Emmit's POV
The Pirate's Claw
Ten minutes after Emmit's initial attack

"DAMN IT," I cried out my complaint after landing on the deck of The Pirate's Claw in my fox form and a little out of breath from the brief fight. "I hate it when the bad guys get away," I mumbled while walking up to my wife that's decked out in sick-looking armor while she was talking with Captain Celaeno and what I assumed were the captains of our two other ships. After walking up to them and waiting for them to tell my wife and Chrysalis a rundown of events, I took a minute to look around. Because the danger was over, the shields were down giving the unicorns on the ship a chance to recover and catch their breaths. I didn't readily see any damage from any of the three ships which was great. So, the only thing to know was how many we lost, if any.

"Her name was Cinders," Garble said to Tia after she asked the name of the dragon that we lost. There was heartache and loss in his eyes and in his voice. But also anger as well. "She and I were using our fire to delay him, so the pegasus ponies could safely make it back to the ship. He and his soldiers were chasing us after we damaged his balloon. We could outfly the soldiers, but not him. Cinders fell behind and he caught up with her."

"I'm sorry, Garble," I told him with all my sympathy for the loss of his friend. Everyone on deck stopped what they were doing and listened to him as he spoke. And that showed how others felt about the loss as well. It spoke volumes about her sacrifice. "The loss of Cinders won't be in vain and I promise that she will be remembered for her sacrifice."

Tia looked over at Garble with the same sympathetic gaze and after a nod of agreement, she told him the same thing. "Cinders will be remembered as the brave dragon that fought and died protecting others when the Pony of Shadows has been defeated."

"Unfortunately, we'll have to find him again," I told her with a disappointed sigh with a look to match. "After we both crashed into the ocean below, we fought each other for a good few minutes before he left. I don't know if he simply flew faster than Rainbow Dash in a panic or teleported, but it was like he was there one second and gone the next."

Captain Celaeno stepped up to us with a hand on her hip and her other hand on the hilt of her sword in her usual relaxed pose as she told us, "His ships were headed to Maretropolis, so he's probably there wanting to spread his shadows."

"At this time of day, the docks are very busy and he'd be able to spread his shadows easily," Chrysalis said as if reminding us of the damage and chaos that he can do. And for a moment we let that sink in. In my mind, as I gaze at Chrysalis' sorrowful and fearful face, I thought of all those zombie movies I watched as a kid. And if we don't stop him quickly that's exactly what Equestria could turn into. A type of shadow zombie apocalypse.

"We have to get to Maretropolis," Tia said quickly, and before we left Celaeno told us about the two enemy ships.

"The two Pony of Shadow ships are still usable after the air bladders are repaired. They're floating on the sea below."

I gave her a quick nod of my head and a smile her way, "Great job all of you. They'll make great additions to our air force."

"Understood," she said with a smirk before Tia, Chrysalis, and I flew off toward Maretropolis to try and stop a shadow apocalypse.

Maretropolis docks
Approximately 30 minutes later
Sonney's POV

I was sitting behind my desk in my office when a gruff looking griffon came walking in. I gave the hen a smirk as she walked in and slapped down the shipment papers on my desk hard enough that my desk vibrated. We've known each other for quite a while since I took over the Maretropolis shipping docks a few years ago. We've always had a love hate relationship going on between us. And right now, she's got a nice pleasant scowl on her face as she stood on the opposite side of my desk.

"I know your rates are going up and I know that you're bit pinching me with these rates, Sonney," she growled out with her mane of feathers around her head and down her back stood on end as she glared and scowled at me.

I shrugged nonchalantly and quickly checked the papers to make sure they were all in order while telling her, "I don't make the rates, I just enforce them, Sam." I said it in my laid back dismissive voice that always would ruffle her feathers. And usually ruffled them in all the right ways.

She scowled softly again, though less this time as she quietly hissed out, "Stop calling me that, you know I don't like that nickname."

