Love, Interrupted By A Thousand Yearsby TCC56ChaptersLoveInterruptionLoveLoveAuthor's Note Before we begin, I'm 100% certain someone is going to ask "Who is Proper Postal?" It's this dude who delivers Sunburst's letter from his mom in The Parent Map. (The name's fan-decided and isn't consistent, so I just went with the most convenient version.) Love They met during a diplomatic mission. Flash Magnus had come north as part of a contingent that was mostly on behalf of the still newborn nation of Equestria. (Partially it was also under the banner of Pegasopolis, as the alliance between the pony races was still fraught and fragile.) The bastion of the Crystal Empire had leapt out as a potential ally from the moment pony adventurers had stumbled into it, and the response had been swift. Those that ventured north were only pegasi, for the journey was too long and harsh to be taken on hoof without far more preparation. Others would come in time. Their arrival was greeted with joy by the crystal ponies - Princess Amore herself welcomed the delegation. Among her honor guard was Proper Postal, pressed into action at the last moment. The Crystal Empire had few guards as the Heart's magic protected them, so she had brought other ponies of the government to stand beside her. He would only be able to serve for the morning, lest his afternoon rounds of delivering the mail be late - but he took position without complaint at his Princess' orders. The diplomats and politicians let their guards be soon enough, retiring to meeting rooms to begin the long process of hashing out treaties and pacts. Unneeded, the retinue of both sides gathered to share lunch and relax in the gardens. Under the shade of a crystal tree, Flash Magnus sat beside Proper Postal. One shared a dram of crystal berry wine; the other offered a ration of olives in exchange. The sun shone down on them, warm under the protective shield that kept out the northern snows. Flash leaned back, eyes closed as he basked in it. "I am curious," Proper ventured tentatively, "What is it your people see in us? We're simple folk and the Empire doesn't have a lot to offer. What I've heard of your Equestria speaks of a rich and bountiful land." Cracking an eye, Flash looked at him. "If there is one thing the Windigo Winter taught us, friend, is that you can never have too many allies. Your people are strong as earth ponies, yet have magic like the unicorns. We would be fools to ignore that." Proper thought about it for a moment. "We are not warriors," he noted. "So I don't think you're right." "Allies are more than those who stand in the line of battle," Flash countered with the force of the tide. "They are also those who tend the fields to keep the warriors fed. They are those who build the roads where hooves march. They are those who write the songs sung in victory or to honor the valiant fallen. Only the blind count naught but spears." He paused. "But even moreso, you are cousins. A harsh lesson was taught to us not long ago that we are ponies rather than just pegasi. Yet we have no records of you. No stories. You are a mystery, and knowledge is the most valuable ally of all." Flash's words made Proper smile. "That is the kind of ally I would be honored to be." The pegasus held out a hoof. "So shall it be, then." And the crystal bumped his in return. "So it shall be." A moment of silence passed in the warmth of the new friendship. "So I am guessing you are a historian then? As well as a guard?" That made Flash laugh.. "Nay, I'm afraid I'm more showpony than anything else. They brought me to be an example rather than a guard - I'm supposed to show what a pegasus hero is like." "So what is a pegasus hero like?" The words slipped out before Proper even thought them. "Bored," Flash snorted. "I have hours of sitting around and waiting ahead of me." Deep in Proper's breast, a trace of the Heart's warm light burned. "I'm not a guard," he quickly offered. "I'm actually a courier, and I'm supposed to deliver mail this afternoon. Maybe you could, ah, spend the waiting with me? At least then you could see the city instead of just this garden." With a quiet grunt and a bright smile, Flash rolled over and stood. "I would love to." The Equestrian delegation left two days later, taking the long flight back to the warm lands of the south. Flash Magnus would return three weeks later on his own, bearing with him a message from the newly crowned Princesses and a satchel full of southern gifts for his friend. He would make the trip at least once a month for the next year, ostensibly carrying communications from Equestria's government to the Empire's - but any pony could have done so. Flash Magnus just needed the excuse. They sat side by side on the edge of the Empire, watching out across the snowy plain. Just a few lengths beyond them was the line that separated the land protected by the Crystal Heart from the raging blizzard that consumed the north. Flash was supposed to have returned home the day before, but the winds and snow had left him trapped. Neither of them complained about it. A bottle of wine passed between them in silence as they watched, absorbing the ambiance and the savage beauty of the storm. Half an hour after they started watching, Flash Magnus finally spoke. "Wild weather fascinates me," he began. "The pegasi can control weather and have for generations. It's only limited scope around the villages right now, but Equestria expands that range every moon." He sipped. "What's out there reminds me of the Windigo Winter." He glanced for a moment to Proper. "I'm glad you and your people didn't have to deal with that." The bottle passed between them, and Proper Postal took a swig. "From what you've told of it, I'm glad as well. Every story I've listened to has been one of adversity and pain. It makes me appreciate the protection of the Heart, just like watching out into the snow does." "The Crystal Heart - you said it is powered by love?" Flash scratched his chin in thought. "What kind of love?" Proper could only blink in confusion. So Flash tried to elaborate. "It is said there are six types of love, like there are different kinds of flowers. What you likely think of as love, we describe with the old Pegasopolian word éros. It's romantic love; love of passion and beauty, not merely physically but from heart to heart and soul to soul." Proper stayed silent, eyes firmly locked ahead at the snows. "We use the word storge to speak of the love between parent and child, or in loving something greater than one's self like the ruler you serve under. It is what brings ponies together as family. Beside that comes philia, the love of those you are bonded to. The love of a sibling or a comrade, connecting you to those who stand beside you." Flash paused for a brief moment, looking at his silent companion before continuing. "Then comes agápe, the unconditional love for all. It is charity, kindness, and the love of others without expectation of reward. It is mirrored in xenia, love of guests. Hospitality and generosity, giving shelter to those who come to your door and loving them as fellow souls. And to round it out?" He quietly chuckled. "There is philautia, which is love of self. Not vanity or selfishness, but recognizing one's self as a being who deserves love like any other pony." Another stretch of silence passed between them. "You should tell Princess Amore that," Proper finally offered. "I don't think I've ever thought about the different kinds of love, but the way you break them down makes sense. They're very different and the Princess would