Black Sun

October 23rd

Canterlot had never looked so fragile. Ponies carrying on as though nothing was wrong, although a number of them had to have their suspicions by now. Yet all of them were still hanging in the balance. Them and all sapient life in Equestria. No, across the continent...Maybe even the planet.

Princess Celestia stood silently as she watched the city from a private balcony fitted behind the throne room. Normally she would have retired to the Solar Point for such ruminations, but the climb would take too much out of Luna at this point. She shivered slightly at the mere thought. The younger princess had been doing her best to act like nothing had changed over the past week, attending the royal court where possible and insisting on updates on military matters. It was getting harder and harder to tell ponies that Luna simply had the feather flu and was being stubborn about remaining a leader though. Not with how she was steadily looking weaker and weaker with every passing day. How both of them were.

"Sister?"

Celestia looked back as Luna slowly stepped out of the castle, taking in the view as well. Her movements were lethargic, her coat had paled further and her eyes were slightly sunken. Despite it all, there was still a strength of will visible in her movements. An unyielding determination not to give up, no matter how impossible things looked for her.

"Luna, what are you doing out here? It's cold." Celestia said softly, moving a little closer and bringing a wing out to shield her from the wind.

"I, needed a reminder. Of what I'm fighting for." Luna replied, her gaze slowly drifting over Canterlot and off into the distance where Ponyville was just about visible through the clear skies.

"What we're all fighting for."

Luna nodded at Celestia's words. As she looked up at her sister though, there was a hint of solemnness in her eyes that hadn't been there before. Concern that she could only show when it was just the two of them. When they were able to be siblings rather than rulers.

"I, also know about the news. But I had to hear it from you," She admitted after several seconds. "I hate not being strong enough to come to every meeting...Is it true? About Rarity?"

"I'm afraid so," Celestia replied, looking down sadly. "She will recover in time. But until then, the power of the Elements of Harmony has been neutralised. They will have to rely upon more conventional measures."

Luna placed a hoof against her forehead and closed her eyes at the news. It was impossible to tell just how badly she was taking it. After a few moments she inhaled sharply and leaned against the balcony railing, sinking back onto her haunches. Celestia realised that she was starting to suffer from the early effects of lekli withdrawal and moved closer, focusing her magic. A thin strand of her golden aura snaked from the tip of her horn to Luna's chest, right over her heart, steadily changing from yellow to blue as it moved. The transfer of magic like this put a lot of stress on Celestia, but such a concentrated spell was the only way to keep Luna stable and alive without Tantabus keeping her soul whole.

After two full minutes the connection ended. Celestia almost staggered backward from the effort, biting back a groan of pain. Though she managed to hold herself steady, she looked as though it had taken more of a toll on her than her sister. Her eyes looked exhausted and her mane momentarily stilled before resuming its natural flow.

"I would have been alright for a few more hours." Luna said, offering a wing for balance. One that was taken as Celestia fully steadied herself.

"I'm sorry," Celestia straightened up quickly, making sure nopony else had seen that moment of weakness. "I just-"

"Worry about me, I know. I do appreciate it...Everything you do for me, really. I just don't want you to burn yourself out for me when you still have hundreds of thousands of other ponies to watch out for."

Celestia nodded sadly and looked back out at Canterlot. It was true that she couldn't afford to make biased decisions when they could affect everypony in Equestria and if the worst came to pass...It wouldn't be the first time she had raised the moon alone. It didn't make it any easier to think about though. Privately, she still wasn't sure if she could make that decision when, if, the time came.

"It won't come to that," She finally replied, trying to convince herself as much as Luna. "Twilight is likely poring through the restricted section of the Canterlot Archives as we speak, creating the spells needed. If anypony can find a way to stop Tantabus while saving you and Sunset Shimmer, it's her."

Luna smiled and nodded, looking more relaxed as she leaned on the railing again. The fact that she could still find a way to smile in the face of such a significant danger to her lit a fresh spark somewhere inside Celestia. She couldn't afford to let her worries get the better of her either. Not when any weakness or hesitance could see her lose her sister and leave her as the last alicorn. They still stood together and would continue to do so until the end. One way or another.