After signing the papers, I put the pen down, laid my hooves on the desk, and looked over at her with a grin that went well with the mischievous glint in my eyes. "I know but I like the way it ruffles your feathers." We've banged each other quite a few times over the years, so I could always tell when she was in the mood. And she was in the mood because she blushed heavily with the feathers around her head, neck, and chest fluffed out at the comment. It meant that she wanted to make herself look prettier for me upon instinct. That and the way she stuttered softly while looking away from me like a schoolfilly with a crush.

However, that's as far as I got before all hell broke loose. At first, all I heard was what sounded like muffled screams. Right before the shift manager came barging in with a terror stricken panicked look on his face. As the screams from outside were now clearly heard through the door, it looked like he had came face to face with Cerberus from Tartarus. "SONNEY! The Pony of Shadows is here and he's atta-" And that's as far as he got before one of the other workers walked in, grabbed him, and literally bit his neck like a zombie. I watched the poor pony scream in agony and terror as shadows quickly overtook his body. It was all so surreal to me during the split second my mind took to watch my shift manager get taken over by the shadows. It was one thing to hear about a threat to one's home. It was something completely different to see that threat first hoof and realize that the very real threat they warned you about now wants you dead. And once you realize that and see how easy it was for the shadows to take over a pony, I saw why he was so afraid. And in the face of such fear, normally a pony only thinks of themselves.

But I had to get Sam out of here.

And with the shadows almost done with taking over the shift manager, I had just enough time to do it. I didn't have time to warn her about what I was going to do. All my strength went into my front hooves to pick up my chair and smash out the window behind me. That finally startled Sam out of her shocked stupor of horror to watch me run around the desk and pick her up. And while she let out a startled yelp, I paused just a split second to tell her that I loved her before throwing her out of the window like Shining Armor with every bit of strength I had. Just before feeling multiple hooves grab me and tackle me to the floor making me scream in agony and in terror as the shadows quickly overtook me.

Plunging me into eternal darkness.

Sam's POV

I was hovering outside of the window that Sonney just threw me through and watched him be taken by the shadows. He didn't think of himself first. But me. And for the first time since knowing him, I cried out to him in shock, horror, and the pain of losing him, calling out his name. Because I just realized that I loved him. The tears flowed from my eyes as I helplessly watched him scream in pain and agony for a couple of seconds, then stand up again as a pony taken by shadows. My heart ached in the pain of loss for the one I loved and didn't even know it until now. But I didn't have time to mourn, not yet because a deathly chill went up and down my spine upon hearing the voice of the Pony of Shadows.

Spread darkness my shadows

And then I turned around in the air and saw him standing on the docks between two big air cargo ships. One of them was mine. He stood about five times taller and bigger than a normal pony and his body was nothing but shadows. My body felt the chill of death as I watched him stand there and look around at all the shadow ponies walking around the docks and headed further into the buildings around the docks and toward the city of Maretropolis. And then his eyes saw me and my body shivered with the chill of death.

After her

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit." I never felt more fear in my life than I did right then as I turned and started flying toward the army outpost. While flying over the office building that Sonney tossed me out of, I got the surprise of my life when the shadow ponies started flying. Slowly, but flying. So, I could outfly then but I had to get out of the area quickly. The docks were mainly small office buildings and large warehouses, so I flew high above them to get away from the shadow ponies. And flew as fast as I could toward the military outpost not too far away.

Now that I was safely above the danger and flying away from it toward the city of Maretropolis, the emotions from the past few minutes hit me hard. And I found myself flying through tears. My heart loved him and I didn't even know it, and now it was too late. But as I flew down to get near the military outpost that sat between the docks and the city, anger rose up in my heart toward the Pony of Shadows. Righteous anger. I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt him.

