Emmit's POV
Canterlot Throne Room

Just before we could see again a doctor and a couple of nurses came rushing into the throne room to help us. And wouldn't let us leave until we were thoroughly checked out. Not that I really blamed them any, especially after they heard that I had already dispatched a ship, crew, and soldiers to try and stop her. The doctor was adamant that we stay in the throne room while she looked us over and let the soldiers take care of it. So, we all sat in the throne room as the mare doctor looked us over. More than just one of us wanted to leave and follow after Chrysalis. Me, Tia, Rainbow, and AJ mostly. They all sat there slightly agitated that they couldn't go and fight Chrysalis. Because the doctor checked Tia and I first, I sat beside her with a couple of tails around her and held her against me as the doctor finished checking the others. Tia just looked pissed while I was feeling both pissed and angry at myself for allowing it to happen in the first place.

Just as the doctor got done with checking everypony out and making sure they were all fine, which they were thankful for, Solar Captain Thunder, an earth pony, walked in and up to Tia and I. One look in his eyes told us that he had news. And the news was that they were unable to stop Chrysalis and that they were forced to let Chrysalis and the Pony of Shadows go in order to save Starswirl and the other Pillars. He told us that he and the other Pillars are alive and well, just weak from their time in limbo. The airship has them onboard and will arrive back here in Canterlot in about thirty minutes. Tia and I thanked him for his report and his service and he then gave us a sharp salute and left us for his other duties.

I finally decided to break the ice after about twenty-five minutes of waiting. "I'm sorry for all of this, Tia," I told her quietly before kissing her head just above her horn. "I should have taken more precautions."

She shook her head first then looked up at me with a small smile. "It's not really your fault and I'm not mad at you," she told me then gave me a loving kiss. "I'm just mad at Chrysalis and this whole situation. While I'm happy to see my old teacher again, I'm angry that it's under these circumstances."

AJ, who was off to the side, decided to walk over and give me an encouraging kiss, "Yeah, it ain't your fault sugarcube. I'm guessing this could have happened no matter what we did."

"Thanks," I told her after the kiss. "I'm just glad that she didn't hurt any of you." I looked over at Twilight specifically as she stood next to Rarity. Rarity hadn't left my side since the incident and welcomed my tails around her.

Twilight agreed with a nod of her head as she sat up on her hind legs and rubbed her baby bump with both front hooves. "So am I. I'm just wondering why she didn't kill us when she had the chance. She had the chance, but she didn't."

"I don't know, but I'm still going to kick her ass the next time I get a chance," was Rainbow's bored comment as she slowly flew circles around the throne room with just the tips of her wings.

"She didn't kill anypony when she and her drones invaded Cadence's wedding," Fluttershy pointed out from her place right in front of me. Because I was sitting on my butt like a dog would, she and Pinkie had sat down in front of me, Tia, and Rarity.

Just then the two large throne room doors started opening.

Pinkie pouted with her front hooves crossed over her chest, "Unfortunately, she's still a meany."

We looked over to see Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars starting to walk into the throne room surrounded by eight soldiers with rifles. "If you are referring to Chrysalis, then you would be correct," Starswirl said in agreement as he walked in ahead of the small group. "I will add that once a villain, always a villain."

Everypony brightened when they walked in, especially Tia. Starswirl's eyes also widened in shock when he spotted Tia. But before anypony else could do or say anything, Twilight decided to up and say, "You know, I've always wondered what I would say to you if I ever got the chance to meet you, Mister Starswirl. And never in my life did I expect my first words to be: Mister Starswirl the Bearded? You are wrong."

"I never expected those words to come from you, darling," Rarity bumped shoulders with Twilight teasingly as she spoke softly with a small smile on her face.

I don't think that Starswirl was ever told those words very often because after Twilight said that, he changed direction and walked up directly to her. The others followed but at a distance and each one looked uncertainly around the room. "Am I? And you are?"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle," she told him with a wide smile on her face while spreading her wings out in royal fashion. "I am the Princess of Friendship and the current holder of the Element of Magic."

Sensing that it was introduction time, Rarity spoke up in greeting, "I am Rarity Belle and current Element of Generosity."

"I'm Applejack, Element of Honesty."

"I'm Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter and party planner extraordinaire."

"Fluttershy, Element of Kindness."

That's when Rainbow flew down to land not far from Magnus with a proud, "And I'm Rainbow Dash. The Element of Loyalty and fastest flier in all of Equestria."

While the others were fascinated by the introductions, Starswirl's attention was still on Twilight. "Alright then, your highness," he used your highness in a slightly degrading tone of voice that rubbed me the wrong way. "Name one villain that is no longer a villain."

