When Twilight Sparkle and her friends put a permanent end to the Storm King no pony in Equestria realized how vast the possessions of that marauding monarch truly were. Endless deserts, vast oceans, and entire regions had bowed before the banner of the Storm King, supplying him with troops, bases, or natural resources. All those lands were now empty and leaderless, ready breeding grounds for crime and chaos.
To counter the threat of potential warlords and bandit kings arising into the power vacuum, the princesses of Equestria concluded that the best option was to claim those lands as Equestrian territory and bring, at least nominally, some sense of order to this new frontier. Of course, once the other nations heard of Equestria’s decision they too launched themselves outward and thus began an unparalleled land rush.
By mutual agreement lands would be considered claimed by physically touching a land area and planting an enchanted flag on it that would let explorers of other nations know of the claim. While this prevented arguments between the various states it did nothing to blunt the fact that these lands were wild and dangerous.
“And right now we’ve got about a dozen two pony teams out in the field,” Rainbow Dash was saying, resplendent in her full Wonderbolt uniform. “They're busy working their way up the coast from Kludgetown so that we can make a road or a train line once they manage to hook up with Equestria proper.”
“Well done, Rainbow Dash,” warmly replied Princess Celestia, as she took in the report with her sister. “Please be sure to pass my thanks to all the ponies involved, and to Spitfire.”
“Just tryin’ to do our part and make Equestria even more awesome,” responded the blue flier, with unusual modesty.
“Is something troubling you?” asked Princess Luna, picking up on the dark note in the usually aggressively upbeat pony.
“Well, the thing is, we’ve been getting a lot of injured ponies coming back,” explained Rainbow Dash, putting a hoof behind her head in thought. “There’s been a couple of really close calls.”
“How close?” Celestia pressed, her brow furrowed with concern.
“Close enough that I’m wondering if maybe we should make the teams bigger than just two ponies,” responded Rainbow Dash, looking downwards. “Maybe just have four groups of six, instead of twelve groups of two.”
“I understand your concern, Rainbow Dash,” Luna commented, stepping forward to stand close to the Wonderbolt. “But it is a necessary risk. You told us what Klugetown was like. The lawlessness, the casual violence, how you and your friends very narrowly avoided being sold into slavery. If we do not lay claim to these lands, those things shall only become worse.”
“I get it, Princess,” Rainbow Dash agreed, with a nod. “But I still gotta wonder—”
All three ponies were interrupted as Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, came streaking into the throne room, much to the annoyance of the princesses' guards and staff.
“Dash, there you are. Come with me. Right now,” commanded Spitfire, in her parade ground voice.
“But I’m with the princesses,” stage whispered the Wonderbolt to her leader.
“Right now, Crash,” Spitfire ordered, grimacing. “Missing Mare formation.”
“Ah crap,” groaned Rainbow Dash, slumping in place. “Who?”
“Far Song is coming in... alone,” Spitfire replied. “Let’s get moving. We’ve got a pony to escort home and make sure he doesn’t do anything rash.”
“We would ask that you bring Far Song here,” requested Luna, holding up a wing to stay the pegasi for a moment. “We are well aware of the propensity for pegasi stallions to take their own lives upon the death of their mates. We would seek to prevent that.”
“Yes Ma’am,” responded Spitfire, saluting. “We’ll bring Far Song here. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Wingover is just hurt somewhere.”
With that, both pegasi rocketed out of the throne room sending papers and documents flying like snowflakes.
“This is the part I hate the most about being a princess,” Celestia said quietly into the silence that followed. “When other ponies pay the price for my decisions.”
“Our decision,” Luna stated firmly. “Your reasonings for sending out the Explorer Teams were sound and I fully agreed with you on the need to lay claim to as much of the Storm King’s lands as possible. This burden is something we both share.”
“Thank you, Luna,” replied Celestia, pulling her sister into a brief hug. “I still forget sometimes that I’m not alone any more.”
“We— I, am back,” was Luna’s warm answer, returning the hug. “And you will never be alone again. Never.”
“Now we just have to see if Far Song will be,” Celestia responded, before clearing her throat and announcing, “Clear the throne room. All royal business is adjourned for the day. Please see Raven Inkwell to reschedule anything you need to discuss.”
There was a shuffling of hooves and some murmurs of discontent as ponies left the presence of the diarchs, but considering the nature of the day’s interruption those grumbles were few and far between. Soon, the rulers of Equestria were alone in the cavernous room as they anxiously awaited the return of the two Wonderbolts and their charge.
Time seemed to drag on and on, but soon enough the wind-swept duo returned, flanking a bedraggled looking stallion. Far Song looked like he had been through a hurricane with his mane askew, tail knotted, and at least a third of his feathers missing. One look at the face of the rose bodied pony was enough to tell both Celestia and Luna that the worst had indeed occurred, and that Far Song’s mate, Wingover, was no longer among the living.