Commander Thorn
Equestrian Outpost Maretropolis
Aprx. 30 min. after Pony of Shadows' initial arrival

"Enter," I called out after the knock on my office door. The door opened and one of my pegasus scouts walked in with a griffon chick that appeared to be in a very emotional state. My scout walked up to my desk giving me a sharp salute and a look that told me that I would not like the news he was about to tell me.

"Sir, the Pony of Shadows reached the Maretropolis docks about thirty minutes ago," he told me and that sent chills up and down my spine.

Standing up from the chair, I walked around my desk and right up to the griffin. "What happened miss?" And when she spoke there was the righteous fury in her voice and in her eyes from the loss of a loved one and the heartache to go with it.

"I'm Samantha, Captain of the Giffon's Claw cargo ship. I came into the harbor on a regular delivery and into Sonney's office for him to sign the papers. About ten or so minutes before the Pony of Shadows attacked the docks and started shadowfying ponies." It was now that I watched her emotions really begin showing. Her voice cracked, tears started to really flow, and the pain of loss really showed up in her eyes. "Sonney...he...threw me out the window to save me. He sacrificed himself to get me out of there before I was taken by the shadows."

I waited for a few beats out of respect for her emotions before looking over at the scout. "Arm everypony we have and warn the head captain at Canterlot that Maretopolis is under attack. Then after every pony is armed, we head toward the docks to face the scourge." After a quick salute, he left to carry out my orders leaving me with the emotional griffon standing in front of me. Then I addressed her again after a beat and a short breath. "I know this sounds cliche, but I'm sorry for your loss. Truly. I know what that's like. That's why I joined the military. Unfortunately, I've heard that those taken by the shadows can't return to normal again. So, the only thing that we can do is keep it from spreading." And now came the righteous fury.

"I want in, I want to hurt him," she said to me, growling it really.

"I know you do and I know how you feel, but I can't allow it," I told her gently with a look of understanding while gently putting a hoof on her shoulder and gazing into her eyes. "You're not military and I would be court-martialed if I allowed you to grab a gun and help us. You're safe here, so stay here, get something to eat, and rest. That's the only thing I can tell you to do right now." That's the only thing I could do for her and with that duty done, I walked around her and headed outside to the waiting troops to hopefully stop the darkness from spreading to the city.

Chrysalis POV
Maretropolis
Aprx. one hour since Captain Celaeno's battle with the Pony of Shadows

We'd been flying for almost an hour and we were approaching Maretropolis. Because of how the Tree of Harmony has literally and figuratively changed me, I want to make up for all my centuries of evil. I also know that it will take some time before I'm in Celestia's good graces. Even Emmit doesn't fully trust me, but he is trusting me to help against the Pony of Shadows. Truthfully, I'm surprised he trusts me with that much. I'm free instead of being dead. I've done a lot of thinking since the Tree of Harmony changed me and I've realized that the Tree of Harmony saved my life. Because if she didn't change me as she did, then I would most assuredly be dead right now. So, I want to help right the wrongs that I've created.

During the flight toward Maretropolis, neither of them said anything to me. However, I think that they were talking to each other telepathically due to the looks on Celestia's face from time to time. Strategizing more than likely. Trying to figure out a quick way to end this. And... I wanted to help him do it. With that in mind and the city of Maretropolis coming into view, I flew up to Emmit's side opposite of Celestia to talk with him. "Emmit? What's the plan? I can tell that the both of you have been talking and I get that neither of you trust me. But I want to help. So, please, tell me what the plan is." Emmit was flying in his shadow form, so he really didn't have a physical form as he was just a ball of shadows.

I was surprised that Celestia spoke first as she looked around Emmit to speak to me while we flew toward Maretropolis docks where the Pony of Shadows was still standing. "Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars have been working with Twilight and the rest of the Elements of Harmony to find a way to defeat the Pony of Shadows," Celestia began to explain to me. "The quickest and most assured way is to trap him back into limbo as the Pillars did the first time. The reason it worked the first time was because they used themselves as a sacrifice at Ponhenge. Ponhenge was one of the necessary places to open the portal to limbo and a sacrifice is necessary to complete the spell to trap him in limbo. Without somepony sacrificing themselves the spell to trap the Pony of Shadows in limbo won't work. They can do the spell again but it needs to be done at the Well of Shade in Hollow Shade because Ponhenge was destroyed."

