnificent," Moondancer agreed from where she and Trixie had joined them, the two having been on their way back already after Luna sent out the call to them earlier that week.

"A new constellation shall be created in his honour," Luna said with a great smile on her face as she studied her child's face. "Though sister, dear sister?" she asked as she managed to turn her head away from her son, though she kept her hoof over him.

"Yes Luna?" Celestia said with her own tears of joy running down her face, clearly longing to hold her nephew on her hooves and bestow the bottomless love she already had for him.

"The noise outside, what is the cause?" she asked, turning back to her child.

"You and your child," Celestia chuckled as she nuzzled her sister before looking downwards at her nephew's wide eyes, a beautiful vibrant green, as he stared back at her in awe. "All came to hope you both would be well, and are delighted to find that you are." She held out her wing towards the window. "All are celebrating in honour of you and your foal, all because they hold you as dearly as I do."

Luna began to cry again, holding her precious foal close to her chest. "Truly you jest; 'tis not nice to play with my emotions as they are so raw."

"Silly Lus," Pharynx nuzzling her again before placing a kiss on her cheek. "They love you almost as much as I do. You don't need to be a changeling to see it, my love."

Luna rose to her hooves, and with Pharynx holding his colt in arms with the foal yawning and burying his snout into his chitin, approached the balcony.

The crowd quieted as the family showed themselves, and as Luna held up her foal.

"Citizens of Equestria, and the world," she announced. "We are pleased to present unto you, the newest member of the Royal Family... Prince Regulus Asterion!"

Cheers broke out anew at this, and Luna and Pharynx smiled.

It was a good several hours before everyone was able to finally get to sleep for the night, and thus a later morning than usual (though Celestia had managed to get the sun going on its path at the proper time before even she fell back into slumber).

Finally though, everyone was gathered in the dining room, including Twilight's fellow Elements, whom Celestia had sent another skimmer down to bring up the day before after Twilight's arrival at the castle.

"Congratulations," Applejack told the happy parents. "And hello, little guy," she told the small prince who was looking around curiously.

"Thank you," Luna replied, with Pharynx seconding her.

"My bro's going to be steamed he missed the big moment, but he should be here this afternoon," he said. "Tagma can't wait to meet her cousin."

“And my dear sister Metanotum has already crafted gifts a plenty for my precious little foal,” Luna smiled, nuzzling her colt happily with Regulus Asterion chirping and buzzing his wings.

Everyone around the table smiled at the sight, and Pinkie sighed happily.

"He's gonna be as energetic as little Pound Cake," she said. "And as magical as Pumpkin Cake!"

“And changing shapes as befitting a changeling,” Thorax said, turning around the corner with a wide smile on his face. “I am sorry for not getting here faster but I was halfway across the country when we heard the news.”

"It's no problem, little bro," Pharynx told him. "Come on in, meet your new nephew."

Thorax did, and leaned down, laughing happily when the little prince reached up and curiously grasped his uncle's snout between his hooves before he tried to pull the snout into his mouth. Thorax bit back a snort as not to startle the newborn, looking up at his brother. “This takes me back," he said.

"Tagma did it too, huh?" Pharynx asked.

"Exactly." Thorax said. “And you too, in case you forgot, though there was more hitting then.”

At the looks he was getting, he did his best to shrug. "Life in our hive was rough, and I was the closest we had to a pacifist."

“And I admit I was tough on him,” Pharynx said, picking up his son. “I didn’t want others to walk over him so I tried to make him stronger. Didn’t work out exactly as I had thought it would, though he finally managed to stand up to me a year or so ago.” He beamed. "Made me so proud."

Thorax blushed.

“Stallions,” Luna said with a scoff, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

"Survival instinct," Pharynx shot back, though he was careful not to speak too loudly, so as not to upset his son. "I was already proud of him for standing up to our former Queen, but standing up to her and standing up to me are two different things."

"Um..." Thorax looked a little hesitant. "Speaking of, she hasn't been causing any trouble for anyone, has she?"

