My Little Pony: Forever Stranger

The morning was cloudy, as were Canterlot's mauve streets while the sun escaped the thick blanket, which had smothered the city all night. Before long, dozens three-pegasi teams were streaking overhead, driving back the gray floating fog, lest it sully a perfect Equestrian summer. But, as usual, there was little time for Princess Celestia to contemplate how today's sunrise could have been better. The Grand Summit was in four days, and even with Twilight working round-the-clock, it would be a close call. Half the delegates' gemstone statues still hadn't arrived, the guest rooms were still not decorated, and the busted water main was causing all sorts of nightmares downtown. Then there was Luna, who had at most three meetings left in her before she started using Kibitz as an anti-delegate truncheon. Maybe Cadance would be willing to take her place, but the Princess of Love's schedule was as full as anypony else's.

A trying time to be sure. So when the study began to shake and rumble, she hardly noticed as she stared at the scrolls scattered in front of her. Suddenly, the ink of one report trickled from the page, pooled onto the table, then finally returned with different words. She picked it up, wide-eyed, and read:

The first and last we might ever speak.

Too many voices and too few mouths.

We keep the balance, and the peace.

For our family and for yours.

A son returns today.

He is cold and tired.

Please help him.

The report returned to its original state as Celestia let the parchment fall. She remembered now: the message, the recruit they sent to find Ivory Slate. A few days ago Kibitz mentioned in passing the young stallion was overdue, though Luna was quick to point out there wasn't much they could do, aside from wait. A day later, Smoke Jumper reported he was still missing. It was the senior guard's prerogative to decide whether to search for him, and bigger matters needed Celestia's attention. Still, the answer to this mystery was a long time coming, and it would be good to finally have it. Just what could have taken the recruit so long? An hour later, the study door opened, and Kibitz's head poked through.

"Very sorry, Princess, but Bearing Gale has returned."

Who? "Oh, yes. Is he here?"

"Yes, Princess. He is um... here. His comrades tell me he is ready to report. I told them you were busy, but they insisted you speak to him."

"It's fine, Kibitz. Please, send him in. And let Luna know as well, would you?" The Princess chuckled, "I'm sure she's looking for an excuse to avoid the Manehattan delegates."

Kibitz swallowed hard and stammered out, "Ah yes, of course. I...I'll send him in now."

Her assistant's head disappeared, and through the door Celestia heard him mumble and stutter. She cocked her head; Kibitz was neat and neurotic, not skittish. What had that been about?

The door opened, but the pony she remembered wasn't standing in it. Instead a shaggy, brown derelict plodded into the room, bandaged from head to hoof, his mane brittle and unwashed, the centers of his eyes unfocused and suspended like floating coals. His heavy cloak hid a ghastly-looking sword and a scroll, which his horn slowly took and placed on the desk before her.

Celestia stared down at the scroll, then at Bearing Gale. He didn't salute, click his heels, or say a word. He just stood there and stared through her.

It was a leader's most heart-wrenching job, and to Celestia's credit she immediately called Kibitz back to cancel her appointments for the afternoon. Then she closed the study door, walked around the desk, and put her hoof around the young stallion's shoulder. It was a start.