The trip back to Canterlot took most of the day so when Luna, Aldus, and the others finally reached the palace it would already be night. Luna had spent most of the trip informing Aldus of the many events that happened after her return. While things sounded interesting and Aldus was eager to meet these “elements of harmony”, the thing that intrigued him the most was this... “Nightmare Night” festival.

“So, what you are saying is, after the civil war that tore our nation apart, the ponies put together a festival where they come out and play during the night? Where Nightmare Moon is said to prowl the streets looking for foals to eat, so the children put on costumes to disguise themselves and offer candy to appease Nightmare Moon?” Aldus asked, clearly skeptical.

“Thats right,” Marigold said with a huge smile on her face. “It is always my favorite holiday of the year!”

Marigold had been flying alongside the carriage casually listening to Aldus and Luna’s conversation.

“Luna loves it too, right princess?” she said while grinning at Luna.

Luna glanced over at Marigold and laughed, “I most certainly do! Though I admit at first I had a similar reaction to yours, Aldus. I couldn't imagine the children would love to be scared, but once Celestia’s student Twilight Sparkle helped me understand, the whole night was fantastic.”

Canterlot city came into view beneath a bank of clouds, and the chariot and guards descended to a landing pad outside the palace. Marigold helped Aldus out of the chariot and perked up, an idea coming to her.

“You know,” she said, smirking at Luna, “Princess, I think Aldy here should come with us to Nightmare Night this year! Its only a few weeks away, what do you think?”

Luna giggled, “That sounds like a wonderful idea, Marigold!”

Aldus suddenly looked a little timid and shook his head, “uh I- I don’t know, I mean I don’t know how to act scary, and I don’t have a costume.”

Luna and Marigold burst out laughing so loudly it made Aldus jump.

Luna put a hoof around Aldus’ shoulder, “We can figure out what you should wear later, there is plenty of time for that.”

“Yeah!” Marigold said as she walked by and brushed her tail across his face. “You can act scary, just turn into ‘Aldus the Moondeath’. That face with the torn robes covered in black was one of the scariest things I've ever seen!”

Aldus chuckled a bit, “I don’t know about that, we’ll see.”

He couldn’t see it, but Marigold looked at him with a pouty face wanting him to say yes. Meanwhile, Luna was instructing the guards to man their posts and was watching for her sister. She did not want Celestia seeing Aldus out here in the open where when the inevitable argument broke out, the whole city would hear the two sister’s royal voices, if it came to that.

“Marigold, take Aldus to my chambers for now and wait for me there. I shall be along shortly.” Luna said, as she flew up to Celestia’s tower.

“Yes princess,” replied Marigold as she turned around finding Aldus looking around and smelling the air.

“Canterlot smells different than I remember, it smells... cleaner?” Aldus said trying to discern the locations of the many different odors.

Marigold rolled her eyes and flew over to Aldus grabbing his hoof and pulling him off the landing pad and down one of the hallways.

“Come on, you! We need to get to Luna’s chambers before she arrives there with Celestia!”

Aldus was barely able to keep up a running pace while being dragged by Marigold.

“You know I’m not in the best shape after being locked away for one thousand years! Could you slow down a bit? You're enjoying this aren't you?”

The question earned him a giggle from Marigold as she whipped around a corner almost causing Aldus to slam into a wall. Finally they arrived in Luna’s chambers, Aldus found a pillow near the hearth and collapsed onto it panting, while Marigold looked both ways down the hall to see if they had been followed. She shut the doors and trotted over to the windows, pulled the curtains shut and lit some candles.

“I hope Celestia doesn’t get too mad about our little excursion to free you.” Marigold said as she came over to sit by Aldus, who was staring absentmindedly into space.

“Aldy, are you ok? You aren't frightened are you?” Marigold asked with a slight sense of worry in her tone.

“Aldy... you know, only a few ponies ever called me that.” he said while turning in her general direction. “To answer your question, no I’m not frightened. Celestia had proper reason to seal me away in the prison, and any anger she has upon discovering my release is justified. But this is a conversation I've been waiting to have for a long time, Marigold.”

Marigold inched closer to him and stared into his veil covered eyes. “Your eyes, I’m so sorry. Can you only see when the Nightmare gives you its power?”

“For now, yes. I can only see when it feeds its power through me. It does not have an unlimited supply of magic so I can’t see things all the time. However, I believe I can restore at least some of my sight with a few spells and some alchemy.”