"Not a word," Celestia told him. "She's behaved herself, with no negative reports from any of the guards watching over her."

"Good."

“Though Cozy, on the other hoof,” Celestia frowned. “She has been speaking to lawyers about getting herself released. The most da-” she stopped herself, and ignoring the icy glare of her sister at her choice of words. “The strongest part of her defense is that she hadn’t committed any crime warranting her current imprisonment and her only crimes that can be proven are fraud and identity falsification. We do have our lawyers working to argue that she was plotting treason against our crown and others, but it's slow going."

“Do you think she will win her case?” Twilight asked with narrow eyes before looking over at Regulus who seemed to be on the verge of tears. “What-

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Pharynx said, rocking his son while his horns glowed. “Twilight,” he hissed while Luna came by his side to nuzzle her son to try and calm him. “Keep your anger under control, he can't handle it yet."

Twilight looked stricken. "Pharynx, I'm sorry," she said. "Here, let me try something..."

Closing her eyes, she concentrated, and smiled to herself.

Regulus suddenly perked up, and looked much happier, before letting out a giggle.

"What did you just do?" Thorax asked, glancing between the two of them.

"I focused on a memory that made me happier," Twilight told him. "From when I was little."

"That would do it," Pharynx agreed. "And thanks. Just... try not to let this happen again, okay?"

"I'll do my best," Twilight promised.

"So, that aside," Moondancer suddenly spoke up. "Twilight, have you done anything exciting back in Ponyville lately?"

Twilight's eyes lit up, prompting multiple ear-twitches from the three changelings in the room as they felt even more happiness from her. "Well, now that Starlight and Sunburst are settled into their new home, Sunburst was feeling a little restless... so he and I went out antiquing a few days ago!"

"Really?" Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Find anything interesting?"

"A couple of things," Twilight said. "Sunburst got one of those blind buys - a sealed barrel with assorted stuff in it. He's hoping he'll find some good books inside once he gets it open."

"Why am I not surprised," Moondancer said with a chuckle.

Twilight nodded. "Starlight isn't quite as into that kind of thing as he and I are, but she knows I do like it, so she invited me to spend the day with him."

"How are they doing?" Velvet asked from her own seat.

"They aren't quite engaged, but they're close to it," Twilight told her. "I figure we'll be getting an official notice by the time the new school year starts."

Velvet nodded approvingly. “They will need to inform their parents first, though, and I can tell the two aren’t so keen on that just yet.”

Twilight nodded. "I kind of got the impression that they don't talk to their families much. Let's just say that they mean well, but... Starlight's dad is one of those types who genuinely loves his child, but can't seem to see she's grown up, since he was so busy with other stuff when she was growing up. And Sunburst's mom isn't much better, but in a different way."

"I'm glad to hear they're doing better," Celestia said. "And Sunburst is getting out and socializing more?"

Twilight nodded. "I've been thinking about having him lecture at the school for a few classes, about what he's learned about magic and friendship," she said. "He talks with some of the teachers there already about their culture lessons, because he finds their subjects fascinating. So does Starlight."

"How is your school doing?" Luna asked as she accepted her son back from his father.

"Really well," Twilight said, smiling. "We just finished our first year, the students are on summer break now, and all of them plan to come back in the fall."

“How was the grading curve if you don’t mind me asking?” Celestia said.

"Everyone's done really well," Twilight replied. "Now, one of the students I was most concerned about was Garble, but he's doing much better - he's put in a lot of effort to improve himself as a person, and... well, according to his teachers, the only reason he had to be marked down a few times was because his penmanship needed work and they had a hard time reading it. But other than that, the work itself was really good, and Torch and Ember have both written back to say they're glad with his progress, both in class and with the counseling he's been getting."

“So is there a chance he might be allowed to go back home?” Spike asked.

"If he keeps it up, then yes, they'll probably accept him back after he graduates," Twilight told her son. "It'll be another two or three years before that happens, but I think it's likely."

"That is very good news," Celestia said.

