Equestria Reborn

Part 3: The End is Neigh

Dawn and Dusk, now Princess Aurora and Prince Evening Star, headed back down to Equestria. Both of them were silent, both of them in deep thought...

"Aurora."

"Yes, brother?" Dawn kept up her downward gallop through space.

"You know we need to pass through the atmosphere, right?" Dusk asked this, but his thoughts lingered on how she could answer him so quickly. She and he had only just received those names, after all... Was it a fact that she was, perhaps, more serious or certain about this than he was?

"I -

"Nevermind." Dusk said, "Hang on."

In a flash, both he and his sister were standing before Canter Lot palace.

Dawn looked about. "I see we are not late..."

"I see." Dusk said, turning his attention to the east horizon. Instantly his heart was struck fearful.

The sky seemed to be on fire - even more so than it had, before. Every color of the coming fire stood out, clearly. He felt the breeze as it passed over him... it burned.

"Brother, are you coming?" His sisters words brought him back into the world.

"I am with you." Dusk said, turning and hurrying after her. He wiped a quick tear as he fell into step, beside her.

Dawn saw the tear, but did not see the fire... yet.

~   ~   ~   ~

Entering the palace, Dusk said, "Let us go to the throne room. Perhaps the Oracle is there."

"Yes." Dawn said. They both headed in the direction of the throne room, not caring how they knew they knew where they were going.

~   ~   ~   ~

Entering the throne room, Dusk said, "Hurry, Dawn - Oracle Staris we're here to - oh...my..

Before him and his sister, on two separate thrones, sat Prince Sky and Princess Earth.

"Welcome, Princess Aurora, Prince Evening." Prince Sky said. He was an older stallion than Dusk was, with a gray-blue flank and long royal-blue hair. He wore a golden crown lined with gems and a chest plate, likewise. His expression was set and solemn.

"Yes, welcome." Princess Earth said, "We would show our respect, more so, but I fear we cannot." She motioned with her hoof for both of them to come forward.

Princess Earth seemed to be more cheery than Prince Sky was. She was a gray-white alicorn with long, golden hair which was modestly set in a pony tail. She wore a large white-gray tiara which was lined with small gems and a broach.

"Please....don't..." Dusk said. He and and Dawn bowed down before the highnesses.

Prince Sky and Princess Earth both shared an awkward glance.

"Why... do you bow?" Prince Sky asked.

"Are we to do anything else?" Dusk asked.

Both highnesses glanced at one another, again.

"Know you not that you are also alicorns?" Princess Earth asked the two.

"Of course, Princess." Dawn spoke up, "But..."

Dusk felt his hooves trembling, a bit. "I... I thought they had gone away and now... here they are... before me... I... before them..." His wings felt very heavy, at that moment. "As though... as though I cannot bear them, he thought. "I don't feel like I am worthy enough to be here... like this..."

After a few moments of silent observation, Prince Sky said, "Rise, the both of you...please."

Dawn and Dusk did as instructed.

"Beautiful." Princess Earth commented, eyeing Dawn.

"Yes." Prince Sky said, "But our time is too short for such things, let alone conversation... I suppose we should just get down to it."

"Of course." Princess Earth agreed, "We know why the both of you are here and we shall not carry the burden of holding you up."

"Indeed." Prince Sky said, "You have no need to pay any respects seeing as you are as we are..."

"Perhaps better." Princess Earth, murmured.

"Perhaps." Prince Sky said.

"...Yes... You two may be on your way, then." Princess Earth said, "And may the blessings of the Guardians be with you."

Dawn and Dusk looked at each other. Dusk slowly turned his attention back to the two, true alicorns before him. He wanted so much to speak what was on his mind, but he couldn't. He felt it would either be too arrogant or to degrading.

"Ah... I - "

"We thank you," Dawn said.

Dusk glanced over at his sister, standing firm and upright. He looked back down at the floor, before him... She did seem like she was taking this on far better than he was - "Why?... Why can't I get myself together?"

"Of course." Prince Sky said, with a nod, Princess Earth nodding as well. "But before you go, let us... let us get one thing off our chests - we..." He trailed off and looked over at Princess Earth.

She nodded to him, "Quickly, Prince Sky. They haven't much time."

