The Lost Prince of the Sea

Chapters

The Unanswered Question
Memories and Catacombs
There Has to Be Something!
Saviors of Equestria
A Castle, a Hut, and a...What is That?
Power has its Price
More Important Matters at Hoof
The First Real Goodbye
Diplomacy and Doubts
The Power of the Sea
Crystal Clear
Friend and Warrior
A Word of Advice
Darkness is Easily Hidden
Over Dinner
Shattered
An Idea
Punishment for an Immortal
Rekindled Hope
Take Me Home
Never Again
From the Ashes of Solitude Grow the Roses of Love
Prologue: The Solitary Stallion

The Unanswered Question

Luna had finally regained the last few traces of power she lost when Nightmare Moon was destroyed by the Elements of Harmony, and at last she no longer looked like a naïve filly. Yes, she was still the younger sister, and not quite as large as Celestia, but she was only smaller by a matter of inches instead of feet. Once again her mane and tail flowed regally, reflecting the beauty of the night sky and the magic within her.

It had been four years since her return, and even though much had happened in that time, she somehow managed to catch up on most of what she had missed during her banishment to the moon. Normally she would be happy, thrilled even, to be the mare she once was, to know her ponies and her kingdom as she did before, but something was troubling her. Ever since she had returned something had been nagging at the back of her mind, and now she was going to address it. She walked through the halls of Canterlot Castle on her way to the throne room and as she passed the tapestries, statues, and stained glass windows lit by the setting sun, a frown crept onto her face. She reached the throne room and saw Celestia talk to one of the royal guards before sending him away with a concerned expression.

Luna walked up to her throne and sat, turning towards Celestia. “Anything wrong, Sister?”

Celestia smiled “No, nothing really, just some stirrings in the Everfree forest.”

Luna raised an eyebrow “Oh? Nothing serious I hope.”

Celestia sighed “I hope not. A scout has reported a number of rogue changelings in the woods near Manehattan.”

Luna nodded “Hopefully it will end well.” Her smile fell and her voice grew more serious “Sister, I have been meaning to ask you something for a while now, but things kept getting in the way.”

Celestia straightened up and started to look worried “What is it Luna? Is something wrong?”

“Yes actually.” Luna got up and started to pace in front of the thrones “It has been four years since I returned, and I have spent much of that time studying what I missed while I was in the moon. Now I know most of the history that I was absent for, as well as the new customs, but something has been troubling me.” She turned towards Celestia “Why is it wrong?”

Celestia frowned “Wrong? What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Celestia, the history is wrong. All of it, even the windows and statues are wrong, and I want to know why.” She turned towards the window depicting the defeat of Discord “We were not the only ones who battled Discord, and you did not wield the Elements of Harmony against me by yourself.” She pointed to Celestia’s defeat of Nightmare Moon.

Celestia got up and walked to Luna, looking very concerned “Luna, what are you talking about? These are all accurate, I remember quite clearly how all of these events happened.”

Luna looked confused “What? Sister, you can’t remember these happening, they aren’t true!”

“Luna, you aren’t making any sense.”

“Celestia, where is he? There is no mention of him in any record I’ve read, no stories about him, there is nothing about him anywhere!”

Celestia backed away slightly “Who are you talking about?”

Luna’s voice got quieter and her eyes filled with confusion and worry. “Where is Aecorum?”

Celestia raised an eyebrow “Aecorum? Luna, I have no-”

At that point a royal guard entered the throne room and said in a slightly urgent voice “Princess Celestia! Forgive the intrusion, but you are needed.”

Both princesses turned towards the guard and Celestia asked “What is it? Has something happened?”

The guard nodded “There is trouble regarding changelings in Manehattan and the mayor has requested your immediate assistance.”

Celestia walked out of the throne room, nodding “Of course. Hopefully this won’t take too long. Luna?”

“Yes?”

Celestia took the few final steps out of the throne room. “We will continue this discussion when I return.”

The door shut behind her and Luna sat back on her throne, looking even more worried “What are you hiding from me, Sister?”

Memories and Catacombs

“Luna! Wait for me!”

“Come on Luna, wait up!”

The little green colt ran faster, trying to catch up with the dark blue filly, even flapping his wings a little to try and boost his speed. Luna kept running and shouted “Come on! She’s gonna catch us if you don’t hurry up!”

“I’m-*huff*-trying! I just-*puff*-Can’t! Go! Any-*huff puff*-Faster!!”

Luna stopped suddenly, causing the colt to run right past her and tumble into a row of bushes. Luna laughed so hard she fell down when the colt popped out of the bushes with a completely intact bird’s nest and branches stuck on his horn.

“What? What are you laughing about?”

Luna stopped laughing long enough to yell “You look like a tree!”

The colt crossed his eyes to look at the nest before laughing and using his magic to put the nest back in the bush. He jumped out of the bush and was about to tackle Luna when a high voice yelled loudly “3..2..1! Ready or not, here I Co-ome!”

“Oh no! Hide!” Both foals jumped into the hedge and inched their way backwards, giggling.

While the foals were trying to silence each other, a third foal came running through the garden, looking around with a playful glare. “I’m going to find you!”

The colt laughed “No you’re no-ot!”

“Shhhh!” Luna nudged the colt with her hoof

The white filly that had been chasing them smiled and crept towards the hedge on her belly, like a cat getting ready to pounce. The two foals in the hedge stiffened up and tried to stop giggling, but it was too late. The white filly leapt into the hedge right in front of the two foals and chased them out, all three of them screaming. The foals ran through the garden laughing and dodging each other before Luna tripped, crashing into the other two. They wrestled for a few minutes and the colt leapt free, rolling around on the grass.

The white filly stood up “I win again! You’re it now Luna!”

“Awww, but Celestia, I was it before you.”

The colt frowned “You were not! I was it!”

“Were not!”

“Was so!”

“Were not!”

“Was so!”

Celestia huffed and sat down, rolling her eyes. Luna tossed her head and said with a snort “Why do we have to keep playing Hide and Seek anyways?”

The colt sighed and trotted over to the fillies “Well what about a different game?”

“Like what?”

Celestia nodded “Yeah, what do you want to play, Aecorum?”

Aecorum shrugged “I dunno, how about…” His face lit up “How about we go swimming?”

Celestia smiled and Luna clapped her hooves “Yeah! Let’s go swimming!”

Aecorum started running “Last one to the water is a Griffon’s toenail!”

The fillies ran after him, laughing and jumping.

Aecorum smiled, remembering those carefree days with his two best friends. It seemed like an eternity since he had been so happy. The only sound came from the water dripping from the stalactites and the flow of sea water into the cave. His cave. The prison that he had made for himself all those years ago, after he…He couldn’t bring himself to even think the last few words. He walked through the tunnels of his home, his hoof beats echoing off the stone walls in a never ending harmony of clips and clops. He splashed through some shallow water and looked down.

“Of course, I almost forgot.”

He looked towards the wall opposite him and shut his eyes, focusing his energy into his horn which glowed with a grey light. His mane and tail waved weakly as the water around him glowed very slightly with the same light as his horn. After a few seconds the water started to recede back into the ocean and he smiled, opening his eyes. A few moments passed before his horn stopped glowing and he resumed walking through his cave.

“Another day, another tide.”

Aecorum walked in silence for a while before stopping in a large cavern and looking up at the ceiling. All along the ceiling were stones and gems set up as a perfect replica of the night sky, even including a full moon with darker stones arranged to look like the Mare in the Moon. He sighed as a drop fell from a stalactite into the water and he watched the ripples spread to the wall.

Aecorum looked up at the dark silhouette and as a single tear rolled down his cheek he spoke, his voice filled with a pain and sadness that only grew colder as it echoed. “Forgive me Luna.” He bowed his head “Forgive me.”

There Has to Be Something!

Luna paced around her room, replaying the conversation with Celestia over and over in her mind.

“Luna, listen to yourself. You’re talking nonsense!”

“I’m talking nonsense? I’m talking nonsense?! You are the one claiming to have no memory of our best friend, the stallion who wielded two of the Elements of Harmony against Discord, who wielded three against me!”

“Please calm down, Luna. Why don’t we both sit down and talk about this?”

Luna sighed and sat down “Sister, I just don’t understand how this can be, how can you not remember?”

Celestia put a wing around Luna’s shoulder, holding her close “Because there is nothing to remember. Little Sister, I don’t know why you think that there was ever an alicorn stallion named Aecorum, but I promise you, that never was.”

“But...But that can’t be so. It can’t be.”

“It is.”

“But I remember everything, every day, every conversation. Tia, how can all of that be false?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps it was a trick of Nightmare Moon, or maybe a dream. It might even have been…” Celestia turned her head away.

“What? Sister, what is it?”

“It may be…And believe me, I love you with all my heart when I say this, and I will have to research it, but maybe…It was a fantasy.”

“A fantasy? What do you mean?”

“When you were in the moon. Perhaps a part of you, the part that was separate from Nightmare Moon, created this Aecorum as a friend to keep your mind intact.”

Luna stood up and looked at her sister in shock “You are saying I imagined an entire life with him? Celestia, how can you say such a thing?”

“I say it because I am concerned about you, Luna.” She stood “I say it because I love you, and this idea you have of Aecorum worries me.” Her voice grew firm “I don’t like saying it, but it has to be said. Aecorum never existed, and that is final!” She stood straight and proud, glaring firmly at Luna for a moment before she looked at Luna with a small smile and kindness in her eyes “Do you understand, Little Sister?”

Luna was about to protest but after a moment of silence she nodded “Yes, I understand.”

Celestia smiled and nuzzled Luna “Good. I love you, Luna.”

Luna sighed and walked out onto her room’s balcony. She stood thinking for a moment before looking up at the night sky. She remembered the exact moment she placed each star, formed each constellation, and even planned out the phases of the moon. She heard Celestia’s words echo through her mind and tried to figure it out. She stood for what seemed like an hour with her thoughts racing around in the same circles before she stamped her hoof on the balcony floor.

“No!” She said aloud “It can’t have been a fantasy, it was real!” She straightened up and looked more like a queen than a princess as she said with determination “I will read every book, search through every legend, and turn over every stone in Equestria if I have to! And I will find him.”

After a moment’s thought Luna realized that she would have to travel Equestria during the day if she expected to find any answers in libraries or other institutions and sighed. “I suppose that is the price I pay.”

The next day came and Luna decided that the best place to start would be Proper Page, Head Librarian of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. She had already spent four years searching the Canterlot Castle library and the official Equestrian records and found nothing, so the school was, hopefully, the next best thing. Luna was about to call for her chariot but decided against it at the last minute, telling herself that she wanted to stretch her wings but deeper she knew the real reason was she didn’t want the guards flying her to tell Celestia where she had been.

She stopped suddenly and thought What am I doing? Am I really that suspicious of my own sister? She shook her head No, no, calm down. I will have my guards fly me there in my chariot. It cannot do any harm. She called her chariot, which reached the courtyard promptly being flown by two of her most skilled royal charioteers. They landed and stood at attention, neither one so much as glancing to the side.

Luna got into the chariot and the guard on her right asked “Where to, Your Highness?”

“Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, as near the library as you can.”

“Of course, Highness.”

They took off quickly but smoothly, a skill Luna appreciated in her pilots, and soon found themselves above the school and descending. They landed right in front of the library and as Luna dismounted, she saw many young unicorns studying and practicing spells of all sorts. She walked up the steps to the elegant yet strong building and said to her guards “Go back to the Castle, and return for me in three hours.”

“Yes, Princess.” The guards took off again and headed for the castle.

Luna sighed before she straightened up and walked into the old library. The building itself was enormous, and was renowned for being one of the greatest sources of information in Equestria, second only to the Royal Library at Canterlot Castle. Immense pillars supported the roof and had been integrated into the tall bookcases filled with books and scrolls on almost every subject. Luna could practically smell the ancient knowledge in the old books, and she smiled. She did love how this place smelled. She walked through the library towards the Head Librarians desk, nodding at young students and older staff as they bowed to her respectfully. Luna finally reached the desk of Proper Page, or “The Talking Encyclopedia” as a few students called the middle-aged slate grey mare, although her friends just called her Page. As Luna approached, she saw the unicorn mare amidst a seemingly endless stack of books, working furiously to correctly catalogue each one.

It took a moment for Page to notice the princess, but when she did she immediately ran around to the front of her desk and bowed. “What can I do for you, Your Highness?” She looked up at Luna with respect, her cinnamon eyes filled with determination and an eagerness that the students of Celestia’s school always found invigorating and inspiring.

“We-” Luna caught herself “I need to find information on a certain pony, and came to ask for your assistance.”

“Oh, certainly, anything I can do to help, Princess Luna!” She smiled and brushed away a strand of her auburn mane that had fallen into her eyes. Most of the time her mane was styled in a very professional looking way but today it was just slightly out of order, with only a few grey hairs showing. Page prided herself on her particular style’s ability to look pretty while not interfering with her daily routine.

Luna nodded “Thank you. I am looking for any records of an alicorn stallion named Aecorum.”

“Aecorum…Aecorum…” Page furrowed her brow in thought for a moment before she walked back around to her desk and shuffled a few papers. “I don’t remember anything about an Aecorum off the top of my head…Perhaps more detail? If you don’t mind, of course.”

“He may be referred to as the High Prince of the Sea.”

“Hmm…” Page tapped her hoof against her chin and closed her eyes “I’m not sure that I have any records like that, you may have better luck at the Equestrian Records Office. Oh, what am I saying? I’m sure you already thought of that, you are a Princess after all!” She smiled warmly.

Luna smiled slightly “I did, and I found nothing. Perhaps some of the ancient histories or legends would have what I seek.”

Page brightened “Oh of course, how absent-minded of me!” She turned quickly and started sorting through a drawer filled with cards and pulled several out, her horn glowing with a delicate yellowish light. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier!” She set them on the desk in front of Luna “Forgive me for my lapse, Princess, it’s been hectic with a new shipment of books arriving a week late, final exams being pushed up, and the students scrambling to study.” She laughed “Although I do so love it when students check out stacks of books on a regular basis.”

Luna looked at the cards in front of her. There were three altogether and each one had fifteen entries written in very neat script with the title of a book and its location. Luna picked them up with her magic and read the entries. “Thank you, Proper Page, this should greatly help.”

“Anything for you, Princess Luna. Do you want me to bring them to you?”

“That will not be necessary, thank you.”

Page bowed “You are very welcome. If I can help you with anything else, just ask.”

Luna nodded and walked towards the History section of the library, watching Page practically attack the pile of books in an effort to organize them. Luna smiled when she realized how fitting Page’s Cutie Mark was: A pile of books and scrolls neatly organized and marked.

Luna found the first book on her list, “Equestria: A Complete History” by Histor Rian and lifted it off the shelf to a nearby empty table. She sat down and opened the book, hoping that she would find at least some small mention of Aecorum in its many pages.

Luna slammed the last book shut and shut her eyes tight, trying to control the urge to scream.

“Nothing!” She forced herself to whisper even though she would have much preferred to yell at the top of her lungs. She opened her eyes and stared at the massive pile of books all around her and the table that she had spent hours searching through.

“How can there be nothing? It isn’t possible!” Her magic lifted a few of the books as she re-read the tiles, thinking maybe they would give her some clue: “Pegasus Tales: Folk Lore and Legends of the Sky”, “Earth Pony Roots”, “Equestrian Ghost Stories” and the book she had just finished “A Thousand Stories of Pony Glory” by Tall Tale. The last had a few parts that she partially enjoyed but hated at the same time, specifically the story of how she and Celestia had defeated Discord and brought peace to Equestria. It, like all the others, had not even the slightest hint or whisper of Aecorum, Prince of the Sea, or even the Tide-Caller. She put her head between her hooves on the table and whispered “There has to be something. There just has to be.”

Luna didn’t notice Page walk up behind her, a look of compassion and kindness in her eyes. She walked a little closer to Luna “Princess Luna? Is something wrong?”

Luna sat up with a jerk and recovered her composure “No, nothing is wrong; I merely did not find what I was looking for.”

Page smiled sympathetically “I hate it when that happens. But don’t lose hope, this library doesn’t have everything, you’ll find him.” She started to re-shelve the books “You know, I think I might know someone who could help you.” Her smile widened just slightly.

Luna stood and looked hopefully at the mare “You do?”

“Twilight Sparkle. Well, I suppose I should call her Princess Twilight Sparkle now, but to me,” She smiled fondly, like a parent thinking about a child “She will always be the shy little filly that would come here every day and read for hours, asking me all sorts of wonderful questions, and brightening up the whole place with her eager mind. Ah, little Twilight was such a joy to know.” Her eyes misted up a little at the reminiscence.

“Of course, Twilight Sparkle! How did I not think of it?” Luna started walking very quickly “Thank you, Proper Page.”

“My pleasure, Princess!”

Luna almost burst through the library doors and found her chariot waiting there. She was taken aback a little at how late it had gotten, the sun was nearly down. She stood thinking for a moment before she decided that she would have to wait until morning. Luna sighed and boarded her chariot “Take me back to the castle.”

“Yes Princess.”

As they took off, Luna hoped with all her heart that Twilight would have some answers. I will find you, Aecorum. She thought.

Saviors of Equestria

The three alicorns walked through the wild forest with determination in their eyes and scuffs on their bodies. They walked in silence for a while, Luna on the left, Celestia on the right, and Aecorum in between them. Aecorum was the oldest of the three, and the largest by almost two feet including his very long horn. The forest seemed to grow quiet as they passed, almost like every living thing sensed the power and righteous anger contained in the large ponies and didn’t wish to draw their attention.

Aecorum turned towards Celestia “How much further?”

Celestia glanced around “It should be nearby.”

Luna was the first to notice the natural stone steps and pointed them out to the other ponies. Celestia nodded and they walked down into the hidden glen that was shimmering with the dim light of the tree itself. There were a few small flowers around and as they approached the tree Luna gasped in awe.

Aecorum’s eyes widened as he barely spoke “The Tree of Harmony!”

Celestia flew up level with the center of the trunk’s star pattern and magic flowed from her horn. The tree shined and the other two flew up as Luna asked “Are you sure?”

Celestia spoke with certainty “We have discovered the only means by which we can defeat Discord.”

Aecorum nodded “We must free the citizens of Equestria from his grasp.”

The jewel-like Elements of Harmony floated from their places in the tree towards Celestia “And even without the Elements, the Tree of Harmony will possess a powerful magic.” The center of the tree opened and the star shaped element joined the others “As long as that magic remains, it will continue to control and contain all that grows here.” The Elements floated around the three alicorns as they hovered, facing away from the shining tree.

Celestia put two elements in each of their saddlebags and Aecorum began to fly forward out of the glen “We have to act quickly, before Discord realizes what we have done.” The mares nodded in agreement and flew behind him to face Chaos incarnate.

Soon the three ponies were walking through Discord’s “capital” with stern faces as the laws of nature were unwound and rearranged all around them. It did not take them long to find the draconequus sitting on his throne and they approached him, Aecorum in the front with Celestia and Luna a few steps behind on either side of him. Discord’s throne turned towards them and he laughed.

“Oh ho hoh! This is so much fun, how about a game of Pin the Tail on the Pony?” He held up Celestia’s tail and all three ponies looked towards her in surprise as she gasped to see her tail was gone.

Aecorum marched a few steps forward, glaring as Luna and Celestia followed. “Playtime is over for you, Discord!” he said firmly.

Discord returned Celestia’s tail and began popping black seeds in his mouth, spilling them on the ground “Oh, I doubt that” He ate a few more and offered them to the ponies “Hungry?” He tossed a few seeds that bounced on each of their foreheads, but they maintained their harsh glare. Discord leaned back and shrugged “Suit yourselves.” He stuffed a handful in his mouth and started chewing.

The ponies horns glowed and the Elements of Harmony floated out of their saddlebags to make a line in front of them. Discord dropped the seeds and put his talon to his chin “Oh! What have you got there?”

Celestia replied “The Elements of Harmony.” The Elements swirled around the alicorns and made a bubble of magical energy.

Luna lifted her hoof “With them we will defeat you!”

Discord threw himself back in laughter on his throne before straightening up “You should see yourselves right now! The expressions on your faces, so intense, so sure of yourselves!” As he spoke the alicorns leaned forward and glared harder with determination. Discord laughed and the three glowing horns touched within the bubble of magic that made a rainbow spiral out and arc above, heading straight for Discord. As the rainbow approached Discord said “Hilarious!” and laughed before the rainbow engulfed him and he turned to stone.

In the first few months after Discord’s defeat, Equestria was still entrenched in chaos. Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna had managed to fix most of it, but the cycle of days, nights, and tides was in pandemonium. In order to return things to normal, the three ponies had to combine their magic to make each day pass, but after a week Aecorum tapped into his inner power and gained control over the sea. After him, Celestia managed to raise the sun on her own, leaving the moon to Luna, but she still needed help.

The alicorns stood on a large hill that rose from the coast of the western ocean. The hill had a view of nearly all Equestria and the alicorns often came here to watch over the land. Celestia had just set the sun and tonight was the first night Luna was going to raise the moon by herself.

“You can do it, Luna!”

Luna’s horn glowed and her face strained with effort as she used all of her power to try and do what other ponies could never dream of: Raising the moon. Celestia and Aecorum were standing beside her, smiling and encouraging her. She straightened her neck and the moon rose over the distant horizon.

Celestia almost jumped with joy “You did it!”

Aecorum’s smile got wider “I knew you could!”

Luna’s breathing was a little heavy from the strain but she managed a chuckle as the moon shone in the early evening “I raised the moon!” Her face fell a little “It is just a shame that we cannot fix it permanently.”

Aecorum sighed “Discord’s magic was too strong, there is some damage that can never be undone. But look at it this way,” He walked in between the mares “There are three pieces that need to be maintained, and there are three of us. Let us be glad that it isn’t more. Oh! Speaking of which, I need to send out the tide”

He walked a little further onto the edge of the hill and looked towards the sea, closing his eyes and straining. His horn glowed a vibrant grey and after a moment of sweat dripping down his face he let out a deep breath and laughed “At least our cutie marks match.” He pointed to the wave on his flank, making the mares laugh a little too.

Celestia nuzzled Luna “I am so proud of you, Little Sister. But there is something missing…”

Luna looked up at her sister curiously and Aecorum raised an eyebrow “What?”

Celestia smiled mischievously “Stars. There are no stars in the sky, and I think the ponies might like some, eh Luna?”

Luna grinned “Of course! You two will help me, right?”

Aecorum smiled and walked over to the mares “I think you can handle it.” He smiled up at the pitch black night sky “I cannot wait to see what you come up with.” He turned back towards Celestia and Luna “And who knows? In time, we may find our magic has other sides.”

Celestia very slightly cocked her head “What do you mean?”

Aecorum got a strange look in his eye, almost like he was looking at something a thousand miles away “I do not know…”

A soft sigh escaped Aecorum’s mouth as he lowered himself onto his cot. Part wood, part stone, and part cloth, his bed wasn’t comfortable by any means but he had forsaken comfort long ago. His eyes wandered over his “bedchamber” and they rested on a simple wooden chest in a recess of the rock wall. The only things he had allowed himself to keep from his old life were in that chest, and with another sigh, he used his magic to bring it to his side.

The lock on the chest faded as he cast the unlocking spell Starswirl had created for him, and it opened, revealing the simple treasures within. A dark green silk cloth with a hint of blue was wrapped around each piece to keep it safe. He shifted the cloth and pulled out a small yellow box with blue designs tracing it. The box opened and he picked up a seashell necklace, far too small for his adult neck, but it was a perfect fit when he was a colt. He stared at the shells and remembered the day when Luna and Celestia had made it for him. Luna had found the shells and Celestia weaved the thread through them.

He barely whispered “I never deserved you. Either of you.”

Aecorum closed the box, carefully put it back in the chest with his other memories, and placed the chest in its shelf. Locking the chest, he lowered his head and fell into yet another restless sleep.

A Castle, a Hut, and a...What is That?

Luna landed in the town square of Ponyville while the town clock was chiming nine in the morning, and almost all of the adult citizens were about, doing their shopping, chatting with friends, or running their businesses. The foals were all at school, and the Princess of the Night was greeted with many smiles and bows of respect. Luna stifled a yawn, she had gotten very little sleep but it was necessary for dealing with her diurnal subjects. Even though she had a specific errand at Twilight’s castle, she did enjoy walking through the streets of this simple town.

Let’s just hope that Pinkie Pie does not see me. She thought with a slight smile. She dismissed her chariot and started towards the home of Twilight Sparkle. As she walked a smile crept onto her face as she remembered her first Nightmare Night in this town and how Twilight, with the help of Fluttershy and Applejack, had shown her how to interact with her subjects without frightening them, well, not frightening them too much, anyway. She nodded and smiled to the ponies who greeted her, and she reached the castle quickly. She knocked on the crystal door and after a moment of effort Spike opened it with a very dusty rag in his claw.

“Oh! Hi Princess Luna! I didn’t know you were coming today.” The young dragon smiled and Luna returned it

“Greetings, Spike. I am most sorry for disturbing you unannounced, but I have important matters to discuss with Twilight Sparkle, is she at home?”

Spike rubbed his neck nervously “Well, uh, I’m really sorry Princess but she’s out with Rarity and Fluttershy.”

Luna nodded slightly “Do you know when she will return?”

“Ummm…I don’t, Your Highness, but it should be pretty-”

“Hello Princess Luna!” Twilight Sparkle walked up the short path and stood beside Spike, smiling “What brings you to Ponyville? I thought you slept during the day.”

“Greetings, Twilight Sparkle. Alicorns such as Celestia and myself need little sleep, although I often do rest during the sun’s journey. I have come to request your assistance in a matter concerning a pony I once knew. May I come in?”

Twilight nodded and motioned in “Of course, Your Highness, come on in!”

Luna smiled and walked into the castle. “Would you like some tea, Princess?” Spike asked.

“That would be most enjoyable, thank you very much.” Spike rushed off to the kitchen and Twilight showed Luna to a small table in the castle’s library.

The pair sat down and Twilight smiled “What can I help you with, Your Highness?”

“Please, Twilight Sparkle, call me Luna. You are a princess now.”

Twilight laughed nervously “Well, I guess I’m still getting used to the idea of being a Princess. Even this castle is still a little unnerving.”

Luna smiled sympathetically and nodded “I understand, it took a while for me to get used to being royalty as well. But in time, it will become as second nature as magic, and you are very powerful in that regard.”

Spike ran in with a tray piled with tea and cookies and tripped on a book lying on the floor. The tray almost hit the floor before it was enveloped in Luna’s blue magic and floated over to the table.

“Spike! I told you to pick up!” Twilight snapped.

Twilight glared at the young dragon, causing him to shuffle his feet and mumble “I’m really sorry, Twilight…”

Luna smiled and poured the tea “It’s quite alright Twilight Sparkle, no harm has been done.”

Twilight huffed slightly and gave Spike a quick glance before he hurried off to finish his chores. “I suppose.” She floated her cup to her mouth and took a sip.

A few moments passed in silence as the mares enjoyed their tea before Luna spoke “Thank you for the tea, it is very delicious.”

“It’s one of Rarity’s blends. I think she calls it Misty Morning.”

“I must ask her to send some of this to Canterlot; I believe Celestia would greatly enjoy it.”

Twilight jumped slightly “Oh, I am so sorry Pri-, oops, Luna. I completely forgot, you need my help with something?”

“Yes, I do. I wished to know if you had ever heard of a stallion named Aecorum.”

“Aecorum?”

“Yes. He was an alicorn stallion that I knew before my…” She cleared her throat “Banishment. You are a very well-versed pony in regard to history and Equestrian lore; perhaps you have read about him somewhere? If not Aecorum, then maybe the Prince of the Sea?”

Twilight furrowed her brow a bit “I’m not sure…A stallion? I’ve only ever heard of alicorn mares.”

Luna’s face fell just slightly “I see.”

Spike noticed Luna’s expression and nudged Twilight “Maybe it’s in a book you haven’t read. Remember the Supernatural Remedies?”

“Yes, thank you, Spike.” Twilight glared for half a second then she turned back to Luna “I know there’s no mention of Aecorum in any of my books, but I haven’t quite finished your journal, do you want me to check that?”

Luna lifted her head “Journal? What journal do you speak of?”

“Didn’t you know? When I was in the castle in the Everfree Forest I found the journal that you and Celestia kept when you were living in it.”

“What? I had no idea, Celestia had not told me that you had found it, where is it?” Despite her best efforts to keep her voice level, Luna’s excitement and hope was leaking through.

Twilight quickly walked over to the shelf that she put her most precious books on and floated the journal down from its place onto the table.

Luna put a hoof on the cover and said “Yes. I remember this. Celestia, Aecorum, and I often wrote in his journal after the imprisonment of Discord.”

“Well, I can only recognize Celestia’s hoof-writing, but it is yours, you can have it back if you want.” Twilight smiled

Spike raised an eyebrow “Um, Twilight? Aren’t you using that for everypony else’s entries?”

Twilight shook her head and laughed “No of course not Spike! I had a blank copy made. It’s perfectly alright if you want it back Luna.”

Luna bowed her head and smiled with gratitude “Thank you very much Twilight Sparkle, this means a great deal to me.” She had almost forgotten her journal and was genuinely glad to have it back again. She was about to open the journal but she put it in her saddlebag instead.

“Forgive my rudeness, Twilight Sparkle, I’m sure that you have things that need to be done, I will keep you no longer.” She stood to go.

“That’s alright, Luna. Now that the library is…Gone, I actually haven’t had much to do, you can stay.”

“I would enjoy that, but I have my own business to attend to. Thank you very much for the tea and the journal, you have my deepest gratitude.” Luna opened the door and walked out onto the front steps as Spike waved goodbye.

“Goodbye Princess!”

“Come again!” Twilight smiled and shut the door. Luna walked towards the town park to read her old journal before she went to her next stop.

The park was only inhabited by a few ponies and after debating for a moment whether to sit on the grass or a bench, Luna found a shady tree and sat beneath it with her journal in front of her. The grass felt cool and she smiled as she began to read the very first entry. It was in Celestia’s hoof-writing, the journal was her idea after all, and the fond memories it brought back were nice. Then she realized what was wrong. She was certain that Aecorum had written the second entry, but it still looked like Celestia’s writing. She read more carefully and she realized that even the entries that she had written were different. She began to frantically read and flip through the pages, but it was only written by two ponies.

“What in Equestria is this trickery?!” She read an entry that she knew involved Aecorum deeply, she remembered him being there, but there was no trace of him or his writing. The strangest thing was that the entries that he had written were still there, in a fashion. The events that he wrote about were in the journal, but it was as if Celestia and even Luna had written about them instead. Luna checked the journal again and again but there wasn’t even a false word to tell her what had happened. She slammed the covers together and stood, shoving it into her saddlebag.

“There is only one creature in this wide world that is capable of such devilry.” She turned north and glared harshly.

“Discord.”