"Indeed," Rarity agreed from her own seat.

Twilight nodded. "And we're already making arrangements for next year's incoming class. The results that have been coming in are very impressive."

“You should tell them the other news, Twi,” Rainbow Dash said.

Celestia looked at her curiously. "What news is that?" she asked.

Twilight ducked her head. "Well, as many people are applying... we might end up having to open a second campus somewhere in a few years. And I know some of my students are already saying that if I do, they want to teach there."

“That’s wonderful Twilight. I’m so proud!” Velvet smiled at her with Regulus burbling happily at the love in the air, his horn glowing the same blue as his mother's aura.

"Me too," Night Light added.

Twilight blushed. "Thank you," she said. "This... it makes me so happy, to see the difference I'm making with them. This is what I've dreamed about, ever since I became Princess Celestia's student: to teach, and share what I've learned with others." Her ears flicked. "Of course, I wasn't exactly planning on this specific curriculum back then, but I do love my work at the school, and seeing all their happy faces as they learn. And that is what's important - that they have fun and enjoy what they're doing, because it encourages them to do better."

"I know exactly how you feel," Celestia told her. "I opened my school for much the same reason, to encourage the young ones. And I too love watching them be happy as they learn."

"I wish we'd had teachers like the both of you back at the hive in the old days," Thorax said wistfully. "But, we're doing so much better now." Then he looked at Twilight. "Speaking of hives, how are Scolopidia and her hive doing in Ponyville?"

"They're doing great," Twilight said. "She's sitting in on some of our classes, actually, from time to time. And some of Cheerilee's classes, just to check out the differences. Aside from that, some of the younglings - and even a few of the adults - are among the ones who're looking to join the school for next year." She frowned. "The only issue we've had with any of them is, Bon-Bon's been grumbling about having to hire more help for her shop and not having nearly enough time with her wife because of them. Apparently Scolopidia and her hive buy so much of their stock, she runs out practically every other day and has to constantly make more just to keep up with the demand!"

"She does have quite the sweet tooth," Pharynx admitted, before he got a mischievous look on his face. “And are we to expect her to lay any of her eggs?” he asked while smirking at Thorax who simply sighed into his hoof.

"Dear Pharynx, a lady never kisses and tells!" Rarity said primly. "Although I have noticed Vinyl giggling a lot more if the subject is brought up..."

“And so does Octavia.” Pinkie said, waggling her eyebrows with a big grin. "I think she's looking forward to being a mommy."

“It is a wonderful thing,” Luna said, holding her foal close to herself.

Velvet nodded in agreement with Twilight smiling at Spike.

Rainbow Dash looked as if she wanted to ask something, but after taking a look at Prince Regulus, she clamped her mouth shut, prompting a few raised eyebrows in her direction.

"So, um, no offense intended," Applejack suddenly asked, drawing everyone's attention away to her. "But, is there a reason the little guy's got a pony-style name instead of a changeling one, or both?"

"We're still working on that, actually," Pharynx said. "He'll have a changeling-style name too, when he's a little older."

Applejack nodded, satisfied with his answer.

“What about his connection to the dream realm?” Moondancer asked. “Or is it too soon to know?”

The two partners shared a look before Luna sighed, rubbing Regulus’s back. “It seems, by his birth, that he will have a greater connection to there than here, though it is too early to tell.”

"And speaking of dreams, I need to go lay down and have some of my own," Luna said as she rose. "Ladies, gentlecolts and gentledrake, I will see you all this evening."

Carrying her son and with Pharynx following after them, she trotted out of the room.

"Cute kid," Rainbow Dash remarked when they'd all left. "What do you think, Fluttershy?"

No response.

"Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning to her friend, and gasping when she saw Fluttershy appeared to be frozen stiff.

"I got this, Dashie," Pinkie said before she ducked out of the room for a second. Then she was back, and lunged at Fluttershy, snout-first.

"Eeeeeep!" Fluttershy jumped out of her seat, rubbing her ear before she sat back down, giving Pinkie a look. "That was cold!"

