And Pitiless As The Sun

Chapters

Chapter 1 - Ponyville Burning
Chapter 2 - Twilight's Last Gleam
Chapter 3 - Lord of the Everfree
Chapter 4 - Finis

Chapter 1 - Ponyville Burning

Princess Celestia dreamed...

She woke with a start as someone pounded on her bedroom door.

“Your Majesty! We apologize, but we bear urgent news,” one of her Royal Guards yelled through the door.

Before even moving or opening her eyes, Celestia reached out with her magic to feel the positions of the heavens and realized it was just over an hour until dawn. The pungent comment that she muttered probably would have shocked the majority of her subjects. The Princess of the Sun incarnate dreamed rarely, and this one had been such a nice dream…

“Enter!” Celestia telekinetically threw back the covers and leapt to her hooves. A scroll skittered away from her bed to land on the floor a short distance away.

A bright flash announced the arrival of one of her Royal Guard unicorns teleporting into her room, even as the door opened to allow another guard to enter. The unicorn spoke.

“Your Majesty, we have confirmed reports from a Royal Guard pegasi patrol that Ponyville is burning.”

Celestia blinked. Ponyville is burning? She strode across the room to a familiar window, the window that overlooked her student in far off Ponyville. To her horror, she could see the telltale flickering pinpricks of flame and bright flashes of magic being cast in the distant darkness. What can possibly be happening?

She remembered the scroll that fell from her bed. A message from Twilight, perhaps? Without conscious thought, she caused it to fly across the room and unfurl in front of her. Fine spatters of ink covered a hastily scrawled note.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Ponyville is under attack by monsters from the Everfree.

There are many casualties. Please send help.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

The writing was hurried and sloppy, very much unlike Twilight’s or Spike’s usual style. Celestia looked closer and realized to her horror that what she thought initially to be ink spatters were instead dried droplets of blood.

As she finished reading the message, an actinic flare of light ripped a false dawn in the Canterlot sky. It was painfully bright, even to eyes used to watching the brilliance of the sun. Quick gasps of pain from her guards made her realize that only her immortal eyes could withstand the brightness. The glare had originated just southwest of Ponyville, near the Everfree Forest. Celestia’s voice was low and serious as the glare waned.

“Mobilize the Royal Guards.” Celestia's voice was loud in the pre-dawn stillness. “We leave for Ponyville in twenty minutes. Prepare for anything.”

The unicorn Guardspony blinked out to muster the troops, followed by another arrival's pop and flash.

Princess Luna rushed to Celestia's side. “Sister, what's going on? Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, although I fear for Ponyville.” Celestia kept her eyes on the horizon.

“Ponyville? I know them well. Sister, let us fly! We can be there in minutes if we take wing now.”

The remaining Guardspony abruptly stepped beside the Princesses. “Your Majesties, we can’t risk either of you going to Ponyville until we know what's going on!”

Luna whirled to face the guard. “Thou wouldst interrupt thy sworn liege?” Her tone was dangerous.

Celestia simply looked at the Guardspony flatly, purple eyes boring into his soul. “Luna, he has a point,” she sighed. “It would be foalish to arrive without backup.” She watched the eyes of the Guardspony, whose enchanted armor did not quite hide his relieved look.

A long roll of thunder shook the room in a cascade of noise. Celestia held still until it faded.

“But realize this,” Celestia said firmly into the silence. “No force on Equestria can possibly keep me from leaving for Ponyville in 18 minutes. Now leave us and prepare for your flight.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anypony looking into the predawn sky over Canterlot would have seen a rare sight: wing after wing of the Her Eternal Princesses' Royal Guards lifting into the sky, led by the ebon and alabaster Princesses themselves. True to their orders, every single Royal Guardspony was fully ready at the appointed time, even the jealous few charged to remain behind to guard the castle. Many of the pegasi were hitched to chariots bearing the Royal Guard unicorns or containers of supplies. Small groups of other pegasi circled the formation protectively. As one, they moved toward the distant pillar of smoke and flame that was Ponyville. The flight was swift and Celestia raised the dawn just as they arrived over the town.

It was too late.

Princess Celestia was a near immortal being, all but worshiped as a goddess. She and her sister had fought the insane chaos god Discord together to liberate Equestria from his mad tyranny in the distant past. Their armies had faced off against each other during the terrible years of the Nightmare Moon rebellion. In the millennia since the rebellion, Princess Celestia had seen the results of countless accidents and natural disasters. None of it fully prepared her for what she saw on her approach to Ponyville.

A thick morning mist and drifting smoke still obscured large portions of the town, but she could see enough. Much of the town was just gone – razed to small smoldering piles of rubble. The larger buildings had fared little better, many of them collapsed and crushed. The Town Hall was still burning, while the Carousel Boutique existed only as charred timbers. Sugarcube Corner looked as though a particularly hungry hydra had gnawed on it for a few minutes before smashing it in disgust. Here and there, splashes of reds and brown indicated pony corpses mixed with the rubble, visible to her even from this altitude.

Only one lone building appeared intact in the entire town – its tall branches reaching up towards Celestia’s light. Celestia smiled to herself. Of course the library was unburnt. Her faithful student had long reinforced the fireproofing spells on the library to preclude any more “unfortunate accidents” with Spike. She nodded to her sister and banked toward the library. Celestia’s Royal Canterlot voice, rarely heard by most of her subjects, thundered through the morning sky.

“Knight Captain, I’m taking a squad with me. Take the rest of the troops and secure the town and surrounding area. Have your ponies locate any survivors. My sister and I would speak with my student.”

Celestia and Luna landed gracefully in front of the scorched door to the library, heavily scarred with deep claw marks. Celestia smiled at her sister and raised her hoof to knock.

“Twilight Sparkle! We have received your let-” The door swung open freely at the first brush of Celestia’s hoof.

Inside the library was a nightmare. Ash thickly covered the entire first floor, charred bones and scorched flesh lying in grotesque piles. The cloying smell of burnt meat and blood hung in the air. Most of the books were reduced to ashes, and the walls were coated black with oily soot. Furniture had been stacked into a crude barricade blocking a door toward the rear of the library - a barricade which had subsequently been shattered by the claws of enraged beasts and somehow torched.

Then Celestia saw the tiny, eviscerated body under the rubble, bones, and ash. Only the purple scales were visible under the soot.

“Spike!” Celestia screamed as she charged through the charnel house. Spike shuddered and opened his remaining eye. Blood pumped slowly from countless wounds, mixing with the ash to make a vile slurry on the floor.