Marigold smiled and put some more logs on the fire, “Well, I’m happy to have you back Aldus, you don’t seem like an evil pony to me. Try and get your sight back as soon as you can, there are lots of things you should see, and if you need somepony to show you around, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

“I’ll do that Miss Marigold, thank you for the offer. If you don’t mind me asking, what made a mare like you remain in the Night Guard with Princess Luna?”

Marigold furrowed her brow at the question and became slightly defensive, “What do you mean ‘a mare like me’? I happen to like the Night Guard, and Princess Luna is one of the nicest most caring ponies I’ve ever met. Would you believe that even after all the good she’s done since her return, barely anypony wanted to be with her? When Celestia reformed the night guard nopony volunteered except me, so she had to create it herself from the existing royal guard. I love Princess Luna, and even turned down joining the Wonderbolts to stay with her.”

Aldus smiled at her reactions. She didn’t realize he was siphoning just enough of the Nightmare’s power to see her reaction to his question. Aldus had always enjoyed setting ponies up in conversations and studying their reactions, there was a lot to learn about them by the way they acted. Marigold’s reaction confirmed Aldus’ initial judgement.

“Remember you’re talking to a pony who fought a war for Princess Luna, you don’t need to sing accolades of her character to me. It doesn't surprise me that ponies are hesitant to be around her now, they were like that even before the war. If only there were more mares and stallions like you so long ago Marigold. That you turned down the fame and prestige of being a Wonderbolt to be with somepony you cared about speaks volumes of your character, Marigold.” Aldus said, while continuing to study Marigold’s reactions.

“I’m happy to hear that Luna had somepony there for her when she returned. I am in your debt, if you ever need anything, you have but to ask. The same would go for any of the other courtiers

if they were here. I know Rigel would have offered you a place in the Shadowbolts in a heartbeat...”

If smiles could beam with actual light, Marigold’s might have blinded Aldus a second time. “Seriously?! I’ve always wondered about him, but there is so little history on him and the Shadowbolts, and Luna never really wanted to talk about it. Could you tell me more about him? Please?”

Aldus tilted his head quizzically and laughed a bit, “I take it Rigel was a hero to you? Or at the very least somepony you looked to for inspiration?”

Marigold nodded and flexed her wings, “Most books say he was a bloodthirsty flier who joyed in shooting down any mare or stallion he saw in the sky. They say the Shadowbolts were formed in mockery of the Wonderbolts, to mock Celestia and her subjects. I don’t believe it, history is always written by the victors in wars. I’ve read accounts that describe a very different Rigel.”

“You are wise not to believe that, since none of those things are true. Rigel and his Shadowbolts downed many of Celestia’s fliers, but the only ones Rigel ever enjoyed fighting were the Wonderbolts, the so-called ‘best fliers in equestria’. I’ll never forget the night I found him high atop a tower in one of our castles, weeping buckets of tears. I consoled him like all the times he had been there for me, and asked what was wrong. He said he shot down seventeen fliers that day, and that they never stood a chance against him. His heart felt compassion toward the weaker enemies he downed. Every time he ascended to the sky for battle he sought out the Wonderbolts hoping that one of them would be a worthy opponent.”

Marigold was captivated by the tale, and the hearth gave a beautiful glow to her soft blue eyes.

“The Shadowbolts were not named to mock the Wonderbolts, they were given that name because of something else entirely, but I’m afraid I can’t say why.”

Marigold let out a cute pout, “Ahw why not?”

Aldus frowned at Marigold, “It was something he confided to me, and I’m relatively certain he told nopony else. Rigel was like a brother to me, he was the first true friend I ever made. He always looked after me, and was always there to teach me whatever I couldn’t learn from books.”

Marigold now noticed tears starting to drip down from under Aldus’ veil. She walked over and wrapped her hooves around him in a gentle embrace.

“He was always so cool, so athletic, so good with the mares. To think he would be friends with somepony like me. I miss him, I miss them all so much.”

Marigold still couldn’t believe that she was comforting Aldus the Moondeath in such a way, but this was something she felt she needed to do. She was about to tell him everything was alright now, but suddenly she heard two familiar voices approaching from outside.

Marigold cupped Aldus’ face in her hooves, “Look at me Aldus, the princesses are coming. Are you ready?”

Aldus looked toward the door and muttered, “Indeed I am ready, I’ve waited one thousand years for this.”