"Okay, one more try."

She hardly heard the whirring when her wings spread out anymore. It was a part of her now and she had accepted that. Besides, there was so much she wanted to compare between her old wings and her metal ones. Assuming she could keep herself controlled long enough to use them.

Rainbow Dash rolled her shoulders and glanced round to make sure she was in clear space. Ever since her bandages had been removed she'd been free to move around the hospital, healing magic and further medical treatments reducing the formally scathing pain to a dull ache in her back. A garden area in the central grounds had been perfect for her to get used to her new wings, not many ponies went there at any one time and there was minimal chance of breaking anything important. Getting the hang of her wings in this practice ground had proved simple, actually getting anywhere was another matter. Most ponies would have considered her progress rapid already, but she wanted to go further. If she was getting discharged soon she wanted to be as capable of helping her friends as possible, and that started with having the basics figured out.

She launched herself up with a quick jump, getting into a stable hover about a dozen feet off the ground. That was the easy part. Attempting anything more usually resulted in her flipping over backward and crashing down. She couldn't understand why, she wasn't flying any differently with these things than she had before. She shook her head and focused again, pushing herself forward into flight...And immediately flipping over again. She barely had time to close her eyes and roll herself over to land on her front before coming down hard, momentarily stunning herself with the impact.

"Dammit!" Rainbow snapped in frustration as she slammed a hoof down on the mound she'd landed on. What was so different about this? They were just wings, something she'd used her whole life. The frustration was enough to make a pony go-

"Ow." The mound hissed in pain. Rainbow opened to eyes quickly at that to see that what she'd thought was a dirt pile was too soft. And yellow.

"Fluttershy?"

"Not just her." Scootaloo's voice came from behind her.

Rainbow glanced aside to her hoof, realising that she'd punched Fluttershy in the shoulder in addition to landing on her. She quickly pushed herself off her friend and took Scootaloo's offered hoof to stand up again.

"S-sorry! I was having a moment, I didn't know you were coming!" Rainbow stammered as she turned to help Fluttershy up.

"It's alright. We were trying to make it a surprise. Maybe a bit too hard," Fluttershy replied, rubbing her shoulder once she was back on her hooves. "Are you ok?"

"According to the doctors, I'm good," Rainbow stretched slightly and managed a small grin. "I mean, I bounced back from being tortured by Chrysalis herself and that was way worse than this. I'm just having a bit of trouble getting the hang of the new wings."

"You sound just like Twilight did after becoming an alicorn." Scootaloo chuckled, walking round to get a good look at the bionic wings as Rainbow flexed them slightly.

"Yeah...But I'm also getting an idea of what it must have been like for you, squirt," Rainbow admitted, suddenly straightening up and looking away awkwardly. "Knowing what you're capable of, not being able to reach it."

"It wasn't forever though. With some help, but I still made it. And if I've got the awesomest big sister in Equestria, I'm sure she can get back in the air even faster than me. New wings or not."

"Well it's not the getting into the air that's a problem," Rainbow explained, putting herself back into a hover to demonstrate. "It's getting anywhere with them that's the problem."

"Oh dear," Fluttershy mused quietly as she watched. "Well, we could stay a while and help you try to find a way through it. Or at least, to catch you properly this time."

"Thanks. I appreciate both." Rainbow relaxed slightly at those words, watching as Scootaloo took off next to her, taking another look at the wings in motion.

"So, this is just a thought," She commented thoughtfully. "But are they heavier than the usual wings?"

"Well, yeah. Of course," Rainbow told her as she looked back at them, sounding a little put out. "Can't deny that Moondancer did amazing work, but there's just no way metal could be lighter than feathers."

"And you're flying just like you used to, right?"

"Yeah...Scootaloo, is this going anywhere?"

"It actually sounds similar to how Quick Fix helped me," Scootaloo said as she nodded. "Not the last time he has either. At a guess, your center of gravity is much higher on your body due to how heavy your wings are now, or more backward in your current position."

