This night of sleep I found even more difficult than the last as trepidation and sheer exhaustion kept me jumping back and forth between states of consciousness, and by the time Celestia had awoken in preparation to rise the morning sun I had exhausted myself more than I had before my slumber while feeling strangely rejuvenated and relieved at the same time.

The dusk morning air breathed life into me as I departed Hope's room in part slumber, her shoes laid neatly placed in the box they were given in beside her bed with only a single other box to keep them company in a relatively bare room. The balcony at the end of the corridor served as my tool and my fellow witness as I gazed upon the Lunar disk of the night descending and the stars wished their farewells to the ponies below. The sun extended its hands onto the horizon and pulled itself up under Celestia's blessing who stood above on a balcony like my own beside her sister Luna in newfound solar light's embrace. Princess Celestia smiled at Luna's finished work and extended to her an expression of pride before stepping aside to allow the Princess of Night to rest. Never before had I seen a more remorseful sunrise and moonset as this one.

I dragged myself back towards Hope's fleeing resonance of slumber and entered her bathroom once more where the cloth that eased my shoulder's cries the day before rested upon the marble. I drew myself an ocean of warmth doing my most to drown the sound of the faucets hot tears. I was aware of the possible unpleasant experiences that could lay in my future as a result of this action, but these thoughts were carried away as fluid warmth hushed my worries replacing them with a momentary bliss for me to relish. I pulled in a single breath as I forced myself under and counted as the moments passed and I was consumed entirely by liquid serenity; a single breath departed and I followed in motion the bubbles that resulted.

Silence sang through the air as I dried myself. draining the pool of its contents. I sighed to myself and stretched out my legs leaving this room, replacing it with the calm atmosphere in which Hope resided. I turned back towards the restroom of recent depart and with the motion of a simple pen stroke tainted the molding with a blue aura that formed together causing a solid faint blue light to radiate from the doorway. I stepped in to the library that for a month now I have abandoned determined, yet fearful, to know of the truth that lies upon these shelves. A table laid square center in front of me, the map I so questioned before hand was rolled up and dormant. One at a time I turned each page about the pegasus who resided in nature's garden, and with each word I struggled harder to deny my realizations, with every character I prayed and begged to stop, but curiosity told otherwise until the act had been done and the novel had found itself back to its proper location on the shelves.

A tear drop experienced the act of gravity and fell to the floor crashing, causing a small wave in the library's magic foundation sending ripples in all directions; a flower arose and bloomed in its place. I turned away to find Hope standing beside me placing me in shocked surprise. We both had questions that we wanted to ask, yet neither of us asked them just yet. Hope gazed deeply into my eyes in confusion as I felt them shift from green to their normal cyan and the weight of a thousand feathers being lifted off my heart.

"What is this place?" Hope questioned in awe. "Where does it end? These shelves stretch must on for miles." Hope starred down an alleyway of shelves seeing how they continued on endlessly drawing only slowly together towards a central point in the horizon far from her or my reach alike.

"How did you get in here?" I asked Hope still mentally trying to recover from an experience unique to me.

"I walked in after seeing you sitting there worried flipping through pages. It made me worried."

"I mean I thought this was something that only Lord Armonia and I could enter. Anyone else would be unknown to its entrances."

"Is this Armonia's library?" Hope posed to me and I affirmed with a nod. "That title just doesn't feel right to me."

"Come on Hope, we have a day ahead of us and I cannot wait to enjoy my last day here in Equestria!" I smiled and nudged Hope easing the tensions of the atmosphere that was causing the brightness of the library to sour. Hope returned my gesture and was rejuvenated with laughter as we departed from the library beside each other, the portal closing as we passed through.

The morning sun was in full bloom now as together Hope and I embraced the new day. She had to prepare herself first and while she did that I made sure that everything was ready, folding up her sheets and placing them along with the remainder of her belongings in the box against the wall that consisted of what she owned or was given. A little pink earth pony plush greeted me at the bottom of the box laying on its side. I reoriented the tiny push back upon her hooves and closed up the box. I slipped on my armor and collected up the rest of my belongings placing them in my bag; the book that I got from the archives rested alone as a closed up my bag and waited outside the room for Hope. When she emerged her mane was nicely groomed and she bore a gentle expression towards the morning light.