“Princess… you came. Twilight… said you … would…” Spike's voice was little more than a whisper.

“Hold on, Spike. I’ll heal you right up,” Celestia replied, her horn already glowing.

“It's... too… late.” Spike coughed, blood spraying out his mouth onto Celestia’s brilliant coat.

“Twi said... spells... on lab... would… protect… everypony... inside... while she... led... monsters... away...” His breaths were growing shallower. Celestia could see his life fading before her very eyes, even as she ignored his warning and poured healing magics into him anyways.

“Even... Twi... couldn't... distract... all of... them. So… I did. I… stopped… the… rest.” Even as he gasped his last words, Spike smiled. “Tell… Rarity… Sir… Spike… saved…the...” Spike’s last breath rattled off into silence.

In the stillness, only a single scorched scroll fluttered across the floor.

Tears filling both Celestia’s and Luna’s eyes, Luna's horn glowed as she levitated Spike’s mangled body away from the door to Twilight’s lab.

As Celestia opened the door, a glowing pair of shears whirled past her head, missing by the narrowest of margins. The shears embedded deep into the wall behind her.

“I’m warning you, foul beasts, one step closer and you will NOT live to regret it!” The strident voice screamed defiantly. Celestia blinked in recognition.

Peering cautiously past the door, Celestia called, “Rarity, it's Celestia! You’re safe now.”

Rarity stood at the top of the stairs on three legs, her left foreleg and flank heavily bound by blood-soaked bandages. Needles, scissors, and kitchen utensils whirled in a protective orbit around her head, above her glowing horn. Behind her, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had hastily armed themselves as Twilight’s Laboratory Defense Force, holding sharpened pencils in their mouths. Down the stairs, the rest of the basement lab had been packed with as many ponies as could physically fit in the space.

Haunted eyes met the Princess’s as dozens of ponies stared up at their salvation. Many of the ponies present wore bandages, although the Princess idly noted that she had never before seen such stylish wrappings.

“Princess! Where's Twilight? Where's Spike? He was supposed to tell us when it was safe...” Rarity's voice trailed off as she read the expression on Celestia's face. Rarity’s weapons clattered to the ground. “Oh, no!”

“Rarity, please - tell me what happened.” Celestia moved close to block Rarity's view of Spike's last stand.

While Celestia spoke to Rarity, Luna muttered a few commands to the Royal Guardsponies accompanying the two Princesses. The Guards began clearing the detritus of battle from the library, flinging it out the broken windows and doorway. Meanwhile, Luna searched, remembering the layout of the library. A smoke-stained baby-blue blanket levitated from upstairs and wrapped Spike’s still remains within its folds. Luna stood protectively next to it as she listened to Rarity’s tale.

“I’m… I’m not entirely sure, Princess.” Rarity stammered, as she stepped into the devastated library. “Business had been a little slow this week, so when Sweetie Belle asked me if Scootaloo and Applebloom could have a sleepover at the Boutique last night, I said yes. When we all retired to our beds, everything was fine.

“I woke up to smoke and screaming. At first I thought it was the girls being rambunctious or Sweetie Belle trying to cook breakfast, but then I heard the beasts outside. When I looked out, all the creatures of the Everfree were rampaging through town. Manticores, cockatrices, hydras, even a salamander!

“Right about then, something large and unruly crashed through the back wall of my poor boutique. I was collecting the girls to make our escape when I heard Twilight’s voice over the entire din, yelling for everyone in town to get to the library. She simply sounded so impressive and commanding that I couldn’t help but listen.”

` The Royal Canterlot Voice. Celestia nodded to Rarity, thoughts racing. I never taught Twilight that spell myself, but it certainly would be simple enough for her to have read about and figure it out on her own.

“Twilight said the library couldn’t burn and everypony should be safe there. We managed to evade the brute in the boutique when he attacked my ponyquins instead of us.” She stopped, glancing sadly in the direction of her shop. “As we ran out the doors, I saw him knock the rest of the Boutique down around himself trying to catch Sweetie Belle.

“We were galloping to the library when a manticore pounced me.” Rarity nodded at her torn flank. “Twilight must have seen it, because the next thing I knew, she was standing next to me and tossing what was left of my boutique at the beast with her horn.”

Rarity paused, her wounded leg twitching. “Princess… I would have… I would have died right there if it hadn’t been for Twilight.”

Celestia nodded slowly, waiting for Rarity to continue.

“Twilight shepherded the girls and I to the library. She told everyone there to retreat into her lab because there weren’t any windows, and that she'd protected it with spells in case of a lab accident. She pulled Spike and I aside and told me she was going back out to see if she could rescue anypony else.

“I tried to go with her, Princess. I truly did. But my leg was bleeding fairly badly by that point. Twilight said I would only slow her down because of my wounds, and that she needed her number one assistant to mind the fort. She told us to stay here and make sure everyone got bandaged up and to take care of the fillies and colts. She said she would be back as soon as possible, and teleported back outside.”

“The last I saw of her, Twilight was everywhere. It was incredible, Princess, simply magnificent. She would teleport next to a monster, distract it or cast a spell, and then teleport away again before it could do anything to her. I don’t know how she was doing so much so quickly, but she was. It was almost like she was herding them, like Applejack and Winona…”

“Oh heavens!” Rarity tried to jump forward, but winced in pain. “Applejack! Princess, have you heard anything from Sweet Apple Acres?”

Celestia shook her head.

Rarity's eyes widened nervously. “While Twilight was away, some of the creatures broke into the library. Spike… he pushed me through the lab door and slammed it shut behind me. The last thing I heard was roaring and dragonfire.”

Rarity looked over at the small form wrapped in the blood-stained blanket next to Luna. She hobbled over to it and gently kissed the top of Spike's head.

“My poor little Spikey Wikey…” Rarity's whisper broke as tears fell onto the blanket.

A Royal Guard pegasus spoke from the front door. “Your Majesties, I’m afraid we’ve found Miss Sparkle.”

Chapter 2 - Twilight's Last Gleam

The morning sun was slowly burning away the smoke, but enough lingered to make the world hazy and uncertain.

Celestia and Luna flew behind the Royal Guard pegasus, beyond the edge of town. Rarity galloped along below them, her wounds healed by a quick spell from Celestia as they departed the library. As Celestia flew, she grimly noted places where debris had been flung with tremendous force, often lethal to an Everfree monster. Here and there she could also see the gruesome remains of her little ponies in the rubble. Her heart ached for each of her ponies lost.

