Chapter 37: New Dawn

Twilight groaned as she slowly sat up. Her head swam as she sat up. Distant dreamlike visions had passed her while she was out. Worlds, universes that she never knew existed, yet somehow she understood that each of them were as real as the very world she found herself in. They were connected through the elements, her friends, herself, and some were directly connected through Endymion.

There had been one world that frightened her. Threats of all out war with Zebras over coal. Who would go to war over coal? It made no sense for anypony to fight over something as simple as coal, but in that world it happened. She had been inside of some strange building, talking to Trixie, and then it shook. The knowledge that it had been some giant spell popped up in her mind, and she watched as Trixie had fallen from the place she had been standing on.

Somehow she understood the reasoning for it, and she ran and hid. It was what happened afterward, how she was pulled and merged, how she became part of a great monster, and then it changed again. No longer was she in that world, but another one. One where she was the fellow wife with Rainbow Dash, Princess Luna, a twisted version of Princess Celestia, and they were married to a necromancer that happened to be an Equestrian like them. They lived in a temple, of all things, but one that wasn’t dedicated to Sol. It had been an odd experience, and one that she wasn’t sure of. The one thing she realized was that in each of these different worlds she had become an alicorn, or she was one already.

It was odd, but then she accepted that it was part of what she was now. Her subconscious could experience things far beyond what she could perceive. When she had connected to both Endymion and Pinkie she had seen deep inside of Pinkie’s mind. What she came to realize that in many ways Pinkie Pie was able to do the same. She could see alternate realities, different universes, all of them connected by the single fact that she existed in them.

What she had seen, in that brief moment, stretched out into near endlessness. There were universes that she couldn’t even conceive thought of, yet Pinkie saw them with clarity. It certainly spoke of her sister-wife. It talked about how special she was. She did wonder if that connection she made was what opened up the ability to see the different universes when it came to her as an Alicorn. In a way it made sense. Still, she sat on the bed, between her husband and sister-wife. She considered what had happened, and what would happen. The destruction of the lich meant that the isles would become far more than they were.

With the ponies no longer under the dark influence of the lich they could turn the Shetland Isles into a power that would rival that of Equestria itself. Deep inside she knew that what she’d done to Endymion, what she’d shared with him, would bind him to her forever. It had been done out of love, and she had to admit some selfishness. She wanted Endymion to live forever, and the way the different magics welled up through him it was likely that could anyway.

But now she was certain of it. She knew, beyond any doubt, that he could live forever. With him bound to her it meant that her lifespan would be shared with him. Everything she read about the princesses, everything she knew, and everything she had studied pointed to them being effectively immortal. That meant that he would be immortal as well. With him being a well of magic there was a very real possibility that he was already eternal, and immortality would be a drop in the bucket, but she wanted to be sure.

It didn’t hurt that it also meant that he would forever be connected to her. She looked at both of them, sleeping peacefully, and she slowly got up. clothing wasn’t something that she wore to bed anymore. More often than not she would be stripped bare by her herdmates, and then both Pinkie and herself would be bred for hours. Last night was no different, and she felt the presence of Endymion’s seed in her womb.

She moved toward the simple wardrobe that Jolie Maison had made ages ago. Where the sofas, bed, and other furniture had ended up being somewhat scratchy and stiff the wardrobe had actually become something beautiful. It was polished stone, the doors opened easily, and the designs on it were his wives’ cutie marks. Each one marked a specific door, drawer, or area. Twilight understood exactly what it meant. He meant for them to share it, and that each of them had their own area to call their own.

Jolie, the hero of the Shetland Isles, and now apparently her brother-in-law, had been a Canterlot Unicorn first and foremost. The fact that he had taken time to transmodify boulders, hay, wood, and anything else he had into furniture spoke of exactly the kind of stallion he was. He wanted his creature comforts, and he took time to make them. This, although a little snobbish, was him telling his wives that he loved them.