"That does make sense," Fluttershy added, putting a hoof to her chin as she thought through it. "When foals are learning to fly, their wings are much smaller so they usually end up going over forwards at first, like the opposite of this. Mist Chaser went through it all the time when he was just starting to learn."

"How'd you know that?" Rainbow asked Scootaloo in surprise.

"Like I said, it's kinda similar to what I was going through before Quick helped me. When I was trying to fly I was using my wings like I did on my scooter. Completly wrong, that took months to fix with how my wing muscles were. You just need to adjust how you fly a little. Try leaning yourself forward more when start moving."

Rainbow looked down for a moment as the thought about it. She'd been so focused on getting herself back to a hundred percent as quickly as possible that she hadn't really thought about the obvious need to adjust. Just an assumption that she could push herself hard enough to keep going like always. Hearing it laid out like that though...She nodded and moved into clear space before pushing herself into forward flight again. This time she was ready, angling her body lower to counter the extra lift. It worked and she held relatively steady, managing a slow but complete lap around the garden area.

"He-hey, there we go!" She exclaimed happily, pumping the air in triumph as she stopped by Scootaloo again.

"Woo! There's the Rainbow Dash we know." Fluttershy cheered, smiling more as Rainbow brought Scootaloo back to the ground with her and pulled them both into a hug.

"You have no idea how badly I needed this breakthrough," She said warmly, holding them both close. "Thank you, thank you both. I owe you for this one."

"Well in that case..." Scootaloo leaned back and tapped one of her sister's wings. "How about we make these a little more your style? I'm no judge on what's cool at the moment but grey really isn't your colour."

Pinkie Pie hummed a tuneless melody to herself as she trotted through Twilight's castle. For the first time in weeks, she found herself with some free time and nothing to do. Apple Bloom was at Sweet Apple Acres to help her siblings catch up with the harvest, Pound and Pumpkin Cake didn't need any help at Sugarcube Corner right now and almost everypony else was busy on some Tantabus-related task. It was just her and her thoughts for now, lots of little things had been running around unchecked up here and messing up the pie-ling system. It was different to when she had been younger, just running with such thoughts when and however they came. Now she had more constant responsibilities. She hadn't even had time to throw a party for a full week.

Just as she was coming to a decision on trying to find the old party cannons she'd originally left hidden around the castle, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of quiet speaking coming from a room she was passing. She quickly backed up to the door and peered inside. The room itself was just a spare for miscellaneous things to be kept, but a small space had been cleared in the center for a square table and chair. Peace Walker was sat there, side on from the door, in the same position as she had been when they had met at the hospital. A lit candle and a picture frame were on the table before her. Though she couldn't see the picture from this angle, the posture and general atmosphere made Pinkie realise that Peace was engaged in a prayer of some kind. She stayed silent as a result.

"Hii Muss, non sàh-me," Peace said in Minotaur, leaning forward slightly as she switched back to Equestrian. "Guide this warrior to his station on the sacred isle. May the gods watch over him where I cannot follow, until the day we, and any who may join me, are reunited. Let Bulwark's tale be told to the ancient heroes and judged accordingly...I'll keep my promise. I'll keep working through it and if I'm lucky, I'll find somepony to follow us. Goodbye, my love..."

A few tears rolled down Peace's cheeks and dropped onto the table as she raised her head and brought it up to the candle. After a few moments of hesitation she slowly blew it out, wiping more tears away. It was such a stark contrast to the firm, determined mare she usually was that Pinkie didn't know how to react.

"Thank you for being respectful," Peace eventually said, looking over at Pinkie. "Most ponies don't understand how important my beliefs are and interrupt them."

"I understand. Everypony needs something that keeps them going," Pinkie replied gently, walking in and sitting down next to her. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what was that prayer for?"

"You're interested?" Peace looked at Pinkie warily even as she nodded, but didn't press the point further. "That was the warrior's rite of farewell. Bulwark had asked that I conduct one for him if he was killed in action, along with his funeral at the Memorial Forest. It serves to see the departed one off to the sacred Isle of the Dead, as well as allow their mate to be freed from the binding of unity, so they may take another partner if they so desire."