"Trixie fully sympathizes," Trixie said to her.

Pinkie nodded. "But it worked! So, what's up?"

Fluttershy almost froze again, before she looked around, barely restraining the look of delight on her face. "The new prince... is so... absolutely... adorable!"

Everyone relaxed and nodded in agreement. “The first of many nephews and nieces I hope to spoil rotten,” Celestia said with a content smile on her face.

"If I don't get there first," Thorax told her with a wry look.

"We'll see, my friend," Celestia said with a giggle. "We'll see."

“And don’t forget you can add to the horde,” Velvet said causing Celestia to blush a brilliant red. Only Twilight saw her face droop a little as she turned away.

Breakfast finished soon after that, and Celestia went to handle Day Court with Thorax by her side, while some of the others went to different parts of the castle.

Twilight was poking around in the library when she heard hoofsteps behind her, and then a voice asked, "Twilight? Can we talk?"

Twilight looked over and smiled. "Sure, Trixie. What's up?"

The other mare blushed. "Well, Moondancer and I have been talking, and... I want to try something."

Twilight looked at her curiously. "What is it?"

"This." Trixie grasped Twilight's head and pressed her lips against the alicorn's.

For a moment, Twilight's eyes widened, and then she relaxed and pulled Trixie in close, returning the kiss.

When the two finally broke apart, Trixie's own eyes were wide. "Wow..."

"Yeah." Twilight looked at her. "That was..."

"That was Trixie confirming what she wanted to know," Trixie said. "She - I do feel a connection between us, just as I do with Moondancer."

She leaned in and rested her head on Twilight's shoulder. "Moondancer still loves you, Twilight, just as much as she loves me. And she wanted to know if I could really, truly feel the same way about you as I do about her."

"And you do," Twilight said, wrapping a leg around her.

"I do," Trixie confirmed. "So, do you want to give this a try? All three of us?"

Twilight smiled. "Absolutely, Trixie." Then her head fell. "But... what about..."

"Your extras?" Trixie asked. "That won't be a problem."

"When we became leaders of the Dream Guard, Trixie and I received enough of Dreams' Mantle that we also received a full Power's immortality as it will be from both Luna and Pharynx," Moondancer said as she appeared behind them. She blushed. "Most of the Dream Guard won't have that benefit as some will work with Luna and others will be like Pharynx.”

“Think of it as the Solar and Lunar Guards, but only Dream and Nightmare Guards,” Trixie said with a smile with Moondancer nodding her head.

“Luna insisted on making us full Adjuncts with all the benefits thereof, knowing how we felt about you from our own dreams."

Twilight nodded, and reached out a hoof, inviting Moondancer to come in close. "That's great," she whispered.

Then she felt Moondancer's lips against her own, and happily kissed back. After a moment, Trixie's joined them, and the three held close for a while.

Finally, when they separated, Twilight smiled again. "I love you," she said. "Both of you."

"We love you too," Trixie told her.

Then the three kissed again... while in the corridor outside, two older mares snuck away, beaming happily.

“Well well, our daughter found herself some new friends,” Velvet said.

“I am very happy for them,” Celestia said before Velvet gave her a pointed look. “Wha-”

“Just because your first love didn’t work out doesn’t mean you need to give up on finding someone to be with, Tia,” Velvet said, placing a hoof on her arm. “You can open your heart again.”

Celestia looked down. "Except I haven't found anyone else who liked me for me," she said. "So few out there see beyond what I am and what I can do to the person I am inside... like he did."

Velvet gave her a fond look. "There is always hope," she said. "You'll find someone, I know."

Celestia shook her head. "Unless a miracle happens and our worlds can reconnect safely, I just don't know," she said. "I have my family, Velvet. Luna, Pharynx, Twilight, Cadance, Sunset, and all of their extended families. For now, that is enough."

Velvet rubbed her head against Celestia's own. "Miracles can happen, Tia," she said. "You'll see."