be really interested." Flash gave a nod. "So I shall tell her, when next we meet." The bottle passed back again, with Flash drinking while Proper considered more. His thoughts gathered slowly around a question - and it took him several minutes to put voice to it. "Which love are we?" Now it was Flash's turn to think. He chose his words carefully, balancing along the conversation as a goat would a cliff. "Agápe, we certainly share for that is without condition. Neither you nor I has a heart dark enough to not feel the love that is universal for those around us." Proper nodded in silent agreement. "And I would be honored to say there is philia between us," Flash continued. "We have both stood as guards and so share that brotherhood. More so, we have grown to become close friends. To call you my closest would make my heart light." A moment more of silence. "And éros?" asked Proper. Another silent moment. A tense one. And Flash Magnus answered. "If to speak of philia between us would make my heart light, then éros would allow it to soar." Proper did not speak. "But such must be mutual," Flash continued, words coming quick and almost apologetic. "Shared between souls éros is a thing of great beauty; alone it is the source of many of the greatest tragedies." Quietly, Proper Postal put the bottle of wine down. He reached across the gap between them to put his hoof on Flash Magnus'. "It would be mutual," he said with the softness of the snow. "So it shall be," gently declared Flash before their lips met. The trips to the Crystal Empire didn't become more frequent - they couldn't. It was too far for a casual flight, and both of the lovers had their own responsibilities. They made up for it in other ways as best they could. From the Equestrian south, Flash Magnus brought his love gifts that showed the bounty and life of the pony homeland. He began with a wreath of crocuses and willow; soon after came a variety of flowering plants that were unknown in the crystalized north. Proper Postal, in turn, gifted his love with something derived from the pre-Equestrian society of the pegasi, composing a number of lengthy poems designed to be accompanied by the kithara. His playing was terrible (as it was intended for plucking by wing) but this merely gave an excuse for Flash to play while Proper recited his works. Food crossed both ways - gifts of berries and fruits in great variety. Exotic breads baked over heated crystals. Savory oils filled with soaked herbs. Sweet ice wine, vinted from frost-kissed grapes. And olives, for that strange fruit had struck just the right spot of Proper's palette and so Flash spoiled him. It came, eventually, to a moment together. Cuddled amongst blankets and basking in both firelight and afterglow, Flash Magnus thought upon what they had. "I wish I could bring you to Equestria," he wistfully dreamed. "It's a long and difficult journey without wings," came the counter. "But if you asked, I would make it." Flash shook his head. "I wouldn't ask it. There are too many dangers along the route. Even with a trade caravan, it would take many days in the deepest wilds." A feather brushed Proper's cheek, making the stallion's nose twitch. "As time passes and the roads become better-trod, it will grow safer. Then we can talk of it more. But until that day, I could not bear to see you harmed." "Until then," Proper agreed, and nuzzled deeper into his love's chest. "But some day." "Some day," Flash agreed right back. Minutes passed. Flash Magnus spoke again. "What would you wish to see in Equestria? I cannot offer the pegasus cities, I fear. Clouds would not obey your hooves." Proper laughed quietly. "No, I don't suppose they would. But the rest of the land sounds beautiful." "It is. Fields of endless grass, greener than emeralds. Forests thick with trees like a blizzard is with snow. Skies so clear you could count the stars and not run out before dawn comes." Sighing wistfully, Proper continued the description. "Stands of olive trees, all ripe and heavy." Flash laughed. "Glutton." He kissed the top of Proper's head. "And the proper term is a grove." "Grove," repeated the crystal pony. "And I am a glutton, as full up on philautia as you are on éros. So we shall have a grove." Flash raised his head, and Proper did in turn. Their eyes met. "We shall have?" questioned the soldier. Proper nodded. "There will be a day when my service to Princess Amore ends, and it shall likely be before yours to your Princesses. We cannot exist on only a day or two once a moon, book-ended by you flying through night and storm for endless hours." He placed a hoof in the middle of Flash's chest. "So you will show me the emerald grasses and the stars that cannot be counted. I shall have an olive tree, and you shall have crystal in our home." The kiss they shared was sudden but not short. "So it shall be," said Flash when their lips finally parted. InterruptionIt was unusual to see so many gathered within the Crystal Palace. Every pony in service to the Empire had been called together, it seemed. Proper Postal recognized ministers and maids, judges and janitors. Ponies of every level and function - save for guards. Not a pony clad in the blued steel of the Crystal Guard was present. That was strange, yes, but there must have been a reason. One that would be made known in time. Princess Amore had called them after all, bringing every pony who served her into one place. Surely she would address them and make it all clear. When the curtains of the balcony pulled open, however, it was not Princess Amore who was revealed. It was a gray unicorn stallion Proper didn't recognize: mane black as darkness, horn glowing bright red, eyes filled with roiling green energy. Proper Postal had just enough time to panic before there was a flash of sickly green light. Then he thought no more. "You wished to see me, Commander Pansy?" One of the three Hearthswarmers looked up from the scroll on her desk. "Flash Magnus. Good. I'm glad you're, ah… I'm glad you're here." She had matured since that fateful moment in the cave, but no matter the rank or the seasoning, she remained Pansy: soft in heart and voice. Flash saluted still, because volume did not equal worth. She re-rolled the scroll and stowed it away. "If I remember right, you were going to be heading north on your monthly trip tomorrow." He nodded, silent but worried at the use of 'were'. Pansy confirmed that fear. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to delay it. I have orders for you directly from the Princesses." Her wing reached into a drawer of her desk, pulling out a different scroll for him. "There's trouble on the eastern border with the griffon tribes. Their Majesties need a pony with both the knowledge to protect the villages there and the proper temperament to find a solution." Quick thoughts zipped through Flash's head as he recalled all he could about the region. "The eastern griffons have rarely been more than a minor nuisance and never in an organized fashion before. Has something escalated the situation?" Pansy was quick to shake her head. "No, nothing's happened. Not yet, at least. But there's been rumors that last winter was a bad one and the Princesses are worried that the griffons will be forced to raid Equestrian lands. Nopony wants a war, but the griffons may have to choose between battle and starvation. That's why you were requested by name as a pony who both can fight and who knows when not to." It was a grave task and an honor at the same time. "I will go as commanded and needed." Flash saluted again, face grim. "Just