Luna focused all her energy into remaining whole and unchanged as she entered the dwelling of Chaos in draconequus form. Her glare had not softened in the hours it took to get there, if anything it grew harder. The inside of Discord’s “house” was just as strange as she had expected, and she soon found herself looking into a pair of yellow eyes that had materialized in thin air.

“Well now, isn’t this the pleasantest of surprises! It seems the dear Princess Luna has come to visit her friend for the first time in, well, ever!” Discord laughed and the rest of his body slithered over to his face in chunks.

“I do not wish to play games, Discord.”

“Now, now, Luna, if I didn’t know better, I would say you were going to trap me in stone again.”

“Discord. I must speak with you. Now.” Her voice was cold and the draconequus pouted.

“Oh, you are still so Not fun, Luna! I would have thought being trapped in the moon for a thousand years would have made you appreciate a little humor!” Discord snapped his fingers and Luna was instantly dressed as a clown. Her face didn’t change and Discord took away the clown costume and put it on himself

“What did you do?” Luna’s voice was accusing and Discord was actually surprised

“What did I do? My dear Luna, I’m sure I haven’t done anything, I am reformed after all.” A halo appeared above his head and he smiled innocently.

Luna took a tiny step forward “You are the only creature in Equestria who could have gotten rid of him and not left a trace. Where is he?”

“He? He who?”

“Aecorum. I know you know who he is, I know you did something to get rid of any trace of him, and I want you to bring him back.”

“Aecorum?” Discord laughed so hard he clutched his sides “What a stupid name for a pony! I think his parents did my work for me!” After a moment of laughter Discord wiped a tear from his eye and said with a chuckle “But I’m afraid I have no idea who that is.”

Luna looked shocked “What?”

“I am terribly sorry Luna,” Discord disappeared and reappeared wearing a fez and robe looking through an enormous book next to a bookcase that had also appeared “Aecorum is a new name to me.”

“That cannot be…You must be lying.”

Discord huffed in disdain “How can you say such a thing? My darling friend Fluttershy has taught me that lying is not what friends do.”

Luna furrowed her brow and closed her eyes for a moment “Who defeated you the first time?”

Discord turned his head upside down in confusion “What? You did. And dear Celestia of course.”

Luna’s voice grew a little desperate “That’s it? Nopony else?”

“No, and I remember it as if it was yesterday…” Everything started to ripple and strange harp like trills came from nowhere. Luna regained her composure and turned on her hoof towards the “door”.

The rippling stopped and Discord’s face got plastered all over the door. “Aww, leaving already? And we were having such a good chat.”

“You are lying to me, and when I find him, I will come back and prove it.” Luna hardened her glare. “Mark my words, Discord: If I find out that you harmed him, there will be no power in this world that will be able to keep you safe from me.”

Discord raised an eyebrow “Aren’t we overreacting just a touch, Luna?” He popped in front of her with his paw on his chest and his talon pointed up “I swear that I know nothing about Aecorum, and even if I did, I didn’t do anything to him.”

“But if it was not you, then it must have been…No. It must have been you, she would never…” Luna frowned and walked out to her chariot. She boarded and closed her eyes; the lack of sleep was beginning to get to her. “Please take me to Zecora.”

“At once, Your Highness.”

She is my last hope…Luna thought.

“Welcome Princess of the night! Your visit brings me much delight.”

“Thank you, Zecora.” Luna walked into Zecora’s hut and turned towards the zebra, a weary and hopeful expression on her face. The past few days had brought nothing but confusion and her patience was wearing thin.

“If I may ask, why are you here? I’m afraid the reason is not clear.”

“I need you to tell me if you know the name Aecorum. Perhaps from the legends of your homeland?”

Zecora stood for a second in thought “The legends I know do not speak of the pony that you seek.”

Luna closed her eyes in frustration “Are you certain?”

“Princess, I give you my solemn word: of this Aecorum I have not heard.”

Luna took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm “What about the High Prince of the Sea? Or maybe the Tide-caller?”

Zecora furrowed her brow “The name Tide-caller is strange to me, as is the High Prince of the Sea.”

“You know not of even one hint of him?”

Zecora shook her head slightly “I am certain that the tales from my old land do not tell of this prince of seastrand.”

Luna wilted slightly and thought No… before she stood up and walked out “Thank you Zecora, you have been most helpful.”

Zecora called “Do not give up, Princess of the Moon. I am sure you will find your stallion soon.”

Luna walked to her chariot for the fourth time that day and hung her head.

“Take me home, please.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Power has its Price

It had been nearly a full five years since Discord’s defeat, and Equestria had almost completely recovered from his chaotic reign. The old Royal Families had regained control, and in gratitude to the alicorns who were now known as “The Saviors of Equestria”, the royalty had built a castle for the Saviors in the heart of the Forest of Everfree, near the Tree of Harmony. Everypony was happy with this arrangement for a time, but now there was unrest in Equestria.

The citizens were calling for Celestia, Luna, and Aecorum to rule instead of the old nobility, and they were getting restless. Finally, after months of heated debates and arguments nearing the brink of civil war, the Royal Families decided that the best thing for Equestria would be to let the alicorns rule. Celestia, Aecorum, and Luna had always thought that the fighting between the families regarding this issue were pointless and took no part in it, but they too wanted to do what was best for the ponies they had defended.

Soon a messenger of the court arrived at the Castle of Harmonious Saviors, as it was called then, and walked fearlessly through the dark forest on the path made by the alicorns for ponies to use. The royalty had offered to give the alicorns dozens of guards and servants, but Celestia and Luna had refused more than ten. Aecorum’s decision to have none for himself was very popular among the peasantry of Equestria, who had grown tired of the thousands of servants the royalty “required”. Swift Wing, the royal messenger, walked up to the giant door of the castle and pulled the rope attached to the bell. The bell rang strong and soon after, the door was opened and Aecorum walked out, smiling when he saw who it was.

“Good morning, Swift Wing!”

“Good morning, Your Excellence” Swift Wing bowed low.

Aecorum laughed and said “Come now, Swift, my name is Aecorum.” Although he had been revered as one of the greatest stallions who ever lived, Aecorum still maintained his quick laughter, his eager smile, and his love for the ponies of Equestria, who he treated as his friend no matter who they were. He motioned Swift Wing into the castle and led him down the halls, carefully avoiding the surprises that Luna had put there. “What news do you bring today?”

Swift Wing had to walk a little faster than normal to keep up with the huge stallion “I bear a message from the Royal Families to the Ponies of Harmony.”

Aecorum laughed again, this time louder and more deeply, his rich voice seeming to fill the hall with its happiness “The Ponies of Harmony? I tell you Swift, they are never going to run out of names for us!”

Swift Wing chuckled “Well, to be fair, you did save all of Equestria.”

Aecorum opened the door to the throne room and walked in after Swift Wing. Luckily Luna and Celestia were both there, so Swift Wing quickly pulled the scroll from his saddlebag and announced “A message from the Royal Families of Equestria, under the benevolent King Basileus and Queen Regalia, to the Honorable Saviors of Equestria: Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna.”

Aecorum joined the mares on the raised dais and paid close attention as Swift Wing continued. “It is our deepest wish that thou most excellent ponies wouldst join us in the royal Canterlot palace in one fortnight, on the day of the next full moon” Luna smiled just slightly “We have matters that require thy presence in our court, in regard to the recent populace request that thou should rule over the great land of Equestria. Please give thy response to our messenger and we will await thy arrival with great joy. Graciously Thine, King Basileus of Equestria.” Swift Wing rolled the scroll back up and put it in his saddlebag “What is your answer?”

Celestia shrugged “I see no reason not to.”

Luna nodded “If they want us to come to Canterlot, it must be very important.”

“Well then, tell His Majesty that we will be at the palace in one fortnight as he asked.” Aecorum said with a smile.

Swift Wing bowed and started to walk back towards the door but Luna opened a nearby window and nodded to it with a smile. Swift Wing nodded and flew through the window towards Canterlot, doing justice to his name.

Horns blared a terrific fanfare and a very proper looking unicorn lifted a scroll “Announcing the most excellent Saviors of Equestria: The honorable alicorns Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna!”

The huge doors opened and the three ponies walked through and towards the enormous marble thrones and the regal ponies that sat on them. Aecorum was again in the middle with Celestia on his left and Luna on his right, and as they got closer to the king and queen of Equestria they bowed deeply.

King Basileus, an iron coated pegasus, spoke loudly in the Royal Canterlot Voice “It is a great honor for us to receive such revered ponies in our court.”

Queen Regalia, the thistle unicorn mare that sat next to the king, spoke like her husband “We thank thee for coming.”

Aecorum raised his head and spoke respectfully “The honor is ours, Thy Majesties. We hope that we can help thee however we can.”

The king nodded “Of course! Now, we wish to speak with thee in private.” He looked towards the guards and servants that lined the walls“Leave us! Send in Lord Fauntleroy and Lady Royal Bearing!”

All the other ponies bowed and walked out of the room backwards with their heads low to the ground. The doors closed as a white unicorn stallion with very fancy clothes and a pale purple earth mare with more sensible but beautiful clothes walked towards the thrones. The stallion had a hard look with his mouth in a stiff line, but the mare looked more relaxed and smiled at the alicorns. The alicorns bowed to the ponies and Lady Royal Bearing nodded to them but Lord Fauntleroy barely acknowledged them.

The ponies walked beside the thrones and Queen Regalia walked down to meet Lady Royal Bearing and as they met the mares kissed each other’s cheek.

“Regalia, dear, how are you?”

“I am very well Cousin. And you?”

“I am well. Thank you for allowing me to be here.”

“It was your idea, how could I not invite you? And Lord Fauntleroy,” Regalia turned to the stallion “How is your wife? Much better I trust?”

Fauntleroy bowed “Yes, she is, thank you very much Your Majesty”. He walked up to King Basileus and whispered “I still think this is foolishness! Why are we giving up our place to them?!”

Basileus whispered back “It is the wish of the ponies, we do not want rebellion. And you know as well as I do that they will only get part of the power over Equestria.” Fauntleroy huffed and turned towards the alicorns as Queen Regalia sat on her throne, followed by Royal Bearing.

Basileus spoke to the alicorns “It is our wish that thee noble ponies take over rule in Equestria. And as such,” He relaxed just a fraction “It is no longer necessary to speak to you as subjects, but as equals.”

Celestia bowed “We are very honored. But why do you want us to rule?”

Royal Bearing spoke “Ever since you defeated…Him, you have been revered by all, and the Royal Families have come together and decided that the best thing for Equestria would be for its saviors to take power over it.”

Fauntleroy snorted in anger and Basileus shot him a stern look as he spoke “Of course, we have some conditions of our abdication from the throne.”

Luna nodded and Aecorum said “We would gladly follow them, Majesty.”

Celestia raised her eyebrow very slightly “What are they?”

Queen Regalia said “Nothing too drastic, I assure you. We only wish that the transition of power be as smooth as possible.”

Fauntleroy glared at the alicorns “But we do demand our conditions be met.”

Aecorum nodded once “Of course.”

Basileus chuckled slightly “Forgive my oversight, would you like a seat?”

Luna smiled “That would be very nice, thank you Your Majesty.”

Basileus turned towards Regalia and brought his hooves together, relaxing against the back of his throne “Darling, if you would?”

Regalia smiled warmly “Certainly dear.” Her horn glowed light purple and three large chairs floated behind each alicorn.

The ponies sat down and Aecorum smiled “Thank you very much, Your Majesties”

Fauntleroy’s face curled into a sneer and Basileus and Regalia nodded. Royal Bearing’s voice grew slightly more professional “Now, on to the matter at hoof. Lord Fauntleroy?”

Fauntleroy smiled just barely and spoke clearly but his voice had a slight edge to it “Our first condition to this change of regime is that the Royal Families maintain some political power much as our current system of Lords and Ladies, such as myself and Lady Bearing.”

Celestia looked at the ponies beside her “I do not think that is too much to ask.”

Luna nodded “It would make ruling over such a vast land easier.”

“I agree.” Aecorum turned towards the royal ponies “We accept your condition.”

Regalia nodded “That is very good to hear. You three will receive the same relative power over Equestria that I and my husband now wield. The second condition is that the traditions of court be maintained, such as the Royal Canterlot Voice, meetings with foreign dignitaries, and the Grand Galloping Gala, of course.”

Luna smiled “I think that is a good idea, it would make our reign more similar to the old one.” Fauntleroy huffed slightly in anger.

Aecorum furrowed his brow “I do not know…Must we speak to everypony in the Royal Canterlot Voice?”

Celestia shrugged slightly “It does not seem like a good way to interact with the citizens of Equestria on a personal level but I think perhaps we should. Consistency will be good for them.”

Aecorum sighed “I suppose you are right. Very well, I will get used to it eventually. We accept this condition.”

Royal Bearing smiled “Splendid! Now then, our third and final condition we have decided upon is that you, Celestia, and you, Luna, should be called Princesses.”

The alicorns looked at each other curiously and Aecorum raised an eyebrow “And I should be called Prince?” Fauntleroy narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Then what title do you wish me to bear?”

Royal Bearing said a little nervously “Well, noble Aecorum, the Royal Families have come to the decision, after much consideration and debate, that you should take the-”

“King.” It was Basileus that spoke “We want you to become King.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other and Aecorum looked shocked “King? Why do you want me to be King if you want Celestia and Luna to be Princesses?”

Fauntleroy looked at Aecorum like he was an idiot “Well, you are the stallion, and the eldest of the three, are you not? You would also, of course, receive the highest amount of power in the land.”

Aecorum’s face tightened in anger and he stood “What? You want me to receive higher rank because I happen to be a stallion?”

Fauntleroy glared harshly “Of course! Equestria needs a King, and you are the only stallion among the revered Ponies of Harmony!” He spit the last few words out with a sneer.

“That does not mean I am better than them! It does not mean I am more powerful or more ‘fit’ to be ruler!”

“It is what I-The Royal Families have decided upon!”

“Well I refuse! If you want me to be King, then Celestia and Luna shall be Queens!” Aecorum’s mane and tail had started to billow and wave more wildly and they also seemed to grow with his anger.

Fauntleroy snorted as his face tightened “Two Queens?! That is ridiculous!”

Aecorum stepped forward and his horn began to glow “Ridiculous? Ridiculous?! I will tell you what is ridiculous you little-”

The two sisters looked at each other with near panicked expressions and Celestia almost shouted “Aecorum! Calm down!”

“No! This will not stand, Celestia! I will not allow either one of you to be beneath me in any circumstance!”

Fauntleroy took a step forward “Then why not leave?! Equestria has been ruled by Royalty for ages, and I will not let some peasant alicorns take it away from me!”

“Enough!” Basileus stamped his hoof and glared harshly at the stallions, silencing them. “I will not tolerate this foalish behavior in my court! Both of you will be silent, until I allow you to speak!” He looked at Celestia and Luna “In this matter, I am afraid I agree with Fauntleroy, having two Queens would be confusing for the ponies of Equestria, and, unfortunately, we cannot allow all of you to remain without titles.”

Aecorum was about to speak but a look from Celestia stopped him “Your Majesty, I quite agree, but I also think that Aecorum has good points as well. I do not wish to say that either I or my sister is better than anypony, but the three of us are equals, and I feel we should be treated as such.”

Basileus sighed and nodded “You are right, but I can think of no other way to have you ponies rank higher than the nobles without confusion.”

Luna spoke “What about High Prince?” All the other ponies turned to her.

“What do you mean?” Regalia raised an eyebrow.

“Well, Your Majesties, what if we extend the titles of Prince and Princess to become High Prince and High Princess?”

Fauntleroy glared “That would lead to the same problem as having two Queens!”

Luna shook her head slightly “Not necessarily, we would merely need to extend the titles further. For instance, instead of being King Aecorum, he could be High Prince Aecorum of the Sea.”

Basileus leaned forward slightly, looking intently at Luna “Go on.”

Luna pointed at Celestia “My sister could become High Princess Celestia of the Day, and I,” She brought her hoof to her chest “Would be High Princess Luna of the Night.”

The royal ponies looked at each other like light bulbs had all flashed in their minds at the same time. Royal Bearing motioned with her hoof. “Of course! It would give them titles, avoid confusion between the sisters, and give them the high rank they deserve!”

Regalia nodded “It is the perfect solution!”

Basileus looked at Fauntleroy and the unicorn spoke reluctantly “It would meet the condition of the agreement.”

Basileus smiled slightly and stepped down from his throne, walking towards the alicorns “I believe we agree with your very insightful suggestion, Luna,” He smiled wider and bowed to Luna “High Princess of the Night.”

Aecorum sighed and took a step back to avoid the water rising in the cave. His horn dimmed and he walked to his makeshift pantry. He had long ago figured out how to grow just enough food to survive underground, although sometimes he was forced to use his magic to create something to eat. He picked up a stone plate and a few small vegetables and placed them on a slab of rock he used as a table. He sighed again and slowly ate his meager meal.

He spoke with weariness “It is no feast, but it is all I deserve.” He smiled and almost chuckled “Besides, I do not have Tia’s sweet tooth.”

Aecorum finished his meal and rinsed off the plate in ocean water before he put it back with his food. He stretched his legs and spoke “I think it is time for a walk.”

He started wandering through the cave; he did enjoy these walks even though he knew every recess of the cave like the back of his hoof. He had resigned himself to the monotony of his life and rather than going numb as other ponies may have, he still felt pain just as strongly as he did when he was a young stallion. He came to his mirror and sighed as he stared into his own eyes.

“I am old. I may still look like the naïve colt I was, but I am old and weary.” As if to answer him, the waves from the ocean grew stronger and crashed around his hooves, almost like the sea was trying to embrace him. He smiled down at the water that he loved; it was as much a part of him as his horn.

Slowly he found his way back to his bedroom and decided to open the chest again; he was feeling rather sentimental today. He shifted the cloth to reveal a large glass case with a velvet pillow on the base. The case was gilded and carved intricately, only fitting for a crown of such value. He didn’t put it on; he just lifted it out of the case and turned it over in his magic. It was a large crown, made of titanium that had been magically anodized to a mostly dark green color and circled his entire head around his horn. Aecorum had begged to have a smaller one, but eventually he was forced to have this crown with carved designs made to look like sea waves and encrusted with pure emeralds and sapphires of the highest quality.

“You won that battle, didn’t you, Fauntleroy?” he whispered. “I did not want this. I did not want any of it. But somehow you still made me king.” He almost placed the crown on his head before he gently put it back in its case and closed the chest.

“That time is long dead.”

More Important Matters at Hoof

Celestia sat on her chair in her study in deep thought and tapped the floor with her hoof. Luna had been gone for most of the past few days and Celestia had just found out about her visit to the library. She had hoped that their talks had gotten the idea of this strange “Aecorum” out of Luna’s head, but apparently that wasn’t so. She just wanted to help her baby sister. Her thoughts were interrupted as Luna walked into the study, Celestia told the guards to send her in as soon as she returned, and Celestia stood, her eyes widening slightly as she saw how her sister looked. Luna’s head was hanging, her mane was droopy, and she glared at the floor as she walked.

“Luna, you look like you haven’t been sleeping for days, is something wrong?” Celestia’s voice was filled with a kind concern.

“It is not possible…” Celestia barely heard her.

“Luna, I thought that we had already-”

“It is. Not. Possible.” Luna was glaring at Celestia now.

“Luna? Are you alright?” Celestia’s face shifted into a worried expression.

“No! No, I am not alright, Sister! I simply cannot believe that you would do something as heinous as this! Why, Celestia? Why did you do it?” Her eyes were angry but also pleading and confused.

“What are you talking about? Luna, I have no idea what it is you’re accusing me of.”

Luna clenched her teeth and hardened her glare “You know very well what I am accusing you of. You were the one who destroyed all traces of him. You are the only one who could have taken Aecorum away!”

Celestia closed her eyes in frustration “Luna…Not this again. Aecorum never existed! There was never anypony else besides us!”

Something snapped inside Luna as the last bit of patience drained from her. “LIES!”

Celestia almost jumped back in surprise, but kept her composure. “Luna.” Only somepony who knew her extremely well could tell that her voice was beginning to strain slightly.

Luna clenched her teeth and grabbed the journal with her magic, slamming it down on the desk with enough force to shake the solid oak legs. “Look at this, Celestia! You thought that you could have kept our journal from me, but Twilight Sparkle returned it to me, and I have seen what you have done!” Her voice rose in volume as she spoke until a crystal vase on a shelf behind Celestia began to wobble precariously.

“I have spoken to Proper Page of your school’s library, Zecora, Twilight Sparkle, and even Discord! And none of them knew of Aecorum, not a single one of them!” Luna took a single step forward “I have spent the last four years studying what the world became during my banishment, and in all that time I have been patient, I have waited for him. I knew, at least I thought I knew, that he would be there, my best friend would be there when I was freed of my prison, but I have found nothing! Our journal, my journal, has been desecrated! There are entries that are written in my hoof-writing, but not by me. You, Celestia, you who raise the sun and rule a kingdom so vast, are the only one with enough power to destroy him!”

“Enough of this!” Celestia matched her sister in volume but her voice was firmer and she showed more of her regality, but if you looked carefully enough you could see the hurt in her eyes and the very, very slight hint of tears forming. Luna was silenced and Celestia’s voice became deathly quiet, revealing only to her sister the emotions she actually felt. “I can’t believe that you, my own sister, would think that I would do something to ‘destroy’ anypony. This cannot go on, Luna. I will tell you for the last time, and I pray, I wish, I hope, that you will listen and believe me.” Celestia looked right at Luna with a tired expression, and Luna tried to hold her glare but she saw the pain in Celestia’s eyes and guilt began to gnaw at her.

“Luna. My little sister, the dearest pony to me in the whole world. You know that I would never do anything to hurt you, and do everything in my power to protect you. And I swear to you, on my life, the sun, and the moon that I never did anything to anypony named Aecorum. I never knew him, he did not exist.”

Luna’s eyes glinted with the spark of anger “No, no, that isn’t true…”

“Stop. Now. Luna, I don’t know how Aecorum got in your mind, but it has to end here. Please, Luna. Please.” Despite her years of training herself to remain stoic and calm at all times, Celestia could not hide her emotions from her sister, much less when Luna’s welfare was in question. “I don’t know how I can help you understand any more than I already have. You are my sister, and my friend, and I want to help you, but I can only help you if you let me. Aecorum is nothing but a fantasy that your mind created to keep the part of you that had not been consumed by Nightmare Moon whole. That is the only explanation that makes any sort of sense to me, and you yourself have seen that there is not a shred of evidence that Aecorum was ever real.” Of all the ponies in Equestria, Luna was the only one that could have seen how close Celestia was to tears on the inside.

“Celestia…” Luna hung her head in shame as she realized how much she had hurt her sister.

Celestia walked back around her desk and sat down “I love you, Luna. And this accusation,” She sighed barely “it pains me. Listen, I would never do anything to hurt you, but when you speak like this, when you tell me of Aecorum and get angry at me for something I did not do, I can’t help but fear that,” she looked up at Luna “There is a spark of darkness stirring within you again. I can’t go through that a second time, Luna.”

Luna walked over to the desk, guilt finally extinguishing her anger “Forgive me, Celestia. Oh please forgive me, Sister. I did not mean to upset you, I was just so angry. I simply cannot believe it.” her voice fell to almost nothing “Can…can it be true?”

“Yes.” Celestia’s voice had a quiet firmness that made it seem so final and absolute that Luna began to seriously question the existence of Aecorum. Luna’s head was beginning to spin as she sat down and silence filled the study. Finally, Celestia spoke.

“Luna, I received a letter from Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire today. She and her husband are having some difficulty dealing with a band of refugee changelings that has recently appeared and there are some rumors of violence. She has asked me to come to the Crystal Empire and help her.” Celestia nodded her head towards Luna “I think it would be better if you went rather than me.”

“What?”

“You need rest. The changelings are semi-nocturnal, so there would be plenty of time during the days for you to visit with Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, or explore the Crystal Empire, but most importantly, it would give you time to sleep. I can tell that you have spent the last few days without sleep, and that isn’t healthy for anypony.”

“But, why me? Why not you?” Luna raised her eyebrow

“I trust you, Luna. I know you will do wonderfully, you deserve it.” Celestia walked over and hugged her sister with her wing “I haven’t been giving you as much power and responsibilities as I should be, and I mean to change that. Will you go, Little Sister? For me?”

Luna nodded “Yes, I will go. When do you wish me to leave?”

Celestia pulled back “It would be best if you left as soon as possible, perhaps even today or tomorrow.”

Luna stood “Very well. I will leave tomorrow morning.” She opened the door and was halfway out before she turned back and spoke softly “I am sorry, Celestia.”

Celestia walked over to Luna and hugged her again “It’s alright, I forgive you. I love you, Luna.” She nuzzled her sister “I always will.” Her smile was warm and kind, and Luna walked to her bedchamber to pack.

Luna spent the train ride to the Crystal Empire gazing out the window of the royal passenger car in deep thought, barely noticing when a servant came with her lunch. She ate absentmindedly as she went through every moment of her childhood in her mind, trying to see if there was something out of place or wrong to tell her whether or not Aecorum really was a fantasy, as Celestia said. The train pulled into the station and Luna stood. Now there are more important matters to deal with. She thought as her guards opened the door and rolled out the dark purple carpet on her path. Both Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were there to greet her and Shining bowed as Luna came closer and spoke to him.

“That is not necessary, Shining Armor. You are royalty both by marriage and by your sister. I assume that Celestia contacted you and told you that I would assist you?”

Shining stood a little sheepishly “Of course, Your Highness.”

Cadence rolled her eyes slightly and walked up to Luna with a smile “It is good to see you again, Luna.”

“And you as well, Mi Amore.” Luna nodded slightly.

“Please, call me Cadence.”

“Cadence.” She began walking towards the carriage prepared for her, made of beautiful dark crystals. Once all three ponies were inside they started for the palace. Luna sat a moment marveling at the beauty of the crystal ponies who seemed oddly fearful for some reason, and buildings before she turned back to Shining Armor and Cadence. “Please, tell me of what has occurred with the changelings.”

Cadence nodded and said “A few weeks ago, a changeling was spotted in a small village west of here. It only stayed in the town for a few hours before it vanished again. After that changelings appeared more and more often and we sent a few scouts to follow one.”

“Who was in this scouting party?” Luna asked.

Shining Armor motioned to himself “I headed up the scouts, accompanied by two of the Crystal Royal Guards, Prismatic Sight and Silent Reflection, as well as a member of my old unit in Canterlot, Shadow Stealth.” Luna nodded and he continued “We followed the changeling for about six miles before it went into a network of caves near the North Crystal Peaks.” There was an almost imperceptible hint of anger and disgust in his voice as he spoke.

“And it was lost within the caves?”

“On the contrary,” Cadence smiled at her husband “Shining led the scouts through the caves and managed to catch up to the changeling again.”

Shining smiled at Cadence before turning back to Luna “The changeling came to a large cave and joined about fifteen other changelings, mostly adults but we spotted a few small ones we assumed to be children.”

“And what is it that you are requiring assistance with?” Luna raised an eyebrow.

“Well, somehow the citizens found out that a group of changelings was hiding out in the mountains and became very concerned, almost to the point of panic. There have been numerous requests to destroy the changelings or banish them, and recently rumors have been going around that a band of ponies within the Empire are going to gather arms and get rid of the changelings on their own.”

Cadence nodded and spoke “Normally, this wouldn’t be reason enough to ask for your help, but the Crystal ponies are still recovering from Sombra’s attack and after what happened at our wedding, we thought it would be best if a more powerful alicorn took the lead.” When she spoke about her wedding there was the same anger in her voice as in Shining’s.

“I see.” Luna thought for a moment before she asked “Would you mind if all of us were frank with one another?”

“No, of course not.” Cadence said while Shining raised his eyebrow slightly.

“That is good. Because it seems to me that the reason you asked my sister to come assist you was due to your fear of being manipulated again, Shining Armor, and the anger and hate both of you still hold for the changelings as a result of the attack on Canterlot during your wedding. Forgive me if I offend, but honesty is crucial in times of crisis.”

Both Cadence and Shining Armor looked shocked and after a second Cadence spoke “But, neither of us really hates changelings, we just-"

“I did not say that the hatred was strong, or the anger, but if you deny that it exists in any form, you are lying to everypony involved, including yourselves. Your anger is not without justification, and it is good that you were able to recognize it enough to ask for assistance from somepony more impartial to the changelings than yourselves. All I ask is that we are honest with one another.”

After a silent moment passed Cadence nodded “Yes, I’m still angry with changelings, but I am willing to move past it in this case.”

Shining Armor nodded too “I suppose on some level I am as well.”

Luna nodded and smiled “Good. Now that the emotions are out of the way, we can move on to a plan of action.” The carriage rolled on to the castle and the three ponies figured out what they were going to do.

Shining Armor and Luna, as well as the original scouts, walked into the mouth of the cave the changeling had been followed to. Luna had just finished raising the moon and the Crystal Mountains sparkled in the soft moonlight. They walked for a while in silence as Shining led them through the twisting caves until they came to an outcropping in the rock they could hide behind. As Shining said there were a little more than fifteen, maybe eighteen changelings gathered together in the larger cave and as the group of ponies inched closer Shining got a touch closer to Luna.

After a moment Luna looked out and saw a changeling come in through another cave on the other side and spoke in their strange buzzing language. Luna raised an eyebrow as she saw the newcomer’s horn light up and all the changelings were enveloped in a greenish light, and as the “spell” continued, a few of them grew obviously stronger.

“That one must be feeding the others somehow.” Luna whispered. She looked around again and saw that there were indeed some very small changelings and some of the larger ones looked seriously injured. Luna turned to the other ponies and whispered “I will make myself known to them and find out if any speak Equestrian. If any do, I shall speak to them and figure out what has happened and why they are here. You four shall retreat to the main entrance so they are not as afraid.”

“But what if something happens and they put up a fight?” Silent Reflection asked.

“If I am unable to control them I will send out a magic flare to you.”

“If we see the flare, we gallop in here faster than we ever have.” Shining Armor began walking out as silently as possible and the guards followed him. Luna spent a few seconds taking deep breaths to prepare herself before she stood and walked out from behind the rock.

“Changelings! Hear me!” She spoke loudly and firmly, but not harshly. As soon as the changelings heard her a few began to run but because some of them couldn’t move they were forced to stay in the cave. Fearful chattering filled the air as they began to flit around the room and some tried to shape shift in green flame.

“You need not fear me; I am not here to bring harm to you! Please, calm yourselves so that we may speak.” The same changeling that had just “fed” the others seemed to understand her and chattered louder than the others, calming them. After a minute all of them calmed down and the ones that had been flying landed. Every eye was turned towards her and she could see how truly afraid they were. Her voice softened just slightly “Are there any among you who understand and speak Equestrian?”

The changeling that had calmed the rest down stepped forward “I speak your language. A few of the others understand Pony speech but cannot speak it. The rest do not understand, but I can tell them what you say.” The voice was deeper and Luna guessed it was a male, and it seemed to have the same sort of chattering accent as the changeling speech.