"And the sacrifice?" I asked while getting nervous because she hasn't mentioned who will be sacrificed. Further... "And what about getting him there?" The look that I saw on Celestia's face told me that she didn't know. A second later, Emmit told me that he didn't know either. But something had to be done because as we approached Maretropolis all three of us saw the Pony of Shadows standing on one of the taller warehouses. And he was laughing and yelling for darkness to spread while we watched a number of Equestria's military do their best to stop the scores of shadow ponies from getting into the city from the docks. Something had to be done and done now. I wasn't sure who was going to be sacrificed to possibly spend eternity with the Pony of Shadows, but I did have an idea of how to get him to the Well of Shades. I quickly flew in front of them to get their attention and after we stopped, I told them my idea. "What about Discord? He'll be able to get him there with no trouble."

There was a pause as Celestia looked over at me with a look that just said, why didn't we think of this before?

"Huh," came Emmit's voice from within the ball of shadows hovering in front of me, "you know what? You're right. I didn't know why we didn't think of that before. Tia could stay here and purge the docks and the city of shadow ponies while he can teleport everyone into the Well of Shades and activate the portal spell."

As the cool wind blew through my mane and tail while gazing over at Celestia, I watched her face shift to a resigned expression. "Yes, I'll have to admit. That is a good idea." Then I watched Celestia stare off into space which told me that she was telepathically talking to somepony. While I waited for them to contact Discord, I looked on with a heavy heart and wished... Wished I could've had the chance. But sadly...

"Tia!" Discord startled me out of my thoughts with his sudden appearance and high-pitched gleeful voice. He appeared with an excited gleeful look on his face and his arms wide open. It was rather funny to watch Celestia's startled yelp as Discord wrapped her up in a comically tight hug as he continued playfully, "I knew you wanted me, Tia. Let's run off together into the sunset." I even heard Emmit chuckle at Celestia's startled reaction. But the moment lasted just that, a moment. Then Celestia pushed herself away with an amused smile on her face at his antics before turning serious.

"I'm assuming that they told you what needs to be done?" Celestia asked him as we still hovered nearby Maretropolis.

Discord hovered around to face Maretropolis docks where the Pony of Shadows was still watching and laughing at the darkness and death he was spreading. We could hear the sound of gunfire going off as the military struggled to deal with him and the shadow pony victims that can't be saved. "Yes. I've already transported them to the Well of Shades and they will let me know when they're ready," he told her with a serious tone in his voice and a face to match. I've known Discord for a very long time and I've never seen him like this. Not since getting to know Fluttershy and her family.

"Thank you for doing this, Discord," I heard from Emmit with a voice that just told me he was more disappointed in himself.

"You're welcome," I actually heard Discord say as he turned his head around, just his head mind you, to look back at Emmit with a wide genuine smile. "I simply adore that little daughter of yours. So, of course, Uncle Discord will help her mommy and daddy get rid of a nasty bad pony." I had to giggle a little at the look on his face and the look on Celestia's face as he said that. Discord really has put his life together thanks to Fluttershy. He has genuine love. Something that I've been seeking all of my life.

"They're ready, Discord," Celestia said a couple of minutes later.

"I know it doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it again, Tia. Be careful cleaning up the city, alright? I love you, Tia," Emmit said with so much emotion and love in his voice that it pulled at my heart. And he said it in a way that told me he was thinking about being the sacrifice. And sacrifice himself for his family.

"I love you, too Emmit," Celestia said with a smile on her face, not knowing what I heard in his voice. She has no idea what he has planned. "I'll be careful." After saying that, I watched her fly off toward the docks of Maretropolis with the confidence that she would see him again. And she will. Because I won't let Emmit be the sacrifice. He will go home to his daughter.