I loved the knowing smile that slowly spread across her face as she tilted her head to one side and told him, "I can name you five." She paused to look up into Starswirl's agitated face before telling him, "Trixie used to be my arch nemesis and now lives peacefully in Ponyville. As a matter of fact, she helped save Emmit's father." She paused long enough to nod her head in my direction before continuing. "While at the same time helping a changeling named Thorax overthrow Chrysalis' rule over them. In so doing, the whole changeling race was quite literally changed into their true, and more colorful, form. And not only are the new changeling race living peacefully in Equestria but even now have been recruited into the Equestrian army. Another one is Starlight Glimmer. She used your time travel spell along with the map table, which I'll explain much later, to return to an exact point in time in an attempt to keep my friends and I from meeting. What resulted was multiple timelines much worse than the last before convincing her to surrender. She is also now living peacefully in Ponyville. Another one used to be called Tempest Shadow. Up until this very morning, she was second in command under the Storm King, which whom Equestria is currently at war. You can thank Emmit over there for convincing her to surrender. She is now still in Ponyville being watched over by Starlight Glimmer."

The more Twilight talked the more Starswirl's face got more red because of how Twilight was proving him wrong. And I was loving it.

"The last one I'm sure that you've known before," she said and paused long enough for a smirk to appear as Starswirl narrowed his eyes at her. It was as if Starswirl was just daring her to mention his name. "Discord."

Starswirl's upper lip even began curling as if starting to snarl at her just as Discord appeared with a pop of streamers and a happy, "Tada."

"Discord!" Starswirl growled at him and even started lowering his head toward him until he remembered that he was too weak. "If I wasn't too weak right now, I'd blast you." As he said that the other Pillars either gasped or stood ready for a fight.

"Even if you weren't too weak, Starswirl, you wouldn't because I wouldn't let you," I told him with a warning glare of my own. Then continued when Starswirl looked over at me. "He is my friend and even watches over my foals. Whether you like him or not is up to you. However, if you take any action against him then your punishment will be the same as if you attacked any pony or any other creature out in public. Do I make myself clear, Mister Starswirl?"

He was clearly getting angry at this point and even turned toward me to step up to me and nearly put his nose against mine. "And just who are you to make such demands?"

Luckily for Starswirl, I didn't answer that. Tia did. While still leaning up against me, she used her magic to levitate him up and away from me quite a few feet before setting him back down again. "You will stand down this instant Starswirl. You may be my old teacher, but if you haven't noticed, I am a princess now. And you will calm down this instant. Now to answer your question. His name is Emmit Knight and he is my husband as well as Luna's."

"And mine as well," Rarity spoke up with pride in her voice.

Moved, I gave Tia a thankful kiss first before turning my head to give one to Rarity as a way of thanks which both returned. All of them were shocked at this, especially Starswirl. But she wasn't done yet. "So, let me say that my husband is completely correct. Discord is my friend as well and watches over our daughter from time to time. You will not take any hostile action against him. Do I make myself clear?"

Starswirl clearly didn't like it and was obviously peeved that he was proven wrong but there was nothing that he could do about it. Other than simply nod his head and say quietly, "Yes, your highness."

"Thank you. Now then, first, know that you have been gone for a thousand years and much has changed since then. So much that it will probably take a couple of days for you to catch up with everything. But for now, I want to show you all my husband's herd community." She paused and looked up at Discord to ask, "If you would please? I think that Starswirl will want to see Luna again."

"This is going to be fun," Discord laughed and snapped his fingers transporting all of us directly behind Fluttershy's cottage.

Where a couple of seconds later I heard, "Daddy," from my daughter and turned my head around just long for her to latch onto my face. While holding my daughter in my front paws, I heard her say, "Thank you uncle Discord for bringing my daddy back."

"You are quite welcome my dear," I heard from Discord with a genuine sounding tone in his voice.

"Now that I'm back, I think that it's best if I send Luna over with you and stay here to check on the rest of my foals," I told the group. Then looked between Rarity and Pinkie as I added, "If you two want to stay with them as they go visit the Tree of Harmony, you can while I take care of our foals."

Rarity brought my head down for an appreciative kiss, "That would be much appreciated, dear."

Pinkie moved in front of me giving me a quick kiss, "Thank you, honey," she giggled excitedly.

"I think, I'll stay here with you," Fluttershy said quietly as she moved to my side that Rarity vacated.

I gave her a nod, put a couple of tails around her, and then gave Tia a quick kiss. "Have fun with them."

^_^

Luna's POV

Because I was laying with the foals on a large plush quilt blanket in the front yard of Fluttershy's cottage, I could see my old teacher and the other Pillars off in the near distance. So could Solar, which was why she literally took off when her daddy appeared. Luckily, the other foals didn't wake up as she shouted her greeting. It did, however, bring a smile as I looked down at our own foal growing inside of me. I lightly ran a hoof across my baby bump as I lay on my side by the still sleeping foals. And couldn't help but imagine our own foal shouting, "Daddy," as well and rushing to greet him. While imagining that my heart seemed to swell bigger than the smile on my face.

Soon after they appeared, I watched Emmit, Fluttershy, and Ember start making their way over to me. Knowing my husband as I do, more than likely it would be so I could spend time with Tia, our old teacher, and the other Pillars. As they came over, my mind went back to the days when he was still teaching us. And remembered that he disappeared before I could turn in my last homework assignment.

"Hi, honey. I'm home." I giggled at his antics as he quietly sing-songed his greeting as he reformed from his smoke ability and landed in front of me. I happily hummed in his mouth as he gave me a loving kiss. And watched with joy as he lowered his head to kiss our foal growing inside of me. "Daddy loves you," he said quietly getting Solar to giggle at him.