give me a little time to pack my gear and write a letter northwards, Commander." For a moment, there was a flicker of something in Pansy's eyes. Pity, perhaps. "Give me the letter once you have written it," she said. "I will take personal responsibility for it." "Thank you, Commander." Flash Magnus bowed and left to do his duty. Three moons later, Flash Magnus returned to the Everfree and the Castle of the Two Sisters. He technically returned victorious - but that would be an exaggeration. In truth, he had found little threat from the griffon tribes: their winter had been harsh, yes, but throughout the spring they had survived. Few raids had come across the border, most simply being adolescents looking to cause trouble as youth often did. The Princesses' feared attacks never came, and Flash Magnus had spent an entire season leading guard over a peaceful land. It was more surprising to him, then, that upon return he was told that Princess Celestia herself would be debriefing him. The throne room had been cleared in anticipation, leaving the two of them alone. (He suspected that Princess Luna was nearby and listening in, but was giving the illusion of privacy.) Princess Celestia sat on her throne, regal and bright as noon. "Flash Magnus. We would hear your report from the east." Snapping to attention, Flash locked his eyes forward as he gave his summation. "Your Majesty. I am pleased to report that the concerns of increased griffon aggression did not come to pass. While they suffered a lean winter, their spring was bountiful enough to avoid any cross-border predations. The eastern lands remain at peace, and I utilized my time there to reinforce the defensive works of several villages in case of future troubles." Princess Celestia nodded. "You have served Us well, and We are thankful for your vigilance." A pause. "But We did not call you here only for this report. There is one We must give in turn, and it is better you hear this news from Us than other sources." A looming dread sank into Flash's bones. "Your Majesty?" "Two days before you were dispatched," she began, "We received audience from a mare of the Crystal Empire named Radiant Hope. She brought tidings most grave: Princess Amore is dead and the Empire is usurped by an umbral unicorn calling himself Sombra." Every muscle in Flash's body went iron-tense. "His conquest came with the enslavement of the crystal ponies, both in chains and in soul. Using dark magics, Sombra had bound many of them to his service as unthinking drones." Celestia's voice rumbled, dark and sour. "This is why We ordered you dispatched to the east. Had you or any other gone to the aid of the crystal ponies, you would have been overwhelmed and added to the monster's own forces." Trembling, Flash fought to stay silent and at attention. If he allowed even a hint of weakness, he knew he would shatter. And the Princess continued. "Knowing this, We set out northwards with Our sister to confront him personally. Our magic was strong enough to resist his, though he did try. We confronted him in the tower of the Crystal Castle and struck him low, but that victory came at terrible cost." Moments enough had passed to allow Flash to regain a tiny scrap of stability - but those words struck further fear into him. "Your Majesty. I… I cannot help but notice your sister does not sit beside you." Princess Celestia held up a hoof to silence him. "Fear not. Princess Luna remains with Equestria and was not harmed. No, the cost was the Empire itself." Flash Magnus stopped breathing. "It is gone," she said with grave solemnity. "As are all within it. We know not what spell or curse Sombra cast to do so in his death throes, but there is now naught but a sheet of featureless ice where the great city once stood." From her throne, Princess Celestia looked down on one of her greatest heroes. "We are sorry for what you have lost." She had seen Flash Magnus lead the charge into many battles without fear or hesitation. Now, she saw him break. "It is a desperate gambit. But it is also our best hope." Starswirl wasn't pulling any punches. Gathered around the campfire, the faces of the Pillars of Equestria were drawn tight. They all knew what was at stake and now that Starswirl had explained his plan? They knew what it would cost to stop their former comrade Stygian. Each looked to the others. None were cowards, but they all knew that they only had a single life to give. It was a hero's coin to spend and Equestria could not afford for them to spend it carelessly. "I would not ask this of any of you if there were another way. The Pony of Shadows must be stopped or all the world shall be lost." Starswirl frowned - he had been the entire two years they had adventured together, but now in the flickering light? It seemed all the more grim. "If any of you have an alternative, I would listen." Silence from all five. They did not have alternatives. Planning, ironically, had always been Stygian's strength. Without him, they could only place their faith in Starswirl's learned mind. The old wizard waited a few more moments before continuing. "Well then. What say you all? Into the breach?" Flash Magnus set his head high, the first to respond. "I shall do what must be done for Equestria. There is nothing for me to leave behind." Four other voices rose in quiet agreement. The next evening, they were gone. LoveTo Proper Postal, there was nothing between that flash of green light and finding himself standing in the street. The armor he was wearing - ashen gray steel - was unfamiliar and he had no idea why it was on him. As big a mystery was why he was surrounded by others wearing the same armor who were just as confused as he. It took several hours to be given even the slightest bit of context, and most of a week before the full story took shape. The time was helpful, at least, in that it gave all the ponies involved the chance to process it. Princess Amore was dead. They had been mind controlled by her usurper Sombra, and had been soldiers in his enslavement of the Empire. Sombra had been defeated by the Two Sisters (and then by the power of the Heart), but the Crystal Empire had been cast forward in time. It had been a thousand years. Proper Postal had cried without shame when the weight of that had hit him. Then he had made a simple request to the new Princess Cadance. Almost a moon later, she called him for an audience. Unlike Princess Amore, Cadance preferred one of the more intimate sitting rooms rather than the throne room. From what little Proper had learned of her, she was shockingly casual for royalty. But it was her prerogative and he wouldn't argue. Not when she was being so kind. But as he sat down at the little tea table, the look on her face was not one of kindness - it was sorrow. "Thank you for seeing me, your Majesty." He bowed his head. She shook hers. "It's fine, Proper Postal. Should I call you Proper?" "You may call me whatever you wish, your Majesty." Cadance sighed heavily enough for her entire body to slump. "Please relax. I know it's difficult but I'm a pony, just like you." Proper wanted to object as she was very obviously not like him - but disagreeing with royalty was also not something one did, so he stayed quiet. Ironically that made Cadance pout more. But she pressed on, even if she visibly didn't want to. "I've investigated as best I could, but I'm afraid I have bad news for you. There's no record of what happened to Flash Magnus. He simply vanished from history one day. So while yes, it's been a thousand years and he certainly passed in that time, there