About an hour had passed since Von's mother passed before his eyes. Celestia went back to check on him in the guest room every few moments to make sure he was okay, but he insisted that he was. He was determined to venture out in order to seek aid, but for the moment he wished to be alone. Respecting his wishes, the white alicorn let him be and proceeded to go about her duties. In spite of her body disappearing, Celestia was still willing to hold a small ceremony in honor of Silva's passing.

Axel and Arcius bowed their heads in respect, tears drenching their eyes. In addition to Von and Elder Eldrich, they were the only other dragons who were close to Von's mother so it was taking a toll on them as well. Von, Silva, Cynder and the elder were like a second family to them and though they never met him, they considered Ignus family as well. And now that family was reduced to the three of them. As they paid their respects, Gilda and Daring had been sent into Canterlot to help those who were injured, suffering from loss or repairing their homes to get things back in order.

Though they never really knew her, Daring and Gilda were willing to believe that Von's mother was a kind dragoness and that she was lucky to have raised such a noble child like him. The guards lent a hand as best they could, focusing on their duty but paid their respects to the fallen dragoness while Celestia remained inside. The princess herself was feeling her fair share of pain. Silva was a trusted friend and could never have been more honored to be looking after the boy she and Ignus raised so dearly. For them to bypass the laws of the land and share an interracial relationship, regardless of what others thought, was a noble feat in itself. But now she had lost two great friends and Von had lost his family. Though he had his friends and her to be by his side, she knew nothing could be hurting him more than to have lost the two figures that had brought him into this harsh world.

She knew the feeling of losing her family. She could still never forgive herself for banishing Luna all those years ago, and yet Luna herself was redeemed and seemed to harbor no ill will toward her sister for that day now. The lunar princess in question, however, was nowhere to be found which left Celestia feeling concerned. But she knew well that whatever Luna was doing, she could handle it herself. All around, Von's closest friends were all grieving the loss of the dragon who helped raise him to be who he has become. But a single thought did run rampant through all of their minds: How was Von holding up?

BGM 1

"Why?" The kirin muttered to himself. He sat on the bed, door locked and stared down at his hands: Hands stained with the blood of the one who birthed his egg. "Why is this happening? Why is everyone I love leaving me like this?" His eyes were wide open, staring down at the hands he used to kill. He never wanted to kill anyone as it was something he could never truly approve of. He knew that some things required certain actions...but now he wasn't so certain. In order to stop Konan, he knew he'd have to kill him and possibly Nova if he stood in his way.

You can't protect them...

"But how can I even hope to do all of this if I can't even protect the ones I love?!" He yelled, punching the mattress as hard as he could.

Storm. Eldrich. His father and his mother. All of them died before he could even tell them how he was feeling about his choice. To tell them the stories of his adventures in the land of his birth. To walk with them hand in hand as he tried to forge his own future and continued to try and see that his dream would come to light. To come home and be praised, even if he failed. But he couldn't have that. Whatever force was at work, it felt to him like its intent was to take away all he cared for.

Storm Front; His very first lover, murdered by Nova when the killing blow was meant for Von. He wanted to tell her how he much he truly truly loved her.

You couldn't save her...

Eldrich; His teacher, usurped by Konan long after his departure. He wanted to have one last lesson from him before he made his mark as an adult.

You failed him...

Ignus Dragonblade; His own father, betrayed by his closest friend and comrade. When they finally got to meet after so much time had passed, they were pulled apart once more by the grip of death.

You failed as his son...

Silva Dragonblade; His own mother, corrupted long after he left...and murdered by his own two hands. He longed to tell her how much he'd grown in the short time he'd been away. How many friends he was making and even how he and Celestia met yet again. He wanted to tell everyone all the good he was doing and how he wanted to do more.

Murderer...