Princess Luna opened the door and allowed Celestia to enter, at first she simply turned around and chastised Luna for dragging her down to her chambers in such haste. Apparently she had been trying to tell Luna about a bad dream she had. Then her eyes suddenly fell upon Aldus, her regal features faded into an expression of contempt.

“You,” she hissed, “Impossible. What are you doing here, what is the meaning of this, Luna?”

Luna moved to stand between Celestia and Aldus, “Recently I stumbled upon a hidden section of the archives and found a book detailing his location in a soul separation prison.”

Luna glared at Celestia, “Dearest sister, you knew I was lonely upon my return, why didn’t you tell me about this?”

Celestia’s gaze did not shift from Aldus, who for the moment was still sitting on a pillow with Marigold.

“I didn’t tell you because he was never supposed to be released from his prison. He is a monster, for what he did to Solar Wind and the rest of my beloved students, and he killed thousands of ponies with that comet.”

“Your students were the monsters, Celly.” Aldus said, the words falling from his mouth like acid. “For the grand teacher that you hold yourself to be, allowing ponies like them to obtain that much power was reprehensible. You don’t even know what they did.”

Celestia was about to say something but Luna interjected, “What he says is true, sister. I witnessed the last battle myself through one of his dreams. The mare called Solar Wind captured Aldus’ guardian, Lilith, and tortured her. She used that to taunt Aldus during the fight, and said that she did not survive.”

Celestia’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Impossible, she would never have done something like that, none of them would have!”

“Its true, sister. Do you not believe me?” Luna asked now scowling at her sister.

Celestia paused a moment, eyeing Luna with a somewhat sad expression, but only for a moment. She quickly resumed her contemptuous expression and took a few steps toward Aldus.

“It was that thing wasn’t it? It was Nightmare Moon. It gave you the power necessary to overcome my students.”

Aldus rose to stand and smirked at Celestia, “Yes, my companion gave me some help during the battle, but that wasn’t what defeated your students. It was their refusal to take me seriously until half of them were already dead.” he said as his eyes briefly flashed a bright green under his veil.

He was about to laugh when suddenly he was seized in a magical field and thrown into the adjacent wall with great force. Aldus collided into it with a grunt and crumpled to the floor.

Marigold screamed and Luna immediately teleported between Aldus and her sister.

“That is enough Tia, I will not allow you to harm him again!” bellowed Luna with the full force of the royal canterlot voice.

Celestia was momentarily taken aback by Luna’s actions but she quickly regained her composure. She was about to say something when three royal guards burst into the room with weapons drawn.

Celestia gave a heavy sigh and shook her head. “Luna... this is too much to handle right now, meet me in my chambers in five minutes. Guards, you are dismissed.”

The guards bowed and filed out into the hallway with Celestia following them. She called over her shoulder, “Aldus, you are not to leave this room until I say otherwise. A bed and food will be brought to you if you are hungry. Do you understand?”

Aldus looked at Celestia and mumbled under his breath, “Yes princess, I understand.”

“Good,” Celestia said, “Five minutes Luna, we have much to discuss.”

After that Celestia exited the room and shut the doors with a slam. Marigold rushed over to Aldus and helped him up.

“Why did you antagonize her like that?” Marigold asked.

Luna approached Aldus and raised an eyebrow, “There is no need to posture when I am here Aldus, I am quite capable of handling my sister.”

Aldus simply laughed, “I’m sorry if that alarmed you Miss Marigold, but it was something that needed to be done. I can’t afford to appear weak. Luna, you’ll have to forgive me, but last time you thought you could handle your sister you ended up stuck in the moon for one thousand years.”

Luna simply turned around and walked to the door, “Where it anypony else to say something like that to me, their punishment would be grave indeed. Be glad you aren’t anypony else, Aldus. Now, I need to go solve this with my sister. Marigold, remain with Aldus to make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble.”

“Love you too, Luna.” Aldus croaked with a giggle.

Luna sighed in exasperation and exited the room.

Marigold lifted Aldus up to lean on her while she walked him back to the large pillows. “You are something else Aldy, you know that?”

“Yes, I’m aware... and if I wasn’t something else before, I certainly am now.” Aldus replied with a chuckle

-------------------

Several hours passed while Luna and Celestia were discussing Aldus’ return. In the meantime, Aldus had asked for some books and chemicals to start working on a way to recover some of his sight. Marigold ordered several nightguards to obtain all the items that Aldus required and set up a work table for him. She also had some food brought in for them to eat.