"And I love you, my husband," I said to him, carefully standing up as he laid down beside the sleeping foals.

"I figured that you'd want to speak to your old teacher again after all these years," he said as Fluttershy laid down in my place while Ember laid down as well.

I gave him a slow nod, "I do, thank you."

"You're welcome," he said with a knowing smile. And with a nod of his head, saying gently, "Go on now, have fun."

After a thankful smile, I spread my wings and took off flying slowly toward Starswirl and the others. As I approached them and my eyes saw Starswirl standing in front of Tia looking rather upset and peeved, many emotions started running through me. Especially, when our eyes met when Starswirl turned to watch me land and walk up to them. What would he say and feel about what we've done? "Starswirl, our old teacher, and other Pillars of Harmony, we are pleased to see you once again. Though we wish it was on better circumstances." I tried sounding just as royal as during my night court, but I think it still came out sounding like the schoolfilly he knew all those years ago. I landed and walked over to stand beside Tia where she immediately gave me a hug in greeting.

"Luna? Are you pregnant?" he asked while turning toward me. And by the look on his face, I suspected his unspoken question of who the father was.

"I am with foal, yes. Emmit, my husband, is the father," I told him while looking at him with all joy in my heart.

"He's also the father of my foal as well as two with Fluttershy," Rarity added as she stood beside me, also with a happy smile on her face.

"As is mine," Twilight added with a smirk on her face.

"Just who is he? And what has he done to make you-"

"Chose your words...wisely...Starswirl," I interrupted heatedly with my eyes flashing to that of Nightmare Moon. By doing that I knew that he, along with the rest of them would have questions. They've been gone a thousand years after all. Something that I'm familiar with.

It was after our eyes met one more time that I saw the disapproval in his eyes. And met that disapproval with a passionate loyalty of my own. He appeared to think it over for a second before finishing with, "Love him so."

"For that and the many other questions that I know you have, I think you need to meet the Tree of Harmony," Tia said with some excitement in her voice. When Tia mentioned that and while she looked over to Discord and asked him to teleport us directly to the tree, I noticed a look of excitement and wonder on the faces of the Pillars.

With an excited and gleeful, "Here we go," Discord snapped his fingers and we all appeared in front of the Tree of Harmony. Starswirl and the other Pillars immediately turned toward the crystalized tree with a look of awe and wonder.

"Is this...?" Rockhoof asked in his thick old Scott accent as he took a few steps forward.

"It has to be," agreed Somnambula as she too walked slowly up to the tree beside Rockhoof.

Tia, I, and the rest of Emmit's herd stayed behind them as one by one each of them took steps toward the Tree of Harmony. Tia was standing next to me with Rarity on the other side of her, Rainbow Dash was hovering above us, Applejack was standing beside me, with Twilight and Pinkie Pie standing in front of me. And we watched Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars walk up to the Tree of Harmony.

"The seed that we planted all those years ago, grew into this tree," Starswirl said with a voice filled with awe and even pride. It was the pride that I detected most of all. Looking back and remembering how he acted all those years ago now shows me how prideful he really was. And apparently still is. But I had hope that perhaps the Tree of Harmony might encourage him to rethink his pride. That hope quite literally appeared in front of them a couple of seconds later. The Tree of Harmony appeared in the crystalized form of Twilight with a look on her face similar to that of a foal meeting its parents.

"Yes, I am what grew from the seed that you planted so long ago," the Tree of Harmony said with her voice sounding a lot like Twilight. Though her voice sounded more ghostly with a slight tinkling to it, as if the sound of multiple crystals hitting one another. She was also transparent with her longer than normal mane and her tail flowed and sparkled like it was filled with sparkling crystals. "And like you, I grow and learn." Then saw a smirk form on her face as she tilted her head to the side. "And Twilight Sparkle is correct that you are indeed wrong Starswirl."

Ouch. I bet that was satisfying to hear, eh Twilight? I telepathically heard from Rainbow in a comment on what the Tree of Harmony just said.

Yeah, I'll admit that it is somewhat.

"I do stand as a force for good, but more importantly that I stand for harmony," the Tree of Harmony reiterated as she looked between Starswirl and the rest of the Pillars. "And how can I stand for Harmony and good if we do not offer a chance at redemption?"

"How can I say that I'm the Princess of Friendship if I don't offer friendship even to a former enemy that wants a friend?" Twilight added as all the Pillars except Starswirl turned to glance at her when she said it.

"Preserving harmony isn't just defeating evil but offering second chances to those who ask for it," the Tree of Harmony told them now with a voice that sounded more like a teacher to students. She was basically telling them what she's learned and what she stands for now. And by the contemplative looks on their faces, especially Starswirl, it could be a little different than what they originally had in mind. "Somnambula? Would you be friends with the sphinx if she repented of her evil ways?" the Tree asked as she stepped up to Somnambula.

Somnambula opened her mouth but then closed it with contemplation on her face. Then raised her head, saying quietly, "I would like to think so, but in all honesty, I'm not sure."