Pinkie nodded again and looked over at the picture. Now she could see it clearly she wasn't surprised by the choice. It was of Bulwark and Peace together in their hometown of Trottingham, some years ago judging by how much younger she looked in the picture. From the look of it, it had been taken shortly after Bulwark's acceptance into the Equestria Defence Force, judging by how Peace was wearing a helmet too big for her and giving him a loving kiss on the cheek. The fact they looked so happy, how pained she looked to be without him, hurt to see. Pinkie placed a hoof on Peace's shoulder, saying nothing as the grieving mare shrugged away.

"Do you?"

"Maybe. I don't know," Peace admitted, rubbing her eyes and staring down at the damp hoof. "We never had foals, but I'm not sure if I could meet another stallion as understanding or determined as he was."

"There are a lot of understanding mares too." It wasn't the most subtle move, but Pinkie Pie had never been a subtle mare. Peace caught onto the angle she was going for and sighed sadly.

"Look, Pinkie, I'm sorry if I've seemed hostile toward you and Apple Bloom, or toward your relationship. Even when I wasn't brainwashed. It's not personal, it's just...Did Bloom ever tell you about what we went through in Starlight's compound?"

"Nope. She said that it wouldn't be right if it was told before you were okay with it."

"Huh, didn't expect that," Peace mused as she rested her head on her hooves, taking a long breath as she decided just what she wanted to say. Pinkie stayed by her side, doing her best to show that she wouldn't judge, no matter what. "Starlight Glimmer was...Is, insane. She was brutal to the ponies that Sunset Shimmer brought in because she knew they'd never remember any of it once she was done. It was even worse if anypony resisted in anyway. I talked back firmly and she got invasive for nothing more than her own amusement. I suffered..."

Peace paused and looked down again, searching for the right word. Pinkie stared at her during the wait, lost for words. She had understood the implication, seeing Peace press her hind legs together and pull her tail between them confirmed it. While she understood that Starlight hadn't been in her right mind back then and that she clearly regretted her actions, it was hard to overlook an incredibly messed up action like that. She suddenly understood why she had shunned the hoof on her shoulder just then.

"...Indignities?" She suggested gently. Peace looked over at her blankly for a few moments before looking forward again.

"Indignities. I had a brief moment of freedom in the aftermath, while my memories were a mess from the counter spell. Now though, I couldn't even handle being hugged by my husband without fighting to avoid being touched. I can still be the one to start it but...Yeah."

"It's okay," Pinkie said as she glanced over toward the picture again. She knew that it was anything but, but she wouldn't be who she was if she didn't try to cheer her up. "What made you want to tell me this now?"

"Because," Peace pushed her head off her hooves and looked at Pinkie firmly. "I didn't want you to think I hated either of you, or that I was homophobic."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I get that two mares could bring up some bad memories for you. If it helps, I can talk to Apple Bloom and make sure we don't do anything that'd bother you."

"I appreciate the thought, I really do, but no. This is something I'm going to try and work through myself. I'm not going to force others to curb their happiness until then."

"But, you deserve to be happy too." Pinkie leaned forward slightly as she said those words, her serious posture running opposite to her kind voice. Peace stared at her for a moment before nodding and flashing a thankful smile. Even as she did though, she sat back in her chair, her eyes betraying a remaining tension and wistfulness.

"I'll be happy when nopony has to be in this seat again. Until Tantabus and all her evil is just a bad memory."

"We're not tagging along, if that's what you're worried about." Aurora told Deep Note as they passed through the gates to Sweet Apple Acres, Quick Fix following close behind.

"So, why are you both here?" Deep asked in turn, glancing back at Quick. The earth stallion looked a lot better than he had at the Tree of Harmony, but there was still an undeniably stressed look to him.

"Well, Applejack said there were a few out of the way areas in the orchard we could use. Some kind of relaxation methods or, whatever we need." Quick explained, sounding a little lost.

"Don't sound so worried. Remember who you're with." Aurora told him reassuringly. Quick nodded and relaxed slightly, trotting a little quicker to keep up.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry. I know I need to get back up to speed before whatever we're up against next happens and I want to make sure I can do it."

