Morning comes without the sun. The sleepy home of the dwellers beneath Canterlot's ruined housing find their days started in a different mean. Canterhorn's residents, once moved in, found purple and translucent crystals that mimic the sun in both warmth and utility. It might have taken days for them to behold this treasure, but find it they did. And put it to work they have.

Due to this discovery, farms have managed to make a profit here. The farmers who are used to growing trees, cash crops, and various options for food have fully found themselves a home here. More at home than the broken former noble houses that used to annoy them to no end. One could say that farmers are the new nobility in this forsaken land.

And they've taken to it like fish to water.

Somehow, the crystals know when the sun rises on the outside and make their change likewise. When the sun vanishes and the moon rises, they go into a dormant state. They shed little light, but those who were already used to seeing in such a way found no problems. The others simply had to adjust or do something about it.

With magic no longer being a safe option, they have turned their attention to science. They took artifacts from the past and began to reverse engineer everything they could. From the simple lantern to the grand machines ran simply through magic. They began to run a course away from their traditional learning.

In a time before this, such thoughts and actions would never be tolerated. Many saw science as a way of moving backward rather than forward. Many of them questioned why they would have to learn what the lesser races treasured. Their magic had always seen them through.

Shame how quickly the mind changes when on death's bed.

This new world of science was met with anticipation and anxiety. Many wondered whether this dark age would last forever or simply be a bump in the long road of their victory. Some even wondered would it be worth it at all. Some only wanted the luxury of what they lost and saw this as a faster means of getting it back.

Others simply kept moving.

For it was all they ever knew.

"Precious jewelry for your lady!"

"Freshest bread this side of the underground!"

"Extra! Extra! Griffon warlords last saw going at each other's throat! Learn what this could mean for you and your family! Read all about it!"

This is how Neo Canterlot truly awakens. The original hustle and bustle of Canterlot never ended.

It simply moved.

The sound of vendors opening their doors, hatches, and windows for their soon to be customers are heard echoing through the cavern system known as commerce. Heads and bodies poke free from homes built into the stone around them. Each abode decorated by trinkets of old and crystals of new.

Outside of their style of living, this isn't the only change the ponies have had to go through. With society being flipped upside down, racial tensions between one another have increased despite the true object of their pain. But this, in a way, has forced them to be even more brilliant than before. They have begun to go further underground than before to fully express themselves and their discontent. But whispers have a way of reaching the right and wrong bodies.

For all of this hiding and secrecy to work, they have undertaken a change in their mane and coats. They are still nearly every color of the rainbow, but their exaggerations seem to have been muted. The brightest of furs can no longer be seen among the main population. The once neon mane styles and tails have all be traded out for dimmed down version of them.

There was no law passed among them to have this done. They simply agreed that this was the way things had to be. They promised that color would return after they win.

And this is what they truly focused on.

Ponies have always been known to get something done when they put their mind to it. No matter the challenge rating or the impossibility of it all, you could trust a pony to figure something out. Throughout the war, they proved this to be more true than ever. Despite their final loss, they made sure to do everything in their power to never be forgotten in history.

They've left a scar in every nation. Every soul. And everybody.

These same ponies now seem... dull.

Empty

They almost seem to be practicing a routine that they've had instilled into them. They follow this pattern as if its the last bastion between them and the oblivion that waits outside of it.

Many of the technicolored creatures have grown accustomed to always stowing away a weapon on their person. They never seem to entertain the thought of using them on one another but remain prepared in case something were to find their new home. They would fight tooth and hoof to protect one of the last regions of living. Though they have remained undetected, they know not how long this may last.

Death could come at any time they are unaware. Unsuspecting.

They would not let themselves be blinded once again by what they have. The glittering gold they once coveted has turned to ash. The alcohol that once played across the tongue of the nobles has turned into bitter reminders of foolish antics.

To help with this, various orders and guilds found themselves formed. The Neo-Canterlot Army stands at the forefront of it all. Second, the Legions of the Sun. Third, Hunters of the Night.

The epicenter of it all lies nowhere near the middle as the once illustrious spire of Canterlot once did. The fall of Canterlot taught them the errors of their ways and they elected to hide their leaders' abode away beneath the stone and crystals alike. Camouflaged from the viewing eye of the public, they remain safe and untouched by the meandering of others.

Sure, they appear here and there to alleviate fears, pass laws, spread news, and intermingle. But aside from this, they are hardly ever seen. Even rarer are they seen together.

Rumors have begun to spread that the leaders don't see eye to eye. It wouldn't be too far fetched to believe this. After all, they once were at each other's throat before the war that banded them together.

But rumors are rumors and nothing more. Fact and fiction can not coexist. From one person's lips to another's mind, they move by the will of the bodies that use them. The ones that give into them are dangerous.

And those that make them so believable, even more.