The Tree gave her an understanding nod and a smile, "When one has wronged you, it is hard to offer a hoof in friendship."

"One thing that I've learned," Twilight added, also quietly. "As Emmit has."

"Yes, just who and or what is this multi-tailed fox?" Starswirl asked. I think he asked that to change the subject from something so soul-searching.

"His name is Emmit Knight, a human that I brought here from a completely different world," the Tree started to explain.

"You pulled him here?" Meadowbrook asked with wide eyes filled with shock and awe. "Why?"

"To preserve harmony," the Tree said simply before going on with her explanation. "There was a group of ponies called the Shadow Organization that tried to resurrect an evil pony. Unfortunately, or fortunately, when they attempted to resurrect her soul, it wasn't just the soul of the evil pony they pulled into the body. But also that of Emmit's mother." They all gasped in shock as Rockhoof, Flash, and Starswirl looked at her in horror. "If left unchecked it would throw not only Equestria but other nations into darkness. Therefore, I reached out and brought her son here in hopes that he would befriend Twilight and the other bearers of my elements. At first, he did not know why I brought him here, so naturally, he was angry with me. He did, in time, befriend Twilight and the others, defeat the Shadow Organization, and rescue his mother. But that wasn't the end of his trials. The same pony that first performed the ritual went to Chrysalis to bring over his father into the body of a changeling drone."

Rockhoof was the first to react by cursing softly and stomping the ground in anger which send a quiet shutter through the ground.

"Yes, it was horrible," the Tree acknowledged. "Emmit was rightfully furious. What was worse was how Chrysalis brainwashed his father into trying to murder his current family."

"That sweet young filly?" Mistmane questioned with quiet horror on her face.

The Tree nodded once to Mistmane. "Emmit formulated a plan that was successful in not only rescuing his father and eventually freeing him from Chrysalis' influence but also freed the changelings from Chrysalis' tyranny."

Rainbow was hovering in the air next to Flash as she snorted out a soft, "Still don't fully trust him either." Then she smirked, "Though, I'd say that his current colors are punishment enough."

"What colors?" Flash asked with a look of curiosity as he turned to look at Rainbow.

"Turquoise and hot pink," Rainbow whispered back with a girlish chuckle which got Flash to wince.

Not wanting to have the conversation be steered away, the Tree continued, "Now with Equestria at war with the Storm King, he has helped Equestria defend itself with more powerful weapons. And giving the Storm King's second in command Tempest, now back to Fizzlepop Berrytwist, a second chance at a new life here in Equestria. I am confident that she now will help him to restore harmony from the Storm King not only here in Equestria but also in the other nations."

"You mean he brought over advanced weapons from another world into Equestria?" Starswirl questioned with eyes so wide in shock that it reminded me of some comics with characters' eyes bulging out of their skulls.

I had to speak up regarding this and when I did, all eyes looked toward me. "He did so to protect his family and all of Equestria. And he did not do so lightly. With knowledge of his own home world's history, he knew that bringing in these advanced weapons, even with all the safeguards put into place to limit their use to only the military, would eventually change Equestria and this world. But he did so because of the current war with the Storm King."

"We could use those weapons to stop the Pony of Shadows," we all heard Flash suggest with too much excitement in my opinion.

"I don't believe that is necessary," the Tree said with certainty in her voice and a slight shake of her head.

"And why is that?" Somnambula asked with curiosity on her face.

"Did he not take our artifacts to use against us?" Rockhoof asked while pounding a hoof against the ground making it rumble slightly.

"He did take them, but I believe his actions have been misunderstood."

When the Tree said that, Twilight stepped up to her in realization. "You mean this whole situation is really a friendship problem?" In response, the Tree of Harmony gave her a slow nod of her head with a small knowing smile.

At this point, the look on Starswirl's face told me that he was getting agitated. That was visible by the fur on his back starting to stand up and a twitch in his right eye. "Friendship problem? Just what is a friendship problem?"

"As I've said before, I stand for harmony," the Tree started to explain and once again had the Pillars' attention. "Because Twilight and her friends are my elements and represent the Elements of Harmony, I will send them out into Equestria to solve problems between friends or occasionally a group of ponies. It is my belief that Stygian's intentions were misunderstood and that this could have been prevented."

"Wasn't Stygian your friend and even brought you all together?" AJ asked while looking between them all.

"Yes, he was," Mistmane looked over at AJ with a slow nod of her head while looking deep in thought. "He brought us all together and did all the research on all the enemies that we fought."

"Ok, then why in all Tartarus would he bring you all together, do all the egghead stuff on the enemies, go on all these dangerous adventures with you, just to turn against you and want something evil?"

I watched Twilight look over at and up at Rainbow with a growing smirk on her face. "You know, Rainbow? That is a very good question?" Now she not only looked at Starswirl but also the other Pillars as she stepped up to and stood next to the Tree of Harmony. "It wouldn't make any logical sense that he would suddenly turn on you after all that he did for all of you. However, it would make more logical sense that he thought that by taking your things he would be helping you somehow."

"How could he possibly be helping us by taking our things to Ponhenge?" Somnambula asked.