“What is your name?” Luna stepped down to the floor of the cave and the changelings backed away from her in fear.

“I-I am designated drone 47233628.” His voice began to quaver slightly and his eyes were wide with alarm “But I am often called Beguiling Cloak.”

Luna smiled and she tried to sound kind “It is an honor to meet you, Beguiling Cloak. I am High Princess Luna of the Night.”

The changelings were obviously confused and they chattered amongst themselves for a second before Beguiling Cloak asked “Of-of the Night? Not the Day?”

“No, I am not the Princess of the Day, but she is my sister, and I rule over Equestria with her.” A few of the younger changelings began to twitch nervously and the older ones seemed frozen with confusion and fear.

“Does that mean…Are you going to…” Beguiling Cloak’s voice faded away

“What is it?” Luna lowered her voice slightly

“Hurt us. Are you going to bring us to the Sun Princess so she can torture us or imprison us or…” Every changeling in the cave backed away some more.

Luna slowly shook her head “No. I would never do anything to bring harm to defenseless creatures, nor would my sister. I am simply here to help you. Why are you here?”

Beguiling Cloak relaxed very slightly “We ran. After the failure of Canterlot the Queen became harsh and cruel to us. Many drones were taken without cause and tortured or even killed. Family units were torn apart because the Queen blamed us for the failure of her plan, a plan we did not wish to be a part of. Sickness spread through the Hive and hundreds, perhaps thousands, died in the first few months after the Canterlot Failure.”

“Hunger, starvation, treachery, things that had not been known in the Hive for generations raged among the changelings and corpses of imagines and nymphs began to fill the streets. She only called this weakness and began to treat us with even more cruelty and hatred. Fear of this new tyrannical side of Her kept most of us in compliance but there were some that resisted. Some drones saw what life was like for ponies and wanted the Hive to be like that for us, so they became an underground rebellion against the Queen.”

Luna heard the sincerity in his voice and felt pity for the changelings. “What became of this rebellion?”

“They failed.” A few changelings lowered their heads “The Queen discovered them and destroyed them. That was when we decided to run from Her, run from the Hive. We feared Equestria, so we came here. There are nineteen of us, including nymphs. There used to be twenty, but my clutch-brother was lost.” His voice wasn’t sad, or angry, it was completely emotionless.

Luna nodded sympathetically “I am sorry for your loss. How long have you been in this cave?”

“One moon and twelve suns have passed since we came here.”

“I see.” She took a few steps forward to get a closer look at a nearby changeling with a broken leg and cracked wing. She turned to Beguiling Cloak “How many of you are injured?”

“Three nymphs were injured during the journey as well as four imagines, but five imagines were injured by forces of the Queen when we left the Hive. We have been trying to heal them, but we only dare to send out one of us at a time, and because all need to be nourished, we can’t focus enough energy on a few to heal them completely.” A few changelings in the back of the cave chattered at Beguiling Cloak and after a few seconds of back and forth communication, Beguiling Cloak took a step towards Luna “We are afraid. We are afraid of the ponies of crystal and we are afraid of the rulers. We did not know that the ponies targeted by the Canterlot failure were the rulers of this place until we arrived, and now we are afraid. All we want is peace. Do you truly wish to help us, Moon Princess?”

Luna could see the desperation in Beguiling Cloak’s eyes and she nodded. “Of course I do. It is honorable that you should try and help your kind live better lives. You are defenseless creatures and I will do everything in my power to give all of you a chance at real lives within the Crystal Empire or Equestria if you wish. Do not fear attack, I am sure that in time everypony shall accept you and until that happens I will protect you myself.”

“You will?” Beguiling Cloak’s voice was filled with hope.

Luna smiled and nodded “Yes.”

Beguiling Cloak chattered excitedly to the other changelings and soon the ones that could fly were flying all around the cave and others were smiling and talking to one another happily. A small changeling walked up to Luna nervously and chattered something at her with a shy smile. Luna knelt down to be eye level with the nymph and smiled. Neither one said anything but Luna’s eyes were filled with kindness and it was almost like they were talking to one another through their eyes. After a second the nymph got a little closer and hugged the large pony’s neck. Luna returned the hug and the changeling seemed to flesh out a little in her embrace. She put down the nymph and stood, turning to Beguiling Cloak.

“Do you think you would be able to walk as far as the village?”

“A few of us perhaps, but many are far too injured to walk any distance.”

Luna thought for a moment. “Gather all the changelings that are able-bodied enough to walk on their own on one side of the cave and the injured or sick ones on the other side.”

Beguiling Cloak nodded and spoke to the changelings. Almost instantly the changelings repositioned themselves in the cave and soon there was a space of about five feet between each group. Luna nodded and turned to the injured changelings “You are able to heal yourselves through love, correct?”

“Yes. But we can feed on weaker emotions as well, just not as effectively.”

“And you can transfer such emotions from one changeling to another?”

“Yes.” Beguiling Cloak turned towards the princess.

“Very good. Now,” Luna turned to face Beguiling Cloak “I am going to allow you to gather emotional energy from me. But if you take more than what is necessary to heal the injured enough to make it to the village,” Her voice and face hardened “The Sun Princess will not be the only name you fear.”

Beguiling Cloak shifted nervously and said quietly “Of-of course not, Kind Moon Princess.” He stepped closer to Luna “This may feel…odd.” His horn lit up in a green light and Luna felt herself being drained of energy. It took a moment to process and her mind began to go slightly numb but it was only a few seconds before Beguiling Cloak released the spell and backed several feet away “Forgive me if I have hurt you, Moon Princess.” He looked away from her and she could hear the terror in his voice.

She shook her head slightly “No…No it is alright, I am well.” She straightened up “Heal the others.” Already she could feel herself recovering from the drain. Beguiling Cloak nodded and the group of injured changelings was enveloped in the same green aura. Luna’s eyes widened very slightly as the same broken changeling she noticed before stood up and flapped its wings with vigor in a matter of seconds. Soon it was over and all the injured changelings walked or hovered overhead towards the others.

Beguiling Cloak smiled “Your energy is very strong, Moon Princess, thank you. Thank you so much.” He bowed low to the ground.

Luna smiled “It was no trouble. Come, tell the changelings to follow me, we will start towards the village immediately.”

The First Real Goodbye

“And we thank thee once again, Ponies of Equestria, for thy praise as thy new rulers! We shall forever be grateful to thee, and endeavor to rule thee with kindness and justice!”

The huge crowd of ponies let out a roaring cheer as the new High Prince and Princesses of Equestria left the balcony and went back into Canterlot Castle. Aecorum was in the middle as always, and in the hall were dozens of servants, guards, and nobles, all fawning over the three alicorns. The new rulers simply nodded and smiled on their way to the newest addition to the castle: The Hall of Resolution. It was more like a small antechamber than a hall, and was only to be entered by the three alicorns to use as a quiet place to discuss matters of supreme importance. As they finally made it through the doors, Aecorum shut the curtains on the windows and sighed, lowering himself on an elaborate wooden chair, covered in dark green-blue silk.

“That was excruciating.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof.

“Oh, come now Aecorum, it was not all that bad.” Celestia smiled and sat on her own chair, a slightly smaller one with lighter wood and gold silk.

“Although,” Luna settled into the deep blue silk that covered her chair “I have to admit, my voice is a little hoarse.”

“I know what you mean; mine is slightly worn out as well. It makes me feel so…I do not know how to describe it, almost hypocritical to speak to them like that.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow “What do you mean? Hypocritical to whom?”

Aecorum took off his crown and looked at his reflection in the titanium “Hypocritical to myself. I always wanted to protect the ponies and keep all creatures safe but this…” He used his magic to almost toss the crown on the nearby table “This is not exactly what I had in mind. I always thought of each pony in Equestria as my friend, not my lesser, and now I cannot treat them as such.”

Luna nodded “I understand what he means, Tia. Ever since we signed the Terms of Abdication I have felt like I was trapped in another body, being forced to carry out the wishes of somepony else.”

Celestia sighed “I know, I know…I would be lying if I said that I have not felt strange throughout this transition, but I know in my heart that this is best for everypony.”

Aecorum laughed “Always the wise one, eh Tia? Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the elder pony.”

All three alicorns laughed and Aecorum spoke again “But in all seriousness, I know that this is truly what is best, it is simply my stubborn side rearing again.”

Luna smiled slyly “You are always stubborn. Some might say you are as…Unchanging as the sea, perhaps?” Celestia and Luna laughed and Aecorum rolled his eyes at the bad pun.

Fauntleroy knocked fiercely on the door to Aecorum’s private study, his glare harsh despite the wrinkles that had begun to line his face. He was almost eighty years old now, but age had not dulled his wit or political prowess, and as Aecorum opened the door he bowed with a sneer.

“If I may beg audience with His Excellency?”

“Of course, Fauntleroy, come in.” Aecorum motioned in and shut the door as the white unicorn entered “Is something the matter?”

“Quite frankly, yes.” Fauntleroy turned to face Aecorum and hardened his glare “Why do you never follow Royal Protocol when it was stated quite clearly in the Terms of Abdication that you must?”

“What do you mean? I have followed Royal Protocol to the letter for the past fifty years.”

“No. You have not. Why are you not speaking to me in the Royal Canterlot Voice?” Aecorum opened his mouth to protest but Fauntleroy began pacing and continued “Why, when I entered the room, you did not address me with my full title? I have seen you breach Protocol time and time again, and it has gone beyond simple ‘forgetfulness’ or ‘adjustment’ as the former and rightful King Basileus has stated.”

Aecorum rolled his eyes “This again, Fauntleroy? You know just as well as I do that the transfer of power was not my idea, I did not even wish it in the first place.”

“Voice! The Royal Canterlot Voice! Use it, Your Majesty!” He spat the honorific title out.

Aecorum felt the anger rising in his throat but he fought it down and used the Royal Canterlot Voice “Very well, Prince Fauntleroy, have it thy way! But we fear that perhaps in the privacy of our study, the Royal Canterlot Voice may do harm! Behold the window!” He raised his hoof as he spoke to show that the window was shaking due to the excess volume.

Fauntleroy’s face hardened “The window can be replaced. Protocol must be followed in all instances.” He took a step towards Aecorum “And I know that you have been walking through the city in broad daylight with no escorts and greeting anypony that happens to cross your path, with no regard to Protocol!”

Aecorum fought harder against the anger “So thou art saying that we must give up our ponies entirely? We happen to enjoy our walks; it helps reconnect us with the populace!”

“What you do or do not enjoy is beside the point! If you want to walk, take the escort! If you want to ‘reconnect with the populace’, hold open court!” Fauntleroy and Aecorum were now inches away from each other’s muzzle.

“Why must we be sequestered in an ivory tower?! Was the abdication not an attempt to bring us closer to Equestria?!” Fauntleroy’s mane blew due to the volume and he almost toppled over.

“NO! I do not know what possessed the King to give you the throne, but it certainly was not to give you a larger circle of friends!” Fauntleroy spat the words out at the almost seething stallion in front of him.

Aecorum grit his teeth and lowered his voice to a threatening whisper “Listen to me, you stubborn little pest. I have been fighting with you for fifty years over trivial minutia that never matters to anypony except you, and I have given in to you every time. Do you see the lump of metal I have got stuck around my horn? I am telling you this once, and only once: I will not let you shut me up like a wild beast inside a cage, no matter how gilded it may be. Oh, you can try all you like, but I will find a way around you in enough time, Lord Fauntleroy. There is no power in this world that can trap me forever.”

He towered over Fauntleroy and stared him right in the eye. “Do you want to know why I bring in the tides, and not Celestia or Luna?” He glared and lowered his voice even more so that it sounded like it was laced with ice and a shadow seemed to cover the room “Because the ocean is who I am. I can be warm and inviting, calm and reasonable, but I can also be cold, harsh, and wild. I can even be dangerous. But do you want to know what I really am? What really makes the ocean just like me? I am persistent, unchanging, and stubborn. Do you know what that means for you and your ‘protocol’, Lord Fauntleroy?” He took a step closer and spoke through his teeth. “No matter what you try to do, I. Will. Not. Be. Stopped.”

Aecorum looked out over Canterlot from his bedchamber’s balcony, and smiled slightly. In the past few decades he had often wished that their old castle could have become the new capitol, but he had grown to love Canterlot, and they did get to visit the Castle of the Royal Alicorns whenever they wished as a sort of summer home. He spread his wings and was about to take off when a series of knocks came to his door. He sighed and walked over to it, preparing his voice and opening the door.

The guard bowed “Forgive the intrusion, but the royal messenger has urgent news for you.”

“We see. Send in the messenger at once.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” He was only gone for a moment when he brought back the pegasus messenger, who also happened to be the grandson of Swift Wing.

“What is thy message?”

The messenger bowed and said “The noble stallion Lord Fauntleroy has requested you come immediately to his manor.”

“Why dost he wish us to come?”

“He is dying, and he wishes to speak to you before he departs from this world.”

Even though the estate of Lord Fauntleroy was almost twenty miles away from the castle, Aecorum made it there in a matter of ten minutes, practically dragging the royal escort behind him. He was announced to the household as he entered and was immediately shown to a set of large double doors, intricately carved and gilded with gold and precious gems. Aecorum waited as one of his guards knocked and was answered by Fauntleroy’s granddaughter, Former Glory. She motioned inside and only nodded to the Prince of the Sea which would normally call for a punishment but he could see her eyes were raw with tears and smiled sadly for her. Aecorum walked into the dark-lit room towards the enormous bed in the direct center and stood a few feet behind the unicorn doctor attending the aged Fauntleroy. After a moment Fauntleroy noticed the prince and motioned feebly towards the door.

“Leave us, I wish to speak to His Majesty in private.” Everypony in the room except Aecorum left and as the doors swung shut Aecorum walked over to the bed.

“We art most grieved to hear that thou art dying, Lord Fauntleroy.” His voice was slightly quieter than it usually was. Fauntleroy began to laugh as heartily as he could and Aecorum’s face grew increasingly quizzical.

After about a minute Fauntleroy spoke “I should think that on my deathbed I would be more forgiving of protocol. Speak to me however you wish, Aecorum.” He waved his hoof dismissively, albeit weakly.

Aecorum smiled slightly as he pulled up a chair and sat down “That is the first time in the ninety years we have known each other that you have ever called me by name.”

“Forgive me for correcting, but I believe we met ninety-three years and six months ago.” Both stallions laughed at this and silence fell as neither one could really figure out what to say. Aecorum shifted to get more comfortable in the chair and Fauntleroy’s breathing became labored for a moment, but settled again.

Fauntleroy chuckled slightly “I never thought it would be so excruciatingly mind-numbing. Dying, I mean. Of course, you will never have to experience it, will you?” He turned his extremely wrinkled face towards Aecorum.

Aecorum smiled “No, not in the same way. But I am reasonably certain that I will die eventually, at the end of all things.”

“Yes, as will Celestia and Luna.”

“True. Why did you not ask them to come? They have known you just as long as I have.”

Fauntleroy leaned back further into his pillow and softly sighed “I could say that I did not want to appear weak in front of beautiful mares, or that at least somepony had to rule while I passed on, but I would be lying. Do you want to know the real reason why I only asked you to come here?”

Aecorum nodded and Fauntleroy continued “The real reason is that,” he coughed for a few seconds before sighing again “You were the only one who disagreed with me.”

Aecorum chuckled incredulously “What?”

“It is true, it is true.” Fauntleroy laughed with Aecorum “I did not spend nearly as much time with them as I did with you, simply because they followed my rules while you,” he pointed a hoof at Aecorum and smiled wider with a devious glint in his eye “You just kept arguing every point with me. And for every rule and protocol I devised, you found some loophole to crawl through and vex me.” He playfully poked Aecorum’s chest.

Aecorum smiled “I always thought you created the rules just to irritate me.”

“I suppose that was always the nature of our little game, each one trying to outthink the other. But without even realizing it our constant battles led us to this.”

Aecorum leaned his head on his hoof “And what is ‘this’?”

“Here I am, at the end of my life, and of all the ponies I have known and all the connections I have made in my long life, I chose you to share my last moments with.”

Aecorum straightened up as the weight of what Fauntleroy said sank in. Fauntleroy nodded and smiled “Yes, you. I wanted to say my last goodbye to you above my children, my grandchildren, and even my darling wife.”

“Fauntleroy, I…I do not know what to say.”

“That is new.” Fauntleroy started coughing furiously and Aecorum walked over directly beside him “I do not have much time left. There is something I want to tell you before I go.” His voice was weak and he motioned Aecorum to come closer.

“What is it?” Aecorum spoke softly.

Fauntleroy whispered “There was a reason why I fought so hard to make you a king.” He started coughing again, and Aecorum lightly touched Fauntleroy’s shoulder with his hoof. Fauntleroy stopped coughing and put his hoof on top of Aecorum’s, looking into the alicorn’s eyes “It was because…” His voice was getting weaker.

“Easy, Fauntleroy, save your strength.”

“You…You deserved it. You always deserved the highest recognition of anypony in all of Equestria. No matter what I said, or did, I…” Fauntleroy coughed again “I always respected you. In my eyes, you were always King, and I wanted everypony else in the whole world to see you the way I did. I was just so proud and stubborn that I went about it the wrong way.” He leaned back into his pillows and shut his eyes. “My time is ending. I can feel it.”

Aecorum swallowed a lump in his throat and smiled “You served Equestria well throughout your whole life and I was honored to know you. I…I will miss you very much, Fauntleroy.”

Fauntleroy smiled and relaxed further “Farewell, Ocean King.” His voice faded and his chest stopped rising.

“Farewell, my friend.” A single tear rolled down Aecorum’s cheek as he touched Fauntleroy’s horn with his own and smiled sadly “Go in peace.”

Diplomacy and Doubts

Shining Armor paced nervously in the moonlight in front of the cave. It had been almost fifteen minutes and Princess Luna still hadn’t come out. The two Crystal scouts were barely whispering to each other and Shadow Stealth was leaning against the mountain, keeping one eye on the cave and the other on Shining Armor. Shining glanced at the cave for what seemed like the millionth time and seeing nothing he turned to the moon to make sure it was still moving. He turned around and Shadow Stealth appeared a few feet in front of him. Shining jumped a little and Shadow cocked his head very slightly.

“You alright, Captain?”

Shining Armor shook his head and spoke slightly nervously “Yes, yes, I’m fine. It’s just been a while since Princess Luna went in there.”

“The princess knows what she’s doing, it’ll be okay. Besides, you and I were the fastest unicorns in the Guard. The second that flare comes out, we’ll be in there before the changelings can blink.” Shadow smirked and Shining laughed.

“Yeah, I guess that’s true, I’ve just got to stop worrying about it, the princess will be fine.” He took a deep breath and smiled “So are you still going out with Leaf?”

“Yeah, we just had our two year anniversary last week. The long distance thing is pretty hard to deal with at times, but we visit each other whenever we can and we find ways to make it work.” Shadow smiled and rubbed his pale grey mane with his hoof.

“You know, if you want I could give you some more leave time. I am the prince of the Crystal Empire after all.” Shining laughed and Shadow lightly punched his shoulder.

“Nah, I’ll be…You know what? That’d actually be nice, thanks Captain.” Shining Armor smiled but straightened up when he heard something coming out of the cave. All four stallions turned towards the mouth of the cave and tensed up just in case it wasn’t the Princess of Night coming out.

“Fear not, brave stallions. It is indeed I.” Luna smiled as she exited the cave and the ponies relaxed until they saw Beguiling Cloak walking close behind her. Beguiling Cloak sensed their fear and started to back away, until Luna spoke again in a reassuring tone “Come forward, changelings, I will protect you from harm. Shining Armor?”

“Y-yes, Luna?” Shining looked suspiciously at the increasing group of changelings behind the princess.

“This is Beguiling Cloak.” Luna pointed to the changeling beside her “He is the leader of this band of refugees, and we have come to the decision that for the moment, the changelings will stay in the nearby village until a more permanent home can be made for them.”

Shining shook his head slightly in shock “The village? Are you sure that’s wise, Luna?”

Luna raised an eyebrow “Do you object, Shining Armor?” Her voice had only a hint of an edge of firmness as she spoke.

Beguiling Cloak swallowed a lump in his throat and took a few steps forward “Most noble Prince Shining Armor, please forgive us for the pain we caused in the Canterlot Failure. We are running from the Tyrant Queen, and only ask a little peace.” Shining raised his eyebrow but he saw the earnestness in the changeling’s eyes and heard the sincerity in its voice.

Shining nodded reluctantly “If we want to get to the village before sunrise, we had better get moving now. Sight! Reflection!” The crystal guards stood at attention in front of him “Head to the village as fast as you can and get some sort of housing set up for the changelings.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The guards ran off and Shining turned to Shadow Stealth.

“Shadow, I need you to help me keep the group together.”

“You got it, Captain!” Shadow walked to the back of the group and stood silently, a few of the changelings shying away from him.

Luna nodded and turned towards Beguiling Cloak “We must depart now.” Beguiling nodded and chattered to the changelings who immediately started walking, following Shining Armor, Luna, and their leader.

“It is an honor to meet with you, Beguiling Cloak.” Cadence smiled and bowed her head slightly “I am sure we will be able to come to an agreement.”

“We offer many thanks to you, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and to you as well, Prince Shining Armor for allowing us to remain in your kingdom.” Shining Armor nodded slightly stiffly and the changeling sitting beside Beguiling Cloak chattered in his ear.

“What does your companion say?” Luna smiled slightly at the changelings.

“She wishes to know if the protection offered by kind Princess Luna of the Night will be observed even if she does not remain with us.”

Cadence and Shining looked at each other for a second before Luna said slightly firmly “Of course it will be. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor will make sure that none of the changelings come to harm in the Crystal Empire.” She raised her eyebrow at the ponies next to her.

Both changelings smiled and chattered happily and Beguiling Cloak spoke “That makes us very happy, we thank you very much for that, noble rulers.”

“It’s,” Shining cleared his throat “Nothing.” His brow was slightly furrowed and his eyes were harsh.

Cadence nervously smiled “We will, of course, consider any requests you may have very seriously. What requests do you have?”

“We only wish peace. The Queen has become an evil tyrant, which is why we ran from Her. We only want freedom. We do not wish harm on anybody, and only ask that we could live here in the Crystal Empire.” The changeling next to him chattered and he nodded “We do not even ask to live with your Crystal Ponies or within your cities. If we could only have a small village to ourselves where we could live in peace you would have our eternal gratitude.”

“What about food? The last time I checked, changelings feed off of the emotions of ponies. How do you expect to survive and do no harm to anypony?” Shining’s voice was harsh and both of the mares glared at him.

The changelings looked at each other nervously and Beguiling Cloak cleared his throat before speaking again “We…We do feed on emotions, and we have fed off ponies in the past, but that is not the way it is supposed to be. Before the Queen’s heart turned to cruelty, we fed on the emotions of our fellow changelings in the Hive as well as regular food. After the Canterlot Failure, the Queen brought pain and torture to the Hive, and all of us felt nothing but fear and anger. That is why we…” He turned his head away “We came here, to the Crystal Empire, and sent the healthy among us to the village to collect emotion. Our hearts are still filled with fear, and the ones who were injured as we fled are too weak to give any positive emotions to the others.” Shining Armor’s glare hardened and Cadence’s face grew slightly worried. Beguiling Cloak raised his legs and said nervously “Please do not be angry with us, we were very careful not to harm any of the Crystal Ponies. The positive emotions that surrounded the ponies were what we gathered, not the emotions of any specific pony.”

“Why didn’t you just feed on your fear? That seemed to be your goal in Canterlot.” Shining crossed his hooves in front of him.

“Prince Shining Armor, kindly hold your tongue until you regain control your emotions.” Luna’s voice was firm and she glared at Shining.

“It is poison.” Both changelings hung their heads as the ponies looked at them with slightly surprised expressions.

“What do you mean?” Cadence’s voice had a hint of concern for the changelings.

“Fear. Anger. Hate. They are all poison to us, even when they are our own. We have told Princess Luna some of the horrors that plagued the Hive after the Canterlot Failure. They were caused by the fear and hate within us. We can feed on any emotion but each one has different effects on us. Happiness, love, gratitude, and positive emotions such as those nourish us and make us stronger, Princess Luna has seen how those emotions can heal our wounds, but hate, anger, fear, sorrow, those and other negative emotions do nothing but drain us or even kill us.”

Shining raised his eyebrow and actually looked concerned as he spoke “Really? Hate and anger…Kill you?”

Beguiling Cloak nodded and Cadence asked “Then why did you invade Canterlot? The Queen didn’t really expect the entire population to be happy, did she?”

The changeling beside Beguiling chattered for a moment and he spoke quietly “We knew you would hate us. We did not want to invade. We tried to convince her to stop but she…She would not listen to us; she thought her mind-control spells would work on every living thing in Equestria, and forced us to invade. Please forgive us…” The changelings turned away and hung their heads.

The three ponies looked at each other and Cadence walked around the table and put her hoof on Beguiling Cloak’s shoulder. He twitched at the touch but she smiled and spoke kindly “Of course we forgive you. Right, Shining?” Shining opened and closed his mouth a few times before stiffly nodding once.

Luna raised an eyebrow and looked at the dimly lit eastern horizon before turning towards the changelings “Perhaps it would be best for all of us to get some rest.” She rose from her seat and bowed her head slightly “Shall we reconvene this evening?”

The changelings looked at each other and Beguiling Cloak nodded “Of course, we would be happy to. Thank you so much for letting us speak with you.” Both changelings rose and bowed low to the royal ponies before nervously taking a few steps towards the door. Cadence smiled and used her magic to open it and the changelings left to rejoin the rest of the refugees.

Cadence yawned and said “I think it’s time for me to get some sleep too. The carriage ride here wasn’t the least comfortable ride I’ve ever had, but it came close.” She laughed and walked out the door.

Shining got up and walked towards the door but Luna stepped in front of him “Shining Armor, could I have a word?”

Shining nodded nervously “Of course Luna, what is it?”

“I only want to know whether or not you are willing to behave like a Prince.” Luna raised her eyebrow and looked firmly at the stallion in front of her.

“What do you mean?”

“A ruler cannot let personal grievances affect decisions while dealing with other races. If Celestia and I had done so, there would be no griffons left in this world. The changelings are no different.”

“But you know what they did in Canterlot! You know what they did to my Cadence, and to me! Not to mention Twily. How can I let them live in the kingdom you gave to me to protect?” All of the anger and hate Shining Armor had been holding in began to spill out in his voice.

Luna’s face grew softer and her voice was quiet “Shining Armor, I do not ask you to forget your grievances against Queen Chrysalis, but we both heard Beguiling Cloak. It was not the choice of the changelings to invade, it was hers. It was her spell that took over your mind; she was the one who imprisoned Cadence and Twilight Sparkle, not the changelings.”

Shining turned his head away slightly “So?”

“They are not responsible for Chrysalis’s actions against you, Equestria, or anypony. Would you condemn all ponies because of what I did when I was consumed by Nightmare Moon?”

Shining shook his head and took a step back “Well, no, of course not! But that isn’t the same thing at all!”

“You are right. It is not the same thing, but only because I was stopped by Celestia. Chrysalis had no one to stop her before she began.”

Luna turned towards the door and Shining’s voice fell “But…”

Luna opened the door and turned her head towards Shining “A race should not be condemned because a ruler’s heart turns to ruin. Remember that, Shining Armor.”

Luna shut the door and walked to the guest room prepared for her by the mayor of the small village, trying hard not to think about Aecorum or Celestia, as she had ever since she got off the train. Years of rule and diplomatic affairs had trained her to focus her mind on the matter at hoof, but now that she was alone, her mind wandered back to what really bothered her.

When Luna got to her room she settled down in the provided bed and sighed. Aecorum was always so good at diplomacy…But…What if I am wrong? What if…What if Aecorum was just a fantasy? That cannot be…Can it? Celestia would not lie to me, but I know that my memories are real. Right? I just don’t know anymore… Those and similar thoughts twisted through her mind as she drifted off to sleep in the morning sun.

The Power of the Sea

Aecorum walked slowly through the dark streets of Canterlot, being careful to keep his hoof steps as quiet as possible. Ever since Fauntleroy’s funeral, Aecorum had followed Royal Protocol more closely out of respect for his friend, but he still spent at least a few nights walking through the capital of Equestria before he was due for Night Court. So far it had been an average night; only one or two ponies had crossed his path, which made sense in the midnight hours, but suddenly he stopped, pricking his ears towards a nearby alleyway. He took a few steps forward to make sure of what he heard, and quickened his pace when the sounds of soft whimpering became clear. He gasped softly when he saw a tiny yellow colt sleeping in the dirt, covered with burns and soot, whining pitifully.

“The poor little foal…” Aecorum whispered softly before taking a step closer and looking up towards the moon. “Protect his dreams, Luna. I will take him home.”

He carefully used his magic to put his dark cloak over the colt as a blanket and knelt down, facing the foal. Aecorum’s horn lit softly and he bent his head forward, touching the colt’s forehead with the glowing tip of his horn. Instantly, Aecorum felt the familiar sensation of being sucked into a void as his vision went black and he saw the foal’s first memory: Being held as a newborn by his mother, a soft pink mare, while a disheveled yellow stallion smiled on warmly.

Aecorum nodded and passed through the white barrier to another memory, he was only using a fraction of his power so he remained a solitary observer in the foal’s mind. He could have chosen to bring the colt’s consciousness with him through the memories, but Aecorum thought that little Firefly needed rest.

Aecorum traveled from one memory to the next, memories of birthdays and Hearth’s Warming Eves and all the days of Firefly’s short life, searching for the most recent memories to explain how he came to be in that dark alley. He found that Firefly lived in a moderately wealthy family in East Canterlot, his mother was named Delicate Tone and his father was Gifted Suit. Finally Aecorum came to a memory that broke his heart and unfortunately explained everything.

Aecorum saw flames. Flames that were writhing and tearing into the wood of Firefly’s home, leaving nothing but ash in their wake. Aecorum gasped as the hall before him collapsed and Delicate Tone fell to the bottom floor, luckily he saw her get up and shout towards him.

“Get out! Go! NOW!” Her voice was panicked and her eyes wide with alarm.

Aecorum looked down and saw Firefly standing next to him, who flinched as a spout of fire sprang up where Aecorum was ‘standing’. Firefly ran towards the stairs at the end of the hall, bumping into sooty walls and dodging falling beams. Aecorum followed him to the halfway landing of the stairway, where Firefly was now trapped on either side by walls of flame. Gifted Suit was standing at the bottom, limping on a twisted ankle and looking up fearfully at his son.

“Firefly! Jump! Do not be afraid of the fire, I will catch you! JUMP TOWARDS ME NOW!” Gifted Suit extended his forelegs towards his son and Firefly started to run to the edge but the wall of fire leapt up twenty feet and the colt screamed in terror before turning around and blindly jumping through the window that led into the street.