She smiled, knowing that Jolie likely was much like her own father. He undoubtedly wasn’t nearly as stuffy and snobby as many of the nobles in Canterlot, but he still carried those qualities with him. She almost wondered what happened when he got with his first Earth Pony bride. Did she attempt to breed the snob out of him? She looked toward Pinkie Pie and believed that it was possible.

Oh, that wasn’t to say that she thought that they would have tried to change him. From what she experienced from the shared memories she knew that they loved one another. She knew that his wives loved him for who he was, that his foals loved him for the same reason, and that being a Canterlot Unicorn was simply part of that. But, she believed that he was also somepony that while he wasn’t content to walk around with his nose in the air certainly did have an idea of what should be.

She opened the section of the wardrobe that she was using, found a dress that she liked, and pulled it on. The dress was light, easy, and felt fairly decent. She enjoyed it for what it was, and knew that it would be fine for the day she had to look forward to. Luckily Jolie’s old room, now the royal room, had been split into a few rooms. It gave those with them the chance to have their own little space. She walked toward Spike and Rarity’s room and saw her son with her friend.

Rarity would have fit in well with Jolie. She knew that much from how her friend acted. Jolie wasn’t as posh as Rarity, but he had the same sensibility about him. She could see that both of them were nude, and there was little doubt that Rarity herself had both been claimed and had claimed Spike. She sighed, knowing that it would be fine. The first order of the day normally would be getting breakfast, but today the first order was far simpler.

The Rune Portal was nearly ready. She’d finished the spell matrix, and she knew that it would easily send her anywhere she wanted to go. Of course she had sent the schematics about its construction, and how the spell matrix worked using the dragon fire, to Princess Luna. She was sure that the princess had already constructed her own version. The two linked together would allow instantaneous travel.

Walking up to the Rune Portal she powered it. The last message she received from Princess Luna was that she was to power up the Rune Portal after whatever had threatened the isles was defeated. She did just that, and for a moment there was nothing, and then she watched as Princess Luna herself stepped through.

For Luna, it was a bit disorienting to suddenly be in a place when she had been somewhere else shortly before. Her eyes were wide for a moment before she took in the sight of Twilight, of her daughters. News of the marriage had reached her, and while she was disappointed that it hadn’t been in the palace, she was glad to know that her son was happily married.

Behind her stepped out Blue Blood, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence. She noticed that her old foal sitter now had a wedding band on her finger. Shortly after there was some cursing and she could see a blue maned lunar pegasus step through. She let loose a string of expletives that Twilight was certain would be hanging over the Shetland Royal castle for some time. Seeing Stella Sabre Twilight knew, without a doubt, that the proud Lunar Pegasus was more than likely going to inspect their royal guard.

She silently prayed that somehow Starlite and Stella didn’t cross each other’s path. Starlite was, as Endymion put it, a more polite version of Stella. She was part of their royal guard, a determined and powerful mare in her own right, and she had the scars to prove her worth. She had been fighting the wolves, and the Rocs, on the isles long before they arrived. She’d lost an eye, part of her right ear, but she was still lean and athletic. In addition she had informed her, Pinkie, and Endymion that she would be proud to watchover their foals.

The problem was she knew that the moment the two of them met there would be a fight. Starlite didn’t take well to other ponies attempting to overthrow her authority. Stella was much the same way, and the both of them were in positions where they trained other guards.

“Your highness,” a gravely voice said as the door opened, “I heard different hoofsteps…”

Starlite stopped, without hesitation she pulled her sword, moved with shadow, and appeared between Twilight and the guests.

“Oi! all of you worthless slags back up right now, nice and slow.”

Twilight groaned, “Starlite, this is Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, my brother Shining Armor, Prince Endymion’s cousin Blueblood, and head of the night royal guard Stella Sabre.”

“Who ya calling worthless slag, cunt?” Stella growled, her wings spread wide, making her look more imposing than she normally did, “Cause I know yer not callin’ me one.”

Twilight heard rustling, and she looked toward the bed to see Endymion standing up. He looked at what was going on and cleared his throat. Starlite didn’t look away from Stella, but she did calm herself quite a bit.