But he couldn't now. They were all gone, taken from him before he even had the chance to really share his story with anyone. Tears filled Von's eyes, tears he held back for so long as he finally broke down. He wrapped his arms and wings around his own body, wanting to be held; Embraced and told that everything would be okay. That things would get better and encourage him to keep trying. He wanted to believe that more than anything, but the pain was too much. Many voices were playing over and over in his head, some he knew very well and others he couldn't really make out that were pushing his positive thoughts down.

Stay away from that thing

Monster

Stay away from my children!

There are many things that happen that we cannot control

Demon spawn

You refuse to see things my way. Just like that pathetic father of yours

"I've done everything that I can and things keep turning out the way I don't want them to!" He growled, punching the mattress he was sitting on. "I'm still too weak." As Von continued to berate himself, a sudden knock came to his door and snapped him from his thoughts. Before he could answer, the door opened revealing a dark blue alicorn. "Luna..."

"How long do you continue to sit and mope? Are you not Von Dragonblade, son of the proud Ignus Dragonblade; Former Captain of the Sacred Guard?" She asked. Von remained silent and turned his head from her before she continued speaking. "I understand your pain, knowing that you won't be able to see those loved ones again. But know that they will not hold it against you. They, too will be sad to know that they can no longer see you mature."

This seemed to grab Von's attention and calm him down, at least a bit. "What do you mean?"

"I saw to it that your parents could remain together in the afterlife." Luna replied. "They have left everything to you now." Now Von was confused. How was she, the Princess of the Night and ruler of dreams, able to commune with the spirits of the dead? That wasn't possible. Luna couldn't do that...

"...Who are you?" He asked. "I may not know Luna all that much, but I don't recall there being any stories of her being able to talk to or guide the dead. You're not really Luna, are you?"

Silence lingered in the air between them, Von staring down the princess and 'Luna' did so in turn. Soon after, she let out a soft chuckle and smiled at Von. "I'm impressed. For someone who has no education, you're very smart." She said. "But you are indeed right. I am not Luna, but I also am at the same time."

"What do you mean?" Von inquired. He was curious as to what was going on. Who was this person claiming to be Luna but wasn't her all at once?

"In body and spirit, I am Luna. But in mind, I am not. Luna is my descendant and I have taken refuge inside of her body in order to aid Celestia in an upcoming conflict." 'Luna' explained. "I have my suspicions, but I pray that I am not correct." Von raised a questioning brow at her, feeling somewhat skeptical about all of this. "I understand that you have your doubts, as expected of the new generation. Celestia also doubted me when I told her as well, until I told her of knowledge known only by those who existed before her and Luna's rise to the throne."

"Existed before her?" He asked. "You mean...the princesses weren't the first equines to come to be?"

"That is correct." 'Luna' replied. "The stories tell that Celestia and Luna were the first and rose to be the goddesses that you all revere them as. But twas all a lie to cover up the truth; To forget the rise and fall of The Old Ones because of the folly of one. And it was during this event that your ancestor, the first Kirin to come to be, was also caught up in the dilemma. And I fear you may as well." She stared down at him and Von was staring right back at her, soaking in the information she exchanged.

He was not the first Kirin ever. There was another long before him, in a time before Celestia and Luna. The princesses were not the goddesses that all the stories revered them as and instead, they came after. This figure had information about the past that no one else even knew of except those who lived long ago. And she claimed that Luna was her descendant.

"Wait. Are you--"

"There will come a time when I will reveal everything to you, Von." 'Luna' said, interrupting him before he could ask anything further. "For now, there is a conflict before you that must be resolved. And though many lives were lost along the way, you must ensure that yours does not become lost as well. The memories of your family will carry on in you. As long as you live, they are not truly gone."

"...I understand." Von silently spoke, placing a hand over his heart. "If I remember them, then they aren't really dead." With a silent nod, 'Luna' smiled at him and turned away from him and began to walk out the door. "H-hey, wait! If you aren't Luna, then what do I call you?"

