Honor Reforged

101 AG, Capital City, Fire Nation, Royal Palace

The moon hung high in the skies above the Capital city, bathing it in a mix of rich moonlight and shadow as the silvery light was blocked by the rocky spires rising up above the great city. Here and there a few lanterns and candles lit up the darkness, but many had already drifted off to sleep. Only a few were able to enjoy the beauty and peace of this serene evening.

Two of those people sat in the garden of the Royal Palace, seated upon a bench, leaning into each other and holding hands as they gazed at the stars twinkling above them.

Fire Lord Zuko gently kissed his lover’s forehead as he stroked her fingers, sighing as he said “I wish we had more moments like this.”

Mai hummed, nuzzling into the crook of his neck as she said “You are the Fire Lord you know… you could always delegate some of the work.”

Zuko smirked. “I’ve thought about that… but we both know I get more done when I’m the one handling it.”

“Your not wrong.” She said with a soft smile of her own as she gave his hand a squeeze. “Maybe this weekend… we can take a short little retreat. I’m sure everything won’t fall apart that quickly.”

Zuko returned the gesture and rested his head atop hers as he mulled it over. He had been working a great deal lately… both of them had. There was so much work to do still, so much to keep in mind and many balancing acts to be made…

He’d known taking his Father’s place and becoming Fire Lord, bringing an era of peace and restoring the honor of the Fire Nation, wasn’t going to be easy… but after numerous grinding days going through records, talking with delegates and ministers, sifting out and purging his father’s loyalists and a few assassination attempts…

“You know, a short vacation does sound rather nice… how about we-” Zuko began… but before he could finish his sentence… it happened.

There was a brief flash of light from the moon, then the sky filled with silver hued light in all directions, waves and ripples of energy flowing and twisting this way and that way about the sky.

Zuko and Mai both leapt to their feet, still holding the other for a moment more as they stood, transfixed. The sight was beautiful and terrifying to behold, and fear struck them both. What was happening? What was this light, what was this field of energy that was filling the sky? Was it everywhere?

So many questions bounced across both their minds as they, like many others across the Fire Nation who had yet to lay their heads down for rest, bore witness to an event that would simply come to be known… as the Displacement.

But neither Zuko nor Mai knew this yet… they simply remained standing, entranced by the light show playing across the sky as it grew brighter and brighter. As they both raised their hands to try and shield their eyes, only one other question could form in his mind…

Does the Avatar know what is happening?

Mo Ce Sea

Aang had been playing with and chatting with some of the children from one of the Fire Nation colonies they’d just helped evacuate when it happened. He felt a sudden surge in spiritual energy, and looking up, he saw it before everyone else began to.

“Aang!” Katara cried out from the front of the ship even as he raced over, Sokka joining them at the front. Everyone was now looking ahead at a great, giant sphere of white energy further ahead on the horizon.

“Appa, yip yip!” Aang called out as he shot into the air, the Flying Bison quickly racing forward to catch Aang. Together, they surged ahead and soon were nothing more than a pinprick to the two friends.

“What’s going on?” The Fire Nation Commander of the boat asked as he came up to them, though his eyes were on the strange dome of light ahead. Katara and Sokka just shrug and turn their gaze back to the horizon.

Aang flew and flew, the feeling that something was very, very wrong filling him, especially as the dome of light only seemed to get bigger and bigger. When he finally reached it, it took up the sky and made it impossible to see the horizon…

He also knew where he was now- at the very edge of the waters of the Fire Nation.

He tried to pass through the barrier, but was repulsed, nearly falling off Appa. He reached out to try and touch the barrier, but even that repelled him. Getting even more concerned, he shifted into a meditative stance, trying to seek the advice of the Avatars… but this was nothing like any of them had encountered. They could feel a great deal of spiritual energy, but had no idea what was happening.

Then, the dome of light began to pulse. Whatever was happening, it was about to either get worse, or finish. Aang quickly turned Appa away from it and shielded his eyes moments before the dome flashed in a brilliant explosion of light that was enough to turn night to day for a large portion of the western ocean.

