Nascent Harmony

Chapters

Failing Light
Ambient Light
Incandescent Light
Timid Light
Converging Light
Flickering Light
A Spark of Light
Drifting Lights
Black Light

Failing Light

Author's Note

Picture included was commissioned by CatStatAve and drawn by demdoodles

Failing Light

The ground smoked and smoldered with fumes so noxious that any foolish enough to wander through them would find their flesh sloughing off their bones as if they had turned to water. Once, this land had been the greatest beacon of peace, power and even-handed judgment the world had ever seen, a sprawling metropolis of the mightiest race in the world. Now, there was only death and desolation.

Amid this hellish landscape, two lone figures stood side by side. They carried themselves with an easy grace and power that had no equal. Their crystalline armor, once majestic pieces of art and resolute barriers against harm, were now nothing more than shattered remnants, barely held together by metal framework and pure happenstance. They were two women of exquisite beauty, one with skin as flawless as alabaster, while the other was a rich brown in color. Their hair was unearthly; one bore the stars themselves and the night sky, while the other carried the pastels of dawn.

They looked into the distance, staring as the sun set of its own volition for the first time in a millennium. They spoke no words until the edge of the sun touched the horizon, and when they did, it was a song of mourning so keenly felt that it was as though the world itself held its breath out of respect. As they sang, they began to glow with an unearthly light that cast no shadows. The light danced and shimmered as it spread out in a corona, tendrils coalescing and flailing about until they formed the shape of a budding flower. The light took on a silvery glow and seemed to solidify as six points of color formed in its center: Amber, azure, cerulean, crimson, pink and purple. Their radiance created an iridescent cascade of light that seemed to bring about a new dawn until it finally peaked so brightly that nothing would have been visible.

Then, as quickly as it began, it was over. The light blacked out and the only thing left behind was a small, glowing crystalline sapling bearing six bowed limbs, each bearing a small spherical gem reflecting the same colors as what appeared in the swirling vortex of light. As time passed, the tree's glow faded and it began to crack, tiny flakes of its substance floating away on what little wind blew through the area. Eventually, all that was left of it was the six gems resting side by side in the bottom of a small divot in the ground.

***

~One Thousand Years Later~

In a room that was the the third highest in the city of Canterlot, only surpassed in elevation by that of the Archmage himself and that of the current Queen, sat a restless young woman just coming into the prime of her life. Her name was Twilight Sparkle, and she was bored in the extreme. She slouched behind her desk with an annoyed expression, head cupped in the palm of her off hand as she idly flicked the tip of her dry quill against the lip of her inkwell with a soft plink sounding every time like clockwork. She was a charming young woman who bore the slim but curvy figure that came from a largely sedentary lifestyle yet carried herself with self-assured confidence. Her hair was a rich, dark purple that had a rebellious shock of bright pink running through it. Centered upon her forehead was a lilac colored sliver of crystal that shone in the light coming through the window while high upon her cheeks was a mirrored pair of dark purple marks to mark her status as a minor noble while giving her a serious air to her visage. No matter how often one looked at it, the gem would never seem to reflect as much light as it received, as if some of the light were lost to depths unknown.

She wore the simple three-brown-tone robes of a scholar, but the embroidery that decorated it was nothing short of exquisite. It had been embroidered by both her closest friend and the Heir Apparent of the Solar Throne, Rarity Belle Platinum. They had been friends for years, as their families were very close allies, until they eventually had to separate for a few years with only the occasional meeting to catch up before they went their separate ways once again. Eventually, they would be reunited as their paths led them back to each other's side. Over the years, Rarity had been privately trained by her family's own tutors, vassals who had been sent to receive schooling and education above and beyond what they would normally receive in order to help put their lord's daughter on the throne. By the time her education had been completed, she had mastered all the skills and arts that she would need to become the next ruler of their mighty nation and embody all that it was to be a Magi. Twilight, on the other hand, had taken the path of the scholar, trained in all things arcane, and had been named successor to the Archmage of the Collegium Arcanus, Starswirl the Bearded.

To say that they were potentially the most powerful women in the nation would be to say that the sun rose in the east. The only thing they would disagree about would be how they viewed that power. While other Magi largely sought power to better their own lives, Rarity sought it for the sake of others. She cared not one whit for what she could do for herself when she saw how she could better the lives of the less fortunate. The other contenders still thought to this day that everything she did was a very clever ploy and distrusted her enough that they would even turn down simple birthday gifts.

Twilight had been similarly shunned as well, but for completely different reasons. Most of her life was spent in a very select company comprised primarily of Rarity, her family, and Spike, her adoptive younger brother. When she had passed the entrance exam for the Collegium, she had also caught the eye of the headmaster as well. The test had been to hatch a dragon's egg, and she had passed with flying colors where all others had failed. When he was hatched, Spike had been a full-blooded dragon, but he slowly took on a humanoid appearance as time passed and the innate magic of his kind worked its mysterious ways. At first, Twilight had been placed in several regular classes to see how proficient she was, and was advanced to the senior classes within the year as her love for learning was awakened. By two years' time, she was working at or above the level of the honor students in these most advanced classes and was receiving private tutoring from Starswirl himself.

But for the moment, Twilight sat with nothing to occupy her attention. Eventually, she sighed as she let the quill drop from her hand and stood to peruse the densely-packed bookshelves that covered every wall of her room. Eventually she picked up a tome that hadn't been read in years. She settled back down in her chair with a little sigh and wondered if anything interesting was going to happen that day when she suddenly felt an uneasy chill travel down her spine. Be careful what you wish for, she chided herself as she she shuddered. Chance and happenstance provide more than enough excitement for anyone. As she finished her thought, a sudden flare of viridian fire lit the room, and a strapping teenager a few years younger than her with vibrant green hair and darkly tanned skin stumbled into sight right before her. “Spike!” she said excitedly, bouncing slightly on her seat in shock. “What's wrong?”

“I got her father to say yes!” he crowed to the rafters. “Did you hear that?! YES!”

She knew immediately who and what he was talking about and was absolutely floored. The object of his incessant infatuation for years: Rarity herself. Now, that wasn't to say that it was an unrequited love, but up to now it had all the classic signs of being just that. "I can't believe that you two convinced her father to allow you to be her Chevalier! You're still in training, for goodness' sake!"

"I'm almost done with my training," he shot back with a cocksure grin. "Besides, Shining Armor would have intervened if he thought I wasn't ready for the responsibility."

"I suppose you have a point," Twilight replied grudgingly as a tired sigh escaped her. "Just... Don't get in over your head. You know exactly how serious dueling challenges can be and you do tend to get a little overzealous when it comes to Rarity..."

"As long as no one makes any serious offenses against her, I'll stay civil," he replied resolutely. "I know how she feels about dueling for its own sake..."

"Good," Twilight replied with a small nod. "So have you been registered yet?"

"Not yet. I still need to formally receive Rarity's favor and decide on a signet."

"Glad to see you haven't completely lost your head," she said with a chuckle.

"'A knight must remain in control of his emotions at all times, lest he bring dishonor upon both himself and his liege,'" Spike quoted automatically, before continuing in a slightly disparaging tone, "This may be the happiest day of my life, but I'm not going to make a fool of myself."

"Not too much of one, anyway," Twilight replied as she broke out into full-blown giggles. "You should see the dopey smile you have right now! It's funnier than the time Rarity gave you a kiss on the cheek and you didn't wash it for two weeks!"

"I see how it is," he mock pouted, turning his back to her. "My happiness and love is just a joke to you..." His teasing didn't last long as he couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling up. They both shared a laugh at the absurdity of his youth. "So how are preparations coming along with the annual Gathering of the Tribes?"

"Ugh..." she groaned as she slumped back in her seat. "I can write a doctoral level thesis in a week but I can't write a welcoming speech with months of preparation..."

Spike snickered at her for a moment before he moved around the desk and sat on it. "Just ask Rarity if she can point you to a speech writer," he supplied with a shrug.

"But that feels like cheating..."

"Come on, Twilight... Even Rarity uses them and she's the heir apparent."

"I suppose you have a point..."

"Good. Now come on, let's go see Rarity..."

A young woman sat in the sunlight surrounded by scattered art supplies as she was absorbed in her current project, namely the design of the signet for her first, personally-chosen Chevalier. She had vibrant, cream-colored skin that seemed to glow with the flush brought about in her fervor of creation, and dark violet hair that glistened with the expensive and exotic oils that treated it every day. The shard of milky crystal that adorned her own brow shone with a slightly silvery sheen that seemed to make the light dance and shimmer within it, her cheek markings being a mirrored triplet of pure white slashes that only enhanced her beauty. She wore a simple wrap that many would say was far below her station, but the material it was made of shimmered with every color of the rainbow as she moved.

A timid knock sounded, pulling her from her labor as if being woken up from a dream. “Lady Rarity,” said a maid without any preamble. “Miss Twilight Sparkle and Sir Spike have arrived and are awaiting your audience in the main parlor.”

“Thank you very much,” she replied with a warm smile. “Please, tell them I'll be with them shortly. I have only a tiny bit to finish on this and I do not want to leave it unfinished as it involves Spike as well.”

“I'll let them know, milady,” the maid replied before promptly departing to do just that. After she had left, Rarity finished her work with a few minor strokes of her charcoal pencil and brought up a spray bottle of lacquer to set the image so it wouldn't smudge or rub off on anything. Drying it with a quick wave of her hand and a minor application of heat magic, she stood and brought her drawing floating behind her with a thought. She quickly made her way through the maze of halls and rooms until she arrived in a richly decorated room near the front of the house and walked in to see her oldest friend and her first Chevalier.

“Darlings, to what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked with a small smile as she closed the distance and settled demurely onto a chaise lounge.

“Twilight has need of one of your speech writers, milady,” Spike began with a teasing grin, causing Twilight to give an indignant squawk as an embarrassed blush bloomed on her face.

“Now now, none of that 'milady' nonsense in private, Spike,” she said with a wag of her finger. “In public, if you must, but we've been friends for far too long for you to start that up now.”

“Okay,” he replied with a grin that suddenly turned slack jawed as he finally saw the signet that Rarity had designed for him. To say that it was intimidating and beautiful at the same time would be to say that water was wet. It showed a stylized dragon, maw wide as fire burst forth and a set of claws reached to rend its prey while the other was held to its breast as it cradled a trio of diamonds. Every scale, talon and fang was rendered in immaculate detail. “Oh... wow...” he finally said as he found his words again.

“I'm glad you like it,” Rarity said with a giggle. “It took me so long to figure out what to do, but when it struck me, this is what came about.”

“It's certainly something,” Twilight said with a smirk at the obvious iconography.

“And what might that something be, dear?” Rarity asked in a mock serious tone.

“Obvious, for starters,” Twilight replied immediately. “Everyone knows that Spike is a dragon at heart, if his casual fire breathing and absurd strength has anything to contribute to that fact. I mean he moves around in unenchanted plate mail as if he were an Earthlander!”

“He may have the strength of one, but he most certainly knows how to apply it with finesse,” Rarity replied with a smile. “Have you seen how he duels? I dare say that if he didn't hold back, he would seriously injure his sparring partners.”

“He did in the past,” Twilight replied. “He broke several of his fellow classmates' wrists when he parried too hard.”

“I remember hearing about that all too well,” Rarity replied with a grimace of distaste. “Several of the fathers wanted him expelled from the program because he so grossly embarrassed their sons. If it weren't for the combined power of both our houses and those in alliance with us, Spike would not be where he is today.” She paused for a moment to breathe in and out in a cleansing manner. “Anyway, enough of this distasteful topic. If you need help with your speech, I'll send my best speech writer over tomorrow morning to get your notes on what you want.”

“Thank you so much, Rarity,” Twilight replied gratefully. “I wasn't making any headway...”

“Think nothing of it, dear,” Rarity turned to Spike and smiled warmly. “With that out of the way, what say we three go get the details of your entering into my service taken care of and set a date for both me giving you my favor and registering your signet. Then, of course, comes taking his measurements for his new set of clothes.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Spike answered with a grin. With that settled, Rarity took them off to make their plans and spend the day in the company of her dear friends.

Ambient Light

It was a quiet night throughout the streets of Canterlot. The only disturbance in the air was centered around one building in particular. It wasn't enough to draw unwanted attention or the ire of the Guard, but it was certainly enough to make any passerby look askance at it. It was the only place like it in all of Canterlot and catered to all the tribes. It was called the Quake, and it was a place where any who wished to test their mettle in the martial arts against others, and earn a few bits on the side, came.

The ring was recessed into the floor, with circular Colosseum style seating surrounding it and a few VIP box seats located at ring level. The dull roar of the crowd that packed the Quake thrummed through the competitors. One was a tall, lithe, bare-chested Aven male who wore only a pair of form-fitting shorts. He had mastered one of the many Aven martial arts styles and thought he could take on almost anyone, especially an Earthlander who most assumed had no real martial arts training. The other was an unassuming, pink haired Earthlander woman who wore no top, opting instead to wear nothing but her breast bindings and a pair of baby blue shorts that matched her eyes. They faced off for a few moments as the referee got her bearings for the impromptu fight.

Not every fight here was unscheduled; in fact, all were scheduled and promotional materials were distributed weeks in advance of the actual fights for the big names in their circuit. This particular fight was an exercise in futility for most: a cocksure young thing stepping up and trying for the prize that all the regulars knew was unobtainable.

This fight was an open challenge given by the owner of the establishment, one she allowed to be issued once formally and once informally every month. Of course, the formal challenge brought with it a packed house, while the impromptu fight would be the talk of the patrons for weeks. The stakes of the fight were simple: beat the owner in a fight and you become the new owner. The hard part was actually defeating the owner.

That being said, it drew plenty of challengers to the place.

In the six years that the Quake had been open, no competitor had even come close to an even fight with the owner. The most she'd ever received in one of these fights was a black eye, which was happened by accident after the opponent had been knocked unconscious and she tripped, landing face first on her fallen foe's knee.

Finally, the referee steeled her nerve and asked the standard questions before the fight began, her words lost in the thundering of the crowd. The two nodded their heads in reply since words were no longer needed. The referee nodded to herself and sliced a hand between the two before quickly darting back. As soon as she had gotten out of the way the two dashed forward, the Aven rotating and bending as he brought up a leg in a blur, aimed for his opponent's head. The Earthlander brought a surge of magic to her left fist and intercepted the attack with a punch that sent his leg rebounding, an ugly bruise forming in seconds from the blow.

His face took on a look of disbelief and agony as he regained his balance with a flap of his wings. He rushed forward again, limping slightly but undeterred. He threw jabs with pinpoint precision, channeling his own magic to increase his speed. The woman ducked and wove, even playfully kissing a knuckle that got close enough. He grit his teeth and surged ahead as her casual attitude toward their fight got under his skin, bringing his wings to bear. With few options left to her, aside from taking more and more blows that would eventually leave her open for some that would seriously put her in danger of losing, she tightened her defense, ducked down and darted ahead just as her opponent threw a punch.

She dropped her left fist as she stopped only inches away from his body and brought her fist around in a liver blow that folded his body. As he was reeling from the blow, she switched her stance and delivered a furious right uppercut that snapped his head back. Feeling that he needed one more incentive to not wake up tonight, she began tilting herself back and forth as she brought both fists close to her body. Faster and faster she wove her upper body until she felt the time was right and began throwing punch after punch in a blur of action. Each hook sent his head snapping from side to side, taking a blow almost as soon as the other was finished.