"Let's do this," I heard from Discord a split second before he snapped his fingers transporting him, Emmit, me, and the Pony of Shadows to the Well of Shades.

Emmit's POV
Well of Shades

I was figuratively kicking myself for not thinking of Discord before now. Of course, I should have utilized him earlier. Needless to say, the Pony of Shadows was quite surprised to find himself back in the Well of Shades as the sudden relocation caught him off guard. The Pillars and the girls knew that they would only have a second, maybe two, to activate the Elements of Harmony before the Pony of Shadows attacked or did something to keep himself free and out of limbo. Each Pillar was standing with their Element of Harmony equivalent as each one of them started rising from the floor of the room as they glowed with the colors of their Elements.

Chrysalis was to my right and surprisingly Harmony herself was standing to my left and the girls and the Pillars were standing behind me. "What?! How?!" came the Pony of Shadows' shocked reaction as his mind caught up to the fact that he was screwed. Apparently, Discord wanted his credit as well as to distract the Pony of Shadows to give them the extra couple of seconds they needed.

"Ta-da," Discord appeared right in front of the Pony of Shadows as he takes a bow as if he just performed the greatest of tricks.

"Discord! You-" I watched the Pony of Shadows start to say something but didn't have the time for it. And because of Discord's last-second distraction, he didn't have time to react to the Elements of Harmony hitting him like a truck right after Discord stepped out of the way. It was so satisfying to see the six colors hit his body, surround his body, and then lift his body off the floor of the room as the portal to limbo appeared right behind him. With the portal now activated, the wind that was generated was surprising. It was a fast loud wind but not roaring like a hurricane or anything. "NO! You can't force me in without a sacrifice!" he screamed out as he started struggling against the Elements of Harmony as they slowly but steadily pushed him back.

And that's when I stepped forward with righteous fury, "You're right, and that sacrifi-" I was stopped when Chrysalis suddenly appeared before me, grabbed my head, and lip-locked me into a deep passionate kiss that threw me for a loop. Not only was I shocked at this, but so was everypony else including the Pony of Shadows. The kiss was a deep passionate kiss as if she wasn't...going...to... The kiss lasted for a good couple of minutes as everything just seemed to pause as she took her fill. Then she broke the kiss, stepped back, and gazed at me with a sorrowful smile.

"I'm that sacrifice," Chrysalis said loudly as she slowly backed away from me and toward the Pony of Shadows.

"Chrysalis?! Why?! You helped me," the Pony of Shadows screamed at her while he was beginning to be forced into the portal the closer Chrysalis got to him. He wasn't going without a struggle as his large hooves pushed against the portal and shook with the strain of effort.

Chrysalis didn't answer as I watched her kept slowly backing up toward him. My heart swelled with many emotions when I saw a couple of tears fall from her eyes. "I'm sorry for everything I've done, Emmit. Both to you and to Equestria," she told me with a sorrowful smile on her face. At this point, she was just about ten feet away and the Pony of Shadows was almost fully inside the portal. Tears started falling from my own eyes as I watched Chrysalis back up and pour her heart out to me. She had saved me from being the sacrifice by becoming the sacrifice herself. "I wasn't going to allow you to be the sacrifice, Emmit. You were right, what I really wanted all along was real true love."

I heard the girls and the Pillars gasp in shock as they started murmuring about how they were going to give me an earful after this was over. "Chrysalis! I'll spend the rest of all eternity torturing you for what you've done!"

Chrysalis didn't respond to him. She didn't seem to care what he said or what he was going to do to her. The last thing she said to me was, "Remember me, Emmit," before turning around and launching herself at the Pony of Shadows at speeds that would make Rainbow jealous. And after a quick and loud "OOF" from him, they both disappeared inside the portal.

And a second later, it was closed and gone.

And all was quiet.