Celestia realized with unease that the Guardspony was not hurrying to their destination. She shied away from that thought.

On her approach, Celestia could see a huge ring of flash-incinerated husks and skeletons, the bodies of creatures from the Everfree surrounding a field of scorched earth and ash. The devastation stretched for dozens of yards, all the way to the edge of the Everfree Forest. Three Royal Guards in their shining golden armor stood on a small island of grass in the center of the ring, standing vigil. Scorched lavender fur waved softly with the green grass in an early morning breeze.

Celestia dropped to her knees next to Twilight Sparkle’s corpse, unable to say a word.

~~~~~~

Celestia knew that Luna and Rarity were speaking, but couldn’t listen. All she could see through her tears was the brutalized body of her faithful student. Deep gashes along Twilight’s flanks and shallow claw marks all over her body showed the times Twilight’s teleports hadn’t been quite fast enough. Still, a small smile of satisfaction was eternally frozen onto Twilight’s face, the smile of a mare who knew her work was complete.

Celestia could feel the echoes of magic and death lingering in the hot air around her.

“The patterns are clear, sister,” said Luna, in a voice thick with emotion. “Thy student led as many of the creatures as she could to this place, far away from the town. Twilight Sparkle gathered them ‘round herself so to slay them to the very last, with all her might.”

“Twilight said she was just going to lead them away,” Rarity cried. “She said she would come back…”

“Thy friend had no choice.” Luna’s voice softened. “Thine eyes will tell thee the tale. Twilight was sorely wounded, exhausted, and alone. Merely escaping would not suffice to end the threat to Ponyville.”

“But how could Twilight do all of…” Rarity gestured at the destruction, “this... if she was so exhausted?”

Princess Celestia looked away from Twilight’s body, to Rarity’s hurt and confused expression. Does she really not know how powerful her friend was?

“Twilight Sparkle was perhaps the most powerful magician I have ever known.” Celestia spoke in a gentle whisper, a voice filled with both sadness and pride. “In some ways, her powers rivaled even those of my sister and I. Even as a filly, Twilight had enough raw power to cast nearly any spell known-”

“That can’t be right.” Rarity interrupted. “Twilight once told me that she had a tremendously hard time learning magic as a filly. Almost to the point of failing magic kindergarten.”

Celestia paused, knowing that Rarity’s rudeness was due to emotional distress. A vision danced in the back of Celestia’s mind of a tiny purple filly with her tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth stood in a room, struggling to cast a spell.

“Any hardships Twilight had learning magic were not a lack of power, but a lack of control,” Celestia said. “Her difficulties actually stemmed from her raw power. It flowed like the ocean itself, and most of the spells she attempted to use were only designed to handle the barest trickle.”

Rarity still had a bewildered expression on her face.

“Rarity, please understand. The only way Twilight Sparkle survived using her magic at all was by channeling only the smallest amounts through the tightest controls possible.

“I have read many reports of the Ursa Minor affair, including the letter-” Celestia’s voice caught a moment, as the memory brought up a feeling of pride in her student that was swallowed by a crushing pang of grief.

Celestia shook her head and continued softly. “Twilight cast a tremendous Willow Whisper spell, while levitating a water tank the size of a small building, while also milking a herd of cows. Then – while still holding those spells, she CAUGHT the Ursa Minor as it was falling, and proceeded to levitate them all for several miles, sight unseen, into a cave. All this while casting yet another spell to find the correct cave.

“Do you have any idea how much raw magical power and control doing all that takes? Even I would strain to do all that simultaneously. And yet mere moments later, Twilight was able to cast yet more spells. She wasn’t exhausted or out of magic at all. Do you know why?

“No.” Rarity’s voice was quiet, her eyes wide.

“It was because for once, Twilight didn’t have to hold back her power. She wasn’t trying to control pouring an ocean of power through a straw. For once, she needed to merely guide the spells themselves.” Princess Celestia looked around at the surrounding devastation, still feeling the spell fading around her.

“What Twilight did here was simplicity itself,” Celestia continued. For possibly only the second time in her adult life, she merely dropped her carefully-constructed controls and fully released her magic.”

Tiny sparks whirled from the little lavender filly’s horn, as her face screwed tight with concentration. Suddenly the room lit up with a cheery white light. The filly squealed with delight as Celestia looked on proudly.

“She cast one of the first cantrips I ever taught her. A simple Gleam spell to produce a burst of light.”

But I wasn’t here this time.

Celestia’s wrenching sobs tore away any other words she was going to say.

~~~~~~~~

Celestia lay on the ground next to Twilight, wracked with grief and guilt. Rarity sobbed quietly next to her. Princess Luna stood on the other side of Twilight’s body, looking toward the Everfree Forest with an inscrutable expression.

Celestia’s guilty thoughts tumbled in her head.

If I’d been awake to read her scroll when it first arrived, I could have stopped the attack.

So foalish to wait for my guards. Alone I could have been here in time to save her.

Why did I ever let Twilight stay in Ponyville, so close to the Everfree and all the monsters within it?

If I’d never taught her Gleam, she’d still be alive.

A squad of Royal Guardsponies stood unwavering, surrounding the mourners in a ring at edge of the island of green, their backs to Twilight’s body and the princesses. They stood in respectful silence, guarding the Princess’s privacy in her moment of sorrow. Celestia could faintly see sweat trickling under their armor from the heat still radiating from the incinerated ground.

Most of the Royal Guardsponies had known Twilight well. When Twilight had first become her student, Celestia had heard the muttered grumblings of the Royal Guards at having to “babysit” such a young filly. But soon the studious little filly had won their hearts with her innocent charm and courtesy – traits rarely found in the halls of Canterlot.

The Royal Guards had watched Twilight grow into a mare they respected. They all knew the story of Twilight Sparkle facing the dreaded Nightmare Moon in single combat in the heart of the ancient Pony Sisters castle, eventually freeing Princess Luna from her curse. Over meals in the mess hall, they had shared the stories of little Twilight charging a hydra to protect her friends, and facing down dragons at their own caves. Celestia had even overheard wry whispers that next time something bad happened in Canterlot, the Royal Guards should hide behind Twilight.

There would be no hiding now. Those wry jokes tasted as bitter as the ashes blowing around them. Celestia could feel the grief and anger roiling off of the Guards surrounding her. They were soldiers and they were trained to fight threats to Equestria. Yet it was a little librarian that had died here to save the entire village.

Their enchanted armor hid their faces, but the way they stood, the way they held themselves – Celestia knew they were all hurting. Their pain reflected her own.

