Luna was barreling down the halls with a hasteful pace. Her hooves tore at the carpet, forcing the chandeliers and candles to rattle at her passing, caution left to the wind.

It was only moments ago that a member of Celestia’s Guard found her in her chambers, sleeping in preparation for the night. But the guard was not as she remembered them to be. His posture was too relaxed, his eyes unfocused, smile obvious, and, above anything else, completely disrespectful.

He awoke her with a rough push, making the dark alicorn turn in her bed. The motion was more than enough to jostle the mare, who was quick to point her disgruntled nature at the stallion. Yet, even with a irritable alicorn gazing at him with the intensity of a solar eclipse, he did little more than sway from side to side.

It was when he spoke that Luna switched from annoyance to panic.

“Our God waits for you in the main hall.”

Luna did more than simply ask the guard for clarification. She ordered, demanded,  and even pushed the pony for every meaning of such a cryptic yet damning phrase. Yet he did little more than move with the blows and smile at the demands. He was more passive to her words than the forest floor in a wind’s breeze.

That was when Luna began her gallop from her room, racing for the main hall that Celestia’s Guard had spoken of. She passed more than one other guard, and each had the same placid expression of peace and bliss about them. They did not bow to her in respect nor even acknowledge her presence. They did nothing at all.  For every one she passed, her pace quickened.

She felt no small amount of relief when she saw the golden doors to the main hall, already opened as she approached. Luna turned without stalling, galloping into the room with haste. Even as she ran forward, she took measure of what was before her.

The grand hall was empty, not a guard within its walls. No visitors either, no ponies seeking the counsel of her wise elder sister. But neither was there any destruction. The throne was still present, their emblems to their respective houses of the Sun and Moon, and every stain glass no different than before.

Then there was Celestia, standing still as stone and gazing away from the galloping dark alicorn.

“Sister!” Luna cried running towards Celestia with no decline in her pace. Only when she was but a few hooves distance from the sun princess did she expand her wings and cease her gallop, sliding some distance over the floor before she stopped. Celestia made only the smallest of motions with her eyes towards her.

“Sister,” Luna spoke again, softer than before but with no loss in alarm. “Celestia, what has happened?” The younger alicorn took deep breaths as she awaited for her sister’s answer.

Celestia however, only continued to gaze at her, making no motion or sign that she was preparing to speak. Her eyes were set on Luna, but that was all. They were hard, cold, but not thoughtful. If anything, Luna would have called them vicious.

“Tia?” The dark alicorn imploring spoke, her worry more focused on the mare before her than the guards behind her. “Celestia, please, what happened?” She watched the elder alicorn take a slow breath. Then, finally, she spoke.

“We were attacked, Luna.” The cold tone with which Celestia spoke chilled Luna far more than the words themselves.

“How?” The younger princess immediately demanded, not needing to be told twice what happened. “How did they subdue our guards? Where are they now?” Celestia shook her head before answering.

“There was only one.” The Princess of the Sun clarified. “Only one creature that was able to command the minds of all our ponies.” Luna did not miss the flare in Celestia’s nostrils, nor did she imagine the sudden fire that sparked in her cold eyes. “This is a threat unlike anything before, Luna. One that, dare I say, we are not prepared to face.” Luna grit her teeth at the words.

“Then I shall gather the Captains and send word to the other nations.” The dark alicorn was swift and wise with her decision. “We must be sure they are also vigilant for this beast.”

“They are not her concern.” Luna wasn’t sure if she should be enraged or terrified by Celestia’s comment. More than anything else, it was a comment she’d never heard her sister say before.

“Celestia, what are you speaking of?” Celestia hardened her already cold gaze, giving Luna an expression she had not seen for millennia, not since before her banishment. It was the gaze of a ruler forced to act, act in a way they did not wish to.

Both alicorns loathed such a gaze.

“The creature spoke with me for some time,” Celestia began to clarify, her words unmistakable. “Her name is Macha, and she is a beast that is older than all other life in this land and likely beyond. She called herself our creator, and thus, our god.” Luna had only time to swallow before her sister continued.

“In ways I dare not wish to see again, she demonstrated the truth of her words, that every pony throughout this land was made through her magic. So easily did she throw away my own strength, as if she had no care for my years of knowledge and wisdom.” It was with no shortness of surprise that Luna watched her usually collected sister snarl in rage. It looked unreal, seeking a visage of anger over her peaceful sibling.