Finally, after landing twenty punches in short order, she finished him off with one that brought him all the way down to the mat, her fist never leaving the side of his face until the last moment. When she stood back up, her opponent was down for the count. The roars of the crowd grew louder as she turned around and started walking away. The victor blew a few strands of her hair away from her slightly sweaty face and exited the ring as she dusted her hands off on her shorts while the medical staff rushed up to the fallen man. Once she had made her way out of the ring and back to the changing rooms, a pair approached her with amused smirks on their faces. They were obviously related, nearing twin levels of matching looks and body types, but they had different hair and eye colors.

“That was a short fight, sis,” began the one with dark gray hair and lilac colored eyes.

“He had some good moves, but relied too much on his technique,” replied the other who had light gray hair and hazel eyes.

“Technique is all well and good but when it becomes predictable, it's nothing more than an open invitation asking to be exploited,” the pink haired woman replied.

“Come on, Pinkie,” said the dark gray haired sister. “You can't honestly say that after all the training we've been through. Come on, Blinkie. Back me up here.”

“Inkie's right. Technique is wonderful, especially when you can set up a trap,” she replied before a devilish grin split her face. “The look on their face is so funny when they can't understand how they wound up in a three point grapple.”

“Okay,” said Pinkie as she undid the bindings around her breasts, letting them spill free of their restriction briefly before being corralled in a sports bra that quickly disappeared under a light and dark pink tunic. All three wore tunics of a material that had been developed generations ago for its levels of comfort and incredible durability. “I can see your point there, but what if I simply counter each of your attacks? Then what will your technique give you? You have to be flexible in a fight and not rely on something that may or may not happen.”

“You're a special case, sis. You don't fit any molds and any technique is destroyed in moments against you. Then there's your amazing tactics when it comes to defending or attacking against any threats. Why do you think you've been chosen as the head of security for Maud since she's the next in line to become the leader of the Earthlander Union after Father?”

“I guess you have a point, but it's just so boring and uptight!” Pinkie complained as she stripped off her shorts and donned a dark blue, ankle length cotton skirt. “I want everyone to just be happy as we do our jobs, but it's always gotta be serious...”

“It's just how it is, Pinkie,” Inkie replied with the sort of long-suffering sigh born of having had the same argument time and time again. “Not everyone can be you when it comes to this stuff. Besides, it just goes to show how seriously they take Maud's safety. I'm sure that's worth a few uptight rules and strict codes of conduct.”

“You're right,” Pinkie conceded with a little huff. It really couldn't be helped that she was who she was while everyone else was everyone else. Still, it didn't stop her from trying her best to brighten all of the security guards' day whenever they were on duty. “I guess that's worth it.”

“Alright, now come on miss mopey,” Blinkie said with a smirk. “Apple-butt got here just after that challenge was issued and she's been eager to see you. She's up in your lounge right now, just so you know.”

“No kidding,” Inkie chipped in with a half grin of her own. “I'd swear she has a little something something for the apple of her eye...”

Pinkie blushed at their teasing as her hair curled back into its usual unruly mass of curls. As always, it was a sight that Inkie and Blinkie never got tired of seeing despite how bizarre it was. While she had a none-too-subtle crush on her long time friend while Applejack only regarded her as a good friend. It didn't help that Pinkie had never acted on her feelings or had even given her a tiny hint of how she felt, but that was a moot point. She didn't want to risk her relationship with her best friend. “You two had better keep your Pinkie Promises or I'll be seeing you in the ring~” Pinkie said in a teasing lilt as she skipped off without a thought toward any shoes.

***

Applejack had been friends with Pinkie for almost as long as she could remember. They had grown up as neighbors, the lands their families owned sitting side by side. Pinkie had been raised there for several years, going to the same school as Applejack and her older brother, but had to move away to Canterlot once her father had been elected to become the Chancellor of the Earthlander Union. Applejack knew it couldn't be helped, but still felt a sense of loss as her oldest friend moved away with her family. But, of course, distance meant little to Pinkie Pie as she would write a letter every week to Applejack, who would take the time to write a reply to each one. Every summer, she would come back to their tired old homestead and would spend the off months on the farm.

They kept this up until the end of high school, when Pinkie was chosen to be her older sister's secretary and head of security. Being the youngest of four, that certainly said something about what Pinkie had to offer. To say that Applejack was proud of her friend would be an understatement. Applejack was a woman of means in her own right as well, taking on the responsibilities that came with being the head of her household when Granny grew confident enough in her abilities to step down.

Presently, Applejack was waiting in Pinkie's personal lounge, dressed in a sleeveless dark brown tunic, dark blue leggings protected by a well worn set of leather chaps, and dusty boots that had certainly seen better days. She knew all about Pinkie's little business from the beginning and at first, she had thought it was seriously out of character for the exuberant woman, but when she had asked about it, Pinkie's answer had proven to be well thought out. She had wanted a place where she could not only train, but bring together many different types of people who were looking for a way to improve their skills, meet like-minded fighters, and test their limits while making new friends from all over the country. The bits that the publicized fights brought in was only an added bonus for the competitors.

Applejack had been taken on a full tour of the place shortly after Pinkie had opened it and was astounded to see that it had an absolutely massive area set aside for simple training. The only major reason she hadn't received official support for it from the various schools aside from the Earthlander Boxing Association was because so many schools of fighting congregated here, which would inevitably lead to a corruption of their unique style. Pinkie didn't mind so much, nor did any of the fighters that made use of her facilities. To say that it was impossible for Pinkie to have made so many friends who could casually beat each other up and then go out for a drink was an exercise in futility, as that was exactly what she had done.

A door opened, and in bounced a pink blur that left Applejack struggling for breath as she was spun around rapidly before being placed back on the ground and left to spin herself around slowly as she attempted to regain her bearings. “Hiya, Applejack!” Pinkie squeaked in that tone of voice that she only used when she was especially happy. “What're you doing up in Canterlot, and in my arena no less?”

“Whoa... Hold up a second there, Pinkie,” Applejack half-mumbled as she brought a hand up to the side of her face. “At least wait 'til the room stops spinnin'.”

Pinkie just giggled at that before grabbing her hand and leading her to the couch, expertly twisting her about face and tripping her so that she landed on the cushion with a little pwomf. “Sorry about that, A.J.,” she apologized without a trace of remorse. “I just got done with a challenge and rushed right up here when Inkie and Blinkie told me you were here.”

“That's sweet of ya, sugar cube,” she said with an easy smile that set Pinkie's cheeks flushing slightly. “But what 'bout that other fella?”

“Oh, him? I don't know him yet, but he got reeeal friendly with the mat,” she replied with a snort and a decidedly predatory grin. “He just came in and issued a challenge despite the stories he'd heard. Signed the waivers and everything, so he knew the risks.”

“Poor fool,” Applejack agreed with a shake of her head. “You'd think they'd stop trying ta take it from ya after so many failed challenges...”

“Eh, it's good publicity and they don't even have to pay for their medical bills, so everyone wins.”

“Ah guess,” Applejack conceded with a laugh of her own.

“So, what brings you up to Canterlot, A.J.?” Pinkie asked as she shifted the topic. “Normally you send a letter in advance if you're coming up for a visit.”

“Well, that's tha thing,” she replied with a little half smirk. “Maud sent me a letter askin' if Ah'd be willin' ta come up an' attend a conference with all the other major growers in the region so that we can help open up markets between the other regions and cut down on shipping costs by workin' together.”

“That's cool!” Pinkie chirped with a smile. “I hope everything turns out really well for everyone.”

“Oh, Ah'm sure it will if Maud's involved,” Applejack replied with a smile. “So, anyway, Ah got somethin' for ya that Ah think you'll love.”

“You did?” Pinkie felt her heart beating faster than when she had been fighting that stranger in the ring. “You know you didn't have to...”

“Ah know, but it reminded me of the good ol' days,” Applejack said with a nostalgic smile. She reached into a pocket of her jeans and felt around for a moment before pulling out a bright white apple blossom hair pin. The pin itself was made of copper, while the coloration was an enamel that had been baked into a glossy sheen. As soon as Pinkie saw it, she knew exactly what Applejack was talking about and it made her tear up slightly as a treasured memory came to the surface: Applejack and Pinkie Pie were playing in the orchard as young girls, braiding garlands of flowers into little crowns and trading them with each other. Pinkie gave Applejack a crown made of daffodils, while Applejack gave Pinkie a crown made of fragile white apple blossoms that she had gathered meticulously. Pinkie had come to Applejack the next morning in tears as her crown had wilted overnight, the fragile flowers turning a sickly brown. Applejack had told her that it was alright and that Granny always told her that even if something didn't last long in real life that it only made the memories made all the more special. True to Granny's words, that memory was a true gem to Pinkie and she treasured it still. The only thing that made her even happier was the fact that Applejack remembered it so clearly as well.

“Thank you so much,” Pinkie said in a near whisper as she took it and put it in her hair beside her eye so it would always be partially in sight. “You have to let me make this up to you, Applejack.” The farmer made to protest but was cut short by Pinkie who took on a suspiciously sweet expression. “You have no idea how happy this makes me, so just nod your head or we'll take this to the ring.”

Opting to follow her instructions, Applejack did as told with a nervous gulp and left it at that.

“Great!” Pinkie said with a giggle as she grabbed Applejack by her hand and hauled her from her seat and out into the night after a few twists and turns. “Now let's go throw you a welcome party back at my place!”

Incandescent Light

Several miles above the ground, light filtered down through a thin dome made of water vapor, turning the golden light into a silvery sheen that lit the room without straining the eyes. The room itself was the central seat of political power for the Avens in Equestria, situated in the center of their most beautiful gem: Cloudsdale, the City in the Sky. It was built upon a massive piece of land that was floating several miles above ground. Unsurprisingly, the Avens claimed this place as both a beacon and bastion of their tribe.

The room was a massive amphitheater with thirty rising rings surrounding a moderately large center stage. The floor was made of white marble, laboriously carried up from the quarries of the Magi. The bench seats and the ledges that served as a temporary workplace for the Senators were made of a pale gold oak that gleamed in the ambient light. Scattered about the room were a smattering of Senators, fifty seven all told, to make it a meeting of the minor consensus. The topic of this meeting happened to be their representative to the annual meeting between the three tribes, the Congregation.

Out of all the Senators, there was one whose expression bore neither mild interest nor disinterest. Her name was Star Catcher, voted into the ranks of the Senate as the representative from the military, and she wore an expression of unholy rage. She was on the verge of being more than average in height, with a whipcord build; she was beautiful in a willowy, ephemeral way. Her hair was mostly held back from her face in a utilitarian braid that extended to her lower back, while a pair of strands framed the sides of her face, one a light shade of blue, the other a light pink. Her piercing sapphire blue eyes flickered with a fiery inner light, and the scar etched high across her left cheek made her visage all the more terrifying. Her agile wings only added to the effect as the alabaster white and gold feathers ruffled up to make her appear more threatening. Her left hand gripped and caressed the worn leather hilt of the standard issue gladius any ex-military citizen was permitted to wear.

Her rage was born of the fact that she had effectively been thrown in front of a rabid manticore after being trussed up like a suckling pig. She knew it was going to be a bad day when she had been slated to attend and noticed that the roster held none of her friends or allies in the political ranks. There was only one Senator who had the balls, politically or physically, to make such an obviously antagonistic move against her, and he wasn't even present despite all his known lackeys being among the assembly, along with a few neutral parties who had no vested interest in the outcome of this meeting or who would go to represent them. Her opponent, Prism Bolt, only wished to send her to the most politically volatile part of their nation and see how badly she would screw up after all the trouble she had caused for him in the last decade.

At first, when she was voted into her current position, she felt it had been a betrayal of trust from her superiors when she had been stripped of rank and placed in a position normally reserved for well-to-do citizens or social busybodies. After a time, she quickly found that she had been placed in a den of lions and had to put all of her tactical officer's training to use to avoid becoming a lackey or stuffed doll in the clutches of a more politically savvy Senator. After some time, she came to tolerate her new job as she had the previous one as battalion commander, with quiet suffering for the paperwork she was delegated and the decisions that would either make her the most popular or unpopular woman among her peers.

What really didn't help matters was that shortly before she had been voted into office she had found out that she was pregnant with her daughter. She didn't feel the need to inform any of her lovers as she felt that her pregnancy was her own matter to deal with and didn't want anyone else's opinions or desires to influence her own. After informing her superiors of her condition, she had been slated to be relieved of duty and put on maternity leave for a year and a half, her daughter going to her youngest brother's house to be raised alongside her cousin, who would end up being born not even a week after she was. When she lay on her bed after giving birth to her newly named daughter, Fluttershy, she couldn't help but feel as if she should be thankful for being relegated to her current position. As soon as she was physically able, she took her old commanding officers out to their favorite dive and proceeded to drink them under the table.

Life went smoothly for quite some time after that as Star Catcher became acclimated to the political environment, learning to differentiate individuals who were friendly out of greed from those who were genuine in their openness. The political game ended up being absurdly easy for Star Catcher to master once she applied what she had learned about cause and effect to it. The only thing that had really thrown off her learning curve was that these decisions didn't just affect a single unit, platoon or even a brigade. Her vote could potentially affect the lives of every single living Aven, whether it be a fraction-of-a-bit tax to fund a project to improve their infrastructure or a law regarding the importing of goods produces by non-Avens.

Just as life began to settle down, a tragedy befell her family. Her youngest brother was seriously crippled, one of his wings needing to be amputated to save his life from infection. He didn't last long as the trauma, both physical and psychological, put too much strain on his body and he passed away. To compound matters further, Star Catcher's pregnancy came to term. A week later, her sister-in-law passed away in childbirth, leaving their only son orphaned. Being so recently a mother, she was approached by those responsible for caring for such unfortunates and she couldn't find it in her to let her nephew waste away as a ward of an underfunded orphanage or left to fate if he was adopted by strangers. She took him in and raised him as her own child with the bits his parents left behind safely invested in a savings account while their possessions were stored away for when he was older.

As the months and years flew by, Star Catcher found herself with twice the trouble. She had found out quite quickly that her daughter was almost absurdly timid while her adopted son was more brash than any raw recruit she had ever broken in. They were both difficult in their own ways, but the retired soldier-cum-politician overcame each problem as it emerged, raising both with a tolerance that would have had her nominated for sainthood if she wouldn't have threatened to severely beat the one to recommend it. Now, the two were enlisted with the military, Fluttershy as a medico and Flash as a scout, to put their unique natures and talents to best use. To say that Star Catcher was proud of her children would be to say that a dragon was greedy, and woe to any creature less than a dragon that threatened her little ones.

Her attention snapped back to the present as the gavel struck the podium, ending the new business portion of their session. She had no investment in the old business portion as her single vote would matter little, so she got up and left after stating for the record that the power to cast any votes called for would be given to Senator Slip Stream, an independent senator who refused to get into any of the personal squabbling between Star and Prism. He would make as good a proxy as she could hope for; she nodded in respect to the man before leaving in a fuming huff. She had to go home, tell Fluttershy and Flash the news, and then open up a bottle of her Brandywine Reserve, twenty year aged elderberry wine, and indulge in a cup or three before the moon rose.