Deep opened his mouth to say there was no shame in backing out, only to be stopped as Aurora discreetly nudged him. It took a moment for him to realise why, but he realised from what he'd seen of Quick so far, trying to convince him off a path he'd set himself on wouldn't help at all. After a few moments the other two stallions made their farewells and headed off down a separate pathway, leaving Deep to continue toward the farmhouse alone.

As he made his way through the trees, a quiet sense of familiarity washed over the pegasus. It was his first time back on the farm since the previous winter, when he had first met Applejack while using his 'Windhover' alias and Bounty had started realising what he was. Most of the SAA team was still there from what he had heard: Aside from AJ and Big Mac there was still the giant of a mare that was Little Hayseed, the cold yet committed Arboreal, and Apple Bloom was currently filling the gap left by Bounty. That thought stung a little more, making him wonder if coming here was the right decision. He shook the doubt away quickly though and pressed onward. It wouldn't feel right to just go without making sure Applejack was doing alright.

As he reached the main farm he paused for a moment. Applejack was by the barn, unhitching herself from half dozen carts full of apples she had been hauling. She looked like she'd hardly broken a sweat, another indicator of her sheer strength. Even from this distance Deep could make out her muscles, toned and tensed as she gave her legs a quick check over. The sight sparked something familiar in his heart and he trotted forward quickly, waving with a wing when she noticed him.

"Howdy, Deep. What's up?" Applejack asked. It was pretty clear that something was distracting her and he had a good idea what it might be. What two things, possibly.

"Well I had some free time and, well I wanted to make sure you were holding up ok. After everything that's happened I mean."

Deep cringed internally at how awkwardly that had come out. If Applejack had noticed, she didn't say anything.

"It ain't been easy," She admitted, getting out of her harness fully and walking down the line of carts to fit blocks behind the wheels. "I thought ah'd shed my lifetime of tears after mom and dad were gone but...To lose a pony you care about so much, comin' so close to losing two..."

"I can only imagine." He replied, grabbing a few blocks and doing the same on the other side.

"An' the difficulties we'd had between the three of us didn't help at all. Ah knew it would be harder to choose between the two of ya without hurting anypony than choosing between prime apple cider and Berry Punch's homemade wines. I never wanted the decision to be made for me though."

"I ah, err...Yeah." Deep fumbled for words, not knowing what to say in this situation. While the animosity between him and Bounty over their feelings for Applejack had never been truly healed, he too would have preferred a civilised resolution rather than one being forced upon them all.

"Deep, d'you mind if I ask something a mite personal?" Applejack asked as she walked into the barn, waiting until he was back along side her and nodding before she continued. "Does all this affect how you feel about me?"

He stared at her for a moment, still struggling for what he wanted to say. It quickly came to him though. He was still talking to the representation of honesty, he owed her the same courtesy.

"No," He finally replied, looking her in the eyes. "I still think you're a beautiful, amazing mare strong enough to take every shot the world can throw at her and remain standing, even as everything burns around her. No matter if you just see me as a friend to help you stay upright or a stallion you want to let face the fire with you, I'll be doing my best to support you."

Applejack simply nodded and went to sit down on a hay bale. Deep did the same, not wanting to press the issue too much. How was she going to react to that? Was it too soon after everything that had happened? His thoughts and concerns quickly whirled up like a hurricane inside his mind, briefly freezing him in place. It wasn't until he realised that she had finished thinking and was looking over to him that he composed himself enough to relax again.

"Thanks, sugarcube," She told him, smiling reassuringly. "Ah mean with everything there could be, everything I'm not sure is real or not, I don't really have a clue what I want to do yet. Guess that means ah'm just gonna have to keep ya safe until I make up my mind."

"As will I. Won't help either of us if something happened to you before you decide." Deep replied, smiling back.

Applejack offered a hoof out to him and he bumped it with a wing, both of them feeling a little better about their situation. It may not have been said, but they instinctively knew. They would help each other come to terms with their losses. Watch each others backs in this crisis. One way or another, they now had a bond as strong as any she had forged before. That was all they needed right now. Something to remember, and to look forward to.