Aecorum appeared behind Firefly as he ran as fast as he could in no particular direction. The tears in the foal’s eyes streamed along his soot covered face as the fire that threatened to destroy his house at any moment illuminated the streets until he turned a corner and the light died. He ran and ran until he finally collapsed in a dark alley and cried his eyes out in sheer terror. Eventually Firefly cried himself to sleep and the memory faded to blackness, leaving Aecorum to end the spell and return to the present.

Aecorum’s eyes opened and he saw that Firefly had stopped whimpering and actually had a hint of a smile on his dreaming face. “Thank you, Luna.” Aecorum whispered.

Aecorum gently picked up Firefly and wrapped his cloak tighter around the colt, before nestling him in the space between his wings, spreading them to ensure that Firefly wouldn’t fall. He knew that the house wasn’t too far away so he decided to walk, rather than fly. It only took about ten minutes of walking before Aecorum saw the Canterlot Fire Brigade attempting to put out the last of the fire. Aecorum slowed his pace as he saw a burned and bruised stallion attempting to fight past the Brigade and into the house, shouting and shoving.

“My son! My SON IS STILL IN THERE! LET ME THROUGH!”

“Sir, I need you to remain calm, once the fires have been completely extinguished we will search the house for your-”

“FIREFLY! FIREFLY CAN YOU HEAR ME?!” Gifted Suit tried to push past again and Aecorum spoke softly but firmly.

“Hush now. A child is sleeping.” Aecorum was using the Royal Canterlot Voice but at a much lower volume to avoid waking the sleeping foal nestled on his back. Everypony except those putting out the fires dropped to their knees when they saw the prince standing before them. Gifted Suit snapped his head around to face Aecorum and ran up to him, eyes wide with fear.

“Prince Aecorum! Please help me! Tell them to let me through to search for my son! He was in there when the fire started! His name is-”

“Firefly. We know, Gifted Suit.” Gifted Suit took a step back in shock and the fear in his eyes was replaced by eager hope. Aecorum smiled warmly and motioned to his back with his head. Gifted Suit rushed to the bundle on the alicorns back and laughed with relief when he saw Firefly curled up in the cloak, fast asleep. Aecorum knelt down and Gifted Suit gently touched his foal’s forehead.

He whispered softly with fear in his voice “Fly? Can you hear me?” He stroked Firefly’s mane and Firefly’s eyes flickered open.

He rubbed his little eyes and blinked slowly “Papa?”

Gifted Suit’s eyes glistened with tears of joy as he hugged his son “Yes, yes I am here, it is alright.” He put Firefly on his back and limped back over to face Aecorum. Firefly gaped in wonder at the prince and wrapped his forelegs around his father’s neck, hiding his face behind Gifted Suit’s sooty mane.

Aecorum smiled and cocked his head at Firefly “Thou hast no reason to fear us, Firefly. Thou didst help us bring thee home to thy father.”

Firefly nodded and Gifted Suit looked up at Aecorum with tears in his eyes, saying nothing but showing his gratitude through his smile. Aecorum smiled again and nodded, before his eyes glinted with an idea. He levitated his cloak off his back and put it over Firefly’s; although it was so large it covered both ponies. Gifted Cloak’s jaw dropped in surprise as he ran his hoof along the expensive black fabric with tiny gold and silver embroidered designs all over it, so subtle they were almost invisible. Firefly snuggled closer to his father, falling back to sleep, and Gifted Suit started to speak but Aecorum raised his hoof. Gifted nodded and smiled, beaming at the alicorn stallion who simply nodded in return and gently took off into the night sky, heading towards the castle.

Aecorum smiled as he levitated a forkful of hay into his mouth. He had just finished telling Celestia and Luna about his night’s adventure and was very satisfied at the expressions on their faces.

Celestia laughed “Aecorum, you never cease to amaze me.”

Aecorum waved his hoof “Did we not accept this position to help ponies? I was simply helping young Firefly.”

Luna smiled “Still, to give your hoofstitched cloak to a colt whom you had never even seen before is quite something.”

Aecorum smiled warmly at Luna “But we must remember that his mind was most troubled when I entered his memories, and yet when I returned, he dreamt with a smile. Your power grows each day, High Princess of the Night.”

Luna’s cheeks grew slightly pink “Thank you.” She took another bite of her breakfast before turning to Celestia. “Is there anything important happening today, Sister?”

“I do not think so. I am reasonably sure it is just open court in the morning and then a meeting with a few planners for the Grand Galloping Gala.” The two other alicorns nodded then a blue unicorn mare came in and bowed, levitating a few letters onto the table before walking out again.

Aecorum picked up the letters and Celestia asked “Anything interesting?”

Aecorum laughed “I will not know until I read them, Tia.” He opened the first one and quickly scanned over it before levitating it over to Celestia “It seems we are invited to attend the wedding of Lady Former Glory and Lord Steady Heart.”

Luna cocked her head slightly “Former Glory…Is that not the granddaughter of Lord Fauntleroy?”

Celestia nodded as she read the invitation “Indeed she is. Well, as far as I can remember there is nothing important going on that day, we should attend. I know I would enjoy it, how about you Luna?”

Luna smiled and nodded “It would be nice to see Fauntleroy’s family again, and I always love a celebration. Let us attend!”

Aecorum’s voice was low and worried as he spoke “I am afraid we will not have time. Look.” He put the letter he had been reading on the table in front of the two mares. They looked at each other in shock and Luna swallowed a lump in her throat.

“Is this serious?”

Aecorum nodded solemnly and Celestia said “It seems so…”

The three alicorns stared at the gold writing on the red edged parchment just above the seal of King Ironbeak as they tried to understand what had just happened with this one scrap of paper.

Griffonia had declared war on Equestria.

Aecorum sighed as Celestia and Luna almost galloped up to him on one of the larger castle balconies. He turned to face them and cringed slightly when he saw their faces, eyes wide with alarm and confusion as they looked at the titanium armor covering his body and the Equestrian Seal engraved on his breastplate.

“Aecorum, is it true?” Celestia’s voice was panicked and filled with concern.

“Yes Tia, it is.”

Luna shook her head earnestly “No. No Aecorum, you cannot!”

Aecorum sighed again “I am sorry Luna, but I must.”

Celestia put her hoof on her mouth before asking “But why?”

“You know why just as well as I do. Luna, Tia, I have to go. It is my duty to Equestria.” Aecorum’s voice was sad but firm.

Luna took a step forward “Then at least let us come with you!”

Aecorum shook his head quickly and his voice grew stern “Absolutely not! I am not going to risk the two of you getting hurt!”

“But Aecorum, we are immortal!” Celestia’s eyes pleaded with Aecorum.

“I do not care! There is no way I am going to let either of you come with me!” Aecorum’s voice grew slightly in volume and Luna was on the verge of tears.

“But you cannot go, Equestria needs you here. I need you here. Please, please stay.”

Aecorum turned to Luna and his voice got softer “Luna, Equestria needs you. You and Tia are needed here to help everypony who stays; I am needed alongside the soldiers.”

Celestia swallowed a lump in her throat “Aecorum…”

Aecorum smiled warmly at the mares “It is like you said, I am immortal. I will be fine and I will come back.”

“Then why can we not…”

Aecorum gently put a hoof on Celestia’s mouth. “I know you two are immortal, but who knows what weapons the griffons may use? If there is any chance of them having a way to harm us, I will take it upon myself a thousand times before letting either of you anywhere near it.” His voice grew slightly firmer as he wrapped his wings around his friends and continued “I promised your father that I would protect you two no matter what, and I intend on keeping that promise.”

Celestia and Luna hugged Aecorum and Celestia nodded while a single tear fell down Luna’s cheek and onto Aecorum’s coat. He pulled back and kissed each of them on the forehead before turning around and leaping off the balcony to lead a platoon of pegasi warriors to the front lines.

Aecorum sighed sadly as his thoughts wandered to the War. He had never told Celestia or Luna some of the more…Gruesome details of his experiences on the front lines of the Equestrian Army or his short time as a prisoner of King Ironbeak and he was glad he didn’t. He had once again wandered to the Sky Cavern, as he called it, and looked up at the Mare in the Moon before sighing again. He thought of Celestia’s and Luna’s father, the greatest stallion that Aecorum had ever known, and felt shame sink his heart.

“Aecorum, it is time for my wife and I to leave this world.”

“What? But what about Tia and Luna?”

“They are strong, beautiful mares, each one with more power within them than they now realize. Our time is over, Aecorum, and yours is just about to begin.” The powerful stallion looked down firmly but warmly at Aecorum. “But there is one thing I would ask of you.”

Aecorum nodded eagerly “I will be glad to do anything you ask.”

“Good. I need you to promise me that you will protect them. You are the eldest, and even though you are not of my blood, I have always thought of you as my son. Take care of my daughters, Aecorum. Regardless of what may come to pass, promise me you will keep them safe.” His eyes were earnest and strong.

“I will.” Aecorum straightened up and spoke proudly with determination in his eyes. “I swear that no matter what happens, I will gladly sacrifice my life to protect both of them from any and every danger.”

Aecorum hung his head in shame as he shook his head and whispered softly “I swore I would protect her, and I failed. I failed you, and I failed them. I am sorry, my Lord. I am so, so sorry…”

Crystal Clear

Luna woke up earlier than usual; it was only four in the afternoon. Oddly enough, the Mistress of Dreams had been plagued by nightmares. Well, she couldn’t really call them nightmares; they were more like strange confusions of her memories and her present. Luna stretched and put on her regalia before sighing at a knock on the door.

“Come in.” Luna’s voice was tired and she tried to get her mind back on the changeling refugees.

The door was opened meekly by a yellow crystal mare and she sheepishly smiled “Good afternoon, Your Highness.” She bowed and Luna smiled at her.

“Good afternoon.”

“I heard you wake up and I was, um, wondering if you wanted some early dinner.” She nervously chuckled “Well, I suppose it would be breakfast for you.”

Luna smiled and nodded “That would be lovely, thank you very much.” She noticed the mare’s awkward demeanor and raised an eyebrow “You seem nervous, is something wrong?”

The mare laughed nervously “No, no, of course not, it’s just…This is a small village and to think that we have the Princess of the Night and our new rulers is…” She smiled excitedly “It’s exhilarating!”

Luna chuckled “I understand. I’m afraid I do not know your name, Miss…?”

“Cherished Light, Your Highness.” She smiled and pointed towards the door “Should I get you that breakfast now?”

Luna nodded “Thank you.” Suddenly a thought struck her, a thought she cursed herself for not having sooner. Cherished Light almost walked out but Luna raised a hoof “Cherished Light, wait!”

Cherished jumped slightly and turned “Y-Yes, Your Majesty?”

Luna smiled sheepishly “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you. I know this may be a tender topic for you, but what do you remember of King Sombra?”

Cherished Light’s eyes widened and she swallowed a lump in her throat “King…Sombra?” Luna nodded “I’m…Afraid it’s still a little fuzzy…But I remember…” Her face was lined with fear “Darkness and pain.”

Luna smiled sympathetically “I am sure you suffered, but…Do you remember anything about who brought your plight to Celestia’s attention?”

Cherished furrowed her brow “I…I’m not sure…” She thought for a moment.

“I understand, please, take your time.” Luna’s hope was starting to shine through her eyes as Cherished Light thought hard.

Finally Cherished spoke “Yes…I remember now. There was a stallion, from Equestria!”

Luna nodded eagerly “Yes? What did he look like?”

“Well, I only saw him a few times but…He had a green coat, and a…Blue mane I think. He tried to get us to fight for ourselves against the king, he even challenged Sombra himself! We called him…”

“The Warrior?” Finally Luna had a shred of hope in her long search.

Cherished Light nodded “Yes, that’s it, the Warrior.”

Luna fought the urge to jump with joy “He was an alicorn, right?”

Cherished tapped her chin in thought before she shook her head “No…” Luna’s jaw fell open for a moment in confusion “He was a…Pegasus. And his name was…Steel Wind! After he challenged Sombra he flew to Equestria and told you about us, then you came and defeated Sombra.”

Luna sighed and turned towards the window with a crestfallen demeanor. She shook her head and whispered “How? How can this be possible?!”

“Are…Are you alright, Your Highness?”

Luna regained her composure “Yes, of course.” She forced a weak smile “If I may have that breakfast?”

Cherished Light bowed “Of course, Your Highness.”

Another thought struck Luna “And a history book, if you can please fetch one.”

Cherished cocked her head and left “Of…Of course, Princess Luna.”

As soon as the door closed Luna let out an exasperated sigh and ran her hoof through her mane. What is going on? Steel Wind? Who in Equestria is that?! Why do the crystal ponies, citizens of the empire that has been lost for a thousand years, cursed by Sombra himself, why do they not remember? It is impossible! Aecorum was the Warrior, not Steel Wind! Luna sighed. Yet another hope dashed and more questions without answers. Why am I the only one who remembers?

Luna straightened up and took a deep breath. I can’t lose control; I just have to look elsewhere. Her face fell Even if I am running out of options. She thought for a moment longer, and finally her train of thought went from Sombra to another wielder of dark magic. If the crystal ponies don’t remember Aecorum and Sombra, their records are old; perhaps his part in the battle with Tirek is still intact.

After about fifteen agonizing minutes in silence, somepony knocked on the door. Luna opened it with her magic and Cherished Light came in with a tray of food and a pristine and elaborate looking book. Luna smiled and sat down at the small table as Cherished Light served her breakfast.

Luna nodded “Thank you very much, Cherished Light.” She picked up the book “And thank you for this as well.”

Cherished bowed with a smile “My pleasure, Princess Luna. If you want anything else, please ask. It is a true honor to have you here in my house.”

Luna cocked her head slightly “I met the mayor of the village yesterday…Are you his daughter?”

Cherished Light chuckled “No, I am his wife.”

Luna smiled “Well, thank you for this lovely meal and the book, Cherished Light.”

Cherished Light bowed and closed the door as she walked out. Luna sighed again and ate a few of the crystal berries on her plate. She smiled at the surprisingly tangy flavor and almost fearfully opened the book of crystal history. Luna wasn’t sure if there would be records of Tirek in the Crystal Empire history but she had to try.

Luna flipped to the index and searched until she found the entry labeled “Thief, Tirek the.” She turned the pages while keeping the index marked with her magic until she found the right page. She read the scant entry and shook her head. Luna was certain that when Starswirl first met Scorpan, he took Scorpan to Aecorum and they helped him see the beauty of Equestria and the ponies. Aecorum had been the one who convinced Celestia and Luna that Tartarus was the only place Tirek could go and do no harm. Luna let out a single chuckle at the thought. That certainly went well, didn’t it?

Unfortunately Tirek was stopped before he came to the Crystal Empire so there was next to nothing about him in the book. Luna raised her eyebrow and flipped back to the index with a sigh. She turned to the first of many pages involving Sombra and read slowly and carefully, comparing the words before her with her memories. Cherished Light was right, according to the book the Warrior was a green pegasus named Steel Wind from Equestria, not Aecorum. But after a few pages Luna realized that everything that Aecorum had done, all of his actions, decisions, and even his words were attributed to Steel Wind. Luna ran a hoof through her mane as she let out an exasperated sigh and closed the history book.

Luna absently ate her breakfast and shook her head. What is the matter with everypony? What happened to Aecorum? Even Celestia could not change the history of the Crystal Empire after Sombra cursed it. Perhaps Discord…No, he was still in stone. Although he did run amuck for quite a while before Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements imprisoned him again.

Suddenly Luna heard the door slowly open and a changeling meekly poked its head in. Luna smiled and recognized her as Beguiling Cloak’s companion from the negotiations. Luna nodded and the changeling cleared her throat.

“Kind…Moon Queen.” She shook her head “Prin…Cess. I,” She furrowed her brow in thought for a moment and Luna cocked her head as the changeling continued “I is…Am…Optical…Illusion.”

Luna nodded “It is a pleasure to meet you, Optical Illusion. Your Equestrian is quite good, when did you learn?”

Optical Illusion cleared her throat “Last time sun came up, Beguiling Cloak gave me knowledge through…” She thought for a moment “Changeling…Mind…Speak?”

Luna raised an eyebrow and smiled “So changelings have a hive mind?” Optical Illusion furrowed her brow and Luna tried to think of a way to rephrase it “You can speak to other changelings without words?”

Optical Illusion nodded “Yes! Mind speak! Beguiling Cloak taught me Pony talk.”

Luna smiled warmly “That is excellent, I am very happy you and the other changelings will be able to learn Equestrian quickly. Is there something you wished to tell me?”

Optical Illusion nodded and took a step forward “I want thank you, Moon Princess. You helped changelings when we feared, you still help us.” Optical Illusion bowed low to the ground “You are great Pony Queen.”

Luna chuckled “Thank you very much, Optical Illusion.” Optical Illusion smiled and Luna turned back to her breakfast “Until the meeting then. Unless, of course, you have something else to talk to me about.”

Optical Illusion thought for a moment and cocked her head “Is Aecor your clutch brother?”

Luna’s eyes widened and she turned back to Optical Illusion “How…How do you know that name? Do the changelings know of him?”

Optical Illusion backed away slightly and buzzed her wings nervously “I…Please forgive, Moon Princess, your mind was loud…I not mean to hear…But I did. I sorry.”

Luna sighed and weakly smiled “That’s alright, Optical Illusion, I forgive you.” Optical Illusion smiled “His name was Aecorum. He was like a brother to Celestia…And to me, of course. But he…He is lost.” Luna furrowed her brow “You heard my thoughts?” Optical nodded and Luna raised an eyebrow “Can all changelings hear the thoughts of ponies?”

“No, no. Like pony…Flank signs…Changelings have skills. My skill is hear thoughts, but only loud thoughts.”

Luna’s expression shifted to one of curious interest “So changelings have special talents like ponies but they do not have cutie marks…Fascinating.” Luna raised an eyebrow “Do changelings keep records of their past?”

Optical thought for a moment before she shook her head “Not writing. Changelings learn past through mind speak.”

Luna nodded “Have you ever heard of Aecorum through your mind speak? Or maybe the Sea Prince?”

Optical Illusion closed her eyes and thought “I sorry, Moon Princess. Changelings did not learn about pony until before the Canterlot Failure.”

Luna’s face fell as she thought. Not again…Not another false hope. How can I be the only one in the whole world who remembers?

Optical nervously walked over to Luna and meekly put a hoof on her shoulder “It alright, Moon Princess. You find someone else who remember.”

Luna sighed “I hope so.”

Optical smiled “Maybe Aecorum lost his Pony mind speak?”

Luna chuckled slightly “Ponies do not talk to each other through their minds, Optical Illusion.”

Optical cocked her head “That not good. Mind speak is good, helps Hive stay connected. Is Equestria not connected?”

“Of course Equestria is connected. We are connected through our celebrations and our friends.”

“Friends?” Luna nodded with a small smile “Do you has friends, Moon Princess?”

Luna opened her mouth but closed it again and thought. After a second she spoke “Well, Celestia, the Sun Princess, is my friend but she is also my sister. Twilight Sparkle is a friend, as well as the other element bearers, but…Aecorum was my dearest friend a long time ago. He…He always knew what to say to make me smile, and he was strong, but he was also the kindest pony I have ever known.”

Optical frowned sadly “I sorry you lost him, Moon Princess. I sense he important to you, you very sad when you think of him gone.”

Luna sighed and nodded “Yes, I am sad that he’s gone. I just want to know what happened to him, whatever that may be. Even the crystal ponies have forgotten him, and he was one of their most celebrated heroes.” Luna sighed again “It does not make sense, Optical Illusion.”

Optical nodded before she looked towards the door “I sorry, Moon Princess. Beguiling Cloak is calling me, other changelings need me.”

Luna nodded and smiled “Of course, I understand. I will see you shortly, Optical Illusion.”

Optical smiled and walked towards the door “Goodbye Moon Princess.” The door closed behind her and Luna imperceptibly slumped in her chair.

“Another day and no answers. What am I going to do?”

Friend and Warrior

Scorpan flew softly through the night sky, making sure not to draw the attention of any of those…Ponies. He snarled slightly as he thought about them, even though…He had watched them live in peace with one another, a peace that he had never known, and he wondered…Why? What made these ponies so special? And what would happen to that peace once he and his brother took their magic?

Scorpan banished these thoughts with a shake of his head. This was right, they were meant to do this, Tirek said so. Suddenly Scorpan felt a sharp pain in his wing and turned with a glare. Before he could react the great flaming bird that had attacked him swooped again and struck his wing. He swiped at the bird with his claws but his wing gave out and he started plummeting to the ground. Scorpan flapped his uninjured wing but to no avail, he was still hurtling towards the hard rocks below him. He started to panic and tried to think of some way to save himself when he just…Stopped. He opened his eyes and saw a strange yellow light surrounding him, and suddenly he felt…It. He felt magic, and Tirek was right, it was wonderful.

Scorpan looked around for the source and as he was slowly lowered to the ground his eyes fell on a pony, one of the horned ones with a strange beard. Scorpan raised an eyebrow at the odd garb the pony was wearing, especially the bells, but before he could question it, the pony spoke.

“I am sorry for holding you like this, but I saw you falling and wanted to help. Are you alright?”

Scorpan slightly bared his teeth at the pony but…Something in his voice was calming. It wasn’t pathetic or weak as Tirek had told him; it was intelligent and had a quiet strength that confused and comforted Scorpan at the same time. The glow faded and Scorpan checked his wing. The bird had scratched it severely, but it would heal in time. The pony took a step towards him and furrowed his brow at Scorpan’s injury.

“My, that is a deep cut.” He smiled “Well, nothing a little healing potion cannot fix. Come with me and I will get you ready to fly in a jiffy.”

He turned to walk away and Scorpan raised his eyebrow “Why?”

The horned pony raised his eyebrow in return “Because I am here and I wish to help you.” He chuckled and shook his head “Oh how foolish of me, I have yet to properly introduce myself. I am Starswirl the Bearded.” Starswirl bowed and Scorpan cocked his head. Starswirl motioned towards Scorpan “And you are?”

Something in Starswirl piqued Scorpan’s curiosity and he decided to trust him, if only a little. “I am Scorpan.”

Starswirl nodded and stroked his beard with a hoof “Scorpan…Hm, I cannot say I have heard a name like that before, or ever seen a creature like yourself, for that matter. If I may ask, where are you from?”

Scorpan smiled slightly “I am from a land far away from this one.”

Starswirl chuckled “You certainly are a vague sort, Scorpan.” Scorpan winced and Starswirl furrowed his brow “Come along, I know just the thing for that scratch.” He started walking and Scorpan followed him, cautiously looking around at the forbidding forest.

“You…Live here?”

Starswirl smiled and waved a hoof “Goodness no, I only come here for research.”

Scorpan’s interest heightened and he walked a little closer to Starswirl “Research?”

Starswirl nodded “Yes, I study the creatures and plant life of this forest. Some of them are truly quite fascinating.”

Scorpan remembered the flaming bird and glared slightly “What was the creature that attacked me?”

Starswirl’s eyes glinted with academic pride “That, good sir, was a phoenix. They are majestic birds that can literally renew themselves when they get old or sick.” He noticed Scorpan’s expression and smiled sympathetically “I am sorry you got hurt, you must have been flying too close to its nest.” Scorpan raised an incredulous eyebrow and Starswirl continued “Phoenixes are very protective of their young and are quite adept at camouflaging their nests; I have been within three feet of a nest and did not suspect it was there in the slightest until the mother found me.”

Scorpan nodded and smiled, there was something about Starswirl that made him want to know more about him and Scorpan wondered whether the rest of the ponies were like him. He had saved Scorpan’s life without any knowledge of who he was and hadn’t once asked for anything in return. After they had walked for about twenty minutes in the harsh forest, Starswirl never once faltering in his path, they came to a small cottage made of wood and the sounds of clinking glass could be heard inside.

Scorpan furrowed his brow and took a more defensive stance but Starswirl only smiled apologetically “Forgive me; I forgot to mention my research partner was here. But do not worry; he will be nothing if not kind to you.”

Starswirl walked confidently up to the door and Scorpan followed hesitantly. Starswirl opened the door and Scorpan crouched to get through, although the ceiling was high enough for him to stand comfortably once he was inside. Starswirl took off his hat and put it on a chair and Scorpan raised his eyebrow at the clatter in the next room. Suddenly a voice echoed from the room and Starswirl chuckled.

“Starswirl! Glad you have returned!” The voice Scorpan heard was deep and strong, much like Tirek’s, but there was a joy in it that Scorpan felt drawn to. He cocked his head when he saw a huge pony walk through the door, his grey eyes focused intently on a glass jar he was holding with his magic. “I have discovered something truly amazing about this plant we came across the other day.” The pony didn’t notice Scorpan but walked to a shelf and pulled a few scrolls out with his magic.

Scorpan had never seen a pony like him before, he had both wings and a horn, and his mane and tail were constantly waving as if there was a strong wind. Finally Starswirl cleared his throat, instantly getting the attention of the huge stallion.

“Your Majesty, if I may.” He pointed to Scorpan “This is Scorpan. I found him in the forest after he had been attacked by a phoenix. His wing is injured so I brought him here for some of the healing potion we keep.”

Scorpan raised his eyebrow at the title Starswirl had used but the large pony smiled warmly at him and spoke in a friendly voice “Well, Scorpan, make yourself at home.” He bowed “I am High Prince Aecorum of the Sea, Triarch of Equestria.”

Scorpan’s eyes widened in fear, Tirek had warned him about the rulers and now he had walked right into the grasp of one of them. He looked for some exit but Starswirl and Aecorum noticed his expression and Starswirl spoke softly to him.

“Scorpan? Is something the matter?”

Scorpan swallowed the lump in his throat and shook his head, forcing a smile. He couldn’t reveal Tirek’s plan, no matter what the ponies did to him. “N-Nothing, I am alright.”

Aecorum furrowed his brow suspiciously and looked at Scorpan’s wing. Instantly his demeanor shifted and he showed nothing but concern for Scorpan. He pulled a chair up to Scorpan with his magic and turned back towards the shelves. “Sit down, Scorpan, and I will get you some potion for that wing.” He looked around for a moment before asking “Starswirl, where did you put the healing potion?”

Starswirl chuckled “I put it exactly where I always do, Your Highness.” Aecorum shot him a playful glare and he nodded “It is on the third shelf from the top, exactly fourteen inches from the left side, in the glass jar.”

Aecorum sighed and shook his head before he pulled an obviously empty jar out with his magic. “You would not happen to mean this jar, would you?”

Starswirl jumped slightly, making the bells jingle in a frenzy before he smiled sheepishly at Aecorum “Oh, I nearly forgot…I used up the last of it after that incident with the thorn bush.”

Scorpan raised his eyebrow and Aecorum laughed, a deep hearty laughed that made Scorpan smile without realizing it. “Starswirl, for a stallion that can recite a thousand spells off the top of his head, it amazes me how often you forget the simplest things.” Aecorum turned to Scorpan with a kind smile “Do not worry, Starswirl and I will make a fresh batch and that wing will be better in no time.”

Scorpan nodded and spoke hesitantly “Thank you…”

Starswirl waved a hoof as he made his way towards the laboratory “Think nothing of it, Scorpan.” He turned to Aecorum “Oh, what was that discovery you made about the plant, Your Highness?”

Aecorum nodded with a smile “Of course, I nearly forgot.” He grabbed the jar from earlier and held up the plant that was inside it “Do you remember those frustrating blue flowers we found last year?”

Starswirl grimaced “How could I not? My horn was sore for a week.”

Aecorum smiled triumphantly “Well Starswirl, I have found a cure!” Starswirl’s jaw dropped and Aecorum nodded “Yes, when this little beauty is mixed with a few common herbs and boiled for a while, it produces a solution that completely negates the effects!”

Starswirl clapped his hooves and grinned “A potion?”

Aecorum laughed “Actually it only works if the affected pony bathes in it.”

Scorpan furrowed his brow as the two stallions shared a laugh. They spoke in such an easy manner even though Aecorum was royalty. Starswirl turned to Scorpan as they went into the laboratory and spoke “You can come in and watch if you would like. It can be dreadfully boring out there.”

Scorpan smiled and stood, carefully avoiding moving his wing too much. He walked into the laboratory and his eyes widened as Aecorum and Starswirl worked chaotically but in a strangely organized way to make the potion. Scorpan smiled as the ponies, the creatures Tirek had told him were pathetic and worthless, talked and laughed with one another over simple things.

After a while Scorpan found himself laughing and talking alongside them and he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. They were curious about him and where he came from but accepted his answers, even if the answer was vague, and they didn’t once look down on him or mock him. Scorpan found himself asking them the questions he had since he came to Equestria and they answered him honestly, without a single reservation.

For the first time in his life, Scorpan was beginning to doubt his older brother. How could he claim to be better than the ponies when they gladly offered their help and knowledge to someone in need?

Soon the potion was finished and Aecorum offered it to Scorpan with the smile that seemed to always adorn his face. Scorpan smiled in return and drank it quickly, even though it tasted horrible. Within moments Scorpan’s wing was healed and he flapped it a few times to his satisfaction. Aecorum, Starswirl, and Scorpan walked out of the cottage and Aecorum sighed when he saw the moon dip towards the horizon.

“Alas, another day of politics awaits me.” He turned to Scorpan “Would you like to come back to Canterlot with us, Scorpan?”

Scorpan’s eyes widened “Canterlot? You trust me…In your capital?”

Aecorum laughed “Of course I do! Why would I not trust a friend?”

For some reason even he wasn’t sure about, that word touched Scorpan’s heart. He had only known Aecorum and Starswirl for a few hours, and already they were offering him a place to stay. Scorpan smiled and realized that in the time they had spent talking and laughing, these two stallions had become his friends. Scorpan finally figured out what made ponies special, why they lived in peace. It was because they had friends, and Scorpan didn’t want to hurt them and take their magic anymore.

He shook his head “I am sorry, Aecorum. There is something else I must do.” Without waiting for an answer, Scorpan took off and flew as fast as he could towards the mountain Tirek had chosen as their fortress. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and there was a big part of him that was afraid, but Scorpan knew in his heart it was what he had to do.

He had to stop his brother.

Aecorum didn’t know why his thoughts had drifted to Scorpan, but he smiled at the memory of his old friend’s courage. After Scorpan left them that first night he had confronted his brother and eventually warned Aecorum about Tirek’s plan. Aecorum had seen the look of pain and sadness on Scorpan’s face when Tirek was put into Tartarus, but there was no other way. He had asked Scorpan to stay in Equestria but Scorpan refused, he said the pain was too great. Aecorum sighed; he knew all too well the hurt of betraying somepony you claimed to care for.

He shook his head to banish those thoughts and a sudden chill in the cave reminded Aecorum of winter, his favorite season. He smiled as he thought of snow, hot cocoa, warm fireplaces, skating, and…Ice. Before he knew it he wasn’t thinking about the joys of winter, but an empty plain of snow and ice, far to the north of Equestria.