Not even the air moved as I stood there with a couple of tears falling from my eyes and my heart swelling with many different emotions. All while staring at where the portal to limbo used to be. I felt Harmony lean against me with a hoof around my neck in a sideways hug as the emotions of the last few minutes wracked my body. The girls didn't shout at me like they said they would, which they'll probably do later, but instead, they all walked up and surrounded me in a big group hug. Hugging me while my body shook and I sniffed and tears fell from the many different and wildly ranging emotions that were rushing through me. For a few minutes, nothing was said, no words were heard, and none of them were shouting at me. We all stood together in a group hug. Even Discord stretched his arms around us.

"At one time, I thought that once a villain always a villain," I heard Starswirl's voice speak softly as he walked passed us to where the portal once was and looked at that spot. Then sighed and hung his head. "I was wrong. I was so wrong." As the girls pulled back from the group hug, I watched Starswirl walk up to the crystalized form of the Tree of Harmony with a humble smile on his face. "You were right. What was once our creation is now my teacher."

Even Discord was moved by Chrysalis' sacrifice but he didn't stick around though but disappeared shortly after this. "I can't believe I'm getting worked up over Chrysalis sacrificing herself," I heard Rainbow say softly as she wiped her eyes with a hoof and a soft sniffle.

"What were you thinking?" Twilight asked emotionally through tears of her own as she stood in front of me, looking up at me through tears.

"Yeah, what in tarnation got into your head to be the sacrifice and leave your herd?"

"Applejack?" came Harmony's soft tinkling voice from beside me as she spoke up to get everypony's attention. "Would you not sacrifice yourself so your family could live?" she asked which got the others thinking. She then looked to Twilight, "Would you not sacrifice yourself for your foal?"

I watched Twilight's eyes soften from her anger and nods her head causing her tears to fly off. "Yeah, I would."

"So would I," Fluttershy said as well as she pressed herself up against my right side as Harmony was on my left wide.

Nothing was said for another couple of minutes after that. We just stood there in silence before I finally spoke softly. "I swear Chrysalis will be remembered. Everypony that has made sacrifices in this thankfully short war will all be remembered."

"Yes," Harmony agreed as she reached up with a hoof and gently turned my head around to face her. "The shadows are gone, the Storm King is gone, and Equestria is safe again. Remember them all. But for now, go home to your family." After telling me that, Harmony faded away with a proud and happy smile on her face.

Emmit's POV
One month later
Canterlot Memorial Courtyard

Tia was relieved that the Pony of Shadows was now back in limbo where he belongs. She also told me that she was successful in purging all the shadow ponies from the docks before they reached the city proper. She was also angry with me for planning to be the sacrifice. We didn't tell Solar, naturally. She was then sorrowful after hearing that it was Chrysalis that sacrificed herself for me, especially after telling her what Chrysalis had said. After talking about it more and even being upset at me for wanting to be the sacrifice, she knew why as well. And even thanked me for she knew that I would give my life to save my family. It just so happened that this wasn't one of those times. And she promised to remember Chrysalis as well.

And for a short time, things were busy after the war ended and the danger was over. Mostly it was spreading the word throughout the military to stand down and relax. To then spread the word to the rest of the cities and then to Equestria that the danger was over and gone. But as all of Equestria celebrated, rejoiced, and slowly started returning to normal, I spread the word to all of Equestria through any and all newspapers that I could find that I wanted to do one thing.

Remember.