The work on the spell was slow and Aldus tried to work diligently, however having a playful and hyper mare chatting your ear off didn’t help speed along the process.

“Polaris sounds like a boring pony, Aldus. You’re telling me that you, Rigel, and Polaris were best friends?”

“Yes thats right, Marigold. Rigel and Polaris were slightly older than me and a lot bigger when we met as foals. I think they both were protective of me because I was so little back then.”

Marigold was hovering around the room now out of boredom. She had taken off her armor earlier revealing just how beautiful she was. She would occasionally pass over Aldus’ workspace while lying inverted in the air performing movements akin to the backstroke swimming style.

“Are you done yet? You’ve been at this for almost two hours now, you should take a break and have some food with me.”

Aldus was about to protest, but his stomach rumbled loudly. Marigold heard it and snickered.

“Alright, I’ll take a break. That soup smells delicious.” Aldus said as he slowly backed away from the work table and moved toward the smell of the food.

Marigold landed at the table and took a few bites from a dinner roll. “So you got picked on alot as a foal? Just how small were you?”

Before she could take another bite, a bright flash filled her peripheral vision. Marigold turned to see what happened and saw Aldus’ robes lying on the floor with Aldus himself nowhere to be seen, until she noticed movement under them.

“Ah darnit,” came the voice of a foal from under the robe. “Stupid spell, forgot there was an extra part that made clothes shrink too!”

She then watched as a small unicorn colt emerged from the robes. His eyes glowed a slight green and its mane was now a short silver mohawk.

Marigold quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and tried not to choke from laughter. “You transformed into a foal! You can do that?”

With a smug smile, Aldus replied, “Yes I can, and I did. I’m pretty good with magic, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“You’ve got quite the attitude little colt,” Marigold said with an evil grin as she slowly rose into the air. “I don’t know what they did one thousand years ago, but today we teach snarky colts some manners!”

Aldus’ smug smirk quickly changed into an expression of fear, “No, wait Marigold No!”

He didn't have time to say anything else before Marigold dove after him, but he was able to escape by rolling to the side at the last second. As a foal, Luna’s chambers seemed even larger than they were before. He needed someplace to hide... the bed! Aldus made a break for the bed, which seemed so far away. He heard Marigold swoop down at him again, “C’mere little cutie, you don’t have to be scared...”

Aldus dove under the bed and tried to crawl further in but was stopped by a hoof grabbing his leg and yanking him out. Marigold turned him over so he could see her grinning at him and began to tickle him relentlessly.

“Mari- haha stop! Hahaha please, Marigold!”

The mare finally relented and picked the diminutive colt up off the floor, cradling him she ascended into the air above the bed.

“I can’t imagine why anypony would pick on a colt as cute as you, Aldy” she cooed while hovering in the air.

“Well, I know its difficult to believe, but some ponies aren't as easily drawn in by this apparent ‘cuteness’ you refer to. I suspect it may have made me look weak and helpless.”

Marigold giggled, “Well I don’t know about that, but in certain situations you are pretty helpless!” she said as she threw Aldus up into the air and caught him as he fell back down to her.

Aldus let out a sigh of resignation as he was tossed into the air again, why are all the pegasus mares I meet crazy and hyper?

Marigold caught him again and finally set him down by his robes.

“You seem pretty good with foals,” Aldus said while igniting his horn and returning to his original form. “I take it you have experience with them?”

Marigold nodded and flapped her wings happily. “My sister is married and has a little colt in Manehattan. I love the little guy, but I don’t get to see them much.”

“I see,” Aldus said as he put on his robes and sat down to eat at the table. “I too have a soft spot for foals. It comes from my history as an orphan and from helping Luna with her dream walking.”

“You were an orphan? So when Luna said those students you fought captured your guardian, she was your only family?” Marigold asked, but instantly regretted doing so when she saw Aldus wince at the question.

“That is correct, Marigold. Sometime... I’ll tell you about it.”

After about fifteen minutes of dinner, Princess Luna returned from her conversation with Celestia. She seemed calm enough, and flew over to her bed to lay down facing the table where Aldus and Marigold sat.

“Well?” Marigold asked, “What happened?”

Luna stared into the hearth, “Tia is sorry for keeping the secret from me, and agrees that Aldus can stay here. Aldus, you are to remain here until a room down the hall is prepared for you.”