***

“So, that's why you'll be tagging along as the leader of the Prime Cohort when that stubborn fool Star Chaser goes to the Congregation,” said a rather strapping Aven in navy blue robes made of cashmere, held closed by a braided crimson rope with a seven colored tassel hanging down his front. He had a full head of hair that reflected the colors of the tassel, albeit several shades darker. His wings were only a few shades lighter than his robes and appeared heavily muscled. For any who saw his hair, he would easily be named as Prism Bolt, Senator and head of the House of Nasturtium. He stood with a commanding air in front of his desk of gleaming ebony inlaid with gold and ivory in a relief depicting the fabled Alicorns of myth and legend, beatific and regal, capable of handing down either a benediction or a judgment from their masterfully crafted expression. The floor was covered in a plush red carpet that seemed to grip their feet, while the walls were paneled in rich brown oak with mirrored lanterns lit to combat the coming dark. Rounding out the room's furnishings were a small bookcase and a side table that held a decanter of liquor, a small fireplace which made its presence known with its flickering light and almost searing heat, and a pair of richly upholstered chairs sitting a couple paces away.

“I don't care, father,” spat back a fiery-tempered young woman in a scratchy voice, her cerise eyes flaring with anger. She was in full officer's armor, the stiff bristled crest on top of her helmet a riot of seven colors, matching her hair that skirted the line of being too long by regulation. She appeared to be a teenager in comparison to her father, her head barely reaching his collarbone. She was built with corded muscles that flexed and flowed with barely contained energy under a layer of skin that had no trace of obscuring fat. Sprouting from her powerfully built shoulder blades were a monstrous pair of wings colored the same shade as a cloudless summer sky. If she were to stretch them to their fullest, her wingspan would dwarf her actual height by several feet, making her appear to be a sluggish flier. Nothing could be further from the truth as they held an agility that could outstrip all but the most competent fliers of her entire tribe. “If I got the role, I would have preferred it to be because I earned it, not because you pulled a few strings and set me up to play guard for some woman who's a pain in your ass!”

“Think of the honor you'll get, the attention and respect from your superiors you'll receive if you pull this off without a hitch,” he snapped back scornfully. “You've been a blemish to our house with your recklessness both in and out of the field of combat. It's only because of blind luck your wings haven't been clipped with how often you've injured yourself in your 'stunts.'”

“So, this is only a chance for you to gain more honor, that that it?” she replied in a gravelly tone that spoke of anger verging on hatred. “That if I dance to the tune well enough, you'll get a few more bits tossed in your cup?”

“Mind your tongue, Rainbow Dash!” he snapped angrily as he took a couple quick strides to stop in front of her, locking their gazes with a passion that nearly terrified his daughter. “This is about more than that! You have no sense of duty to your house! No pride as a member of this family! You will do what I ask of you because it! Is! Your! Due!”

Long seconds passed until Rainbow swallowed loudly and looked away. “O-okay... I'll do it...” She cringed as the pitiful sound of her voice reached her ears. Prism sighed sadly and moved languidly to his side table, pouring a glass of Amber, honeyed apple whiskey produced by the Earthlander clan who tended the largest orchard in Equestria. He took a sip before turning back to his daughter.

“I know I'm harsh sometimes, but I've let you live your life how you want, Rainbow Dash,” he finally said in a low voice. “This is a chance for you and your subordinates to be known for more than recklessness and daring in combat. You need to show that you can make proper decisions and keep decorum in a sensitive situation. This is the only way I can help you. I had to call in several large favors from some of your superiors to even get your name on the list of potential candidates and then owe a few more to some Senators I'd rather not have to give anything to just to get you picked.”

“I get it, okay?” Rainbow said as she gripped her gladius firmly. “You're worried about me and my unit. You're worried about our family's standing. I... I'll do it. For myself, my sub-commanders and my family... I won't let you down.”

“If only for your own pride, I know you won't,” he replied with a chuckle that set Rainbow to laughing as well. He poured a second glass and offered it to Rainbow Dash, who took it with a grin. “To opportunities made and the ability to make the most of them.” He said as he raised his glass in a toast.

“To family, to my brothers and sisters in arms and to the honor to be had,” she responded with a clink as she gently tapped the lip of her glass to that of her fathers. They each took a sip and exhaled in almost identical ways before smirking at one another and moving to the chairs in front of the fireplace to enjoy the luxury in each other's company.

Timid Light

Author's Note

The included picture included this chapter was commissioned by CatStatAve and drawn by the amazing Vasira.

Timid Light

The sunlight stabbed straight into Flash's eyes like a lance as the last of the cloud cover dissipated. His face scrunched up in an unsightly grimace as he tried to ignore it; he was entirely too comfortable to move even a finger to block out the painfully intrusive light. Eventually, despite his best efforts, he began squirming as the light continued its relentless assault on the lingering haze of sleepiness that he so desperately wanted to throw himself back in to. The final nail in the coffin was when a few soft knocks on his door boomed like thunder in the relative silence. Breathing in deeply, he held it for a count of ten and let go in a huff as his heart rate began to pump faster, sending a surge of energy through all his limbs.

Making the most of his temporary boost in energy, he hopped out of his hammock and landed lightly on bare feet that curled up instantly on contact with the icy tile floor. Biting back a yawn, he vigorously rubbed the sides of his legs through his gray sleeping shorts to help the goosebumps go away faster. Reaching a hand up and under his loose shirt to scratch at his stomach, he made his way to the door and opened it without ceremony, leaning on the door frame as he blinked his slightly teary cornflower blue eyes at his timid cousin, Fluttershy. She was looking down slightly at him and gave a little huff that was barely audible as she crossed her arms loosely, wrinkling the formless light blue tunic that fluttered around her light gray leggings.

Where Flash had features one could describe as rogueish, Fluttershy was a vision of beauty. Where his skin was a burnished copper, hers was fair porcelain that never blemished despite the long hours she spent in the sun. His hair was a brash, spiky mop of light and dark blue while hers was a gentle cascade of rose pink locks that hung to the small of her back. Even their personalities were just as different, Flash being quick to act on his impulses and speak his mind without a second thought, whereas Fluttershy was tentative and planned everything out well in advance, with multiple contingency measures just in case something went awry, never speaking her mind unless unusually impassioned.

“Mornin', Shy,” he said around the yawn he thought he'd conquered. “Ain't it a bit early to be up and about?”

“It's dawn, Flash,” she replied with only the faintest shadow of a furrow in her brow to show her annoyance. “Don't you remember what today is?”

His expression went slack as he drew a blank from his sleep addled mind.“Saturday? That's not until tomorrow, right?” he supplied as an answer that he hoped would be cheeky enough to buy himself a thimble of mercy.

His hopes were in vain as her eyebrows twitched down into a shallow furrow in an uncharacteristic display of displeasure while her turquoise eyes flashed dangerously. “You promised to help me go shopping and stock up on all my supplies today.”

“Oh!” he said as it all came back to him. “Right! Just... uh... Just one sec...” With a burst of magic, he quickly and gently shut his door before disrobing and changing into a sleeveless tunic of a light blue-green color and bluish-gray leggings. When he opened his door again, he saw that Fluttershy's expression hadn't changed in the slightest.

“That was five,” she stated calmly enough that it made Flash begin sweating slightly. Today was a bad day to wake up late and forget a promise he had made to his cousin, because she was apparently channeling her mother. “Now come on,” she said in a quiet tone that brooked no defiance as she turned and walked off down the hall and toward the stairs leading up to their launching platform. Flash scurried along, cringing as he imagined all the extra splurging she would do to make him pay for his forgetfulness. Hopefully she wouldn't make him make her vile beast of a pet's meal today. He swore that little ball of fluff was out to get him after he made one silly little comment about rabbit soup.

Once outside, Flash darted up so that he was standing by Fluttershy's side as they neared the end of the launching pad, gaving her a happy-go-lucky grin as he slipped one hand into a pocket while pointing at her with the other. “Look, I'm sorry for forgetting about helping you out today, but at least I didn't make other plans, right?”

Fluttershy reached up to brush some hair away from her face as she looked over at Flash with an expression that said “You're really trying to do this right now?” Out loud, she said in an even tone, “That just goes to show you have a strong sense of self-preservation.” Flash's face fell; he chuckled nervously as he broke eye contact and looked off into the distance. Fluttershy's cheeks twitched as she hid her face behind her hair so he wouldn't notice her smile. “We're dropping by the market first, so come on.”

With that, she took off without any great pomp or flourish with Flash right behind her. Flash suspected she was worried about her mother returning from the Senate in a foul mood and wanted to get her errands done as quickly as possible. For his part, he just hoped he would survive long enough to make it back home.

***

Star Catcher returned home from the Senate in a spectacularly foul mood. She loathed those lazy Senators who only wanted to preserve the status quo. If she had the ability to pluck each and every one of their wings for a few throw pillows, she would do so in a heartbeat, just so they could pad someone else's rear for once. It was still over an hour before lunch when she arrived at her modest house. It was a simple two story affair with more than enough room for all three residents to stretch their wings and legs. She just wanted to lay on her lounge, spread her wings with a bottle of her favorite vintage of elderberry wine in hand, and not move from that spot until the wine was completely gone. She did precisely that, foregoing a cup in favor of drinking directly from the bottle.

She had drunk about a third of the wine when Flash and Fluttershy returned, both loaded down with bags and packages, though Flash had the distinct disadvantage of carrying three bulk bags of animal feed. They went about their chores without so much as a word to her. This suited her perfectly; she would talk to them when she was ready and not before, and she knew that they knew not to disturb her. Soon, she heard the sounds of Fluttershy starting in on making lunch.

The sounds of things being moved around and the chopping of ingredients provided no clues about what was being made. A few minutes later, when the hiss of chopped vegetables dropped in olive oil and a certain spiky aroma wafted through the air, ginger stir fry was what immediately came to mind. Another aroma, thicker and more savory, soon joined the first—beef, no doubt, for herself and Flash, as Fluttershy preferred to keep to a vegetarian diet supplemented by the occasional portion of fish. As the meal was cooked, Star lay in the other room fuming childishly for a bit longer before finally getting up with a tiny sigh and walking to the kitchen with barely a waver to her steps. She had to blow off some steam in a nonviolent way every so often, or she'd just explode on one of the more infuriating Senators and likely get her feathers plucked for a year or two. She still kept up the training regimen that she'd practiced ever since her time in the military, but she quickly found that she should in no way connect fighting with blowing off steam. She was angry enough as it was without conditioning herself in that way.

Once she had settled in at the table, she had a cup brought over to her, filled from the bottle she had brought with her and the bottle taken away without a word from Fluttershy. She knew better than to argue with her daughter with her when she knew she was in the right, especially since Fluttershy had honed her looks and expressions into formidable weapons that she used on her family without hesitation long ago. Star thanked her daughter with a smile, knowing that she did it for her own good, and got a smile in return as well. There wasn't much of a wait before the meal finished cooking; when all three had been served, they began eating with gusto. After the first bite of the deliciously tart and spicy stir fry, with the beef adding a delicious and robust flavor to the dish, Star told Flash and Fluttershy exactly how badly her day was going and how it was going to be a bad three weeks ahead of them as she'd be out of Cloudsdale for the Congregation before the end of next week.

“So... you're going to be the ambassador for the Avens at the Congregation,” Flash said in a carefully neutral tone. She had been drinking for a while, so she was more mellow than usual and decided to let that one slide. “Why you of all people?” Immediately after the words left his mouth, Flash cringed, fully expecting to have the side of his head smacked, but only received an unamused chuckle from his Aunt.

“Probably because I've made more than a few enemies in the Senate to date, not to mention those same enemies wanting to get me thrown out under the pretense of a vote of no confidence if I mess this up.”

“That seems a like a double edged sword to me,” Fluttershy said with a serious expression. “Sure, you aren't known for your use of tact, but you get things done, right? If you do well at the Congregation, you'll only heighten your standing in the Senate to the point where you could run for office without using the military as a platform...”

“You're right, Fluttershy, and that's why I'm worried...” Star said with a sigh as she took another gulp of her wine to wash down her latest mouthful of stir fry. “I'm sure they might try to sabotage my efforts in some way or other that I won't spot until it's too late. They want me to pressure the Earthlanders to reconsider, or even forget about their inter-clan collaboration. But I'm an ex-officer, not a politician. Most of them have been raised to their roles since their first molting, but I'm still learning the subtler sides to this whole affair.”

“I'm sure you can handle whatever they throw your way,” Flash said with a grin that tried to be confident but fell short by a good distance, making him look like he had just drank a cup of sour milk and knew he was in for a bad time.

“That's not the issue,” Star replied as she flipped her knife into a reversed grip and stabbed it into the aged wood of their small table, adding yet another mark to the dozens that littered the area around her normal spot. “It's the fact that I need to find out what they have planned and stop it from happening before it happens. I don't think I'll be able to, especially with the cohort that's being assigned to be my honor guard either.”

“Dash's Devils,” Fluttershy said quietly as a conflicted expression crossed her face. She had been friends with the daughter of her mother's strongest rival when she had been much younger, but politics had spoiled their relationship as Dash's father had forbidden her from spending any more time with her. Fluttershy still missed her old friend to this day, but from what she could learn about her exploits, she had achieved her dreams without any exploitation of her father's position exactly like she had wanted to. Fluttershy was happy for her, even if she wasn't sure Dash remembered her at all after all this time.

“That's right,” Star replied. “The daughter of Prism Bolt is the head of the cohort, so that leaves me with no idea about whether or not she may hold a grudge against me by proxy or not, but I won't leave anything to chance.” She paused for a moment as her expression hardened and her eyes seemed to lose some shine to them. “I'll put them in their place if need be. Hard enough to remember not to get involved in the affairs of their betters.”

Flash and Fluttershy shared a worried look between one another and a nod. There was no way they could let her go without going along as well, not if they wanted to avoid an inter-tribal scandal. Fluttershy, being a medico, would be allowed to choose the squad she would go with unless a more senior medico took it. Flash would have a harder time of it as he'd probably be denied a transfer to the cohort that would be guarding his Aunt on the grounds of being overstaffed because of all the other hopefuls wanting to have this on their record. He'd probably owe more than a few favors by the end of everything, but it would be worth it to be there in case his family needed him. Of course, it went without saying that neither of them would tell Star about their plans, because she'd probably try to stop them from going.

The knock on the door came as a surprise to them, especially when they saw the Aven who waited on the other side: The Quartermaster of Dash's Devils, who bore the unfortunate name of “Derpy”—whether this was her real name or a cruel nickname, nobody in the house quite knew—and was notorious around the training yard for being the deadliest accident-waiting-to-happen. The uniform she wore looked distinctly out of place on her because her golden eyes constantly appeared to be looking in different directions. Fluttershy let out a tiny “meep” of surprise and shut the door so that only the faintest of slivers could be seen through. The woman on the other side tilted her head at the odd display and shrugged her shoulders as she rifled around in her bag for a moment before pulling out a stack of letters, flipping through them and pulled out a pair of them before sliding them through the crack, one being addressed to Fluttershy and the other to Flash, both bearing the wax seal of their respective military branches.

“Derpy” smiled and left without a word, jumping into the air to fly away and making it only after almost crashing right back to the ground. Turning her attention to the letters, Fluttershy opened hers and felt a trio of emotions surge through her at the same time. She was being requested to travel with the Ambassadorial cohort due to her skills in healing, and to bolster the ranks of their medical staff due to the sudden influx of troops. She was excited, relieved and terrified at the same time.