When the light finally faded, and Aang and Appa could see again, they turned… and saw nothing but endless ocean. No islands… no ships bearing the flag of the Fire Nation...

Just water… water as far as the eye could see.

Aang felt… sick as he slowly turned Appa and headed back, his mind and body feeling like both had just been suckerpunched. No.. no it wasn’t that… he felt… numb. A numbness he’d never felt before… even the spirits of the past Avatars was in shock.

When he returned to the fleet of ships… his friends and the Fire Nation commander rushed up to them, a flurry of questions for him… but he only had one answer.

“The Fire Nation… is gone.”

Canterlot, Equestria

Celestia could still hear some of the music, laughing, singing and other sounds of merriment from the palace as the Wedding Reception continued on through the night. Pinkie Pie and DJ-Pon 3 were doing quite a good job at making sure everyone was entertained and in good spirits.

Which was good, as it allowed her, Luna, the Royal Guard and the Night Watch to begin cleaning up the damage from the Changeling attack on the city. Some of the strange green ichor was all over the place, and the love enhanced shield spell hadn’t freed everypony. They’d also begun doing sweeps of the city, finding several other Changelings still hiding or lurking about.

Oh, and a few corpses for the unlucky Changelings that had been smashed into walls, the mountain, or buildings.

“My Captain reports we are nearly done Sister.” Luna said as she flew down to her, Celesia’s horn glowing briefly as she used her magic to clean away some more ichor.

“Good. We’re lucky the damage is as minimal as it is. If Cadence hadn’t been there…”

“Yes, it is good that Twilight was able to see through the deceptions of Chrysalis… though I must admit, I am surprised you were unable. She is your niece is she not?”

Celestia blushes a bit but says “I was distracted with my duties and trying to figure out the source of the threat made against Canterlot.”

“No need to be offended dear Sister, I was not seeking to tease you about it.” Luna said as she came over and gave her a nuzzle. Then added mischievously “I’ll save that for later.”

Celestia rolls her eyes, then asks “Why do you think the Chrysalis tried something like this? Such a blatant attack…”

“I only have the reports I read this morning, the ones you provided me, but if I had to guess, I’d say she has gotten greedy.” Luna replied as she looked up to the palace for a moment. “I know that you’ve fought her in the past, and the reports suggest she and her Hive have been limited in how much Love they can gather in an effort to keep a low profile…”

Celestia nodded. “It struck me as being more of desperation… but then, surely she could have gathered enough love for her Hive from her time with Shining Armor…”

“She does not strike me as the sort to share a great deal of love, even with her swarm. So it was doubtless for her to grow more powerful.”

Celestia nods, sighing as she says “I hope she’s learned her lesson this time. I do not wish to go to war and invade the Badlands and depose her.”

Luna draped a wing over her sister’s back at this and gave her a soft smile. “So do I Sister… though something tells me we haven’t seen the last of her.” Seeing that didn’t do much to make her sister feel better, Luna nuzzled Celestia again and said “Go on Celly, head back up. I’ll wrap things up down here.”

Nodding, Celestia gives Luna a thankful smile, kisses her cheek, then flies on up. Just as she’s departing, one of her Night Guards land and she says “When we’re done here, gather your best scouts. If Chrysalis did have more planned… I don’t want to be caught unaware…”

“Yes Your Majesty!” He says, saluting and flying off as Luna heads back to the throne room. Night Court might be cancelled due to the festivities, but there were still dreams to watch and tend to…

Across Equestria

Even as she was being blasted across Equestria and back towards the Badlands… Chrysalis was not ready to declare this a failure. So the takeover of Canterlot had failed… the rest of her vast swarm was still ready and in position…

She would not be denied. She would have Equestria… one way or the other.

Picking herself up from where she landed, she closed her eyes and sent forth a simple message.

Now.

With that single word, thousands of Changelings hidden across Equestria awoke, and prepared for the next phase of the plan.