And I knew exactly how I wanted to do it. I wanted to put a small version of the George Washington Memorial in the middle of the big courtyard of Canterlot Castle. And a ceremony to go with it. So, that's where all of us were right now. Me, Celestia, Luna, the girls, the Pillars, Queen Novo, Thorax, Ember and her father. Shining Armor and Cadence were also there representing the Crystal Empire. All of us were wearing black dresses and or suits. A suit for me because I wanted to be in my human form for this. A very large crowd was in the courtyard on both sides of the courtyard while maintaining space in the middle of the courtyard for the military ceremonial procession to walk through. The nonflying ponies and creatures were on the ground with the flying creatures hovering just above them so as many ponies and creatures as possible were in the courtyard to watch the memorial ceremony. Above the courtyard in the sky were the airships facing inward in a multiship salute. And as the two-line military procession started walking down the courtyard in proud regal fashion, there were four male creatures, one pony, one hippogriff, one changeling, and one dragon singing a mournful song. The Green Leaves of Summer The mournful song rang out throughout the courtyard as the military procession marched down the courtyard toward the one story tall memorial. A memorial for all those lost during this short war, both military and civilian. No pony or creature said anything but remained silent as the song was sung in remembrance of those lost. It was very emotional as the procession walked down and surrounded the memorial to stand and salute those lost.

Once the song ended, Tia used her magic to amplify my voice for all to hear. "Today, we remember. Remember those that were lost both military and civilian alike in the war against the Storm King and the Pony of Shadows. I know what all the papers are saying. Thanks to me, Celestia, Luna, and the new weapons I brought to the military we succeeded. But what is the hand without the foot? There are no unimportant roles in the protection of a country or one's family. For we all play a part and all are important. Here today, we remember those important parts of all of us that were lost." I had to pause as my mind went back to the day that Chrysalis sacrificed herself for me. And a tear fell from my eye. "For even I lost somepony I cared about. All through her very long life, she was seeking love. True real love. Let us love them and remember them. For they gave the ultimate sacrifice."

I was surprised that our daughter Solar wanted to be here. Even Discord was here with us and even wore a suit as well. Tia spoke next and her voice wasn't entirely steady either. "Ever since becoming a mother, I've been able to see some things a little bit differently. Through the eyes of a mother. So, I can imagine how some mothers feel about losing their husbands, or daughters, or sons in this war. One name that you might be surprised to find is that of Chrysalis. Yes, the same Chrysalis that was the Changeling Queen. It was the Tree of Harmony herself that changed her heart and brought her into harmony with the rest of Equestria. But it was because of Chrysalis' sacrifice that Emmit is with us today. In order to return the Pony of Shadows back into limbo a sacrifice had to be made and sent into limbo with him. Emmit wanted to do it, so his family and all families could be safe. Chrysalis stopped him and by becoming the sacrifice, my husband and Solar's father were allowed to return home. Most of you know about Chrysalis. And I never thought that I would be thanking her for anything that she did. But t-today...today...I thank you...C-Chrysalis." She couldn't speak after that, so I put an arm around her and she leaned against me for support. There were tears in her eyes as she looked upon the memorial as Starswirl stepped up next to her.

He used his magic to amplify his voice as well. "I am Starswirl the bearded, yes the real one. Behind me are my friends, the Pillars of Harmony. I...I once thought that once a villain always a villain. But I was wrong. The course of this war was changed because of former villains changed to make a change. Discord, the God of Chaos, Chrysalis the former Queen of the Changelings, and Fizzlepop Berrytwist former second in command of the Storm King's forces by the name of Tempest Shadow. They helped change the course of this war and helped change this old pony's mind. Harmony is more than fighting evil. It's by giving others a second chance. A lesson I'm sorry to say took me too long to learn that almost cost me a friend." After a pause, he ended by saying. "Remember them."

Luna stepped aside to let Ember walk up beside me. I put an arm around her as she leaned against me and Luna amplified her voice. "We dragons don't do emotions well," she began as she held her growing belly that held our son or daughter, the egg that she carried. A little weird to think about actually. "We dragons seemed to glorify battle and fighting. I've learned that it's nothing to glorify. It hurts to lose someone you care about. But I can also see why one must fight for the life of the ones they love. One thing that I hope we dragons can do and what we all should do... Is remember."