“Who was it, Fluttershy?” Flash asked as he came from the kitchen. He noticed her odd expression and looked to see what she was holding, reaching out and taking his proffered letter without a word. After opening it, he quickly found that it was orders for a temporary transfer to the Ambassadorial cohort to help with security. “I guess this takes care of that,” he said with a little laugh. “Can't say I expected this, but at least Aunt Star can't hound us for keeping an eye on her now.”

“It's... a little scary...” Fluttershy replied with a faint full body tremor. “But also exciting... Rainbow Dash has some of the best medicos in the military and I'm sure they know so much that isn't in textbooks. Now I have a chance to learn from the best there is and oh! I'm just so excited!”

“Whoa! Take it easy there, tiger!” Flash said with a laugh. “Just remember that we have other things that are a bit more important...”

“Oh, I'm sorry... I was just so excited...”

Flash chuckled at that. “I know, and I don't blame you. Just keep in mind that we have to be there for your mom if she needs us...”

“Of course,” she said immediately as her expression firmed. “I just hope she doesn't get too out of hand...”

“With us being nearby, I'm sure she'll be better than if she had been on her own,” he reassured her.

“I hope so...”

Converging Light

For the last week, it had been a hectic number of days for Star Catcher and her family as they made preparations for the Congregation, each in their own ways. Star was more than ready to go after packing a small bag with her day-to-day necessities despite her need to go get measured for the traditional garb she would be wearing while meeting with the other representatives. Flash had his kit bag with all the nonessential items he was allowed, but Fluttershy had to find a temporary home for her pet rabbit, Angel. That was notably difficult as most only cared for birds if they had the inclination, but with the slightly higher maintenance of a rabbit, few were ready or willing to take on the minor burden. She finally found a family with a pair of young children who had fallen in love with the white ball of fluff on sight and left them with detailed notes on how to care for him and made her teary eyed farewell.

Eventually, the week passed by and today was the day where Star Catcher and the bolstered ranks of Dash's Devils would be arriving at Canterlot. She walked into the parade ground wearing a pure white tunic that had some delicate Magi embroidery woven masterfully along the hems along with a set of thin leather leggings and her gladius strapped about her waist. Without any fanfare, she left the corridor leading to the outside and looked at the bolstered ranks of Dash's Devils with the eyes of a veteran Commander, their poly-chromatic leader standing proudly in the front ranks and awaiting her presentation in fine form. She tried to surreptitiously glance for any sign of her daughter or nephew, but saw no sign of them. She made her way up to Rainbow and squared her shoulders before awaiting the traditional greeting of a sworn bow, both fists clasped to chest with a deep bow. Dash gave her s steely stare as she only brought her right fist to her chest before bowing. Star Catcher immediately felt her ire rise at the lack in decorum as well as the slight given in full view of her troops. If she let this slide, then it would only open up a whole new world of political nightmares for her.

Steadying herself with an icy expression, she looked down at the shorter woman and said, “You really wish to try my patience here and now?”

“I never swear myself fully to any Senator, military vote or not,” she said in a firm tone, her expression not wavering in the slightest. “I value the lives of my subordinates too much to do that.”

“That may be,” she said in an even tone before continuing, “But I'm not like most Senators, Commander Dash, and you will give me your obedience or I will take it through force...”

“I'd like to see you try,” Dash said quietly as her steely mask broke and a smirk came forth. “You've gone soft in your time sitting on the bench, so bring it if you can.”

Star's eyes flashed as she let go of a breath and stepped back a few paces before addressing the unit assembled. “So it seems as though your Commander refuses to swear her full loyalty to me!” she shouted to the front ranks who found their forward gazes drawn to her. Now was her chance to take the spotlight of the highly visible commander and manipulate it to her own ends. “She thinks she can only swear to me her sword arm, keeping her other in reserve! She thinks herself above decorum and the traditions that bind us with the other tribes! But I will not have such disrespect carried out upon the day of our journey to the Congregation!” A brief murmur rippled from the ranks and Star smirked as she looked to Rainbow who looked absolutely flabbergasted at the turn of events. “I challenge Rainbow Dash, leader of Dash's Devils for her full loyalty and ask all of you to be my witness!”

The murmur rose from a dull wave to an excited thrum. There hadn't been a challenge for any reason against their Commander until Battalion-Commander Spitfire had managed to reign her in with concessions. But an outright challenge from a Citizen to a Commander? Totally unheard of in this day and age, but certainly not illegal. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Dash asked grimly as her smirk disappeared. “I won't be held accountable if I hurt you.”

“Worry about yourself, you insolent little girl,” Star said in an even tone as she shed her gladius and settled into a low stance, balanced on the balls of her feet. “I challenge you in unarmed combat so that I don't have to ruin my ceremonial clothes with your blood.”

Dash felt her hackles rise and couldn't help the surge of anger that seared her to her core, but Star already knew what she would be thinking and was formulating a plan on using a public display of discipline and gaining loyalty through a challenge that they could all respect. The look in her eyes gave Star a reason to smirk, especially when Dash thought her smirk was for the comment as she threw her weapon to her second in command.

“This won't be long,” Dash said as she flapped her wings slightly and settled into a noticeably more aggressive stance than Star's and raised her fists before coming to a complete standstill.

“No, you won't,” Star agreed without her smile faltering in the slightest. Dash's only response was for her expression to darken further.

“Should I take my gauntlets off so I don't scratch your pretty face?” Dash asked as she took a couple steps forward.

“You can keep your gauntlets... Might give your punches a little weight,” Star taunted. “Though you can take that helmet off. I'm sure your head's plenty hard as it is...”

Dash scowled and whipped her helmet off, freeing her jaw length hair that fluttered in a gentle gust of wind. “There, you ready to start or what?”

“Let's lay some ground rules first...”

“Sure,” Dash said quickly.

“In addition to the usual submission rule, how about we add a maximum of ten knock downs?” Star said with a confident smirk.

“Why not?” Dash said with a bark of laughter. “That way you won't show up too bloodied and bruised to the Congregation.”

“We'll see...” she simply said. “But apart from that, I see no reason to change or add any more rules.”

“I'm good,” Dash said with a nod. “Ready when you are.”

In reply, Star simply moved into a wide stance completely at odds with Dash's aggressive form. Dash waited a moment to see if Star was doing anything out of the ordinary with her power, but Dash didn't notice anything. After a few moments of inactivity, Star gave a little sigh and beckoned with her off hand for Dash to come, as if she were impatient for this to be over with and be on her way. Dash was more than happy to respond and surged forward with a burst of her innate magic to accelerate and enhance her natural quickness. She closed the distance with a pair of quick steps and let lose a blazingly fast jab that she sent a surge of magic through to make it all the faster. With a smirk, Dash watched as her fist rocketed toward her foe of the moment and could even feel the barometric pressure increase as the distance closed rapidly.

The blow never landed though. With a crack of sound and a rush of white noise, she found herself on her back and staring up at the light blue sky. She tried to take a breath, but fell into a bout of hacking coughs when she realized that she had the wind knocked out of her lungs. When her hearing finally returned, she heard a low, uneasy murmuring coming from behind her. When she finally regained her breath, she could smell the razor sharp smell of ozone in the air, as if a lightning bolt had just struck. Star stood half a step away from her and she was muttering darkly to herself, as if disappointed in herself for a performance that not even Dash had been privy to.

“You gonna stand there talking to yourself, or are we gonna fight?” Dash wheezed as she got to her feet.

“Just waiting on you, slowpoke,” Star said with a snort of amusement as Dash's face contorted into full on anger.

“I'll show you slow!” she said as she allowed her magic to flow through her with barely a thought for her physical well being. The things she saw moved at a snails pace... No... slower than that. It was as if she were watching a frame by frame slideshow of her current sight with a ten second delay between images. The one thing she couldn't see was Star Catcher. The punch she had thought to throw at her taunting foe ended before it even began and as she turned to her left to catch sight of her foe, a flicker of silvery light from her right made her freeze.

A tingling sensation washed from her stabilizing ankle and froze her leg in an instant and she felt it kicked out from under her. She tried to stop her fall with a twist, but a hand slammed into her solar plexus with enough force to counter her momentum sent her careening back to the ground. As she fell, her expression turned to one of disbelief. She caught sight of Star Catcher's expression and felt a shiver run down her spine. She wore the most chilling smile she had ever seen, a maniacal gleam to her eye as if this is what she longed for. Not the tame sessions she attended in the Senate, not the prestige that came with her rank. She lived for the thrill of the fight and had long since given up on it since it was illegal for Citizens to duel Citizens.

Now Dash had just given her a chance to let that ferocious side free. And she was scared.

The ground finally came up to meet her and all the magic she had been channeling fled her in an instant as she writhed on the ground, clutching at the spot on her breastplate that Star had hit. It seemed as if her skin had been set on fire and fought against it.

“Done already?” Star asked in a disappointed tone as silence rang in the air, that chilling smile gone as if she had never seen it in the first place. “Do you surrender? Or do you wish for this to happen eight more times?” A predatory gleam flickered in her eyes for a fraction of a second before disappearing.

Dash had never given up before, but if unfettering her innate magic in an attack ended like this, what hope did she have to defeat this monster? A flicker in her chest burned at the question. “No,” she said in a gravelly voice as she staggered back to her feet. “I'll never give them over to you without a fight!”

“Then I think our duel is over,” she said as she turned and began walking away. “If that's all you can muster as a cohort's Captain, then we can use it to eat a few extra miles. Daylight is burning and I'd like to get to Canterlot while the sun is above the horizon...”

“Wha!?” she exclaimed as she saw the obviously disgraceful gesture of being shown her opponents back. “We're not done here!”

“Yes...” Star said resolutely, brooking no argument. “We are... Now come along or I'll leave you behind.”

Dash felt as though she had been strung along and left hanging in the air with her wings clipped. This Senator was going to challenge her, publicly disgrace her and then end the duel before its conclusion as if she weren't even worth her time? She felt a fire surge from deep within her being and let lose a cry of primal rage directed at Star and felt that power leave her as a blindingly brilliant burst of silver light coalesced in front of her and lanced forth to her retreating foe. Star flickered and was suddenly facing her, right hand outstretched and clawed as it grasped the live bolt of lightning that had somehow formed between the two of them. In the harsh light, her expression was one of a supremely satisfied predator whose prey had fallen into her trap. Her fist gave off a few brilliant sparks of golden light and then the bolt was shattered as thought it had been made of ice.

In the deafening silence that was left behind, a slow clap sounded for those who could still hear after the crack of thunder. “Very good, Rainbow Dash...”Star said with a tiny curve to her lips. “Very good. I see that I underestimated your mettle and determination. The fact that you're still standing proves a testament to your resolve and power. However, as I said, daylight is burning. Let's get going...” Without waiting another moment, Star turned back around and took off without looking back, leaving Dash's second in command to give the call for the troops to depart and for the formation that they had discussed a few days prior. From her Commander's expression, there was nothing she could say or do to bring her out of the daze she was in and took command until she could catch up. After all, it wasn't every day one learned that they had enough power to summon the wrath of a storm...

***

Pinkie had been in a vortex of happiness ever since Applejack had come up to Canterlot and everyone on her staff could tell that she had a little extra spring in her step. Of course, her crush was the worst kept secret among them and no one said a word about it unless they wanted a stern “talking” to from her, so not a one said anything. That is, except Maud, who hadn't gotten the memo. They were sitting in Maud's dining room, eating their morning meals as bright light shone through the windows and glistening off anything that could reflect the morning's glory.

“You seem happy that Applejack's here, Pinkie,” she said as the two sisters sat down for breakfast. It was a veritable feast comprising of a simple fruit salad with clotted cream and an ice cold glass of pristine milk to wash it all down with while her younger sister ate from a plate stacked with a tall stack of buckwheat pancakes drowned in syrup and honeyed cream. Pinkie blushed furiously and mumbled something around the pancake that had found itself inexplicably crammed in her mouth, bits of cream bursting from the corners of her mouth. “Pinkie, manners.”

“I said 'Yes, I'm very happy to see my bestest, best friend in all of Equestria again!'” she said quickly, ending in a high pitched whine that only dogs could hear.

“That's nice,” Maud replied as she speared a piece of honeydew on the end of her fork and inspected it briefly before lightly dipping it in the cream and eating it. “So, what do we have on today's itinerary?”

“Not a whole lot aside from the opening ceremonies for the Congregation,” she replied from memory. “We had everything else squared away that we needed to take care of last week, so unless there's an emergency, nothing should come up during the festival.”

“Good,” she replied with a small smile. “So that means you deserve a bit of time off... Why don't you take Applejack out to dinner and a night on the town tomorrow after her meetings? My treat.”

Pinkie couldn't reply as she processed her sisters words, a piece of syrup laden pancake landing with a splat as it slipped from her fork as her face turned a vibrant crimson from her neck to her hairline. “Y-y-you don't have to do that!” she finally said after a few priceless moments of flustered silence.

“Of course I do,” she stated matter of factly. “It's what anyone would do... Plus, maybe she'll finally pick up on your crush if I plan everything right...”

Pinkie's blush seemed to radiate a tangible heat from her sisters statement as she stared forlornly down at her plate of partially eaten pancakes. “But I don't want to put you to any trouble...” she started, cut off by her older sisters voice.

“It's not any trouble, Pinkie,” she said as calmly as ever. “If anything, I owe it to you. You've always been there for me, whether it be a hectic schedule or a threat against my well being... You need to be able to spend time with someone who you feel something extra for...” Maud let her brief but blunt speech end without an end and let Pinkie fill in the gaps with her own mind. Hopefully, she'd go down the right mental paths this time and reach a happy ending in those unknowable paths that twisted in her mind.

“Okay...” she finally said as she looked back up at Maud with an uncertain expression. “But I want an out if something goes wrong.”

“Nothing's going to go wrong, Pinkie,” Maud replied without a single tremor of dishonesty in her voice. “You've set me up with the most prestigious arranged marriage suitors in all of Equestria to plan this for you and they're at my beck and call. If I say 'set my sister up,' they'd do it without a second thought.”

“B-but I hired them! I'm their boss!” she practically squealed as she scooted back from her seat and stood up to give a little dance, equal parts of nervousness and frustration.

“By proxy only, Pinkie,” Maud said with a self satisfied smirk. “I'm their real boss... You only acted as my intermediary... So if I say 'jump', they ask 'how high.'”

Pinkie gave a frustrated growl that rattled all the crystal items in the room and finally slumped to the ground with a defeated sigh. “I guess you're right... But you're sure it's going to be fine?”

“My word as your sister,” she replied in an uncharacteristically warm voice. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“Okay,” she said as she got back to her feet with a slightly manic gleam to her eyes. “But if this goes wrong, you're going to wear a dress featuring every form of produce I can think of!”

“Fine,” Maud said without a trace of worry. “But if you don't confess your crush to Applejack by the end of the night, then you have to go without planning a party for a year.”

Pinkie felt as if her heart had been encased in iced carved from the heart of a glacier. A year? Without planning a party! Seriously?! “Fffffffffine!” she yelled as she darted to the door leading back outside. “I can guarantee that this will be the most fantabuspacular love confession you've ever heard about and wish you could have anything half as romantic!” she said as she slowly slipped her body out the doorway and slammed it shut with barely a second to punctuate the end of her sentence.

“Well, that was easier than expected,” Maud said with a small smirk as she speared a piece of grapefruit and ate it without a trace of expression. “Now, if only she'll remember that I told her that she couldn't plan any parties instead of attend them...” She paused for thought. “I'm sure it wouldn't make any difference anyway... Let's just wait and see if she goes through with it...”