I killed her. I killed their friend Twilight Sparkle. I was her teacher, her mentor, her Princess. I’m supposed to be her protector. My mistakes put her here to die.

Celestia heard an armored pegasus race overhead, pulling into a hover before the Princesses.

“Your Majesties, we have found more survivors. The occupants of Sugarcube Corner and several surrounding buildings were found sheltering in what Miss Pinkie Pie referred to as her ‘Party Cannon Testing Lab.’”

Celestia wanted to smile at the news. She so desperately wanted to shout with joy that the Element of Laughter was still alive. But she couldn’t feel Laughter. She barely raised her head. The moment stretched as the messenger pegasus waited for a response.

Princess Luna finally spoke quietly. “Sister. Thy grief must wait. Thy subjects need thee now, more than ever.”

Celestia remained silent as her thoughts whirled through her head like startled sparrows.

How could I have left them unprotected?

Why didn’t I order a permanent garrison to be established in town?

I didn’t protect Twilight. I wasn’t here.

Princess Luna sighed. Her Royal Canterlot voice echoed through the destruction as she gave instructions to the Royal Guards.

“Have the citizenry brought to the library. Thy physics shall first heal the worst injured, so that they may be safely flown to Canterlot. All that are well, move hence as swiftly as you are able. Our will is that all ponies be found and removed to safety by nightfall.”

The pegasus saluted and took off again. Luna caught Celestia’s attention with a small cough.

“Sister, I understand thy grief,” Luna said gently. “I measured Twilight Sparkle as a friend as well. I shall handle things for now.” She nodded toward Rarity. “But be mindful, others grieve as well.”

Celestia looked at Rarity, whose coat was filthy with ash, dried blood, and tears. Celestia folded a wing over Rarity, pulling her close. Nuzzling, Rarity nestled her face into Celestia’s warm embrace.

Time passed. Guardsponies flew up with reports. Luna answered questions and gave orders. Celestia just sat there with Rarity under her wing, one thought repeating endlessly in her mind.