“Starlite, please do not antagonize Stella. If the two of you want to settle anything there’s the training court. You could have a sparring match, knock each other silly, and the first mare that falls buys the others a cold pint.”

The obviously simple, and straightforward suggestion, gained the attention of the two guard mares. Endymion walked toward the wardrobe, found his clothes, dressed, and moved toward the group standing there. Luna wasted no time and took her son into a hug. She folded her wings around him, loving the fact that she could once again hug him close. In every possible way that mattered, regardless of his origins, Endymion was her son. She may have been the mare of the moon, the princess that ruled alone while her sister was banished to her sun, but she was a mare. She was a mother, and one that had missed her son. She took in his scent, and she realized the change. She was reluctant to release him, afraid that he would become like a mist and just disappear, but instead she forced herself to slowly let go, back up, and see her son.

What she saw was a stallion that had faced trials the likes that most would never have to face. She touched his cheek, and her eyes saw the places where wounds had become scars. She studied him for a moment, and the more primal part of her wanted to find the one that had wounded her son and obliviate them. She knew that it wasn’t possible. Endymion himself had killed the one responsible, but it did not take away her desire to personally settle a score. The lich he’d defeated dared to harm her son.

Instead she buried the anger she felt toward the lich, deciding that it would be released upon one of the savage beasts that feed upon the ponies instead. She followed Endymion toward a table with a collection of chairs. She recognized the work of Jolie, and she studied the transmogrified materials. She took a seat and Endymion studied her for a moment before smiling.

“So, when was I going to learn about my brother?”

She smiled, and she noticed that Blueblood himself was intrigued. She cleared her throat, “It is my deepest regret that I did not officially adopt Jolie,” she replied as she looked at the table, “I had wanted to, but I believed there would be time. Instead he traveled here, after learning about what some of the court of nobles had been doing, and set upon saving the ponies here.”

She looked at Endymion, her hand still absently touching the table, “I was proud of him, as I am of you, and I am happy to find out that his line endures. I want to meet as many of my great, great grandfoals as I can. I also wish to see the house that one of my granddaughters built.”

Endymion nodded, “You’ll be proud to know that they’ve kept it in repair long after her death,” he replied with a slight smile on his face, “It actually reminds me a bit of some of the lower noble homes in Canterlot.”

She studied him for a moment, then Twilight, and finally she looked toward the now awake, and completely nude, Pinkie Pie that was getting out of bed.

“Wowie! I didn’t expect company!”

Luna smiled at her daughter-in-law, “Ah, but company has found you. Perhaps it would be a novel idea to dress.”

Pinkie nodded, practically bounded over toward the wardrobe, seemingly reached in without looking, and pulled out a skirt, top, and pair of stockings. She then dressed in the kind of speed which would have rivaled the quickest pegasus, and stood before them. She walked near to where they were and looked at the table. She grinned as she looked at it, and Luna looked a little wary.

“You haven’t, here, have you?”

Pinkie shook her head, “Nopearoni! But Jolie did with about half of his wives, and he had to repair the table twice because two of them were a little pent up.”

She looked at her, then at Endymion and Twilight, both of which looked confused. It was Twilight that finally spoke first, “Ummm, Pinkie, that wasn’t in any journal or recorded memory.”

Pinkie smiled, “I know, but doesn’t mean it didn’t happen!”

Blueblood looked at the table, “I believe she’s correct,” he replied, “I can see two places where the table has been stitched back together through spellcraft. It looked as if an Earth Pony pounded their fists into it.”

Pinkie giggled, “Oh, it wasn’t her fists. It was something else.”

Luna looked at the table, “Jolie, son, how the nobility would have thrown a fit if they knew.”

Endymion studied it, shrugged his shoulders, and leaned against it, “It was a long time ago, and I’m sure that we can get over it. Besides, I bet that they were newlyweds.”

“Nope!” Pinkie chimed in, “Been married about a year, but some of the other mares took the foals. Like I said, pent up.”