Navigating the hallways of the castle had become second nature by now, not that I had a few bad experiences earlier with navigation or anything, and acting as guide we both decided to find our way towards the main center of the castle.  Proceeding past the throne room, I was surprised to find it this time empty with only a single guard standing inside. The garden flower's cheers greeted us openly but were less joyous then they had been the day prior. There was a distinctive silence in the air that as we continued on our way towards the place of dining and as we entered we were surprised to find two , not three, sets of eyes waiting to greet us and one of them were not the ones we had expected.

"Good morning!" Princess Luna smiled at me with Princess Celestia beside her.

"Good morning Luna, what are you still doing up?" Hope questioned.

"Celestia asked me to stay up and provide some assistance if you need it. I got a little extra rest last night so I would be able to help you." Luna smiled warmly.

"I am confident that Captain Carnivorous and Lightning will be enough assistance, thank you for the offer though." I stated.

"Join us please you two," Princess Celestia waved her forearm to the two sets across from them. "The chefs made some rather delicious oatmeal today that I know you will enjoy Bladz, really is a delicacy!" Four bowls laid on the table with the two that laid in front of Celestia and Luna had been emptied of their contents.

"Sorry if we did not wait for you two's arrival, the oats were tempting." Luna blushed apologetically,

"Did Carnivorous and Lightning already eat?" I inquired noticing an abstence of bowls for them.

"That is what I want to talk to you about and why I asked Luna to assist you two later. Lightning and Lunar Shadow are not returning with you two, they informed me that they are staying here in Equestria to reside once again in Cloudsdale." Celestia exclaimed

"What you mean they said they are staying in Cloudsdale!" I demanded in surprise.

"I am sorry to inform you Bladz, but Carnivorous and Lightning both agreed yesterday that it is best if they returned to their old lives. I questioned their motives as I knew that you or Lord Armonia would've done the same, but their hearts are set and there was nothing I could do to convince them otherwise." Princess Celestia informed me. "I know this is hard for you seeing how they were two of the first friends you really could call friends, they both told me this would be hard or you, but I would like you to remember something else. Besides for each other, you were the first person who really listened to them and understood them in Serentia, Bladz. They did not want to tell you but they knew from the start when they came here that they would not be returning with you because they said Serentia no longer needs them."

"What would make them think that!"

"They said Serentia now has you." Celestia beckoned. "Lunar Shadow wanted me to give this to you. He told me you would know what it is." Celestia reached to her side and placed a silver insignia on the table that she slide towards me. The center of the insignia bore the Serentian royal symbol upon a shield with wings extended from behind it; the top read Vinculum Unitatisr, the bottom Scout Corps. "Remember that you have not lost them as friends, they still are here and they still care. In the process you have made many new friends as well; those ponies you meet in Ponyville I am sure are more than happy to say that you are their friend."

Luna arose from her seat and drew in closer to Hope and I. "And you have made two more friends on top of that Bladz; you are our friend and it has been a pleasure for this kingdom." Luna grinned a little bit and her tone became gentle, "and It has been a pleasure for me, even if we did get off on the wrong foot originally." I swallowed any sign of excessive happiness that mentally was putting me on the verge of a flowing river and was proud that I had the opportunity to meet these ponies here in Equestria. "And Hope?" Luna turned her attention to the young mare, approached her, and hugged her neck. As Luna back stepped away from her a golden necklace hung off Hope's neck bearing the pink gemstone that Hope held dear. "And as for you Hope, I will miss you." The two once again hugged this time holding it until the grin on Luna's face blossomed.

"Sorry to intrude but are you really sure that it is a good idea for you to assist us Luna?" I inquired. "This could put you are schedule for a few days."

"I will be fine, it will be worth the sacrifice on my part." Luna argued.

"I will not be able to talk you out of it will I?" I gave in and asked realizing a fight would be futile.

"Nope, your stuff with me," Luna laughed. I turned towards Princess Celestia and with my eyes asked if she was okay with this truly.

"I will do my best to assist you in getting back on our regular schedule when you return my sister," Celestia declared in a way that asserted her serious approval about Luna assisting us more towards me than her sister. "I shall honor what you think is best." Celestia smiled, collected our bowls for the staff, and departed.