I spoke last as Luna used her magic to amplify my voice again. "Let us take time to mourn and let us take time to remember. And let this memorial forever stand as those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. For our job is not quite over. Because there are other nations that need our help. Other nations that are still under the grip of the Storm King's forces are still stationed abroad. Now that our nation is safe once again, let us go and bring peace and harmony to the rest." And that was supposed to be it.

It wasn't.

The Tree of Harmony had one thing in mind that she wanted to do. She appeared in her crystalized form of Twilight right in front of the four singers and slowly started walking toward the memorial. Slow and regal did she walk up, tilt her head, and after a light touch of her horn against it, the stone memorial was changed into the same crystal as her tree. And a soft magical hum was heard as a pillar of rainbows shot up into the sky. Then she faded away.

"A few minutes of silence for those lost, then everypony and everycreature are dismissed from the ceremony," I said as for the next few minutes, there was nothing but silence and the sight of a pillar of rainbow light for those lost.

Red-The Empress' POV
Red's forest pond
One week later

It was a week after the memorial that I was able to pull Emmit into the same place that I first pulled him into. The forest clearing with a pond in it that's fed by a small waterfall. It was where we first had sex. We weren't doing that right now though. We were laying on the smooth wet stone that was in the middle of the pond and I was laying on top of him while he was in his naked human form. Our bodies were wet from the spray of the waterfall that kept the stone smooth, wet, and cool. Because he was naked and I was laying on top of him, his cock was pressed between us and my pussy was resting on it. My pussy lips were parted around his hard erection and with my hips rolling slightly and making my pussy rub him a little was sending wonderful waves of warmth through me.

"I watched the memorial ceremony, Emmit," I began saying to him after giving him a light kiss. "It was wonderful and I'm sure that all of Equestria will remember them for a long time to come."

He smiled up at me as my body hummed with every touch of his hand that rubbed against me. One hand was lightly rubbing between my wings and the other rested on a butt cheek with his fingers rubbing in slow wonderful circles. And had my body humming quite heavenly in sexual warmth. "I wanted it to be special."

With my head rested on his chest and gazed into his eyes as I bought up something. "There were mixed reactions to Chrysalis being put on the memorial."

He hummed in agreement and commented while gazing at me, "Yeah, but not after reminding them that the Tree of Harmony herself approved of it by putting it in crystal and lighting the rainbow over it."

"And what about Solar? What does she think about it?" I asked because I was honestly curious.

"Tia and I talked about what happened with her, not in detail of course. Only that others died to defeat a bad guy. We thought it was a good time to tell her about a couple of facts of life," he said while looking up in thought. He didn't stop rubbing me thankfully which I was enjoying quite immensely. "She doesn't completely understand, but she understands that some died defeating a bad guy and for now that's enough. Enough for her to understand."

I leaned up and gave him a light lingering kiss that he returned and kept rubbing me and keeping me wonderfully humming with warm soothing lust and desire. "So now, everything is slowly returning to normal, hmm?"

He closed his eyes with a smile and a slow nod, "For the most part, yes. And hopefully, it will be nice and quiet for a while so I can raise my foals for a few years in peace and quiet."

"Hopefully, you'll get that awhile," I said to him with a smile. Then I sat up, put my hooves against his chest, and started rolling my hips to get my pussy rubbing more quickly against his hard shaft with a soft lust-filled hum. "But for now, love me, Emmit, and make me scream your name in euphoric ecstasy."

He did, too. I rode him first with my body bouncing on his long hard cock. Then he took me from behind in his fox form in the most primal way possible. Both times making me scream his name and ignite my body in orgasmic euphoric pleasure. But he couldn't stay of course. That's alright though because I'm a patient mare with a long plan to have him all to myself. One day it will come. When the millennia go by and Tia and Luna and the rest of his herd are gone and his descendants have all but forgotten his name. And the tale of a nine-tailed fox is nothing but legend. We will finally leave. Just him and I to start over. In another place and in another time and possibly another dimension or world. We'll start over, just him and me.

All mine.