As the two walked down the hallway, there was a faint sound from above them, and Celestia's ear twitched as she almost heard a smile somewhere.

Where is that coming from? she wondered briefly, before she turned her attention back to Velvet, and what her friend was saying.

Later that day, in a house in Ponyville, a unicorn looked up from his book, a wild look on his face before he hurried down the hall with it.

"Starlight!"

"Hmm?" Starlight looked up from her own book as Sunburst came into the room, looking very excited. "What is it?"

"Big news," Sunburst told her. "You remember that barrel I brought home?"

"Well, yeah," Starlight said. "What was in it?"

"A lot of stuff," Sunburst said. "But the biggest thing? It was this journal." He held it up. "By Starswirl the Bearded himself! I've been translating it from Olde Ponish into modern, and I haven't finished. But what I did find, the last entry it contains... this is huge! We need to tell Twilight and the other princesses, right away!"

Starlight sat up. "I'll write her," she said. "You remember where we put that dragonfire candle she gave us?"

"Of course! I'll be right back."

When he'd gone, Starlight's horn lit up, and she brought a scroll and quill over to herself, before she began writing.

Dear Princess Twilight,

Sunburst has just come to me with important information. Apparently that blind barrel he bought when he was out with you a few days ago contained a journal by Starswirl the Bearded, and he's been translating it. He hasn't told me what he's read, but he says you and the others need to know what's in it, right away. How soon can we meet?

Yours,

Starlight Glimmer

Rolling it up and tying it up, she waited for Sunburst to get back. Soon, he had, and the two burned the scroll, seeing it fly away towards Canterlot.

It was just a few minutes later that an answering scroll popped out of the candle.

Dear Starlight and Sunburst,

Spike and I are on our way. Have your things ready, we'll be landing our skimmer in front of your door as soon as possible.

Yours,

Princess Twilight Sparkle

The two unicorns nodded, then went to pack.

It was less than an hour later when everyone was gathered in the throne room, including a sleepily blinking Luna with little Regulus on her back, listening to Sunburst read the final journal entry.

"The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all – strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery." he read. "Myself and these Pillars of Equestria were gathered together by another to maintain and share the light of these powerful ideals. But we soon came to believe the pony who brought us together only wanted that power for himself. Cast out and alone, this power-mad pony turned to darkness to satisfy his thirst. Transformed into a Pony of Shadows, he returned for revenge – to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope. To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice. But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time. We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have... I only hope it will be enough."

Closing the book, Sunburst looked up. "So that's it. The end of the journal, and Starswirl's final words before he vanished."

"Strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery," Celestia repeated. "They almost sound like precursors to the Elements of Harmony, but that can't be."

"Maybe they found out about the real thing and were inspired by it?" Applejack suggested.

"Maybe," Luna said. "Girls... and Spike, and Sunburst. This is the first clue we've received to what became of our old teacher since he vanished. If you can find out more, and maybe discover his fate..."

"We'll get right on it," Twilight told her. "All of us."

"Together," Moondancer said as she stood by Twilight's side, Trixie with her.

Twilight nodded. "Together. But first..." She looked at Celestia. "Can we have a moment?"

Celestia nodded, and in an instant she and Twilight teleported away.

When they reappeared in Celestia's office, Twilight immediately began casting spells, and Celestia joined her. When they were done, Twilight began to speak.

"Magic talked to me about this, several months ago," she said. "She told me he was still alive, but not how."

Celestia nodded. "I know," she said. "Or at least, my sister and I know that Death did not claim he and his allies. We do not know any more than that, though I am fairly certain I know of whom he spoke when he referred to himself and five others as the Pillars of Equestria." She began reciting the names, and when she was done, Twilight's eyes were wide.

"Thank you, so much," she said. "That'll help a lot."

Celestia smiled. "Twilight, you have already achieved so much," she said. "I believe you can do this too."

Twilight nodded, and then the two teleported back to the throne room, to see everyone looking at them before Twilight stepped away from her teacher.

"Let's get to work," she said.