Prince Sky nodded. "I understand." He said, "But all I would like to say, on behalf of Terra and I, is this..." He inhaled and then began, "I understand that there is a great disaster coming our way - we do. We understand that there is a great deal of chaos about the streets of Canterlot and all through out Equestria, also. So saying, we understand that with our absence many have begun to... doubt."

Dusk flinched. He blinked. He realized he was still staring at the floor. He lifted his head. He met Prince Sky's eyes.

"We understand." Dawn said, "Please continue."

Dusk glanced at his sister. Head held up, now, he decided not to make eye contact with either of the alicorns.

"Yes." Prince Sky said, "They doubt... And they doubt us."

Dusk felt a pang of guilt hit him hard but he tried not to show it.

"They think that as the new regime, the newly appointed ones to rule over Equestria, as the ruling pair over all others - us. They think that we care nothing about them, that we have either forgotten, forsaken or abandoned them, that with our powers, we have fled, to save our own lives..."

Princess Earth coughed, lightly, into her hoof. Dusk's eyes met hers.... She averted them, immediately, and then softly said, "Please excuse me."

Dusk clenched his jaw together, pangs of guilt tightening his chest.

Prince Sky nodded to her and then continued, "But as you two can plainly see, we did not do that."

"Of course you didn't!" Dawn exclaimed, slamming a hoof on the floor, "You are our rulers, you would never do such a thing!" Dusk gave Dawn a bit of a shocked look.

Prince Sky smiled, a little. "Thank you, Aurora."

(This is Prince Sky's cutie mark. All credit for this awesome pic from Deviantart [Unknown Artist])

Dawn nodded, a serious expression on her face.

"Yes, thank you." Princess Earth chimed, "But see the thing we needed to get off our chests is that... well... even with the destruction coming, and nearing all the while, we can do nothing."

"Indeed." Prince Sky's voice was hoarse and his expression a bit sad, "We are the alicorns of Equestria, and yet we can do nothing."

"Nothing." Princess Earth echoed, her eye-lids lowered.

"But why can't you?" Dawn asked, "Is something the matter?"

Princess Earth chuckled, sadly. "It is the will of fate. That one major law of the universe that every being must live by, whether they know it or not and whether they want to or not..."

"The will of fate..." Dawn echoed, quietly.

Princess Earth nodded, "Indeed, my dear...."

(All credit to the creator of this gem! It is almost perfect as the princess' cutie mark!)

"Yes." Prince Sky said, "And the reason is this." He tapped the air in front of him, and as he did so, there appeared around him a barrier. When the barrier showed itself, a rainbow fire surged upward, half-way engulfing it, and then receded, again. Once this happened, the barrier could not be seen.

Dawn gasped. "Th - that looks just like -

"It is." Princess Earth said. "The Apocalypse Fire - the Ending Flame. We know not if it has its own "mind", if you will, but before my companion and I - Prince Sky and I - went to go and cease it, we could not. Try as we may, it was to no avail... Teleportation, winking in and out - nothing of the sort worked... nothing worked... It seems that the power of the fire is far to great and it has trapped us, here."

"Here." Prince Sky said, emphasizing her last word, "On our thrones where if we were to have lived beyond this point, we two would have ruled from here...here... And yet we can do nothing! My pegagod!"

"Calm yourself, Prince Sky." Princess Earth said, not bothering to look in his direction.

The prince sighed. "I apologize to the both..." he let his words trailed off, but picked them up again, "To all three of you. You did not come here for this, and I said there would be no conversation - yet, there was, so... please forgive me - "

"Us." Princess Earth corrected him, "For putting our burdens on you. We know the task that lies ahead of you and lo it is a great one. Please carry on. We will trouble you, no longer."

"Please - think nothing of it." Dusk and Dawn said this at the same time. Princess Earth smiled, Prince Sky nodded.

"Thank you." They returned, in unison.

~   ~   ~   ~

Dusk and Dawn hurried to the tower, the place where they were told to find the Oracle Staris.

"Hurry, hurry." Dusk said, "I fear we have very little time, now."

"Indeed." Dawn said.

Dusk looked at her.

"Oh, Sorry." She said, "I guess I already picked up the habit -

"Nevermind." Dusk said, and they continued to charge forward.