"Let us prepare to make way," Luna cheered as we followed behind her in return to Hope's quarters. I levitated the box that laid waiting for our return and we retreated once again to the front entrance of castle. Hope began to stretch out her wings in anticipation of flight, while Luna only stretched out a single hoof, a single tiny felt ring box laid in it. "I want you two to know that I never had any intentions of returning with you two; I know you two will have a safe journey and you will reach your destination in good health. After all, how is your arm feeling Bladz?" A sudden realization hit me that the entire day I had not felt an ounce of pain from it.

"What did you do!"

"I did not do a think, I only noticed that you had no wrap or anything on it, and you seem not to be in any form of discomfort so I thought I should bring it to your attention."

"No harm meant, but If you had no intentions of traveling to Serentia with us then why did you tell your Celestia you did?" Hope integrated.

" I wanted to give this Bladz without arousing my sister's suppositions." Luna handed over the ring box to me holding her hoof on it. "I trust that you will only open this box when you are ready."

"What you mean ready?" I inquired.

"When the time comes you will know, something will tell you and it will be unmistakable." Luna explained.

"What do you mean?" I demanded once more.

"A green pegasus filly told me," Luna smiled taking her hoof off the box. I slide the box with care into my bag that was still positioned on my back. "I have had both of those for a very long time."

"Both?" I asked confused. Luna quickly leaned her head back catching something that was behind her crown without giving anyone a chance to see what it was. Luna grabbed my right forehoof with her free foreleg and pressed the new item onto it with her other foreleg. A bright green light radiated from in between our hooves and green designs shaped like vines moved down my leg until stopping at the knee. Luna once again removed her hoof and whatever item she had pressed again me was gone and the tattoos of light began to fade.

"I know you will make all of us proud," Luna extended her wings and launched herself straight up, teleporting on her way skywards. The door of the castle slammed closed, and Hope and I were left to get on our way home.

I lite a small flame upon the ground that turned green in a second's notice. The clouds above opened to make way as the green phoenix from before descended, perching itself beside Hope. It stood almost twice as tall as I could remember and its magic coat had turned solid.  It stretched its wings out and pushed one wing underneath Hope, tossing her gently up into the air causing her to scream and landing her upon its back before turning turning to me. The phoenix gazed at me with comforting green eyes that were soft and held a familiarity to them before doing the same to me, placing me next to Hope. I reached out with my magic and brought Hope's box aboard.

"You could've warned me next time!" Hope screamed returning to normal breathing patterns. "When did your bird start doing that!"

"Probably the same time that he became as high as a house" I teased and singled for the phoenix to take flight. I wrapped my hoof around Hope to help calm her after the sudden surprise and next thing I knew she had fallen asleep in my arms and I shortly followed suit.

"Bladz! Psst, Bladz!"

"Huh?" I called out opening my eyes to find myself in a field surrounded by flowers of every hue. "How did I get here again!"

"That is simple, younger one, well actually not so much but you get the point." the gentle voice of the pegasus called out. The clouds above parted and the phoenix we were riding on descended.

"What? What are you doing here? Where is the pegasus that just called out?" I demanded towards the bird.

The phoenix pivoted its head at me and its eyes twinkled. "Parton me Bladz," the phoenix declared. Her wings turned to feathers and two forelegs descend, her claws became two hooves and her beak softened turning to a snout; the bird's head became more round, as well as her body, and a flowing green mane and tail emerged. The phoenix transformed itself into a green pegasus about my age.

"Are you Cera?" I asked the green pegasus.

"I am indeed, my Bladz." The pony informed me wiping her mane causing the surrounding dandelions to dance in a current of air that rotated around us.

"How are you in my mind?"

"That question is not my responsibility to answer as it is not something that I can try to explain to you."

"How come?" I demanded.

"Because I do not have the answers, nor would I think that either of us would understand them." Cera grinned and watched a small bunny hop along into the horizion. "Think about it now really, do you think that you are really sitting there on my back sleeping right now dreaming about flowers and bunnies and spring breezes."

"I am not following? What are you trying to say?"

"I do not know really," the green pegasus cheered. "I was hoping you knew because I do not have a clue what I am blabbering about!"

"Okay then? May I ask why you never mentioned to me sooner who you were and how you are now this phenix!"