Cadance decided to step in before more information about the hero of the Shetland Isles was presented before them. In truth, it didn’t bother her. It was obvious that Jolie loved his wives, and he wanted them to be happy and fulfilled. Sexuality was simply part of that. She touched just below her stomach, her womb, and felt the slight beginning of a bump. Shining Armor had certainly wasted no time in ensuring that they would have a foal. She wanted to share the news with Twilight, but at the same time she didn’t want her sister-in-law to worry over her. Instead she simply smiled, moved toward the table, and looked at those sitting and standing by it.

“Twilight,” she said softly, “I believe that you wanted to talk about the Rune Portal, and also talk about establishing trade with the Isles.”

Twilight nodded. As she began to talk Stella moved toward Endymion, paying attention to Starlite, not exactly relaxing around the other lunar pegasus.

“Oi, Endymion,” she said, “Looked into Fancy and Fleur. Imposters both of them. We found the real Fancy and Fleur in their home. Both were in Changling pods.”

He looked at her, “So, did the changelings attempt to invade again?”

She shook her head, “Nothing quite like that,” she replied, “Not sure, what it is, but the imposters left. They've likely disappeared toward the badlands.”

The knowledge set heavy on Endymion. He’d known that Fancy didn’t act the night that his engagement to Twilight had been announced. To find out that he’d been trapped inside of a changeling’s pod made things worse. It meant that he had been fed on, most likely, by whatever changeling had trapped him. The same with Fleur. Of course he knew less about Fleur than he’d care to admit. He knew that she was a model, and a good one, but she had always been a good sort.

She seemed caring, enduring, and sweet each time that he’d met with her. It was obvious that Fancy was smitten with her, but how she acted that night was far against the grain as well. If they escaped to the badlands then that meant that border villages would be in possible danger. Stella looked at him and gave a slight nod, “We’ve informed the guard at the borders, so they’ll be watching out.”

He smiled at her, glad that she had thought of it. He then looked over to see someone else that he hadn’t expected to see today. He looked older, but his horn was healed. There in the doorway was Professor Flintheart. He walked in, his aunt behind him, and he neared where his mother was standing. He gave a polite bow, and Endymion watched as Luna observed him, then his Aunt, and a mischievous smile crossed her face.

“I see that you followed my advice, Tia.”

He’d never seen his aunt’s face turn that shade of red before. She almost looked as if she wanted to hide away, but instead she stood there, “We, I, have followed your advice, and I believe that fair Flintheart has as well.”

The older stallion looked at his mother, and then looked toward him. He nodded, and Endymion returned the nod. The older stallion looked at the room for a moment, his eyes obviously taking in everything that had been here when they arrived. He stepped forward, taking time to really study it.

“As I believed,” he said with amusement in his voice, “Jolie was every bit a Canterlot Unicorn first and foremost.”

Celestia studied the room, “Verily, it does appear that he went through great lengths to transform various raw materials into finary for this room.”

Flintheart nodded, “He did, but then he wouldn’t live without the creature comforts that he’d become accustomed to.”

He walked toward the table, took a seat, and then looked at both Endymion and Stella, “So, obviously you’ve told my student something on which he is mulling over, shall I be informed, or should I take a guess?”

Stella looked at Endymion who seemed to study his professor before looking back at her, “Go ahead Stella.”

She started with Endymion and Blueblood filling her in on the suspicion of Fancy and Fleur not being right. She explained that she had a few of her trusted guards check around their home, and how they discovered the two changeling pods. Afterward they searched for both Fancy and Fleur but found no trace of either of them.

Flintheart took all of what they said and then looked at his student, “Well, it appears to me that the black cloaks need to be called in on this. If changelings were present in Canterlot, and they were attempting anything, then we must find out what it was that they were doing,” he said before looking back at Stella, “I believe that we can send a letter via dragonfire to my second in command. Once Shade has been informed about it I am certain that she will act accordingly.”

Stella closed her eyes, “Shade, is… Sir, I’m afraid she won’t be in any condition to assist.”