~   ~   ~   ~

At the door that led into the tower's room, Dusk said, "What do you think we should do?"

"Just...knock?" Dawn said, lifting a hoof.

"No! No..." Dusk said, "I wouldn't want to -

"Enter." A calm, quiet voice said, from behind the door.

Dusk and Dawn froze.

"Enter." The voice said, again, exactly as it had the first time. There was no change in the tone and there was no raising of the voice, just "Enter."

"At once." Dusk whispered. Dawn nodded. With her magic, she turned the knob and they both entered, together.

~   ~   ~   ~

"Welcome, Princess Aurora Dawn and Prince Evening Star... I've  been expecting you.... we all have." Oracle Staris, (Princess Twilight Sparkle), rested on a royal red-and-gold body pillow, her hooves tucked under her. She was the image of peace; her eyes closed, her head bent in thought. Her hair was all out and it streamed down the side of her flank visible to the two and fanned out like tributaries in a valley, across the floor. Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned her head to the two young alicorns.

Both alicorns had their noses pressed hard against the ground, forelegs bent back and their wings pressed against there bodies, as they bowed.

Oracle Staris observed them a moment and then said, "Rise."

They both did so in complete unison and then were rigidly still. Oracle Staris inhaled and the two became relaxed. Dusk realized this wasn't of themselves and blushed a little. "Relax - stay relaxed!" He commanded himself.

"Now the two of you know why you are here, as do I." Oracle Staris said, "But I have nothing to say to you."

Both alicorns would have become greatly - physically and mentally - discomforted, but try as they might, they could not. They remained perfectly calm...

Oracle Staris chuckled, softly, "It is never good to always be so easily thrown of by the things you do not understand, young ones. I know this well. Be sure to remember it."

Dusk tried hard to be bothered by the fact that he was so comfortable - he couldn't even answer the oracle, his lips wouldn't move! All he did when the oracle spoke to him was nod - that's it! He couldn't even -

"Do not let your thoughts or my words trouble you." Oracle Staris said, a small, sad smile on her face. "All will be revealed to you and you do not need my lips for it. Know yourselves. You are both alicorns and so the limits of such a gift are infinite. The future and past are yours to see and know, the present; yours to change and command.... There is nothing left to tell you."

Dusk and Dawn nodded, once, in unison but their minds were supposed to be going crazy! There were so many answers yet to be given, so many other words to say, so many questions they had that were supposed to be answered - and what about the instructions?! Where and what were their instructions?!

"Of course." Oracle Staris said, rising on all fours, "The time is too short for long talks... even my time is limited."

"W- What... do you m-mean, Oracle?" Dawn squeaked, timidly.

Dusk's eyes stayed as they were. He could not move them, to open them wide with shock and surprise - "Why?!" He couldn't even turn his head to look at Dawn... only listen...

"Hm." Oracle Staris said, turning from the both of them, towards the tower's window. "And though I have nothing more to say to the both of you, I have yet a few things to give and supply you with..."

As if by summoned - in a great burst of light and flame - a radiant pheonix appeared.

(Auhhhh XD All credit to the creater of this awesome pic.)

It landed on the oracle's back and looked out of the window along with her.

"And another..." The oracle murmured, not turning from the window.

A loud BOOM rang through out Canter Lot palace. And a great flashing of light illuminated the room for about a good few seconds as zaps and booms split the air. At last, another bird appeared. It had pure white and glowing eyes, large wings and feathers of blue and yellow, along with brown-gold and ever-sharp talons.

(Image created by Malvareth, Devinantart - just an awesome and perfect picture I happened to stumble upon)

"SCREEEE!" It cried, circling the room as though its showy entrance hadn't been dramatic enough.

Oracle Staris turned from the window. The pheonix flew elsewhere and she said, "Behold. The thunder bird of skies."

"Thunder bird..." Dusk sucked in a(n) abrupt breath when he realized he could speak. I am finally able to speak..." He thought.

"Yes." Oracle Staris said, looking his way. And they both belong to the both of you - now... I have yet another and final gift." She turned to the window and once she did so, all of them vanished.

Dawn and Dusk appeared outside, before the palace. "What the..." Dusk began.