"I think I might know," Tia spoke up while looking deep in thought. "Stygian wasn't like Rockhoof and he didn't have the magical power and ability like Starswirl. Maybe he wanted to utilize your property as a way to make something for himself, so he could be more useful to you?"

"That might be so, Tia," Rarity spoke up this time, her face bright as if just remembering something that was relevant. "Fluttershy has told me and the rest of us many times that she wished she was more useful to us. That she wished she was stronger?"

"Could that have been why...he...?" Meadowbrook asked, now looking regretful of her actions.

"That very well could be, Miss Meadowbrook," I said to her, now in thought myself. "My sister and I have learned to trust the Tree of Harmony. And if she believes that his actions were misunderstood and that this situation is really about friendship. Then I would agree that his actions were meant to strengthen himself in order to stand with you. Not against you."

"Have we been wrong about Stygian all this time?" Flash wondered aloud while hovering in the air.

Rainbow looked over at him with a slightly smug look, "Looks like it. Which means the thing you need to do now would be to find him and talk to him."

Starswirl snorted very horse-like and turned away with a dismissive wave of his hoof. "I cannot accept that." He didn't stop either, but kept on walking away from all of us and the Tree of Harmony. "I still say that once a villain, always a villain."

"Where are you going Starswirl?" Flash asked as he hovered himself around to watch him leave and head toward the steps that led up and out.

"Leaving," he snapped back at them without stopping and without turning his head back. "I'm going to find the Pony of Shadows and stop him any way I can."

"But what if the Tree of Harmony is right and this was all a misunderstanding and really is our fault, then would it not be best to talk with him?"

That was when Starswirl stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned around to face us. Irritation was etched on his face as he said, "No, Somnambula. He chose his path and there is no turning back."

Now he was getting on my nerves and with a heavy horse-like snort of my own, I gently pulled away from Tia, let Nightmare Moon take full form, and started to slowly walk toward him. "Is that right my old teacher? You don't know who I am. I am Nightmare Moon and I tried to murder my sister." The PIllars parted away from me in shock and horror when they heard that. It was satisfying to watch my old teacher's eyes grow wide in shock before shaking his head in disbelief.

"You would never do such a thing!"

"You dare call me a liar, Starswirl?!" was my snarling angry response as Luna also joined me. I knew that Starswirl was watching me slowly walk toward him with my long dark night sky mane and tail waving behind me. And two different glowing eyes glaring at him. "I, Nightmare Moon, was created by Luna's mind due to her anger at Tia's actions long ago. The current Elements of Harmony, Twilight, and her friends, stopped me from fulfilling my desire for eternal night." Starswirl's horn was lit up as if getting ready for an attack or a shield while looking a little frightened. "But the Tree of Harmony could not separate us for I, Nightmare Moon, and I, Luna, are one and the same pony." Now stopping in front of the clearly frightened Starswirl, I, Nightmare Moon, took full control again. And glared down at him. "I, Nightmare Moon, that tried murdering my beloved sister, still lives. Nightmare Moon, the evil pony that tried murdering my own sister is standing in front of you now."

From behind me, I heard the soft conversation between the other Pillars and the Tree of Harmony. And the soft hoofsteps of my sister, more than likely, approaching me.

"According to what you believe, Starswirl," I continued with a growl in my voice and a snarl on my lips. "I am still evil and need to be destroyed. So, I demand that you destroy me. Destroy me right now and end my life and the life of my foal which I love with all my heart and being."

Starswirl's horn was glowing brightly as he looked up at me in fright and fear of me. He even started backing up the steps and away from me. All while breathing heavily, ears laid back against his head, and showing all signs of growing into fight or flight. Before he could do or say anything, his eyes shifted to Tia as she walked up next to me and put a wing around me. It did the job of calming me down again. "You've made your point, sister," she said softly and lovingly to me. After taking a breath, I calmed down and leaned against her. Then watched her address our old teacher. "Starswirl? I think it is plainly evident that Stygian did the wrong thing for the right reason. And by that error, his actions were misunderstood. Thus leading him to turn into the Pony of Shadows. And as co-ruler with my sister, I forbid you to take aggressive actions against Stygian. Now that he is free we will be dealing with this in the manner that the Tree of Harmony thinks is best. And that is dealing with him as a friendship problem that Twilight Sparkle is best suited to handle. Do I make myself clear, Mister Starswirl?"

"Fine!" was all he said while turning around, dimming his horn, and stomping his way up the steps. And eventually leaves.

"One thing I know about well is pride," we heard AJ's voice walking up behind us along with more hoofsteps. "And that's pride, plain and simple if I ever saw it."

Tia and I turned around to face the group as one by one each of them started to walk up and gather around in front of us. "Aye, he's done this from time to time," Rockhoof told us with a sigh and a slight shake of his head.

"Yes, he is a very prideful stallion," Mistmane agreed with a nod as she walked up beside Rockhoof. "He will come around eventually."

"But what do we do until then?" Flash asked as he hovered around the back of the group.

"Find him and talk to him," the Tree said as she walked up to the back of the group to stand next to Twilight again. "Talk to him not as the Pony of Shadows, but as your friend Stygian."