isn't any record of his death." Her sorrow made sense now. Proper bowed his head. "So there is no grave or tomb." "No," the Princess lamented. "There isn't." Proper's eyes pinched shut to hold the tears. "I cannot even pay my respects." Steadying himself, Proper tried to stand and stumbled only a little. "Thank you, your Majesty, for your efforts on my behalf." "As Princess of Love, it was my duty." Cadance rose as well. "You deserve closure. I'm sorry I couldn't help you get it." She hugged him, though Proper remained stiffly stoic. "What will you do now?" "Deliver mail," he said with a lackluster shrug. "There isn't much else." Cadance pursed her lips. "Didn't you say that you planned to move to Equestria with him before everything happened?" "With him," Proper noted darkly. He bowed. "Thank you." And he left, allowing the Crystal Heart to dim slightly. Returning from Limbo was surprisingly easy. It was as if Flash Magnus had never left. One moment they were facing down the Pony of Shadows; the next they were… also facing down the Pony of Shadows, but along side Princess Twilight and her cadre of friends. But he had left. A millennia had come and gone. And there was so, so much to catch up on. Truthfully, Flash had never anticipated returning. They had all gone in with the expectation of it being a final sacrifice, but Flash all the more had thought it was an end. When it turned out to not be, he was conflicted: he had prepared for oblivion, and a small part of him had welcomed it. But it also felt wrong to not feel joy at living another day. The relief of seeing the Sun when you expected not to was as instinctive as breathing. There was little time to think about it in the heat of battle. Seeking and fighting the Pony of Shadows was duty, and could not be ignored. But now that it was over? There was discovering a new land and coming to grips with what their lives had become. Equestria was foreign yet familiar. Princess Luna had become key: in the two weeks since their return, she was tutor and guide to the Pillars. While Princess Twilight and her friends meant well, it was Luna - similarly displaced in time - who was able to understand. They didn't need history lessons. They needed to be told about trains and indoor plumbing and lightbulbs. Starswirl could study until his eyes bled; Flash cared more about how to live his daily life. But there were still some formalities to be addressed. The Pillars of Equestria (with Stygian now included) were heroes and that meant politics. A thousand years had passed, true, but some things would never change. So all seven of them stood at attention when Princess Luna had called upon them to gather in the palace's foyer to meet a foreign diplomatic mission. (She had said it with a roll of her eyes and a smirk, suggesting this was formality rather than true diplomacy.) The old mustachioed major domo Kibitz cleared his throat. "ANNOUNCING THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES PRINCESS MI AMORE CADENZA AND PRINCE SHINING ARMOR OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE." Flash Magnus stopped breathing. His world shrank to the point of a pin as two ponies entered: a snow-white unicorn and a pink alicorn. Formal bows were exchanged between the royals, followed by familial hugs. "Welcome, niece." Luna's smile was far brighter than it ever had been in the old days. "I would introduce you to the heroes of ancient times - the Pillars of Equestria." Each was named and bowed in turn. "Starswirl the Bearded. Stygian. Mage Meadowbrook. Rockhoof. Mistmane. Somnambula. Flash Magnus." He was named and did not bow. Cadance didn't notice. Upon hearing his name, she froze up as well. "...Niece?" "No." Cadance's eyes jumped to her aunt. "He can't be." Luna mentally stumbled but pushed on. "They are the ones spoken of in legend. 'Tis unbelievable but true. Trapped outside time for a thousand years–" She got no further before Cadance's head whipped around to her husband. "Shiny, I need you to take over for me." "But–" "Please." "...Uh, okay?" She kissed him on the cheek before grabbing Flash by the shoulders. "We have to go to the Crystal Empire right now." Hope blossomed. He didn't hesitate. Right now was unfortunately longer than Flash Magnus would have liked. The train carried them in hours where it would have taken days on hoof, but it was still too slow. Cadance told him the story of what had happened as the royal carriage rattled and swayed: of the Crystal Empire being locked out of reality and a thousand more details of Sombra's rule. Things that Princess Celestia could not have known in the heat of the now-ancient moment that now stood as cold facts. His heart sang. Flash had lived for two years without his love before vanishing; Proper Postal had lived three after returning. But the thousand years in the middle was missing for them both, and that closed the gap. Pegasus and alicorn took to the sky as soon as the train stopped - stalking like hawks for their prey. They spotted him crossing the Plaza of the Glorious, trotting his daily route and digging into his satchel for the next delivery. Flash moved without thinking - his wings simply banked of their own accord, diving towards the road. Proper Postal didn't turn. The sound of hooves on crystal wasn't unusual, and the beat of pegasus wings had become much more common in the three years since the Empire's return. What was not common was the voice of a Princess. "Proper Postal!" He turned. He saw. There were no words at first. Just a stare. The haunted, disbelieving stare of seeing what could not be. Then there was the soft touch of a primary feather on cheek-fur and the ghost was real. The lovers collapsed into each other's embrace. Crying, laughing, babbling half-words because where do you even begin? They kissed in a way each thought they never would again. Finally, after that, Proper managed a word. "How?" "A sacrifice," Flash giddily related. "I was trapped in Limbo to seal away a monster. Outside of time for a thousand years." Proper laughed, sobbing at the same time. "I thought you were dead." "And I you. Princess Celestia said the Empire was gone and all within it lost." Beside them, a different Princess cleared her throat. They looked to her, not breaking their embrace. She drew herself up, tall and regal over the pair. "As the Princess of the Crystal Empire, I, Mi Amore Cadenza, hereby order you, Proper Postal, to relinquish your mail bag to me." Proper scrambled to stand and did as commanded, confused. Cadance looped the bag across her barrel. "I will complete your route. Go home with my blessing." Both stallions bowed their head. "Thank you, my Princess," Proper solemnly intoned. "I said once you deserved closure, Proper Postal. I was wrong." Her smile shone as the Sun. "It was simply a pause before the beginning of your next chapter." Cadance bowed her head to them. "Go, and help the Crystal Heart shine brighter." Flash Magnus looked to Proper Postal. "So it shall be," he said. And it did. Land in Canterlot is at a premium and difficult to come by. Even with the favor of multiple Princesses, carving out space is a challenge. But they have some sway and the names of heroes inspire generosity. The Duke of Cloudsdale volunteered a small plot on one of the outer terraces - and that was enough. The house was small, but they needed little more. Walls of crystal sparkled under the Sun and reflected the uncountable stars under the Moon. Boxes of crocuses blossomed under each window. And the path that cut across emerald-green grass to the front door was lined on both sides by olive trees.