"Look!" Dawn exclaimed, hoofing his flank.

Before them sat both large and small, strange looking air crafts. There were ponies standing around, ponies they had never seen before - some of them wearing these weird-looking suits.

A stallion much older than Dusk walked up to him and saluted, "Prince Evening, Sir!"

"Uhh...." Dusk just looked at him. "And you are...?"

Dawn approached her brother and the older stallion, but didn't get a chance to speak, for a voice in her head began to talk to her.

"Princess Aurora, look around you. Tell me what you see..."

Dawn looked around. The land and everything seemed as it should be... but the sky...

"Oh my pegagod - !"

"What do you see?" The voice asked.

"I see the fire!" Dawn said, trembling, "It is so close, now, so near! Like... like a storm on the horizon just waiting to break through - only worse! Much, much worse...

"I see. Anything else?"

"I - I...I see..." Dawn squinted, a bit. "I see a barrier of some kind... It is very powerful... I feel it..." Dawn observed that there was indeed something between the fire and Canter Lot - that is - the area they were standing on which was before Canter Lot. Just then, her vision zoomed out; she could see Canter Lot with a birds-eye view. She gasped, horrified.

There was the fire, right near where her brother and the other ponies were, exactly to the right of them. But between them and the fire was a thin barrier. The barrier was clear so Dawn could have easily missed it.

I know you were exceptionally concerned when I did say that my time was limited, Aurora. But I only meant that I can hold the Ending Flame back for as long as I can... but the end is neigh... I might not be able to hold it off for much longer...

Dawn's vision returned to normal. She blinked and a sudden wave of panic and fear washed over her. A lump formed in her throat and she wasn't sure what to do, say or think - !

~   ~   ~   ~

Dusk had finished his little talk with the whom he had been speaking to and then turned to address Dawn.

"Daw - Before he could continue, a voice interrupted.

Prince Evening, fear not. I know your concerns and do understand your thoughts. Being a leader is nothing simple, nor fairly easy. You shall indeed make mistakes, and you shall also learn. One cannot simply be perfect, young prince. Remember this. And remember, also, that the both of you are Equestria's last hope of reformation. Sometime in the future, you will know of the reformer - and if you carry on, then you have made the promise to do what you can to prepare him for his task.

"Thank you for your words, Oracle. I will acknowledge this speak, I promise you." Dusk said, his closed as he listened to the voice...

As soon as he knew the Oracle's voice would not again come to him, he opened them.

His sister's eyes met his. They were both silent for a few moments and then he attempted to speak.

"Ah -

"No. I have been spoken to, as well. We will both carry on." Dawn walked past him and into the biggest air craft.

"...." He followed her in.

~   ~   ~   ~

Not much longer was it before the both of them were seated in the back of the aircraft, which Dusk had been told was was called The Master Ship.

Just then, Dawn grabbed his hoof. Dusk looked at his sister, she was biting her lower lip. Her eye-lids were low and tears streamed from her eyes.

"What is it, D...What is it, Aurora?" He asked.

"Please....Please..." Dawn whispered, squeezing his hoof. He glanced down at it, "Please don't call me -

"Why not?" Dusk asked. "Everypony else will call you by that name... why can't I?"

"Because you're different!" Dawn snapped. "Because...because I..."

"What are you trying to say?" Dusk asked, calmly.

"I...it's just..."

"Yes?" Dusk urged.

Just then the door to the area they sat in was opened and a white pony who seemed about their age, entered. He wore glasses, some kind of headset, and white trench coat.

"My Prince, we are ready to take off."

"Then do so." Dusk responded.

"Yes, Prince Evening." The young colt exited, the door closed behind him.

As soon as the door was shut, there was an enormous BOOM sound. Dawn gasped and then whimpered.

"Don't worry, I am sure it's just -

"Commader, we need to take off, NOW!" It was the white colt's voice.

Dusk looked around until he located a speaker. He touched a button on the device and said, "This is the prince - can you hear me? What's going on?"

There was panting on the other end before a voice answered, "We're getting out, now, My Prince..."

Dusk scooted over to the window to the left of him. He looked out the window and saw three other aircrafts zoom up into the air. His eyes widened when he noticed all of the small - what looked like - fire works, in the air. So many different colors - so many of them were exploading abut the aircrafts. Just then, one of the aircrafts blew up.