The mare stopped in her tracks and hid a smile as she replied, "When Luna is not in charge...just call me Lumen." And with that, she walked away from him. Von stood alone in his room, feeling calmer and more determined than before. Deep inside, he could still hear his own thoughts calling out to him.

"No. I'm not weak. As long as I have my friends by my side and keep the memories of the fallen alive, I'm never weak." He assured himself, smiling and walked out of the door.

Celestia was still sitting on her throne, having taken care of any official business that was needed of her and was set to go to her chambers when she saw Von enter. Joy filled her heart as she was glad to see that Von was well enough to come out of his room. "How are you feeling, Von?"

"Better than ever." The kirin replied, smiling at the princess and gave her a hug. She embraced him tightly for a moment before letting go. "I'm ready to head out now."

"About time." A familiar voice spoke, causing Von to turn his head and see his two friends approaching. "We've been waiting forever." Arcius had said as they got closer to their friend.

"Heh. I'm sorry for making you guys wait for so long. I hope I didn't worry you." Von apologized, lowering his head. As he did, Axel wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled Von in, rubbing his fist against the top of his head.

"We wouldn't have worried so much if you just came and talked to us. We're your friends and we always will be." The yellow dragon said, smiling as Von struggled to break free from his grasp while laughing.

"Okay. Okay! I get it, now let go." He cried as Axel released him. The two of them chuckled lightly while Arcius remained on the side, smiling at the two of them. "I'm ready now."

"I would hope so." Arcius said, his tone and expression serious. "The Elders await us once we leave Equestria. Are you sure you're prepared to see them?" Both dragons waited patiently for Von's answer, as did Celestia, while Von was deep in thought.

The dragon elders were the oldest and strongest dragons in existence, but rarely ever showed their faces. Rumor had it that they existed during Equestria's first days. Others say that they were the first creatures to roam Equestria, but with what he had learned from Lumen, Von was beginning to doubt that and was confused as to which was true.

"I'm ready." Von finally answered, opening his wings up. "We don't know when Konan will strike next, so we have to hurry this up now." Both dragons could sense his determination and nodded, leaving the castle with Von following in tow.

"Von, wait." Celestia called out, causing Von to turn his head slightly in her direction. The two of them stayed silent for a few moments before the cream-colored mare smiled at him. "Good luck. We will await your return." Von smiled at his adoptive mother and nodded his head and went to meet up with his two friends. With a nod to one another, they took off together and soared through the skies as they headed in the direction of the Elder's Roost. Celestia watched on as Von and his friends slowly faded from view with a soft smile on her face.

"Are you certain that he will pull through?" Luna said, walking up behind her sister. Celestia chuckled softly, keeping her back to the mare.

"I know it was you that helped him get back on the right path, Lumen." Celestia said, addressing the figure's true identity. "And I thank you for that." Lumen chuckled under her breath and stood at Celestia's side, looking on where Von had flown to.

"Von may get swept up in the conflict that he attempted to end long ago. Are you sure that it's wise to entrust a task such as this to him rather than send your guard?" Lumen inquired, curious about the princess' motive.

"Of course." Celestia softly replied, a smile beaming on her face. "I have faith in him. Just as his mother, his father and his friends have faith in him. He's a strong man and I have no doubt that he will see an end to this battle."

Von continued to fly side by side with his friends, determination fueling his motives. He wanted to see his dream of coexistence come to light; To protect all that he held dear from his corrupt step-father; To bring a brighter future to everyone. And to do that, he would need the help of others. Some men would be too stubborn to admit such a thing, but he wasn't. He only made it this far because he had those who loved him at his side.

Author's Notes:

Told you guys I wasn't dead! And here's the next chapter for you guys to read after Christmas (or if it's still Christmas in other parts of the world).
Not alot of action here, just exposition and more moments for Von to mature. The final conflict slowly draws near. Von and friends must seek the elders' aid, but will they listen to them?
Who knows? Stick around to find out!

Until then, this is Von-Dragonblade signing off