"But how do we find him?" Meadowbrook asked and a second later, Tia, me, Twilight, and the rest of the Elements present simply smiled.

"Any friendship problem, such as this, will appear on the map back at my home. Which is a bit of a long story, so why don't we journey there, so I can explain in a more comfortable atmosphere?" Twilight asked the Pillars.

The Tree looked over at Twilight, saying, "I will show his location when you arrive. Good luck."

"Thank you." After Twilight thanked her, the Tree's apparition disappeared.

"Well, fun's over," Discord's sad tone was heard just before he snapped his fingers.

And a second later is when we all appeared in Twilight's map room. Twilight, AJ, Rarity, Rainbow, and Pinkie were sitting on their thrones with their matching Pillar representatives standing beside them. Meanwhile, Tia and I were standing on either side of Twilight's Throne. All looking at the map table. Discord wasn't here, I noticed after taking a quick look around. Probably went to play with Solar. A second later, the Tree of Harmony showed up standing beside Fluttershy's throne opposite Meadowbrook.

Because this was Twilight's castle, we let her take the lead. So, with a smile, Twilight welcomed them and started explaining what they were seeing. "Let me welcome you to the Castle of Friendship," Twilight told them with her well-known friendly smile. "If you haven't noticed already, this is a crystal castle. It was made of the same material as the Tree of Harmony. Before you is what we call the map table. But first, if you would bear with me, let me tell you all how we got here."

^_^

Emmit's POV

I actually was thankful for Discord's help in distracting Solar while feeding Blaze and Aurora. I did that by laying on my back in my human form and having them lay on my chest while I held the bottles in my hands. While I did that, Ember held and fed Bruce. Fluttershy fed James. After they were fed and down for their nap, I morphed back into my fox form to focus my attention on Solar again. I fully expected Solar to refocus her attention on me. Instead, she asked me to join in the fun that Uncle Discord has started. What could I do but agree with her? For a little while, I joined my daughter as she and I had a fun time with Discord. But after a while, she got tired and fell asleep on my back. And once she was asleep, Discord bid farewell, for now, said so long to Fluttershy and disappeared. So, while Solar and the foals slept, Ember helped Fluttershy gather some food from the kitchen because at this point it was already after dinner and we were all hungry.

What was surprising was who showed up shortly afterward. Mistmane. She walked up to the cottage and then up to us when she saw us. It was so late in the day that Tia and Luna were shifting from day to night. The Sun was going down and the Moon was rising and the sky was being painted in the beautiful colors of sunset. I watched Mistmane walk up to me specifically. I was laying between Fluttershy and Ember on the large soft plush quilt with the foals in front of us and Solar sleeping on my back within three tails. When she laid down behind me, I noticed that she wanted to talk, so I lifted myself up just enough to carefully turn myself around to face her.

"The rest of my friends have been talking with the Tree of Harmony which grew from the seeds that we planted all those years ago," she began while whispering to keep from waking up the foals. "We learned a lot about the Tree of Harmony and what she stands for. And about Twilight and her friends being the current element holders. We also learned about Twilight's journey to princesshood, her fight with Tirek, and the Tree of Harmony giving her the castle so she could stand as the Princess of Friendship. I would never have expected that our seed would grow into such a strong proponent for good and harmony, but we hoped."

Then she looked into my eyes with a small smile as she continued. It was nice that she was telling me this, but I was also wondering why she was here and what she was getting at. "The Tree of Harmony, Twilight, and the rest of your herd told us a lot about you. What it was like for you when you first arrived, then battling the Shadow Organization, and then finding and rescuing your mother. Then with rescuing your father from Chrysalis. And now the war with this Storm King." Now the look in her eyes changed to that of hope. "I was also able to speak with Fizzlepop Berrytwist and how you healed her horn. I spoke with Derpy and your herd mare Scootaloo. That you healed them." Now I knew why she was here. "And I was hopeful that you might consider healing me. That it might restore my youth once more."

I thought about what to say long before saying it. When I finally found the words, I looked over at her and told her in a soft gentle voice, "'Might' is the right word, Mistmane. I don't know how it's done. And each time there's a risk that it won't work. You realize that, right?"

She took a breath, then gave me a slow nod. "Yes, I realize that. And even if that doesn't happen, then I'm still happy with my decision so many years ago. It was something that needed to be done."

"So, you know how it's done? And that it might take a day or two even if it works at all?" I asked gently and carefully.

Again, she gave me a slow nod, but she also blushed as well. "Yes. And I must admit to also being curious about your other form."

I wasn't sure what Ember or Fluttershy would feel about this, so I looked over to them for an ok. I wasn't surprised that Fluttershy would give me a nod and a smile. However, I was surprised that Ember did the same as well. Now with their ok, I lifted up my tails and carefully levitated Solar over to Fluttershy where she then covered her with her wings. I waited until Solar had settled down again in her sleep before standing up and morphing into my naked human form. Mistmane's eyes widened after she stood up and looked up at me. At least she was expecting this, so it wasn't like she was looking at me in fear. Though, she did take a moment for her eyes to roam up and down my body to take me in. I also noticed that her eyes lingered around my crotch area and she started blushing. Apparently, I was a lot to take in.