"Oh my pegagod...!" Dusk said, eyes widening.

"Dusk...it's getting warm in here." Dawn said, softly.

Dusk glanced at his sister... and then did a double take. She sat, head held high, seemingly proud. The only thing was that tears were streaming down her face, none stop. Like rivers, they just wouldn't stop.

"...yes, I know!" A voice on the other end of the speaker said, panting, "I - I know - how could it get past the heat-wave defenses?!"

"Heat-wave defenses...?" Dusk asked himself. There was a sudden and very tensful pause on the other end of the speaker... "What are you talking about?" Dusk asked, into the speaker.

"Ah -" The voice of the younger pony was cut off and the commander's voice was heard.

"Prince Evening, we're heading out... It's a danger zone out there." The last part had been muttered.

Dusk looked out the small side window. He saw that they were in the air - just then, a great force slammed him and his sister backwards.

"Oof!" He fell back but felt as though he had fallen on nothing.

"Are you alright?" Dawn asked him.

He looked behind him and discovered that he hadn't fallen back on the wall, but on a thin, glowing surface. "My sisters doing, no doubt," he thought.

He looked at his sister who smiled, a little. He looked away and back out the window.

"How are you and your sister faring, My Prince?" A voice asked, from the speaker.

"We're fine." Dusk answered, "What is our current situation?"

"The team or the ship, My Prince?" The voice asked, timidly.

"Th - Dusk stopped himself. What did he mean, exactly?

"Um - are we going to make it, I mean." Dusk said.

"Of course, My Prince." The voice said, a bit too cheerily to Dusk's liking. "There have and will be no tragedies with this ship, whatsoever - Full speed, now!"

"Wha..." Dusk realized the pony on the other side was giving a direction.

"Brace yourself if you can, My Prince." The voice on the other end said. There was a click sound and the voice was no longer able to be heard.

"H...hello?" Dusk said.

"Put it away, brother." Dawn said, from where she sat.

"What? Why?" Dusk asked. Dawn reached over and took the speaker from him.

"Dawn - Dusk stopped and listened. His hearing seemed to be coming back to him - actually, had he somehow spaced out, all of this time? Or was he just listening too intently to the conversation? For he began to hear ear-splitting 'booms' and 'bangs'. He turned his attention to the outside.

"Let us switch sides, brother - quickly!" Dawn said.

Dusk and Dawn switched sides, slowly yet steadily. Once on the other side, Dusk could see huge sonic rainbooms seeming to pierce the sky. He realized that the sky was clear blue - the rainbooms seemed to have cleared out every cloud - they seemed to burn them, really.

Once the outermost edge of a rainboom touched a cloud it changed many colors and, at the same time, weathered away. Almost like sand, like rock, like earth which could weather away over thousands of years, only this was faster. Much, much faster.

Dusk watched as the clouds disappeared and all he could see was color... colors, everywhere... Every time the ships would shoot up through a layer of cloud, there was a sonic rainboom seemed to be right on its tail...

~   ~   ~   ~

Dawn watched from her side, she watched them rise above the thick layers of cloud. Every time they would go higher, there would be a magnificent blast of light and color and the puffy, intangible clouds which seemed to look like solid fields of protection, were utterly obliterated.

"Let us switch sides again, brother." Dawn suggested. They did so, quickly.

BA - BOOM! A huge explosion of color and light shook the ship.

After a few moments, Dusk grabbed the speaker and said, "Are we alri -

" Wait, no - DUSK!" Dawn said, whipping her head in his direction.

KA-BA-BOOOOM! It was the loudest explosion yet - and Dusk saw it all:

~   ~   ~   ~

Right before the explosion, Dusk was still looking outside the window, observing the closeness of every sonic rainbow he could see. He noticed that for about a minute or so, no rainboom had erupted in the sky, anywhere... He looked about and -

BA - BOOM!

He felt the ship shake and instinctively reached for the speaker to see if everything was alright. Still looking out the window, his hoof gripping the speaker -

On the other end he heard, " -yes and nopony is to touch any device on board - Prince - !" But the communication was too fast and his mind didn't register it yet.