“We grieve with thee,” Luna offered, into the silence. “Please, tell us what happened.”
Far Song stood silent for a moment before lifting his eyes up toward the princesses and both diarchs could see that in spite of the mask of grief he wore on his face, his eyes were bright and shining with an inner light. The pegasus opened his mouth, and instead of giving a simple statement, began to sing:
There's a darkness out between the stars that any eye can see.
There's a deeper dark within me, where no light will ever be
There's an empty place beside me, where my lover ought to stand.
And there was a burning sun behind me, but I heard only gravity’s demand.
Two days ago I lost her, in a land without a name.
As we touched the ground to claim it, for the thousandth time the same.
And I left her but a moment, and I did not see her fall.
I only know that I failed her, never heard her final call.
I dug her grave in foreign ground, in the shade of an unknown wood.
And I touched her there one final time, and I said what words I could.
Let that cold ground hold her gently, for she came so far to die.
Then I took to wing all on my own, and blasted for the sky.
But the high winds had no comfort for one broken and alone.
And the skies held only memories of the joys that we once had known.
And I could not live without her, in a life no longer whole.
So I chose to die in sunlight and let the hard earth cleanse my soul.
And now the clouds part with fright, and the soil looms ahead.
My feathers start to whisper, and they glow an angry red.
There's a high, cold wail behind me, as though the air itself could cry.
But my mind is hard and steady, for the time has come to die.
But now my love comes back to me, 'cross gulfs I'll never know.
And I hear her voice within me, and I hear her crying, “No!”
I snap my wings out from beside me, and all my muscles burn.
And then they scream out in agony as we fight to make the turn.
My eyes begin to fail me as the forces mount and grow.
And I wonder when my wings will fail, and I wonder if I'll know.
Then my vision starts to lighten, and a coolness strikes my eyes.
And there's nothing left before me but the endless clouded skies.
There's a darkness out between the stars that any eye can see.
But the light within that darkness touches even a fool like me.
For I know my love forgives me, and I know she loves me still.
Once we roamed the skies together, and I know we always will.
“All Equestria mourns with you,” Celestia responded, once the song was done. “When you are able, let us know where Wingover lies, and we will see to it that her resting place is properly honoured, as befits a Hero of Equestria.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Far Song answered. “I’m sure she’d like that. I’ll take them there myself.”
“No need, brave Far Song,” Luna softly commanded, and she saw both Wonderbolts breathe a sigh of relief at that. “Simply show us on a map where she lies, and we will see to it. Thou needs rest and time to recover from this most grievous of blows.”
“I’m okay, because Wingover isn’t there,” was Far Song’s cryptic reply, folding in a ragged wing to touch his breast. “She’s here, with me.”
“And she always will be,” Celestia confirmed, stepping off the throne to fold the explorer in her wings with as much care and gentleness as she could. “As long as you’re alive, Wingover is with us. Now rest for a bit, and let the doctors take care of you. It’s what she would want.”
“Okay,” Far Song agreed, nodding. “I’ll do that.”
“Thank you,” Celestia replied, and at her nod Spitfire and Rainbow Dash began to lead Far Song off toward the medical wing of the palace.
“Oh, and Rainbow Dash,” called Luna, just as the trio of flyers was about to walk out the throne room door. “Your suggestion is approved. We will implement the changes immediately.”
The Wonderbolt said nothing, merely nodding her head in thanks as she and the others made their way out the door.
“What do you think, Luna?” Celestia asked, once they were alone again. “Will he be alright?”
“I believe so,” Luna replied. “Wingover lives on in Far Song’s heart, and it seems that as long as he lives, a piece of her will continue.”
“As does every pony that I’ve known over the long, long years,” added Celestia, her eyes going distant as a parade of faces passed through her inner vision. “As long as I live, none of them will ever truly die.”
Author's Note
On this day 20 years ago, at 1:02pm, my mother Sonya Lynn, passed away into whatever lies beyond this life. Not a day goes by when I don't miss her or wish that she could see my children. Almost exactly eight years later, my father Ernest Mervin followed her into the hereafter, leaving my siblings to face this world without their wisdom and guidance.
Neither of them were perfect people. They both had great strengths and great flaws, but greatest among their virtues was their love of family and their willingness to accept new people and ideas. It is that example that has made me into, as one of my co-workers said, a man who has done enough different things to fill three lives.
Though my parents are dead, they live on through me, my siblings, our children, and through my writing. In my story Brightly Lit, the characters of Lynn and Ernie Harding are based on them. As long as I and my words exist, they will never completely pass from this Earth.
Je t'aime Momma and Papa, I miss you both.