LoveAuthor's Note Before we begin, I'm 100% certain someone is going to ask "Who is Proper Postal?" It's this dude who delivers Sunburst's letter from his mom in The Parent Map. (The name's fan-decided and isn't consistent, so I just went with the most convenient version.) Love They met during a diplomatic mission. Flash Magnus had come north as part of a contingent that was mostly on behalf of the still newborn nation of Equestria. (Partially it was also under the banner of Pegasopolis, as the alliance between the pony races was still fraught and fragile.) The bastion of the Crystal Empire had leapt out as a potential ally from the moment pony adventurers had stumbled into it, and the response had been swift. Those that ventured north were only pegasi, for the journey was too long and harsh to be taken on hoof without far more preparation. Others would come in time. Their arrival was greeted with joy by the crystal ponies - Princess Amore herself welcomed the delegation. Among her honor guard was Proper Postal, pressed into action at the last moment. The Crystal Empire had few guards as the Heart's magic protected them, so she had brought other ponies of the government to stand beside her. He would only be able to serve for the morning, lest his afternoon rounds of delivering the mail be late - but he took position without complaint at his Princess' orders. The diplomats and politicians let their guards be soon enough, retiring to meeting rooms to begin the long process of hashing out treaties and pacts. Unneeded, the retinue of both sides gathered to share lunch and relax in the gardens. Under the shade of a crystal tree, Flash Magnus sat beside Proper Postal. One shared a dram of crystal berry wine; the other offered a ration of olives in exchange. The sun shone down on them, warm under the protective shield that kept out the northern snows. Flash leaned back, eyes closed as he basked in it. "I am curious," Proper ventured tentatively, "What is it your people see in us? We're simple folk and the Empire doesn't have a lot to offer. What I've heard of your Equestria speaks of a rich and bountiful land." Cracking an eye, Flash looked at him. "If there is one thing the Windigo Winter taught us, friend, is that you can never have too many allies. Your people are strong as earth ponies, yet have magic like the unicorns. We would be fools to ignore that." Proper thought about it for a moment. "We are not warriors," he noted. "So I don't think you're right." "Allies are more than those who stand in the line of battle," Flash countered with the force of the tide. "They are also those who tend the fields to keep the warriors fed. They are those who build the roads where hooves march. They are those who write the songs sung in victory or to honor the valiant fallen. Only the blind count naught but spears." He paused. "But even moreso, you are cousins. A harsh lesson was taught to us not long ago that we are ponies rather than just pegasi. Yet we have no records of you. No stories. You are a mystery, and knowledge is the most valuable ally of all." Flash's words made Proper smile. "That is the kind of ally I would be honored to be." The pegasus held out a hoof. "So shall it be, then." And the crystal bumped his in return. "So it shall be." A moment of silence passed in the warmth of the new friendship. "So I am guessing you are a historian then? As well as a guard?" That made Flash laugh.. "Nay, I'm afraid I'm more showpony than anything else. They brought me to be an example rather than a guard - I'm supposed to show what a pegasus hero is like." "So what is a pegasus hero like?" The words slipped out before Proper even thought them. "Bored," Flash snorted. "I have hours of sitting around and waiting ahead of me." Deep in Proper's breast, a trace of the Heart's warm light burned. "I'm not a guard," he quickly offered. "I'm actually a courier, and I'm supposed to deliver mail this afternoon. Maybe you could, ah, spend the waiting with me? At least then you could see the city instead of just this garden." With a quiet grunt and a bright smile, Flash rolled over and stood. "I would love to." The Equestrian delegation left two days later, taking the long flight back to the warm lands of the south. Flash Magnus would return three weeks later on his own, bearing with him a message from the newly crowned Princesses and a satchel full of southern gifts for his friend. He would make the trip at least once a month for the next year, ostensibly carrying communications from Equestria's government to the Empire's - but any pony could have done so. Flash Magnus just needed the excuse. They sat side by side on the edge of the Empire, watching out across the snowy plain. Just a few lengths beyond them was the line that separated the land protected by the Crystal Heart from the raging blizzard that consumed the north. Flash was supposed to have returned home the day before, but the winds and snow had left him trapped. Neither of them complained about it. A bottle of wine passed between them in silence as they watched, absorbing the ambiance and the savage beauty of the storm. Half an hour after they started watching, Flash Magnus finally spoke. "Wild weather fascinates me," he began. "The pegasi can control weather and have for generations. It's only limited scope around the villages right now, but Equestria expands that range every moon." He sipped. "What's out there reminds me of the Windigo Winter." He glanced for a moment to Proper. "I'm glad you and your people didn't have to deal with that." The bottle passed between them, and Proper Postal took a swig. "From what you've told of it, I'm glad as well. Every story I've listened to has been one of adversity and pain. It makes me appreciate the protection of the Heart, just like watching out into the snow does." "The Crystal Heart - you said it is powered by love?" Flash scratched his chin in thought. "What kind of love?" Proper could only blink in confusion. So Flash tried to elaborate. "It is said there are six types of love, like there are different kinds of flowers. What you likely think of as love, we describe with the old Pegasopolian word éros. It's romantic love; love of passion and beauty, not merely physically but from heart to heart and soul to soul." Proper stayed silent, eyes firmly locked ahead at the snows. "We use the word storge to speak of the love between parent and child, or in loving something greater than one's self like the ruler you serve under. It is what brings ponies together as family. Beside that comes philia, the love of those you are bonded to. The love of a sibling or a comrade, connecting you to those who stand beside you." Flash paused for a brief moment, looking at his silent companion before continuing. "Then comes agápe, the unconditional love for all. It is charity, kindness, and the love of others without expectation of reward. It is mirrored in xenia, love of guests. Hospitality and generosity, giving shelter to those who come to your door and loving them as fellow souls. And to round it out?" He quietly chuckled. "There is philautia, which is love of self. Not vanity or selfishness, but recognizing one's self as a being who deserves love like any other pony." Another stretch of silence passed between them. "You should tell Princess Amore that," Proper finally offered. "I don't think I've ever thought about the different kinds of love, but the way you break them down makes sense. They're very different and the Princess would be really interested." Flash gave a nod. "So I shall tell her, when next we meet." The bottle passed back again, with Flash drinking while Proper considered more. His thoughts gathered slowly around a question - and it took him several minutes to put voice to it. "Which love are we?" Now it was Flash's turn to think. He chose his words carefully, balancing along the conversation as a goat would a cliff. "Agápe, we certainly share for that is without condition. Neither you nor I has a heart dark enough to not feel the love that is universal for those around us." Proper nodded in silent agreement. "And I would be honored to say there is philia between us," Flash continued. "We have both stood as guards and so share that brotherhood. More so, we have grown to become close friends. To call you my closest would make my heart light." A moment more of silence. "And éros?" asked Proper. Another silent moment. A tense one. And Flash Magnus answered. "If to speak of philia between us would make my heart light, then éros would allow it to soar." Proper did not speak. "But such must be mutual," Flash continued, words coming quick and almost apologetic. "Shared between souls éros is a thing of great beauty; alone it is the source of many of the greatest tragedies." Quietly, Proper Postal put the bottle of wine down. He reached across the gap between them to put his hoof on Flash Magnus'. "It would be mutual," he said with the softness of the snow. "So it shall be," gently declared Flash before their lips met. The trips to the Crystal Empire didn't become more frequent - they couldn't. It was too far for a casual flight, and both of the lovers had their own responsibilities. They made up for it in other ways as best they could. From the Equestrian south, Flash Magnus brought his love gifts that showed the bounty and life of the pony homeland. He began with a wreath of crocuses and willow; soon after came a variety of flowering plants that were unknown in the crystalized north. Proper Postal, in turn, gifted his love with something derived from the pre-Equestrian society of the pegasi, composing a number of lengthy poems designed to be accompanied by the kithara. His playing was terrible (as it was intended for plucking by wing) but this merely gave an excuse for Flash to play while Proper recited his works. Food crossed both ways - gifts of berries and fruits in great variety. Exotic breads baked over heated crystals. Savory oils filled with soaked herbs. Sweet ice wine, vinted from frost-kissed grapes. And olives, for that strange fruit had struck just the right spot of Proper's palette and so Flash spoiled him. It came, eventually, to a moment together. Cuddled amongst blankets and basking in both firelight and afterglow, Flash Magnus thought upon what they had. "I wish I could bring you to Equestria," he wistfully dreamed. "It's a long and difficult journey without wings," came the counter. "But if you asked, I would make it." Flash shook his head. "I wouldn't ask it. There are too many dangers along the route. Even with a trade caravan, it would take many days in the deepest wilds." A feather brushed Proper's cheek, making the stallion's nose twitch. "As time passes and the roads become better-trod, it will grow safer. Then we can talk of it more. But until that day, I could not bear to see you harmed." "Until then," Proper agreed, and nuzzled deeper into his love's chest. "But some day." "Some day," Flash agreed right back. Minutes passed. Flash Magnus spoke again. "What would you wish to see in Equestria? I cannot offer the pegasus cities, I fear. Clouds would not obey your hooves." Proper laughed quietly. "No, I don't suppose they would. But the rest of the land sounds beautiful." "It is. Fields of endless grass, greener than emeralds. Forests thick with trees like a blizzard is with snow. Skies so clear you could count the stars and not run out before dawn comes." Sighing wistfully, Proper continued the description. "Stands of olive trees, all ripe and heavy." Flash laughed. "Glutton." He kissed the top of Proper's head. "And the proper term is a grove." "Grove," repeated the crystal pony. "And I am a glutton, as full up on philautia as you are on éros. So we shall have a grove." Flash raised his head, and Proper did in turn. Their eyes met. "We shall have?" questioned the soldier. Proper nodded. "There will be a day when my service to Princess Amore ends, and it shall likely be before yours to your Princesses. We cannot exist on only a day or two once a moon, book-ended by you flying through night and storm for endless hours." He placed a hoof in the middle of Flash's chest. "So you will show me the emerald grasses and the stars that cannot be counted. I shall have an olive tree, and you shall have crystal in our home." The kiss they shared was sudden but not short. "So it shall be," said Flash when their lips finally parted.
InterruptionIt was unusual to see so many gathered within the Crystal Palace. Every pony in service to the Empire had been called together, it seemed. Proper Postal recognized ministers and maids, judges and janitors. Ponies of every level and function - save for guards. Not a pony clad in the blued steel of the Crystal Guard was present. That was strange, yes, but there must have been a reason. One that would be made known in time. Princess Amore had called them after all, bringing every pony who served her into one place. Surely she would address them and make it all clear. When the curtains of the balcony pulled open, however, it was not Princess Amore who was revealed. It was a gray unicorn stallion Proper didn't recognize: mane black as darkness, horn glowing bright red, eyes filled with roiling green energy. Proper Postal had just enough time to panic before there was a flash of sickly green light. Then he thought no more. "You wished to see me, Commander Pansy?" One of the three Hearthswarmers looked up from the scroll on her desk. "Flash Magnus. Good. I'm glad you're, ah… I'm glad you're here." She had matured since that fateful moment in the cave, but no matter the rank or the seasoning, she remained Pansy: soft in heart and voice. Flash saluted still, because volume did not equal worth. She re-rolled the scroll and stowed it away. "If I remember right, you were going to be heading north on your monthly trip tomorrow." He nodded, silent but worried at the use of 'were'. Pansy confirmed that fear. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to delay it. I have orders for you directly from the Princesses." Her wing reached into a drawer of her desk, pulling out a different scroll for him. "There's trouble on the eastern border with the griffon tribes. Their Majesties need a pony with both the knowledge to protect the villages there and the proper temperament to find a solution." Quick thoughts zipped through Flash's head as he recalled all he could about the region. "The eastern griffons have rarely been more than a minor nuisance and never in an organized fashion before. Has something escalated the situation?" Pansy was quick to shake her head. "No, nothing's happened. Not yet, at least. But there's been rumors that last winter was a bad one and the Princesses are worried that the griffons will be forced to raid Equestrian lands. Nopony wants a war, but the griffons may have to choose between battle and starvation. That's why you were requested by name as a pony who both can fight and who knows when not to." It was a grave task and an honor at the same time. "I will go as commanded and needed." Flash saluted again, face grim. "Just give me a little time to pack my gear and write a letter northwards, Commander." For a moment, there was a flicker of something in Pansy's eyes. Pity, perhaps. "Give me the letter once you have written it," she said. "I will take personal responsibility for it." "Thank you, Commander." Flash Magnus bowed and left to do his duty. Three moons later, Flash Magnus returned to the Everfree and the Castle of the Two Sisters. He technically returned victorious - but that would be an exaggeration. In truth, he had found little threat from the griffon tribes: their winter had been harsh, yes, but throughout the spring they had survived. Few raids had come across the border, most simply being adolescents looking to cause trouble as youth often did. The Princesses' feared attacks never came, and Flash Magnus had spent an entire season leading guard over a peaceful land. It was more surprising to him, then, that upon return he was told that Princess Celestia herself would be debriefing him. The throne room had been cleared in anticipation, leaving the two of them alone. (He suspected that Princess Luna was nearby and listening in, but was giving the illusion of privacy.) Princess Celestia sat on her throne, regal and bright as noon. "Flash Magnus. We would hear your report from the east." Snapping to attention, Flash locked his eyes forward as he gave his summation. "Your Majesty. I am pleased to report that the concerns of increased griffon aggression did not come to pass. While they suffered a lean winter, their spring was bountiful enough to avoid any cross-border predations. The eastern lands remain at peace, and I utilized my time there to reinforce the defensive works of several villages in case of future troubles." Princess Celestia nodded. "You have served Us well, and We are thankful for your vigilance." A pause. "But We did not call you here only for this report. There is one We must give in turn, and it is better you hear this news from Us than other sources." A looming dread sank into Flash's bones. "Your Majesty?" "Two days before you were dispatched," she began, "We received audience from a mare of the Crystal Empire named Radiant Hope. She brought tidings most grave: Princess Amore is dead and the Empire is usurped by an umbral unicorn calling himself Sombra." Every muscle in Flash's body went iron-tense. "His conquest came with the enslavement of the crystal ponies, both in chains and in soul. Using dark magics, Sombra had bound many of them to his service as unthinking drones." Celestia's voice rumbled, dark and sour. "This is why We ordered you dispatched to the east. Had you or any other gone to the aid of the crystal ponies, you would have been overwhelmed and added to the monster's own forces." Trembling, Flash fought to stay silent and at attention. If he allowed even a hint of weakness, he knew he would shatter. And the Princess continued. "Knowing this, We set out northwards with Our sister to confront him personally. Our magic was strong enough to resist his, though he did try. We confronted him in the tower of the Crystal Castle and struck him low, but that victory came at terrible cost." Moments enough had passed to allow Flash to regain a tiny scrap of stability - but those words struck further fear into him. "Your Majesty. I… I cannot help but notice your sister does not sit beside you." Princess Celestia held up a hoof to silence him. "Fear not. Princess Luna remains with Equestria and was not harmed. No, the cost was the Empire itself." Flash Magnus stopped breathing. "It is gone," she said with grave solemnity. "As are all within it. We know not what spell or curse Sombra cast to do so in his death throes, but there is now naught but a sheet of featureless ice where the great city once stood." From her throne, Princess Celestia looked down on one of her greatest heroes. "We are sorry for what you have lost." She had seen Flash Magnus lead the charge into many battles without fear or hesitation. Now, she saw him break. "It is a desperate gambit. But it is also our best hope." Starswirl wasn't pulling any punches. Gathered around the campfire, the faces of the Pillars of Equestria were drawn tight. They all knew what was at stake and now that Starswirl had explained his plan? They knew what it would cost to stop their former comrade Stygian. Each looked to the others. None were cowards, but they all knew that they only had a single life to give. It was a hero's coin to spend and Equestria could not afford for them to spend it carelessly. "I would not ask this of any of you if there were another way. The Pony of Shadows must be stopped or all the world shall be lost." Starswirl frowned - he had been the entire two years they had adventured together, but now in the flickering light? It seemed all the more grim. "If any of you have an alternative, I would listen." Silence from all five. They did not have alternatives. Planning, ironically, had always been Stygian's strength. Without him, they could only place their faith in Starswirl's learned mind. The old wizard waited a few more moments before continuing. "Well then. What say you all? Into the breach?" Flash Magnus set his head high, the first to respond. "I shall do what must be done for Equestria. There is nothing for me to leave behind." Four other voices rose in quiet agreement. The next evening, they were gone.
LoveTo Proper Postal, there was nothing between that flash of green light and finding himself standing in the street. The armor he was wearing - ashen gray steel - was unfamiliar and he had no idea why it was on him. As big a mystery was why he was surrounded by others wearing the same armor who were just as confused as he. It took several hours to be given even the slightest bit of context, and most of a week before the full story took shape. The time was helpful, at least, in that it gave all the ponies involved the chance to process it. Princess Amore was dead. They had been mind controlled by her usurper Sombra, and had been soldiers in his enslavement of the Empire. Sombra had been defeated by the Two Sisters (and then by the power of the Heart), but the Crystal Empire had been cast forward in time. It had been a thousand years. Proper Postal had cried without shame when the weight of that had hit him. Then he had made a simple request to the new Princess Cadance. Almost a moon later, she called him for an audience. Unlike Princess Amore, Cadance preferred one of the more intimate sitting rooms rather than the throne room. From what little Proper had learned of her, she was shockingly casual for royalty. But it was her prerogative and he wouldn't argue. Not when she was being so kind. But as he sat down at the little tea table, the look on her face was not one of kindness - it was sorrow. "Thank you for seeing me, your Majesty." He bowed his head. She shook hers. "It's fine, Proper Postal. Should I call you Proper?" "You may call me whatever you wish, your Majesty." Cadance sighed heavily enough for her entire body to slump. "Please relax. I know it's difficult but I'm a pony, just like you." Proper wanted to object as she was very obviously not like him - but disagreeing with royalty was also not something one did, so he stayed quiet. Ironically that made Cadance pout more. But she pressed on, even if she visibly didn't want to. "I've investigated as best I could, but I'm afraid I have bad news for you. There's no record of what happened to Flash Magnus. He simply vanished from history one day. So while yes, it's been a thousand years and he certainly passed in that time, there isn't any record of his death." Her sorrow made sense now. Proper bowed his head. "So there is no grave or tomb." "No," the Princess lamented. "There isn't." Proper's eyes pinched shut to hold the tears. "I cannot even pay my respects." Steadying himself, Proper tried to stand and stumbled only a little. "Thank you, your Majesty, for your efforts on my behalf." "As Princess of Love, it was my duty." Cadance rose as well. "You deserve closure. I'm sorry I couldn't help you get it." She hugged him, though Proper remained stiffly stoic. "What will you do now?" "Deliver mail," he said with a lackluster shrug. "There isn't much else." Cadance pursed her lips. "Didn't you say that you planned to move to Equestria with him before everything happened?" "With him," Proper noted darkly. He bowed. "Thank you." And he left, allowing the Crystal Heart to dim slightly. Returning from Limbo was surprisingly easy. It was as if Flash Magnus had never left. One moment they were facing down the Pony of Shadows; the next they were… also facing down the Pony of Shadows, but along side Princess Twilight and her cadre of friends. But he had left. A millennia had come and gone. And there was so, so much to catch up on. Truthfully, Flash had never anticipated returning. They had all gone in with the expectation of it being a final sacrifice, but Flash all the more had thought it was an end. When it turned out to not be, he was conflicted: he had prepared for oblivion, and a small part of him had welcomed it. But it also felt wrong to not feel joy at living another day. The relief of seeing the Sun when you expected not to was as instinctive as breathing. There was little time to think about it in the heat of battle. Seeking and fighting the Pony of Shadows was duty, and could not be ignored. But now that it was over? There was discovering a new land and coming to grips with what their lives had become. Equestria was foreign yet familiar. Princess Luna had become key: in the two weeks since their return, she was tutor and guide to the Pillars. While Princess Twilight and her friends meant well, it was Luna - similarly displaced in time - who was able to understand. They didn't need history lessons. They needed to be told about trains and indoor plumbing and lightbulbs. Starswirl could study until his eyes bled; Flash cared more about how to live his daily life. But there were still some formalities to be addressed. The Pillars of Equestria (with Stygian now included) were heroes and that meant politics. A thousand years had passed, true, but some things would never change. So all seven of them stood at attention when Princess Luna had called upon them to gather in the palace's foyer to meet a foreign diplomatic mission. (She had said it with a roll of her eyes and a smirk, suggesting this was formality rather than true diplomacy.) The old mustachioed major domo Kibitz cleared his throat. "ANNOUNCING THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES PRINCESS MI AMORE CADENZA AND PRINCE SHINING ARMOR OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE." Flash Magnus stopped breathing. His world shrank to the point of a pin as two ponies entered: a snow-white unicorn and a pink alicorn. Formal bows were exchanged between the royals, followed by familial hugs. "Welcome, niece." Luna's smile was far brighter than it ever had been in the old days. "I would introduce you to the heroes of ancient times - the Pillars of Equestria." Each was named and bowed in turn. "Starswirl the Bearded. Stygian. Mage Meadowbrook. Rockhoof. Mistmane. Somnambula. Flash Magnus." He was named and did not bow. Cadance didn't notice. Upon hearing his name, she froze up as well. "...Niece?" "No." Cadance's eyes jumped to her aunt. "He can't be." Luna mentally stumbled but pushed on. "They are the ones spoken of in legend. 'Tis unbelievable but true. Trapped outside time for a thousand years–" She got no further before Cadance's head whipped around to her husband. "Shiny, I need you to take over for me." "But–" "Please." "...Uh, okay?" She kissed him on the cheek before grabbing Flash by the shoulders. "We have to go to the Crystal Empire right now." Hope blossomed. He didn't hesitate. Right now was unfortunately longer than Flash Magnus would have liked. The train carried them in hours where it would have taken days on hoof, but it was still too slow. Cadance told him the story of what had happened as the royal carriage rattled and swayed: of the Crystal Empire being locked out of reality and a thousand more details of Sombra's rule. Things that Princess Celestia could not have known in the heat of the now-ancient moment that now stood as cold facts. His heart sang. Flash had lived for two years without his love before vanishing; Proper Postal had lived three after returning. But the thousand years in the middle was missing for them both, and that closed the gap. Pegasus and alicorn took to the sky as soon as the train stopped - stalking like hawks for their prey. They spotted him crossing the Plaza of the Glorious, trotting his daily route and digging into his satchel for the next delivery. Flash moved without thinking - his wings simply banked of their own accord, diving towards the road. Proper Postal didn't turn. The sound of hooves on crystal wasn't unusual, and the beat of pegasus wings had become much more common in the three years since the Empire's return. What was not common was the voice of a Princess. "Proper Postal!" He turned. He saw. There were no words at first. Just a stare. The haunted, disbelieving stare of seeing what could not be. Then there was the soft touch of a primary feather on cheek-fur and the ghost was real. The lovers collapsed into each other's embrace. Crying, laughing, babbling half-words because where do you even begin? They kissed in a way each thought they never would again. Finally, after that, Proper managed a word. "How?" "A sacrifice," Flash giddily related. "I was trapped in Limbo to seal away a monster. Outside of time for a thousand years." Proper laughed, sobbing at the same time. "I thought you were dead." "And I you. Princess Celestia said the Empire was gone and all within it lost." Beside them, a different Princess cleared her throat. They looked to her, not breaking their embrace. She drew herself up, tall and regal over the pair. "As the Princess of the Crystal Empire, I, Mi Amore Cadenza, hereby order you, Proper Postal, to relinquish your mail bag to me." Proper scrambled to stand and did as commanded, confused. Cadance looped the bag across her barrel. "I will complete your route. Go home with my blessing." Both stallions bowed their head. "Thank you, my Princess," Proper solemnly intoned. "I said once you deserved closure, Proper Postal. I was wrong." Her smile shone as the Sun. "It was simply a pause before the beginning of your next chapter." Cadance bowed her head to them. "Go, and help the Crystal Heart shine brighter." Flash Magnus looked to Proper Postal. "So it shall be," he said. And it did. Land in Canterlot is at a premium and difficult to come by. Even with the favor of multiple Princesses, carving out space is a challenge. But they have some sway and the names of heroes inspire generosity. The Duke of Cloudsdale volunteered a small plot on one of the outer terraces - and that was enough. The house was small, but they needed little more. Walls of crystal sparkled under the Sun and reflected the uncountable stars under the Moon. Boxes of crocuses blossomed under each window. And the path that cut across emerald-green grass to the front door was lined on both sides by olive trees.