"Are we alri - He stopped himself as outside the window, he saw a small sphere of yellow and blue light. It looked like something one would see if they looked at the sun too long, only it was evidently more stable and not some kind of eye-illusion - suddenly the sphere got bigger and bigger, and as it did so, it began to change colors - faster and faster and then - ! It disappeared. An instant later, a thin, clear-looking form of the sphere appeared... it looked like a bubble... it "popped" and that was when -

"DUSK!"

KA - BA - BOOOOM!

(Not necessarily a "random" sonic rainboom image)

It had all happened so fast...

~   ~   ~   ~

As the explosion seemed to go on forever.... Dusk saw that as soon as he turned to his sister, the device had appeared in her hoof... Her eyes were wide and illuminated and there was some kind of sphere-shaped field surrounding her hoof with the device in it. His vision made everything seemed to be x-rayed, everything a different color.

Just then Dusk remembered... for an explosion like this... there would be an after-shock of some sort, wouldn't there?! He gasped and went to cover his ears - only he couldn't! He was stuck!

But only for a few moments.

Dusk watched everything return to its normal...slowly... like ripples on water, only the ripples came inward, and everything it passed over was restored to its normal self.

~   ~   ~   ~

Dusk blinked. He blinked and shook his head.

"What... just happened...?" He gasped, "Dawn - !"

His sister sat with her head raised, her eyes wide and luminous... they slowly returned to normal, as well.

Dusk realized that the ripples of restoration he had seem seemed to be receding into his sister! Straight into her center! And once the last one had, Dawn's head hung limply.

" D - Dawn!" Dusk said.

Dawn slowly lifted her head. "Hm-mm... Brother?" She said.

"I am here." Dusk said, moving closer to wrap his forelegs around her.

"Mmm..." She embraced him back. "I am alright."

"Thank heavens." Dusk said. And then said, "But... what was that -

"Shh. No more talking." Dawn said, "I am sure we will figure it out, later."

"But that's not... what I meant." Dusk said, as his sister turned away from his to look out of the window. And when she did, she realized that they were no longer in the sky, but beyond it! She gasped, quietly...

"Dusk... may we switch sides again?" Dusk did as she wished, but not without giving Dawn a questioning glance, first.

On looking out the opposite window, Dawn's eyes became wide and watered.

Looking down at the earth, below, Dawn saw that the other half of the earth had been utterly destroyed. All of the earth she could see was black and/or cracked, there were large craters where the oceans had been and she could see smaller, orange fire sweeping the earth, here and there. They were greedy, greedy fires; searching for any - if any - remaining life.... Dawn's eyes were fully of water and her face was drenched with her tears... The craters and cracks in the earth discusted her, while the fires - and the fire - saddened and angered her. She watched as the largest and most powerful fire of all, the most powerful fire the world had ever seen, swept its way triumphantly across the rest of Equestria - or at least the side she could see...

"Dawn..." Dusk touched her from behind.

Dawn did her best to wipe at her tears, but they wouldn't go away. She tried and tried, but they just kept coming.

Dusk waited, patiently, for he wasn't sure he wanted to see his sister's crying face... she was always so happy...

"Dawn." He said again, and softer this time, "Someone wants to see you."

"Who... who is it, brother?" Dawn asked, still wiping at her face as she turned around, to him.

Dusk knew he was making a face when Dawn turned and then tried harder to straighten up.

He was ashamed of himself and said, "Dawn... it is alright to cry, you know..."

A few moments later, Dusk was patting his sisters back as she cried and embraced him.

"I'm sorry, Dusk," she sobbed, "I'm so, so sorry..."

"Stop apologizing, stop apologizing." Dusk murmured, rubbing his sisters back, "You cannot be the stregnth for both of us... and you are not." Dawn still sobbed, but tried to be quieter. Just then, her eyes wondered over to the window her brother had been sitting next to. There was something out there - right next to them!

"B - brother...!" Dawn began.

"It's fine." Dusk said, "He's a friend."

The creature's eye was bigger than the small window - but at least when he spoke she could hear and understand him -

"Greetings, Princess Aurora." He said.

(By: Eric Protor Tsaoshin, Digital-art-gallery)