Everycreature has an agenda. Every agenda is part of a plan. Every plan is an ideal idea. In inching increments into society, it wiggles and writhes. It is alive.

And it is here.

Yet no one notices. Or they care not to. The normality of it all might be what's keeping them sane.

Or what has driven them to their unknown madness.

The city beneath Canterlot has grown in popularity over the latest years, months, days, and hours. What was once thought of as nothing more than a rumor passed amongst the guard and nobles became the safe haven for those that found themselves trapped within the burning walls of old Canterlot. The mines underneath Canterhorn provided shelter against their enemies. They stumbled upon the entrance by chance thanks to its founder, Onyx Gem.

Onyx Gem has gone on from being a sergeant of her Majesty's army to a leader of the new world. Under his guidance and command, he has accomplished much in his short reign.

Yet he could never bring them back to where they were. He and the others like him have tried their hardest to keep the peace. To help those that need help. To keep alive the tradition of ponies wanting to help each other. But the idea of helping is different among them now.

Some, like himself, think building up defenses and learning from their past mistake will help them on the path forward. They gather people of different cultures and ideas to form a society in which they left behind. A way of a constant reminder of what they lost. A way to remind everyone what they are striving to return to.

Others see this as a weakness. They see this as not learning from their past mistakes. They believe that building their defenses and wasting time on nonessential things it wasteful of the time they all still have in this world. Ponies are dying and being enslaved every day. And they're focused on building relations with one another instead of what they should be doing.

War.

A simple knife in the heart of any Griff will do. These ponies believe that killing and showing an excessive amount of force will make them back off. They've shown them what they can do on the defensive side, now it's time for some offense.

But they need more backing. They can only do so much on their own. They need something to push them over the edge

"So... you're the new Celestia, huh?"

A nod.

"I... I don't know what to say honestly. Sure the legion has always talked about the day you would return, but to see it actually happen in my time and age is... surreal. Honestly... I don't know my own feelings at the moment as well.

I feel joy. I feel sorrow. Hatred. Disgust. And more than all the others... Confusion."

"I can understand where you are coming from. I had no plans to... return as you say. I was but a spirit trapped on this plane of existence. I thought it would be my final punishment for all of my negligence and ignorance. That the gods themselves deemed me unworthy to rise to Elithium.

Yet, here I stand. Or rather sit in this instance. I gained this figure in a way I am not sure I understand as of yet. What I do understand is that I have another chance at fighting our enemy. No more holding back. No more politics. No more restraints. This is a war. And I plan on winning it.

At all costs."

The stallion goes quiet and stares at the desk in front of him. The ratty piece of furniture has seen better days. Of course, everyone has seen better days. The time before the war, known now as the Golden Era, is far behind them. Now is the Dark Ages.

In these Dark Ages, he has made a name for himself. He's gathered the ponies of various different races to help move forward. He wants them to remember the past, but never cling to it. This is a time to change everything that was wrong with them.

The stallion, after a heavy sigh, looks Celestia in the eyes.

"The Solar Guardians are at your beck and call. As you can probably already guess. The others; Lunar Hunters, Heart Protectors, and Friendship Brigade, you might have trouble with. We all make up the Equestrian Rabble and receive help from Equestria's allies where they can be found. Mainly our Deer-kin and the Kirin. On top of this, a few dragons have come by to help as well. After the incident of their eggs, younglings, and wyrms they see that the scourage means more harm than good.

I doubt they'll ever fully recover, but the elders and adults are doing their fair share."

"That's great to he-"

"But! There are conditions to this aid, Celestia. We are not warmongers. I understand that the war is, as some say, at a standstill. It's gone cold with the fall of Canterlot and the hiding of Cloudsdale. We will not mobilize to march against our enemies. We only wish to protect all those that fall into our territories. We want to rebuild our civilization better than what it was.

"The other leaders do not share my ideas in the same way. If you want warmongers, you'll have to look elsewhere. We will support you in the act of taking refugees and expanding our knowledge in areas we do not yet understand. But the ponies come first. All ponies.

"No unnecessary sacrifices. I've seen enough of your 'tactics' when you were the leader. Now, you aren't. And I want, no, need you to understand this. I will not tolerate any behavior that places our people in danger.

"Secondly, everything is mutual. If we help you with something, we want something back. What we mainly want is your knowledge. We know you've hidden all manner of objects, artifacts, and books through Canterlot and the caves beneath. We have found some of your caches, but not all.

"I do not say this lightly either. If you help us, we will help with something of equal value to you. Though we are weak and smallish in number, we can still accomplish much.

"Third, you are no longer our leader. You can't boss anyone around here or anywhere else. Your time has come and go. The reign of the Alicorns is over. Now, we must govern ourselves. Though, if the rumors are true, that might be more of a blessing for you than us."