Aldus bowed his head in acknowledgement while Marigold breathed a sigh of relief.

Luna now looked at Aldus, “Celestia will speak to you in private tomorrow after she has looked into the matter of her former students, and you will not antagonize her. There is no need to worry now, Aldus. I have informed my sister that you are not to be trifled with, unless she seeks a conflict with me.”

Luna flew off the bed and landed in front of the door to the balcony. “Marigold, you are free to do as you like. I’m going to the observatory to check on the dreamers. Goodnight you two, I’ll see you tomorrow.” and with that, Luna opened the doors and flew off the balcony up to the observatory tower.

Aldus finished his dinner and returned to his work table to complete the spell. Meanwhile, Marigold rubbed her hoof on the ground nervously.

“Well I’m glad you get to stay, Aldus. Is there anything you need help with?”

Aldus propped up two large spellbooks in front of him and began drawing on some scrolls, “Not at the moment, thank you for asking though.”

“Oh, okay then.” Marigold said, “Well... I guess I’ll leave you to it, goodnight Aldus.” She said as she slowly collected her armor to leave.

Aldus sensed a hint of sadness in her voice and turned to see her open the door to leave. “Marigold, I might need some help later, you are welcome to stay if you want.”

Upon hearing that the pegasus mare smiled and dropped her armor next to the door. “You’re sure? Ok! Hang on, let me go get some reading material so I don’t bother you until you need me.”

Aldus saw Marigold fly out the door and he laughed to himself. What a funny mare, she even reminds me of Luna a bit when I first met her.

As time passed Marigold returned and sat on the bed patiently reading a book. In about two hours time, Aldus had finished the spell and got up to stretch when he heard a light snoring behind him. Upon investigating, he saw Marigold on the edge of the bed asleep with the book on her face. Aldus smiled and silently walked over to her, she mumbled something in her sleep which only added to her cuteness. With gentle care Aldus levitated Marigold to the front of the bed and tucked her in. Before he left her side he levitated Marigold’s book over to him to see what she had been reading. ‘Daring Do and The Adventures Beyond the Everfree’, an adventurer novel? He slowly turned around to see a shadow on the wall take the shape of a black alicorn with green eyes. It looked at Marigold, then at Aldus.

Aldus smiled as he returned to the workstation of scrolls and books. I know you are eager to meet her in her dreams, but that can wait for another time. We’ve only just returned and I need information on the realm immediately. Don’t go beyond Canterlot, start with information on the other pony kingdoms, then the gryphon territories.

The shadow of the black Alicorn peeled away from the wall and switched its form to a large black pegasus mare. It stood behind Aldus and looked over his shoulder at the spell.

Yeah, I hope it works too. If it does I’ll be able to see things without needing your magic, and if I do need it, it should be much less than before.

The large pegasus mare leaned in to nuzzle Aldus, then flew out through the balcony into the night. Be careful, Aldus thought as he watched the black pegasus disappear into the night.

Regaining his focus, he turned to the spell on the table. Ok, please work. Aldus slowly charged his horn and cast the spell. He instantly felt a reaction, his eyes felt like a pot of scalding hot soup had been poured on them. Aldus growled in pain, trying not to wake Marigold. Slowly the pain subsided and he felt better, but fatigued. The spell was not designed to work right away.

With that in mind Aldus listened to Marigold, who was still sound asleep. Knowing she was ok, he climbed into the small bed that had been provided to him and went to sleep. He hoped the spell would work by the morning, because he had some exploring to do.

---------------

Aldus awoke the next day feeling as if he didn’t get any rest at all. He speculated that it was due to his time in that prison, and he might not get a good nights sleep for a while. Slowly he got up and saw that Marigold was still snoring softly in Luna’s bed. However she was not alone, in the bed next to her Luna herself was deep in slumber. It made sense, everypony was probably tired after the long trip. Then suddenly it hit him, he could see! It wasn’t full sight, but he could make out blurry images and some colors. It was better than nothing, and he could always try and improve the spell later.

Quietly he moved to the door and peaked his head out to see four guards in the hallway.

“Good morning gentlecolts, do you have orders to keep me here? Or may I leave?” Aldus asked politely.

The golden armored guards looked at each other before one of them answered. “Celestia said you may go where you like, Magister. But you are not to leave the castle or the castle grounds if you go outside.”

“Very well guardspony, could one of you show me to the royal baths?”

One of the guards nodded and motioned for Aldus to follow.

After a brief soak in the baths Aldus checked his eyes in a mirror, they still were glazed over and pale. He put his veil back on and was still able to see through it, and so decided to keep it on.

Aldus then trotted into the throne room where two large rectangular breakfast tables were set up on either side of the throne. That seemed to be one tradition that hadn’t changed in one thousand years, it was nice to have some comforting familiarity. He looked at the end nearest the throne where he and his courtiers usually sat, but decided it wouldn’t be a good idea right now. Instead he took a seat all the way in the back farthest away from the throne. He noticed there weren’t too many others around this early in the morning and levitated over a glass of orange juice. It wasn’t too long before a servant mare approached him and asked what he would like to eat.

“I don’t need anything fancy, what do you and the other servants make yourselves for breakfast?”

The mare paused for a moment before replying, “Well, today it was just roasted carrots with steamed spinach and oats.”

“That sounds lovely,” Aldus said, and the mare bowed and quickly left the room to prepare his meal.

Aldus sat alone observing the many stained glass images of all the important events that happened in the recent months. The defeat of Nightmare Moon and Discord by the Elements of Harmony, The Changeling Invasion, and most recently the defeat of King Sombra in the Crystal Empire.

‘King Sombra’, what a joke. I knew I shouldn’t have let him walk away after we dueled in the Crystal Empire.

Aldus was ripped away from his brooding thoughts when he was greeted by a soft, sing-song voice. He looked up from the table to see a pink alicorn with a candy colored mane.

“Hi there!” she said with a bright smile.

Aldus glanced over at the window with the pink alicorn on it and connected the dots. “Hello Princess Cadance” he said and bowed his head.

“Please, just Cadance. Do you mind if I sit? I don’t like eating alone if I don’t have to.”

“No, not all.”

“Thank you,” she said while taking a seat across from him. “Any particular reason you are all the way down here by yourself?”

The servant mare appeared and delivered Aldus’ simple meal, and turned to Cadance who asked for her usual.

“I used to sit at the other end, but that was a long time ago. I don’t really know anypony now.”

“You don’t know anypony... now?” Cadance asked.

“I’ve... been away for awhile, my name is Aldus.”

Cadance froze for a moment, “Aldus... the Moondeath?” she squeaked.

Aldus let out a sigh, “Correct.” and began eating his roasted carrots.

“That is why I’m down here alone, if you want to leave I understand.”

But Cadance didn’t leave, instead she looked straight into his eyes and smiled. “Your vision, an injury from the civil war? You saw me coming to sit with you though, so did it return?”

Aldus swallowed his oats and carrots, “Yes, I was blinded by the sun, but it is slowly returning.”

“Well, I’m sure Princess Luna is happy you are back, and you can always consider me a friend if you like.”

“CADANCE!!!”

Both Cadance and Aldus looked in the direction of the loud shout. Three ponies entered the throne room and trotted up to where they were sitting. One was a lavender unicorn with a pink stripe flowing through her otherwise purple mane. She was flanked on one side by a shy looking pegasus with a flowing pink mane, and on the other side by an orange earth pony with a long blonde mane and tail wearing a cowboy hat.

“Hello Twilight! Hello girls! How are you doing? Are you ready for the trip?” Cadance asked.

“We sure are!” said the unicorn known as Twilight, “We’re ready to put our special talents to good use for the Crystal Ponies. Applejack will plant some new orchards, Fluttershy will inspect the wildlife, and I’ll learn about all the different types of crystals.”

Aldus continued to eat while they were talking, until another shout come from the direction of the guard’s barracks.

“TWILEY!!!”

A large white unicorn stallion with a blue mane trotted up to the group. He wore guard armor signifying the rank of a captain. Aldus recognized him as the white unicorn opposite Cadance in the window.

“You girls didn’t think you could leave without saying goodbye, did you?”

“We wouldn’t dream of it, honey.” Cadance said as she planted a kiss on his lips.

“Who is this, Cadance?” Twilight asked, pointing a hoof at Aldus.

“This is somepony who works for Princess Luna, his name is Aldus.”

There was a pause before the realization hit Twilight.

“Aldus? THE Aldus? The powerful wizard who was made infamous at the Battle of Moonlock Observatory?!”

Aldus levitated a napkin to his mouth, “My my, somepony who reads history, and very old history at that.”

Twilight’s expression changed from surprise to fear and anger.

“You use dark magic!” Twilight shouted.

“So do you,” Aldus casually replied, “I sense you used it recently in fact. Did you pick it up from ‘King’ Sombra in the Crystal Empire? He was good, but he lacked... finesse.”

Shining armor stalked around the table and glared at Aldus, “You destroyed thousands of guards and soldiers when you brought down that comet.” He ripped off Aldus’ veil with his magic and dropped it in bowl of spinach.

Aldus returned Shining Armor’s glare with a frown, “Yes, not one of my finest moments. I was imprisoned for one thousand years because of that, and I regret it.”

He turned to Cadance and bowed, “I appreciate you taking the time to sit with me Cadance, but I probably shouldn’t have left the towers. I think I’d better go.”

Aldus levitated his spinach covered veil into his robes and started to walk away. He had only walked four paces before being tackled to the ground and having his head bounced off the tiled floor.

Shining armor had him pinned to the ground and twisted one of his hooves, “The only place you’re going is the dungeon. Dark magic is forbidden.”

Aldus grunted in pain, “I didn’t use any dark magic, please let me go. I don’t want to cause any conflict.”

Cadance stood up from table and shouted at her husband, “Shining let him go! He didn’t do anything!”

Fluttershy and Applejack stood in awe at what was happening, and Twilight couldn’t believe Cadance was defending Aldus.

“No, Cadance!” Shining Armor snapped, “I’m not taking any chances, not after Chrysalis and Sombra!”

While Shining and his wife argued, Aldus was having slight flashbacks of his youth of being held down and beaten senseless by foals bigger than him. This seemed to be playing out the same way. Aldus ignited his horn and teleported out from under Shining Armor only to reappear in front of him.

“Please, listen to me,” Aldus pleaded, “I’m not the same stallion as I was then. Just let me leave in peace.”

Shining Armor’s response was to fire a cluster of magic bolts at Aldus. They were likely some kind of incapacitation spells. Aldus conjured a ward to block them then blinked away, not appearing until Shining started to scan the room for him. When he did appear, he did so beside Shining and touched his hoof to Shining’s horn briefly. The Captain of the Guards tried to summon magic but it was absorbed by the tiny black crystals that started growing on his horn.

Twilight instantly appeared between Shining Armor and Aldus with a spell charged. Aldus backed away when Twilight roared, “I won’t let you hurt my brother!”

“Stop this right now!” boomed a thunderous voice from the throne. It was Celestia.

Oh goddesses, take me now. Aldus thought while bowing to the sun princess.

“Aldus, your chambers are ready, they are in Luna’s tower, two doors down from hers. I strongly suggest you go there now so we can have our little chat.”

“As you command, princess.” Before he left, Aldus apologized to Cadance and the others, then exited the throne room.

Aldus ascended the tower and walked past Luna’s room and peaked inside. He smiled seeing Luna and Marigold still snoozing away on the large bed.

He trotted two doors down and entered a room filled with lots of bookshelves, an alchemy table, and an enchanting circle in the corner of the room. Celestia landed on the room’s balcony and walked inside.

Aldus was about to speak but Celestia cut him off.

“I’m sorry about what happened down there, Aldus. I should have let Shining Armor and Twilight know about your return. Cadance told me what happened, she is my niece and I trust her. All of them except Shining Armor are leaving for the Crystal Empire later today, but they will apologize when they return.”

“You don’t have to apologize princess, and neither do they. I should have just taken my food back up here to eat alone.” Aldus said.

“No, its better you were there. You met Cadance and Shining Armor, as well as my student Twilight Sparkle who is the element of magic. The two others are the elements of honesty and kindness.”

Celestia frowned and walked over to Aldus, “I looked into the matters of my students during the war. There are records of them doing some... questionable things. Back then I was so concerned about Nightmare Moon that I ignored many things I shouldn’t have. I’m... sorry they did that to Lilith, nopony deserved that.”

Aldus looked up at Celestia, “Then you know why I did what I did?”

Celestia paused for a moment, “Given the circumstances, yes. I know why.”

Aldus trotted over to the balcony and Celestia followed.

“Celestia, I was a schemer, and in many ways I still am. I was schooled in magic and in politics, and I became very good at lying, so I understand if you might not believe what I have to say.”

He took a deep breath and looked down at the city below. “I never wanted a war or conflict, some of the other courtiers did, but not me. You knew me as a foal, you trained me at a very young age. I’m not a fighter or a warrior, all I ever wanted was to be with Luna, Lilith, and my friends in the court. When Nightmare Moon appeared we didn’t know what to do, many left Equestria as you remember, but for we few who were close to Luna, we could not abandon her.”

Celestia joined Aldus on the balcony, “I will admit, when the news of Moonlock reached me I did not believe you could have done something like that. But having had one thousand years to contemplate it, I suspect many of you cared for Luna more than I did back then. However, I’ve learned from my past mistakes. Which is why we’re having this discussion”

The Princess of the Sun ignited her horn and teleported a saddlebag onto the balcony, which confused Aldus.

“Nearing the end of the war, I knew that I would need to banish Nightmare Moon, and I knew that eventually she would return. When that happened I would get my sister back, so I made plans for that day and the years after. I ordered the capture of every Lunar Court member who still served Nightmare Moon. Do you understand what I’m saying Aldus, you are not the only one still alive.”

Aldus didn’t want to believe it, rarely ever were things like this true. But what if she isn’t lying?

“I knew when Luna returned we would need time to mend our relationship, if it could be mended at all. I knew she would return to rule alongside me and that she would need help. Very few ponies of this time would trust her or want to serve her knowing the history behind Nightmare Moon, so I sealed away her court to be reawakened at such a time when she was ready rule again. However, once I saw what you had done at Moonlock, I resolved to never release you from that prison. Then Luna found you, and my conversation with her last night showed me that decision was never mine to make.”

Celestia opened the saddlebag and levitated a violet book with a gold border to Aldus. “This contains the locations on where you can find your other court members, as well as the spells needed to release them. BUT, you cannot release them all at once or too soon.”

Aldus tucked the book into his robes, “Why not?”

Celestia now looked a bit worried, which concerned Aldus.

“Tension with some of the Gryphon Kingdoms is growing, the reappearance of the Crystal Empire has destabilized the northern region. After defeating Sombra we believed at least one of the kingdoms would invade and try to capture it, but nothing happened. There are spies in Equestria and changelings still looking for any valuable information they can find. If the entire Court of the Moon just suddenly showed up out of nowhere, it might cause a conflict that should be avoided.”

“I understand,” Aldus said, “But Celestia, there is something you aren’t telling me.”

“You were one of the only ponies who could see through me, Aldus” Celestia said with a chuckle. “There is... something... out there in the north. Beyond the Crystal Empire, and beyond the Gryphon Kingdoms. I don’t know what it is, but the other princesses sense it too, and it is not friendly. We fear it may encroach on the Gryphon Kingdoms and drive them southeast into our territories. I didn’t plan on this, but it looks like you are going to be of great use Aldus. You have a role to play now, for Luna, for me, for our subjects and Equestria.”

Celestia motioned for him to join her back inside the room. Aldus continued to listen as Celestia spoke.

“You have always served my sister faithfully, and I will not ask you to do any different now. But this is a diarchy, so I expect you to lend me your aid if I ever require it. The elements of harmony will play a pivotal role in the events to come. I want you to lend them your knowledge and help them in any way you can, and along the way I want you to learn the magic of friendship yourself. It will be a powerful magic to add to your arsenal.”

Celestia now moved to the door, preparing to leave. “Luna already knows about the other court members and I’m sure she’ll want to discuss it with you tonight when she wakes up. I’ve provided servants and builders to assemble this room in the manner you decide, but before I depart, I have one question.”

Aldus tilted his head to the princess, “I’ll answer it if I can, princess.”

Celestia eyed Aldus’ shadow, “When I imprisoned you in that temple and your soul was separated from your body, I thought the Nightmare had completely consumed you. Luna told me everything, so I must ask. What exactly was Nightmare Moon? What is inside you now?”

“I... don’t exactly know, I’m sorry princess.” Aldus said. “My relationship with it is... complicated. Our relationship is symbiotic, in the waking world it exists inside of me as a passive observer. In the realm of dreams it is the opposite. But... I do have some theories.”

Celestia smiled, “Well, I’m just happy its on our side now, if you find out anything and decide to let me know I would appreciate it. I’ll leave you to get settled in Aldus, goodbye.”

“Goodbye Princess Celestia, and thank you.”

When Celestia left the room, two servant mares entered and bowed to Aldus.

Aldus levitated the important book from his robes into the saddlebag Celestia had left and set it on a bookcase. “Alright you two, here is what I need. We have a lot to do before tonight.”