It was Princess Luna who neared them, “She speaks the truth old friend,” she said as she took a seat, “Shade was investigating something for me. I had asked her to look into why one of the border towns went quiet. She discovered a very troubled unicorn that was taking other ponies cutie marks. More specifically she was using mind control to make them feel as if this was the best option.”

He looked at her, his eyes hardening, “What happened to her?”

Luna touched his shoulder, “She never broke, not once, but when I had not had contact in six days I sent an entire contingent of both night and day guards along with several of the black cloaks to discover what happened,” she said sadly, “We found the town, saved the ponies there, and arrested the unicorn in charge, but Shade had been traumatized beyond service. She is being looked after, but they did things to her. They used her, badly, broke her legs, and we had to replace her eyes.”

Flintheart breathed in, “This unicorn, the one that is responsible, does he still breathe?”

She looked at him, “It wasn’t a he. Her name is Starlight Glimmer, and yes, currently she is in the dungeons. I’ve had a magic suppressor placed on her. She’s been quite vocal about how we’ve set ourselves up for failure,” she shook her head, “She went on to declare that a world without cutie marks was a fair and just world. That Shade would have seen that if she wasn’t so blind thanks to loyalty.”

He nodded, “She is, and always shall be, one of my most gifted and trusted associates,” he said as he looked at the table, “She spoke of having foals. Of wanting to retire early, marry, have foals, and run a bakery.”

Luna looked at him, “We’ve discussed the idea of taking the memories from her, but she’s refused. Despite the mental trauma, she said that what happened needs to be remembered.”

He nodded, “And it should be,” he stated, “Prince Endymion, may I make a request?”

Endymion nodded, “Of course.”

He looked directly at him, “I would like to request that the first Royal Family of the Shetland Isles agree to take Ms. Glimmer prisoner. I believe that here she can be forced to rehabilitate in a way that she would not be allowed to do in Equestria.”

Luna looked at him, “Flintheart, what are your plans for Ms. Glimmer?”

He studied her for a moment, “Why to give her what she wanted obviously. We will remove her magic, strip what is special from her, and force her to live without it. She will then be forced to work alongside everypony else, and she will be watched every second of every day. If she so much as attempts to regain her power, or attempts to escape then she will be given a small plot of land just west of the Isle of Goats.”

Luna looked at him, her eyes wide, “You would throw her to the Rocs?”

“I’d simply request that she be given a small parcel of land there, what happened once she was given it would be up to the universe and Ms Glimmer herself.”

The answer was certainly diplomatic enough, but Endymion understood it for exactly what it was. Professor Flintheart had every intention of making this Starlight Glimmer pay for what she’d done to Shade, and to every other pony she’d used her ability on. He shook because he could understand what Shade must have gone through. What happened to her was worse in a multitude of ways, but it didn’t change the fact that he understood.

He looked at Pinkie Pie, and she nodded. Somehow she’d understood what he was feeling, which wasn’t surprising, and of course with that nod she told him what he needed to hear. That was why she wanted him to get comfortable with bondage and with the idea of Sadomasochism. It was so that if they accepted Fluttershy into their herd that she would experience what he had gone through. That she would be forced to have no control, be forced to be bound, blinded, and left to the mercies of those around her.

It would be a harsh lesson, and Pinkie wanted him to be able to give it to Fluttershy. She wanted him to be able to show her what he’d suffered, to have her understand, and the more he thought on it the more he was of two minds about it. Part of him understood that he needed to do this. He needed to put her in the same situation to be able to heal. That he needed to prove, to himself, that he could be in control in that situation. The other part of him, the young colt he had been growing up, didn’t want to be near her.

It wasn’t that he was ever weak, far from it, but that colt he had been was groomed, without his mother’s knowledge, to become some noblemare’s trophy husband. That colt had been groomed to follow the commands of a noblemare without question. It was something that even Twilight didn’t know about it. It was something that his mother found out about, put an end to, and apologized greatly to him for. Fluttershy had done something similar to him, but it was in an instant, a moment, and not purposefully done for several months.