***

Twilight was wearing the traditional garb that she had been fitted for days ago, hand made by Rarity herself. It was surprisingly simple in design, close to her scholars' robes in design, but with a longer mantle that would almost be considered a half cloak. The whole thing was made out of a white fabric that shimmered into a dark blue, creating dancing shadows whenever she would move, though the thread of gold embroidery along the hems helped to give a point of reference should any need it. Despite her regal bearing and garb, she was pacing back and forth in front of the door that would lead her out into the large audience chamber where the other two representatives of the Congregation were waiting in addition to the many upper class spectators. On her arrival. She wasn't sure she could go through with it. The pressure, the focused attention on her every action and word... It felt as if she were several hundred feet underwater and the pressure surrounding her was about to reach a critical point and she'd implode if she even mispronounced a single syllable in her speech.

“Twilight,” said a familiar voice from only a few feet away. “It's going to be alright...” It was Spike. He had come up on her without her noticing and he had managed to snap her out of her furious worrying for a moment, but that was all that it took. “Just go out there and say what was on the script. Then you can get to the fine details when you sit down with the others. Don't think about the others or the situation. Think about what you'll learn from this exchange and how you'll grow from it.”

Twilight couldn't really express her gratitude properly in her current state, but she could manage a brilliant smile as she gave a snort of amusement and stretched with her whole body in an arc that would have many people flinching from how extreme the degree she went to was. She straightened back up and gave Spike a smirk when she saw his grimace at her casual display of ludicrous flexibility. “Thanks for that, Spike,” she said with a laugh. “I lost myself in my mind there for a bit. But shouldn't you be with Rarity right now?”

“Not formally,” he replies with a put-upon sigh. “We still have to wait another three days for the exchange of favors and then I'll be her first official Chevalier.”

“It's a bit annoying, but the traditions are there for a reason...” she said in a half-lecturing tone. “I know I wouldn't be where I am if I hadn't studied it in such depth and applied it properly...”

“I guess you're right, but still... It can be frustrating, going through all the motions...”

“I know, but bear with it,” she said with a knowing smile. “If you can bear with the wait, the reward can be more than worth the wait...”

“I'll trust you on that,” he said with a snort of amusement. “Shouldn't you be getting out there soon? I mean, you have about...” He checked his pocket watch for reference and gave a carefree smirk at the realization of what time it was. “About ten more minutes...”

“I guess I should...” she said in a falsely defeated tone as she turned to the door hoping for Spike to fall for her ruse.

“You're not serious, are you?!” he said as he waived his hands frantically, causing Twilight to turn around and give a snort of amusement at his antics.

“Of course not, silly,” she replied as she stopped and moved to lean against the wall before sliding down it and sitting on the floor. “I'm not that obsessive about being on time...”

“You could have fooled me...” he replied as he walked over and took a seat next to her. “The staff told me you had arrived almost an hour ago...”

She flushed in embarrassment at that and couldn't help but slap him halfheartedly on his shoulder for his trouble. “I was nervous, okay?” she said in a confidential tone. “I mean, the only reason I was appointed the representative of the Magi was because of Master Starswirl's recommendation...”

Spike didn't have much to say about that, but after a moment of thought he replied with a wide grin on his face, “That may be true, but he wouldn't throw you a challenge if he knew you couldn't overcome it... If you're our representative for the Congregation, then you earned that right and have something to learn from it as well...”

“I guess you're right,” she agreed with a sigh as she let her head lean back to touch the chilly marble. “But still... It would be nice if Starswirl told me why he did these things or for whose benefit they were for...”

“He's a bit of an enigma, isn't he?” he said with a rueful chuckle. “I mean, who else would have any prospective students of his hatch a dragons egg of all the things he could have had them do? I mean, it's not that I'm ungrateful or anything, but it would bring any other Magi's intelligence and sanity into question...”

Twilight couldn't help but giggle as she remembered that fateful day. “I know he may seem a bit odd, but there's a method to his madness...”

“If you have a map leading through his mind, then I'm an Alicorn from myth,” he said with a bark of laughter that Twilight soon joined in as well.

“I just think that he knows more than he ever lets on... and that I'm the one out of thousands that he chose to take on his legacy in the decades to come,” she replied with a happy sigh. “I mean, there's just so much out there that's been lost, so much that's been changed or lost between retelling... If only I could connect this dot with that one, then I could rediscover a whole new aspect of Alicorn culture or a branch of magic that had been considered a myth since then...”

“Well, I'm glad you're excited about everything that you have going on with your life, but shouldn't you deal with the most pressing things first?”

“What do you mean?” she asked with a decidedly cite tilt to her head as she looked over at Spike.

“Why were you pacing around for a half hour..?”

“The Congregation!” she said as she hopped back up to her feet to the laughter of Spike.

“You really should get going now...” Since we're the hosts, you should only be so late until it becomes insulting...”

“Oh my gosh!” she squealed as she flickered from her seated position to a standing on at the doors and opened them a crack to see that the audience had already settled in and the representatives of the other two tribes were already waiting. They were sitting at a small marble table, half black and half white with gold leaf stylized in the image of the sun on the white side while the black half had a stylized moon made of silver. She recognized Maud Pie immediately from her time as a temporary understudy when learning about the macroeconomics of the Earthlander's bountiful markets. She was wearing a darkly vibrant outfit of dark brown and green that one would see any common laborer wear, only the cut of cloth and embroidery giving away that these were for formal wear. The Aven's representative was a complete stranger though, but her no nonsense expression gave Twilight a feeling that if she were to say something foolish, she would be given short shrift. She was wearing a light blue linen wrap that hugged her body almost as if it were trying to become a second skin. Twilight blushed slightly at the sight and was thankful that her robes were so modest.

Without any further reason to wait, she walked through the doors while she took a deep breath and let it out as every eye in the room found its attention drawn to her. She walked briskly across the intervening distance at a pace where it didn't seem like she was hurrying, but enough to see that she had things she wanted to do. She finally reached the table and took her seat with a small smile and a nod to each of her fellow Representatives who returned the gesture with varying levels of emotion.

“Sorry for the wait,” she apologized with a slight blush. “But I'm here now and ready when you two are.”

“I'm ready to get this over with,” the Aven said with a slight huff, looking chagrined as she saw Twilight's expression fall slightly. “The proceedings... Not the present company. If nothing else, you two were probably roped into this as well, so we're in the same boat.”

“I was voted to this position,” Maud replied without a trace of emotion. “But it's all a part of my responsibilities.”

“I was recommended to the role by my mentor, Starswirl after he talked to the Queen about it,” Twilight said with a blush at her high amount of clout with the current royalty.

“That old star gazer is still alive?” the Aven said with a muted laugh. “I thought he would have fallen over a balcony by now with his nose in a book the whole way down!”

Twilight almost gasped at that, but then she realized that this woman had probably known Starswirl a good bit if she knew what he was like when he got engrossed in a book. She couldn't help but giggle at that and shook her head. “He's still in fine health and I'm sure if you know him as well as you do, then you should come pay him a visit. I'm sure he'd love to see you again since you seem like an old friend of his.”

“That I am, and I plan on introducing my daughter and nephew to him while we're here,” she replied. “The name's Star Catcher, by the way.”

“Twilight Sparkle,” she answered.

“Maud Pie,” Maud chimed in.

“So, with the introductions out of the way, what do you say we get started?” Twilight said in a happy tone. The others nodded in agreement and stood up to give their speeches.

Flickering Light

“It is with open hearts and arms that we gather here today,” Twilight began as was traditional of the hosts, swallowing her nervousness with a slight shudder. “To reaffirm the bonds forged and passed on for the benefit of our nation by our ancestors. We three tribes, so different in magic and traditions, yet so similar when one looks to the past that binds us all together. We all come here to show and share the best that we are, so that we all become stronger as a whole. I for one, am exceptionally excited and thrilled to be the representative of my tribe; the Magi.

“It is said that we Magi were born of a golden fire given thought and bestowed with the barest of physical forms, so that we might cast the revealing light of our minds as far as possible,” she continued in a stronger tone as her scholarly side began taking over, “that we may light the path for all to follow. We were not given the strength of the land itself like the Earthlanders, born from a seed that broke a mountain and able to shoulder all but the heaviest of burdens. Nor were we given the stewardship of the seasons and storms that the Avens, the children of the Four Great Winds, were graced with. Instead, we were gifted with the ability to bring thought and will into being. We Magi are a noble tribe, often viewing intelligence as the ultimate currency, readily trading fortunes for a sliver of information that may teach us something new. That being said, if left to our own devices we would likely consume ourselves body and mind, by our very nature, and must be tempered if we are to make anything of lasting value. That is why we three Tribes identify as one, for without the others, we would not be here on this wondrous day devoted to reaffirming these bonds.”

As she wound down, Twilight saw a few distinctly ponderous expressions in the crowd, mostly on those who were of the more philosophical mindset, while the obvious noble heads of Magi houses wore expressions of varying levels of barely concealed disgust at the very notion, though one or two wore smiles at her paraphrasing of the old tale. Despite the varying levels of distaste, they all gave her a round of genteel applause. Twilight turned and smiled at her fellow representatives before giving them a wave of her hand to let them decide who was to go next. They looked to one another, Maud giving no expression aside from the barest raising of an eyebrow, while Star Catcher gave a wry little smirk and gave her a wave to go ahead. Maud gave a tiny nod of thanks and looked up to the gathered crowd as she took in a deep breath and let it out.

“As Twilight Sparkle said, today is a wondrous day indeed,” she began in her trademark monotone, projecting her voice so that it carried all the way to the highest tier of seats without changing her flat tone in the slightest. “Today is the day where we three Tribes get a chance to drop all pretenses and look to the others with open eyes to see what it is that we lack personally and how we help each other in ways we cannot accurately describe. I may not know as much about history as Representative Twilight does, but even I can see how deeply we three depend upon one another simply through the goods and services that we provide to our neighbors. To say that I am simply grateful for our fellow Tribes would be an understatement of the greatest magnitude.”

As with Twilight, Maud was greeted with an audience that had minimal change to its demeanor, though they still gave her a round of applause. Star Catcher turned and looked out at those who had gathered and gave a brief, distasteful scowl before quickly returning to a neutral expression as she spoke.

“The Congregation,” she began in a sharp, cutting voice that drew the attention of every person in the hall. “Every year we all come together to talk politics, change trade agreements, forge new ones, exchange information for mutually beneficial partnerships and showcase our newest advances in our respective cultures. That's all well and good, but many of us don't remember the true reason behind the biggest festival of the year. To come together to renew, remember and strengthen the bonds we've forged and maintained since the Calamity. Years ago, I was young and brash, recently denied advancement in the ranks once again. So, I came to the Congregation's Festival, held here in Canterlot at the time, and met a Magi who was so lost in a book that he nearly fell off a skyway to his death.

“Such a thing didn't happen because I saved his life. In return, he gave me a riddle before wandering off to go find the book that he had dropped in his fall. At the time, I was annoyed and perplexed at his causal brushing away of his near death experience. However, as I went back to the Festival to forget my woes, his riddle kept coming back to mind and left me alone in the crowds. I almost gave up on his riddle, but by the end of the night, I had somehow figured out the answer and my woes were instantly turned to joy. It was because of a simple riddle, given by a Magi who almost plummeted to his death, that I was able to climb up the ranks in a month's time. He opened my eyes and showed me that where I fell short, someone from a different tribe could show me the way. From there, I looked to the Earthlanders and found parts of myself that I never would have imagined possessing. I was humbled and awed by the transformation that was taking place in myself. I was becoming more truly myself and I sought the company of the other two tribes as much as my own, because I learned that without the other two, I was doing a true disservice to not only the other tribes, but to myself most of all.

“That being said, open your eyes and see what we can do for one another. Give freely to those who need it, even if they are not of your tribe, and you will see an influx of good fortune that will leave you speechless. You will find yourself stronger than ever and never lack for someone to show you the way to the answer you cannot find on your own.”

This time, there was a distinctive change in the demeanor of the crowd when Star Catcher finished her bit. While there were still a fair number of individuals who disregarded her words, she had reached a good portion of them and it showed in their generally pleased or relatively neutral expressions, but especially in the applause that she garnered, easily double what either Twilight or Maud had earned. She turned back to the others and gave them a smile that had Twilight grinning as she put two and two together while Maud wore something that looked close to a shadow of a smile.

“I know there's more to it than that and I plan on getting the whole story from you later,” Twilight said through her grin.

“You'll get it, but not until another night,” Star Catcher replied with a snort and a smirk as she teasingly wagged her finger.

“In that case,” Maud interjected with perfect timing, “Why don't we move on to the first items on the agenda?”

“May as well,” Star replied as she got into her political mindset, ready to address and potentially modify any standing treaties or trade agreements on behalf of her Tribe.

“Oh, this is just so exciting!” Twilight said with barely muted enthusiasm that had the other two looking at her oddly before sharing a look with one another before choking back the amusement that threatened to break through their masks.

***

“Hoo~” Applejack sighed with a half moan as she stretched her sore back in the late afternoon sunlight. She had been holed up indoors for the past five hours as she tried to work out a deal with the regional agricultural leaders in Equestria. She barely had enough time to straighten up and open her eyes before a pink blur came rushing by, grabbed her hand, and almost lifted her completely off the ground. Applejack somehow managed to keep her feet under her and made good use of her exceptionally long legs to keep up with the shorter girl. “P-Pinkie?! Slow down, girl!”

“Notimetogoslow,gottagofastfastfast!” she yelled back without turning around. Applejack couldn't help but laugh at her hyper friend as she was led through gaps in the crowds that seemed to impossibly open up just in time for Pinkie to rush through them. Applejack was led through the streets without any idea as to where she was being led to, eventually finding herself led through a wide pair of glass double doors and into a lavishly decorated tailor's business.

“Pinkie, what're we doin' here?”

“Getting you a new set of Festival clothes,” she replied quickly without looking over at Applejack so she wouldn't see her flushed face. “Why else would we go to a tailor's, silly?”

When Applejack took in her friend's dress clothes and her own, she noticed that what she was currently wearing would be more than fine enough back in her hometown, but was distinctly lower in quality compared to what Pinkie was wearing. “Ah can't just go an' get a whole new set of clothes on a whim, Pinkie... Besides, Ah doubt Ah'd have enough bits ta even get back home if Ah just got a tunic from this place...”

“It's a gift from Maud, so you don't have to worry about a single thing,” Pinkie replied, finally looking over at Applejack with a small smile. “In fact, everything we're doing tonight is because of her setting it all up.”

“Ah don't know about all this,” Applejack mused, chewing the inside of her cheek. “Plus you said there's more coming, too... It seems mighty expensive, even if it's just a gift...”

“Come on, Applejack,” Pinkie wheedled with hands clasped under her chin, an absurdly adorable pout and a cute little wiggle of her hips. “If not for her, then for me? All this is kinda my fault anyway...”

“What'd you do?” Applejack asked, but her answer was denied as a lithe Magi walked up to the two of them with a wide smile that got even wider when she saw that it was Pinkie who had finally arrived.

“My, my, Pinkie!” she said with a tinkling laugh as she took in the scene before her. “I take it that this is the one and only Miss Applejack I've heard so much about?”

Applejack turned to face her fully and had to look down a good bit to meet her eyes. “That Ah am, and you can do away with the 'Miss.' Ah'm not one to stand on formalities.”

“Of course,” she replied with a gracious nod.