“You… you surely jest,” Luna implored futilely. “Such a beast simply… appeared? How? Why wait for all this time?” The answer she received was not one she was prepared to hear.

“It is for the cause of her return that I must leave.”

Celestia’s wings expanded outwards instantly, nearly sending the younger alicorn reeling. A moment later and the alabaster mare had flung them downwards, sending her impressive stature into the air. It took all of that time and more for her younger sibling to react.

“Sister, wait!” Luna cried, stopping the elder mid-flight. “Where are you going? We must know! If this is truly such desperate times, then are we not entitled to aid you?”

Her words finally forced a calm over Celestia, giving a pregnant pause between the two. Celestia’s gaze softened at her younger sister’s worried expression. The needs of her own family were a thing the princess could never truly ignore.

“Macha proclaimed to me that she came from a Ley Line Focal Point, one that was sealed for millennia to possibly eons. She intended to rule all of our kind, yet I was proof that some could resist her sway. I have no doubt she intends to fulfill her goal, but her methods still elude me.” As helpful as it was, it was not enough for the still-frazzled Luna.

“Then where are you to go? Confronting such a beast alone is suicide!” Celestia had no argument of that fact.

“And I agree. To face an enemy such as this, we must first know her. Thus, I intend to search about this Focal Point she so proudly declared her freedom from. Perhaps then we may find the key to defeating her. And, fear not,” Celestia added as she saw Luna’s lips open again in protest. “I sent word before to young Twilight of this new Center of Magic. I intend to work with her and likely the rest of the elements as well. I will not be alone.”

“Then what of us? Me?” Luna did not need to clarify, for Celestia knew her sister better than any other, and there were ponies who knew her well.

“Awaken the controlled guards, and ensure the safety of the rest of our ponies... Do what you can, my sister.” Celestia commanded, speaking as her tall form hung in the air, her large wings beating with the strength of ten pegasi. “I shall return as swiftly as I can, but what I must do I cannot do from here.”

Then, with a flash of her horn, Celestia was gone.

BEGIN

It had been some time until Aisling’s tears subsided, her choked sobs fading away. She did not shy away from the embrace of the mares around her though. If anything, she huddled closer to their warmth, savoring the comfort. Even as color danced around them, the magic of the Ley Lines swimming around them, every mare there felt cold.

Slowly though, Aisling did move away from the ponies, lightly pushing with her unfathomable strength until she was free of their touch, leaving only the young Apple Bloom by her side. The filly refused to move away from her new friend, and the Fae was unwilling to tell her to leave. It left the rest staring at the pair mutely, all thinking of different things that circled around a single unavoidable subject. Dash broke the silence once more, with a phrase none of the mares could deny.

“This is… this is so unreal.”

The others found themselves nodding at the broken declaration, wondering if there was anything they could possibly add. Instead, they watched for Aisling and Apple Bloom for a moment longer, gazing at the pale nymph as she ran her hand over the filly’s mane, lightly combing her hairs. Their lips were moving, but they were too far away for the others to listen. Regardless, none felt comfortable eavesdropping.

“Unreal and unfathomable this may be, we cannot deny what we all see.” Zecora was the first to move her gaze away from the nymph, staring at the mares she hoped to converse with. Each turned their attention towards the zebra. “Brendan returned to warn us of danger, ensuring that when it came we would not be strangers. Powerful forces now roam these lands, likely from the forest to the far beaches’ sands.”

“There ain’t no denyin’ that somethin’ big is comin’, that much ain’t up for discussion.” Applejack agreed. “Ah’m more hung up on what we gotta do now, not even ta mention that Aisling is about the farthest thing from okay.”

“I’m afraid that there isn’t anything we can do for her, not yet at least.” Twilight let her own purple gaze fall on Aisling as she spoke, watching with pity-filled eyes as Apple Bloom cupped Aisling’s face with her hoof. “She needs friends right now, and that’s all that we can be for her; support. However, according to Brendan, we’re going to need his book in order to figure out how to stop this… Macha.”

“The Book of Kells is what he spoke, a text given power by the common folk. Its strength can challenge even a god, that alone should make it awed.” Zecora’s gaze fell to the coffin as she talked, the only part of the room that did not glow with any power.

“But Brendan didn’t say it was the book that we needed. He said it written in it what we needed.” Twilight clarified for the zebra. “I’m sure it has to reference key landmarks and artifacts from his time, but my concern is how well those will have survived the centuries of passing.”