The Crystal Empire. That name had become something of a legend across the world, boasting of beautiful architecture and wondrous nature, but to its citizens, the name was dark and filled with terror. For if the King was not satisfied with the work, there was only one outcome.

Few remembered the carefree days of old, when the Crystal Heart protected the land and their own hearts were happy. The only thing they knew now was pain and torment in cold chains, thanks to King Sombra. He watched them from the dark palace and laughed as they slaved beneath his iron hoof. His eyes searched for any weakness and once he found one, he would pounce on the poor pony and fear would reign all the stronger.

Sombra had done an excellent job making sure that none of the other nations in the world knew of the darkness he had brought to the crystal ponies, and he had succeeded, but for one stallion.

Aecorum had always been suspicious of Sombra and decided to make an unannounced trip to the Crystal Empire. He knew Sombra wouldn’t confront him but he still chose to fly alone and under cover of darkness. Once he arrived in the capital city, Aecorum’s heart was filled with sadness and rage at Sombra’s actions. He looked up at the tyrant and his eyes widened when he saw the purple flames flowing from Sombra’s eyes and horn.

Aecorum shook his head and whispered “He…He is using Dark Magic. I have to stop this!” Aecorum pulled his cloak over his head and walked silently to a crystal pony that was separated from the rest, although the chains were tight around his neck.

Aecorum shook his head again and fought the anger rising in his chest. The pony fell down and his eyes widened in fear as he struggled to get up. Before Sombra could see him, Aecorum quickly helped him up and used his body to support the weak stallion.

The stallion looked fearfully up at Aecorum “Who…Who are you? The King will see, you have to go!”

Aecorum shook his head and helped the pony walk towards a hidden alley “I will not. This has gone on for far too long, and I will stop it!” Once they were out of sight, Aecorum used his magic to break the chains on the pony’s neck. He sighed “I only hope that you can forgive me for not seeing this before now.”

The crystal stallion leaned wearily against the wall “Who are you?”

Aecorum smiled and lowered his hood “I am Aecorum, a Prince of Equestria.”

The pony’s eyes widened and he looked around fearfully “Then you must go! The King is powerful, he could kill you!”

Aecorum glared up at the palace “No.” He looked back at the stallion “Is there a place the crystal ponies gather when the work is finished for the day?”

He nodded tentatively “We sleep in the Hovel.”

Aecorum’s face grew hard and determined “Take me there.”

Aecorum stood in front of a crowd of painfully frightened crystal ponies and he felt his heart break for them. Almost all of the crystal ponies had been forced to live in this small, broken home and Aecorum felt his anger rise. He cursed himself for not seeing this sooner and cleared his throat to speak.

“I am High Prince Aecorum of the Sea. I am one of the rulers of Equestria and I am here to help you. Fractured Shard brought me here and he told me what has been happening to you.” A few of the ponies glared daggers at Fractured Shard while others looked at him with pleading eyes. Aecorum shook his head and continued “I asked him to bring me here. I know now what Sombra has been doing to you, and I mean to put an end to it! His powers come from Dark Magic, and it has corrupted his heart and even his soul. I know he has made you fear him, but fear can be controlled!” He smiled defiantly at them “You can stop him, all of you!” The crystal ponies murmured fearfully at each other and he nodded “Yes, you can! His power comes from your fear! The Crystal Empire was a great land, and its greatness came from you!”

Aecorum could tell they weren’t convinced so he tried to think of how to make them see the truth. “He is evil, but you are strong! If you fought him, broke your shackles, and rose up against him, you would be victorious!”

A crystal mare in back shouted “Do not listen to him! He does not know the power of the King!” All eyes went to her and tears fell down her face “We are nothing compared to him. We cannot defy him; the King would destroy us all! You know what I say is true!”

Aecorum walked over to her and smiled sadly “But it is not. The light within you protected you for centuries, and it can protect you again.”

She shook her head “There is no Crystal Heart. The King took it from us and we will never see it again!”

Aecorum looked at the rest of the ponies and saw they agreed with the mare. He sighed and pleaded with them “You do not need the Crystal Heart! The light has been within you all this time; you can use it to fight the King! Please, listen to me! You do not have to live in fear and darkness; you can strip him of his power!” His voice became more earnest and he looked each one in the eye “All of you are so much stronger than you know. Fight for your foals, for the Empire! Fight Sombra to free yourselves!”

The mare that had spoken shook her head and took a few steps away from Aecorum. “We cannot!” Before Aecorum could think of something else to say, the rest of them had followed the mare and he found himself looking at the crystal ponies, resigned to their fate.

Aecorum sighed and looked at them “You will not fight?” They shook their heads and Aecorum turned to leave, a determined look on his face. “Very well. I will fight for you.”

The crystal ponies had been too afraid to tell Sombra that Aecorum had come to the Crystal Empire but he could tell that something was definitely wrong. He sat on his dark throne and thought about some new way to get them to tell him, although the Door of Fear seemed to work pretty well in the past. Suddenly the crystal doors burst open and a seething alicorn marched towards him. Sombra bared his teeth at Aecorum but Aecorum didn’t even respond. The only sign of his emotion was his mane and tail billowing faster with his rage.

Aecorum stopped a few feet in front of Sombra and narrowed his eyes. He spoke coldly but firmly “Sombra. Stop.”

Sombra smirked “I do not know what you are talking about, Aecorum.”

Aecorum gritted his teeth “Do not lie to me; it will only make it worse for you. I know you are using Dark Magic. Do not be a fool, Sombra.”

Sombra laughed and walked back to his throne “Fool? I will tell you who the fool is, Your Highness.” He spat the words out like venom “You think you can come into my empire and tell me to stop? I am Sombra! The King of Crystal!”

“And you are using a force you cannot control.”

Sombra laughed again “I control everything!”

Aecorum walked towards Sombra with pleading eyes “Sombra, listen to me! If you do not stop using Dark Magic and tormenting the crystal ponies, I will have to force you to. Please do not make me.”

Sombra bared his fangs at Aecorum and stood up, his eyes flaring with darkness “You dare threaten me?! This is not your domain, Prince of the Sea!” He smiled wickedly “It is mine! And I am KING!” Sombra fired a blast of dark magic that hit Aecorum square in the chest and blew him back to the wall.

Aecorum fell to the floor and glared harshly at the black unicorn. He wiped a bit of blood from his chin and stood slowly. Sombra laughed and prepared to hit him again but Aecorum’s horn flashed with light and Sombra was hurled to the floor next to his throne. Aecorum’s eyes were ablaze with rage and he walked to the balcony. His words were laced in ice as Sombra tried to get off the floor.

“Your hours are numbered.” Aecorum took off as fast as he could towards Canterlot and Sombra laughed.

“Yes, run! Run from the might that is King Sombra!”

Aecorum returned to Canterlot and quickly summoned Celestia and Luna to him. They looked at the dried blood on his chin with concern but he held his glare.

“Sombra has fallen. We must go.” In an instant the three alicorns were in the air as they flew to face the dark King of Crystal.

Sombra laughed again as he thought of Aecorum’s threat. He scoffed and spoke darkly.

“He thinks he can defeat me? Hah! He is a greater fool than I thought.” His horn flashed and a crystal slave that had been serving him fell to the floor, whimpering like a newborn as her greatest fears came to life before her eyes. Sombra laughed again until a sound from outside drew his attention.

“SOMBRA!” Sombra snarled at the voice and walked to the balcony to see Aecorum along with the two alicorn princesses of Equestria hovering above the balcony.

Sombra laughed, baring his fangs “You wish to be beaten again, Prince?”

Aecorum stared coldly at him and spoke in a deadly tone “King Sombra, I, High Prince Aecorum of the Sea, Triarch of Equestria, along with High Princess Celestia of the Day and High Princess Luna of the Night, as punishment for your crimes against the Crystal Ponies, do hereby strip you of your title and banish you from the Crystal Empire for all eternity!”

Sombra growled “You cannot banish me from my own Empire!”

Aecorum’s glare hardened “I gave you a chance. You did not accept it. You are responsible for this.” He turned to Celestia and Luna and nodded before his horn lit up.

Celestia and Luna lit up their horns and the three combined them to shoot a rainbow of magic at Sombra. He tried to use his dark powers to defend himself but he was consumed and turned to shadows. The darkness that covered the empire vanished and Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna sealed him in the ice but just before it snapped shut, Sombra screamed in rage and used his magic to make the entire Crystal Empire disappear.

The alicorns looked at each other and the snowy ground below them where the palace used to be in disbelief. Aecorum tried to bring it back with his own magic but after a while shook his head sadly and started the long flight back to Canterlot. Celestia followed him but Luna hovered in the air, staring at the empty ice and snow.

She thought to herself Sombra did this? That Dark Magic he used…It made him so strong, so…Her eyes glinted darkly. Powerful.

Author's Note

Hope you guys enjoyed the special Extra Long Chapter!

A Word of Advice

Luna had decided to let the rulers of the Crystal Empire and the leaders of the changeling refugees work out the details for themselves and only offer her advice if it was absolutely necessary. She smiled as Beguiling Cloak and Optical Illusion finished the plans for the new changeling village with Shining Armor and Cadence. It was to be a small village near the capital with enough room for all of the changelings and one or two officials of the Crystal Empire to act as liaisons and law keepers. For the most part the changelings would govern themselves but they would be subject to the same laws as the Crystal Ponies, and Luna was quite pleased at how cordial Shining Armor had been to the changelings.

Finally the plans were complete and Beguiling Cloak stood. “There aren’t words to describe how grateful we are to you, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor. We promise we will serve you faithfully and make the Crystal Empire our new Hive.” Cadence and Shining shared an uneasy look before Beguiling Cloak continued “No, no, please don’t misinterpret what we intend, we only mean that the Crystal Empire will be our new home and you will gain our eternal loyalty. Our nymphs will grow up here and know you as their rulers, we will teach them both the language of the Hive and of the ponies, and we will live upon each other once again.” Beguiling Cloak genuinely smiled and Luna saw a little mist in his eyes “You have given us a chance to live real lives in peace and freedom, and for that, we thank you.” He bowed low to the ground and looked towards the ponies happily.

Cadence smiled warmly at Beguiling Cloak. “We will make sure that you and your children will always have a home in our Empire. I’m glad that I have gotten to know creatures of a race I once hated better.”

Shining nodded and smiled “I am too.” He walked over to the changelings and bowed to Beguiling Cloak. “Welcome to the Crystal Empire.” Optical Illusion laughed in a buzzing way and hugged Beguiling Cloak as they chattered happily with each other.

Luna smiled and spoke in a firm but gentle voice. “I must say that I am very pleased with what you have managed to accomplish despite your differences and personal vendettas.” She glanced at Shining Armor. “I believe that my work here is done, I will leave the details to you and return to Canterlot on the morning train.” The changelings exchanged a quick look with light concern on their faces. “Do not worry, Beguiling Cloak, my protection over you and the other changelings will stand even in my absence.” Luna stood and headed for the doors. “Now, I am afraid I must take my leave; the night grows old, and I have work to do.”

Cadence smiled warmly as she waved to Luna “I can’t thank you enough for all of your help, Aunt Luna. It was very nice to see you, you should come again sometime.” She stifled a yawn as Shining nodded and Luna chuckled.

“I am very tempted, Cadence, but I believe my unusual schedule may upset your time of sleep. Farewell, please do keep me apprised as to how things work out.” Luna walked out and made her way to a balcony where she would begin setting the moon for the night, feeling good about her return to Canterlot and telling Celestia that all had gone well.

Once again Luna found herself gazing out the window at nothing in particular as the train passed through the dawn-tinted landscape. She had always found it difficult to sleep on trains so the fact that she was utterly exhausted had little to no effect on her. She nodded to the servant that brought her a simple but delicious breakfast of hay browns, mixed fruit, orange juice, and grass pancakes with special Zap Apple Jam from Sweet Apple Acres. As Luna ate she couldn’t help thinking about how much Aecorum would have loved the jam, especially since grass pancakes were one of his favorite things to eat. She smiled as she remembered one morning when he declared “Batter Flip is the finest maker of grass pancakes in all of Creation and shall henceforth be known as Duchess of the Pancake!” and then he laughed so hard the breakfast table shook. Luna loved to hear him laugh, it always made her whole world seem brighter and full of joy.

She stopped the fork just in front of her mouth as Celestia’s words came rushing back to her. Her face fell and she rubbed her temple with her hoof, trying to make sense of it all. How could I remember an event so trivial if it was just a fantasy? I know that memory was real and I know Celestia was there. Why does nopony remember except me? Maybe it…But I couldn’t have just ‘created’ him as a means to escape Nightmare Moon, I remember every…Horrifying moment of that darkness. Luna barely registered a voice addressing her in the train car. There was one moment just before I was completely freed of Nightmare Moon by Twilight Sparkle and her friends that I do not remember but that cannot…

“Princess Luna?” She snapped back to reality and saw an olive colored unicorn stallion with a dark brown mane and yellow eyes standing in front of her with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes?” She tried to recognize the strange stallion but couldn’t quite place him.

“Are you alright? You looked very perturbed just now.” His voice was warm and kind but Luna heard a quiet strength in it as well.

She slightly shook her head “I am quite alright, thank you. I am afraid I am not familiar with you, what is your name?”

He jumped slightly and smiled, adjusting his glasses. “Oh! Right! I’m sorry, Your Highness, my name is Sound Council. It’s a great honor to meet you.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “I hate to be rude, but why are you here? The guards should have stopped you.” The exhaustion and stress of diplomacy had worn on Luna’s nerves and her patience.

“They did, but I saw the look on your face and so I asked if I could just pop in for a second and make sure you were okay.” He smiled “After all, ‘ask not what Equestria can do for you, but what you can do for Equestria.’”

Luna allowed a smile to play across her lips “I suppose. But you only could have seen my face if you had been looking through the window and in order for you to have done that you would have had to talk to the guards beforehand.” She raised her eyebrow and Sound Council rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof.

“Well, I guess I should explain myself a bit more clearly.” He looked towards a nearby chair. “Do you mind if I…?” Luna waved her hoof and he sat down, smiling kindly at her. “Princess Luna, I am going to be completely honest with you. I knew you were on this train and I wanted to talk to you, so I told the guards that I was sent by Princess Celestia to talk to you as a doctor.”

Luna straightened up slightly and frowned. “Is that true?”

Sound Council shrugged “It could be. I could also be a loyal citizen who is concerned about the welfare of one of my rulers and knows that sometimes having somepony to talk to makes everything seem just a little bit better.” He adjusted his glasses again and smiled. “So what’s got the Princess of the Night staring out the window with a furrowed brow?”

Luna couldn’t help but smile at the easy manner Sound Council conducted himself with, even though she still was a little dubious as to his motivations. “I have gotten myself into a position where every question I ask leads to nothing but more questions.” She sighed very slightly “I just want to know what happened.”

Sound Council nodded sympathetically “I’ve had experience with that. I understand how frustrating it can be, especially if it’s something important to you. If you don’t mind me asking, Your Highness, what are you trying to find out? I may be able to offer some help.” There was something about Sound Council that Luna found easy to talk to, and she actually wanted to tell him what was bothering her.

Luna forced a small smile. “I doubt that. I have gone to some brilliant ponies and read some of the most comprehensive histories of Equestria. I have even gone to one of my worst enemies, well, former enemy I suppose. And I have found not only nothing to answer my question, but doubts about my own sanity.”

“Oh come on, you won’t even give me a chance?” Sound Council smirked jokingly “I’ve been around the block a few times, my dear Princess. Who knows what I might be able to tell you?”

Luna chuckled as she looked out the window. “Sound Council, I hardly know you, why would I talk to you about a matter closer to my heart than almost anything?”

Sound Council shrugged “You seem like somepony who needs to talk, and I’m the only one here.” He smiled warmly “I won’t judge you, if that’s what you’re worried about. Come on, what’s the matter?”

Luna sighed and finally accepted that maybe she should talk to a more impartial pony like Sound Council. “It is…An old friend of mine. At least, I think he was an old friend.” Sound Council nodded and she continued “His name is, or was, Aecorum. I’ve known him as long as I can remember, but ever since Nightmare Moon was defeated and I returned, I have not seen him anywhere, not even in records. Are you familiar with the stained glass depictions of Equestrian history in Canterlot Castle?”

“Of course. I’ve only had the honor of seeing them once, but I remember they were spectacular.”

“A shame. They are all wrong.” Sound Council raised an eyebrow “Well, not all of them. Just the ones that depict my sister and I are false, to the best of my knowledge. Aecorum was there when Discord was defeated, he was there when I was banished to the moon, and he was on the front lines of the Equestrian Army during the Griffon War, but nopony remembers him, not even Celestia.” Luna sighed again “She says that I created Aecorum during my banishment, and I…I’m not sure anymore whether or not she is right.” Sound Council nodded “I thought I was sure, I thought he would come home, but now…”

“That must be difficult. Princess Celestia is sure that Aecorum never existed?”

Luna nodded and looked at Sound Council with a weary expression “Yes. She is certain. I know that she would never lie to me; I know that she loves me very much, but I also know that Aecorum was not only my best friend, but hers as well. I don’t know what to do; I’ve exhausted all my options and found nothing.”

Sound Council stood up and gently put a hoof on Luna’s shoulder and smiled “Princess Luna, I know we just met, and this may seem presumptuous of me, but I want to help you.” Luna raised an eyebrow “Really, I mean it. You aren’t sure whether or not Aecorum existed, right?” Luna nodded and Sound Council continued “I’m going to help you be sure. The first step, in my opinion,” He settled into the chair again and smiled warmly “Is to talk about him. Tell me about him. I’ll be able to give an impartial opinion, and offer what advice I can.”

Luna sighed and thought. Why does this unicorn I have never seen before want so much to hear about Aecorum? Then again, he is right. I do want to talk about it, and he might be able to offer a new perspective. He seems very…Kind and trustworthy. I suppose it can do no harm. She spoke softly “One of my earliest memories is playing Hide and Seek with Celestia and Aecorum. We used to spend entire days in the garden chasing after each other and having the best times. I remember once Celestia and I found a number of beautiful seashells and made them into a necklace for Aecorum, he loved it, in fact he did not take it off for months and my mother…” The train rattled on towards Canterlot as Luna told Sound Council about her best friend and he listened with patience and a smile.

Celestia sighed as she read the last entry of her old journal again. She couldn’t help but feel that time and time again she had failed to protect her sister, and it was starting to get to her. Celestia put the book down and started thinking about her decision to send Sound Council to Luna as somepony to talk to; she wondered if maybe she was wrong.

“What else could I have done? She hasn’t listened to me.” She mused aloud. It was true that Doctor Sound Council was one of the most renowned psychiatrists in all of Equestria, and the youngest pony to receive the Passionate Mind award in over three hundred years, but Celestia was still uncertain if she should have sent him to Luna without her knowledge.

She shook her head and gazed out the window. She saw a team of pegasi clearing up the clouds and thought. I know I should have asked her, or at least told her before she left, but she can be so stubborn, I know she wouldn't have let me. Perhaps I am being too hard on myself, or taking this too seriously, what harm could it do for Luna to hold on to this idea? She sighed as she ran her hoof along the pages of the journal. Who am I kidding? This has to stop here, before something far worse comes to light. And yet…There has been something nagging at me for some time, something I have not been able to figure out, maybe Aecorum is… Celestia shook her head a few times. What am I thinking? There has never been an alicorn stallion since Father left, and there has never been anypony named Aecorum. She looked towards the book and sighed again. I have to find a way to help her get through this. She flipped a few pages and absently read a passage when she heard a knock on the door.

Celestia straightened up and called “Come in.”

A royal guard came in and bowed. “Pardon me, Your Highness but the Minotaurian ambassador’s carriage is almost here.”

Celestia nodded “Thank you for telling me, you may go back to your post.” The guard nodded and left the room.

Celestia let the journal rest on the desk and as she stood the pages lifted slightly. A cloud that had been blocking the sun was cleared by a pegasus and the noonday light gave the aged parchment a slightly translucent appearance. Part of a phrase just above an entry written by Celestia became almost visible, written in a stronger and more flowing script than either sister. Celestia left the room and just before she closed the door, the words became clear.

Today, Tia, Luna, and I…

Darkness is Easily Hidden

Aecorum smiled and hummed a meaningless tune as he happily but quietly trotted through the halls of the castle. He glanced at the bouquet of flowers held up in his magic and his smile grew wider. He had spent the last few hours searching the Forest of Everfree and had created a beautiful arrangement of moon flowers, night bloom water lilies, and night gladiolus for a very special occasion. Aecorum finally reached the door to Luna’s private study and nodded to the Night Guards before gently knocking, hiding the flowers behind his head.

“Enter!” Luna’s take on the Royal Canterlot Voice was very good at piercing through wood.

Aecorum opened the door and slyly poked his head in. “If I may beg audience with Thy Graciousness?” Luna chuckled and nodded as Aecorum walked in and closed the door.

“Dost thou wish to converse?” Luna giggled as Aecorum bowed low.

“Nay, High Princess of the Night, I only wish to givest thou…” He pulled the bouquet out and held it up proudly “These!” Luna gasped as she took the flowers with her magic and Aecorum smiled warmly. “Happy birthday, Luna.”

“Oh Aecorum, these are beautiful! Thank you!” She stroked one of the moon flowers with a hoof and Aecorum sat down opposite her. “I have never seen flowers like these, where did you get them?”

Aecorum smiled deviously “Oh, it was nothing really. I was walking along the path to our old place when suddenly I heard a terrible roar!” He moved his hooves to illustrate his story. “I found myself surrounded by a dozen manticores, three hydras, and a pack of timberwolves! I was going to fly away, of course, but then I saw that the largest hydra had this bouquet hanging around its middle head.” Luna raised an eyebrow “It is true! I decided then and there that nothing in this world could keep me from this lovely display, and so I quickly dispatched the beasts and brought the prize back as your birthday present!” He nodded triumphantly and leaned back in his chair.

“Really? All that for a little bouquet?” Luna’s voice was incredulous and she smirked as Aecorum faked a shocked and hurt expression.

“A little bouquet? Why, a finer arrangement has never before been seen in this world!” Both ponies laughed heartily and Aecorum grinned at Luna.

Aecorum spoke in a softer, more relaxed voice “I found a beautiful pond about ten miles from our castle, completely covered by these flowers, so I picked the best looking ones and brought them back. They are truly remarkable, when I first got there they looked like buds but just as the moon rose and the second the flowers were touched by moonlight, they unfurled and the whole place was completely transformed!”

“They bloom at night?” Luna’s smile grew as she fondly looked at the flowers “I did not think that was possible. All of the flowers I have seen only bloom during the day.” There was a slight hint of anger as she spoke but Aecorum didn’t notice.

“It was truly amazing, Luna, I will have to show you the next time we go to the castle.”

“I would enjoy that, thank you very much.”

“Oh! And I am sure Tia would love to come, I must invite her tomorrow.”

“Yes, of course…Celestia.” Luna’s face hardened just slightly.

“But for now,” He yawned “I think I will get a couple hours of sleep before Night Court begins. Happy birthday again, Luna!” Aecorum stood and walked out, leaving Luna alone with the bouquet.

Luna glared at the flowers as she thought about Aecorum’s invitation. After a second she threw the flowers into the fireplace and watched them slowly burn.

“Because nothing is ever complete without dear, dear Tia.” She spat the words out venomously and her eyes glinted darkly for a moment.

“Tia, have you noticed something…Off about Luna recently?” Aecorum’s voice was edged with concern as he stared out the window of the Hall of Resolution.

“Not particularly, what do you mean?” Celestia sipped her tea and debated whether or not to have another cake; after all, they were pretty small.

“I am not quite sure, but lately she has seemed distant, even cold at times. The other day I asked her if she would like to go on a picnic and get away from the castle, you know, a chance for us three to relax and spend time together.” Aecorum turned towards Celestia “And she said that she would not want to ‘intrude’ on us.”

Celestia put down her tea and straightened up. “Us? As in, you and I?” Aecorum nodded and Celestia’s eyes grew worried “Why in the world would she say that? She knows that we love spending time with her, even though the Night Court and Day Court scheduling has made things difficult at times…Not to mention that horrible incident with Tirek.”

Aecorum sat down and nodded “I know, I know. But even so, have you noticed that ever since we banished Sombra she has not been coming to breakfast or dinner and eating in her study or the library because she is ‘far too busy’?”

“Come to think of it, yes.” Celestia tapped her chin with her hoof “I hope she is feeling alright, perhaps we should go talk to her.”

“I agree, how about we speak to her at dusk?”

Celestia nodded and the alicorns sipped their tea in silence for a few more minutes before Celestia smiled and looked at Aecorum excitedly.

“I know just what to do to cheer her up!” Aecorum raised an eyebrow and Celestia smiled warmly “How about we take a day off and go visit the old castle? We can play Hide and Seek, write in the old journal, all the things she loved to do. I am sure there are plenty of nobles that would love being in charge for the day.”

Aecorum nodded and cracked a small smile “Yes of course, she would love that!”

Celestia’s eyes grew more mischievous “And perhaps we could play another round of…The Game?”

Aecorum narrowed his eyes “You would not mean the game your Father taught us, would you?”

Celestia smiled impishly “The very same. You know how much Luna liked it.”

Aecorum smirked and chuckled “Tia, you are an ingenious mare.”

Celestia and Aecorum clinked their teacups together and shared a devious smile as they thought about their plan.

Luna galloped as fast as she could through the magically darkened castle, continually glancing over her shoulder to see if…It was still following her. She skidded around a corner and stopped, quietly gasping for air. She heard something shuffling in the corridor behind her and smiled, charging her horn with magic. The shuffling stopped and Luna raised an eyebrow while she edged closer to the corner. A loud organ blast reverberated through the walls and Luna jumped slightly. After a moment the organ music was replaced with dark laughter as the shuffling noises began again. Luna’s ears pricked to the left when she heard the same sound from behind her.

Luna’s eyes widened as she looked around for any chance of escape and the creatures grew closer. She took a deep breath to calm herself and started running down the only open corridor. Her smile grew as she realized she was headed for the Hall of Hooves and instantly formulated a plan. Deftly dodging the trapdoors and leaping into the secret chamber, Luna was certain the creatures would follow her, and once they did…Luna fought the urge to laugh evilly.

Luna peeked out of the chamber when she heard the creatures shuffling into the hall and saw that they had separated in order to find her faster. Luna smirked as she slowly charged up her horn and put a hoof on the lever. Her hoof twitched as the creature grew closer to the trapdoor. Closer…Closer…Snap!

The floor fell out from under the shadowy beast and Luna ran out of her hiding place, stopping just short of the edge. She smiled again as the monster tried to climb the walls to no avail and she pointed her horn at its chest. Luna’s horn sparked as a magical blast hit the creature and knocked it back onto the floor.

A sound of something charging at her distracted Luna from the trap and she swiftly turned around, just narrowly avoiding being hit by the other beast. It turned around to face her and she heard a low snarl coming from its mouth. It charged again and Luna stepped to the side, angering the creature further. She repeated the same sidestep maneuver until her horn had charged again and she chuckled as the magical blast knocked the monster into the pit with its compatriot.

Luna walked triumphantly to the edge of the trap and laughed “Ha ha! I win!” She grinned as Aecorum and Celestia took off their disguises and flew out of the pit.

Aecorum laughed along with Luna as he looked at Celestia “At least I was not the first pony out, eh Tia?”

Celestia shot him a playful glare “No, but your aim is in sore need of improvement, I thought you were going to crush me!” All three alicorns laughed and Celestia took a step forward, wincing as she put weight on her right foreleg.

Aecorum cocked his head and asked with a worried voice “Are you alright? I did not actually hurt you, did I?”

Celestia rolled her shoulder a few times and waved a hoof “I am fine, really. Luna’s blast was just a bit strong, that is all.”

Luna gasped slightly “Oh, I am very sorry Celestia; I did not mean any harm.”

Celestia laughed “I know you did not, Sister. Come, let us play again!”

Aecorum nodded with a smile “Indeed! Since Tia was the first pony out, she will be the Hunted.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes at Aecorum “You know, we have been playing all day and yet you have never been hunted…” She walked over to him and poked his chest with a slight smirk “You have not been cheating, have you?”

Aecorum assumed an affronted tone and straightened his neck “Why, Celestia! I am a stallion of honor! I would never cheat!”

Luna and Celestia shared a look and spoke simultaneously “Oh?”

Aecorum turned around and started to walk away “Of course not!” He turned his head back to the mares and smiled evilly “I am just that good!” Aecorum laughed and ran into the shadows.

Celestia laughed and looked around but Luna was nowhere in sight and the trapdoor had been closed. Celestia began walking carefully as she spoke softly “I guess the hunt has begun.”

Luna narrowed her eyes at her sister from her hiding place and thought as her eyes glinted with a malicious light. Yes, Celestia…The hunt has begun.

Celestia sighed as she relaxed on one of the larger pillows in the reading room with a small smile. Luna sat on a pillow a little bit away and Aecorum dug around in a chest before grabbing a quill and some ink. All three of them enjoyed the silence while Aecorum smiled and wrote a bit in their journal. A few more moments passed while Aecorum wrote before Luna broke the silence.

“What are you writing?”

Aecorum smiled as he shut the journal “Oh, you know, what we did today, what we talked about, all the usual things.”

Celestia nodded “Good. It has been too long since we have had a day to ourselves, I am glad we did it.”

Luna smiled “As am I.” She sighed “If only we did not have to go back.”

Aecorum chuckled “I know what you mean. But alas, we must return before Prince Blueblood gets too used to the throne.”

Celestia cocked her head slightly “Which one is he? Blueblood the Third, is he not?”

Luna shook her head “No, Sister, I do believe he is the Fourth.”

“What about the Second?” Celestia lifted a hoof idly as she spoke.

Aecorum sighed with a smile “I think we have all lost count as far as that family is concerned. I still cannot fathom why you two adopted him as your nephew.”

Celestia sighed “His family claimed to have proof that they were descendants of our mother and therefore deserved higher rank.”

Luna furrowed her brow “I still think we should make them show us this ‘proof’. It is absolute nonsense to think Mother had a foal we did not know about. Not only that, in order for that family to be unicorns, the father of that foal would had to have been somepony other than Father.”

Celestia shrugged “I know, Luna, I know. But they are the most powerful family in all the nobility and you know what would happen if we denied them outright.”

Aecorum nodded “Very true, very true. At least this way he will not be scrounging around for more power, well,” He chuckled “For a while, anyway. Besides, it is not my place to judge your family, or your choices of relatives.” He smirked and put the quill and ink away.

Luna laughed as Celestia spoke “Aecorum, will you never learn? You have always been as much a brother to me as Luna is a sister.” Celestia stood and wrapped a wing around Aecorum’s back, causing Luna’s expression to darken just slightly as Celestia continued “No matter what happens, my friend, you are family.”