“So, what's all this about you hearing things about me?” Applejack asked with a sly glance over at Pinkie. “Nothing bad, Ah hope.”

“Why, whenever she comes in for an order, she practically sings your praises to the rafters, especially after she gets a letter from you,” she said with a genuine smile that turned slightly crafty as she saw a red faced Pinkie fighting with the voices in her head so she didn't just go over there and bop her over the top of her head. “If anything, I'd say that she has a cr-”

“Okay-hay-hay~!” Pinkie yelled as she dashed behind her, covering her mouth and spinning them around before letting her go, leaving her to spin a couple time on her own before coming to a stop a few steps away with a hand to her temple. “We don't really have much time to gossip, as I'm sure you know... Our dinner reservations are in a half hour and we just have time for some final adjustments before we have to go.”

“Of course,” she said as the room stopped spinning and she could make out the telltale tick in the corner of her eye that said she was just barely holding herself back. “Come along, Applejack. Time is of the essence.”

Applejack gave a slightly unsure nod and walked after her when she moved off deeper into her shop. Left to herself, Pinkie couldn't help but let out a shrill little squeal of protest. Maud was going to make it so that her feelings were going to be revealed whether she was ready or not! The game was rigged and she never even bothered to find out all the rules! To make sure no more slips happened, Pinkie darted off into the depths of the shop to ensure no more 'gossiping' was going to happen. Accidentally or otherwise.

When Applejack and Pinkie finally left the clothing shop, Applejack was wearing a set of high quality brown leather boots that had been tooled and dyed in delicate lines that gave the impression of morning glory growing along the edges. She wore a set of deep brown leggings that had a panel of verdant, emerald green along the outside and inside of her legs, both colors being lavishly embroidered along the attaching thread work. Her tunic was an eye catching shade of blue with dusky gray panels along the sides. The clothes were softer than anything Applejack had ever worn in her life and fit her almost like a second skin, giving her enough freedom of movement and looseness to give her a feeling of appropriate modesty. Her other clothes had been kept at the shop to be sent to her temporary residence tomorrow morning free of charge.

They quickly walked through the crowds, Pinkie holding Applejack's hand so she wouldn't get lost. Applejack let herself smile at the change of roles as a memory from when they were younger surfaced, specifically when Applejack would lead Pinkie through the woods near her long-time home. Pinkie, on the other hand, was glad she was leading, as she would have been mortified if Applejack asked about the blush she wore and the slight sheen of sweat on her brow as she felt the much larger hands of her long time romantic interest firmly, yet gently, squeeze her whenever it seemed like she would slip from her grasp. To say that Pinkie was both happy and severely disappointed when they arrived at the restaurant where they'd be eating would have been an understatement.

Pinkie led them in, finally letting go of Applejack's hand when she had to open the door for her, and let Applejack in first. The inside of the anteroom was both dark and bright, the floor carpeted in a black velvet that shimmered whenever they changed perspectives, the dark brown of the mahogany paneling lending a warm, homey glow to the atmosphere while the brass lanterns set around the room lightened everything from an intimate setting to one of happy comfort. They quickly strode up to the podium where a Magi Maitre'D stood at stiff attention and studied them over his half-moon glasses. “Good evening and welcome, ladies,” he said in an accent as stiff as his stance. “Might I have your name so I might find your reservations?”

“Dinner reservations for two under Pinkamena Diane Pie,” Pinkie answered with a smile.

It took him a only a moment to find the entry in his ledger. “Follow me,” he said as he magically flitted a pair of menus to his hand and led them into the main dining room. They looked over the crowded room, largely populated by Magi couples, though there were several who were mixed couples involving any combination of the Tribes. There was a faint trace of music in the air that cut through the low purr created by the many people eating that only enhanced the atmosphere. “I'll leave you two to mull over your drink orders and return shortly,” he said before laying their menus down and walking off.

“Just how much is Maud spending on all this?” Applejack hissed as she leaned forward across the table. “This ain't some twenty bit dinner at a nice hole-in-the-wall.”

“I don't know,” Pinkie replied in a similar whisper with a wave of her hands. “She told me not to worry about it and to just get what sounded good. Do you have any idea what it's like trying to get her to budge when she doesn't want to?”

“Ah'm starting to get an idea,” Applejack replied as she sat back in her seat. She glanced out the window and felt a chill wash over her, making her shiver slightly despite the heat in the room. Then, there was a noise that wasn't a noise. It was a cracking noise that sounded as if something that had been under an unknowable amount of strain and pressure started to finally give way yet barely held, yet so quiet that it seemed to happen from right beside her ear. The silence in the room after that sound was only broken by the music that continued to play. Everyone looked around, as if trying to see if there was something amiss, but no one could find anything wrong and it was getting to some of them. Phantom sounds didn't just happen to everyone in a building without cause.

Applejack started to brush the whole thing off as a prank caused by some young Magi child, but as she and Pinkie's eyes met across the table, they both noticed a flicker of something white. As they both quickly turned to look to see what it was, it disappeared. Then they saw it as their eyes adjusted. It was snowing from a cloudless sky. “We need to get up to the Palace right away,” Pinkie said in a no-nonsense voice as she stood up and began walking. “Garcon!” she called out to the Maitre'D as she began to quickly cross the room.

“Yes, Miss Pie?” he asked as he hurried up to her, deferring immediately to her projected sense of authority. “How may I be of assistance?”

“Send a message to the Estate of Maud Pie, tell them that a dragon is stirring and to follow deviation five-a,” she replied in a dull whisper. “Authentication phrase: Dark Horse.”

“O-of course, ma'am,” he stuttered as he bowed away. “R-right away.”

Applejack finally hurried up to Pinkie after her sudden departure and made it to her side. “What the hay was that all about?”

“Precaution,” she said simply. “Now, enough chit-chat. We need to get going. Now.” They strode through the front doors with a thunderous boom as Pinkie pushed through them with enough force that they bounced back closed just as they walked out of the way. “Now, put those legs of yours to use and follow me, Jackie.” Matching her words to action, Pinkie took off at a surprising sprint that had the farmer soon running full tilt just to keep her within sight. They ducked, wove and slid through the crowds who were standing around in a slight stupor at the event going on around them. Soon, their senses slowly returned and while some showed fear, others only thought it was an unannounced part of the Festival and laughed it off as a great spectacle, this snow in the middle of summer.

The two finally met up again at the front gates to Canterlot Castle, Applejack huffing for breath while Pinkie only had a faint sheen of sweat. She strode up to a rather imposing Magi guard with shoulder-length two-tone blue hair who wore a mix of plate and scale armor with pauldrons resembling three flower petals laid side by side. He carried a longsword slung over one shoulder and a heavy air of authority.

“A dragon stirs in its sleep,” she said without preamble.

“Then a pall of ash shall befall us all,” he replied.

“Unless we quench its fires forevermore,” she finished with a nod. “You're missing your helmet, Shining Armor. You need to set a better example as a Paladin-Commander of the Guard.”

“It's just inside the guardhouse,” he replied. “But seriously, you think there's something that dire coming our way?”

“Of course,” she replied. “If it's not a Magi making this snow without a cloud in the sky, then what is?”

“How would you be able to tell anyway?” he asked with a snort. “No offense, Pinkie, but that insane 'sense' of yours can't tell you this.”

“Of course not,” she replied with a puff of air. “That's why I have a thaumaturgically reactive crystal designed to shine whenever magic is being used within ten feet of me,” she explained, showing him the ring on her index finger. “Test it out, but make it quick. I need to get Maud briefed and settled in here where the security's tightest before returning to the Estate to organize my own forces to work with yours.”

“Okay, okay,” he replied as he summoned forth a magnifying spell to get a better look at her little tool. It was a simple ring of pewter and set with several tan topazes arrayed around a garnet set in the middle. As soon as the lens coalesced into existence, the garnet glowed with a fiery light while the topaz that pointed to him glowed as well, indicating the actual direction of the magics source. “That's pretty nifty,” he said. He let his spell dissipate and noticed that the ring faded back to darkness. “Then what's causing this snow?”

“I don't know and I don't care,” Pinkie replied as she started walking forward and around him toward the gate leading into the Castle grounds. “We'll figure that out soon enough, but right now, we need to get all the V.I.P.'s secured.”

“Okay,” he replied as he teleported his helmet a foot in front of him and caught it as it began falling, settling it on his head, and turned to quickly follow the determined woman and her companion past the others. The azure gem on his brow began leaking wisps of ethereal mist that wafted about without any rhyme or reason despite a gentle wind blowing. “Attention all Castle personnel,” he said with a magically-amplified rumble, “there is an unknown event happening at this very moment. All guards are to be on high alert, all staff are to report to the designated areas after politely escorting all nobility to suitable apartments within the west wing of the Castle. No one is to leave their rooms without an armed escort, none are permitted to leave Castle grounds under threat of detainment. Orders effective immediately.” With a faint sizzling noise, his gem darkened again and he gave Pinkie a nod.

A Spark of Light

Star Catcher and the other Representatives quickly found their discussions interrupted as the magically carried voice of Shining Armor sounded through every hall, tower and room of the castle. “Your attention please,” he said in a calm, confident tone, “all Congregation activities are suspended at this time due to an emerging situation. There is no cause for alarm, but until we have investigated and dealt with this situation, we are securing the capital and all dignitaries. At this time, the palace staff will escort you to individual suites in the west wing of the castle. We apologize for any inconvenience, but your safety is of the utmost importance.”

As the last fading echoes of his voice faded from the air, the nobles of every tribe began murmuring uneasily to their neighbors or arguing about the unexpected delay in the proceedings. The noise quickly increased until Star Catcher stood up and called order to the hall in the only way she knew how. “A-Ten-shun!” she called out in her best field commander voice, brash and bold enough to cut through the noise, startling those in the front rows with the force of personality behind her staggered call. “You heard the Paladin-Commander!” she said with a stern expression. “Right now, there's nothing to worry about, so there's no use fretting until we know what's going on. When the staff gets here, just go to your rooms and wait it out. If it's anything serious, we'll be notified and a course of action will be decided upon.”

The various nobles in the audience settled down, grumbling and looking either abashed or angered that she had called them out and restored order as if they were raw recruits. Those that were angered and stared at her were each met with hard eyes that showed no amount of give under their ire, while those who were abashed avoided making any eye contact with her. A few minutes later, the palace staff and guards entered the hall and began escorting the nobles out. The Representatives had to wait a short while longer as they ranked high enough to warrant an officer as an escort.

“Shining!” Twilight called as she saw her brother making his way through the crowd with a doe-eyed, starstruck maid. “What's this all about?”

“It's snowing outside,” Shining Armor replied with an odd look, as if he couldn't quite believe it himself. “There's not a cloud in the sky and there's no magic behind the snow either. Pinkie was the one to alert me to that bit of information, but that's not the oddest part. I've recently received reports from some of the Aven reconnaissance groups that the snow is falling only in specific areas, not deviating in the slightest despite any wind. It's... Spelling out something that has me a good bit worried.”

“Well, spit it out,” Star Catcher snapped when she saw that Shining was hesitating. “We don't have all day.”

Twilight shot her a look but didn't say anything as Shining put a hand up to stall her. “'It's showtime,'” he said with a worried expression. “That's what it says. I don't know what this is, but if it has something to do with the odd cracking noise from earlier, then we may have a lot more on our plate than we realize...”

“Take us to Starswirl, Shining,” Twilight cut in immediately. “If any of this may be related to something sealed away long ago, then the library is the place where we'll find our answers.”

“I can take you, little sis, but the others will need to go to their suites,” he replied with a glance to the others. “No offense intended.”

“None perceived,” Maud replied.

“I would like to go with you as well, Twilight,” Star Catcher replied. “Ever since my encounter with Starswirl, I've put in a good bit of time in a library here or there and may be of some use if only helping to find the proper books you may need.”

“That would be much appreciated,” Twilight replied with a smile. “Spike always did complain about needing more help when we get lost in our research.”

“Commander Shining, would you be so kind as to pull rank and have Medico Fluttershy and Scout Flash Sentry brought to the tower as well? They're under the command of Rainbow Dash and I wouldn't mind having them act as my escorts instead of pulling away a potentially needed officer.”

“Family?” he asked with a knowing smirk. Star nodded and his smirk widened into a smile. “I'll pass along the request. Thank you as well for understanding my needs, Miss Catcher.”

“When will Pinkie Pie be here?” Maud asked as Star was about to reply with a cutting remark about being called 'Miss.'

“She's already here, just waiting for your other two sisters to show up,” he replied with a smile. “It shouldn't be much longer.”

“Of course, thank you,” she replied with a small nod of appreciation. They waited and watched for Maud's escorts to show up for a few minutes and were rewarded when a trio of obviously well trained women showed up, led by a maid as well. All three of them were wearing a mixture of leather and chain mail armor with a medley of weapons that had Star Catcher raising her eyebrows a bit when she realized that they were assassins' weapons, the spell breakers and wing clippers among their arsenal making her immediately wary of the trio. These three were not to be tested right now, especially with tensions high.

“Pinkie,” Maud said with a small smile. “What happened to your date?”

Pinkie immediately flushed and looked away before she replied with a terse, “She's settled in the Castle. Like you should be soon.” She turned to the light gray haired girl with a long length of coiled chain at her hip that had an octagonal rod of slotted metal at both ends which appeared to be her main weapon and said, “Blinkie; you're our forward. Ten meter lead and authenticate any potential threats before engaging. Non lethal force, but subdue without hesitation.” Blinkie nodded and walked off to the same exit several nobles were being led out through and slipped through the press without a problem. “Inkie, offensive spell breakers. We want to protect Maud, not incite anyone.” Inkie, the dark haired woman nodded and locked a pair of blue-gray metal bucklers onto her gauntlets as she scanned the crowd.

“You always surprise me when something like this happens, Pinkie,” Shining said with a chuckle. “You're normally so happy-go-lucky, but when the ball drops, you put up with no nonsense and put down any trouble before anyone realizes it's a problem to begin with.”

“It's my job, Shining,” she said with a small smile. “And I do it well. We may not be a large force like your guards, but when you're in my line of work, you don't want to advertise the presence of a highly trained fighting unit outfitted to deal with any amount of danger despite the tribe. Not many people would be happy to learn that there's effectively an assassination squad in their city, even if we're a security force.”

“True enough,” he replied with a laugh. “Anyway, I'm taking Representatives Twilight and Star Catcher to Starswirl's tower. If anything comes up, you know how to get in touch with me.”

“I'll keep you posted,” she said with a little smirk. “I'll have my Timberwolves in the wings, so we'll support your scryers with information.”

“Much appreciated; now get going. We have a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it in.”

“Right.” She turned to Maud and took up her place behind her while Inkie took the front. “Let's get going.” Without anything more to say, the three walked off, the crowd parting easily for them, especially when they noticed their expressions and eyes.

“They certainly play no games,” Star said with an air of professional appreciation. “With the precision they use, only a group of Stormbrothers or Sisters would stand a chance at taking them down, but that's not even considering their extensive countermeasures...”

“They're no joke,” Shining supplied with a smile. “I'm just glad they're on our side. I saw a mock battle with five-to-one odds, equally split between all three tribes against Blinkie, Inkie and Pinkie. There was no contest with all three of them working in perfect harmony. It was a frightening sight to behold, watching them rip through their opponents like they were practice dummies.”