So he understood, and could empathize, what happened to Shade. That was what made the following decision even easier.

“Can Shade be transferred here?”

Flintheart looked at him, uncertain of what the Prince was thinking about, “Your highness?”

He looked at Flintheart, “I’ll agree that she can get amazing medical treatment in Equestria, but we will have similar treatment here. I’ll also agree that there are psychologists there that can help her, but we will have them here. The infrastructure will take time to grow, but it will grow,” he replied as he looked his professor, his mentor, in the eyes, “But the one thing she will have here is peace. She can practice her magic, she can work toward recovery, and she can grow strong here.”

Luna looked at her son, and a soft smile crossed her lips, “Then, as Princess of Equestria, I suggest that we begin negotiations on trade and infrastructure today,” she said with an amused voice, “One, we would like to import the spirits distilled on the isles, along with some of the fish for our gryphon citizens. In addition I would like to propose trade among some of the business ponies in Equestria. One Filthy Rich has asked to be considered for setting up a Barnyard Bargains here. I also would like to send some medical ponies over to train a new crop of doctors in the Isles.”

Endymion nodded, “Of course, one of the things we would like to do is set up a school of defensive magic. Lessons developed by Jolie Maison himself, and teach them to ponies around the world that are going into guard positions,” he looked at Professor Flintheart, “Such trained guards would be beneficial, wouldn’t they?”

Flintheart nodded, “Having unicorns able to use Jolie’s spells to enhance strength when needed would be absolutely beneficial. Not to mention his studies on defending against dark magic, shadow magic, and demonic energies. Having guards able to use that would make any country several multitudes stronger.”

Luna grinned, “And do you have teachers for it?”

Endymion nodded, “All of his descendants are well practiced with his spells. Every last one of them has learned all of his spells, and they can teach them,” he said with a smile, “And honestly, the isles are just as good of a training place as the Everfree Forest.”

Luna couldn’t help but acknowledge how true that statement was. There were perils in the Everfree Forest. The Timber Wolves weren’t the worst things within it, and they certainly weren’t the most unruly. Everything from Manatcores, to poison joke existed inside of it, and only the most well trained, or luckiest, ponies could enter without issue. The fact that Twilight and her friends had done so, multiple times, without issue only spoke to how lucky they were.

The Shetland Isles were just as dangerous, and the ponies that lived here were made stronger for it. Having guards trained her would certainly lead to them being completely prepared for whatever may come their way once they were given their positions. She nodded, “I will fully support it.”

Shining Armor looked at them, “Ummm, not to speak out of line here, but there is another issue at hand.”

Luna nodded and looked at the ponies there, “Son, there is another issue,” she said as she focused her magic on the table before them. When she did her magic created what looked like a beautiful city. It’s walls, everything inside of it, was made from crystal, “The Crystal Empire has returned. It was locked away for a thousand years, and now it has returned again. I am having Cadance and Shining Armor travel there to overlook things, but I need to ask that you and your adventuring group attend as well.”

He looked at her, “Of course, as allies we would not turn down the request to help, but we could use more information as to what we are helping with.”

She sighed, “King Sombra cursed the Crystal Empire. He laid a great curse upon it that made it disappear, and it would not return until such a time that he was strong enough to return with it,” she said sadly, “Sombra himself wasn’t a bad pony. He drove himself quite insane trying to save his bride, and I believe that he can be redeemed, but I need to have those that are battle tested there to ensure that he will not simply raze the empire to the ground.”

Author's Note

The morning after is always a difficult time, especially after a wedding. Doubly so for royalty, triply so if said royalty is bout to be sent off to accomplish Crown Business at the ass end of the world.

Twilight and Pinkie meet their mother-in-law! Huzzah?

Also, a pair of very… competitive and belligerent mares come to loggerheads over the protection of a certain personage's posterior. (Film at 11!)

Gearing up for the last arc of this story! After this, things are going to get… Wild!