It’s my fault. I killed Twilight Sparkle.

~~~~~~

Celestia was jolted from her reverie by the shout of a pegasus reporting to Luna.

“Your Majesty! Knight Captain Dancer reports that forward scouts have found movement in the Everfree Forest. His best scout has reported the number as a ‘buck-ton,’ if that is any indication. The Knight Captain requests deployment instructions.”

Celestia knew the orders to give. She had been a warrior long before she became a princess. She had led armies in battle and fought wars to their victorious conclusions over the course of millennia.

This area is effectively indefensible. Other than the corpses of the dead – this area has been scoured nearly flat. There’s no cover, and no terrain to use defensively. The Royal Guards are good and brave, but without fixed defenses to anchor them, they will be killed. Fighting monsters here is a death sentence for my little ponies. Twilight already proved that.

Celestia couldn’t get her tongue to say the words. She didn’t want to say the words. She simply wanted to mourn the loss of her Faithful Student.

“Retrieve Twilight Sparkle’s body for burial,” Luna boomed. “We shall set up a defense line using the wreckage in town-”

“No.” Celestia was surprised at the flat and harsh voice – especially when she recognized it as her own.

“Sister. We cannot stay here if thine enemies are approaching,” Luna said gently. “I admired Twilight Sparkle as much as any, but I cannot allow more blood to be spilt here-”

“NO!” Celestia’s Royal Canterlot voice thundered across the waste. Ash flew into the air with the reverberation. The surrounding Guards winced and shuffled at the noise as Celestia stood, proud and fierce. “LEAVE TWILIGHT SPARKLE BE!”

“Sister, please! If any more creatures come, we shall be hard pressed to-”

“ANYTHING THAT DISTURBS TWILIGHT’S BODY SHALL FEEL MY WRATH! AND YOU KNOW WELL, little sister, HOW MY WRATH CAN BURN!”

Luna shivered at the words, but shouted back with defiance. “I know thou loved thy student, but Twilight Sparkle is dead! She died HERE to protect thy other ponies. Leaving more of thy subjects to die here for thy mule-headed sorrow dishonors her sacrifice!”

The roars of the two Princesses faded into silence as they glared at each other.

Rarity’s quiet voice broke the silence. “Princess Celestia, please. Let me take care of Twilight. She was my friend, and I know she would never want to come between you and your sister like this.”

A rogue breeze swirled ash as Celestia absorbed the words. Royal Guards squads raced across the field, deploying into a makeshift skirmish line between the Princesses and the Everfree Forest, just in case.

“The Knight Captain sends his regards,” yet another messenger Pegasus called, landing beside the Princesses. “We’ve spotted a small group of monsters exiting the Everfree just north of here. Several hydrae escorting an unusually large manticore. The group has stopped along the forest edge and appears to be requesting a parlay. What are your orders?”

Celestia looked to Luna and then Rarity, fear and hope etched on their faces.

Fighting monsters here is a death sentence for my little ponies. Twilight already proved that.

Celestia relented with a sigh. “We will need a diplomatic escort when we meet this parlay. Twelve should do. Make it an equal mix of unicorns and pegasi. We’ll also need a small detachment to escort Rarity and…” Celestia’s voice caught. “And Twilight’s remains back to the library. Everyone else is to expedite rescue and evacuation efforts. We need all non-combatants out of the area as soon as possible. Absolutely no one is to engage in any fighting unless they are attacked or I give the order.”

Celestia turned away to hide the sudden surge of anger she felt at the looks of relief that flickered across the faces of everypony present.

Chapter 3 - Lord of the Everfree

“Princess Celestia. Luna. So pleasant to see you again.” The massive manticore’s voice reverberated with raw power.

“Lord Cernunnos,” Celestia spat back with undisguised hostility. “I wish I could say the same.”

Cernunnos chuckled.

The two Princesses stood not far from the barren waste caused by Twilight’s last spell. A dozen Royal Guardsponies flanked them, watching their monstrous counterparts warily.

Lord Cernunnos was a massive manticore that towered over the two Princesses and their guards. He was roughly twice the height of a normal manticore, and the scars of many battles marked his dark-furred body. A pair of hydrae flanked him as his honor guard.

Luna leaned close to Celestia. “Who be this?”

“You don’t recognize me?” rumbled Cernunnos, as he examined Luna closely. “I’m wounded that you’ve forgotten one of Nightmare Moon’s most trusted lieutenants. Surely you are glad to see that I have prospered in her absence.” He paused a moment, pulling back from her youthful form. “Unlike yourself.”

“I have nothing more to do with Nightmare Moon,” Luna whispered.

“I know. To be honest, had I realized she could be defeated so easily upon her return, I would have intervened to aid her.” Cernunnos chuckled merrily. “I thought she was made of sterner stuff. By the time I realized her weakness, it was too late.”

“Lord Cernunnos. Why have you come here?” Celestia asked impatiently, bristling.

Calm yourself, Celestia thought. You have to find out what caused this. You have a duty to all your little ponies to end this.

“Why, the same reason as yourself,” he replied. “The death of one Twilight Sparkle. Former student of yours, Celestia?”

“What!” Celestia raised a hoof in surprise.

“Your student willingly violated the ancient Compact between you and I with her final war spell,” Cernunnos said calmly. “I merely came to verify her death personally. In fact, we can leave this whole messy business behind us - if you would just allow me to consume her body so that I may be certain of her utter destruction. Cernunnos smiled a huge toothy grin. I’d gladly ignore the rest of these unfortunate events and reinstate the Compact if you would just grant me this minor boon.” Cernunnos's grin widened fractionally as his voice dripped with false sincerity.

“How DARE you come here and lie about such things! Never! You will NEVER EAT TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Celestia screamed with rage that shook the air around her. The Royal Guards surrounding the Princess tensed.

Luna looked over at her sister curiously. “Sister, before we say anything more, perhaps you should enlighten me regarding this Compact of which Lord Cernunnos speaks.”

“Oh, Celestia,” Cernunnos smirked, “you haven’t even told your own sister of the bargain you made regarding the Lands of the Everfree? Oh, that is to laugh.” Cernunnos chuckled. The hydrae behind him hissed their amusement.

“’Tis but a simple thing, little Luna,” Cernunnos continued. “After Nightmare Moon was locked away a millennium ago, Celestia found herself unable and unwilling to continue the war. Raising and lowering both the Sun and the Moon herself, fighting the Lunar Remnants, and rebuilding her precious Equestria was far too much for dear Celestia to handle all at once. She faced the very real possibility of losing the war, even after defeating Nightmare Moon. She chose to end the war instead. She cut a deal with the most powerful Lunar Remnant warlord remaining: me.

“I controlled the largest organized group of Lunar Remnants. We held the majority of the land around the old capitol and Pony Sisters castle in the name of Queen Nightmare Moon herself, even after her banishment.

“In exchange for peace, Celestia swore an oath under the Old Laws that the lands I held at that point were to be under my control. All the remaining beings that followed Nightmare Moon were to flee her Equestria into my lands, where they would be free to live out their days without fear of vengeance from Celestia or her armies. In return, I would keep my old allies from attacking her precious little ponies.

“Of course, I soon realized that I didn’t want to be a micromanaging tyrant like Celestia. Instead, I decided my domain would follow the oldest of the Old Laws, the laws of nature itself: of Tooth and of Claw, of Blood and of Talon. Every being, every animal, every plant is free to take whatever they can in my domain – from the land, from the sky, and from each other. I let the rains fall and the magic flow freely in my lands, and I allow everything to grow as it will. That’s why my lands are known as the Everfree Forest.

“The Compact is the reason why the Everfree still exists, long after all of the other old woods have been swallowed by Celestias’s ‘civilization,’” Cernunos spat.

“For the past millennium, Celestia has kept her word that neither she nor her agents would do anything to disrupt my domain, In return, I have minimized the actions of my subjects in hers. There have been the occasional mishaps, but overall the Compact has been upheld.

“At least until recently. Celestia’s little ponies now grow too bold, traipsing in and out of the Everfree with barely a concern. Still, I held to my side of the Compact, trusting that Celestia would eventually tighten the reins on her little ponies again, as she has always done in the past. But yesterday, the Compact was broken in a manner I could not ignore.

“One of your little ponies interfered in my woods. A little pony twice honored by your own hooves for defeating your enemies, Celestia. She took something unearned from one of my chosen, and gave it to another undeserved. And when my subjects attempted to reclaim that which was stolen, she fled back into your lands with it instead of facing proper justice in mine. ”

“That is your excuse for attacking Ponyville in the dead of night, as a coward? For murdering all those ponies? For killing Twilight?” Celestia was agape. “A theft? How can that be any reason for so much devastation?” Celestia trembled with rage.

“It is all the reason I require,” Cernunnos replied. “The Compact was broken by your ponies. Anything that has happened after that is merely the result of your failure to uphold your promise.”

Celestia stood still, very still. Enforcing her portion of the Compact – policing her ponies - was indeed one of the terms they had established a millennia before. It hadn’t been an issue for generations -- few ponies dared enter the Everfree, and fewer still could do anything that would violate any of Cernunnos’s laws, but still…

I failed my duties. I killed Twilight and Ponyville.

“Who was the pony that violated the Compact, Lord Cernunnos?” Celestia asked quietly. “What did she do?”

“Well, Twilight Sparkle did use war magics on my lands and subjects,” Cerunnos said drily.

“This land isn’t part of your Everfree,” Celestia replied in a calm tone that did little to hide the rage building within her. “Twilight was defending Ponyville from your monsters.”

“See that over there?” Cernunnos gestured towards a charred scrap of brush. “That burnt little wisp next to all the corpses of my subjects? That IS part of the Everfree. My domain, destroyed by your student. I could call that a violation of the Compact, should I so choose.”

“Lord Cernunnos, thy words offend mine ears,” Luna retorted angrily. “Any action that Twilight took was in direct defense of hearth and heart. Thou cannot claim offense thusly.”

“Luna, I long ago lost any care for what my words do to your ears,” Cernunnos thundered back. “I was once a loyal subject to the magnificent Nightmare Moon. As far as I can tell, she died when Celestia exiled her, and the pathetic foal that has come back wearing her flesh is merely the palest shadow of her former glory.”

Celestia’s patience cracked. "You know full well that nothing Twilight Sparkle did is a violation of our Compact. Even in YOUR lands, self defense is allowed. You still have not told me who you think committed a crime. I will not stand here and listen to another word from you unless you get to the point, Cernunnos.”

“Very well then,” Cernunnos bristled. “I am led to believe by witnesses that the pony’s name was Fluttershy. What she stole is a life.”

Celestia burst into harsh laughter. “Fluttershy? Stole a life? Your witnesses have grown soft-headed, Lord Cernunnos.”

Then she fell silent. Her expression hardened as fury filled her. Shimmers of heat danced across her vision, making the entire world swim in front of her. Her Guards rustled, tense.

“And so your pathetic lies collapse. Fluttershy is no more likely to murder somepony than she is to join the Wonderbolts. She is the very embodiment of Kindness.” Celestia’s rage, bright and hot as the Sun she moved daily, burned in every word. “I ask thee one last time, Cernunnos. Tell the truth, or feel my wrath. Why did you treacherously attack Ponyville?” Celestia’s Royal Canterlot Voice rung strident in morning air.

“You dare accuse me of treachery, when one of your chosen stole from me and another murdered my subjects?” Cernunnos’s batlike wings flared in anger.

“Enough!” Luna broke in. “Be still!”

“I WILL NOT BE STILL!” Celestia boomed. “THIS MONSTER ATTACKED MY LANDS AND KILLED MY SUBJECTS. HE IS THE REASON MY FAITHFUL STUDENT IS DEAD!”

“Only because you broke the Compact.” Cernunnos gave a dangerous grin. “The blood of your ponies and my subjects is on YOUR hooves, Celestia.”

“Please stop!” Luna pled hopelessly.

Celestia snapped. “YOU WANT TO SEE BLOOD ON MY HOOVES? THEN HOW ABOUT YOUR OWN!”

A gold-shod hoof lashed out, slamming Cernunnos in the chest with surprising force. He staggered back, rage contorting his face. Pumping his wings mightily, he sprang into the air.

“You would dare strike me during honorable parlay?” Cernunnos roared. “TO ARMS, EVERFREE! CRUSH THE TYRANT!”

The hydrae rumbled towards the Princesses, their hissing heads weaving side to side. Six Royal Guard pegasi surged into the air as one. Unicorn horns flashed as the Royal Guard unicorns teleported themselves between their princesses and the charging monsters.

Celestia’s horn lit with energy even as she launched herself into the air, looking for Cernunnos. Luna took wing a beat behind her.

“Sister! What were you thinking?” Luna cried. “You broke parlay! Now it will be war. Do you have any idea what you have done?” Celestia ignored her and kept climbing into the air, searching for her foe.

Below her - the battle unfolded. Celestia could see the pitifully thin line of six Royal Guard unicorns accept the charge of the hydrae, sacrificing themselves to allow the princesses to get safely airborne. Almost as one, the unicorns teleported again - appearing behind the hydrae. Almost, because one unicorn wasn’t quite fast enough. Blood sprayed as three hydra heads tore the unfortunate to pieces.

A flash of gold-edged wings flickered below Celestia as Royal Guard Pegasi dove into the combat with their wing blades. Most of the slashes were inconsequential against the thick hides of the beasts, but two hydra heads screeched as the flashing blades tore their eyes out.

Celestia banked right, narrowly avoiding Cernunnos’s claws as he dove on her. The manticore lord adjusted his dive and slammed one of her pegasi out of the sky with bonecrushing force. The pegasus struck the ground limply, never even twitching.

“Cernunnos! Now you die!” A brilliant line of light flashed from Celestia’s horn and struck Cernunnos, searing deep into his flesh. He roared and leapt clear, even as his tail impaled a Guard unicorn. The manticore’s poison was superfluous as the massive stinger rent armor with ease. The unicorn went down screaming, hooves tangled in his own entrails.

The Royal Guard pegasi dove in again, all aiming for hydra eyes. Two of the hydra heads were smarter and faster than the pegasi expected and timed their counterattacks appropriately. Snapping jaws and choked screams announced the demise of two more Guards, even as two more hydra heads thrashed and roared blindly.

A Royal Guard unicorn lowered his head and charged with a glowing horn, slamming it deep into the chest of a hydra. The hydra roared and clawed at the dazed unicorn embedded in its chest, even as the wound glowed with a fierce light. Exploding in a gout of blood and gore, the hydra’s remains collapsed onto the unfortunate unicorn. The Guard was buried in a mountain of suffocating rubbery flesh.

Celestia’s horn lit up again, another ray flashing at Cernunnos. The manticore dodged nimbly and swept a mighty claw at a distracted Guard unicorn. The massive claws cleaved the Guardspony in twain. Cernunnos leapt into the air again as a blue beam from Luna passed beneath him.

The last two remaining Guard unicorns exchanged glances. The remaining hydra was badly wounded but still dangerous. The Knight Captain watched as the other unicorn pawed at the ground, thundering into a charge. The horn of the charging Guard unicorn glowed a bright and cheery pink while the Knight Captain launched a volley of glowing bolts as a distraction.

Another choked scream ripped through the air as Cernunnos caught a circling pegasus in the wing. The crippled pegasus fluttered to the ground helplessly, before a blue-white glow from Luna’s horn enveloped him and stopped his fall.

Then Cernunnos dove at the distracted Luna.

“NO!” Energy lanced out from Celestia’s horn. It cleaved Cernunnos like a flaming broadsword even as his tail struck true.

Luna gasped as the poisonous stinger deeply punctured her ceremonial barding, but the sound was nearly lost to the roar of pain from Cernunnos. One of his bat wings was sheared off by the blow, his side aflame and spurting blood. Plunging towards the ground, his descent ripped his stinger free from Luna, and Luna’s eyes rolled up in her head as she lost consciousness. The glow surrounding the crippled Guard pegasus dropped, and he fell to the ground with a sickening crunch.

Celestia’s horn glowed as she snatched Luna from gravity’s clutches. She thought for a moment about Lord Cernunnos, realizing that she still had sufficient time to arrest his fall.

Celestia’s eyes were pitiless as she watched the roaring Cernunnos plummet to his doom.

On the ground, the last hydra lay dead, a hole seared cleanly through his torso. A dead unicorn lay partially beneath him, her torn and crushed Royal Guard armor no longer disguising her petite pink frame.

Celestia gracefully landed, placing the unconscious Luna on the ground. The two surviving Royal Guard pegasi circled overhead as her Knight Captain approached. Celestia ignored him, pouring healing magics into her sister’s torn side.

Luna’s eyelids fluttered open. “Celestia?”

“Ssh, Luna. It is going to be all right.

“Your Majesties, we have a problem.” The old unicorn pointed to the Everfree Forest, and the wave of monsters. “It looks like the scouts were right.”

“Run!” Celestia cried.

Luna yelped as Celestia unceremoniously lifted her with magic and sprinted towards Ponyville. A pegasus flashed overhead, racing to warn the town.

The Knight Captain stood alone in the field, his horn glowing a deep red. The last remaining Royal Guard pegasus was dueling a pair of manticores in the sky. An endless host of monsters poured out of the Everfree, eager to avenge their lost Lord Cernunnos.

It’s all my fault. Luna was right. I could have prevented this. I SHOULD have prevented this.

The Knight Captain looked over his shoulder at her. “Run, Princess! If you die, Equestria dies with you!”

Celestia turned to face the horde. She saw the Royal Guard pegasus explode in a mist of blood and feathers in a manticore paw.

Her rage exploded. Light, hot and bright, shone from her horn as she poured energy into a spell. The air around her crackled with heat.

Fighting monsters here is a death sentence for my little ponies. Twilight already proved that. My poor Guardsponies proved it, too.

But I am NOT a little pony...

The air around her grew hotter. The glare was blinding. At the same time, Celestia could see the light everywhere else growing dimmer. The sun in the heavens above her grew colder as she funneled its very power into her spell. In her rage, in her grief, she did not care.

No more of my ponies will be hurt by these monsters!

The glare from her horn was painfully bright, and the heat unimaginable. Celestia knew she should stop the spell, it was growing too powerful, even for her prodigious talents. Something else was pushing her on though...

Tiny sparks whirled from a little lavender filly’s horn, her face screwed tight with concentration. Suddenly the room lit up with a cheery burst of light.

Celestia's spell released. Energy flashed out in all directions.

The wave of light and heat touched the monsters charging at her, burning them to ash before they could even scream. It poured over the fallen form of her Knight Captain, converting him to a wisp of smoke. It continued onward through the Everfree forest beyond, obliterating everything it its path.

The heatwave touched the racing pegasus Guardspony behind her, vaporizing him as he tried to warn Ponyville of an army that no longer existed.

The light streamed across the library in Ponyville, still filled with Guardsponies and survivors. In testament to the power of Twilight Sparkle's protection spells, the hollow tree survived almost three full seconds of the onslaught before it too was incinerated, annihilating all the occupants as they screamed.

The blast of light and heat continued outward - destroying all before it. It touched distant Canterlot high on its mountain. Stone ran and melted like wax, and Canterlot slid into oblivion.

Everything Celestia’s light touched was burned away in a moment of titanic rage. Everything except two figures, alone in a graveyard of heat and ash.

Luna screamed, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”

Celestia turned to see her Luna's blue-green eyes filled with shock and horror.

Then Celestia felt the world spin and fade to black.

Luna’s right. It’s all my fault. I killed Equestria.

Chapter 4 - Finis

Princess Celestia jolted awake.

A pair of blue-green eyes looked into Celestia's from a distance of about six inches away.

“Sister! Thou wast... I mean, you were having a bad dream again,” Luna said softly. “I could feel it all the way on the other side of the castle.”

Celestia struggled to get out of her bed, sweat covered sheets tangled around her. The full moon beaming through the window showed her mane hanging flat and limp. Her heart thundered as she panted with fear.

“Luna. I had the most horrible nightma-” Seeing the flash of horror on Luna's face, Celestia stopped. “Bad dream.

“Twilight, Spike, the guards... Everyone!” Celestia gasped. “They died and I couldn't stop it.” Celestia's voice faltered. “It was all my fault.”

Luna hugged Celestia tightly. “Hush, dear sister. I'm here and nothing has happened to any of us. It was only a bad dream.” Luna’s horn glowed in the moonlit room. “What happened this time?”

Celestia’s heartbeat slowed. She could feel the gentle light of moon beams, thin tendrils of Luna's magic questing for traces of any foreign magics or malign influence.

“It's kind of silly,” Celestia said. “In my dream, Old Cernunnos somehow raised an army of monsters out of the Everfree and razed Ponyville. Twilight died to save the town, but many were killed during the attack, including Spike. When we tried to negotiate with Cernunnos to end the hostilities, I… I went berserk and eventually blew up Equestria.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Blowing up Equestria? Even when you were fighting Discord and Nightmare Moon, you never lost your temper quite that badly.” Luna smiled. “But I also remember how angry you were when I took the last of the cookies, so I can’t say I’m completely surprised, either.”

Celestia chuckled softly.

Luna frowned. “Cernunnos? He was one of my-- I mean, Nightmare Moon's lieutenants during the rebellion. Wasn't he the one you met with to set up the Everfree Forest and end the Rebellion?”

“Yes.” Celestia paused, gathering her thoughts. “He was a monster, a rogue, and a hopeless braggart, but he could be quite charming when he wanted. After the war, he set up the Everfree as a preserve of the old ways, the way things were before Discord first showed up. We had a few disagreements in the beginning, but as he got older he mellowed out quite a bit.”

Celestia smiled as she remembered an aged Cernunnos sharing pleasant conversation as they played chess on an oversized board in the old Pony Sisters castle. He always played the Black side, and never, EVER sacrificed his Queen.

“He had a long life for a manticore. I attended his funeral about 850 years ago, I think. When he died, Everfree was so wild and chaotic that no one really wanted to take his throne, so the Everfree Compact just expired peacefully. By that point, my little ponies were scared of the place and left the forest alone. I just left the Everfree as is after that. Cernunnos wanted it that way.”

“I can find no traces of dream magics or hostile spells about you, Celly.” Luna finished her detection magics. “But you have been having nightmares for weeks, and they appear to be getting worse. Do you want to talk about it?”

“ I've never been one to dream too often, and my powers have never run towards precognition. Dreams are more associated with your moon than my sun. I strongly doubt my nightmares are a prophecy of doom.

“Besides, it's impossible for the events from this dream to happen. Cernunnos is long dead, and most of the monsters in the Everfree have eaten each other. There aren't going to be any ravaging hordes.”

“Dreams aren't just tools for prophecy, Celly. Sometimes dreams can dredge up thoughts and fears that you don't quite realize that you have.” Luna drew close to her sister. “Are there any patterns in your dreams? Anything consistent?”

Celestia looked at her hooves for a long while. “In all of them, something horrible happens to Twilight Sparkle. Sometimes she gets hurt, sometimes it's Spike, sometimes it’s her friends. But it always has to do with Twilight. And I always find myself unable to cope. My guilt and grief overwhelm me.”

“You truly care for her, don’t you?” Luna asked quietly.

“Yes.”

Luna snickered.

“Not in THAT way, Luna. You know I prefer stallions who are big, dumb, and well hung. The Blueblood clan certainly wouldn’t have gotten far on their natural wit and charm, after all.” They both giggled.

“Twilight’s more like a daughter to me,” Celestia said. “Or maybe a much-younger sister. It's just that the thought of anyone or anything hurting her….”

“Maybe that’s the message of these nightmares,” Luna said. “It could be as simple as your dreams telling you to take care of Twilight while you can. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”

Pensive silence hung in the air. “When did you get so smart about dreams?”

“Probably around the six-hundredth year or so on the moon.” Luna smirked. “There really wasn't much else for me to do, after all. At the time I was thinking of using them to defeat you and conquer Equestria on my return.” Luna grimaced.

“I am sorry, you know.”

“I know,” Luna said. “You made the right choice. Nightmare Moon's eternal darkness would have killed everypony. But sometimes I really do wish...”

“I know.” Celestia nuzzled her sister affectionately. “I think you’re right about my nightmares. And I also think I know someone who may be able to help me. Could you tell the chamberlain to clear tomorrow morning's schedule for me?”

“Certainly, sister.” Luna rose.

“Luna? Thank you. For everything.”

~~~~~~

“Knight Captain. So good to see you.”

“I came as soon as I received your summons, Your Highness. Is something wrong?” The ancient unicorn wore a simple decorative harness instead of the usual full Royal Guard barding. His silver mane and cream coat glowed under the bright morning sunlight streaming into Princess Celestia's office. She could almost hear his joints creaking and popping as he crossed the room.

When did he get so old? It seems like only yesterday that I was knighting him.

“Sit down, Starlight. Would you care for some morning tea?” Celestia gestured to a cushion across from her.

“Of course, Princess. I am ever at your service.” Knight Captain Starlight Dancer slowly eased into the cushion. Celestia floated her tea set over to them and poured tea into a pair of teacups.

Starlight sipped the tea, nodding politely. “What can I do for you, Princess?”

“What makes you think I didn't just invite you over for a spot of tea?”

“Because you had another nightmare last night. That makes ten over the course of two weeks or so, correct?”

Celestia simply sipped at her tea – a single eyebrow raised at him.

“By the way, this truly is an exquisite blend, Princess. And I can definitely use the pick-me-up. I'd forgotten how wearing the overnight shifts outside your door can be on these old bones.”

Celestia sipped her tea again, using the teacup as a shield as she gathered her thoughts. “How long have you known?”

“Since the beginning. Most Royal Guardsponies have excellent hearing and take your protection rather seriously. I’ve known since the first time you woke up sobbing.” The old unicorn set his cup down. “Would you care to talk about them?”

Celestia sighed. “Not really, but I will. Knight Captain, I believe I have a serious problem.”

Starlight Dancer froze for just a moment, his eyes widening ever so slightly before his unflappable expression returned. “And what can Her Eternal Princesses' Royal Guards do to resolve this problem?”

“I'm not sure. I'd like to discuss it with you and hear your thoughts, if you are willing.”

“Always, Princess. As I said before, I am ever at your service.”

~~~~~~

An hour and several cups of tea later, they were still talking.

“Do you think what is happening in the nightmares could possibly happen in real life? I mean, your reactions.”

“I don’t know.” Celestia looked down at the small table between them. “The heavens know I’ve seen enough of my ponies die over the years. I’ve had personal students die before. Grief and I are old acquaintances by now. But for some reason, the thought of something happening to Twilight fills me with extraordinary dread. And the thought that I could lose control of myself in such a manner terrifies me. So now I am beginning to truly fear for what could happen to me and Equestria if something does happen to her.”

Starlight Dancer leaned back. “Then why not recall her to Canterlot? Surely she would return if you asked, and she would be far safer here than anywhere else.”

“I can't,” Celestia said sadly. “She’s finally beginning to grow and live her own life out there in Ponyville. All her friends are there, and she’s finally learning the life lessons she would’ve learned long ago if I hadn't chosen her as my student. I know Twilight would return in a heartbeat if I asked her, but I'm afraid she would never forgive me. I’d probably never forgive myself.”

“I see.”

Celestia looked at Starlight Dancer, pleading. “Do you have any other ideas? I can’t – Equestria can’t afford to lose Twilight.”

“Well, I suppose I could get a Royal Guard detachment assigned to Ponyville. They'd be able to protect Miss Sparkle should something untoward happen.”

Celestia frowned. “I'm not sure the Council of Nobles would allow that. They feel that Royal Guard protection should be reserved for certain bloodlines. The only way I could head off their incessant complaining would be Royal Decrees and a few executions. And I will not start down that road again.

“More importantly, Twilight would probably think an active Royal Guard presence in Ponyville means that I don't trust her. She’d drive herself crazy trying to look perfect in front of the guards. You remember how she gets.”

“True enough,” Starlight said. “That little filly always was a bit high strung. Hmmm...

“Do you think we could assign just one Royal Guard to watch over her, undercover? It wouldn't have the threat deterrence of a full squad of Royal Guardsponies in full regalia, but one trained pony in the right place can certainly do quite a lot in an emergency. Besides, if he is acting undercover, no one would even know he was a Royal Guardspony unless he had to put on the armor for some reason.”

Celestia’s heart leapt. A Royal Guardspony would die before letting anything hurt Twilight. Knowing someone like that is there to watch over Twilight would definitely ease my fears.

“And assigning one Royal Guard off on detached duty somewhere would never get noticed by the nobles, especially if the paperwork was creatively filed.” Starlight said, grinning.

“That could work indeed.” Celestia smiled. “Do you have any specific Guardsponies in mind?”

“Most of my boys and girls aren't exactly undercover material. Those that are undercover material probably wouldn't be much help if Miss Sparkle was in over her head. Besides, she’s met most of them, even if she didn’t know it at the time, so there’s a chance she’d recognize them. I'll have to look over my files and get back to you.”

“Do you think you’ll have time to do it before your retirement? I’d prefer to keep this as discreet as possible.”

“I'll find the time,” he said. “I've already handed most of my workload over to my successor, Thunderstrike. And even if I don’t get it done before I’m officially retired, I’m sure that this old warhorse can use a little of his spare time to finish up a side project or two with discretion.”

“I understand.” Celestia smiled. “I believe we are done here then, Knight Captain.” Celestia stood gracefully, studiously ignoring the wince of pain crossing Starlight Dancer's face as he wobbled to his hooves.

“Your Majesty.” The Knight Captain saluted and left.

Celestia watched her ever-loyal Knight Captain leave her office and looked at her calendar. I should really do something nice for that poor stallion.

~~~~~

That night, Princess Celestia dreamed again. It was one of the nice dreams.