“I'll have to hear about how they came about, but let's get a move on,” she said as she ended their conversation. “I'm sure Starswirl's completely oblivious about what's going on right now, so we'll probably need to pull him out of his current project and get him up to speed.”

Twilight giggled in agreement before the gem in her forehead flared to brilliant life, lilac wisps billowing out to form a small ring around the three of them, which rapidly shaped itself into a glyph. “We're already there,” she said happily as reality folded around the three without a flicker or a noise, their surroundings simply becoming something entirely different.

“You finally figured out sigil based teleportation?” Shining asked as he looked around in a moment of surprise. “That's gotta be a huge feather in your cap, sis.”

Twilight let out a snort of amusement and waved it off as she strode forward into the maze of books where they now found themselves. “I learned that almost a month ago, Shiny,” she replied with a laugh and a smug expression. “I extrapolated the sigil structure through several charcoal rubbings from the remains of known Alicorn cities. A year and a half well spent there.”

“I'd make a comment about how you'll never find a boyfriend, but I know you're married to your library,” he replied with a chuckle as she gave an indignant squawk, continuing on before she had a chance to reply. “I'll head back out to pass the request on to Commander Dash to send Fluttershy and Flash Sentry to be your escorts. With the knowledge we have, there will be no scrutiny passed onto the Avens for any part in this. We know you could whip up a storm if you wanted to, but your weather working is far from subtle. If anyone has a problem with it, they can just take it up with me.”

“Thank you, Shining Armor,” Star said with a small, genuine smile. “It's very much appreciated.”

“Not a problem, ma'am,” he replied with a half grin before turning and heading out of the library.

“That brother of mine...” Twilight said with a huff and a small smile of her own as she turned to Star. “Sorry about his attitude. He was extremely serious while in training, but as he rose in the ranks, his attitude took a decidedly odd turn...”

“It's just how it is when you're in the military,” Star said as Twilight started slowly walking off into the library in search of Starswirl. “Either you become hard and ever-serious; giving everything an undue amount of consideration before acting, or you become like Shining Armor... Nonchalant in outward appearance, but with a hidden current underneath just waiting for anyone unwary enough to get pulled under by his easy grasp of a situation...”

“I suppose you have a point, but I just wish he'd stop with the teasing... It's like he never grew up,” she said with a small huff.

“Just enjoy it while you can,” Star said with a small smile. “Because you might not have him there to tease you if his duty causes him to pay the ultimate sacrifice.”

“I know,” she replied in a small voice. “I may gripe about it, but I still love him despite the teasing.” Star Catcher didn't say anything, instead just giving her a reassuring smile which Twilight returned a bit timidly. They didn't say much as they moved through the stacks, Twilight leading the way confidently. They spent almost ten minutes searching before Twilight picked up her pace and hurried to a small door tucked between two shelves and opened it to reveal Starswirl standing amid a vortex of silvery blue energy that pushed them both back a couple steps without it stirring even a single gust of wind. He was wearing a simple set of robes colored a deep shade of blue with a silvery trim. The smooth pate of his bald scalp glimmered in the shimmering light while his eyes shone like a set of beacons in a sea of darkness. They noticed a small smile that was barely visible through the unruly salt and pepper beard that gave him his trademark title. He was softly chanting in the ancient language of the Alicorns, a lilting dialect that ebbed and flowed with a natural music all its own. He slowly raised his hands and brought them together in front of his chest; the vortex of energy suddenly stopped and was drawn into the space between his hands faster than they could blink. When he opened his hands up, a silvery blue butterfly barely larger than the ends of his two thumbs put together fluttered up and out, dancing on ephemeral wings.

“What was that?” Twilight asked in a breathy whisper. “I've never heard of a spell needing so much energy and a chant like that to summon such a small spell construct...”

“It's called a Harmony Charm,” Starswirl replied in a light tenor as a smile spread across his face. “It's a construct that passively dissuades inharmonious thoughts from those around it and warns whoever created it of the source of particularly strong feelings that can't be dissuaded by the Charm. Basically a warning against any who seek to sew chaos among our midst.”

“Wait, you know what's going on?”

“What's going on?”

“It's snowing.”

“In the middle of summer?”

“That's what I thought, but there's more to it than that. Shining Armor said that the snow's only falling in such a way that it's spelling out words despite any wind.”

“Interesting...”

“That and from a few accounts, the snow is not magical in nature as well.”

“You don't say...”

“Okay, you two, let's stop with the back and forth or we're never going to get anywhere,” Star Catcher cut in with a smirk.

“Oh, Star Catcher, it's ever so nice to see you again,” Starswirl said with a broad grin. “What brings you here?”

“I'm the Aven's representative this year,” she replied with a long suffering sigh. “Not that I had any real say in it...”

“Ah, yes... Politics...”

“Anyway, I'm here to help you and your second in command do some research, even if it's only to help hunt down books.”

“Splendid! In that case, let's get to researching,” he said with an almost manic grin. Twilight gave a little snort of amusement as Starswirl practically scampered out of the door to find out the cause for this mysterious snow. Star gave a little chuckle and turned to Twilight.

“I see he hasn't changed a bit since I last saw him,” she said with a wistful smile. “Funny how the years change so much, yet certain things stay the same...”

“I couldn't agree with you more there,” Twilight replied with a knowing smile. “Anyway, daylight is burning and we need to get to work.”

“Of course,” Star replied as she turned to leave only to stop when she saw Shining Armor leading Flash and Fluttershy down the aisle. “Hey, you two,” she said with a smirk. “The Commander give you two any guff over your reassignment?”

“Not really,” Flash replied with an easy smile. “She just read the orders and sent us on our way. We're auxiliaries anyway, so it's not like we're exactly needed...”

“If anything,” Shining cut in with a casual air, “she may be called out on favoritism by allowing your own flesh and blood escort you around the castle.”

“How'd you find out?” Star asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I just asked them and they told me,” he replied with a smile. “Simple as that.”

“You two...”

“It's not like it's a national secret or anything,” Flash responded with a wave of his hand. “Besides, you know I take after you with my ticklish wings, Auntie...”

“That's beside the point,” she replied with a faint blush at one of her private weaknesses being outed. “You should always look three steps ahead whenever anyone does anything.”

“I know, and I did,” he replied with a small smile. “There's nothing for her to turn this into a profit unless she somehow manages to completely circumvent the chain of command and start her own revolution...”

“Don't put anything above her. Even if she wears the same uniform, she's the daughter of one of my enemies,” Star said with a distasteful grimace. “There are strings that can be tied to you without your realizing it or consciously agreeing to it that can bind you tighter than a set of wind braces...”

“If I become a puppet of Commander Dash, I could say that there are worse fates,” he replied with a stroking of his chin. “Besides, it seems like everyone in her unit tends to dance to their own tune, so I may as well cut a rug if I can return a harmless favor in exchange for being able to guard my Aunt...”

Their little argument was cut short by Twilight's barely stifled giggles. “No, no... Please continue... The potential fate of the world can wait a bit longer...” Star and Flash both blushed profusely and scratched the backs of their respective heads and refused to meet Twilight's gaze. “But we really should get to work...”

“Right! Of course, Miss...” he said as easily as he could.

“Twilight, Twilight Sparkle,” she supplied.

“Miss Sparkle!” he exclaimed with a clap of his hands. “What a wonderfully expressive name!” Fluttershy rolled her eyes from where she stood. “I'm just so thrilled to make the acquaintance of one of Equestria's most recognized scholars, right next to Starswirl the bearded, of course...”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Twilight replied with a smirk. “Show me you know your way around the stacks and we may be getting somewhere...”

“The stacks?” he asked with a cautious glance behind him before looking back to Twilight. “I'm not sure if I may be able to help you out there very much, but there's nothing wrong with giving it the ol' collegium try...”

Shining took that moment to finally give in to his sense of humor and gave Flash a slap to his shoulder with a bark of laughter. While they were chuckling, Twilight and Fluttershy's eyes met and were rolled in near unison with expressions that said that they'd never fully understand the opposite gender.

“Anyway, if you two are quite done with... whatever it is that you're doing...” Twilight said in a long suffering tone of voice that she used when dealing with unruly children. It worked immediately as the two gave each other a half foot of space and put their hands behind their backs. “I'll have you two under Star Catcher's immediate supervision. She knows her way around here and can point you two in the direction of any books we may need. Any questions?” Flash and Fluttershy both nodded that they understood. She summoned a piece of parchment and a quill and began writing out a preliminary list for them to pull out. “Now, if you happen upon Starswirl in the middle of a row, skip your book and find another.” The two nodded and looked to Star Catcher to subdivide the main list and give them their own individual lists of books to hunt down. “Here you go, Star Catcher, and happy hunting. I'll be waiting for you in the central study room if you're looking for me,” she finished with a bright smile before turning to leave.

“Okay, kids...” Star said with a smile as she cracked the knuckles in her left hand and looked the list over. “Time to get to work...”

Drifting Lights

The train came to a stop at Canterlot station with a loud hiss and a thunderous whoosh as steam billowed from the engine, obscuring every car behind it, making for an intimidating sight as from one of the cars, an absolutely massive form emerged. It had to lean down and turn to the side so it could make its way outside. A cross breeze came by and cleared away the steam, revealing a man who stood over seven feet tall, with straw blonde hair and piercing light green eyes that made a few people flinch as they met his gaze. He wore a crimson tunic that billowed loosely around him, doing little to obscure his heavily-muscled physique, and dark blue leggings with incredibly thick leather chaps. His feet rang with dull metallic noises as his hobnailed boots struck the well worn cobblestones. He checked his pockets briefly to make sure his cargo was secured, nodding once to himself as he ensured that it was safe, and walked off in search of his destination.

***

Applejack had been put in a nice suite of rooms after being brought into the castle proper and promptly left alone after a fervent request by Pinkie to wait for her or one of her Timberwolves to come get her. She had agreed, but it still didn't make her fret or worry about the strange things going on any less. After the first hour or so, she found herself stretched out on a divan, pillow over her face and half asleep as she had found nothing better to do. She was muzzily entertaining the idea of simply letting go and completely falling asleep, but a polite knock on the door snapped her out of her haze, leaving her wide awake and eager to find out what was going on.

She quickly crossed the room and opened the door to find a darkly dressed Magi man with an embroidered Timberwolf patch on his left shoulder waiting for her on the other side of the door. “Miss Applejack? If you'd care to follow me, it appears as if you have some company.”

She kept her disappointment from her face and simply nodded in response. “Lead the way,” she said without any preamble. Her guide nodded and took her through the many twists and turns of the castle and finally to what seemed like a holding area. He knocked in a hard staccato that seemed to have a rhythm to it. When the door opened, he ushered her inside without preamble to a sight that she doubted she ever would have seen had the day not been any weirder: Her hulking brother sitting at a small table with several laughing castle guards, a mug of ale in hand and a small smile cracking his usually stoic expression. Completely caught off guard, she simply asked the most obvious question. “What're you doin' here, Big Mac?”

“Thought Ah'd bring somethin' you forgot back home,” he replied while still wearing that little smile of his. He reached into his pocket and brought out a folded sheet of paper which she took after he offered it to her. She opened it up and discovered that it was the draft of her proposed trade agreement with the other large scale producers in her reqion.

“Where'd you find this?” she asked with a slight flush of embarrassment at having forgotten such an important document.

“On the table beside the front door,” he answered with a rumbling chuckle.

She had to fight from breaking out into a full on blush, managing it by the skin of her teeth. “Thanks, Mac,” she said after a lengthy sigh. “Don't know how Ah could have forgotten this, though... Thought it was tucked up with my luggage...”

“Beats me, but here Ah am,” he replied with a half smirk. “The boys here were fillin' me in on what's been goin' on the past couple hours an' it seems like they could use a bit of extra help...”

Applejack was about to reply when the door behind her seemed to explode inward with a loud crack, accompanied by a thundering, gravelly voice. “McIntosh Apple! By the tits o' the Ancients, I almost didn't believe my ears when word came down the grapevine that you'd come back to Canterlot!”

“Hey, Quak,” Mac replied without batting an eye at the dynamic entry. He looked the newcomer over and gave a chuckle when he saw that nothing had changed about the man aside from a bit more gray in his hair. The man in question was an Earthlander wearing slabs of metal strapped to his body in a rough approximation of actual armor. He was shorter than Applejack by almost half a foot, but was easily half again as wide in the shoulders. He had a feral grin on his leathery face, and his slate gray eyes glinted with excitement. “Still alive, Ah see...”

“I may not be your commanding officer anymore, but it's still Quaking Avalanche to you, bean sprout,” he rumbled mock-threateningly as he closed the distance. “Since you're here, why don't you suit up? We could use the Mountain Mover in case something pops up...”

“You don't want me shakin' the ground in full armor, not with everyone on high alert,” Mac replied with a snort of amusement. “Besides, it's not like Ah can bring mah tool inside with me unless you want ta crack the floors...”

“What's he talking about, Mac?” Applejack cut in out of confusion. She knew Mac had gone off for his mandatory four year term in the Guard years ago, but this was the first time she actually heard anything relating to his time in it.

“Who's this? Your girl?” Quaking asked with a smirk as he looked her up and down.

“Sister,” they both replied in unison, making the older man splutter and flush slightly in embarrassment.

“Sorry 'bout that,” he amended with an awkward rub to the back of his head. “Well, to answer your question, this big lug is the strongest Earthlander to ever grace the legions of Terra Asunder. Had to make all his gear custom to compensate. Can't move his tool around the storage area with no less than six full guards and a Magi to steady the unwieldy thing...” Applejack's expression grew a bit slack, which made the older man chuckle at her. “This fellow actually brought down a small mountain with a few hacks of his sledge when we were dealing with a rabid clan of diamond dogs... Never seen anything like it before or since.”

“It weren't no mountain an' you know it... More like an overgrown foothill...” Mac demurred with a half scowl.

“That thing was solid granite and over three hundred feet high.”

“Still no mountain...” he groused. “If that's what you consider a mountain, then what do you consider what we're up on right now?”

“Details, details,” Quaking deflected with a wave of his hand. “Still a mountain, only bigger.”

Mac just snorted and downed the rest of his ale before standing up, slightly hunched over to avoid hitting his head on a rafter. “You don't need me, never have an' probably never will... Ah just came up ta give Applejack somethin' she forgot an' that's it. Ah'll be takin' mah leave now... Sorry ta disappoint...”

“Hold on a second, now,” Quaking said with a fairly serious air. “It's not like I wouldn't make it worth your while, McIntosh... I wasn't lying when I said we could use your help. I'd be willing to pay you double standard rate for on duty hours and standard rate on off duty hours if you hang 'round for a while.”

Mac froze. That was a lot of bits after all, but he knew his worth and they both knew that. “Triple for on duty and time and a half for off hours. Not a bit less,” he replied in a level tone.

Quaking barked a laugh and gave him a hearty slap on his shoulder. “Atta boy! Knew you'd pull through for me!”

“Mah stuff's where Ah left it, right?”

“Not like we could move it very far, you galoot,” he replied with a snort of amusement. “Everything's still in the same warehouse you left it in.”

“Pay starts now, right?”

“Of course, ain't like I'm gonna short change someone who could pound half my troops into the ground without breaking a sweat,” he replied with a scoff. “Now go get suited up and come find me for placement when you're ready.” Mac just nodded and moved to leave without looking at anyone in particular. After he'd left, Applejack just looked at the gruff commander with a suitably perplexed expression. She knew her brother had spent his time in the Guard, but she'd had absolutely no idea about how powerful he was. He didn't talk a whole lot about his time in the ranks, but it seemed as though his time with them had given him something he couldn't easily deny if they needed help. “Sorry 'bout pulling your brother back into the ranks an' all, Miss Applejack, but it's like I said. I could really use his help.”