“I look back now and it was so obvious. The darkness was growing within you for years, I should have seen it.” Aecorum looked up at the cavern ceiling and sighed “Perhaps I did see it but chose to ignore it. I cannot say. Tia always knew how to figure out what ponies were thinking.” He laughed slightly “Maybe my power of memory was indeed your undoing…I may have been so wrapped up in how you used to be I was blind to what you were becoming. Whatever the reason for my ignorance, my fear still kept me from saving you.”

His ears pricked towards the wall behind him as something cracked the stone. He turned around and cocked his head when he saw a strange black vine working its way through the rock. Aecorum took a cautious step towards it and it lashed out, almost like it was trying to attack him. He raised an eyebrow and thought aloud.

“What in the world are you? And why do you seem so intent on reaching me?” His instincts were telling him to destroy this vine without touching it or the grey thorns and he wholeheartedly agreed. It only took a second of focused magic to reduce the vine to ash and Aecorum shrugged as he went on with his day.

Over Dinner

Celestia smiled softly as Luna’s entourage returned to the castle. She could see that Luna had gotten very little sleep on the train so she decided to hold her thoughts and conversation until after Luna had gotten some well-deserved rest. Cadence had sent a letter to Celestia that detailed the interactions with the rogue changelings and the plans for the future.

As Celestia watched Luna enter the castle from the throne room window, she smiled and whispered “Well done, Little Sister. I knew you could do it.”

Celestia turned away and sat back on her throne, taking in the rare moment of silence between meetings. She had closed her eyes and leaned back on her throne for about fifteen minutes when a guard entered the room. Celestia raised an eyebrow as the guard bowed and spoke “Your Majesty, there is a Doctor Sound Council here that is requesting an audience with you.”

Celestia’s face fell slightly and she nodded “Send him in. Thank you.” The guard bowed and was just about to leave when Celestia said “Princess Luna just returned to the castle, do you know where she is?”

The guard nodded “Princess Luna has retired to her bedchamber for the day. Do you want me to get her?”

Celestia shook her head “No, she needs rest. Send in Doctor Council and please make sure Princess Luna is not disturbed today.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” The guard left and a few moments later Sound Council walked into the throne room.

Sound Council adjusted his glasses and bowed “Thank you for seeing me, Your Highness.” He stood and smiled warmly at Celestia.

Celestia returned his smile and used her magic to pull a chair up next to Sound Council “It is my pleasure, please sit down.” Sound nodded and sat as Celestia continued “I assume you had an opportunity to talk to my sister?”

“Yes I did, she is a remarkable pony.” He chuckled slightly “Even though she was a little mistrustful of my motives at first, we managed to form a good connection. I truly appreciate you entrusting somepony of that much importance to my advice.”

“You are a renowned psychiatrist, and my dear sister deserves only the best. But on to the point…” Celestia’s face fell slightly “Did she tell you about Aecorum?”

Sound nodded and smiled “Yes she did. I must say, Your Highness, if it is a case of delusions or some other psychological disorder, it is very advanced.” Celestia raised an eyebrow “Of course there are certain factors that I had to take into account, such as her immortality, which could possibly delay the onset of diseases that usually manifest in early adulthood, although I don’t know how much of a delay we would be considering. Unfortunately, one of the key factors in diagnosing vague symptoms like the ones she is exhibiting is the age of the pony when it begins to manifest, so I did have to work around that.”

Celestia fought the urge to sigh “Please, Doctor Council. I am sure that it was fascinating and I do not doubt your abilities but I have to know. Is Luna well?”

“Oh, of course Princess, sorry.” Sound cleared his throat “In my professional opinion, Princess Luna’s mental health is in question, but not at a worrisome level.”

Celestia furrowed her brow “What? She is obsessed with a pony that never existed and claims that I did something to get rid of him, how can you say that isn’t worrisome?”

“Please, Your Majesty, let me continue. Princess Luna told me a very detailed and thorough account of her life with Aecorum, far too precise to be any disorder I have ever encountered or studied, and while we both know that he never existed, she is of the firm belief that he did.”

Celestia sighed “I’m afraid I don’t see how this proves there is nothing to be worried about.”

Sound Council smiled softly “I can’t claim any truly accurate knowledge on how an immortal mind copes with loss, but I can use my own experiences. In the past, I have treated ponies that have suffered a great loss and fear that they will lose something again; mostly soldiers who had friends die in battle. In most cases, the pony develops post-traumatic stress disorder or survivor’s guilt, but in very rare instances, I have seen ponies create friends to replace the ones they have lost. Their mental faculties are intact and they can function normally it is just their memories that are affected, which is a different part of the brain and the delusions do not usually advance to the others, although they can. Most of the time the pony doesn’t want to face their inner guilt so they create a scapegoat from their memories.”

Celestia furrowed her brow again “And that is what you think happened to Luna?”

Sound shrugged “In a way, maybe. Her case is different in the accuracy of the events and details, and the amount of effort she is putting into proving Aecorum was or is real. I also think that unlike most cases, she didn’t create Aecorum to replace or blame somepony, she created him as a sort of…Safety net, if you will.”

“What do you mean?”

“You played a major part in almost every story about Aecorum. From what I can tell, Princess Luna is very afraid of losing you, and still has a lot of unresolved guilt and feelings that haven’t been dealt with. These feelings most probably stem from the Nightmare Moon incident.” Sound Council cringed slightly as Celestia bowed her head. He cleared his throat and continued “Since she has finally adjusted to her new life and knows what she missed, it is possible that the idea of Aecorum is a defense mechanism that she is using to keep her unresolved feelings hidden. But I’m afraid I can’t be sure because there are many factors I have never dealt with before as well as because we’ve only had the one session, well, almost session.”

Celestia looked at Sound Council with weary eyes “How do I help her?”

Sound Council smiled warmly “It is quite simple, Your Highness. You have to talk to her about what happened, help her get through her feelings. But don’t confront her about Aecorum.”

“What?”

“She has to realize he is a figment of her imagination on her own. If you wish you can help her look for him, but in the majority of similar cases I’ve dealt with the patient only recovers after they figure out the truth themselves. Talking to her about her unresolved feelings and supporting her will help speed things along, but you can’t push it or she might become even more obsessed with her delusion.”

Celestia nodded “I see. Thank you for your help, Doctor.”

Sound Council stood and smiled “It was my pleasure, Princess. If it gets more serious or you think she needs to talk again, please let me know. My chief concern is that it doesn’t progress to present hallucinations.”

Celestia smiled as Sound Council walked towards the doors “I will keep you informed, thank you.”

Sound Council poked his head back through the doors and adjusted his glasses “And Princess?” Celestia looked towards him and raised an eyebrow “If you ever want to talk, I’d be happy to lend an ear.”

The doors closed and Celestia’s face fell before she leaned back and thought about what Sound Council had said. Did we ever really talk about what happened? I’m sure we did, but maybe…Maybe we didn’t talk enough. Celestia sighed Doctor Council is a brilliant pony, if he’s certain, I’m certain. I think. Well, I’ll bring it up over dinner, assuming she managed to get some sleep.

Luna yawned and sat up in her bed, stretching her back with satisfying pops. She looked out the window and sighed at the late afternoon sun. After a moment she got up and ran a brush through her mane and tail while putting on her silver and black regalia. She put a hoof on the white crescent moon on her chest and sighed, staring at her reflection. Luna had appreciated being able to talk to Sound Council, he had been right about an impartial opinion even if his motives were thinly veiled. A not insignificant part of her was angry with Celestia for sending a psychiatrist to speak with her without asking her but she knew that Celestia was only trying to help.

Sound Council had suggested Luna continue her search for Aecorum but remember that Celestia loved her and wanted to help. Luna sighed and put her hoof on the mirror. “What happened to you? You were so certain of everything, the High Princess of the Night, but now…” Luna closed her eyes and thought about Aecorum “Was he real?” She turned towards her balcony and laughed as she raised the moon. “It’s strange, whenever I doubted myself he was always the one who I would turn to.”

She heard a knock and opened the door to reveal one of Celestia’s Royal Guards holding a scroll. He bowed and spoke “Your Highness, Princess Celestia asked me to give you this message.”

Luna nodded and took the scroll, unfurling it with her magic before she started to read.

Dearest Sister,

It occurred to me today that it’s been almost two months since we’ve had the chance to eat a meal together. I asked the cooks to make our favorite dishes and the dining hall to be empty except for us, so if you aren’t busy, dinner will be served at nine.

With all my love,

~ Tia

Luna smiled and started walking towards the dining hall, looking forward to being able to spend some time alone with her big sister. She crossed paths with a few nobles and went through the customary ten seconds of small talk before she finally reached the doors. A Night Guard opened it for her and she smiled when she saw Celestia pouring two glasses of wine. Luna sat down and Celestia smiled broadly.

“Luna! I’m so glad you made it. I was worried that you would still be too tired from the negotiations in the Crystal Empire to come.”

Luna smiled and took a sip of wine “I’m feeling much more refreshed, thank you. Shining Armor and Cadence send their regards.”

Celestia nodded at the servant that brought in their food and turned to Luna “Sister, I want you to know I really do love spending time with you. If it weren’t for politics and our royal duties I would spend every day with you.” Luna raised an eyebrow at Celestia’s somber expression “These past few years I have been caught up in the madness of Discord, Chrysalis, and all the others and I haven’t been there to help you. I should have been the one to show you the new Equestria and tell you about the history you missed, not a bunch of tutors. For that, I am very sorry.”

Luna laughed and smiled warmly at Celestia “Oh, Tia, there’s nothing for you to be sorry for. You are the ruler of Equestria, I completely understand.” She put a hoof on Celestia’s “I know you love me. I love you too, Big Sister.”

Celestia smiled but Luna's words made her heart ache as she put her free hoof on Luna’s. “I missed you so much after your banishment. I don’t know how I managed to rule for so long without you by my side.”

“You are strong, Sister.” Luna smiled “There has only been one pony I have ever met that was stronger than you, and even then you were the one he turned to for advice.”

Celestia’s face fell and she sighed “Aecorum?”

Luna shut her eyes and turned away “Forgive me Sister, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“No, no. I think…I think it’s time I learned a little about him.”

Luna’s eyes widened in shock “R-Really? You want me to tell you about him?”

Celestia hesitantly nodded “Well…I suppose.”

Luna swallowed a small lump in her throat “Alright. I am not quite sure where to begin, you were there…” Celestia cleared her throat and Luna continued “I mean, I think you were there. Aecorum…Aecorum was older than both of us, Mother and Father found him when he was a newborn. He was always very protective of us and he hated being royalty, he fought with Lord Fauntleroy about Royal Protocol almost until the day Fauntleroy died.”

“When we found the Elements of Harmony, he bore the elements of Magic and Laughter, which made absolute sense if you knew him. Everypony loved Aecorum because of his laugh and easy manner. He treated everypony he met like a dear friend and cared about each of them deeply. Of the three of us, his magical ability was the strongest although his emotions had a significant effect on his magic. He was always a very passionate stallion; he felt everything with his entire being and changed between emotions almost as quickly as you could blink, which I always thought came from his connection to the ocean.”

Celestia had been nodding slowly as Luna spoke but now she raised an eyebrow “His connection to the ocean?”

Luna nodded with a small smile “Yes, his cutie mark was a cresting wave. Just as you raise the sun and I raise the moon, Aecorum controlled the tides. He hated being cooped up in this castle, actually one of the things he argued about with Fauntleroy the most was his walks around Canterlot.”

“Did he have guards? I mean, you have the Night Guard and I have the Royal Guard, what did he have?”

Luna shook her head and smiled fondly “He did not have anything. When our old castle was first built and the old royalty offered us servants and guards, he refused. Even after we took power he didn’t want a special guard for him. Aecorum was always very independent but he was devoted to us. He took part in both Day Court and Night Court just to help us.”

Celestia furrowed her brow. Despite what she had feared, her interest had been piqued. “When did he sleep?”

Luna laughed slightly “There were times when he didn’t sleep for weeks at a time. No matter how much we protested he refused to take a break, although he somehow managed to get through both courts without falling asleep or forgetting any of his duties. He told us he got at least a few hours of sleep every now and again, but I always thought he was lying to make us feel better. Sometimes I thought he was too dedicated to us, he always ate with us no matter how tired he was. Tia, in all my years I have never seen a more resilient pony than him.” Celestia looked away in thought and released Luna’s hoof. Luna cocked her head at her sister and asked “Sister? Is something wrong?”

Celestia sighed and turned to Luna “It’s just…Why now? Why haven’t you said anything about him before?” Luna looked away and Celestia continued “When Discord was released you didn’t mention anything and when we gave our magic to Twilight to stop Tirek you were silent. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I…I thought you knew.” Luna’s voice was edged with shame.

“What?”

“When I first returned and I didn’t see him I thought he was in another nation as an ambassador and he would come home eventually. Then time passed and I realized he was nowhere to be found, so I thought…” Her breath caught in her throat. “I thought he was hiding from me. I thought he hated me because of what I did as Nightmare Moon and left.”

“Luna…” Celestia’s voice was pained and filled with concern.

Luna bit her lip and continued “I didn’t ask you when Discord was freed because I thought you knew where he was and he asked you not to tell me. And…And when Tirek attacked I did not say anything because I thought you and Aecorum had made a plan for him to hide and if Twilight Sparkle failed he would lead a rebellion against Tirek.” Luna sighed “I’ve only started looking for him now because Tirek didn’t ask us about him. He didn’t know about Aecorum, and that was when I finally noticed the mistakes in the windows and the books. But all my searching has proven that I am the only one who remembers Aecorum, and now…Even I am not sure of my sanity.” Celestia sighed and was about to speak but Luna stood and spoke first “Celestia, I’m afraid I have to go, I need to prepare for Night Court.”

She reached the door and turned, a weary glare on her face “And the next time you want to send me to a psychiatrist, I would appreciate it if you bothered to talk to me first.”

As Luna left the room Celestia sighed again and rubbed her temple with a hoof. She looked at Luna’s still full plate and silently cursed herself while she ate.

Shattered

Celestia looked at the eastern horizon with a worried face. Luna had left her a troubling note about eternal night and then disappeared. She began to pace and tried to calm down but she found herself checking the door constantly.

After a moment Aecorum quickly walked through the door towards Celestia and she asked “Did you find her?”

Aecorum shook his head and turned to the horizon. “I searched the whole castle; she is nowhere to be found.” He turned to Celestia “We have to find her before she does something everypony will regret.”

“What if this is some kind of joke? Luna always loved a good prank.”

Aecorum raised his eyebrow and spoke sarcastically “Yes, because jokes about bringing night eternal to the entire world are always funny.” Aecorum shook his head “This is serious.”

Celestia nodded and rubbed her forehead with a hoof “Where would she go? Luna has never done anything like this before.”

Aecorum sighed “I do not know, Tia.” He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath “We have to stay calm and think about this. She is not in the castle, so where else might she go to…Do whatever it is she is planning?”

Celestia’s eyes widened “She is not in this castle, but what about the old one?”

Aecorum nodded “Of course! Come, we may not have much time!” Aecorum ran towards the nearest balcony with Celestia close behind.

Celestia and Aecorum walked cautiously into the throne room and as they grew closer to the three thrones Aecorum called out.

“Luna!”

“Not another step.” Luna walked out from behind her throne and stood in front of it, a harsh glare on her face.

Luna’s glare hardened and she spoke harshly “Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?!” Aecorum and Celestia shared a confused look as Luna walked to the raised dais behind Aecorum’s throne and continued. “There can only be one ruler in Equestria! And that ruler,” She raised her front hooves “Will be me!” She stomped on the dais and cracked the front, sending pieces of stone flying as her eyes glowed white.

A crack in the wall traveled up until a large square of stone was destroyed to reveal the sun in the sky. Luna crouched and rose up into the air as the moon rose behind her, covering the sun and instantly turning it into night. Black streaks flowed from the moon and circled around Luna, carrying her into the air as her horn glowed and her eyes dilated. A sphere of black and orange flame surrounded her, increasing in intensity until Aecorum and Celestia had to cover their eyes with their hooves. The sphere went black and then turned into a deep blue that exploded into the large amorphous mane and tail of a black alicorn with silver armor. Her irises shifted to resemble a cat’s and as she laughed maniacally her teeth grew into fangs. She landed on the dais as she continued to laugh and the moon completely covered the rays of the sun.

Aecorum gasped and shouted “No!” causing the alicorn that was once Luna to stop laughing and bare her teeth.

The dark alicorn’s horn charged up and she fired a bright blue blast at the wall and ceiling, completely destroying it. Stone fell from the ceiling and Aecorum and Celestia took a few steps forward. Celestia wore a sad expression as the smoke cleared and the black alicorn walked towards them. Celestia flew into the air and faced the alicorn as she bared her teeth and shot a magical blast at Celestia. Celestia dodged it and the blast tore a hole in the ceiling, revealing the full moon. Celestia landed next to Aecorum and all three alicorns stared at each other in silence with firm faces.

Celestia folded her wings to her side and shook her head “Luna! We will not fight you! You must lower the moon!”

Aecorum nodded “It is your duty!”

The black alicorn spoke “Luna? I am…Nightmare Moon! I have but one royal duty now:” She charged her horn and blasted at Aecorum and Celestia “To destroy you!” Aecorum and Celestia dodged the blast and flew through the hole in the ceiling out into the open sky while Nightmare Moon smirked and followed them while she called “And where do you think you are going?”

Aecorum and Celestia had been hovering above the castle but flew down to the castle and in between parapets and towers as Nightmare Moon continued to fire blasts of magic at them. The blasts destroyed much of the castle during Nightmare Moon’s chase and while they flew Nightmare Moon fired another blast that hit Celestia and knocked her down into the throne room, screaming.

Aecorum gasped and flew after her as he cried “Tia!” Nightmare Moon hovered in the air and laughed maniacally as Aecorum landed next to Celestia’s unconscious body with a panicked look in his eyes. He put a hoof on her shoulder and shook her lightly “Tia! Tia, wake up! Come on, wake up!” he shook her more fiercely and yelled “Celestia!” Celestia stood slowly and looked up at Nightmare Moon while Aecorum exhaled in relief “Oh, Tia, thank goodness.” He turned to Nightmare Moon and sighed “We have to stop this.”

Celestia closed her eyes and turned “Oh, dear Sister, I am sorry. But you have given me no choice but to use these!” Celestia’s horn glowed and a panel in the floor opened to reveal the pedestal where they had stored the Elements of Harmony.

The pedestal rose and Aecorum shook his head “No, Celestia, there has to be another way!”

Celestia’s face was hard as she spoke “There is none.”

“We cannot use the Elements on Luna!”

Celestia simply said “You know we must.” before she flew up to the large sphere on top of the pedestal and used her magic to gather the six elements.

She held three around her and gave Aecorum the other three. He shook his head but sighed and grasped them in his own aura. They used their magic to spin all six elements around them in a circle and a rainbow light shone from them as they flew up to face Nightmare Moon. The Elements of Harmony kept them stable in the air as Nightmare Moon faced them with glowing white eyes and a white light beneath her. Celestia’s eyes filled with tears as she and Aecorum lit their horns and activated the elements which surrounded them in a sphere of magic. Nightmare Moon fired a beam of magic at them and Aecorum and Celestia fired a rainbow beam from the elements to meet it. The two forces met and Nightmare Moon’s was instantly pushed back until it reached her horn.

Her pupils shrank as she was engulfed in the golden light and screamed “Nooooo!”

The light shot up towards the moon with a rainbow trail and when it hit the moon a rainbow ring emanated from it. A dark formation of craters formed on the moon’s surface that looked like Nightmare Moon’s head.

Celestia and Aecorum landed in the throne room and Aecorum used his magic to put the Elements of Harmony back in the secret chamber in the floor. Celestia stared at the moon with tears in her eyes and her chin began to quiver as Aecorum walked up next to her and looked at the moon with her.

Tears began to flow down Celestia’s cheeks as she whispered “What have I done?”

Aecorum tenderly put a wing around Celestia’s shoulders and pulled her into a gentle hug. Celestia shut her eyes tightly for a second before she buried her face in Aecorum’s chest and started sobbing uncontrollably. She started yelling “Luna!” over and over while Aecorum leaned his head on hers and softly stroked her mane with his hoof.

“I know, Tia, I know. Shh, shh. I am here, Tia, you still have me.” Aecorum fought the wave of emotion and looked up at the moon. He continued to soothe Celestia while he stared at the shadow on the moon’s surface and thought. I have to be strong. Tia needs me to be strong for her. I cannot let her see; I have to stay strong for her. I have to be strong. I have to be strong. A few tears flowed down his face. I have to be strong.

Aecorum sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof. The past three days had been nothing but dozens of long speeches explaining where Luna was, why she was there, and what was going to happen next, even though nopony was sure about the future. Celestia was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and a dark depression so Aecorum had taken over Day Court and Night Court on her behalf. It had been difficult for them to lower and raise the moon but as long as Equestria had some semblance of normalcy it didn’t matter.

The doors opened and a few nobles walked through, making their way towards the throne. Aecorum straightened up and cleared his throat for the Royal Canterlot Voice. All the ponies bowed and a unicorn noble in front spoke “We beg your pardon, Your Excellency, but we wish to speak with High Princess Celestia of the Day.”

Aecorum nodded slightly “We art afraid that Princess Celestia is resting. Perhaps We can help thee with whatever thou wish.”

The unicorn stammered slightly and nodded “O-Of course, Your Majesty. It is just…” He turned to the other nobles “We wished to give Her Highness our deepest condolences for the loss of High Princess Luna.”

Aecorum smiled slightly “Thou art most kind. We will be sure to send her thy condolences. If that is all, thou may depart.”

The nobles nodded and bowed as they left the room. An earth pony turned to face Aecorum just before she left. “Prince Aecorum?”

“Yes?”

She smiled “Thank you. Equestria would not have survived this tragedy without your strength.” Aecorum nodded as the doors shut behind her.

He sighed and leaned his head on his hoof with a weary expression, the young noble’s words echoing through his mind. “Strength? If I was strong, this would never have happened. I should have seen it. I should have…I should have told her.”

Aecorum stared blankly at the wall of his bedchamber, sitting silently on his soft bed but finding no comfort in it. Night Court had been canceled indefinitely by the nobility and he was forced to remember the fact that was threatening to tear him apart. Luna was gone and there was nothing he could do to bring her back.

He stood slowly and wandered over to the window, trying hard but failing to keep his eyes away from the full moon. Aecorum’s breath hitched in his throat as he looked at the set of craters shaped like a mare’s head that was now the symbol of Nightmare Moon’s imprisonment. He sighed and turned away with pain in his eyes and sadness lining his face. He was about to walk to his bed when he caught his reflection in a large mirror across the room and turned to face it. Aecorum stared himself in the eye for a few seconds before he took a few steps toward the mirror.

“No…” His voice was barely audible as he took a few more steps and began to bare his teeth in anger.

“No.” Aecorum’s voice was slightly louder. A few more steps and his entire face became contorted with unbridled rage as he got closer to his reflection.

“NO!” His horn flashed suddenly as he shouted and grasped the mirror, throwing it on the stone floor with enough force to shatter it within its frame.

He took another step and looked at the cracked mirror with nothing but hatred in his eyes. He stood silently for a split second before he growled and began stomping the mirror with his hoof.

“NO! NO! NO!” Aecorum punctuated each word with a stomp, disregarding the pain and blood coming from his hoof.

“HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?! HOW COULD YOU ABANDON HER?!” The mirror was almost completely destroyed but he kept going, adding his other fore hoof to the fray.

“YOU SWORE YOU WOULD PROTECT HER, BUT INSTEAD YOU HID LIKE A COWARD! A FILTHY, LYING, TREACHEROUS COWARD!”

Aecorum took a breath and saw a single piece of the mirror that hadn’t been obliterated and he raised his hooves and yelled at the reflection. “YOU LET IT CONSUME HER!” He brought his hooves down on the glass with a crash.

“YOU KILLED LUNA!” He yelled even louder and gritted his teeth as he stared down at the tiny shards that surrounded him before he scrunched his eyes shut to hold back his tears.

Finally Aecorum shook his head slightly and screamed, raising his head towards the ceiling and letting the tears flow freely down his face. His scream echoed through the room and was filled with heart wrenching pain and grief. He stopped screaming after what seemed like hours and collapsed, once again ignoring the pain of thousands of glass shards digging into his body. Aecorum’s tears created a small pool under his face as each desperate sob wracked his body and tore at his soul. His mind was filled with only one thought as he lay on the cold stone and cried.

Luna was gone. And it was his fault.

Celestia sighed and walked to the throne room for the first time in days. She was still heartbroken about what happened to Luna but the time had come for her to take responsibility of Equestria. She knew that Aecorum hadn’t slept since Luna had…Since Nightmare Moon had been banished, and that had to stop. She walked through the doors and dismissed her guards; she needed a moment to talk to Aecorum alone.

Aecorum immediately got up from his throne and walked over to Celestia, embracing her in a gentle hug. After a moment he smiled at her warmly and spoke in a soft voice “How are you feeling, Tia?”

Celestia sighed and nodded slightly “Despite circumstances, I feel better. My sister is still in the moon, and I feel as though Mother and Father have left again, but…I will get through it somehow.”

Aecorum smiled and nodded “That is good.” He turned to the rising sun and his face fell “Tia, we need to talk about the moon.” Celestia bowed her head and he continued “We cannot keep raising it together; our magic is just too different. One of us needs to take control of it and I think it should be you.”

Celestia furrowed her brow “Me? Why not you? The tides always get stronger when the moon is full.”

Aecorum turned to Celestia and spoke sadly “That may be, but the sun and moon are sisters in the sky. Your bond with Luna will make it easier for you to control the moon.”

Celestia nodded “I…Suppose you are right. It may take me some time, but I…I will raise and lower the moon.”

Aecorum smiled “I know you can do it. Besides,” he laughed hollowly “I do not think it would be right for me to take her place, after all, I was responsible for this.”

Celestia’s eyes widened in shock “Aecorum, how can you say that?!”

“Because it is true.” Aecorum turned to Celestia with sad eyes “I was supposedly her best friend; I should have seen this coming.”

Celestia shook her head “No, Aecorum, if anypony should have seen this, it was me!”

Aecorum sighed as his patience wore thin “She was jealous of you; of course she would make sure to hide it from you. I had no such excuse.”

Celestia exhaled sharply “I cannot believe what I am hearing! Aecorum, I was her sister!

“Tia, I-”

“How can you possibly even think that any of this was your fault?! I knew her better than I know myself, and I did not suspect-”

“I loved her, Celestia!”

Celestia furrowed her brow as Aecorum stared at her with a hard but sad face. “Of course you loved her, we all did.” Aecorum sighed and Celestia’s eyes widened “You…You mean…”

“Yes.” Aecorum turned towards the window “That is the first time I have said it out loud. And it should not have been.” He turned back towards Celestia with tears in his eyes “I should have spent every day telling her how beautiful she was, how much she meant to me, what I thought of the wondrous night she created, how much I…” His breath caught in his throat “How much I loved her.”

After a moment Aecorum’s face grew hard and he spoke through gritted teeth “So do not dare try and tell me that I could not have stopped this.” He walked towards the door and opened it before he turned back to Celestia “Nightmare Moon was able to consume her,” He turned his head away “Because of me.”

An Idea

Twilight sat in her library, absently reading a book detailing the Terms of Abdication. Ever since Luna had asked about Aecorum she had been going through a few history books and some old folklore but she had come up empty so far. Suddenly she remembered that Luna had called him the “Prince of the Sea” and furrowed her brow in thought. Twilight pulled a couple scientific reference books off the shelves and Spike walked in with her morning coffee.

Spike put down Twilight’s mug and picked a few books off the floor. “What’cha reading?”

Twilight opened the books and started reading “You remember when Princess Luna came and she asked about an alicorn stallion?”

Spike nodded with a raised eyebrow “Yeah.”

“Well, she called him the ‘Prince of the Sea’ so I was thinking that since Luna and Celestia raise the moon and the sun, maybe this Aecorum’s power has something to do with the tides.”

Spike shrugged “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But what about you and Cadance? I mean, it’s not like she controls all the love in the world and you are the mistress of friendship.” His eyes widened slightly “Is it?”

“No Spike, of course not.” Twilight flipped to the oceanography section of her reference book “But Cadance and I are princesses of ideas, not physical things like Celestia and Luna. And it’s more like we’re responsible for informing ponies about it and trying to make everypony happy.” She furrowed her brow as she flipped a few more pages “The only problem is I don’t really know what to look for, Princess Luna wasn’t very specific.”

Spike walked towards the door “I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You want me to get you anything, Twi?”

Twilight shook her head “No thanks.” Spike closed the door and Twilight kept reading. After a few minutes Twilight switched to a different book and tried to keep her train of thought alive. So far the only idea she had that made any sense was that Aecorum was somehow connected to the tides, but none of her books had any evidence of that.

“Ah ha! Here’s something: ‘Recent scientific studies have yielded evidence that the ocean tides are affected, or possibly caused, by the gravitational pull of the moon’, which is consistent with the long held belief of layponies that the ocean and the moon are connected.” Twilight furrowed her brow “Hmmm…I’m not sure how that could relate to a sea prince…If anything, it suggests that Luna is more powerful than I thought.” Twilight smiled and grabbed a few more books “Well, a little more research never hurt anything.”

Celestia sat in her study, reading a few notes she had written during the most recent meeting with the Minotaurean ambassadors. She sighed and picked up her quill to write a quick addendum but it leaped from her magical grip and started dancing on her desk, making stray ink marks all over her papers.

She rolled her eyes “Hello, Discord.”

The quill blew a raspberry and morphed into the draconequus God of Chaos. “Oh, Celestia, must you roll your eyes at me every time I have a little fun?”

Celestia raised an eyebrow as Discord lounged across her desk “Must you always appear while I’m working?”

“Working? That sounds so boring; I don’t know how you manage.” Discord chuckled “Although definitely less boring than being stone.”

Celestia sighed “Why are you here? I am a little busy at the moment.”

“Well, my dear Celestia, I’m here as a friend, to offer you some advice,” Discord snapped his talons and appeared in front of her desk with Luna’s mane and tail and a black tiara. “About your darling little sister.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow at Discord and spoke with a slight edge in her voice “What makes you think I need advice about Luna?”

Discord chuckled and snapped his talons again, taking off the Luna costume “Well, just the other day she dropped by my humble abode and we had a nice little chat. Or, we would have if she hadn’t been so accusing of little old, reformed, me.” A halo appeared above Discord’s head and Celestia furrowed her brow.

“Accusing? What did she accuse you of? Did you turn her pillows into hedgehogs again?”

Discord smirked “Of course not! I save that for special occasions.” He snapped his talons and flopped onto a fainting couch with a sigh “She said that I had done something to some coltfriend of hers.”

Celestia’s ears perked up “Aecorum?”

Discord thought for a moment then nodded “I think that was the name, yes. She was absolutely certain that I had something to do with Aecorum’s disappearance even after I promised that I hadn’t even heard of him.”

Celestia sighed “Of course you haven’t. Nopony except Luna has any idea who Aecorum is. Is that what your advice was?”