A smirk, "I agree to your conditions. There is much I still need to do before I go crusading across the coastlines. There are a few ponies I need to find as well."

"I'm going to assume you're talking about the former bearers?"

Celestia's eyes shift from the light purple, perhaps magenta, playful tone to a darker shade. Her face contorts slightly as if suddenly struck by something.

"Where are they?" A voice unlike Celestia's eeks out.

The question seemed less so of it and more of a statement. Perhaps even a demand. A doubled voice of Celestia and... someone else merged together.

Concern covers the stallion's face. An immense pressure could be felt around the room. There was no magic to be felt. It was nothing but an aura.

As suddenly as it came, it left. Leaving both at a loss of words.

"For... forgive me. I've yet to gain complete control of myself. I can assure you that this isn't a hazard for anypony. It only happens every so often when sudden strong feeling overcome me."

"R-Right. Well. Ummm. The bearers are not here within this city. They are scattered about. Though some will be easier to find than others. I suppose I'll start with the easiest.

"Applejack will be the first one you'll stumble across. Either through wanted signs by the enemy or simply having somepony pass you a pamphlet about her and her army. You see after Twilight sacrificed herself for all of them, she and Rainbowdash took it the hardest. They decided that if the Equestrian army had lost, they'd just make one that wouldn't. And so far, they have.

"Now they haven't done anything too major as of late. They've mostly been hitting the enemy where it hurts repeatedly and escaping capture where they can. But they've been gathering more and more into their forces. In fact, I've heard word from the others that they're planning to take back Ponyville."

"Really? They must have amassed quite the size for something like that. Where are they running from? "

"The Everfree."

Celestia gives a curious look before nodding her head, "So that places Applejack, and I can only assume, Rainbowdash. Now, what of the others?"

"Third easiest for you would be Rarity. She's part of various different factions. They come to her for anything essential they need. She fits in with anyone easily. You need someone broken out of a breeding camp, you ask her. You need goods smuggled out of a keep? You ask her. You need someone to slit the throat of a local slave farm? You tell her where and she'll do it for free. A master of espionage.

"A born natural some say.

"But she also works a smithy and boutique. Which brings me around to Pinkie."

He points to a mounted blade behind Celestia, "One of her specialties. She handles most of the orders when it comes to arms, armor, and ammunition. Since not too many ponies are looking to be cheered up or eat cake, she's gone to using her mastery of party planning and cooking to another use. Raiding parties and cooking up utensils of war. She's even got her entire family backing her up in the business. Everything they craft, they mined it themselves."

Celestia continues to look over the blade long after the stallion finished talking. It was impressive. So impressive, she couldn't see any sort of deformity or mistake within the blade. It seemed to radiate earth pony magic as well.

Perhaps a visit to the Everfree is within her near future.

Yet there was a forlorn ache within her chest. A sadness grasping at the edge of her mind. A depression waiting to swallow her.

"Now isn't the time to wallow... I'm assuming that Rarity and Pinkie have no part of Applejack's war party?"

"You would assume correctly. Both parties are strictly freelance. They travel a lot as well. Pinkie from one forge to the next and Rarity from one colony to the next. They seem to have some overall objective, but I couldn't tell you what it is."

"And that leaves just Fluttershy."

"... Yes."

"I feel like I won't like what I hear," Celestia says with a frown.

"I... I don't have much info on her. But according to her friends, she broke down. She broke down hard. She didn't take all of this well. They're pretty sure her heart snapped in two when everything is said and done. Discord appeared, nearly broken himself, and they both just disappeared. Nobody knows where. And nobody has seen either or since."

"That's... not pleasant to hear."

"Well, the bright side of it is that Discord is fully out of our manes now."

Silence. Not from a lack of words, but swelling of thoughts. Both sides have to consider what's been laid on the table before them.

"So, what will you do with this information?"

"I'll sleep on it. It has been a while since I slept on something comfortable."

"Of course, of course. Before that, I'd like to ask you for help with something. We've noticed some of the smaller colonies disappearing as of late. As well as a much larger griffon force in the area. I'm sure I don't need to explain how to connect the dots.

"But what I will explain is what needs to be done. I'm sending out runners to the places that have yet to be hit by them. We need to get as many ponies as we can from their current homes here. I don't know where the Gryphs are watching from, so I'll be sending some of my fighters with them to protect them. I'll be sending you to protect one of the runners tomorrow. You'll be going to one of the more outskirt areas, but it should still be safe. Harmony seems to soak that place and most invaders tend to ignore it."

A nod and a chuckle, "It's strange to be the one taking orders." She stands and gives a mock salute, "At your word, Sergeant."

"Not Sergeant. Commander perhaps, but no longer Sergeant. For now, just call me Leader Gem."

Author's Note

As usual, point out any mistakes seen throughout the chapter. I would've had it finished sooner, but I got held up by life.