With a light chuckle, I knelt down, gently picked her up by her front legs, and then lifted her up to hold her against me. She placed one leg over my shoulder, wrapped the other behind me, and then laid her head on my other shoulder. "You made one of the bravest and most generous sacrifices, Mistmane," I whispered into her ear while wrapping my arms around her and pulling her against me. While keeping my arms and hands on her back, I noticed that she pressed herself against me and therefore trapping my semi-hard cock between us. While talking to her, I also concentrated on doing the same thing to her as I did to Scootaloo, Derpy, and Tempest. "You sacrificed your beauty and age so that others could live normally. If anypony deserves to have it back, it would be you." While I was speaking and holding her against me, I did feel magical energy flow from me and into her. I also felt her hug me tighter, heard her sniff a little, and felt a single tear fall against my shoulder.

I continued to hold her until not being able to feel the flow of magical energy again. Having done it three times already, I was beginning to get familiar with the feeling of when it was done. So, when it was finished, I pulled away just enough to look at her. I reached up and wiped away a tear with a thumb. She responded with a wide smile and a happy little giggle. "It's true what they said. You feel so much better afterward," she whispered to me. Then when she looked down at Fluttershy and Ember I knew that she wanted to be let down. Once she was on all fours again, returned to my fox form and watched her step up to them both and lay down in front of them. "You are so blessed to have him in your lives," she whispered to them. Then giggled a little while looking over at the foals. "And I can tell that he's a good father because of how sweet that little filly is."

"You're right and I'm very happy to be in his herd and happy to have two wonderful foals with him," Fluttershy said as she looked over at me with love and joy in her eyes.

"I am as well," Ember said as she scooted over to sit next to me and then lean up against me. "I'm happy to have him as my mate and glad to have a youngling with him. We have mated during the dragon's mating season in the midst of dragon eggs." I responded by wrapping a couple of tails around her.

"Because of what happened in the past and with my journey with Starswirl, I never really hoped for a foal of my own," she told us. I could hear the sorrow in her voice for something she longed for but never hoped to have. "I gave up hope for a foal of my own when we trapped the Pony of Shadows in limbo and had to go with him. But now that we are free and after hearing what he's done for the other mares, I just had to try." The look on her face showed hope as another tear fell as she spoke. "Now there's hope for my life. I hope, that one day, I can hold a foal in my hooves and hold him or her. To experience what it's like to be a mother."

"It is wonderful and very rewarding," Fluttershy told her with a joyous smile.

"I look forward to that day with my mate as well," Ember added as she nudged me a little with her hip.

^_^

Daring Do's POV

I was currently looking around the abandoned cistern called the Well of Shade in Arimaspi's old territory in modern-day Hollow Shade. I've finally made my way here in an attempt to find the long-lost royal treasure of the Saddle Arabians after finally finding the clue in Klugetown. Klugetown which started everything and sidetracking me. Finally, though, I was here after finding the stone-lined well on the ground and jumping down it. And there was just enough light shining down through the hole in the ceiling for me to see by.

And it definitely showed its age. It wasn't all that big. Just about as big as a hoofball field. Everything was made from regular local stone. But as nature is as what nature does, vines had forced their way through cracks in the walls. And were slowly making their way down the wall and onto the floor. Nature was well on her way to reclaiming her territory. Dust and regular stone and pebble debris were also scattered about. As is usual in a new find. From my landing in the center of the room, there were raised stone platforms of about three hooves tall with water wells in the center of them on either side of me. There were two small rooms behind me and behind the two raised water wells. There were also two rooms in front of me and in front of the water wells. But what drew my eyes, was the stone carving on the far wall in front of me.

The carving was underneath a stone archway as if to accent it like it was something either to show off or to show how important it was. Either way, I slowly walked my way over to it for a closer look. And the closer I got, the wider my eyes got as the stone carving became clearer. It was a stone carving of a pony with bat wings and a horn. It didn't look friendly with the glowing eyes and the dark aura around its horn either. The whole thing sent a chill up and down my spine because, to my knowledge, there was never a bat-winged pony anytime in Equestrian history. Especially a bat-winged pony with a horn. A thestril alicorn?

Until now. Princess Luna's quote thestrils unquote was nothing but illusions due to armor enchantment. Now, though, the first true thestril twins were just born.

So, what did this mean? Is this some sort of prophecy that's going to come to pass some time in Equestria's future? I knew there was a treasure here to find, but this alone was a find in and of itself. Especially remembering how old this is. Some pictures are said to be worth a thousand words, but this picture is worth a thousand questions or more. And no answers to them. That aside, a stone carving that may or may not be a prophecy wasn't what I was here to find. Two rooms were nearby, so I turned to the one on my right and started walking over to it to see what was inside.

The first room I looked into was almost empty. Almost. The only thing in it was a small pile of gold coins and a couple of figurines. None of which I was looking for. Both figurines were small with one being made of silver and the other brass and both looking like dragons. However, every adventurer needs to have some extra money, so after putting a few gold coins in the small bag I was carrying, I turned to walk over to the other room. The second room was filled with more gold and silver coins from every nation outside of Equestria. There were a few statues there as well, also from various nations around Equestria. A great haul for anypony, but, again, nothing I was looking for.