In two bright flashes Discord appeared next to Celestia and leaned on her head “Ah, Celestia, astute as always. You’ve been having some trouble with Luna and this Aecorum, yes?” Celestia nodded and Discord continued “Well, the only thing to do is prove to her that he didn’t exist.”

Celestia waved his paw off her head and raised an eyebrow “And how do you suggest I do that?”

Discord shrugged “I’ll leave that to you. But an interesting thought to keep in mind is if I, the Lord of Chaos,” Celestia frowned slightly and Discord’s shoulders slumped just barely “Former Lord of Chaos, don’t remember him, then he either didn’t exist, or was powerful enough to change my memories.” Celestia furrowed her brow “That’s what you should be looking for.” Discord popped next to the door and checked his nails “Unless, of course, you don’t believe little Luna.”

Celestia slumped her shoulders “I don’t know, Discord. I want to believe her, but it seems impossible.” Discord tried to hide his giggling but after a second he started rolling on the floor, clutching his sides as he roared with laughter. Celestia raised an eyebrow “What’s so funny?”

Discord wiped a tear from his eye and pointed his talon at Celestia “You…The immortal crossbreed of pegasus, earth pony, and unicorn, who raises and lowers the sun every day without fail while ruling over one of the largest nations in the world…” He laughed a little more “After defeating a magic thief from another world and the embodiment of chaos with magic gems that came from a tree…Think something is impossible?! That’s hilarious!”

Twilight furrowed her brow in thought. She flipped through her notes about the potion she used to figure out what happened to the Tree of Harmony. After a second of reading she thought to herself. That doesn’t make sense…If Aecorum was the Prince of the Sea, and an alicorn that Luna knew before she was banished, shouldn’t I have seen him when I drank that potion? Hmmm…Well, if anypony would know, it would be Zecora. Twilight gathered her notes and a few other things into her saddlebags and took off towards Zecora’s hut.

It only took about fifteen minutes for Twilight to reach her zebra friend’s house and a sudden updraft almost made her crash into a tree during her landing. After a second she straightened her saddle bags and knocked on Zecora’s door. Zecora opened the door and smiled warmly.

“Princess Twilight, how nice of you to come! What brings you to my humble home?”

Twilight smiled “Hi Zecora, I had a question about that potion you made a while back, you know, when the princesses disappeared and the forest got wild?”

Zecora nodded “Ah, of course, I remember it very well. What question do you have about that spell?” Zecora motioned Twilight in and closed the door behind them.

Twilight glanced around at the art and turned to Zecora. “I was wondering if you knew how it worked, Princess Luna asked me about somepony I should have seen after I drank the potion but didn’t, so I was thinking that there might have been a flaw in the original recipe or maybe I did something to it with my magic that made it fail in some way.”

Zecora raised her eyebrow and cocked her head “I don’t know if your spell could have spoiled the potion, but are you asking because of the Prince of the Ocean?”

Twilight nodded “Yes, I am. How did you know?”

“The Princess of the Night came here some days ago and asked me about the stallion that she used to know.”

Twilight furrowed her brow “Really? Why would she ask you?” Twilight chuckled “Oh, she probably thought the stories from your homeland might help her.”

Zecora nodded and smiled “That is indeed why she came to me, although her disappointment was easy to see. If you think that my potion may be of assistance, please allow me to gather the ingredients.”

Twilight shook her head “No thanks, that’s fine, I was actually curious about where you learned how to make it.”

“I learned of that potion from a scholarly mare who came to my village with knowledge quite rare.” Zecora walked over to a shelf and started rummaging around “She gave me many scrolls and spells from afar, and said they were as rare as a new fallen star.” She pulled out a very old looking scroll and handed it to Twilight. “Here is the recipe that needed your spell, is there any other way I can offer my help?”

Twilight quickly unfurled the scroll and her jaw dropped in excitement as she read it “Zecora, do you know what this is? This is an original scroll written by Starswirl the Bearded himself!” She read a little more “And it isn’t some sort of time travel spell like I thought, it’s a memory spell! According to this, when the potion is activated the drinker accesses the memories of somepony else.” Her grin widened until it threatened to break her face “I must have been watching Princess Celestia’s memories!” Twilight raised an eyebrow and read the scroll again “But…It looks like somepony else wrote part of this too.” Twilight checked the signatures at the bottom and saw two names in very different but fancy scripts: Starswirl the Bearded and Sea Storm. “I’ve never heard of anypony named ‘Sea Storm’ helping Starswirl, I thought he did most of his work by himself.”

Zecora shrugged “I don’t know who Sea Storm may have been, but Princess Luna may be familiar with him.”

Twilight nodded “I guess.” She put the scroll in her saddlebag and started towards the door “Thanks a lot, Zecora, I’ll see you later.” She stopped before the door and blushed slightly in embarrassment “Um, is it okay if I take the scroll?”

Zecora chuckled and nodded “Of course you can take it with you, Twilight. Farewell, your visit has been today’s highlight.”

Twilight smiled and took off towards Ponyville while she waved to Zecora.

Luna sighed as she put Twilight’s letter on her desk. Twilight had written to say that she hadn’t found anything yet but she was still looking. The only pony Twilight had learned about so far was somepony named Sea Storm that may have helped Starswirl the Bearded and Luna was starting to get discouraged. Celestia didn’t believe her, Twilight hadn’t found anything, and Discord was, well, Discord. She stood and paced a few times around her study, wishing more than ever that she could talk to Aecorum. Luna sighed and checked the clock to see how long she had to prepare for Night Court. It was only a few hours, but enough to do some thinking and Luna was happy for the chance.

A sudden shiver went down Luna’s spine and she looked towards the balcony. That shudder could only mean somepony was having a particularly bad nightmare and Luna was more than happy to fulfill her duties as the Princess of the Night. She opened the door and walked to the edge as she entered the dreamscape.

Her vision went black before the outline of continents and islands became clear, each one almost filled with white light. Luna focused her mind on Equestria where a light was shifting to red, showing which dream was the nightmare. She focused closer and closer until she was standing next to the red portal and walked through. A very young colt, only about two years old, sleeping in Appleloosa was dreaming that he was being chased by a monster, and Luna soon calmed him. Luna smiled as his dream shifted to a more pleasant tone and she exited the dream.

She hovered for a moment above Equestria to make sure no other nightmares needed to be stopped and opened her eyes, leaving the dreamscape. She turned back to her desk and gathered a few papers for Night Court before her eyes widened and she dropped the papers on the floor. Luna turned back to the balcony and cursed herself for being so stupid.

“Of course! How could I have been so blind?!” She grinned “Even Aecorum needs to sleep, and if he sleeps, he dreams!”

Punishment for an Immortal

“Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?” Bells jingled as Starswirl the Bearded walked over to the alicorn stallion staring out the window.

“Yes. We art sure.”

Starswirl raised his eyebrow “You do know that it is just the two of us, right?”

Aecorum sighed and turned to Starswirl “I am sorry, Starswirl. It has been a long month.”

Starswirl smiled and turned back to the table “Of course, Your Highness.” He took another look at Aecorum’s scroll and shook his head “I do not know about this spell, it seems impossible.”

Aecorum walked over and smiled slightly “Some would say the same thing about me. I have tried to cast it as it is, but I am not as experienced in crafting spells as you are. I know it is a tall order, but I also know that if anypony can figure it out, it is you. It does not have to fully replicate my powers; I only want Princess Celestia to have the option.” He pointed to the scroll “If something happened to me, I want her to be able to access somepony’s memories if the need arises. This spell should allow her to do that.”

Starswirl furrowed his brow and stroked his beard in thought “I see…Well, perhaps if I made it a potion rather than a spell it would be easier…Of course it would be far too dangerous for anypony besides an alicorn to drink it, if only because of the intensity of the magic required.” He smiled slightly “Yes, I think it can be done!”

Aecorum smiled and walked towards the door “I have complete faith in you, Starswirl.”

“Although…If I may ask one thing, Your Highness?”

Aecorum turned and raised an eyebrow “Yes?”

Starswirl laughed slightly “What could possibly happen to you?”

Aecorum smiled sadly for a moment while he thought. Finally he spoke softly “You never know.”

Celestia paced in front of Aecorum’s study a few times before she lifted her hoof to knock. She lowered it again then shook her head and knocked clearly. The handles were enveloped in a grey aura and the doors opened.

“Come in.” Aecorum’s voice was tired and Celestia walked through the doors with a small smile. Aecorum saw her and smiled weakly, pushing aside a stack of papers before he spoke “Hello Tia. What brings you to this end of the castle?”

Celestia saw something in his eyes, a pain that he was obviously trying to hide and if she didn’t know him so well, it would have worked. “I wanted to talk to you for a moment.”

Aecorum cocked his head slightly “What is it? Is something wrong?”

Celestia started to shake her head but stopped herself “I do not know, Aecorum. Starswirl came to my study today and asked about a spell he was working on.” Aecorum nodded “He said you wrote the spell and asked him to fix it.” Aecorum turned his head away “Aecorum…What is going on?” Celestia’s eyes were filled with a kind concern.

Aecorum smiled “Nothing is going on, Tia; I just wanted you to be able to use my powers without me.”

Celestia sat down “But…Why? Are you going somewhere?”

Aecorum opened and shut his mouth a couple times and sighed “No Tia, I am…” He took a deep breath “I am only trying to provide for you if something were to happen to me.” Celestia raised an eyebrow and Aecorum put his hoof on hers with a warm but sad smile “Tia, I…I want you to know that I have always loved being your friend, and nothing has been more valuable to me than your company and kindness.”

Celestia saw the sadness in his eyes and looked earnestly at him “Aecorum…What are you planning?” Aecorum closed his eyes and sighed while Celestia put a hoof on his cheek and continued “This is not like you. I know how much Luna’s loss meant to you, and now that I know how you felt about her I understand, but whatever you have planned, please, please,” She caught his eye and shook her head “Do not do it.”

Aecorum sighed and hesitantly nodded “Alright, Tia.”

Aecorum landed softly in front of the old castle. He fought the wave of emotion rising in his chest and sighed, looking up at the moon. He gritted his teeth and shook his head as he walked through the broken doors. Aecorum quietly walked through the empty halls, his hoof beats echoing coldly through the darkness. He wound his way around the castle until he came to the library and carefully scanned the shelves. After a minute he pulled out “The Fall of Chaos”, a book about how Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna defeated Discord all those years ago. He blew the dust off the cover and set it down on the table, flipping the pages until he found one that was nearly all about him.

Aecorum swallowed the lump in his throat and took a step back, focusing his energy into his horn. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the page was enveloped in his bright grey aura. The words seemed to liquefy and shift as his spell continued and after a few minutes the aura faded and Aecorum opened his eyes. He took a few hesitant steps forward and bit his lip as he looked at the book.

He smiled sadly as he read the page and found no mention of Aecorum. His spell worked even better than he thought, the things Aecorum did and said had been attributed mostly to Celestia but also Luna in a few places. He nodded with the same small smile and thought. It works. At least, it works on books. I can only hope that it will work on memories as well. Tia, forgive me, but this is what I have to do.

Aecorum glanced at the hole in the ceiling and sighed. I cannot do it here; I have to find a more secluded place. He glanced around at the library one last time and took a deep breath before he flew off into the night. He flew in silence away from the castle he had lived in for years and stared straight ahead, his face emotionless as he fought the urge to fly back to the castle and destroy it.

Aecorum’s eye was drawn to a small clearing and he smiled before landing among hundreds of flowers in full bloom. He looked up at the moon with pain and sadness in his eyes. He took a step towards the pond and spoke softly “I never did bring you here, did I? I promised I would show you this wondrous place, and yet…” He gritted his teeth in anger “It was another promise broken. Well, this promise I will keep.” He looked at his reflection in the pond “I will not let you go unavenged. I will punish the stallion who caused all of this.”

Aecorum took off and gritted his teeth, letting his tears fly behind him in the wind. This time he let his anger, guilt, pain, and shame rise in intensity until he thought he would burst. At first he flew in a random direction but then remembered the hill by the sea and turned towards it. He sped up and managed to cross Equestria in a matter of hours, reaching the hill just after dawn. Aecorum landed on the hill and walked to its peak, next to a young cherry tree sapling. He closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the rocks.

His eyes snapped open and he looked at the setting moon. He shook his head and braced his legs against the grass, preparing himself for a spell that he was well aware could kill him. Aecorum’s horn started charging up as his tears began to flow from the memories of Luna. How could I let her die? An image of Nightmare Moon flashed in his mind. This is my fault. I let her slip through my hooves, and now I am going to pay! After a moment he closed his eyes and whispered.

“Forgive me, Celestia.”

Aecorum’s magic burst from his horn in a pillar of grey light that stretched into the sky, covering Equestria and then the world. He could feel the spell draining him but he pushed on, letting his emotions fuel his magic. All over the world he could feel himself being erased, first from drawings, then books, and finally memories. He had clenched his eyes shut but as the spell gained power his eyes opened and glowed with burning white light while his tears continued to flow. Suddenly the white light seemed to pour out of his skin and he was lifted into the air by its power.

In an instant that covered the world, the raw power of the ocean was released and forged with the might of the Element of Magic, all the while being fueled by the strength in natural alicorn blood. Aecorum screamed in agony as the spell took over his body and seemed to tear it apart piece by piece while it drained his soul. He pushed harder as he felt the world forget him, and with one final exertion, the spell erased the last trace of Aecorum, High Prince of the Sea.

Aecorum’s eyes returned to their natural color and he floated there for a second before he collapsed onto the ground. His mane and tail stopped waving as his vision faded to black and a small smile crossed his lips. Just before he lost consciousness he only thought one thing. It worked…

Celestia walked through the halls with a worried face; she hadn’t seen Aecorum since their talk. Normally she would just assume that he went to the sea shore to think for a while, but the way he had been talking…She couldn’t afford to take chances. Suddenly the castle was enveloped in a grey aura she knew all too well and she shook her head in disbelief. Celestia galloped to the throne room as guards and nobles were surrounded by the same aura. She burst through the doors and looked around at the stained glass windows and Aecorum’s throne.

“No, no, no, no, no…” Celestia spun around the room as the windows changed before her eyes, leaving no trace of Aecorum. She saw his throne fade into nothing and shook her head just before she felt her own memories start to shift. Her eyes widened as she tried to block the spell with her own magic, desperately holding on to her memories, but it was too late. Celestia cradled her head in her hooves and started crying as she tried to remember Aecorum.

“No, Aecorum, stop! Please stop!” She clenched her eyes shut and screamed as her tears flowed freely “I CANNOT LOSE BOTH OF YOU!”

Celestia collapsed onto the floor and sobbed as her earliest memories faded into darkness. After a few minutes she furrowed her brow and stood, wiping the tears from her face with a confused expression.

“Why am I crying?”

Aecorum’s eyes were open, he was sure of that, but he only saw darkness. Darkness all around him, and it felt like it was within him as well. He tried to move, but no matter what he did he felt like he was standing still.

“Am…Am I dead?” His voice was barely audible and was soon silenced by the oppressive darkness. He turned his head to get a better look at the nothing that surrounded him but saw, well, nothing. “If this is death, then I have to agree with Fauntleroy.”

Why is he your first thought?

Aecorum’s eyes widened at the strange voice and he turned his neck in all directions to figure out where it was coming from. “Who…Are you? Where am I?”

You did not answer my question. Why did you first think of Fauntleroy?

Aecorum raised an eyebrow and warily spoke “He is the only pony I have ever really spoken with about death, and he said it was mind-numbingly dull. Now, whoever or whatever you are, answer my question. Where am I?”

An eerie laugh preceded the voice. Do you not know? Is this not your doing, Prince? The voice spat out the title like it was venom.

Aecorum furrowed his brow and tried to think. He knew he had heard that voice before, and that laugh, but he couldn’t quite place it. Suddenly his eyes widened and he tried to back away. “No…No…It cannot be.”

Oh, but it can. Behold! The darkness shifted to reveal a monstrous set of fangs and catlike eyes that were all too familiar to Aecorum.

He shook his head “No!”

Nightmare Moon laughed evilly. Look at what you have done, Aecorum! Nightmare Moon’s body became visible, even the shapeless mane and tail. Look at what you have allowed me to do to your precious Luna! Look, and be consumed! Nightmare Moon ran towards him with an evil grin and Aecorum shook his head.

He ran away from Nightmare Moon as she continued to grow in size until she was easily the size of Canterlot Castle. Aecorum yelled as he ran “You are not here, you are in the moon!”

But why am I there, Aecorum? Why is Luna gone forever? Aecorum shut his eyes to try and block her out but she appeared in front of him and shouted. Because of you!

“No! No, no, no,”

“No!” Aecorum’s eyes snapped open and he sat up with a jerk before slumping back down onto the grass. It was…It was just a dream. He thought as he attempted to stand. He managed to stand for a few seconds before he stumbled and fell off the side of the hill. Aecorum managed to stabilize himself just before he crashed into the ground, but he still scraped his body against the side of the cliff.

Aecorum collapsed into the sand and took a few ragged breaths as the ocean waves washed over him, and if he had the strength, he would have wondered why the waves smelled old and musty. After another minute he stood, already a little stronger, and looked around for something he saw when he was a colt. It took him a while to find it, but soon enough he leaned against the wall of a cave opening. As he recalled, this cave was deep and had dozens of passageways and tunnels. He straightened his saddlebags and slowly walked into the cave. Aecorum struggled to keep his eyes opened but smiled weakly when he saw water flowing from the ocean into the cave.

A sudden thought struck him and he turned around, looking for something he could use to seal the entrance. He nodded slightly when he saw a boulder that could fit almost perfectly into the mouth of the cave. It took most of his strength but he managed to roll the boulder to the cave entrance after he carved just the slightest impression of his cutie mark on the front. He wasn’t exactly sure why he did it, but he was too weak to question himself. Aecorum swallowed a lump in his throat and fused the boulder to the cave wall, sweating and straining until it was finished.

He took a step back and smiled sadly “It is done. I guess I had better take a look around my new home.” Aecorum’s knees buckled and he laughed weakly as he drifted off to sleep “After…After I rest.”

Rekindled Hope

Luna sighed and left the dreamscape for the fourth time that night and yet again, she had found nothing. She had been searching the dreamscape for three days and each time she had failed. Luna walked to her bed and sat down, trying to think of something else she could try. A knock on her door roused her from her thoughts and she stood. She walked towards the door and opened it to reveal Celestia standing on the other side.

Luna smiled slightly “Hello Celestia, what are you doing here? It seems a little late for you to be awake.”

Celestia nodded “I know. May I come in?” Luna nodded and Celestia walked slowly into Luna’s bedchamber. Celestia turned to face Luna and sighed “Luna, what is going on? Night Court has been cancelled three nights in a row. Are you feeling ill?”

Luna looked away and shook her head “No, I’m feeling very well. It’s just…I have been very busy with the dreamscape.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow "Oh? Have there been more nightmares than usual?"

Luna cocked her head slightly "Well...No. I've been searching for Aecorum."

Celestia sighed and nodded “Of course. Aecorum.” She walked over to the window “Luna, I don’t know what to do. I have tried talking to you, listening to you, I even sent Sound Council to you, and he is a psychiatrist. Every time I try to tell you the truth you don’t believe it. Doctor Council told me to let you figure it out on your own but I cannot let you ignore your duties.”

Luna sighed “Tia, it has only been three days.”

Celestia’s face grew slightly harder “But you have been talking about Aecorum and traveling all over Equestria in search of him for weeks. And frankly, my patience is wearing thin. I’m worried about you, Little Sister, and I have run out of ways I can help you. I hate to do this, but this has to stop now.” Celestia straightened up and unfurled her wings “Princess Luna, I order you to resume Night Court, and discontinue your search for Aecorum.”

Luna gasped “You…Order me?”

Celestia nodded with pain in her eyes “We have to think of Equestria. If this goes on, who knows what may happen.” She walked towards the door “I’m sorry, Luna. I really am, but this has to be done.”

Luna weakly nodded as the door shut behind Celestia and sat down. “What just happened? Does she really think I’ve gone mad?” After a moment Luna glared at the floor with a defiant glint in her eyes. She stood and walked over to the balcony, taking a deep breath of the cool night air.

“I’m going to find him, no matter what Celestia orders me to do.” She entered the dreamscape and focused on Equestria, searching for any points of light that were far away from any others.

Luna sighed and withdrew from the very, very strange dream of Cheese Sandwich. As well as being almost as odd as some of Pinkie Pie’s dreams, Pinkie actually made an appearance in Cheese’s. Luna had looked in over a dozen dreams but none of them belonged to Aecorum. She hovered over the dreamscape and thought. Maybe…Maybe she is right. Did I…Did I imagine it? It cannot be true, but…It cannot be wrong either. Oh gods I’ve lost my mind. She fought the urge to cry and was about to leave the dreamscape but suddenly a light sprang up, miles and miles away from anything else. Luna decided that she would try one more time and wearily focused on the dream.

Luna felt the familiar tingling sensation as she entered the dream of whoever was sleeping by the coast and gasped at what she saw. She was standing on the hill that overlooked all of Equestria, the one where she had first raised the moon with Aecorum and Celestia by her side. A firefly flitted by her in the soft breeze and she looked up towards the crest of the hill. She took a few uncertain steps forward to see if anypony was behind the cherry blossom tree and gasped in relief. Luna’s steps grew faster as the silhouette of an alicorn grew larger and when she was about a dozen feet away the soft moonlight allowed her to see the color of the dreaming pony’s coat.

“Aecorum…” She whispered before she ran towards her old friend. When she reached him she grinned widely and spoke clearly “Aecorum, it is me, it’s Luna! Oh, I knew I would find you, I am so happy!” Aecorum didn’t respond or even move and she raised an eyebrow. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw how ragged his mane and tail had become, how dull and lifeless his coat and eyes were, and how…Sad he looked as he stared at the nothing in front of him. “Aecorum? Are…Are you alright?” Luna was worried and it came out in her voice.

Aecorum sighed quietly and slightly turned his head away from Luna. Luna took a step forward and bent her head down closer to his. “Aecorum, it’s me, really. I have been looking for you for weeks, Tia doesn’t remember you, nopony does. Aecorum?” Aecorum said nothing and turned just a bit further from Luna as her mind began to swim with confusion. “Why won’t you look at me?”

He turned his face up towards the moon and Luna followed his gaze, shaking her head slightly. The moon was full with a dark formation across its face. Luna had seen pictures and heard descriptions but this was the first time she had actually seen the Mare in the Moon and she sighed. She turned back to Aecorum “No, no, Aecorum, it’s me, I promise. The Nightmare is gone, I’m me again.” She got no response and her voice grew more pained as tears welled up in her eyes “Aecorum…Please look at me. Please.”

Aecorum turned towards Luna and sighed as he stood slowly, as if he bore the weight of the entire world and its sorrows on his shoulders. He shook his head and sighed again “Oh, Luna. I have had this dream every night for a thousand years.” As he spoke he walked towards her and bent his head so their horns were almost touching. His voice dropped to a whisper as he closed his eyes and shook his head. “I know that you are not real.”

Luna took a step back in shock as she looked in his eyes and shook her head. “No, I am really here, I’m not a dream. I came to your dream, I found you!” There was something in his eyes, something she had never seen before that almost broke her heart. She saw a deep sadness and pain beyond anything she had ever imagined, and they were dull. The spark of life, the passion and spirit she had always seen in his eyes was…Gone. It was like she was looking into a void where his soul once was.

Aecorum sighed and turned away, taking a few steps away from Luna. “I almost believed it those first few nights, but not anymore. I have known ever since then that you are nothing more than a phantom my mind has created as a constant reminder of what I lost.”

Luna shook her head earnestly “No! I’m real, I swear! I was freed from the Nightmare by the Elements of Harmony almost four years ago!”

Aecorum chuckled, but it was a hollow, mirthless sound “I must say, these are new lies. Perhaps I am finally losing my grip on my sanity.”

Luna walked in front of him and looked him dead in the eye as tears started to fall down her face “How can you say that?! Aecorum, look at me! I entered your dream from the castle at Canterlot, I’m free!”

Aecorum shook his head “No, dear Luna, you are not. You are still a prisoner, if not of the Nightmare, then of me. I used the Elements of Harmony to banish you to the moon, and there you remain, if you are even alive.” He frowned sadly at Luna and looked up towards the moon.

Luna bowed her head and swallowed the lump in her throat “Why does nopony remember you? Why doesn’t Celestia know who you are?”

Aecorum shrugged slightly “Do you not know? You are, after all, a product of my mind.”

Luna bit her tongue and spoke through gritted teeth “Humor me. What happened?”

“Very well, I will tell you. It was a part of my sentence, to be forgotten, my name stricken from all records and my image erased.”

Luna’s mouth fell open “Your…Sentence? Who…Why? Did they blame you for what I did? Who sentenced you? Was it the ponies? Surely it couldn’t have been Tia…Could-”

“It was me, Luna.” Aecorum looked down at Luna with a weary expression.

“What? Y-You?” Luna’s breath hitched in her throat “Why? And…How? How could you possibly make everypony forget you, even Tia and Discord? How?”

Aecorum chuckled mirthlessly again “Do you not remember the old saying, Luna? ‘The Moon gives light to the dreams of all, and chases away the shadows. The Sun brings knowledge and shows inner strength, even when all hope is lost. And the Sea washes across the shore, bringing long forgotten shells to the surface as sandcastles new are torn down.’ Memories have always been my second domain, so I cast a spell to change any and all relating to me.”

Luna furrowed her brow as she thought “That doesn’t make sense…A spell that powerful would have required so much magic…It would have killed you!”

Aecorum nodded slightly “I believe it did, at least for a while. You know all too well that my emotions and my magic are intertwined beyond normal bounds. In the throes of intense emotion, my magic gets stronger, and I was…feeling very strongly when I cast the spell.”

Luna sat down in shock as his words sank in. She looked up at him with pain and confusion in her eyes “But…Why?”

Aecorum’s face grew hard “Because I failed you. The Nightmare was my doing, and I needed to be punished for my actions.”

“No, no you didn’t fail anypony, least of all me! I failed you, I failed Tia, it was my fault!”

Aecorum shook his head “There are times I sincerely wish I could believe that. But I know the truth, Luna.”

Luna stood and walked right up to Aecorum as her tears began to flow more freely “Aecorum, listen to me! You are not imagining me! I am real, I am home! Please, my friend, you have to believe me! The Nightmare is gone, it is gone forever!” She closed her eyes and lowered her voice as she wrapped her hooves around Aecorum’s neck and buried her face in his chest “I’m me, believe me. Oh, Aecorum, please, please, please, believe me. Everypony thinks I’ve lost my mind, you have to believe me.”

Aecorum shook his head slowly and raised Luna’s chin with his hoof, looking into her pleading eyes. After a second he sighed “You cannot fool me, no matter how much I wish you could. You are gone, and there is nothing I can do to change it.”

Luna was about to speak when the wind grew stronger and the dream began to fade into darkness. Luna shook her head quickly and tried to hold tighter to Aecorum “No, no, no! Please don’t wake up! I have to explain!” Aecorum closed his eyes and the dream vanished, bringing Luna’s vision back to the Equestrian dreamscape.

She opened her eyes and ran to her bed, letting her tears flow with impunity. After a moment she stopped crying and raised her head as her brow furrowed. A smile grew on her face and she turned towards the window. Luna ran back out onto the balcony and looked to the southwest, her smile growing wider as her sadness was replaced with joy.

“I found you.” She whispered “I found Aecorum.” Her voice grew louder “I found him!” Without another second of thought Luna leaped off the balcony and flew as fast as she could towards the hill.

Take Me Home

Aecorum sighed as he brought in the tide and sat on the cold stone. Usually he was able to put his dreams behind him but…There was something about last night’s dream that didn’t make sense. No dream had ever been that insistent, or that…Happy to see him. Usually the Luna of his dreams turned into the Nightmare before he woke up. He shook his head and reminded himself that Luna was lost forever and the dream was nothing more than his own mind playing tricks on him.

Luna landed hard on the hill, next to the long dead cherry tree from Aecorum’s dream and started looking around for any trace of him. She ran across the hill and screamed “Aecorum!”

She called him over and over and ran down the hill to the seashore. She looked around frantically as the ocean crashed around her and she thought. How could I not realize? He loved this place more than anywhere else in the world. She ran up and down the beach yelling his name for what seemed like hours even though it was only twenty minutes.

Finally, something in the corner of her eye caught her attention and she walked over to the cliff where vines had grown over a patch of darker stone. Luna used her magic to push the vines aside and she smiled when she saw the faintest impression of a cresting wave in the rock. She recognized Aecorum’s cutie mark instantly and started to knock on the stone with more and more force.

“Aecorum!” She cried into the stone “AECORUM!” She took a step back and saw that the cliff face had been fused with magic and the faintest outline of the opening was still visible. Luna charged her horn and forced her aura into the cracks of the rock, finally ripping the stone from the cliff and revealing an old cave. The cave was very deep; the light from the lowering moon barely illuminated the inside at all.

Aecorum cocked his head at the echoing sound of rock cracking but shrugged and passed it off as a stalactite breaking. He stood and began walking to the Sky Cavern, the noise of his own hooves drowning out the sound of something else from farther away. He sighed and thought about Luna, and with every step found himself comparing the Luna of his memories to the Luna that came to him in his dream. She was so…Real. Maybe…Maybe it was a sign; maybe I should go back to Canterlot. It has been so long, maybe…No, I cannot.

Luna grinned and ran into the cave, shouting Aecorum’s name as the cave split into different passages and tunnels. She stood at a fork for a moment before galloping into the passage on her left that twisted and turned until it came to a small cavern. Luna gasped in relief when she saw a large stone bed and an ancient chest in the wall. With a single look she knew that the chest belonged to Aecorum and laughed. She splashed through some standing water as she ran on, too excited to speak.

Aecorum turned his head to a cave tunnel when he thought he heard a sound, almost as if someone was calling him, but shook his head and looked up at the Mare in the Moon with a sigh and a furrowed brow. He kept trying not to think about the dream, but he couldn’t. Something about the way last night’s Luna had spoken was…Strange to him. It felt like some secret part of him had been reawakened, but he didn’t know what it was or why he actually wanted to go back to Celestia. Why am I still thinking about this? It was just a dream…Right? Of course it was. Luna is gone. Believing anything else is just false hope.

Luna slowed her pace as she tried to figure out whether or not to go through the many tunnels and paths that lined the passage she was in. Finally she heard something ahead of her, something that sounded like…A sigh. She laughed and ran forward to a huge cavern where she saw Aecorum standing by the water, staring up at the ceiling. Luna slowed to almost a complete stop and whispered “Aecorum…”

Aecorum snapped his head towards Luna and gasped. His mouth opened and shut a few times before he shook his head and spoke incredulously “Has...Has my madness caught up with the waking world?”

Luna laughed and shook her head “No, Aecorum. I’m really here.” Tears of joy started to blur her vision and Aecorum took a step forward, looking intently into Luna’s eyes.