"Well that is a pretty simple question that I can answer but sadly cannot expand on." Cera formulated in the air between us two large leaves that began to spin around in a vertical plane that resembled the leaves on my cutie mark. "Before you simply just used my magic, and now thanks to Luna you own my magic!" Cera clapped her hooves together and the leaves began to sparkle.

"Magic? But you are a pegasus? What you mean your magic? And what do you mean thanks to Luna?"

"Well like I said I cannot really expand on this, but your seals, Luna and Celestia referred to them as that so I will use that name so you can follow easier, are like walls." Cera formed a wall beside us out of vines putting a door in the center. "It separates two areas allowing passage through a door if you have the key to unlock this door and allows simple passage." Cera formed a key out of a flower and opened the door. "However the problem with this is that only so much can do through a door at one time. In order for there to truly be truly unlimited movement between the two sides the wall must not exist." The vine wall shattered and turned into a green mist that faded into the wind. "And that is what Luna had done for me; she had knocked down the wall that stood between us!"

"That still does not explain why you say your magic."

Cera supplied me a small laugh and smiled. "What just because I have wings and no horn means I cannot use magic?" Cera transformed herself into me with her eyes remaining their normal green. "My wings are gone and I have a horn now, does that really make a difference though because in this form I am not myself," Cera transformed back into the green pegasus.

"I do not understand." I proclaimed.

"You do not have to, no one is asking you to understand it besides yourself. If you seek to understand you must seek to accept though and the only one who can choose to accept what you do not understand is you."

"But it does not make sense?"

"Does it really have to make sense Bladz? Since when does everything that we see outside of concrete reality have to make sense?" Cera sat herself down in the field. "This is all that I am able to tell you Bladz, I am sorry. And just so you do not make a fool of yourself, the phoenix will not talk back to you, she is simply just an application of our magic and nothing more."

"Wait, one last question! Why are you here?"

"You will understand that in time when you are ready." Cera smiled as she and the world around me disappeared into a green cloud of dust. "Time to awaken, home to approaching."

"Why does everyone keep telling me that!" I demanded but it was too late and she was gone for with the moment.

I opened my eyes to find the horizon ahead showing the outskirts of the Citadel. "Hope!" I nudged her. "Hope!" I continued to nudge her until tired eyes opened in question.

"What is it Bladz?"

"I was just wondering if you would a wake up call or if you'd rather lay out here." I teased as Hope stretched herslef up just as we touched down in front of the Palace's entrance.

"Well that was fast then I thought," Hope stated surprised as I assisted her off the bird and to the ground below, picking up the box of her belongings as well. I thanked the bird and it took off once more into the clouds and disappeared.

"Welcome home Hope," I whispered to her as I led her to her room and set the box down. I placed the old sheets aside and pulled a separate set of sheets from a closet, using them to make her bed, placing the the small plush pink pony that laid on the bottom of the box at the headboard.

"Don't you think you should go inform Lord Armonia that you have returned?" Hope inquired.

"Well unless all the guards are blind, I am sure that he already knows or at least is about to find out." I supplied Hope with a tiny smirk and departed for my own room. The sheets had already been replaced for me and there were new flowers in a vase that we sent from my sister, whom had no knowledge that I had left for two days.

"Glad to see that you are back; how was the Kingdom to the North?" Commander Ryan asked from behind me.

"Very good, Equestria would be more than happy to renew our past relations with them as close allies."

"Restored alliances with both of our neighbors and it has only been a month. Impressive, but I was not asking about Serentia."

"I made some new friends there, and few that I will have a hard time forgetting." I told Ryan, who I could tell from a momentary grin that he was happy with this news. "Hey Ryan, about Lightning and Shadow."

"You do not have to say it, I already know. I knew that one day they were going to depart and I am just glad I got the time with them that I did. They both made excellent captains, but they will make even better with what they are doing now back where they belong." Ryan sighed and underneath his seemingly neutral expression I felt a touch of sadness, and a whole lot of happiness. "You want me to inform Lord Armonia for you or your return?"

"Please do, if you would be so kind."

"It would be my please Sir!" Ryan saluted me and I returned the gesture as he turned and walked away.

I pulled off my armor and placed it on the plush of me. A note descended to the floor that was written in a dark blue ink that reminded me of night.

I am glad that you had a safe trip!~ your friend, Luna.