“So we need to find his book so that we can find something else?” Dash asked for clarification, not at all pleased with the task. “Doesn’t that seem kind of roundabout?”

“Ah’m sure if it was that simple, he woulda done it the first time.” It was hard for anypony to argue with Applejack’s blunt remark. “But I gotta agree, Ah hate the idea of searchin’ for things Ah know nothin’ ‘bout, specially ta stop somethin’ powerful like this Macha gal is supposed ta be.”

“I may speak only in thoughts, but I believe I may have connected some dots.” Zecora’s words earned the collective mares’ attention. “If Macha was stopped by the write of a seal, then perhaps there are others she intends to reveal. If more of the Ley Lines begin to awake, then other things she will have to take. The Eye of Chrom kept this gate shut, then other things must hold these magical paths up.”

Twilight slowly found her head nodding as the zebra shared, agreeing with each point the wise forester made. By the end of it, her own ideas were coming forward, each one a possibility or thought she had to address.

“That makes sense, I mean, in the theory of magical seals, there has to be an item that acts as a ‘key’ to keep the powers locked away. Said objects have to be immensely powerful, especially to hide a Ley Line Font like this.” It didn’t take long for Rainbow Dash to throw up a hoof.

“Whoa there, hold on, what are you talking about keys and stuff? What does that have to do with anything?” Twilight blinked at the pegasus’s outburst, unsure of how to respond. A moment later she was ready to answer.

“Oh. Sorry Dash, I was thinking out loud.” Twilight lit her horn, ready to prepare a screen for the four of them to view, knowing with first-hoof experience how much easier it was to understand something through observation over lecture.

However, as her horn lit up with her familiar magic, Twilight felt the lack of magical stress once more. Not unlike when she lifted the stone outside, her horn was casting magic without even a passing breath of stress. Thankfully, her eyes were open, allowing her to better control the new source of magic.

Above them, a net of energy formed within a barrier of lavender ethereal energy. It was a luminesce grid, not far unlike the same patterns that still moved across the walls. However, unlike the portraits of magic that were flowing like water through one another, Twilight’s magic was still and rigid, completely at her command. She marveled for a moment, how fluid the matter of magic was when left untamed yet how malleable it was when given a conduit to control it.

Twilight quickly refocused, drawing pictures over her grid in preparation for her explanation. She was able to see Aisling and Apple Bloom turn their gaze towards her large graph, sitting in the air as if ostracized by the magic floating through the walls. When the grid was ready, Twilight began to speak.

“When casting a shield or barrier with magic, it actively drains energy from its source, as it has to have energy put into it in order to keep its shape constant.” On the grid above her, Twilight carefully crafted an image of a purple dome. She was amazed herself at how fast and easy it was.

“Let’s say for example that my own shield was hit by a falling rock.” Just as before, an image of a small boulder appeared on the screen, sailing over the luminesce lines until it impacted the lavender dome. When it did, a crack appeared over the barrier, but not a sound was made.

“In order for the barrier to remain constant, I’d have to keep putting my magical energy into it.” Then with a silent pop, her own image appeared on the screen, in detail that nearly made the unicorn believe it was real. Her image lowered her head, casting a silent spell over the false dome. As she did, the crack disappeared, but the false version of Twilight appeared fatigued, her chest laboring as she did so.

“Obviously, over long periods of time, this would tire me out, weakening the barrier until it was eventually cracked.” And on her queue, a series of boulders fell over her dome once more, each one silently impacting the purple barrier. When the final one hit, the dome shattered like glass, leaving behind only Twilight’s image on the ground, lying on her side and clearly unconscious.

“Yeah, I understand that,” Rainbow spoke to Twilight, earning the mare’s attention. “It’s the same thing that happened with Princess Cadance at the Crystal Empire. What I don’t get is how a ‘key’ is involved in any of this.” Twilight, patiently, answered the pegasus.

“Let me show you.” The image of Twilight vanished from the glowing grid, leaving behind another blank slate. As easily as before, with hardly even a touch of her seemingly infinite supply of magic, Twilight created the same barrier as before.

This time however, she had added a choice object just on top of it. A small, but distinguishingly detailed, key.

“Just like before, a barrier or seal needs a constant magical supply in order to sustain it. If there isn’t something present to do so, then it will fail. However, the proper object can substitute for a properly trained unicorn.” Just like before, a few choice boulders mutely fell from the grid, landing on the barrier without a sound.