“L-Luna? Is…Is it really you?” His eyes almost shined with hope and disbelief.

Luna shut her eyes and nodded “I am free.”

Aecorum hesitantly touched Luna’s cheek with his hoof. Luna put her hoof on his and he gasped. “Luna…Oh, Luna.” At that he wrapped his hoof around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug that she eagerly returned. Aecorum’s grip grew tighter as he buried his head in her mane and started to cry.

Luna laughed and wiped a tear from her face “I told you the Nightmare was gone.”

Aecorum shook his head and spoke softly “Luna, I am so sorry. I should have been a better stallion, I should have protected you. Forgive me, Luna. Oh, please, please forgive me.”

Luna pulled back and wiped the tears off Aecorum’s face, smiling warmly “There’s nothing to forgive, my friend. Everything is just like it used to be, I promise.” Luna took a step back and looked up at the ceiling. She gasped at the detail and turned to Aecorum “Did you do this?”

Aecorum laughed, except this time there was actual happiness in it “Who else is here, Luna?”

Luna laughed and stroked Aecorum’s ragged mane “Aecorum…You did all of this because of me?” Her eyes were sad but happy at the same time.

Aecorum bowed his head in shame “Yes…I was so ashamed, so angry with myself, I did not know what else to do.”

Luna sighed sadly “Aecorum…I am so sorry, for everything. But it’s alright now, you can come home.” She smiled but her face fell when Aecorum shook his head.

“No, Luna, I cannot.”

Luna furrowed her brow “But…Why? I have been restored; you don’t have to punish yourself anymore.”

Aecorum turned away and took a few steps “I have lived in this cave for a thousand years, Luna. I have not seen daylight or moonlight, I have not felt the wind on my face, and I have not even been able to fly in all those years.”

Luna followed him as he walked “But that doesn’t mean you have to stay here forever.”

“How can I possibly return when I have missed over a thousand years of history?” Aecorum walked through the passageways with Luna until they reached his bedchamber. He walked over to the wall and looked at his chest “Even if I wanted to, I could not return.” He sighed softly “The past is in the past, and even I cannot change it.”

Luna walked around to face him “Don’t you think I felt the same way?” She pointed to herself “When the Elements of Harmony released me, I was so overwhelmed by what I missed I thought I would never catch up. But I did, and I know that you could too!” Aecorum raised an eyebrow and Luna nodded “Aecorum, you are the most intelligent pony I know, you could catch up on what you missed in half the time it took me, and I could help you! I know you are afraid that too much has changed, but it really hasn’t.”

“In a thousand years, nothing has changed?” Aecorum spoke incredulously.

Luna smiled “Things have changed, but they have changed for the better.”

“What do you mean?”

Luna took a step forward and grinned “We rule the way you always wanted to.” Aecorum cocked his head “It’s true. The Royal Canterlot Voice isn’t used anymore, we can make friends again.” Aecorum’s brow furrowed “I played games with village ponies during a celebration. If you wanted to you could spend entire days doing nothing but talk to anypony you met. Celestia has had her own private students!” She laughed and put a hoof on Aecorum’s cheek “Everything is just how you wanted it to be all those years ago.”

Aecorum cocked his head “Has it really…Changed? The Royal Canterlot Voice is not used?”

Luna nodded “I actually had some trouble getting adjusted to it, but I know you will love it.”

Aecorum took a few steps away “Could I…Have friends? I could come back, and get to know them like I wanted to before…” Luna smiled and nodded enthusiastically. Aecorum shook his head “No, no, I cannot.” Luna sighed and he turned back with a guilt-ridden expression “What about Celestia?” Luna furrowed her brow “I betrayed her, Luna. I said I would not do anything drastic after you…After Nightmare Moon was banished, and then I changed all of her memories. How can I go back to her now?”

Luna saw the pain and regret in his eyes and smiled warmly “You should know Tia better than that. Aecorum, she bore the Element of Kindness, do you think a thousand years has changed that?” Aecorum looked away “She forgave me; I know she will gladly forgive you.”

Aecorum swallowed a lump in his throat “But what if she does not? What if she…Hates me for what I did to her? I abandoned her.”

Luna sighed and took a few steps towards the entrance. “Aecorum, I destroyed our home and tried to bring eternal night to the world.” She turned to Aecorum with a firm face “If she forgave me and allowed me to return to my throne, I guarantee she will greet you with all the kindness in the world.”

“Luna, I…”

Luna stomped towards him and glared harshly “Aecorum, I have spent weeks searching for you. I have gone without sleep, Celestia thinks I’ve lost my mind, and until I found your dream, I did too.” Aecorum backed his head away from Luna as she narrowed her eyes at him “I am not leaving this barren hole without. You.” Her eyes softened “Aecorum…I have missed you so much these last few years, it tore me apart. You’re my best friend and I lo-!” Aecorum missed the tiniest flash of fear in her eyes as she cleared her throat “You will always be my friend, no matter what idiotic things you do. Let me help you, Aecorum.” Her eyes started to get misty “Let me help the High Prince of the Sea take back his throne.”

Aecorum stood in thought for a moment before he looked around at the cave, then to Luna, then to the ocean water. He walked over to the water and let it lap against his hooves. He closed his eyes and bowed his head. Luna recognized his “Thinking Pose” and silently smiled at him. I have been here for so long, it has become my home. Luna is right…Luna is here! I cannot believe she is free! But…Can I go back? She said she would help me, but… Aecorum’s eyes snapped open and he glared at the cave wall. No…Luna is free, and I am not going to let her slip away again! I have been in this cave for a thousand years; the time has come for me to fly free!

“Luna!” He turned around to face her with a defiant smirk “I think I need to stretch my wings.” Luna laughed and grinned when she saw the light in his eyes, the passion and spirit was there again. Aecorum was back.

She nodded “What are we waiting for?” Luna started walking to the entrance but turned back when she didn’t hear Aecorum coming. She turned back and saw him walking in the opposite direction, back towards the Sky Cavern. She ran after him and was about to grab him by his tail but stopped when she saw him glaring at the stone Mare in the Moon.

“This needs to be updated.” Aecorum’s horn lit up and the stones in the ceiling fell into the water, leaving a perfect replica of the night sky and a completely clear full moon. Aecorum turned to Luna and smiled with tears in his eyes. “It is finally over.”

Luna smiled and offered one of her hooves to him. He gently took it in his own, although Luna’s face fell when she saw how cracked and dirty his hooves were. As he walked for the last time through his cave he levitated his chest to his back and smiled sadly at the memories of his prison. They came nearer to the entrance and Aecorum hesitated, backing away from the cave’s mouth.

Luna turned to him “What is it?”

Aecorum swallowed the lump in his throat “It…It has been so long…I do not know if I can…”

Luna smiled warmly “The Ocean still smells like salt.” She walked out onto the sand and Aecorum nodded.

He took a few steps forward before he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and walked onto the beach. The soft breeze caressed his face and he gasped as he smelled the ocean spray and felt the power behind the crashing waves. Aecorum slowly opened his eyes and he laughed softly as tears ran down his face. He looked at the setting moon and bit his lip when he saw its perfectly white face. He opened his wings to their full extent and stiffly flapped them a few times before he laughed.

“It feels like they are made of stone. Although I suppose that is what I get for living in a cave for a thousand years.”

Luna laughed and nodded “But now you are free, and that’s what matters.”

Aecorum looked up at the top of the hill and awkwardly flew up to it, nearly falling but managing to get his wings to cooperate. Luna raised an eyebrow and flew up after him to find Aecorum softly putting his hoof on the dead tree’s trunk and talking. “The last time I saw you, you were just a sapling. Now look at you. You grew, you lived, and you died when it was your time.” He laughed “But you picked a strange spot to do it on.”

Luna smiled at Aecorum but furrowed her brow when a thought occurred to her. “Aecorum…” He turned towards her “You can reverse the spell…Right?”

Aecorum thought for a moment “I am not sure. I did not think about that when I first figured it out, but I could try. It would be easier, now that most of the ponies who remembered me are…” His face fell just slightly “Dead. I would have to change books, tapestries, carvings, and Celestia’s memories of course.”

Luna smiled “But you can bring her memories back?”

Aecorum took a deep breath and nodded “I can try. When I first cast the spell it nearly killed me, so who knows what may happen when I reverse it.” Aecorum closed his eyes and focused.

“Can I help?” Aecorum looked at Luna with a surprised expression.

“What?”

Luna smiled and took a step towards him “Can I help you cast the spell? If I support your magic with my own, it may be easier for you.”

“No, Luna, I cannot ask you to do that…” Luna raised her eyebrow and Aecorum reluctantly nodded “Just not too much, alright?” Luna nodded with a smile and they both charged up their horns.

Aecorum’s horn gained more and more energy as he strained, this time pulling his strength from his joy rather than his pain, and Luna calmly focused energy into her midnight aura. After a moment Aecorum’s horn exploded in a familiar grey pillar of light that covered the world, only this time there was a trace of blue light as well. Aecorum’s and Luna’s eyes opened with the glowing white light as they floated into the air and Aecorum felt the books change and Celestia’s memories return. He felt himself draining but it wasn’t nearly as severe, in fact he actually felt himself growing slightly stronger, and after a few moments, the light faded from both their horns and they panted for air. Luna staggered slightly but straightened herself and looked at Aecorum with both admiration and confusion.

“How…How could you have done that to millions of creatures…By yourself?”

Aecorum panted and smiled “I told you in my dream: My emotions were strong that night.” He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before he spoke again “It has been so long since I have used that much magic, I am afraid I have to rest. You should too, Luna.”

Luna nodded before she lay down in the grass and almost immediately fell asleep. Aecorum stood for a moment and looked at the rising sun on the eastern horizon. He sighed and shook his head. It is too late to go back now. Celestia remembers me, and I am certain she is never going to let me out of her sight again. Aecorum was about to lie down next to Luna but shook his head and lay down on the opposite side of the tree. I cannot. Not yet.

Celestia sipped her morning tea and tried to remain calm. Luna had disappeared from the castle mere hours after they had spoken and Celestia had no idea where she would go. Celestia closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths as the morning sun fell across her desk. Suddenly she froze as she, along with the rest of the castle, was surrounded by a grey aura with a hint of blue. She was about to block the strange spell when suddenly her mind was flooded with…Memories. Celestia lost her grip on the teacup and it fell, shattering on the floor while she remained frozen.

Her eyes widened as her past was unwound and put back together in her mind and she barely whispered “Aecorum…”

Discord smiled warmly at Fluttershy as he took a bite of the sandwich she had made for their picnic. Suddenly, and without warning, Discord felt a strange spell take over his mind and instead of stopping it, he simply raised his eyebrow. Fluttershy noticed and spoke in a very concerned voice.

“Discord? Are you okay?”

Discord furrowed his brow as his memories changed to fit Luna’s story exactly and he let out a quiet “Huh. I guess he is that powerful.” He looked at Fluttershy’s worried face and laughed, stroking her mane “I’m perfectly alright, dear Fluttershy.” He glanced towards Canterlot “I just remembered something, that’s all…”

His tail feathers snapped and a notepad and pencil appeared next to them as he jotted down a quick note.

1. Find Aecorum

2. Unleash two years of Chaos on him

3. Avoid Tia and Luna

4. Laugh

All six of Cerberus’ ears perked up as enraged shouting and feeble beating on rock sounded from Tirek’s prison just after a strange blue and grey light had come from nowhere and surrounded the centaur demon. He took a massive step closer and listened to Tirek scream.

“HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN?! I COULD HAVE DESTROYED THAT PETTY PRINCESS AND HER FRIENDS IF I HAD HIS MAGIC!!” He pounded on the stone and almost broke his wrists as he yelled “Why?!” over and over. Cerberus simply shrugged and went back to his patrols around Tartarus.

Never Again

For the first time in over a thousand years, Aecorum woke up on grass rather than stone. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled when he saw Luna still sleeping on the ground. He stood and walked to the crest of the hill, breathing deep as the wind blew his mane. Aecorum smiled and lit up his horn, sending out the tide in full view of the ocean. He heard Luna stir behind him and he turned to face her.

Luna yawned and looked up at the sky “How long was I asleep?”

Aecorum did a few calculations in his head “I would say about six or seven hours.” He laughed “Although the last time I cast that spell I was unconscious for a full day at least.”

Luna stood and walked over to Aecorum with a small smile “Aecorum, we had better be on our way, if you’re up for it.”

Aecorum took a deep breath and nodded “I…I think I am, Luna.” He smirked slightly “But if my wings are too weak and I start to fall, you had better catch me.”

Luna laughed “Of course, Your Majesty.”

Aecorum winced slightly “Oh, why would you say that, you know I hate it.” He smiled and made sure his chest of belongings was secure on his back before he shakily took off. He flew slowly at first and strained to keep level but after a while he grew stronger. Luna flew beside him and the two alicorns smiled at each other, each one feeling happy again.

Celestia held back a sigh as practically every noble in Canterlot fought for the right to speak in her throne room. They had all seen the changes to the windows and books, and none of them were happy, leaving Celestia no time to find Aecorum and drag him back by his feathers.

“Your Majesty, what is going on?” A light blue unicorn stallion asked for the twelfth time. The nobles all murmured in agreement and Celestia forced a small smile.

“Please calm down, my little ponies. There is nothing to be worried about, I assure you.”

“But who is this ‘Prince Aecorum’?! Is this the work of…The draconequus?”

Celestia took a deep breath and shook her head “Discord had nothing to do with this. These changes are actually due, in part, to the actions of Princess Luna.”

The nobles gasped and looked at each other before a cream unicorn mare spoke “Why would Princess Luna do this? Nopony has ever heard of-”

The doors opened and Luna walked through, her triumphant smile soon fading when she saw the clamoring nobility of Canterlot. She took a few steps forward and raised her eyebrow.

“Hello, Sister. What is going on?”

Celestia’s eyes brightened and her voice grew slightly more excited “Hello, Princess Luna. The nobility have seen the changes made to the books and the Canterlot Castle windows and are concerned. If you could elaborate, I think it would be most helpful.” She raised her eyebrow questioningly and Luna smiled and nodded in understanding.

“Of course, Princess Celestia. I am very happy to tell you all that after a thousand years in exile, the High Prince of the Sea has returned!” She took a step to the side and pointed to the door. Aecorum took a deep breath and walked through with a bowed head. He looked up at Celestia for a second and weakly smiled before he turned away from her gaze.

The nobility gawked at the alicorn stallion in front of them and turned to Celestia. Celestia tried very hard to maintain her regal stoicism but a joyful smile crossed her lips and her eyes started to glisten. She nodded to Luna and Aecorum and the two started walking towards the throne. Luna walked proudly with her head held high but Aecorum walked slowly with his head low to the ground. As he got closer Celestia saw how ragged he looked and her heart broke slightly. Luna and Aecorum reached the thrones and turned to face the crowd of ponies. They spoke amongst themselves quietly before Prince Blueblood took a step forward.

“Aunt Celestia, I’m afraid I must protest! Who is this stallion, and where in Equestria did he come from?”

Celestia looked at Luna expectantly and Luna cleared her throat. “Prince Blueblood, a thousand years ago, soon after Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon, High Prince Aecorum cast a spell to erase any trace of him from Equestrian history and memories. He blamed himself for Nightmare Moon’s actions and banished himself to pay for it, but now that Nightmare Moon is no more, he has returned to reclaim his throne.”

A pegasus noble glared and stepped forward “Princess Celestia! Forgive my rudeness, but how could you have kept this from us for a thousand years and expect us to go along with it?!”

Nobles started yelling at Celestia and Luna “Were you a part of it?”

“Why did you allow it?”

“Were you ever going to tell us?”

“What’s going to happen?”

Aecorum had closed his eyes when the Prince Blueblood first started talking but as the nobles grew louder he gritted his teeth. Finally he opened his eyes and stomped the floor with a fore hoof as he unfurled his wings to their full extent.

“SILENCE!” Everypony was immediately quiet and he glared at the ponies in front of him. “This was My doing. Neither Celestia nor Luna had any part in it! I gave up Equestria because I felt I did not deserve it, and I cast the spell. Alone. Princess Celestia was also a target of my spell and until this morning, even she did not know who I was!” He took a step forward defiantly “If you so desperately want somepony to blame for your slights then blame me! But the facts remain as such: I cast the spell. Princess Luna was not affected by it. She found me. And I undid the spell. If this is how you treat my friends after all this time then truly nothing has changed and I am glad I returned.” He looked each pony in the eye and hardened his voice “I left Celestia alone for a thousand years but believe me, I will not make the same mistake twice.”

Prince Blueblood swallowed the lump in his throat and took a step back “But…Aunt Celestia…”

Aecorum took a step towards him and quickly scanned his eyes over Blueblood “You are Prince Blueblood?” Blueblood meekly nodded and Aecorum continued “I remember the day your ancestor, Blueblood the Third, was adopted by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as their nephew. I commend your family on maintaining the line for this long; you actually look quite like your ancestor. Fortunately, I am not related to the princesses in any way, so you and I have no bond, kinship or otherwise.”

Blueblood looked at the other nobles and stammered “W-what is…”

Aecorum raised his head and glared proudly at the chattering nobles as he used the Royal Canterlot Voice “Listen well, all of you! I am Aecorum, the High Prince of the Sea, and I have come to reclaim my throne!” He lowered his voice “And believe me, there is no power in this world that will take it from me again!”

Aecorum walked through the throne room as the nobles cleared a path and a few bowed down to him. As he had been speaking, Luna and Celestia had both noticed his mane and tail slowly losing its ragged appearance and starting to wave of its own accord like theirs. When he had crossed the throne room he shut the doors behind him with his magic. All the nobles turned towards Celestia and Luna with slightly fearful expressions and the princesses didn’t say anything to them.

Celestia turned towards Luna with a grateful smile and tears in her eyes. Neither one said anything for a moment but Luna smirked and spoke with a definite edge of victory in her voice.

“He’s back.”

Aecorum looked around his bedchamber and sighed. Celestia and Luna had somehow managed to have his old room recreated and he felt…He wasn’t sure what he felt. He walked over to the window and ran a hoof along the sheer grey-blue curtains. Aecorum turned to the dresser and saw himself in the mirror. In only two days the castle staff had restored his mane, tail, and coat to their regal state and he smiled as his mane and tail waved with no wind behind them. He looked out the window and sighed, the view was spectacular. Just like before, his bedchamber was at the top of the highest tower in the castle and he could see all of Canterlot and beyond. Aecorum could hear the midday bustle and life of the city below him and he smiled again.

A quiet knock came from the door and Celestia opened it, smiling tenderly at Aecorum. Aecorum smiled weakly then looked away. Celestia walked towards him and cocked her head “Aecorum, you have been avoiding me since you came back. What is it?”

Aecorum turned away “I…I was not sure if you wanted to talk to me…”

Celestia smiled “Why in the world would I not want to talk to you? You’re my best friend.”

“I…Abandoned you, Celestia.” He hung his head in shame “I was selfish, and I left you all alone for a thousand years.”

Celestia put a hoof on his cheek and turned his head towards hers. “Aecorum, I know you. Your emotions have always driven you, even when we were foals. You loved Luna, and when she was banished it broke your heart in ways I couldn’t imagine. I bear no ill will towards you, I’m just glad I have you back.” Her eyes were soft and gentle but Aecorum could see something, a hint of hidden anger that was quickly fading.

Aecorum genuinely smiled “Really?”

Celestia nodded and wrapped her hooves around Aecorum’s neck “Of course.” Aecorum hesitantly put a hoof on Celestia’s back. Celestia pulled away and slapped Aecorum across the face, glaring daggers at him. Aecorum put his hoof to his cheek with wide eyes and Celestia spoke harshly “But don’t you ever, and I mean ever, do anything like that ever again!” She punctuated her words with a threatening point to his chest.

Aecorum winced “I…I am sorry, Celestia.”

Celestia’s expression melted to a warm smile and she hugged Aecorum again “My foolish friend, I forgave you as soon as you walked through the door.” She looked out the window and smirked “It must be strange, being locked in a silent cave for a thousand years then coming back to the constant noise of Canterlot.”

Aecorum chuckled and turned to the window “Not as much as you might think. In the cave, there was always the sound of the ocean and the bustle of Canterlot is oddly similar.” His face fell slightly as he looked at his hoof “The strangest thing is me. Only two days ago I was a ragged husk of the stallion I was all those years ago and now…Look at me.”

Celestia nodded “You look fantastic, Aecorum. Just how I remembered you.”

Aecorum raised an eyebrow “What?”

Celestia sighed “I think…There was always a small part of me that remembered you, Aecorum. When Luna was in the moon I always felt a crushing sadness, I missed her so much. But even after she was restored I still felt sad, as if…” She smiled at Aecorum “Something was still missing. Your spell worked on my mind, but I don’t think it could ever work on my heart.” She raised an eyebrow and asked “But Luna told me about your spell and it should have killed you. When you first cast it, what happened?”

Aecorum shrugged “I lost consciousness, although I do not know for how long.”

Celestia’s eyes and mouth widened in realization “I do.”

Aecorum raised an eyebrow “What?”

Celestia brought a hoof to her forehead “Of course! How could I have forgotten?” Aecorum cocked his head and Celestia turned back to him “The Fortnight of Silence.”

Aecorum exhaled sharply in confusion “The what?”

“A thousand years ago, soon after Luna was banished, the oceans all over the world did something they had never done before and haven’t done since.” Aecorum raised an eyebrow and Celestia continued “They were silent. Every ocean in the world was still, not a single wave or current moved them.” Aecorum’s jaw dropped “For a fortnight there were no tides, the oceans looked like mirrors, and I tried in vain to figure out why. There was panic and the economy suffered a great deal but once the waves crashed again, I was so focused on trying to rule by myself that I let it slip out of my mind and soon everypony else did too.”

Aecorum looked out the window with an incredulous expression “The oceans…Were still?” Celestia nodded “I…I must have actually been…Dead. The spell must have taken so much of my magic that the oceans themselves were drained.”

Celestia smiled “Even Death cannot hold you longer than a fortnight. I guess that proves how much Equestria needs you.” Her eyes got a little misty “And how much I will always need you.”

Aecorum’s eyes glistened with tears and he nuzzled Celestia “I missed you, Tia.”

Celestia put a wing around Aecorum’s shoulder “I missed you too, Big Brother.”

For a while they were silent, each one enjoying the embrace of the other, but then Celestia pulled away and looked at Aecorum with pleading eyes. “You have to tell her.”

It took only a fraction of a second for Aecorum to realize what she was talking about and his eyes widened as he backed away slightly “No, no, no, Tia, I cannot!”

“Why? She’s here now, you are about to be re-crowned, why can’t you tell her the truth?”

Aecorum looked away and shifted uncomfortably “I…What if she thinks I am kidding? Or completely refuses? Or does not want to be my friend anymore? I cannot take the risk of losing her again!”

Celestia’s face grew hard as she raised an eyebrow “Aecorum, this is Luna we’re talking about. She spent a thousand years alone too.” Aecorum bowed his head “You didn’t see her when she was looking for you, she didn’t sleep, she hardly ate, and even though everypony in Equestria and beyond told her you didn’t exist, she never gave up.” She raised Aecorum’s head and her eyes softened “Do you really think she is ever going to give you up?”

“But Tia…I…She…”

“Not telling her tore you apart. You blamed yourself because you didn’t tell her how you felt. Please, please, please my friend, don’t let that happen again.” Celestia looked at Aecorum with pleading eyes that she knew he could never resist.

After a long few seconds Aecorum sighed and nodded, defeated. “Alright Tia. I will…I will tell Luna how I feel.” He steeled his expression “But only after the coronation.”

Celestia smiled and nodded “Good.”

Aecorum took a deep breath and nodded to the guards who opened the throne room doors for him. Once again he wore the titanium shoes, the breastplate with oceanic designs engraved on the front, and the gem encrusted crown that signified his rank, as well as the long, dark green velvet cape that was only for the most momentous of ceremonies. He walked through the throne room with his wings unfurled as scores of ponies bowed down to him. Celestia and Luna stood in front of their thrones in their ceremonial outfits and Aecorum smiled at them. He mounted the steps up to his throne and turned to the crowd of ponies. He took another deep breath and nodded to them with a soft smile, focusing on the two new alicorn princesses he had yet to meet.

He almost used the Royal Canterlot Voice, but remembered Celestia telling him that simply raising his voice was good enough. He spoke with the firm, strong voice that Celestia and Luna remembered and their smiles grew.

“Citizens of Equestria! Three days ago, you did not know I existed. This was through no fault of Equestria or her ponies, but through my own actions. I believed I did not deserve to rule, or even be remembered for my rule, and that was a lie. It took a thousand years and High Princess Luna of the Night to bring me back to my senses.” His expression softened just slightly “But do not think that I did not care for you. I may not have realized it, but I have been watching over you ever since the day the Great Spirit Discord was defeated.”

Celestia glanced around nervously, praying that Discord was going to keep his promise to stay away and let out a tiny breath of relief as Aecorum continued uninterrupted.

“Even when I was locked away in my cave prison, I still fulfilled my duty and kept the oceans moving. I have been given so much that I still do not believe I deserve: Two friends that have stood by my side in the direst circumstances, a nation that looks to me for guidance, and you.” He smiled slightly as he turned his head slightly to Luna then to the crowd “I stand before you today as your grateful ruler, and I give you my solemn vow that I will always protect and help you and never again will the High Prince of the Sea leave his throne!”

The crowd started stomping their hooves and cheering as the three alicorns sat down on their thrones, Celestia’s on the right, Luna’s on the left, and Aecorum’s in the center. Aecorum looked at both of his friends and they shared a warm smile and joyful eyes. Aecorum, the High Prince of the Sea, the Tide-Caller, and Keeper of Memories, had returned.

From the Ashes of Solitude Grow the Roses of Love

Luna stood on one of the castle parapets and looked up at the night sky. Aecorum’s re-coronation had gone wonderfully; the ponies actually accepted him much quicker than Luna thought they would, even though Aecorum still had a lot of work ahead of him. She sighed contentedly and smiled as somepony walked softly towards her.

“I had forgotten how clear the stars were from up here.” Luna turned and smiled when she saw Aecorum standing beside her.

“Aecorum...I cannot tell you how happy all of this has made me. My world is complete again.”

Aecorum smiled and looked up at the moon. “I never thought I would be here again. My crown seems much heavier than it used to be.” They stood in silence for a moment before Aecorum’s face fell and he turned to face her. “Luna…There is something I have wanted to tell you for a long time…”

Luna’s eyes filled with concern at Aecorum’s somber expression “What is it?”

Aecorum swallowed a lump in his throat “I…I should have told you years ago, but…I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

Aecorum sighed and took a step towards the edge “I was afraid of what you would have said, afraid of what Tia would have said, afraid…Afraid of how our friendship would have changed, and afraid…Of how it would not. My fear kept me from telling you, and…” Luna took a step towards him and he continued “That is why I sealed myself in that cave, why I blamed myself for what happened. I was…I was certain that if I had told you before, you would never have been consumed by darkness.”

Luna put a hoof on Aecorum’s shoulder “Aecorum…” She swallowed a lump in her own throat “What…Did you want to tell me?”

Aecorum turned towards her and took a deep breath “I…Luna, you are the most beautiful creature in existence. The night, your night, is so much more wonderful to me than any day could ever be. Luna…” He took another deep breath “I love you. I love you with all of my heart, all of my soul, every part of me. There is nothing I would not do to make you happy, no sacrifice I would not make to see you smile, hear you laugh…To be with you.”

Luna gasped “You…Love me?”

Aecorum nodded and bit his lip “I understand if you do not feel the same way, but…You should know that I have been in love with you since the moment I met you.”

“Ae-Aecorum…” Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes and she smiled “I…I never dreamed you…Ever felt that way about me. I thought…I thought it was Tia.”

Aecorum turned away “I am sorry, I should not have said anything, I am…Gods I am such a fool!” He sighed “I will just…Go back to my study and we can forget this.”

He started to walk away but Luna put a hoof on his cheek and looked him in the eye. They stared at each other in silence until understanding finally dawned in Aecorum’s eyes as he realized that the special shine in Luna’s eyes was the same as the one he had seen countless times in the mirror. He hesitantly leaned his head closer to Luna’s and slowly wrapped a wing around her shoulders. Luna returned the gesture and as their heads drew closer they closed their eyes and in an instant that seemed to last for a lifetime, their lips met. After a second they pulled back and Aecorum’s smile grew broader with each second.

Tears of joy started to flow down his face as he laughed and picked Luna up with his hooves, spinning her around in a crushing yet gentle hug. Luna had never heard him laugh with that much heart or joy and she started laughing along with him, their voices ringing across the castle walls and into the night. Suddenly Aecorum stopped spinning and lowered Luna’s head to the ground as if they were dancing. Their smiles were warm and Aecorum kissed Luna again, both of them leaning into the kiss and enjoying every fleeting moment with their entire being.

Aecorum’s ears pricked up and he pulled away from Luna as music started to play. They looked around for a second before Aecorum saw Celestia standing on her balcony, her horn aglow as a harp on her balcony started playing a sweet melody. Celestia’s face was lit up with the warmest, happiest smile Luna and Aecorum had ever seen, and Aecorum nodded to her with gratitude lining his face. Celestia nodded in return and turned to go back inside as Aecorum tenderly grabbed Luna’s hoof. Luna laughed and they started dancing to the tune of Celestia’s instrument, neither one with a single thought besides each other.

[img][/img]

Author's Note

And so, the lost Prince of the Sea is found. But don’t worry; Aecorum has a long winding road ahead of him. A road filled with new faces, new history, and a budding romance with the Mistress of Dreams. So keep your eyes open, for although Aecorum has returned, he is more like an “Old Shell on New Shores" than the ruler he once was. I extend my deepest gratitude to everypony that has read this, you guys are amazing!

Prologue: The Solitary Stallion

How does a pony change the past?

Undo what has been done?

That, little foal, is impossible

With the exceptions being one.

Instead of undoing what has already been,

Undo what has been recorded.

Change their memories, rewrite the books

And remove even that carved in stone.

Then, and only then, may a pony find Peace

And live out his sentence alone.

Aecorum stared at the poem he had carved into the wall over a thousand years ago, reading it for probably the millionth time, and sighed, bowing his head.

“As true now as it was then.” His words echoed through the cave as they always did, being muffled only by the water flowing in from the ocean. Enchanted rocks in the wall gave just enough light for Aecorum to see clearly, but no more. The alicorn stallion walked over to a small mirror on the opposite end of the cave and looked at his reflection for a moment. His mane and tail, once flowing and majestic, now hung limp and ragged against his body, even though they still held their magical colors that reflected the ocean from the darkest depths to the wave’s spray. His eyes were dull, but still the same silver grey and his coat was still sea foam green, even after a thousand years.

He laughed “Why is it, after all these years, I still look like the imbecilic, fearful, traitorous foal I was then?” As usual, the only answer came from the lapping of the waves and his echoes.