Next, I tried the room on the other end of the cistern on the same side. This one had the single figurine I was looking for. The long-lost solid gold royal figurine of a long-dead mistress of a long-dead Saddle Arabian Sultan. Legend says that she was so beautiful, kind, and so revered among the populace, that the Sultan decreed this figurine. Although half as big as I was, it was more of a statue than a figurine. And even though I finally found it, my wings were aching already just at the thought of trying to lift it through the hole in the ceiling.

All that was forgotten and a fearful chill ran through me when I heard a loud roar of pain suddenly coming from the main room. Every hair stood up on my back as my adventurer's instincts kicked in and tried to make myself as small as possible in a corner of the room by the door. Somepony was here and sounded like they were in pain. But it didn't sound like a normal pony. It was too loud and sounded too off. As if the owner was larger than a regular pony. I did recognize the voice, though. Which sent thoughts of imprisonment and being drained sent waves of fear through me.

"Hold still and it won't take as long," I heard Chrysalis say from the main room while trying to make myself as small and invisible as possible. The owner of the large sounding roar was groaning while my ears picked up the sound of Chrysalis using some type of magic. A few seconds later, I heard her magic deactivate as she said, "There, you're healed. So, why did you bring us here?"

"This was where I became the Pony of Shadows." It was the voice that belonged to the larger-sounding pony and or creature. I didn't look, but it was fairly obvious at this point that either this other pony or creature was larger than normal. And very angry. "After being betrayed by Starswirl, I found this place and was accepted by the shadows. The shadows accepted me when my friends wouldn't. This is also a place that almost nopony knows about, so it's a safe place for you to tell me what that weapon was that hurt me. And what modern Equestria is like? How long was I trapped in limbo?"

"You have been gone for about one thousand years," I heard Chrysalis begin to explain while keeping myself hidden. I was hoping that they would either leave without checking the rooms. Or perhaps I could sneak out after the sun went down. Night was quickly approaching making the second option more and more like the one I would have to take. "Things stayed the same until the Tree of Harmony," she said those words with disgust and anger in her voice, "brought over a human named Emmit Knight from another world." There was a short pause before she continued with, "Yes, you heard right. Another world. He's the one that made those weapons that hurt you. They can injure and kill from a very long distance. I don't know how it's done, but I've seen it in action after Tempest and I took over Klugetown for the Storm King."

"What is this Tree of Harmony?" the larger-sounding voice's name apparently was the Pony of Shadows.

As Chrysalis explained what the Tree of Harmony was, my mind went over what I knew about the very real Pony of Shadows. It was just a legend until now that Starswirl and the Pillars were battling something called the Pony of Shadows until they all just up and disappeared. Nopony knew what really happened to them. And many speculated that the Pony of Shadows was just made up in order to explain Starswirl's disappearance. Up until now, I didn't really know which side was true. I knew now because the Pony of Shadows was in the main room on the other side of this stone wall I was hiding behind. An evil pony of legend and Chrysalis wasn't something that I wanted to face.

"And just who is this Storm King? Can he help us?" he asked her.

My ears picked up Chrysalis' dismissive snort as she told him, "Just some insane monkey-type creature that is Tartarus bent on taking over Equestria. It won't work. Not with the firepower that Emmit has made for the ponies. You saw the ship?" There was a short pause as if the Pony of Shadows was answering her question silently. "He has a fleet of those with even more powerful weapons that hurt you. Tempest and I escaped Klugetown in an airship twice as large and watched him destroy ours easily."

Still hiding in the corner, I watched the light start to rapidly dim which would indicate that the princesses were lowering the sun and raising the moon. And I hoped beyond hope that both of them would leave soon.

"What are you thinking?" Chrysalis asked after a long pause.

"I think that this Storm King is going to need my help if he has any chance of conquering Equestria."

Chrysalis laughed and it was a long gut-holding laugh. "He would just use you to do the work for him. Then he would just either dump you or try to destroy you before claiming everything for himself."

"If that's what it takes to take revenge on the friends that betrayed me, then so be it," I heard him growl out. Then, after a second's pause, I heard the sounds of very heavy hooves pounding on the floor before the sound of wings beating against the air.

Did the Pony of Shadows just leave as I hoped?

"YOU'RE AN IDIOT!" I heard Chrysalis shout out to him and again, heard the sound of wings beating against the air. "THE STORM KING IS NOT WORTH SIDING WITH." Chrysalis' voice kept getting softer and softer as it sounded like they left and she was pursuing him.

Did I really luck out this time? After a couple of minutes of silence, I slowly and carefully moved toward the door to take a quick look around. And for the first time in a long while, I actually lucked out that the place was now empty. With a sigh of relief, I took a minute to calm my rapidly beating heart, wipe the sweat from my forehead, and then focused on the problem at hoof. Just how was I going to get this statue out of the cistern? Further, just how was I going to get it back to Saddle Arabia?

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven: Things Get Worse Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 34 Minutes