Now, however, instead of a drained unicorn summoning magic to cure the barrier, the key began to move. It glowed the same ethereal lavender as the barrier, resonating with the shield. As it began to shake, the cracks over the shield quickly healed.

“Basically, a strong magical artifact that is tuned to the same magical wavelengths as the shield, barrier, or even lock can sustain the spell almost indefinitely, or at least as long as the Ley Lines last through Equestria.” With another effortless flick of her horn, Twilight’s glowing grid vanished, leaving the magic of the walls unchallenged. “Understand now Dash?”

“Uh, yeah,” the pegasus responded uneasily, rubbing a hoof over one of her ears as her eyes twisted themselves. “I mean, it makes sense, but like, can any old object be a key? I don’t see why there weren’t like a dozen of them or something.”

“It is no different than making a potion, as memorizing the craft requires devotion.” Zecora took Twilight’s place, earning the gaze of the mares. “For a key to work it must be in the right place, too many will take up the available space. If two powerful things were to collide, their meeting would likely cause a divide. So it is simple Rainbow Dash, more than one key would cause them to clash.”

“Yeeeeaah,” Dash let out slowly, nodding her head if only to show she heard the zebra. “I guess I can get that, but it still doesn’t mean we can’t use, like, a feather or something. You keep saying artifact and powerful, but why?”

“Oh, that’s easy to explain,” Twilight began with no curtain to her joy. “Magically attuned artifacts are required to become keys, as they are the only objects capable of handling the channeling of magic. If you were to feed magic through, say, an average tree, it could burn it down.” Applejack shivered at the thought.

“But those artifacts can take decades to create artificially, leading for most of them to be found in magically gifted areas, like the Crystal Heart for the Crystal Empire!” The example was perfect for Rainbow, as her eyes lit up with the epiphany.

“Oh!” She replied excited. “So that’s why Brendan used the Eye… for…” Dash’s enthusiasm quickly drained as she realized where her conversation was heading.

All eyes turned again to the small nymph, who was once again still in the chamber, her only motion being the petting of Apple Bloom’s mane. No small amount of pity crawled in the pegasus’s gut, guilty for so casually bringing up the subject again.

“Hey Twilight,” Applejack spoke to the unicorn, sorely attempting to break the uneasy somber again. The unicorn was only too eager to join the effort.

“Yes Applejack?” The earth pony rolled her hoof in the air, beginning a question she had stuck in her mind.

“Pardon me if Ah’m reachin’ here, but couldn’t it be possible that Macha beat her way outta that seal? Ah ain’t gotta more than a hoof full of clues, but can ya be sure that Eye remade the spell as fast as that monster was crackin’ it?” Twilight stared at her, blinking lightly as the earth pony finished. Applejack took it the wrong way. “Ah’m just sayin, trees on the farm regrow, but Ah could kick one down with enough time.”

“That… yeah… that’s possible, but given how powerful Aisling described the Eye to be, she must have been fighting for… a long time.”

“Like Brendan said, it’s been centuries.” Dash replied, giving a sigh of annoyance. It was rare for her to be in situations such as this, talking around a sore subject with a new friend. She was not annoyed with anyone; she was only disturbed by the setting itself.

Aisling turned her gaze from the filly to look at the group of mares, her green eyes vacant of the wild abandon she had met them with. Gone was the youthful gaze of a forest spirit. All that remained were her large eyes was the harsh wisdom of eons, centuries of loneliness, and untold years of pain.

Apple Bloom looked up at the nymph, sniffling a bit as she did so. Her small hoof lifted itself to hang off the Fae’s thin hand, stopping the gentle stroking. Aisling turned her gaze down to the young foal when she did.

“What are ya gonna do?” There was an undeniable melancholy in the filly’s voice, her youthful cheer missing as well. Holding on to such a thing after the events that just passed was an impossible act.

“I do not know.” Aisling spoke. It was a slow response, subdued in comparison to her normally confident speech. “I… I am lost in my own woods.” Apple Bloom hugged the Fae closer, pulling the nymphs arm over her neck.

“Is there anything Ah can do?” Aisling shook her head at the filly’s heartfelt question.

“No,” She spoke with no more life in her voice than before. “I do not know what to do. If I do not know what to do, there is nothing that can be done.” Biting her lip, Apple Bloom asked the next question that came to her mind.

“Are… are ya gonna help your friend?”

The question made Aisling blink. Her form was still for a moment, staring downwards at Apple Bloom with an unchanging gaze. With her porcelain pale skin, she almost looked the part of a statue, and the filly nearly cried thinking she had misspoken.

But then, magic happened.

Apple Bloom watched with no small amount of surprise as a smile began to petal over the Fae’s lips, pulling her cheeks back until her white fangs poked out from beneath. A bit of happiness, hope even, bloomed in the bright green eyes of the nymph.

“Yes.” The tiny ring of joy in the Fae’s voice was more than enough to make Apple Bloom smile in turn. “Yes, because Brendan is my friend. Because you are my friend. I must do what Brendan asked to help him now.”

“Yeah!” Apple Bloom cheered. “That sounds gre-” Her voice was cut off as the nymph unceremoniously released her, jumping away from the filly with same agility Aisling was now known for.

The nymph landed to the stone tomb of Brendan, her feet hardly making a patter over the stone as she did so. Apple Bloom watched her with no small amount of confusion, but with enough decency instilled to her to let her know not to disturb the Fae.  

“Thank you Brendan,” Aisling whispered softly next to the coffin, her head bowing as she spoke, eyes closing in a silent display of respect. It was an act she had not done in an uncountable number of years. “You have been kind to my forest. You have been kind to me. Now… Now I will use your book.”

Her tiny hands slipped over the stone, tracing the delicate carvings that were etched over the heavy rock. No magic coursed through their channels, no life within or without. It was hard stone, no fresh earth. Aisling was as delicate with it as she was a new sapling in her meadow.

Then, her hands tightened over the top, her thin arms bracing themselves over the tomb. Her eyes opened with a furrowed brow as she followed through with her conviction.

STOP

“I will help turn Macha’s darkness, once more, into your light.”

With a mighty push, the stone slab fell from the coffin.

The boom of the impact mad the ponies jump, eliciting a frightened cry from Apple Bloom. Every one of the mares had their eyes wide and focused on the pale nymph, standing next to the now open coffin with her arms still extended outwards.

“Aisling!” Twilight cried to the Fae. “What are you doing! Is that… Brendan’s…” Her voice trailed off as the nymph reached into the tomb, momentarily vanishing from their sight. In another moment, she leant back, pulling herself out of the resting place of her long gone friend.

The silence continued then, with the Fae’s back to the ponies as she continued to stare into the box, seeing what they could not. Twilight watched with horrified interest as the long alabaster hair of Aisling rose and fell, likely from the nymph’s breathing. It was the only thing alive in the room still moving. Then, the nymph turned to them, wearing a small-relaxed smile beneath her contented gaze.

And in her thin pale hands, she held a book.

It was a large volume, easily as large as Aisling’s upper body. It hid much of her chest, leaving only the Fae’s thin arms, legs, and round head to be seen. Thick as well, the it was easy for Twilight to see the difficulty the Fae had for grasping the edges of the text.

But for as large as it, it was also beautiful. A golden cover that shined even in the soft darkness the group found themselves in, more ethereal and unreal than even the pictures made of flowing colors around them. Artwork was laid over the gilded top, segregated into boxes of different portraits. Each one had a story within it.

It was only the cover of the book, only a small shallow preview to what the words within told and pictures showed, but every mare already found themselves enraptured by it.

“Is… that…” Rainbow Dash tried to speak, but found the words hard to grasp. Zecora, thankfully, had enough air to continue for the mare.

“The book that was the secret of Kells, a tome filled with hope powered spells.” Aisling’s grin gave the small glimmer of her fangs as she added her own piece.

“The book that turns the darkness into light.” Her hands pulled the book harder against her chest, arms wrapping around the text possessively. Her shoulders hunched over it, bangs from her long white locks falling over to hide some of the golden cover. The smile hovering over her lips was there, but Twilight could see the fragility in it. Tender and sweet, but hardly even there.

“That’s a mighty fine book.” Applejack complimented followed a low whistle. “Can’t say Ah’ve ever seen anythin’ quite like it ‘fore.”

“You haven’t.” Aisling spoke without room for argument. “Nothing is like this. It is a gift of light. All things from good beginnings are unique.” Twilight could not stop the smile that spread across her lips. She didn’t even try.

“What does it say?” Apple Bloom asked, looking up at the Fae with her wide eyes. “It’s gotta say somethin’ about how to stop Macha.”

“And what is that?”

Twilight blinked when she heard the question, coming from a voice that belong to any of the mares or the nymph. Her head briefly swiveled left and right, confirming that none of her friends had spoken, and indeed, each look as confused as she was. Turning, the unicorn looked across the large mystical room to the path that was their entrance.

There she saw a familiar figure, and her already brightening spirits soared.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight called her teacher’s name with no lack of enthusiasm, watching as the alabaster alicorn trotted across the room. Her joy was short-lived, however, as the hard features of the solar princess became clear.

Twilight could not see the normally peaceful look in Celestia’s eyes, nor the usual smile her lips bore. Instead, she saw pink eyes focused forwards, legs moving with a strict stride. She did not look like the princess that had taught Twilight all of her magic, she appeared instead to be a soldier preparing battle.

“Who are you!”

It took a full second for Twilight to realize that it was Aisling who growled at Celestia.

It took another two for her to notice the Fae baring her white fanged teeth at the tall alicorn.

The second following that, she found her eyes wider than dinner plates and lungs unwilling to move.

Twilight saw the shock quickly form over her mentor’s face, only to quickly be swallowed by the same screwed browed and thin gaze. A chasm was forming within Twilight, a pit that swallowed all of her normally composed ideas.

“That is the same question I have for you.” She heard the hard tone slither from Celestia, her pink gaze towering over the much smaller nymph. “Speak now, as my patience is already worn.” For not the first time, Twilight wished she had conversed further with Aisling. It very well may have prevented the growing storm between the The Princess of the Sun and The Fae of the Woods.

“You are in my forest!” Aisling barked back at the alicorn, her hands still gripping the book with a powerful possessiveness. It was a wonder the golden tome was not ripped asunder under her grasp. “Leave! Or I will tell the wolves to take you!” For a moment, Twilight believed her vision was leaving her, too shocked to even watch the confrontation continue.

“This forest is in my land.” Celestia lowered her head until the tip of her muzzle was just between the Fae’s eyes, burrowing into the nymph. Aisling glared back fearlessly. “You will do well to leave now, or I will be forced to banish you from Equestria.”

Twilight watched, horrified, as her mentor’s horn began to glow. Aisling lips were pulled back completely, showing vicious fangs to Celestia. Twilight didn’t think for a moment that the Fae would hesitate to use them.

“Wait!”

Twilight’s adrenaline filled mind whipped her eyes to Apple Bloom. The filly was galloping quickly to the two, reaching them before she even attempted to stop. When her hooves dug into the ground, she slid to a stop by Aisling, standing next to the nymph with her own terrified expression. Twilight imagined it was close to her own.

“Child,” Celestia whispered harshly, eyes unmoving from Aisling’s green orbs. “Leave this thing’s side. I do not want any harm to fall to you.”

“She ain’t dangerous!” The filly cried up the alicorn, pushing her small body against Aisling as she did so. “She rescued me earlier, and she showed me her forest. She can talk to it and sing to it and make things happen that even Twilight was surprised by! She’s mah friend!”

Never before was Twilight more thankful to see Celestia’s rare gaze of stunned stupor.

“And Aisling,” Apple Bloom continued, turning her head to Fae. The nymph let her head roll to the filly, but her gaze hardly softened, her grip over the book barely ease. “This is Princess Celestia. She’s Twilight’s teacher and ruler fer all of Equestria. She makes sure the sun goes up and down in the morning and at night. She’s our friend too!”

And once more, the Fae’s eyes began to soften, her lips lessening from their snarl back into a puckered gaze of confusion. She blinked her eyes at the filly before moving them back towards the alicorn. The stared silently at each other once more.

Slowly, Celestia raised her head away from Aisling, giving room for both of them to see the other. The mares present watched in mute horror as the two sized one another up, their eyes rolling over each other’s forms.

Aisling’s head bent left and right, arms still clasped tightly around the Book of Kells. Her long white mane lifted and fell with her actions, drifting almost over the stone floor. Celestia’s form was stiller, only her eyes moving up and down to observe the petite creature in front of her. Slowly though, her massive wings pulled themselves back to her chest, shrinking her stature substantially.

“Your name is Aisling.” Celestia’s tone was softer than before, but it was still league’s away from the usual friendly tone Twilight was so familiar with hearing. Aisling was little different, her façade now one of cold indifference, not playful banter.

“Yes,” the Fae nearly snarled back. “And why are you in my forest?” The question did little to ease Celestia’s furrowed brow.

“I have come here to find my student, tracing the spell I used to send my letter before. My business with my student is not yours to know.”

“Your business does not belong in my forest.” Twilight could see the worse happening. She had to do something, and she only wished she knew what that was. Instead, the unicorn settled for acting like her rainbow maned friend. Jumping head first into the fray.

“Wait, Princess, Aisling,” Twilight spoke both of their names as she quickly made her way between the two. The hard gaze of both the immortal Fae and alicorn did little for the mare’s already frayed composure. She swallowed hard before continuing. “I’m sure this is just a big misunderstanding between us right now. Princess Celestia would never do anything disrespectful and Aisling has only been kind and generous to us the hours since we met her.”

The two turned their gazes back to one another, their breathing the only sound that echoed in the large room around them. Twilight continued as best she could.

“Princess, Aisling was showing us the Ley Line Point you told me to investigate before you even sent your letter. She was telling us about her life here, her friend, and all the history of her forest. But now… something terrible has happened, and we are only just thinking of ideas of how to handle it.”

“I come here for no less than the most urgent of needs Twilight,” Celestia spoke to her protégée. “I wish to tell everything, but what I can say now to illustrate the severity of the situation is that Canterlot was attacked, all of guards mesmerized, and a creature not far different than this one proclaiming her godhood to me.”

Those words brought forth a single name from Aisling’s lips, and it was the magic word to bridge an understanding between the two.

“Macha.” The name was a hiss, passing through the nymph’s tight lips, pulled back once more in a snarl. “You saw Macha. The Dark one. The Evil one.” Celestia’s pink gaze widened at the Fae.

“How do you know her?” The alabaster alicorn questioned. “Are you in league with her?” From the way Aisling growled through her fangs, Celestia was rather sure the answer was no.

“Macha is evil.” Aisling spoke once more. “She took my forest. She took my friend.” The Fae pulled the book tighter against her chest, lifting it until her chin was hidden behind its heavy cover.

Celestia, with her ever observant gaze. Did not miss the utter look of sorrow that was painted over the nymph’s emerald eyes. It was a look she abhorred to see, as she knew better than most the cause of such grief. Finally, her anger was smoldered.

“I… apologize.” The princess offered the Fae, lightly bowing her head as she spoke. It earned an equally soft glance from the nymph. “It is a poor excuse, but only moments ago I was assaulted by Macha, she declaring to me that she intends to rule the ponies of my land as a god. With her magic and her strength, she showed me her superiority. As I said, it is a poor excuse, but I hope you forgive my anger that was born from my terror.”

Aisling’s form bent forwards slightly, leaning until her body was beneath the alicorn’s lowered head. Celestia gazed down at her, confusion written in her eyes. The emotion only deepened with the Fae smiled up at her.

“It is alright.” She responded back with a youthful cheer. “You were scared, like I was. It doesn’t feel good to be scared.” Celestia found her own lips lifting at the words.

“No, it does not.” The alicorn agreed with the Fae, nodding her head slowly.

“Oh thank Luna,” Dash let out breathlessly behind the now reconciled party. “I thought for a moment there was gonna be a huge fight or something. I do not want to see either of them getting serious.”

“Ain’t gonna disagree there.” Applejack was waving her face with her hat, shaking off a few beads of sweat collecting over her coat. “Ah don’t think I took a breath of air fer the past minute ore two.”

“No kidding. Like, I thought I was gonna pass out there. I’m Twilight lost a few marbles during all of that.” The pegasus playfully cajoled towards the unicorn, who felt her face momentarily flush at the statement.

“I-I was worried, but I knew it would be alright.” Twilight attempted to brush away, lifting her head up as she spoke.

“Yeah, you can try and talk it away Twilight, but I know what freaks you out better than most and if that didn’t send your freak out meter over ten, then nothing will.” Applejack stifled a laugh at Dash’s words, more than familiar herself with the banter her two friends engaged in. She counted the seconds until Twilight would counter the pegasus. Just as she hit zero, the unicorn spoke.

“Yeah, nothing, just like nothing could be worse than appropriating all the Daring Do books for Children’s Charity.” And like a charm, Dash’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

Zecora watched the trio, pleased to see the energy in the youth even in a moment of serious business. Her attention however turned towards the princess and Fae, aware that the matters between them were of higher consequence than the play between friends.

“Princess Celestia,” Zecora spoke as she approached the tall diarch. “I am glad that we have finally met, for long in your land have I been a guest. I am Zecora of the Everfree, a guest of Aisling as well as thee.” Celestia turned to the approaching zebra, smiling at her with the grace Twilight was deeply familiar with. She was glad to see it once more.

“It is a pleasure to met you as well Zecora. My student has spoken of you in her letters. I am glad I am able to thank you personally for bestowing some of your wisdom to her and her friends.” Zecora bowed lowly at the words, her form practiced and well presented.

“But now, if I may ask, what you are you Aisling?” Said Fae turned her gaze up to the alicorn, who gazed back down at her curiously. “I mean no insult with my inquiry, but you appear… very similar to the one that threatened me.”

“Ah can answer that!” Both turned their gazes down to the young Apple Bloom. The eagerness in her bouncing form was as unmistakable as the magic in the walls around them. “Aisling’s a Fae, and she’s been in this forest for a long time! She’s helped jus’ ‘bout every tree grow and can make plants grow anywhere!”

“Thank you Apple Bloom,” Celestia spoke sweetly to the filly. “But I was hoping Aisling would be more… detailed.” Her pink gaze turned back to the Fae, still gripping the golden book in her arms, framed by her long white locks. The alicorn was thankful to see a small smile over her tiny lips.

“She is right though,” The nymph spoke. “This is my forest, and I have seen all of it grow. I have watched much change and much be altered in time. I have seen light thrive in the darkest of places. But there has always been darkness, just as there has always been light.” Celestia mutely watched, observing closely, as the tiny nymph adjusted her grip on the golden book.

“Macha is the darkness.” Celestia concluded from the Fae’s cryptic speech. “And you are the light.”

The alicorn lowered herself to the ground, a common ritual for when she was preparing for conversation. Twilight watched for a moment as her mentor crossed her legs, adjusting herself for her comfort. The unicorn trotted next to her settling by her side easily. The white wing of the diarch extended around the lavender mare in familiar embrace.

“Macha is darkness,” Aisling agreed. “But I am not the light.”

“Was Brendan the light?” Apple Bloom asked her, her voice subdued with the memory of the boy fresh in her mind. The nymph released one of her hands over the book to pet the filly, her strength more than enough for one arm to handle the large text. Apple Bloom felt her unease dissipating under the Fae’s touch.

“Yes,” She agreed. “Brendan brought much light into the world, doing much good for my forest.” Twilight knew what her mentor was thinking. She turned to the alicorn embracing her to answer the unspoken question.

“Brendan was Aisling’s friend from a long time ago. He… he came back… we saw him…” Twilight fully expected the shock in her mentor’s eyes. “He warned us about Macha, that the seal on the Ley Line Focal Point was broken. It was beautiful… but… but too short.”

Celestia stared at her student for a moment thinking over the implications of what she was told. Slowly, her gaze turned back to the Fae, she saw the look of pain once more.

“I am sorry,” the diarch spoke earnestly.

“It is alright. We said goodbye long ago. We knew it would not be forever. I have lived through many ages, he could not. He did more for my forest than any other, and I will always owe him more than I have.” Celestia saw the pain in the memories Aisling was treading. So, she wisely steered the conversation away.

“That book you hold,” Celestia spoke with a small motion of her forehoof. “It was Brendan’s, was it not?”

“It is his,” Aisling concurred once more. “A book he wrote, a book he continued from his teacher and his teacher’s teacher. A tool made across three generations, crafted to bring hope in times of terror, made to turn darkness… into light.”

“It’s gonna help us stop Macha!” Apple Bloom cheered next to Aisling once more, her excitement unable to be contained. “Brendan told us all about it. He even said the book can tell us to do.” Aisling was quick to agree with her friend.

“The book tells where they are, the keys to stop Macha.”

Celestia heard what every other mare did from Aisling, that the nymph recognizes the knowledge within the book. But to the princes, always looking for the finer details, she heard something else as well.

“Aisling, what are the keys.” The nymph raised her head, looking into the gaze of the tall alicorn. There was a familiar happiness in her eyes, a kind only the old wise could possess. The joy of old and fond memories.

“The treasures of my people,” Aisling smiled sincerely in the face of the surprised mares.

“The Four Golden Treasures.”

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