“Ah understand,” she replied with an understanding smile after a few seconds to register that he was talking to her. “So he's really that strong?”

“Yep,” Quaking replied immediately without a moment's hesitation. “Found a fault in the mountain and dropped it in three blows with no casualties to our troops. A man like that shows up only once a generation and I'm real glad he's here when I need him most...”

“He's always been reliable like that,” Applejack said pridefully, feeling herself swell in behalf of her modest brother.

“That he has,” Quaking agreed. “Anyway, I've got a lot on my plate and need to get going. Pleasure meeting the Mountain Mover's sister. Take care and don't get caught in a patch of quicksand. Can't be too sure in situations like this. Makes people greedy and crazy when they think there's a bit to be earned in all the chaos...”

“Ah'll be careful,” she replied with a warm smile. “Thanks for lookin' after my brother, though.”

“He's done more lookin' after others than I've done lookin' after him... He's a good man.” He paused to give her a grateful smile. “Glad to call him one of mine...”

Applejack could only smile warmly and nod as she turned to leave, following her escort back to the room she had been put in by Pinkie.

***

“Why isn't there anything involving snow in the middle of summer in any of these books?!” Twilight half shouted out in exasperation nearly two hours after she had started her research with the others. She draped herself over her desk and let out a defeated sigh. “I know there was something like this in one of the books on ancient lore I'd read before...”

“Was it recent?” Star asked as she came closer to the frustrated woman.

“No...” she replied with a little sigh. “But it's so close to something I remember that it's infuriating how close I am to an answer yet can't find it...”

“Don't worry, Twilight,” she assured confidently. “I'm sure it will come to you. After all, you're one of the foremost researchers of the shattered Alicorn civilization alive today. Plus from what Star Swirl says, you've made more progress than any other five academics aside from him in the past five years...”

“What did you say?” she asked in a half whisper as she slowly sat back up.

“What? About being a notable researcher of the lost Alicorns-”

“Yes! That! Exactly that! That's where I remember snow in summer coming from!” She stood up quickly enough from her seat that her chair skidded back a couple feet as she ran off in search of the exact tome she was searching for. Star followed after her easily enough through the twists and turns of the stacks and finally came to a stop in front of a small shelf of books bound in snow white vellum and lettered in delicate gold leaf. Twilight almost fearfully reached up to the first volume in the series and gently took it from the shelf. “If this is what I think it is, then this may be the end...”

“The end of what?” Star asked with a sinking feeling of dread.

“The end of everything...” Twilight turned to look Star directly in the eye. “Because the Cataclysm has returned...”

Black Light

Things had been quiet ever since the Nobles had been escorted to their various rooms, which was just fine for Pinkie and her sisters. They were patrolling the gardens near where Maud was residing. Pinkie was now her combat gear, consisting of a mottled gray set of leggings that hugged her like a second skin, giving her full freedom of movement while dark gray skysteel shin and thigh guards afforded her extra protection. Her tunic had been trimmed back so that it hugged her form as well, while a layered leather jerkin was cinched around her torso. She sported a pair of curiously bulky gauntlets that seemed to be part clockwork contraption, part war machine, which whirred and clicked with an ominous tone of anticipation. Across the back plate of her left gauntlet was the word 'Love' in flowing script while the other read 'War' in a harsh, angular script. Every twenty minutes or so, she would reach over with one hand and would crank a hidden mechanism when she noticed its timing to be just a bit off, a heavy ratcheting series of clicks accompanying her actions.

From their current position, Pinkie was able to macro-manage her own operation as her troops would be able to easily find them while maintaining an active patrol. Normally things being quiet would be a good thing, but in a situation like this, it only meant that when things started happening, it was only going to create even more chaos since they could get lulled into a false sense of security. Until an answer was found as to why the mysterious snow was falling, she kept her Timberwolves on high alert with reports sent to her every fifteen minutes with an echo-stone, letting them communicate via an enchanted crystal as if they were only a pace away.

“A bit for your thoughts, sis?” Inkie asked quietly from her position behind Pinkie while Blinkie looked over her shoulder from her place ahead of them.

“I just... I don't get it,” Pinkie replied with a half scowl. “What's this all for? To spread chaos? To put us on the defensive while whoever's behind this goes after their real target? I need to know the whys if I'm going to figure out their motive...”

“I'm sure we'll learn something eventually,” Blinkie assured her with an easy smile. “When they make their first move, we'll be ready to respond thanks to our brilliant leader.”

Pinkie gave a small smile in thanks, nodding in acknowledgment. “Right,” she finally said. “It's about time for me to make my report to Shining Armor, so let's head back to the Hall of the Tribes and fill him in on all of the nothing we've seen and heard.”

“Right,” the twins said in unison as Pinkie took the lead while passing orders around to have her most competent Wolves move in to guard Maud's suite. With their affirmatives given, she picked up the pace and led the way through the empty halls by memory alone. They soon entered the wide doors of the well-lit hall and quickly scanned it for Shining Armor, but saw no sign of him. She absently wound her gauntlets again as she made for the table Maud and the other representatives had sat around only a short while ago. The hall was quiet save for the metallic clacks of Pinkie's gauntlets. When she finished rewinding her weapons, she pulled out an echo-stone whose partner was in the possession of Shining Armor, delivered by one of her own troops shortly after their arrival on the premises.

“Shining, this is Pinkie,” she said in a casual voice to the stone. “We're in the Hall of the Tribes and waiting to give you an update.”

There was no response for a short moment, but Shining responded in a tone that spoke volumes to the three women, “We have some speculation about what's going on, but none of it is good if Twilight is right. I'll fill you in after I get there.”

“We'll be waiting,” Pinkie replied with a nod of approval. Even if the news was bad, at least it was more than they had to go on five minutes ago.

“Oh, I've been waiting too...” rumbled a deeply resonant voice from nowhere, a presence felt but not present falling on the trio. “So long that mountains have crumbled and entire nations, strong enough at the height of their power that they were thought to be a herald of the Alicorns' revival, only to be blown away as nothing more than dust in a gentle breeze...”

Pinkie's stance immediately went from alert to languid and fluid at the first disembodied word, her body ready to roll with any attack and counter it in a fraction of a heartbeat. “Who are you and what do you want?” she asked in a firm voice.

“I see introductions are in order,” the voice replied, a smile evident in its tone. “Sadly, I have no real name... I'm merely a disembodied voice with limited abilities while my true self is still locked away. The first Seal of Harmony has cracked and he was able to slip me out before the others worked to hold him back.”

“In that case, who is your creator?” Pinkie demanded, her patience wearing thin.

“I can't remember,” it replied, its pondering tone giving away its cluelessness. “All I can remember was that I was ordered to spice things up a bit after delivering my message and you three seem to be in need of a lively time.”

Before any of them could blink, a pulse of raw power caused the room to shiver without rattling a single piece of furniture. They fought to catch their breath as it had been knocked out of them without even trying, while their eyes rapidly scanned the room for any sign of trouble. The voice was silent, its presence gone, only to be replaced with something... hungry watching them. There was a faint scratching from directly above; they all spread out in separate directions at a full sprint. They all whirled around to see what had been conjured and felt grim determination immediately well up at the sight they beheld.

The... thing was easily three times as large as any of them, with a dull gray pebbled hide. It was layered with massive slabs of muscle that bunched and corded with quick, jerky movements. It seemed to be bipedal, but its elongated forearms allowed it to move on all four limbs without much trouble. Its hands and toes were tipped with obsidian talons that looked as sharp as daggers. A thick tail lashed behind it, ridged with several rows of tightly-packed scales of uneven lengths that looked perfect for shredding anything it could wrap itself around. It looked down at them with blood red eyes that glowed faintly from a quasi-draconic face, a low rumble sounding as it growled a threat, minuscule wisps of flames dancing from between its wicked looking teeth.

“Shock, awe and demise!” Pinkie called out to her sisters, who reflexively drew and attached their individual weapons. The thing dropped to the floor with a faint thud as its legs compensated for the impact. Blinkie let loose with her weighted chain, the octagonal weight bearing an attachment that crackled as it struck the thing in its left arm with enough force to slightly stagger it while releasing a flash of silvery lightning that crackled and skittered across its skin.

It let loose a roar of rage as it lashed out with its opposite arm and grabbed the chain before it could be pulled back. As it yanked the chain, Blinkie let it completely go with a smirk as she watched Inkie rush forward, her hands at the ready with a pair of thick, rune-etched spikes. She jumped over the flailing tail as it turned to face Blinkie and soared in a crouch with her hands reared back. At the last moment before impact, she let a surge of her innate magic flow into her gauntlets and spikes, instilling them with drastically increased mass as she swung both forward and into the back of the right shoulder of their foe with a sickening thud while black ichor splattered from the wounds. The thing went tumbling to the floor as Inkie jumped clear with a light step.

It bellowed again, flames flaring around its face as it tried to stand back up. Pinkie was already in motion by the time it had reoriented itself and looked at her foe with flat eyes, her straight hair flowing behind her like a dark shade. She made an odd gesture with her left hand while her right pulled at a hidden lever hidden just under the plate, and Love transformed in a quick series of clacks and solid pings as it was put to use. It rotated and shifted around her arm as her armored hand's reach extended by almost half a foot and became viciously clawed, serrated ridges traveling down the middle of each finger while the tips ended in elegantly curved talons. The transformation complete, it contracted back around her forearm in time for her to leap at the beast and grapple its severely wounded arm.

As soon as she made contact, she tensed her legs against its ribs, right arm around its appendage while her left hand sliced and clawed deeply into its flesh. Before it could even get its roar of outrage and pain out of its mouth, the hand within it twisted around and gripped with crushing force the shoulder joint of its arm as Pinkie channeled her own magic to increase her strength to its absolute limit and pushed with all her might for nearly four seconds as its tough body resisted her efforts. She lunged away from the beast suddenly in a spray of visceral gore as ichor spouted from its shoulder, arm still in her grasp as she spun to right herself while the thing roared in pain and terror instead of challenge. She landed a few paces away from its writhing form and dropped the still twitching arm to the floor with a dull thud and looked to her sisters as if she were about to call a meeting to order.

She looked to her blackened gauntlet, shook off the excess ichor, and began winding its mechanism again while her sisters continued with their work. They rushed forward to flank it, Inkie being forced to break formation as it loosed a gout of dark orange and black flame that melted the floor to a runny consistency. Blinkie pulled a set of bolas from her side, sent a powerful surge of magic into it to increase its mass while increasing her own strength, and loosed them with a single swing, setting them spinning as they shot forward with spectacular speed. Instead of snaring both legs as she intended, they wrapped around its left leg and tail which sent it off balance as a sickening crunch sounded as one of the weights slammed with brutal force into its leg and broke the bone. Inkie shot forward again as it began to tumble, growling in fear as she stopped and spun into an enhanced punch to its ribs that reverberated through its battered form. She darted back, but not before a wild swing scored a hit on her shoulder, tearing through leather and metal as if it were tissue paper and gouging deeply into her shoulder.

Pinkie made another gesture, pulling a small ripcord that was hidden beneath the plate protecting the back of her hand, and her gauntlet whirred to life once again. It transformed quickly, forming a pair of shallowly curved crescent blades formed from four plates of metal starting halfway down her forearm while the wicked tips extended a good six inches past her clenched fist. When done shifting forms, Pinkie rushed the downed beast which was trying feebly to free itself from the tightly wound bolas. It barely had the time to sluggishly look around at her, just in time for it to see the glint of light from the wicked tips of her blades mere inches away from its face as she lanced her arm forward with a final surge of magic to ensure the killing blow.

The beast let out a defeated sigh as its life ended. Pinkie pulled her weapon from the corpse and whipped it to clear the most of the ichor from the blades before she gripped the winding wheel, pulling it up and spinning it once in the opposite direction. With one last flurry of motion, Love returned to its neutral form; Pinkie made her way over to Inkie, who was bleeding profusely from her wounds. Blinkie was retrieving her bolas and chain from amid the carnage while keeping a wary eye out for any other potential threats. “It's nothing an elixir or three can't fix,” Inkie said with a slight grimace.

“Here,” Pinkie replied as she reached into her side pouch and pulled a pair of slightly glowing bottles from within it. One shone with a creamy white light while the other was a nearly transparent blue and gave off a gentle blue light. Inkie grabbed the bottles, pulled the corks with her teeth, and downed them after spitting the stoppers away. She shivered as the potions kicked in, one a full spectrum anti-venom while the other was a healing potion that made her muscles and skin writhe as they knit back together. “Thanks,” she replied with a residual shiver at the aftertaste. “Do you have any idea what that thing was or who that voice could have belonged to?”

“I've never heard of anything like that in my studies,” Pinkie replied with a glance over at the thing. “But it seemed to have the traits of several creatures combined into one... Dragon, primate, and cragodile were the most obvious to me though.”

“Huh...” Inkie said with a worried expression. “Who... or what has the power to create something like that?”

“I don't know, but it's bad news for us,” Blinkie said as she walked over to the others. “Especially if they can be conjured at will...”

“It went down hard,” Pinkie said with a stony expression. “And this was one summoned by that voice which admitted it only had so much power. What if... What if whatever's behind this can make even stronger creatures to throw our way?”

The twins shuddered at the thought and shared a worried look. “We'll just have to deal with whatever's thrown at us, just like always,” Inkie said firmly.

“As always,” Blinkie confirmed with a nod.

The door on the opposite end of the hall opened with a clack, and in strode Shining Armor. He made it only a few paces when he noticed the carnage, his face going slack when he took in the sight of the thoroughly dead beast, Pinkie's ichor-splattered body, and Inkie's bloodied clothing. It seemed to take him a moment to grasp what he saw, and he couldn't help but gulp reflexively as he began walking toward them again. “W-what happened?”

“Something decided to 'spice things up,'” Pinkie said as her mouth thinned into a hard line. “But we weren't having any of that and put the threat down.”

“I... see...” he said with a glance over Pinkie's stained form. He had to repress a shudder at her flat tone. “But that doesn't explain why even I didn't feel a single wash of arcane power when it was conjured...”

“It was summoned by the same entity that caused the snow,” Pinkie explained. “It said that its creator let it loose when a 'Seal of Harmony' cracked. If something is coming that has so much power that you can't even sense it, then we're in it deep. We need to begin preparing if we're going to have any chance of even surviving its release...”

“Twilight may have a lead on what's coming, and if she's right then there might not be much we can do...” he replied in a half defeated tone.

“But we still have to try,” Pinkie retorted harshly, her hands flexing with a metallic chime. “If not for ourselves, then for those we hold dear.”

“You're right,” he said after a moment. “I'll have some guards come clean this up. I need to take you to see Twilight. She'll be able to explain everything better than I can.”

“Lead the way,” the three sisters said in unison. “We don't have all night.” Shining Armor gave a humorless chuckle as he turned around and led them to the Archmage's Tower. He silently prayed that Pinkie was right and he could protect those most dear to him, even if he couldn't protect himself.

Author's Note

This are starting to pick up... Who, or what are we dealing with here? What challenges will arise for our cast and what are these "Seals?" More will be revealed in the next riveting installment of Nascent Harmony! :raritywink: