Verve

by Pumpkin Pony

Rating: mature
Tags: Tempest Shadow, Sex, Adventure, Violence, Princess Celestia, Death, Human, Princess Luna, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Comedy, Nightmare Moon
Length: 309216

Two souls return to Equestria to aid their friends in retrieving a precious pony once thought lost; a decision that would bear consequences unseen, and dangers unpredicted.

Three years have passed since a single decision changed so many lives, while Equestria faced many challenges in its recovery. With the passing of the mantle, the growth of disorder, threats left to be uncovered, and Celestia missing from her throne, Princess Luna struggles to reel in society from the brink of disaster.
Two familiar souls returned home to Canterlot to find that the world falters in the face of adversity, and that perhaps a name twice forgotten stirs yet again.

Published 2021-09-27 19:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-01-26 15:41:58 UTC

Chapter 1 - Welcome Home

Disaster. The entire invasion was an outright disaster for Equestria, and shook the world down to its roots. It has been three years since Leotoln’s ships breached Canterlot’s air space, and even now, the endless vibrations of the catastrophic event are still felt on the daily.

One of the more major changes was a – hopefully temporary – switch in leadership. For three years, Luna has been tasked with running an entire country. And needless to say, she didn’t feel as if it was worth it.

She woke up every morning, after the briefest, roughest three hour nap filled with sheet stirring restlessness. Heavy bags under her eyes and brain throbbing from a magic-sapping headache, hardly a memory of the night before stirring in her mind. From there, she had to raise the sun – a hard task for her, as her magic was already pinched from rough nerves and coarse night scouring sessions of dream walking - it didn’t help that it was beyond her element either. By the time she had breakfast, which was mostly coffee packed with high potency caffeine by her now three year veteran kitchen chefs – she was a zombie.

What’s worse is that Day Court followed. Day Court. She hated it. She hated every aspect of it. She hated being awake for it, being present for it, and more importantly – being social during it. Luna couldn’t even come close to Celestia’s level of extroversion or patience. And it did not help that the majority of ponies were terrified of her. Actually, maybe it did. It kept the more pesky, bickering nobles out of her mane – save the most brave or arrogant of the crowds.

Celestia once said that ‘Good days are something you wake up to’, and she couldn’t help but agree. Since her Sister was imprisoned, she hasn’t woken up from this endless nightmare to experience a ‘good day’. Even with Twilight’s help in law writing and her vast resources of knowledge, Luna struggled beyond reason to make it through until her head could touch the pillow once more. If she could even make it that far. Sometimes, she’d raise the moon - and stir from her sleep, drifting away to somewhere else in the castle entirely.

She only had one thing left to keep her sanity. Letters. A letter, almost single day – well over a thousand by now – from her beloved Knight. Her sleep deprived brain could just stir up the energy to read his scrolls, and her cramped magic-empty horn could barely produce a small, but heartfelt reply – before being sent off to return to his world. She would manage just this, perhaps… once, maybe twice a week.

His world. If there was one place she could despise now that wasn’t Day Court, it was Erenorn.

Despite his best intentions to restore peace, all out Civil War had broken out in the Far Reaches. Though Arin had the support of some of his population, including the Inerts – swathes of Ascended rejected his rule. Many fought against his intentions to return the rightful Blood to the throne, others seeking to take control themselves.

But it could change, any day now. The Twin Spears of the South had agreed to join him in restoring order, at the condition that when victory was attained, he would immediately surrender the crown to the now neglected bloodline of Ravens; it was the most honorable thing to do, in their eyes. It had been a story and a half, enough to write a dozen books about – but it would soon be over, and she would have her Knight again.

Even Umbra, now titled ‘Shadow Huntress Umbra’ by those that feared her, had found her purpose as a Spymaster in Erenorn. Not only was she a ruthless fighter and magical tactician, but she still retained the ability to shadowmeld – making her a deadly force to be reckoned with. The former Umbrum worked hoof in hand with the Crown in rooting out camps of traitors, and now, matters were finally coming to a close.

Luna could only bear the burdens another day, and hope Arin would return to save her from this cyclical Tartarus.

She perched upon her Sister’s throne, her mane a dull blue, limp over her eyes. She had developed a rather sad huch, as well - her aching body fighting against the urge to rest. Listening quietly to the rambling stallion before her, as he complained for – what would be the sixth time this month – about the intrusions of charities at his door.

“Then, this impudent mare – Princess, you must understand – she asked if I could spare coin for the orphans of the Canterlot Orphanage! So that they may visit the zoo! So not only was she intruding on my property – she demanded compensation! I demand persecution-”

Luna stared through Silverbit as he continued to complain, waving his cane in frustration. She had heard rumors of this horrid noble that stalked her Sister’s Court with the most trivial of issues, but she never believed Celestia when she said he appeared nigh daily with a new ‘problem’.

Luna turned her tired head toward the grand hall’s doors in front, gazing aimlessly at the impressive line that had formed. With changes to laws and the unveiling of new tech, came needed modifications to professions and industry. Due to this, the desires of Canterlot shifted. Now, formerly lucrative jobs fell to the wayside and left a large gap in employment, one that only skilled labor could fill.

This happened at least once a century with innovation, Twilight had told her. Unluckily, it happened when her Sister couldn’t be there to guide the process.

“Are you even listening to me!? You are worse than your Sister, if you can’t even spare a moment to handle my serious issues-”

The moonlight Princess snapped her head back to Silverbit, as he spoke ill of her regal self. Rage boiled inside of Luna’s chest, the insolent whelp growing quiet as those piercing, tired eyes ripped through his core. Her horn began to sparkle, lightning pulsing off of it in frustration as she thought of all the horrible things she was about to do to this ignorant fool. How dare he tread into her court, and speak ill of her?!

But, before she could even act on that carnal, much needed desire, the clattering of boots on carpet – with a gentle cup of a hand on Silverbit’s shoulder, brought the Princess back to her right mind. A wave of wind blasted over the old codger’s fur, a sense of dread filled his being. He could just hear the fluff of wings behind him, as his head slowly turned to look at the towering Seraph.

“Heya Brace-Face. Remember me?” Arin smiled, in his now all too familiar Lunar gifts – chaps and vest, the mithril and dragonhide armor fresh and fitted to his body once more. Free of any royal vestments from Alma Sol, strapped with Nocturne and Sonata – he was finally, finally home.

“You… you monstrous, deplorable, wr-”

“Thought so.” Arin hefted Silverbit up by the scruff of his neck, the top hat once placed snugly on the Stallion’s head toppling to the floor while his little monocle dangled helplessly beneath him. He began to yell, scream, demand blood; until he heard the click of the latch. A window latch, actually; one conveniently in the throne room. Arin threw open the stained glass, and with an unceremonious grunt, tossed the now murderous Silverbit into the pond a couple dozen hooves below. The Unicorn flailed in the chest deep water, screaming for help even though he could clearly… well, stand. It wasn’t a particularly deep pond, being this close to the throne room, when you faced the water’s bank, at least.

Dusting his hands off, he closed the pane with a thunk. A heavy, desperate weight seized him, knocking him to the floor in a blue of blue feathers and mane. His wings splayed out to catch the air, to find balance – but it was too late. Luna had him pinned, a dozen kisses catching him by surprise, his hands trying eagerly to seize her muzzle and return each and every single one.

It was a losing battle. She was too fast for him, and her lips found his a hundred times over before he finally gave up. Wrapping his arms around her back, his wings joined the bundle of love as Luna embraced him so tightly that he honestly thought he would suffocate.

“L-Luna, a-air!” He shouted, but her lips took his again – wriggling into another loving, ‘I missed you’ kiss. When she pulled away, she finally, finally spoke.

“Arin! Our Knight! My Knight! My big Seraph, my winged lover, my Canterlot-saving hero, my sweet, precious, lovely-”

“I get it, I get it! I missed you too, Luna, and I love you as well!” He surrendered, but it didn’t stop the adorable onslaught. A dozen more kisses rained down, those cerulean eyes gleaming with absolute joy.

It took a heavy, powerful yank of emerald colored magic to end the moment – wait, no. Actually, it didn’t end anything. Umbra’s magic had tried to pry Luna from Arin’s chest, yet all it did was yank Arin to his feet - that blue bundle of love stuck to him like glue.

“It seems you were desired.” Umbra gave a somewhat forced smile, unarmored and finally free to be her normal, markless self, “Did you miss us, Luna?”

“Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes yes-”

“I will take that as a yes.” Umbra nodded, the pumping of wings from another darting into the room making her spin to face the potential threat – and stop herself short of violence, when she saw it was none other than Sir Vapor Cloud. Donning full Captain’s Armor, he bum rushed the Seraph as well – minus the kisses, of course. His hooves squeezed Luna and Arin tight enough to pop their backs, his laughing uncontrolled.

“Arin! My pal, my friend! You’re back! You have NO idea how boring it is without you, my main stallion!” He swung them around on his hind legs, an impressive feat for a pegasus, “Oh! I have to get Honey, you have to meet her – you have to see! Hold on, don’t move – don’t leave, stay here, whatever! Just – hold on!”

He dropped the now winded duo, before darting back out of the courtroom in a flurry of orange pinions. Arin was left hugging Luna, who refused to let go for anything. In fact, she began to sob.

“Arin, stars above - you have no idea how hard it’s been! How the world fell to pieces when you left! My Knight, my love, I’ve needed you since the day you left. Never leave again, never!” Luna whimpered, sniffling adorably.

“Okay, I promise – I promise Luna, I’ll stick by you like glue. Got it?” He gave a comforting smile, running a hand through her droopy mane. Her magic had all but left it – leaving it a faint, static, baby blue pile of hair. A magical wisp or two ran through it, but otherwise, her once billowing locks remained limp. “Are you okay?… You look burnt out.”

“No! I’m not okay, I’m not! It’s horrible! Everything is horrible! Equestria is going through a recession, even with the platinum you sent from your world – our economy is tanking, there’s so much in-fighting among our noble houses, not to mention crime is on the rise again! It’s been terrible! And betrayal! Traitors! In the dark! How! How does my Sister do this?!”

“Shh, it’s alright now. I’m here, let’s focus on the good things… alright? I finally turned over the Crown to the Ravens in the Far Reaches, and I’m free to stay. And! I can see you’re no longer speaking in the old Canterlot voice! That’s amazing! You’ve grown a lot since I last saw you!” Arin forced a reassuring smile, but it was hard to hold when Luna’s lip couldn’t stop quivering. Her eyes were big and round like a kicked puppy, tears running down her cheeks.

“I will instruct the guard to dismiss Day Court, Princess; lest you slay a noble where they stand.” Umbra bowed, her keen eyes inspecting the near magicless Princess curiously. “Unless you desire the populace to see you in this state?”

Luna nodded towards Umbra, letting the Unicorn turn towards the door. Before she could even slip out of the Throne Room, an all too familiar Pegasus darted back in above her with a mare tucked tightly in his hooves. And in the familiar mare’s grasp, a small bundle! As soon as Vapor Cloud set his wife down gently, Honey Rose dashed forward - seizing Arin and Luna both in a hug. She managed to do so without crushing a certain little pony against her chest, as well.

“Arin! My favorite acrobat, back at last with pretty new wings! I barely got to see them before you left! You forgot to tell one of your BESTEST BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLD YOU WERE LEAVING, BY THE WAY!” She scorned him, but hugged the Seraph tight regardless. The soft babbling of a foal made her pull away before her grip could prove fatal, shushing her sweet baby with a giggle.

“Honey! You had a foal?!” Arin’s smile reached critical levels – Luna slowly releasing Arin from her hooves in the process. “By my feathers! With who?!”

“Who do you think!” Vapor Cloud puffed up his chest, giving a proud smile. “And with another one well on the way, too! Meet Sweet Dreams, our little filly.”

Arin’s eyes shot between the two, giddy for them both. So much has changed since he left! It’s been so long – three years, three whole years and his friends had grown so much! But there was still one pony he had yet to see, and it quickly dampened the mood.

“Did you free Celestia yet? I haven’t had a letter from you in weeks.” He turned back to Luna, who instantly went quiet. The Princess’s head fell low, defeat overtaking her in yet another moodswing.

“It’s… complicated,” Vapor interrupted. “We’ll talk about this somewhere a little more private – c’mon, Twilight should be in the library right now. We’ll catch up there, and hopefully fill you in on what she discovered.”

The library was as cozy as ever, though the mood inside felt a little… down. A familiar reading corner was left long abandoned, cobwebs having formed over Celestia’s old reading pillow from years past. It seems not a foal had visited the castle since the battle, and the former Librarian – Candlelight – had to move on due to a lack of work.

Twilight snored between two giant towers of books, her face using ‘Of Stars and Solar Lights’ as an impromptu pillow. The massive bookshelves were as impressive as ever, though garnering an unhealthy amount of dust from disuse.

“So, we married about a year after you left – around the same time my wittle puffy pillow got his promotion-”

“Oh stop! I’m not poofy or fluffy, I’m the new Captain of the Guard! You know, since Shining became an official Prince of the Crystal Empire.” Vapor blushed, the teasing riling him up, if only a little.

“Whatever you say, hon~” She winked, before continuing. “Soon after, my lil’ Dreamy joined our family. We named her Sweet Dreams because Luna had given me so many pleasant ones, when I was going crazy with stress over my pregnancy. It really helped me along, and now that I have her, I’m a stay at home wifey, here in the Castle with my oh so famous Captain~!”

“So you finally moved in? Did you want to, or?…” Arin asked, finding a comfy pillow – with Luna snuggled against him – at Twilight’s table.

“I was insistent they stay close at hoof, in case of an emergency. Without my Sister, I am the last line of royalty between a noble house seizing the throne and plunging Equestria into a Civil War, much like what almost occurred in Erenorn, Arin.” Luna nodded solemnly, her blue hoof resting in his hand. Twilight gave an incredibly loud snore, disrupting their conversation as all eyes fell on the sleeping Princess. With a poke, she shot up into the air – her purple horn popping a hole in the ceiling far above.

“Who! What! Celestia?! Oh. Arin!” Her wings gave several flaps – dislodging her deadly spike before landing at the table with a flurry of papers, nearly blasting the quiet Umbrum in pages with a flurry of her wings. She quickly collected them in her magic, shuffling each note back into place. “You’re back! And in one piece! Thank Celestia, maybe with a few outside opinions, as inexperienced as you are – you could help me figure this out!”

“Well hold on, I just got here. Let’s catch up a bit and see what’s going on before you go complete… What did that rainbow one call it, ‘egghead’? Egghead on me? Yeah.” Arin nodded, snuggling up close to Luna on the pillows. Vapor Cloud and Honey found their own spot by the head-slumping Lunar Princess, Umbra deciding to join Twilight’s side at a comfortable distance from Luna.

Strangely enough, she eyed her with some level of distrust - something Arin brushed off as simply ‘Umbra being Umbra’. The Princess of Friendship gave a cough, collecting herself for her catch up speech.

“Alright! Let me give you the details then. Financially, the kingdom is a mess. The evacuation, while a good tool to save lives, tanked our economy that was running on borrowed time as it was. All of the repairs, even with a massive payment from Alma Sol, on top of the debts we owed other nations for loans – ran us nearly bankrupt. We scraped by until tax season, thankfully, but other problems have sprung up across the board. More specifically, my blackboard.”
Twilight hopped up to a nearby chalkboard on wheels, rolling it over before spinning it to the backside. “When Leotoln lost, there appeared to be a few financial institutions tied up in war-time investments against Equestria. A lot of gold that went nowhere, politics became tense and led to a lot of massive financial disruptions and sabotage, which impacted us hard. On top of this, we just hit a new innovation cycle – and now, what was once military technology is going mainstream.”

Her chalk tied lines between related economic impacts, hoping to keep the attention centered on the devastation it wreaked.

“We’ve moved into the age of radio and distant, wireless communication. This changed not just the mail system, but also the music industry and the need for newspapers. This innovation cost hundreds of jobs to an already war-stricken, struggling populace – and bureaucracy with shrinking wages from noble suppression is leading to economic hardship. There’s already protests against Luna’s leadership, in Canterlot and Manehatten. It’s reached as far as Los Pegasus, which is incredibly worrying.”

Arin gave a cough, cutting her off before she could talk a hole in his ear.

“I mean… I wanted to know how you were doing, you and your friends. But uh… thanks for the info.” The Knight scratched the back of his head. There wasn’t much he could do with this information right now, but it was nice to know.

“Oh! Um. I’m doing… okay? I've definitely been under less stress before this happened, of course. Uh…”

Twilight shuffled through her notes, giving a sigh. “Well, Spike moved on lately, to explore the world a bit and be on his own. He’s becoming a bit hard to handle, now that he’s growing up and becoming a teen. So he wanted to visit his homeland. I couldn’t say no, I mean. He deserves a break too. But it’s been hard for me.”

When Arin didn’t speak, the purple Alicorn took this as a reason to keep talking.

“Rarity is busy trying to drum up more business, but with no Galas or grand events, ponies aren’t biting. Applejack is finding it hard to make a profit with her family’s farm, and she’s having to turn over more losses on unsold products due to financial instability. Rainbow Dash is now Co-Captain of the Wonderbolts, and she hardly has time to visit anymore – she’s constantly under a barrage of paperwork, like me. Pinkie Pie can still stop by, but it’s hard for her to meet me here in Canterlot since she started dating Cheese… and Fluttershy had to pick up a second job just to end’s meet.”

Arin sighed, feeling a pang of sorrow for the Princess. She gave up so much just to be here, all of this… for a greater good. “Thank you. I know it’s been hard, but let’s try to keep spirits high. It’s what Celestia would want. The last thing she needs now is for any of us to give up.”

Umbra stood from her seat, and approached the drawing board. With a flick of her emerald swirling horn, she turned it back over to look at Twilight’s scrambled notes on magic. The former umbrum tilted her head left, then right, before speaking.

“This theory here is wrong,” she said, tapping the board with her grey hoof. “Harmony magic is the majority of the actual magic produced from the Element’s beam, not the entirety.”

“…What?” Twilight frowned, standing up abruptly from the table. She had grown an inch or two since Arin had last seen her, putting her nearly at height with the darker mare. “No, that’s wrong. Harmony magic is condensed magic. I should know, I am the element of magic.”

“And I have been struck by Harmony twice.” Umbra turned to face her, indifferent. “And I can feel the magic auras of you and your friends coursing through the spell, not just Harmony. The majority of it is condensed magic force. The other fraction is a culmination of you and your friend’s innate magic. By combining your unique auras, you form a magical conduit – and you can channel ambient magic through a lens. This is how I’ve determined ‘Harmony’ to work.”

Twilight blinked, picking up a stack of papers as she flipped through her notes. “Even if that were true, we’ve already tried to break the seal on the moon. With all of us together, it simply won’t shatter. The best we can do is punch holes through the fabric of the Lunar Plane of magic.”

Umbra turned back to the board, quiet. Her horn glowed green, picking up one of the many pieces of chalk scattered around – clearing a spot on the board for her own use. She didn’t say anything else – only stare at the blank spot, thinking.

“Ha! Spooky horn thinks your math is stupid, Twilight,” Honey teased, sticking her tongue out. But Arin knew Umbra’s look all too well. When she went quiet, she was thinking intensely – and if there was anyone more adept at understanding the effects of Harmony magic, that would be her, in a close second to Twilight.

Arin joined her side. He didn’t have anything to add or help her with, so he just took a piece of chalk and started to doodle. Partly as a distraction, but also to try and gauge what she’s thinking. She can be hard to read, after all.

First he doodled Celestia. Very poorly – it was more of two circles and a horn, with stick legs, but still. Finding that Umbra ignored it, he doodled a stick Seraph. Her magic stopped him mid-flick of the wrist, dark eye brows crossing.

“What’s up?” He smirked, knowing full well that it got her to tick. She snatched the piece of chalk from his hand, and circled the Seraph. With a quick line, she added a spear to the Seraph’s stick arm – a little heart in the middle.

“Leotoln,” Umbra said quietly. “Leotoln cast the banishment spell. Correct?”

“Noooo, I thought Celestia decided to visit the moon on her own – what gave you that idea?” Arin teased, but she seemed to be on to something.

“Yes, Umbra. From Luna’s description of the events, he used the power of Harmony to imprison Celestia inside the moon.” Twilight sighed, a little frustrated that Umbra could just… waltz in, and steal her thunder.

“Then Leotoln is the one who can free her from the moon. Simple as that.”

She drew six stars around Leotoln, before setting the chalk on the edge of the board once more. The dark unicorn then found her seat once more, staring blankly at the now dumbfounded Twilight. Quietly, she plucked a spare piece of paper from the table - stealing one of Twilight’s quills to jot down a quick message.

“No. He used Harmony magic to imprison Celestia, that doesn’t mean only he can free her. Banishments can be undone by any magic source,” Twilight said, reaching to erase the little Seraph. But once more, Umbra’s emerald green aura blocked the use of the eraser.

“Not Harmony magic. You need the original casters of the spell present to undo the effects, or they need to fade with the passage of time to be weak enough to break. At least, as the mages of Alma Sol declared.” Umbra reaffirmed her previous statement, eyes narrowing at the purple alicorn. “I do not lie; challenge my logic if you must. But I am not incorrect, nor making any assumptions when I speak.”

“Okay, wonderful! Luckily for me, I can prove you wrong. My friends and I already attempted-” A gray hoof slowly pressed to Twilight’s mouth, stuffing her voice in her throat.

“Attempted. You are still missing Leotoln. Without him, you could not break the seal on Celestia so easily.” With a flash of arcane power, she presented the note quietly to the purple mare. Umbra reached over to a nearby abandoned teapot with her magic – her horn glowing, the liquid began to boil before serving herself a hot, fresh cuppa. She then offered the pot to any of the others present, Luna’s magic taking a hold of it.

The dozing Princess Luna also poured herself a cup, yawning with exhaustion – but still alert enough to swivel her ears as the two spoke. After reading the note over, Twilight gave a quick nod and a glance at Luna - before incinerating it in a flash of magic. Just like nothing happened. Twilight’s feathers soon puffed up regardless, standing by her theory. After all, she was the scholar here – not Umbra. The purple Princess continued to argue back and forth, whittling away the minutes with the dark, collected Unicorn.

At this point, the words were a jumbled mess of half sentences to Luna; eyes drifting in and out of focus. Gently, her horn twinkled – tugging Arin close as a comfortable arm rest. Without so much as a word, her head fell lazily against the comfy Knight. The Seraph’s wing hugged around his bone-tired mare, sighing. Within seconds, she was unconscious.

“And how would Leotoln casting the spell have any effect at all? Umbra, please explain; because I don’t get it.” Twilight tilted her chin up, as if she had caught the dark mare in a trap.

“I could sense the magic inside the Crystal Heart. At any time he swung, or cast a spell – I felt his magic fill it. If only barely. That would change the magic signature of the spell. Thus, you would need his assistance – along with the Elements – to instantly free Celestia.”

Gently holding Luna, Arin gave a soft cough. “Look uh, I’m not an expert at Magic. I mean, I know what I know – from what my lover here taught me and the mages at Alma Sol. But… why don’t we just teleport up to the moon, grab Celestia, and teleport back?”

Twilight sighed, slouching back down to own pillow. “She’s not on the moon. She’s inside the planar embodiment of the moon. Think of it like… a part of a fabric to our reality. It’s bitter, howling cold, all the time. A haunting, terrifying place to be. Where you can’t escape, only freeze and suffer. You can see Equis – but you can never fly to it, or teleport there. Simply put, it's an enclosed space. A box. A jail cell. A Lunar-magic Tartarus.”

The Seraph gulped. “So Celestia is just… freezing to death, on the moon right now?”

“At this moment, probably not. Alicorns are exceedingly tough to inclement weather. But as Luna once said – death would have been preferable than another moment in that blistering cold.” Twilight closed a drool covered book on the table, passing it to Arin at a flick of her hoof. “Luna wrote about it in her diary upon her return. Which she was willing to share with me, if it could help me find a way to bring her Sister back.”

Arin was out of ideas at this point, picking up Luna’s diary to inspect it in his hands. “Won’t she starve?”

It took Twilight several moments to come up with a response, but it wasn’t hopeful. “Luna couldn’t starve on the moon, as she was simply absorbing the ambient magic essence of the realm. For her, she had no need for food. Celestia, on the other hoof… she’s not in her element, like Luna was. It’s likely she’s forced to use her Ember’s own magic to subsist. And even then, it’s a bandage solution. It’s like crawling on your front hooves, when you’ve lost the use of your hind legs. Yes, you can do it – but how long until they give out as well?”

This put more pressure on the situation. The Seraph – unable to offer any immediate solutions, could only pry in hope of drawing out an idea. “So. Break the banishment immediately. How do you go about doing that?”

“From what Twilight rambled on about, anyone could – or at the very least the Elements. But if what Umbra said is true, then there’s no way to get her back,” Vapor piped up, as the fastidious student of bad situations, giving Twilight more time to think.

“Maybe the approach I’m taking is too direct. I’ve studied this to death, and frankly speaking, she’s lost for the next thousand years, however long the spell holds, or at worst - her death, if I don’t change my way of thinking. If what Umbra said is true, which I find… doubtful, then perhaps I need to work on a new theory.”

Chapter 2 - Red Flags

Arin and company – the Knight now carrying his Princess on his back – left Twilight to focus on her ramblings. It’s not like they could pull the purple mare away, either; she was determined to betray fate on this, and bring her teacher home. And she didn’t want any more distractions. Besides, if there was a time for action, it was now.

Their next stop in the now nostalgic castle halls was the War Room. It had become a proper office for Vapor during these trying times, as his new tasks included tracking the slowly growing serious issues arising across Canterlot and beyond. It’s funny – Arin had never actually visited the war room, yet here he was now. It was part of the farthest tower below Celestia’s old chambers – overhanging the Guest Quarters, making it decently well guarded.

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t had the chance to go over everything you missed while you were gone; I don’t know how much you’ve heard from Luna’s letters-” Vapor began, before being abruptly cut off by the Ascended.

“Not a lot, I promise.” Arin chuckled softly, reaching back to scratch between Luna’s ears. She stirred in her sleep, Vapor rolling his eyes.

“Well Arin, when you left, a small group of Seraph soldiers stayed to clean up the mess. While it was a great idea, it hardly played out well. It turns out Leotoln had a well trained assassin, who was functioning as his spymaster here on Equis. And when news of Leotoln’s defeat spread, they - him and his crew - packed up and abandoned their primary camp – and now, they’re essentially trapped here with bounties on their heads. Working to undermine our Government and Luna out of spite.” Vapor spread out a map of Equis – pinpointing the location of the prime camp, situated near Galloping Gorge.

“The scouts I sent to tail them lost their trail past the train tracks of White Tail Wood, plunging into the Undiscovered West. We found the signs of moorings for an Air Ship – so it’s likely they’re skyward somewhere beyond our borders, and using magic to transport letters to and fro Equestrian Nobles.” He slipped a book free of a nearby bookshelf with a hoof, plopping it down over the massive, detailed map.

“Now, all of this wouldn’t be a problem, if we could find the exact Noble houses responsible for their financial and legal backing, but it’s hard to track. They’ve used proxies, there isn’t a paper trail leading back to them we can even look into. Everything is done through middlemares or stallions that are hard to hold legally accountable. So far, we could only recover a few ledgers and notes discarded by accountants, leading to a net financial loss on three Nobles in particular. The houses of Goldshoes, Topaz Jewels, and an older name even you might recognize… Silverbit.”

Arin’s brow furrowed, remembering the all too familiar Stallion that plagued the Courts with needless bureaucracy. “Hold on. The pony I just threw out the window, around an hour ago?”

“Yes. While he’s partly retired now, he still has a small crew that handles his legal issues. He isn’t… particularly dangerous, but it’s likely he still committed treason. But nothing I do holds up in the Court of Law. We have evidence that goes nowhere, funds shuffled out to sub companies and businesses that are seemingly legitimate. On paper.” He rubbed his hooves over his head, sighing.

“Well then. What can we do? Espionage?” Arin offered. His eyes slowly turned to Umbra, who sat quietly nearby – studying the ledger in her green aura. “Like… send out a spy to find information?”

Vapor Cloud nodded. “It’s the riskiest – but only option we have left. It’s one I wanted to pursue for the last… year, or so. But it’s not like I had a Spymaster on hoof, well. Until now.” He nodded to Umbra, who looked up from the collected papers with mild intrigue.

“What do you say, ‘Spooky Horn’ – up for a bit of breaking and entering?” Arin smirked at the dark mare, who was as stoic as ever.

“I can perhaps be tempted. If, of course, the Crown is willing to assist me in my own endeavors.” She slid the book forward, stone faced. “I have but one request, one I’ve been considering for well over three years now.”

“Alright, shoot.” Vapor nodded, giving Umbra her chance to speak.

“I want… a life partner.”

If the room ever had a chance to go quiet, it was now. Honey Rose snorted, hiding her muzzle behind a hoof before Umbra’s emerald eyes could drill into her too hard.

“Honey, is there an issue with my request?” the dark mare asked bluntly. Honey soon shook her head, smiling.

“No no, just the way you asked it. Like… What do you want Luna to do, find you a date? I think you’re a beautiful mare, but uh… I think there’s a bit of a problem with your, what would Arin call it… your approach, yeah!” Honey waggled a leg at Umbra, as Vapor Cloud recovered from such a wild request.

“Uh, well. Umbra. That’s uh… not something you do, when you’re looking for love. Y’see, when you look for a special somepony, it’s not about being given a name, and forcing them out on a date. It’s more of… finding somepony you have a keen interest in, one you can relate to, and asking them if they’d like to go out and do something together.” Vapor held the most confused, dumb struck look throughout the whole conversation. Umbra always had the ability to leave him startled and dazed, but this took the cake. He took a sketching pencil from the table, chewing on it to help boil his thoughts down.

Funny that Vapor worded it like that; Arin was kind of… lacking, when it came to shared interests with Luna. In fact, he can’t relate well enough at all. Maybe that’s something to consider later; opposites could attract, right? And they had a bond going for them, which was a start.

“I see. Very well then.” She turned to face Arin now. And he really didn’t like where this was going.

“Arin, I will assist Sir Vapor Cloud if you bring me on this… ‘date’, as it has been worded. I am envious of Luna and the happiness she can attain from your presence. It has been three years, and we hold much too much relevance in our lives for me to… ‘choose’ anypony else.”

Vapor Cloud spat out the pencil – why’d he even put it in – and Honey Rose’s jaw dropped. Right in front of the sleeping Luna, too! This was hardly war room talk.

“I uh, well uh… you should um… ah. Hm. That’s uh…” His hand began to slap Luna’s leg, in an attempt to stir the dead-to-the-world mare from her much needed rest. And of course, that went nowhere.

“You should ask Luna! Totally, ask Luna when she’s awake. And I want to be there, too! Drama like this is best saved for the dinner table. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” Honey Rose began to laugh, slamming her hoof over the map. Sweet Dreams stirred in the bundle against her chest, forcing Honey to quiet down.

Arin’s mouth bobbed open, like a fish out of water. He really didn’t know how to handle this situation, and he very much would like to not piss off Luna by giving an answer without her advice. It took him a minute, but he finally agreed with Honey. “Yeah, I can’t uh… do that. Without Luna’s permission.”

The stoic mare nodded; she wasn’t disappointed by any means, if anything, she was as patient as ever. In fact, the answer seemed expected, as if she wanted to talk with Luna first. “Very well. When she awakens, then. Now, I must speak to Twilight concerning her theories. I will return to collect my… ‘special somepony’ later.”

After their meeting in the War Room, Arin found it the perfect time to take Luna to bed. While she wasn’t heavy by any means, she was exceptionally big and bulky to carry around. When he held her chest to his own, her hind legs could almost reach the floor without much trouble. He hugged his bundle of Princess tight to his torso, as he was dead set on avoiding the stairs to her tower at all costs.

“How the tides have turned!” He said quietly, spreading elegant wings wide behind him. Flying once terrified him. Now, he preferred it. It’s strange how things change with time. He gave them a powerful flap, leaping into the sky. Luna – bless her soul – hardly even stirred, the renowned heavy sleeper drooling on his shirt.

Landing on the balcony, it was easy enough to unlatch the window with a bit of magic. But when he passed the curtain into Luna’s dark room, he nearly tripped over the massive pile of scrolls lining the floor.

Every single letter and note he managed to send her, she kept here in a mess. His seal on them were all obviously broken, of course – they were just wrapped with fresh string, and placed in a massive pile by her bed. It looked like a few of her favorites were on her nightstand, next to the picture he took of them both when he was first knighted, all those years ago.

He found a place for her on the massive bed, softly running his fingers through her limp mane. It was difficult to understand all of Luna’s stress at once; she looked absolutely beat up, like she was fighting for her life! It made his heart hurt knowing how much weight rested on her shoulders now.

The Knight crawled in the bed after stripping the gear Luna had commissioned for him for his graduation. Nocturne resting by the spare nightstand, he pulled the cool sheets over them both. His arms gently tugging the exhausted mare back into his chest, enjoying the sweet – though faint – scent of lavender that clung to her fur. The nostalgia of it all left him cherishing this moment, her breathing calm and sweet against his neck.

Usually, Luna would bind him in those big, blue wings of hers. But times change – and so did he. His own warm feathers slid around her back, blocking the last of the light as the sleepy pony wiggled into her new, comfy cocoon.

It was such an odd experience, using his wings for anything other than flying. He still wasn’t entirely used to the idea of having them; it just felt so new and strange, even after these years. Sure, he loved soaring now, but… It made the Ascended wonder if it was all just an elaborate dream. The sweet bundle of a mare against him, having achieved nearly everything one could want and more. Friends, love, a career – was this even a career? …Did it matter if it wasn’t? Did he even achieve all of this?

Arin sighed. Commending himself in his mind did nothing but inflate his ego. Instead, he turned his thoughts towards his failings, and where he could improve.

He missed his first ever friend, Princess Celestia. Without her, things just weren’t the same. And he knew trouble lurked just beyond the shadows, too – the pressure from politics, the stress of a recession, all of this took their toll from the Alicorn against his chest. He wasn’t a hero, nor a king, or even some kind of weird fated Seraph chosen by destiny. In the end, after all that’s happened… Arin was still just a clueless commoner snapped up in the midst of a struggle, like all those around him. He was just a tad more lucky than most, and surrounded by amazing ponies that made the world a place worth living. But still… he almost felt forced into the role.

It seems as if everyone he knew in the Castle made some sort of sacrifice, or played a bigger part than he did during the war. Even though he literally died, he recovered and bounced back for the better. Twilight and her friends essentially prevented well over two thirds of Leotoln’s forces from breaching Equis. Celestia sacrificed herself to save her sister from being banished once more, not to mention guided her units with impeccable leadership. Luna had to slave away at all hours to keep the world at peace, after the battle. Even during the war, Vapor Cloud and Honey Rose played their parts – either protecting the Princesses or tending to the wounded. What did he do? Die, let Celestia get banished, then pop back up at the last moment to kill his father.

Luckily, Leotoln was such a rotten piece of filth that even his own men began to despise him. Again, ‘luckily’. How long until ‘lucky’ just didn’t cut it anymore? How many times can you just ‘get lucky’ before that runs short? How many close calls? In another reality, Arin would have passed away, and none would have survived the onslaught.

Luna could have died. Would have died. Many did die. And he couldn’t let that happen again. For years, he sat on these thoughts. Celestia would still be here if he had just followed orders, and not let his emotions get the best of him. Maybe from another angle, his brashness saved them – as it allowed him to Ascend.

Unpleasant thoughts soon fell to the side, as his mind grew hazy with sleep. For now, he put this stress to the void – he’d make up for it. He’d work with Twilight every step of the way to help free his friend, or turn the tides on the political drama. He’d even take Umbra on her… date, as weird as it would be dating his close friend and Spymaster, if it meant relieving an ounce of stress from Luna’s shoulders. If she agreed to this debacle at all.

When he awoke, Luna was now laying over him. Her soft muzzle an inch from his lips, the bags under her eyes lifted slightly. At some point, she must have woken up to drag herself to the window, and move the moon into place – the sun now resting beyond the horizon. Gently, he drew his hand through her mane – sad to find the once ethereal strands still weak and lacking in their usual magical viscosity.

Her eyes cracked open, a small smile breaking on her lips. “Good evening, Arin,” she whispered, her hooves squeezing tighter around him. “How I have missed thee.”

He placed a gentle peck on her lips, happy to have such a warm bundle to wake up to. “I missed you too, my doting Princess. But I think it’s time to wake up. Did you sleep well?”

She averted her eyes. “In truth, this is one of the few times I could strive for such rest. My dreams are usually a chaotic mess of impending doom and lingering regrets, and tonight I was happy to find them peaceful and quiet. Just knowing you are here, has set my soul at peace. But I find it unlikely to last.”

His digits scratched gently behind her ears, helping calm her worries. “I thought you excelled at dream crafting? Couldn’t you prevent your own nightmares?”

Luna gave a small frown, shaking her head. “Not lately. Not since my Sister…” She had trouble finishing the statement, her head pulling up as her hoof traced his chest. “I’ve just been under too much duress to sleep unburdened, I feel. It’s as if the toils of the world have drained me of my magic. My heart is heavy, and with only the comforting thoughts of knowing I will see you again… I can be at peace, now, at least. Until the stress comes once more, and my emotions begin to best me.”

The Knight gave a reassuring smile, cupping her cheek in his palm. “Hey, you know what we could both use right now? Something to eat, friends and company to help lighten the mood, and a night off. The Crowning Ceremony in Alma Sol took several hours too long, and ending the Civil War was a world’s worth of effort. I could use some time to unwind, too.”

She nodded, resting her head on his chest once more. “Will you carry me? I do not deem my legs fit for the stairs, nor my magic sufficient to land us upon the step of the Dining Hall.”

“Ha! I’ve been carrying you all day; another minute shouldn’t be a problem. Let’s be quick. If I’m right, Honey Rose should just about now start bothering Twilight about something at the table, and I really want to see what antics she’ll pull tonight. It’s been too long since I caught the show.”

Luna let him stand unburdened, the Seraph quickly donning his armor once more. Just his usual vest this time; he didn’t need his full gear for food. Soon, she was carried in the bridal position – a nice change from being his personal backpack. With her hooves around his neck, her horn sparkled; throwing open the latch to the balcony, before clicking the door shut behind them.

With a flap of wings and the whoosh of wind blowing through the air, they soon touched down on the lower terrace of the Guest Wing. From there, a short walk East brought them back to the all too familiar feast table; sparsely occupied by Vapor Cloud, Honey Rose, Umbra, and Twilight.

“Aha! You finally made it! I was wondering when the drama would start!” Honey clopped her hooves together, and that’s when Arin remembered.

Oh yeah. Umbra wanted to ask Luna a very off-putting and worrying question. Gently, he placed Luna on her favorite pillow (the only blue one at the entire table) and took his seat by her side.

Umbra, as stone faced as ever, drifted her eyes to the more cognizant – and now confused – Luna.

“Good evening Luna. I believe that Vapor Cloud requested my abilities as a Spymaster to help scour the Nobles of Canterlot for signs of treachery. I had agreed to do so, on one condition…”

Oh no. Don’t do it, Umbra.

“I had requested the services -” Why does she have to word it that way “of a Life Partner.”

Luna blinked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “And?”

“I was informed that I was to choose one I share traits and history with. I choose Arin. I wish for him to take me on… a ‘date’.”

Arin turned to stone, as Luna’s head ever so slowly turned to look up at her Knight. Then back to Umbra. Once more, back to her now profusely sweating Knight.

Honey Rose snorted, as her cute foal began to crawl over her lap. The little bundle of pink and purple babbling while her mother desperately fought off the urge to laugh. Vapor Cloud looked like he had nothing but fear for Arin’s safety.

“And you say your ability to haunt the dark is worthy of stealing Our Knight from Us.” Luna inquired. There was a creeping malice in her voice, one that filled him – and some of the others – with a small sense of dread.

Umbra nodded. Her green eyes flashing with… curiosity, perhaps.

“And that this is the only thing you desire, to take upon such a task.”

Again, the gray mare nodded.

“Vapor Cloud, may I order Capital Punishment upon these Nobles instead?” Luna said, her face turning to a sneer as she looked to her Guard Captain.

“You would honestly doom potentially dozens of mares and stallions – without direct proof confirming their guilt – over giving up Arin for a night.” Vapor Cloud looked on in shock, horror, and perhaps bald-faced amazement over how serious she was.

“Well, when you word it in such blunt terms…” The Princess was left at a loss, but she didn’t immediately dismiss the idea.

“I thought as such, Princess Luna. That is why I decided to reinforce my request with information, particularly of the sort of what I found under your bed while you were both sleeping?” Umbra smiled, fangless after her transformation from Umbrum to pony - but still, it was quite scary.

“You wouldn’t dare.” The Princess’s eyes narrowed, her irises turning to slits as her horn gave a sharp crackle. Umbra held her smirk with satisfaction.

“Wait, what’s under Luna’s bed?” Arin asked, looking between them both. Now it was Luna’s turn to grow nervous, the air heavy with rising tension – swiftly dropping the act to not push Umbra’s hoof. The gray Unicorn’s eyes settled on Arin.

“Perhaps I can show you. After all, I decided that the best blackmail is physical.”

Luna raised her hooves defensively, her determination wavering in mere moments. “Now now, Umbra, let us refrain from showing haste-”

“Then I believe I will be seeing Arin, alone, tomorrow. No later than three o’clock, at the front gate.” Umbra sat smug on her pillow, as the Castle’s chef appeared carrying cloches galore.

“If you turn over your leverage, I can be convinced.” Luna glared daggers through the former Umbrum, who raised a hoof to her chin in thought.

“If only we could strike a deal then. I would have my date, and you would have your Spymaster, and your body pi-”

Luna’s magic swirled around Umbra’s mouth, before snapping her jaws shut. Arin quietly chewed on his loaf of bread as they fought. Well, they DID fight, but clearly, Umbra won.

“Fine. We shall grant thy request. Thee will have thy date with my Knight. He will return unharmed, and more importantly – unmolested. Understood?” Luna ripped the bread from Arin’s hand, glaring daggers at him, too – murderous eyes nearly piercing the innocent Knight. His now empty palm fell by his side, looking a little forlorn at his lack of loaf. “Do not think that We will forget thy silence in this matter, Sir Arin.”

“Very well. After our date, I will begin my research. And return your possessions.” Umbra scooped up a spoonful of delicate broth with a silver spoon, the appetizer to the main course. This level of smug could only be measured by the gallon, as it came off of Umbra in literal waves.

Luna pouted, ripping into the bread in frustration. She dunked it into the soup, the emotional trainwreck she was – and simply scowled at the more than pleased Umbra.

This reminded Arin much too much of Luna’s taunting, when Celestia was on her diet. How she would savor cake and enjoy every bite of her caloric dinner. Now, Umbra served a fresh dish of revenge; while not for Celestia’s sake, it did do the job of making his lover bitter. Perhaps much too bitter, as right now, he honestly felt like she could kill a pony.

But the better question that plagued Arin’s mind is… why not ask him, over their three years together in Erenorn? He’d have accepted then, if only to make her happy. After all, she was by now his closest friend. If anything, it felt like she did it to torment the already bone tired Princess.

Chapter 4 - Know thy Enemy

The trek back to the castle was a lot less reassuring than he’d like. How do you even approach something like this? ‘Oh hey Luna, how are you? Is that a knife? Wonderful, let’s put that away’ doesn’t seem productive for the long term. The Royal Guards saluted his entry without a second thought – and he wasn’t at all shocked to find Princess Luna waiting for him at the top of the throne room stairs.

‘Okay, think. Breathe. Let’s just move along, like a bad day should.’ He thought.

“Hey Luna.” He stepped right past her, keeping his eyes on the carpet.

“Arin, what troubles thee?” She quickly cantered to his side as he made his way down the halls. “Thou are stained! Tis not right. Did something occur?”

She was lying, that was much too obvious. She knew exactly what happened, just from her expression alone. At least, so she thought.

“Well. Turns out Umbra, one of my closest friends, thinks I’m incapable of uh… swooning a mare. She thinks I’m socially deaf. I mean… I don’t know what she expected. But you got your Spymaster now, right?”

Now it was Luna’s turn to feel smug. Her wings gave a flap, grin tugging at her cheeks. She quickly stifled her emotions, though, to instead comfort her sorrowful Knight.

“We are proud to say that We disagree!” She bounced ahead of him. Something about the way she spoke, it really made him think that she wasn’t in full control of her actions. Yesterday, she sounded fine – better than fine, in fact, but only when he arrived. She was ecstatic to even be around him, and… she didn’t speak using the royal ‘We’. Something must have gone wrong during the night.

Maybe Umbra had a point. She wasn’t just tired or stressed. Her mood swings were affecting her in ways beyond just her emotions, and it really began to show. Maybe he could do a little spying of his own…

Or. They were both just reading too much into it - Twilight too, if she agreed. And Luna was just a sleep deprived mess. That was still very well a possibility.

“Heh, always by my side, just like I’m at yours, right Princess?” He smiled up at her, trying to sound genuine. Her smile grew wide and eager, reaching up to place a hoof against his chest. Again, that nagging feeling came back. Something was wrong about that smile, and he just couldn’t place it.

She seemed to read his face rather well, and her happiness fell away in a moment’s notice. Her hoof dropped to the floor, worry creeping into her voice. “Is there an issue, my Knight?”

“Yeah, I’m covered in coffee, and I feel like a mess. Just having a bad day, that’s all.”

“Do not fret; the night will soon settle thee in its comforting embrace. Perhaps now thee will find proper rest, at our wayside. Come! I must hold… Court, and I will need you at my call. And We order that you clean yourself while in Our presence. It is most befitting to be prim and proper for Us.”

Okay. Umbra had a point. Luna was acting strange. Best to just play along and keep her calm, while the former Umbrum could work on a solution. Maybe sitting through court would give him a better idea of what’s wrong, anyway.

So in the meantime… best to suck it up, and follow orders. Within reason. She turned on her heels, making her way down the hall in slow, regal steps. That reminded him… wasn’t Day Court usually held in the mornings? It was nearly five o’clock. By the time ponies finally had the chance to stroll in, it would be approaching nightfall.

Arin made his way through the halls, towards the nearest balcony. It didn’t matter which – Luna needed him more than ever to help keep the peace. Especially when she may be the one disrupting it.

Fresh fitted clothes rested under his armor, showered and free of coffee once again. Arin had made his way back to the throne room, and now stood on her right. Stood. She wouldn’t let him sit today, as much as he’d like to. Wings had spoiled him, and he found walking, or even standing – a chore more than ever. And just as he thought, Luna had already begun the process of setting the sun as Court fell in session. Apparently, no one cared what hour it was held – problems were problems, and always had a time to be addressed.

The first pony approached – an older unicorn mare, with the assistance of her walker. She adjusted her glasses and took in the navy Princess with a frown.

“You’re not Celestia. You must be her Sister! Do you want a toffee, dear?” she asked. Luna only watched at the feeble elderly, the question going right over her head.

“Well, if you won’t partake, Luna – I’ll have one.” Arin smiled, opening his palm. The old Unicorn gently. Slowly. Ever so steadily levitated the treat to his hand. The entire process left Luna sighing in frustration, and just before he could close his fingers around the candy – Luna’s magic swatted it out of the way.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry. I must have slipped; my horn is all old and cracked. Let me get you another,” she said in a hoarse voice, but was quickly interrupted by Luna.

“We do not have time for these games. Speak thy request to Us, or my Knight will escort thou from Our sight.”

“Uh, Luna. Moony. Moonbutt. I’m not gonna throw out an old lady.” Arin frowned, adding as many pet names as possible. Keep her calm, he needed to inspect her behavior. Evidence was evidence to him, after all.

“You will do as you are commanded. But We are patient. Speak.” Luna’s heavy eyes rested on the poor grandma before her, who chattered through the whistling of her teeth.

“Well, you see Princess, I went to pay my bills the other day, but the rent has gone up again. My grandson can’t help me this month, and I wanted to know what I could do? If I miss this rent, my landlord is going to put me on the streets. My savings started to run low, last year thereabouts, when I had to pay out of pocket to replace my furniture. My insurance wouldn’t cover it from a house fire, you see-”

“Silence. We do not care for those who can not care for themselves. I decree that thee must find work, if thy savings are insufficient. You are dismissed.”

“Luna, that’s a bit rough, don’t you think? She’s an old lady, cut her some slack.” Arin turned to face her, forcing the Princess to reply in a cool voice.

“We do not recall asking for thy advice.” Her voice was as chilly as steel, and cutting, too. Arin clicked his tongue, and – following in Celestia’s foot… er… hoofsteps, he withdrew his small bag of bits.

“Here, this should keep you afloat until you find a better solution. Alright? If I recall correctly, there should be at least three hundred and sixty bits here. Will that work?”

The old lady held the money aloft in her teal aura, her heart melting. “You don’t have to do this dear, they’re your bits. I’ll be sure to scrounge some up.”

“No no, please. I insist.”

She gave the warmest smile she could muster. “Thank you. You remind me of my Grandson, when he used to visit. But here.” She bowed her head to Arin, pressing the coinpurse back into his palm, as the Knight returned to his post. Luna watched in mild amusement.

“Attempting to squander thy pay will earn thee no favors.” She smirked. “Especially if thy continues to go against my wishes.”

“I’m sorry Luna. It won't happen again,” he said. Okay, bad move. But he’ll recover from this, and keep her happy. Maybe the positive example didn’t work, but he could be kind in her steed. He just needed time for Umbra to come up with a plan, before she became irredeemable. It’s not like she could be thrown out of the castle or something; wait, could she?...

Even now, she looked sickly. There wasn’t a stir to her mane, and her fur looked dulled. How long has this been going on? There’d only be one way to find out, too. He’d have to speak with Vapor Cloud or Twilight, whenever Luna grew bored of dealing with the populace.

Which turned out to be pretty quick. Luna soon found the will to call out to her advisor; well, more so her Sister’s old advisor – just as she finished raising the moon for the night, the image of a mare still ever present.

Quill Shine approached the throne with a bow, her black mane aged with a few gray streaks from her tenure at the castle. “Yes, my Princess?” She called out, her clipboard levitating before her in a thin blue aura.

“Dismiss the court. We grow weary of imparting wisdom.” Luna waved with her hoof, slumping forward with exhaustion. The mare looked fit to collapse at the moment, and while Miss Shine looked worried – she tarried at Luna’s hooves.

“Are you sure, Princess? Per my last report, the populace has shown a growing distaste for your leadership. Without a way to voice their worries to you, their opinion will only sink lower with time. Especially if you continue to actively dismiss their complaints.”

Another shift in the Princess’s mood started to settle in, a long sigh following. “I’m much to weary to handle these growing concerns. I feel as if my head is fit to burst, and I can hardly lift a quill. I am growing desperate for sleep, proper sleep, which has evaded me these last few months, Lady Quill Shine.”

Her Knight turned to face her, curious now more than ever. Her demeanor had flipped on its head yet again – from elegant, cruel royalty to a soft-willed mare in mere moments. Her scowl had sunk away, replaced with timid angst playing at her features. And she looked absolutely fragile; a stiff wind may blow her over, coupled with her speech losing its elegant, royal ‘We’.

“Very well then, Princess. I will see to it that the Court is closed for the evening.” Quill gave one last bow, slipping her clipboard into her business satchel before returning up the royal red carpet.

“Arin…” Luna said quietly, beckoning her Knight. “Will you carry me? I feel ill…”

The Seraph in question paused, before traveling up the throne and scooping the mare up in his arms. With a heartfelt sigh, he held her to his chest. “Alright. Let’s head to dinner, you look half starved.”

“I’m not hungry. I just want… I need to sleep. I feel cold.”

Indeed, she was shivering like a leaf now. If anything, she could be sick. Could Alicorns even become sick? How do you check a pony’s temperature? These were all questions that stirred in Arin’s mind, as he made extra sure to carry Luna as quietly as he could through the castle corridors. Heavy sleeper or not, he made the effort not to stir her from a new, fitful doze.

While he had no reason not to trust Umbra - who had been a pillar of honesty since the day they met, he wanted to do a little investigating on his own to be sure. With the night mare unconscious, he might be able to prod for answers from Vapor Cloud. While the Captain wouldn’t be direct evidence in Umbra’s favor, he would definitely support her theory if he could confirm changes in Luna’s behavior.

His wings wrapped tight around Luna’s now unconscious form, embracing her in warm feathers once again. The stairs to her tower were always a daunting climb, but he couldn’t just teleport her to bed. Arin’s magic was strong, but it would take several more years until he was half as gifted as a court mage. Besides, he missed this feeling of holding her. Maybe he should bathe her, too. She’d like that, if she didn’t slip under the water and drown when he wasn’t looking.

Gently, the Knight placed his Princess on her bed – her sheets drawn tight over her form. He had things to do before he could sleep, so he made an effort to hunt for a thick comforter. Luckily, the closet had a spare blanket for the winter, and when she was snug, he ran his fingers through her mane before making his way to the door.

When his hand touched the handle, he stopped. A pause. Chills shot up his spine, as that dreadful feeling began to build up within him again. He froze on the spot, feeling Luna’s eyes burrowing into his back. The soft creak of springs in the mattress followed, as the night-time Princess leaned forward, sitting straight in the bed.

His fingers tightened over the handle – heart hammering in his chest, he slid quickly from the room – not once looking back to meet her watchful gaze.

When the door slid shut behind him, he honestly felt like a child all over again – when he was in the darkness of night alone, the sounds of rustling leaves setting his mind alight with the possibilities of ambush from beast or bandit; or the quiet creak of floorboards in his own home, the house shifting and settling with thoughts of demons or ghouls plaguing the walls. He could swear he heard a faint ringing in his ears, with how quiet the world was now. But the dread soon fizzled away, with each step he took down the flights of the spiral staircase.

The sight of guards eased his mind, but the light of the dining hall banished the fear creeping up on him in the shadows. Umbra wasn’t present – it was likely she was out on a mission tonight. Instead, it was just Honey Rose, Vapor Cloud – and strangely enough – Quill Shine.

He sat by Luna’s pillow, feeling cold. Immediately, Honey’s eyes set on him, and the questioning began.

“Hey Arin! You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Wait, there aren’t ghosts in this castle, are there? I HATE ghosts. They scare me worse than killer-ponies with facemasks and hockey sticks!”

“Dear, we’ve been over this – those are hockey players.” Vapor Cloud said, shuffling through a small stack of paperwork on the table.

“Still! One smack from that club, and BAM! I’m drinking maple syrup with the bugbears.”

Sweet Dream – surprisingly awake – mimicked the ‘BAM’ with a babbling giggle. Crawling over her Mother’s legs to explore the world around her.

“See? Like Mother like Daughter.” She ran her hoof over the little filly – her adorable wings fluffing out in delight. She even had tiny, apple-shaped cheese crackers to much on, which had made a total mess of Honey’s side of the table. Or… were those Honey’s snacks? After Arin considered it, they were likely for both of them.

“Arin, I was hoping to speak with you regarding your public appearances in Canterlot. Among other things, of course.” Quill Shine interrupted, leaning over the table. Really, this part of the castle was by far his most visited – it wasn’t a shock she’d look for him here.

“Alright, shoot.”

“As you are likely aware, after the invasion of your people – Seraphs are lacking in a positive reputation. Yes, you are still considered Luna’s Knight, even after the incidents – but ponies as a whole tend to have a short memory when it comes to such ceremonies. As such, I would advise that you spend more time away from the castle, preferably in the public eye. Perhaps you could volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, or during these times of peace – seek work at a more customer oriented setting? Of course, these suggestions are just that; suggestions. And I have no control over what you decide to do. But if you find your legs weary, it would benefit Luna’s reputation. Speaking of which…”

Quill Shine withdrew her notes from her satchel. “I wanted to discuss this with Luna in particular. But I know you have a close relationship with her, and she might pay more attention to your words rather than my own. Unlike Celestia, Luna – at the very beginning of her tenure – had a poor public rating. In my surveys, I found that their primary concerns were her lack of experience, and her inability to withstand pressure. This wasn’t the case, of course; but with time, the worries evolved into more serious accusations.”

She slid a well formatted paper to Arin’s hands, detailing a few scant graphs and charts – along with an overall result – of ‘the Pony’s Global Opinion of Princess Luna’. Now, he wasn’t well indoctrinated with noble talk or business leadership – but he felt like he should be wearing a fancy suit when reading this paper. He’s seen business ponies wear them before, after all. Well, the jacket and tie part, at least.

“Let’s start with the simple things. I created this report three months after the war, to summarize the Princess’s ability to lead a nation. This includes data from her first day, until Neighvember – a few weeks passed Nightmare Night. As you can see from the bar graph, her approval at the start was relatively low – hugging close to the high forty percent range. But with steady work, she managed to raise it as high as sixty percent. Now, that’s nothing spectacular – though definitely lower than Celestia’s eighty percent average – but what’s odd is the following months.”

She withdrew a second document, this being the quarterly review. “This is from last year, and includes Luna’s approval ratings from the last four seasons. Typically, this should be consistent – with maybe a small spike in summer reviews, as ponies are happier during the warmth months – but it shows a steady decline. She began at sixty three percent approval, and by the end of that year, it had dropped again to forty percent. This can be attributed to the slow introduction of radio technology, but I measure approval from all sources. I’m Princess Celestia’s top advisor for a reason.

“The fourth pie chart on that page indicates the Pony’s most prevalent issues when attending Day Court. It’s the main reason why we host Day Court, as this data reflects the citizens as a whole. I had expected, when compiling this data, to be the economy as the core issue – but it wasn’t. I have five categories at which I define Equestria’s problems; economy, leadership, health and security, and education. Of these, leadership is almost never an issue. But as you can see from this report… the main gripes of the citizens became leadership over the course of one season.”

She withdrew a flier of a Noble House – a name Arin recognized, Topaz Jewels.

“At first, I was right to believe that fliers like these – supplied by Nobles with their own agendas – were the cause. But it wasn’t. Princess Luna’s behavior on the throne was causing the most outcry from the public, as some days, she would simply ignore requests from her ponies. Or outright punish them, for no clear reason. At which point, a flier like this – calling Princess Luna a tyrant – was true, and not just political mudslinging.”

She let Arin keep the flier, as she presented the last piece of evidence. “These are Luna’s approval ratings now.”

Taking the page from her, he knew trouble was brewing the moment his eyes trailed over the document. “Fourteen percent?”

Quill Shine nodded. “If it falls any lower, there could be some serious issues stemming from this. You see, Princess Celestia had implemented fail safes in case of total public relations disaster. Specifically, if her ability to lead faltered with the passage of time – due to mental illness, or simply becoming a dictator – that an approval rating of less than ten percent at the end of a year’s quarter would open the polls for Democracy; leadership by an elected President. These notions were entered into the Supreme Court five years ago, by the Noble House of Goldshoes – and she agreed. Simply put, it would never happen. Not with Princess Celestia’s leadership.

“But… this isn’t Princess Celestia leading her ponies. This is her Sister, Princess Luna. If measures aren’t taken soon, in less than thirty days, Princess Luna could be forced to run against Nobles in an election. If she loses said election, not only would the Princess lose the castle – but so would her Sister, upon her return. Princess Celestia would have no right to take back the throne, either – as a new President can simply impose both of their leadership as unfit, or even strike old laws from the record. This would put the entirety of Equestria at the hooves of… really, whoever can steal the most votes. You should know by now, Sir Arin, that Nobles do not play fair in politics.”

Food had already arrived at the table as they spoke. Vapor Cloud – either already aware of the problems mounting or simply too focused on his paperwork – idly chewed at a bite of Carrot Wellington. Honey Rose fed her foal, and Arin simply ignored his platter.

“Well then, what do you suppose we do?” He shuffled forward, resting his elbows on the table. Crossing his fingers, he was all ears to suggestions.

“All methods I’ve taken to improve her public relations have fallen, as she seems to be growing unable to handle the workload given to her. I’m not saying the situation is dire – but if we don’t stabilize her relations to at least eleven percent, then legally, there is nothing else I can do or say. I may not even be employed here by Hearth’s Warming. Which is why I also recommend you seek work experience here, in Equestria.”

He twiddled his thumbs for a moment, sighing. “Does Luna know?” He looked to Vapor Cloud, who spat out his fork.

“A dozen times over and more. Which is why I’m investigating these Noble lines so harshly; if I can find proof of their dealings with enemies of the public, then we can toss them in a cell to rot. Which will hopefully buy us enough time to tug Celestia out of the moon before Luna snaps.”

Aha! Just what he needed to hear. “Snaps? Please explain.”

“Well, the last year has been pretty rough on her. I honestly think this job is killing her. It all started around the time Twilight began to experiment on the moon to free Celestia. And while I’m loyal to Princess Luna, I’m not the biggest fan of the way she’s been treating us lately.” He motioned a hoof between him and Honey, who nodded.

“Yeah! She’s banned me from carrying sponges around! I mean, I wasn’t doing anything illegal with them. At least, not in the books.” Honey scowled, her little filly – bouncing on her lap – mimicking her face with absolute perfection. Another soft head pat for her daughter was quickly rewarded.

“And she cut my pay in half. I mean, it doesn’t matter really – Honey and I live here for free, and we’re taken care of. But it’s going to affect our retirement funds in the future.” Vapor scowled, sighing. “She thinks the work is rewarding enough. Like simply doing as she says is some kind of blessing. I miss having date nights, y’know? Had to cut back on them and a lot of other things, too.”

“Like premium nappies for Sweet. Isn’t that right, smelly?” Honey hugged her daughter in her hooves, who squeed at the attention.

Arin sighed, rubbing his temples free of the mounting stress. What did he walk into?

“Alright. I need some time to come up with a plan. And maybe I’ll take your advice and work outside the castle for a bit. I have one place in mind that I could try, too."

Chapter 5 - Hearth

Umbra kept close to the shadows as she silently made her way through the Manor’s halls. It wasn’t difficult finding entry into the Goldshoes estate – the richest of ponies were often the least weary of their safety. Well, when they weren’t antagonizing the poor of course.

Her green eyes peered through the dark, ears on constant swivel as she ignored the valuable artwork and vases that lined the halls. Ornate tables and busts working as obstacles rather than cover. Past the corner of the center southern hall, she spotted the freestanding fire of the living room sparking away at fresh wood; her green eyes gleaming at the reflection of the dancing flames. The chimney pierced through the roof in a more modern, centerpiece design that lit the living room like a proper hearth should.

A pepper maned gold-colored Unicorn, undoubtedly Sir Goldshoes himself, sat quietly on the overly luxurious couch. Sipping away at a glass of wine, alone. She didn’t come here unprepared – Umbra knew this stallion had a wife, an overgrown ‘child’, and three to six security guards on duty at any given time. It wasn’t hard to take note of schedules; guards often worked on rotations, usually patrolling the grounds every ten minutes. The interior of the halls would be mostly unprotected. The only thing she had to worry about was restless hooves in the night, and being seen by said hooves. Her magic had muted her sound, leaving her undetectable to the unaware.

She could spot her target; a desk sitting elevated over the tile floor, raised on a small stage-like structure surrounded by books. That may be her second stop, at least – it was likely that there would be at least two offices to serve Goldshoe’s needs; a reading room, and a proper office to handle the financial side of things. Considering how he was currently reading a book, this was likely to be the public space reading room. His real work would be tucked away in a secure location, where he could hold quiet meetings without many ears listening in.

He had two floors to his home; it was probably true she’d find his study above, as he’d more than likely entertain guests on the spacious bottom floor. But the problem she faced now was reaching the upper halls quietly.

Her eyes scanned over the windows, taking in the ambient light of the moon. Just enough shadow cover to slip by, if she took her dark form. As if awakening the instinct within her, her body melded into the ambiance of the pitch. Quickly darting under an overly fancy elm table, the whip of her shadows nearly tipped over a vase – which luckily settled in place over the gold-laced red tablecloth.

Regardless, the stir made Goldshoe’s eyes dart up from his book, looking to the hallway with mild interest.

“I need to hire a carpenter to fix that rattling window already,” he said quietly to himself, as Umbra wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, just on the other side of the hall.

Reinforcing her Silent Steps spell, she continued to explore unseen. Guest room, guest room… this section of the manor seemed to be strictly housing. Her best bet would be to find the kitchen; there would be a staff staircase there, for sure, and it wasn’t likely more than a single servant was awake at the moment. If he even retained any overnights, that is. The only other option would be the large marble staircase in the living room, which was far too exposed.

Her luck shined as she found the dining room at the end of the hall; the kitchen door just beyond it. But another problem… The light of the fire washed the room through the large doorway, right in front of Goldshoe’s perch. She could spot the kitchen’s door handle, at least – and gave it a turn with magic. The creak of the hinges silenced by her emerald aura. She would have to turn completely invisible for this, which meant she’d have to slip on some covers for her noisy hooves.

Her horn glowed quietly, withdrawing four pieces of hoofwear. Thick, heavy socks – mid-leg height to prevent slipping. She didn’t know why, but something about wearing wool socks like this made her feel more… seductive, than anything. And even with her new tools, she had to tread slow and steady. The last thing she needed was to fall onto the polished floor, or make too much muffled noise.

The main problem with this approach was cost. Invisibility drained magic quickly, especially when moving. She was an extremely talented Unicorn, with powers to rival perhaps a Princess – but some spells were incredibly complex without extremely rare potions to aid in casting them. You’d have to be rich to afford a few hours worth of a chameleon potion, and those were bits she simply didn’t have. Even Vee, a close ally like her, wouldn’t grant her something like that; which could pay rent for a season alone with the price tag tied to it.

Slowly, quietly, with her horn twinkling absorbed by the spell – she stepped through the light of the fire. One hoof at a time, it was similar to holding one’s breath. A dozen hooves distance, and she was already beginning to sweat. She felt the familiar pinch of magic exhaustion rapidly rising, horn threatening to give as she nearly flashed her body back into sight.

But she made it. Stifling her panting, she took off of her socks one by one – returning them to her bag. The kitchen was thankfully left unattended, save for a single sleeping mare at a prep table. Umbra’s horn refitted the silent steps spell, and she quickly made her way up the service stairway to her left.

She arrived on the second floor without trouble, breathing a sigh of relief. Peeking into the southern hall, she was happy to find it empty. Next stop… checking doors.

The study was likely to be in the corner of the manor, likely overlooking the street in the north – since the southern section was more housing and frivolous niceties. It could be used in this position to keep track of guests and keep an ear out for arrivals. The living room lay beyond a rail below, circling around the rooms and giving plenty of headway for guests and talk. Since she was more towards the center of the south western corridor, she’d have to keep low, but otherwise, it was easy enough to dart along the darkened hall unimpeded.

Passing quietly overhead, the north west door was a bust – it was simply a dress room and lounge, to experiment with overly fancy dress suits. But with no interruptions, she was quick to check the north east door – sighing in frustration. Locked. Of course. She could pick it with magic – but there was a high chance it would alert Goldshoes below.

She approached the rail behind him, weighing her options. In Erenorn, she would have just killed any Seraph that prevented her from attaining her goals – it didn’t matter, she felt little remorse for their kind. But Equestria was different. Regardless of her life before Canterlot, she couldn’t fall back into her old ways. She was a changed mare; not the hired killer she used to be to pay the bills, years past. On top of that, Goldshoes would probably need to stand trial for his crimes, and it would be significantly harder to pin him for anything if he was discovered dead on the floor.

Instead, she spotted the open bottle of wine, resting lazily in the ice bucket on top of the arm table to his right.. A flick of her horn, and it toppled over – Goldshoes yelping as it clattered to the floor with a crash.

“Ah, f- Tensil! Get the rags, I knocked over the wine again!” he yelled, his voice covering the sound of the crack of magic against the lock. And just like that, she was in. The study had two windows out, as well – and she made sure to turn the now tapped lock behind her. It would buy her time if needed, and she had no intention of going back the way she came.

Umbra began her search properly, checking first the desk – and when that turned up empty, the bookshelves. There, the stalion had left a ledger.

“What are you hiding here, I wonder?” she whispered to no one in particular, flipping the pages through in the dim light of the moon. Her eyes were sharp in the shadows – and she was pleased to find something to back up Vapor’s claims.

It was a receipt dated three years, four months prior – coupled with a few notes left forgotten. Simply put, he had the schematics of a lightning tower on hoof, which wasn’t weird on its own – after all, the Goldshoes Estate ran investments in infrastructure and power. But, the design is what gave away its intentions. Simply put, this was likely to be used to harness vast amounts of power, with no intention of storing it for commercial or residential use. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

The materials receipt confirmed it; one of the key purchases was for mass amounts of copper, and Enchanter’s Orbs. Essentially, dozens of small gems fitted together in gold, meant to temporarily store vast quantities of magical energy.

She made a rough duplicate of the book, using her magic. The duplicate would stay, while the original fitted snugly in her satchel. As she went to put away the fake, the slight edge of a letter caught her eye from just behind the books.

She looked over the seal with mirth. Alma Sol’s crest, she’d recognize it anywhere. After all, it’s where she resided between her missions these last three years. She didn’t even need to read it. But she had one last thing she needed to do, before darting out the window into the night.

Umbra’s horn glowed, withdrawing a camera from her satchel. She set the fake ledger and letter on the table next to each other, with Goldshoe’s seal resting right on top. In his office, with his name right there, on his desk, facing the camera. Bold evidence of his involvement in at least the attack on the Crystal Empire.

She closed the curtains, before clicking picture after picture of evidence, adding a duplicate letter behind the shelf before stuffing everything in her bag. With the light of the camera’s flash blocked by heavy curtains, she did it all without a fuss. It only took a few moments to remove any traces of her interference, and with the window unlocked – she waited for her break in the security’s patrol.

The soft swoosh of shadows filled the night, landing on the ground well past the gates with a hoof clattering thud. Her horn twinkled and closed the window behind her; gone without a trace.

Tomorrow night, Topaz Jewels. She thought to herself, giving her tail a flick. Stepping proudly down the road unseen, and unheard.

Luna’s door was locked once again, at Arin’s return. So he put together a comfortable pillow fort to rest for the night; and when dawn came, he was gone. On the road to Canterlot, alone – and with one destination in mind.

The tinkle of the bell above Vee’s shop stirred the dozing pegasus from her nap.

“Bold of you to come in here, into my open shop, during my pretend sleep!” she called to Arin, lifting her hat from her eyes. “Oho! Loverboy, back at it again. I’m afraid I ate all my roses, though, if you’re looking to make it up to Umbra. Also, I don’t sell roses.”

“No no, I came here looking for a job.” Arin smiled. Vee simply blinked up at him.

“D’ohoho! That’s a good one, Tall-fry. Next you’re going to tell me you’re serious, and that you’re good at sweeping up feathers.” Vee gazed right through him, the bags under her eyes nearly dragging her face back down to the counter.

“Er… I’m serious. And uh… actually, yes, I’m pretty good at sweeping up feathers,” he said, flicking his wings behind him.

“Welcome aboard then! Unfortunately, we’re not hiring, so you’ve been promoted to customer.” She shooed him with a hoof. But it had little effect on the Seraph.

“I have a good knowledge of Canterlot’s layout from my study as a Knight, and can run deliveries for you?”

“Well, you push a hard bargain! You’ll start immediately. Your first job, get out. You’re fired, we can’t afford you.” Vee raised a tired wing to her muzzle, preening away.

“What? Are you bankrupt or something?”

“Haha! Yes, actually. If you hadn’t noticed, ponies tend to snoot their bits into bags when times are tough. Or purses. Or banks. I don’t suppose you excel at robbing any of those for me, huh, Tall-fry? The pay is nothing, as I’m still broke.” She motioned with her wing, forcing a frown to form on Arin’s cheeks.

“Well, normally at this point, I’d give up and move on. Buuut…”

“Oho! I like where this is going! Please, finish your but.” She smiled now, lifting her coffee mug to her muzzle in her wing. She really enjoyed using them, for just about… well, everything, when she could.

Arin withdrew a bag of coffee beans from the satchel at his side. It was marked with Celestia’s cutiemark, sealed tight. Immediately, Vee’s purple eyes shot open.

“Royal Coffee? Hrmhmhm! I see. Now, I would ask where, but I think I’ve got a clear picture of where’d you snoot that up. But! I’m still not hiring. Though I know a Smol-fry who is! Pumpkin!” Vee shouted with a flap of her wings.

The orange mare appeared from the Kitchen’s doorway, saluting – her oversized hat tumbling to the ground. She tucked it back over her brown and red mane, returning to her serious pose. “Reporting for duty!”

“Hire this Tall-fry! That’s an order!” Vee stuck out her hoof, as Arin set the payment down into her eager grasp. Instantly, she tore the bag open – breathing deep. “Yes, on the double!”

“Vee, um… I-I work for you.”

“Oh.” She blinked, before shrugging. “Well, he’s going to be your new assistant in the kitchen. The pay is terrible and the hours are long, but that’s simply because you haven’t earned me any money.”

Pumpkin Spice’s green eyes stared up at the towering Seraph, blushing. “Gosh um… I-I’ve never had an assistant before. You’re s-so tall! Has anyone, um... told you that?”

“Actually, yes! Just now.” Arin smiled towards Vee. “Besides, I don’t just need a job. I actually came here specifically, because I need help with a project I have in mind.”

“Oho! I knew you were snooting up the right tree. Well Tall-fry, speak, or forever hold your feathers.” Vee had already stashed away her new beans, as she had coffee to attend to first. She’ll have to save them for a special, world saving occasion, probably. Or for casual moonday morning preening.

“Well, if you didn’t already know… Luna’s approval rating is kinda shot.”

“Yes yes, I read the news. Well, the comic section of the news. But it counts. I don’t trust those newfound radios. You can’t read them!” Vee nodded.

“I was looking to do a fundraiser, and with my experience in Erenorn – I’ve got the makings to be a wonderful baker. I can pay up front for all the supplies, too.” Arin placed his bag of bits in front of Vee, who picked it up with a wing. Giving it a gentle toss once – no, twice, she nodded.

“Three hundred and sixty seven.”

“How?…” Arin blinked, before Pumpkin chimed in.

“J-Just don’t question it. It um… w-will save your sanity. Now! Fundraiser, baking, all of this s-sounds great! I-I could use a… big, tall, strong Seraph like you to lift the heavy bags of flour in the kitchen.” She scratched the back of her head, hiding her blush. “I-I may be an Earth pony, but I-I struggle when it comes to heavy lifting, f-for um… magic reasons.”

“And that’s why you’ve got me! To mostly get in the way and eat your cookie dough,” Vee chirped, slurping lazily at her cuppa. “But now, if you’ll excuse me – I have some serious matters to attend to.”

Gingerly, her mug was returned to the coaster – adjusting it so that her ‘I Hate Mornings’ was left on proud display. Following that, her head flopped on the counter – a soft snore following. Pumpkin reached from just under the register, lifting Vee’s muzzle to set it on the cushion.

“J-Just don’t mind her. She has trouble sleeping at night, that’s when she’s most active. She’s a Night Witch, after all! And um… She's not really asleep. S-She likes to pretend.” Pumpkin smiled up at the Seraph, who couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It’s alright. Let’s just get started.” Arin smiled. Pumpkin gave a shy nod, before cantering into the kitchen – the Knight close behind.

Three hours passed under Pumpkin’s guidance. Arin was a bit rusty, since he hadn’t baked a thing in well over… ten years; that was his last employment with the baker of Milla Serine. Instead, the lil’ mare led the charge, mostly at her own discretion. She was pretty quick, too – cookies and blue cupcakes soon lined a small cart, one just her size. It even came equipped with a cauldron, meant to store drinks and punch for serving – but it was still a nice aesthetic to fit her getup.

“By the way, I never asked but… why do you dress like that? It’s the middle of summer. Surely you must be hot.” Arin said, as he placed little moons over the blue cupcakes. Cute decorations to help draw the eye and hopefully make an impact on their sales.

“W-Well, you see, I-I um... like to fly. And it’s pretty cold when I do.” She didn’t make eye contact with the Seraph, instead turning away to fiddle with her hat.

“…Do you have wings?” Arin asked. She was wearing a small orange vest against her cream coat, maybe something could be tucked under her clothes?

“N-No, I ride a broom!” She sparked, smiling through her cute stutter. “Vee taught me. Of course, it’s a um… trade secret, as she’d say. And I don’t think you’d n-need to learn how to do it, your wings are very big and… comfy looking.”

“So… a witch thing, then.”

“Yes!” Her hoof glowed softly, withdrawing a fresh batch of cookies from the oven in her magic. Another trade secret of course, but it did leave much to his imagination.

“Now um… I-I wanted to ask. How could a bake sale help P-Princess Luna? Are you her um… special somepony, a-and you’re saving up for a ring?…” She tapped her hooves together, smiling nervously up at the tall Ascended.

That question caught him off guard. Right now, he didn’t know what he was to her, from the way she’s been acting. At least, not in her own little world she’s stuck in. “It’s… complicated, to say the least. This is more so supposed to help her ratings with the public. There’s some laws that will come into effect if the populace disproves of her by the end of this summer, so I’m going to run as many fundraisers as I can under her name. As her Knight, I’m hoping to change some minds. I don’t know how many ponies there are in Equestria – but I need just a few to turn their heads her way, before it’s too late.”

Pumpkin Spice set a fresh batch of cookie dough into the oven, while Arin began to sift flour into a massive mixing bowl. Pumpkin had already pulled another cart from the closet, the duo working on filling that one too. Two carts, for a pony and a Seraph.

“Charity is always a good thing! B-But do you know where to um… send the bits?” Pumpkin asked, between dolloping spoons of cookie dough onto a freshly buttered sheet. She was quick with whatever magic she had, at least.

He frowned. “I hadn’t planned that far ahead. But you or Vee could help, I’m sure.”

“W-Will you donate it to an orphanage?” She dropped her spoon, facing Arin with hope in her eyes. “I… I came from one, more than a dozen years ago. Vee adopted me as her little Sister, and… I know none of the other orphans a-are doing well. I give what I can when I can, but even with m-my donations, it’s a struggle to feed the foals at night. With your help, we could make a real difference, and…”

Arin ruffled her hair through her large orange-red hat, forcing a blush on her cheeks. “Of course, ‘Small-fry’. It sounds like the perfect place to start. Anything that’s left can go straight to the orphans, too! I had it rough myself. When I was young, my mother… well, she was killed, and I’d like to avoid talking about my father. I know the feeling of being left on your own to fend for yourself. And I feel that Luna would have a soft spot for orphans, above all else. At least, I think she would.”

The witchy mare smiled up at him, before darting forward in a tight hug. “Don’t worry Arin! You’ve got m-my vote. For sure!” The little mare squeaked. “Er… for Princess Luna. Unless you want me to vote for you? In… whatever I’m voting for. I-Is it the general election?”

“I uh… actually don’t know myself. But once I do know, I’ll be sure to tell you.”

She replied with a nod, the duo setting back to work as quick as could be. Within the hour, both carts were decked with treats galore; cups lining the sides as Pumpkin prepared her portable cauldron with… pumpkin juice! She seems to be a very fall oriented pony.

“You know, autumn looks to be a few weeks away. And I’m not the best at understanding ponies, but you do know there are other seasons, right?” Arin questioned, leaving the little mare blushing.

“I-I know, I know. But I love fall! The u-um... leaves, the cool weather, the spooky holidays. I-It’s leagues better than summer, that’s for sure. All we have i-in summer is sweat, sunburn, and mosquitoes! Besides, I-I was both born, and later adopted, on the first of Cloptober.”

Vee’s head appeared in the window of the kitchen, “Don’t call it that, Small-fry. You’re too young for that.”

“That… Vee, that’s the actual name of the month. A-And I’m twenty?” Pumpkin turned to face her, but Vee merely wingshrugged before slowly slipping back down beneath the window. Very slowly. Her purple eyes watching her work.

“What’s wrong with ‘Cloptober?’” Arin tilted his head at the Pumpkin mare, who’s cheeks turned near crimson with blush.

“I um, u-uh, I… if um… you should ask Vee. Later. When I’m not t-there.” She reached under the counter – pulling a large box free, dangling it by a rope. It had a slot for coins, and a lock on the front – the perfect storage place for donations, if a little crude. She hung it over her neck, her blush slowly fading.

“Vee! We’re leaving!” she called, as the duo pushed their respective carts through the kitchen’s entryway into the lobby. To Arin, it felt odd – running a bake sale kinda hit him in the dignity. This felt like something children would do. But, it seemed like the best idea at the time. Something about ponies and their culture screamed ‘feed us treats and we’ll do whatever you want’.

“Oho! Done already? It’s only been…”

Vee looked at a watch strapped to her hoof, tilting her head left, then right – before realizing she drew said watch on. “Huh. Smol-fry, where’s my watch?”

“You were brewing a batch o-of potions when it slid off your uh… hoof, and fell in the cauldron. I think it’s because our hooves aren’t really meant for wrist watches.” Pumpkin hesitated by the door, lifting her hat with a hoof to look at her big sister.

“Oh yeah. Well then! I’ll check the wall clock.”

Vee looked up at the wall, a dust-free space where a clock used to hang being the closest indicator of the time. “Where’s the wall clock?…”

“You replaced your wrist watch by carrying the wall clock around your neck like a necklace. That, too, fell um… i-in the same batch of potion.”

“…The sun dial?”

“You tried to use it as a bath. Which, again, you should really stop doing. I-It then broke.”

“The neighbor’s clock I borrowed last week.”

“Same thing as the wall clock. By the way, y-you owe them a new clock.”

“Aha! Bills. My favorite thing. If I hated my favorite things, it would definitely be my favorite. Like taxes.” Vee started preening once more, another feather joining the pile on the floor. “Well then. Be back before it’s dark. Or don’t. I’m not rescuing you again.”

Pumpkin stopped at the door, “That was a public pool, Vee. Y-You slapped the lifeguard with a pool noodle until h-he banned us both from swimming there.”

“Well, he started it. D’ohoho! It’s fine, Small-fry. He quit last year, we can go back whenever. You two have fun! And Arin?”

“Yes, Vee-Ness?”

“If you’re going to work for me, you should keep a lucky feather on hoof. Never know when somepony is allergic to tickling, or you need to fly a feather faster. Here – this one will do!” She floated that very same feather she just preened into the air, and with a twirl of twine from under her counter – made a small bracelet from it. The Seraph received the gift through Vee’s magic, inspecting it before putting it on.

“Thanks… I guess?” Arin said, Pumpkin pushing the door open for him. Her cart bumped past, giving the Knight a chance to follow along into the late summer sun.

“You’re welcome, Tall-fry. I’ll see you tonight. Oh, and please – call me Vee. Or Purple. Because I’m Purple. I am very Purple.”

Chapter 6 - Pendulum

The fundraiser turned out to be a massive success. Even with ponies a little more prudent with their coin, and Arin being a little intimidating due to his height – fresh baked goods always attracted a crowd. Especially when the cupcakes were iced with buttercream made fresh, and the cookies were soft and chewy. Pumpkin truly outdid herself.

Spreading the word of Luna’s dear and precious Knight raising money for orphans was great for morale, as well. Especially when Pumpkin was adamant about his involvement in the process – and while Arin was a bit uncomfortable at the start, it quickly washed away after the tenth sale. Erenorn had little in the way of charity, except among Inerts – it was a refreshing change to see the community at large happy to help those a little less unfortunate. In exchange for a small dose of diabetes, of course.

They stuck close to the more commoner heavy part of town, under Arin’s advice. He was after the people’s - er… pony’s hearts – and commoners would always outweigh silver spooned idiots ten to one. And knowing at least three Noble houses would be gunning for an election, he didn’t want them in his business. If there was one thing Quill Shine was right about, it was that politics were underhanded and backstabbing. The last thing he needed was to run into some of their goons and start a fight – even if it was only in words.

He was trying to keep bad PR to a minimum, after all.

By the time the sun began to set, they scored at least 1,000 bits in sales, with one cupcake left to spare.

“Alright. I think I’ve got a plan. Tomorrow, I’ll hunt up a reporter for the Canterlot… what’s your newspaper called again?”

“T-The um… Canterlot Nicker.” Pumpkin nodded her head, Arin walking by her side.

“Yes, that – if they’re still in business, I’ll have a reporter join me for the donation. A little interview, a few words here and there – it will get the word out. That Luna still has a heart in her. I’ll just come up with some kind of fancy speech to sell it. I think I learned enough from Celestia to at least do that much, especially with my time leading the Seraphs of Alma Sol.”

“Well, i-if you’re going to do an Interview – why not also, um... r-record it for Canterlot ‘95? I-It’s Canterlot’s newest radio station. The antenna is so strong, you can even catch it in Manehatten! I-I love their talk shows, especially Heat’s Hearts and Hooves hour. Gosh, the way she describes those stallions…”

Catching herself a little bit late, the lonely mare blushed. “Anywaygottagoseeyoutomorrow!”

Arin was left clutching the last cupcake, the little mare darting down the street with both carts in tow. One tugged tight by her tail, bouncing with each bumbling step she made - the other rattling in front of her, cauldron bouncing with empty cups rolling across the surface.

He couldn’t help but chuckle, as she rounded the corner out of sight. Adorable. He looked up to the sky, sighing. Rain clouds were gathering up above, as Pegasi worked to move a storm into place. He always found it odd that ponies controlled the weather in the settlements.

Spreading his wings wide, he stooped low before taking off – winds whipping around him as he took to the sky. Like most Seraphs, he wasn’t built for distance flight; but he made use of his wings when he could. Besides, it was only a scant few leagues - he could handle it relatively well. Landing at the drawbridge, his free hand wiped the sweat from his brow, the first drops of rain already starting to fall. Of course, he wasn’t there alone.

Luna was waiting for him. She was not at all happy about that, either.

“Are thy duties a joke?” she glowered; another bad mood. He didn’t feel ready for this.

“What? No, of course not. But you’ve been pushing me away, so I thought I’d do something for the community and your ratings. Cupcake?” He offered the pastry up as a symbol of peace, and her horn – with a crackling spark – exploded the blue cupcake into a shower of pastry gore.

“Luna – what the! I made that!” he yelped, whipping his sizzled fingers free of smoke; covered in a layer of frosting and soft pastry.

“We care not for thy games, Sir Arin! Your duties are to remain by my side at all times; not play baker!” She snarled, before spinning back into the Castle’s entry hall.

He had a feeling like he was failing Umbra’s suggestions here, to keep her happy and calm. It seemed like everything he did enraged her further; either he followed her orders mindlessly and harmed her reputation further, or he pissed her off by trying to be a helpful, productive member of society.

“Look, Luna. I did it for a reason. I went out to raise money for the orphans – I paid for it and everything. I made at least a thousand bits, and I did it in your name. You know, to help relieve some of the stress? Since I can’t do anything else but follow you around, I thought I’d give you a hand with your ratings.”

“We do not care what the peasantry thinks of Us.” She spat. “If they believe us unfit to lead, they are unfit to live. Do not patronize Us as an infantile mare unable to show mercy to the endless horde of jesters that parade in Our halls and muddy Our carpets. If you think so little of Us, perhaps our relationship is nothing but a sham!”

He fell back, aghast, clutching his hand to his heart in emotional distress. “I just wanted to help, Luna. I love you.”

She made to whirl around and shout him down to size – but the sudden motion of the spin made her woozy. A hoof clamped to her head, grunting in pain as a fresh migraine was born.

“We… I. I’m sorry. What…” It took her a moment to snap back to her senses. “I’m sorry, I think… I need sleep. I’m just so tired. I… what’s coming over me?… Have I been poisoned? It’s… I need to raise the moon. Arin, h-help me to the window?”

Arin didn’t react. She basically just denounced nearly every single pony in Equestria in one fell swoop, and insulted their relationship. This was beyond wrong, it was outright villainous.

He needed to find Twilight, and fast. If this gets any worse, Luna may snap and kill an innocent pony. His wings flared – and without a word he took off out the Castle gates. Luna meant to stand up and make chase, to say something – but her body wouldn’t move. There was too little strength to go around, as her soft voice failed to break the wind of his powerful pinions.

“What have I done?…” she whispered, stranded on the carpet. Like an ocean of red, with not a soul to save her.

Arin breached the castle again through the main garden, dripping wet and looking to avoid Luna at all costs. The western section of the fortress held the library after all; and if there was one place to find Twilight, it was there.

He used his wings to billow wind behind him with each bound – voices of gust-struck guards followed, but they gave no chase - their complaints for him to slow down swiftly ignored. He threw open the doors to the Library, letting the heavy wood clatter against the stone walls.

“Twilight, we need t-”

“Good evening, Arin. Have you come to join us?” Umbra smiled, sipping on her cup of tea quietly. Twilight sat between her and a pony he hadn’t met before; a mysterious mare under a short black robe. She had a dark orchid coat, with a claret mane coming up in a rough, strict mohawk. Her steely disposition matched Umbra’s, taking Arin in with her scarred face and shattered horn. And much like Umbra, she lacked a cutiemark. Her ocean eyes were commanding, much like Celestia’s old expression held when leading her troops.

“Hello, Arin. I’ve heard quite the tales about you; would you mind taking a seat?” the new pony offered, motioning to the pillow across the way from the trio, separating them by the width of the table.

“Uh, sure, but I’ve got something important to discuss-”

“About Luna, yes, we know. Do not take me as daft, Arin; I can tell when her state is becoming dire,” Umbra said, sighing in frustration. “I apologize. I have not slept yet. The night was long for me.”

Plopping down on the pillow, he was getting used to the outbursts here. It seemed that by the day, tensions rose across the world. “It’s alright – but who are you?”

The new pony brought her hoof to her chest, breathing in. “I’m Tempest Shadow. Or, if you find it more fitting – Fizzlepop Berrytwist. For clarity sake, my old name is simply a memory I use to relate to my past. Please, simply call me Tempest.”

Despite being high strung at the moment, the name forced a snort from the Seraph. He quickly calmed, as Twilight poured him a cup of tea.

“So. What are you doing here, Tempest?”

“I am here as a second opinion for Twilight’s work. While I may lack the proper magical foci of a functioning horn, my study of potent magics – especially banishment and sealing spells – are needed. In fact, I’d say Twilight was just about to contact you regarding our combined studies.”

“Yep! Fortunately, Umbra knows you better than anypony. There was no need, she knew you’d come find me. And look! Here you are, heh.” Twilight swirled her spoon around her mug, concentrating on her words. “Now how should I say this; we’ve come to a revelation. And it’s not a pleasant one, at least – not for you.”

“While we can not confirm Nightmare Moon’s return, we can clearly see the evidence of possession. And with no way to stop it, it is only a matter of time until we lose Luna, regardless of whatever efforts you may take to prevent it,” Umbra said between sips from her tea cup, turning her head downwards, as if to avoid eye contact. “By our estimations, we have less than a month until the Princess is either completely incapacitated, dead, or possessed.”

“Then we’re not too late? There’s something we can do?”

Tempest took her turn to speak. “There is one thing we could have done, and that was release Princess Celestia from the moon. There is a correlation to her imprisonment, and Princess Luna’s loss of control. But as it stands, the only method of instantly – and safely – retrieving her is lost. Leotoln is dead. By technicality, the banishment spell was cast by seven individuals. Because of this, you would need the original seven to retrieve her.”

“Umbra went over this before. What’s the good news? Surely you’ve figured out something.” Arin inquired.

Tempest continued, “There is one last method of breaking this spell early. You see, this is where science and magic meet, and while Twilight viewed it entirely as either science or magic based, I see it from both sides equally. A scholar needs to know her books, after all. The last method of retrieval is indirect, and it requires… you.”

He waited patiently for an answer, and when none came – out of fear of what needed to be asked – Twilight cleared her throat.

“We um… Well! We have to banish you to the moon. Not for a thousand years! Just until you can find Celestia, and – with something similar to the Crystal Heart – break the seal placed upon her.”

When Arin didn’t speak, Umbra went to do something she rarely does – comfort him. “Now, we all three understand that this is a serious endeavor-”

“I’ll do it.”

“Splendid.” Tempest laughed, finishing her tea. Umbra was left with her jaw partly dropped, slowly lowering her gray hoof to the table. “Then I’m no longer needed here. But, just in case – I’ll be staying in one of the spare guest rooms, Twilight. I’m thinking of settling in Canterlot anyway, now that my face isn’t plastered on every paper from here to Manehatten.”

“Wait, Tempest! Aren’t you going to explain your reasoning-” Twilight began, but was quickly cut off.

“Nope. I don’t have to. He agreed to it without question, I’m going without answers. Have fun summarizing it for me. All I have to say is, he’d make a wonderful soldier under my command.” Tempest retrieved her bags from the side of a book ladder, yawning. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Arin crossed his arms, staring right through Twilight. “But look. At this point, I’m hardly doing it for Luna anymore. Possession or not, she’s become an absolute tyrant, and I’m finding it hard to deal with it; even though I know it’s not her doing this. I used to think that being a Knight or whatever gave me everything I wanted; turns out, the only thing it did was make me a lovedrunk idiot thinking I could handle this stress. At this point, after dealing with about a tenth of what you’ve dealt with over the years, I’m ready to just live my life away from here.”

Even Umbra seemed taken aback from that, the two ponies giving each other a worried look. Following a brief moment of contemplation, Twilight cleared her throat. “…Alright. That… it can be arranged. Not now, of course. Later, much later, when we’re finally at peace. Let’s get back on topic…”

She shuffled her notes around – Twilight always had her notes, after all – giving Arin a chance to sip at his tea and calm down. He had just about enough of Royalty for a lifetime, as all of his problems stemmed from it.

“Essentially, while the banishment can’t be broken directly with the Elements, it can be broken by the Elements and Leotoln’s magic. Since we’re lacking in a particular corrupt Seraph at the moment, the next best thing is Leotoln’s direct descendant. You’re related by blood, your magic signature – while not identical – is similar enough to break the banishment in extremely close range. But my friends and I can’t just… target ourselves with the spell, Arin. Not only that, but we still need you to actually cast it. We basically need to repeat the spell in the same way it was originally used against her.

“Now, it’s impossible for you to carry the full force of Harmony in your ember for more than a minute or so, before you quite literally combust – it’s just too much magic for your body to handle. That’s why we cast the spell into an artifact, something meant to hold great power – and you can channel your energy into the item, then destroy it. Smashing, throwing, it doesn’t matter the method – as long as enough of your magic is in the item, it should explode and essentially cast Harmony on you and Celestia.”

“Okay, then why not just… cast the spell on said item, I pump it full of magic, and someone like you heads to the moon to bring Celestia home? I mean. I miss her to death. I do. Just… today isn’t a great day to be asking big favors of me without good reason. Luna basically just spat in my face when I tried to help her, and I just want the world to make some sense for five minutes.”

“That… kinda wraps back to the Crystal Heart, and how it’s the preferred type of artifact for this. See, without a frankly massive housing, you’ll never be able to store the entirety of a Harmony spell and your magic. The Crystal Heart was built for this; spreading hope through channeling hundreds of happy, harmonious pony’s magic through it. But that’s the thing – it doesn’t store the magic for long. If the Crystal Heart becomes too full, it could easily just radiate excess magic outwards – or even be used to channel powerful spells.

“So what’s the plan then? Don’t suppose you have anything to fit that role on hand? Or… well, hoof.” Arin leaned back on his pillow, awaiting the eventual ‘no’ or ‘probably’.

“Yep! Right here, in fact.” Princess Twilight reached into her bag, withdrawing a small, black and red amulet. She placed it on the table before him, the sight of a corrupt Alicorn garnishing the top of the diamond-shaped crimson gem.

“Where did you come across this, Princess?” Umbra gazed over the jeweled brooch, emerald eyes tracing its silvery-gray sheen. Lost over her memories as she recognized it near instantly.

“Eh, a magic duel. But that’s not the point. This is an Alicorn Amulet - well, the Alicorn Amulet; there’s only one we know of. It houses great power on its own, but corrupts the wearer in turn. Steadily draining them of their sanity, making them brash and vile. Now, I can remove the positive effects of the amulet just fine – but it’s still a cursed object. Even once I infuse it with harmony magic – the negative effects will still linger.”

She withdrew a brown hardback book with gold casings across its spine from her saddle, the gold plated title reading ‘Magical Foci of the Third Era’.

“We first learned of it’s abilities years ago, when a wandering magician challenged me to a duel. Now, cross referencing ‘Magical Foci of the Third Era’ with ‘The Enchanter’s Dream; of Homecrafting and Wizardry’, I was able to essentially drain the power within, and release it back into the Fabric of Reality. The magic lock still works, but it wont empower your spells – instead, it can store new power. And just like the Crystal Heart, it’ll exude excess magic over time. I wouldn’t be able to give you an exact reference, but once the girls manage to get here, I’d say you’d have three days at most to find the Princess, and escape. Which isn’t much, I’ll admit - I’m searching for a way to lengthen that time frame.”

She turned the heavy pages of the old tome, hoof pointing to the clear picture of the amulet. “But, the curse remains. Cursed Artifacts can’t simply be… uncursed, not without destroying them completely. Whenever you take magic directly from the amulet, it will still corrupt your spirit – it doesn’t matter if it’s pure Harmony or not. But you can avoid that by simply keeping it stored somewhere safe. Now Arin, look at me. Look into my eyes. You will promise me right now, nopony will ever wear this amulet. Do you understand?”

“Well, what happens if I – or say Celestia – does?” He finished his own cup of tea, sliding the saucer back to the Princess.

“You will undoubtedly turn violent and hostile to anypony close at hoof, even the Princess isn’t immune to it! You must avoid this at all costs. The corruption effect scales with the amount of magic channeled. Now, there’s one more thing to note…”

She withdrew Luna’s diary once more, a fresh sheet of paper sliding from the old pages. It was a roughly detailed map of the Moon’s surface – marked with places of interest and self made constructions Luna had left there. “We have no control over where you’re going to land inside the Lunar Plane. The spell could cast you to the dark side of the Abyss, or it can place you directly at the Homeward Crest. The difference here is massive; the Crest is the closest point between the Material plane, and the Lunar plane. We can’t confirm this will work anywhere on the moon, and you only have one chance – so you must escort Celestia to the Crest before shattering the amulet. Anywhere else may fail to reverse the banishment.”

Arin sighed, rubbing his head to help ease the stress growing by the minute. “So. If Nightmare Moon is there…”

“She shouldn’t be a problem. Just like Princess Luna, Nightmare Moon only has the magic to subsist and survive; Princess Celestia is the one in danger. It’s likely she’s just as burnt out as her Sister is right now, if not worse. If anything, you can… well, I don’t need to tell you how to protect a Princess.”

Umbra yawned, looking at the nearby wall clock with a sigh. Their discussion had dragged on long enough. “I am afraid that sleep beckons me, Princess Twilight. If you desire another audience, inquire in the morning. I still have two more homes to visit this coming eve.”

“No no, you did more than enough by bringing my attention to this, just before your ‘date’ with Arin. If it weren’t for you, I would have never thought of speaking to Tempest for her opinion on the matter. I’ve been handling this all wrong; it really does take a second set of hooves to fix a problem. If I weren’t the Princess of Friendship, I’d send a friendship letter to my teacher; but as you can guess, that’s a bit impossible at the moment.” Twilight bowed her head, turning back to face Arin.

“As for you, Arin. You need to prepare. It will be three days at most until I’m able to gather the Elements, more than enough time for you to settle any issues you have here at the Castle or Canterlot. I’ll also prepare luggage for your banishment; you will undoubtedly need to feed Princess Celestia while you’re there, just be sure to take it slow. Refeeding syndrome could very well end her life if you’re not careful. I want to make sure you’re entirely prepared for every challenge you may face. The Lunar Plane is a freezing, arctic wasteland – you’ll need heat, shelter, and any other comfort you can afford yourself, and the Princess. Don’t worry about the supplies - I am very thorough.”

Finally, after digesting everything Twilight had to say, Arin had a chance to ask a few other questions. He was a bit aimless at the moment, after all.

“Alright. Now, I wanted to talk to you about what I should do in the meantime. Personally, I thought it would be best to run a fundraiser in Luna’s name, y’know? Give her a better reputation in Canterlot. But, if I’m going to fix every problem we’re stuck with in three day’s time – should I just stop, or?…”

“No no, in fact, I’d encourage you to keep doing that. Once the Princess returns, she’ll be much too weak and sickly to work; Luna will have to lead Equestria until she’s recovered. It’s much like when Princess Luna first returned from the moon, except this will be much more dire for Princess Celestia. She could be out of commission for more than just a few days; Alicorns heal fast, but not that fast.”

She popped open Luna’s diary, sighing. “I’m not a cartographer by any means, but I’ll try my best to put together a better map than this for you. I don’t believe Luna will be willing to help me with this, not now – and in fact, we should probably keep this a secret. It’s obvious she’s under some sort of spell, and her being the only true heir to the throne spells disaster for us if she decides to do something brash. You’re her knight, Arin. I know you don’t want that title right now – but you have to do your duties and stay by her side, if she demands it. If she’s becoming Nightmare Moon once more, you might be able to convince her to let you run off around Canterlot. All you’d have to do is treat her as Nightmare Moon expects to be treated.”

“Again, that’s if. But if it’s true… how do I go about doing that?” Arin stood up, giving his wings a flap. Mentally preparing himself for the journey ahead, and advice would be the wind beneath his feathers to start moving.

“Well, I’d assume she’d want you to treat her like a Queen, be subservient to her rule and such. I think it’s the wording you need to work on. Saying ‘I’m gonna run a bakesale for you!’ isn’t the same as ‘Oh your royal Highness, I wish to spread word of your proper rule’; just fan her flames a bit. If she wants you to play dumb, play dumb.”

Arin slowly nodded, sighing. “It’s worth a shot. So should I stay with her in Day Court, or?…”

“No! No no no. In fact, stay as far away from her as you can, unless she outright demands your company. You need to make her happy by not being there right now. With Nocturne at your side, you’re going to have trouble refusing direct orders. If she snaps tomorrow and orders you to kill somepony – you’ll have to break your vow to spare lives, shattering the gem in Nocturne’s rain guard. And she’d definitely see that as a betrayal. She’ll either put you in the dungeon, or worse – turn completely against us, and become Nightmare Moon instantly.”

Coming together with a plan, he nodded. “I see. So, the more distance I put between me and her, the better. I’ll go on a mission to Canterlot to ‘spread the good word’ about her, and simply stay with a friend or two. I think it’s for the best right now, just send me a letter when you need me at the castle.”

Twilight blinked. “You have outside friends? I mean… besides the ones here.”

For the first time since he arrived, he finally gave a small, but genuine smile. Which he then corrected into a frown, when he realized Twilight was implying he can’t make friends. “I think I made two just the other day. Now, I need to check on Luna. If I’m lucky, she may be in a good mood – and I could simply tell her I’m leaving. But with your advice now, I think I can worm my way out of here even if she isn’t. After all, she thinks our relationship is… well, a joke.”

Chapter 7 - Toil and Trouble

When Arin returned to the entry hall, he wasn’t surprised at all to find Luna gone – perhaps he was a bit disheartened that he had to leave her there. But he had to make sure someone in this castle was at least trying to aid her, if he had to avoid her for the next few days.

He found the Lunar Princess by the window of her small garden, after thirty minutes of searching; a guard stood next to her, but seeing Arin approach meant he could safely, and very quietly, slip away. He gave a bit of a hurried head nod as if to say ‘it’s your problem now’ before rounding the corner out of sight.

Even just approaching Luna made a sense of dread well in his stomach. Above, rain clouds had blocked the sky, save for the thin glow of the moon beyond the clouds. Rain patterned the glass of the courtyard, as in the dim light of the torches of the hall, she watched the moon.

Arin hesitated next to her, thinking about the best way to approach this. He had no idea how crazy, evil, wicked alter egos wanted to be treated, except for what Twilight told him just now.

“Does thy hooves tarry at Our regality? Or perhaps the beauty of the night leaves thee speechless?” she said, gaze locked to the outside world.

Letting his eyes wander to the outside world to imitate her, he used this time to try and mimic her words in some way.

“It is the night, your Grace,” he said. “The infinite cosmos of your stars are almost half as alluring as your moon.”

Mentally, he pat himself on the back for sounding so poetic just then; a habit that totally wouldn’t stick for years to come. Luna did not react, but her ears did swivel towards him as ponies do when their attention wanders elsewhere.

“Thou hast come with a request,” she said, turning to face Arin now in proper. He nearly stepped back, seeing the slits of her irises honing in on him. To avert his eyes and let that feeling of unease pass, he kneeled down – keeping his head low.

“Yes, your Majesty. I wish to spread word of your proper rule to the… peasants of the realm, at your request.”

He could feel it above him – that very same off-putting smile from before splitting her lips. He chanced a look upwards to catch her expression, and nearly reeled - Luna didn’t have fangs, did she?...

“Splendid. We… oh no, I may find a use for you yet.”

Whatever purpose the shift in her speech had, he had no clue. But it felt more malevolent now than ever. Her voice had grown a touch deeper, the innocence behind it now lost. This wasn’t Luna anymore. It was something far, far worse.

“I will grant thy request, Sir Knight. Since I have little use for you otherwise. None may challenge my rule, and those that do will face the gallows.”

He gulped at her words, but tried to stay in character. If it was a servant she wanted, play along for the day. They were on borrowed time as it was.

“Thank you, your Highness.”

“You are dismissed,” she said, turning back towards the window. Taking his chance to flee, he made it to his feet and quietly marched down the corridor. Passing that very same guard with a nod.

“W-Wait, Sir Arin, aren’t you going to escort her?” he asked, nervousness seeping into his words. “You’re her Knight!”

“I’m afraid I can’t. I’m leaving the castle for a while; I’ll be back soon. Until then, er…” Arin paused, unsure how to address the more cowardly Guard.

“Fizzle Wing,” the guard offered, worry etched into his face.

“Oh! You’re Fizzle Wing! I knew it. You’ll have to escort her, and even carry her, when she needs it.”

Fizzle Wing’s legs began to shake at the request, but nodded. “I uh… I’ll do my best. Please tell me she was like this with you, when you were last here? So I know she’s not going to stab me with her horn?”

“Uh…” The Knight paused, before shrugging. “Sure, whatever. She’s harmless for now. Just occasionally fan her ego and you should do fine.”

Arin turned to his left up a flight of stairs, the patter of rainfall against the window helping ease his troubled mind. It was all just a game… for now. And with his newfound freedom, he could move unimpeded through the castle halls to retrieve his spare clothes. He was, after all, going to bother Vee again – best to arrive prepared if she said yes. If not, an Inn would suffice in the meanwhile. If he could scrounge up the bits somewhere along the way for it.

His clothes were mostly where he left them - but he had trouble finding his chaps and bracers; regardless, the Seraph tossed the balcony windows open. He was always weary of flying in rough rains, and now that it was picking up fully, his already damp clothes would be soaked by the time he landed. If only he knew spells to keep his clothing dry. His list of usefulness hardly stretched beyond healing spells and basic levitation as it was, something he definitely needed to work on.

The balcony doors clicked shut behind him, as he took to the air – cutting through the thick rain like a dart. The water struck cold and hard, stinging his eyes as he pitched downwards – looking to land as quickly as possible in the darkened world. His wings embraced the air in a flurry of wind, reducing his speed as he roughly hit the soaking cobble. Mud smearing under his boots, he’d have to walk most of the way if he didn’t want to crash. It was just too dark to see what he was doing, and just like his wants for essential traveler spells, he craved the ability to see in the black pitch around him without the need of a light spell.

At least the simplest of magics didn’t elude him. Raising his hand, a small marble sized ball of light appeared – fluttering like a firefly above him; Magelight. It was strong enough to bathe the black stones in their proper gray hues, but besides that, he’d have to rely on the silhouette of the City’s imposing walls cutting through the distant street lights.

Soaked through with rain, he stepped down the now familiar hub of the market, Vee's shop illuminated by a purple flame lantern in front. Surprisingly, she was still open – even though most of the block around her was shut down for the night.

The bell rang as he entered the now bustling atmosphere of Vee’s abode – no less than two dozen ponies of all shapes and sizes had found themselves here at the warm fires of the Pegasi’s cafe. Many were enjoying fresh food and coffee, but the vast majority were browsing the mystic goods lining the shelves. And what appeared to be the newest addition to the shop, was two floating pillar-cases that housed potions of all colors and luminosity. Some glowed with spectacular lights, others seemed to eat the color surrounding it in pure black. This actually explained why Vee was so restless during the day; she had no business during it! Why stay up at all if most of the money is made at night?

“Oho! If it isn’t the Tall-fry, yet again – now the Soaked-fry! Or Soggy-fry. Wet-fry? Hmhmhm,” Vee called from his left – did… was this section of the shop here before? It’s like the very layout of the store changed since he left, and a new apothecary’s work station – complete with hundreds of jars, vials, herbs and shrooms – had formed to his right. Vee stood behind three cauldrons of varying sizes, Pumpkin Spice reappearing from the kitchen; a cart full of empty glass bottles tugged by her teeth to make it over the threshold following right behind.

“Vee, we’re out of the square bottles again-” She squeaked, freezing in place when she turned around. “A-Arin! Y-You’re back?”

The small mare trotted up, giving the towering Seraph a tight hug. She pulled away with a gasp. “You’re soaked, too! D-Did you walk all the way here in the rain?”

“Well, partly.” He motioned to his wings, as Vee chuckled.

“D’ohoho, you’re much too early for work! Or late. Or both! The kitchen is closed for the night, Tall-fry.” Vee waved her hoof around, as the heavy ladles in the cauldrons turned around her – magic glimmering from their wooden handles. “Unless you're here to apply to be an alchemist of sorts? If so, I think you know the answer to that one.”

Vee pointed towards the door, “Please take your wetness with you on the way out, don’t let your feathers get caught on the hinges, etcetera etcetera. You’re fired.”

“Actually, I wanted to know if I could stay here for a bit. I mean, you don’t have to shelter me if you don’t want – I can find a few bits for a hotel. But it would save me the travel, and the search for an open room.”

Vee clicked her tongue, raising a wing to preen. Thinking quietly for a minute, before spitting a feather into the cauldron on her left.

“I see, I see! Bold of you to assume I have a spare bed. Because I do. It’s mine. I don’t sleep in it, it’s bad for the feathers. But I do pretend to sleep there, when the coffee runs out.” She lifted her ladle from the left most pot, frowning.

“Pumpkin, did I add any live frogs to this batch?”

“What? No, I don’t believe so.” The little pony leaned over the ladle – just as the frog jumped out with a new set of wings, splattering against her face. Pumpkin squeaked, the toad tumbling to the floor – splattering against the wooden boards below as a wristwatch.

“Oho! There’s my watch. It must have hit my spoon. Just a tad too much pole will turn you into a frog, after all.” Vee quickly scooped up the soaked piece, setting it on the table.

“Why did it have wings?” Arin asked, distracted by the magical brew.

“Time flies when you’re boiling a broth,” Vee chirped, confusing the Seraph even more. The ‘Purple’ was truly a bewildering pegasus. “Now, about that bed. I’m not an Inn, Tall-fry. If I was, I would also need an Out to keep balance, and I don’t have time for that! Much too many things going on to keep my feathers preened and also change bed sheets.”

“Worth a shot. Besides, it’s Canterlot. It’s not like there aren't a dozen hotels down the block.”

“D’ohoho, how naive. Tell me, what’s today, Tall-fry?”

“It’s…” Arin frowned. He never learned the days here in Equestria. If they even had a proper calendar. “Um… it’s today.”

“Ooh!~ I love that answer. But no! Today is Prancetember eleventh, soon to be the twelfth! Which will be Sunday. If you wanted a room at a hotel, the closest one with an un-snooted room would be in Fillydelphia.” She wiggled her spoon around in the air, leaving magical trails in its wake. “So! Seeing as you’re as wet as my watch, and as your manager, I demand you stay the night. Rent will be whatever Pumpkin decides, because you’re taking her bed.”

“W-What! V-Vee, w-where will I sleep-”

“My bed, Smol-fry! Just ignore the feathers. Or stuff them in the pillow. That’s what I’d do.” She reached forward, patting Pumpkin’s head with a wing.

“My um… but my room is uh, h-he can’t sleep there! I need to get it ready!” the small witch mewled, clicking her hooves together nervously.

“D’ohoho, your room is cleaner than mine! What are you…” The purple pegasus blinked at Pumpkin, before the most mischievous smile began to form on Vee’s lips. The little mare pressed her hooves together, avoiding her eye contact with a blush.

“Afraid he’ll snoot up your romance novels, Smol-fry? D’ohoho~”

“Vee!” Pumpkin glowered, her cheeks bright enough to light up the room. The pegasus in question hid her snout in her wing with a giggle, before ruffling Pumpkin’s hat once more.

“It’s okay Small-fry. We all have our secrets and crushes! Ah, it reminds me of my youth. My first ever special somepony was tall, dark, smooth… coffee, it was coffee. But still! A love that will live for eternity, d’ohoho. Besides, if this Tall-fry can make Umbra not-so-angry, he can make your bed wet with his soaking wet clothes.”

Vee looked at the wet Seraph. “By the way, Tall-fry. You should probably change, or you’ll freeze to death. A frozen employee-sickle wont do! The dryer is outside, in the sun, whenever it stops raining. Because I don’t have a dryer. It’s a clothesline. I use it to hang the good feathers on for brewing.”

Vee plucked potion bottles from the table, filling them each with expert precision in her magic. Dose after dose of glowing purple vials were soon set to the side, all without a hint of attention from the Pegasus who seemed more intent on preening.

“Hm? Oh, you’re still here, Tall-fry? What are you waiting for, an order? Gallop to it! You’re dripping everywhere, and I’m too lazy to mop.”

“Oh, sorry! Sorry. Just dazed.” The Seraph said, looking at Pumpkin. “And uh… sorry for taking your room. Er… or for Vee deciding that I should sleep there tonight.”

“N-No no, it’s fine! I um… don’t mind letting you stay at all, I just wanted to share-er… see…” She paused for a moment, her brain stuffing the words back in place before leading the way. “I-It’s okay. Follow me.”

Pumpkin brought him through the kitchen door, passed the stoves and counters to the back entrance – an interior stairway leading up to the second floor awaited them. The little mare popped the door open to the second floor, another stairway leading up to the third – wait, wasn’t this building two stories tall?

Ignoring the third stairway, they entered into a small living room. A broom floated about on its own will, sweeping away purple feathers galore into an overfilled trash bin. How many feathers did Vee produce in a day? A fireplace crackled warmly in the center of the far wall – again, there were no chimneys connected to this shop – two recliners facing it. And yes, there was a coffee table. It had several mugs on it, one of them proudly saying ‘World’s Number One Sister’.

“The bathroom is here.,” Pumpkin said, opening the door to a large tile room, sparkly clean. Surprisingly, there weren’t feathers here – until Arin remembered that Vee probably washed in an actual bird bath. Why, he didn’t know. At least the fancy shower looked inviting. “I’ll um… w-wait for you, here. And you can hang your clothes to dry over the shower curtain.”

“Thanks Pumpkin.” Arin nodded, closing the door behind him. Stripping his outfit and blue dragon leather cuirass, he pulled a spare set free of his bag. He borrowed a towel from the hook to dry off, noting idly that it smelled a bit like… well, pumpkin spice. Not the mare, but he was positive she smelled like her namesake.

He probably shouldn’t have those thoughts when stripping his gear. Though it did leave him curious. It wouldn’t hurt to check her shampoo bottles, after all. Pumpkin shampoo, pumpkin conditioner, pumpkin body wash, pumpkin soap… yep, this was definitely her towel.

He put it back on the hook, and pulled another from a cupboard. He’d shower in the morning, for now, he just wanted to dry off and warm up.

Fresh clothes fitted and soaked hair made damp instead, he felt like a new Seraph. His wings were hard to maneuver when they were this damp, and difficult to pull through his clothes – but they’d air out by the fire. He left his towel to dry next to his soaked garments, returning barefoot to the hallway. Pumpkin hadn’t moved – only waited, just like she said.

“Y-You’ll um… sleep here tonight,” she nearly mewled, opening the door at the far end of the hallway to a small, but comfortable room. Curtains hung over the walls and bed, a tiny wood stove by the window letting warmth flood over the wooden floors. A bookshelf lined with dozens of books and old childhood plushies sat against the wall. She had a nightstand with a lamp, too – and next to it was a perch right in front of the window that he hadn’t noticed before. A large, black Raven sat there, staring curiously at the Seraph.

“Who are you?” It spoke, startling Arin a bit. It reminded him of the birds of his own world, who would occasionally speak on their own.

“Oh! Onyx, meet Arin. H-He’s staying here tonight,” the witch chimed with a blush.

“Ah! A guest; of Vee’s or Pumpkin’s?” the bird spoke eloquently, intelligent black eyes scoping the still-damp Seraph.

“Both at once, I suppose. I’m just staying for a few days, to keep my head low at the Castle and work on my fundraiser.” The whole time Arin spoke, Onyx took him in. Scouring him with his smart eyes, before giving a nod.

“I believe I read about you, three years ago. You’re the Knight of Princess Luna, as sworn before the Courts of Canterlot and indentured to servitude of the throne, are you not? Peculiar that a creature of another realm may hold that title. But none-the-less, welcome.” Onyx bowed his head, raising a wing in the utmost respect.

“Onyx is our resident housemaster. He’s basically like a spirit from the Astral Plane; his m-magic allows us to do a lot of neat things! Er…” The blushing mare tapped her hooves together. “You probably noticed we um… have an odd house. Vee is in a contract with him; he manipulates our little shop and home, a-and we give him cookies. T-That’s what m-my Sister tells me, at least.”

“...Cookies?” Arin questioned.

Pumpkin nodded in reply. “He’s a very old Spirit. He’s had everything in the world offered to him for his services over time, and… well, instead of souls or riches, he wants cookies.”

“’Tis a living,” Onyx said. “I have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. The death and dethronement of Kings and Queens of Yore. But I have not yet been pleased with such carnal delicacies such as these… cookies.” He said that last word with scrutiny, as if he had questioned their very existence. Or perhaps the very reason itself.

Pumpkin smiled, reaching under her hat – withdrawing a fresh cookie for the Raven. Immediately, he scarfed it down, giving a low hum of satisfaction. “Delightful, as expected, Miss Pumpkin.”

“Thanks Onyx!” She smiled. The next time Arin blinked, Onyx – and the perch – was entirely gone.

“Where did he?…”

“W-Well um, you can’t expect him to be around all the time. H-He’s needed in many different places at once!” Pumpkin gave an anxious smile, finding it hard to keep eye contact with Arin. “A-Anyway, this is my bed.”

She motioned to the full size bed in the corner, next to her nightstand. Really, there wasn’t much to say about it; two big red pillows, a small shelf above, white sheets and an orange blanket… She really enjoyed color-coding her things. Then again, her cutiemark was three pumpkins – the scheme did make sense.

“If you um… need me, I’ll be staying i-in the living room tonight. I know Vee wants me to sleep in her bed, but um… it’s hard. I mean, it’s like… almost as hard as concrete. The bed is hard. T-That’s what I mean.”

Well, now he felt bad. “Pumpkin, if you want, I can sleep on the floor, I don’t mind. Just pass me a few pillows and a spare blanket.”

“N-No! I was, um, planning on it tonight. I had a book I-I wanted to finish, a-and my recliner is fine, too. I’m a day witch, s-so I like to be up in the mornings, unlike Vee.” Pumpkin trotted to a nearby closet, pulling an absolutely massive blanket down from the shelf above. It nearly smothered the small pony in the folds of it, but she managed to drag it outside. Her magic glimmered at the bookshelf south of the bed, drawing a paperback book from the rows before settling it on top.

“G-Goodnight, Arin! Sleep well! I-I’ll see you in the morning.”

With that, she gently slid the door shut, leaving him to his own devices. He wasn’t a big fan of passing out in all of his clothes, but tonight he’d have to deal with it. It would be weird to roll around her bed in the nude, after all. Especially if that odd Raven popped up.

But if there was one thing that caught his attention, it was the mention of books. Ever since he learned to read Equestrian, he hadn’t read much beyond training manuals or historical accounts. And when Vee mentioned that Pumpkin was a bit of a ‘scholar’ in some way, it made him curious. And of course, maybe a little snooping wasn’t the worst thing. If anything, he’d get to know his co-worker better.

He made his way to the bookshelf, reading the titles off to himself quietly. ‘Fifty Shades of Neigh, The Neighbook, To All the Stallions I’ve Loved Before, Just my Buck’…

Okay, maybe he shouldn’t have bothered, since all of them seemed to be around the same genre. And he really shouldn’t have opened ‘Fifty Shades of Neigh’. But he did. He kinda felt bad for her, in fact. She must have been lonely. What was really peculiar was ‘Just my Buck’ - it had two mares on the front and… dozens of pages marked with tiny notes. In the end, maybe some things should be left well enough alone.

Flopping on the bed, and taking care to avoid laying on his wings – he stared up at the ceiling, thinking. He felt helpless at the moment, unable to do anything worthwhile to save Luna. In fact, it’s better if he just stayed away entirely – and while he was angry with her, and wanted to hold her accountable for her recent moods… the guilt about abandoning her nagged at him. Regardless, he did want to completely reconsider his position as her Knight.

Maybe after his trip to the moon, he’ll have a better idea. Maybe.

Not willing to think about it any longer, he rolled over, examining some of the trinkets resting on a small desk in the corner. Pestle and mortar, quill and inkpot… lots of papers, half baked story ideas jotted down. She seemed to have an interest in writing, too. His hand lazily reached for the drawer to his right, tugging it open to see inside.

Another book. This one was more like a journal… did… did Pumpkin have a diary? He knew Luna had a diary, a lot of ponies did. It was pastel green, like her eyes – and had a small button clasp on front.

The real question was… should he break her trust and look into it? Was he really going to invade her privacy like that, without her permission – and snoop around? How disgusting was he?

He slowly closed the drawer, tugging gently at the light’s pull-string. The room was plunged into darkness, only the low light of the woodstove keeping the room dimly lit and warm.

Then he clicked the light back on, and like a teenager hunting for juicy gossip – pulled the book out. Okay, maybe just a peak. She never had to know. He popped the button and flipped to today’s date, to see what her thoughts were on the bake sale, at least.

‘Dear Diary… Today that handsome Knight came back from the Castle. Gosh! He reminds me of the Minotaur from ‘Hands and Hoofbeats’; except he’s much more… selfless. It’s hard to describe; he really wants to work hard to save the castle from the greedy nobles on the High Streets. I can’t stop stuttering around him, he just takes my breath away. And of course the rumors were WRONG! Luna isn’t dating him! At least, I don’t think so. He wasn’t specific. He’s a good baker, too! Just like me! I just wish I could talk to him without tripping over my own words. And Vee loves him! In her own way, of course. She even gave him a talisman! Maybe one day, I’ll be brave enough to ask him out like I tried that other stallion at the flower market… I keep thinking of that one chapter from-’

Arin abruptly closed her diary there, as it started to get into the nitty gritty. No wonder she was always a blushing mess, he was a blushing mess, right now after reading that. He made a mental note to avoid collars and leashes around her, for a pony so ‘innocent’, she had really… not-so-innocent desires.

Maybe it was a cultural thing. Since his first day in Equestria, he has tried to make an effort to be more open to the locals. And Celestia did, too, by forcing Honey Rose to be his tutor. Even though he clearly wasn’t okay with it at the time, if he didn’t have Honey Rose pushing his buttons, he’d still be a social recluse right now. Sometimes, you just need to be thrown into the pot to really melt and blend.

But, imagining the little witch in a collar… nope. That was not a cultural thing. Definitely not. Pulling the blankets over himself, he clicked the light off and gazed at the fire. Letting the heat of the flames melt away his worries and stray thoughts, especially the less than wholesome ones, until the comforting darkness overtook him.

Author's Note

Vee, if you're wondering what she looks like.

Chapter 8 - Purple

Umbra’s hoof roughly collided with the tripped Security Guard’s head, sighing in frustration. Of course the Topaz Jewels family was dead set on being the most social. It was always a party at their manor, every night, all night – and they had plenty of guests to entertain. After all, they were well known for owning several mining and quarry operations across Equestria. What better way to celebrate the near slave-labor conditions than with wine and snobby guests?

She wore a long black dress, covering her bare flank. Her eyes were purple for the evening, and she donned the name ‘Amethyst Amoire’ as an alias. Levitating a glass of wine in her temporarily purple magic, a trick relevant to Umbrum ancestry, she splashed it on the downed Security Guard’s jacket and face, before dragging the concussed Earth Pony to a nearby guest room down the hall.

Of course the guest lounge was mostly empty; the nobles were downstairs chatting and gossiping. She popped the button on the unconscious stallion’s trousers, before roughly tossing him onto an empty bed. His pants falling to the floor without a hint of dignity. Whenever a guest hunted for their room for the night, they’d find a most wonderful sight sleeping in their bed.

Regardless, he’d be out of a job in the morning, and none would believe how a delicate mare did this to him.

The dark unicorn made her way down the upper halls of the mansion, her keen ears on swivel. Ignoring the rough sounds of a bed shaking from the occasional room, she’d have a long night ahead of her gathering evidence against the Topaz Jewel line.

She was keenly aware of any eyes on her – typically drunk, rich stallions eyeing her body, whenever she’d find guests in the open. The pouring rain did little to stifle their moods, either, as some wanted to show her their carriage, or their luxurious manors down the way. She would give mirthless laughs in reply, then insinuate that her husband would buy the land out from underneath them if they so much as touched her.

What better way to stomp on a Noble’s dignity than to imply she was too rich for their blood? And it worked. Each haughty stallion that approached over the next hour or so would stomp off in frustration of being denied, and insulted. She had important business to take care of, after all. Her mock regality had a purpose now, and she used it to wondrous effect.

Finally, after hours of idle chatting with mares and stallions, fake emotions and flaunting with non-existent riches, she turned a lucky handle and found her target. Topaz Jewel’s bedroom.

All she needed was a receipt, a sign, a…

A massive envelope labeled ‘SECRET’ was left on a nearby table, with Alma Sol’s mark right on top; a hoofwritten note for their assistant written as such; ‘To the vault, please.’ It was literally filled with possibly the most damning evidence against them; documentation on their co-operation with Seraphs and the Goldshoes lineage.

Receipts, dates, a picture of Sir Topaz Jewels with a naked, female Seraph on his yacht – is that what their females looked like? Actually, she didn’t want to know any further than what she saw. Though it did disgust her; she was not into mares, especially not Seraph ones.

Either this was bait, or Nobles really were this stupid.

…

Actually, no, Nobles were definitely this stupid. She cloned the documents with her magic, and slid the original under her dress.

Arin awoke to a gentle knock at the door, stirring from his fitful, dreamless sleep. Though the bed was comfy, he still felt a little worn out. After a minute, the handle turned – the cute mare’s eyes peeking into the quiet room.

He rolled over towards the wall, ignoring her for now. He didn’t want to work yet. In fact, he was comfy right here, the storm having passed overnight.

Quietly, Pumpkin made her way inside. His heart stopped the moment he heard the slow tug of the drawer – the little mare retrieving her diary. It slid shut behind him, as she left him to his early morning rest.

The guilt of what he did weighed in, as the small horse was none the wiser. He was so close to being a courteous, understanding Seraph, too. This mistake alone would eat away at him for the rest of his long life, as it was the first choice he made that could directly hurt a pony.

After a few minutes of wallowing in the guilt of invading her privacy, he made it to his feet – heading to the bathroom to prepare for the day. Clothes and shoes dry enough to wear, he was soon ready to face the undoubtedly blistering late-summer sun. The weather was always worse after a rain, especially if you had to work outside in the heat.

Pumpkin stuffed away her diary when he returned to the living room, a homemade breakfast of oatmeal and toast awaiting him on the kitchen counter. Another recliner had magically appeared, seemingly overnight – and the room seemed… bigger, to accommodate it, somehow.

He thought about questioning it, but he had a feeling he’d receive a similar answer to before; ‘trade secret’. Vee was already up and about, staring blankly into the now empty fireplace. The bags under her eyes were all too familiar as she rocked in her chair slowly. A frankly massive coffee mug resting on the table before her. Did… did she ever sleep?

“Morning Pumpkin, morning Vee,” Arin said, just noticing the raven as well. “And good morning to you, Onyx.”

“Good morning, Seraph of the Far Reaches, Sir Arin.” Onyx bowed, worrying the Knight with the knowledge of his homeland. “I will assume you rested poorly last night, if that will aid in your comfort now. You should be alerted to the intrusion of your dreams, thus I prevented them on my own prerogative.”

“You… wait, intrusion?” Arin questioned, taking the bowl of hot oatmeal in his hands. He grew worried over that statement, but Onyx was quick to intercept his thoughts.

“Princess Luna meant to derive your location from your sleep, without your knowledge. I simply counteracted her spell, and prevented her from scrying. Her intentions felt hostile.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. In fact, instead of feeling guilty for looking at Pumpkin’s diary – he felt molested by having his own mind read. Well, now he felt twice as bad for Pumpkin, because she would never know. Call it a lesson learned, and he’ll definitely tell her. One day. When they knew each other beyond a surface level.

“Thank you, Onyx. I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Hrm! Ho! Oh! Tall-fry, awake at last!” Vee broke from her zombie-like gaze, turning her head to face the Seraph. She hovered the gallon worth of coffee to her muzzle, and began to drink. Well, chug. The cup shrinking to match the remaining contents… who knows how much she’s downed since the sun rose. Vee’s world and home was an enigma, after all.

“Good morning, Vee. Thanks for letting me stay the night.” Arin smiled, but Vee only laughed.

“D’ohoho! You’re welcome any time. Maybe tomorrow I’ll have a room for you available. Or not! Depends entirely on if I can get around to it. Oh, yes! Onyx, how’s the weather in Vanhoover?” Vee swirled the contents of her massive cup around with her magic, preening tiredly at her feathers.

“Mildly cool, one might even see their breath – with a lack of wind and moderate cloud cover. The humidity is low-”

“Set our shop in Vanhoover. If there’s two things my snoot can’t stand, it’s heat, and humidity. Bad for the feathers.”

Onyx nodded at the request, the curtains of the house drawing – flashing – before opening all at once with terrifying speed. Arin nearly dropped his bowl, as cool, dimmer light filtered into the living room. It’s like they moved an entire time zone.

“W-What?”

Arin approached the glass panes, clutching the spoon tightly in his fingers. Outside, the usual Canterlot streets had… well, been replaced. The cobble roads now much more worn and withered, the buildings shifting from their usual sparkly white to subtle browns and brick foundations. The street before them was a little more compact; it looked to be lined with townhouse shops, several cart-and-booth constructs sprouting up among a mixture of less than spectacular grocer’s tents.

“How… but… did we just take a Portal, or?…”

“Nonsense Tall-fry! If we did, we’d be stuck here for a month. And a month of Vanhoover coffee is not a month I want to live through! They do have good cheese curds, though. Very squeaky.” Vee spoke through her wing, as if it was the most common thing in the world.

“Then how are we here?”

Onyx tilted his head, and if he could frown, he would. “I would believe Vee would imply this to be classified, but it is not her words to claim. In truth, we’re in four cities at once. Canterlot, Manehatten, Vanhoover, and the physical location of the residence is in White Tail Wood.”

Arin gawked, but had even more questions. “You said four. What’s the final city?”

“It is a realm beyond our own, tied to a world different to your notions of magic. The City’s name is Pawtucket, and the location is in the broom closet of a children’s fantasy company. This portal is used primarily for trade of Equestrian newspapers in return for coffee. The realm is arbitrary with its laws, and as such, beings may not move freely between our plane and theirs. Though items may do so without issue.” Onyx cocked his head at Arin, examining him closely. “Your kind resembles the beings of this mirror realm, excluding wings. Contact with them would be ill advised on your part.”

“Strange… what do they use the newspapers for?”

Pumpkin Spice shrugged, stirring in a small teaspoon of sugar to her oats. “Sometimes t-they doodle Princess Twilight and her friends. But other than that, nopony knows.”

Arin’s eyes settled on the window into the alleyway – popping the latch open with his thumb before sliding the glass up. Sticking his head out, he took a look around, just making sure he was actually in Vanhoover. In truth, he’s never been there – so today would be the first time. Any sight was a new sight, ready to behold.

“Is… is this why you’re always broke? You own three businesses?” Arin said once he closed he slid the pane shut. Vee only slurped at her coffee.

“Well, the idea came to me from a book, Tall-fry. Unfortunately, the book didn’t mention taxes.” Vee fluffed her wings, inspecting her pristine feathers in exhaustion. Soon, more feathers were falling to the floor in a heap. “But a good novel, none-the-less! I believe it’s one of Pumpkin’s favorites. Isn’t that right, Smol?”

The young mare blushed, nodding. “I-It’s a good read, yes. B-But um, you wouldn’t like it, Arin. It’s… er…”

“It’s another romance novel, filled with magic and witches and moving castles, d’ohoho~” Vee teased, waving her wing at her assistant. Pumpkin slid her hat over her face, curling up into a well-taunted bundle. Arin could only chuckle, plopping back down to rock in his absurdly comfortable chair.

“So, how does uh… being in multiple places at once work? I’m not the most adept at magic, by far.”

“Well Tall-fry, that’s only a half truth. Yes, the shop is in four physical locations; but it only exists in one! You see, the interior of the shop is still in White Tail Wood. Think of it like a big bag of holding, with four holes to snoot bits and baubles into. But to be a bag, only one hole can be open! Otherwise it’s a really ugly shirt. My magic alone can’t open these little holes up, but Onyx has the know how and the feathers to do it.”

Onyx puffed his chest in pride, raising a wing to cover his breast. Beak tilted up, he riled himself up for a lecture. “I exist in all fabrics of reality. I am infinite and eternal, an entity that-”

“-Enjoys cookies! D’ohoho~” Vee smirked, somehow emptying the now tea-cup sized mug. Onyx stopped mid speech, cocking his head to the side – before eventually giving a little wing-shrug. Why argue the truth?

Spooning away the last of his oatmeal, Pumpkin took Arin’s dirty bowl in her magic. Placing it on her back, she snatched Vee’s coffee… thing, and all other dishes to bring to the kitchen. It was a little nook to their right of the main entrance; small, but undoubtedly intimate. The whole house radiated a cozy feeling you just couldn’t buy. From the cushy, puffy upholstery of the recliners, to the warm colors of the walls and curtains. It really did feel like a wonderful little cottage in the woods.

“So! I guess we’re running our fundraiser in Vanhoover today, Pumpkin. We’ve got to sway the election with cookies and cupcakes somehow.” Arin made it to his feet, giving himself a stretch. The Pumpkin mare nearly chirped in delight, smiling at their new adventure.

“A-And after today, we can donate our bits to charity! O-Of course, after we um… cover the costs. I don’t have many bits for donations myself.” The witchy pon quickly swiveled out the bowls with a sponge, suds aplenty bubbling away in the sink. With the dishes clean and drying, she hopped up to his side – gosh, she was tiny! She may be ten years his junior just about, but she was still at least half a head shorter than a pony like Vee, who came up just around his lowest rib at eye height.

“Oh, Tall-fry! I need to talk to you alone before you go bubbling and bumbling my pots and pans in the kitchen. Super secret purple things, and all that jazz.” She waved her right hoof, the left leg propped up to her cheek to keep her head from falling to the side and passing out.

“Oh, uh, sure! Pumpkin, go get the oven started without me – I’ll be down in just a bit.” Arin hesitated by the door, holding it for the little mare. Huh… the second set of steps leading upstairs was gone. Curious. In its place was a small lamp and hat rack.

With Pumpkin bounding down the stairs in excitement, and the door closed, he rejoined Vee in the living room. She didn’t acknowledge him at first – instead, her hoof gave a wave at the fireplace. It sparked to life with crackling intensity, purple flames filling the hearth and chilling the room.

“Strange things are nipping at my feathers lately. Mm. Bad omens, bad lunar magic, bad coffee. Not good for preening, not one bit.” She rocked slowly in her chair, her eyes half drawn at this point. Lost in her own little world. Vee blinked and focused her vision onto Arin, the bags under her eyes gone in an instant. In fact, she looked just fine; her vigor restored, her usually less-than-organized mane settling into place.

“Arin, you know magic. You’ve got a brain beneath the mane, the bits and bobs in the right spots – you’ve learned a lot in the three years you were gone. But none of it matters compared to what you could know, and what you should. It’s a mystery! Oho. And not a fun one.” Vee spun her hoof in the air, soon holding a delicate, glass orb formed from the thin slivers of her magic.

“Sit,” she commanded. How quickly her mood shifted from her usual chaotic self to her now strict, more ominous persona was a tad bit worrying. He obliged her order, finding a comfy position nearby on his recliner.

“Er… what’s this about, Vee?” He twiddled his thumbs, the off-putting nature of the now mystical mare sending him off kilter.

“Oho! It’s about many things. The past, the present. But what matters most is the future.” The orb glowed dimly, the light from the sun fading as only the purple flickers of flames kept the darkness at bay.

“I am what the ponyfolk would call an Oracle; but this is, like many things, a half truth. I am a Night Witch first, as Pumpkin has undoubtedly told you before. In your world, that could mean many things – but not in Equestria. I take my power from the moon. Like the all too familiar blue Princess you know, I channel magic from the Lunar Plane. I use it to coax other magic from the fabric of reality around us. And I use it with Onyx’s magics to extend my long life.”

She waved her hoof over her face – and as if waking up from a dream, he saw the reality before him. He nearly fell out of his chair, as the witch’s complexion aged what felt like a thousand years within seconds. Her teeth popped out of her muzzle, her mane fell out in tuffs, her eyes shifted from purple to grey and her skin grew loose and pale. The orb floated to her side, and she clapped her hooves together – returning her visage to the beautiful young mare she appeared to be.

“I am seven hundred and thirty eight years old. A scratch compared to Onyx, but still a scar in time. A mark in history. I will live and drink coffee, I will breathe and preen – and I will see this world turn until I am naught but ash under the hooves of a thousand generations. But I will not see this world at all, if the future can not be changed. And I am one to tempt fate. I have stared down death. I will be there by your grave when you pass, and I will not mourn. For I am not afraid of what lays beyond the material plane. I am only afraid of what it will become.”

Arin gulped.

“I will first speak of the future, for I have seen it. By speaking these words, I blind myself to what is to come.” The orb she summoned cracked, shattering into glittering dust that whipped through the room in an unseen wind.

“Arin, you will have to spill royal blood if you wish to survive. You will know what this means when the moment strikes. You must break the bonds in which you sleep.”

“Now, for the present. You are gifted for all that challenges you. The strength you carry now will bear the burdens of what’s to come. You must only remember this when there is no hope.”

“And finally, of the past.”

Vee closed her eyes, the purple glow of the fire vanishing as the sun once more shone in her halls.

“Did you snoot in Pumpkin’s diary?” The bags beneath her eyes returned, as her magic took said diary from the crease of the mare’s recliner.

“W-What? Hold on, wait, you can’t just go all dark on me then snap back to-OW! Hey!”

“Did! You! Snoot!” She lightly thwacked his head with the book for emphasis, the Seraph covering his skull from her assault.

“O-Okay! Yes! I looked! I peaked! Stop – HEY! Stop hitting me with the book!”

“I knew it! You sniffly snooter!” She glared, the book thwacking him on the knee hard enough to make him wince. “Bad!”

“I get it! Ow! Jeez, stop-”

“I let you into MY home, let you look at MY nice things, sleep on NOT MY bed, and you snooted! Go apologize to Pumpkin, or I’m hoofing you the boot! After you pay rent! Which is a lot! I have a lot of bills! You’re gonna have to pay them because I’m! Still! Broke!”

She made sure to continue her light thwacking assault, thrusting the book into Arin’s hands when she was done. She adjusted her black hat, huffing through her nose. “Much better! Now, back to important matters on the front end. There is a cushion that is in need of more feathers, and wings that desire preening.”

She hopped up with surprising grace – popping into the hallway at the turn of the knob. Funnily enough, that was the first time he’s seen Vee actually move her legs since he met her. “And by the way, Tall-fry. I’m not mad, just disappointed. This is for your own good.”

Thunk. She closed the door behind her without another word.

Holding the book in his hands, a new feeling of dread washed over him. If he apologized to Pumpkin, she would definitely know he read the most recent entry. And that would mean he would have to shoot her down. After all, he was still dating Luna. Technically. Right? Even if she was a little… insane? And kinda stomped on their love like it was nothing?

Was it even dating at this point? When did he sign up for this teenage drama?

Maybe Pumpkin could take a gentle let down. He could tell her he has a marefriend, surely she’d understand. Even if Arin’s current marefriend is turning into a tyrant dictator of a principality, and probably also shifting into Nightmare Moon.

He weighed his options. On one hand, you had a soft, sweet, gentle mare who isn’t currently possessed by evil, and knows how to cook. On the other, you have a mare who is also soft and sweet, but in truth he’s only dated for a couple of weeks – before jumping ship for three years to go fix the problems in his world. Then it came back to his question of did he still want to be a knight after all of this was said and done? Did he want to deal with royalty, nobles, complaints and castles – tout around a boring job all day standing guard for several hours straight?

I guess the real question is, did he even need love right now?

Or did he want to be free of all of that? After all, it was Luna who asked for him to be her Knight. He volunteered and was rejected, yes – but she put his name forward specifically, because she saw good in him. But, she was also probably under some heavy drugs at the time. Y’know, kill Celestia, have the Prince of your nation marry the Princess of another – making King and Queen, then usurp their throne by killing them both and claiming the Kingdom as yours by rightful rule. All under the guise of keeping the peace, when in reality it gave you total power to commit a genocide.

Seraphs loved following Monarchy rules, especially if those rules were backed up by the strongest Seraphs - and there might be a similarity there between ponykind, as well. Throw in a stronger Seraph, and suddenly – those rules didn’t matter. It’s all about who would come out on top. It took a vile king to change that attitude, and three years of Civil War to squash it out of the population. At least, enough to keep the peace for a day.

Not to mention the sheer amount of problems here in Equestria, too – partly from their own Nobles, but also from some straggler Seraphs working to thwart the Government. They’ve been at it for three years here, too. What did they even gain from all their ‘hard work’?

Maybe he needed to do some soul searching.

Chapter 9 - Gift

The trek downstairs wasn’t a cozy one, stepping into the kitchen with trepidation. Pumpkin was already hard at work, humming away as she added another log to the wood-fired oven.

She turned to face Arin, her smile widening until she noticed the diary in his hands. Immediately, her mood began to change. He couldn’t place it, but it felt like he was crossing a boundary he never intended to cross.

“Hey uh, Pumpkin? You left this upstairs,” he said, pressing the journal into her hooves. She accepted it, looking over the green cover with curiosity. When her eyes settled on his again, they seemed worried.

“I… wanted to tell you. About last night. I may have… peaked. A little.” The Seraph broke his gaze, running his fingers over a nearby counter top. As if examining the wood would help.

The shock settled into her features, and instantly – he felt like he cornered her. The innocent mare simply watched him in shock, her tail bumping the unlit oven behind her.

“I just wanted to say… Well, it’s still complicated at the castle. And I do find you sweet, but I don’t know you well enough to make a decision on how I feel. I uh… know you enjoy some of the more mature novels. But those are hardly real relationships. Love at first sight isn’t a real thing. Sure, I find you adorable – beautiful, even, but I have to work out my own problems before I can really tell you how I feel. And right now, I feel bad. I shouldn’t have poked around, but… I did. I’m sorry.”

The tiny mare held her book to her chest, hat tipping over her face as her vision shifted to the floor.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not interested, Miss Spice.” He kneeled down – she was waist height after all – and gave her a genuine smile. “Let me work out my problems, and we’ll see where I stand. Alright? You’re definitely not the first that’s shocked me with the thought. Though you’re a lot more genuine, I can tell.”

He offered her arms to her in a hug. She looked up to him, staring with disgust. Of course, he was doing this simply to comfort her, but...

“I don’t want to hug you. Not after you read my diary.” She glared through soft tears. “That… w-why would I? Y-You… don’t you realize you just… you just s-stomped through my heart and my thoughts?”

“Wait! Hold on a second, I didn’t do it to hurt you. I just wanted to know more about you, that’s all.” Arin gasped. Was he really that emotionally deaf?

“You… Y-You could have just asked.”

Tears ran down her cheeks as she darted for the stairs, ignoring his call. The door slammed shut with a thunk behind her, leaving him in stunned silence.

He didn’t know what to feel about that. Not only did he shoot her down, but he also just admitted to spying. Why? Why was he an emotionless, dumbfounded idiot? With a sigh, he pressed his head to the nearest wall – right by Vee’s nosy snout.

“Good work, Tall-fry.” Vee said from the kitchen’s window. “It’s hard to be honest about something we feel guilty about. That’s why we lie.”

He nodded, dragging his eyes up to meet her. “A friend once told me that lies are for the guilty, so you’re not wrong.”

“Oho! And where do you think she learned that from? Trying to snoot up business in my shop with a disguise, d’ohoho~ That was a few hundred years ago. She learned her lesson quickly with me! And you’re gonna learn it here, too. My feathers can feel every bit of snooting and trickery that happens in my Magic Emporium. With a bird-demon’s help of course.”

“Well Vee. You got me into this mess. How do I get out?” Arin shook his head, leaning a hand against the counter to prop himself up and look at her.

Her response didn’t come until she gave him a firm glare. “You got yourself in this mess, Jerk-face. I’m simply correcting it! But if you want a tip, the tip jar is empty. Because I’m broke. Instead, let me give you advice.”

“There’s a difference between an accident and a mistake. An accident is a slip of the tongue, a flick of the feathers – and boom! You’ve got spilled coffee. No sense crying over it, get the old feathers to dry the floor and have Pumpkin clean it up later, d’oho~ But! A mistake is different. It’s a lapse of judgment. You simply didn’t put that brain beneath the mane to use, or you used it poorly. Acknowledging it is just the first step of fixing it; and you do that with a sorry.”

“Alright. Well, I’m at that part. How do I fix this mistake, then?” By now, the Seraph had picked himself up enough to keep eye contact with her.

“You have to prove it won't happen again, Tall-fry. Back in the old days, a snooty snooter would clip a hole in their ear as a sign of betrayed trust on the mend. But! I don’t think Pumpkin would get it, she’s only a Small-fry after all. I remember the day I adopted her, all those years back – from the Vanhoover orphanage, of course! She had a sniffly nose from the cold and needed a few too many cupcakes to put meat back to her bones.”

She smiled at the old memory, giving a sigh. “Fifteen years ago, right on her birthday, she visited my shop during the summer months. She loved to browse my trinkets, after all. I’d catch her eyeing this little glass pumpkin bauble I kept on the shelf, a little coin box that was much bigger than it seemed on the inside. She couldn’t really reach it, but she’d always try – and it would thunk her on the head when it fell! Magic things are sturdy, after all.”

She began to preen and dream, smiling at the good times. “She always babbled about how she wanted to be a witch, just like me. She would always place the little pumpkin on my counter and ask, ‘How much for this?’ even though I told her a million times! Oho, she was a cutie. But she never had the bits to buy it. But on that day, she was just so excited – it was her birthday, after all. She kept going on and on about how her little coltfriend was going to throw her a party at the orphanage, and she wanted something special to give him to keep. How he was going to be rich one day, and put all his bits back into charity so foals like them wouldn’t have to worry about food.”

Her cheery smile behind the feathers began to drift away, slowly settling into an all too familiar emotionless stare. “She wasn’t a very bubbly filly at the time; she didn’t have many friends, only the one colt. And there were a lot of meanie foals in that old home, too. I eventually gave in, and let her have that little pumpkin – it was well over two hundred bits, but I could spare it. Lots of coins from ponies coming in, lots of potions going out. All of that jazz. That sparkle in her eyes when I wrapped it up is something I’ll never forget.

“But the lowest places are the most cruel. On her way home, she ran into her coltfriend at the Vanhoover bridge – and unfortunately, a few of the more nasty foals as well. They both didn’t stand a chance, and a nasty red colt – oh how I hated him, too, always running amok – he tossed that little coin box into the water. And of course, her coltfriend jumped after it. It meant the world to her, to give him that gift. But he never came back up, not until the next day. Foals aren’t the best swimmers, and the river is no place to play during a chilly, snowy month like Cloptober.”

She stopped preening, clearly losing the mood for it as she instead hovered her coffee onto the window’s counter. “I adopted her that same night, after the police ponies had their words with her. Ever since, she’s been afraid to love. She’s thrown herself into romance novels, looking to fill that gap her friend filled. In some way, she’s never grown up. She still holds a naive belief that she’ll find her old coltfriend in someone else, and she’ll hold on to them forever. And they’ll hold her, and keep her safe and help make the world make sense.” A single stir of her cuppa followed, the husk of a mare finishing her story. She held no emotion anymore, none of her usual mirth. Only the distinct lack of it.

“When she can, she volunteers at the nearest orphanage whenever we move towns. I really think she does it to help any of the little fillies and colts who are being bullied, so they don’t have to suffer like she did. Time, bits, blood, sweat, tears – she doesn’t want them to suffer alone. The most important years of your life are the ones you’re raised in, Tall-fry. They determine who you will be.”

Quiet sips of coffee were the only thing to disturb the silence. She continued to stare at her drink, emotionless for a while. “If you want to make things up with her, I don’t know what else to say, Arin. This is a pain that runs deep. You broke her fragile trust, and really, even with all of my magic and centuries of knowledge – I couldn’t even begin to tell you how to fix this. I feel bad. I knew you snooted, I did. I could have said nothing, let the peace be kept – but honesty is important to me. I won’t keep you here if you’re not honest. Ha… write that letter to the Princess, why don’t you.”

Vee didn’t smile with her comment, and when she ran out of words to say – she turned back to the register to work on some sparse paperwork up front; simple bills, finances, faint hopes they’ll make another month without having to shut down a shop somewhere. Arin only continued to stare on in silence, the heavy history of the little mare weighing in on him.

He could make this right. And with that knowledge, he knew just how to start.

He made a beeline for the door – Vee calling out to him as the bell rang.

“Where are you going, Tall-fry? Aren’t you going to work on your fundraiser? Snoot up some bits, make the foals happy?”

“When I get back, yes – but I’ve got to do something first. I’ll catch up when I return, I promise.”

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Vee all alone in her shop.

“Ah, the good old days of being alone. Alone… mm. Not as good as I remember, definitely bad for the feathers.” She frowned, resting her chin on the front desk. Staring out the window straight ahead into the street; a sight she remembered all too fondly, years ago.

Pumpkin held one of her favorite plushies to her chest – a black kitty plush that she’s had since she was little. She had named her Midnight, the first gift she was ever given from a time long passed. On a nearby perch, Onyx watched the little mare quietly. A steady eye and a soul to keep her company – if odd bird demons even had souls.

A knock at her door stirred her from her poor mood. It was well after noon – Vee had probably made her hot cocoa to cheer her up; she always did when the little Pumpkin mare was down. She looked at the Raven and nodded, sniffling. He tilted his head, and clicked his beak – the lock popping open.

In stepped an absolutely soaked and cold looking Seraph. His cheeks and skin had shifted from their usual pale to a near icy blue, his boots squelched with every step, and water dripped on her floor.

“A-Arin? Why are you?…”

He pushed his left hand into his pocket, drawing out a palm sized glass pumpkin. A tiny slot in the top perfect for popping bits in when needed, it gleamed a gentle orange in the light. The mud had been washed away, cleaned in the river where he found it.

She stared, a swirl of emotions soon overtaking her. Shock, then sorrow – appreciation and gratitude – it all struck at once, as she hopped off of the bed. She examined the pristine magic pumpkin, fresh tears running down her face.

“I wanted to show that I was truly sorry for what I did, and so I asked Vee for some advice. She didn’t have much to say, but… she did tell me a little story. About a cute mare down on her luck.”

He placed the trinket in her hooves, and she held it close to her chest. Holding back tears, feeling the memories of old wash over her in a tumbling sea. Soon, her body relaxed, and the tension left her. Looking up to Arin with exhaustion in her little voice.

“Thank you, it’s been… I-I… I’ve been worried for so long. I never thought… A-Arin…” She eventually sniffled, wiping away the building tears. The Seraph leaned in, offering her a hug - which she calmly took regardless of the clammy cold.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, you know that. Right? You’re a good soul, and… I’d hate to lose a friend.” He smiled, gentle wings embracing her. Despite the shakes running up his spine, the chattering teeth - he wanted to show that he wasn’t just some… emotionless monster.

“I-I know, it’s j-just… I’ve been h-hurt before,” the mare quietly sobbed. He continued to gently stroke her autumn mane, the tiny pony pulling away to look him in the eyes.

“I… You didn’t do it to hurt me. I know. It… I know it was a mistake. T-Thank you, Arin. F-For… trying t-to make things right.”

He smiled at that - giving her hair a ruffle. “Now, I hate to ask a favor right now, Pumpkin, but… I think I’m about to develop hypothermia. Think I can use your shower? Then afterwards, if you’re still in the mood for baking, we could pop a few batches out and earn some bits?”

“O-Oh! Right, y-yes! Here, um… give me your clothes, I’ll wash them f-for you. Just um… there’s towels under the sink, if that will help?” The little mare held the pumpkin to her chest, feeling it's cool touch against her skin. It still shined like the day she lost it, too.

The day progressed much like normal after that; a deep clean to scrub away the river was just what the doctor ordered. His spare set of clothes slid on nicely, his main set left by the fire to dry. A few minutes by the fire would cheer anyone up and air out his soaked clothes; something about the warmth and flare of flames just awakened a part of one’s soul, deep down. Even if there was a wall of laundry to block most of it.

Clean and fresh, he made his way back to the kitchen - happily joining the little mare once more to put together the Lunar Fundraiser. After all - the ‘general election’ couldn’t be too far off, right?... Maybe he should check the dates on that. It was still early Prancetember, after all. Didn’t Quill Shine say it was only thirty days away? That’d be in Cloptober, probably.

As the cart grew heavy and the excitement climbed ever higher, the duo once more set off into the world - bit bag jingling, the Seraph calling for attention, ponies quick to nibble at their delicious treats in exchange for coins. While they had half the stock as the other day, they had more than enough sales - raking in another five hundred shiny bits for the road.

Just as the final trio of cookies found its way into waiting hooves, a mysterious letter from above clattered against the Seraph’s head in a spark of purple light. Tumbling to the floor, he stooped down to scoop it up - looking over it curiously for several moments.

“Huh? I’ve never received mail before. Well, not like this - and not in Equestria.” Unfurling the star seal, he quickly looked it over, sighing.

“Well then, Twilight works faster than I thought. She said around three days, but it looks like her friends are already there - and she has exciting news to give me, too. Hopefully it isn’t a science lecture. I don’t think I’ll survive another one.”

“W-Wait! You’re… y-you’re leaving?” Pumpkin mewled, stopping the cart dead in her tracks. “T-To the moon, like you said earlier? You’ll come back… right?”

“I’d hope so, otherwise Luna will probably hunt me down myself for skipping guard duty. Again. But hey, in the meanwhile… We have a good heap of bits. Think you could do me a favor, and run these to a local orphanage - once we return to Canterlot? Get the news ponies, grab a microphone - something. Just announce that it’s being donated on behalf of the crown, and Luna’s own Knight helped make every bit in the pile. That’ll surely work. Right?”

Pumpkin clopped her forehooves together sadly, thinking. “W-Well, I can… but… you’ll be okay. Won’t you?”

“What? Me? Of course! I’m not afraid of the moon or… whatever. It’s just some snow and wind, I’ve handled worse.” The Seraph stated this confidently, yet he knew deep down that he could very well not leave the Lunar Plane alive. He may never find Celestia, or worse - he’ll find Nightmare Moon, first. If she really is up there.

“O-Okay… just. Be safe. P-Please?” She led the way back quietly towards Vee’s shop, the click of the cart rattling on the rough concrete slabs. Her steps were calm and quiet, drooping her hat over her head to turn her thoughts inwards.

The journey back wasn’t as cheery as the adventure out - and with a rattling bounce of the platform’s wheels, the bell ringed shut into the comfy cafe once more.

“Oho! That was fast - hey, Small-fry, what-”

Pumpkin blazed right past Vee without another word, shuffling around in the kitchen quietly to wash up baking sheets and mixing bowls galore.

“What’d you do now, Tall-fry? I’ll find another book! I’m not afraid to wingchop you! That’s my sister you’re bullying, Jerk-face!” She put up her hooves, ready for a fight - but Arin raised his hands in submission.

“I didn’t do anything, Vee; promise. I have to head back to Canterlot. That’s all. Think Onyx can take us there while I grab my stuff?”

“Hmhm… if the featherbrain isn’t too busy preening feathers in my feather pile, then perhaps! If not, best walk, Tall-fry.” The Purple retrieved a trusty wing in need of many more hours of preening. It seemed that no matter how many feathers she snooted out, somepony would sneak in to snoot more back in when she wasn’t looking.

Slipping past the kitchen, Pumpkin hardly gave him the time of day, ignoring him as he passed. Today just wasn’t going well for her. But his old set clothes were now comfortably dry, and he was quick to pack his bag up once more. Even during his tenure as King, his wardrobe was sparse - he was a former Inert after all, and cared little about what he wore to toil away.

The world flashed and churned, darkness seeping through the windows before quickly shifting to an all-too-familiar street. Canterlot. That definitely beats walking. He almost wanted to ask about the limitations of it, if you could just… set a door anywhere, and make it work. Now that he thought about it, probably not.

Just as he was about to pass through the kitchen entrance, he lingered with the thought of saying goodbye to the little mare. But when Pumpkin ignored him yet again - he made his way to the front. Just before the bell could ring on the Cafe’s front end, her soft voice squeaked to stop him.

“W-Wait! Arin!” she mewled, dashing across the wooden floors in a huff - nearly tripping over her own hooves as she did so. “I… I wanted to give you this, before you go.”

Plucking her hat from her head, she retrieved the glass pumpkin bauble from before - now polished and definitely well cleaned, she held it up to the towering Seraph, who oggled the toy.

“I… Pumpkin, I hunted that for you.”

“B-But it was never for me. I wanted to… g-give it to a friend. And… no matter what you’ve done, y-you’re a good pony-er… monkey, minotaur thing.”

“Seraph.”

“T-That!” she squeaked, holding it up higher until he gingerly accepted. He popped the root lid off, heart melting. Dozens of cookies rested inside, making him smile in delight. Fresh and warm, the magic of the trinket would surely keep them safe for weeks to come - even in the bitter cold he was sure to face.

“Pumpkin… you didn’t have to.”

“B-But I did! Please, just… come back safe. O-Okay?”

He nodded, holding the little trinket to his chest with a smile. “I will, Pumpkin. I will.”

Chapter 10 - Friends

The approach to the castle was a solemn one, especially as night began to fall across Equestria. Night time. Just the mere thought of the night gave him shivers; once of exhilaration, now of fear. Luna would likely be prowling about, in her foul mood as usual - if she didn’t slink off to stare at the moon for the evening.

That was an issue he felt like he couldn’t address enough. Her moon staring… it was like she was in a trance, and she did it now more than ever. She wasn’t dream walking, that was easy enough to tell - her horn would light up as she channeled the magic. She just… watched. Stared. Gazed. Endlessly and obsessively, whenever she roused it from the horizon. It was rare that she found proper sleep; only on his first night back did she make an effort to actually relax.

But his thoughts idled at her strange, unnerving behavior enough. At least, for now. The Castle loomed ahead, once open and inviting - now a little less so, as some of the well tended brush and flora had been left to disarray. Not that the Gardeners didn’t care - there simply weren't enough bits set aside for routine maintenance.

In the front garden, Tempest remarked at the stars with the aid of a telescope. He hardly had a chance to speak with her, during her tenure at the Castle - and he might not get another shot. So as he approached the heavy gates, he made a quick detour to the small outing she had planned.

“You look busy.” He smiled, hoping to start the conversation on the right foot. Or… well, hoof.

“...I am, thank you for noticing. May I help you?” She raised an eyebrow at the tall Seraph - though towering he may be, if she stood to her normal height - she would stand at height with Luna. A curious feat, for a non-Alicorn.

“Oh, no. I’m just a bit early by Twilight’s letter - thought I’d say hi, since I only caught you for a moment back at the library. Are you enjoying Canterlot so far? And uh, mind if I have a seat?”

The wine-colored mare thought quietly at his request; as if weighing the risk. “...I don’t see why not.”

“Great! Wonderful, let me just…” He used a flash of magic to make a space among the books and bags - settling in a free spot between her notes. She was rather disgruntled at the rough treatment of her research, but persisted with conversation, nevertheless.

“To answer your question, Sir Knight, yes. I’ve been having an acceptable experience; I believe most of my free time has been spent with Umbra, researching Harmony and banishing techniques, when Twilight wants to throw herself into her own studies. She’s quite knowledgeable, and we have a lot in common.”

“Oh! That’s great news. I uh… hardly know anything about you myself, but I wanted to make an effort to change that. You know. Since I may not come back. Make a new friend and all, see if you’re doing much the same.” He scratched at the back of his head, feeling a little intimidated by her scarred disposition. Her green eyes looked him over, marveling at him curiously.

“I’m not one to do well with friends, but… I guess you can say that Umbra and I are quite close to it. Almost like sisters, in a way - challenged by fate and changed by friendship. At least, she was affected more so than I. Friendship hasn’t done much for me, I’m afraid.”

She raised a quill to her chin with her hoof, thinking quietly over her notes. “Say. Why do you waste your time on me, anyway? It’s not like you’ll see much more of me in the future. You have more important tasks at hoof, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Seriously? You’re out here alone, in the dark, not even a candle - and you’re confused as to why I decided to say hello?” He chuckled, looking up to the stars himself. “Thought you could use the company. I know I sure can. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

Tempest settled her quill down with a clink to the inkpot - sighing. “You’re not the only one. I might as well share a little about myself, since you’re dead set on pushing the letter. I am a former Commander of the Storm King’s brigands and army. When I was young, I lost most of my horn to naivety on my part. With the damage done, my friends abandoned me when I failed to fit in - and thus, I left my home. I was quickly adapted into his ranks when he was nothing more than a small-time pirate. From there, I developed magical technology to better suit my own cause, honed my body to be a warrior of the battlefield, and studied ships and engineering to assert my role as a growing leader.”

She flipped open a nearby bag, withdrawing two bottles of pop from within. The first, a heady cream soda that would undoubtedly be a foamy mess if not careful - the second being a more calm, purple, grape flavor. She offered the creamy one to Arin, out of courtesy - which he graciously accepted. Why not celebrate a sugar-filled fundraiser with a liquid bottle of it to wash the cupcakes down?

“You probably heard something about the Storm King’s attack. I spearheaded the assault, and essentially gave him everything he could ever want - if he would in turn repair my damaged horn. Instead, he went mad with power like the fool he was. If Twilight and her friends didn’t step in, we would be sitting on ruins right now.”

“You basically learned the trade of war, developed technology to brutalize it, and took over an entire Kingdom… just to heal your broken horn,” Arin flatlined. Tempest rolled her eyes.

“I never said I was a wise mare growing up. I started this journey when I was nothing more than a foal. When times grew tough, my friends abandoned me - and it set me on this path. The road to Tartarus is paved with good intentions, after all.”

She used her chipped horn to pop the cap off her bottle, sighing - taking a heavy drink from the bubbling purple fizz. Arin did much the same, using the pommel of Nocturne to open his drink.

“You know, I have some pretty powerful healing magic. If you’re okay with it, mind giving me a chance? At my ascension - my peak, I basically had the power to bring back the freshly dead in droves. While I couldn’t dream of doing that now, I think I might be able to help.”

She cocked an eyebrow at that; “Many Unicorn doctors have tried before. You wouldn’t be the first to be disappointed. Don’t call me hopeful.”

“I don’t recall you being named ‘hopeful’,” he smirked, urging her to lean forward. At his whim, she relented - letting his fingers lace around the shattered appendage, after he set his cream soda in his lap for safe keeping. Wouldn’t want to splash the books, after all.

Steadily, he drew at the well of energy within him. He had a few healing spells in his catalogue - and one in particular might come in handy. ‘Antithesis’, which could both mend wounds - and crush flesh, if he felt inclined. It could reform bones near instantly, and brimming with magic - he could give it several attempts right now, before his Ember had to naturally absorb ambient energy once more.

He focused, and the first blast came with a chime of a single, silvery bell - gold flecks of magic sparkling in the night time air. Her ocean green eyes watched him below, curious - but not at all surprised that his first attempt failed.

Not one to give up hope so easily, Arin charged another cast of Antithesis. The bell rang, and lights gleamed - but still, nothing. Maybe he needed to encourage healing magic to flow - and at that thought, a flash of light encompassed her form in a quick cast of Resurgence. An assortment of light tolls rang in the air quietly, like wind chimes, as the spell fell across her form.

If she had any open wounds, they would have slowly closed before her eyes. Her very unimpressed eyes. Did she have to stare at him when he did this?

Another flash of Antithesis, before Resurgence could expire. Nothing. Blessing? It would rid her body of curses and promote healing - but this wasn’t a magical effect. Her horn was physically damaged. Regardless, his hand flashed in a quick healing sigil - flickering lights clinging to her form. He was starting to feel a little winded, but he wouldn’t lose hope yet.

Maybe he could cast Mending Wave, but… that was rather pointless. It was an area spell. Mana Barrier was also… not his best skill. He hadn’t learned to call it properly yet, and it would do nothing but shield them if he was succesful. He really didn’t have many spells in his repertoire, did he? He hadn’t even mastered basic Teleportation yet, nor a proper Resurrection spell - he only knew the most basic level of it. All of his talent before, came when his power peaked three years prior. Now, he was… at best? Slightly above the average White Mage, due to his innate talent for the skill.

Another flash of Antithesis soaked into the bored unicorn’s shattered appendage. Another. Two more. Three. He felt magic exhaustion clinging at his consciousness, panting - sweat trailing down his neck as each cast cost more than the last, having channeled the majority of ambient healing magic around him into the spell - the rest came from his ember.

“I think you should give up. You can’t heal permanent scars this far gone.” She frowned. Tempest didn’t say this out of worry - more so for the fact that he was on the verge of collapse, and she’d like to read some of the books he would inevitably crush with his fall.

“Y-Yeah… I-I guess…”

Thwump. Arin, the sturdy Knight - sweaty palmed and shaking, fell backwards across her gathered belongings. His cream soda bubbled and fizzed from the shake, spewing white - suggestive pop across his pants and torso.

“And of course.” She sighed, reaching forward to try and pry the tomes from underneath him before they’d be soaked. Twilight would kill her if she crushed the spines, or damaged the pages.

“Tempest, have you seen-” Umbra started, appearing in the dark of the night. She froze on the spot, emerald green eyes looking down at the scene before her. Her face turned into a heavy scowl, as the former Commander looked at the mess beneath her.

Arin, unconscious and sweaty - covered in a sticky white liquid, Tempest leaning over him…

“It’s not what it looks like. I can explain,” she said, quick to retreat to her corner - clutching a romance novel in her hoof. Of course, of all the books she grabbed…

“Oh no. Please. Explain.” Umbra’s unwavering glare loomed over Tempest, who fumbled with the book to stash it in her bag.

“Well, you see - Arin wished to heal my horn, so he tried to do just that. Unfortunately, he uh… tired himself out. And spilled the soda I gave him. And… you’re not believing any of this, are you?” She nearly stammered through the sentence. She didn’t even like stallions. Maybe she should mention that.

“Oh no. I am attempting to.” She continued to glower for several seconds, before cracking a smile. “But your expression is priceless.”

“...I never thought of you as the joking type.” Tempest blinked, offering Umbra a hoof to help her stand.

“I have my moments. You pick up a few phrases, sayings, and ideas, when you visit Erenorn. Insults were by far my favorite subject.” The former Umbrum smiled, looking over the collapsed mess before her. She couldn’t help but sigh, not out of frustration, but of other thoughts.

“Now, for my Seraph… he is needed in the smaller courtyard. Would you mind assisting me, my friend?” Umbra motioned to the sleeping man, giving the scarred mare a smirk.

“Funny to think of all the ponies I’ve met, Umbra, you would be the first I’d be okay with calling friend. Two reformed criminals, bonding over the most trivial things.” She withdrew a handkerchief from her nearby saddle, offering it to the shadowy mare. Of course, Umbra wasn’t shy about personal space - and quickly whipped away the drink from Arin’s pants in her magic.

“I see you like a Sister, Commander. But you are right. It is curious how we both stand here now, united in a way unexpected.” Her horn twinkled, bringing Arin’s unconscious form to rest across her back. “It helps that we are both still lacking a special talent.”

“That’s true. If you’re ever bored of standing on patrol, and you’d like to see the world - I have a few places in mind. Maybe we could drag Arin along - if Luna doesn’t chain him to the bed.”

The duo stepped hoof through the Castle’s halls, talking quietly amongst themselves - the occasional giggle uncharacteristic of the two mares. Arin’s wings dragged along the floor, the Seraph twitching adorably in his sleep.

“Think he’ll be alright up there?” Tempest asked, as they rounded their way into Luna’s own garden.

“He better be. I am not one to abandon my friends. If I have to, I’ll find a way to shatter the very planes we stand upon and recover him myself. He saved my life, and changed me for the better. For that, I am eternally grateful. And fiercely protective, as well.”

“You care a lot about your friends, don’t you?” Tempest asked, looking over the six ponies gathered in the garden beyond the glass doors. Twilight worked tirelessly to draw out a chalk circle along the floor; a technique she wanted to yammer on about, along with other findings, to Arin.

“I would trek to the ends of the earth for my friends. I know they would very well do the same.” The Umbrum puffed her chest in pride, Tempest taking a moment to flick her military cut tail against the Seraph’s face. Arin stirred, groaning.

“You know, after this - we’ll have plenty of time to chat. Let’s hang out sometime; and maybe one day, I’ll say the same about you.”

“If this is a date, I will be blunt - I am not interested in mares. But friendship? I will partake.” Umbra winked, much to the dismay of the wine colored mare.

“How’d you know?”

“Twilight heavily recommends ‘Just My Buck’ to any mare interested in love with a female sharing the same taste. I can see you’ve spoken to her, in private. Though I have never read the novel, it is definitely not to my personal interests.”

Umbra’s keen eye would be the death of her. And in that stunned silence, the gray mare left her with a quiet laugh - entering the clearing with Arin groggily stirring to wake on her back.

“I don’t suppose anyone told you, Umbra, but your fur is really soft.” He said, running his hand groggily along her side. For the first time in well over… thousands of years, she blushed - before quickly dumping him to the floor with a grunt. “Ow.”

“Princess Twilight - I do believe your guest of honor is ready.” Umbra bowed, before pointing a hoof to the collapsed pile of white feathers and groaning Seraph struggling to stay awake.

“Oh! Arin, you’re - on the ground. What happened to him?” The Alicorn frowned, dropping her chalk bucket to the floor.

“I got hit by a bus.”

“Arin decided to waste his magic in an attempt to restore Tempest’s horn.”

“I like my story better. I got hit by a bus,” Arin repeated. Twilight sighed, slamming her hoof in her face. Seeing things would soon become heated, Umbra decided to retreat to the safety of the Castle’s halls. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him when Harmony went off. Two times was more than enough.

“Arin! How many times must I cover this with you, in Magic 101? You’re putting all of our work at risk! We need you - Equestria needs you fit and able to save Celestia! As soon as possible, not as soon as convenient!” Twilight stomped her hoof in frustration. Rainbow Dash - overhearing the conversation among the quiet chatter of her friends - darted to the air to meet them.

“What the heck, Arin! Yeah! Like, all of Equestria needs you right now! The Princess needs you! You can’t be sleeping on the floor - it’s go time!” The other ponies were quick to come to her aid, some mumbling worry at the exhausted Seraph.

“You alright, Sugarcube?” Applejack said, offering a hoof. “Ya look beat up like Big Mac after apple bucking season.”

Struggling to his legs with the work horse’s grasp to aid him, he quietly dusted himself off. “...I am sorry. But I had to at least try to help, you know? If I were missing an arm or a leg, I’d love it if a healer could make it reappear.”

“Yeah, but like that’s totally a big dumb-dumb move to do right before your big moonwalk! Don’t you ever think ahead?!” Pinkie Pie bounced, surprisingly serious for her usual bubbly demeanor.

“Oh come on everypony, he was only trying to help.” Fluttershy frowned, flicking her wings to reach up and pat his sweat-stained hair. “I would have done the same thing, Mister Arin.”

“Leave him be, you brutes! Let him breathe - Arin, are you alright? You have a long, perilous journey ahead of you - and goodness me, you look pale!” Rarity fawned over him, much like the fashionista would her customers. “What you need is a good long rest, darling. Beauty sleep will do wonders for your complexion.”

“Rarity is right - ya can’t put a bone tired pony to work. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way.” Applejack sighed. “Twilight, we should call this off for another night - Arin won’t do any good up there alone like this.”

“No! We can’t delay this until tomorrow - Celestia is in mortal peril, and if Luna catches on to our plans, there is a chance Nightmare Moon may as well; we can’t trust anything to chance. At the very least, you can relax while I go over my notes with you. I’ll start with some addendums to the original plan, as I have taken the liberty of preparing a course of action for your journey, Arin.”

Her horn flashed, summoning a large pillow for him to thankfully collapse upon at a not-so-gentle shove of her magic.

“Now, a massive change to our strategy is the use of a Slow charm. With a single cast over the Alicorn Amulet, I managed to give a predictable expansion to your allotted time. You now have seven days to find Celestia. On top of this, using an old guidance ritual, we may be able to narrowly hone your position within a sparse dozen leagues of Celestia’s current location. This means help will get to her sooner, and you can begin the journey home faster.”

She nodded to Rarity, who was quick to levitate a nearby towering hiking pack to Twilight’s side, along with a heavy, yet fashionable, knee-long coat. Both were colored salt and pepper, a gray tent dangling from the bottom of the pack.

“I managed to put together a rough idea of the Lunar Plane’s layout. With notes and journal entries from Luna’s diary, I was soon able to triangulate rough distances between her noted landmarks. In these notes, there’s only one important thing to note. Do not go into the dark side of the moon. Luna was convinced some sort of evil tentacle monster was hiding there, and with how little we know - this could very well be true. I have several copies spread out along your belongings, so you’ll never be without guidance. Speaking of belongings…”

She opened the pack, taking a look inside. “I’ve stocked more than ten days of rations, with thoughts put forward for Celestia’s inevitable condition. On my calculations, her magic should be running extremely low, or completely out - this means she’s likely able to survive less than a few more weeks without aid. If the worst is true, and Nightmare Moon is still alive - she is definitely in deep starvation, or could be on the very brink of death. If that’s the case, Arin - she will suffer refeeding syndrome. That means you have to refeed her, very slowly. You’ve studied this, correct? Arin? Arin?...”

The Seraph had started to snore. Twilight clopped her hooves together, snapping him - and maybe a dozing Rainbow Dash - awake. He caught most of that, right?

“I’m fine! I’m awake! Go on, about the re-meeting sinners, or whatever.”

At that notion, Twilight’s patience ran out. Three years of work, research, study, testing and hypothesizing - and it could all very well collapse if Arin didn’t come to his senses. He was their last hope on saving her mentor, and spent or not - he needed to move. Now.

“Girls. Drag him to the circle. I’m going to do it. I’m so going to do it. I’m going to Harmony him, so hard.”

“Now calm down Twilight, he isn’t Anonymous. He doesn’t deserve it.” Applejack frowned - but when she turned back to look at the Seraph, Rarity and Pinkie Pie had already placed him in the chalk ring. “What in tarnation are you doin’ to that poor stallion?”

“What? I just wanna see the fireworks!” Pinkie Pie shrugged.

“And it is late. I do have beauty sleep to catch up on. If Celestia is in danger, we best not waste another moment, after all.” Rarity flicked her mane. Even Fluttershy - as timid as she was, stepped over by Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

“I-I’m sorry Applejack, but… Angel will be mad at me if I miss his midnight snack.”

“And I’ll be mad at myself if I don’t get to bed soon. I’ve got more paperwork than I do Daring Do novels. And I have a lot of Daring Do novels.” Rainbow Dash laughed nervously, scratching the back of her mane. Being a Wonderbolt wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be right now, and she managed to flick her wings over to the other four ponies.

“I can’t believe it… y’all are gonna kill this poor… is he still an Inert? Or does the wings make him a Seraph? What’s the difference?” Applejack stomped her hoof, sighing. “Y’know what, it don’t matter. None of this matters, I guess. Alright Twilight, ready when you are.”

The Princess of friendship sighed, scooping Arin’s body up in her magic. Shuffling him around like a doll, she stuffed him in his jacket - and draped the bag over his shoulders, hoping it’d be enough to keep him warm. At least the blast of Harmony will revitalize him, in some way - he seemed to have an affinity for it.

“Arin. I know you’re half asleep. But we need you now more than ever. Think you can stand up for me? It… it really feels wrong, using this spell on you when you’re laying down like that.”

“Hm? Yeah, sure, just…”

Flop.

“...I take that back. Come on girls. Our ‘hero’ needs a bit of a wakeup call.”

Chapter 11 - Cold

Cold. Harsh, bitter, antagonizing cold. All of the cold in the world lay here, all around him – and yet it did nothing to ease the searing, sizzling agony rippling through his flesh. His mind stirred, moaning in pain as the winds whipped at his freshly minted coat. He felt heavy, shaking as his scorched hand dug into the snow. Snow? Snow. The moon didn’t have snow – but the Lunar Plane did. Well, at the very least he could say the banishment worked, and all of their theorycrafting finally bore fruit. Even if he was barely conscious for it. Actually, no, thankfully he was mostly knocked out - he hurt now, it must have hurt a lot more moments prior.

Before he even attempted to lift his broken, battered body – he first channeled his magic. Curiously, it felt... weak. Distant. But still, present - regardless of how much he wasted the other night. Magic was tied to the fabric of reality, after all; and being so far from the center, the Material Plane, meant his grasp on the latent energies around him was dampened. Magic 101: The magic you summon from within is amplified from the surrounding elements. When your ties to the elements are weakened, you must spend more of your own energy to compensate.

Shuddering, he forced light to well within him. Coaxing the golden aura to engulf his form; the best he could do for now was to accelerate his already fast natural healing in the form of the spell Resurgence. A neat trick he picked up naturally, but later had the chance to refine in Alma Sol. On dummies, of course – but it still counts.

Slowly, steadily – and painfully – he made it to his feet. Bruised muscles struggling against his brain, demanding rest. His bones were shaky, but supportive as he hefted the massive bag with him. He almost regretted not inquiring about the contents; in fact, he was sure Twilight included everything from her favorite books to the kitchen sink, but he had little time to argue about it now.

He had to move. With his head peeking up from the hood of his new, now snow covered jacket, he could finally take in the Lunar Plane in its entirety. Well, he would – but he was currently sitting under a pillar of blinding light, from where the spell dropped him off; a hole in the stars above detailing the astral plane, tearing at the fabric of reality in a perfect circle. The only reason he could see it at all, was that faintly beyond it lay an airy, etheral view of the gardens where he once stood, kinda. It slowly began to fade, the picture of nightshade flowers the last he could take in before vanishing. A small beacon held there, and stayed - reality would need a few hours to stitch itself back together fully, after all.

So. This is what it’s like, standing in Luna’s hooves. With his eyes still glued to the sky, he noticed the faint green and blue glow of Equis to his right. The breathtaking view of a planet, the entirety of a world – struck him to the core. He raised his thumb up, covering that sphere with a single digit. You would expect him to feel big, like a giant – but in this moment, he felt so immeasurably small. A single speck in an infinite void. A fragment of the whole picture, not even a drop of paint in the portrait of the great vastness and beyond. What was strange was, it hardly looked like a globe - more of a half sphere, shattered on the edges. Odd.

While he only had a week to work with, this isn’t a moment you can pay for in gold on Equis. Seeing his friends, the land he fought for – now a speck in the sky, filled him with a determination he didn’t know he had.

With an ear-ringing bang, the fabric above him cracked and shuddered with leaking magic, violent like a storm. The sound echoing off the distant snow and thundering over the valleys, worrying him. Nightmare Moon could be about after all – and that was a clear sign he needed to move. Or another worrying thought – she could be on Equis, right now, and he wouldn’t even know it.

Arin gave his wings a once over, sighing in relief. No damage besides a bit of char. A flap followed, happy to find only a couple loose pinions tumbling to the white blanket beneath him. Now, for the legs – everything should hopefully still work.

Arin took several sparse steps, feeling the crunch of snow beneath him. That’s one small step for this Seraph, but one giant leap for this mission’s success. Being able to walk, and hopefully fly, meant he could get to the hard part. Finding a half dead mare in this giant, freezing wasteland.

Shuffling his wings out of the way of his hiking bag, he darted up into the air with a flurry of wind and snow. He grunted as his pack made it difficult, but he needed height. The world around him was covered in not only snow, but a dark blue light. An ambient magic that flitted through the air, shining the polished drafts of cold ice in a simple, freezing radiance. Rocky outcroppings would break the hills in short peaks, and a bitter wind ripped through his thick coat not more than a hundred hooves from the fluffy powder below.

Withdrawing Twilight’s map, he beat his wings to steady himself. Gauging his location would be a bit of a challenge, but there were plenty of rough notes to flick through. She was even smart enough to leave notes pointing towards pages of Luna’s old diary, for clarification. The diary which he... well, he hasn’t flicked through the pages much, ironically enough. He couldn’t help but poke at Pumpkin’s, but he just didn’t have the urge with the lunar Princess. Maybe because this blue journal in particular was more so a summary of a thousand years bored in the Lunar plane, and he didn’t feel inclined to read it.

It seemed that the color of light was roughly related to one’s distance from the epicenter – the Homeward Crest. Arin was currently hovering over the Ripple – at least, it looked something like a ripple in the snow. With waves of jagged gray stone breaking through the pearly white. A good indication that he was close to the Abyss, a chilling thought for sure.

From Twilight’s notes, it appeared that the Lunar Plane wasn’t fully habitable – if you could even call this freezing wasteland devoid of life habitable. Once you travel too deep into the lengthening shadows, you enter the Lunar Abyss – or the ‘dark side’ of the moon. Even Luna was terrified of it, with clear warnings to avoid the dark at all costs, or risk your sanity, or worst yet - your body, as dark tendrils would lash out at you to try and drag you deeper still.

Just thinking about it gave him a sense of dread. Folding the map into his shoulder strap, he gradually tilted his encumbered body forward, aiming to glide as far as possible before touching down. His salt and pepper colored jacket would blend him in well with the snow and rock, and hopefully keep a very unwanted pair of eyes off of him as he searched.

The soft snow beneath stirred as he touched down, what must have been a league away. He felt exerted – magically and physically, as he noted the arcane fatigue still ever present. He’d have to tread on foot for a while; the wind had become unmanageable above, as the weather strangely shifted. Snow had whipped across his sight in the sky, a bad omen for a storm to come. And worrying enough, there were no clouds. He could see the stars, but snow just... appeared here, seemingly from nothing.

He took the towering pack off of his back – surely, a mare like Twilight would pack something like snow shoes for his mission. If not an entire survival catalog worth of gear.

“Aha!” Arin cheered, withdrawing two... broad, hoof shaped winter cleats. Oh, it was a set – there were two more. This must have been for Celestia, wherever she was holed up. Stuffing them back into the bulging pack, he found something a little more fitting – his own set of boots! These will do. Now, for the horrible task of bouncing around on one leg, trying not to get snow on one’s dry socks.

And after a few failed attempts, he now had a pair of cold, wet, icy feet tucked away in the broad lipped shoes. Wonderful. At least he found an extremely fashionable scarf and set of mittens in his jacket pockets – Rarity thought of everything. And so did Twilight. Which is why she’s going to pay for his visit to the chiropractor when he crashes back on Equis.

An unsettling thought struck him, as the snow gave way under his step. He would return, right? If he failed – would they leave him here to die? He wasn’t built like Luna, with the ability to sustain off of the ambient magic. Sure, he had plenty of rations – but how long would those last? Would the cold claim him first?

Breathing in through the soft fabric of the scarf, he calmed his nerves. He was here to rescue, not be rescued. It’s not like he’d be here for a thousand years... unlike his Princess, his charge back at home.

The Seraph sighed, dipping his head to his chest. He definitely had relationship issues. Maybe saving Celestia will knock the spooky out of Luna. Or, it will force Nightmare Moon’s hoof – if she hadn’t already set her plan into action. Then after everything was said and done, he’d have a long needed talk with Luna properly. That’s what he wanted. A talk.

His journey continued for hours. More than hours, in fact – his legs felt stiff and ragged, and he seemingly made only an inch of progress. The deep, dark blue had lightened maybe... a few shades, if it lightened at all. But now, snow had begun to plummet over him like an avalanche – the blizzard kicking into full.

It made him question how the enchantment of Nocturne worked, as the blade naturally had the ability to freeze flesh solid. He thumbed the sword against his waist, feeling the power hum intensely within. Maybe it channeled the Lunar Plane, and it was cursed much like the Alicorn Amulet. It made sense. But, that’s a question for his charge, when she’s more agreeable and less likely to schedule executions.

For now, he craved rest. He’s been walking for several hours, and he needed to drop this bag or his back will snap in twain. What the hell did Twilight pack in here?! He should have checked hours ago, but at this point, it hardly mattered.

Finding a wind breaker in the form of an icy wall, he chucked the heavy pack to the snow with a thump. Stooping to tug at the tent, he paused. He had disturbed the snow, and it uncovered a worrying stain beneath the thick top layer above.

Gently, he scooped the grimy frost up with his mitten, and touched it to his tongue. Blood. It was blood. Frozen, congealed blood. The pain in his legs vanished as adrenaline kicked in.

“Celestia!” he called, looking around for signs of life. Light. Fire. Anything. He’d even take a stupid swish of her tail at this point. If he could find her, all of his stress would vanish instantly. “Princess Celestia! PRINCESS!”

The storm billowed around him, cutting his words to ribbons. Even with the break of the wall, the snow still had chances to whip in and harass him. With the bag temporarily forgotten, he weighed his options.

If this was Celestia’s blood, she’s injured, dying, or dead. But there’s no body, and there’s no way to tell how fresh it is – it’s frozen over. The only indication would be the amount of snow weighing in, which gave him a rough estimate of several hours.

If Celestia is injured, she’s undoubtedly looking for shelter. But the question is – how injured is she? If it’s just a gash, she could have traveled miles in either direction. No – that’s wrong. She’s an alicorn. She can fly. If it was just a scrape or cut, it wouldn’t hinder her preferred method of travel. So if she’s grounded, the severity of the injury is potent enough to prevent her from using her wings. Or, she’s too tired to use them. Another option could be that they’re simply wasted away, and she can’t sustain flight.

Now, how did she obtain this injury? It wasn’t likely from exploration. Firstly, she wouldn’t need to explore – she would have found a spot to hunker down by now, and wait it out. If she’s moving with an injury, she is, or was, in danger.

He was lucky just by finding this piece of evidence – and now, he needed to take another gamble. If he went the wrong way, he risked losing potentially hours of time. Which could make an already dire situation much worse.

Arin couldn’t take any chances. He used to hunt for his meals, even in the dead of winter. He’d have to track her down, and the best way to do so would be scavenging for clues. If she’s injured enough to be grounded, then she could have stumbled into the ice wall at some point, smearing blood in the process. But, that could also never happen – the wound could be on her chest, or her leg. Or simply on the other side of her body all together.

He began to scoop at the snow, worrying amounts of blood turning up with each pass of his hands. This... it was definitely an abdominal or torso injury, for this much of the crimson fluid to pool like this. It seemed to be closer to the wall than anything – and there! A smear. A sign. Something.

Celestia was injured at some point, and she headed to his left. She could have been exhausted, or woozy from blood loss – and this led to her colliding with the wall, leaving a small splatter and a thick trail where she recovered.

He roughly gauged the height of the wound, grimacing. He recalled that Celestia’s chest was roundabouts a bit lower than his own, so this was definitely a piercing on her right side. The overall shape of the wall contact meant that she had a coin-sized hole in the right side of her chest. That... it was close to her heart. An icicle perhaps? Or something more sinister, like a horn?

Snatching his bag and dropping into a dead sprint, Arin beat his wings to stay above the powdery snow below. The Seraph's heart hammered with anxiety, as a cold sweat overtook him.

“I swear on my Feathers, Celestia, if you die on me, I’m going to... I’m going... I’ll...”

He couldn’t even finish his words. The wall grew tall, tilting over him – shedding the ambient light as snow diverted over the forming nook. Like a frozen wave, it slowly turned in on itself, tightening in the form of a tunnel. Here, the blood was resting freely on top of the icy floor, frozen much like the rest. And that’s when he saw it.

The once great and mighty Alicorn lay limp on the ice, her gaunt figure near skeleton-like from starvation. Her once beautiful wings had lost all but the most important feathers, her mane a still, soft pink. He nearly slid into the husk of the once regal ruler, falling to his knees against her.

“CELESTIA! Please, stay with me!” he yelped, unable to stop the tears from welling in his eyes. He immediately checked for signs of life – and finding barely a breath from her, the Seraph cried.

“N-No, Celestia, don’t you dare...” Arin whimpered, and fatigue be damned – he summoned every single ounce of magical power coursing through his ember. He dumped it into the broken pony, hand clamping over the massive, golf ball sized wound in her chest – right under her wing, too. The chiming bells of restoration surged through her form, patching the heaving Princess’s wound. It was an inch short of piercing her heart, a near fatal miss - but nearly intentional to make her suffer like this.

“I won’t let you, you can’t die – no, Celestia, please, I can’t lose you!” Pathetic sobs were all he could muster at this point – hands smeared in her congealed, chilly blood. She was so cold, but she wasn’t shaking. She wasn’t waking. Her body had all but given up, and with the wound closed – it bought him maybe minutes.

Warmth. She needed to be warm. Her fur was thin and patchy, and ice had formed around her eyes. She had been crying. Arin ripped his pack open – tugging an equally fluffy coat free of the bag, as he lifted her thin body into the downy softness. Her hooves slid in much too easily, as her body gave no resistance at all, save for a frozen stiffness he feared

“Y-You won't die, you can’t... that... you’ll be okay, you’re going to make it.” He whispered, yanking the tent from his pack. Instructions ignored, he threw the camping gear together as quickly as he could. It wasn’t brain surgery, but his shaky, adrenaline fueled hands fought him at every step. Numb fingers wasted precious seconds, but it was finally set up – and he seized the Princess bundle in his arms.

Long ago, during his rushed Knight tests – Shining Armor said Princess Celestia weighed seventy heaps. She was elegant and looked lean at that time (though she was deemed ever so slightly overweight), with all the right curves – Arin quickly cut that thought out of his head – but she was still healthy. Now? He didn’t understand pony weights too much – but this... she must have been a third of her weight. Twenty five heaps, at best. How she was still alive was... he didn’t want to think about it.

With her in the tent and resting on a massive sleeping bag, he didn’t waste another minute. Arin dumped the contents of the hiking backpack across the icy floor, ignoring everything except for one thing – a portable, oil stove. Such a common tool in Milla Serine for the poor like him, and now, a lifeline in the Princess’s darkest moments.

Setting it up didn’t take more than seconds, and with strained, drained magic – he sparked a flame into the oil lamp. Hanging it from a hook on the square tent’s roof, he darted back for the scattered supplies. Sliding across the icy cavern, he grunted when he lost his balance – landing on his back with a gasp.

Pain later. Aid now. Arin scrambled onto his knees, wheezing as he scooped up everything back into the bag. Rations, water, a lightweight sleigh contraption, extra oil, more blankets and covers – how did Twilight fit so much in the...

Oh. Right. Princess of Magic. There was even a bottle of ketchup, Twilight’s favorite brand; and while thoughtful - it didn’t help him now.

Back inside of the tent, everything but the kitchen sink collected, he zipped them in, wheeling around to check on the dying mare.

He checked her pulse. Faint, slow... But what was more worrying was her heat. She was still a princess popsicle, and still no shivering. No movement, besides the very rare rise and fall of her chest.

Body warmth it is, then. He ripped off his heavy jacket – slipping under the piles of blankets on top of her, as he undid the chest buttons on her loose coat. When he first arrived in Equis, he sometimes had idle, innocent thoughts about cuddling the giant Princess – her wings looked absolutely lovely, and it was a guilty pleasure that a lot of Inert had. Wanting to cuddle in wings was apparently a common fling among the lower class like him.

But now, it was a matter of life and death. Naked save all but his undergarments, both arms quickly darted around the unconscious Alicorn. He honestly felt like he was hugging a rough, somewhat furry and ragged bag of bones, but it was better than waking up next to a corpse. He rested there for a while, shaking a little himself from the adrenaline and fear – before it came from her chilly skin.

It took nearly an hour, before he felt even somewhat comfortable against her. That’s under a warm oil lamp, inside of her furry coat, and covered in several blankets – and she was still cold. Now it was more like a mild chill, at best. Like she just hopped out of a cold shower and into a fridge to dry off with a frozen towel. But still, a massive improvement.

Slowly, he pulled an arm free – moving his hand to the bag. Twilight mentioned refeeding syndrome what it felt like months ago, and his classes in Alma Sol actually came in handy for that. When a Seraph – or in this case, a pony, starves for so long, a normal meal would kill them. So you’ve got to start off small, and slow.

Thankfully, a giant thermos was the best find out of the assorted tools and goods. In fact, there were three! And it came packed with a fresh chicken stock – fats and oils were essential right now, and he wanted to avoid giving her anything with excessive sugar. Several cookies could probably put her into shock. Luckily, ponies had a stomach for less than vegetarian options at times, and protein and fat were crucial for survival.

Arin bundled up an extra couple of pillows, thankful for Twilight’s attention to creature comforts – and propped up the still mare’s head. She didn’t resist as he brought the thermos lid to her unconscious muzzle, and fed her the first ladle of broth. The taste was enough to force her to swallow, even when dead asleep.

Just seeing her throat move lifted a world of weight off of the poor Knight’s shoulders. A reflex other than breathing was a good sign, but he needed her to start shivering. The piping hot broth soon began to disappear down her throat – and once the thermos was empty, he got what he wanted.

A shivering, shaking, twitching mare. He tossed the empty container to his side, pulling her back into his arms with tender affection. “Shh... it’s okay, Celestia. I’m here. I’m here. It’s okay now. You’re safe,” he whispered, curling up with her in the blankets.

As the minutes passed, he felt the heat trickle back into her. His wings, so small compared to hers – even darted around her fully, keeping her safe, and keeping her close. Among the shivering and shaking, and on the edge of sleep – he finally heard it.

“A-Arin?” came a hoarse, but oh so familiar voice.

“Celestia!” he shouted, nearly jumping out of the sheets from the vibrating mare’s voice. The Princess sobbed, her thin wings darting weakly around him in the covers. He hugged on tightly, burying his face into her chest – cleaning his fresh tears in her fur.

“P-Please, p-please b-be r-r-real,” she said, teeth chattering. “I-I... n-no more, I-I s-s-submit, p-please...”

“Celestia, shh. It’s alright. Yes, I’m real. I’m here. You’re alive! I found you! It’s going to be okay now – I can bring us home. Twilight, Umbra, and Tempest figured it out. You’re going to make it.” His hand reached up for her cheek, her faint magenta eyes cracking open to take him in.

“Y-You’re r-real?” she eventually chattered. “T-This... i-it’s a-another d-dream.”

“Celestia. Look me in the eyes. It’s real. I’m real. I’m here, right now.”

“Y-You c-can’t b-be A-Arin. A-Arin i-is... A-Arin d-died. T-This i-is a-a n-nightmare! P-Please, l-let m-m-me g-go, I-I...”

Arin gulped. That’s right. Celestia... she missed everything.

“Celestia. We won the war in Canterlot. Leotoln didn’t kill me – I almost died, yes, but I survived. I ascended... I’m an Ascended now. And I beat Leotoln through Harmony, with Twilight’s help of course.” Arin’s hands ran up and down her scraggy fur, frowning. “See? I’m real. I healed the wound in your chest and everything. Oh! I’m a White Mage! I’m a healer! Not only that – but I settled the rule of the Far Reaches! It stole three years of my life, but... it’s over. We won. It took some brainstorming from Umbra and Tempest Shadow, with Twlight’s help, to figure out how to undo your banishment, but I can finally bring you home.”

His hand ran up to her cold cheek, heart aching at the sight. Why wouldn’t she open her eyes fully? The ice melted around her tear ducts long ago. He shuffled up in the sheets, locking his gaze to her own.

“Luna has been acting strange for well over a year, Celestia. And I have to know... is Nightmare Moon here?” He felt like he already knew the answer. But he had to confirm.

Celestia didn’t respond, shaking from her hooves to her horn. But eventually, she managed a weak nod.

A familiar pit of dread filled his stomach, stroking her cheek slowly. Comfortingly. Digesting that information with fear in his golden eyes. “Celestia. I... I take it you’ve been through a lot. Not just... idly wandering around, kicking snowy rocks and sheltering from the blizzards. When you can speak, please. Tell me. Tell me everything.”

A slow, shivering nod followed. Her head gently slid into Arin’s bare chest, taking his turn to be her tissue as tears welled in her eyes. He simply held her there, stroking down her withers with slow, idle contemplation.

She sobbed for what felt like hours, until the shivering stopped and the sparse tears dried. The broken mare slowly drawing her face up to meet the Seraph’s. Her voice had calmed, the sandpaper in her throat crackly as she spoke.

“Every time I sleep. I’m cast into the nightmare once again. I... every dream, it’s a thousand years. A thousand years alone, freezing in the bitter cold. Staring up at Equis. Pain... I feel a thousand years of pain, over and over again. I-I have spent decades in this Tartarus. Eons. E-Eternity. A-As my punishment for besting Nightmare Moon. I have seen... horrible things. I see Luna, cut in twain. I see you, impaled on Leotoln’s spear. Twilight, h-her friends... enslaved, beaten, tortured. I have seen it all. I have felt iron nails driving into my b-bones. S-She i-imprisoned me f-for a while, b-breaking my body, before t-tossing me into the winter to d-die. E-Every time I wake up to the bitter cold, the hunger in my stomach... a-alone, it has been my only boon. But then she found me. S-She found me, and hounded me f-from the warmest places. I sleep in the cold, the ice. And e-even there, in my dreams...”

She began to sob again, the absolutely terrified Seraph clinging to her as her moral support. “B-By my Feathers...”

Is this... is this what they were dealing with? A torturous monster with a burning desire for revenge?

She eventually recovered enough to speak. “S-Something happened, and she was done with me. H-Her horn found m-my chest, and I was l-left to die. I-I ran, t-to hide from the storm. A-And then you found me. You found m-me, a-and you... you saved me, I-I...”

Her eyes opened, a faint sparkle of hope returning. “I... Arin, I...”

“It’s okay, Celestia. Rest. We have time now. I seriously thought I would spend days scouring the snow looking for you, and...” He sighed, giving her another reassuring squeeze. “I have food and oil to keep us alive for a dozen more days, so just stay with me... alright? We’ll sleep here before moving towards the Homeward Crest.”

“A-Arin, don’t rest. S-Stay awake. T-That’s how she f-finds you.”

That... was an unsettling thought. Nodding, he ran his fingers through her mane, kissing her forehead gently – right beneath the horn. Caring for her like he would a child. “I won’t. I promise.”

She breathed a deep sigh of relief, a fragile muzzle finding its way against his chest. “Please... b-be real...”

From that point on, she was near inconsolable. Choking tears were broken only by the faint sobs of pain, her body clinging to the thin string of life. Though the warmth and comfort of the sheets and fur were beckoning him to sleep, he fought the urge and instead clutched her close.

These minutes turned to hours, the occasional ‘thank you’ and weak hug breaking her whimpers. Who knew it would be this bad? That the Lunar Plane could be so harsh, coupled with a nightmare prowling in your dreams? But the better question is... what could Nightmare Moon’s plan be?

Chapter 12 - The Plan

Though the warmth had beckoned him to sleep, and pushed at his resilience - he stayed stalwart by her side. Hushing the once regal mare in comforting coos, his voice helping to drown out the pain she suffered.

It had been more than a day. At least. But there was no way to tell; except for the intense exhaustion clawing away at his eyes, he had nothing to go off of. In these quiet moments, he now really wished he kept a watch on hand.

Actually, he reached over to his hiking bag, digging around the pockets. A compass which pointed… nowhere, matches, small candles, a tiny flashlight with magic crystal for power, another map in case he lost the first one - aha! A fancy pocket watch. Thanks, Egghead.

He looked it over. No, not a normal watch - it was more like she custom ordered a timekeeper tailored explicitly for this mission, and nothing else. It ran two hands; a large one which counted the hours, one through twenty four - and another that counted down the days, one through seven. It even glowed faintly in the dim light of the oil stove above, a curious feat of magical ingenuity.

From the looks of it, it’s been… one day, two hours since his arrival. He must have found Celestia at least eight hours ago. Which meant it was now… late night, back on Equis. Or around that time. With six days left on the clock, he gently ran his fingers against Celestia’s cheek.

“Celestia?” he asked. She gently shook her head.

“No, Arin. Please. Don’t call me that, not anymore. I want you to call me Tia.” She raised her head from his chest, leaving him bewildered.

“Uh… why? Something wrong with it?”

She shook her head slowly. “I... I just want you to know how thankful I am. For everything you’ve done for me, for Equestria. You… Arin, I never thought you would come this far. That you would grow so much. I took you in not just as a citizen, but as a student, and… if I didn’t, I don’t know where I’d be right now. That name… Tia, it’s what Lulu calls me. I want you to share that name with her. I would ask the same of Twilight, but she has trouble calling me anything other than ‘Princess’ as it is.”

He gave a genuine, heart-heavy smile, his eyes softening. “Alright Tia. Thank you. I just needed to uh… go over some things with you.”

He lifted the watch to her tired eyes, the mare resting her head on the excessive pillows. “We have this much time left until we’re stuck here. Less than six days now. I’ve checked over the map a bit while we uh… shared warmth-”

“Cuddled,” she corrected.

“Well, yes. While we uh… cuddled. And while I don’t have a clear measurement on the distance, I’d say it’s going to take four days of walking to reach the Wayward Crest. I don’t think flying is an option, either. You’re quite literally almost skin and bones, and… while you are light enough to carry, I’m still not built for distance flight. And the weather here is terrible.”

She nodded, her wing squeezing his side. “I understand. I… I’m a bit worried, traveling towards the light. Nightmare Moon constructed a fortress on a mountain there, and… well, it’s just not safe.”

“Mountain? Is… is it the tallest mountain, closest to Equis?” His expression shifted to worry, as she softly rested her muzzle on his chest.

“...Yes. She also stole my armor, long ago, when she held me prisoner in her dungeon. But she thought the dungeon was too kind for me, and tossed me bare into the frozen wastes. I can’t even fight back. My magic… all of it, I’ve spent every ounce of energy on staying alive. Hoping Twilight would find a way to bring me home. When Nightmare Moon grows bored, she hunts me for sport. Her cackling laugh…”

Her expression shifted to bitter rage coupled with overwhelming fear, tilting her cheek back to Arin’s chest. “I despise every single iota of that demon’s being. She… the things she has done to me, Arin. I dare not say. The memory alone haunts me enough. But we can not fight her. Not here. She’s too powerful, at some point her magic began to rival even Luna’s, and… I don’t think you can best her. Not alone.”

For a while, the Seraph remained quiet. Idly stroking his fingers through her rough pink mane.

“Regardless, it’s our ticket home. We can’t risk running out of time; see, the only way to end our banishment, is to cast Harmony on ourselves once more. Specifically, it must include my magic in the blast, to mimic a portion of Leotoln’s energy. Otherwise you’ll be stuck here, and probably covered in a bunch of burns. The closer we can get to Equis, the higher chance of success. So… we have to climb to the summit of the Homeward Crest. We only have one shot, after all, and failure would basically doom us both.” Arin snapped the pocket watch closed, tucking it into his jacket’s pocket behind him.

Celestia gulped. “If Twilight believes this will work, then it will work. I trust her beyond words, and if she told me to jump off of a cliff - I would do so without question.”

Meekly, the mare pushed herself upright. “We can not sleep until we leave the Lunar Plane. Nightmare Moon has dominion over the dream realm, and she can not only find us through it - but she can torment us as well. I will not sit through another thousand years of silence, Arin. I refuse. I can’t. I won’t. I will never do that again. I would rather you impale me on your sword, or use me for target practice - than sit in the snow another day, with the feeling of her eyes boring into my back. Let’s… g-go…”

She tried to make it to her hooves, grunting in pain as her shaky legs fought her. Arin stood up in the thankfully spacious tent, helping her stand. She looked over his bare form, blushing.

“Oh! Sorry, I forgot-” he began, but was quickly interrupted.

“No no, it’s alright. I’ve seen thousands of stallions that aren’t a tenth as handsome as you.” She gave a weak smile, leaving the Seraph dumbfounded. Was that a genuine compliment, or was she seriously pushing for something, now, of all times?

“Uh… thanks, Tia.”

In the somewhat awkward silence that followed, Arin managed to don his gear once more. Helping the Sun Princess into her fashionable coat, she wobbled her tired legs into her snow boots. Arin spent several moments packing up the pillows, blankets, and other assorted gear into the overly spacious hiking bag, before kneeling by the entrance flap.

“Ready? It’s going to be cold,” he said, holding the zipper between his thumb and index finger. The Princess weakly nodded, closing her eyes. Gently, he let the cool air flood the once cozy tent, the duo making their way into the bitter cold once again.

Even with all of her fresh snow gear, she was still quivering like a leaf. But at least she didn’t seem to be suffering beyond that. He took a minute to properly pack up the tent, clipping it to the hooks on his hiking bag.

“Arin, I wanted to ask…”

He slung the heavy pack onto his shoulders, adjusting his scarf over his mouth. “Yes?”

“...Nothing. Let’s just go.” She turned back towards the false cave entrance, waiting for him to join her. By her side now, he made a conscious effort to wrap his wing warmly around her barrel - after all, Rarity’s design included practicality for winged creatures. Her pace was steady, her legs barely having the strength to manage that - but she tried.

Her body leaned into his for comfort and support, the Seraph digging into a side pouch to withdraw a small protein bar before they entered the blizzard.

“Here. We need to feed you out of the danger zone. Since you can’t handle full meals, we’ll take it slow,” he said, holding it in front of her as they walked.

“Oh yes, let me just…” Her horn could barely flicker, making the Seraph wince. Oh yeah. She’s practically out of magic.

“...Sorry.” Peeling the wrapper free, he held it to her lips. “Just take it slow-”

He held the missing protein bar up to his eyes, dumbstruck. Did she just eat the entire six inch nougat treat in one bite? His eyes fell on her. No, it wasn’t one bite. She literally gulped it down whole.

“Are you alright?” Arin asked, as the wind picked up and snow fell fresh, the duo leaving the makeshift cave. The storm hadn’t dimmed much, but came in waves - where all this snow came from was a mystery to him, one he may never solve.

“Yes,” came a reply from the stoic faced mare. She didn’t seem intent on acknowledging what she just did.

“You just-”

“I know,” she interrupted. “I’m starving.”

“You’ll get sick if you keep doing that.” Arin chuckled, slowly turning serious. “And not in a ‘lose your lunch’ kind of way. More like… ‘lose your life’. I can’t outheal stupid, as you could probably guess. And I’m not a master of Resurrection just yet.”

“I’m well aware of how starvation works. But… Thank you. For caring about me. And again… everything you’ve done. I can’t stress this enough, how grateful I am for you, Arin.” She smiled, her body rubbing against his softly through the coat. She even spared a tired wing to hug him, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable with how close she was. She was never this… touch heavy, before. Then again, try going three years without a friendly face. More, if you count the endless nightmares.

Finding their way into the blizzard, Arin withdrew the compass with a sigh. Yep, still pointless - it sat dead on the needle. There simply wasn’t a magnetic field to guide them.

“I don’t suppose you have any idea where we’ll find the Homeward Crest, huh?” He asked. “This place doesn’t exactly have any roads.”

“I knew a compass wouldn’t work.” Celestia sighed. “Here, we need to move towards the light. It’s hard to tell right now, but… it’s left.”

Her hooves pressed to the ice wall, wings giving several tired beats as she tried to clamber up. But the best she could do was scratch the frozen barricade with her boots, Arin approaching from behind.

“Here, let me just…” With little effort, he scooped the starved mare up, wings spreading wide before giving a powerful flap and a leap. The rapid rise broke into a gentle fall, grunting from the exertion. Setting her on her legs again, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Let’s hope the terrain isn’t too rough. I don’t think I could carry you if you broke a…”

His voice died in his throat, before quietly, he stripped his bag. Shuffling around, he grunted as he dislodged the lightweight folded sled. Twilight, the genius mare, really outdid herself with this one. Clicking metal bars and tightening a few rubber knobs, Arin proudly displayed his work.

Celestia poked it with a hoof, unsure. “This… doesn’t look very sturdy. Are you sure I can’t just canter?”

“If you want this to take a literal thousand years, sure. Now get on.”

She tested a single hoof on the thin metal wire, and finding it somewhat resistant, clumsily dragged her emaciated body on top, before unceremoniously collapsing.

“Ha, this reminds me of when Umbra rescued me from the trainwreck,” he said, giving the handles an experimental push. Surprisingly, it moved with only mild effort. Picking up the pace, he took on a steady power walk. “Now that I think about it… it was probably Umbra’s idea to include this. After all, she did basically set this whole plan in motion.”

“Is Umbra still… you know.” Celestia asked.

“An umbrum? Nope! When I ascended, I basically unleashed years upon years of pent up magic, so much so that I basically saw the world in slow motion. Not only that, but Leotoln hit me with a blast of Harmony, and it turns out that I could absorb it. At least, at the time. It doesn’t seem to be the same case now. Anyway… After I kicked in my Dad’s teeth-”

“You know, I knew that the moment I met him.” Celestia chuckled. “There was something about your eyes that just… gave it away. But I couldn’t be sure, not until you mentioned needing your magic to help undo the banishment earlier.”

“What, are you saying I look like that tyrant?”

Her soft voice chortled, a comforting sound after all the abuse she’s been through. “No no. I’m saying you had that same power hiding within you, a twinkle in your eye - it all came down to how you wanted to use it. I knew the day I met you, you were capable of great things, Arin. Just like Twilight, I knew the power of friendship would unlock it, and strengthen it. Why do you think I asked Honey Rose to be your tutor? She’s hardly the professional type. I just knew a personal, boisterous touch was just what you needed to open up your shell, and help acclimate you to ponies. That, and Luna teasing me definitely worked wonders for your attitude.”

Arin smiled behind her, bumping the slay quietly through the quieting blizzard. “You really are a step ahead, aren’t you?”

“Two or three on a good day, a mile backwards if it’s paperwork.” She turned in her seat to keep her eyes on Arin, the snow and wind just background to their conversation.

“Anyway, after I slayed Leotoln, all of that magic needed an outlet - and Luna saved me by giving me the Crystal Heart to feed. And since my magic was attuned for healing, I basically flooded the Castle with restoration. Umbra had been vanquished by harmony during the fight, but… her spirit persisted. And my healing magic, combined with Harmony, brought her to life as a full, real, pony. From there, we’ve worked close together, hand in hoof, to help restore order and bring back the peace. Both in the Far Reaches, and very recently - home in Canterlot, too.”

“Harmony is a wonderful thing. But, speaking of Luna… are you two still an item, Arin?” Her gaze never faltered, in fact - it intensified.

Oh no. He was getting serious Pumpkin vibes off of this. In fact, he was pretty sure there was a name for this. That name was Rescuer Romance. Regardless, it wasn’t a thought he was willing to entertain at the moment. There were more important things than love in life, after all. Like, shelter. And not freezing to death in the Lunar Plane.

But… those wings… he could give her an honest answer. He has been pretty lonely for the last three years, after all…

“It’s complicated. Luna is… going through some serious mood swings, at the moment. We think it’s from Nightmare Moon, but without a way to confirm it… it’s hard. And she said some pretty horrible things back at the castle, too. Sure, I can’t hold her accountable… but our relationship has been kind of one-sided on my part. And I just need time to really figure out what I want to do. Do I want to be a Knight? A commoner? At this point, I don't even know. I just… I want to be happy.”

Celestia bowed her head, closing her magenta eyes with consideration. “I am sorry you must bear through this, especially after all you’ve done for Equestria and I. If it’s any consolation, you are welcome wherever I am, my friend. I will never be able to repay all you’ve done.”

Even after all she’s been through, the Princess was still a regal ruler of a nation. Her words carried more weight than he could ever dream of. That would never change.

“No Celestia-”

“Tia.”

“Right. No, Tia. I should be the one thanking you. You could have just as easily decided to throw me to the world, or put me in somepony - ah! I did it again. Someone else’s hooves… but you took it upon yourself to shape me into who I am today. Your methods were… unorthodox. But it worked. And for that, I owe you my thanks.”

She gave a soft blush. “Genuine appreciation and care will win many hearts, Arin. Are you sure you’re not single?”

He laughed at her more direct confrontation - she really wanted to sell it, huh? “Maybe I am. We’ll see when this is all said and done. Besides, Luna will kill you if you snap me up the moment I become a bachelor - if I become a bachelor.”

“Oh, I’d like to see her try!” She giggled sweetly, all of the pain of the past put right where it belongs - the past. “But on a more curious note… how are the others faring? Shining, Cadence? Twilight and Ice Lance? Honey Rose, Vapor Cloud?”

“Oh! Shining and Cadence are now officially the Prince and Princess of the Crystal Kingdom, and they’re keeping it as such until they have your blessing to be King and Queen. Twilight… she’s a bit of a mess. Especially after Ice Lance moved on from his job. I think she had feelings for him, but that’s something for you to bring up over a cup of tea. Honey and Cloud married, and they had a cute little foal - I think her name was Sweet Dreams? And they live in the castle now, too. We still haven’t nailed those backstabbing nobles for supporting the Seraphs - in fact, a small group of abandoned Ascended are holed up somewhere to the west, actively working with them. Umbra is focused on gathering evidence against them, and considering she’s been missing sleep - I’d say she’s doing a good job, too.”

“That’s the problem with the Noble houses. They hide their tracks like they hide their bits - extremely well, when pressed. Especially during tax season. They’re only smart to the end of their greedy noses, at least. If you have faith in Umbra, then so do I. In fact, I hope we make it back in time for their trial. I have a few names that come to mind when I think of ‘ponies I wish would rot in the dungeon’.”

“That’s uh… another problem. Luna… she’s not doing well in the polls. I don’t think the Nobles expected Luna to deal with Nightmare Moon, but… her ratings are almost below ten percent.”

Celestia’s face went pale. Well, more pale - she already looked sickly from the lack of… well, everything.

“Arin… if I lose the throne to those conniving, backstabbing, no good pieces of sh-”

“Tia!”

“Sorry. But it’s all true. Every generation of entitled brat is worse than the last. ‘My father will hear about this! Weh! Why aren’t you bowing to me, Princess?! Why must you meddle in my tax affairs? Am I a joke to you?’ Oh please. You know what - forget the trial, can we just skip to the part where I personally slap their stupid monocles off their snobby noses?”

Arin snorted, okay. He’d love to see that. “You know, I tossed Silverbit into the moat about a few days ago, when I returned to Canterlot.”

“By my Sun! Really?” Her angry glower turned into an ecstatic giggle. “Please tell me he pretended to drown. Please.”

“Yep! He floundered like a fish, demanding that I be arrested. Ha! I even called him ‘Brace Face’. I have never felt a glare more red hot than that one.”

Though the wind was cold and the wastelands were a soft dark hue, their conversation had brought light back into the world. The Sun Princess by now had fully turned around in the sled, resting her chin on the handlebars as they spoke. Perhaps the night could be forgiving, in the right company.

If only they could feel the dark presence in the far distance, hunting - enraged with its lack of prey to chase, and a myriad of potent frustrations melting into a pool within her dark chest. The now tinted black armor steely against the winds, powerful wing beats searching for her ‘Sister’. She had missed her chance at escape, and she wasn’t intent on letting her stress relief die without proper just dues.

Chapter 14 - Temptation

Throughout their journey, the snow and stone were the duo’s only accomplice across the Ice Spire Wastes of the Lunar Realm. Towering, white spikes of glacial permafrost had shot into the sky over the millenium of chilling weather, creating deadly points that scratched at the stars.

But Celestia and Arin both kept low, and kept quiet - warmth shared through soft words and gentle touches of the white Alicorn. By now, she had readjusted to face Arin fully; her forehooves dangling in reverse to his hands, both of her soft, color-blossoming eyes taking in the Knight with curiosity.

Of course, mirth wasn’t the only emotion present; seemingly at random and with no indication, Celestia would begin to shudder and sob. Arin’s wings were the only comfort she had besides his caring voice.

“Tia, please…” He spoke quietly, his hand slipping into her hood to give her a gentle stroke. “It’s alright. I’m here, I’m still real - and you’re still safe. I won’t let you down.”

“I’m just… I can’t. I can’t tell my nightmares from reality anymore. She… Nightmare Moon had given me hope before, a single dream where Twilight and her friends saved me… I could see a portal home, a simple, childish idea that I could just… trot back to Canterlot, and eat, and sleep, and I would never have to spend another thousand years unconscious ever again. A-Arin, please… if this is just a dream, just let me die. I-I… I can’t go on like this anymore. I can’t. There’s nothing left inside of me to take. I-I’ve given, and I’ve given, and… I’m not the Princess everypony knew before.”

Arin’s mittened hands embraced her close, the sobbing mare’s muzzle slipping in at the split of his jacket to feel his warmth against her nose.

“It’s real. And it’s almost over. Just a few more days… we can make it. You watch my back, I’ll watch yours - and we’ll be sipping tea and chatting over tea sandwiches in no time.”

“I-I would take another thousand years on the throne, dealing with petty squabbles, over another sleep here. There are no days, no nights - only consistent, persistent misery. That’s all it is. I feel… I’m just not the same Princess I was, Arin. I can’t just… I’m a wretch. A mess. I can barely keep myself together long enough to tell you how much you mean to me, I…”

Her ears perked up, swiveling on the spot. The Solar Princess’s voice died in her throat, as her hoof shot for Arin’s neck. With desperate strength, she ripped him and herself down - just as a darting horn narrowly missed Arin’s head. The crunch and rippling snow behind the Seraph snapped him back to the moment, as Nightmare Moon landed with ferocity and splayed bat-like wings.

That feeling of dread, of angst back on Equis… when Luna’s eyes split into catlike irises, couldn’t hold a candle to the building horror in his gut. He struggled not to flee, Celestia quivering and clinging to him like a filly would her mother.

He wrenched himself from her weak hooves, spinning to draw Nocturne at his prowling adversary.

“Curious. The shape of a minotaur, and the reaction of a sloth - with wings of a pegasus. What is more curious is your ability to stand. Are you not impressed by my majesty, Sir Knight?” A surprisingly lucid, foreboding voice struck him from the imposing black mare, her eyes narrowing in on her prey.

“How did you… how did you know-”

“You are carrying my blade, mortal. And a blade of servitude it is, granted only to the most trustworthy of Slaves. Now, why don’t you return it to me? I could use a sidearm to free that imputent wretch’s head from her shoulders.” An onyx-armored hoof raised to motion at Celestia, who had nearly curled up into the fetal position in fear. Three years torment… he would be in the same boat, if he were in her hooves.

And yet… her request had an allure to it. In fact, he felt tempted to obey. A thought he couldn’t just easily squash, as his eyes fell to Nocturne in worry. Did… did the curse expand to Nightmare Moon as well?

With a flourish, the Seraph stayed his ground. “No.”

A bitter laugh followed, as the Nightmare began to stalk around the duo. Even now, the shadows around them seemed darker. The ambient fog of the world churning into a starry mist, leaving Celestia and him barricaded from the frost beyond.

“Brave! How very brave you are; perhaps my lesser half chose well. Of course you would only naturally resist. Do you know how hard it was to find you, ‘my love’?” She said in a mockery of Luna’s voice, sending chills down Arin’s spine. When he gave no response save the grit of his teeth, she continued.

“Oh, I know much too much about you, Arin. I’ve seen you through her eyes, I’ve felt you in my hooves. I have her fondest memories within me, now that our bond has strengthened. All I require now, is my freedom. A chance to spread my wings… to learn from every mistake I’ve made, to bring not just the night - but the world it cherishes with me.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant by that - but at this point, it didn’t matter. “You’re insane,” the Seraph challenged, rounding the sleigh around Celestia slowly. Keeping his body between her, and the darkness around.

“A thousand years alone is more than enough to weasel one’s sanity free of it’s hinges, Arin. As my Sister would agree. Isn’t that right, ‘Tia’?”

Celestia didn’t respond, only sob quietly on her sleigh. She was entirely defenseless, broken and battered - she really was nothing like the proud ruler she once was.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” With a powerful beat of his wings, the Seraph darted with the blade held aloft - ready to impale the Nightmare on the tip of his sword. The terror made no motion to move. She only watched with a smug satisfaction, as the blade hovered - then gently pressed - to her chest. Stopping just passed her ebony fur, poking firmly into her skin. A drop of blood came from the assault, and nothing more. Nocturne’s rain-guard gem shined with intensity, preventing her death.

“How amusing.” She smiled, her rows of sharp, carnivorous teeth on proud display. “I should add ‘fool’ to the list of words to describe you. Do you not recall? Luna and I are near one and the same; your ‘bond’ makes you my Knight, by association.”

Her sable horn twinkled with the shades of night, slipping the blade up and over her shoulder. “Perhaps slaying you would be unwise, Sir Arin. After all, I’ve learned from my mistakes. I will need ample slaves to sustain my rule… perhaps I could spare you, in return for your unwavering loyalty. I would even take you as my consort; the touch you spared Luna was quite… enjoyable, to experience through memory.”

His stomach churned at the thought of even entertaining that idea, but with Nocturne so close to the Queen - no, she was no Queen, what was he thinking? The magic of the blade pumped through him; it was hard to betray her swaying words. He needed to break away. He needed to grab Celestia, and run. He couldn’t stab her. His hand reached up to throw a punch, but it froze in his joints.

“Well? Submit to me, and I will grant your every wish. Your every carnal desire. All you must do… is give me the key to your freedom. The one Twilight hid so well from my lesser half. Tell me… what is it? How may I free myself, my Knight?”

Her muzzle hung deadly close to his ear, her soft, cool breath making his knees shake. Her hoof had raised up to his chest, her horn glimmering as it pushed magic up the blade and into his body. Why resist? Why not give her the Amulet - she would take him home, safe… it would guarantee his freedom from this prison.

Twilight wouldn’t be able to escape, if he gave chase on his gallant white wings. Umbra… she would surely join him, and stand by his stand. Right? Tempest wouldn’t stand a chance, neither would Vapor Cloud or Honey Rose. What about Luna? She’s already half dead. His queen would do what she willed with her.

“Kill Celestia for me, my Knight. Then come with me. We’ll take my castle - our Castle, together.” By now, her hooves had wrapped gently around his neck, her muzzle closing in with his lips.

Vee did say he would have to spill the royal blood...

In that brief moment before contact, he felt another presence stir his senses; the purple feather at his wrist tickling him in the wind. The click of a beak, peering eyes watching him from the shadows. The Nightmare’s magic faltered, and his hand darted up at a nearby icy pillar. A rough bolt of ebony magic crashed into the ice, the towering spike above yawning before crashing down over the evil mare. He breathed a gasp, falling backwards onto his wings as Nightmare Moon was trapped beneath the wreckage.

What in Erenorn was he thinking?! He went to throw Nocturne away, before correcting himself and stopping to sheath it - she wanted that blade. Giving it up would be a pointless waste, and it wouldn’t end the curse over him.

Did… did he kill Nightmare Moon? With the ice? How did he break free? Actually - he didn’t have time to check. If she was dead, she wasn’t going to give chase. His wings flapped before darting to the sleigh, the still shaking Princess now rocking in terror. Sprinting and pumping those pinions on his back, he pushed through the settling shadows with haste. The terror within growing steadily even as they made distance.

He could only hope that the snow and wind, falling fresh and in waves, was enough to break their contact and stifle their presence. The windchill tore through his heavy coat, drawing his hood back over his head to help drive away the cold, as he maneuvered around the endless pillars around them. Even with the speed of his powerful wings, he still had precious cargo to transport.

“Tia, talk with me - I need you to stay with me! Snap out of it!”

No response. She continued to shake and whimper, her eyes like pin pricks as the snow billowed around them. Occasional ridges and cliff sides broke the forming sheets of ice, the end of the Ice Spire Wastes at hand. Now, they were entering the Crags - a pathway leading down breaking the rising cliffs around them. If they tried to go over the stony faced ridges above, they were exposed to Nightmare Moon’s eyes and ears. But down below, they were at risk of crashing or losing control of the sleigh on packed ice. And flight was limited; they may have to abandon their transport all together.

On top of that, the chances of them getting lost were astronomical. The tight corridors loomed up, offering safety, but risk. If Nightmare Moon wanted them, she would have to travel on hoof, too.

“Hold on, Tia. It’s going to get rough and very dark,” he hissed between deep pants, crashing through the stone and ice and into the shadows of the looming cliffs.

In the far distance behind, the crack of ice and groaning of frozen debris broke through the storm. A heavy, plane-shaking boom rocked the very foundations of the world, as the massive sheet of permafrost flew away in freezing chunks. The dented black dyed armor of the enraged Nightmare Moon falling to shreds, as she raised to the sky.

“Another careless mistake on my part, FILTH! I will find you, and I will CARVE MY NAME into your SKULL after I finish DRINKING FROM IT!” She howled to the snow around her. The ebony alicorn cursed herself - she had methods of breaking the mind of even the most stalwart of ponies - yet in her haste for freedom, she played a risky game. A simple dream, one of eternal servitude to his proper Mistress, would have earned her a loyal, and powerful fiend to do her bidding by the time they awoke.

Chances won’t be taken again, not the next time. And time she had. No more mistakes. No more mind games. No more tests or hindrances. Tactful violence seemed to be the only solution that earned results, and it was a lesson she would hold to heart.

They would tire eventually. Her prey would require rest. And she would take her pound of flesh, and pay back the pain twice fold… after she claimed the obedient slave she so rightfully deserved. What was another night to her, but another star in the endless sky? The sky her lesser half painted, every night.

The shadows lengthened as the ambient light melted like snow on the morn; leaving nothing but tepid darkness and still, freezing air. The journey into the roughshod tunnels and cracks of the glaciers above was a dark and foreboding one, but with no signs of chase - a lantern could soon be fetched.

It was gently strapped to the front of the sleigh, the now still Princess once again resting on her haunches. A thermos was clutched weakly in her hooves, drinking slow, still hot gulps of soup down under Arin’s supervision.

The only sounds between them were the occasional warning from the Seraph, when the frozen shelf grew rough or thin. He checked the pocket watch, exhaustion creeping over him as he fought the urge to sleep where he stood. Five days, twenty three hours. And they were both on the edge of collapse.

“Celestia, I-”

“Tia…” she whispered sadly, screwing the lid back on to the thermos. She was still deeply troubled by their contact with Nightmare Moon.

“Yes, right. Tia, I’m about to die here. This spot is as good as any to camp - think you have the strength to help me set up?”

The Princess nodded, standing on weak, shaky legs. Alicorns, much like Seraphs - seemed to be fast healers, as she was able to rise without much aid. While still a little battered, she was able to worm her nose into the pack. Withdrawing sleeping bags to rest on the portable sleigh, along with pillows, blankets, and any other comfort she could find.

The Seraph was left with the task of unfolding the roughly-stuffed tent, sighing in frustration. Did he lose a piece earlier, or did he break one of the tent poles? ...Was this loop always here? Where did he put the - ah, there it is! Wait, that’s a hammer… but he misplaced the tent pegs. Not like he’d need it, but…

Fumbling with the tarp, he finally managed to stuff the foldable stick into the small gap in the plastic, feeding it in. Tent pitched, he tossed the hiking pack inside - helping Celestia drag the pillows and blankets galore inside. The stove lamp once again set up, he spread his own sleeping bag-

“Tia… where’s my sleeping bag? I know for a fact Twilight packed two.”

“W-Well…” She gave him the softest, sweetest puppy dog eyes he had ever seen - kicking the pile of sheets and blankets with a hoof to cover the second bag. She double layered the plush comforter over the icy ground, from the looks of it. “I’m… cold.”

“You’re cold,” he stated bluntly.

“Yes.” Celestia sat on the gathered blankets, tapping her forehooves together. She had already stripped her gear in the warming tent, leaving her bare and exposed. It’s funny - she was taller than him, and she didn’t have the nerve to just ask for cuddles?

Under normal circumstances, he would have obliged right away. But… maybe a little teasing would go a long way for her. And it would definitely lighten the now poor mood.

“So, are you taking my blanket, or?...” He pushed. If she wanted to share body heat, he’d make her work for it. After all, he did just save her life; he deserved a little compensation. In the form of maybe just a little begging.

“W-What! No, of course not. I’m not… no, I’m saying that… well, you’re warm, and I’m cold…” Running a hoof through her pink mane, her wings gave a weak, nervous flap. “And we’re all alone here, surrounded by ice… Nopony would have to know, and…”

“You know, Tia, I shared my body heat with you to save your life. That’s it, right?”

Maybe he was being a little harsh. But her backbone was pretty much gone. She couldn’t even look at Nightmare Moon, so maybe pushing her to be a little more assertive would help. She had three years of bad, self-defeating habits to break, after all.

“I… well…” She paused for a moment, her eyes intensely interested in examining the tent walls. Was she seriously blushing? What’s next - a request to hold hooves?

Quietly, she dipped her muzzle down to the floor - struggling to stand up on her thin legs as she tugged at the gathered sheets, ripping the sleeping bag free. Without so much as a word, she made her way to the other side of the tent - dropping the covers on the ground, before curling up in a cold, pathetic bundle on top. She even began to shiver.

Firstly… ow, his heart. Secondly… she… her confidence wasn’t that far gone, was it? Surely she had something left within her? He wasn’t a therapist by any means, but...

Okay, he was much too harsh. He scooped up the bone tired mare and blankets, setting her on the pile gathered by the warmth of the stove. Slipping his jacket and boots free with his clothes, he slid a variety of covers over them both, now nose to nose with the shivering Alicorn.

“...I’m sorry,” he said, resting his hand over her neck. “It’s been so long, but… it’s hard to think you’ve been through so much, Tia. At the end of the day, I look into your eyes and still see… you. The Princess who gave me citizenship, who taught me how to make friends and be happy… the mare who threw herself in front of certain death to protect her Sister. Beneath the scars and pain, I’m still… looking for you. And I shouldn’t force it. Wounds like this… they need time to heal.”

Quietly, the skeletal mare slid in close - her once regal hooves wrapping around her friend, her support. “I’m sorry. I know I’m… needy. But it’s just been so long since I’ve seen a friendly face; I… Arin, you must understand. It hasn’t been three years for me - it’s been… nearly a few hundred thousand. The same one thousand years, playing over again, in my dreams. Again, again, and again - every night I sleep, time repeats itself. I’ve lost my sanity, only to wake up and find it again. Every rest, every time I collapsed… it started all over. A bad memory, one she makes me suffer. And then when my eyes split open… it’s as if nothing happened at all. I am still cold. I am still alone. And if I tary, I must flee - this… you have been the only comfort, in one hundred thousand years.”

He knew this already, but putting it into perspective… It made him feel sick. His arms squeezed the Princess tight against his chest, leaning up to give her forehead another kiss. “And I’ll be that rock to lean on, then. Your comfort. Once we get out of here, we’ll work on your confidence, and make you into the Princess you are.”

She contemplated quietly, sad, tired eyes resting on his own. “Arin… I wanted to tell you. For a while now, but…”

She breathed. And when he didn’t interrupt, her voice came in a hushed whisper. “I don’t want to be a Princess.”

“What?! But - you’re so good at it, you’re a natural born leader!” he inquired, his tired eyes snapping open. “Are you… are you sure?”

She nodded. “I never wanted to be a Princess to begin with. In fact, I never even knew what I wanted to be. But… I’ve had years to think it over. Nothing but time to sit and contemplate, and…”

She lowered her head, avoiding eye contact. “I want to love, and be loved. Not adored, or worshipped… I want someone to hold me, and care for me, and just… be there for me, by my side. Until eternity takes us, whenever that may be. I want to be the joy and love of another… their ray of sunshine, as they would be for me. But every time, my hope for love… it eludes me. And… that’s why I chose Twilight to be my personal student. To not only grow and learn, but to one day take my Sister and I’s place, as sole Princess of Equestria. So that we can both pursue love and the joys of the world without the need for flair and royal embellishment.”

There was an uncomfortable silence that followed, as her magenta eyes bore into him with passionate intensity. He knew immediately what she wanted from him; but he wasn’t ready to commit. Not yet. And while he’d love to call her his, there were far more serious issues at hand. And he still felt the need for couple’s therapy. Specifically for her, since she was… well, pushing the letter.

“...Soon. I need time to think first, to really see what I want out of life. For now, let’s focus on what’s important. Staying awake, staying alive, and escaping this frozen damnation.”

Chapter 15 - MIA

The next day at the castle, after her meeting with Vapor Cloud - Umbra found herself interned and with nothing to occupy herself past the noon lunch. Feeling lonely, and with Tempest seemingly out and about the town on the hunt for a job - she decided to take a trip to Canterlot to visit Vee. The company of a witch was always a welcome treat, especially one as chaotic and long lived as the purple pegasus.

It was just around the evening hours when the door to her shop chimed, Pumpkin managing the register in Vee’s usual place. The quiet mare approached, her eyes taking in the timid Earth pony with curiosity.

“Good evening, Miss Pumpkin Spice. I am in the mood for… pleasant company. Perhaps Vee is available? Suffice to say that the mobile statues in Canterlot offer little entertainment, besides the fear my presence provokes.”

Ducking just a little behind the till at the looming, tall mare, Pumpkin gave a nod. “She’s um… above. I don’t know when she’ll come down.”

“Perhaps you might fetch her for me. After all, I-” She froze on the spot, a purple feather falling gently onto her nose. Slowly, her eyes travelled up to meet a calmly preening pegasus, stuck to the ceiling with an equally inverted cup of coffee.

“Good evening, Umbra! D’ohoho~ Come to visit little ol’ me? Well too bad! I’m not little. But you can still visit.” The Purple pegasus stared blankly at the wall straight ahead, hardly even tilting her head to meet the confused Unicorn below.

“Is this perhaps not an opportune moment?” the gray mare inquired, the purple pegasus above fanning a wing dismissively.

“Any moment is opportune if you’re opportunistic! Though I must admit, I find myself in a bit of a bean. Well, I am sitting in my shop, but a bean I am in!” She stopped preening, staring blankly at the far wall. “Umbra, you look awfully flat. Maybe I’m not the one in need of assistance! D’ohoho~”

“...Are you in need of aid? I can wrench you free of the planks above, if you so desire.”

“While that would be lovely, Spooky-fry, I’m afraid it’s not that simple! I was tempted to drink coffee from the Kangaroo Lands - who knew that what comes from down under leaves you looking up? It makes little sense! But, it is wonderful on the feathers, lots of room for preening, plenty of space for sweeping and all that jazz.”

“Pumpkin, is she alright? Has her sanity fled?” Umbra eventually confessed, worried that Vee had finally lost the plot.

“Actually, she scheduled this. It’s literally on her checklist of things to do today. By all accounts, this is um… i-intended?” She ducked below Umbra’s gaze, the Unicorn giving a sigh.

“Very well. Perhaps I will join her then. Sometimes a fresh perspective grants new answers.” Umbra nodded to Pumpkin, who shrunk even further behind the till.

“U-Um… Coffee doesn’t… do that to a pony. N-Not unless you’re Vee. M-Maybe you can cast a spell?”

Umbra sighed, rolling her eyes. With a flash of her horn, she slowly floated up to the planks above, clunking against the wood with her back. It took a moment of undignified shuffling and rolling to right herself, now meeting the pegasus’s gaze in her emerald green eyes.

“Aha! Not so flat are you, hmm? Must be a new fad diet; those things never work, Spooky-fry. I should know! I invented some of them, just to see health nuts drink coffee with butter in it. D’ohoho~” A strand of hair fell from Vee’s mane, gravity taking hold once more. With a sip of coffee, it fell right back in place.

“Anywho! What brings you snooting about my shop? Besides the obvious fact that I’m here, oho~” The preening resumed once more, Pumpkin sighing as feathers galore began to rain onto her hat.

“I find myself… lacking in missions, as the only issues left to handle are beyond my expertise. By this evening, the Police will instigate raids, stallions would be seized, and justice would soon be brought on them. Of course, I gave my aid where aid was needed, but… now, I am without task. In these lonesome moments, I would typically seek Arin’s company. But… well, I may never see him again.”

“Bold of you to think that, while talking to a Lunar Witch! Arin and Celestia are both fine; sleepy, perhaps. But well! At least, from what Onyx tells me. He’s got a beak on his brain, and feathers in the right places. Said places are all places! Much like me, d’ohoho.”

The news was comforting, albeit confusing, for the former Umbra. “I know that you are a Lunar Witch; that is a given. But I did not have the foresight to probe into your abilities. Who is this Onyx you speak of? I feel as if I have met him before.”

A soft croak and click of a beak snapped her head to the left. Much like Vee, the Raven settled on the ceiling. Further annoying Pumpkin, who sat on the floor of the empty shop alone.

“I am the black that stirs in the night, the darkness that-”

“Eats all of Pumpkin’s cookies.”

“...The Feathers of which the sounds of despair carry, yet the winds of the world-”

“Bring you cookies.”

Onyx went silent, dark eyes staring. “May I finish?”

“Your cookie? Yes.” Vee hovered said circular disk to the Raven, who after some goating - devoured it in moments. Where she produced the cookie, Umbra was not sure.

“Regardless, I exist not as a material being, but as an immaterial idea. A figment. While you exist in this Mortal Plane, I am an immovable being that spans all realms at once. While others require a source of magic, I am the source that giveth - the power that surges, the tide that churns. My powers are immeasurable and my age innumerable. I meddle where I will, and I roost where I desire. Those Vee calls friend, I shelter under my wing. The few who dare challenge me, are quick to lay still in their graves. I have the strength to end this world, and sever the very light in twain of which you call the Sun. But a tale is written that can’t be spoken in words, and I pride myself as the author of fate’s endless scroll. I will strike the quill with fresh ink, and etch the very words of reality into being. For I-”

“See? This is why I interrupt him so much. Give him an inch, he takes a mile. Shoo! Snoot up some sweets from the kitchen. You’ll melt Umbra’s featherless brain.” Vee preened a fresh purple feather, shooting the pinion at the bird with a puff from her lips. It bumped him in the head, and with a tilt of his beak - a soft croak - he ceased to be.

“Huh?” Pumpkin lifted her head from the counter, ear swiveling to the bumbling pots and pans of the kitchen. “Hey! Get out of those - those are for tonight! We have a bunch of reservations - Onyx!”

The little mare darted for the kitchen door, as a certain Raven made his great escape with a dozen cookies in magical tow - a cauldron cake impaled on his beak. Pumpkin gave chase with a wooden spoon in her mouth around the lobby, bumping her nose against the wall when Onyx inevitably faded from reality. “Ow… s-stupid bird…”

Collecting herself, she returned to the kitchen to clean up the mess with a sigh.

“If I may make a request, Vee - please grant me information regarding Arin’s journey when available. I desire his safe return, and I am not afraid to spill the blood of any who dare interfere.”

“D’ohoho, finding yourself bored without your special somepony to keep you company? Makes me wonder if I should snoot him under my wing - but alas, I have my heart set on somepony else! I’ll flick a feather your way if he decides to take a vacation to the world of the dead. Nasty place - they didn’t have coffee, so I made extra sure to stay away from there.” Vee took another sip of her favorite brew, humming.

“We are not an item, Vee. I believe I made that clear?” she corrected, her eyebrows furrowing in frustration.

“Oho! Brave of you to have wrong opinions! Lots of feathers tell otherwise, Spooky-horn. At least, in some of the futures I see, and others I don’t. Did you know that in another world, Arin is Celestia’s Knight? Strange times those are, even though they aren’t real. And the times that are real haven’t happened yet! Better put your feather in the cap if you want a chance to win the love lottery, d’ohoho~” Vee withdrew a pristine purple feather from her wing, plucking a roll of twine from under her hat.

“Best to play safe and sorry, than sorry that you’re safe. Or something like that; I’m not a mathemagician. Too many numbers.” She twirled the charm around Umbra’s hoof; a singular feather. “Tada, friends made with a well respected client, check. Next on my list! Gravity.”

She grabbed her empty coffee cup, gently holding it in her hooves. With a flick of her tail, she fell from the ceiling - landing on the pillow below with a harsh flick of her wings. Umbra sparkled her green magic, steadily falling before the register to join her.

“...You are a strange mare, Vee. But you grant splendid advice. Thank you. I believe this conversation is just what I desired. But now, I have one more question to ask.” Umbra curiously stroked her hoof over the new charm, curious for her reason behind it.

“Oho! I’m not paid to be asked questions. Actually, I’m not paid at all, as the economy is in shambles. But ask away.”

“Do you have any heartfelt gifts a Seraph like Arin would enjoy? And perhaps another question - do you accept Seraph Talons as payment?”

“Hmhmhm. That’s a doubly good question! No and yes. Talons can be turned to bits with a visit to the Castle, after all - but I’ll take them for now. It’ll also give me a good reason to snoot up some issues with Luna. Her moon wiggling lately hasn’t been up to par. Bad for the feathers.”

With that, Umbra spent the next few hours browsing Vee’s selection. After all, many of Vee’s wares were of the magical nature, and had many practical, powerful, or volatile uses.

Well past supper, and as the shop swelled with paying customers, she found something just perfect for Arin; and stuffed well over five hundred of the thin gold talons into Vee’s waiting hoof. Something she knew he would cherish.

With the gift wrapped tightly in a small box and placed in her bag, she left as the last of the ponies filtered in - looking to buy potions, enjoy pastries, and sip coffee until the morning sun urged them away. Now alone, and in the barren lanes, she made her way down the empty streets of Canterlot.

By now a few of the lights along the way had blinked out from disrepair, leaving the already shadowy mare slipping by in the dim dark. Something that felt… wrong, to her; a flag that caught her attention. Her ears went on swivel, as her steps naturally fell quiet.

Umbra was always the wary type; highly perceptive and intelligent, her trained danger sense ringed faintly. And it was in this building tension, a gloved hand struck in the dark.

The short bat clubbed her in the back of the head - the normally stalwart pony taken by surprise, giving a sharp gasp. It would take more than a single powerful swing to down her - but before her horn could even flash down the side alley, a hand roughly grabbed her mane and pulled. Disoriented, and out of the public eye - the club hit more cleanly, knocking her unconscious.

Sets of wings took to the air, shooting into the sky with their bound and magic-gagged target. Leaving the colorful streets of Canterlot missing its familiar shadow, as the third night’s rain began to pour down freely. The only signs of the encounter being the faint scuffle of hooves and feet, washed into the pouring water from above.

The soft click of a beak hung in the alley, a familiar Raven croaking sadly at the events that transpired in his infinite gaze. His sight saw beyond this moment, and knew what was to come - but he could not act, lest he change destiny for the worse.

And with the flash of black wings, he was gone.

Chapter 16 - Box of Chocolates

Arin had never been so exhausted in his life. His eyes burned with the lack of rest, his limbs felt heavy and slow… yet he couldn’t sleep. The Princess was in the same boat, struggling faintly against the crippling urges of the brain as they both tried to keep talking.

“Tia, stay with me…” he yawned, the Solar Princess murmuring against his chest in the warmth of the sheets. “I’ll open the tent again. I’ll do it as many times as it takes. If Nightmare Moon finds us, I can’t fight her. I can barely even resist her. I don’t even know how I broke free of her words earlier. And if you’re going to slump, I swear on my feathers - I will pack up this tent right now.”

“I’m awake, I’m awake. It’s harder for me, Arin - I’m just… spent. So empty…”

Her eyes began to dip again, and he quickly shook her. “That’s it…”

Zip.

With a rip of the blankets, the now shivering Seraph watched as Celestia began to stir in the cold. “Nooo…” she whispered faintly, patchy fur unable to save her from the chill.

It was time to move, anyway. His legs didn’t feel like jelly anymore - and sure, he might not be able to stand up without stumbling, but he was fit to move again. Celestia, on the other hand… she still looked rough. He had already checked her for injuries - but only found serious scars that shone through the thin, unkempt fur. None of which she had before her tenure here.

Her skin still looked like it was draped over a skeleton, her gaunt cheeks a worrying sign of her former starvation. Some definite progress had been made, thanks to her still potent regeneration - but it would be weeks until she made a full recovery. A recovery that would take normal ponies years to scratch.

A click of the watch. Five days, six hours. Had they really whittled away over half a day here? It was hard to keep track of time, as sleep exhaustion often forced your mind to wander. It just… took so long to recover from the work, and even now, his muscles felt stiff. Battered. He would take small meals when he could, out of fear of drifting away from a comfortably full stomach - and it started to take its toll from him, as well.

They needed to escape these tunnel-like crags and cliffs. Without the day cycle, time was just a concept - but the darkness did not help, as without the faint glow of blue, the urge to sleep grew intense.

Armored against the cold, the tent soon found itself back in its proper position against Arin’s pack. If Twilight’s calculations were correct, they should be over half way there - if they were on the right track.

Right now, Nightmare Moon had nothing but time to track them down. It's common sense to assume that they’re hunting for something considering their gear, which leaves her three options - attempt to guess what they’re looking for, intercept them, or wait for them to succumb to exhaustion.

So if anything, taking a peak above the ice walls around them could inevitably give away their position; it’s one thing if they’re free above the cracked walls of freezing death, where they can at least attempt to run. But down in the depths of these tunnels, it was a deathtrap. At times the roughshod natural paths were steep or barely accessible; or worse, extremely tight and claustrophobic. More than once, the sleigh had to be snapped shut and the duo had to squeeze through a much too tight gap.

Four days, twenty hours remained when Arin ordered a break, the shaky legged mare now joined by an equally shaky legged Seraph. He had spent the last few years of his life with only moderate exercise in Alma Sol, as he was no longer a struggling peasant. Of course, he travelled frequently - but in Erenorn, extreme distances were covered by airships, and more moderate adventures could be handled from the back of a pegasus.

It was curious that his world had flying horses that were, by comparison, mere inches taller than Celestia. And perhaps a bit more blocky in the snout with smaller eyes, but many were vastly intelligent and old, often spanning three hundred years in age. Though few had the gift of gab, plenty could communicate either through mild magics, or simply emotion - unlike their less intelligent, earthbound counterparts. Those were often used for labor.

Segregation was a serious issue in his world, he supposed. But perhaps meeting Celestia first helped him warm up to the idea of being in a world of fully sentient and sapient horses. After all, when he worked the barracks as a stable hand, he had made some form of friend with a lazy pegasus. She enjoyed her carrots, and would often inquire about either more of them, or news from the outside. Work agreements with sentient creatures made life easier than forced slavery, thus her willingness to stay stabled.

With the tent roughly in place in a tight pinch of the cavern, Arin collapsed inside with a grunt. Hands reaching to knead blood into his legs, Celestia struggled to bring the last of the pillows in with worry. She already knew things were rough; without proper sleep, one’s body couldn’t heal or recover from a day’s labor. Even with his fast healing, he couldn’t undo exertion - he needed proper sleep to do so. Just one good night’s rest, and he would be fit as a fiddle. A very, very tempting idea...

“I’m so sorry for putting you through this, Arin,” she stated quietly, after her hooves managed to unclip her jacket. She had problems with refined movements like that; lack of experience, coupled with degraded muscles meant her fine motor skills with her hooves were lacking. It didn’t help that her hooves were almost always hidden behind gold regalia.

“No, it’s fine. I’m here to rescue you, after all. All I need is a nap, and…” He yawned, rubbing his stinging eyes. Celestia couldn’t resist the instinct, and did much the same. “...A nap… A nap sounds lovely.”

He murmured. Even though he was still in his winter gear, simply laying on the blanket was tempting enough. Celestia’s horn prodded his leg through the long coat, fighting the urge herself.

“Huh! Awake, yes… we’re both awake.” Still, he could barely struggle to stay halfway conscious. Celestia blinked slowly, half mumbling her words.

“If only we had some coffee, or caffeine… I could down ten pots now.” She rested her chin on Arin’s spent legs, staring blankly at a tent wall. “I have a private selection that I keep hidden away in a secret cabin in the kitchen.”

“Oh yeah, I know. I stole a big bag of it as a bargaining tool.”

That snapped her awake. “You did what?”

“Well, you see… I needed to get away from Luna before she ordered me to do something I’d regret. And I also needed a way to raise her ratings before the autumn elections. So… I swiped a bag, and offered it to Vee to use her kitchen for a fundraiser.”

Her anger quelled, at the mention of a certain purple pegasus. “Ah. For that, I can understand. At least she can appreciate the vast quality and extremely high price of Royal Canterlot Coffee. I hope you know that, on a retail market - one cup sells for roughly two hundred bits.”

“So uh… I shouldn’t have made a pot for myself?” he chuckled nervously.

“If we were not already on the moon, I would banish you here for a thousand years at the thought.” She rolled her eyes, her hoof gently stripping the Seraph’s coat free from his chest. “As punishment for your crime, instead, you will have to hold me and keep me awake.”

“Alright… but Celestia, how-”

“Tia.”

“Sorry! It’s a habit. Tia, how do you know Vee?”

The Princess needed time to collect her thoughts; both from the exhaustion, and the long memory that stretched behind her.

“I’ve known Vee since she was a very young pegasus. Back before she went a touch insane, she sent in dozens of requests to join my Magic Academy for Gifted Unicorns; listing her father - a Royal Guard - as the only reference to her name. Each time, I replied that a Pegasi lacked a horn to cast spells. Instead of her giving up, she took to alchemy - and then, Lunar Magics. In the end, she joined a coalition of Witches, which later formed the College of Pointed Hats; a hornless institute of magic, devoted to channeling Planar Arcana specifically. But like all great things, something must stain it. I believe it was on the cusp of Nightmare Night, when a rogue Witch communed with dark forces beyond the school’s recommendation. The College - situated in Hollow Shades to the East of Canterlot, after the town was rebuilt - was soon set ablaze. I believe Vee, with a band of other witches, managed to quell the fires and challenge the now possessed witch, but…”

“The damage had already been done, both to the school - and its reputation. Hollow Shades quickly abolished the practice of Witchcraft, after the fires spread and decimated over a half of the town; it didn’t help that the few residents who survived quickly abandoned the restoration process, claiming the land cursed. And for good reason; it was the birth place of the pony of shadows, thousands of years ago. On top of that, the student - still under dark forces - escaped. What became of them, nopony knows. Since then, Vee has been… strange. Maybe it was the smoke of the blaze, or possibly the loss of something great, but… It changed her. I kept my eye on her for years, and when those years grew to centuries…”

Celestia went quiet for a moment, uncomfortable with the thought. “I’ve known her to dabble in the dark, but it’s obvious her long life isn’t natural. It’s something I’ve investigated before, and could never draw a solid conclusion from. I half expected her to turn into some great… villain, or enemy to the crown, but it’s never happened. Indeed, she seems to be more interested in helping ponies change who they are, usually for the better. Potions to change fur, brews to change race, charms and trinkets to aid in daily life or even protect it… she even developed a rare draft that could swap one’s very sex, at the great cost of ten years of their remaining life.”

Finding Arin enraptured of her knowledge of the purple pegasus, he was inclined to ask for more info. “So why is her shop so busy at night?”

The Princess blinked, unsure. “That is a question best saved for Vee herself; the more seedy customers typically desire privacy. But I’m happy she could help you, even if it cost me nearly five thousand bits. Yes, a bag of Royal Coffee costs five thousand bits.”

A nervous laugh soon followed, the Seraph quickly changing the topic. “But hey, I’m happy you know her! She’s a great pony. And she offered me a place to stay, after this was all said and done.”

At that statement, a frown formed on Celestia’s muzzle. “You… don’t wish to stay at the Castle anymore? Is it the accommodation, or?...”

“I never said that! No no, everything has been great since the day I arrived. It’s just… I’ve had time to think, and maybe it’s best if I see the world first before committing to anything. And Vee’s shop is a great way to start; it’s able to move locations, after all, and it would give me the ability to work and learn more about magic.”

After digesting that, Celestia gave a nod. “Perhaps you’re right. It would be cruel to trap you in the Castle, especially if your relationship with my Sister is in jeopardy. You’ve come such a long, long way, Arin. And I’ve watched you, since the very first day. I knew you just needed the right friends to draw you out of your shell and grow into who you are now.”

Celestia dragged herself up meekly, popping the rest of the buttons free as her hooves wrapped gently around his midsection. As touchy-feely as ever, but Arin gave in. Cuddles were always appreciated, and he started to really enjoy these tender moments. In fact, the new Celestia was intent on every moment being tender, due to her isolation.

“But if I may make a suggestion, Arin. Magic can come from anywhere, but… it’s strongest when it comes from friends, and the heart. That’s why I was so insistent that you spend time socializing, and even offered to be your first companion. The magic of friendship can chip away even the toughest shells, and I knew it would do the same for you. If you do leave, please… write to me often. Make friends, be happy. Grow and learn, and never stop improving. That’s all I can ever ask of you.”

His heart melted at that, running his fingers through her mane. “Ha. Alright Tia. I guess the friendship lessons never stop, huh? Or are you trying to just win me over for more cuddles?”

The Princess gave an airy, familiar and full laugh; as if they were still home and her body still strong. “They never do. Every so often, Twilight, the Princess of Friendship, discovers something new she hadn’t experienced before. Even I find myself as the student at times; my long life is still just that, a life. And life is full of wonders, tragedies, mistakes, memories, and… love.”

She fluttered her tired eyes. It would have been effective, too, if they both weren’t on the verge of passing out. Instead, he gave her a soft flick on the ear, as if to say ‘nice try’.

“You’re no fun,” she snorted, amused that he caught on so quickly.

“And you’re persistent, I’ll give you that. Maybe one day I’ll stop playing hard to get, if I break it off with Luna.”

Oh yeah. She forgot about that part. “R-Right. Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m typically adept at holding back these feelings, it’s just a touch more difficult when the first friendly face you see after being harassed for three years is a handsome one. I believe the term is ‘rescue romance’.”

“Right, right. I was thinking the same thing.” He gently ran his fingers through the solar pony’s pink mane, giving a forlorn sigh. “I will not lie, though. It’s extremely tempting.”

“Right?!” She giggled. “I mean… I can keep a secret~” She ran her hoof along his chest. The second attempt at seduction was met with a more intense flick to her already abused ear. “Ow! Okay, okay. I’ll-mmf!”

A gentle kiss, right on the lips, was all it took to silence her. The bony mare melting in bliss, as the Seraph held it for several long moments. When he pulled away, she nearly fell forward - so intent on drawing as much affection from the moment as she could.

“There. That’s for saving my life earlier, when Nightmare Moon almost took off my head. Now we’re even.” He smiled, tracing her cheek with the palm of his hand. The fluttering in his chest snapped him awake, a pleasant adrenaline driving away the urge to sleep. Their little secret.

Celestia’s eyes slowly opened, a warm smile filling her features and bringing back a bit of the Princess she once was. “...Thank you,” she whispered in reply.

“Now please, please stop tempting me. I’ve been lonely too, these last few years. Though nowhere near your level, it’s just… nice, to feel wanted.”

“Mm, then you’ve gone about it the wrong way, I’m afraid. A kiss is like a box of chocolates; one treat just isn’t enough when there’s plenty more to be had.” She winked.

“Then I’m afraid I’m on a diet.” He stuck out his tongue, but it did little to dissuade the persistent Solar Princess.

“Unlike me!~” Celestia chimed; who knew that just one kiss was enough to bring back the bubbly, extroverted Princess he knew and loved?

He checked his watch - four days, seventeen hours. The time between rests were growing shorter, as his body grew more ragged. They needed to keep a steady pace, but navigation was taking its toll, and he knew it. Not just from his body, but from their limited time. The enchantment on the necklace would vanish eventually, and all of that pent up energy would exhaust out - undoubtedly killing them both where they stood. Or, simply becoming useless. Who knows! Not Twilight, at least.

“The next split in the ice, I’m going to risk checking the surface for Nightmare Moon. And if it’s safe, I’ll fly us out of here. Even with the lantern, I can’t stand this dark anymore. I’d take the wind and snow any day over another silent minute in this glacial abyss.”

“I could also walk, Arin. It would alleviate the stress on your legs, and…”

He shushed her with a finger, shaking his head. “We’re both tired, but you’re also recovering from starvation. If you want to survive, you need to rest, and start packing on weight. Luckily, you’re not an Inert - it could take up to a season for a starved man to come back from the brink. At the pace you’re going, you should be fine to walk within a week; no less than that. If I put you on your hooves, you stand the risk of outright dying by trying to match my pace. You can’t even handle a full meal yet, much less spare the energy to keep up with me.”

She went quiet, and with a heavy heart, the Princess nodded. “I just… I don’t want to be a burden.”

“And you aren’t. Your life is worth more to me than the entirety of Equestria; let’s not waste it over a walk through the snow. Because Twilight would kill me if you died now. On top of this, I’d probably cry for a full month. You’re still a close friend, Tia.”

Tia’s mood lifted, giving a reassuring nod. Survival first, dignity second. “I thank you for all you’ve-”

This time, he managed to slip his mitten on - locking the soft fluff around the Princess’s mouth. “You’ve thanked me more times than I’ve thanked you for saving me from Erenorn. Let’s get moving.”

Chapter 17 - Hiking

Several beats of the Seraph’s wings brought him towards the surface, and with some finesse, Arin peaked his head from the safety of the ice. Free of the tight tunnels, he finally took in a breath of the wind-chilled air, propped up on the ledge with his hands and soft beats of his wings.

Nothing. All around him, there was nothing - save for the cracked peaks of growing rock faces around them. He couldn’t tell from the light-shock, but they seemed… closer, perhaps. Checking his map, he sighed. It was essentially pointless; there were lots of markings for cliffs and peaks, and the Crag - where they were stretched over a giant portion of the parchment.

They would have to risk it. At the very least, they could at least travel towards Equis, as the snow around them stalled enough to spot it hanging far overhead. Again, it was strange - the Lunar Plane had no clouds, yet snow always fluttered through the air. Planar travel was just… surreal.

He let his wings spread, drifting down steadily to the lantern light below. Celestia nearly jumped when he reappeared in the light of the flame, holding a hoof to her heart.

“Alright. Here’s the plan. I’m going to bring the sleigh up on its own, then I’ll bring you - I don’t want to leave you anywhere unsafe, Tia. Think you’ll be fine without me for another minute?”

“Well, I’ve handled three years alone, I think another moment in the dark can’t hurt. Just… be quick. I won’t try to hide it, but… I’m anxious about being by myself now.”

He nodded, helping her off the sleigh - offering the lantern to her muzzle, so he could find his way back. Folding the toboggan up quickly in the flickering light, his wings pumped hard to take off once more - and in moments, had it set up on top with the heavy bag.

Returning to the shaky Princess, she was the next to breach the surface. The cold wind bumping the Seraph harshly against the sheer cliffs, hissing in pain as a gash tore in his jacket. The culprit - a chipped section of the ice, sharp like a blade, that hooked and slid through the fabric.

Exposed to the chilling wings, he quickly set Celestia down - inspecting the damage with a mitten free hand. Luckily, no blood found his fingers, but the cold blew through the jacket quite easily.

“Tia, can you check this for me?” With his back to the Princess, she winced.

“It looks to be... Nearly a hoof in length, cut through to your blue vest. It couldn’t penetrate the armor, thankfully.” She pressed her limb into the fabric, cringing at the thought of the cold flooding in.

“Great. And we can’t set up camp again - we’re out in the open.” He sighed, pinching the fabric together. “I’ll have to stitch it up later.”

“Here, take off your bag - I’ve got an idea.”

The Seraph did as requested, the Princess slipping the cover off with her teeth before digging around in the large space of the pack. After a moment, she withdrew a white sheet from their bedding. On unsteady legs, she brought the cover forward - motioning for him to spread his arms and wings.

Following along, he did so - and her hooves darted the sheet around him expertly, tying it together with her teeth. When she stepped back, he bore a new, white toga around his chest and the small pack on his right hip, covering the gash in the back of his jack quite well.

“There. An old fashion trend from a long forgotten era, put to good use. It should shelter that hole long enough for us to camp.” She smiled at her work, as Arin gave it a once over. It did seem a bit airy, but did the job well - the cloth cutting the wind enough to prevent him from freezing.

“Well um… thank you, Tia.” He smiled. She pressed a hoof to his cheek, taking him in - a warm smile gracing her muzzle.

After the moment passed, Arin helped situate the Princess on the sleigh - back in her familiar position facing him, the Knight bared his pack once more. He would keep it on the toboggan, next to the Princess - but if they had to flee, or the snow gave out from under them, he didn’t want to abandon their supplies to shoot for safety. In fact, after their little incident with Nightmare Moon, he secretly stashed Nocturne inside - along with Sonata and its quiver. Neither would be of any use here, and they were still valuable to him.

The path forward was much quicker above the ice than it was below, even with the inclement weather. With the majority of their journey ascending rather than descending, he could hardly use gravity to help him - so being on a flat surface eased the pain of pushing somewhat.

“Tia, if I gave you the map, could you figure out where we are?” He asked, and Celestia nodded.

“I’m no cartographer, in fact I’m terrible with maps - but I’ve traveled here long enough to have a good idea of the land.” She soon had the parchment pressed to her hooves, approaching more looming mountains against the cold. Whipping winds blowing sheets of resting flakes into the astral sky, the hum of the air steely cold as they approached.

“If you called the Homeward Crest the center of the Lunar Plane, then we’re south west of it right now - I’d say we’re near the Mourning Peaks. I know these mountains; something about the air lashing against the stone makes certain parts of the rock hum. It’s quite saddening, if you sit and listen. Like the very air feels sorrow, and it’s expressing it through song.”

“That’s interesting; so it’s like the world singing. Have you been here before?”

Celestia nodded, folding the map to gently slip it into the strap of his pack. “This is where I awoke, after Leotoln’s Harmony struck me. The tune roused me from my pain, and that’s when I learned I was destitute. Not only that, but in those moments, I truly believed that all was lost. That everypony I knew and loved were dead, dying or escaping - like Twilight and her friends had done before. I had only cried that hard once in my life, when I first lost Luna to the moon.”

A moment of silence soon followed that revelation, the Seraph pushing on through the chill. His hand reached up, brushing away a single, timid tear from the Princess’s eye.

“It won’t happen again. We’ll escape this wasteland, and leave Nightmare Moon here to freeze,” he said, stifling her sob before it even began. With a tense nod from the mare, the Seraph trudged on.

With the looming mountains growing taller by the hour, the wind did indeed shift - occasionally, a faint note would ring out amongst the cold, traveling to them even from leagues away. Punctuated by the sliding crisp of sleigh on snow and the crunch of boots on the ice, the rhythm that it made - though sad - boosted morale in some way. Perhaps as the distance shrank, a flame would be fanned inside - showing their progress with every kick of Arin’s snowy boots.

“Tia… What did you see in me? I mean, what made you offer me a home in Canterlot at all?” he asked, as his memories turned, thoughts wandering to the past.

“It’s not what I saw in you, but what I saw in others. In Equestria, all ponies have some form of magic - this magic is basically a reflection of their personality. When you get to know a pony, you know their magic by feeling - it’s their connection to the planes and realms beyond our own, and it hums in its own tune. That’s why I didn’t believe that you were totally devoid of arcane power - and it’s also why the first thing I did when I met you was check for its presence. I learned that you were more than just an Inert, that your kind… it’s stunted, from old ways of teaching. Segregation based on class and role, it all brought back memories of Equestria’s own history.

“Equestria has never, at least - not until recently - been a peaceful nation. Ponies warred with each other based on race, for food… shelter, many things; or attempted to survive on their own without eachother. Had we not changed, Wendigoes - creatures of this realm, invisible to the eye without a magical touch - would have swallowed Equestria in freezing ice.

“This is why, as a ruler - I stress harmony. Had I let you move out into the world on your own, you would have followed your own ways, slinked off to a forest - and lived as a hermit, sheltering from the rain and winter as it came. You would have lived your life without friends, and would still - not call Equestria home. Instead, I believed it would be best for you to change, to adapt - and also, help my sister grow as well. It’s why that very same day, as night fell and she stirred for supper - I requested she greet you via letter. I believed you two would be fast friends, and I was correct. She was going through a bout of depression at the time, and confided in me that she was feeling lonely… and I thought a friendship could help her overcome this. What better choice than a guest who felt as alienated as her?

“Of course, it came to light that around that very same time, she was under the effects of poisons to control her mood. While everything I did was good natured, it was under the planning of Leotoln. He knew that I would request that you stay, which is why you were sent at sunrise, when I would be free to tend to you. They knew through my teachings that I would ask that you find friends. And they knew that Luna would be privy to the company of a strange being, one who didn’t exactly fit in to the posh and proper of the castle’s night staff. But what they didn’t know, is that deep inside of their Inert - you held magic, waiting to grow and be released.

“And what they also didn’t know was that you had a knack for being extremely lucky. You’ve survived death countless times over, and then some. And on top of that, by simply attending one ceremony, and being in the right spot, at just the right time - prevented me from being killed with a bolt aimed at my heart. Had you not stumbled on that ugly wagon back at the town hall, I would be dead - and you would undoubtedly have fought, and lost, to the Umbrum army later on, after you married Luna. Then, the Seraphs would have just picked up the pieces of our dying nation, rallying the rest of our troops to their death - squash any rebellions - and raised the flag of Alma Sol over Canterlot.”

The first crumpled rocks of the mountain had drawn close, as the Seraph took in Celestia’s ageless wisdom. “I… you know, I had been struggling with my confidence for a while. That… just knowing I was more than just a sandbag, it’s helping. Thanks Celestia. But something you said caught my ear… about a person’s personal magic, how it’s connected to realms beyond our own. Mind explaining?”

“Oh? Surely Twilight would have told you more about Harmony.” She tilted her head curiously, as the Seraph gave a nervous chuckle.

“Sometime in one of her four hour lectures, it may have come up?...”

A mirthful chuckle followed. “That sounds just like her.”

“Magic, as you know, comes from the fabric of reality. This fabric isn’t flat - it’s many layers of other realms laying on top of our own. There’s the elemental chaos, where Discord was born. The Shadowfell, home of the Umbrum. The Feywild, where breezies reside. The Solar plane, which hosts denizens like Tirek and his ilk, and the Lunar Plane, where the cold of Windigos runs freely. Encompassing it all, is the realm of the Astral Plane, a void of stars mostly barren of magic - which Luna and I can manipulate. There is also the dream realm, which makes up the combined imagination of nearly every creature, which she also holds a unique power over.”

A soft hum of the rock picked up, lonely and desolate. “Beyond this, there are planes of existence that mirror our own, in some light - but aren’t layered over ours. They are instead resting distant to the Prime, as the Outer Planes. Where deities and demons reside. These creatures mostly stay away from our realm - but can occasionally appear with the right power.”

By now, Arin had begun to push up a thin slope - the rocks above would provide shelter, and perhaps an eye over incoming danger.

“The planes enshrouding ours are where magic spells are born - evocations sprout from the Elemental Chaos, illusions and their magic spring from the Dream Realm; necromancy the Shadowfell and restoration the Feywild. A foci can grant access to these magics. But all spells require a source of magic - which you draw partly from both the Lunar and Solar plane, when you cast a spell, and partly from one’s ember - along with a hint of the original plane’s magic. Most creature’s embers are charged from the sun and moon both; without one, you are limited to half the strength as normal from ambient magic - and must supplement the rest from your own ember’s residual energy.”

“So while you may cast any spell freely in the Lunar plane, your ember can only store - and convert - so much Lunar magic before becoming chilled, and needing time to recover. This shows through signs of magical exhaustion. The same can be said for the Solar Plane, where your ember will become hot - and need to cool off.

“Additionally, without a balance, some spells may require more energy than others. Casting a flame spell here beyond a few sparks would be exceedingly difficult - while frost magic, already rampant, would be nearly free. This is because half of the cost of magic comes from you - you use that to amplify the ambient magic, where the other half stirs. The less ambient magic available, the more you take from your Ember to cast it.”

“And this is also why Unicorns - as a whole - can move the Sun and Moon when working in mass. My Sister and I can also move the other’s celestial body - but that’s because in Equis, we have the magical skill and energy to do so, even though our embers are entirely focused on our element’s magic. I can use the Sun’s energy to move the moon, because I can expend a vast amount of Solar magic to essentially ‘force’ ambient Lunar energy to move it. It’s like… using a bowl, to scoop a ball from a pond. While moving our own element, we can easily snatch the ball and move it on our own. If… any of that makes sense.”

She waved her thin hoof around, giving a well educated smile. Half of that went over Arin’s head, but okay.

“It’s easier for the magically inclined…” she finished, as Arin continued to stare right through her.

“Riiiight…”

“Well, Twilight understood it, when I explained it to her. And she was only seven.”

“Aha! There’s your problem. I’m not seven. I’m thirty three now. Soon to be thirty four, come Cloptober! Er, I believe. Maybe. Your calendar is… weird.”

Celestia facehooved, sighing. “Ugh, please don’t call it that. There’s a big trend surrounding the word ‘clop’ that the younger mares and stallions love to talk about. I was thinking of having it legally renamed ‘Docktober’, but that also presents a much worse problem of being associated with tails.”

“So… what’s wrong with Cloptober?”

“I can show you, if you’d like - when we set up camp~” She winked. He suddenly didn’t want to know… well, maybe a little. Three years of pent up-

No no no. Keep it professional.

“Nice try, Princess. But you can’t afford that kind of workout. You’d drop dead halfway through,” he teased. A white hoof gently wrapped around his neck, her muzzle hanging close.

“A good theory, but it’s only that; a theory. You’ll find that I’m made of much sterner stuff~”

He stopped pushing to duck down, Celestia’s spent body toppling partly over the bars from the drop.

“Nuh uh. That is the last thing you need. I appreciate the attempt, though! Maybe after I have my talk with Luna.”

She buzzed her lips, sighing. “...Fair enough.”

The minutes whittled away into hours, the Seraph’s legs burning in his steps as they pushed up the mountain. From the peak, they should be high enough to get a clear vantage on their surroundings, and be sheltered against prying eyes from Nightmare Moon. If only Arin’s legs could make the full ascent.

Several hundred yards from the lonesome ridge, Arin’s leg’s gave out - collapsing in front of Celestia. His breath came in sharp, slow gasps - his body actively fighting him, demanding he just stay down. Sleep. Rest. Anything but walk.

“Arin, are you alright?” the weak Princess asked, her front hooves slipping off the handlebars to gingerly press into the icy snow. She draped her left wing around him, worry filling her features. “Do you want me to set up the tent? There’s a few rocks nearby that might do.”

“P-Please.” He sputtered, stripping the heavy pack from his shoulders to toss over the sleigh. Now free of the weight, he grunted - letting his body block the toboggan.

He just hiked a mountain after nearly three full days without sleep. Seraphs were naturally strong, but that strength came through their recovery speed and magic. Without magic, he was weakened - but without sleep, he was crippled to the point of absolute exhaustion.

His eyes drifted to the empty, distant stars of the astral plane. Void of magic, huh? His thoughts churned, seeing the twinkle of the stars, but something about them seemed off.

A sign. A mark. Long ago, Arin told Luna of one constellation from his world - the Arcanis Ring - which was the mark of ascended. He despised it, and thus - the blue Princess wiped it from the very sky, every night.

And even still, under Nightmare Moon’s mind altering influence… she had the thought to remove it from the sky for him. The pony he knew and loved was still down there, deep inside. Maybe one day he could find her heart again, and bring her back. If their love was more than just a passing fancy. Perhaps the stars told another tale he didn’t quite understand yet.

At one point, he didn’t even realize his eyes were settling shut. Three days of walking, flying, and crawling had bested him. Even with their breaks, he simply wasn’t able to recover enough to stay awake. In the freezing snow, his eyelids flicked down - up - then down once more. Head rolling into the comfort of his hood and scarf.

Literal seconds from sleep, the Solar Princess weakly kicked snow across his eyes - before batting him with her thin wings. “Don’t you dare.”

“Huh?... Oh, yes… sleep…”

His arms gently pressed back against the ice, flicking snow from his wings. Doing his best to dust himself free from the powder as Celestia offered him a hoof.

“Arin, stay with me. We can’t sleep. We can’t,” she said, swaying in the wind.

“Yes… I know. Just… surely she can’t find us from a five minute nap?...”

“Don’t underestimate Nightmare Moon,” came her reply. He took her hoof, stumbling to his feet - Celestia bumping into his chest, all but collapsing in his arms. The two swayed in the lunar light for a moment - a dance of exhaustion - before Arin seized the light weight sleigh and dragged it roughly towards the tent. Legs buckling and kicking seemingly at random, Celestia’s body the only thing preventing him from falling once more into the snow.

Once he slid into the tent, he fell to his knees - Celestia zipping up the wind blocking fabric behind them. She shed her jacket as quickly as her gaunt body would allow, tossing it to the side of the lazily made pillow fortress. When Arin didn’t move, only stared dazed at the floor - she worked her unsteady legs over to him, popping the buttons off his front one after the other. He barely recognized it, as she stripped his jacket - leaving him in just his familiar white shirt and blue vest.

“Come on, Arin… we’re well over halfway there. Once your legs are ready, we can…” She yawned, her baggy eyes refusing to open more than a sliver. “Let’s… let’s just stay awake. Okay? We can do that. Another hour or three, just… keep your eyes open. Arin?...”

She had to shake him with a hoof, startling the Seraph from his half doze. “No no, cupcakes are five bits, the cookies are three…” he whispered. Celestia sighed.

They would very well die here if they can’t escape soon. How many more steps can he take before sleep deprivation claims him? How many nights can she herself survive, half awake? Twilight didn’t plan for the need to skip sleep - that simply wasn’t an issue she had ever faced before, as Nightmare Moon had shown too much mercy.

Now? She’s gone bloodthirsty and enraged. She weaved nightmares of terror and suffering, an art she had not just three years - but a thousand to hone. And from Arin’s recollection of events from his past encounter, she had near full control over Luna’s powers. She had been careless before, thinking she held all the cards here on the moon - but Arin somehow broke free of the command of Nocturne’s enchantment, and bought them precious time to escape.

Now, there would be no second chances. A flash of her horn when the Nightmare found them, and they would both collapse in torrential nightmares. Whatever she had planned for them, it would likely be the end.

Chapter 18 - Feather Boy

Umbra’s eyes cracked open, a splitting headache making her shudder in disgust. Pain was not something she experienced often; it was more common that she inflicted it. To be on the receiving end felt almost unnatural.

Her hooves were bound tightly by iron cuffs, hoisted above her and kept partially aloft. The discomfort of it made her chest ache, as her hindlegs barely scuffed the floor.

Rolling her eyes in annoyance - she reached for her magic to shift to her shadow form. But of course; a thin silver ring on her horn shined brightly instead, illuminating the area vaguely around her. It rang like a quiet bell, sound echoing through the bars of her prison. She was bound near wooden walls, her chain draped by the center over a rafter leaving her at the mercy of gravity.

Her cell was mostly barren, save for a thin cot on the floor - stained with whatever filth a prisoner may leave.

The sound of her magic band must have triggered an alarm or caught the wrong ears, as a nearby wooden door was tossed open. In stepped a leather clad seraph, a short saber resting at his waist. He flicked his wings, noting the pony’s movements as he approached the bars. It was light outside beyond him - the rail of a ship just barely able to be spotted past his steel sabatons.

Her eyes recoiled at the intense light, sheltering them behind her lids with frustration.

“If it isn’t Amethyst Amoire! Or more commonly known as ‘Queen’ Umbra. You’ve got quite the name for yourself, busting not just one of our employers - but all three.” The Seraph chuckled with amusement, slipping a comb from his waist pouch to fiddle with his goldenrod hair. He kept it slick with a thin grease, his wings bearing flecks of brown pinions in its feathers.

“Oh? So you know of me,” she stated bluntly, hiding her emotion quite well. “Very well then. I take it an execution will be swift to follow?”

“What? Oh no, we may be pirates now with the law on our ass - but we’re not absolute cut throats. At least, not until we need to be. No, you’re going to be a bargaining chip for us. See, when King Leotoln died - a lot of us didn’t even know until a cleanup crew made to take us back, either in body bags or still breathing. I wasn’t too keen on standing trial for war crimes, as we were a bit shady in our tactics - so we made our getaway. Thing is, it’s tough times out in the wilds. Luckily, our old companions were still interested in playing politics with that ‘Pretty Princess’ at the castle.”

He stuffed his comb in his pocket, brushing a stray lock of his windswept style to the side. “They were our customers, and I’m afraid it’s a bit too late to bust ‘em out. We could only move so fast, after all. So now, we’ve got a change of plans.”

Propping himself beside the door, the Seraph opened his arms wide - as if embracing the air. “You’ll be our ticket home, and our amnesty. See, we know all too well what happened at the Castle - and we also know you worked with that young twerp back in Erenorn. So, you and him are going to pull some strings for us, get us several sacks of gold each - a meal plan, if you will - and a portal gate back to the Far Reaches. With you in hand, of course, to make sure we see our families unharmed.”

“Best of luck with that; the Crown isn’t in much of a mood to deal with shady demands of strangers.” Umbra stared unwavering at the bold Ascended, emerald eyes filled with murder. She didn’t see her captors. She saw dead bodies in the making.

“Oh no? Ahem…” He withdrew a scroll from that same pocket pouch, clearing his throat with a cough. “‘From the office of Vapor Cloud, Knight Captain of Canterlot, former Defender of the Solar Rule. We will accept your terms to release the Unicorn ‘Umbra’ at the price of one million bits, under the following conditions…’ yada yada yada, terms of your release, legal phrasing, won’t lay damage to the product, who’s going to deliver it and where, etcetera.” He sealed the scroll, tossing it haphazardly at her iron cage - the bars dinging as the seal clattered against it, falling to the floor.

“Now all we have to do is wait. They were quite quick to reply, too! How courteous of them. Think you can survive up there for a couple weeks?” He smirked.

“I would much prefer more comforting accommodations. Like your head on a platter, if it could be arranged?” She gave her trademark grin, forcing a chuckle from the Seraph.

“Wonderful! I’ll leave you to it then. By the way… you’ve been cozy up in the castle, right? Around that angsty blue horse with the crown? Surely you must know what’s going on with her. It seems like every one of you mange-ridden lot has issues with leadership. Any idea what’s up? Just curious.”

Umbra glared right through him, smiling. It’s rare she had a chance to speak like this, and after hearing quite a few insults in Erenorn, she took her turn to speak; something she picked up from a Guard at Alma Sol. “Wouldn’t you like to know, Feather Boy?”

His cocky grin turned to an angry glare; kicking the iron shell she resided in with rage. “Say I lay with men one more time, and I’ll break your spine.”

“Tsk tsk. It would appear you are secretive of that fact. A shame, Equestria is quite accepting of all couples.” The smug washing off of her right now could drown a town, and the Seraph was quite pissy about it.

He turned on his heel, slamming the heavy door behind him. Leaving the former Umbrum trapped in the dark.

Now, to plan her escape. What they failed to realize is that if she took a Portal Gate before a month could pass, especially one between worlds - she would most assuredly die. Magic was a fickle thing, and having one’s magical ember crack or explode wasn’t an ideal way to perish.

If Vapor Cloud agreed to her freedom, he must have a plan to get her out. Perhaps Arin had returned from the Moon, with Celestia at his company. There was no way they intended on actually paying one million bits for a pony like her. They didn’t value her that much. Did they?

Luna would never have signed off on it; not now. It’s definitely a ploy to buy time, until Celestia can take back the throne. It only confirmed her suspicions - gold may never come, and her life was now at risk.

It took her eyes only a few seconds to adjust to the dark; her ancestry aiding her in that regard. First things first; her binds. Her hindlegs were mostly free floating, able to kick off the back wall if she needed to. With her belly stretched like this, it was quite uncomfortable - but a smart play by her captors. If she could strip the ring from her horn, she’d simply break the lock or phase through the bars and impale any who challenged her.

The solution to that was simple - but arduous. There wasn’t much clearance to make her way to the iron bars, but she could move her body. Even now, the swaying motion of the ship did so - her hooves barely able to stand, but not much else. If she had an extra few inches, and wasn’t afraid of ripping the ring off unaided, she’d be free in minutes.

The cot nearby wouldn’t work, unfortunately. Not only was it too far away, but it was also nailed to the floor to prevent rolling.

While normally, she could lift herself up - she was quite strong - her front legs had been stuck skyward for too long, leaving them weak and drained of blood. In fact, this entire position was unhealthy for her form. Her heart wasn’t made to pump blood like this for days - she would only grow weaker with time.

She had one option left. The support beam above was made of wood, and her iron chains clinked quietly into it. The sound was nowhere near as loud as her horn ring - and with the faint clatter of Seraphs working on the ship outside, and the wind around them - her best bet would be to saw it down until she could reach her hind hooves.

That would take time. Thankfully, time was all she had. Using the rock of the ship, she began to sway back and forth - tugging her forehooves gently with each motion. The wood gave little with each click of the metal, but it split just a fraction after what felt like hours. And by then, she was uncomfortable, hot, and panting - but progress had been made, however small.

While resting her tired muscles, her mind ran over her plan. Sure, she could escape - but she still had the issue of height to contend with. Many spells came to mind for slowing her descent, but there was still one issue.

She would be completely vulnerable to aerial attack while channeling them. On top of that, her belongings - however trivial - carried something of importance to her. She would have to find her bag before escaping. A Silent Steps spell would do wonders, when night fell.

Now, it was a game of time. It would likely take her a full week to saw the wood down, and with her hooves free of the cuffs - it would take at least an hour to gain her footing and be able to walk once more.

But Umbra was a patient mare. She would wait. And she would be free.

And with nothing but time, her thoughts drifted to her place in the world. She missed Arin, perhaps a bit too much at the moment. While his senses weren’t nearly as sharp, he made up for it with a quick mind - and an open heart. Two things that she valued in a friend. And perhaps, something more. She’d share those feelings when the time came - after all, Vee did mention others had similar thoughts in mind. Why not cast her hat in the ring as well? There is always more room to… ‘grow’.

She took it as motivation to start swaying again - the clickclickclick of iron muffled by the steps and boots of her captors on deck. She wouldn’t be able to work at night, but it mattered little. She had a goal, and she meant to obtain it. No matter the cost.

Upon hearing the news of Umbra’s disappearance through talks of the guard, Tempest was left at a loss. Of course, she could seek Twilight’s company to discuss her disappearance - but the Princess had turned her attention towards the vastly more important matters of attending the budding PR crisis at the castle. It turns out seizing Nobles on the account of treason was a bad play, directly before an election - some called it a move only a dictator would impose, even if the evidence was legitimate. And many more political elites used the call as evidence of Luna’s tyranny. This wasn’t something the broken horned mare could solve; instead, she could focus on matters important to her.

Tempest wasn’t the best when it came to making friends. But she liked to think that her and Umbra had something close to not just a friendship, but a bond by blood - they had both committed atrocities they wished to atone for. And finding her new friend’s life at stake, she approached the only other pony she knew that could handle the matter. Vapor Cloud, Guard Captain of Canterlot.

She tossed the doors to the war room open with a resounding thud, strutting into the stony, lantern lit halls of the command center. Vapor Cloud didn’t bother to look up from the map, as several police and a dozen Equestrian Soldiers were busy discussing the prospect of a short conflict against a possible militia. Already, the streets had fallen into a form of chaos, as protestors to the seizure - ill informed on the crimes laid against the three Noble houses - sought to rectify the tyranny through a show of force.

It wasn’t a problem until weapons were involved, and ponies grew violent. The world was quickly leading to a breaking point, and with a vast new wave of unemployment following the arrests - a ‘dead man’s switch’ by the corrupt Elites, to force a public outcry - many miners, jewelcrafters, and electricians were left with nothing to do, and complaints unaddressed.

Day court was a disaster. Not only had Luna become more violent since Arin’s banishment, but she had begun to issue less than safe orders to castle guests. The sudden claims that Equestria was ruled by a tyrant had evidence sufficient to back it, and the guards on duty were losing loyalty and faith in the crown’s ability to rule.

But Tempest couldn’t solve these issues. In fact, there were little things she could do to aid the effort - but what she could excel at, was leading an assault to retrieve the former Umbrum and hero, Umbra.

“Sir Cloud?” she asked, stepping to the other side of the war table with a fire in her eyes. “I request aid in rescuing Umbra from the stray Seraphs. I know she’s been stolen in the night - you can’t hide this from me, and I will be damned if you sit here and let her die.”

“That’s all well and good, Tempest - I respect your loyalty to your friend, but right now? We’re at risk of civil war. And our own troops would hardly ever turn on their ponies to break it up. I can’t spare a single patrol to free her, and without clearance from Luna for a frankly absurd wealth of bits, I can’t buy her freedom.”

“Then send me. All I require is an airship, and a crew. You forget that I’m a natural leader, a former Commander, in fact.”

“And again, that’s out of my hooves. Military action requires the Princess’s orders. You’re not in my ranks, so I will say this as a friend. Stand down. Wait for Princess Celestia to return, to patch up her Sister and restore order to the land. It shouldn’t be more than… three days now, if you and Twilight’s theories are correct.”

She hesitated, her eyes knitting in fury. But she knew all too well, he had a point. Charging out into the wilds with only minor travel gear and no heading was suicide, and while it was unmentioned - the Seraph were probably in hiding. Where, few could say.

After a minute, he gave a long sigh - shoving mock figures of soldiers off the Canterlot map. “Tempest, you can still help. We need more information on the night of her disappearance - witness testimony, her last known location - all of these things may point us in the direction of any scouts in Canterlot, as unlikely as it would be. At the very least, it could help us determine how they knew where she would be that night. This alone could benefit her immensely. We know that she was last seen here, by the Farmer’s market.”

He clicked his hoof on the map. “What she was doing, we’re not sure. But maybe you can find something the local police can’t.”

Looking over the map, her experienced eyes took in as many details as she could. There were a few shops in the area, and the entire square was dedicated to farm carts and stalls. Already, her mind buzzed with ideas for her captured comrade. “Very well. I’ll report anything of interest to you, if it helps. But don’t think I’ll forget this, Sir Cloud.”

“Good luck. And I know you won’t.” He nodded, sliding a literal pile of case files around the group of officers and guards, conversation starting anew. But her mind went elsewhere, passing through the doors of the office and into the now busy halls of the Castle.

If she disappeared in the Farmer’s Market, then she had a reason to be there. It’s unlikely she was after food, especially if she was taken in the night. At least one of those shops had answers, or at least spotted her - and she would be damned if she didn’t try to find out.

Author's Note

I decided that Umbra would essentially look like this, in my writing, except with Green Eyes and a normal horn. Just a small note I wanted to include, in case you ever wondered.

Chapter 19 - Sleep

Rest didn’t matter anymore. His legs didn’t matter. His breathing didn’t matter. His sanity didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered now was sleep. And the only way to obtain said sleep was through a comfy bed in Canterlot Castle.

It took literally every fiber of his being to not pass out in Celestia’s hooves. By now, even he was starting to get emotional - distraught from the lack of rest, and the shrinking sense of awareness to his environment, his brain would stutter and shut down to try and force him to the pillows.

By the time he roughly stitched up the now less-than-comfy jacket, his poor energy reserves had barely recovered. Celestia and himself would catch themselves staring blankly at the tent wall, only their soft breathing keeping them company in these harsh moments.

When he blinked, he was packing his tent. He had his trusty timekeeper in his mitten - which said mitten was on the wrong hand - and was staring at the time. It took him an uncomfortable while to decipher the clock’s hands, as his brain simply couldn’t remember how to read analogue. It finally clicked after an uncomfortable silence; three days, seventeen hours.

Judging by their pace, they would be lucky to make it to the castle with two days left. Muscle-tense legs waddled his aching body to the sleigh - giving it an unexpectedly light push.

“Tia? Where…”

He looked around for the mare, finding her dozing fitfully on her hooves to his left. She rattled in the wind on slightly more steady legs, her strength slowly returning to her with food and rest.

“Sleigh, Tia… over here, on the sleigh… come… move.” He dragged the metal snow-raft to the half dead mare - her eyes twitching open at his prodding.

“Oh?... Sleigh, sleigh…” she whispered to no one in particular, stumbling her way over before roughly collapsing onto the metal of the compact platform.

This was no way to live. He roughly grabbed her hood - pulling her up to the familiar position facing him. Aches and pains shooting up through his foggy head. His legs forced the ambling pace forward, keeping his eyes plastered on Celestia’s.

This wasn’t even an affection thing. If one of them blinked, they may not open their eyes again. Thus, the creepy staring contest was born - Arin only dragging his sight over the approaching peak when necessary.

“When we get back to Equestria, I don’t care what happens, what Luna says or needs. I’m going to collapse on top of you, bury my face in your fluff. And I. Will. Sleep.” Arin grunted, ignoring the painful burn in his legs.

“That… is a perfect idea. See, Arin? You’re smart. You have… big thoughts.” Her hoof traced the air several times, failing to pet him each - before gently bumping him on the nose with her limb’s frog. “Yes. Big brain. Big brain seraph. Smart… Smarter than Twilight. I am a good pillow. I am the best pillow.”

The sleep deprivation was reaching a critical point, it seemed. As Arin was entirely convinced that this was a normal conversation.

“Ha, a pillow that snoooores.” He smiled like a dope, the stupid sinking in deep.

“I don’t! I snore to bother Vapor Cloud, haha. He… small thoughts. Little thoughts in his head. Yeah.”

Without warning - her head smacked the bar of the sleigh. It took Arin several seconds too long to realize she passed out, and wasn’t in fact still talking to him.

“Noooo. If I… I stay up, yooouuuu stay up,” he said, his hand slipping from the bar to angle her head to face him - but he missed. Instead, he slumped forward - just narrowly avoiding her horn as his body went limp to the side of the big Alicorn.

They were at the crest of the shorter mountain now… both unconscious, Arin’s legs sliding in the snow as the sleigh began to pick up speed. At first, it was slowly moving on its own down the long slope of the mountain. But with little in the way of brakes, and an unconscious pilot - it careened freely down the slope. In moments, it went from a gentle, amiable pace, to a violent bolt of lightning rocketting down the side of the untouched slopes.

A rock bumped the Princess awake, as her eyes cracked to look around her at the disturbance. Finding Arin unconscious - and the world moving much too fast around her - Celestia’s head spun around towards the base of the mountain. Broken cliff sides and dark patches of gray rock breaking the thick snow layer.

“B-By the Stars! Arin! Wake up - WAKE UP!” Her hoof crashed into his face hard enough to bruise his cheek - instantly bolting him upright. His eyes went haywire, brain catching up to the moment as the Knight struggled to move his legs back onto the feet of the sled.

Adrenaline shot through their bodies, as sleep was instantly forgotten in place of a new panic. The cut of Arin’s legs through the snow sent balls of ice tumbling down after them - breaking apart the still fluff of white cold as more soon followed. Celestia turned back to face Arin at the sound, bloodshot eyes turning to pinpricks at the danger.

“ARIN!”

With his gaze split between the ice in front, and the avalanche behind - a jarring rock crashed hard into the side of their toboggan, throwing the duo off into the chilly powder around. With snow approaching fast behind, and tumbling down the mountain - it was seemingly their doom. The angle grew sharp and steep, the snow fast catching the slower duo.

At one point, Arin’s wings shot open in a final attempt at pulling free from the cold - catching a wind and righting himself long enough to give desperate, jarring, stomaching churning flaps. Crashing into Celestia, he managed to grab a hold of her roughly - escaping with little more than several fresh rips in their coats, into the freezing air.

The snow quickly overran the broken metal of the sleigh, the duo panting as the chilled death shot down the mountainside. Taking with it their former transport.

The extra weight of the pack on his back and the bundle of a mare clinging tightly to his chest forced his wings to strain and falter, sinking slowly in the sky. With little options left, he tilted forward - billowing winds chilling their now exposed bodies. By the time they touched the ice below, their laboured breathing had steadied just enough to afford them some respite.

“That… was intense,” Arin breathed, clutching the bony pony tightly to his chest.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” the Princess began, but Arin shook his head.

“No, I also passed out. If you didn’t wake me, we would have both been crushed under the ice.”

“A fitting fate,” a dark voice called, landing before them both. No longer did Nightmare Moon carry a confident grin, instead a heavy scowl lined her expression. Her eyes gleamed with fresh murder, Arin’s wings flashing in heavy pumps in an attempt to escape.

But, it was pointless. Near instantly, her horn flashed - knocking the stunned duo unconscious in a fitful sleep - falling to the air and to the churned powder below. For now, sleep was all she would give them. The punishment will come, with time. She had many plans ahead of her, none of which she wanted to set in motion here.

Nightmare Moon collected her two prizes in a flash of her empowered foci, fluttering off on bat wings towards her temporary abode. The dungeon could use some more decor, after all.

Cold. So terribly, freezing cold. His arms ached, and his body cried - but his brain. Oh by the Feathers, it felt good. Sleep, actual, well needed sleep - however dreamless it may have been - soaked his brain in all the lovely blood it needed to clear out the cobwebs and wash away the exhaustion.

His eyes slowly cracked open, stirring fitfully at his consciousness. They weren’t ready for the light, but… his body was shaking. He needed heat. Tia - she was warm. Where was she?

When his vision returned, he found himself staring at a dimly lit wall - a blue flame soaking the world around him in gentle, white light. Confused, he made to move - but found himself bound by the wrists and feet, his torn jacket removed. Leaving him in just his long sleeve undershirt, and choice dress pants. Luckily, he still had his boots as well. His feet would have frozen off otherwise.

His wings ached from his binds, struggling hard against them - how many chains were really necessary? Legs, ankles, arms, wrists, neck, wings… all bound. How long had he been out? Where?... Right. Nightmare Moon.

For some reason, he knew this was bound to happen. There was no way he could go a week without sleep, not while also walking a marathon each day. A week? No, it should have taken four days, at most - which means he was still within their time limit, depending on how long he’s been out. He still had time to escape. If his finger could just… reach a lock on his shackle...

After a while, the impatient click of a cell door stirred him from his thoughts. Already dreading this moment, the pit in his stomach sucked at his very soul - wanting nothing more than to cower away from the terror-radiating Nightmare. She approached in familiar regal steps, soft blue eyes slit down the middle, taking him in like prey.

“Awake at last, I see,” she said, jagged teeth forming a smile. “Now, plenty of time to talk. To make merry, to speak with your future Queen. Tell me, how do you feel, Sir Knight?”

His head fell back, watching the terror stride so elegantly through the room. When she turned, he spotted it on her right side - Nocturne.

“That wasn’t a question to be ignored, Knight. Speak,” she stressed, horn flashing magic into the silvery blade. Within seconds of agitating the gleaming sword, he was urged to speak against his will.

“I-I am freezing, terrified, and would very much like to be let down now.”

“Splendid; results at last.” Her sharp grin turned into a more calm, more approachable smile. It did little to ease the fear frolicking within him. “Perhaps now that you are bound, I will not have to resort to such… barbaric tactics, such as Dream Branding to achieve my goals. After all, I can be merciful, even when slighted. As the old saying goes, 'fool me once'...”

“D-Dream Branding?” He shivered. Her expression changed from regal matriarch warming to the thought of victory, to a more softer teacher - speaking lowly to a foal.

“Ah yes, of course. You are unwise in magic. Dream Branding is a term I use to implant an idea into one’s thoughts. With my bind to the Dream Realm, I can enter your mind - and decide upon what you may visit in your sleep… and visit again, for years and years within your very consciousness. A lesson you will not forget, for ages to come. Or a punishment, if I so desire. Time turns slowly in the dream realm; the peasantry had never felt the true gifts I can offer.”

She stepped close again, horn funneling magic into the blade of Nocturne. “And you don’t wish to be punished, do you? Or perhaps… you’re interested in a certain type of punishment. There is much to learn from your kind, Sir Knight. And little I can take from my lesser half - not without sharing her material form.”

Unlike before, the magic of Nocturne had little effect against him - he was a bit more wise to her ways, but regardless, he gave a response. “Sorry, I-I have little interest in nightmares. But it’s funny you should ask, Miss… uh… Moon. I’ve been quite the commodity among a few too many of my friends.”

She honestly didn’t expect that response. And perhaps, she even respected it - tilting her head to the side to fetch her senses. “That… I did not inquire about your history. Let’s not change the subject.”

“I mean, you asked,” he said, gaining confidence against her. She didn’t blink, only gaze upon him with burning hatred.

“You are doing exceptionally well in testing my patience, ‘Knight’. Unfortunately for you, I’ve already foiled your little plans.” Her horn sparkled brightly, withdrawing the Alicorn Amulet from thin air.

Arin had the exact perfect response to give her, too. Because she still didn’t know what to do with it. “Cool. Now what?”

“Is this not the key to my freedom? It hosts the very power of harmony - I sense it stirring in waves. You can not deny the power coursing within!”

“And what exactly are you going to do? Put it on? Wouldn’t that… kill you? Or something?”

Her expression dropped to a frown, eyes glazing over with bitter rage. Without so much as a warning, she spun on her forelegs and landed a heavy buck into his gut - forcing Arin to wheeze and shudder. His bowels stirring in his belly from the pain, blood pooling within his stomach. In seconds, he coughed up blood, shaking like a leaf as pain took him.

Upon seeing the vast damage she caused to the Seraph, she faltered - not out of empathy, but out of fear of killing him. If he died, there was no way she’d escape. She had no idea what to even do with the amulet, and it was unlikely she could use it without dying.

“Tell me what you know, or die.” She glared through him. Arin spat out the blood from his mouth, hissing as his innate healing power worked on mending the deadly blow.

“Say something nice at my funeral,” he grunted. The Nightmare sighed.

“Very well. Perhaps you’ll be more vocal after a good night’s rest.” Her horn began to shine a deep blue, similar to Luna’s magic - before tapping him on the forehead. And just like that, he was out cold.

“Another lesson learned… mercy means nothing to the loyal,” she hissed, returning to the door. She had another guest to attend to, one she didn’t mind slaying. But… perhaps she had frustrations that needed to be vented, first. Her sister dearest would be a fine ear to borrow. Oh, how she had plans - first, some deep cuts… a few dreams, perhaps water and food to keep her breathing another sparse day or so, to make more blood for the letting. Then, she’ll saw off those beautiful wings… maybe her horn, too. ‘Tia’ always wanted to be a commoner, after all.

The world around him was dark and cold. He found himself kneeling at the cool stone of a throne, the familiar shape of an Alicorn smiling warmly down at him. Her ebony fur a wonderful shade to compliment the soft blues of her eternal night.

“My loyal subject, so sweet and tender… you have served me so well these past few decades. I never would have suspected Princess Celestia to be so vile and wicked, and if it weren’t for your aid - the very world would suffer under her burning sun, for all eternity. The Lunar Empire thanks you, not just as its Knight - but as my endearing companion.”

Arin smiled; he was an exceptional symbol of loyalty and piety, a devout worshipper of her highness. It took him one hundred and twelve years to finally see it, but Nightmare Moon… she was the one true queen.

Every night, for the past… oh Gosh, he can’t recall - his life since the incident on the moon… it was such a blur now. But he stood by her side, and she stood by his. And he was happy to serve, despite the hardships that followed. The wars he helped won. The gentle affection she gave him. It was heavenly.

Her voice came once more, but he found it hard to listen. The click of a beak, a soft croak - it pulled his attention to the left.

A strange purple pegasus sat there, sipping her coffee. He felt like he knew her - did he? It’s been… years. Well over a century, since he saw a face like hers. A soft hint of green flashed in her eyes, as he felt a strange tingle crawl up his left arm.

Nightmare Moon continued to lavish on the praise, as he lifted his wrist up - inspecting the purple feather charm there.

“Hey.” The Pegasus had appeared directly in front of him now, nearly knocking him to his back. He stumbled, clawing at the ground to make a few hooves distance before coming to a halt.

“What? Who?...”

Nightmare Moon was gone. His Queen, his ruler… she had vanished, almost as if she was never there. Instead, the pegasus stared right through him, levitating a cup of coffee to her right.

“D’ohoho! Don’t tell me you forgot, Tall-fry? I’m going to have to dock your pay at this rate! And since I pay you nothing, you now owe me twenty bits for sleeping on the job. Because I’m still broke, and you not working means I’m not making money.”

“What’s going on?” he questioned. He felt like he knew, but… it was hard to say. Like a distant memory, far in his past. He was, after all, one hundred and forty five years old now - still young for an ascended, but his memory was nothing like it used to be.

“Many things! None of which are good for the feathers. Did you know I had a mare come by, into MY shop, during MY MORNING WALL STARING, and ask about Umbra? Oho! Had I known she’d been foalnapped, I would have snooted you up sooner. But you weren’t dreaming until now.” She downed her coffee, frowning as she turned over the empty mug.

“Well Tall-fry, this is it for me. Another pot to boil, another brew to stir - and you need to wake up before Nightmare Moon eats your candy, that jerk-face.”

And just like that, the purple mare ceased to be. That very same raven appeared on his shoulder, clicking his beak and croaking.

“Twice I have intervened with fate, and only once more I shall persist, lest I draw the ire of entities beyond this realm. Arin, you must wake. There is still time, there is still hope. Hold on to the flame within you, and let it spread like ash upon the breeze. Your time is nigh.”

Onyx bowed his head. Onyx. His name was Onyx… and Vee. And many other names, a world of history - of knowledge - of places he’s been and things he’s seen, the world he still cherishes. A flicker of light beamed within him, and he nodded his head.

“Then I shall grant you freedom. Make haste! The sun has nearly crested the horizon, and her hours grow short. The test of time will not bid thee well.”

The weight of a watch settled in his palm, and he took it to his eyes. One hour remained. And just like that… the floor around him began to sink away - no, his body began to raise. He found it hard to catch his breath, as bubbles surrounded him. Eyes were sent to the heavens, and he saw the surface of a pool there to greet him - and with a burst of speed, he shot for the water’s surface.

Chapter 20 - Knighthood

With a gasp of breath, Arin tumbled to the floor - free of the binds strangling his wrists. A dream. It had all been a dream. But also, not. He felt an awakening within him - power, magic. Hope. There was still a spark of hope to be had, as he darted for the Iron Gate to his right.

It swung open at his touch… as it didn’t have any locks. In fact, it felt more like stone modeled to fit the need of a gate. He honed his eyes - yes, he could see! The castle was just entirely made of stone, a faint illusion in place to give it the look of a proper abode.

Inside the roughshod tunnels of the dungeon, there were only five other doors to check - and a quick hunt found his target. Princess Celestia.

She was strung up by chains galore much like he was, and the sight was a grizzly one. Not only was she hardly stirring in the freezing cold, but her very body was covered in fresh gashes and cuts with a long, familiar blade - save the freezing chills of its magic. Most were just long surface slashes, but a few deep hacks left him sickened. Her once white fur was now a reddish brown from drying blood.

He rushed into the room, anxiety seeping into his soul as he checked for breathing. The faint shudder of breath was enough for him to nearly cry out in relief. Absorbing what little latent magic there was around him, and channeling power from his Ember to make up the difference - he honed his thoughts into the spell, Antithesis.

A ring of a bell chimed, as a soft light soaked into her fur. There was so much blood, how was she still alive?... He had never seen a creature bleed like this in all his days, and he’s gutted animals to eat before...

Flesh began to knit, as he channeled another potent cast of Antithesis into her body. The process doubled over; wounds sealing shut and skin snapping closed without a scar. But still, no signs of life.

His ember ached with exhaustion, chilled from channeling so much lunar energy. He pumped another blast of life-giving light into her spirit. Her body swelled, and a faint mewl of pain followed.

“Tia, Tia - wake up. C’mon,” he hissed, slapping her against the cheek. Her eyes cracked, blinking away pain. Slowly setting her eyes on the Seraph before her.

“W-What?...” She shivered, confusion overtaking her. “I’m… w-what?”

“We’re on the Homeward Crest. Nightmare Moon captured us. I escaped with some help from a friend. We need to get moving.”

His spent, shaking hands shot for the chains - groaning as bolts of magic seeped into each cuff. She had ten times the chains he did; one around her waist, two on each hoof, her wings had one on the base - and a hook through the flesh. Her horn was chained, her neck was chained… it… it was worrying, sickening. This room was definitely some sort of torture chamber. Why did she need so many chains?

Then he started to notice other worrying tools… axes, saws… crafted from stone or ice, and definitely intended to dismember. If Celestia ever recovered from the first round of torture, she would have lost a limb or two on the next. Which was a horrifying thought; he can’t risk her life like this again. He should have just bolted without her… this is all his fault. Had he managed to stay away, they wouldn’t be here, right now. Because he could make distance, lead Nightmare Moon on a chase - and come back for Celestia once he lost that vile mare.

And his effects… he was still missing his belongings. He felt extremely naked without his dragonscale vest - the armor would be useful now, to prevent any unwanted horns from impaling him in the dark.

Hold on. He’s been to jail before. Nightmare Moon wouldn’t have moved his effects far - she would want to stay close by while she examined them. If anything, they could be in one of the rooms or cells.

With the last snap of magic pumping into the false-metal locks, she plummeted into his waiting arms. She hardly gave any resistance, still in shock as wings gently draped around him.

“This… is this a-” she began, but he quickly cut her off.

“No, Celestia. It’s not another dream. We need to move. Nightmare Moon has our ticket out of here - and we’re almost out of time.”

The pink maned Princess blinked slowly, freezing body staggering and broken, unable to do much but fall and shiver. She had starved for another few days - he would have to carry her.

Seizing her in a bridal carry, she looked up to his eyes in bewilderment. Unsure if any of this is real just yet, her voice came in a small whisper.

“Arin… y-you don’t hate me. Do you? I… you wouldn’t abandon me.” she asked, wide eyed and distant. The strong Seraph’s hands cradling her close, as they made their way along the curving corridor.

“What? No, of course not - don’t believe anything you’ve seen. We’ll be out of here in no time,” he stated firmly, a faint whisper as they traveled. She shook her head.

“N-No, I… I dreamed that you abandoned me. Left me here alone, on the moon… a-and took Nightmare Moon with you. I sat and watched, and…”

He silenced her with a gentle kiss on the nose. Enough to snap her back to the senses, even if it was just for the minute. Still, he couldn’t get over her expression. Even when he first found her… she didn’t look like she’d seen a ghost.

A stairway fitted the end of the curved hallway; all this effort in crafting decadent, albeit partially illusionary halls - to feed into a dungeon that could never serve any purpose besides decoration. Well, perhaps recently, it had some point - though it was a vile one. Six rooms… Did she intend to keep Twilight and her friends there?

The chill of the still air rippled his clothes when darting upwards, and made Tia shake in his grasp. She needed food again, and soon - and thankfully, a break in the spiral staircase landed them in what appeared to be some kind of small Jailer’s hall. His bag, and its contents - were simply left unguarded. Some of the items were undoubtedly shuffled about - but even the food was left untouched. Strange.

Of course Nocturne was gone. But Sonata - his famed bow - was still packed tightly inside, along with the quiver - and its small dagger. Setting Celestia onto her shaky legs, she refused to leave his side as he began to slip the armored vest over his chest once more.

Fitted and kitted out, he was left with one last problem. He could carry a weapon, he could carry Celestia - but he couldn’t carry both. On top of that, he needed his hands free to open doors, search desks… anything that may be of use. Would she even have a desk here?

How was this going to work…

“Tia, have you ever… well, ridden another pony?”

Amid her shaking, the question caught her… well, a bit off guard. “No?...”

“If we’re unlucky, we may be stuck here - and we’ll need everything we can get to survive. Otherwise, I would just grab my bow… but this gives me an idea.”

He struggled with the straps of the heavy pack - pulling it backwards on the harness, resting it on the edge of the thin tin support railing. A perfect, adult size pony carrier. Of sorts. He would have to lower it on his back, as her torso was… rather long, after all - and her extensive neck would definitely place her head over two hooves above his shoulders. But it meant that not only would he have a hand on their supplies - but his precious cargo wouldn’t be left behind.

“I… I have done many embarrassing things in my life, for the sake of fun and comedy. But this…” she whispered to the Seraph, stepping her hooves through the straps. He hoisted her up onto his back in mere seconds - the regal mare squeaking as her forehooves darted around his shoulders to sustain herself.

Well, she definitely felt like a foal now.

“I know, I know. It’s stupid. But it’s our best bet; and if anything, the bag will give you a little protection from horns or magic. It’s the what I can come up with on such short notice.”

She leaned over his head, worry filling her features. “Please, just be careful. I-I don’t think we’ll have any second chances.”

Maybe one day, she’ll be the kind, regal ruler she once was. But not now. Not in this castle. The Jailer’s room led to a long, falsely carpeted hallway. Sconces of blue flame pouring light over the tile floors, a few ‘wooden’ doors breaking up empty lounges and tea rooms into their own form of controlled chaos. The structure of the castle had no purpose; it was simply there as a result of a thousand years' time, whittling away the hours in constructive silence.

He was half tempted to read a fake book from the wall - but decided against it, upon reading a few of the titles. ‘Revenge’, ‘How to Kill Your Sister’, ‘I Hate the Sun’, ‘Year 0XX’... He honestly didn’t know what he was expecting here. What, ‘Mary Clopper and the Philosopher's Gnome’? He didn’t take Nightmare Moon for the literary type.

On top of that, time was running short. They needed to locate the Alicorn Amulet, reach the summit - and do so without being detected by Nightmare Moon.

And speak of the devil… hoof steps came from down the corridor, giving him and the Princess on his back just a split second to duck into a pointless side room. It looked to be some kind of… macabre game room, with a punching bag, a dart board, and a training dummy - all with a rough resemblance of Celestia - or Twilight’s face on them.

The hoofsteps passed, traveling deeper down the corridor.

“A-Arin.” Celestia tapped his shoulder, as he peaked out the door.

“What?”

“She’s heading to the dungeon. What’s worse… is she’s heading to the Jailer’s Room first.”

Jailer’s room. He fiddled the pack on his back, blood running cold. She would spot a giant backpack missing well before she noticed her prisoners gone. They had, at most, thirty seconds to run for it.

Arin’s billowing wings pumped hard at the air as he slammed his legs into a dead sprint; Celestia’s pink mane chasing him to keep up as he shot down the corridor without reserve. It continued in a circle around the outside of the mountain; ending in a sharp right, into what appeared to be a main hall.

Main hall. The place an angry, murderous Alicorn ‘queen’ would go to stew in anger would be close at hand; the throne room. Now, it was all up to luck. They either find his shoulder pack, with the amulet inside - or run for it, and try to find a hiding place.

Blasting his wings freely, the throne room lay at the top of a great staircase; a pump of his pinions and a bounce of his heels ascended the duo up to the top with ease. There! On the throne! His satchel!

He rushed to snatch it - and seized it just in time, as a thunderous shock rippled along the castle walls. Arin’s hand flipped the top open - relief. The amulet was there, with his spare clothing. Escape was just a short flight away. The pocket watch inside was also open - five minutes. In five minutes, the stasis spell would blow - and all of the magic that would have exhausted out over the course of a week, will exit all at once - shattering the amulet, and blowing a city block sized crater wherever it lay.

To his left, a massive balcony overlooked the vision of Equis hanging close among the stars. The green and blue marble shined so brightly, taunting them with freedom. By now, Celestia was shaking against his pack. Turning to meet her eyes, he gave the Princess a pinch.

“Let’s do this, Tia. Together.”

Together. All at once, that simple phrase broke her from her stupor. Together.

“...I have faith in you, my subject.” Her erratic breathing came to a steady halt, catching the wind in her chest and relaxing. “We will not die on this day. Not if we work together.”

The duo charged for the balcony - the slam of doors echoing from the grand hall on their left, the Nightmare searching each room as she passed. Taking to the night air, Arin and Tia both just narrowly slipped past her and into the sky.

Panting, reeling, the crazed mare cracked the tiles of her Courtroom with furious beats of her hooves.

“WHERE ARE YOU, MY KNIGHT? COME OUT - COME MEET YOUR QUEEN!” She shouted with such volume, that the rocks on the mountain began to shake.

Arin struggled to gain much height at all - instead using his wings to give powerful strokes, and bounce from the roof of the great hall to the distant low peaks of the crest. Perhaps it was the world shaking boom of her voice - or his heavy boots slamming against the ground. But at some point, a moderate sized boulder rolled down the cliff, clattering roughly against the stone shingles before penetrating the illusion - tumbling down to the Throne Room.

“I WILL NOT LET YOU ESCAPE, ARIN! I WILL NOT WASTE ANOTHER THOUSAND YEARS OF MY ETERNAL LIFE HERE! NOT AGAIN!” she howled, smashing through the castle roof with a blast of magic. Her wings gave chase in dust and snow billowing bellows, ice whipping cleanly around Celestia and Arin both.

Nearly a thousand hooves left to go, the very peak of the Lunar Plane yawned at them, taunting them with freedom. But Nightmare Moon, unimpeded and nearly at full power - moved with such speed and ferocity that she would catch them in mere seconds.

Arin prepared for impact. For the deadly strike to take down Celestia, or the cleave of Nocturn to slice them in twain. Instead, he heard the shuffling of his bag - as the Princess behind slipped a heavy pan up from within.

A blast of icy magic shot towards them with blinding speed - but this was a fatal error on the sable Alicorn’s part. The heavy cooking pan hit the spell - freezing into a block of ice that crashed into Nightmare Moon’s face with a satisfying, ringing BANG.

Celestia’s lucky aim bought them mere seconds, as Nightmare Moon tumbled from the sky. The Princess no longer cowering at the mere sight of the creature recovering behind them gave the Seraph hope, a faint hope that they’d make it.

“...Nice shot,” Arin gasped, wings pumping overtime to carry them up the summit proper. Three hundred hooves. Two hundred. His hand seized the Alicorn Amulet, palm glowing as his Ember slammed fresh magic inside.

Thirty seconds left on the clock; he could feel the amulet whirring with power now. Nightmare Moon’s wings worked double time, as she used a barrier to protect herself from another cookware assault.

The amulet burned intensely in his hand, grunting as his wings began to give out - but to his surprise, a second set joined his own. Celestia, as meek and meager as she was - tossed her hooves around him and pumped in tune with his powerful pinions.

Nightmare Moon was hot on their tail. Ten seconds.

The peak of the cliff was no more than a stone’s throw away. Five seconds.

Arin withdrew the dagger from his belt, the last powerful beat of their combined wings breaking the summit’s icy peak. The pommel crashed into the red gem in the amulet’s setting, a flash of burning, searing Harmony erupting from his hand in a pillar of light - aimed directly at Equis. As the searing agony overtook them, a third body slammed into the blaze - before all three vanished without a trace.

Author's Note

If you're reading this now, the story is mostly finished - I have some epilogue to write, and that's it. Along with more editing on my editor's part, I guess - and a reread of 20-ish of the final chapters.

I'll upload more tomorrow (September 28th)~ Thank you for being patient!

Chapter 21 - Awaken

It was just at the cusp of dawn, as Luna dozed fitfully in the courtroom. At one point, her mind slipped while watching the moon, and none dared to wake her as her head tilted toward the window. Her body fought the urge to fall flat - and her neck craned her head back up, snoring quietly. She was dead asleep where she was, and it would be rude to wake her.

Two guards watched quietly at the doorway, whispering softly to themselves.

“Fifty bits says, her horn smashes the window - and she wakes up.”

“No way. I say she puts a hole in the glass - and doesn’t wake up.”

“Nah, c’mon man. She can’t be that heavy of a sleeper.”

“She literally slept through the Changeling Invasion. She’s a brick. Watch.” The pegasus guard cleared his throat, before shouting at the sleeping Princess.

“Moonbutt! Your mane is ugly!”

WHAM! The Unicorn guard’s hoof slammed into his shoulder, making the pegasus hiss in pain. “Do you WANT us to lose our jobs?”

“No! But look! She hadn’t budged an inch,” he growled, rubbing his arm. The Unicorn tilted his head, unsure - but that insecurity soon turned to curiosity.

“Okay. How about this? I dare you to tickle her nose with a feather, one hundred bits if you do it, Fizzle Wing,” he said, cracking a smile.

“Woah now, there’s a difference between yelling and tickling - I’d like to not be flayed alive.”

“What are you, chicken?” Scorch chuckled. “You know, you’ve got the rep as the clumsiest guard in the Castle - keep this up and I’ll tell the men how you’re afraid to tickle Princess Luna in her sleep.”

“Oh come on - if it’s so easy, you do it! A hundred bits says you won’t.”

“Oh yeah? Watch me.” Scorch’s horn twinkled as he snatched a feather from Vapor’s wing, a soft ‘ow’ following. The unicorn did little to stifle the sound of his hooves, as he stepped behind Princess Luna.

“Wakey wakey, Princess.” The Unicorn smiled, tickling her nose in the moonlight. Suddenly, Luna wheeled around - eyes flashing with rage as a blast of energy erupted in the throne room.

Harmony crashed through the ceiling, erupting in a rainbow cloud that shocked and stunned the once calm world. Every single window, every single door of the castle - rattled and blew open, off their hinges, or to pieces - as the forms of Arin and Celestia crashed into the throne, breaking the mahogany and gold-leaf painted platform to shreds.

Princess Luna crashed into a wall, concussed - before laying limp on the floor. Scorch Shot was knocked clean out of the window - his body skidding across the moat before crashing into the chilly Prancetember waters.

In the Library, Tempest stopped comforting Twilight at the loss of her mentor, as nearly every book jostled from the shelves and rained down upon them.

Down in Canterlot, foals screamed - and adults toppled out of their beds, as windows cracked and panes shattered.

Vee stopped preening. She then stood, and instead started preening at the coffee pot as her magic set to work making a fresh batch for the road. Pumpkin fell out of her bed, yelping as Onyx’s purple and black aura sheltered the windows from the blast.

The animals nestled in the quiet castle gardens fled for the hills, the pillars of the mountains cracked and shifted - debris tumbling into the moat below. In the distance of Ponyville, lights began to flick in windows, as pets howled and ponies stirred.

Every single guard, neigh - every single soul inside the castle, converged on the source of the noise; the Throne Room itself. Twilight and Tempest teleported there, beating them by just mere seconds.

“P-PRINCESS CELESTIA!” Twilight called, wings billowing as she dashed for her Mentor’s side. Celestia gasped for breath, shaking from horn to tail as she spun around in the remnants of the throne, kicking debris off of her. Arin groaned in agony, pulling himself off of his battered wings. Tempest joined his side, leaning quietly over him.

“I suppose this means you were… successful.” She smiled. Arin rolled his eyes, shoving her away by the snout. The wine colored mare chuckled, before turning to the chaos of bodies to help the Solar Princess distangle herself from the shattered throne.

Magic coursed through Celestia, as she once again set hoof in the material plane. Clutching her chest as her ember painfully drew at the ambient magic around her; sucking the very heat from the air. Vapor Cloud shot into the room, clutching Sun Song tight in his muzzle - before it clattered to the floor.

“P-Princess! You’re alive!” he gasped, bewildered - as dozens more guards filled the scene. Pegasi and Unicorn alike charged the mess, ripping debris and freeing the two as Twilight’s hooves held tight around Celestia’s chest. Crying into her patchy fur.

The pink maned alicorn - in the throes of recovery - quietly hugged back, stifling happy tears as she was reunited with her former Student once more. Even Vapor Cloud charged in for a potent hug - several guards also rushing to the unconscious Luna’s aid.

This left Arin to fend for himself, but it was to be expected. He wasn’t an extremely valuable Princess after all, so it was common sense that he would be tended to last. He felt a hoof dart under his arm, hefting him to his knees.

“Honey Rose?” he sparked. She giggled.

“The one and only! By the way, next time you pull an acrobatic stunt like this - mind keeping it down Hon? Sweet Dreams needs very sweet dreams to not cry all night.” The Earth Pony chuckled, as Arin stumbled up to his legs.

“Oh yeah, next time I’ll just knock at the front door, my apologies,” the battered Seraph chuckled.

“See! Not that hard once you set your mind to it. By the way! I am not cleaning up all this glass.” Miss Rose pointed around the Day Court’s halls, leaving Arin scratching his head at the devastating mess.

“Oh! Honey, have you heard anything about Umbra? I had a dream, and… I think she’s been-”

“Foalnapped? How’d you?... You know what, I’m not gonna question it. Yes, she’s been foalnapped - no, I don’t know where - no, I also don’t know if Vapor Cloud knows where - and yes, I would love a big hug from you right now, I missed you to bits, you clumsy idiot!” She seized him in her hooves, much to his surprise.

“Sorry, sorry, I know I’ve been out and about. And on the moon, or something magical like that. But I promise! I’ll get better.” He gave a solem laugh, running his fingers across Honey’s golden cheek. She never was one for personal space, and it showed when she squeezed him tight enough to pop his back.

He’ll get to the dire importance of rescuing Umbra once the guards weren’t in a panicked rush. For now, breathing fresh air and making sure everypony was alright took priority, if only for a minute.

By now, Luna had begun to stir in the pile of guards, who had placed her in the recovery position - stretched out on her back, her neck in a stable hold until medics could arrive. After a short apology to Honey, he darted for Luna’s side - sliding on his knees towards the injured Princess.

“Luna? Are you okay?” he asked, genuine worry in his voice. In this moment, he didn’t care if their relationship had problems - there was still love, and she still deserved his attention. He propped her head up, regardless of his training as a White Mage to not do that, to hold her closer to his chest. “Talk to me, tell me you’re alright, my love.”

Her eyelashes fluttered, slowly sliding open to reveal the all too terrifying irises of something he never wished to see again. Cat-like slits hid behind her lids, as the guards fell back several inches in a wave of magical induced fear. An overwhelming sense of dread overtook him, as he dropped her and panicked - scratching at the floor to make distance. The other gold clad warriors, upon seeing this - did much the same, backing up as the shape of Luna made it slowly to her hooves.

Darkness wafted off of her, as the mood of the room churned in a frenzy of bubbling terror. Tempest and Twilight, both tending to Celestia’s wounds - abruptly stopped as their eyes darted to the pooling darkness in the corner. Vapor Cloud - sensing something was horribly wrong, pulled free of his titan’s grip hug on Celestia, his eyes scanning for trouble. And trouble he saw.

A soft, quiet laugh started, as Luna’s body cracked and shuddered. Bones expanding and melding into a new form; a darkness that haunted dreams. Her wings stretched into black tarps, batlike in appearance as the feathers shed and rained on the floor.

Arin broke from his stupor, darting to Celestia, Tempest, and Twilight’s side - as the guards formed a phalanx wall around them. Vapor Cloud fetched Sun Song, and stood in front of the shield wall. Honey Rose attempted to flee - but the throne room doors slammed shut before she could in a blast of blue magic.

“My my, don’t leave just yet my subjects. My return celebration has only just begun!” Luna howled in a terrifying cackle, rising to her full, new height - as Nightmare Moon.

The guards all froze in terror, as her very presence was enough to wreak fear on the uninitiated. Arin, unarmed save for his dagger - knew he had no chance of fighting her, and instead grabbed Celestia tightly in his arms, readying to fly at a moment’s notice. He felt the familiar tingle of energy pouring inside his body, as he could bask once more in the magic-rich energy of the Material Plane.

“Please, my subjects. Consider yourselves lucky. For I am in such a splendid mood. You see, I have waited for this day. Practiced for it. Studied it. And I am pleased to admit that only one Princess has to die - the rest of you may join my cause. As the proper, true ruler of not just Equestria - but all of Equis, you may bask in my moonlight for all eternity.”

Nightmare Moon’s horn began to twinkle with the soft blue of night, a gentle flash erupting over the guards surrounding her. Immediately, they all tumbled to their side - soft snores and gentle slumber filling the room.

Over two thirds of the entire Royal Guard, downed in one spell. Leaving a dozen sparse bodies between Celestia, Arin, Tempest, and Twilight.

Magic energy swirled in Sun Song, as the Nightmare slowly approached the last of Equestria’s defenders. Vapor Cloud retaliated first - along with six bolts of magic from the remaining Unicorns - as his blade sang with burning heat.

His wings pumped at the air, clearing the short distance near instantly. A barrier erupted around her, the spells vanishing against her shield as Sun Sung toppled to the floor. In that moment of confusion, she countered his charge with a single lunge - catching the Pegasi’s chest with her horn.

A scream from Honey Rose broke the deathly silence, as Vapor Cloud - Arin’s companion, training partner, and fellow Knight - gave a shocked, shivering gasp. Before tumbling to the marble tiles with icy tendrils soaking into his chest. He gave one last kick, and the string of his life was severed.

“Mm. I have no use for a Solar Knight, I’m afraid. Disloyal and impossible to control, without the right touch of magic. And from my experience, I can say much the same for a certain Lunar Knight, as well,” she said, the blood on her horn freezing in mere seconds. It shattered and fell to the red carpet below her, as she knocked the body and blade to her left with a flick of her horn.

Honey Rose darted for the corpse of her husband, her lover, the father of her foals - tears streaming freely down her face as she clutched his lifeless body in her grasp. She had seen death before, moved corpses and dealt with grievous wounds in her past - but she could forget that pain by the morning.

You can’t forget a love this strong.

The rest of the guards dashed forward, but it was pointless. They, too, fell into a potent sleep. The regal black Alicorn stepped over their still bodies, as Twilight’s horn flashed to teleport the survivors free - but it failed. Icy spirals of magic encompassing her horn before the spell could complete. And with another flash, she was imprisoned in a cage above Celestia, Arin, and Tempest made of solid arcane power.

A quiet knock at the throne room door stopped Nightmare Moon in her tracks. The terrified survivors of the onslaught watched as she turned her head to the hallway.

For some reason, she had the nerve to unbar the door from her magical hold. Perhaps out of curiosity - or for some kind of twisted fun, as a Purple pegasus flapped her wings inside. Coffee in purple magic, tailed by an orange Earth Pony riding a broom.

“Good evening, your Scary-ness.” Vee said, flapping right past the mourning Honey Rose. Pumpkin landed by her side, hugging the crying mare close. “I’ve come to complain about the moonlight being too noisy. It’s ruining my preening.”

“...What?” Nightmare Moon stood, appalled. Did… did she not fear her? “...The moonlight is too… noisy.”

“Yes! Much too loud, makes the ears hurt and the feathers cold, hardly optimal preening weather.” Nightmare Moon’s eyes travelled between the group of cowering royalty in the corner, Arin and Tempest simply shocked at the gall of Vee - then back to the purple pegasus who was sipping at her coffee.

“I beg your pardon?” Nightmare Moon stated, raising a hoof in absolute, enthralled confusion.

“Oho! Then beg.” Vee sipped her coffee. Her purple eyes flicked between the group and a nearby shattered window - as if saying ‘now’s your chance to run’.

Twilight quietly motioned in shock at Celestia, Tempest and Arin - telling them to leave her. Celestia shook her head, but Twilight nodded aggressively - and the Princess below finally submitted with defeat. Arin quickly motioned for Tempest to come closer - and when he did, he grabbed the near Princess-sized Commander. Silently tossing her out the window, and into the chilly moat below. Celestia was the next to follow - who plunged into the icy waters next.

Gently, Honey Rose entrusted Vapor Cloud’s sword into the hooves of Pumpkin, who stuffed it into her hat. Pumpkin, in return - clipped a necklace around the dead stallion’s neck. Infuriated, Nightmare Moon’s full attention had settled onto the Pegasus who so bluntly confronted her.

“How dare you stand upon the cusp of my victory - and spit such vile words at your Queen. Are you not afraid? Does my presence not strike terror into a mortal such as you?”

“D’ohoho! Not so much the second time around; the first was awfully spooky, Jerk-face. You burnt down my house in Hollow Shades! Bold of you to stroll into MY MATERIAL PLANE, and-”

A wave of sleep magic slammed into the purple pegasus, who didn’t so much as blink. Instead, she sipped her coffee. “...come into MY COLLEGE, and break MY preening fountain, because a flunky couldn’t pass her potions exam.”

“That…” Nightmare Moon’s brow furrowed in anger. “That was over six hundred fifty years ago! My disciple - you-!”

“Me! Hmhmhm.”

Pumpkin floated quietly out of the room, as Nightmare Moon and Vee had a staring contest. The onyx mare’s horn sparked and cackled, before she tilted her head down - and slammed a blast of freezing magic into the much too brave pegasus. The sheer size of the wave erupted out into the Main Hall, freezing the Grand Chandelier solid mid-swing far behind her.

When the blizzard waned, the panting Nightmare Moon gazed in abject horror as Vee, covered in a layer of frost - was completely unaffected. Save for the fact that her coffee had frozen solid.

“I’ll take the bad weather as a ‘no’ on snooting away my moon problems.” Vee dropped her cup to the floor, which shattered to pieces - before turning around and calmly flapping her wings out the door. Leaving a befuddled Nightmare Moon to stare after her.

“But… how?” she questioned. As Vee made her way out of sight - she tumbled from the sky. Caught quickly by Pumpkin's magic, the purple popsicle of a pony was entirely encrusted in a layer of ice.

As the shock wore away, the vile queen turned back to face her now non-existent victims.

…

Needless to say, there were several new rage-induced holes in the Castle Walls, Honey Rose and Twilight forced to bear witness to the Onyx mare’s anger.

“...No matter! My throne is secure, and Equestria is now mine. I can now commence the next step of my plan, to insure my legacy for all eternity.” She dangled Twilight’s cage in front of her, laughing through her jagged teeth. “And a new plaything to keep me company through these lonely nights! Now, where to begin?...”

Twilight’s gaze pierced through Nightmare Moon with a burning intensity, sneering at her Captor.

“Oh? No words? No faint musings of hope, ‘my Subject’? How boring. But! I have time. As much time as I need, to turn you obedient. And with my lesser half’s essence within me, what fun we’ll have doing so.”

Her horn sparkled brightly, Twilight’s resistance steadily fading as exhaustion began to seep in. Eyes growing heavy, the Princess of Friendship collapsed inside her cage - lost to the dream realm.

Hanging the prison directly above the ruined throne, her attention fell to the sobbing mare. “You! Peasant. Be rid of my castle, and take your dead with you. You serve no purpose to me besides a pointless distraction. Begone!”

Honey Rose, clutching Vapor Cloud’s hoof - was quick to obey. She slung her dead stallion over her shoulder before galloping for the door.

Now alone save for the sleeping, soon to be loyal guards - her attention could focus on perhaps the most important matter. She turned to the window, channeling the years worth of stored Alicorn magic into her horn - and connected to the holes in the Lunar Plane she so preciously maintained. While impossible to escape through, as the Banishment kept her trapped within - the rings Harmony had punched in the fabric were the perfect start to her new plan.

The air around them began to chill, as the moon turned a pure, soft white. It would take time, hours - days, perhaps weeks, but the split in reality was solidified. A hole in the stars began to form, intensifying the distant beauty directly overhead. A wave of her oh so familiar Lunar magic began to flood the world in a seeping winter, spreading quickly at first outwards from the origin - to gently encrust the night sky in a dark, wondrous beauty. The Lunar plane cracked and spilled over, flooding the world with its impactful magic; magic she now had complete and total control of.

Finally, victory. No amount of ‘friendship’ or ‘harmony’ could change that. She would seal her rule, when the final night crested the far horizons - to the World’s Edge, and beyond.

Chapter 22 - Snow Day

Arin splashed into the pool after the two mares, the current sweeping them up as he swam his way towards Celestia. Tempest had already grabbed her, and was helping keep her afloat. With a tightening of the bag on his back, his arms caught the two of them in the chilly waters.

“What’s the plan?” he asked, the chill of the water making his movements sluggish after being in the snow and cold for so long. With his wings spread over the water, he could handle more of Celestia’s weight without issue. Tempest kicked her legs to stay afloat, thinking.

“Can you still fly?” she asked the Seraph, who shook his head.

“Not waterlogged. I would have flown us out of there, but my wings are really loud. Besides, where will we even go?”

“We shouldn’t fly at all right now anyway - if Nightmare Moon spots us from the window, we’re as good as dead. If anything, she’s going to look for us beached on the edge of the moat, if she’s smart.” Celestia fought back panic as she spoke, water splashing against her cheeks.

Tempest, being a former commander and strategist - started to come up with a rough plan. Her eyes darted around the water’s edge, settling on the churn of bubbling rapids.

“I have an idea. It’s worked before for Twilight and her friends - and it will work for us now. Follow me.”

She broke away from the huddle, turning towards the looming waterfall’s stream. With little options and nervous looks, Celestia and Arin followed close behind.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” the Solar Princess asked, as they treaded water towards the billowing falls.

“No. I’m not. But it’s this, or certain doom. You’ll have to trust me, Princess.” Tempest rejoined them as the current grew intense, the water sucking them towards the edge.

“At this point, I’m questioning my trust!” she shouted, the trio steadying themselves for the fall. Arin gulped, his arms hugging Celestia close, as a sudden fear of heights he long since repressed returned. The water was too intense to fight now, growing deeper as even Celestia’s legs couldn’t find purchase.

“Arin, Celestia! Hold your breath, and dive away from the rapids. If not, you’ll get sucked in and pummeled!” She splashed to face them, screaming over the approaching drop. In the next second - she tumbled over the falls - diving straight down like a falcon would dart for its prey.

“Arin, if we die, I know it’s early, but… I love you,” Celestia whispered above the roar of the falls, the Seraph’s grip tightening around her.

“I know,” he choked in reply after the briefest of hesitation. The water soon rippled them over the edge into the chaos below - the duo angling downwards with heavy, soaking wings to stabilize their fall. Freezing air froze them in their bones, as the darkness of night claimed them.

Two hundred hooves above the crashing, rolling water - an orange aura hugged tightly around the tumbling duo, Tempest floating by their side in the very same magic - her hooves crossed in frustration. A struggling Pumpkin gasping as the new weight nearly ripped her from her broomstick.

“I-I c-can’t…” She began to crack, hooves sparkling brightly as her aura’s grasp began to weaken.

Another world shaking boom echoed from the world above - a wave of frost engulfing the castle as a fresh, starry light sucked at the sky. A field of icy magic encompassed Pumpkin - and her powers vanished. The broom faltered and failed. And all five of them plummeted once more - screams aplenty breaking against the water below.

Impact.

The body of the seraph tumbled away in the rolling currents of the fall, as the churning waters dragged him down beneath the tide. Pummeled by the water, he nearly lost his breath - clawing desperately to break away from the flood. But he wouldn’t budge. He couldn’t. The rolling water sucked him back into the bubbling toil, his vision darkening as air escaped his lungs. He could see dark figures of the ponies who escaped treading the water, searching for him among the bubbles.

Is this how he died? Trapped and pummeled, bruised and battered by a surging tide? Ripped down into the base of a waterfall - his wings were now a death sentence, as they helped trudge him down along the water’s floor.

In these moments, his thoughts went back to Tempest’s advice. Celestia had managed to dive out of the way, but in the confusion… he forgot. And now, he was trapped. Seconds felt like minutes, and he knew his legs wouldn’t work anymore. His breath had left him. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate. And into the darkness he went.

He felt claws snatch at his wrist, ripping him free of the endless barrage of water. The click of a beak ended the tirrage of the pouring rapids, as he broke the surface in a confused gasp. Air. Fresh, glorious air. His mind reeled and his senses came back to him, free of the water’s grasp. He heaved up lungfuls of water, hacking as it burned his throat.

The charm on his wrist was now gone. Gasping for oxygen, his eyes scanned the brush line of the forest with desperation, relief taking him when he spotted four silhouettes in the chilly air. Wasn’t it still late summer? Why was it so cold?

His eyes shot up to the clouds above - while it was dark, there was a strange separation in the sky. A white corona, slowly growing outwards from Canterlot - as snow had begun to fall across the waters he splashed in.

When he made it to the shore, sobs had taken the forefront of conversation before him. Tempest hugged tiredly onto Celestia’s torso, as the Princess leaned over the cracked-horn mare. Pumpkin Spice cried pitifully over the frozen husk of her Sister and Teacher, her friend - her Vee. She was still stuck like an icy statue, the small mare unable to even touch her or risk chilling her hooves solid.

Arin pulled himself free of the water with a grunt - all eyes turning to face him. Like they had just seen a ghost.

“A-ARIN!?” Celestia screamed, dashing into the knee deep water to grab him in her hooves. Tempest stared wide eyed at the Seraph, but Pumpkin… she didn’t move. Only look over her Mentor with absolute sorrow.

“Yes yes, I’m fine - thanks for saving me, by the way, guys! You know, from the freezing cold water!”

“You… Arin, we couldn’t reach you. You were stuck under the falls for… ten minutes.” Celestia said dumbly, squeezing the Seraph tightly in her grasp. Tugging him to the shoreline, wiping away her tears. “You… I thought you were dead. I-I couldn’t even reach you with what little magic I have, and… it was too dangerous to dive after you, the falls would kill anypony who tried.”

“A curious thing, fate is.” The click of a beak came from the frozen pegasus, a raven resting on her wing. “To be molded so freely not once, but thrice.”

Pumpkin shot up from her mourning, her eyes darting to the calm raven. “P-Please Onyx! Please! Bring her back!” she pleaded, and he raised a quiet wing to silence her.

“I am the weaver of fate for few, but for Vee, she is a thread severed. I have no control of her destiny; she chooses what comes of her future as she desires.” He clicked his beak, inspecting the icy statue beneath his talons. “A mockery to the life she lived, I am sure. But a sculpture it is, and nothing more.”

“Just… stop speaking in riddles! Bring her back! I… I’m nothing w-without her, m-my Sister!”

The mare collapsed again, sobbing. Onyx had no reply to give, only gazes to behold. A croak, and he was gone - as if he ceased to exist.

Arin approached the suffering mare after breaking from Celestia’s hooves, kneeling by her side. His arm draped tightly around her, soaking into her pitifully cold fur. “I’m sorry, Pumpkin. I… she risked her life to buy us time. She’s a hero.”

No response. Only sobs and tears. Eventually, she slumped her shaking body into his cold clothes - hugging tightly around the last hope she had.

“Y-You… you can heal, can you?...”

“I can heal many things, but… I can’t heal this.”

This squashed the faint light within her.

“I… I can’t leave her like this. A-Arin, p-please… S-She wouldn’t want to rot in the forest. H-Help me. I… I need to bury her,” she croaked after several pitiful minutes of crying, pulling her green eyes away from the floor. Tears aplenty lost to the dirt below her.

“I understand, Pumpkin.” He slid the tight straps of his pack off, dropping the bag to the floor after a few sparse moments of mourning. Shuffling around, he found a shovel within - a small one, meant for latrines - and at the young witch’s discretion, he began to dig.

A soft spot under a willow tree seemed the perfect place for the forlorn witch’s body. Vee, even frozen solid - was absurdly light and easy to carry, Celestia and Tempest helping Pumpkin do so through the use of a blanket.

A shallow grave soon formed for the icy sculpture, the Knight panting with exertion under his soaked clothes. His near death all but forgotten, as there were matters to attend to. The roots of the tree ran deep, making it a hard job - but cutting through them was easier as rage boiled in his stomach. Not only did he lose Vee, the amazing witch from Canterlot - but he lost one of his best friends, Vapor Cloud, to Nightmare Moon’s horn.

Smothered in dirt, he pulled himself from the hole - waterlogged and muddy, as the trio above worked to lower the icy remnants of a good friend down to rest.

“I have a few words to say, Pumpkin. In remembrance of your lost Sister.” Celestia said, closing her eyes. “If they would help.”

“P-Please…” she whispered quietly, wiping away a fresh set of tears.

“Vee-Ness, the pegasus of the College of Pointed Hats, had a long life stretching behind her. From the day I first met her, she was interested in magic - her whole world seemed devoted to rooting out the mystery of the cosmos and summoning fourth great energies to change the world for the better. Her life was one well lived; a pursuit of knowledge and companionship that raised many more Witches into this world.”

She continued, magenta eyes cracking open to gaze upon the lost soul. “Her very life had been spent changing lives, and in the end, she gave hers to save ours. She died not as a pegasus, but as a hero.”

Arin wiped the tears forming in his eyes, as even Tempest seemed touched by the moment. She had no tears to spare for the dead, as many had fallen around her - but her respect was paid in kind.

A misplaced rock from the small hole tumbled back into the grave, crashing into Vee. The ice sculpture below cracked in half - shocking the gathered funeral attendees, as Pumpkin’s tears came to a halt.

“...It’s… it’s all ice?” she whispered. The soft sip of a cup from the nearby bushes broke the group from their shocked stupor; a familiar purple pegasus downing an iced latte while she watched the ceremony.

“Yes! All that frost put me in the mood for a chilly brew. Thought I’d flap home and cook a pot before hitting the road.” Vee said, watching over the splintered shards of ice with curiosity. “Oho! Please continue, don’t mind me. I’m just judging you all very harshly on what you have to say about me. Which should be good things! D’ohoho~”

Vee picked a wing to preen, finding an endless supply of bent feathers to select from - as the broken pinions soon fell uselessly into the grave below.

Instantly, Pumpkin tackled Vee to the floor - crying as the Purple landed on an overly large bag she brought with her. The sealed mug spun around in the air, before crashing into the floor with a shake of ice-cubes inside.

“H-How! Why! Why would you - d-don’t do that to me, EVER AGAIN!” Pumpkin screamed, the shocked silence of the crowd around them ending as a clatter of questions began.

“W-What?” Arin coughed.

“Strange; I’ve never seen a pony feign death so well,” Tempest murmured, inspecting the grave with curiosity.

“How…” Celestia looked between the perfect mockery of Vee - split in two - and the real thing.

“What? No, really, what?” Arin repeated.

It took well over thirty minutes of crying, gathering what belongings they had, and general movement out of the forest before Vee found it opportune to explain herself.

“You see, I had snooted up an old bag of the Frozen North coffee Umbra had given me, and decided that today would be a good snow day to drink it. And with a bit of preening and drinking, hot coffee can stave off the ugliest of colds, d’ohoho~”

“But… I saw you turn to Ice. Literal ice, in the air.” Pumpkin whispered, “I thought you were just faking it… but… when you didn’t wake up…”

“Oho! You saw the effects of Nightmare Moon’s spell go stiff and chilly! I was, in fact, still flapping about. More so in the dream realm, for a moment - coffee does that to a mare, after all. If you drink enough of it.”

This challenged over two thousand years of Celestia’s wisdom and knowledge on magic - but she knew that if she inquired further, none of the answers would make any sense. Vee had been flapping next to them steadily since they started moving, seemingly half asleep, and shockingly unaffected by seemingly… anything, really.

“I’m curious to know more, but not crazed enough to find out,” the Princess spoke, sticking close to Arin’s side as they walked. With just a bit of magic to support her, those long legs of hers could go a much longer way.

“It’s… a trade secret,” Arin said after a moment. Vee tipped her witch hat with a wink.

“Tempest, where are we going?” Pumpkin asked as their conversation died down. The wine mare had started guiding them, as her commanding disposition gave her some authority among the general confusion. Even though Princess Celestia was right there, and a few thousand years more qualified to spearhead the group over her - even the morning mare fell in step with the cracked-horn Unicorn. At this moment, the Solar Princess was simply out of ideas. At least Tempest seemed to have a plan.

“For me? The far West. This is a lost cause. Retreat while you can, and find shelter for the storm that approaches. Twilight is captured. The Elements will likely be imprisoned as well. I see this as a losing battle; and that’s a clear enough reason for me to do whatever I can before this-” She pointed to the sky, that white halo of stars spreading slowly over the land “-covers everything.”

“Wait, hold on Tempest - we can’t just give up.” Arin jogged to her side, boots squishing in the dirt of the forest path. “Look at us. We may be rough, but-”

“But what? All I see is an insane pegasus, a crybaby mare with a stutter-”

“H-Hey!” Pumpkin cried, proving her point.

“-a half dead Princess, a soaked Seraph, and me. The only one here with half a head left on her shoulders, it seems. All of the Guards are likely either dead, freezing, or locked up. Or probably something worse. Twilight is definitely-”

“That is enough, Tempest,” the Princess stated, looming over the mare with her full height. Tempest was tall, but not Celestia tall. Even so, the wine mare didn’t even flinch. In fact, she looked stressed - but unbothered otherwise.

“Oh? What are you going to do - zap me with your horn? As if.” She turned on her heel, stomping off into the brush alone.

“Tempest, wait!” Celestia called, but Arin caught her with his hand, nodding to the tired Princess. He would handle this.

Making his way after the reformed pony, the bushes rattled as he passed.

“I’ll bite. Why are you heading west?” Arin asked calmly. Tempest rolled her eyes.

“While you were gone, Seraphs kidnapped Umbra - my friend and research partner. I’ve done everything in my power to institute a search and rescue operation, going so far as to investigate the scene myself - but I had no support in doing so. Look at the sky, Arin. All of Equestria will soon be enveloped in the Lunar Realm. I’d rather freeze to death among pleasant company than be tortured in that demon’s new prowling grounds.”

“Wait - you know where Umbra is?” he asked, brain whirling with this new information. Suddenly, an idea was born.

“Faintly. The unexplored West. That’s all my time managed to scrape together. A direction,” she stated, cracking a branch under her hoof as she marched on.

“Well, it just so happens that I need to find Umbra, too. If there’s one pony alive that could challenge Nightmare Moon, it would be her. At least, a pony we could reasonably save.”

Tempest stopped in her tracks. “You’re not saving her because she’s your friend. You’re saving her… to use her.”

Okay. Ow. That hurt. Umbra was his friend, yes, but… maybe he put his words out of order, just a bit.

“The first thing I intended to do when I escaped the moon was rush to Umbra’s aid. I would never abandon a friend like that. But now, not only do I want to rescue her - but she-ACK!”

A bolt of chaotic magic from Tempest’s shattered horn exploded into his chest, Vee’s wing stopping Celestia from darting forward and intercepting them. Luckily, the blue dragonhide vest had absorbed the majority of the blow. But the blunt impact of the unrefined foci left him coughing. She leered over his toppled form, spitting her words.

“Don’t you dare lie to me! How would you even know she’s in danger? Better yet - how dare you go back on your words. Your first thought was to use her like a puppet to achieve your goals! And to think, I was the one in need of friendship lessons; using her is something that the Storm King would do. The only difference between strangers and friends for you, is that you don’t benefit from strangers.”

She turned with a whip of her tail, leaving the Seraph reeling on the forest floor. It took him a moment to stand, but when he did, he went on the offensive.

“I’ve been friends with her for three years. I convinced her to be less of an Umbrum, and be more of the pony she wanted to be. I stood by her and defended her when nopony else would. And you’re going to call me a bad friend? Friends need each other! I’ve held her hoof when she was at her lowest, and she’s protected me at my weakest! And right now, everypony needs her. Not just you.”

The quiet mare stopped in her tracks, sighing. The anger evaporated as this all came to light. It’s true; she had no right to talk like this, or accuse Arin of anything of the sort. But knowing that no one at the Castle cared for the former Umbrum… it all came to a head, all of that stress she’s been fighting with on the daily. And she took it out on Arin.

“You’ve known her for what, ten days or so? I’ve known her for years. I’ve been her shoulder to cry on, I’ve taught her about friendship. I’ve watched her grow, like I’ve grown - and now, she’s made a friend. A new friend. You, Tempest. A year ago, that would have been a dream.”

The Commander slowly turned to face the group behind her, her eyes gleaming in the dim moonlight. “I apologize. I’ve been brash, Arin. I just… I have no hope. Not now. What makes you think Umbra alone could take down Nightmare Moon?”

Celestia joined the Seraph’s side, standing proud of her student. “Not alone. She’ll have us to help her. After all, she banished the entire Crystal Empire to the Shadowfell. I was there when it happened. If anypony is capable of taking down Nightmare Moon besides Twilight, it would be her.”

Vee flapped her wings to join the Princess and Seraph, Pumpkin bouncing Vee’s purple pack on her own back as she stood by the group, throwing her little hat in the ring, too. Metaphorically speaking.

“What do you say, Tempest? Think we can help?”

Chapter 23 - Homeless

A safe distance from the Castle, and with the Princess unable to move her tired legs - the group decided to settle in for the night. On top of this, Arin desperately needed to dry off, as the wet clothing had begun to chafe and suck the life out of him. It didn’t help that it was currently snowing, without a cloud in sight.

“Oh no…” Celestia whimpered, eyes locked to the sky. “Don’t tell me… we can’t sleep now. Nightmare Moon... she’ll find us again.”

“D’ohoho! Worry not, my overly unpreened friend! Vee-Ness, Expert Pegasus of all things sleep related, and insomniac of the highest level - has a solution!” She landed next to the tired looking Pumpkin, obviously not happy about the long journey without her broom - and gave her head a wing-pet.

Taking that as a sign, she gratefully dropped the overfilled backpack- flopping into the tall grass with a timid mewl. They had managed to scrounge up a small clearing nestled deep into the woods, just far enough away where they could possibly sneak by with a small campfire.

Fiddling in her purple bag, Vee withdrew a dozen small dreamcatchers, much to the confusion of the Princess.

“A… dream catcher.” She frowned. It almost felt like this was some kind of joke.

“Indeed!” Vee chirped, showing off the feathers dangling beneath. Purple feathers. Vee had made them out of her own preening trash, it seemed. Being the only individual with usable magic, she quickly hovered all six of the contraptions forward - impaling them on Celestia’s horn.

“That will be one hundred and twenty bits.” The Purple, as she was so eloquently called, stuck her hoof out. Celestia looked to Arin for help, but finding the Seraph at a loss, she turned back to Vee.

“Do you uh… take credit?”

“No, I take bits! What am I, a bank? D’ohoho~ Don’t worry. You can borrow them, just don’t touch those feathers. I snooted them off, and I’ll be feathered if you snoot them back on when I’m not looking! Can’t you see I have enough preening to do as it is?!” Vee flapped her wings about - scooping up the bag from the floor and finding a nice spot nearby to unceremoniously chuck it. A twirl of her aura gleaming hoof, and a much too large tent slid free of its confines, the Pegasus quickly setting to work ruining it. Pumpkin had to gallop to her aid, before she popped a hole in the tarp’s wall.

“Right. Arin, if you’ll start the fire - I’ll set up the tent. And… find a place to put… these.” Celestia lifted the relics off her head with a hoof - Arin snatching one out of the air before it could fall. With the bundle of dream catchers clutched in her grasp, the Seraph plopped his heavy bag to the floor. Tempest - who had taken it upon herself to gather wood - returned with a bundle of sticks tied loosely over her back.

“Here Tempest, let me help-” Arin began, but was quickly cut short.

“I can manage, Arin. I don’t require your assistance.”

“I’m just trying to show that I care,” his reply came, forcing the wine mare to reconsider his request. After several seconds of deliberation, she spoke.

“Very well. Though the connection to the Solar Plane is severed here; if you intend on using magic, use it sparingly,” she suggested, the Seraph nodding at the facts she gave.

“Yeah yeah, been there, hated that. I’ll handle this without magic. If you’d like, you can help Celestia set up for the night. Unless you happen to have a tent with you, you’ll find your options limited.” He motioned towards Vee and Pumpkin, Vee staring off into the distance as her assistant pieced together the tent haphazardly; reading the instructions over and over again to no avail. It seemed to be a combination of several tents patched together over the years, and stored in one misshapen bundle.

When Tempest cocked her scarred visage at Vee, the pegasus hiccoughed - a purple feather shooting from her muzzle to gently plummet to the lightly snowed ground.

“...Point taken. Very well. Though I can only hope the bedding isn’t soaked. And that you have a spare set of sheets for a third.”

“Oh no! The pillows and blankets are fine, Twilight must have helped enchant this hiking pack. It’s amazing. It’s sturdier than an oak tree,” Arin said, giving it a shake. A strap snapped at that, the contents of the pack spilling to the floor. He forgot to seal it before his demonstration.

“Er… Okay, maybe not the most healthy oak tree. I’ll uh… fix that. Later.”

Tempest rolled her eyes at the incompetence, joining with the Princess at their trusty camping supplies.

With the dagger from his quiver in hand, he began to sheer thin strips of a dry branch into a soft bundle. Within minutes, he had fine tinders ready to go. Reaching for a steel striker from his pack, he gave it a few flicks. A burning ember sprouted within the shavings of wood, and he quickly pumped air into it. Seconds later, a blazing star was born, fit enough to turn the tides against the darkness and stave off the night once again.

There was something primal about lighting a blaze; an emotion that called home to one’s ancestors. By now, they had made just enough distance east to cut the camp’s smoke through both tree cover, and the shortest mountain of Unicorn Ridge. With the snow falling above, hopefully it’ll have enough dispersal to mask their position from Canterlot.

At the moment, the mountainous town far above - and its train system - was simply not an option. Neither was Ponyville. In fact, anything close to Nightmare Moon should be avoided - if they were spotted by a pony with loose lips, it could take one nap to have their position revealed in minutes. For now, they had to make distance, and make it fast. She would have no clue where they’re going, at least - not from Luna’s memories. Unless Vapor had discussed Umbra’s kidnapping with Luna, which seemed unlikely.

For the time, they were safe. And with a fire formed, the shivering Seraph stripped his soaked clothing and dragonscale vest. Several sticks and a piece of loose twine from the supplies were all it took to create a drying rack, as he sat shaking in the freezing cold.

His spare clothes were kept in his side satchel; which was, unfortunately, soaking wet. Onto the rack it goes.

Vee approached the fire with a massive kettle, humming as she dropped it over the flame. Sparks shot up into the air in a cloud, as the burning wood shuffled to heft it.

“Vee, do you ever sleep?” Arin asked, a spare blanket from his pack keeping him safe and warm by the fire. For now, at the very least.

“When the coffee runs out, I like to pretend. But it’s bad for the feathers; the sheets get them all ruffled and the preening starts again. That, and dreams give me bad breath! That’s why I avoid eating them when I can. Makes the wings tingle, though.”

Dreams. This brought up something he wanted to talk about with her.

“Back at the waterfall, you said you… ‘entered the dream realm’, or something. What do you mean by that? I thought only Luna could do that.” The fire crackled as Arin spoke, the pony sitting by the fire’s warmth.

“D’ohoho~ I’m here, and I’m not! Purples like me tend to stick our snoots in places unsnootable. With just enough magic, and the help of a very preened friend - many things are possible! If only for a minute. Then it’s not possible. Probably. Or is! I don’t set the rules around here.”

The pot slowly came to heat, as the Pegasus stared straight ahead. Casually, Arin waved a hand in front of her face - no response.

“...Right.”

Celestia reappeared by his side, the tent in place behind them as chilly wings draped around the Seraph. Sitting down, her eyes fell to the fire.

“...I’m relieved we’re finally home, even if we’re… well, homeless,” she said to the slowly gathering crowd. Pumpkin gave up on the tent, leaving it an unfinished mess. Tempest - after inspecting their shelter like a military captain - found her cold and damp body by the fire. Vee… was, well. Vee.

Pumpkin scooched up to the still drying Seraph, the group huddled around the flame to warm their bones.

“If we’re lucky, we might be able to walk the train tracks west. Break off at the south bend, and push into the mountains. We can keep the Luna Sea north of us, and start scouting mountains for signs of touchdown or trash,” Arin stated quietly, his mild shivering coming to an end under the warmth of wing, blanket, and flame.

“W-Why not um… head towards Ponyville?” Pumpkin questioned. Arin was a step ahead - but Tempest was also well planned, and spoke first.

“Too risky. Right under the eye of Canterlot, and most likely the first place Nightmare Moon would search for us.”

“On top of that, she has the power to impose her vision on the innocent through dreams. One night’s rest could lead to a brainwashing nightmare, especially as her sphere of influence grows. While fused with Luna, she could simply view a dream here in Equestria - perhaps make an appearance or adjustment, but little else. Bathing in Lunar Magic gives her the strength to impose her own nightmares as she deems fit. So it’s safe to say that anypony under this dark sky is lost.” Celestia sighed, tilting her head to the side; resting her skull against Arin’s.

She adjusted her wing to cover Pumpkin as well, sharing the warmth. A gesture of kindness of the once lost ruler.

“I think the best course of action now is to keep pace west. She can only tear the Fabric of Reality so quickly. And if I could regain just a bit of power from the Material Plane, I could be useful again. In my long life, many explorers had given the western wilds up to the dangers that lurk there. It will be a perilous journey, but it’s our only option.” She used a hoof to paw at one of the packed rations spread out among the floor - pulling free a can of frozen chili. Cracking the lid, and with Arin’s help - it was soon resting on the fire.

“I hope you brought some food, Vee. We’ll be hard pressed once our stock runs low,” Arin asked the purple pegasus, who continued to stare blankly into the dancing flames.

“Bold of you to assume I eat food. But yes! I brought snacks. My snack is coffee. And pickles.” She spat a bent pinion into the fire, the flames briefly turning purple.

“...Just pickles. Okay, got it. We’re screwed, unless you’re all okay with eating wild game.” Arin rubbed his temples, Pumpkin chipping in.

“W-Well, if we can make i-it to the split of White T-Tail Wood, we could um… s-stop by our house? It’s s-still um… physically there.” The little mare offered, warming her hooves by the fire.

“Oho! You’re right, Small-fry. On my untaxed land! Wonderful. By the way, Sun-fry, how do I go about evading taxes on my shops?”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed, frowning. “You… don’t. That money goes to paying for roads, public areas, the police-”

“Woah Jerk-face! My money goes to the Fuzz?! I’ve got three warrants for public indecency! No thanks, Sun-fry. I’ll take my legal advice from somepony else, thank-you-very-much!” Vee blinked away her stare, turning to face Tempest.

“You used to be a sky pirate, right, Stern-fry? Mind giving me some pirate worthy advice?” Vee snatched the boiling kettle from the flame - unscrewing the mug to her coffee before quickly filling it. Finding the ice melted, she lazily plopped snow from a nearby branch into her cup, much to Celestia’s disgust.

Tempest facehooved, before making it to her legs. She swiped Arin’s bag after some quick shuffling to repack it, heading for the tent behind them. “I think I’m done for the night. I can only take so much insanity. I’ll speak with you all at dawn. Or… what would constitute as dawn, now that it’s been temporarily cancelled.”

A flick of the zipper, and she disappeared inside.

“I take it I touched a nerve, hmhmhm. I was never the best for sad, mopey conversations. Great at parties though! Whenever I don’t go to them. They never have enough coffee, and when they do - it’s nothing like what I can brew.”

With that, Vee’s wings gave several flaps - righting herself before approaching the tent. She blinked.

“Pumpkin, why is the tent floppy? I didn’t buy a floppy tent.”

“H-Half of the um… pieces are missing. And they’ve been replaced with other tent parts. None of them fit. And the instructions are for a blender.”

“Oh. That’s where that went! I still never used that blender. I couldn’t figure it out. Too many buttons.” She stared at the tent quietly, frowning. “Pumpkin, I believe you should sleep in Sun-fry’s tent tonight. I’ll take the first, second, and third watch. None may pass my impeccable perception, after all - d’ohoho!”

Arin helped retrieve the now boiling hot chili from the flame with the help of his blanket, setting it in quickly melting snow.

“Well, there goes any privacy for the night.” Celestia whispered to herself, just loud enough for Arin to hear. The dozing Pumpkin pony was left in the dark.

In reply, Arin’s hand slid up to scratch behind her ear. The pink-maned Alicorn leaned in to the touch, eyes slipping closed to embrace it. While her stint in the Lunar dungeon was torturous and painful, her body had time to catch up on much needed sleep - even if it was mentally anguishing. Now, as they dozed quietly by the fire, the bed was calling to them.

After the snow helped cool it down, Celestia soon finished the now cool can of rations. With that, the Seraph ran a hand through Pumpkin’s mane - as if saying ‘it’s time to go.’

Vee returned to the flames, Arin seized his clothes, and Pumpkin swiped spare pillows and blankets from Vee’s camping equipment. Piled on her back and feathers knocked free, she followed behind the duo before helping zip the tent shut.

Tempest had already stolen a pillow and sleeping bag from Arin’s supplies, but there were plenty more creature comforts tucked away within. Pumpkin, not wanting to be a nuisance - set up a small spot in the corner of the tent. Her orange hat resting by her side, a small plushie of a black cat against her chest. She pulled a purple blanket over herself, snuggling in alone.

Celestia helped situate the sheets and blankets, fitting the remaining pillows into a warm bundle for their heads. The tent was now much tighter than before, leaving only a few scant inches of space from her and Arin’s spot.

Arin blinked, realizing that once again - Celestia had made their bedding for two. “Tia, we talked about this.”

Her magenta eyes grew heavy in the dark, a frown tugging on her lips. “Please?”

“...Fine. But don’t push it.”

Her wing darted around him in a gentle hug, resting her chin on his shoulder. By now, he was just over it. Personal space wasn’t a right anymore. Celestia had decided he no longer needed it, and thus, he was enslaved to be a cuddle-toy for the overly needy mare.

Then again, it wasn't so bad. Being a life size plushie had its perks, after all. Luna would be understanding, when… if he told her.

He would tell her. Right?

Celestia soon led him to the sheets, a chilly wind blowing over their shelter. With the Seraph locked firmly in a fluffy, albeit still slightly bony hug - he had little options but to wrap his arms around her, and sigh.

What has his life come to? Even now, he had no say in anything. A pushover. That’s all he was. When the time came, and the world was once more at peace, he could finally make his choice. Celestia, Luna, Pumpkin, or even his own path. It’s not like any other mare he knew was going to throw themselves at his feet. Right?

His mind couldn’t help but sink back to the overly cheesy romance novels lining a certain witchy mare’s shelf. Did any of his potential relationships have any depth at all, or was he grasping at straws?

You know what? He needed a change of pace. Maybe he was looking at this the wrong way. What he needed right now, he had. Comfort, shelter, food, warmth. And just a bit of love. And that was all one needed to be happy, in the end.

Chapter 24 - Condition

The ‘dawn’ came much earlier than he’d like, and in the form of a gentle nuzzle against his cheek. The Seraph groaned as he turned over, away from the stifling fluff - and to the freedom of the tent’s corner.

This was, of course, the wrong choice. As he was still tightly bound in white wings and gentle hooves, Celestia quickly schooched her plushie back in for a round of affectionate nosing. The nose, the forehead, the neck - nothing was safe from her muzzle. Her tender affection grew a little more personal as Arin refused to open his eyes, until he gave up - gold irises meeting her soft pink hue.

“Good morning, Sunshine.” She whispered quietly in the dark, a warm smile filling her features. “It seems we’ve slept in. The others are already up and about - I thought we could use a little… talk.”

“Tia, we’ve had days of ‘talk’. What else is there to chat about?” he whispered back. Wait, if they’re alone, why are they whispering? Well… it is a snowy, cold night, and they just woke up. It must be some kind of instinct to be quiet in bed.

“I wanted to talk about… us. More specifically, back at the waterfall. Before we fell.”

He nodded slowly, as the mare held eye contact with him. “Okaaay.”

“Well, when I told you that… I love you. You said ‘I know’.”

“Celestia-” he began, but she quickly corrected him.

“Tia.”

“Right, right. Tia. Is this really important right now? Nightmare Moon has the throne, we’re broke and on the run like fugitives… and you want to talk about love.”

Then again, she did have a point in bringing it up. He was definitely stringing her along, and it was hard on both of them. If he had married Luna before he left three years ago, they wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

“No, I just… It’s… I’m sorry. I’m not blind, I’ve seen and felt every bit of havoc you have. I’ve experienced years of torture, I’ve seen the destruction caused by Nightmare Moon not just once - but twice now. It’s just, well… That first time you kissed me, I wanted to know what you meant by it. If you really have any feelings for me, or if you did it to calm me down. If you’re just playing along to keep me happy. I know I must make you… nervous. In some way. I’m the Princess. Everypony I’ve ever loved only returned my feelings for bits, or power. And I know you’re not like that… you have an open heart.”

Her hoof pressed to his chest. “When we first met all those years ago, I gave you hope. Now, you’ve given me hope. But I… I want to know if it’s real. I can find love again, Arin, if you’re not interested. It will hurt, but I’ve felt heartbreak. I’ve experienced it countless times, either with the passage of time - or when the truth comes forward. Love me, or let me go. But please, don’t make me wait.”

By the Feathers, she poured her heart out to him. And there definitely was an interest on his part. You know what - it was a time for change. If she wants love, then Luna will have to accept it when he finally frees her. He… he will free her. He can’t lose hope. For now, he’ll meet the morning mare halfway.

“I do love you, Tia. Your beauty struck me the day I met you. The Princess of the Sun, coming to visit a peasant like me - broken and alone, with nothing save the tatters of clothes on my back. I never knew you would be so kind to me, or that you’d take me in like one of your own. You have been a blessing, the light of the day and of my life. If Luna had not embraced me, I would have been smitten with you.”

Soft tears welled in her eyes, and before she could lean in for a kiss - a single finger darted before her lips. “I will share your feelings. Under one condition.”

He wiped away the happy sorrow from her cheek, slipping in closer. His legs tangling with hers, a gesture of love and acceptance. “When all of this is said and done, and it will be done, I want to talk with Luna. I want her opinion, if she’s still interested or not - I’ll even fill her in on our temporary arrangement. Besides, you just left a horrible situation. Once a week or two passes, and you’ve had your fill of affection - you’ll probably realize that you’ve been acting… reckless. And you’ll lose interest in me.”

He smiled now, a faint hope in the dim light of the snow-covered tent.

“Well? What do you say?”

“It sounds like you have commitment issues,” Celestia puffed.

“What? Oh come on - I rarely have a choice in what happens around me! I’ll be damned if-m-mmf…”

Her lips caught his, fully pinning the Seraph beneath her. Though she was extremely light from her recent captivity, the sheer amount of vigor and love she poured into him was enough to nearly overwhelm him. Immediately, his wings darted around her - laying the affection on thick. She ran her hooves over his body, the flutter of his heart striking in his chest. By the Feathers, she was quick - in mere seconds, she had locked every limb around him. Laying kiss after deep, exploratory kiss.

By the time she pulled away, they were both panting - and the smaller Seraph lay dazed beneath her. That lovely pink mane had toppled around his face, pink lavender eyes gleaming dimly in the faint light of the stars through the tent. He hadn’t seen her this happy since…

When had he seen her this happy? The thought never came to mind. When he rescued her, she simply didn’t believe it. Claiming it was a dream, over and over again… she was so fragile then, shivering in his arms.

“Thank you, Arin. I understand completely, my Love. This will be a temporary arrangement… think of it like we’re both healing from our individual solitudes. Perhaps you are right, and this is nothing more than a crush. Then, I will gladly give you away to my Sister, or whoever you choose. She would understand; after all, I’m the one who comforted her for the weeks following her banishment. You wouldn’t believe how long it took for her to sleep anywhere other than my bed!”

She giggled softly, her voice calming like soothing honey.

“Tia, by the way… Pumpkin uh, may have a bit of a crush on me, too.” He gave a nervous smile beneath her soft body.

“Huh?” She blinked. “Well, do you intend on pursuing her? I mean, yes! She seems sweet, but… You did just admit you loved me. By the Stars, this will be the fastest I’ve been cheated on!” She gave an airy laugh, smiling. “But I understand. Love who you will. Let this journey be one of healing and growth. I’m a big mare, after all.”

The Solar Princess winked, sewing another kiss on his lips - that he gratefully returned.

Luna would have a wonderful time setting up his execution. He fell into the deadly trope. He was going to cheat on her… with her Sister.

Her hooves slid down his body, feeling the soft tone of it against her frogs. Her eyes slipping shut to give another soft kiss, a gentle meeting of the lips - the greedy Princess giving a faint moan. He returned it, the Seraph’s strong hands squeezing over her supple form. Feeling the slowly returning curves of her body.

But eventually, they would have to leave the comfort of their tent. Having caught up on sleep, and the sound of talk around the campfire coming in intervals, it was time to leave. Before, Arin would have been rushed to pack up and hit the road. But with Tia locked tight in his arms, the warmth of supple lips against his own… it was difficult to even convince himself to move.

But move he did; he shuffled against her comfortable embrace, restraining a yelp as she tugged him back down.

“Tia, we have to start moving. Not only is the world at stake, but I’m positive that at least Tempest will check in on us.”

She gave a sad sigh. “For once, I wish the world wasn’t at stake. A new destructive force appears every other month, it seems. I sincerely believe Twilight is made of bad luck. You, on the other hoof, are just the opposite.”

Celestia let him free of her hooves, but her wings wouldn’t let go.

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“Because I love you.” The Princess trailed the tip of a feather across his cheek, before her grip vanished. He quickly made it to his feet, fully refreshed - and ready to tackle the day. Offering a hand to the lazy Princess, she snatched it up - joining him.

Oh yeah. He was still mostly naked, save his boxers. The Princess blushed, examining his nude body in detail.

“What? You never wear clothes. What’s so interesting about me when I take mine off?” He chuckled, quickly changing into his adventuring gear. It’s a shame they both lost their cozy jackets. The weather was only going to become worse from here, and without layers - they’re bound to freeze. Cold snaps away your endurance, as your body expends energy to keep you warm. It will definitely slow them down.

“The fact that I get to see all of you, is interesting in itself.” Celestia’s eyes explored, even as he bounced on his legs - slipping trousers back in place. Finding Luna’s vest, he eyed it for a moment. Sliding his hands over the silver buttons, the blue dragonhide surface. Feeling the mithril beneath it.

He couldn’t wear it. Not in good conscience. Thankfully, he still had the old, green, abandoned Griffon Vest - that he withdrew from his satchel, happy to find it still fitting. The buttons clasped it in place, and even after all these years - it would still serve him well, as an elegant solution to self preservation.

Celestia, upon seeing the old colors, brought a hoof to her chest. Feeling the spot where her regalia once lay, now long forgotten somewhere in the Castle Armory. She left it there, wearing her full golden platemail in its stead. But seeing Arin in his old jerkin, an idea crossed her mind. A surprise for Arin, in the future. Something heartfelt for sure.

With the supplies situated, they stepped into the bitter chill once more. Luckily, it wasn’t windy in this midnight darkness; the trees did well to block that. The duo set to work packing up their camp, Celestia’s eyes flicking up to Vee’s abandoned project.

“I didn’t hear Vee come in. Did… did she sleep outside, or?...” the Princess asked Arin, collecting the tent poles to situate in the bag.

“Tia, Vee doesn’t sleep. Vee is… Vee. She merely pretends to sleep. She also does a great many things you’ll never understand. It’s just a fact of life.”

“...I’m willing to believe that. Her very being is an enigma, one I may yet decipher before the millenium is out.”

Packed up and ready for a quick breakfast, they rejoined the ‘lively’ conversation. It was mostly just Pumpkin Spice, sitting next to Tempest and quietly talking. Vee hadn’t moved from her position by the fire, her coffee cup now empty by her side. Instead, her eyes watched the forest with intent. She always seemed to be at least somewhat spaced out.

Celestia used this as an opportunity to pry at her mind. Living without rest simply wasn’t healthy, after all.

“Vee? When was the last time you slept?” Celestia questioned, as Arin retrieved a small pot from the bag.

“Hmhm? Oho! Let’s see. I had just applied the smackdown on an unruly witch back at school, and I had terrible dreams all night about it. Bad for the feathers, you know. Since then, I’ve staved off the urge with coffee, coffee, and brisk evening flaps. D’ohoho! Just foalin’ around. It was more coffee.” She picked a feather to preen, stirred to movement from the question. Her hat floated down from her head in her magic grasp, withdrawing a small sheet of paper. A checklist of sorts.

“Let’s see… Princess Snooty snootin’ up my business. Check,” she said, flicking her spent feather across the page. Remarkably, even without ink - the broken pinion could write. Arin leaned over to get a good look at the parchment - but before he could, the Purple tossed it into the rolling flames.

“Look at that, Tall-fry! You ruined my schedule. I was just about to stuff it in my hat.” Another fresh piece of paper appeared - with the previous checkmark included, and clearly written out as she said before, ‘Princess Snooty snootin’ up my business’.

“Feed the fire… check.” This new list was returned to her hat.

Ooookay. Scooching around to the other side of the fire, Celestia set to work making ‘breakfast’. This was literally impossible to ruin. Dump the contents of the cans into the pan, and then immediately give it to literally anypony else before it catches fire from being within her presence. The true cook happened to be Pumpkin at the time, who held the pot in unsteady hooves after Celestia had filled it. Taking it as a job to be done, the small autumn mare brought it to the fire - hovering it unsteadily above the blaze in her unsure grasp.

“So! What are you two talking about?” Arin asked, hoping to stir up some good conversation from the nervous witch and stern mare.

“Oh! I was recommending this one novel to Tempest - Fifty Shades of Neigh - but it turns out, she already r-” A wine hoof clapped over her small mouth, the Unicorn in question locking eyes with the Seraph.

“We were discussing the novelties of life, nothing more. But now that you two have untangled from the sheets, let’s speak of geography. Sit,” she commanded, waving her hoof to the snow-ridden floor. Arin gave a quick check for a seat - and finding a log, he rolled it by the fire’s blaze. What was surprising was that Celestia obeyed the command; wasn’t she supposed to be the leader here?

“Alright. Shoot.” He gestured, as the Princess joined his side.

“While I have not directly visited the unexplored West, I have heard rumors of what lay beyond the Corpse Vale, as the few who survived in my former troop called it.”

“Corpse Vale?” Arin began, “Seems a bit dark compared to well… everything, in Equestria. Go on?”

“The Corpse Vale is essentially a long mire, moored by streams and hills. It stretches south of the Luna Sea, past the Storm Ridge. It’s the first obstacle beyond the hills guarding it. The few who survived the experience noted it as a harrowing place to explore, as the muddy earth tugged at one’s hooves and the cool of the marsh claimed lives - the dead yet stir in its dark valleys, anchored to their fetid corpses by dark magics. It’s extreme nature summons the plane of the Shadowfell, a place of misery and suffering. Bitter ash hangs in the air within the plane, with the stench of rot and decay. A truly foul place, at the edge of the world.”

Pumpkin had begun to shiver in fear, scooching closer to Tempest for comfort. The wine mare ignored her, her eyes falling on the light of the campfire.

“It’s the first deadly barricade between us, and Umbra. The next is equally worrying, and for that, I only have faint accounts. Only one word, in truth. ‘Spiders’.”

“D’ohoho! I speak Drider, so it’s no problem at all,” Vee chimed, a fresh cup of coffee joining her. Where she found it, was anypony’s guess. “I’m quite adept, too. I learned when I was naught but a strapping young witch, with the world at her wing tips.”

“I-I’ve never seen her speak to spiders before…” Pumpkin whispered. Unfortunately, she was ignored.

“I guess Vee will take point when the time comes, then?” Arin shrugged. By now, the slop in the pot was at a boil - and small, mismatched bowls were produced from Vee’s pack. Pumpkin made extra sure to clean them out with a fresh cloth, before Arin could divide up the rations.

“I’d prefer to find a pass around spiders myself. I have few fears, but spiders are definitely one of them.” Tempest gave a disgusted shiver, the first real emotion besides contempt for the less-than-serious group around her. At least, this was the only time Arin had seen her do anything but scold. Or glare.

“W-Why don’t we um… take a boat?” Pumpkin offered. Celestia shook her head.

“Unlike many planets, which are round - at one point in time, something struck the very world of Equis. It left half the world a molten, endless disaster of boiling magma and deadly gases that the few who were tempted to explore it named ‘swirling death’. That very same disaster separated the sun and moon from its orbit, far before the times of written history. The Luna Sea is a deadly whirlpool disaster as you travel farther west - the Celestia Sea being much the same. The laws of reality are bent at its edges, as well; those who tumble into the endless tide may find themselves momentarily suspended, or pushed back into the waterfalls of the Great Cusp. Water that plummets to the exposed molten core of Equis soon reforms as Free Weather Clouds, that churns the oceans in violent storms. There is a reason our world is small, as it quickly becomes inhospitable as you move into the distant lands East or West.” The Solar Princess gave her recount of history quite well, resting a hoof on her chest.

Arin dumbly dropped his spoon into his bowl, taking in the words of the morning mare with wonder. “That’s… crazy. Almost makes Leotoln’s story of what happened back in the Far Reaches half-believable. I didn’t believe it myself, when I saw it from the moon. But tell me… how’d your planet survive that?”

“I wish I knew. A tale was spoken that passed through the generations; the Mother of Equis - an alicorn with crimson hair and a kind heart - sacrificed not just her magic, but her very being to cast a spell of protection on our lands.” Finding food available and served to her in a bowl, the regal mare fumbled with her spoon in her hoof before roughly slamming the boiling hot soup into her muzzle.

“H-HOT!” She gasped, sizzling her tongue as she spat her breakfast onto the snow around them. She fanned her scorched tongue with her hoof, whimpering softly. Her eyes soon fell to the Seraph, fighting back tears.

“Arin, I know magic is… stretched right now, but if you could…” She pointed at her tongue. The Seraph rolled his eyes - snapping his fingers as his golden aura embraced her burnt appendage. Within seconds, she was all patched up - her muzzle fully healed.

“What a waste of magic,” Tempest said bluntly. “Save it for real injuries, please. I will not bleed out at the bottom of a cliff over careless waste of our precious resources.”

“You’ll bleed out when I say you bleed out!” Arin laughed, blowing on a boiling spoonful of thickening stew. “But I’ll try. Twilight was smart to include a first aid kit with our supplies. Any bumps or scrapes should be easy to tend to.”

“Oho! I also have many magical things in my shop that could prove useful. But! I don’t want to go bankrupt. So I’m sorry, but there is no employee discount.” She was given a bowl of thick soup, which she graciously accepted. “By the way, Arin. You missed work all last week. You snoot, you get the boot. You’re fired.”

“What? Seriously? I traveled to the Lunar Plane to save Celstia’s-”

“Tia.”

“Tia’s life! You can’t just… Oh. That was a joke.” Arin stared right through the Pegasus, who hid her muzzle behind a wing.

“D’ohoho! I couldn’t resist. You’re fine, Tall-fry. But my register is not! Let’s not rob me blind, once we get there.”

Chapter 25 - Certified Dumb

The campfire extinguished, and food found filling their bellies - the ragtag team of misfits marched on in the night. Their path lit by the single flame of Vee’s small tail lantern. Somehow, the light it produced seemingly ignored the purple pegasus - phasing through her body to the world beyond. A mysterious thing, but an answer wouldn’t be given so easily - trade secrets, after all.

The bitter cold was soon nipping at Arin’s nose and cheeks, his wings hugging around his body to keep warm. They could fly. But they’d have to carry Pumpkin and Tempest both - and Celestia couldn’t travel far on her thin, scantily muscled wings. It would be some time before she could move them with grace.

Through the small cuts of the canopy above the trees, you could see the odd, luminescent starlight of the Lunar Plane seeping over reality. By now, the Lunar Halo - as Arin called it - had grown exponentially. Though it was a slow process, it definitely reached as far as the southern end of Ponyville, and then some - pushing into the Everfree Forest proper.

But, back on the topic at hand. Cold. Arin had never hated the cold so much in his life. On the moon, it was cold - but he had gear to protect against it. Now? A thin long sleeve shirt, a green vest, and pants were his only hope - along with an extra sheet the Princess had wrapped around him in the old toga style. His wings definitely helped, but left big gaps where cold air could seep in.

Seeing the Seraph shaking, Celestia took it upon herself to right the problem - her own wings adding to the warmth. They had split their blankets among the ponies around, to function as temporary winter wear. Tempest had a sheet and blanket around her back, keeping the heat in. Pumpkin was wrapped up in a sleeping bag, bumbling about with the too-big camping bag weighing her down. Vee was… well, Vee. And simply drank coffee.

“So, I don’t have a map. Vee… I already know you don’t have a map-” Arin began, the purple pegasus chirping at his statement.

“Indeed, Tall-fry! Maps are for Earth Ponies and Unicorns. Us Purples simply know where we are, at any given time.”

“Wonderful! Where are we Vee?” Celestia smiled, hopeful for some good news.

“Lost! D’ohoho.” She flapped her wings softly, hovering idly above the ground.

“We are not lost. We are heading West-South-West. If memory serves me right, we’ll likely run into train tracks in the next few hours.” Tempest declared, “But I could use an eye in the sky to guide us. Vee, if you could… actually, not you. Arin, if you could spare me your pack and survey the land, you could make yourself useful.”

The Seraph shrugged, slipping the heavy hiking gear from his shoulders and roughly depositing it onto Tempest. She didn’t grunt, but the surprising weight of it did make her legs tense just a bit. Free of the burden, Arin spread his wings - before darting up past a hole in the leaves.

Rough winds whipped around him, as he bore witness to the Lunar-infused world. Attempting to piece together any landmarks in the chilly winds was a difficult task, as the snowfall fused into a heavy fog in the night sky. But to their south, he could quite clearly see the shiny surface of Twilight’s Eyesore of a Castle. That was unmistakable. If they wanted to, they could reach it in an hour’s time. The train station was clearly somewhere nearby, as you could see it faintly from a few windows of Canterlot’s Guest Wing. Or Celestia’s balcony, which he may or may not have visited in search of bargaining tools to persuade Vee to hire him.

He spread his wings, calmly gliding amid the winds to the forest floor below. Luckily, it wasn’t impossible to find the group again - as Pumpkin’s orange hat stood out quite well among the snow, illuminated by Vee’s lantern.

“Well?” Tempest asked, as he broke the clearing in a dozen sparse wingbeats.

“It’s freezing and windy, but I managed to spot Twilight’s ugly castle south of us,” Arin commented, shivering in his snow boots. Celestia quickly darted in, sharing body heat once more with the Seraph - who graciously, and most gratefully accepted. His pack was soon returned, as well.

“Then we’re on the right path. Let’s avoid the prying eyes of ponies and keep to the trees. If we found rest, then so did the ponies of Ponyville - and they are likely indentured servants to Nightmare Moon by now. That is if Celestia’s theory is correct.” The wine colored mare began once more on the path forward, leading the charge into the cold.

“She’s not wrong. Nightmare Moon attempted to persuade me, back on the moon. It would have worked too, if…”

Arin blinked. The memory had left his mind. “Well, I remember something about Umbra being kidnapped. But the rest is fuzzy. As dreams are, I guess.”

“D’ohoho! That’s dream magic for you,” Vee chirped, bumping into a branch with her nose; she didn’t even blink, gazing past it with her half-drawn eyes. Pumpkin reached up with a hoof - angling it out of the way so Vee could fly unimpeded.

“I’ve um… never trotted t-this much before. I-In the cold, either. How are you d-doing it, Tempest? Y-You don’t even seem bothered.” The little mare trotted up to the tall pony’s side, drawing a curious eye from the much more confident mare.

“Years of rigorous training in agility, acrobatics, and endurance, along with a fine study of martial arts - has given me the stamina to persist. I’m not an athlete, as an athlete’s skills are tailored to a few distinct movements. I am a veteran of battle, and thus a refined warrior. I believe a Seraph like Arin, given his former history, has endurance to persist under heavy burdens. I am more suited for long journeys, much like this.” But her interest had settled in on the little mare, growing curious. “Why do you ask?”

“O-Oh! Nothing, it’s just… I’ve never met a pony like you before.” She smiled. Celestia leaned over to Arin’s ear, whispering quietly.

“Are you sure she’s interested in you? Seems like she just has a preference for tall, dark, and rugged.”

“Well, I gave her the same run around. So-... Wait, are you saying Pumpkin is into mares, too?” Arin gawked, but the Princess saw it as a moment to teach.

“Over seventy percent of Equestria’s population are female; it’s a worrying number. So any stallion that looks remotely free is snatched up quickly by a desperate populace. It’s incredibly common for mares to love each other, or even marry. So… it’s not unlikely. Even I had a taste for them, decades passed. A taste I’ve long since washed from my mouth. Figuratively and literally.” She blushed. Maybe that was a bit too personal. A reporter would eat that news up like candy, but it was definitely public knowledge. She had always flaunted her lovers.

“Oh? Then what suits your fancy now? Excluding your sister’s Knight.”

“Do you want a serious answer?... Hm. Well, I used to be quite promiscuous in my youth; a new special somepony every few years. They tended to be broad shouldered stallions with a strong jawline, but as I reached… three hundred, I believe, I expanded my horizons. I dated a few griffons, which quickly went nowhere. A dragon once, but that was a little more experimental than anything. In the end, I stopped caring about looks, and started chasing personality. That made things a lot more difficult, as more often than not I attracted the wrong crowd.” She sighed, kicking an ice-covered stone across the way as they travelled.

Ahead, Pumpkin seemed to be persistent in keeping a conversation with Tempest, even daring to look into her intimidating eyes. At least, whenever the tall Unicorn would glance at the little mare, usually in indifference. Sometimes in curiosity, too - as if questioning her perseverance.

“Well, what about you, Arin? You seem sweet enough to persuade my Sister and I. What’s your preference? You must have had ladies lining up from down the block to give you a shot.”

He checked the ground with his eyes, thinking quietly. What did he enjoy? Wait, no. He knew, and it was draped possessively around him.

“In my homeland, it’s no secret that Inerts have a fascination with wings. It’s like… not just envy, but a sexual thing. Something about feeling their softness is always welcome. But, my preferences in relationships are… hard to say. I’ve chased girls of all shapes, sizes, and even other races - but I’ve never been successful, not that I didn’t try. In a world of magic, being a simple Inert just wasn’t enough. I was the literal lowest of the low, I was lucky not to be part of any of the yearly population cleansings.”

Celestia winced at the thought; how could a race of sentient creatures be so hateful to their weakest members? Regardless, she wanted to keep the mood light.

“So. Wings, huh? Well, did you know that of all the pegasi in Equestria - my wings are the largest?” She smiled, making an effort to squeeze the Seraph tighter. He couldn’t help but lean in; it was instinct! Something about the comforting warmth left him scatterbrained.

“No, I didn’t know that. In fact, I’d love to learn more about your neat quirks. Any time we’ve spent together, after all, has been around a dinner table or - worse yet - in the Lunar Plane.”

“Oh! Then I have a lot to talk about. Let’s see… I have over two thousand years of experience in love. Not only am I one of the world’s best snugglers, I’m also the perfect alarm clock. I always wake at dawn, save for when I don’t need or want to - like now. And when I do wake, I prefer to wake my lover with as much affection as possible.”

“You know, I thought some of the Guards in your Castle had an ego. Now I know where they get it from. What do you mean ‘one of the world’s best snugglers’? How do you even rate that? Is there some kind of competition, or?...”

“There was! Around… ten years ago. I was only narrowly beaten by the now Princess Cadence, who snuggled the judge into a coma. I’m telling you, she cheated by bringing snacks and extra blankets. It was perhaps one of the most peculiar competitions I had ever participated in, only just slightly more odd than the Swan Imitation Competition. I ranked seventh place, even though I didn’t wear a costume… or actually enter. The judges just decided to include me for reference.”

Arin chuckled, wishing his life was half as interesting as Tia’s. “You’ve got me beat; I’ve never entered any unique challenges. After I earned my wings, and in the first year of my rule of Erenorn - I entered into a traditional Martial Tournament. I just had to test my skill at the blade, after I defeated Leotoln and practiced. Turns out that I’m slightly above average, but nothing special. Indeed, I’ve done better work at the Archery Competition by miles. Ninety eight points out of one hundred, after my first warm up. Of course, there were ten rounds each; one hundred arrows, and I definitely did well. Nine hundred and fifty five out of one thousand. I think I ranked eighth place out of the one hundred contestants, which didn’t sit well with my advisors.”

“Oh? Ninety five percent accuracy sounds amazing to me. I’m assuming First Place scored a perfect one thousand? If I were your advisor, I would be proud.” Celestia examined the Knight with a bit more pride, her wing squeezing him closer to her body with each step they took. Eventually, he was forced to not only wrap a wing around her - but an arm as well.

“No, one thousand seventy or so. Each time you split a bullseye arrow in half, you gain an additional point. And that was just the standing competition. I did much worse in the flying portion. Six hundred and ninety nine, versus one thousand and two. The issue I had was the arena; you have to fly around what’s essentially called a Pin Cushion Tree; ten targets on limbs suspended in the center of the arena, nearly two stories tall. I wasn’t used to handling a bow while flying, and it really lowered my score - and I was almost disqualified when I nearly pincushioned a Cherub. I found myself in the bottom fifty. And guess who had to give out medals after it was all said and done? I’ve never seen so many smug grins in my life. I still have the occasional nightmare about hitting a kid with an arrow, even though it was a near miss.”

He kicked a stone hard enough to launch it over Pumpkin’s head, who eeped and ducked under her hat at the sound. Tempest was as fast as lightning, and snatched the rock with a hoof purely on reflex.

Needless to say, both Celestia and Arin were mildly impressed. Tempest tossed the rock to the side, before urging Pumpkin to inch herself just a bit closer. Just an inch. Arin definitely noticed this, but said nothing - in fact, he was mildly curious to see where it would go between them. After all, Pumpkin definitely needed to get out more. If anything, it may just give her a splash of reality.

Or, it was platonic, and Celestia was going through a romance phase and seeing much too much in everything. Though Tempest did give off a few… not-so-straight vibes. Kinda like Rainbow Dash did, at times. It was probably the fact that she could probably kick his feathers in a fight, if looks alone equated to skill. She did take over Canterlot once before.

Their travels continued ever steadily west, guided by a rough heading and Tempest’s knowledge of Equestria’s layout. Eventually, they did find the train rails - and they now walked (or cantered) quickly across the track’s boards. It was definitely an improvement over the slow forest trek, even if they’d have to split off soon to find Vee’s real home and shop.

“Hey Pumpkin. You live on Equis. Wouldn’t you know about the world being split in half? Or is that some kind of secret, unwritten knowledge?” the Seraph asked - Celestia and Arin both had finally decided to catch up, the little mare fumbling across the wooden tracks beneath her at the question.

“I-I never finished normal pony school... Since Vee adopted me, I’ve studied under h-her as her um… a-apprentice.”

She wouldn’t meet his gaze, the Seraph sighing.

“Well, that makes you and me both. At the age of ten, normal classes end - instead, Cherubs enter either advanced academies, or the working world. It all depends on lineage and noble birth, or if you had the coin to pay for it. I was lucky enough to have the chance to read up in the town’s library, at least. Inerts like me typically didn’t have the pedigree to enter, but that old codger behind the counter let me in on a whim. At least, I believed he did.”

Pumpkin’s smile slowly grew, as the wine mare had her own comments to make.

“...I may not have finished typical schooling, as well. I ran from home at a young age, then later studied to make up for my weaknesses. To hone my body to be both a deadly weapon - and an expert tactician. Finally, a scientist.” The stern mare blushed at her history; after all, an education was considered important in Equestria.

“Well, I didn’t attend normal classes, either. My Sister and I both studied under Starswirl the Bearded. And even then, it was only until he passed when we were both still growing. So I guess you could say I’m in the same boat?” the Princess offered, as all eyes slowly turned to Vee.

“D’ohoho! You’re all certified dumb. I went to college to put brains behind my feathers.” While flying, she attempted to preen a wing - which ended in disaster. Crashing to the floor, a dozen purple feathers shot up into the air; raining down around her in a pile. Luckily, her ever-present coffee cup landed on top of her head rim side up. Tempest looked over the mess, glaring.

“You’ve been trailing feathers like bread crumbs. I’m likely to believe this behavior is intentional, or you’re simply unaware of the danger this poses.”

“Oho! I believe you have a point, Stern-fry. But may I make a counter argument? I graduated top in my class in preening. I was the teacher. I gave myself A’s.”

Tempest’s eyes slowly traveled to Arin and Celestia’s, pleading with them. “Please. I beg of you. We can take the bookworm, but leave this bumbling trainwreck behind. My sanity can only withstand so much.”

“No dice, Jerk-face! Pumpkin flies with me! Pumpkin! At attention!”

“Yes Vee!” Pumpkin jumped at the call of the Pegasus, saluting with a hoof.

“Call Stern-fry a boring downer and insult her mane!”

“A-Actually, I like her mane, it’s v-very um… s-strict. A-And um… I-I enjoy her company?...”

“Good work, Smol-f-... Wait a second! Tempest, you snooter! What did you do to Pumpkin? Did you poison her coffee? Pumpkin doesn’t drink coffee! Did you make her drink coffee, then poison it?” Vee pointed an accusatory hoof at the Unicorn, who rolled her eyes.

“No, no, and no. This is childish. Umbra is in danger, and we don’t have time for this. Keep moving, or leave. I’m not going to babysit a mare hundreds of years my senior.”

Vee glared at the wine-colored mare as she made her way down the track - her mohawk ruffled by the wind. Arin and Celestia kept pace beside her. The witchy pegasus defiantly stood her ground; there was a certain level of brash attitude she was willing to take, and this was it. Pumpkin was left in the middle of it all, forced to choose between the Sister and Mentor she loved dearly, or her new friends - and possibly the fate of the world.

“Well, Pumpkin? Will you join us?” Tempest turned mid question, facing the little autumn pony carrying Vee’s bag. Her eyes darted between Vee, and Tempest, unsure.

“Vee, why don’t we um... g-go with them?”

“No. I’m mad. I don’t want to flap that way, I’d like to preen at home instead. I’ve never met a more ungrateful unicorn in all my life! This Jerk-face doesn’t need us. Come on, Small-fry. We’ve got bits to snoot up.” Vee’s glare intensified - withdrawing a small compass from her hat. Tilting her hoof to the right, she pumped her wings past the trio and settled at the forest’s edge.

Now, all eyes were on the little mare, her decision split down the middle. Within seconds, the stress and anxiety left her teary eyed - bouncing on her little hooves. Into the unknown freedom of adventure, or back to the stifling ovens and bakery of Vee’s Magic Emporium; the same old routine she’d lived in for more than a dozen years.

Pumpkin darted to Vee’s side, the Purple pegasus turning into the forest.

“See Smol-fry? We don’t need them! They need us, they-” The soft thump of a bag crushed the snow behind the Pegasus, her wings ending their endless flap as she turned to face the purple pack. Pumpkin had dashed towards Tempest’s side, the stern mare’s gaze burning into Vee with a fiery intensity.

“Pumpkin, wait, where are you…” Vee’s words trailed off, the little autumn mare shaking away tears.

“I-I’m sorry, Sis. B-But… not e-everything is about you.”

The fall-fitted mare turned back to the group, Arin being ushered away by Celestia’s wing.

“Wait, why aren’t we?...” he began, but the tip of her wing shushed him.

“Sometimes, you give chase. Other times, they’ll chase you. This isn’t something you can fix, Arin. You’ll have to trust me. Every decision I make, even now, has a purpose. Including letting Tempest lead.”

Chapter 26 - Lost and Found

The steady rock of the ship in gentle winds would be lulling to some, but to Umbra, it was an annoyance. As the now confused Seraphs decided to settle down, and enjoy the infinite night with a party - or more aggravating, rest. Dancing could be heard on deck, the rough strings of a fiddle working in tandem with other less than dignified sounds to produce song.

Her forehooves were entirely numb at this point. She hasn’t been fed yet - leaving her stomach growling with an odd pain, one she hadn’t experienced since her first plunge into the arctic wilds of the Frozen North. She was lucky to receive a drink from a warden on occasion, but her strength was failing her.

She wouldn’t break. Not to this torture. It would take a lot more than a lack of food to wear her down.

She checked the groove above her chain with an exhausted tilt of her head. She had made an inch in distance, allowing a portion of her weight to settle on her throbbing hindlegs. But she needed at least three more to snap her horn free. And that’s the real challenge.

With her legs no longer able to dangle so freely, she had to tense and pull herself up by the chain - a painful feat to accomplish. One that required her weakening strength, and her exhausted resolve. But she needed her full weight to force progress, thus it was the only solution.

With her chain hooked in the groove, she could at least swing forward - even going so far as using the back wall as leverage to do it. With an extra inch or two of the chain, she could even force the door with a heavy kick - but that would reveal her handiwork, and her captors would be quick to patch any damage she caused.

The crack of the door brought fresh moonlight into her abysmally small world, that same grease-slick Seraph biting roughly into a roughshod sandwich.

“Morning Stink-Eye. How’s the dangling going?” he said between bites of his food, making a clear effort to savor it for her.

“Splendid. How’s your husband?”

“And here I was about to give you a bite of my sandwich. You would have earned it, too. Hey, tell you what. If you could fill me in on why Moon-horse hasn’t got off her ass and raised the sun yet, I’ll give you a couple pieces of lettuce to make up for it.” He dangled a mustard encrusted piece of vegetable in the dim light of the moon, wiggling it between the bars sadistically.

Umbra chuckled. “How kind of you to assume I meddle in her personal affairs. Unfortunately, I am not her handler. After all, I am just a lonely mare from the wilds.”

“And a very sneaky one to infiltrate three well guarded establishments, and expect no repercussions for your actions.” He took another bite from his sandwich, eying her curiously in the moonlight.

“Tell me, Umbra. Who do you think they’ll send to save you? Surely they’ll send an idiot or two to their death, before tossing us our gold for the trouble.”

“I could think of a few names. Perhaps I could be tempted. If you could kindly find the nearest blade, and slit your own throat - I would be willing to speak, Feather Boy.”

He chuckled, tossing the sandwich through the bars. Her dulled senses couldn’t react quick enough, and it crashed into her chest before tumbling to the floor in pieces.

“A stain to remember me, since you’re so intent on setting up your funeral. Once we return to Erenorn, I’m going to mount your head on the mansion wall I’ll buy with your stupid coins. ‘Bits’, who names their currency that? At least they’re chock-full of gold. If I don’t get my money soon, I’ll turn you into a punching bag - that’ll whittle away the days, isn’t that right, little pony?”

Her captor - still nameless - turned to the door with a flick of his wings. The party buzzed with life as he looked for something else to entertain him.

Right now, she was in extreme danger. If it was still night outside - then Nightmare Moon had likely returned. Which meant Arin and Celestia had failed. This feeling, this notion… it left a hollow pit in her stomach that quickly began to fill with bitter rage. She had always been protective of the Knight, since the day she met - and to know she was incapable of aiding him… or worse yet, he was dead-...

No, he couldn’t be dead. He cheated death too many times. That fledgeling was probably spearheading an attack on Nightmare Moon, right now.

But another worrying thought came to mind. If Nightmare Moon had returned… who would come for her? Her captors would catch on eventually - as ‘intelligent’ as they were. Which meant her already miserable conditions could worsen, or - she could be outright killed. Torture didn’t matter; she’s sustained worse.

This left one option. Escape. She had to break out on her own. The Seraphs were at least somewhat educated on Equestrian history - it wouldn’t take long to put two and two together. At least one of them would realize that an endless night meant the Nightmare’s return, if any had paid attention to Leotoln’s war efforts.

She now began to rock at the beam above with desperation, sliding the chains with intensity. But a bang beneath silenced her motions.

“Keep it down in there, smartass! Some of us are trying to sleep!”

Of course the crew’s quarters were beneath this oddly constructed ship. That was just her luck. Time was against her, and so was circumstance.

For the first time in centuries, her head fell in misery. The faint light of hope growing dim within her chest.

“Arin, Celestia, Luna, Twilight and her friends - and any spare Gods from the stars beyond with an interest, please. Spare my life. Save me,” she whispered, the faint hope within burning dim.

The feather charm on her hoof stirred in a non-existent wind, then went silent. Before falling away to the floor, vanishing into the dark.

The extremely rude group of ponies - and single Seraph - trotted away from the now dumbstruck Vee, leaving her alone by her gathered traveling supplies. This was supposed to be a fun vacation trip into the unknown, not a horrible-serious-much-too-dire hike into the wilds! What were their brains wired to? Clearly not coffee!

Vee, being the genius she was - grabbed the heavy sack in her magic, before dropping it over her shoulders. Carrying weights like this was definitely bad for the feathers - it would make them all sweaty and in need of even more fine preening. Preening she was now behind on, by the way!

Her extremely untidy wings gave a flap, holding her aloft regardless of the weight. Fine then. If they didn’t need her help, they wouldn’t get it! She’ll go home, snoot up some fine beans, maybe burn some oats - then stare at the fireplace. Her hat floated off her head - and she withdrew her checklist.

‘Be mad!’ Check. Sometimes, she didn’t even know why she wrote the things she did down. But her quills had a mind of their own at times, best to let them wander and explore the page. Wouldn’t want feathers laid to rest to get off without earning their snooting! How dare they.

She raised her hoof, attempting to summon Onyx. But to her surprise, nothing came. Bah! She needed cookies to tempt him to appear. Unfortunately, Pumpkin was off making a mistake. The mistake being she abandoned her! She would have to dock her pay.

Wait, she hadn’t paid Pumpkin in over a year, since the recession began and bits became exceptionally tight. Actually, she hadn’t paid herself, either. When was the last time she had her hooves done? Or bought expensive beans? Never! Well, that was a lie. More like last week. If you don’t have coffee, you don’t have Vee, and the world needs Vee!

What a horrible vacation so far! Snowy, muddy, angry Jerk-faces telling her what to do. Hm. And now the bushes are glowing! Fireflies, yet no flames! How would they catch fire without them?!

Odd. She knew these woods quite well, and they had never been so bustling or bumbling with life. The flowers grew tall and wild, and the trees seemed full of chirping sounds of birds and bugs. The cold didn’t even seem so bad! Peculiar things were aloof, and her feathers were giving the bad tingles.

Which were much different from the good, coffee tingles. She sipped at her cup, frowning. She didn’t order arrow coffee. Who put an arrow through her mug? In fact, who put this rope around her neck?

This was definitely not good for the feathers. Dropping the now broken cup, she landed on her hooves - fiddling with the rope settled around her.

“By the order of the Circlet of Antlers, we order you to stop,” a voice said to her left - and for once, she made the effort to clop her hooves over to look at the bold noise. Very bold! Bold enough to tell her what to do.

A deer! Oho! Oh dear. Not a good sign! She hadn’t seen a white tail in four hundred years, since she illegally built her cabin. And he didn’t seem happy. Well, Vee wouldn’t be happy too, if she had antlers instead of feathers. Actually, they seemed really good at scratching the places that needed scratching. Perhaps she will grow some in the future. Or perhaps not!

“D’ohoho! Circlet of Antlers? Never heard of it!” she said, an expert in all things - except for things she didn’t know, much like this. “Is that new set of playing cards? I’m sorry, I’m horrible at Go Fish. In fact, I prefer Fifty-Two Pickup.”

Several deer had the gall to surround her, giving her strange, curious looks. Hmhm! She would have to preen away dirty glares later. For now, she had the business of snooting up some information.

“What?... Just. You! Speak your business in the Feywilds of the Autumn Court,” that same strapping buck said with a look of mild curiosity.

“Aha! Yes, I was snooting my way through the bushes, looking to sip my coffee and flap my wings home, when I found myself with a strange new necklace.” She flicked the rope with a feather, said feather soon swiftly preened away.

“I… see.” By now, the rest of the bucks - and a few does - had surrounded her. Most eying her with curiosity, as ponies were an extreme rarity in their lands. Others held bows steady in their cloven hooves, though a conflict didn’t seem likely. “Regardless, trespassing in the Autumn Court is strictly prohibited. You will stand trial; ponykind aren’t welcome in the Fey. You have the rights to silence and the permission to speak to the accuser - that being the Circlet of Antlers, King Aster. Additionally, you may accept your guilt and instead be interned in the Court’s Prison, for a sentence no greater than one year.”

“Does the prison have coffee? And are you the fuzz?”

“No. And… uh, no?”

“Hmhmhm! I see. Then I’m not interested in prison! Let’s see what the Antler-fry has to say.” Vee preened a wing, as two more ‘necklaces’ found themselves situated around her neck.

“Very well then. Come with us.”

With Vee gone from the group, a strange silence seemed to cling to the air. Of course, the trio of ponies - plus their one Seraph - still had to visit her shop, simply because they still desperately needed supplies. Arin, after weighing their goods and finding it all grossly lacking, spoke first.

“So, here’s the plan. Tempest, me and you both know Vee probably won't let you inside-”

“Probably?” she questioned. “No no, I’m sure I’ve been barred entry.”

“Yes yes, so. Here’s what we’ll do. Pumpkin, you know the way to her cottage, right?” Arin turned her eyes to the little mare. With a sniffle, she nodded.

“I used to hunt these woods for rare herbs, for potion making.”

“Alright, wonderful. You’ll lead us there, and once we arrive - you’ll have to head inside alone, and see if you can scrounge up some proper supplies for our trip. At the very least, see if you can organize Vee’s uh… ‘attempt’ at packing into something useful, pack up what you can and need, then we’ll hit the road. If Vee is willing to talk, invite her outside and we’ll have a proper conversation.”

“Arin, I never asked, but… how is Vee’s shop in both Canterlot, and White Tail Wood?” Celestia questioned, the small mare below clearing her throat.

“W-Well um, Miss Princess Celestia, um… you see, the interior of the store is i-in its own plane of existence, but the physical location in which it’s tied is here in the forest. Vee owns a few storefronts across Equestria, and with Onyx’s help-”

“The raven, right?” Celestia confirmed, the little mare nodding.

“Y-Yes! His magic allows us to shift the shop into multiple spots.” By now, they had come to a split in the tracks. One heading northward, through the Smokey Mountains - and the other heading far west, to curve into the south. Pumpkin pointed to their left.

“T-This way. It's a few hours walk f-from here.”

“It’s not like we had any other choice,” Tempest said, taking the lead once more. Pumpkin trotted up to her side, looking a lot more lithe after losing Vee’s impressively heavy travel bag.

Their travel continued for hours onwards, a very boring trip that seemingly had no end. Ahead of them, they were slowly gaining on the edge of the Lunar Plane - Celestia’s steps quickening with every stride.

“If we can just make it a few miles past the edge, I can bask in Solar magic - and bring the dawn, however late it may be. Of course, it won't change anything smothered by Nightmare Moon’s magic - the Sun doesn’t exist in the Lunar Plane. If she intends on covering all of Equestria, it may completely cut the Solar Plane out of existence, breaking it’s ties to our world.”

“How can we even be sure that’s her intention? In fact - how could she even do that?” Arin questioned, as Tempest slowed her pace to rejoin them. Speaking quietly, as one of the experts on the topic.

“I have a theory. Twilight’s research into freeing you, Princess, included several blasts of harmony magic directed at the moon. This allowed massive, perfect holes to tear in the fabric of reality at these points - allowing the Nightmare to make connections to the outside world. Stabilizing these rifts, when she escaped by whatever means she used to do so, she could use the magic of the Lunar Plane and the Dream Realm to rip the fabric apart, smothering the world in Lunar magic. She would have required Luna’s body to do so, as she is one of the rare few ponies capable of controlling Dream Magic.”

“Like Vee!” Pumpkin chirped.

“Yes, like that psychopath,” Tempest confirmed. “Dream magic affects the sane in a multitude of ways. It inspires creativity, but can make emotions run wild and out of control at random. Though from inspecting Vee, she appears to have bathed in it - along with Lunar Magic - long enough to lose her grasp on reality.”

“You’re well adept in the study of magic, Tempest. Especially for a Unicorn with a damaged foci. Are you sure you didn’t study at my University for Magically Gifted Unicorns when I wasn’t looking?” Celestia complimented the tall unicorn, genuine sincerity in her voice.

“How kind of you to say, but I never intended to have a broken horn this long. Not even Arin’s restoration magic can undo the damage, and so, I’m simply coping.” She bowed her head solemnly, Pumpkin bouncing with excitement by her side.

“You should become a Sun Witch, like me! Just like Celestia, we channel our magic from the Sun! And you don’t need a horn to do it.” She bubbled and squeed, her stutter long forgotten when speaking of something she cherished. “Eee! I can even teach you! T-Though um… not now. Not until we get out of here.”

Tempest considered it for a moment, before a warm smile filled her cheeks. “Perhaps, I will consider it again in the future. Though my study of Witchcraft didn’t expand far, as Unicorns find it difficult to only fill their Ember with one type of magic. When Solar Magic and Lunar Magic are used in tandem, they create a balance that prevents our Embers from splitting from the heat, or cracking from the cool. It will be difficult, but I suppose there are few avenues left before me. One day, I will consider it.”

Pumpkin squeaked and bounced around, simply happy to have a study partner! Oh! She should definitely show off her romance novel collection - she’ll grab the choicest choice books from her room, and-

“Oh! We’re almost here! This log - on our right! It’s my little l-landmark to head through the w-woods.” She hopped toward the tree line, the soft flecks of fireflies appearing even in the bitter cold of the infinite night.

Chapter 27 - Autumn

Venturing into the forest once more meant the loss of precious time; but foraging and scouring the wilds for food simply wasn’t an option. For one, only Pumpkin knew the local plants - Arin hadn’t the faintest clue besides some shared plant breeds between his old world and Equestria. He always found it strange that they had no language barrier. And that a world could be so similar, yet so different.

Fireflies were still buzzing in the not-so-freezing cold, sparkling to life. The fauna here leaned more towards the extreme, which was curious. Even more so once Celestia’s eyes wandered the trees.

“Strange. This is typical growth of the Everfree Forest, though not as heavy - in fact, the trees are almost glowing. And what’s also offputting are the buzzing wildlife. It’s snowing and chilly, yet…”

Arin felt odd; a strange sense he felt before. Like they were being watched. But it only made him worry a little, as no strange creatures roamed this part of the woods. Not to his knowledge; most stayed in the much more ambitious forests south. These were common teachings; even he knew the Whitetail Woods were safe.

...Regardless, he made an effort to withdraw Sonata, plainly missing Nocturne’s soft weight at his side. The quivered arrows on his back were fitted with a less luminescent blue fletchling, from uncommon birds in Erenorn. These mockeries of the blue Princess would never come close in strength nor aptitude, as they lacked the latent magic an Alicorn’s feathers had.

Celestia noticed the anxiety, her own danger sense kicking into action. Still, nothing came to challenge them.

After a brisk walk in the dark, with only Pumpkin’s own lantern hitched to her tail to provide light, the Cabin came into view. If you could call it that. It seemed more like a congregation of roughshod buildings thrown together in a heap, with only one familiar looking door set in the front. Several lanterns were lit across the way with varying colors in flames; the sconces a bright contrast to the endless midnight. It was roughly three stories tall, with a few sets of staircases leading up to inaccessible doors.

“Did… Vee build this?” Arin asked, worried about the looming death trap in front.

“It’s a-a um… magically built house. The outside doesn’t matter so much a-as the inside. Onyx can realign and change rooms to fit our needs, but the rooms s-still have to um… exist, to be added.”

Pumpkin approached the center door, turning the handle to let herself inside. After breathing in a nervous, bone-settling gasp of course - after all, she also wanted to convince Vee to rejoin them. With a click, they were now left outside in the cold without her.

Not more than five shivering minutes later, she threw the door open - bursting out into the snow.

“Vee’s gone, and her bag isn’t here!” she squeaked, bouncing on her hooves nervously.

Arin raised an eyebrow at that, crossing his arms. “Really? Are you sure? She could have just gone upstairs to be left alone. That’s what I’d do in a bad mood.”

Tempest’s keen eyes scanned the snow, frowning. “No, Pumpkin is right. Look. No feather trail, no hoof prints - nothing. Either she made an effort to pick up after herself, or she’s exceedingly late. By all accounts, if she knew the way back, she would have arrived first. The forest isn’t that thick nor is she that daft to injure herself.”

The sleeping bag covered pony had begun to cry again. Tempest, feeling a bit more open with her new ‘friend’ - was quickly bum rushed into a hug by the tiny mare. She sighed, pinching her septum for a moment. She had just calmed the little mare down with her words not more than a few hours ago, and she was already a mewling mess.

“T-Tempest, we have to find her! I-I know Umbra i-is important, but…” The tiny mare sniffled, looking up to the taller pony with desperation. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Tempest found it hard to respond. A search effort could take precious hours they didn’t have. But, telling Pumpkin no may split her from the group. She was already tempted to run after Vee, as the autumn pony traveled with them earlier.

A crack of a distant branch caught Celestia’s attention, as she turned to the wild brush on their right. Just as she did, a rope landed around her neck - and tugged hard. The Princess yelped, and the remaining trio immediately went quiet as all eyes fell to the place she once stood. It was so fast, that Arin could only spot her pink tail vanishing into the brushline.

“Celestia?!” He called - why did she jump in the bush like that? No, wait - she didn’t jump. His sense of danger went wild. Finding himself dashing into a tight patch of leaves after her, he reached for an arrow - but a rope found his hand first. Just like that, he vanished to - leaving Tempest and Pumpkin standing solo.

“We’re not alone…” Tempest spoke quietly, dropping into a crouch - poised for action. Pumpkin made to reach for the door to her home, but an arrow pierced the knob in half. It cracked and dropped to the floor, broken and pointless.

“Show yourselves, or I’ll burn down these woods to ash!” Tempest barked, horn crackling with valuable magic energy. Pumpkin shivered behind her protective legs, mewling quietly in fear.

Several sets of cloven hooves broke the clearing - followed by a set of hooves and a pair of angry legs, as Arin fought at the strange vines that had sprouted around his hands. Celestia was wild eyed with confusion and fear; not expecting to find the long lost Court of White Tail still alive in these well-established woods. Her own horn covered in strangling green vines, and her wings pinned with a tight rope around her barrel.

“By the order of the Circlet of Antlers, we order you to stop! Desist with your threats, or we’ll kill the tall one!” An extremely sharp pair of antlers settled under Celestia’s throat, much to the fear of Arin and the remaining unmolested ponies.

“I’ll wring your fat necks before you do!” he yelled, before being roughly tugged to the ground by two sets of rope. More deer had appeared, fully surrounding them all. Bows were hoisted and aimed, deadly arrows nocked and primed to fire on Tempest.

With little options left, she raised herself from the battle position, closing her eyes to surrender. A duo set of ropes slung around her neck, as a bolt of magic - from glowing antlers no less - collided with her cracked stump of a horn. It, too, was enshrouded in vines.

Pumpkin, a whimpering, quivering mess - didn’t even need a rope. A tall buck, mistaking her for perhaps an overly large foal - hefted her by the scruff of the neck and set her on his back. She squeaked, the deer standing just a few inches shorter than the Princess. More so on equal height with Tempest, who shrugged off any attempt to grab or handle her roughly.

“Speak your business in the Feywilds of the Autumn Court,” came the demanding buck in front; he bore a green jerkin complete with a slitted hood; designed to let his heavy antlers spring free, while also providing optimal protection from attack. On his side, he carried an elegant rapier, fitted with thin green emeralds on the base. This signified him as some sort of leader, as the other bucks - and a doe or two - only bore simpler blades.

“We are mere travelers heading through to the western lands. Free us, as we mean no harm to your kind,” Tempest stated bluntly, maintaining eye contact with the tough buck. He frowned, looking at the shack… house, thing behind her.

“Strange for travelers to bring an entire house into our lands. Trespassing in the Autumn Court - and possessing unsanctioned property - is strictly prohibited. You will stand trial; your ilk are not allowed to roam the Feywilds. You have the rights to silence and the permission to speak to the accuser - that being the Circlet of Antlers, King Aster. Additionally, you may accept your guilt and instead be interned in the Court’s Prison, for a sentence no greater than one year - not including an additional four years for building on claimed land.”

“Are you kidding? We did nothing wrong! What, simply walking through some woods is a crime? I don’t see any signs!” Arin demanded, making it to his legs. Celestia shushed him with a tilt of her muzzle and a stern look, and he quickly went quiet.

“I have no clue of your kind, strange being. Regardless, you are in the company of ponies. And as such, you will be tried as one. You will all stand trial with the pegasus we captured, not too long ago. Perhaps you will be able to answer our questions.”

Being roughly handled was something Arin had experience with, but even such - they had no right to imprison them. In fact, these lands belonged to Equestria; but they didn’t seem to acknowledge that, nor accept it. And if they realized they captured the Princess, or if they had ill wills - things may turn out poorly for them.

His struggle over, he was thankfully allowed to keep close to Celestia’s side. Even with the antlers removed from her throat, speaking wasn’t an option. Too many captors, too many ears. Instead, they exchanged quiet looks between each other. Perhaps one of the best traits about Celestia was how well she could sense emotion. Through his eyes, they spoke.

‘Are you sure?’ his gaze questioned. She nodded back.

‘Vee.’ Her looks shifted between the house, and Pumpkin. It was true; Vee was captured as well. If anything, a quick conversation with this ‘Circlet’ could just set them free. It would be best not to resist, and follow along for the moment.

They were quickly stripped of any possessions - blankets, sleeping bags, hiking bags, Arin’s bow and quiver - and set along in ropes inside a small herd of extremely quiet deer. Their hooves barely made a noise in the chilling snow, as Arin shivered. No wings, no soft Princess feathers to hold him - once more, he was forced into freezing in the winter air.

The ponies, with their warm fur, fared a little better. Pumpkin was the most comfortable, as one of the blankets was tossed over her body on the buck’s back. Wasn’t she like, twenty something years old? Why did she get special treatment? Sure, she was a bit on the short side - and a quivering coward who cried at… well, anything. But she didn’t look like a foal. Wait, when was the last time he saw a pony foal, excluding toddlers? Has he ever seen one?

Okay, she did act like a filly at times, though. Perhaps that’s why they had mercy on her.

Their new journey through the forest was full of strange wonder. Maybe it was the constant cool darkness seeping into the trees that traced soft magic through the air, or the ever present wildlife that made nests and homes - but it was simply bustling. Like they stepped into another world all together, though the snow definitely dampened it. The creeks and ponds were heavy with willows guarding the waters, the occasional sight of soft gold or autumn leaves becoming more apparent as the chill of the Lunar Plane seemed to be receding. Though it was still night, the world seemed to glow with a new energy.

He stopped shivering so much, as they stood before a giant, ornately carved wooden gate - so beautifully constructed with supple curves and sweet mahogany, that even Celestia felt a bit envious. The grand walls beyond were a stark, silvery white - cut with marble and held aloft by gold trim, running up into spires of ruby topped pillars and heavy gold banners. Color and life flourished here, well maintained gardens bushy with leaves and flowers that nearly hummed with an otherworldly beauty.

Pumpkin took in the realm around her, in absolute awe. The soft fall colors were breath-taking and inspirational, her shaking coming to an end.

“It’s beautiful…” she said dumbly, gates breaking apart to reveal the city that lay within. Canopies and colors sung with a verbose intensity as townhomes roused into the night sky; pointed roofs and cloud-scratching pillars illuminated softly by glowing blue and green gems, lofted by nothing more than simple magic. Nature and craftsmanship fell into one, as walls were bound not by nail and board, but by vine and colorful leaves - the shimmering gold windows of joyful light striking over the nearly immaculate roads beneath them.

Hundreds of deer lined the streets, purchasing goods and minding their business in the moonlight. After all, the end of the sun didn’t mean the end of the world. Needs were soon to be met, wants would be quenched - and life would carry on, against the chilling cold.

All of this… was just a few days' travel from Canterlot. A society hidden beneath the leaves of canopies and branches of trees.

Arin looked to the standing alicorn, in mild shock. ‘Did you know about this?’

Celestia shook her head, soft rose eyes settling on his. ‘I had no clue.’

Their journey into the realm of the Autumn Court wasn’t entirely peaceful, either. The mere presence of the small group brought astonished eyes and looks from the crowds, hushed whispers lining the streets. Some of the elder deer even threw despising glares at the group, a testament to their knowledge of ponykind.

The town moved onwards regardless, breaking into garden districts and fairgrounds; Arin simply wondered where they could scrounge up their food with all this open land. Surely there was some form of cultivation to sustain… all of this. An entire city couldn’t survive without ample supplies of farms and forage, after all. Had they simply not noticed the farm land on the way in?

Tempest looked around the expansive city in moderate confusion; she had much the same thoughts as the rest of the group. How did an entire civilization filled with potentially thousands of deer, go unnoticed?

It all seemed to click for Celestia, as her gaze settled on a maple tree. Red and bright, but entirely out of season. She didn’t speak, but shot another look at Arin. As if to say ‘we’re not in the same Equestria anymore’.

Their journey through the deer stronghold led them to yet another trade district, this one faced with dozens of brick and mortar stores and buildings that gleamed with dim, sparkling lights to catch the eye; settled behind another smaller wall of the city. Nothing too intense - but still beautiful. Patios and walkways above spanned across these more regal storefronts, the occasional sight of floating gardens trailing ivy and shade across the white-stone grounds. Another set of gates stood before them, perhaps even more stunningly beautiful than the first - as several clicks of latches and bolts shifted the gold-trimmed doors free of their roots.

The courtyard to the deer’s castle was stunning. Marble statues of deer lined the path forward; strange text lining the plaques with history and names undecipherable to all but Celestia, whose long life included the short history of the White Tail’s kind. Yet even with her knowledge, only a dozen sparse words made any sense at all - and those were few and far between.

The imposing castle beyond had massive, branch lined windows that bore stained glass, much like Canterlot. Its curving gold trim wrapping around meticulously cared for trees and structures, supporting both the walls and life above. Fountains were placed on either side of the dominant flora, feeding tree and root alike as they formed natural creeks that darted beneath walls and leaf with little issue. Frogs bounced across fronds, snapping up errant fireflies.

The doors to the castle weren’t nearly as large as Canterlot’s, but held twice the meaning. And perhaps the entire structure was a bit more modest in size than Celestia’s home, but that was the only place where the pony made structure excelled. This was jaw dropping; the beauty of it left Celestia’s home far in the dust.

Arin was extremely tempted to ask if the deer were hiring. Pumpkin, too, also wanted to move in immediately and set up shop. Tempest was… mildly impressed, but felt like the beauty gave little room for security. Celestia wanted to rip down Canterlot and rebuild it with the aid of White Tail architects. Actually, she’d like to just rip down her castle in general. Maybe every creature in existence would stop trying to claim it then.

Entering the Castle proper, hearth and hall were lined with a multitude of colors that flooded the eyes. The moonlight did little to stain the spirits of the deer within, but the appearance of a small group of ponies did. An apparent maid doe darted into a side hall, peeking curiously behind a silver lined cleaning cart. A robed deer simply gawked at the group, as they were led to the left - down the castle corridors and a set of stairs, to a slightly less beautiful dungeon.

Still better than Celestia’s dungeon. Did they have to outdo her on everything?

The Castle - perhaps not built to house many prisoners - only had one ornately decorated cell, with six sets of wall-hanging bunks on the wall. Bunks? They were more like beds, as not a single coin was spared in comfortable accommodations for any less than wanted guests. There was even a small fireplace, locked behind iron bars and fed from the other side, along with two slits in the wall for food to be pushed in from the kitchen. A daring criminal could formulate an escape, if they so desired - but it wouldn’t lead to much luck.

Staring blankly at a wall, eyes just barely cracked open, was Vee. Pumpkin jumped from under her blanket upon seeing her, squeaking adorably.

“Sister!” she called, nearly falling off the buck’s back. Seeing the pony wiggle for her kin, he gently hefted her body by the scruff - and set her down, as the cervine party’s leader opened the gate with a flash of his magic.

Darting inside, Vee snapped awake as Pumpkin’s soft hooves laced around her - squeezing her in an adorable reunion. A smile formed on the Pegasi’s cheeks, caring wings wrapping tight around the little mare.

“D’ohoho, I didn’t hear you come in, Smol-fry. I…” She paused, flicking a single tear from her purple cheeks. She hadn’t cried in well over seven hundred years! She wasn’t weak, she…

She missed her. Burying her nose into Pumpkin’s bare mane, the other ‘guests’ were quickly shuffled inside the cell’s warmth. The vine’s on Arin’s hands were snapped away - along with the other mare’s vines - as they stepped inside, leaving them locked behind bars.

“I’ve missed you, Vee! Gosh, i-it’s only been a f-few hours, but…” Her hug tightened, breathing in her familiar coffee scent.

“Hours?...” Vee questioned, tired eyes falling onto her little Sister. “Smalls, it’s been… weeks. Weeks since I’ve been stuck here, without coffee. I…” She looked to her blurry hooves, several hundred years of sleep exhaustion fighting so desperately to tug her to the comforting abyss. Vee looked pale, sickly even. Her feathers were an unpreened mess, and she looked nothing like the odd, bubbly pegasus she once was.

Celestia, upon taking her in, approached. “Vee, I don’t mean to intrude on this moment, but… are you alright? You look like you’re about to collapse.”

She didn’t speak at first, only tiredly blink at the pink-maned Princess. Instead of chirping in her usual chipper tone and calling her some variation of fry, her voice came in a small, slow gab.

“No, I’m not Celestia. I’m anything but. I can barely move anymore. I can hardly blink. I… I don’t want to sleep. I can’t.”

Pumpkin’s worried eyes settled on Vee, eyebrows raised in fear. “Vee, y-you never told me… you’ve never told anypony. Why won’t y-you rest?”

The Pegasus blinked slowly, her frown deepening as the bags under her eyes threatened to rip her head to the pillow.

“Sorry Small-fry. I can’t tell you. It’s not something my little Sis should worry about.” From that point onward, Vee went entirely too quiet. Her gaze settled on the floor, her mind a sluggish mess. Arin noticed an untouched plate of food next to her; cheese, berries, buttered bread and simple foods… yet she looked half starved. Not as bad as Celestia, not by miles. But it definitely wasn’t healthy.

Pumpkin, perhaps noticing this - seized a berry in her hooves and offered it to the once indomitable mare. Vee hardly reacted, only stared at the berry.

“No Pumpkin. I need coffee. I honestly can’t live without it. Please… talk to them. Convince them. They won't listen to me. They’ve never listened.” Tempest seized a bunk across the room, staring quietly at the gathered group of misfits.

“We’re in the Feywilds proper now,” her voice came, after a moment. “But how, is the question. Surely the Prime isn’t this split and weak?”

Celestia turned away from the sad moment developing before her, bowing her head. “With the Lunar Plane’s magic falling over the world, it’s likely that it weakened the fabric around this plane, too - dragging it ever closer to ours. If this persists, this… Kingdom, could appear in Equestria properly. And if that happens, then our worlds will cross, and the Fey will cease to exist. That is the best explanation I can come up with.”

“Wouldn’t that put you at odds with the deer, or something? I don’t think I read anything about them when I studied your history.” Arin rested his much too cold bones by the fireplace, happy to be free of his ropes and binds.

“Indeed. Well over three thousand years ago, before my Sister and I had fully formed and led Equestria, the White Tail existed here in these woods - and the Red Tail Deer, another species all together, housed in what is now Hollow Shades. Perhaps not wanting to challenge pony kind to war, their very species vanished, nearly all at once - save for a scant few deer that became wild and free. They lost their sentience, and turned partly into the animals they once were. This wasn’t the first time a Kingdom had fallen from the map, as something much similar happened later on, at Umbra’s beckoning. This is all that Starswirl has taught me, and few books exist on the matter.” Celestia began to pace the room, thinking of her next course of action.

The Princess was always a step ahead. But only when something surprised her, did her plans fall through. “The Fey’s laws differ greatly from the Prime. The few ponies who could ever enter this section of the Fabric could only do so with the help of Breezies. A day here could be as little as minutes, or as long as years in the Material Plane. Perhaps we’re lucky that the White Tail’s realm slows time, rather than speeds it up. At least, from what Vee said.”

“How… wouldn’t that affect the day and night cycle, here, or?...” Arin questioned. Celestia could only shrug her wings.

“That… I wouldn’t know. It’s hardly explored. We only know the basics, from the Breezie’s side of the realm. I believe the Feywilds are supposed to thrive in a land of eternal twilight - abundant in sun and moon both. From the looks of it, this very well may not be the case anymore.”

“You need to channel essence from the Feywilds to manipulate the flow of time, heal wounds, grow plants, and control storms. Among many other spells, as well. If the Feywilds crumble, I doubt Equestria will survive long,” Tempest said, seizing a pillow to drag under her head.

“Wait, you’re just going to sleep?” Arin questioned the wine-colored mare, who blinked her eyes at the question.

“Oh please, let me just… open up my eyes, and do nothing important for the next several hours. Or better yet, attempt to escape and have a quiver of arrows launched into my back. We’re caged, at the command of frankly unaware deer that may not even recognize their world is falling apart around them. Our only option is to rest and stand trial. Hopefully, this court is a wise one, and let’s us go with little hassle.”

Chapter 28 - Circlet

With little else to do, and fresh foods served through the slats in the walls - the group had mostly settled in. Save for Vee, who bumbled about - staring awkwardly at the far wall, occasional gibberish following failed preening attempts. Pumpkin had dozed off herself on the bunk adjacent to hers, leaving nothing but a thin gap between her and her sister.

Arin, unfortunately, had his own problems. The bunks were made for a large buck at best, just an inch or two shorter than Celestia. Because of this, there was little room for a spare body to nestle in.

Arin wasn’t the spare, in this case. The Princess had evolved into a needy mare over the course of years, and needed a warm body to cuddle with. Or else she whined. Obsessively.

Crushed against the cool stone wall, and embraced in body squeezing wings, he felt more like a Seraph pancake. The gentle touch of hooves, while soft and significantly less bony than before - were more like heavy blocks digging in his back, crushed against him and the bricks. At the very least, the now returning, soft, and oh so supple fur of the Princess was still velvety smooth and squishy - though scentless. Nearly everyone gathered needed a proper shower after the falls, and he wondered if their fair treatment so far would include a bath in the near future.

Even in these less than optimal circumstances, the gentle embrace of Celestia was more than enough to ward off any fears. Even the thought of falling asleep and into the field of Nightmare Moon was quickly warded away, after a small discovery by the crew gathered now.

Nightmare Moon had no ability to manipulate dreams outside of the Lunar Plane. They were, at least at the moment - safe.

And with that, came possibly the second best sleep he’s had in a while. The first being the night prior, after days of struggling and toil - and escaping a waterfall bruised and battered.

Cuddled up for warmth, it was the stirring jar of the door sliding open in the ‘morning’ that snapped the party awake.

“Prisoners. As requested, your audience with King Aster has been granted. All rise,” a voice called, a new buck now - donning light vestments showing his relation to the royal staff. It was more like an overly regal medal with shoulder pads, but it served its purpose.

Stirring to their hooves and feet, Pumpkin had to inevitably lift the exhausted pegasus onto her back. Her dirty wings fell to either side of the smaller mare, the guard inspecting the half-starved guest curiously.

“Prisoner, what ails you?” he asked, daring to poke the Purple with a hoof. She hardly reacted, only rested her head overtop Pumpkin’s in a daze.

“S-She needs coffee, Mister D-Deer. She u-um… can’t function without it.” Pumpkin hid under her autumn mane, refusing eye contact with the buck.

“Coffee? The Court doesn’t carry much in the way of coffee, little one. Here, let me offer my assistance.”

His heavy antlers glowed a soft red light to match his eyes, hefting the tired pegasus with ease onto his back.

“I trust you all will cause no trouble in the halls of King Aster. Lest you are bound again, to prevent a scene. There is much to discuss, and resisting will benefit neither party.” His eyes focused heavily on Tempest at that statement, the defiant mare narrowing her gaze.

“I will only resist if resistance is necessary,” she said, as the Guard allowed them entrance to the hall.

“Then you will be quiet, and approach the King with dignity, I assume?” he said smartly back. As they left the jail’s hall, they were flanked on either side by two heavily armed Guards, bearing burdens of heavy green plate, with golden trim. Their armor made no sound with each step, and even their hooves on the tiled floor were awfully quiet.

Returning to the Grand Hall, it led steadily into a now occupied throne room - once more leaving Celestia envious. The throne was made of a rich maple finish, adorned with beautiful antlers scoring the sides. Gold trim lined the heavy, rich, red pillow in the center; at the crest of the backrest, a large emerald shone with timid beauty in the faint light of the moon.

The red carpet leading into the room ended in a small podium, in which an advisor or citizen may address the king, or a crowd - plenty of space for seating available in this wide hall. And a spectacle it was, with rich tapestries detailing historical moments lining the spaces between giant branch entwined windows. The gleam of stained glass filling the room in a rainbow of colors.

At this throne, sat the king. A towering giant of a deer, roughly a full head taller than Celestia herself - his noble green eyes rested over her. White and gold flecked fur, a sign of beauty among his kind, and the ponies gathered as well. Several purple flowers rested at the base of his antlers, true to his name - an autumn bouquet of asters. As they approached, his gaze settled on the battered Celestia, and stayed for far too long. As if seeing something he wished he shouldn’t, or a piece of his past come to life - a tale within stories was surely told within his glistening irises.

He spoke in a clear, steady, yet stern voice. Almost calming by nature, as if the very trees spoke with him. “Princess Celestia, if I may assume?”

Celestia was caught unaware by the proclamation, but nodded her head to recover. “Yes. I am Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and its Realms. It is an honor to finally meet, yet I do not recall a past contact with you, King Aster. If I may inquire, how did you happen upon my name?”

At that, he hesitated - perhaps sampling his own words, before speaking in a fluent tongue. “I am a descendant of the Old Wood King, Lord Mapleheart; far beyond your time, who taught me well of your lineage. You were still ascending in your rule, when the paths of Deer and Pony split. But if I may inquire, how did you of all creatures enter my realm?” It wasn’t an accusation by any means, but genuine curiosity. A Princess should be in her castle, not traveling the wilds, after all.

“The very same reason that night has fallen, and not yet lifted, your Highness. A great evil has once again returned to the realm of the Material Plane, the place your kind has long abandoned. This very same evil has possessed my Sister, chased me from my home, and is intent on splitting the Fabric to shreds. If she is left unchallenged, then not only will Equestria be lost - but the very Feywilds you reside in, as well.”

Several of the gathered deer spoke in hushed whispers at her words, confirming the King’s suspicions. “I had wondered for many an eve why the passing of the moonlight had not come. Now I know. I will trust your words, Princess - but this leaves more questions. Why are you in my domain?”

“We are traveling to retrieve an abducted companion - her talent and skill may be the key to turning the tide against Nightmare Moon. We had intended to rest and gather supplies from our Pegasi companion’s home, but were intercepted by your bucks. It just so happened that the Lunar Plane’s presence is disrupting the natural existence of other planes within the Prime as well, and if left unchecked, could shatter the Feywild’s magics. Inevitably spelling disaster for both your subjects, and my own.” Celestia’s voice stood as a bastion of dignity, regardless of the pain her body had endured. When it came to politics, she was nigh unshakeable.

“I believe there is proof to your claims. I have heard word of mysterious structures and weather forming across my lands - ruins from another realm, and the chill of the Lunar magics. The Circlet Mystics agree on the decay of the Feywild’s power; and with your testimony, I have no other recourse but immediate action.” The noble deer slid up to his long legs, looming over the battered party with his majesty.

“As King of the Feywilds of White Tail Wood, I declare your presence fated, and as such grant you the ranks of Royal Guests. I apologize for the imprisonment laid against you, and offer you aid in your travels. If you are on a mission to save not just the Prime, but the Fey - then you are welcome within my Halls. But with this news, comes travesty.”

He stepped down from the throne, greeting them all on a more equal level. “I can not send Soldiers to aid you in your quest. The magics of other realms are unkind to my Kin, and many would die within a few days’ time from the arcane shock of drowning in balanced - or unbalanced - magic. This is an adaptation from thousands of generations of survival within these harsh lands, and can not be overcome with our current research; as there was no need to research it.”

He turned back to the throne, looking at the moon through an ornate window hanging overhead. “Instead, I will pay for any supplies you need for your journey, at the cost of the Circlet’s budget. Tools, arms, instruments, food - I will give this as both a gift, and as a contract.”

Aster faced them now again; “Your kind will make it their duty to avoid my Realm in the future. White Tails left the Material Plane to prevent conflict with pony kind; I will not risk the lives of my bucks, does, or fawns over ignorance. Once this established threat is dealt with, this rule will come into effect. Princess Celestia, her gathered kin, and strange being - I will declare your presence tolerated and accepted within my walls, until such a time it is not, when generations pass and the deer you see today take to the stars in their final trail.”

The Deer’s eyes settled on the Purple pegasus, still hanging limply from the buck’s back. “I have yet another question, before my servants will guide you to your accommodation. Is your feathered friend in condition for such a journey?”

The buck holding Vee angled his eyes down at Pumpkin - possibly the worst pony to ask - who froze on the spot.

“U-Um… V-Vee n-needs coffee, o-or she gets sick?...” She stumbled through her sentence like a train wreck, but the point was given.

“Coffee? I…” For once, King Aster’s demeanor broke, thoroughly confused. “...Yes, I suppose I can have the chefs serve coffee. Though it isn’t typically furnished upon my tables, I will see to it that her needs are taken care of. Until then, I am aware of three rooms available within my boughs. If you have a preference for partners in your accommodations…”

Celestia’s overly large wing scooped Arin close to her side, much to the worry of the Seraph. Aster gave a soft, small laugh at the sight, thought not as mirthful as one could expect. As if he saw something the party did not.

“I take it that this hindrance will not be an issue. You are dismissed.”

Their meeting with King Aster went absolutely well, all things considered. And with time slowed to a crawl outside of the Fey, Celestia could take plenty of hours to rest, eat, and recuperate from her horrible stint on the moon.

Unfortunately for Arin, this meant he was essentially locked into a room with possibly the most pent up mare in the world. Well, he wasn’t locked in, until Celestia clicked the latch in place and roughly tackled her Seraph to the bed.

While Celestia wasn’t heavy, when she was motivated - there were no counters to her disarming kisses. Resistance was pointless, futile, and overall ill-advised. Her hooves made an extra special effort to not destroy the buttons on Arin’s jerkin and shirt, wanting to feel the warmth hiding within.

“P-Please, air… I-I can’t… breathe…” He hissed. If this kept up, their ‘temporary’ arrangement may ‘permanently’ kill him.

Arin’s face had started to turn a rather worrying shade of blue from the tightness of her hug when a knock on the door saved his life. Celestia - perhaps a bit upset with the interference of her love, jumped up and rushed for the door, clicking the lock open and peeking around.

Seizing his chance to escape, he stood up - and quickly realized that the only way out was through the currently busy Princess.

“King Aster had noticed the state of your being, Princess, and had requested that extra cosmetics find their way to your hooves.” A soft voice said from beyond the door. Obviously a doe, Celestia bowed her head with a smile.

“Thank you, and please send King Aster my regards for this thoughtful gesture.” She accepted the basket of shampoos and soaps in her muzzle, quickly clicking the lock shut behind her.

Arin, standing and cornered - was not mentally ready for a second round of tough love. “D-Don’t I get a say in any of this?” He asked, nervous - Celestia approaching with a smirk. Setting the basket on her back, she giggled and seized his hand in a hoof.

“You did! Just last morning- er… night.” She flashed her pearly white teeth, before darting a wing around his back. “Come along now, I need lots of help washing up. I don’t have magic at the moment, after all, and I could use your big, strong… uh… Hands! Yes, hands to reach spots I can’t.”

“Can I just… take a nap, while you wash yourself?”

“Haha! Oh Arin, you’re such a card. No. You can’t.” She snapped her tail against him, making him sigh. What did he sign up for? Sure, he loved all of the attention - but she was only at a tenth of her strength, and already, her stamina was daunting. The handle to the bathroom door slid down, revealing the meticulously clean tiles and wood.

Arin sent a silent prayer to whatever sick, demented Gods that cursed him with possibly the most needy version of this Princess; please, free him from this trap. When he was younger, he perhaps would have liked to take things fast with any lover that found his bed - if he could find one. Now, he wished he could slow things down. If only just a touch or… several.

Well, at least she was soft and sweet when it came to cuddling. And those wings! Wonderful for warmth. But now, he had to clean them. He already didn’t like washing his own feathers, which was a new experience - they were awfully heavy when wet, and often needed excessive soap. But her wings were massive. He could feel the carpal tunnel developing at the thought.

With the water running and the mare splashing into an exceptionally wide basin, she eyed him curiously. “Well? Aren’t you going to join me? Or should I slow down a bit? Oh no - I’m not making you uncomfortable, am I?”

The usually happy Princess calmed down, upon seeing Arin fighting with his emotions. “No no - let’s just tone down the bear hugs and maybe be a little more… sensual? I guess? And I’ll be fine.”

She blushed, raising a hoof to her chest in the pouring water. “My apologies. I never meant to be so brash. Let me try again.”

She offered a soft hoof to the Seraph, and after a moment of soul searching - he took it. In truth, he expected her to yank him into the water. Instead, her soft pink-dawn eyes settled into his own, a warmth filling the air between them.

“Would you like to join me, my Sunshine?” she asked softly, her gaze warm enough to melt him. A smile filled the Seraph’s features, and he nodded.

“I would love to.”

Vee wheezed like a dying mare would; Pumpkin holding her hoof with a little giggle. The witchy Pegasus was well known for being overly dramatic, and this fitted her much too well.

Laying in the bed, a bag of coffee had been hoisted up onto the nearby bedpost. A steady drip of the precious bean-juice filling her mouth.

“Just leave me to die, Smol-fry. It’s too late for me. Tell my wife and kids I love ‘em.” She groaned, wiping the sand free from her eyes.

“Vee, you’ve been single for over a hundred years. You told me last month.”

“Oh.” She fake coughed, hiding her muzzle behind a wing. Which she secretly preened, spitting the feathers onto the floor. “Oho! Well then. Tell the most handsome buck you see to marry me, that way he can pay my medical bills. ‘Cause I’m broke.”

The tiny mare laughed, hugging her Sister tight in her hooves. “That settles it, then. I’m never letting you run off again! You may be as old as h-heck, but you’re still my Sister, darn it!”

Vee sucked down more coffee from the tube; Pumpkin still had no idea where she got it from, or how she convinced a deer to serve her coffee like this… but it was an interesting thing, none-the-less.

“Anyway Smol-fry, I’ve got to catch up on my wall staring. Why don’t you snoot up on Tempest? She’s probably sitting around, moping because she’s no fun. D’ohoho~ And by the way… Tell her I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. A Vee like me needs to be free, and I don’t do well with Jerk-faces telling me what to do.”

Pumpkin nodded, simply relieved Vee was okay. “Just promise me you w-won’t bumble off on your own, anymore! S-Sometimes I swear, you’re one crash away from bringing down a mountain.”

“That was one time, Smol-fry! That rock deserved it. It was weak. D’ohoho!” She preened away another feather, simply happy to catch up on her heaps of hard work ahead. A feather a day keeps the Vee at bay, after all.

Chapter 30 - Bookworm

Pumpkin clopped quietly through the Autumn Court’s halls, occasionally stopping to gaze out a window into the beauty of the gardens around them. With Vee out of commission, she decided that a little exploring would be good - and perhaps a visit to Tempest, too. Though they couldn’t stray into the town alone, Pumpkin was just excited to be somewhere so beautiful, thrilling and new.

From the far Western side of Aster’s home, she could see a massive, roaring waterfall billowing into the pools below - red, gold, and white bridges spanning the froggy ponds and beautiful blues of the adjoining river. Flowers of all colors, shapes, and sizes sprung from the edge of the water in a rainbow. Bushes in green, gold, brown, and crimson broke along the gold railing, emerald gems gleaming with a faint light from the posts filled the endless night in beauty unseen.

“Little one, do you require assistance?” a voice startled her from behind - the very same deer that had captured them with the aid of a small herd now stood behind her, eyeing her curiously. His green armor still clad to his form - minus the intimidating hood he wore previously.

“O-Oh um… i-if you could show me where Tempest’s r-room is?...” she mewled, hiding behind her hat. The deer gave a small chuckle, turning down the hallway.

“I assume you mean the violent one. Very well. Follow me.” His armor was as quiet as he was, trailing down the fine floors with the soft, near soundless click of his hooves. Almost undetectable to her ears, unless she listened intently.

Bumbling and galloping up to his side, she tripped - skidding on the pristine, polished marble, right by the deer’s long legs. Gently, he picked her up by the scruff of her neck - righting her before resuming their short journey through the elegant castle halls.

“I’ve never s-seen a land so b-bbeautiful in all my life…” Pumpkin eventually whispered to the tall Buck, who bowed his head.

“We strive for beauty. Our civilization has thrived here through the millenia, untouched by war and strife. Our citizens are happy and kind, and the King is fair and just. I am the General of his Thicket Battalion, Falon. Though for now, you may simply call me ‘Falon’, for short.”

The White Tails had such a way with words, it was alluring. His voice was soft, yet strong - a deep tone that really struck at one’s soul, though it could hardly hold a candle to King Aster. Before she knew it, she found herself in front of a new set of maple doors.

“I will leave you to it, little one. May the leaves line your path ever onwards.” He bowed his head - vanishing quietly down the hall after his strange goodbye. She was now alone, in front of the imposing barricade of Tempest’s room.

“Y-You can do this, Pumpkin. Y-You just need to… k-knock.”

Nervous hooves clattering at the tile floor, she built up the courage to do so - but quickly pulled back. What if Tempest didn’t want company? What if she had… other interests, ones she didn’t share?

No, don’t bother her. Let her be. Vee probably wants more coffee by now, anyway.

Click. The handle turned, right before her eyes. She froze up as Tempest stood in the doorway, looming over her.

“...Can I help you? I can hear your hooves through the door.” She stared blankly through the tiny mare, who finally found her tongue to speak.

“I um… w-wanted to know if you were… okay? O-Or if you needed company, I um… I-I have books in my hat, I-I got them at home... I-I can share with y-you if you… n-need something to do?” Pumpkin’s legs had nearly frozen stiff, yet somehow had the gall to shake regardless. The autumn witch’s gaze wide as she stared up at the imposing form of the wine colored mare.

“You’d like to share… books.” She flatlined, piercing ocean-green eyes nearly making the little witch faint.

“U-Um… Y-Yes?”

There was an uncomfortable silence that followed, as Tempest considered the notion. Finally, she propped the door open with her hoof. “...Very well then.”

Invited into Tempest’s cozy room made the ice break, and her little legs eventually moved on their own. Before she realized it, the door clicked shut behind her. Second, third, and fourth thoughts fought in her brain for attention, as the intimidating pony eyed her. Stepping around her in prowling steps, as if she’d pounce in a moment’s notice.

Finally, Tempest found a cushion by a bustling lit fireplace, resting her long legs in front of Pumpkin. She offered the other cushion to the little mare, who, upon seeing the gesture - quickly took it up.

“So. Books. You wanted to share your books with me,” Tempest stated bluntly, now laying on her side. Relaxed and calm, the scars across her gaze only suited to intimidate the little mare more than anything.

“W-Well yes, I… I snatched some up, when I was looking f-for Vee. For the r-road.” Slipping her hat off, she gently dumped the contents of it across the carpet holding the warm pillows. Dozens of vials of assorted potions and tonics rolled free, some half finished - roots, shavings from a tree, a vial containing nearly a dozen petals - all of this and more, which she gently slid to the side in a neat, disorganized pile.

With the clutter out of the way, she used her muzzle to pop the old leather strap of the bound books, withdrawing several of her favorite romance novels. Tempest stared at the titles of the tomes one by one - hiding her eyes behind a hoof as the last joined the pile; ‘Just my Buck’.

“W-What’s wrong?” Pumpkin frowned, clopping her little forehooves together; nervousness freezing her in her fur, despite the warm fire. She knew Tempest read at least a couple of these, right? Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment, her ears shining with heat now as they, too, fell victim to the emotions.

“...I have already read every single one of these books,” she admitted, taking her turn to blush. “Not that I… have found any use of them. It’s a passing interest. Nothing more.”

“You… you read ‘Just my Buck’ too?” Pumpkin squeaked. “G-Gosh! I-I didn’t know! You always seem so… t-tough, and… headstrong. I um... “

She fiddled with the brim of her hat. “I-I’ve always wanted to write my own. B-Book! I mean. N-Not… romance novel. W-Well, maybe.”

At that, Tempest raised an eyebrow. “You? You can hardly stutter out a hello. What makes you think you could write a book?”

Pumpkin mewled, her ears falling low. “Y-You’re right, I… I’m sorry, i-it was just a thought.”

Tempest mentally kicked herself; she looked ready to cry now. Great work on the former Commander’s part. “I didn’t mean it like that, Pumpkin. I mean… how are you going to… hold a conference, or speak with a publisher? There’s many steps to writing a book, beyond just writing.”

Her ears perked up, wiping away a tear from her eye. “W-Well, I’ve… started writing about our journey so far. It’s um… I think it’s o-okay.”

The Unicorn perked an eyebrow at that, curious. “Really now?”

She nodded, jumping when she heard a faint moan through the walls. “W-What was that?!”

Tempest sighed, sending a swift kick against the adjacent room. The thump was either ignored, or had gone unnoticed. “Two lovebirds who can’t keep their hooves - or hands to themselves. Just ignore them, Pumpkin. You’ve caught my interest, at the very least. Let’s make a deal.”

Tempest stood up from the pillow, offering a hoof to the little witch. Gingerly, she took it - bouncing up to her shaky legs.

“I’ve had… issues, searching for a cure for my horn’s condition. I’ve seen your witchcraft at work, how you can manipulate objects with magic in the right conditions - regardless of your lack of mystical focus. And after considering the offer, well... If you could teach me your methods, say… when we’re resting on the road, and during our stay here - I’ll teach you how to be a confident and aspiring leader. I’ll even help you with your stutter. Does that sound reasonable?”

Pumpkin, now eye to… well, shorter eye to the daunting mare, thought quietly. “I-I’m still an apprentice, M-Miss Shadow, but I can try.”

“Don’t call me by my last name. Just call me ‘Tempest’. It sounds weird when you call me that.” She pointed, her hoof bumping her cream colored chest.

“R-Right! I-I’m sorry M-Miss um… Tempest.”

The chipped horn mare sighed. They had a lot of work ahead of them.

Chapter 31 - To the Unexplored West

The following few ‘days’ came by in a breeze, the group taking their time to fully recover and provision for the road. Arin’s pack, coming apart at the seams - was destroyed during their capture. Instead a more suitable, lightweight, but expansive Feywild’s Leather satchel took not only its place, but his once familiar home crafted side bag, too. The White Tails had spent years researching the most efficient use of enchanting magics to develop travel aid of this caliber, and with it, came many perks.

The inside of the pack was almost as big as a tiny closet. In fact, if it were entirely empty - he might struggle to fit inside himself, without the bag taking more than a moderate amount of space in reality. It was lined with pockets and straps, space enough to fit not only days of rations and camping supplies - but a fully fledged tent for two, of Silversun make. He even found a spot for the now broken Alicorn Amulet, which could one day sell for a pretty coin or three.

Sonata was returned to his possession, though the regal bow had seen some improvements. For one, it was reinforced with Fey Glass - a strange material that was springy like wood, but durable like steel. It was light weight, and replaced the blue trim with green. While he wasn’t sure about the color swap - it fit well with the new gifts of Fey Glass bracers and Tree Cloth leggings; meant to emphasize quiet survival, but able to overturn arrows and blades with relative ease. It gave him much needed protection without weighing more than the mithril he formerly adorned, anyway. Another neat perk to their craftsmanship was the emerald locked in the bow’s handle; a magical foci. While he could cast magic with arrows, this assisted greatly in this endeavor - and would allow even a novice to either create magical bolts to let loose, or swirl magic into physical arrows rapidly.

Celestia was granted her own set of travel-ready armor, befitting of her stature. A light half-plate cuirass hugged her chest, made of Planar Gold. Keenly fitted to deflect magical attacks, it was well suited for an Alicorn able to fly. Which, after their time here - she could do now, though still not as freely as Vee did. Her wings would take much, much longer to fully return to their old regality, but good food and company did wonders.

On top of this, Celestia was given a Wildwood Staff, an amber resting in the crown of the root-grown stave. It also bore a crescent blade, giving it more of a bardiche appearance. It would allow her, a Solar Magic pony - to channel a variety of magic, albeit nowhere near the intensity she could while fully within her element.

Pumpkin didn’t seem much like a fighter. Actually, she seemed better adept at cowering. Regardless, King Aster ordered a set of Feywild Leather to keep her safe. They made an effort to match her orange hat, at least. And she was simply happy to see more deer handiwork that now fit tightly around her.

Tempest was probably the easiest to outfit. All she demanded was armor. No special weapons, no unique trinkets - just protection for her body. She was confident her training would handle the rest. So, they granted her a heavy set of plated Winter Irons, a unique metal found only in the Fey. It was dark colored, sure - but it offered outstanding protection from just about everything. The only downside was that it was heavy, and a bit noisy. Though malleable in certain ways, allowing her total freedom of movement.

Vee… that was difficult. The pegasus also wasn’t a fighter, but in a different sense. She was unpredictable. Entirely unpredictable. So much so, that the Circlet’s Quartermaster had trouble finding something to fit her.

“So. How do I keep you alive?” the doe said, slowly walking around the Purple pegasus.

“Oho! Bold of you to assume I’m alive. Who knows! I could very well be sleeping right now, and this could all be a dream.” Vee preened a wing, acutely unaware of the measuring tape floating around her torso.

“Hm. How quick are you on those wings?” the yellow eyed doe asked, writing down notes in a clipboard before her. The soft glow of magic surrounded her tools, her imagination at work.

“Well, Invade-my-personal-space-fry, I’m faster than an arrow! If said arrow was thrown by a toddler foal.”

“Hooves, then?”

“If I don’t have to tie my shoes? Fast! Unfortunately, I don’t have shoes - so I never have to not tie them! D’ohoho.”

The doe blinked at her nonsense, wiggling her nose in contemplation. A flick of her brown ear, a bleat of frustration - and she clopped away on cloven hooves to a nearby weapons rack. Shuffling through the assorted weaponry, she eventually pulled out a green tipped lance - tossing the elegantly carved haft into Vee’s hooves.

“Swing that for me,” she stated, hovering the clipboard beneath her chin to judge.

“Hmhmhm. This reminds me much too much of my band days, as a baton twirler! Ohohoho, I hated the Flight School. Bad for the feathers, all that flapping for no reason!”

Vee, swirling a faint purple aura around the staff - spun it expertly in the air above her. She did so while sipping away at a cup of coffee, balancing the wooden pole on the tip of her hoof. Impressed, the doe watched with amusement.

“I said swing. But… perhaps you’ve found your match. The lance it is then. Now, armor… That’s the tough part. What are you weakest against?”

“Hmhm… mornings, typically. Bad for the feathers, but strangely good for the coffee. No, best for the coffee. Wills away the wisps of night, d’ohoho!” She sipped tiredly at her mug, gazing right through the deer before her.

Perturbed silence followed. The doe thought carefully for a minute, before sketching up some designs - trotting away to her workshop to fashion something fitting for Vee. Within hours of her return, she found Vee still standing there - staring blankly at a wall. Unnerving as it was, she deposited a parcel before her - gleaming golden yellow magic settling it on the floor.

“I think Starhide should work well for you, your Excellence.”

“Oh? I changed my mind; Deer-fries are alright. If there’s one way to my heart, it’s coffee. Or buttering up my wings with compliments and free stuff.”

She stared at the thin leather gear assorted before her, frowning. “Does it come in ‘already on my body’ flavor or do I have to put it on myself?”

The doe frowned, “Do you require assistance, or?...”

“Oh no, I don’t. I’ve just never put on clothes before! Except for my hat. And maybe a robe once or twice. Hmhm.” She idled at the bundle, levitating her magic pokey stick in the air - and roughly stuffed what looked like an ornately decorated leather and chain shirt over her muzzle, the purple colors quite befitting.

“Aha! Yes, wonderful. I feel invincible already,” she said, the jerkin mostly covering her face. She put it on through the wrong hole. “If this were a bag, it would be a very ugly bag; too many holes. D’ohoho~”

Eventually, the petite deer worked up the courage to approach - using her magic to tug Vee’s new armor across her chest properly. After popping it off and realigning it, of course. Immediately, a new coffee stain formed on the front.

“Perfect! It’ll smell just like me in no time. Maybe now I can intimidate the guards to let me preen in my perfectly legal public bird bath in peace.”

“You are a strange pony. Are many of your kind like you?” the doe finally asked, as Vee stuffed the lance into her hat.

“No no, not at all! The world can only handle one Vee at a time. Perhaps in another plane of existence. But not the Prime! Though a pink one is awfully close. Shame she was doodled before I was! Hmhm.”

By now, their days of plenty were coming to an end. In the great dining hall of Silversun, our party rested for the final time at breakfast - each carrying a new pack, donning fresh armor and eager to move. While they had been here several days, only an hour had passed in the Prime. Aster’s dining hall was a wonderful spectacle to behold, like many things in the White Tail’s world. Food was abundant, and live entertainment was found in plenty.

A quiet violinist and pianist played for the King and gathered Court; dozens of talkative deer asking questions, drinking wine, and speaking in their strange accents. Food was fresh and plentiful, and the mood light and airy. Wine was served, from freshly opened bottles and sweet to the taste.

The group was settled closest to Aster’s side. As Royal Guests, they had the honor and right to it. On his right, Celestia, Arin, and Tempest. His left, Pumpkin and Vee. The little mare exceedingly nervous to be seated next to such a large deer.

Regardless, after days of sitting on her words and finding herself unable to speak, their time grew short - and she finally summoned her courage to act.

“K-King Aster?” she stuttered, the massive gold flecked buck lending an ear to the tiny mare.

“Yes, my Guest?” he said softly, the little mare curling up just a bit.

“I-I’d like to open a shop here, one day. I-If that’s okay with um… y-you?” She clopped her hooves together, anxiety seeping into her voice. The towering King examined her closely in his ageless eyes, humming.

“It may be decades until I, or my Kin, see you again. I am afraid I can not guarantee nor promise space for you to sell wares, as the world around us may change. What do you intend on flaunting, if I may inquire?”

With the fear of never returning to these beautiful lands, anxiety began to strangle her words. “W-Well u-um… I-I’m a b-baker, a-and potion m-maker.”

“Mm. There are many with talents such as those who roam my Realm.” He frowned, before Arin gave a cough.

“If I may… interject, your Highness. But she is the best baker I know of. I worked with her before, and none can match her, save perhaps a Grandmaster in the trade.” Arin smiled, confident with his words. The now blushing mare ducked her head under her hat.

“Oh? Hm. Your history had intrigued me, Sir Arin - a former King, and now nothing more than a Knight cast aside by their Lady. If you hold truth to your words, then I may see light to them. Unfortunately, I am not so easy to persuade without evidence.”

At that, a thought popped into the Seraph’s head. Quickly, he dug around in his new pouch. He stumbled through the process of withdrawing an ornamental glass pumpkin, with a familiar coin slot in the top. Pumpkin gasped, as Arin poured a dozen still fresh cookies onto a clean plate. It’s magic, he doesn’t have to explain it. Sliding it forward, he offered the King a taste.

A luminous glow of gold surrounded one of the discs, levitating it before his eyes. He cracked the crumb, sniffing it - ageless eyes curious on the construction. With that, he took a small nibble.

Then a bite. He finished the cookie, now smiling as he held aloft another. “Very well then, Miss Pumpkin Spice. I will grant your request. Under one condition.”

She darted up from under her hat, eyes wide. “Y-Yes?”

“You will sell me the first batch you produce here, in Silversun. Perhaps one day, with hope and delegation - research may prevail, and a solution may be found to our plane-restricted plight. Some trade may begin between us and our former rivals, if Princess Celestia is willing?” He polished off the second cookie in moments, his emerald eyes swiveling to the present Alicorn. She smiled brightly, giving a nod.

“That would be wonderful, King Aster. Our history may be bittersweet, but the future still holds bright. One day, perhaps soon - you could meet my now former student, Princess Twilight. She is a fine heir to Equestria’s throne, and would be more than willing to seek an arrangement.”

Aster smiled, a warm laugh filling his throat. “A pleasant dream, that may be - but a distant one for us. For now, the aegis of time spins slowly - a day here is merely minutes in your realm. But fate may find it unwilling, and slow our world to a crawl, while yours turns ever onward. Only the decision of magic untamed will prove if a future comes between us or not. I may very well pass before that time may come, as old as I may be.”

His eyes settled back on Pumpkin, examining the strapping young mare with kindness in his heart. “I will need an ambassador, after all - if this time ever comes. If a simple treat from you could inspire my decision to let you stay, then words from your mouth - however unwieldy they are in your hooves - may prove valuable in my court. For that, you will need this.”

From his regalia across his torso, set many gems. A small detail to the infinite beauty of the Feywilds, when captured in this light - but a detail, none-the-less. Antlers shining brightly, he plucked a near miniscule emerald from the centerpiece; dangling by a gold cord, it would make a fine earring. Gently, it slid forward in his magic - clipping into her ear.

“I name thee Pumpkin Spice, Ambassador to the Autumn Court. May the leaves line your path ever onwards.” He bowed to the stunned mare, Vee waving a hoof quietly in front of her face.

“Small-fry? Are you alright?” she asked.

Flump. Pumpkin hit the ground, unconscious. A warm laugh from the ageless cervine filled the air, as Vee’s wing propped the now calmly resting Pumpkin up to not draw the attention of any gathered deer.

“D’ohoho, an excitable fry at times, but a good fry she is! Lots of feathers in her brain, lots of scribbles in her books.” The Purple made an effort not to both preen and sip coffee at the same time; bad for the coffee, after all.

“Now, for the rest of you. As I said before, until the ages pass and your names go unwritten, you shall be welcome here. Though if you drink half as much coffee as our Pegasus friend, I will have to charge.” He grinned, Celestia’s own smile widening.

“And you will be welcome in my home, as well, any time. At least… after some remodeling. Canterlot could definitely use an aesthetic update, after stepping hoof in yours.”

The road out of Silversun was much more refined now that they were on the cobble proper; trails and farmsteads unseen before their tenure springing to existence, all buildings keeping to the thematic approach of the beautiful red pillar and white walls of the Cervine’s home. From this perspective, wildlife didn’t just bloom - it flourished. Creeks and rivers ran clear, the roads were alight with beauty and species of bird undocumented. Even a rare Phoenix made an appearance, much to Celestia’s delight. Guided by six chatty deerfolk soldiers, their path led west - slow cold seeping into the once fair breeze of the Autumn Court.

It honestly felt like they were leaving the last homely house, on this edge of Equestria. As the trail narrowed and grew into dense vegetation again, the conversation between the guiding deer died down. The crunch of snow grew underfoot, fireflies buzzing quietly in the cold. Now, they were walking through untended brush. When Arin looked back to the warmth of the Feywilds, he found nothing but bitter chill behind. The entire world they stepped in, now gone. And the guards as well, vanished - leaving the group alone.

It washed the party in a sense of loneliness, the fireflies of the Fey fading. Like stepping out of a dream, into the cold, dark reality.

“I almost want to go back,” Arin said, Celestia’s wing hugging tight to his side.

“There may yet be a day where you’ll find comfort there. But that’s not today, my friend.” She winked, before they began their ever steady journey West.

Breaking across the train tracks once more, their trek journeyed ever onwards. Somewhat fitted against the cold winter ahead, and the danger that will lurk in the Corpse Vale, their pace was doubled over their previous attempt. The very name of ‘Corpse Vale’ was concerning, especially to Arin. Undead weren’t entirely unheard of in the Far Reaches; but they were often the work of vile Necromancers that practiced the dark arts.

By now, the track split off - a roughshod path breaking west and pushing onwards, their first goal looming before them.

“This is the farthest I’ve ever been from Canterlot - at least, in this direction.” Celestia said, her eyes taking in the thinning forests. The tree line shrank - thinning out into rolling plains once they abandoned the now southern facing tracks.

Yet still, there was a path to follow. It looked abandoned more than anything, with weeds cracking the rocky gravel of the broken road, ice slicks common and near treacherous for the unprepared. A broken bone from a simple fall wasn’t a joke.

“I can see the edge of the Lunar Plane’s magic just ahead - let’s hurry. Once we pass it, I can finally raise the sun. It should at the very least slow Nightmare Moon’s magic. And it could buy us valuable time.” Celestia trotted ahead of the group, her pace increasing to match her mood. Excited to bask in solar magic again, and to be free of the cold - everypony, Seraph included, picked their step up into a trot. Or jog, if one only had two legs.

This speed kept up for at least an hour straight, and soon led to the uncomfortable feeling of sweat under armor. While the gear was sturdy, it wasn’t particularly built for Lunar weather - thus leading to chilly spots all around, letting the cold seep into the moisture and rattle bones below the skin. Tempest was the first to curse her choice in wear; armor did not help in the cold, as Winters Iron spread icy chill evenly across the surface.

But crossing that thin, silvery line on the floor sent them stumbling back into the late summer world. Arin and company breathing deep warm breaths, simply happy to be out of the chilly snow.

But crossing the barrier wasn’t enough - an ambling pace had to be kept to stay beyond its reach. As much as Celestia and Arin both wanted to throw themselves into the tall grass like animals, and roll around in the summer heat - a mission had to be accomplished.

Celestia, as weak as she was - was still connected to the sun. Empowered by the mere absence of the chilly Lunar air, she took her hoof to her chest in a soothing breath. Staff piercing the ground, she closed her eyes - raising her mostly mended wings, and took off with the faint glow of her horn.

The celestial body beyond the clouds broke the skyline, as dawn - then soon midday, crested the horizon. The glorious spectacle of the sunrise stirred away the dark shadows that clung so tightly to the woods beyond and around the old road, birds singing and crickets silencing in its majesty.

She held her magic high - contrasting against the foreboding darkness of the Lunar Plane. But even with the sunrise, it did little to beat back the imposing dark, only slow its growth. Celestia, her faint magic leaving her - tumbled from the air. The Seraph darting high to catch her before the fall grew deadly.

Her body limp, and the warmth of the sun flooding them, he gently brought his new love to the grassy floor. The Princess soon stirred at his touch, eyes cracking open to take in his own.

“Good morning, Sunshine.” He chuckled, forcing a smile onto her adorable muzzle.

“Mm.. morning indeed. But I think ‘Sunshine’ is my line.” She ran a hoof along his cheek, as all eyes rose to the sky.

Sun and moon both clung to the clouds in their imposing beauty, almost like a challenge to each other. War had begun; the inhabitants of the Material World casting the glove at the denizens of the Lunar Plane. It was a war not likely to end well, as the moon loomed ever closer on the horizon - its Sister losing ground to the tide of its darkness.

But it was a war worth fighting for, as Arin tucked Celestia’s nearly recovered body to his chest. A battle for the sky, hearth, and home.

Chapter 32 - In Murky Swamps

“So, why don’t ponies just… fly over the inhospitable parts of the Unexplored West, and set up a town in a safe spot?” Arin asked aloud, to nopony in particular as they walked. With the cold left behind them, they now had to make it to Mountain Cleave Pass - a split in the last great barricade between Equestria, and the dangerous territories beyond that stray ever closer to the world’s edge.

“Okay, say you did set up a town. Sure, marathon glider pegasi or a few airships could fly to it - but the most effective and well used form of travel and transport is by train. You now need to build a train station and railway, through hundreds and hundreds of miles of swamp and deadly cliff sides, just to feed your town. Sure, you could deliver supplies by air - but this is often too expensive to consider practical. You could grow your own food, but then - what would be the point of your town? It’s not able to provide any supplies or goods by train to civilization. And cargo ships won’t work, either - the ocean is extremely dangerous the farther West or East you go, as it approaches the Edge.”

Celestia was a great teacher, but sometimes, she really did make him seem dumb. A couple thousand years of knowledge would do that to you, after all.

“Well, alright. I guess you’ve got a point. But uh… you didn’t have to say it like that. Could have just said… ‘too much unsafe land to travel and no trade routes’, and I would have got it.” He scratched the back of his head. Okay, he definitely had a reason to study now. If he ever wanted to one-up Tia in something, he would have to earn it.

“Oh! Sorry, I’m just used to teaching fillies and colts, along with my now former Pupil.” She sighed, her thoughts turning to Twilight. “I hope she’s safe. Whatever Nightmare Moon has planned, it’s not likely to end well for her or her friends.”

“Do you think she’ll kill them? I mean. She seemed really blood thirsty and cruel, back on the moon.”

“Unlikely,” Tempest chimed in. “Killing the Elements would be a massive waste of potential. If anything, she’s working to corrupt them to fit her dark purposes. It’s likely that we’ll face overwhelming opposition on our return.”

“W-Will we have to… h-hurt ponies?” Pumpkin had returned to her preferred position on her magic broom, once again empowered by solar magic. With this freedom, she could clop her little front legs together nervously. A habit that wouldn’t pass with time.

“D’ohoho! Don’t worry Smol-fry! A splash of coffee and they’ll be right as rain.” Vee sipped from her mug, happily flapping along half asleep.

“I would typically ignore your reasoning, Vee - but now I’m curious. Do you have a plan to break Nightmare Moon’s control? Or are you just blathering to waste our time?” Tempest questioned, the Purple hovering her mug in her magic. With a cough and a straightening of her hat, the Pegasus put herself back together well enough to speak on equal terms with the Unicorn.

“Hmhm. My working theory is that their consciousness are infused by Lunar magic; if we could cut contact from the Lunar Plane, the Dream Plane will fade in turn. A massive flash of solar magic should be sufficient to disrupt the mind control and free the Nightmare’s intended slave, but will not prevent further interaction and manipulation through the dark Alicorn’s foci; it would also be an excessive waste of energy, as even a flare of magic would fail to cleave through the dark for long. I believe a challenge to this would be an excessive amount of stimuli to force consciousness as a followup treatment. This very same method prevented Nightmare Moon from enrapturing myself in the dream realm.”

All ponies gathered soon stopped to stare at the imposter in Vee’s skin, the Pegasus turning intelligent eyes on all of them. Pumpkin’s hat fell off in a breeze, Celestia’s marble-sized irises honed in on the Purple, a single hoof from the Princess raising Tempest’s fallen jaw off the floor to seal it shut. Arin - mid swig of his water - checked his canteen, wondering if somepony had poisoned it.

Vee winked at Tempest, before sipping at her coffee. “Well, Stern-fry? Was that serious enough for you? Thought I’d just sit around for a month and not think about your snobby snoot?”

“I-I… uh. Yes,” she eventually stammered out, “I… didn’t expect that.”

“Nopony expects the Vee-Ness Inquisition.” Vee d'ohohoho'd, fluttering her wings forward. Her hoof swirled in the air, popping Pumpkin’s hat back on her head in a swish of purple light as she passed. “Let’s keep flapping; Spooky-horn awaits.”

All eyes fell to Pumpkin for an explanation, who could only shrug. Even she didn’t know what just happened.

Their trek ever onward brought them to the split in the mismatched mountains; the great peak closest blocking the sun’s light from the smaller cliffs behind. The rugged path pushed on through this narrow channel, up a sharp incline before barreling out into a proper dip down. The landmass beyond was hidden quite well, and gave Equestria a wide berth between the civilized world and the unexplored wilds.

Even from here, the forests grew ever thinner as their path shot up. Looking north or south gave a clear view of the sea, as the long hike brought them ever upwards.

“Look Tall-fry, all I’m saying is - you pick up Stern-fry, I’ll carry Sun-fry in my magic - and Small-fry will bumble along on her broom behind. It’s not that hard, I tell ya. You’re all just lazy. If we just take my suggestion, we can snoot our way over to Umbra in a single preening session.” Vee mumbled about fries continuously for the next several minutes; Arin wondered if she meant the fish, the potato fry, stir fry, or the ponies and Seraph around her. Really, it was hard to tell with Vee.

“Tempest, how much do you weigh on a good day?” Arin said, the crunch of coarse stone trampled under his boot.

“Fifty five heaps of unbridled martial prowess and dignity. Touch me with a broom and I’ll break it off in your a-”

“That’s why,” Arin cut her off, the grape-colored mare rolling her eyes.

“Ohoho! Then tell you what - you carry Angry-fry, I’ll carry Tax-relief-fry, and then Small-fry can make us lunch or something,” she offered with a sip. Celestia rolled her eyes, but said nothing as they marched.

“S-So um… I didn’t get a c-chance to ask, Tempest, but… what did you think of Silversun?” The fall-themed mare smiled, hovering lazily alongside the imposing Unicorn.

“I thought it was-...” Her eyes locked to Pumpkin, who leaned into every word she said. Perhaps then, she changed her opinion to be a little more… tolerable. Not just a dismissive ‘acceptable’. “It was beautiful, Pumpkin. Are you ready for tonight’s lesson?”

The little mare clapped her hooves, squeaking as she nearly lost her balance. A gentle bump from Tempest kept her upright, making her smile. “Yes! A-And again, thank you.”

“Lesson? Who’s teaching who, Pumpkin?” Arin asked, the small mare blushing beneath her hat.

“Well, Tempest is teaching me to b-be more… confident, and n-not stutter so much. And I’m teaching her h-how to channel Solar magic without a Foci! We started back in Silversun, when V-Vee was recovering. I-I um… wanted it to be a surprise, but I guess the word i-is out now, huh?” Pumpkin spun around on her broom - Tempest neatly stepping out of the way as the handle nearly smacked her leg. That very same leg shot forward without a second glance, catching the broom’s bristles before she spun too far and lost her balance.

“That’s very kind of you, Tempest. Sharing knowledge and learning to accept help from others is a key step in making friends.” Celestia smiled, bowing her head in appreciation.

Tempest, usually strict and firm - couldn’t resist a faint blush. “...I suppose so.”

Breaking the gap in the mountains, they turned into the pass proper - the waft of decay from the valley’s stench something foul as it could reach their noses unbidden. The very breeze itself carried a none-too-friendly scent of death, the road leading deeper under swampy branches of willows and spruce. Moss hung low, a humid breeze stirring as pecks of rain trickled across the mire before them.

“From this point onwards, things will be a lot harder. Steel your nerves, or head home. There may not be a return journey,” Tempest said, adamant in her independence.

“D’ohoho! We’ll do no such thing, Stern-fry. Face it, you’re stuck with us whether you like it or not.” Vee landed within preening range of the Unicorn, a purple wing soon whittling feathers to the floor.

“I’m not going to lie, Tempest. It’s been around several hours since we started, and I’m not fancying a camp out in the mud. Think we should stop and rest for a while; catch a nap?” Celestia offered, looking to the looming muck ahead of them with trepidation.

She gazed onward over the trees of the deathly mire. “I’m wary of wasting any more time. Umbra wouldn’t settle now, nor should we.”

“Yes, but if I know anything about swamps, it’s that the mud drags your hooves down, the bugs suck your blood from your veins, and the rain whittles your resolve. I know she’s your friend, but dying on the way from quicksand and sleep exhaustion isn’t going to solve her problems.” The Princess raised a hoof in worry; pressing on in the muck and gloom when tired didn’t seem… wise.

Tempest sighed, eventually nodding. “You’re right. I would rather not be challenged on this matter; I prefer to lead unquestioned, but if the dainty Princess needs rest… fine.”

Celestia wrinkled her snout in dissatisfaction; it was one thing to disagree, but calling her dainty was an insult she didn’t take very well.

“Besides, Stern-fry! How are you two such good friends? Did you boop snoots? Snoot boops are very good for the feathers, despite the ruffling, d’ohoho.” Vee puffed a feather from her muzzle, snorting in frustration as the sickly wind tumbled it back into her coffee. Not a good sign; a bad omen, in fact. One she didn’t like. Not one snoot.

“What? No, you… Look. Umbra and I have both walked the same path. I have never held a bond so close with anypony in my life, and dare I say it - in another world, she would be my sister by blood. I see her like family, in the short time we’ve spent together. And I wouldn’t abandon her, not now. Not when the world is threatening to crumble to pieces. Canterlot, the ponies and even Twilight and her friends - would never hold a candle to the passion that burns within me now. I would never see her as anything but a friend. That would be like… loving a clone of myself. I feel disgusted just thinking about it.”

Arin shrugged. He didn’t truly believe that - Umbra had to love someone, and so did Tempest. But she seemed genuine enough; maybe they really were on the verge of becoming good friends? “I mean, it makes sense. You act a lot like her, I can definitely see you two being close. I’d buy that.”

Even Celestia gave a nod, acknowledging it. “It takes a special bond to make a friend so quickly. It reminds me of when Twilight first made friends in Ponyville. If she had stuck to her old ways, we wouldn’t be here right now. If anything, Nightmare Moon would have won, and Leotoln would have likely swooped in after the fact and cleaned up the mess, seizing the throne of Canterlot. Oh heavens, he would have dealt with Anonymous in the Castle. That strange creature nearly ran me up the wall in anger over his brutish behavior.”

“Anyway, back on topic. Tempest. Are we going to camp first, or chance it? We’ve been moving for well over half a day - and with our handy dandy portable sunlight,” He winked to Celestia, “we’ll be well set for the road in the morning.”

Tempest thought quietly for a minute; looking at the vast swamp before them and the rough route they’d have to take. “I don’t suppose you intend on keeping it day all the time?”

“It’s the only sign that we’re fighting the Nightmare.” Celestia bowed her head sadly, her eyes wandering to the distant moon and the creeping darkness. “A short rest to sleep and shelter would be wise. At the very least, it will give us more time to find a safe place in inhospitable lands.”

Tempest frowned, nodding. “Very well. We’ll break here. But we move in the cover of sunlight. When the Lunar magic seeps close, we’ll travel to stay free of the cold.”

Their short rest was just that; much too short. With the cold creeping closer, they had at best a scant few hours of sleep to catch up on. At least they had a chance to try their tents in fair conditions; elegant and light, it provided splendid cover from the elements. The pillows and bedding included was more than sufficient to supplement their short rest.

Vee, as per usual, sat outside by a hastily made campfire to fix a new pot of coffee. Not wanting to set up a third tent, Pumpkin was bold enough to ask if she could rest with Tempest for the hours ahead - which she kindly agreed. They were getting along nicely, at least.

As the night hung deadly cold to the east of them, their bags were packed and the path was set upon once again. Past the mountains, not only did the road become worse and near untouched - but the very trees often blocked the roughshod path, a dim gloom hanging in the stale air. Trunks and branches from free weather were strewn about the rough muck of the swampy floor, bubbling heat dragging moisture from the mud and into the soup-like stifle around them. The mountains blocked the sun overhead, aided by the overgrown canopy that almost made the daylight seem pointless.

What’s worse was the swampy grime, as one misplaced step could send a pony like Celestia chest deep. This actually happened, as it took Arin and Tempest both to pull the shocked Princess free.

“When I imagined going on an adventure, I thought of fresh, cool breezes, vistas to view the beauty of Equestria, and exotic food. Not heat, sucking mud and shocking stenches.” Celestia grimaced, shaking her once pristine white hoof to drip mud across the broken stones.

“W-Who even built this road?” Pumpkin mewled in the dim light of the overhead sun.

“Ponies from ages past, though if they lived here, they’ve moved on by now. Keep moving. We’re fighting time here. If you look back along the road, you can quite clearly see we’ve got at best ten minutes until night falls.”

Indeed, through the wretched muck and decaying trees, the thin white line of chiling magic had kept pace with them. Slowed by the fauna, their path began to curve around what looked to be a full blown swampy mire. The soft earth sucked at one’s hoof or leg, the water deepening to feet in front as the treeline broke.

“Oho! Look! A light on the water! Hmhm, and a boat as well!” Vee pointed a hoof, flapping away at the feather-ruining breeze. The treeline broke as the path fell apart here, and just across the near blackened water was a slow moving ferry. The distance across the massive swamp was roughly a half league or more; a bit too much for Celestia’s wings, with the water-heavy air sucking away one’s endurance. Even worse, normal magic seemed to be less abundant. If they wanted to walk around it to the Western side, it could take hours - as there simply wasn’t a trail to follow.

“Is it h-heading t-this way?” Pumpkin stuttered, nervous on her broom. By now, she had to kick off the ground to keep afloat every so often, the Sun Witch’s magic distant behind the heavy, light-fading clouds.

“Perhaps they’re friendly?” Celestia offered, hopeful of some good news.

“Doubtful. We should move; I believe during the night, the creatures here grow rabid. Unless you want to slay hordes of shuffling dead, it wouldn’t be wise to stop.” Tempest turned to their left - intent to keep pace.

“Tempest, wait. If we try to walk around all of this, the night will catch up. Maybe we should at least flag them down? If they see us and come swords drawn, then we can slay them and take their boat, at the very least.” Arin crossed his arms, as the Unicorn idled by the shore.

“It would be faster to risk the waters…” Her thoughts stirred for several moments, before nodding. “I’ll accept your idea, if the risk is low. I will not perish from a foalish mistake.”

“Anything to get out of this mud.” Celestia sighed, flecks of the earthy substance whipped off of her once pristine hooves with a flick. “I almost miss the waterfall near Canterlot, now. Nothing cleans off three years of grime like hundreds of tons of water.”

Tempest closed her eyes, channeling the now distant magic into her horn; ember draining its power to channel. With a blast of light, she shot a low-hanging chaotic bolt past the trees and into the sky. The magic rippled and cracked, exploding into a shower of sparks. The small ferry - which was idling near the center, immediately began to move their way. A single pony pushing a stick roughly into the muddy waters to meet them.

Vee’s expert eyes scanned the water, wary of the dangers that might lurk beneath. “Hey Stern-fry, are you sure about this? I’m getting the bad tingles. Not the good kind you get with expensive coffee beans. The bad kind. The kind that’s definitely not good for the feathers.”

“If we weren’t carrying all this gear and two flightless ponies across the way, we could just fly to the other side. But we’re not so lucky; it’s this, or traveling in heavy snow and life stealing mud. With the occasional undead to nip at our heels, probably,” Arin came to the defense of Tempest’s leadership, who nodded her thanks.

Vee wrinkled her snooter, not exactly pleased with the situation. Out of caution, her hooves touched down to a nearby stone. Popping her witchy hat off, the long, green tipped lance slid out of it. She hooked it under her forehoof and wing, strictly out of caution.

“...Nervous?” Tempest asked, her ocean green eyes examining the Purple with curiosity.

“If you had feathers in your brain like I do, you’d be as feathery smart as I. And you’d know not to snoot in the business of strange ponies in swamps.” Her expression turned into a glare over the water, coffee hovering ominously close to her purple leather armor.

The wide boat’s lantern gleamed as it slung in close, an old stallion rocking the pole in wide circles towards the shore. The boat seemed in good condition, which was a bit of a surprise given how dead and decaying everything was around them. The clouds above bathed the world in a soft gray, leaving the light well appreciated from the shade of the moss-heavy trees.

“‘Hoy there!” A gruff voice called out to them, the pale yellow stallion locking eyes with each and every one of the party’s members. “Travelers? In these parts? Hoho! Welcome, welcome! I bet you’re looking to make it to the Carnival, eh?”

“Carnival?” Tempest questioned. Her eyes ran along the far shoreline. “I don’t see a Carnival.”

“Oh? Well, it’s still daylight - do you expect the lanterns to be out and about? Not yet, not yet lass! I am the Ferry Stallion; I bring ponies across. Say - have you heard of this year’s show? ‘The Lights of Life’ they call it! Great stuff, great stuff - haven’t seen this act before! You’ll be dead if you miss it!” He clopped a hoof against the sturdy boat chuckling, grin nearly tearing his cheeks from how wide it was.

“It’s just across the mud, and the show is about to start. Here - tickets are free if you buy a drink on the way in!”

Even Arin felt uncomfortable, though it was his idea; second thoughts were often important. “I don’t know about this anymore. It may be faster, Tempest, but this guy looks shady at best,” he whispered just out of earshot of the tall old man.

“I’ve never heard of a Carnival in these parts. But a fresh drink does sound tempting; maybe we’re overreacting. Besides, I’d like to stay at a local Inn over the cold, muddy ground if there is one,” the Princess remarked, beyond tired of the stench of death.

Tempest thought hard on it, weighing the risk. “This is the fastest way across. Every minute is valuable; the moments we waste put Umbra in danger. I’ll chance a ride on your boat, but we have no time for a ‘Carnival’.”

The elder stallion laughed. “Very well! It’s not something you just miss, though. Hop on, and we’ll be on our way.”

Arin’s danger sense tingled - and even through the heat, he stepped closer to Celestia’s side out of trained habit. She felt his alarm bells ringing, and the Princess hugged the staff tighter in her wing.

The boat was rocked partly to shore, allowing the ponies a chance to climb on board. Pumpkin bounced her broom on first - before stuffing her preferred transport into her hat for safe keeping. Strange how they could fit so much inside, maybe one day Arin will take a look to see what the witches keep beneath their brims.

Vee joined close by her Sister’s pinions, a protective wing settling over her back. Tempest hopped on without any complaints, and Arin - in company of his Princess - joined the group last. The old Ferry Stallion maneuvered around the slick mud with a shove of his rudder, whistling into the humid bog air.

Chapter 33 - The Drink

The swish of water and sound of labor filled the soon fog-heavy air. The lantern pierced through the low cloud in a small blaze, haunting the water over which they traveled. Celestia, perhaps to humor the old stallion - began to ask a few questions to keep the uneasy feeling at bay. It did little to lessen it, but at least she tried.

“So, Mister…”

“If you need a name for me, just call me the Ferry Stallion. That’s all you need to know.” He gave an old, much-too-wide grin, to the displeasure of the Princess.

“Right, Ferry Stallion. How long have you lived here, in the… Corpse Vale, as some have called it?”

He stared out along the water, voice turning to bitter disdain. “Copse Vale, not Corpse Vale. We’re a humble town in the thickets, nothing more.”

The sharp twist of mood was another red flag for Arin, but Tempest swiftly ignored it. They were well over a third of the way there; it would be best not to say anything, and let the elderly ‘Boatswain’ work. If you could call him that.

Tempest’s eyes, unable to see past the wall of fog before her, instead settled on the craftsmanship of the boat. Her hoof ran over the once beautiful wood, now weathered and aged. Strange.

But his mood soon lightened, as the clouds above began to weep. The soft patter of rain was accompanied by a group of ugly sighs; the party cursing their luck as travel cloaks were found and ripped from their bags. Hoods and shoulder capes in all colors were soon equipped, the Ferry Stallion seemingly ignoring the storm.

“Hoho! But I’ve been here for a very long time. Since I was just a foal, I’ve lived here in Copse Vale. Did you know that Copse Vale is built in the bottom of a natural valley? Below sea level, in fact! Makes transporting goods down the mountain easy; I used to be the best at it!” His toothy grin widened now, skin pale and tight on his cheeks. Unease flooded Celestia, as he laid eyes on her.

“Why no, I did not. You intend to move then, I take it? Surely living in a trench would lead to flooding.”

A splash of a wave ripped at the boat, but did little to dissuade the Ferry Stallion as his pole worked. Vee, realizing the danger - whipped Pumpkin’s hat off with her magic and slid the broom free. The Purple said nothing, only shoved it into Pumpkin’s hooves. The smaller mare, worried - rapidly obeyed. Mounting the wooden pole as her hat was less-than-gently plopped back on.

Tempest - out of destructive curiosity - bumped her hoof hard at the once pristine wood. It shot through the handrail of the boat, nearly making her stumble into the crashing waves. Her ocean green eyes went wide with worry, clutching the rotten debris tight in her grasp.

A growing chuckle from the Ferry Stallion brought all eyes on him. Fear, terror, and morbid curiosity coursing through the party as he spoke.

“It would, and it did! And now we’re here, right where we need to be. After all, entry to the Carnival is free if you buy the first drink.” His face - already stony pale - rotted and fell apart into the amalgamation of an undead, black vine-like tendrils swirling out of his cackling mouth - voice distorting into a haunting echo of a tortured soul. Arin shot to his legs to swing at him out of reflex with his dagger, shock taking the party by storm.

The moment Arin’s legs slammed into the floor, his feet pierced through the rotten wood. The storm around them doubled over, as a capsizing wave rose at the bow of the vessel, cutting through the fog in the monsoon. Tempest, dumbstruck and unthinking - dived for the water, to avoid sinking with the ship. Putting her life first over her party was smart - it was her training, as her life as Second in Command to the Storm King made her life far more valuable over the replaceable grunts.

“Sun-fry! Sky! Now!” Vee called, pumping her wings out of the way; Pumpkin joined her side in a frenzy of panting squeaks. The Solar Princess grabbed at her lover in an attempt to flee, yanking hard at Arin’s arms. The Seraph’s wings flapped hard against the crumbling wood, but he couldn’t budge - something had seized his legs.

The vessel groaned and shattered, as he was dragged torso deep into the now flooding water.

“Tia! Go! The water - FLY!” he shouted, and with little choice - the Princess took off in a beat of her wings. Not more than a split second later, the bone-rattling laugh of the Ferry Stallion ceased as the boat was ripped under the waves.

Tempest struggled in the water in a panic, the heavy armor doing little to help. Though she was able to hold at the surface, it wouldn’t be long until she was lost, too. Vee, keeping her composure - shot down to grab her from the ripping tides. Thunder cracked overhead, and as her wings beat to stabilize above the murky darkness, a pair of rotten hooves shot up from the chilling waves and ripped Tempest to a watery grave. Those same black vines from the Ferry stallion’s muzzle darting around her panicking legs.

The Princess, seeing this - and not seeing Arin breach the surface - did the only thing she could think of. She dived for the water.

“C-CELESTIA!” Pumpkin cried, nearly falling off her broom as the Princess broke through the frigid waters of the murky swamp. Celestia’s magic, as weak as it was right now - lit up the water to a terrifying sight.

The faceless, silent souls of bodies hovered slowly in the murk to meet her. Rotten pony corpses clawing motionless to reach the Sunlight Princess; their black tendrils wrapped around their limbs and legs, as panic overtook her.

She had to flee, she had to. There was no other way she…

No. With a mighty pump of her wings beneath the tides, she shot downwards at the wreckage of the boat. She lifted her bardiche staff in her magic, channeling ambient power into the Amber at the head. A bolt of chaotic flame darted into the rotten wood, crushing into the tattered boards - but Arin wasn’t there. There was a clean hole where he used to be, and swarms of dead all around… a pile of bodies being the most apparent, black vines lashing them together in the murk.

Air fighting in her chest, her wings gave another mighty pump - pulsing her through the water at blinding speeds. Pairs of silent, lifeless hooves missing her legs by inches.

Above the water, Vee cursed; she couldn’t just leave, as much as she usually would. Not with Pumpkin right there; her lil’ sister. She could tell that abandoning not just one, but three of her freshly made friends was really bad news. So, against her better judgement - she tossed her hat and coffee to Pumpkin before darting face first into the water. Much to her horror, hundreds of bodies reached for her - trying to take her to the graves below. She found it hard to falter, as undead didn’t scare her - and armed with the White Tail lance, she could still fight.

Her spear swung in a satisfying arc, cleaving through three immediately in her way. Wings flapping at the water in a bubbling flutter, the purple glow from her hooves illuminated the filth of the swamp’s darkness

In the wreckage of a house, she could see faint flashes of magic light sparking in electric currents through the flood. Her lance quickly batted another body out of the way, as she shot for what was definitely Tempest, fighting for her life and quickly losing.

Celestia reached the pile of swarming bodies, and found them ignoring the bolts of chaotic flame - she had no other choice. Sunlight. Undead were weakest in sunlight; the Solar Plane’s roused the feywilds and beat back the Lunar and Shadowfell both; She only had faint traces of Solar Energy after the years of use and short recovery, but it was her only choice.

Her horn flared, clutching the stave to her chest while her wings spread wide. Eyes closed, she pulled at the empty Ember near her heart for whatever she could manage. Light gleaming in her horn, she ignored the freezing cold touch of rotten hooves clamping onto her form, their black vines looking to extinguish the light in her chest.

A startling blast of sunlight cut through the waves and water, bright enough to stun Pumpkin above and slice the lake in twain in a raining explosion of unbridled ferocity.

And moments later, Celestia - clutching the unconscious Seraph - broke the surface of the water with a gasp. The light had knocked Vee’s magic out of order for the moment, but also freed Tempest - letting the purple pegasus breach the waves as well. Coughing, sputtering, and feathers definitely in need of a preening. A barely moving, but awake, Unicorn was draped over her back.

If only by sheer dumb luck, the water had shifted and flooded somewhere else from the wind and force - revealing a broken roof just inches deep in the stirring storm. The rain soaked Pumpkin quickly directed them to it, using her momentarily emboldened magic to help tug the rest of the party to relative safety before Celestia’s latent arcane aura faded entirely.

Panting, shivering, and covered in muck - Celestia used her tired wings to help pulse their bodies onto the still standing tile roof. With Arin deposited on the highest part of the platform with her bardiche by his side, Celestia went to work pumping his chest in the ankle deep water.

“Don’t you dare die on me, Arin!” She coughed, spitting up drops of the murky lake herself. Vee and Tempest managed to drag themselves out of the worst of it, the retching wine-colored mare spitting up lungfuls of water. Vee’s soaking wing clapped on her back, helping her clear her chest.

Eventually, Arin hacked up a lung - vomiting the sick, grimy drink from his filled body. Shaking, Celestia tilted him onto his side. He crawled onto his knees, groaning in agony.

“Oh thank the Stars!” She hugged him tight in her hooves and wings - doing an extraordinary job of squeezing the rest of the water out of him. “I thought I lost you, Arin, Stars above… Every time I wake, you surprise me with a new way to cheat death.”

Spitting up the last of the water, he raised a finger to denote he had something to say. Lungs clear, and heaving fresh, rich, albeit tainted oxygen into his blood, he finally spoke. “I… phew, I’ve got lots of surprises… left. I… hope.”

Across the roof, Tempest finally caught enough air to speak. “You… saved me? Why? I’ve done… nothing but insult you, since we met.” She spoke to Vee, ocean green eyes finding the Pegasi’s purple ones.

“Because, Stern-fry! If you’re friends… with Pumpkin, you’re going to be friends with… me, whether you like it or not! D’ohoho!” She panted, “And I don’t like it… when my friends decide to die. I can’t outpreen a case of infinite sleep-osis!”

Her purple head fell back into the water with a splash, gazing into the pouring rainclouds tiredly. Finding her Sister unbothered, alive, and in need of a good preen, Pumpkin approached Tempest’s side.

“A-Are you um… okay?” she asked, worry dripping from every fiber of her being. Tempest breathed, nodding to the quiet mare. Pumpkin hovered in a little closer, terrified of the water - but braving it with her hooves.

“I-I… I thought I lost you, Tempest. I…” She sniffled, clopping her forehooves together. “I should have picked you up on my b-broom. I’m s-sorry.”

Tempest rolled her eyes, grabbing Pumpkin in wet hooves for a hug. “No, don’t be. You did well, and you’re holding up better under pressure. If you fell while trying to carry me and my heavy armor, Vee would have gone for you, first. And I would have died. By simply doing what you were told, you prevented this from becoming a disaster.”

“I… I did? I helped?”

“D’ohoho! I wouldn’t have gone after her if you two weren’t buddy-buddies without me, Smol-fry! I thought about a lot of things in my coffee-less time, and that was one of them. If Umbra makes you happy, then you need to eat your Umbras! Or something. I’m not a naturalist!”

“Nutritionist,” Celestia corrected from across the roof. Vee shrugged.

“Nudist, Nuttist, same day, different feather.” With a flop of purple wings, she slowly made it to her hooves for preening. Luckily, her pinions were still coffee flavored. The Purple now standing, Pumpkin quickly returned her hat right where it belonged - on her dripping wet head. Rain filled coffee cup floating in front of her, the Pegasus hummed.

“Mm. Yes. Rain coffee. It’s like making love in a canoe.” She sipped away at the cold bean water. “It’s bucking close to water.”

Splash. The undrinkable mess was gone.

“Speaking of drinks, I think I get what that ghoul meant. Drink. As in, take a dip in the drink.” Celestia facehooved, shaking her wings and making it to her hooves. “And now, we’re stuck here until we can dry off. And it’s a bit too wet to set up camp. And probably exceptionally dangerous.”

The Princess raised her sopping wet feathers into the air, sighing dejectedly. “Let’s hope these rains pass soon. I’m already starting to freeze here, and it’s an undisputed fact the water isn’t safe. Actually, this roof isn’t safe. Don’t tread in the middle, I’m pretty sure it will cave in.”

Arin sat up, steadying his breath. “I don’t suppose our deer friends packed any towels in your packs, huh? Or umbrellas?” The Seraph said, checking Sonata to make sure it was still there, and not ripped off to the waters below. Yep, the bow was as secure as ever.

“Negative.” Tempest groaned, struggling to rest in her armor. Perhaps something more balanced would have been fitting, as water was often deadly to travelers. “Waiting for the lunar magic to take us would surely be our doom. Not only will the undead stir, but being soaking wet in a snowstorm sounds like a quick way for our souls to grace the stars.”

Another crack of thunder overhead split against the clearing lake, the unnatural fog disturbed by wild weather’s winds.

“Think you could use the sun to part the clouds right now, Tia?” Arin asked. The Princess shook her head.

“I’m afraid not. I used what little magic I had recovered over the last few days to break the hoard below. I would need at least a few weeks of Solar energy to cause a minor flare strong enough to blast away a region’s rainfall.”

“I’m out of ideas, then,” Arin grunted, holding on to the Solar Princess like a big plushie. After that harrowing experience, anyone would need a little comfort. And Celestia was more than happy to share every bit she could, even with anxiety creeping in.

“Hmhmhm… Perhaps I have an idea, for our Smol-fry here.” Vee smiled, straightening her wings and twirling her spear. “Pumpkin! At attention, Small-fry!”

“Yes Vee!” The small mare saluted by Vee’s side, floating just above the water on her broom.

“Pick up Arin, and bring him across the lake with your broom!” Vee commanded, the little mare squeaking.

“W-What? But… i-it’s so far away, and my magic so weak… we’re in the middle of the lake, how will I?...”

Vee patted Pumpkin’s head with a wing, giving a smile and a nod. Eyes wide, Pumpkin agreed.

“O-Okay. But why Arin?” the little mare asked, blushing a little at the thought.

“Because Arin is one of the most capable of defending himself alone! You’ll come right back, and grab Sun-fry next, then Stern-fry… and then me! Snap to it, lil’ Missy! I’ve got fresh coffee to burn, and it’s hard to do so when I’m wet, chilly, missing firewood, and wing-soaked!”

“Y-Yes Vee!” Pumpkin smoothed out her ruffled hat, taking a deep, steadying breath. “Are you ready to um… g-go? Arin?” She hovered in front of the Seraph on her broom, and after one last tight squeeze on his wet Princess, he nodded.

“Ready as ever.”

She raised a hoof, orange magic swirling around the Knight. He found himself floating several inches from the crashing waves of the lake, feet no longer fighting the occasional swampy tide that rippled at his will.

At a moderate pace, they began - the water-logged Seraph keeping still to make things easier on the struggling witch.

“So… I have something to admit, Pumpkin.” Arin said, as they hovered to the far western shoreline.

“Y-You’re dating the Princess.” She said, lowering her hat to hide her eyes.

“How’d you?...”

“I-I’ve read enough um… romance novels, to see the signs since you crawled out of the waterfall. T-That, and your room in Silversun wasn’t very… sound proof. I heard it. A lot.”

Stifling a blush, he ran his fingers through his grime-soaked hair, laughing quietly. “I guess uh… I needed to say I’m sorry.”

“N-No! It’s fine, I um… I crush easily. A-And besides… I think I have something special with… nevermind.” She dipped the soft orange-red hat fully over her face, darting back over the water towards their gathered party once Arin rested on a large rock.

Celestia, you genius. She was right. Pumpkin did have a thing for the stern pony. His only question now was… when would Tempest find out? Or were they already an item?...

These were questions best left for mares to gab over. Still, curiosity was a thing, and Celestia would definitely hear about this once they were alone. He checked his satchel, sighing in relief - still in good condition, the contents within dry and protected from the rain and water. If only the same can be said about him.

Once his Princess returned, he was quick to share the news.

“I told you.” She chimed, resting a tired muzzle on his shoulder from behind. “And Tempest is definitely showing signs of improving. By the time we rescue Umbra, she should be ready.”

“Ready? For what?” He asked, but his morning mare could only giggle.

“You’ll see.”

Chapter 34 - Copse Vale

Fully regrouped, soaked, and still shaken - the dark of the clouds made the once dim swamp nearly black, even in the sun. At night, it would be as black as pitch, but thankfully they had a pony available that could, and did, prevent that.

Vee was not happy. If there were places to walk, she would flap her way down. If there was a duty to be done, she would dive for the clouds and make it there. But with soaking wet wings, and no signs of an end to the rain, she had to clop along the grime with the rest of the party. Pumpkin, once again, had to bounce along the path to keep afloat. Strange how her magic worked.

“You know what? I used to say to all of my subjects that I loved every region equally; from windy tundra to dry desert. That is now a lie. If Nightmare Moon wasn’t there, the moon would have been better than this,” Celestia huffed, a hoof smacking at a mosquito on her neck. The minor distraction was enough for her to not notice the puddle in front of her - her other leg sinking into the muck. All the way down to her chest. Again. It wasn’t even the same leg as last time! And that leg was still dirty, too.

When Arin helped pull his frustrated lover free, the morning mare grimaced - a fat leach sucked tightly to her leg, wiggling in a disgusting feast. Arin knocked it off with a quick pluck of his fingers, tossing it as hard as he could into the woods.

“I hate this. I hate every bit of this. I hate all of this. I’m going to order every swamp burnt to the ground and replaced with beaches and resorts the moment we slay Nightmare Moon. I don’t care about the ecological damage. They’re all cesspools filled with dangerous wildlife and disgusting smells.”

“That would be a gross misuse of your power. Unfortunately, I entirely agree.” Tempest spat at the air, as she crossed through a spider web. “I hate spiders.”

Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of her problems. She froze in place, her irises turning to pin pricks as she felt skittering legs darting along her neck. Pumpkin, spotting this - cleanly whacked the overly large spider to the floor with her hat. Tempest bucked her legs and nickered, stomping her hooves rapidly to knock any other creepy crawlies off before they could explore.

“T-Thank you, Pumpkin,” she eventually breathed, the small panic attack ending.

“Are you um… that afraid of them?” Pumpkin asked, eyebrows knitting in worry.

“I am afraid of nothing but spiders. Even an Ursa Minor doesn't frighten me as much, and I have reason to be afraid of those.”

“D’ohoho! I’m afraid of sleep, coffee-less mornings, and bleeding! But certainly not spiders. They’re good in chunky potions that taste like this swamp.” Vee took her wet wings as a chance to preen out the sick from the lake. She really needed a bath, but there were no bird pools nearby. All of this was terrible for the feathers! Bad, bad news.

“Antivenoms and p-perception potions, right Sis?” Pumpkin smiled, keen on her learning. The Purple nodded.

“And balancing brews, Small-fry! Great for tight rope walkers. Circuses used to keep big ol’ arachnids on hoof, in the old days, for a show and supplies. Some even weaved the big top tents out of their webs! Sturdy stuff. Flammable, but sturdy! Hmhmhm.” By now, Tempest had enough of the witch talk; it was one thing to have a spider crawling over her, but thinking of drinking one made her sick.

“We need to find a safe place to camp soon, I’m… Wait. Does anypony else hear that?” Celestia stopped in her tracks, ears swiveling to the forest. Actually, Arin heard that too - and looked with his keen eyes to the thick brush all around.

“...Music?” he said quietly. Tempest raised a hoof, thinking.

“Fairgrounds music. Was there really a Carnival? It wasn’t just some… undead trick?” The Unicorn frowned, turning towards the source of the music.

“Since Copse Vale was situated in the bottom of a basin, it’s likely that the event grounds were in the next open field, or where a logging operation likely occurred. Which they’d want to be uphill, to make it easier to transport lumber down to the town.” Celestia offered, using her long lived knowledge of her civilization to their advantage.

“Think it still runs, then, or is this another trap?” Arin asked.

“Definitely a trap. Trust nothing here,” Tempest stated. “We were naive to give the Ferry a chance, I won’t risk my life over a pointless investigation.”

“Well, we may have to pass through, regardless. If you didn’t notice on the lake, there’s more looming mountains to the West - and with all this gear, it’s not likely we’ll be able to fly over them. And this sound… it’s definitely coming from where we’re headed. Which makes the most sense; if there was a logging operation, it would be closer to the taller mountain. It could also serve as a mining site, as well, doubling productivity,” the Princess offered.

Celestia braced herself, breathing in deep. “At the very least, there should be solid ground somewhere ahead. And possibly, a river of some sort. I’m desperate for a wash. And these short robes chafe fiercely when wet.”

She flicked her mud-stained long legs, holding her staff under her massive, water-drenched wing. Indeed, her rose-gold colored chest hugged tightly to knee height robes, flooded with water and still actively dripping. A campfire would do them good.

The former Commander didn’t like her orders being questioned; they could tread quickly around whatever distraction lay before them, but Celestia - the now annoying Princess, wouldn’t let her have it. With a sigh, she finally gave in.

“Then we have no choice. We can’t gallop around this mess, either - the Lunar magic is closing in. Be ready to run, be ready to fight. Weapons at the ready.” Tempest took point, the group spearheading into the muck. The brush was thick with stickers and thorns, but their armor did well to shrug it off. Pumpkin bounced over the ferns lining the ground, before ducking to avoid thick, untamed black vines that hung plentiful from the trees around them.

The sound of Carnival music loomed in the shadows, faint lights bursting through leaves in jovial flair. Each inch gained rewarded them with another daunting note to the tune, thickets cleaved and untamed land crossed.

Finally, the group burst through into a grassy field of sorts, dozens of tree stumps poking free of the ground. The mountains were now oh so close, yet they now stood in a massive huddle of tents, rings, and fair food smells. The lights dazzled them in the dimness of the clouds, the talk of bustling crowds of ponies enjoying the festivities unbothered by the endless rain rampant. It almost felt surreal, like they were displaced - the whole affair was stunningly noisy, with ponies completely unaware of the dead.

Standing on a much more well maintained road, Earth ponies trotted by them unimpeded, and mostly unimpressed by the armed group. A few colts and fillies pointed with their parents at the new ‘attraction’, the tall alicorn seemingly gaining them some attention.

“T-That’s weird,” Pumpkin said, hugging close to Tempest - and Vee’s - side. “I-It’s almost… b-believable?”

Celestia’s eyes scanned the crowds trotting passed. They all seemed to be mildly amused and happy, unlike the Ferry Stallion who couldn’t hold back an overbearing grin. Their emotions seemed legitimate, real even. But you couldn’t just walk up to a pony and ask if they’re dead or not.

“I have never heard of Copse Vale,” Celestia spoke quietly to herself. “But I think I now know why. Look at the ponies. What do you see?”

At her bidding, the rest of the party scanned the heads of the crowd. Arin spoke first. “Uh… a rainbow of small horses and their kids?”

“No. They’re all earth ponies. This free weather, the poor planning of their town - Copse Vale was built before the unification of Equestria. Wherever we are now, it’s not safe. Let’s turn back; Tempest was right. We’ll have to take our chances in the cold.”

Celestia made an attempt to do just that, but dark, unruly vines now blocked their path. They were similar to the tendrils hugging the corpses in the lake, which sprung alarm bells for the group. Whatever dark forces controlled these lands, it was intent on keeping them here. Another problem arose - simply touching the vines caused the groups of happy ponies to stop in their tracks. Terrified gazes locking eyes with the group - not at them, but through them. The music began to wind down slowly, each note dragging and grating around them.

Tempest, feeling the mood shift - ripped Celestia away from the thick black vegetation with her hooves. The nearly grating melody sprung back to life, as the ponies snapped back to cheerful chatter and travel. It’s almost as if it never happened at all, and the warmth and flair began again.

“Alright fries o’plenty! Whatever we do, we do it with our snoots clean. Whatever that was, it gave me the worst wing-tingles! I never want to see that again. Blend in like good beans, and we may just yet flap our way out of here.”

“D-Do we have to?” Pumpkin whimpered, seeing a clown pony stomp his giant, fake boots through the crowd. Honking a horn, and offering balloon animals to the fillies. “I-I don’t like clowns… or dead ponies.”

As they stood motionless, more and more eyes settled on them. Vee slapped Celestia’s flank with a wet wing, and many more butts would be slapped if they didn’t start moving. Joining the crowd kept the music lively, and the ghosts at ease - fillies and colts alike bubbling up to gawk at Celestia.

“Wow! You look so weird! Is that a costume? Are your wings and horn real?”

“Miss, can you paint my face? I want to look like a breezie!”

“I want a balloon shaped like you!”

Celestia, obviously worried with the bustling of foals, and seeing amused eyes turned to her, she knew she had to act. A little play. Something she… well, undoubtedly stressed about, as her history with acting wasn’t really… refined.

“Oh nooo! I am… Day Breaker, the mighty! I am… a performer! Yes! I perform at… at the tent! That one, the big one!” She said, with as much finesse as an elephant tumbling into a lake. The foals, at least, ate it up like candy.

“Wow! I wanna see you! What do you do?”

“Do you fly? Or walk the tightrope?”

“You’re so tall! Come to the tent - the show starts soon, Day Beaker!”

Arin chuckled at the new nickname. ‘Day Beaker’. They must have missed the ‘R’. At the beckoning of their parents, the foals and fillies soon left the Princess be - who wiped the sweat from her brow.

“You are by far the worst actor I have ever seen.” Arin smirked. Celestia slapping him with a soaked wing.

“Shut up. Luna still thinks my acting is amazing. She claims it to be the most lifelike and striking performances she has ever seen; and she’s honest when she says it.”

“Alright Day Beaker, I’ll be quiet.” The Seraph smiled, and even the stalwart Tempest smiled at that thought; no laughs yet, but maybe one day, they’ll come. But as with all moments, they must end.

Tempest turned to address the group. “Well then, let’s act like we’re performers. At the very least, it’ll stop the wandering eye from questioning our gear and weapons - and the fact that only one of us is an Earth Pony. Pumpkin, you’re the leader now. Your gear looks the most like a costume, and is the most believable. These… spirits will be more likely to listen to you.”

“W-What? I can’t lead! I can’t even… I…”

Tempest used a hoof to raise her hiding chin, ocean green eyes catching her soft pastel gaze. “Remember what we practiced. Breathe in. Hold it. And show your authority. You’re able to fly above the crowds and tents, guide us to the entrance. Anypony who tries to stop us, direct them to the circus top. Every moment here puts our lives at risk, and as much as I like to think we could just fly out - I don’t think this weird… darkness will allow us. I believe in you.”

Blushing, the little mare gave a nod. “Authority… r-right. W-What should I even say?...”

The chipped horn Commander smiled; “You’re a writer. Describe us like you would in your book.”

She collected her wits, breathing in - and breathing out. A little more steady, the small mare floated in front and above the group. Amused and awe-struck eyes honing in on the broom riding mare. As ponies gathered to gawk at the Seraph and Ponies, Pumpkin’s light and somewhat practiced voice broke the bustle.

“Come one, come all! See the daring acts of Day Breaker, shining in the sky like the sun - at the Circus Top! Witness the majesty and beauty of Tempest Shadow, as she rocks the world in electrifying radiance! See the splendor of Vee-Ness, the Pegasus who wields dark arts beyond your very dreams! S-See the Moon Knight Arin, as his arrows flash like lightning! Come see the show, watch the… t-the Lights of Life! Here, at the Circus Top!”

“When… When did she learn to speak like this?” Arin questioned Vee, who shrugged. Tempest, on the other hoof - smiled.

“She’s been writing a book about our travels since Silversun. She’s not improvising… this is what she truly thinks of us.” Tempest’s pride was clear to see, as the once stuttering mess of a mare overcame her fears, and found the words coming more naturally with time. As long as she kept her eyes away from the ponies below, and looked for an exit - she should be fine.

And the plan worked - any ponies that made to intercept them began to clop and divert to the big top down the ways, Pumpkin’s eyes spotting the very thing she was looking for - a ticket booth, by the exit. With the path clear, she hovered to the ground panting. The proud wine-colored Unicorn ran her hoof through her friend’s rain-soaked mane, as she popped off her hat. Cold, panting, and shivering from exertion, Pumpkin - now cheery - pointed west.

“T-This way! N-Now’s our chance!” she squeaked, stuffing her broom inside, before quickly flopping the chilly cold cloth over her head with a squish.

The group picked up a gallop, Arin beating his waterlogged wings to keep up with the pace of the ponies. Tempest even scooped up the now magically exhausted Pumpkin, who held her brim down with a hoof.

The ticketbooth and gate in sight, relief washed over them like the rain did. The crashing of hooves brought their arrival, and the party darted for the unprotected exit - that is, until a fat stallion bumbled out from the ticket booth, sporting a red coat and a tall, tall hat. His own brown fur held a much too wide jovial smile, and with a click of a cane - the gates to the fair slammed shut. Moments later, black, writhing vines crawled over the painted gold bars - the stallion sighing sadly to see it happen so quickly.

The group skidded to a halt before him, as he looked over his assembled guests.

“My my, what a show, you little mare you! It would be a shame if you didn’t attend to the stampede you just caused, wouldn’t it?” he laughed, waving his cane in a circle as if to say ‘turn around’. Of course, the group did no such thing.

Vee looked up from her preening and flicked her wing, sending feathers flying into the showpony’s face. “What’s your play here, Jerk-face? Lookin’ for a scrap? Bold of you to come into MY plane of reality, trap me in YOUR-”

“Shutit, tramp. I’ve got a show to run, and my main event just arrived,” he growled, his jovial face rotting away to show the chattering teeth of death behind his lips. Surprisingly, it lacked the same vine-like tendrils the Ferry Stallion bore. With a cough, the mirage sprung back - and he looked as happy and grinning as ever. “I’ve got a lot of spirits here looking for some fun, their tickets have been paid and the night - oh yes, the night is almost upon us. It’d be a shame if you couldn’t attend ‘The Lights of Life’; it’s your show, after all.”

“And if we refuse?” Celestia glared, the jolly carnival music slowing at the very words. The flames of lanterns grew dim, the world grew haunted - and the face of the Ticketmaster rotted away before their very eyes.

“The show must go on, are you saying it won’t?” he hissed, the tatters of his clothes revealing the zombified corpse beneath. The group, losing their nerves, cowered at the looming shadows around them. Distant screams became apparent, haunting them to their water-washed cores. The black tendrils began to swell in full, sprouting from the ground to grasp at anything it could reach. Rides, tents, popcorn machines...

“Will you let us leave if we play along?” Arin broke from the stunned silence, and just like that - the jolly music sprung back to life. The stallion stood alive before them once more, the burn of lanterns keeping the mood cheery against the heat-draining rain. Though he looked a little worried, spotting the vines lashing from the floor he stood.

“But of course! The living have no place among the dead. If you survive your respective acts, I’ll have no choice but to let you go.” The Ticketmaster clicked his watch. “Ah, night is almost here. You could stay forever in the dark, if you wished. The snow makes the lights twinkle just that much brighter, Princess Celestia.”

The morning mare - caught unaware from yet the second creature to recognize her in her journeys - froze on the spot. Tempest growled, clopping a hoof against the muddied ground.

“Very well then. We’ll play your game, under the condition that we are allowed to walk free, unharmed and alive, afterwards.”

“Splendid! I believe you have your announcer at the ready.” He looked to Pumpkin with mirth-soaked eyes, unblinking in the downpour. “And I believe my ringfolk have a clear idea on what you may have planned. Four acts, for five performers. That’s surely worth the entry fee. You’ll find everything waiting for you under the big top. Oh, and by the way…”

He turned his eyes to the Lunar Halo fast approaching. “Don’t be late. You wouldn’t want to miss your performance, would you?”

Chapter 35 - Hope

Umbra’s full weight sagged on the heavy shackles, the sweat pooling from her neck and legs. She could feel the blood in her body settling farther down, deeper into her already jelly-like muscles. She had never wanted to lay down so badly in all of her life, as her sawdust covered face peaked up at the support beam above her. Just another inch or three, and she might be able to force it… but she simply didn’t have the resolve to push on for another round of desperate struggling.

The sun was up now. That much, she was aware - especially when an enraged Captain strode through the door with a clatter. The cool wind whipped the sweat off of her crumbling body, forcing her to take a gasp. Behind him, the dark skyline glimmered with stars - even in the blinding light of day.

“For fuck’s sake, a delay. A full week’s delay! I have to wait until Princess Celestia is feeling well before she sends her snobby troops to meet on the Smokey Mountains. And now there’s a weird… fucking blue spot in the sky, and the moon still won’t go down! Do you fucking have any idea how little I give a shit about your stupid sun princess?! King Leotoln, bless his resting pinions - he sent her to the moon for a REASON.”

He kicked so hard at the cell’s iron bars, that one of them bent an inch inwards. Umbra could hardly care less; they couldn’t break her with idle threats. She refused to give up hope now; if the sun has risen, Arin has returned. He’ll save her. He wouldn’t leave her to die. That wasn’t speculation - she knew her fletchling Seraph beyond words.

“And this concerns me how?” Umbra glared, raising her head to stare at the grease-slicked Seraph.

“It concerns you, ‘Queenie’, because I’m so fucking sick of reading horse speak, talking to horses, thinking about fucking horses-”

“I thought you bucked men? Do stallions suit your fancy now, too?”

The Captain’s voice died in his throat. Silently, he jostled the keys free of his pouch - approaching the door with vile intent. She had a clear memory of the past spring up as the door swung open - of when Arin essentially challenged her into killing him. He was suicidal to suggest it - but it worked in breaking her from her thoughts.

Perhaps that tendency to challenge authority - passed on through him - would lead to her death here, now. She knew she made a mistake, as the first blow - a clenched fist directly to her unprotected muzzle - nearly knocked her head back.

“And I’m beyond done-”

His fist slammed into her stomach, forcing her to gag and shudder in disgust.

“With YOU’RE FUCKING-”

Another blow, this one to her lower ribs - instantly winding her as the liver shot nearly made her cry out.

“MOUTH!”

He struck so hard at her cheek, she was shocked a tooth didn’t come loose - regardless, thick blood pulled in her muzzle, the enraged Unicorn staring up to challenge his blue eyes with her wincing green gaze.

“Then why do you…” she wheezed at the lack of air, fighting back the urge to dry heave. “Why do you keep coming here… to listen to it?”

At that, the empowered Seraph growled - landing another punch into her gut. That’s where it would hurt the most - her empty stomach. Umbra coughed and sputtered, shaking from hoof to horn in surging pain.

It was incredibly rare a creature could harm her. A blow would have to come either outside of perception, or when she was incapacitated. In Harmony’s case, it would have to come in such a wide area of effect that she couldn’t escape the twirling beam of light. Her shadow form made her near unkillable in combat.

But here, bound and magic gagged - she stood no chance. The former umbrum glared through the pain, fighting back the urge to whimper. She would not break, no matter the abuse. Starvation, beatings - Umbra would persist.

“You’re lucky the payday is worth the trouble. Three years, I’ve been hiding from the law here in ‘Equis’ - I was a respected man in Erenorn! One of the best damn Crossbow Seraphs in the Far Reaches! I perfected the art - refined it! Ages, decades of my life! I had novels for the craft - and when that bored me, I took the blade. I was aspiring to be Leotoln’s second! His right hand Seraph! All - GONE!”

His hands latched so tight around her neck, that it almost felt like he was trying to pop her head off from the titan’s grip alone. And he had no intention of stopping - the iron grasp held tight, choking the precious air out of her lungs. Her vision darked at the seams, the Seraph stepping to the side to let her blood-swollen hindlegs kick uselessly at the air.

The ship shifted several inches down, as a firm knock at the door soon followed. Knock? More like a rattling BANG. A second later, the handle turned, a giant of a Seraph kneeling down to look inside.

“The FUCK do you want, Oarkin? Get the fuck back to work! Find something useful to do! Something other than sit on your ass and eat our fucking rations!”

The giant Seraph glared at him behind gray eyes, scratching his bald head - before stroking his beard. He looked simply too big to fit inside the door - as much as he’d probably like to do.

“There is no honor in killing jailed horses.” His glare shot through the Captain. “Come! Leave her be. There are many things to see down below! Strange things, yes.”

His thick accent immediately reminded Umbra of her dealings with the Southern Spears in Erenorn; and as the hands fell away, she took a pained gasp of fresh air. Oxygen rousing her blood to move once more, however weakly it may without food.

By the time she recovered from her pained breaths, the door was already closed. Agonized body quivering like a leaf, she turned her eyes up at her single barricade to freedom. If she just had a few more inches… Arin was on the way. But if things didn’t improve soon - she’d very well perish from the abuse before the Seraph she adored had a chance to even see her again.

She couldn’t risk any more witty comments. Another chirp like that, and the still nameless Captain would impale her on a blade - a preferable alternative compared to another day wasting away here. Her best bet was silence.

Shame, too. He was rather easy to upset; but she needed to buy time. Because there was a core issue with that letter.

Why would Celestia need to recover from her tenure on the moon, to send a ship to collect her?

Simple. She didn’t. Celestia wouldn’t need time to send a platoon for her rescue - that was an obvious tell that something was wrong. And with that, she began to think.

The sun is up; that much she was sure. But he mentioned something about a blue spot in the sky with the risen moon; that made… little sense to her. Besides the fact that the sky was obviously blue, though… not here. And night had lasted well over a day, here in… well, the middle of nowhere. She wasn’t sure where she was, exactly - other than the sky, even in sunlight, was pitch black with sprinkled stars lining the distance.

She suddenly regretted having an orphanage level education, even if she later became well-read through acquired books and tomes. Especially after her first fight with Princess Twilight Sparkle. She needed more information on Harmony, and her only solution was reading. Know thy enemy.

Blue spot in the sky... long night, the moon is still up. Sun and moon… If Princess Celestia brought the day, Princess Luna surely ended the night.

...Princess Luna would lower the moon. Nightmare Moon would not. If both celestial bodies are fighting for dominance, then Celestia and Arin had returned - and lost their battle with Nightmare Moon. But not all is lost; they had to flee. Otherwise, well… the sun wouldn’t be up.

The letter proves it. A bid for time; Arin was coming to save her, in person. Or, she could simply be rambling in her mind in an attempt to ease her troubled nerves.

She would need a full and proper explanation, upon her escape… or, if that spark of hope burned true; her rescue. For now, she was as lost as the Seraphs holding her captive were.

Chapter 36 - The Lights of Life

With little choice, and dark vines swelling around the food stands and fair games; they found themselves trotting along the path towards the big tent in the center of the Carnival. The roads were now empty, as any sane soul wouldn’t dare miss such a tempting show to behold.

“What do they have in store for us?...” The nervous Seraph spoke aloud, Pumpkin now trotting by Tempest’s side. Vee, not wanting to be left out, kept pace next to her lil’ Sis, who had grown more independent by the day.

“Hmhm. I’m more upset that we’re not getting paid for this! I’m still broke, mind you. Now Sun-fry, about those pesky taxes…” Vee began again, and the Princess rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I will see to it that after our journey’s end, and for all your help - you’ll be given a tax exemption for deeds pertaining to the rescue of Equestria from the endless night. If we make it out of this alive.”

“Hoho! Wonderful. Yes yes, now that’s good for the feathers! Hmhmhm.” She turned her still empty coffee cup over, sighing. “But alas…”

The Circus Tent soon loomed above, the massive tarp blocking the pouring rain from striking their chilly bodies as they entered one of two entrances. The bustle and noise of the crowd seated left the group nervous, a heavy light hanging over the center on the empty ring. There were three rings, in fact; a massive oval that allowed many performances to take place at once.

“T-Tempest, I-I don’t know if I could… d-do this. I-I’m a stuttering mess, I-I’ll cry!” Pumpkin whimpered. The wine colored Unicorn frowned, brushing the wet mane from the little mare’s eyes with her hoof.

“When I was a young filly, my horn was shattered by a looming Ursa Minor in its cave. After my recovery, I was left with no friends, no usable magic, and no hope. I truly believed that I would never amount to anything by relying on the kindness and support of friends. At the time, I saw that as a reason to hate ponies, and to strike out on my own.”

Turning her full body to face the smaller mare, Tempest gave a rare, encouraging smile. “What I should have learned from that was not to hate, but to love the pony who needed it most. Myself. I hated what I had become, and I took it out on those around me. I believed myself naive to have faith in friends, when they would only abandon me when times grew tough. I see clearly now, it was not the case. The only pony holding me back was myself. My own doubt. My own fears. I couldn’t let the past go, and embrace who I was.”

“Pumpkin, you’re not afraid of what others think of you. You’re afraid of what you think of yourself.”

Upon this realization, Pumpkin began to cry. It was true. All true. Every word of it, it hit like a hammer on iron. Tempest drew her in for a tight, encouraging hug.

“You don’t have to hate who you are, for the past you’ve suffered. Believe in yourself. Look how far you’ve come. The friends you’ve made… We’ll be here, every step of the way.”

Hugging tight to the Unicorn, Pumpkin gave a tired sniffle. “I just… I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“You haven’t disappointed me yet, Pumpkin.” Tempest booped her nose with a hoof, forcing a smile onto the little mare's cheeks. “Now. Brush yourself off, stand up, and weave this crowd a tale.”

Nodding firmly, Pumpkin turned back to the circus tent. By now, a gaggle of clowns had set the stage for a spectacular show; targets and platforms, trophies and rings strewn about for the four acts they’ve planned around the group’s skills and faults. Whatever ideas they had, nopony could really say - only hope that it wouldn’t claim their lives in the process.

“I can do this,” Pumpkin said, as the Ticketmaster reappeared outside the tent.

“Well then, Lil’ Miss Witch, I think we have an order of events for the night! Let’s begin with the curiosity.” He aimed his cane at Arin, who went flush.

“Me? What are you going to have me do?”

“Flash like lightning in the clouds, and hit some targets for me. After all, our announcer decided to claim you a wonderful archer, ‘Moon Knight’! Come come, it’s dry inside - you’ll need those wings after all, my Star! If you’d kindly welcome our first performer to the stage, Lil’ Witch?”

Pumpkin gave a firm, determined nod - stepping into the dry warmth of the tent. From this entrance, she could see the circus employees tending to the tarp and dirt under the seats and rows around her; extinguishing dropped matches and cigarettes from the crowds above them to prevent a fire. The lights of the Arena fell on her, blazing with intensity upon the little nervous pony. Her broom clutched in hoof, she began to shake. But the nod of a chipped horn Unicorn on her left gave her the courage to act.

Slinging onto the little broom, she took to the air - much to the astonishment of the crowds filling the seats. Excitable clamoring roused from the stands, as fillies and colts alike all watched as Pumpkin began to circle the large ring.

“Welcome, one and all, to the…” She paused, recalling the name the old boatswain gave. It seemed like the only explanation worth giving; this was undoubtedly what the Ferry Stallion meant. “...The Lights of Life! A celebration of the dawn’s rise!”

Cheers rang out, as the undead ponies clopped and clamored their hooves in the benches, rocking the stadium seating all around. Within moments, the wetness of the world was forgotten - and she was dry once more.

“Our first act of the night; hailing from a Land far beyond the stars themselves, a Knight who crossed the very moon to journey here - who’s fury is unmatched… I-I present to you, Moon Knight Arin!”

Whizzing above the crowd, Pumpkin shook in her skin. She had never been so loud before! The crowd went wild, billows of joy, nickers and neighs crashing through the now non-existent rain. Arin flapped his wings, water drying quickly between the feathers.

Banners fell from the rails surrounding the stage, nearly scaring Pumpkin off balance. Dozens of fibrous burlap portraits filled the stand’s lining, showing the figure of a Seraph clutching a bow. What kind of demented magic was this? How could… What?

Seeing this, Arin froze. He was a great archer, yes, but… was his performance tailored to him? He didn’t even know what they meant for him to do! His eyes scanned the contraptions and targets around the arena, sighing in frustration. It indeed looked like it. Not only that, but… he had the feeling he was intended to fly.

His accuracy while flying was abysmal. If he missed a single target, he may outright kill a pony in the crowd. If you could kill the undead. They were undead, right?... Regardless, the thought reminded him much too much of his last attempt at a tournament; he almost killed a kid, and he never wanted that to happen.

Seeing him freeze, Pumpkin knew she had to snap him out of it.

“The standing warrior inspects his targets, readying his thoughts for the battle to come!” She swooped down next to him.

“If I can g-get over my stage fright, AND my stutter to scream my lungs out, I know you can do this! Believe in yourself! C’mon! I’m improvising h-here! I-I only have so much magic left in me! I’ll faint if you don’t move it!”

She darted back into the sky before he could respond. The seraph cast worried eyes to Celestia, who bowed her head as if to say ‘try’. His response came in a nod, his wings spreading wide to engulf the air. Like a flash, he drew Sonata into his steadied hands - wings flaring as a blue-feathered arrow hoooked the string, knocked and primed.

A burst of wind, and he took to the sky. Into the air of the tent he went in a magnificent leap; the pleased crowd cheering at the spectacle.

“Tempest, did I ever mention Arin has abysmal accuracy while flying?” Celestia said quietly to the Unicorn on her left. She reeled, eyes locking to Celestia’s.

“You’re joking?”

“No. While I have faith in him, I feel like the crowd won’t be happy if he clips a target - or worse. Be ready for a fight. Or more likely, to run.” Celestia clutched the stave tight in her winged grasp, Tempest quickly realizing just how dangerous all of this was. What would happen, if the show failed? Would they be charged by teeth-clicking undead? Ripped apart by the black vines sinking into the fairgrounds?

Arin rushed through the arena’s stands, a blaze of pumping wings and adrenaline. The circus tent was massive, but there was hardly room for a proper flight. Luckily, he only had so many arrows - and so few targets. The first bolt sailed in a short arc, just barely striking the outer ring of his first goal. A bad sign of things to come.

Pumpkin, on the other hoof, was quick with encouragement. “A daring strike, so close to disaster! Yet a hit, none-the-less! Keep it up, fair Knight!”

Settling his nerves, he drew another arrow.

“Hoho! A wonderful spectacle so far! That creature knows how to put on a show!” the Ticketmaster called from behind, clicking his cane with each step of his hooves into the tent. “Yes yes, a wonderful spectacle. But not enough! The drama, the lights - more! We have quite the magic to build, after all.”

“Magic?” Vee questioned, “Hmhm. What do you have planned, Jerk-face? I’ll throw hooves! I’m not afraid to slap a foal! Oho, you’ve got my feathers ruffled and in need of preening! More preening! I have twelve hours preening a day to do, and now, I’ve got to bump it up to fifteen! Are you gonna pay for that overtime? You better! ‘Cause I’m still broke!”

“...Right.” The Undead blinked. “All I have planned is a grand performance for my audience. They’ve been waiting for three thousand years, after all! Keeping merry through the long dark is just what keeps It at bay. Maybe now, these lost souls will be free. The lights! The drama! The music! It’s all for the greater good, I assure you.”

The click of the cane led him to the ring, snapping at cords aplenty with the stern wood. The wires hoisting the targets began to yawn and creak, sending Arin’s targets rocking and spinning in their harnesses. The already stressed Seraph grunted, tired wings pumping to avoid the far edges of the tent.

Tight turns like this were already straining, if not near impossible for his large wings. Especially without height to waste - Seraphs were more suited for gliding or stalling. He fired another bolt, arms aching from the tight angle he had to take.

The Ticketmaster bumbled his way back, that ever present grin wide and overbearing. “I believe you’ll be next, Flappy Gum Bird - give them a good show, if the boy can keep up.”

His cane poked roughly into Vee’s chest, the pegasus burping up a feather in response. Even for an ageless Undead, he seemed confused - but said nothing.

If Silversun was a dream, this world, this place - it was more like a nightmare. And not the thrill ride where the monster makes itself known, but the foreboding shadow that lurks in the stiff, choking air. By now, only one target hadn’t been pierced - and it was dangling right in front of a crowd of foals, near the northernmost part of the tent. The lights ponies above worked the beams of gold onto his beating wings, a blinding array that made it all the more difficult to see.

And no matter where he flew, or how hard he tried to get an angle, each beam of light struck his form with blinding intensity. At one point, he had to cover his eyes to prevent the glare from taking his vision in the darkness of the tent. Pumping himself stationary, he needed a plan.

Pumpkin saw this, calling out to the captivated audience.

“The archer readies himself for his most daring shot yet! One of danger, of thrills!” Floating by Arin’s side, she panted in a sigh of relief.

“A-Arin, it’s the last one. Can you do it?...”

Steeling himself with a firm grasp of his bow, he darted his eyes to Celestia - who caught his gaze. She lifted her wings, raising her hooves up like she was bringing the dawn. A hint, or perhaps a twinge of insanity. After all, everypony had a reason to be insane by now; Vee without her coffee, Tempest without control, Pumpkin being an announcer to crowds of at least two thousand... And Celestia, without her magic.

“...I can. And I will. I have an idea. It’s worked once before. Though I still have no idea why they’re making us do this.”

Even Pumpkin shrugged, wide eyed as Arin fluttered his wings to the floor.

There, the heavy, reflective lanterns above angled downwards - an easy motion, as they were bottom heavy and meant to strike the floor. Channeling distant magic into his wings, he breathed in deep - steadying himself for what’s to come.

More energy poured into the green gem of his bow; if they wanted a show, they’d get it. Taking Celestia’s queue to heart, his massive wings beat at the dusty center ring’s floor, Spinning into the air with a twirl. Light flicked off of his massive wings, sweat trailing down his brow as the roof rapidly approached.

His plan worked - he bought himself mere moments of time as the lanterns struggled to keep up. Like a flash, he drew his bow back taking aim at the target among the stunned faces of foals and their parents, and let the sparkling arrow loose.

‘Breathe in, and release.’

With a dizzying spiral of magic sparks, it bolted through the air - crashing into the target with a flash of golden light. A rain of sparks settled over the hay strewn floor - a duo of clowns from the stands rushing with buckets of water to stifle the flames that would spawn if left untended.

Panting, and much too exhausted from the display of acrobatics, he let his limp wings catch the stifling hot air. The humidity and heat from the lamps sapped his endurance, as he tumbled to the ground far below. Celestia darted forward with a rush of dried pinions, Pumpkin’s own magic working to slow his descent before the inevitable collision.

With a flutter and crash, Tia was flattened by the sweat-drenched knight. But he survived, with an empty quiver and much too empty lungs - the soft pillow beneath him grunted.

“A-As romantic as this is, my Sunshine, I’d like it if I could breathe again!” She chuckled, pained as she was.

“O-Oh? You don’t like… Being crushed? Ironic! You love… to crush me! In your… hooves!”

With a thrust of her heavy wing, the Seraph was righted on his still functioning legs. Arin’s feathers, on the other hand, lay mostly limp - the harsh turns and angles pushing them to the brink of collapse.

And how the crowd went wild, roaring at the spectacle. Cheers and whistles sung through the arena, stallions and mares calling out to the duo as Celestia hugged her lover close.

Pumpkin settled next to them on the floor, wiping sweat from her brow from the humid air. “Do either of you um… know w-who’s next?”

“That’d be me, Smol-fry! D’ohoho! Though I don’t know what they intend for me to do. I’m not a clown! I’m a Purple. This simply won’t be good for preening.” At that, she nipped a bent, less-than-perfect feather from her wing.

Even Pumpkin was worried about what she’d come up with. Or better yet, what the Ticketmaster had planned.

“Why, you’re a witch young Miss! Surely you must be good with some form of dark arts or trickery?” came the voice of the top-hat bearing stallion, his cane twirling in his hoof. Celestia guided Arin out of the burning spotlights, soft nuzzles easing his tired body. “After all, that’s what our little Bobblehead declared! And that’s what you’ll be known for.”

He waved the finely crafted cane towards the crowd - a fresh set of banners falling to reveal Vee’s witchy face plastered to the ring.

“Hmhmhm. Not enough Purple,” she declared, inspecting the flair around her snoot. “Definitely not. How do you expect me to work in these conditions! I need a coffee, chop to it!”

“You’ve had your drink. Unless you’d like another dip in the lake?” The Ticketmaster chuckled, leaning over his short cane in a leer.

“No dice, Jerk-face! Magic it is, then. Pumpkin!” Vee brought her hoof up to a salute, the little witchy mare darting to her side.

“Yes Vee!” She saluted in return, standing at attention.

“Introduce me to the crowd! Make me seem better than Arin! ‘Cause I am!”

“Er… Y-Yes! On it!” Pumpkin kicked off the ground, levitating on her broom once more. She loved to fly, but under these conditions - she was starting to despise it. Not a stir of wind broke the canopy above, and the lights were hot enough to sizzle the skin. Regardless, she held Tempest’s words to heart, and began to call once more.

“Mares and gentlecolts! Please, welcome the Mystic, the Dark Weaver, the Future Seeker, and Fate Changer; the one and only wing-preener who’s magic can change the world; Vee-Ness, Pegasus!”

Vee flapped her wings to the center of the main ring, whipping her hat off with a bow. The crowd went wild, but Vee ignored them. She ignored many things, after all. Like bills. And arrest warrants.

After the cheers came to an end, she lifted a glowing hoof - the bright stage lights flickering and turning purple in her aura. Many amazed voices followed, as the centuries old pegasus set to work.

With the mood set, and the magic flowing nicely, Vee started off small. She was a Moon Witch, yes - but her speciality was dream magic. And with dream magic, came many illusions and reality changing spectacles. As if bringing a hint of the dreamworld to life, she summoned forth ethereal ponies that treaded the ring in a circle. You could see right through them, in their shadow-like auras; their pointed hats bouncing with each step, earth pony and pegasus alike.

They seemed to be dancing in the light of the overhanging moon; the visage of such gracing the air above them in a glowing, luminous, twinkling light. She stood in the center amongst it all, telling her story in the fluttering of her purple wings.

Purple flames sprouted from the floor, and Vee’s head turned. No longer did she look like the sleepless mare who stood the test of time, but a young teen - the size of Pumpkin, no less. Rattling booms of crashing, ethereal debris rained around them.

This was no longer a dream she weaved; it was a memory. Fear settled in her heart, as she realized much too late that the ambient magic here turned against her. Her hooves stopped glowing, in an attempt to stop the spell; but it thrived on its own in the dark, and grew unbidden. She settled in the ring with just the thought of making some sparkly lights, or crafting a cute act of tumbling ponies - but the darkness around her deemed otherwise.

A new pony stood just opposite of her, the magic coalescing into her ghostly, dream form. Colors sprang across her skin, as an orange mare with soft, brown hair stepped into the purple light. Her eyes like slits, a dark aura wafting from her that made the Seraph wince and panic.

“Arin? What’s wrong?” Celestia asked, shaking the struggling Seraph.

“It’s Nightmare Moon.” He pointed. “I recognize those eyes anywhere. That… is she here? Can she see us?”

Celestia frowned, her horn twinkling faintly in the light. “That… it’s impossible. I feel the dark energy there, like… a piece of Nightmare Moon, but… it’s not her. A fragment. A mockery, perhaps?”

With a flash and a charge, the Earth Pony dashed for Vee - the striking shadows engulfing her in a frenzy. Pumpkin was about to nose dive to save her, clutching her hat desperately to stay aloft - but a wave of magic rippled across the crowd - the drowsy Pegasus galloping out of the darkness in terror. She collapsed just outside the ring, returned to her normal, tired visage.

Cowering on the soft sand, clenching her purple hat tight - the Pegasi shivered. Her eyes wide and body shaking. The applause and voices cracking through the dark went wild regardless, as Pumpkin nearly crashed by her side.

Tempest, seeing Vee in a near catatonic state - rushed to her side, Arin and Celestia restrained by the cane of the Ticketmaster.

“Nuh uh uh! Don’t spoil the act. Chattermouth is fine, just look! Breathing and squirming like there’s life still in her. No more than three on the set, now.”

“Vee, are you alright?” Tempest asked, her hoof resting over the Pegasi’s back.

“N-No. Get me out of here. This is no place for dreams. This is no place for Purples. This is a land of nightmares and horror. Tempest, I… help me.”

The shock of seeing Vee struggle left the Unicorn speechless. With a nod to Pumpkin, the Wine Mare hefted the lightweight pegasus onto her shoulders, galloping off set. But before she could go far, the Ticketmaster’s hoof shot from the shadows, clutching the claret colored tail of the Unicorn tight. Arin darted to meet her, scooping the shaking Vee up in a hurry.

“Nuh uh uh, Chip-horn! You’ve got places to be and fireworks to light. Wouldn’t want to keep the crowd waiting, would we?”

He motioned to the east - the Lunar Halo now dangerously close. “If you and your friends want to see the sun, better bring some smiles to this dark world. After all, it’s easy to join the dead - but hard to leave them.”

That very same wide grin graced his cheeks, his silvered eyes piercing through the stumbling mare with absolute authority.

With no other choice, Tempest turned back to the ring - much to the crowd’s delight, and her rising fear. What in Tartarus was this place?

Chapter 37 - Bring the Dawn With You

Stepping into the ring, Pumpkin floated steadily around her. The cheers and cries of the crowd loud enough to rouse even the darkest of spirits, energy thrumming under the tent. Her banners fell, showing off her in a mighty pose - kicking at the air in martial expertise.

“This is foolish…” Tempest said, looking towards the pillars that dotted around the arena. Her targets, perhaps? On them rested several orbs that gleamed and fluttered with a soft, golden light. No, those weren’t it… they seemed to be some form of magical foci, feeding off the crowd’s excitement. But for what reason?

“Into the ring marches the striking form of a Commander; the imposing might of a warrior refined by years of practice! Her strength shines brightly even in the dark, and her beauty leaves even a mare like I b-breath… breathless!”

Indeed, Pumpkin was breathless. Dripping with sweat, she didn’t look well at all. Her broom fluttered and hovered weakly, unable to sustain her coordination. Flying for so long like this, burning her Ember’s magic to stay afloat - it was taking its toll.

A clatter from a heavy cage rocked the southernmost flaps, thick iron bars with slats of heavy oaken wood to keep the beast within from stirring.

Pumpkin, unsure what the performance could be, called out to the crowd regardless. “But alas! Will our mighty mare challenge the beast lurking inside its prison! Whatever could it be?”

A clown, with a much too wide grin - tossed open the heavy iron gates of the cell with a click of the lock. A long, slender leg crashing into the bars. Not just one - two, then three. Thin and spindly, the teeth of a giant spider took in its prey with hundreds of eyes.

Tempest froze on the spot, absolute terror overwhelming her. Eyes like pinpricks, she stumbled backwards and tripped - making to run for the stands.

“Nuh uh uh, my little money maker! Let’s not forget the time, shall we?” The Ticketmaster reappeared from behind a pillar, thwacking the armored mare’s Winter Irons with his sturdy cane. Panting and whimpering, she was quickly forced back to the farthest ring from the beast. “Unless you want to stay here, performing forever to stave off the darkness of the lurking Entity?”

Reeling on her hooves and forced towards the slowly approaching arachnid, she was left with no other option but to face it.

“A-A riveting battle! The great Tempest Shadow, facing off w-with… With a giant spider, n-no less!” Pumpkin heaved, much to the delight of the ponies all around. A few foals hid close to their parent’s side, but watched on with a morbid curiosity.

Tempest bounced on her hooves in fright, eyes locked to the creepy crawly facing her. It was nearly the size of a large carriage, its long, thin legs propping its massive abdomen from the floor. Its two front appendages raised free from the sand, showing its gleaming, deadly fangs to the world. A vile green toxin drooled to the white dirt below, sizzling it with hungry drips of digestive juices.

“I-It looks like a jumping spider!” Pumpkin warned the horror-struck mare from above, as the massive, hairy, pistons of legs tensed and made to leap. Seeing this, her battle sense took over - and she roughly dived out of the way as the clattering of creepy legs landed where she just stood.

Galloping at full force around the Arena’s edge, the spider fell into hot pursuit of its prey. It’s eyes twitched and scanned its surroundings - noticing all too well that it was surrounded with equally applicable food for the feasting.

But before it could lunge into the stands, two shining beams of light crashed into its many eyes - blinding it. The light’s ponies warding off the attempt before things went south.

“T-Tempest, you can… do this!” Pumpkin breathed from her broom, struggling to keep up with the mare. “I-I faced… my fears… you can do it, too!”

Struggling to stay aloft, Pumpkin’s hooves pulled at the broom to lift up a dozen feet in the air. To give her space to fulfil her magic intensive show, and to breathe stifling air in deep drags.

In the center of the Arena now, the Unicorn was forced to turn. She had nowhere she could go; she was trapped. Running would solve nothing. She would have to fight.

But the terror coursing through her had other plans - and when her legs didn’t gallop at the floor, her body froze in place instead. The spider’s legs stomped with intense speed towards the horror-shocked Commander.

Tired of this game, the Spider hefted its thick abdomen from the floor, a flash of its spinneret shooting webbing towards its prey. In a last ditch effort to snap Tempest out of it, Pumpkin’s hoof darted forward - knocking the shocked mare to the floor with a snap of magic. The webbing crashed into the dirt in a blitz, wrapping across the far pole inches from the arena’s edge.

Panting, Pumpkin’s body sunk across the broom she rested on. Arin noticed this, and made to flap his wings to catch her - but that all too familiar cane thwacked his left wing roughly, with enough strength to nearly floor him. Vee was shaking in Celestia’s caring hooves, unable to act - and the Princess found the stick now pointed at her.

“Now now, our customers paid for drama! You’ll keep those wings pretty, right Princess?” He laughed, turning to watch the show.

Pumpkin, nearly immobile - began to sink between Tempest, and the spider. And seeing an easy meal just hanging in front of It’s mouth like a treat, the arachnid shot another blast of sticky silk.

Instantly, Pumpkin was knocked to the floor in a thick wad of webbing - the Spider charging to catch and cocoon its meal.

“N-NO!” Tempest galloped in, breaking free of her stupor. Her horn flared with mighty sparks, a blast of untempered howling power crashing into the charging beast. Bolts of electrifying might shuddered and exploded in a barrage of fireworks, shooting up to the ceiling. A light pony above - caught unaware - jumped for a nearby safety net as a loose crack of thunder shattered the flame lamp’s focusing lens.

The spider, chittering and screeching in pulsing agony, twitched and stampeded back for the safety of Its cage. The same clown pony, sipping at a flask on his side - hefted the massive cage doors up with a hoof. Cursing as he spilled booze across his much-too-large shoes.

Immediately, Tempest jumped to Pumpkin’s side, ripping at the mess clinging to her White Tail leather armor. Knocking her hat off, Tempest stroked through the little mare’s mane, ocean green eyes gazing worriedly into Pumpkin’s pastel irises.

“Are you alright?” she eventually asked, hefting the little mare’s sweat drenched head from the floor. Pumpkin didn’t say anything, instead - she darted her muzzle up to meet Tempest’s with a soft, sweet kiss.

Soft ‘d’awws’ and shouts roared from the stands, hooves aplenty clattering and banging in a standing ovation. The initial shock wearing off, Tempest slid her eyes shut - fully returning the kiss. Their muzzles meeting in delicate passion.

“They’re a beautiful couple.” Celestia giggled, cupping Arin in her wing. He couldn’t help but smile, resting his aching pinions over her back.

“Like us?”

The Princess’s warm smile met his, magenta eyes gleaming in the light of the tent. “Like us.”

Another kiss soon followed, as Vee rocked back and forth beneath them. Muttering about bad dreams and bad feathers. While it may seem cruel to leave her be - she simply didn’t want help. Not with this.

Tempest rested her new lover across her back, breathing confidently as she stepped out of the ring. The Ticketmaster, as crazed as ever - made his final statement.

“Ah, the end of the show. And with the tick of the clock, it’s not too late to set things right. Maybe it’s time I give a little truth.” His eyes wandered over the tent of roaring fans, slipping his top hat off with a flick.

“Princess Celestia. You probably don’t know me, but I used to be your first court jester, back when you were naught but a foal. You and your sister running amok in that castle, in what’s now called the Everfree. But I had bigger and better things in mind, back before you helped orchestrate the creation of Equestria. I wanted to be a Ringleader, a Ticketmaster to the circus - to bring joy and happiness across the land.”

He nodded his head to the Princess, “I left and made my mark in the world, hosting a wonderful Carnival across the divided lands. My last great act was here - in Copse Vale. It was during a thick rain that my show swung into capacity, the clouds breaking over the intensity of the acts. You see, a stage light caught ablaze, and without proper safety and cages stuffing the entrances - nearly everypony died that night. The few who survived ran for their homes, and were caught in a flood from the shattered dam - killing them all. Thus, the Corpse Vale was born. And the new lake that formed swiftly had hundreds of bodies wash to its shores, or float to the surface.”

“A mass death like this turned out to be bad news for us, as the decay and terror trapped our souls here - in what you call the Shadowfell. It attracted the ire of some great… evil. A darkness that stirs closer to the edge. And now, we’re here.”

The crowd continued to cheer and cry, as the very same stagelight above - now missing its protective glass - set a small flame to the tent. None of the carnies had noticed yet, as they worked to free the trapped stallion from the net he tumbled from in the last performance.

“I’ve been performing for far, far too long. I’d like to rest my hat on the hook and sleep now. All of us would; the ponies, the clowns, the show… it must truly end. And there’s only one way to do that, Princess.”

His once chaotic, mad grin slowly settled into a sincere smile. Eyes lighting up with the passion for his craft.

“We could use a little sunlight, to bring us out of the dark. A final farewell. A flash of golden light to break our curse. When you step into the ring, draw the cheery laughs and sunny smiles gathered here to your Ember, and cleanse us. Save us from our fate. If the Lunar Magic seeps into this section of the Shadowfell, it will feed the Entity - dream eater, soul claimer, and it will break the mirage. All of these lost souls, my former patrons and the little foals gathered - they’ll be taken to the void, to feed this… thing, for the rest of eternity.”

The story clicked, the final peace setting into place. Celestia’s magenta eyes fanned the crowd, and though her ember lay empty - the magic orbs around gleamed with power.

Emotion could stir even the most potent of magics free, and she could feel it. Solar energy, thrumming and humming beneath the jeweled glass.

“Alright. I’ll do it.” She bowed her head, giving a farewell squeeze to her Lover. The Seraph traced her cheek with his palm, sharing a good-luck kiss.

“I believe in you, Tia.” Arin smiled, and the Princess gave an airy laugh.

“Have you ever doubted me to begin with?”

“Never.”

Their foreheads bumped in one last sign of affection, before Celestia took to the ring. With all eyes on her, and the magic of the tent fading as fire began to soar - she spread her wings at the applause.

“Thank you, all of you, for coming today. To this magnificent show, a spectacle that brings our hearts together. Feel the light in your soul, and hold onto it - your friends, your lovers, and never let that fade. May the friendships you made here hold ever true in your hearts. And remember, my little ponies… that friendship is magic.”

Her wings spread wide, horn gleaming dimly in the air. Faint tendrils of white and gold energy seeped through the massive foci around to meet her, swirling into her being with a powerful hum. The dim light of the clouds shined through the flame ring above, her horn glowing and thrumming with Solar power once more.

With practiced ease, and a strong heart - her wings gave a mighty billow, raising her elegant form into the air. The happy cries of foals pointing to the miraculous sight - a pony with wings and magic!

A blinding flash of light followed, the clouds above breaking in its splendor. The sun crashed through the thick cover in a wave of powerful radiance. The fairgrounds, now overrun with vines and black tendrils - shuddered and screeched. The sounds of the Shadowfell receding as a massive flare of the sun’s energy encompassed the world in warming beauty.

The cheers, all at once, stopped. When the group blinked away the dazzling energy, the very fairgrounds they stood in… had cleared. In its place lay a single stone slab in the grassy field, a tribute to those who died all those years ago.

The clouds and muck was now gone. The stench of decay had whipped away in the winds. The free weather that haunted the planes had vanished - and to the east, the lake that housed the ruins ran clear and pristine. Save for the moonlight coursing overhead, which seemed to drizzle snow across its now clear surface.

Celestia, her mane glowing red - flapped her wings steadily to the floor. Her armor, no - all of their gear - was now clean of the filth and dirt they had wallowed in. A parting gift, perhaps, from the generosity of the Ticketmaster.

Arin felt a lump in his bag, and checked it - withdrawing a single, caramel coated apple, sprinkled in nuts and sweet sugar. In fact, all of them had an assortment of classic Carnival treats on their persons - and Vee, thank the feathers, had a giant thermos of coffee. A parting goodbye from a town that kept hope burning in the face of darkness.

The slightly recovered Purple held her thermos to her chest, breathing in deep and slow. Within seconds, she unscrewed the lip - and drank deep, nearly emptying the entire piping hot brew in one long gulp. Pumpkin, her energy seeping back into her form - stirred from Tempest’s back, yawning.

Celestia held aloft a giant stick of cotton candy from her bag, in a sweet pink flavor. Perhaps a jab at her once pink mane, regardless - she took a heavy bite. Simply happy for a treat. Pumpkin had a small pumpkin pie in her bag - much to her delight - and Tempest had… a soda?

“Hmf.” She laughed softly, reading the label. ‘Fizzlepop’s Berry Twist’. Maybe that undead wasn’t half bad.

“Almost like a bad dream.” Arin said dumbly, nibbling at his caramel apple. Indeed, it was delicious, and a well deserved reward for a job well done.

The party, now beyond exhausted - had to make a little space behind them. The night still nipped at their heels, after all, and though they made progress before the Carnival - more would have to be made before they camped. Their legs stepped to the faint trail, and a new, happy joy seeped into their step - Arin and company headed towards the looming mountains of the unexplored west.

“I’ll have to write all of this down, gosh! Where to begin…” Pumpkin thought aloud, walking alongside her new marefriend. “There’s so much to cover! The scary lake, the big top, I-”

“Pumpkin?” Tempest smiled, bumping her gently with her flank.

“Huh? Yeah?”

“You’re not stuttering anymore,” the Unicorn said, the little mare stopping in her tracks.

“I’m… I’m not? Oh Gosh! I’m not! I’m talking clearly! And… oh my Celestia, this is great!” She bounced about happily, much to the amusement of a certain red-maned Princess.

“Yes, oh me, it’s splendid, my loyal subject.” The Princess winked - forcing a happy giggle from Pumpkin.

“Sorry! It’s a habit.” The small mare’s grin held for many hours more, even as the trail - still rough, but free of mud - moved ever upwards and onwards.

Chapter 38 - Farewell to a Friend

Upwards and onwards they trekked - a small spring in their steps, and warmth in their words as the leagues melted behind them. But no amount of cheery attitude could prevent the staling of stamina and the loss of nerve, especially as they each came to a realization.

They didn’t know where a safe mountain pass lay. They could start along any hiking trail - but it could coil and bend, or turn steep and impossible to climb without warning. A ship with medium burden, or an expert flying pegasus could easily clear the craggy peaks and frost covered stones, but for the group below - this was a bit too much of a challenge. They had lost the road past the carnival.

At best, Celestia - having a fraction of her power restored - could possibly bring the party upwards in a bolt of levitation; but that was a gross misuse of magic, as many battles stretched before them. What she carried now equated to months of recovery, and it shouldn’t be wasted to save a few hours of time.

“Hmhm! I hate mountains.” Vee spoke behind her new thermos, slurping down a fresh batch of the good stuff. Her tired wings pumped at the thinning air, regardless of the cost. “Hard to fly over, dry on the snooter - makes me want to sneeze. Small-fry! Give me your hat. I need a tissue.”

“Ew! Vee! No!” Pumpkin slapped the intruding pegasus with her tail, Arin chuckling at the sight.

“You two know how to keep spirits high, huh?”

“Only thing high about me is my debt! And snot levels! C’mere, Small-fry! You can wash it later!”

Tempest rolled her eyes with a smirk, flicking Vee’s nose away with a hoof when she hovered a little too close to her small marefriend.

“So, finally found somepony to call your own, Tempest?” Celestia teased, the scarred Unicorn unable to restrain a smile.

“It was just one kiss.”

“It didn’t look like ‘just one’ to me.” The Princess’s smug grin widened, forcing the defenseless Tempest to blush.

“It definitely didn’t feel like one, either!” Pumpkin chimed, bumping to the more dominant mare’s side. She quietly bumped back, letting their armor touch.

The new trail they were on seemed promising, leading into a turn in the peaks. From here, it looked to push onwards - shaving off hours of walking south to overcome it.

And with flatter ground, camp could be made. The pristine Cervine tents, supplied by King Aster - were erected in the pass, Vee taking her point as the sentinel once more. Celestia and Arin were intent on making a little distance for Pumpkin and Tempest, the fire more so to keep Vee company as her thoughts fluttered helplessly in the breeze.

Much preening was to be had, after all. A full day’s rest keeping the shadows at bay. Arin, beyond exhausted after the dip and dance he did, curled up tight to Celestia’s side. The Princess fawned over him with her wings, softly embracing him to her chest.

In a nearby tent, even though they were pummeled by exhaustion from their quest’s call, a duo of mares embraced each other. Keeping warmth and love afloat - cuddling in to share love and warmth in a soft, relaxing rest.

Vee watched over the vale far below, admiring the beauty it now held. With all the swampy disgust washed away, a serenity could bloom. There was no tragedy now; only peace. Even in the approaching night, the world seemed so calm.

It was several hours more before the click of a beak and a flap of familiar wings stirred her from her thoughts, a raven landing tiredly by her side.

“Aha! I knew it! Pecking up trouble, are we?” she asked with a coo, nosing the bird. “I missed my lil’ cookie eater! Perfect for clearing out my kitchen, and for ruining my staring competition with the moon. Bold of you to flap onto MY hoof, next to MY coffee, and expect cookies for the effort! D’ohoho.”

“I am not here for treats, though temptations they may bring. I carry news on swift wings. The Seraphs have grown anxious over the delivery of compensation and their promises of freedom. At Umbra’s beckoning, I forged a letter to delay her execution - but I’m afraid it will do little else but just that. My feathers are tied; the Council has called, and I must venture to realms beyond this for my talon’s interference in the fate of this world.” Onyx gave a winged bow, the strange being seeping with odd, foreign magics.

“Couldn’t free her and bring her back to us, I take it?” she hummed, sipping away another mouthful of her favorite brew.

“I am afraid not. I had hoped the small touch of magic would suffice for both my limitations, and for a purchase of time. Instead, both have fallen short. It may be centuries before we meet again, Vee-Ness. The accord we struck may be void, if I am to accept my fate.”

“Ah…” She tilted the brim of her hat down, her all too familiar frown returning. “I see. You’ve pecked up the wrong tree for the last time, ol’ bird. I guess it’s another piece of me I’ve lost on this journey. My Sister has finally grown up, and now, you’re leaving me too.”

Onyx spotted the thin tears trailing down the usually chipper pegasi’s cheek, the old witch croaking up a sorrow-choked farewell. “You’ve done me proud, Featherbrain. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. Shame it had to end so soon.”

“Several hundred years is a short time, indeed. The bond we share will linger for an age. Months more, years even if you use my magic sparingly. Perhaps you will find another to grow the tether of your life ever longer.” He clicked his beak. He knew it was a false hope, but one to cling on to.

“No no, I do believe it’s time. There’s many things approaching that my old bones must handle, and I think it’s long overdue that I give fighting the skeletons in my closet a shot.”

With little else to say, Onyx gave a gentle press of his beak - before fading from the light of the fire. For the first time in over seven hundred years, Vee sobbed. She had been alone before, she had fought for causes long past. But never one that took so much from her.

Celestia stretched her elegant wings, as she stepped free from the tent. Refreshed, and with a warm half-dressed Seraph tucked under her wings, she was ready to face the day. Maybe Vee would be inclined to share a cuppa.

Maybe she would be - if the pegasus were still resting by the fire. Unsure, she cast her gaze around the campsite to find her - and seeing Vee overlooking the lake, standing with her spear clutched tight in hoof and wing, gave her worry. Arin caught the sight too, seeing his friend staring into the Lunar Magics wasn’t like her at all. Well, maybe it was like her - it was hard to tell. Vee had a lot of strange quirks one couldn’t just list.

He decided to approach first, leaving the Princess with a kiss to start breakfast up properly. After all, it was one of the few things she could cook without burning down a small village.

“Hey Vee, what’s going on?” He asked, stooping to sit by her side. His legs dangling over the short rocky ledge she gazed from.

“Thoughts,” she replied bluntly, not even turning to acknowledge him.

“Hm? Thoughts? Like… coffee thoughts, or?...”

“Not everything is about coffee, Tall-fry. Sometimes thoughts are about more important things. Things none of you could understand. We all have thoughts about what will happen and things that’ll come, but we never really understand how unimportant they can be. When you look at the big picture, at least.”

She gave her spear a swish, feeling the weight of it in her grip. “I’ve got a lot of thoughts to look through, in this feather brain of mine. Years upon years. And very few years left to think them. I like to play along and let life have its way - but I’ve always been an outsider compared to eternity. Just like Sun-fry, I used to think I’ll still be standing when the few friends I’ve made passed. I never thought the time would come when those very same friends would outlive me.”

She turned to face Arin, the shocked Seraph recovering from the bombshell she just dropped. “I’ve never felt old before, Tall-fry. But today… I feel it. It’s in my bones. Not because I’m aging, but because a friend I’ve held dear has moved on. I asked too much, and the void took it all. Now, I’m old. I’m alone. And soon, I’ll have nothing left to give Equestria. It’s given me many fine cups of coffee, many warm hearted customers to tend to - and now, I’ve got nothing to give it back, save myself.”

She sat down, breathing slow and deep. “Tall-fry. I trust you. I wouldn’t let you stay with me if I didn’t. I know I’m crazy, I’ve got a few screws loose. But I’ve got enough sense left to know when my time has come. And it’s soon. So very soon. I don’t think I can tell the rest of them. Not Pumpkin, never Pumpkin. But if this is the last flap I have, then please. Make sure my Sis knows how much I love her, and that everything I own goes to her. I don’t know when it’ll happen. When I’ll die. I just know it’s soon. Until then… I’ve got to keep it together. Drink my coffee, flap my feathers. I won’t go quiet into the night, like all my friends have around me. Hold this secret. It’s the last thing I could ever ask.”

The Seraph almost teared up, wrapping his arms gently around the pegasus. “It’ll be alright Vee. I don’t know what happened to make you act this way, but it’ll pass. Everything will turn out fine in the end, I promise.”

“How sweet of you to say, Tall-fry. But we both know better that it won’t. Still… Thanks for stopping by for coffee and cake, back when I was still happy. Let’s head back to the fire. I don’t want Princess Snooty thinking something is wrong.”

Making it to their feet and hooves, Celestia pieced together a lovely breakfast of cinnamon oats and fine, fresh, buttery toast. While it couldn’t hold a candle to her pancakes - it was definitely a wonderful start after that stressing revelation.

Tempest and Pumpkin appeared last, the little mare draped over her lover. Sleeping soundly, or simply too tired to awake fully - Pumpkin snuggled up in the lovely warmth. She only stirred when gentle prodding from a bowl of oats snapped her awake.

“Tempest, I know you mentioned this next area before as… ‘spiders’, but… what does that mean? You don’t really mean a bunch of spiders, right? We’re not walking into a nest, are we?” Celestia questioned.

“It’s unexplored for a reason,” she said, voicing worry through her words. “Let’s hope the tales I’ve heard are only that; rumors and ideas to ward off the less than brave.”

With those not-so cheerful words, the party broke camp - Vee sticking extra close to her Sister’s side as they travelled. It was almost to the point of overbearing, her protective wing draped over the little mare.

“Vee, what’s wrong?” she eventually asked, the purple mare quick to respond.

“It’s nothing. I worry about you, that’s all. You’re a Small-fry all grown up; can’t I hold you like I used to, back when you were my struggling apprentice?”

Pumpkin gave an embarrassed blush, but smiled. “You really think I’ve matured?”

“By leagues and feathers. I think it’s time for a new nickname for you, Smols. Something more fitting. A title I think you’ve earned.”

Vee slid her purple hat off with a wave of her hoof - dumping the contents into her Feywild Leather satchel. Potions, pouches of coffee, jars and vials… Once empty, with a flick of her magic, the hat bound to the little witch’s, ringing magic forcing her ragged old topper to fuse to the autumn mare’s.

A long, purple feather hung over the leather strap now, which had shifted to a soft green - a color that matched the odd flecks of viridescence that shone in Vee’s own irises in the right light. Pumpkin’s hooves clattered to a halt, gently plucking the hat from her head. Her eyes wandering the refined curves and trimmed lace along its edge. The original simple buckle had been replaced with three purple flames; Vee’s cutiemark.

“V-Vee…” Pumpkin began, growing worried at the gift. The Purple’s head looked bare without its hat, the rugged, unkempt mane hanging in the stirring breeze.

“It’s yours, Smols. You’ve graduated top of your class. I have nothing left to teach you, unless you want preening lessons. I dub thee an Expert of the Solar Coven of Witchery.”

Pumpkin fiddled with the new trim, the group stopping down the path to watch. In a flash, the little mare jumped into her Sister’s hooves, soft, expertly preened wings darting around her. “B-But… why?” Pumpkin asked quietly, her pastel eyes meeting Vee’s.

“There’s a lot of road left ahead of us, Smols. Pumpkin. My lil’ Sis. You’ve got a spring in your step I’ll never match. One day, you’ll understand.”

Vee continued her pace alongside her Sister, holding her tight in her wings. Tempest soon joined them, unsure what to make of it all. But, it was a sibling moment - one she couldn’t interfere with. Instead, she kept the little mare sandwiched between herself and her Sister - as they finally broke past the mountains and into the new land.

And the first sign of impending trouble loomed before them. Webbing. Thick, massive knots of spider web lay tattered in the winds, the silk covered bushes and trees making the group freeze in their tracks. The dark forest ahead, breaking down the mountainside - loomed with signs of pearly white spider fabric, that gleamed in the sunlight.

“Nope. Nope nope nope.” Tempest began to back up along the path, stopping when Celestia’s voice called out to her.

“So we leave Umbra to her fate, then?” the Princess spoke, with a flash of her wings.

“N-No, but…” Tempest froze, closing her eyes and gathering her resolve. With a deep, steadying breath - and a sparkle of her horn’s electrifying magic, she stepped forward.

“...I can’t leave Umbra to die. I can’t. Vee, you said you speak spider, correct? Maybe you can… go in. First. Without me. And clear a path.”

The solemn mood slowly left the Purple, bucking up with a sip of coffee. “Oho! I speak the universal form of Spider-nese. But just to be safe, keep an eye on my lil’ Sis, will you, Stern-fry? And follow right behind me?”

“But of course. By the way! Is anypony up for a flight? As in, a long distance one - to the other side of this… this…” Tempest waved

“Spidervale?” Celestia offered a name to call it by. Arin stroked his chin in thought, humming.

“Nah, too on the nose. Arachnaland?” he replied. Vee shook her head.

“Squashbug!” she chimed, slurping her coffee.

“No no no… how about, Driderhold?” Pumpkin pointed to the webs; “Like the spooky creatures from pony tales!”

“I have a better idea for a name; ‘Forest Fire in Progress’.” Tempest picked up a stick in her teeth, horn crackling as electricity seared the webbed branch. All of this talk of spiders put her well past her senses. The thin webs immediately caught flame, the nearby Solar Princess gasping.

“You’ll kill us all!” she shouted, smacking the burning wood from Tempest’s muzzle with a bolt of soft red magic, stomping the embers into fine dust beneath her legs. “Are you stupid, or just suicidal?!”

“No, I’m the most sane one among us! This is a sprawling death trap! Entering this is suicide!”

“It’s the only way through! Unless you decide to grow wings or summon an airship, I’d like to see a better idea!” Celestia glowered, pointing over the horizon to the next set of mountains.

“Uh, mares?...” Arin began, but was interrupted by more shouting.

“For an ancient deity capable of wielding the power of the Sun, you sure do have a death wish!” Tempest slammed her hoof into the stony ground, hard enough to shake the very rocks they rested on. “We go around! Lunar Magic be damned, I’m not going to let myself be wrapped up in a cocoon to feed hungry, chitinous creatures, unlike a certain pony!”

“Are you implying what I think you’re implying?” The Princess raised her wings defensively, her eyes piercing through the panicked Commander.

“Oh? What am I implying then, Princess?” she challenged, her wine-colored hoof bumping the morning mare’s chest roughly. “I am a very well educated tactionist, by my own standard - you were once my enemy. And because of this, I’ve studied you. I’ve read the newspapers around your defeats. If there’s one thing that sticks out, is your weakness to entrapment. I’ve even given it a name! ‘Princess Syndrome’! Under any given circumstance, you are the first to fall.”

“So you think I’m some kind of helpless maiden, charging headfirst into danger only to be captured on a whim? Is that it? You don’t think I can protect myself?” Celestia beat her wings, ready for a tussle.

“It’s a statistical fact that a Princess left to her own devices will be captured within the first twenty four hours of being alone,” Tempest growled, nose to nose with the slightly taller Alicorn.

“Ladies!” Arin shouted, the two mares rounding on him at once.

“WHAT!?” The duo both screamed, directing their anger at the shrinking Seraph.

“If we don’t move now, we’ll be fighting spiders in the freezing cold pitch black night. You know. Where they can see, and we can’t.”

“Actually, Arin, spiders can’t see well in the dark. They can feel when something tugs on their webs, though,” Pumpkin offered. And with all eyes on her, she quickly shrank back beneath her new hat. “I-If that um… helps…”

“...Thanks Pumpkin, but… wait, where’s Vee?” Arin asked, breaking the angry silence between the two argumentative ponies with a simple question.

“What are you talking about, she was just…” Tempest began, her eyes scanning the clearing around them. A soft, stale wind tickled her nose - and she turned to face the looming entrance to the forest.

The massive cloth of spider silk draped before the drooping woods was split in twain, a faint tail light bumbling through the dim dark far along the path.

“...She went in,” Celestia whispered, catching on to Tempest’s gaze. In a hurried frenzy, the ponies and Seraph charged after her - bow drawn, staff slung, and a little mare darting behind on her broom. Calls for the brave pegasus breaking through the quiet of the web-covered thickets.

Chapter 39 - Driderhold

“I can’t believe she’d charge in like this!” Tempest called, highly regretting her choice in weapon - without a sword or blade to chop through, she had to rely on Celestia’s bardiche to cleave any spare webbing Vee didn’t clear on her own. Within minutes of trudging and galloping, they caught up to Vee’s tail, just as they broke into a small, webless… nest, of sorts.

Far above them, in the silk-covered canopy, dozens of varying sized cocoons dangled helplessly in the air, still in the breezeless forest. The sight alone was enough to send Arin’s danger sense into a frenzy - the Princess on his right feeling much the same.

Vee stood in the center, her purple eyes locked to a massive, pony sized Spider before her. It hovered ominously in the air by a thin, silvery strand of web, just hooves away from the Purple.

“V-Vee?...” Pumpkin began, sticking close to Tempest’s side. Even now, the usually merlot mare had backed up against Celestia, shaking in her armor.

“Shhh, we’re talking, Smols.” Vee raised a hoof for silence, the Spider unmoving as it took in it’s prey.

And with a spinning slash of her lance, the Pegasus sliced cleanly through the massive beast - the carcass splitting in half as its gooey insides spilled in a small pool around it. Tempest heaved, covering her mouth as the once argumentative Princess blocked her sight with a hoof.

“D’ohoho! He wasn’t expecting that one!” the purple chirped, wiggling her weapon in the air to dislodge any gunk that remained.

“I thought you spoke Spider?” Celestia questioned, her Seraph checking the webbing for any more ‘guests’ in the scant sunlight.

“I do! I speak violence. It’s the only thing big ol’ spooders understand, d’ohoho~”

When the carcass finally bumped to the floor, it rattled a thin layer of sticky webs - the entire nest shaking around the weight. Those vibrations travelled onwards, the faint click of chittering fangs breaking through the windless silence.

“I don’t think killing it was the best idea,” Arin stated bluntly, walking to cover Celestia’s rear. Bow in hand, he started to search for the exit - but the sheer amount of webs, and the curve in the path they took made their entry hole impossible to spot.

“We should move. Now,” Celestia commanded, taking charge as she spun the bardiche in her ruby magic. Vee wiped the muck of the spider off onto it’s hair legs to clean her spear, Pumpkin stumbling over a rough root in the floor.

“Pumpkin, I know I’m not the bravest right now… but I don’t want you flying off on your own. Sit on my back, and hold on tight,” Tempest whispered, the little mare nodding. A swish of her hat, and she was seated on the taller mare.

With no formation behind, Arin fell back on his old Knight training now, more than ever. With all eyes facing the front, he turned and kept his gaze settled on their unprotected rear. Luckily, his arrows were returned to him by the Ticketmaster’s farewell - unluckily, they had an entire forest to go through.

And so, the group made their way quietly through the faint shadows of the sun, Tempest’s unsteady breathing scattered between long swishes of Celestia’s partial halberd, and Vee’s lance. The five members had little to say, other than the occasional call to check their steps, or hushed noise to steer their eyes elsewhere, and be wary of danger.

Arin had never felt so many near invisible eyes stalking him - and his charges - in the dark. The white strands let the thin light of day break through in sorrowful blue beams. More than once, the giant form of twitching legs disappeared into a dark nook of trees, the group steadying themselves to march ever west.

“If you didn’t already guess, we’ve been followed since the clearing,” Arin whispered, Tempest struggling to keep her legs from shaking out from beneath her.

“I really don’t need to know that right now,” she hissed, horn crackling in fear. On the very edge of panic, it took Celestia’s calm wing to settle her nerves.

“Just keep your head low, and spirits high. Spiders, like many predators, have an innate sense for hunting fear.”

Celestia’s words had the opposite effect of calming her down. They had hardly made it past a half league, before a massive split in the trees offered them the chance to take two paths. Neither were tempting, a small building sized arachnid spanning the path on the left; and a dozen smaller spiders lining hundreds of thick gosmer nets to their right. You could only faintly see either of them - the giant spider rested hundreds of yards away, nearly dormant in its sleep. But the smaller spiders seemed to be a slight bit more active - a spindly leg twitching up at the lantern's light.

It took everything within Tempest not to faint or gallop for the path behind. The chitter of the eight legged creatures falling just within earshot from their rear.

“Arin. Eyes?” Celestia whispered, wondering how much time they had until things fell grim.

“Dozens and counting; but none that I see yet.” He tightened the string on his bow, awaiting orders.

“I’m going to need you to take the lead, Arin. As quietly as you can, pluck the spiders from these webs. And do not miss. A single lost arrow now could be the end of us.” Celestia whispered, “On my call, switch positions. I’ll guard the rear, you take the front. Ready?”

The Seraph gave his quiet reply. “Ready.”

A flick of her tail in the silent forest thwacked gently at his side - and they spun to the quiet order, the Princess taking the rear and the Seraph aiming his bow to the front.

With a small twang of the arrow, the first creature fell to the floor in a tussle. Its kicking legs stirring the net it was housed, the other spiders turning to the vibrations of its body. Another arrow twanged in the dim light, snapping through the carapace of a pony-sized arachnid.

Yet still, the click and chitter of hungry fangs pinching at the air grew ever louder. Vee standing at the ready; lance draped over her shoulder, her feathers tingling at the bubbling anxiety.

Another dead spider. The cackling noise growing loud, then settling to a quiet thrum. But yet nothing caught her eyes, as she scanned the floor with burning intensity.

Pumpkin winced, feeling something drip across her back. A pit of terror sloshed in her gut, as her eyes traced up the long husks of dead, dying, and struggling tree trunks, ignoring the black vines that settled there for far too long, sucking the life from the forest.

The spiders never followed them on the ground. Pumpkin screamed as four massive legs clenched around her and Tempest - the wine mare giving a panicked yelp as they were ripped up into web weaving legs. Celestia just managed to stagger out of the way as another terrifying arthropod swiped at where she just stood, her bardiche swinging to cleave at it.

Arin and Vee spun on their hooves and feet, stumbling back as several massive, twitching, clicking spiders fell to the web-draped floor below, panic welling within their chests. They looked just like the massive one from the cirus! Vee went to speak ‘spider’ with her heavy spear, darting forward in a lunge - but she was only met with the blast of a spinneret.

That was definitely not good for the feathers. Tempest and Pumpkin were hefted up just out of reach of Celestia, Pumpkin’s hat dangling from the thin fibers - but still within perfect range of Arin’s bow. He took aim, and let loose an arrow.

The bolt shot like lightning through the air, but another dropping spider - looking to seize Celestia in its legs - took the sharp point instead. It gave a screech, quickly retreating through a hole in the webbing.

Pumpkin and Tempest were gone. He shot forward to grab at Vee, but had to billow his wings out of the way to avoid another blast of web. This turned out to be a fatal mistake.

Falling into the spindly silk of the webbing behind, his wings instantly adhered to the gluey strands - the now cocooned Vee quickly being dragged towards another part of the forest.

“CELESTIA! RUN!” Arin called, as legs were soon upon him. In a moment, he was spun in the silken fabric - more white strands joining the mess binding him from a spinneret. The Knight’s struggles weakened as the layers piled on, and just like that - Celestia was alone.

Panic overtaking her, a blast of webbing caught her cloth armor - forcing her to strip and give up her bardiche. A kick of her legs saved her from the full-body hug of a hungry arachnid, as her horn shot piercing light for the clouds. Her wings flurried and pumped, blasting from the overrun floor as she took to the sky.

She breathed a gasp of fresh air, but it wasn’t a relieving one as she crested the treetops. They were in a sea of gossamer threads, no more than a dozen leagues wide in all directions.

Tempest was right. This place should burn. Her panicked eyes darted over the canopy, freezing as terror overwhelmed her. Stunned and shellshocked, she could only float and stare.

No. She mustn’t let it happen again - Umbra wasn’t here to slap sense into her, and her friends - her lover was in danger. What could she even do?! She hardly knew much about spiders! Except they were predators. Why were there so many here?! Pumpkin would know, she’s smart with - Pumpkin!

She could see the very same spider who ripped Tempest and Pumpkin from the forest floor, traveling on the underside of the thick canopy. Its spindly legs plucking the web like a violin, before twisting back down into its nest. It’s nest? Did they have nests? Wait - they did! When they first entered, the domed roof of a spider’s nest held a singular spider. It was taking them to feed!

She darted for where the tremors stopped, channeling precious magic to sear away fibers and make a hole - being careful not to start a fire, not yet. Fresh sunlight splashed over the gloomy abyss below, and she ducked down to face it.

Time was precious, and what was even more precious were the lives now trapped here. How many ponies have died in these woods before them? How many more would continue to die? This place was a disaster waiting to happen. Maybe Tempest WAS the only sane one!

She wasn’t directly inside of a nest, but the dark trees above gave her a path to follow, as spindly webs curved down to touch the dead grass. With careful steps, she trotted down - keeping her wings pinned to prevent unwanted fibers from marring them and binding her to a nearby web.

Eventually, the path ended - a dozen faint strings hanging loosely in front of her. Without thinking, she seared through them with another bolt of magic - galloping through into the domed nest.

The spider hanging above stopped, clutching its prize tight in it’s grasp - Pumpkin’s hat tumbling free of the bundle. The igloo-like web seeping cold and reeking a faint stench of spider waste, as its many eyes inspected the Princess prey now caught in its home.

Celestia came to the bleak realization that, save for scarce magic, she was defenseless. Unless she intended to throw the Feywild Leather pack, thankfully held beneath her gear and thus untouched by tugging webs, at the Spider - she had little choices before her.

The Arachnid slung the fibrous silken cocoon onto a thick web from the ceiling. Four fang-like holes poking free of the web, showing where a duo of venomous bites was laced. This gave little hope for the Princess, as the massive, carriage-sized beast crashed to the floor with a click of its drooling fangs.

It darted for the Princess - who smartly shot a searing blast of magic at its plated head. It screeched, but stampeded onwards regardless - its shrilling cry unnerving the elegant mare instantly.

Only the faint marks of a burn were left, the massive skittering beast howling as its spinner burst a web towards Its prey. Celestia narrowly dodged with a flap of mighty wings, but silken strands still managed to gunk her left most feathers. And that’s when she saw it.

From Pumpkin’s hat, the familiar pommel of a golden blade. The soft red leather grip leading up to the familiar, magenta ruby. Entrusted to her now deceased Knight, Sun Song shined with it’s solar magic beneath the webs. But how? Sun Song, like all Elite Knight Blades, couldn’t carry magic if the owner was dead. It was a magical failsafe to prevent theft.

These questions could be answered later. Cornered, she had no choice but to waste precious magic - a soft red flash of her horn, and she vanished in a beam of ruby light.

Reappearing beneath the swaying bundle above, Celestia seized the blade from Pumpkin’s hat without a moment to spare. The spider, having recovered from the stun - whirled around to face her.

Sun Song’s blade flashed with a deadly light, the sheath abandoned for now as her single useful wing blasted her body to the right - and out of the way of the pouncing arachnid. Spinning the blade in her magical grasp, she felt the power of solar flames spiraling along the edge of the sword, a gentle waft of heat soaking through her fur.

She wasn’t a Knight. She could hardly use a blade, or bardiche, or any bladed weapon - in fact, she was so used to carrying overwhelming magical might in her horn that a spider like this didn’t seem like a challenge. Her Sister was the martial one. She was not.

But with only a rough understanding of weight and swords, that challenge increased ten fold. The Feywild Bladed Stave had a heft to it, making her less than masterful attacks potent and deadly - similar to when she carried her luminous gold halberd, back in Canterlot. But Sun Song was feathery light; and required a finesse she was never trained to weild. Unlike her Sister, who in her jealousy - took to the blade like a moth to the flame. Her training and aptitude paid off in battle, both with her, and against the Seraph invasion.

Her lack of experience began to show, as the mismatched swings of the blade were narrowly avoided by the enraged arachnid. A thin leg from the creature darted forward in a jab, seeking to knock her to the nets of fibers behind. All it did was gash into her now unprotected torso, and stagger her.

Wounded and bleeding, Celestia cried out - giving a desperate lash at the beast as she fell once more to the right. The tang of the sword caught on the hairy offending appendage, the blunt base sizzling and shattering the exoskeleton of the beast.

When it darted that very same leg down to stabilize - it split in twain, the Spider losing balance as it skittered back for distance. Panting and whimpering, the Princess’s blood spilled across the white webs below in a splatter. The deep wound refusing to knit without proper magical care, the battling creatures were at an impasse.

The Spider weighed its options, considering abandoning its hunt and leaving its nest - but at the cost of labor and food, the stakes were simply too high. Perhaps from the loss of its foul ichor, the Arachnid treaded slowly to the fiery maned mare.

Groaning, Celestia clasped a hoof over her gash, crimson essence spilling down her leg in a rush. She couldn’t keep fighting like this. She needed a plan. Or… perhaps an idea.

Celestia never learned how to shoot a bow. She didn’t have one on hoof, but what she did have was a long, pointed, flame infused sword, and the magical might to launch it hard like an arrow. Dropping her blood-smothered hoof to the floor with a groan, she tilted the point forward.

Steadying herself, the spider approached cautiously - unsure of her plan. With a flare of her horn, and a blast of gleaming Solar flare - the blade rocketted forward like an arrow, singing in a deadly note as it pierced the beast through its many, many eyes.

Sizzling, crackling heat seared into the now dead creature, as she ripped the blade limply from its now thoroughly dead carcass.

She would never, ever again, take an exterminator for granted. Heaving breaths through her blood-starved chest, she looked up to the now eerily still cocoon. Levitating the blade up, she gave a solid swipe - cleaving the support strand down. It fell to the floor with a soft, cushioned thump, giving a faint wiggle.

Carefully, she used the sharpness of the blade to slice through the hundreds of layers of choking twine, two desperate gasps coughing up to reach her.

“Princess?...” Tempest spoke first. Before they had been fully captured, Tempest made to grab Pumpkin in her hooves - the weak mare struggling against Tempest’s faint warmth.

“The one and only! I believe you… said something about ‘Princess Syndrome’?” She gave a weak smile, before quickly tossing the blade to her side. She offered a hoof to Tempest, who gingerly took her offer and made it to her shaky hooves.

“I think we’re done for, Princess,” Tempest whispered, stumbling. “You shouldn’t have come back for us. We’re as good as dead.”

Celestia helped the little mare up from her prison, Pumpkin in much the same boat - though her smaller size came at a great cost. She had more venom in her body than Tempest, and without treatment, she would surely die first, and soon.

“N-No… we’re not. I need it’s venom. I can… I can save us,” the little mare whispered hoarsely. Her hoof numbly scraped at her hat, Celestia dragging it towards her. She reached inside, withdrawing several small vials of brew. “I am… I pack for disaster.”

Stumbling forward, the little mare collapsed - her breathing slow and weak. Not more than seconds later, Celestia was grounded from the blood loss. Her front now oozing red, it was clear that she, too, would pass if left unattended.

All at once, Tempest found herself the last one standing. Weak as she was from the venom, she could still move - and still breathe.

“Pumpkin, s-stay with me dear… what do you need? What do I have to do? I can fetch it, just stay with me!...” Tempest began, looking over the rapidly fading lives before her. “Speak with me sweetie, you’re still there, right?”

“It’s paralysis… the first bite is paralysis. The second dose is digestion. T-Tempest… gland. You have to drain their… its gland.” The little mare spoke quietly; the very same venom catching up with her lover above.

If she didn’t move soon, Pumpkin would asphyxiate - and Celestia would bleed out. She shuffled through Pumpkin’s hat in exhaustion, grunting. She couldn’t use Sun Song - it would destroy the carcass further. Looking for a blade, or tool to cut with - and there, she found it.

A small dagger, undoubtedly used for harvesting herbs. Regardless, it will have to do.

Stumbling, and finding it hard to draw breath - Tempest struggled her way to the Spider’s corpse. While defiled by a fiery blade, its fangs were mostly left untouched.

She hated this. But she had two lives on the line, and no time to waste. With a shaky stab of her hoof, the chitinous plate cracked and the spider’s insides were revealed. While the brain… did it have a brain? If it did, it was long gone.

She hardly knew what she was looking for. And the head was definitely clear. Gods above, she’d have to touch it to roll it over. And she’d have to cut into the things chest, too, to search. She stifled a gag at the thought, but it had to be done.

Using her head and digging into the floor with her hooves, the mare grunted and heaved. She was strong, but this… thing was huge. It wasn’t a spider. Don’t call it a spider. Pretend it’s… it’s a big beetle. That’s what it was. It wasn’t a spider, with eight, crawling, skittering, twitching legs…

With the deceased arachnid's chest facing skyward, the remaining seven legs curled up. Occasional twitches making her want to scream, the terror coursing through her bones chilling her very soul. It had to be done. If not for her savior, then for the little mare she loved.

She slammed the knife into it’s hard torso - grunting as it skittered off the shell-like surface. Hardly a gash. She needed leverage, she… she’d have to lean over it, underneath its twitching legs, and press down on the blade with her full weight.

‘They weren’t legs, Tempest! They were branches. You’re just thinking too much!’ Her mind reeled, as her weight sunk onto the blade in full force. The cracking, splittering husk seized at the pressure - the legs shooting outwards much to the terror of the Wine Mare. She fell on her flank, dizzy with coursing venom.

Celestia’s head fell to the floor in the distance; losing consciousness and fading fast. With the torso open, she finally found what she thought she was looking for.

A small sack, with two parting strands running up the spider’s chest to the fangs in front. She clasped it with her hooves, but… it was much, much too slick.

No. She didn’t have to use her teeth to pull it out, did she? Please no. Oh Gods above no.

A second attempt never brought her so much relief - she clenched her prize tightly, the venom sack held aloft in her hooves. Stumbling and swaying her way to Pumpkin’s side, she had less than minutes to figure out the instructions from here.

“Pumpkin, sweetie, please… talk to me, what do I do now?... Do I just… squeeze it into a vial? Am… Do I have to dice it up?”

No response. Her eyes gazed petrified forward at the small, clear potions spilled from the hat. Tempest had once prided herself as an alchemist, able to determine the magical and physical formula to create explosives, petrifying gasses, and other deadly things. All of these talents now, all of this training - useless. Because they didn’t need weapons of war. They needed tools for recovery. And these skills were in short supply.

Finding it hard for her own hooves to move, she propped up a now open vial, squeezing a few scant drops of the venom inside. It tingled on her hooves, and made her want to heave - but it had to be done.

After the third drop, the small flask flashed a subtle white - before slowly seeping green. If this wasn’t the cure, Celestia would die from blood loss. She would faint and stop breathing, much like the much too silent Pumpkin. Seeing her like this made her want to cry, but hopefully - this would change that.

A quick shake of the vial, and thin chunks of.. Something floated within. Was it supposed to be chunky? Wait - yes! Vee said so, back before the Carnival! She remembered heaving at the thought of swallowing spider goop.

The Unicorn quietly heaved her small ray of light onto her lap. Tempest popped the cork off after several attempts with her unmoving teeth, easing several drops inside of her marefriend’s muzzle. Her hoof rubbed over Pumpkin’s esophagus, forcing her to gulp it down. Thank the Gods she at one point had to feed truth serum to prisoners, which taught her this skill.

From that point on, things became a blur. Her body turned stony, as her eyes grew unfocused. Her breath fell thin, as her lungs struggled to find air. It was all up to Pumpkin now, and sheer, dumb luck.

Chapter 40 - Face Your Fears

When Tempest came to, she was laying against a big, fluffy pillow. Her eyes refocusing on the webs above, the panic eased in her chest. Pumpkin sat across her lap, the Unicorn’s ocean green eyes meeting her emerald irises.

“It worked! O-Oh Gosh, you’re alright!” Pumpkin whimpered, locking lips with the still recovering Tempest. The Unicorn’s chest moving steadily now, the soft bundle she was propped up on croaked.

“Thank the Gods, she breathes. I don’t think I could take another one on my own.” Celestia’s voice was ragged and dry, and with time - Tempest could blink her much-too-sandy eyes. A cough soon followed, as her legs began to stir.

“How long?” she eventually managed, after a few tense minutes of her limp body coming to life.

“Fifteen minutes.” Pumpkin frowned, running her hoof over her cheek - down to her chest. “You should be up fully in three. Y-You… Tempest, you did amazing, facing your fears like that. I gave you a little something i-in the antidote, to help with the nerves, too.”

“Please. Never. Ever. Remind me of this day, ever again,” the recovering mare eventually replied to Pumpkin, who held on tight.

The Solar Witch traced a hoof over the plugged fang marks in Tempest’s neck, frowning. “You’re lucky… another inch or two, and it would have hit an artery. Y-You would have froze up before I did. Thankfully, I know how to make a fast acting potion, a-and my anxiety about the littlest things… well, it paid off.”

With Tempest slowly coming back to life, Pumpkin stood up - bringing Sun Song’s sheath to the red maned Princess.

“I’m sorry, P-Princess,” she whimpered, wracked with fear over what she’s done. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but Vee commanded that I keep quiet. I’ve b-been using it as a um… source of magic, when Vee tells me to.”

Celestia took the blade by her side in her magical grasp, stuffing it into the red and gold sheath. It clicked inside, the Princess sighing. Hanging her head low, she spoke. “The fact that you didn’t give it to me earlier, may have very well saved our lives. Because the first thing I would have done is give it to Arin. Vee was smart enough to make you hold on to it, so that wouldn’t happen. My only question is… how? I saw Nightmare Moon impale Vapor Cloud myself. By all accounts, this sword should be a husk of its former glory, yet here it shines.”

“S-She um… Sorry.” The pony breathed in deep, settling her nerves and orchestrating her thoughts. “She had me place a cursed amulet around Vapor Cloud’s neck. He’s basically petrified, until somepony can fix him up.”

The Princess lifted the blade once more, blood stained hoof fondling the gem within. “I’m surprised your Sister had the foresight for that, as well.”

Pumpkin nodded, Tempest making it to her hooves with help from her little marefriend. Still wobbly, but alive - she kicked her legs to let the antidote flow through her. Finally, her eyes settled on the rough looking Princess.

Celestia was in bad shape, but Pumpkin had tended to her wounds while she was unconscious. Swathes of silken strands wrapped around her bloody chest, clogging the wound and prevented more blood loss. Several more vials lay scattered around Celestia’s side, undoubtedly a concoction to help with healing fed to the injured mare.

“Where’s Arin? And Vee?” Tempest eventually managed despite a bubbling rage inside of her, the Princess hanging her pink mane to the floor.

“They’re… still out there. Somewhere in the webs,” Pumpkin said in place of Tia. “We… I don’t think we c-can help… Not like this.”

Pumpkin too, lost her nerve. Her sister was out there somewhere, bound up in a thousand layers of silk and likely suspended from a tree. She gave a choking sob, the light of hope fading in her chest.

Tempest didn’t speak. She only snatched Sun Song from Celestia’s side in her muzzle. Instantly, heat poured from the hilt - forcing her to drop the sturdy weapon to the floor.

“Tempest, what are you-”

“I’m going alone to find them. I’m sorry Pumpkin, but you need to stay by Celestia’s side and tend to her wounds.” She attempted to heave the blade up in her muzzle, glowering as it once again scorched her lips. “What?...”

“You’re not my Knight, nor fully Solar aligned like Pumpkin is. The blade will burn you, if you try to take it,” Celestia offered, her eyes heavy with worry for the wine-colored mare.

“Knight me,” Tempest spat, kicking the blade to Celestia’s chest. The Princess winced as the blunt guard struck her wound, but stifled the pain to speak. Even if the fresh agony did elevate her blood pressure, ten fold.

“You’re joking,” the Princess flatlined, her half drawn magenta eyes taking in the chipped-horn Unicorn. “Not more than three years ago, you imprisoned me in stone. Now you think I’ll trust a mighty, magical, potent blade like Sun Song into your care? And you thought I was insane! You can’t even face one spider, much less a thousand! Giving you Sun Song would be giving it away to the creepy crawlies in their webs. I think Pumpkin is a better fit than you.”

The Princess leaned down to the little mare, bowing her head. “No offense Pumpkin.”

“N-None um… taken,” the little witch said in reply. Ouch?

“Alright, then you take Sun Song, and cut through the tides of spiders to save your lover, and I’ll crush any spiders that cross me beneath my hooves.” Tempest glared, unyielding. “I won’t let Vee die on me. She saved my life. The least I could do is repay the favor. You’re really brave to sit here and let Arin die, Princess.”

A twinkle in Tempest’s eyes caught Celestia by surprise, as the Solar Princess struggled to her hooves. “Very well then. If you want to be my Knight, and you think you can do better than me against the arachnids… so be it.”

Hefting the sword in her magical grip, she unsheathed the gleaming gold blade. “You’ll have to excuse me if I’m a bit short on the proper ceremony, but the magic is all the same. The flair is just words to keep the nobles happy, and strengthen our bond. Ahem…”

“Tempest Shadow, do you swear yourself upon my service and care, to defend me and my lands until a time where my honor is no longer just?... Or… something?” Tia glared at the defiant mare beneath her, who rolled her eyes and nodded.

“Cut the tuft and give me the blessing, Princess. I won’t stand idly by while my friends die around me.” Tempest stuck out her hoof, much to the annoyance of Celestia. Yes, lives were at stake. But a proper bonding ceremony was much more effective than a simple pat on the back. Literally. Something about the words made the magic stronger.

“I dub thee, Tempest Shadow - or Fizzlepop Berrytwist, my Knight. Take this blade to defend yourself and my honor.” She touched the golden fuller to either side of Tempest’s shoulders, before quickly sheathing the blade and ramming the set into her new Knight’s chest. A petty form of revenge, as the finely crafted weapon clattered against her Winter Iron Armor.

“Keep in mind that this blade is meant to represent the bond between a Princess, and her Knight. You will return it, once we free Arin. With the blade intact. Understood?”

“I’ll do what I must. But I’ll try, ‘Princess’.”

Pumpkin sighed, readjusting her newly infused hat. “Can’t you two get along for five minutes?...”

Thank the Stars above that Celestia’s attention to direction was immaculate; simply put, she knew where both East and West were, at any given time. Being bound to the Sun had its perks. So while she was injured and weak, even with Pumpkin’s medicinal abilities - she was the perfect leader for this cause. Tempest wasn’t the best with a sword, but it hardly mattered. She was well trained in martial arts, and the blade soon became an extension of her body. Especially as something vile churned in her stomach, energy coursing through her veins.

And what she lacked in slashing, she made up for in spinning, powerful, jarring kicks that sent spiders reeling through their webbing. She wasn’t just mad, she was berserk. Celestia had trouble keeping up with her pace, Pumpkin galloping by the Princess’s side to make sure she didn’t collapse.

“Here!” Tempest called, spinning into a clearing - the corpses of cleaved spiders from before lined the ground. She slung the blade over her shoulder like a bastard sword, her nostrils flaring with rage. While Celestia was amazing with direction, Tempest was the perfect tracker - having hunted Twilight and her friends across the world, down to the very southern shores and into Hippogriff Territory.

Her eyes turned to the floor, scanning for tracks.

“Vee was dragged this way! Arin was caught on this web!” Celestia confirmed, saving the enraged Unicorn precious valuable time in identifying the battle’s outcome. The Princess retrieved her abandoned staff with a shake at the thick webs, clutching it under her webbed wing. The thin cloth plate was a bit too hard to retrieve, without wasting precious time.

“Vee first, Arin second - he’s tough. Move!” Tempest pointed for a cut in the clearing, the giant, house sized spider looming above their intended path forward. But the Unicorn didn’t care anymore. Her fear was gone, and she would be damned if a life was lost here.

Galloping full force at the massive terror clinging to its web, she sprung into the air with practiced grace - slinging the blade over her shoulder into a deadly, satisfying arc.

“What…?” Celestia gawked, as Tempest cleaved Sun Song into the screeching spider; a dozen more arachnids falling from the sky at the call of their matriarch. “What’s gotten into her?”

“I… may have slipped Zerker Petals into her antidote. To um… help her get over her fear, through rage.”

“RIP AND TEAR, UNTIL IT IS DONE!” Tempest screamed, lightning arcing from her horn in a cascading array. She swung by the blade embedded in the spider’s abdomen, the chitin cracking under the heat pouring from Sun Song. Like a hot knife through butter, she slid to the floor, cleaving the massive spider in half.

Pumpkin had never seen spiders cower before, as the cackling bolts of chaotic energy from her horn spiraled into coalescing novas of wild currents; the Unicorn’s eyes nearly ran blood red, Sun Song sizzling against ichor on her armor from the wild, uncontained strikes.

“YOU! YOU ARE HUGE! THAT MEANS YOU HAVE HUGE GUTS!” She pointed to the next largest spider in the crowd, which took a spindly step back. Around her, the pumping churn of the Matriarch’s insides forced a geyser of ichor to rain into the webbing around. A shower of arthropod gore spewed around her in a green mist.

“Does that work in the bedroom, too, or?...” Celestia questioned once the initial shock left her.

“F-For um... Domestic violence? Yes,” Pumpkin confirmed, as Tempest swung Sun Song with such fury that Celestia was afraid the blade would shatter.

“And this is… normal?” the Princess asked, as she ducked out of the way of a massive, flying spider corpse. It crashed into the distant webbing, ramming into a tree with enough strength that the gathered spiders above fled.

“Well, um… N-No. I uh… didn’t know how much to put in. So I may have put in ten petals. My entire stock.” Pumpkin stepped out of the way as a massive arachnid ran for the hills; Tempest had found a nice, heavy rock, and with a jump and twisting buck - shot it so hard through the air that the little orange mare nearly lost her hat. The spider was absolutely obliterated, nothing but its legs surviving the explosive onslaught.

“By my Sun…” Celestia suddenly grew worried that they’d run out of spiders for the slaughter.

And not more than half an hour ago, she struggled to take down one spider. “How rare are Zerker Petals?”

“Er…” Pumpkin clopped her hooves together, thinking. “...I don’t know. I’ve only ever found one flower, four years ago - and Vee told me to hold onto them in case of an emergency.”

The rest of the gathered arachnids stampeded past them in a blaze; no, literally, a blaze. Several were on fire, as Tempest charged through a massive web to her left unimpeded in… whatever direction she believed Vee was in.

“Come on! We’re going to lose her!” Celestia called, picking up the pace to a struggling gallop. The duo made their way after her, winding down a tunnel of webs, the faint traces of purple feathers now a blessing rather than a curse. They soon found Tempest, growling like a dog at no less than twenty giant spiders. The heavy stench of their dead clinging to her coat and armor, the many eyes focused on her growing weary. There, resting in the pile of horrifying arthropods was a single cocoon. A purple wing flapping weakly in the air from it, Vee undoubtedly trying to preen even in her prison.

The spiders seemed jittery, their legs clicking against their webs. The Purple’s prison had dozens of small holes across its surface… have they been drinking her blood for caffeine?

Actually, that wouldn’t shock anypony. Vee was, essentially, sixty percent coffee, forty percent feathers, and one hundred percent sass. Regardless, that was disgusting. And likely fatal if left untreated.

The much too hyper spiders, perhaps expecting more caffeine laced blood - darted for the steaming Tempest regardless of the overwhelming danger. She wasn’t trapped in here with the spiders, the spiders - unbeknownst to them at the moment - were trapped in this silky prison with her.

The leader of the arachnids lunged with intensity, seeking to strike fangs into the hate-fueled mare. Before it could even entertain the thought of landing this blow, Tempest twisted into a fiery kick - the twitching creature, regardless of its iron-hard chitin, had its entire face crushed into tiny, gooey fragments - its legs kicking at the air as it rolled back into a nearby bush

With the current onslaught distracting the hungry, caffeine infused creatures, Celestia quickly - and quietly - made her way towards the wiggling pod; slicing cleanly through the silken wire above. With a few impartial slashes with the curved blade of her stave, Vee flopped to the floor with a groan.

“Did anypony catch the license plate on that carriage?” she huffed, as Pumpkin shot forward to tend to her.

“T-Thank the Stars, Vee! You’re alright!” Pumpkin cried, hugging on to her Big Sis tightly. The pegasus was pale and tired from the blood loss, but alive.

“Of course I’m alright! I’m right hooved - I use my right hoof for counting bits, stirring coffee…” She mumbled, as Pumpkin grabbed Vee's bag. Shuffling through the assorted baubles and trinkets she dumped inside, she plucked a small, crimson vial from within.

Uncorking it, and pulling a vial of Antitoxin just to be safe, she went to tip both into Vee’s muzzle.

“Is that coffee? Buck, I’d love some coffee right now.” Vee blinked dimly, the little mare rolling her eyes.

“Yes, it’s coffee. Drink up, it’s uh… a really expensive latte.”

“D’ohoho! Whoever gave it to you, that’s their loss, Small-fry!” she chirped, gulping down the twin potions. Smacking her lips, she frowned. “...That was terrible coffee. It tasted like Spiders and expired health potion.”

“Enough foaling around, you two - Vee, can you stand?” Celestia clutched the bardiche tightly, turning to face the swarm around them. For the most part, Tempest had it under control - any webs that launched at her were seared away from the burning heat of Sun Song, or shocked into ash from her cracked horn. The quickly growing pile of corpses around her did little dissuade the skittering arachnids.

“Stand? On my hooves? Perhaps!” Vee wiggled her punctured legs up, until she was bumbling around her shaky ankles. “Oho! Why yes, I can!”

“Good! Tempest can hold them off, but I don’t know how long these ‘Zerker Petals’ will last.”

“Hmhm! Well, three minutes for every petal, but more than three petals at once is bad news for the feathers. Or should I say muscles? Well, feather muscles. Yes, that.” Vee, almost drunk from the blood loss or… something, stumbled to her left, pointing a hoof at Celestia. “Don’t take the pills with alcohol, it’s a suppository Miss Two-Shoes. You’ll get sleepy if you do. Hmhmhm!”

“Pumpkin, please tell me this is normal.” Celestia ducked out of the way, just as a cleaved spider leg flung over the duo’s heads.

The little mare looked at the other vial from Vee’s belongings, frowning. “Well, I gave her a health potion that expired a hundred years ago. So… p-probably?”

When Celestia’s eyes stared through her, she hid the vial behind her back with an innocent smile. Laughing nervously. “It’s um… s-still good!”

“I don’t even have time to be upset - Vee, you’re riding on my back.” Celestia scooped her up with her ruby magic, placing the potion-drunk pegasus between her webbed white wings.

“Wee! Princess back ride, d’ohoho!” Vee spun her hoof in a circle in a lazy cheer, Pumpkin collecting her entangled lance to stuff quickly into her orange hat.

“Tempest! To Arin! Move!” Celestia called, galloping around the spider corpses. The enraged mare sunk her broken horn into the abdomen of another beast, with a cackling spark and kicking of its twitching legs - it exploded in a gory rush of ichor and chitin.

“WHO’S NEXT?!” She screamed, “YOU?” Tempest stepped towards the nearest spider, who turned tail and danced its thin, hairy legs into a knot of webs - vanishing into the silky bundle and into a bush-tunnel. The spiders, as unintelligent as they were, had the sense to abandon the fight and run.

Panting, Tempest galloped up to - and in front of Celestia, on three hooves. As one leg slung the burning, sizzling tang of the sword against her shoulder’s armor. Horn cackling with uncontrolled power, the once practiced mare lost all rhythm to her motions and blindly charged.

Tempest cut a corner tight, darting down a more web heavy path in a frenzy. A clean hole from where Arin’s body had been dragged was the only clue to his location, and like a hound on a hunt - she barreled along the forest path with abandon.

“She’s going to kill herself!” Celestia managed to pant, though the response from Pumpkin was more worrying.

“No, s-she’s going to kill us! Look up! Fire, fire!” Pumpkin squeaked by the galloping Princess’s side.

Above them, the flames of burnt web began to tickle the light-starved trees; black vines clenched tight to their hosts in the rousing heat. The spiders Tempest lit up must have darted for the safety of their nests - spreading the blaze across the forest canopy. Right now, it was nothing more than small, tickling flames - but they spread fast along the thin strands. Where more gossamer accumulated, the bigger and brighter the burn - dead leaves already feeding the flames as trees soon began to light, and flaming holes in the dim light formed.

Crashing through the clearing led to a miraculous sight. Arin had already partially freed himself from the webs, regardless of the bite marks traced along his form - and fought alongside Tempest. He had nothing more than a dagger, as his bow was glued to his body - but it was more than enough. He, too, looked fueled by something - though not to the intensity of Tempest.

“Why isn’t he paralyzed?” Celestia asked, swinging her stave to end an intruding spider. It cleaved firmly through an armored leg, the creature stumbling back into the blazing sword in Tempest’s hooves.

“I-I don’t know! The spider venom works differently in Seraphs, I guess?!” Pumpkin eeped, as a flame-covered branch fell from the roof - just narrowly missing her.

“Tia!” He panted, darting for a hole in the horde, scarred and marred in webs and ichor. Seizing her in a tight hug, the Princess nearly yelped when he lifted her up. “By the Feathers, you’re alright! I didn’t know if you escaped!”

“Of course I’m fine - are you fine? Are you sick, or?-” she asked, her webbed wing squeezing tight onto the seraph.

“I’m great, no - I’m fantastic! I feel like I could take on an army! Haha, no! I could wrestle Leotoln with one arm tied behind my back!”

He turned to his side - vomiting up his breakfast in a shuddering heave. And just like that, wild-eyed and unbothered, he spun back to face her.

“See? Perfectly fine!” He rejoined Tempest, much to the shock of the two mares. Vee, bubbly as ever, raised a hoof to speak.

“I like that minotaur-thing! He’s cool! He should party at my shop some time! D’ohoho!”

“Pumpkin, we are going to die here if you don’t have a new trick in that hat of yours.” Celestia eventually turned back to the little mare, worry etched into her features. “Tempest is in a blood lust, the venom put Arin in some kind of weird… high, Vee is sick-”

“Potion drunk! Woo~” Vee flapped her free wing, the Princess’s hoof preventing her from falling to the webbed floor below.

“Whatever that is! Oh! And we’re caught in a quickly spreading wildfire in a massive, spider infested forest. Please, please give me good news. Hope. Something!”

Pumpkin’s eyes darted around the clearing, gulping.

“Well, I-I don’t have good news, but I have news. Look.” Her little cream colored hoof shot to the approaching Lunar Halo to the East, snow melting over the raging fire that billowed behind them.

Celestia looked at all of this - the spiders, the webbing, the flames rising around them - and stood dumbstruck. What was there left to do? The webs were nearly as thick as the heavy brush around them, she couldn’t fly like this - not without abandoning her friends, after spending valuable time burning the webbing on her wing out with either fire, or magic.

“I have an idea!” Celestia darted towards the duo, Tempest having pinned a spider to beat it down with the flat part of Sun Song.

“Tempest! As your Princess and Charge, I command you - cut a path through the webbing in that direction, and lead us out!” Celestia stood proudly, her horn flashing to seep Solar magic into the blade of the weapon.

Tempest froze in her frenzy, bloodshot eyes honing in on the Princess.

“YOU DON’T COMMAND ME!” she roared, smashing the tip of the sword into the Spider’s torso. It shuddered and heaved, dying on the spot.

Perhaps skipping the flair and build up of the Knighting ceremony was a terrible, horrible idea. With a rushed ceremony, Tempest could use the blade - but the Princess’s control was at risk of failing; just as it did now.

Pumpkin dug frantically through her hat, as the trees above became massive flares of heat and smoke. She whipped one of the antidote vials out - calling to Celestia before chucking it in her general direction.

“For Arin!” she yelped. The Princess snatched the bottle in her magic, uncorking it and wrangling the Seraph into her hooves with a bolt of ruby power

“Arin, drink this. Now,” she demanded, raising the green liquid up.

“Does it have cinnamon in it?” He blinked dumbly, the venom doing strange things to the Seraph. He heaved and panted, shaking in the webs.

“What? Why would… no, it doesn’t have cinnamon. Now drink!”

“Pfft! Yes it does! Snooty mc Snootskabob is a liar~” Vee bumbled, drooling down Celestia’s back.

“Good! I love cinnamon. I think.” Arin snatched the vial with a smile, gulping down the chunky green goo. Celestia had to stop him from chewing the glass, yanking it from his teeth in her magic.

“Haha, that tasted horrible. Do you have any more?” Arin grinned, slime coating his teeth. Celestia rolled her eyes, groaning.

“Follow behind me and don’t get lost. Pumpkin! Any ideas?”

Having shuffled through her potion supplies she eventually managed to rip a long leather strap from the interior of her hat; the tie she used to keep her books together. It had snapped at one end at some point, but it would have to do.

“C-Celestia! I have an idea! Throw me at Tempest!” Pumpkin wrapped the leather tight around her hoof, just barely managing to snatch her hat as Celestia’s magic ripped her from the floor. A moment later, a blazing tree fell where she once sat.

Pumpkin went soaring through the air, Celestia’s toss a little inaccurate - but it didn’t matter. Tempest saw the little mare she cared for bounce against the back of a cowaring spider, and jumped to catch her - slinging her over her armored back.

This was just what Pumpkin needed. In the confusion, she managed to flick the leather strap around Tempest’s waist - tying it tight around them both, keeping her glued to the battle-hardened Unicorn.

“Tempest, we need to g-go! Please - get us out of here!” She hugged tight around the Unicorn’s neck, crying out. Tempest knickered and neighed - charging blindly - and thankfully - west, at the point of Pumpkin’s hoof.

Chapter 41 - And Into the Fire

What followed came in a blur; the deathly heat above them had spread far and wide. As the spiders fled the flames, they too caught fire - spreading it farther and quicker than Celestia could anticipate. The webbing would melt and burn in seconds; flammable and thin, but oh so very abundant.

They galloped and crashed into the ruins of another town, this one hauntingly empty. Unlike Copse Vale’s abandoned watery tomb, this was a standing husk - webbed and overran. The stony buildings lacked roofing, but it didn’t bother the spiders one bit.

The trees were thin enough here to buy them some form of leeway, as the fires raged on. This was their one chance to catch their breath; the Seraph tailing behind panting.

“What… in the Feathers, happened?” he eventually croaked, spitting the substance from his maw. It made him heave, but at least his odd high was gone. How long had they been running?

Before Celestia could respond - she fell to the floor panting. Her hooves clawing at the grass, the massive heaps of silk around her chest absolutely drenched in blood - Vee landing limply on top of her. Before Arin could rush to her side, Tempest collapsed as well - her body seizing into shaking bucks. Vee, strangely enough - seemed unaffected by it all, except for the fact she was deliriously intoxicated by… something, and her limp hooves could barely move.

Seeing three of his friends collapse in front of him was more than enough to make the Knight yelp - darting first to Celestia’s side, as Pumpkin jumped to Tempest’s.

“Hey Smol-fry! When I promoted you to big witchy fry, I was expecting you to be good at your job! You’re fired. Hmhmhm!” The pegasus waved an exhausted hoof at Pumpkin, who struggled to maintain calm.

“V-Vee! This isn’t the time nor place!” she cried. “I need to know how to stabilize Tempest! She’s having a seizure!” Pumpkin kept the struggling mare’s head between her legs, hoping to somehow stop her body from struggling to death.

“You can try alcohol! D’ohoho. Which is what you gave me. A mare suffering from blood loss! The potion fermented! We don’t sell those, ‘Fry. We drink ‘em when the fuzz isn’t looking! ‘Cause they’re super fast acting, and highly illegal. Also, I have no idea how to treat seizures. Hmhm.”

Arin’s hands, lit up in flickering magic - traced Celestia’s body. “I can’t cast Antithesis when I’m… Gods above, am I sick? My stomach is churning.” Arin clutched his stomach, his body shaking as the venom surged, the antitoxin struggling to overcome it. “Did the spiders do this?...”

Pumpkin darted for Vee’s side, the Pegasus giving a little ‘neigh’ from the touch.

“Sorry Smols, not interested in my Sister that way. D’ohoho!”

“Vee, please.” Pumpkin ripped through her supplies, pulling out another healing potion, checking the label. Thank the Gods Vee was terrible at cycling her personal stash. It expired eighty years ago.

“Here’s hoping this didn’t turn into a-a killing potion.” Pumpkin said, crawling and stumbling to the twitching Unicorn.

Arin’s muscles ached fiercely, as his concentration wavered. His body wanted nothing more than to shut down and sleep it off - and with the smoke growing thick on this side of the woods - he might not survive the attempt.

“Come on, by the Feathers, something…” He whispered. If he couldn’t channel Antithesis, a potent burst of healing magic, then perhaps Resurgence would do - a flash of restoration that steadily flooded the target with the essence of life, straight from the Fey.

He clenched his hands, shooting the wave of magic over her with the crash of chiming bells. Now, all he had to do was hold his breath, and wait. One, two, three… ten.

He traced his twitching fingers over Celestia’s cheek. Her breathing weak and failing. The Seraph clenched his hands again, a flick of his wrist chiming the healing bells once more - one, two, three…

With the potion tipped down Tempest’s throat, it was now a waiting game. Either she snapped out of the alchemy induced rage, or died. There was no middle ground here. And with the fires closing in, it was becoming a very real possibility that they’d have to abandon her body to its fate.

A tree in the forest creaked, as the fire burnt deep and ripped the roots to shreds - water expanding in its trunk as it groaned and fell. A wave of smoke wafted into the clearing, forcing Pumpkin and Arin to cough.

Another flash of light; bells chiming as the Seraph counted. One, two, three…

“I swear, of all the ponies to almost die on this trip, you better not be the first, you stupid… teasing, annoying, needy… loving, sweet, and so Gods-damned affectionate… beautiful Princess!” He scooped Celestia’s head up into his arms, wiping tears into his web-coated sleeve.

“Tall-fry,” Vee said; since Celestia dropped to the floor, she hadn’t budged an inch. Arin ignored her, crying over his lover’s face - wiping away the dirt and grime with his rough fingers.

“Tallllll-fry.” The Purple repeated.

“WHAT VEE?” He eventually glared, clutching the silent morning mare in his arms.

“She could probably breathe better if you shoved me off her lungs, hmhm,” Vee said, limply staring at the forest fires. “And I’d also be pretty thankful for a bunch of wind chimes or whatever you do to make the bad tingles stop. ‘Cause I am really tired and super low on blood.”

“...” He lifted his hand toward Vee, peeling her off his love in a faint gold aura - gently placing the Purple on the grass. With a flash of light, blood filled her veins as the alcohol content within was soon overwhelmed with fresh life to dilute it.

Finally, Tempest’s bones stopped shivering in her skin, the seizures coming to an end as Pumpkin ran her hooves over the mare’s tense form. Nearly every muscle was bunched up and knotted, the Unicorn struggling to regain consciousness.

With the weight off Celestia’s chest, she gave a heaving breath - color returning to her features as she, too, stabilized. Arin dug around in his pack, struggling to hunt for his canteen. With a snap of desperate magic, he pulled it into his palm in a flash. A splash of cold water against the Princess’s beautiful face snapped her awake, hooves clawing at the grass in terror.

“Spiders?!” Her voice devolved into a coughing fit, as the low hanging smoke from the encroaching blaze caught her by surprise. Immediately, Arin darted in for a kiss - taking the shocked mare in his grasp.

“A-Arin! I-I need you over here, please?!” Pumpkin whimpered, quickly losing her resolve as Tempest’s nerves began to light again. Celestia, still dazed - pulled away from the embrace.

“Go. I’ll be fine. Just… give me a minute to breathe, and I’ll help,” she groaned, Arin gently lowering her head to the grassy floor.

Jumping by Tempest’s side, Arin took in the situation. The Unicorn bore many small cuts and scratches - but no fresh bite marks, none that he could tell. He ran a hand through her mane, then checked her head for a temperature - sweaty, but somewhat cool.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked, Pumpkin tearing up.

“I-I gave her Zerker Petals to help her overcome her fear of spiders, b-but I gave her too many. L-Look at her muscles…” She pointed a hoof at the knots in each limb; overexertion. It looked like she tensed so hard, that some of the delicate fibers snapped and severed - spilling blood into massive, slowly forming bruises.

He could heal that, but the seizures may worsen if he does. And for damage this intense, he’d need to channel Antithesis. “What have you given her so far to help?”

“A fermented h-healing potion and space. Vee said the a-alcohol might help.”

Arin shook his head, breathing in deep. Firstly, injuries. There’s a lot of chemicals in muscle that could leak into the blood, if left untreated in this state. And seizures be damned - he needed her alive and healthy when this was all over.

Breathe in, breathe out. His stomach churned, saliva pooling in his mouth as his gut readied to vomit. Darting his head to the side, he relieved himself - spewing saliva and acid both onto the floor, a cold chill running up his spine.

Breathe in… breathe out. Relax. Ignore the smoke, and bring the mind somewhere else. Celestia weakly fumbled to his side, darting a wing around him. “I believe in you,” she whispered, if it would help.

Pumpkin grew antsy, as Tempest below buckled her broken hips. Breathe in, breathe out.

He channeled the healing magic within him, fighting back the venom boiling in his veins. He brought his hand up, gold light forming within his fingers.

By now, even Vee was watching, having stumbled around on her tired hooves long enough to stand up straight. It all came down to this.

The chime of a single bell rang, light flickering over the battered Unicorn in a healing burst. Near instantly, the drain of magic coupled with the venom forced Arin to collapse into the weakened alicorn’s comforting hold - but the spell worked.

Muscles were forced to knit and bond, scarring over as the bulging knots beneath her flesh quickly faded in mere seconds. The blood spilling within reabsorbed into her veins, her struggling body coming to a rest. Near instantly, she bolted upright - shaking, twitching, and aching from every fiber - but conscious. The seizures had temporarily ceased, giving her a chance to breathe and whine in agony.

She said nothing, only looked dumbly over the three ponies - and Seraph - surrounding her. Immediately, she struggled and vomited into the dirt - luckily in the same spot Arin just did, before collapsing against Pumpkin in heaving breaths.

“We need to move. Very, very soon. If we don’t get out of here now, we’ll be surrounded by the flames.” Celestia eventually spoke, as Pumpkin carefully slid her hoof over the resting Unicorn’s cheek. She croaked quietly for water, and said little else beyond that.

“We’re in no shape to do that. Vee can barely walk, Tempest is down, and I’m barely awake. I mean… I won’t give up, but...” Arin groaned, huddled up to Celestia for comfort. The fire was now in the clearing, the beaten and broken Princess desperate for shelter.

Celestia took in the town around them, and spotted no river to even dive in. In fact, the little town was built on a hill. A hill… no water…

“I have an idea. Let’s hope we’re lucky, and try to find an abandoned well, or cellar to hide in. Something beneath the smoke level and plenty cold, to stave off the heat. There’s nothing else we can try besides outliving the flames and waiting until it’s safer to move, when all of the spiders are dead. And with the Lunar Plane closing in, it may help snuff the flames.”

“There’s one problem with that, Sun-fry,” Vee said, stumbling against her side. “Counting on my feathers, we’ve got about zero ponies - or Tall-fries - capable of smacking spiders with newspapers. We could take two flaps in and get stuffed in another web. And I don’t have the coffee in me for that. Or blood. I think Arin’s out of healing juice for a while, too.”

He waved a tired arm in the air, his legs now jelly. “Guilty.”

“Die of smoke inhalation, or die trying to survive. I’ll take the latter. I can still fight.” Celestia made it to her hooves, Vee stumbling against her as the morning mare retrieved Sun Song. The rough, weakened movements nearly caused both ponies to tumble to the floor.

“Pumpkin!” Vee commanded, the little mare bouncing up.

“Yes Vee!” She saluted.

“Carry Tempest in your magic or whatever. I’ll try my hoof at tugging Tall-fry along so Snooty here can lay the smackdown on some well deserving skitterfeet.”

“I-I’ll do my best, Vee! I’m tapped, too.” The not-so-tough Earth Pony snatched the barely conscious Tempest in her hooves, struggling, rolling, and mewling as she just managed to heave the body onto her back.

Tempest was, by all accounts - huge in comparison to the little Pumpkin. Her legs bluntly dragged along the floor, armored boots hooking at grass and roots with each grunting step the little witch took.

“I… can move… myself…” Tempest whispered, limp - but still fighting to keep awake.

“N-No, you can’t. Settle down, I’ll trot for us both. Just rest. P-Please… for me?” Pumpkin shushed her, as Vee unceremoniously chucked Arin onto her shoulders. She struggled at the weight, but with blood in her feathers, she pushed on.

“Don’t suppose you can be a little more gentle?...” Arin grunted, as the pain of a dozen bites and scratches became more apparent the longer time progressed.

“Oho! Bold of you to think that wasn’t gentle! But yes, I can try. Now, compliment my feathers! If I’m going to die without coffee, I’d like to know all of my preening went to a noble cause instead.” Vee flicked her wings out in a flap, snooting in a deep gasp of air to keep her unsteady legs from flopping out.

“Uh… they’re stunning. Beautiful. And very… purple,” Arin said dumbly, trying to force a chuckle but finding the energy for it lacking. He fell into a cold sweat, the heat doing little to warm him up.

The Unicorn on Pumpkin’s back gave a weak growl, but relented when Pumpkin pushed on. With no choice left but to slink away into the shadows, the bruised and broken party members shuffled into the silken town. Celestia carried her bardiche aloft, Sun Song joining her side in its sheath.

“Alright Tall-fry. If you find your flank being nibbled by a nasty butt-roper, I expect you to give a neigh. That way, I can dump you on the floor and wing it, just like in a Zombie-pony apocalypse. Except with very angry spiders,” Vee hummed, as Celestia checked quietly around a corner. The webs binding the town and the wood beams in the home were starting to smolder, the heat intensifying by the minute.

“Got it, if something jumps on top - hold on for dear life and kick like I’m wearing spurs.”

“What? Nonono - fall on the ground so I can snoot up another roasted cuppa in the future, I’m afraid I’m going to have to give you an F. The F means you’re fired. D’ohoho! Fired and roasted. Like we’re all about to be.”

Arin stuck his face into the Purple’s webby mane, sighing. “No. We’ll make it. Celestia knows what she’s doing. Don’t give up; if there’s light, there’s hope.”

“Plenty of light around us, Tall-fry. And all of it is extremely bad for the feathers.”

The tight knit buildings of the town bore black vines of corrupted presence and white strands of silk aplenty; the fire quickly catching up to them as the group rounded into the main road. A few sparse trees overhung it, but there - in the center, lay a large, round exit.

“S-So we’re all going to fit in there?... W-What about when the night comes, a-and it gets cold? Will we be stuck in t-the water?...”

“Anything but burning to death.” The Princess led the group forward, keeping pace with her slowest members - that being literally everypony else, plus an exhausted seraph - as the well loomed before them. Seven hooves wide and dozens hooves deep, the coarse sunlight above illuminating the calm water below.

“M-Maybe we can try a cellar instead?...” Pumpkin whispered, to nopony in particular. Celestia dug feverishly in her bag with her magic - shuffling through the jostled gear until her magic caught a long rope.

“Who’s first?” she said, the length tight around her waist and hoof in mere seconds.

“There’s a problem, Sun-fry. How’s Tempest and Arin going to float until this fire passes? Don’t suppose you have a Princessy pair of pool floaties in your mane?”

Oh Gods. Vee was right.

And before a second plan could be hatched, a giant, skittering, saliva dripping spider - covered in coal and embers - screeched through the clearing. Perhaps in a pain induced rage, or in some form of petty, beastial revenge - the carriage sized arthopod darted in for the kill. What’s worse is that the flames jumping from its back quickly ignited the once docile webbing, heat searing the air as the trees above caught flame.

“NO TIME! JUMP!” Celestia’s voice raged, her soft red magic literally scooping up her party to drop them down the hole. A variety of screams met her ears, as she narrowly dodged the massive smouldering legs of the burning arachnid. It charged her in a frenzy, its seared spinneret attempting to flash webbing at her - and when it succeeded, the silk instantly caught flame. Sizzling to life in a burning net that hooked and burned a nearby bush.

Celestia swung the heavy stave as her rope was soon abandoned, charging ambient energy into the Amber within to save her own solar power. She sent a burning blast of chaotic flame that disintegrated on its already scorched armor. It chittered in pain regardless, the ichor within undoubtedly boiling.

It charged again, and Celestia brought the wood of her weapon up to catch its fangs. It worked… until spittling, burning, digestive acid ripped through the treated wood, powerful maw crunching the shaft into splinters.

With no other choice, she resorted to her desperately weak magic - snatching its legs in her telekinesis. With straining effort, her gleaming horn ripped at the beast, trying to dismantle it through blunt force - before giving up, and throwing it as far as her exhausted magic would allow.

Right into the blaze of a tree above, a heavy branch catching the soft, burnt eyes. Immediately, it went limp - legs curling to its chest as the flames seared it like a steak.

But it wasn’t over yet. The tree, now unbalanced - creaked and yawned, the scorched, dry wood cracking under the flame as it threatened to crush her. With no other choice, she threw herself to the mercy of gravity - plummeting down the well and into the unknown.

Chapter 42 - Splash

Splash.

The Princess’s tumbling form rammed into the icy chill of the cold water below. Sun Song shined through its sheath - illuminating the frosty clear waters beneath her, but she wished it didn’t. At the bottom of the pristine pool lay the cleaned remains of several unicorn skeletons, long since past the point of decay. Grisly trophies of the spider’s victory - or perhaps a failed escape attempt?

She broke the water tension with a heaving gasp, significantly less magical mane sticking to her face. Nearly all of that magic from the Carnival - wasted. She spun around, looking for her friends, a sign of life - anything.

A hoof hooked her shoulder, making her scream and flap her wings desperately in an attempt to get away. This failed, as another, smaller hoof did much the same - pulling her onto a craggy rock face without her permission - a heavy wood bucket clinging to her leg from the well’s interior. Breathing and shuddering, Celestia turned to the pleasant sight of Vee and Pumpkin, who both watched her drip on the cold rock beneath them.

“Greetings, Sun-fry!” Vee chirped, staggering on her hooves. “I need a hospital! D’ohoho!”

She then unceremoniously flopped to the floor. “Come get me when there’s towels, coffee, or tents.”

Pumpkin sighed, frowning. “I-It looks like this place is connected to a natural cavern of sorts. I-If the spiders um… found it, they left no signs.”

Poor thing. The little mare was shaking in her hooves, dripping wet - just like the Princess. “Where’s Arin? Is he alright? And Tempest?”

“T-They’re fine. We left them laying back-to-back t-to stay warm, over here.” Pumpkin pointed to the edge of the cavern, a single lantern lighting up the ground around the two exhausted party members. The water here curved around the small cliff of the cave, ducking down into a natural aquifer - just as Celestia thought. The platform they rested on had dozens of sparse wood beams that had at one point collapsed against the floor; the structural integrity of this cavern had long since shifted, the pressure of the jagged rocks diverted somewhere else.

Onwards, the water began to run in a thin creek south west, deeper into a natural - and partly sculpted cave. Where could it lead? More importantly - was it safe?

Actually, questions like that could wait until she wasn’t bone-tired and struggling to stay awake. Trotting to Arin’s side, she rightfully collapsed against the faintly dozing duo. Panting in the fresh cool air of the caverns.

This left only the little witch, who looked around meekly at her bone-tired friends. “Does um… a-anypony want to help me set up a tent?...”

No response. Of course.

“I’ll help you, Smol-fry. By staying out of the way. Hmhm.” The Purple huffed, lifting a tired wing up - but stopping just short of preening, upon seeing the sticky strings clinging to it. That was definitely not good for the feathers. And not good for her teeth. The gooey strands may lock her jaw together, after all.

“I don’t suppose the Deer-fry packed any purple-based shampoo, Smols?”

Pumpkin spat the edge of the tent out of her mouth, huffing in exertion. She had dragged her own two-pony tent to the flattest spot on the ledge, after tugging it from her bag. Her legs fought her on this, but she pushed on bravely.

“They um… h-had a pumpkin scented one, for me. Haven’t you checked your bag yet?”

“I did snoot around for the good bean a few times, but otherwise - no.”

Finding little progress with the tent, she turned her attention towards warmth. There wasn’t much in the way of stoves in her pack - but there was an abundance of abandoned beams from the tunnel. Tugging some of the splintered pieces over into a pile, she was left with the daunting task of lighting yet another blaze. Right after they escaped the last one, too.

“Here,” Celestia said, her faint magic hovering Sun Song by Pumpkin’s side. The little mare gave it a tug from its sheath - intriguing the Princess as she held it aloft.

“I’ve never seen another pony who’s aura fell so closely in line with my own. I could tell, since the day we met that we shared that bit in common.” The Princess watched, as Pumpkin tapped the sword against the wood with a huff. Sparks flying off the blade like a wand, before sizzling the wood alight.

“I-I’m a sun witch. I praise the sun, just like how you um… raise it. I-I draw power from daylight.” She pushed the blade back into its home, gently returning it to Celestia’s side.

“I’ve heard little in the way of witches in my long life, but perhaps there’s something to it I should have investigated. Most ponies typically draw ambient magic in the air inside their embers. Which gives Unicorns the ability to cast spells, Earth ponies great strength, and Pegasi the ability to fly despite their small wings. On top of standing on clouds, of course.”

“W-Well, witches don’t-”

“Trade secrets, Smols! Don’t let Princess Snooty trick you, she’ll tax you more!” Vee spurt, flapping her feathers weakly in defiance.

“It’s fine, Vee. I-I trust the P-Princess.” The little autumn pony shivered in reply.

“You’re only saying that because she has mind control powers! That’s why I don’t stare at the sun anymore. Hmhm.” Regardless of Vee’s insane rambling, Pumpkin continued.

“A-A witch misaligns their ties to their race’s respective p-planes. H-Hold on…” She closed her eyes, breathing deep. Recalling Tempest’s lessons and steadying her nerves, as Celestia made her way to the fire - taking careful consideration of the sleeping Seraph, and the tired Tempest. With help from the exhausted earth pony, they both managed to bring their respective lovers towards the flame. Even Vee snooted up the nerve to roll closer to the warmth.

“Because of this, we weaken our bonds to our natural magic, instead opting to absorb more of another. For m-me, I’m tied to the Solar Plane, much like you, Princess. This um… m-makes me slightly weaker, compared to an Earth pony - smaller too, since I started so young. B-But I can cast magic! Which is a good trade.”

“How very odd. I’ve never heard of this practice before; then again, witches are secretive of the arts…” Celestia waved her webbed wing at the fire, instantly roasting away the tethering strings. She’d need a torch to get the fine details, but for now - it worked. Luckily, they weren’t soaked through like they were in Corpse Vale. With a few flicks, enough of the water had rolled off to let her cover Arin in her protective grasp. The Seraph murmured, as his body worked to overcome the last of the toxin. It was a slower process for him; Seraph blood interacted differently with the venom, much like her own would.

“W-Well, you typically need the help of a Familiar to start the process, or another witch who’s educated in the arts. V-Vee is um… the best teacher for that. I’ve been helping Tempest, t-though! She’s learning. Maybe one day, she won’t need her old horn at all. T-Think about it like this. Earth Ponies are typically adapted to the magic of the feywild, and the majority of their magic comes from there. The rest comes from the ambient energy o-of the sun and moon. With lots of meditation, practice, and help from another - I could change my um… plane balance. So now, while I’m still a feywild pony - most of my energy comes from the sun, and none from the moon. I-It’s weird, and the longer you study and practice the art, the more effective it is.”

Celestia relaxed as the conversation moved on. An interesting topic like this, after the last few encounters - helped eased the twitching, overwhelmed nerves. The less deadly warmth of the campfire helped, especially with Arin safe and sound by her side. They even made an effort to strip their soaking wet gear, resting it on a spare plank nearby to dry.

“So with time, you can channel magic like a Unicorn, but only through one type of ambient magic - unlike a pony like, say, Twilight.” The Princess pointed a hoof, confirming her thesis.

“...Who?” The little mare tilted her head.

“Right, you’ve never met. Famous Princess of Friendship, has a book about her friends and their adventures, saved Equestria multiple times?...” She spun that very same hoof around in a circle to prove a point. Pumpkin could only scratch her head and wonder.

“...D-Did she ever do an interview on Canterlot ‘95? Or um… star in any romance novels?...”

The Princess frowned. Twilight was famous, right? Ponies did know who she was. “Were you… nevermind. It’s not important.”

Pumpkin traced a hoof along Tempest’s cheek, sighing. The tall mare cracked her eyes at the touch, but was simply unable to do anything but stare and mumble.

“Pumpkin?...” she said, the little pony resting her chin in her damp mane. Her large lover was snuggled up into her hooves, her face against Pumpkin’s chest - close to the fire.

“Y-Yes Tempest?”

“If you ever drug me again without my knowledge, I’m breaking up with you.” Pumpkin’s hoof stopped stroking at Tempest’s admission, mewling sadly.

“I-I’m sorry, I-I didn’t… It… I just wanted to…”

“...But thank you. Regardless of how bad everything hurts right now, I think I recall ripping a spider’s heart out with my bare hooves. I’m guessing whatever you gave me worked.”

“I-It did! You killed hundreds of spiders, I-I’ve never seen a pony become so v-violent and… d-dominant before.” Pumpkin blushed, planting a kiss in Tempest’s wet mane.

“...Dominant?” Tempest questioned.

“O-Oh hey! I forgot to finish setting up the tent, I-I better um… get right to that!” Pumpkin squeaked, suddenly full of energy. Draping the bone tired mare to the floor, Tempest couldn’t even move her head to watch her bumble off.

“You did well, Tempest. Even if you said some horrible things to me over our journey. I am in your debt.” Celestia frowned, cupping Arin’s cheek.

“I don’t recall asking for your opinion, Princess. But… Thank you, regardless. For the kind words only. Next time, my decision is final - I am a leader and a Commander, and this isn’t the first time my directions have been called into question by you. We should have gone around. Now we’re wasting more precious time beaten and broken in the bottom of a well.”

“...Very well then. We’ll do it your way, in the future,” the Princess relented. There were many words unspoken between her and the chipped-horn Unicorn, Celestia’s intentions put to the side temporarily in favor of keeping the party alive and stable. Maybe one day, she could reveal her reasoning - for now, rest was more important.

Eventually, Pumpkin managed to erect one tent - she then returned to the fire to finish drying off. Under her care, the lil’ witch managed to turn the wine-colored mare over - drying her mane and tail by the fire’s warmth. Not to be outdone, Celestia gave the same treatment to her lover - who shuffled and groaned in his sleep.

“I’ve never directly cast healing magic before… i-is it that draining?” Pumpkin asked, stroking a hoof through Tempest’s mane. She did little to resist - only occasionally stare up at the little pony who tended to her without a second thought.

“It depends on the experience, knowledge, and natural affinity of the caster. Arin is exceptionally talented at patching up wounds - but he has plenty more to learn, and lacks experience in the art. On top of this, his magic is still relatively new. It will grow with time; his endurance is still building, after all. Magic is a lot like a muscle; the more a Unicorn, or I’m guessing a Seraph, uses it - the stronger it becomes. But there’s many strange properties about him I’ve yet to learn myself. Also keep in mind that the venom seems to have a strange effect on him - I’m assuming his natural regeneration, coupled with the antidote you gave him is exceptionally draining. Let’s hope he can sleep this off.” Celestia’s hoof helped nuzzle his nose into her mended chest, the wound left behind nothing more than a faint memory.

By now, with most of the water dry and little left to discuss - it was a group decision to stuff into one tent for the night, save Vee - who managed to stir up the energy to retrieve a pot, a new mug after losing the trusty thermos, and coffee from her bag. Even if the single tent was a bit small, with a little shuffling and close cuddling, the battered ponies - and sleeping Seraph - managed to stuff themselves inside. If there was spare energy left for a second tent, the four didn’t have the reserves left among them to construct it. With several of Vee’s dream catches set up along the walls - they managed to find solace in the warmth.

‘Morning’ came, in the infinite darkness of both Lunar magic, and the cave’s chilly interior. Thankfully, the snow couldn’t find its way inside the now comfortably warm tent, nor farther than the well’s opening.

Arin was the first to awaken, nose locked under Celestia’s muzzle; wondering where his clothes went, of course. He almost had a mini panic attack - the soft wings were a bit too much like webbing after yesterday’s events. But with the soft fluff surrounding him, he quickly stifled his worries and settled in for a long cuddle.

Perhaps stirred by Arin’s twitching, Tia made an effort to nuzzle warmly into the Seraph’s hair. At least most of the webs were gone now, but a proper bath was definitely called for. Something they could hope for soon, perhaps. Like every ‘morning’ after their events on the moon, she began the sweet process of kissing, nosing, and cuddling her lover to consciousness.

“Psst… feeling better?” she whispered to her winged lover.

“Tons. I feel like I haven’t had a meal in weeks. Let’s see if Vee kept the fire going.” He made to stand, but a soft voice caught his ear.

“W-Wait! Do you think you can cast another healing spell on Tempest?” Pumpkin mewled, stirred by their shuffling. The unicorn in question grunted, a tired hoof reaching up to hook the little mare and drag her in for a warm snuggle.

“I’ll be fine, you two. Just bring in food when you can. Double rations for me. And maybe something for headaches, if Pumpkin doesn’t have anything on hoof.”

Arin slowly peeled himself up from Celestia’s wings, clenching his fist in a flash of chiming light. Gentle bells rang as the tall mare sighed, blood ran fresh through her veins. The horrible ache in her muscles began to ease, and the throbbing pain in her head stifled and waned.

“...Unnecessary. But thank you.”

With that, the Seraph and Princess made their way into the now uncomfortably cold air of the caverns; a faint blue magic seeping in through the moonlight of the well. As Arin approached the flame with rations in hand, Celestia turned her attention towards the entrance they fell from. Summoning her courage, she spread her wings wide - darting up the hole in a flurry.

“...Tia?” Arin called after her, looking up from his makeshift stove. Vee had snooted up what would be her tenth cup of coffee in the past few hours, staring past him at the far wall. Her now pristine wings cradling the cup like hands.

“She’s just checking the fires, Tall-fry. With any luck, the whole forest is gone. Less skitterbugs and all that jazz. They deserve it. Only way to cleanse an infection like this, hmhm.” she said sagely, as indeed - Celestia returned, a thin layer of soot across her body as her wings gently cupped the air, falling into the caverns below.

“Bad news. The flames are still burning bright and hot. I believe the last wildfire of this size took several days to burn out. The only good news is that during our run - we put the majority of the forest behind us, and traveled closest to the western hills. We’re around an hour from the edge of the Moon’s embrace, as well - at a steady trot, of course.”

She landed next to the flame with a billow of wings - sparks shooting down the corridor ahead of them. Soon after, Tempest and Pumpkin appeared. Pumpkin sticking close to Tempest’s protective hooves, wrapped in a warm blanket - the now much more lively Unicorn quick to return the affection.

Arin had managed to scrape a heavy meal from their combined resources; aged cheese sizzled on crisp, buttery biscuits. A small stock of eggs cooked to perfection, seasoned heavily by the unique herb blends of the White Tail - the aroma summoning thoughts of wilder lands. It seemed that all sentient creatures in Equestria had a small taste for protein; exotic tastes grew with time, from the looks of it. Fresh grapes, preserved by their satchel’s magics, joined their plates - along with diced apples and cinnamon seared pumpkin, glazed with a thin, white icing. Not the pony, the gourd. Pumpkin wasn’t on the menu.

“Thank the Feathers for our forested friends,” Arin said, as plates were served, and the travel pan was left to the side to be cleaned later. Within seconds, Tempest downed all of her food, in probably… four bites, growling in defense of her meal. Which left the rest of the ponies - save Vee - mildly shocked.

“Are you-” Celestia began, but Tempest raised a hoof to silence her. She was still chewing, after all.

“Habit. My time in the Storm King’s ranks taught me to finish meals fast. Especially if you were hungry. If not, some creature may swipe a roll off your plate - or worse, the whole platter. As I grew older and more talented, few invading limbs would survive the attempt. Nevertheless, when I’m starving - I hardly chew or complain.”

“...Riiiight,” Arin said, as Pumpkin used a supplied knife to cut her toast in half - nosing it onto Tempest’s plate with a smile. The unicorn couldn’t help but grin, reaching down to plant a kiss on the little mare’s nose.

“So! Tempest. You probably already heard, but the forest is still burning to its roots. Any spiders left either died in the blaze, or burnt to death trying to escape. It could be up to a week before it’s safe to trot onwards. Since you’d like to lead without our advice, what do you suggest we do?” Celestia offered, trying to keep things neutral.

The mare chewed at her hardy toast for a minute, thinking.

“What are the chances this water leads into a natural stream or river?” she asked Celestia; she was the most capable of answering the question, but to everypony’s surprise - Arin answered first.

“Extremely likely. When I worked the mines back in Erenorn, we sent our coal spoil down an underground aquifer like this one in paddle boats. It saved the management thousands in Talons, as the vessels could be plucked easily from the water, and dumped into a slag heap nearby - without the need of carts or tracks. If there’s water movement, it’s moving somewhere. Likely downwards. Look at the erosion - it’s been flowing long enough to cut a channel through the rock, at the very least. The village here likely connected to this in some way, to send barrels down stream for easy transport. It would be stupid not to, and you can tell they did something - look at the struts and supports.”

“...That was an extremely well informed response that I was not expecting. Thank you, Arin.” Tempest almost wanted to pat him on the back for his knowledge on back breaking work.

“I can be smart sometimes, too. When Celestia doesn’t steal the limelight.” He gave her a gentle prod with his elbow, the mare rolling her eyes and squeezing him in a wing. “But to finish my point… if they did send supplies down river, they probably made sure you could walk all the way through to the end. That way if something got stuck, they could dislodge it and keep things moving. But now I wonder… what were they moving?”

“Now this is where I come in.” Celestia flapped her wings, proud of her knowledge. “My guess would be wine; heavy and hard to move, sold to taverns and companies in barrels, and it can be stored in cellars below ground to ferment. A strap of barrels could sell for thousands of bits to the right buyer… but if this heads further west, then that means there’s more decimated pony civilizations stricken from the history books, or a society cut off from Equestria by impassable land and impossible waters.”

“It makes me wonder why other airships haven’t been this way, if the Seraph could hide this far from Equestria’s government without persecution.” Tempest finished her toast, her spare hoof draping fully over her little mare’s back.

“Inhospitable free weather, no points to refuel without carrying extra sources of energy, the foul of Corpse Vale weakening magic engines - there’s plenty of reasons why a pony expedition could be halted.” Celestia thought aloud, listing easy excuses for a pony to decline the chance.

“But not a Seraph. We’re a foolhardy race, willing and able to take risks on a whim. Even I’m a victim of it at times.” Arin chuckled, remembering all too fondly of how he convinced Umbra to give ‘being a good pony’ a shot. Now look where it landed her.

“...I do recall updated airship schematics reaching my hooves around five years ago, that could circumvent magic tampering and brave rough weather - with better storage of Alchemist’s Fire for fuel. It came from an anonymous source at the time, and after passing my inspection - we incorporated the changes into our fleets. I now know these were Seraph war designs, the more I consider it,” Tempest finally admitted, after a moment of silence.

“All talk and no preening makes Vee a very dull pony. Let’s hit the wings and start flapping. My eyes are dry from catching up on my wall staring, and I’d like to sip my coffee on the road, please.” She pulled a checklist from her bag, using a bent feather to tick ‘complain’ from her list.

“V-Vee has a point. I don’t like caves that much, and knowing that a big spider could wiggle in at any moment i-is creeping me out.” Tempest had to nuzzle comfort into the smaller pony, but eventually agreed.

“Then there’s no time to waste. We’ll pack up and move immediately.”

Chapter 43 - Rest

Packed up, sore, and still somewhat stringy, the party made their way ever westwards. Vee, the usual flappy bird she was - had switched to clopping quietly on the stony floor, using a wing to carry her coffee instead.

It was just around a corner where Arin and Celestia’s suspicions were confirmed; an old cellar door, leading up. Not just one, but several; this would surely cover the western side of the town. There was even a spillover room, where excess stock could be carried - and a few barrels still remained. Chancing a peak, indeed - they were wine casks, though obviously out of date.

“You’d think wine would taste amazing after a few thousand years, but you’d be very wrong.” Celestia’s hoof pulled Arin’s hand away from the nearest barrel. “It’s likely sour by now, and extremely bitter. Besides, I don’t think we have the tools on hoof to tap a barrel, even out of curiosity.”

Upon hearing this, Tempest trotted quietly past a cask, before lunging an armored leg in a perfect hole through the side. The red alcohol spilled across the floor, the smell making Arin a little wary.

“Oh hey, it’s your coat color, Stern-fry! D’ohoho.” Vee chuckled, sipping up her coffee with a slurp. The Unicorn raised her back leg into view; indeed, it was rather… accurate. Her coat was a bit like grape juice, or merlot - definitely a fine wine, in her own eyes.

The pathway cut off shortly after, as the group was forced to trot through knee deep water for the next several hours. Pumpkin, being a bit small for the task - was forced to ride on Tempest’s back. It was a comfy position, as Tempest made an effort to drape a blanket over her armor. Pumpkin’s leather book strap came in handy as a belt, so the bundle of cloth wouldn’t slip to the chilly waters below. It’s like she had her own mount! Great news for the tired witch.

It was a grueling experience. Arin had to choose between soaking his boots through, or stepping on smooth stones through the dimly lit tunnels. Vee and Pumpkin’s lantern were the only source of light, besides the blue magic of the Lunar Realm - and the air was freezing. In the end, he walked unprotected - occasionally cursing as his foot clunked a rock, or rolled over a loose stone. The ponies had less issues, but it was still dangerous. He even had to waste a flash of Resurgence at one point, when he rolled his ankle and nearly collapsed.

Eventually, a thin, spreading wall of Lunar magic loomed before them - which they broke through eagerly, happy to be in the warmth of the late-Prancetember air, autumn quickly approaching - if not already here.

The smooth stones underhoof became steadily smaller, as they traveled deeper under the mountain above. The damp and cold made it a horrible spot for bugs of all sorts, no wonder the spiders avoided it. That, and a lack of prey may have helped.

“I wonder how the spider population grew so big? Where did they find the food to grow to such levels?...” Celestia thought aloud, as the gravel beneath their legs grew pleasant, and the waters more tolerable.

“Well, there um… was probably a lot of ponies in their diet, at first. Then all the other wildlife. Large spiders can go a long, l-long time without food. The swamp probably stopped their spread, at some point. And the mountains helped contain it. Some spiders a-also eat each other, t-too.”

“Like we practiced, Pumpkin. Steady your nerves and speak with confidence,” Tempest chided the small mare resting on her shoulders, to help break the habit. “You were doing so well, after the Carnival, too.”

“W-Well, I wasn’t cocooned in a scary web, after the carnival. But you’re right. I’ll try.” Pumpkin breathed, squeezing the stern Unicorn close.

By now, a distant light reflected off the waters of the small underground river, the approaching sun illuminating the caverns in sparkling rays. Around them, dozens of small crystals shined softly with the glimmer of color, filling the tunnel with a natural beauty hard to put into words. The party’s eyes lingered across the formations of rocks and reflective rainbows of cascading beauty, a magic feeling washing over them like the water flowing over their hooves. By now, the current picked up - the tunnels’ mouth soon approaching. At the same rate, the curve of the tunnel dipped lower, a light rumble of a small waterfall echoing to reach them.

“Keep your hooves steady. The water is still shallow, but we may have to scale down the falls if it’s too high,” Celestia recommended, as their steps grew quick with the water’s pull. Vee gently balanced her coffee on top of her mane, flapping her wings to silently float over the water. She plucked a couple of small crystals from the wall, plopping it in her bag for ‘Vee related business’ down the road. At least, that’s what she mumbled about.

As they approached the falls, the water turned a frothy white, pouring down into the light beneath them. It took several long moments for their eyes to adjust to the sunlight, taking in the small dip below.

A pure, clean stone spring lay beneath by roughly several hooves, pooling into a shallow pond. It quickly broke off into another plunge across the way, which fed into a small river. They rested on the western side of the mountains they meant to cross, a startling sight filling the horizon. Actually, it’s what didn’t fill the horizon that was concerning.

Roughly forty leagues away, the ground had shattered into scattered, clinging pieces; ending in a toppling ledge that fell into absolute nothing. At least, nothing they could see from their elevated position. Another strange thing was the atmosphere; while the air they breathed was unaffected, the blue sky grew thin this close to the World’s Edge. Thus the normal rich color above was faded, and stars were partially visible. As if night had fallen already, despite the sun’s light filling the world.

Sprawling forests rose up from the break in the hills, towering trees that seemed impossibly tall, hundreds of hooves high. And there, in the distance, they spotted it - a single Air Ship, stationary to the farthest edge of Equestria. It bore a massive blue balloon above, to typically meld into the sky - but against the black it stood out quite well. It seemed docked to something below, which was simply too hard to spot from their current vantage point.

“We did it,” Tempest mumbled, her cold, tired hooves near frozen in the rolling waters. “We’re finally here. The World’s Edge. In all my travels, I never thought I’d see something like this.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it, either,” Arin mumbled; how could a world just… stop? End? The horizon had nothing beyond it, save the distant stars. He was tempted to drop everything, strip to the nude - and fly as far as his wings could, just to see what was there. Or really… what wasn’t.

“I’m more interested in the forest. L-Look how big the trees are! They’re huge! G-Gosh, I wonder what lives there?...” Pumpkin tilted the brim of her hat, looking at the impressive spires of wood and leaf that shot through the roots of the earth. These trees alone must have kept this massive piece of the world from falling into the molten core, far far below. The were hundreds of hooves tall, and thick with branches near the top - traveling higher as you left the mountain’s embrace.

“I’m just here for the coffee and tax benefits,” Vee said, retrieving her cuppa to sip. “Maybe I’ll find some gold or jewels here. Shiny rocks to keep the bit-snooters at bay.”

Arin had begun to strip his Fey Glass armor and jerkin, much to the confusion of Celestia - before tossing it into the water below. It splashed into the clear pond, as the Seraph dived forward with an elegant flick of his wings. With a splash, he swam through the sun-warmed waters to the shallow end, snatching - and roughly scrubbing - his clothes and gear along the way.

“Well? What are you all waiting for? I’m not swimming alone am I?” He laughed from the cool water, pedaling backwards to look at the rock face he fell from. “By the Feathers! You should come look at this! It’s beautiful!”

Vee, in need of a good cleaning - shrugged, chugged her coffee, then belly flopped the short drop in her purple leather armor. Pumpkin hopped off Tempest’s back, helping return the blanket and belt to her bag and hat separately, before diving straight in - her marefriend not far behind. Celestia, laughing - threw herself backwards into the cool water below with a splash.

She floated beneath the surface for several moments, simply basking in the lovely, clean spring. The Princess threw her head back with a gasp, cascading water in a stream against the far rocks from her hair, before turning to look at the short falls they plunged from.

A spike of a large quarts pointed from just above the cave’s mouth, almost like a Unicorn’s horn. The shimmering crystals and beauty of the cavern radiated with light, almost like a glowing eye. It looked like a unicorn, if you squinted hard enough. With the trees leaning over the water, they had ample shade to work with for privacy and relaxation both.

“I think we’ll camp here for a while, before we start making headway towards the airship,” Tempest called to the party, a collective sigh of relief following. After their nearly fatal run-in at Driderhold, a break was very well deserved.

Tempest - being rather strict even when relaxing with her mare - guided Pumpkin towards the bend of a tree’s branch; the leaves a perfect cover to set up their tent. The soft sand was cushy and cool, and the reflected sunlight from the water made pleasant lights in the canopy’s boughs.

Vee, floating lazily in the water - heard the call for a break and was much too happy to exploit it. The waterfall, after all, was essentially a giant birdbath to her. With a few flicks of her tired wings, she made her way lazily to tumbling falls - letting it pummel her mane beneath the tide.

Celestia and Arin didn’t rush to pitch a tent or start a fire. Near immediately, the first thing they did - was dig around in the Princess’s own pack for her shampoo. “Let’s clean up before we set up camp. I know you’re dying to get that gunk out of your mane, and I’m desperate for a wash, too.”

“Are you sure you’re not my soulmate?” she chimed, leaning in for a quick kiss. Arin eagerly returned it, humming quietly as the ‘quick’ kiss turned out to be much longer than intended.

All of the tensions over the last few days could finally start whittling away - the marshy bog and its undead hooves, the Carnival and its strange, surreal reality, the horrible webbed forest and all the spiders within… It could all, finally, come to a rest - even if only for a while.

The serine pond twinkled in the waning day, as Celestia viewed over the approaching cosmos in the distance. “When night comes, I dip the sun beneath the distant edge of Equis. That’s when the Solar Plane is at its weakest, as the long ancient magic keeping the world from scorching away into a fiery collapse strings the broken fabric of reality together, on this ledge. At night, from the highest point in Equestria - you can just see the edge of the sun hiding beyond the horizon awaiting my call.”

“Mm? So you’re saying that once you move past that edge, reality stops, or?...”

“No, you simply move out of the sphere of magical influence. But seeing it this close worries me of what will come if the Lunar Magics fully eclipses it. Nothing like this has ever happened before. The sun wouldn’t blink out, but… if the last of the ambient Solar Energy fades, and I’m too weak to tug it from beyond the horizon - will I ever be able to raise the sun again?” Celestia aired her worries to Arin, who now became anxious as his fingers dug through her soapy mane.

“Princess, you’re kinda making me nervous here. Are you saying there’s a deadline? You mentioned it before, but...”

Celestia tilted her head back, a single magenta eye locking to his golden irises. “Tia.”

“Oh! Right, yeah. Sorry. Just worried, that’s all. But Tia, are things really that dire?” His digits worked through a single knot of soapy pink hair, tugging gently at it - before it finally gave in and untangled. A soft ‘ow’ from his lover meeting his ears, the Seraph giving an ear scritch in compensation.

“Well, yes and no. It’s just a theory. With the sun no longer able to provide Solar Magic to counter the overwhelming Lunar Magic raining across Equestria, the moon could ‘wash away’ the last remnants of sunlight. So while the sun may still exist, it would be outside the sphere of our atmosphere’s influence. Or! I’m simply fretting too much about the finer details, and in reality, I could just move it through the sky, as per usual.”

Arin dug around in his waterproof Feywild pouch for a clean pot, slipping the cooking utensil out to scoop up a rough gallon of water. With an unceremonious splash, the Princess gave an adorable ‘eep’ as the clear liquid washed away the suds.

“Let’s just hope it’s the second option. I don’t even want to think about an adventure off the cliffs. As Vee would put it, that sounds ‘terrible for the feathers’.” The Seraph smirked, the alicorn snorting under the cool water.

Vee poked her head from under the waterfall, glaring. “That’s five bits in royalties, Tall-fry. I’m docking it from your pay.”

“What?” the Seraph called back, the crash of the waterfall muting Vee’s neighs from the far side of the pond. Better yet, how could she even hear him talking about her? Was it some kind of sixth sense?...

Eventually, Vee slid her head back under the water - using a hoof to dictate her eyes were always watching Arin. How? Did she… stare at him, through the pouring falls?

“Let’s move under some tree branches, for a little more privacy.” Celestia eventually offered, “We’ll finish up our bathing there, and move on to more… sensual matters. I won’t lie, Arin - if I don’t have a personal touch soon, I’m going to snap and pin you down.”

“That’s a bit much, don’t you think? Shouldn’t you ask me first?” He chuckled, swatting after her flank. The morning mare blushed, but gently returned it with a whip of her tail.

“No, I’m saying that neither of us would be able to trot afterwards. And we have a lot of trotting left to do. Forty leagues, by my guess - that’s a sixteen hour march at a quick, tiring pace. I think even Tempest would collapse if we attempted that in a day.”

“Where’d you learn that?” he asked; the leaves above them shed away any prying eyes, as the Princess presented her mane for conditioning.

“It’s part of Equestria’s military initiation for the Earth Pony front line. Even my royal guards know how hard it is to keep a pace like that for long, when wearing a full set of heavy gear. Luckily, we’re not nearly as armored as a Hoof Battalion. It should be doable over two days, at best. And if we’re lucky, we’ll put plenty of distance between us and the impending wall of Lunar Magic.”

He worked his digits in small circles across her scalp, thinking. “I think I heard that before. Years ago, back when I lived in the Castle with you and Luna. Now that I think about it, it was Vapor Cloud who told me, before we entered the knight tournament. Did you know he was promoted to Guard Captain in your absence? I think Luna gave him the title because you were, well… out of commission. Bless his resting pinions.” Arin sighed. Celestia cracked an eye at that.

“He’s not dead. At least, not yet. Vee’s foresight is really spot on. Almost as good as my own. It’s a skill that comes with time.” She hummed, using her magic to draw the still-sheathed blade at her side. The enchantments on it prevented rust and wear, but it could use a cleaning. The ichor had dried, leaving it sticky and unpresentable. She tossed it into the water, letting it boil for several moments with a swish - the Solar Magic within heating the water rapidly around it, at her whim.

“You know, I never prodded much into the Knight swords, and how they worked. Think I’m worthy of knowing?” the Seraph eventually asked, Celestia withdrawing the polished blade with a smile.

“It’s a two part spell that makes them function; as a blade, it absorbs ambient Solar Magic, much the same way I do. But as a tool of devotion, the spell of protection requires a full ceremony to perform. If you skip over the details, a Knight may easily betray you - it’s the words that carry the burden of the enchantment, after all. I temporarily entrusted the blade to Tempest, but since we rushed the ceremony… Well, she didn’t have to listen to my orders.”

Arin brushed through her mane one more time with his fingers, massive wads of hair filling his hands. He quickly dipped his digits into the cool, shaded waters, letting the stream pull the matted light red mess free.

“One more question then, Tia… how do you have so much hair? It’s endless! By the Feathers, how are you not bald after one shower?”

“The hairs of my mane are very, very thin. It’s why it animates so easily in magic. And before you ask - it changes color based on how much magic I carry within me. Before I was touched by harmony, it flowed and gleamed with a soft, subtle crimson - to match my pink eyes. My horn is much the same, shining from pink - to red, and finally, gold when I’m empowered.”

As he finished up with her mane, and turned to her coat - her voice became quiet. Embracing the touch of his hands, feeling him delicately scrub away the grime from their forest trek. It was heavenly, and soon, other thoughts began to stir. In a nearby brush line, a battle-scarred Unicorn had much the same mindset with a little mare; which she would finally embrace under the boughs of branches and leaves with her lover.

Chapter 45 - Into Darker Woods

The following few hours went by in a haze; Pumpkin and Tempest had passed out in each other's hooves, Vee eventually deemed herself ‘clean’ and swam out from the endless waterfall to build a fire. Celestia and Arin spent the better part of an hour trying their best to rid every bit of webbing from the frankly large Princess. Surprisingly, it took longer for them to wash the less filthy alicorn than it took for the others to wash themselves, who had been entirely webbed up. Including him.

Possibly because her wings were massive, and had burst through sections of webbing - and been the prime target for the silken strands. It gooped up, and marred her once pristine pinions in soot and waste.

It also didn’t help that every few moments, she’d catch him in another kiss. It made washing… difficult. By the time they could finally sneak off to their unpitched tent, a certain Seraph had already pitched one somewhere else. It eventually led to a love struck session in the shade, hoping the leaves of trees bought them enough privacy from any prying eyes to enjoy time together.

By the time they finished, it was well past time for a meal - and then afterwards, another rest. Pristine and clean, Arin patched together a quick soup from White Tail ingredients - mashed pumpkin, cheese, a rich chicken stock, and dozens of herbs and spices with a splash of white wine - soon a pot of the good stuff joined them, a loaf of bread split into five thick cuts to wipe it down with. At some point, Celestia decided to give the waterfall a name - Crystal Horn Cove, even if it wasn’t connected to an ocean.

“Something smells wonderful.” Tempest smiled, her clean mohawk ruffled and unbrushed. Pumpkin looked much the same, but it was obvious they were fiercely satisfied with their rest. “Makes me wonder what Umbra is being fed in captivity. Hopefully something sustaining.”

Arin frowned at the question, shaking his head. “Likely not. She’d be lucky to survive up until now on scraps. I have… unwanted memories of being imprisoned. Let’s just hope I can heal whatever wounds she’s sustained, if she’s still alive.”

“Hmhm! Well then, all the more reason to rest and put boots to our snoots. Preening can wait; flap off to bed early tonight, all of you. No more whips and chains and other fun things, we’ve got a Spooky-fry to rescue.” The Purple gulped down her soup quickly, stopping to add a splash of coffee or two to help perk her up.

At that, the group rushed their meals. Short conversations about trivial things helping keep the party alive, and as Tempest finished up her bowl - she sighed.

“Celestia?” She looked up to the pink-maned alicorn, who nodded.

“Yes, my subj-... yes, Tempest?”

“I’m sorry. For how I’ve treated you, these last several days. I have to admit, if you did not act, not once but twice now… we would have all died. Everything I thought I knew about you… it was all wrong. You’re strong and capable, and Equestria deserves no other leader than you.”

There was a stunned silence around the campfire, Arin dropping his spoon from his hand in shock. It took Celestia a moment to pry her jaw from the floor, but once she did, she bowed her head.

“Thank you, Tempest. But if I may ask, why the change of heart? We’ve been at odds since the very start.”

“...I guess I’m just ready for change. Before, I would have never thought of it. I know now that without you, no - all of you, I would have died several times across this journey. Arin for his healing powers, Pumpkin for her medicinal knowledge. Vee for her bravery to face the very living dead. And finally, you Celestia. Not only did you save me, but you’ve saved a pony I’ve fallen for, as well. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.”

“That’s just what friends do, Tempest.” Arin smiled, clapping her back with an open hand. “We stick together, we work as a team - and we prop our weakest members up. You’ve risked your life to protect us, all of us. And while Celestia can lead a nation, you can lead your friends. We’re at your side, to the very end.”

Vee fluffed her wings, staring into the darkened sky. In the far light of the sun, her eyes traced the outline of the Seraph vessel. “Stern-fry, you’ve been working for everypony but yourself from the start. This whole journey has been about rushing to save Spooky-horn, and applying the wingchop to some greedy mino-birds, no offense Arin.”

“None taken. Seraphs are ‘jerk-faces’, right Vee?” The Seraph gave a warm grin, the party’s purple pegasus giving her all-too-familiar ‘d’ohoho’.

“Right you are! Banned, all of them! From my shop! You too, Tall-fry. You’re still fired.”

Laughs all around from the campfire cheered the mood on, as dishes were swiftly cleaned and supplies stashed for the while. With that, the party split up for the eve - taking their rest for the long journey ahead.

‘Morning’ came quickly for the group gathered, tents were packed and kisses were held - and with a swift breakfast filling their bellies, Celestia moved the sun out of the way of the endless, encroaching lunar magic. She held worry in her heart, seeing the sun this close to passing over the far horizon. It forced the usually calm midday light into an anxiety inducing afternoon. They even had time for a quick Knighting Ceremony for Arin, though with a bit more focus on the words to prevent accidents. It’s not that Celestia didn’t trust her lover, it’s more so she didn’t trust Nightmare Moon’s tactics.

“So, you’re saying that if the Lunar Magic touches the far horizon, there’s a chance your magic could be severed, and we’ll be stuck in an eternal night?” Tempest seemed mildly concerned at that notion, but beyond that - she didn’t show it.

“It’s the theory. If the Solar Plane is entirely severed from the atmosphere, neither my Sister nor I may be able to retrieve it. We will fall into an eternal winter, and the bonds of other planes will weaken and falter as balance fails - and crops refuse to grow.” Celestia's pace quickened even faster at the thought - Pumpkin bumbling along on her broom beside her mare, Arin jogging to keep pace - and Vee flapping above.

“You don’t seem as worried as some of us are, Tempest,” Arin questioned, hurdling a log with a flap of his wings. “We’re teetering close to the knife’s edge, and that’s not something I like to do.”

“I’m not. With you all by my side, and when Umbra joins us - Nightmare Moon won’t stand a chance.”

The giant trees grew ever taller as they dipped into the valley; the forest canopy thick and growing, sheltering them from the light of the sun. Arin summoned magic in the form of a twinkling mage light to crack the dark, Pumpkin clicked her tail lantern on and Vee’s own lamp flickered with a soft, quiet magic after a twist of a lever.

“So Stern-fry, what’s the plan? Wingchop their throats, save the pony, slay the dragon, and all that fairytale jazz?” Vee held her coffee in her hooves - a strange sight to behold. Her usual purple aura hadn’t made an appearance in a while, and it was something Arin in particular noticed.

“Not exactly. First, we need to figure out their numbers, the location of Umbra, and their defenses. From there, it’s not an exact science. I’ve never taken an airship without an advantage before - like my own vessel or fleet to make that possible. They’re likely lax on security from the long wait, too. The main issue I have is reaching them quickly and safely, before an alarm can be sounded. I’m too heavy in my gear to make the flight comfortable for whoever has to carry me.” Tempest spoke aloud to the group, scouring her mind for an idea.

“...Then don’t. Why don’t we try luring them to the ground? Or forcing a landing?” Arin offered. The Commander considered it, leaping over a giant root with the rest of the party.

“The only way we’d be able to do that is through crippling the balloon. And unfortunately, with our time limit - I don’t think I could repair it alone. Not unless any of you happen to have several years experience repairing airship damages on hoof that you’ve been keeping secret.” Their pace picked up regardless of the rough terrain, the massive creek of trees shaking in the light wind above an odd, and almost terrifying sound.

“If it was literally anything else Tempest, I would be the first person to talk about experience. Mining? Done. Smithing? No problem. Weaving, stitching, baking, skinning, tanning, whittling - I’ve done it all. Except work on airships.” Arin’s breathless laugh came with a short leap over a crawling root - fanning his wings to glide several short hooves. If their pace was a little more rigorous, he could alternate wing beats, gliding, and running to travel near effortlessly across the forest floor, but with the rough terrain, a jog - or a canter - was all they could manage.

“I’m much the same, as well, save for more laborious pursuits. I’ve sought many hobbies to occupy the years,” Celestia spoke up, ducking her head under a vine, “but I’ve never touched an airship besides for travel. They’re costly things to maintain for military capabilities, after all, and I never thought myself war-inclined.”

“C-Can we stop yet? M-My magic is fading, and I don’t think I-I can gallop for long at this pace.” Pumpkin whimpered, her little broom faltering in the air. They’ve been traveling hard for hours, with little room for rest. Without another word, Tempest nipped her by the scruff and tossed her onto her armored back - giving her enough time between bounces to stuff her broom into her hat.

“What! I want a pony back ride! Sun-fry, your fur is comfy and prime retail for feather preening. My wings deserve a break, too.” Vee glared, flapping backwards in front of the Princess. Celestia rolled her eyes.

“Tax relief or pony back ride, pick your pleasure, Vee.”

“I can fight exhaustion, but I can’t fight the Pony IRS. I’ll take discounts any day. D’ohoho~”

Traveling through the forests of the World’s Edge was luckily rather uneventful so far. After the last two areas, a simple forest trek was a blessing. Strangely enough, they’ve come across the occasional ancient wooden post along the forest path, or marker showing that something has been through these woods before Yet no houses or halls sprung up to meet them in the dark - save the occasional collapsed structure, planks torn to pieces from a long fall. Did the ponies live in the branches of the trees? Another strange thing was the wildlife.

Birds hung high in the leaves far above, their massive wings breaking the faint light of the sun through the branches. From their small campfire, several sets of eyes would watch from the darkness - peering over them with curiosity. Friend or foe, it didn’t matter - the flames kept all at bay.

The deeper into the forest they traveled, the farther away the canopy grew - and the more claustrophobic the dark felt.

“I don’t like this,” Tempest confided in Pumpkin at the fire. “It feels like we’re intruding. Trespassers. Unwanted guests.”

The witchy pony nodded, snug against her lover. “I can almost hear the wilds calling out to me. Almost like it’s telling m-me to turn back. And… I don’t like it.”

Celestia stretched out her long legs, breathing in a sigh of relief. Finally, an end to their gallop. Here, the vegetation had grown much more dense and unkempt, bugs aplenty finding snug homes in cracks and crannies. Bioluminescent mushrooms shone in the dark of the distant sun, lighting up the deep world. Supplies were starting to run a bit short in the fresh department; packed cheese and bread being the simpler things to snack on, but did little to ease their worries.

“You know, we haven’t been really conserving our supplies - but maybe foraging could come in useful. Pumpkin, do you know of any fauna to aid our rations?” Celestia asked, after checking her bag for more food. Indeed, things would start looking grim soon.

“I-I did spot a few sulphur shelf mushrooms here and there. Or, chicken of the woods - as they’re called. They taste and look just like yellow chicken once you cook them! Or… i-it could be poisonous jack-o-lantern. I’d have to check for pores underneath to be sure it’s safe.”

“If you have a bad case of constipation, try snacking on Jack-o-lantern shrooms. Great for starting the runs, d’ohoho~” Vee chirped, tending to her wing happily. Coffee in hoof, mane free of webs, surrounded by delightfully spooky things to stare through - she was in her zone.

A firefly buzzed, and landed on Arin’s nose - making him twitch. It was huge, just like the trees of the forest. Out of instinct, he slapped the critter off - and it buzzed away unphased.

“Maybe we should post a second pony to nightwatch, just to be safe. Well… forest watch.” He attempted to rub off the feelings of little legs on his nose, Celestia’s wing scooping him up close.

“Wonderful! I take it you’re volunteering to go first?” She smiled innocently, pinning a soft kiss where the big bug had just been. That did the trick of getting rid of the itch, at least.

“Hey now, I said another pony, not a Seraph. Do you know how hard it is to keep up with all of you? Very! If I didn’t have wings, I’d have to ride on your back, Celestia.”

“Tia.”

“Right, Tia. Sorry.” He rolled his eyes at that; when would he ever learn?

“No. I trust Vee. As hard as it is to believe, I know little slips by her watchful eye. Even if she’s a bit… different.” Their leader gave a soft yawn, running her wine-colored hoof along Pumpkin’s cheek. “We traveled far today, with little in the way of slowdowns. You’re all doing well. I’d say we cleared well over a third of the distance, meaning we’ll be able to rest near enough to plan our assault.”

“I could fly up and check to be sure, if you’d like?” the Princess offered, leaning her head against Arin’s. But the offer was quickly rejected by Tempest.

“We’re not taking risks here, nor are we wasting any more precious resources. I know little of Seraphs, but from what I gather - they’d burn the forest down if they learned of our presence here. On top of this, we’re in foreign territory. Megafauna and wildlife are already a concern, and I don’t want to risk any of your lives to gauge our distance. We head west, until we break the brush line. From there, we’ll use the trees as cover to scout our next move.”

All of them could agree on this; while slightly less accurate, they didn’t need to crash into the hull of the Seraph’s ship with their expedition. They simply needed to clear the far side of the forest.

“W-What if they move, and we have to run after them?” Pumpkin asked,

“Unlikely. They’d have to charge the magic engines, which is a tedious and fuel inefficient process - or resort to wind currents. They’re anchored to something, and from there, we’ll determine our next action.” Tempest had really blossomed into a spectacular, and well educated leader. Not that she wasn’t before, but now - she actually cared about her allies beyond petty indifference. They were a real team, and hopefully, Umbra would fit right in. After all, she already knew every pony gathered here. Especially Arin.

“Well, I don’t have any more questions. How about you, Tia?” The Seraph took his time using her as a pillow - which she gladly obliged, tucking him under her wing. You can’t fight off sleep forever, and they’d have to eventually hop up from the comfy fire to cuddle in the warmth of their tent.

“Hmm… it sounds fair. But I’m still worried about boarding the ship. I’ll try to come up with some suggestions of my own, if you can’t think of a plan, Tempest.”

Chapter 46 - Deepwoods

Pumpkin Spice was one of the first to stir awake in the darkness of the tent, bound tightly in Tempest’s hooves. She wiggled her body out from the firm grasp of the mare, squeaking as a swift tug of the makeshift leather leash sent her right back into the Unicorn’s iron grasp. Snuggled in close, the soft fluff of the wine-colored pony’s chest embraced her fully.

“Mm… not yet, Pet. It’s much too early to pack up,” she mumbled; it was somewhat ‘night time’ for them, after all. They’ve only been asleep for four hours, give or take. But something managed to rouse her from her sleep.

“I-I was going to forage for food, Mistress,” Pumpkin mewled quietly in response, Tempest’s horn gleaming with sparkling, electrifying light to illuminate the dark interior of the tent.

“No. You’re not allowed to trek alone. Especially you, I don’t want you of all ponies hurt or killed from another careless mistake.”

“I-I’ll stay close, I promise,” she whispered. Tempest wrapped the slack of Pumpkin’s leash tight, pulling her small body tight under the protection of her legs.

“No. That’s an order, Pet. We can survive another day or two on what we have. Now sleep. We might be lucky, and able to raid the Seraph’s rations, as well - though unlikely, if they have been stationed out here with a full crew.”

Blushing, but willing to follow orders - she eventually submitted to her fate. Well, she would have - if the sound of voices didn’t carry from outside.

Tempest’s ears perked, swiveling to the source. Alert to danger, and curious to who would be awake at these hours - her firm grip relented.

“It appears we’re not alone. Here,” A soft hoof tugged at the knot of her bind, freeing the little mare. “Let’s investigate. If the others are having trouble sleeping, we’ll scavenge the immediate area for anything suitable. Alright? Both of us.”

The little mare snapped to attention, nodding. “Y-Yes Mistress.” Her reward? A soft ruffle of her mane, and a gentle peck on the lips.

“Good girl.”

The campfire was nearly embers as they stepped into the clearing, Vee staring idly into the coals as the darkness loomed. Tempest tossed a log into the pit, cracks of flame spiraled and flashed into the cool, dark air.

“Vee? Are you alright?” Pumpkin asked, gently bumping her hoof against her Sister’s side. The pegasus jumped and neighed, her usual half-drawn exhausted eyes shooting open.

“Small-fry! You know better than to interrupt my wall staring! My feathers didn’t even feel you coming! I need a solid eight hours of staring to be happy and healthy in the mornings, and you know it, Smols! How did - you’re blending in to the dark too much, Small-fry.” She puffed, flapping a wing out to preen. “Hmhm. I’m guessing you heard the neighing in the woods, though. Hypnotising! And probably excessively dangerous.”

“So Arin and Celestia are still asleep?” Tempest questioned, careful senses and perceptive eyes sliding through the darkness of the woods. And after their encounter with the spiders - she turned her gaze up, too, just to be sure nothing was waiting above them. It’s always good to learn from past mistakes.

“We were still asleep. Could you all keep it down?” The pink maned alicorn burst her head from her shared tent, huffing in frustration. “You’ve been talking for hours!”

“No, we haven’t,” Tempest corrected; whatever voices that were filtering through the clearing had stopped. Now, it was just the crackling fire and the sound of creaking, creepy trees. Armorless, she stepped up to a nearby towering root - gazing over the darkness surrounding them. Yet her ears could pick up nothing through the disorienting shadows, save the reflective silence.

“We should pack up and move out. Celestia, if Arin isn’t up - wake him. Vee, keep the fire bright. All of you, start preparations and get ready to travel,” the Unicorn commanded, turning back to the group with a flick of her tail. Immediately, her danger sense went wild - something was right behind her. She wheeled on her hooves, horn flashing a bolt of cackling lightning into the dark.

...Nothing. There was nothing there. Her heart hammered in her chest, Pumpkin immediately joining her side to look into the dark with her.

“Are you alright, Tempest? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” she mewled, taking her Lover in. The Unicorn’s eyes were wide and her cheeks were pale, legs shaking from the terror. Without a second thought, the Unicorn grabbed Pumpkin by the scruff and clattered her hooves off the root.

“Huh-?! What! Hey! Stop doing that! I’m a full grown mare, thank you!” she whined, before being roughly deposited to the floor by the light of the fire. Tempest had trouble steadying her beating heart, wondering what exactly she felt lurking in the darkness.

“There’s something in the shadows. I didn’t see it, but… I could feel it. We are definitely not alone.”

Celestia, having stirred the Seraph from his sleep - appeared in the clearing with the yawning Knight by her side. His head hung low, tired eyes cracked to witness the sparkling heat of the flame. He carried Sun Song by his waist, unaware of the commotion brewing. Celestia, on the other hoof - heard her, and frowned.

“I won’t argue with you, Tempest; if you say move, we move. You’ve proven yourself as a natural leader, and I would be daft to argue that. Especially after Driderhold.”

The imposing mare relaxed at Celestia’s kind words, helping ease the budding tension as Arin groaned.

“Oh come on, Tia. Can’t you argue with her l so I can get back to bed? It’s way too-” Arin went to complain, but Celestia’s faint pink magic tugged his ear with a smirk. “Ow! Ow, okay, okay, don’t rip it off. I get it, I get it! I was kidding!”

“Let’s pack up, Arin. Hope you’re ready for another dozen leagues of galloping!” the Princess chirped, dragging the Seraph back to the tent with a massive wing. “After all, you have plenty of energy to run your mouth, why not give your legs a chance?”

Had they been running through an autumn forest, the leaves would have shaken clean off the trees by now. Arin was seriously regretting his lack of focus on ground travel back in Erenorn. Unlike Pegasi, who could idly float in place with their magic and wings - Seraph pinions were poorly equipped for slow pace travel. This is when a mount would be useful, back in his homeworld of Erenorn. Even with his naturally fast recovery, exhaustion still had to be slept away - and cutting through naps, or skipping out on it - had always been bad for Seraph health.

“This may sound weird, but… do you think we could move faster? So I can take some of the wear and tear off my legs?”

“Faster? You’ll kill me, Tall-fry! A solid flap isn’t good enough for you? Hmhm. Next you’ll tell me to join the Wonderbolts. I’m still banned from four different stadiums, so I don’t even qualify!” Vee huffed, struggling to keep her pace as it was.

“You’re um… also banned from a Neigh-Mart, two Clopcos, and the old Library in Ponyville,” the little witch said, hovering above on her broom.

“The librarian was wrong, feathers are a socially acceptable form of bookmark, Small-fry.”

“You left over a thousand feathers in two hundred books. You didn’t even rent the books, you just stuffed feathers in them and put them back on the shelf.” Pumpkin pointed an accusatory hoof at her now former Mentor; she was a full-fledged witch now, after all. Vee promoted her before Driderhold, and it was a title she meant to keep.

“I was marking the pages I wanted to read! Which was all of them. One of the employees even helped me do it. How was I wrong?” Vee raised her snout into the air, obviously she was, and always has been, morally correct.

“You know, Vee, I did receive a hopeful letter that Anonymous, Ponyville’s resident terrorist, had finally made a friend. And then Twilight banned said friend from the library. I’m assuming that was you?” Celestia breathed, Arin struggling to hold back laughter.

“Is this Twilight a Snooty-snooter like you, Sun-fry? If so, yes.” Vee huffed, sipping deep from her piping hot cuppa. “Ah yes. It tastes like burnt tongue.”

“How’d you get banned from a Neigh-Mart?” Arin couldn’t stop himself from asking, and Pumpkin sighed - committing herself to answering the questions that would inevitably come.

“Vee sampled the manager’s um… coffee, mid conversation. As in, she literally stole his mug, and drank it - before spitting it on the floor.”

“If he didn’t want me to taste it, he shouldn’t have complained about my feathers in the produce and held it in his grubby little hoof. And it was terrible coffee, really - I was doing him a favor.” Regardless, the purple mare smiled at the fond memory.

“When Vee started shopping at Clopco, she took the little… watering wand, from the produce section, a-and gave herself a shower. You know, the nozzle they use to spray on the vegetables so they won't wilt?”

“Okay, that one was definitely not the best decision. But they didn’t stop me the first two times! How would I know the third time was the final feather?”

“I think it was when y-you um… left it running, and flooded the whole vegetable aisle.” Pumpkin gave a nervous smile, clicking her hooves over her broom.

“Vegetables float, so really, I did them a service. I still send them an invoice every so often for my gardening services, but all I’ve received is a cease and desist letter from their attorney. So I’ve been sending them to him instead. They still owe me ten bits for my genius work.”

By now, the group had stopped so Arin - and now the giggly Princess - could heave with laughter. It was too much. Even Tempest was mildly amused, coming to a steady halt in the light of the lanterns.

“And then, for the Clopco in Vanhoover, Vee was banned on sight for carrying a sign into the store that said ‘Buck Clopco for Banning Me in Canterlot’.”

“And that was wrong? It was a protest! I was protesting my unfair treatment at the greedy bit-snooting Clopco overlords' expense.”

And suddenly, the dark forest just didn’t seem that scary anymore. Even with the giant bugs, the glowing mushrooms, and the weird whispers - Vee saved the day just by being her normal enigma of a pony. It reminded him of his time working for her… well, not with her - with Pumpkin. But Vee was there, and it counts.

After catching their breath, the grueling march picked up once more for another league or so before Tempest called for a proper break and campfire. Their supplies were down to their last loaf of bread and wedge of cheese, with some raisins to share for a snack. By now, even the creaks of the trees had stopped - the eerie quiet of the Deepwoods nearly suffocating as Tempest sought to assemble camp.

“Stay in pairs or by our camp’s light, once it’s assembled of course. Do not stray more than fifty hooves from the fire, especially alone. Celestia, Arin, work on starting the blaze - Pumpkin, you’re with me. We’re going to scavenge for food close at hoof. Vee, you’ll stay here and respond to any calls. That’s if we lose track of each other. If things grow dire and we lose the group - fly for the light under the canopy, regardless of the danger of being spotted. I will not tolerate any missing or dead, do you understand? If there’s danger, fly up into the light, not forward deeper into the darkness.”

The party set to work following these orders - Tempest keeping a keen ear to the clearing they found, forcing Pumpkin close at hoof for signs of danger.

“Aha! L-Look! The chicken of the woods, sulphur shelf.” Pumpkin smiled, pointing to an orange cluster of shrooms at the base of a towering tree. “A-And it doesn’t have gills beneath, see? It’s a young cluster, too - perfect for frying.”

The little witch dug around in her hat, humming quietly as she hunted for her foraging knife. Where did she put it?... Aha! There it was, covered in ichor, strangely enough. It must have fallen out of her hat when she was paralyzed - it wasn’t the most secure place, after all. The blade probably fell in the goo then.

Regardless, she withdrew her canteen from her pack, along with a spare cloth - giving it a good wipe down and scrub. Maybe a splash of sanitizer, too, just to be safe.

Cutting through the fresh shrooms with her hoof, the yellow-orange fungi were quickly added to her belongings. “You’re going to love these, Mistress. They’re really good, especially with ketchup - I think Arin has a bottle in his… Mistress?”

Pumpkin’s ears swivelled, eyes turning to look for her lover. “Tempest? Where are you? Vee! Did Tempest head back to camp?”

No response. Worry creeped up her spine, placing her back to the tree as her eyes darted through the clearing. It was black as pitch past the light of her lantern - nothing save the barren ground and massive roots.

“T-Tempest? Please, t-this isn’t funny!” Her voice began to waver, panic setting in. She wanted to hop on her broom and fly up - but that would abandon her Love entirely to the dark, alone, if she did.

“D-Darn it T-Tempest! W-Why c-couldn’t y-you give me orders f-for this!” She jittered on her hooves, bouncing in place. Her stutter returned in full force as the situation fell out of her control.

How could she be there one second, and gone the next? It made no sense! She didn’t have a horn to teleport with, nothing grabbed her - she would have heard the clink of her heavy Winter Iron Armor if she fled, too. How…

Quietly, Pumpkin lifted her hoof to the Emerald dangling from her ear. The gift from the White Tail King, Aster. How the White Tail’s world just… popped up into view, as the veil of reality weakened around them. Could it have happened again? It happened in Copse Vale, for sure - the rotting, untended dead and spirits of the lost draped the material plane in a layer of the Shadowfell’s magic.

But this was nothing like the Feywilds. It was dark, chilling, and home to the greatest trees - that scratched the very sky and blocked the light from the forest floor, far below. Of all the books she brought, she didn’t bring one on Planar Travel. The one book she needed right now! Instead, she brought a dozen romance novels, like the idiot mare she was.

“Hmmm…”

The little mare froze on the spot, a deep, rumbling voice shaking the trees from the roots to the creaking vines and leaves.

“Strange… not many dare visit my domain,” it said, the world she stood on submitting to the ageless voice around her. She could feel it shaking her to her core, forcing her to fall and kick at the dirt to slip away.

“W-Who’s there?!” she cried, pinned to the bark, and shaking like a leaf. Her eyes darted through the blackness surrounding her, searching - hoping to find the source of the voice before it found her. All at once, a massive, looming head fell into view - from the long neck of a scraggly, wood-formed cervine of sorts. A single glowing green eye constructed of glossy pine needles and vines pierced her, taking in the little witch.

“Your kind has long since fled my boughs branches, as the Dark Kin struck from the roots of wood. Now, only signs remain. Yet here, among the markings and scratchings of old - I find another lurking in the shade, alone. Very strange, very strange. I have not witnessed your ilk in many decades, little one. A curse of more wood to fall, or perhaps an omen of ill luck?”

It held its voice in a whisper, but that was loud enough to tremble the great leaves above.

“But I will answer your question, if you may answer mine in turn. I go by many names, but here, I am Trilvanos; Lord of the Deep Wood, Bearer of Boughs and Thinker of Thickets. I speak for the old branches that sway here.”

As he spoke this, dozens of luminescent fungi across his form lit up, glowing a faint sapphire - showing the ancient body he bore. Hundreds of hooves tall, made from branch and green vine - layers of bark stripping his wooden flesh in acres of ageless armor. His cloven hooves grew transparent as they approached the forest floor, vanishing into the dark much like the roots of the trees. His antlers bore leaves, like the canopy far above - two massive green maples that hung from his head. How he could walk through these woods without crashing into anything was a mystery.

“And who, standing under my shelter, are you? Are you alone, little one?”

Stifling the hammering heart in her chest took minutes, as she panted in heavy breaths to still her coursing blood. But Trilvanos was patient, as patient as a tree - and waited for her to speak. She used this moment to settle her thoughts, shuttering her urge to stutter and speak clearly. If he could give such an impressive title to himself, then she could do the same for her friends. Perhaps it would save her life.

“I… am Pumpkin Spice. I um… I travel with Princess Celestia, the pony who raises the Sun. Tempest Shadow, a-a warrior and scholar. Arin of the um…” Where did Arin say he was from again?... Right, Erenorn - or the Far Reaches. “Arin, of the Far Reaches, a-and Vee-ness, Dreamweaver and Witch of Canterlot.”

“A pony who raises the sun?...” he thought aloud, patiently - and steadily, to hold his words and speak true. “Any who bring light to these thickets are more than welcome by my side. Yet, I do not see her in your presence. Strange. Perhaps she treads the rooted realm of the Deepwood, much like you.”

He just believed her? No questions? No doubts? Or perhaps he had no concept of lies?

“What brings a Friend of the Light to my forest?” His massive ear - covered in leaves - lifted up to listen more intently to the little pony.

“W-We’re crossing through. A pony who controls the moon has taken the throne of Canterlot, and is bringing with her… a um, t-tide of everlasting night, a-and endless snow. If we can’t s-stop her, the sun may never rise again.”

His eye narrowed, homing in on her with scrutiny. As if weighing her words against the scales of fact or fiction.

“You bring much bad news to my realm. An enemy to the sun is an enemy to all trees. As small as the most pleasant of saplings, or as tall as to scrape the sky. Not just trees, but to those who I once led.”

His mind turned inwards, thinking quietly. Within seconds - she felt a faint pulse of magic flash across her form. The emerald in her ear twinkling brightly in the sun-rich golden light.

“The jewel you bare. Where did you acquire it, Sun Friend?” he asked, his sight growing gentle.

“U-Um… T-This?” She fondled the jewel, frowning. “I-It was a gift from King Aster, of the White Tail Deer. H-He um… m-made me an ambassador.”

“King Aster? Son of the Old Wood King, Lord Mapleheart?” His ageless eyes went wide at that - the faint green gleaming within his irises shining brightly. “A cherished creature you are, to be worthy of the Blessing of the Wild. Sun Friend, Cloven Heart - what a curiosity I’ve stumbled upon, and a pleasure to have striding among my roots. Of course you are welcome here. Now I hold worry for those you’ve lost. If you bear the Mark of Trees, then I assume they do not. Take upon my antler your body, I will find them.”

The shake of his branches offered her a branch to grasp - which she gently did, a vine slipping down to heft her weight up and keep her steady.

Gently, so as not to launch his guest - his head raised to the far branches above, the light shifting as the world swayed and sun grew close. His cracked wood lips pressed to the lowest branch - the green leaf maples of his antlers flashing with a burst of emerald light.

All at once, every tree’s branch, every leaf, every vine- tilted upwards. The sun burst through the crown of the forest and to the floor below, cleansing the dark of the roots and bringing unseen light to the endless pitch beneath them.

Chapter 47 - God Rays and Sun Shafts

“Pumpkin?” Tempest called, turning her eyes back to the missing mushroom in the now pitch black; only the faint blue lights of glowing fungi surrounded her. She was just standing there, wasn’t she? Where did she go? How?...

“Pumpkin!” she repeated herself, screaming as loud as she could - if this was a prank, it was in exceptionally poor taste. Yet… She had never been one to pull a prank like this before. Or a prank at all. She scanned the ground for tracks, hoof marks - signs of life, anything.

The alarm bells in the back of her head began to ring, a pit of dread welling in her stomach. It wasn’t because she was alone in the woods - no, it was because she didn’t feel alone.

Without wings or magic to lift her, she returned to the campfire in a gallop. “Vee, report! Where’s Pumpkin?!”

“Hmhm? She… Stern-fry, she was with you. What do you mean where’s Pumpkin?” Vee glared, standing up by the now bustling fire. Arin and Celestia - who had already assembled the blaze from plentiful wood - shot the wine-colored mare confused looks.

“She was standing right next to me, harvesting a mushroom - I turned my eye to the shadows for a second, and she was gone. No sign, no trace - not even a mark that she fled. Celestia, Arin! Check the canopy - if Pumpkin followed orders, she should be near the light.”

The Princess and her Seraph looked to each other, and nodded - wings flashing as they prepared to bolt. But before they could, Celestia whinied - spinning on her legs with a beat of her wings to the campfire. Arin’s ascent was interrupted, as he jumped into the air in a flurry of his pinions only to crash to the floor in shock.

“Something is there! In the woods! Right behind us!” Celestia called, shaking from her hooves to horn. Arin scrambled to the fire, unsheathing Sun Song to stand between her and the lurking shadows.

Vee, who had retrieved her lance from Pumpkin the other day, ripped it from her bag in a hurry. Wide awake at the disappearance of her Sister, and now under attack - the remaining four circled around the campfire with their eyes to the shadows.

The whispers from the other night began again, a horrifying rumble of undecipherable jabber that echoed from all around.

“Stern-fry, I swear on all that I find sacred, if my Sister is dead, your head is going on this lance after we deal with these chatterbox Jerk-faces,” Vee growled, back to back with the battle ready Unicorn. Tempest’s broken horn crackled with energy, rage burning inside of her.

“You’ll have to catch me, first. I’ll be too busy caving in whatever skull took her from me,” she replied, unease surrounding them. The building terror rising in their guts with each passing second; even the stalwart Commander found it hard to stand prepared, the trees creaking and groaning with unseen winds.

“Should we flee?” Celestia asked quietly. “If we can’t find Pumpkin, we may never find her in the dark-”

“No! We abandon no one! We are a team! If these… things took her, then they’ll give her back! Otherwise we will never find her in the shadows, even if we split up,” snarled the Unicorn, stomping her hoof in frustration. “If you are a coward now, Celestia, run - flee into the light. I will die before abandoning a friend, especially one I care for.”

The Princess left herself open to gaze at the unyielding mare. Even with fear soaking through their hearts, she faced the dark and braved the burden of terror for a friend. With a nod, her magic - as weak as it was - shot forth an arc of light into the sky, bursting into a blinding, glowing, illuminating wave of light. For several seconds, the dark world they stood in was captured in the strength of the sun.

She wished she hadn’t done this. Between the trees and lurking in the shadows, stood hundreds of black vine-lashed beings - taller than a pony each, their legs ending in roots and covered in a thick, dark sap. They shrunk back in fear of the light - revealing their thorny hides, cracked boney tarp wings and - with a surprising keen eye, Arin saw a few cutiemarks. The dark settled in once more, the whispers growing with intensity.

“Tia, these things have wings and cutiemarks,” he said, the fear wavering, but caution still restrained him to the spot. “Are you all sure they’re evil? Or out to hurt us? They could be ponies under some foul curse...”

A root sprung up from under the flame, darting up to seize the logs gathered - before crashing down over the wood, splintering it to pieces. The fire dimmed and shrunk dramatically, the creatures around stepping in closer to the group.

“They’re either afraid of the fire and want to put it out, or they want to take us in the dark,” Celestia stated bluntly, scanning the growing shadows as her dim magic went to seize a bundle of wood to add to the flame. Several vines lashed out, clasping around the twigs in defiance.

“They could be guardians of these woods? Hmhm. If so, then they have my Sister - I’ll neigh to them.” Vee clutched her spear close, approaching the shadows despite the fact that every hair in her coat stood on end against it. She even clicked her lantern off, as a sign of good will.

“Excuse me, all Scary-fries gathered. I’m Vee-Ness, Coffee Enthusiast and resident nudist of Canterlot. I don’t suppose you’ve seen a little ‘Fry about - neigh high, bubbly, penchant for stuttering, hmhm?” she spoke boldly into the shadows. The whispering drew quiet, an uncomfortable silence seeping over them.

“Rest.”

“Sleep.”

“Become of the Vine.”

“It beckons you.”

The quiet voices around them grew bold, the language they uttered a mimicry of their own. Vee raised her wings to flap back to the flame, but before she could take off - an ebony vine shot forward, catching her hoof. She dropped her spear with a clatter, her legs stumbling to land on the forest floor.

“Oho! That is definitely not good for the feathers,” she said, before being ripped into the darkness around them. No scream came from the Pegasus, the air driven out of her lungs from the rough trauma.

“VEE!” Tempest called, dashing forward with a nova of electric light billowing from her horn - searing the air with shocking intensity. Celestia and Arin were close behind - the light of flame arcing off Sun Song, solar energy from the Princess’s horn blazing their path. A trail of feathers followed after Vee - before suddenly disappearing.

The far light of the fire faded, as more vines wiped away the burning light - coals smothered in dirt and logs stowed beneath the damp, cold earth.

Tempest turned her tracker’s eyes to the forest floor - yet there was nothing. No signs, no hide nor hair of the pegasus. Gone, without a trace. Just like Pumpkin. No, not like Pumpkin - she didn’t sense the creatures in the dark before.

In the frenzy to find their missing companion, another dark tendril shot from the earth - wrapping tightly around Celestia’s hindlegs - a second bulbous orb vine just barely missing her screaming mouth. Arin instantly swung into action, slicing through the tendrils with burning speed, a hiss of whispers piping up around them.

“Dream with us.”

“Join the wood.”

“The Entity beckons you.”

Helping the Princess to her hooves, the dim light of her horn began to falter.

“Arin, they’re not afraid of light - they’re afraid of the sun and flame. These aren’t wood creatures defending their forest! They’re parasites! I should have known the moment you said they have cutiemarks!”

Vee faded into view with a faint flash of blue light; ethereal body solidifying as she huffed and groaned. Stunned looks all around nearly caused the group to break, as the pegasus settled in. Gashes, cuts, scrapes, and grievous wounds marked her body to shreds, mane and wings smothered in dirt as she recovered. “Sun-fry - one moment…”

Vee vomited a pool of coffee onto the forest floor, a severed, wriggling pod squirming in the mess beneath her. She grimaced at the sight, bucking it into the black woods with a snort. The group huddled in around her, Arin’s magic flashing across Vee’s battered body with the chime of bells. Antithesis knitted the damage in moments, the Purple perking up after wiping her muzzle clean.

“Sun-fry is right. If these things have my Sister, it’s only a matter of minutes until it’s too…” She heaved again, shuddering. “...Too late.”

Tempest began to panic; there were hundreds of these creatures, and one wrong move would instantly spell their doom. She didn’t have magic like Vee, who could just fade into the dream world on a whim. Nor did she have a well of Solar Magic to draw from - but she did have an incredibly weakened sun princess on hoof. And she couldn’t leave Pumpkin to her fate, either.

“We need sunlight. A lot of sunlight. Celestia, on my call - flash another solar flare, and bring the sun directly overhead of us. Arin, the moment these things begin to fall back - fly up into the canopy, and cleave a hole through the branches; if they have wings, they may give chase in the dark. Try not to burn down the forest. Vee, you’re going to support Princess Celestia - keep her alive, and if she runs out of magic, take her above the shadows. Do you understand?”

“Stern-fry, you’ll die down here alone. Are you sure?” Vee asked, Tempest giving a nod.

“Death before submission. I’ll fight to the last breath. I’m not going to abandon her. If these things have Pumpkin, I…” She stopped herself short, shaking away an enraged tear. “On my command. Three, two-”

The whispers shifted to screams, as the very roots of the trees shook around them. The leafy boughs far above cracked and yawned, shifting in an unseen breeze. Within seconds, an ear splitting sound of literal billions of leaves moving, millions of branches shifting, cracked through the forest - the light and beauty of the sunlight crashing through to the dark world far below. A rain of rotten lumber homes fell to the floor in broken planks and ropes, the old pony civilization above them crushed to bits.

The effect was instantaneous. The cracked hides of the creatures around them churned in their fading shadows, skin melting to reveal their vine-strangled skulls. Silently, as if the very words had been taken from their lungs, and without pause - they drifted behind the base of the great woods around, vanishing into the shadows and murk. On a distant airship, a crew gathered at the strange sight - noting the remarkable change in the endless, petrifying dark of the deepwoods.

“Vee! Tempest! Celestia! Arin!” Pumpkin’s faint voice called, far in the distance. All eyes traveled to the forest floor around them, but nothing caught their eye. “Up here!”

In the light of the exposed floor, eyes shot up to the clasped crowns of the trees far above. Sitting on top of the great Forest Lord’s antlers, was none other than the missing witchy mare - a giddy smile on her face.

Shock and awe of the being’s majesty fell through the now quiet clearings of the wood, as its bark-covered head lowered steadily through the trees to meet the four stragglers.

“Indeed, I count four upon my eye. May I see her - the Sun Bringer, Dawn Caller - the one you call Princess Celestia?” His deep, booming voice spoke in the calmest whisper, nothing more than leaves through the trees.

The Princess stepped forward, dumbstruck. Her eyes locked to the glowing green orbs within the entity’s bark-covered skull. It absolutely thrummed with natural power, the ageless being standing long among the testament of time.

If his wooded maw could smile, it was hard to tell. It simply gazed quietly right through her, like a sunflower would the dawn. Embracing her light in the majesty of his trees.

“May I see it? Your power? Your light? Bring me the sun, and be deemed friend.” He spoke calmly to the Princess, who stupidly nodded.

“If it is the sun you desire, then it is the sun I will rouse,” her voice came, elegant and refined like a Princess should sound. Her horn flashed pink, closing her eyes. The massive ball of flame hanging in the sky shifted and turned overhead - against the looming tide of the Lunar Magics seeking to encroach on its majesty.

The being tilted its head back, massive glowing eyes hiding behind the life of fresh leaves. It hummed through the unseen breeze that rattled it, almost adorably for a massive, city sized creature - before speaking quietly to the four left standing.

“I bear many names, though you may call me Trilvanos, Lord of the Deep Wood. Bearer of Boughs and Thinker of Thickets. I speak for the old branches that sway here. Heir to the Dawn, you are friend to all trees that root in my forest.” He bowed his mighty head, and Pumpkin took her chance to jump down into Tempest’s doting hooves.

“I thought I lost you, my Sweet…” the unicorn whispered, soft lips meeting hers in a gentle, heartwarming kiss.

“N-No! I wasn’t missing - I was found. I-I um… don’t know what happened. I took the mushroom, and I was gone.”

“Strange things have been the norm beneath my canopy for ages past. But those who bear the Mark of the Wild tend to find the strangest things the norm,” he spoke somberly, a single leafy vine stretching out to stroke over cheek. “A precious creature you truly are.”

She smiled at the compliment, crossing her forehooves together. As brave as she had been, compliments were hard to accept.

“This Cloven Heart speaks of your troubles and pains that ache this world. There is much I can do to aid you in these winter times. Come. I will guide you, as I would saplings toward the light. I-...”

His old eyes settled on the far Seraph, standing to Celestia’s side. Perhaps he was slow, or had not noticed the humanoid among the ponies - his eyes were old, and the roots long. But he knew far too well what he saw.

“Heir of Dawn, that forbidden creature strikes anger at my wooden core. Is it foe?” he spoke quietly, to the Princess of the Sun. “Ilk of your kind are not welcome in my trees, wood burner. Torch bearer. Flame striker.”

Celestia’s wing engulfed the Seraph, her eyes heavy with worry. “I assure you, Lord Trilvanos - he is in my care. He’s my Knight, my guardian, and my lover.”

The great Lord of the Forest gazed through the tall Seraph and his white wings, embracing his form with a wave of curious magic. His glare relented, churning a deep rumble in his chest.

“He carries a blade of warmth, and a heart of light. I have judged you wrong, Strange One. If you hold the love of the Sun, then you are in pleasant company. You may join me, like the others who stand with you.”

The branches of his long leafy antlers settled towards the floor - inviting them to clamber aboard. Pumpkin was quick to hop on, happy for the ride - though the others were a little more wary to join him. It took a minute or three, but the party finally gathered the will to climb aboard. Once all passengers were settled in the comfort of his presence, his body raised upwards - his trees gracing the light of the forest canopy.

In long, silent steps, he traveled. His faded legs unhindered by root, long antlers untouched by the crowns of other trees that parted for his presence. The very woods moved for his stride, the soft breeze and warm light a welcome sight for the party.

“Trilvanos?” Arin questioned, after several minutes of long silence. “What were those creatures in the dark? That whispered for us to join them?”

His long leaf ear waved in the wind, before his rumbling voice spoke in that familiar, soothing voice. “Ah, you speak of the Dark Kin. The spirits of great woods that perished at the blade of the axe, or the spark of a flame. They exist in the realm of the Deepwoods. Those who tread far beneath the canopy’s light soon find their whispers hauntingly close, especially without the Mark of Trees to keep their ilk at bay.” His long stride carried them through leagues in mere minutes; the forest whipping by in a breeze. “They claim the bodies of creatures like you, to host their spirit once more. A corruption they are, a fragment of dark energy from a time now lost.”

“If you had not travelled with a Cloven Heart in your company, you would have all surely perished, like the ponies before you who dug their roots into my realm. While they planted many trees - they also uprooted the lives of many more. Thus, the Dark Kin were born - at the call of shadow and the stir of great evil.”

Tempest hugged tightly onto Pumpkin, who quietly burrowed her muzzle into her neck in return. They were quiet, save the gentle sounds of love and affection between them. Silent promises whispered and sweet kisses sent. Finally, the Unicorn found her chance to speak.

“Then how did you find Pumpkin? How did she vanish right before my very eyes?”

At that, the giant tree-creature rumbled. Thinking long on a response; perhaps the answer to give, or something to slate their thirst for knowledge.

“I can not say here. Not in this form.”

Chapter 48 - Battle Tactics

The sway-step of Lord Trilvanos sheltered them beneath the branches, the local tree’s leaves slowly settling down to their normal sky-facing routine. Bird song filled the woods, as the end of the long forest yawned before them. Here, at the very edge of the woods - his steps came to a halt.

“Here I take rest, sun friends. I have little left to say among the business of tree and root; the ancient history of the Deepwoods is naught but fickle with many words of lost history,” he hummed, as the ponies - and accompanying Knight - settled on their legs.

“Will we ever see you again, Trilvanos?” Tempest called to the ancient deity, who loomed over the wine-colored mare with careful eyes.

His chest rumbled as he spoke. “Mm. Soon, upon the light of the cresting sun - find my grave. I sleep now, forever wandering this half forest I once called home. Come; greet the old halls of the Autumn Court. You will find it marred by vagrants who seek to disturb my rest; the very same who have captured your friend. They are moored upon the old lands, the site of our home’s faded glory.”

“Trilvanos… is that really your name?” Celestia asked, with her friends at her side. “I feel as if I know you, somehow.”

“It is a name I’ve borne for three thousand years now; I will speak truth upon the headstone of my tomb, and speak in a tone more common. Find me, and I will reveal all. May the leaves line your path ever onwards, along the path of stars.”

As the final branches far above rustled into place, the group was once more left in the dim shade of the trees - the western exit directly behind them, the dark of the ending atmosphere readily apparent. With nothing more to say, and nothing else for Pumpkin to jot down in her notes about their wild encounters - the party once more set themselves onto the task at hand.

Stifling a yawn, Celestia spoke quietly to Tempest.

“Do you think it’s wise to set upon the airship now?” Her voice rang, wisdom coming forward; “A short rest, especially the terror of the dark - would do us all well.”

The Unicorn thought quietly, before nodding. “Being this close to the light should stave off any creatures, but may leave us exposed to Seraph intrusion. No campfires for now, I’m afraid. We will take a short rest, review our supplies - and forage for food safely, before discussing our plan. Then, we’ll make our move.”

At that, the party was able to freely break and explore - Tempest sticking so close to her lover’s side that Arin personally thought of using a spatula to pry them apart.

“Do you think Tempest has issues with abandonment, or?...” he asked Celestia, who stared at him blankly.

“She literally destroyed my castle because some young foals wouldn’t play with her after an unfortunate accident that cost her horn. She is the very definition of abandonment. If I had a dictionary on hoof, and looked up ‘abandoned’ in the dictionary, a sad picture of her would take the whole page. Yes. I think she has issues.” She eventually rolled her eyes, tugging the Seraph into her wings.

“Seems like I’m just surrounded by ponies with issues, huh?” He laughed, slipping the tent bundle from his Feyleather bag. “I don’t want to say if that includes you, for obvious reasons.”

“Oh no, I’m three thousand years of pent up burn out from a dead end job. Couple that with crippling anxiety that Equestria will die, my Sister will never be rescued, and all I’ve worked for will perish over some unspoken feelings between Luna and I - and I’m anything but normal. In fact, I was considering asking Twilight if she knew any therapists on my return, if things follow my plan.” She frowned, as the two spread the tent’s tarp wide.

“You know, you still haven’t told me your plan. I’ve been left in the dark since day one.”

“If I told you, it would never work. Sometimes, all it requires is a little hope,” she hummed, her elegant voice soothing to Arin’s ears. Once the tent was raised, the duo met up with Vee - who, with nothing better to do, turned her attention towards the wilds to gather food.

“Hope you like Fungi, Mushrooms, and possible food poisoning, Sun-fry,” Vee chirped, “oh, and a little bit of pegasus saliva. D’ohoho~”

She plucked a white button mushroom with her teeth, tossing it lazily into her bag.

“Er, how about… Arin and I do the dirty work, and you spot for us, Vee.” The Princess lifted a hoof from the floor with a hopeful smile, Vee holding a fresh muzzle full of shrooms.

The Purple blinked, chewing them all raw before swallowing them down. “Hmhm. I see. Are you saying my gathering isn’t to par?! Oho! You’re right. I hate mushrooms, anyway. Unless someone else cooks them, and they taste good. Or they’re used in a potion. Preferably a potion I can sell.”

Vee gathered her thoughts with a 'hohum', before pulling her wing up to her brow.

“Pump-” The Purple stopped short, blinking. “...Celestia! At attention!”

“...Er… Yes Vee?” Celestia asked, after sharing a look with Arin. He could only shrug.

“...Sun-fry, you’re supposed to salute.” Vee waved her hoof around with a frown, glaring up at the three thousand year old mare.

“Oh. Oh! Uh huh. I see.” Celestia put the knee of her forehoof to her chin, thinking. Vee gave a short ‘ahem’, clearing her throat before trying again.

“Celestia!” She sparked, stomping a hoof.

“Yes Vee! Ow!” The tall mare saluted, slapping herself in the eye with her hoof. Even after all this time, she wasn’t used to her hooves being free of the usual heavy regalia. You can’t shrug off thousands of years of muscle memory, after all.

The Pegasus sighed, facehoofing at the utter failure of a Princess before her. If only Pumpkin hadn’t run off to be with Tempest. “...Good enough! Follow alongside me, and pluck the mushrooms I choose! Then clean them! And eat them if you’re hungry!”

“What about me?” Arin frowned, crossing his arms. Not like he had any idea of the local fauna, save for a few similarities from his world. “Room for one more?”

“Nope! Sorry, but we’ve found a better applicant. You’ve been promoted to not-hired, Tall-fry. Hit the road! Go… pick your nose, or whatever it is Tall-fries do when they’re bored. Come on, Pumpkin Two!”

“...I think I prefer ‘Princess Celestia’, but mushrooms do sound appetizing over dry bread and lukewarm cheese. And I’ve never foraged before. Very well then, Vee! I’ll take the job.” The morning mare trotted alongside the Pegasus, leaving Arin alone by the tent.

“...Rude.” He sighed, crossing his arms. Well, his nose was itchy. Slightly. He ignored it though, instead turning to the woods.

Do you know what Umbra would enjoy, after around… probably ten days or more of imprisonment? Meat. She had a penchant for the stuff; elk, boar, or in some inaccurate history books, pony - it didn’t matter. Being a former umbrum, and keeping some of the ancestry - meant it came with many perks. One being a meat-rich diet.

A loop of string, some fresh berries that seemed edible, a small sapling, and a spare twig from the floor. He made sure not to damage the little tree, just in case a giant, looming tree-deer thing decided to smash him to bits. A few more traps for good measure, fanned out wide - and all there was left now to do was wait.

And maybe make a space in his bag for fresh meat. The last thing he needed was for his gear to be tainted by the scent of hare. Maybe a giant leaf or two could be useful; or perhaps he had a spare shirt he didn’t care for.

Bag on the ground before him, he shuffled around several pockets. Compass - unnecessary here, as Celestia was the best compass. Twilight’s old map… trash. The broken alicorn amulet…

Why did he keep this? If anything, broken or not - he should toss it. Sure, it could be worth a lot of bits, but…

Well, bits were always useful. Back in the bag it goes. Aha! Perfect; an old breadbox. His bread was far gone by now; hence the need for more food. Their plan was to rob the Seraph ship far above, save Umbra, and fly back to Equestria as quickly as possible - sure. But there was a good chance they too could be low on food - or have nothing suitable for ponies. After all, their supply lines were cut at least fourteen days ago; and knowing ship-fairing Seraphs without a task, they had probably burnt through the fresh stuff by now, leaving nothing but salted hardtack.

Back at the tent, he had time to relax and breathe. This was the first time in a long while he had been entirely alone. Not that he was desperate for time to himself - he enjoyed Celestia’s presence immensely, after all, even if she was a lot to handle. But with his independence, he could turn his thoughts inward. And also not be grabbed, kissed, or snuggled every three seconds.

He knew by now he abandoned Luna; the first to embrace him and trust him beyond all doubt. This was obvious. But did it hurt? Truly? At this point, no. He felt guilty for letting Celestia sway him so - but the vile words Luna spat, the anger in her heart. Was she always under Nightmare Moon’s influence, or perhaps she was simply incapable of leading on her own?

Regardless, it showed in her behavior that something was left to be said. And it didn’t help that their relationship was built on partially fake emotions to begin with. He put all of this love and attention into somepony - er, someone… well, she was a pony. Regardless, all of this love and attention, and she hardly showed any back. Rare letters, always grim and foreboding… he felt more like a therapist than he did a lover.

For an hour, he pondered life on his own - the first to return being Tempest and Pumpkin. Arin spotted them, and went to give them a wave - but stopped as his eyes settled on something peculiar between the duo.

“Uh, Tempest? Why are you leading Pumpkin around on a leash?”

Instantly, Pumpkin froze in place - toppling like a leaf in the wind to the forest floor on her side. Her cheeks a soft crimson at being caught, but Tempest seemed rather unphased.

“I was worried she might vanish on me again. But perhaps you’re right; it is rather silly.”

“Tempest…” He frowned at the lie, crossing his arms. “...I’ve read Pumpkin’s diary.”

“...Ah.” At this point, even the stalwart Commander began to blush, helping the little mare to her hooves. “...Then you are to tell no one of this. Since you know, there’s no point in keeping it from you.”

“Keep what from who?” Celestia said, reappearing from the brush. “I couldn’t help but…”

Her eyes saw the duo on her left, a dozen thoughts racing all at once. She wanted to laugh, or smirk, and admonish the Unicorn for being so crude. She finally settled on ‘casually ignoring this and going about her day’.

“So! Arin. Let’s immediately head into the tent and pretend I didn’t see anything worth noting just now.” She smiled, thwacking the Seraph with a wing. “Let me tell you about all the mushrooms I harvested! Yes, thrilling tales, I assure you.”

“Hey Stern-fry, what are you-...” Vee, too, wasn’t far behind. Covered in dirt and mushroom pieces, she looked between her half-dead Sister and the Unicorn, spotting the leash between the two.

“...Why didn’t I think of that! The perfect tool for keeping a Pumpkin snooter on hand. Well, the better Pumpkin. Pumpkin two is terrible at following orders.”

“Vee! Our tent is right here! I heard that!” Celestia sighed through the thin red shelter; could they take this literally anywhere else? “Go to bed! We have serious things to attend to soon!”

“I don’t sleep, Tent-fry, but thank you for the offer.” Vee withdrew a trusty wing to preen, humming. Purple feathers soon marking the ground by the dozen, all the grime and dirt from mushroom hunting keenly ignored.

“...Pumpkin, let’s rest. I’m sorry I did this to you,” Tempest said, gently unclipping the makeshift leash from the little mare, who shakily followed along. Her face hidden behind the brim of her hat, huffing as they vanished into the not-too-distant cover of their own shelter.

“What’d I do? Now I’m all alone. Hmhm. Not good for the feathers, I tell you,” Vee huffed, spitting a few pinions to the floor, before returning to the… non-existent fire.

“Right. Now how am I going to boil my coffee? I was wrong - this is very bad for the feathers.”

Recuperated after their harrowing journey into the dark, the group finally packed their belongings and made an effort to move - Arin retrieving three fresh hares to stuff in his pack. Staying low, and keeping the cover of brush around them - they had a clear disadvantage on stealth.

Past the clearing, and directly south - not more than a league away - their target floated over the ruins of a once bustling town; its unique walls reminiscent of the halls of Silversun, with arcing faded gold trim holding aloft decimated red tiles against the walls. There were plenty of trees left to provide some shelter from sight, but it would be difficult to approach so brazenly close to their enemies.

“Tempest, I don’t suppose you’re taking suggestions on how to approach this?” Celestia asked, her step in line with the tall unicorn’s stride.

“I’m open to ideas.” Her eyes travelled the long anchor binding the ship. A modest vessel, constructed with Equestrian hooves - though of Seraph design. Simple cedar for the hull, blue balloon, three propellers with an iron hull modification for the engine - definitely ideas from Erenorn, written to life here, in Equis. It lacked the usual flare a military vessel would have, with the name struck from its hull in paint. It would help prevent identification, at the very least.

Not more than several hundred yards to their right, and in the exposed air - hung the very edge of the world. The black sky of endless space went beyond that, and even in the light of day - the sky was unsettlingly dark. Like someone had taken the night’s sky and draped it over the world, regardless of the sun’s wishes.

Arin really wanted to peer over the ledge - but Celestia’s firm, near unyielding wing prevented him from jogging along and taking a look. Something about the fact that the usual forces of nature that bind this plane tumbled apart at the edge of Equis, leading to completely unpredictable results for creatures who strayed too far.

“Then I have a bold and risky one. We have in our possession a Seraph - one of the sparse few in this world. Arin could simply… fly up there, retrieve Umbra with a distraction on our parts, then we could bolt for the woods to regroup and recover.”

Arin stopped in his tracks, raising his hands in the air. “Whoa now, Celestia. I’m pretty sure that’s a terrible, horrible idea. If I get caught, I’m alone with no support against potentially dozens of Seraphs. On top of that, they’d be on high alert afterwards - and would probably start moving back towards Canterlot or… something.”

“Actually, Tall-fry, you’re wrong. There won’t be dozens of them.” Vee spat a feather to the floor with intent, despite Tempest’s firm glare telling her to ‘stop leaving a trail’. “Tree-fry said something about them being grave robbers. If anything, you’ll find most of them snooting about some old houses for bits and gold. Speaking of, I should definitely start doing that, ‘cause I’m broke.”

“Vee, I won’t even begin to go over just how morally bankrupt you are. Let the dead rest. But, you do have a point. If I were a soldier stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing else to do, I would explore abandoned ruins as well,” Celestia stated, her mind wandering to the possibilities.

“I was thinking of a more brazen approach; we’re after their ship, too, not just Umbra. If they decide to give chase on wing - we might be able to break their line of sight. But they’ll be likely to charge their engines and give pursuit, even if we shelter in the woods - as Arin said. From there, we’ll have no hope of both shaking them, and staying clear of the Dark Kin. Either they’ll spot our lights, or we’ll perish to the creatures of the Deepwood,” Tempest mentioned as she led the group around a boulder, keeping the line of sight between the ship and the city sparse.

“T-Then why not um… we do both? Arin could go up to the s-ship and um… save Umbra, and everypony else could go and deal with the Seraphs near the town,” the littlest mare mewled, bumping against Tempest’s side for reassurance.

“That’s not a terrible idea. But Arin would, again, be alone. Among possibly dozens of Seraphs who would likely pick him out of a crowd, if not by the fact that he’s a fresh face - then by his clothes. We would need a distraction, and I’m afraid to say it, but… Pumpkin, that would be you.” The wine-mare closed her eyes, sighing.

“W-WHAT! M-Me?! I-I can’t fight! I-I- n-no!”

“Pumpkin, you won’t have to fight. All you have to do is gain the attention of the Seraphs on board. I know how fast you can be on that broom, when you mean to. Arin, what's Seraph's greatest weakness in flight?” their leader asked, turning her ocean-green eyes to the Knight.

“Well, tight turns are extremely hard on us, regardless of how strong we are. Our wings are best fitted for gliding - as ascending straight up for a while is difficult, forcing us to tire and spend a lot of energy doing so. We’re slow climbers, too - we have much less innate magic than a pegasus does for flight, and we have to really pump our wings to take off.”

“So, you rely more on wingpower than a pegasus? I see. Is there anything else we should know, before I send somepony I love on the most dangerous mission among us?” Tempest stated, as the distance began to melt behind them. They would be arriving in less than ten minutes, at their careful pace.

“I’m not worried about her dodging them in flight. It’s their magic that’s the issue. Well over half of all wing bearing Seraphs have a grip on some sort of power; flames, ice, lightning, raw arcane might… It's difficult to say, but she could very well be grabbed in the air. If that happens, she’ll likely be killed on the spot.”

“Then it’s simple, Arin. She won’t be grabbed. You’ll give her your spare dragonhide vest.” Celestia smiled. “And you’ll wear Luna’s gift. I know you still have it. The green vest may be a little loose on her, but it’s nearly impossible to hold with magic - even for a talented Unicorn. And a mage wouldn’t be able to focus on something so small moving so fast - so they wouldn’t be able to snatch her broom, or her tail, as long as she kept her distance.”

Arin frowned, fumbling in his bag to retrieve the blue vest Luna gave him, oh so long ago. He held it aloft in his hands, the mithril chain stitched into the hide as light as a feather, and the strong silken thread as sturdy as iron binding it together. The green vest he bore was just as tough, and could likely shed an arrow or two - perhaps even a few sparse blasts of arcane power.

“If you think it’ll work…” he said, running a finger over a moon shaped button. Sighing at the memories now lost.

“It’s our only option. While Pumpkin is catching the eye of the crew - you’ll sneak on board, and start hunting for Umbra. Once she’s free, and you heal her - work on killing any Seraphs that remain. It’s harsh, and taking a life is hard - but you have no choice. We have to secure that ship, and it won’t be likely that any will be willing to throw their lives away to help us save Equestria. With my knowledge on layouts, and looking at this vessel… It appears to be a scout ship similar to one of the Storm King’s old fleet. The brig would likely be on the top deck, left of the Captain’s cabin and secured by a simple lock.”

Now approaching the last of the heavy brush, the outward wall of the old Autumn Court grew close - a small gate broken from disuse left the small town open to intruders. Tempest waved her hoof for the party to stop, her perceptive eyes gazing at the vessel and open path before her. In the air, three separate smoke trails from the city indicated campfires and cooking stoves, clear signs on where to head first.

“Celestia, Vee, you’re both with me. We’re going to raise the alarm here, on the ground level - I hope you’re able to fend for yourself, Princess. As weak as you are right now.”

“I may be low on magic, but I can still fight. I can disarm blades and snap fingers, and provide a flash to stun when needed.”

“Then you’ll be our disrupter. I’ll hold their attention. Vee, defend our rear and keep Celestia safe. You’ll work as our main source of damage with your spear.”

“On it, Stern-fry! Vee-ness, expert butt stabber, on the case. D’ohoho~” A flick of her hoof, and she was armed with her lance from her bag. Arin approached Pumpkin with the green vest after the switch, gently dragging it over her shoulders before urging her to stand up on her hindlegs.

“Look uh, Pumpkin. Miss Spice. Little… adorable… witch pony. I know we had a bit of an awkward start, but you’re braver than most Seraphs. You know that, right?” He clipped the silvery moon buttons into place as he spoke, as awkward as it was to dress a pony.

“N-No I’m not! I-I still… I-I don’t think I can do this.” Once she was all settled, Tempest was once again by her side.

“If there’s any pony more capable in this world, it’s you. This won’t be the first time you’ve saved our lives, and it surely won’t be the last.” Tempest tilted her muzzle up, catching her in a soft, sweet kiss.

Celestia huffed, dragging Arin with a wing over to do the same. She couldn’t let her Knight get away without a good luck smooch, after all. “Arin, you’re also capable. I trust the fate of Equestria to your hooves. If things grow dire, remember… you are not alone."

Chapter 49 - You Are Never Alone

On the count of three, and all at once - the party set into action. Celestia, Tempest, and Vee galloped through the unguarded gate - breaking into the town with little trouble. Arin’s wings flashed, pumping hard at the air - scrambling up a tall tree to look over the remnants of the town.

It was… large, but only half as much as he thought - the other half had been ripped down the edge of the world, which now loomed curiously close to him. The black sky engulfed him as he shot towards the vessel, making him feel like he was almost billowing into the very stars of space. He used the last of the branches to help gain height quickly, Luna’s blue vest tight to his chest.

Pumpkin broke off on her broom, steadily floating across the far side of the ship - before shooting into view beyond the port side of the vessel. When no bell immediately rang, she dug around in her hat for something to catch their eye.

“Aha!” she squeaked, withdrawing two vials. Popping the corks off both, she poured a yellow flask into a blue potion - before stuffing the cork back into the roiling mix. With a shake, she tossed it forward - and the now chaotic green bottle shattered in a plume of billowing smoke.

Instantly, her small cloud was spotted on the ship, all idle Seraphs stirring to life. Several darted from their hammocks below deck at a bell’s call, sprinting up the steps and to the ship’s port side. Flashes of wings soon followed, Pumpkin forced ever higher into the air - shaking like a twig on her broom.

Arin huffed, groaning as he clambered onto the starboard side of the ship. He was rightly ignored, as the Seraphs took to the skies to give chase after the trembling pony.

Boarded and on deck, he turned to the three doors lining the side of the cabin. One led below deck - that was given, and it was likely on Starboard to fit a broadside in a moment’s notice. The center was the Captain’s cabin - leaving nothing but the port door.

Sprinting across the deck, he went to break the lock in front, frowning when he found none such device. Instead, he turned the handle - stepping back as another Seraph nearly crashed into him.

“Move, Private, I don’t-” The blond haired man stopped, wiping blood off of his knuckles with a frown. Then a glare followed, as he instantly recognized the Seraph before him. His greased back hair nearly stood up on end at the sight.

“YOU!”

Arin swung his fist hard, catching the Captain off guard - knocking him to the floor in a daze. He pushed into the brig past the stunned Seraph, adjusting to the new dark. “UMBRA!” He called, stumbling when he saw her hanging form in the dim light.

Massive, blood stained bruises lined her eerily thin body, hooves dangling limply across the floor as more crimson life dripped down her heaving chest. Her face had swollen gashes lining it, where wounds had pooled then spilled. Her meek head looked up to the Seraph before her, stirred to life by the call.

“Arin?...” she whispered, voice hoarse and dry, but alive. Before he could even react, the Captain’s hand hooked the hem of his blue dragonhide vest - ripping him away with such strength that he fell backwards across the deck of the ship a dozen feet away.

Immediately, the winged man was upon him - but before he could so much as land a single solid punch in the Knight’s face, Arin kicked him back with a buck of his legs against his half plate. A neat trick he picked up from his friend Vapor Cloud.

With distance put between them, he jumped to his feet - ripping Sun Song from it’s sheath. The blade rang in the air, vibrating with light as the Captain drew his curved blade in defiance.

“Do you know who I am?!” he howled, plucking a small, meticulously crafted crossbow from his side. “Let me give you a hint!”

Before Arin could even react - the bolt shot through the air, lancing forward to strike hard at his vest. The solid, nearly point blank collision winded him, stumbling back as he heaved for air - his body shaking from the massive blow. His armor was lucky to withstand a direct hit so close, and a small mar on the blue hide showed the dent the point left.

“Remember me now?! You ruined me! I was this close-” He loaded his crossbow with masterful speed, firing another bolt that crashed against his armor. The second massive bruise forming beneath the mithril mail leaving him staggered. Unlike a full arrow, the bolt didn’t have the force to carry right through. “-This close to my promotion! You! You took that from me! If you had sat your ass in that cart instead of shaking like the weakling you are-”

Another bolt shot forward, Arin nearly tripping out of the way before it struck his head. Instead, it caught his wing - tearing through a flight feather, the damaged pinions spitting blood in gushes.

“I would have killed her! We would have won! I would have been promoted instead of that WEAKLING Unther! Now you, YOU of ALL Seraphs, have the fucking gall-”

Another bolt shot forward into Arin’s unprotected leg, forcing him to his knee. It ripped right through the White Tail’s tree cloth pants like butter, leaving him clutching the shaft in agony. He quickly ripped it out, tumbling to the right as another bolt just barely missed him.

“To come here, and FUCK with MY LEGACY! You’re PATHETIC!”

In the Captain’s rage, the next volley just barely missed Arin’s face - giving the wounded Seraph enough time to cast Resurgence.

Seeing this, the man approached with hate burning in his eyes. His shorter saber gleamed with swirling blue light to match his irises, his long gold hair shining in the black sky from the thick oil. “I would have been a hero to our people. And yet you, a filthy race traitor - you ruined EVERY PLAN, EVERY PLOT! You would have lived in the limelight! Then kneeled under your Father’s rule - the PROPER KING!”

Arin barely had the time to block the impressive, expert lunge of the assassin - stumbling out of the way to give his wounds time to heal.

Pumpkin, on the other hoof, wasn’t doing so well. Far in the sky, she climbed ever higher on her broom - hoof pinning her hat over her head as the air grew thin and the magic sparse. This close to the edge, the atmosphere gradually curved inwards over the world - reducing the Solar Plane’s sphere of influence, and making it hard to breathe.

But she had to keep them from the ship - and with a height advantage, she had time to think. A dozen sets of wings flashed and pumped beneath her, circling upwards to reach the mare. With their eyes up here - she could probably keep them occupied for a minute more. Arin should have Umbra in hoof - but peering down, it was clear he didn’t.

Another Seraph intercepted him, a fight breaking out on deck. Oh no. And he was losing, too - against a single Ascended, no less. He wasn’t supposed to lose! He was a hero to ponykind! He couldn’t! By the looks of it, he might actually need help. Wasn’t he an expert at the blade, or something?! He was a king! A knight! A big minotaur with wings! He can’t die now!

But there was another problem; how could she help? She wasn’t a fighter. In fact, fighting was the last thing she could do - for now, she could only hope. If she darted down to the deck, the Seraphs would follow - and it would be thirteen versus two.

“AHA! GOT YOU!” In the panic, she didn’t see a winged soldier dart beneath her - looping around to catch her from behind. She yelped, the big, bulky arms of the strong male warrior clutching tight around her chest - her broom falling uselessly to the forest floor far below.

“Celestia! On your right!” Tempest called, giving the Princess just enough time to duck as the Unicorn tossed - and kicked - a stone against the invading Seraph’s head. It shattered into gravel, the massive dent sinking into his skull - killing him instantly.

A winged Seraph flew up to impale Tempest from below - but the Princess flashed her horn - catching his legs in a tug. The Ascended’s wings missed their timing, and he fell several feet down - onto Vee’s lunging lance.

She flurried her purple wings, falling back to Celestia’s left - while Tempest landed on her right. Several more Seraphs circled around them, flashing nasty blades and angry glares.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve coming here, pony peasants.” One growled, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. Clutching his long axe in both hands, ready for a battle. Wait - why did they all have axes?...

“And you’ve got a lot of nerve being alive!” Vee spat right back, twirling her spear menacingly above her head, before spinning it down to clutch between her wing and hoof.

In the brief calm before the next round, Celestia shot her eyes to the sky - grimacing. Pumpkin had been caught - her broom falling from the air and leaving her stranded in the Seraph’s arms. If she struggled, he would surely drop her - and the little pony they’ve come to know and love would die upon impact.

But if she spoke, Tempest and Vee would break - running to save the little witch with nearly dozens of Seraphs on their tails. They would be killed in the streets, or in the air - it didn’t matter. Luckily, there were only a few more-

A sharp bell rang nearby, chiming loudly to alert all nearby Seraphs of imposing intruders.

“...Buck,” Celestia whispered, sighing. Vee perked up, searching the crowd.

“Where, Sun-fry?”

“No, as in… Vee, just shut up and fight.”

Arin struggled to keep balance with the barrage of strikes - before he could even react, another lash would slam and sing against the solar blade in his hands, or clatter against the steel and gash into his fey glass protected hands and arms; cutting through with the aid of the Captain’s magic. His wings would flash in reaction, beating backwards to buy distance - and he would be punished with another silent bolt, that would slam into his feathers, or an arm - but would just hardly miss his face, each time.

“Just… FUCKING… DIE!” The enraged Captain bellowed, “YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! EVERYTHING! AND YOU COME HERE, ALONE, TO DIE BY MY SWORD!”

With a flash, the blue gleaming steel slashed at the pommel of Sun Song - the Captain twisting his blade back to catch the tang. With a mighty spin, the daylight blade shot through the air - bouncing against the deck before clattering and jumping across the far guard rail. Arin was disarmed.

Falling back to make room, he shot his hand forward in an attempt to entwine his golden magic around the falling blade - but his palm was quickly impaled by another bolt. He yelped, losing his powerful sword to the fall, far below.

Arin… was alive. Hope. There was hope. Even as he was flung from the room - her friend came back for her, her broken and beaten form. He traveled Stars know how far, just to save her.

Her meek hooves dangled above her, heaving in fresh air in the stunned silence. She had to fight. She had to. She had to save him. Save him? She needed saving.

No. No she didn’t. She could save herself. All she needed, was hope, the light inside - just as Luna told her, three years ago. Looking at the beam she sawed through above, she summoned what little strength she could. Days ago, this would have been an easy task - but the blood had long pooled in her swollen hind hooves.

Still, she stood. On the tips of her jelly-like legs, she struggled at the ring on her horn. Mere hairs away from finding leverage, but she couldn’t do it. No. She could. She just wasn’t trying hard enough.

With a kick to the floor, she gasped - hooves hooking the silvered band around her horn, her full weight clattering back down to rip it off. Blood spilled where the metal cusps locked into her skin, but it hardly mattered.

Magic. She had her magic again. Her horn zapped roughly at both shackles, popping the locks off with a loud clunk.

Her body fell limp against her prison’s floor, a burning rage pooling inside of her. They had done this. The Captain. His crew. They ripped her away from Arin, left her to rot - beat her for sport, as if breaking her spirit would give them some sense of twisted, victorious pleasure.

She spat up blood, standing to her wobbly legs. She willed them to move, and they listened, regardless of the pain. Oh the torture she suffered - there would be retribution. She would inflict something far greater on her captors.

Her horn clicked the cell door, steps slow and unwieldy. She would not die here. And neither would Arin.

Eyes failing at the light, she struggled through the searing pain. Luckily, the daylight hadn’t faded - and she could breathe fresh, unmarred air once again.

Before her, the two Seraphs were engaged in a battle - one Arin was quickly losing. He wasn’t a blade master, no - not by miles. He was an Archer at heart. And no matter how much distance he tried to make, a punishing bolt would crash into his body - taking blood, flesh, or breath from him as it smashed into bone and armor both.

Her world was spinning. Words were spoken, voices were heard - yet nothing came to ear. But she saw it. Her target. Between the two white and brown wings of the screeching Seraph - the straps of the half plate armor. A key weak point in Seraph design - if you can flank them, they’re as good as dead, simply because their wings needed a slot to poke free. Years of assassinations taught her this - then again, stabbing anything in the back was a good way to make plenty of widows and bodies both.

Her legs carried her steadily despite the pain - Arin flashing another healing spell to knit his wounds before blood loss could claim him. Suddenly, with an expert twist of the Captain’s blade - Arin’s sword… wait. That wasn’t Arin’s sword. Vapor Cloud’s sword flung across the starboard side of the ship - he took another bolt to the hand, leaving him entirely disarmed.

You would not claim him. Not today… Not today.

Pumpkin’s breathing was cut off as the tight grasp of the daunting Seraph behind her crushed her chest. If he was speaking, she couldn’t hear him- the edges of her vision were growing dark, and her legs were growing weak. She could feel her mind slipping against her whim - faint memories of her past coming to haunt her.

The bridge. She was young again - standing on the bridge of Vanhoover. The bullies surrounding her had caught her in their hooves, forced to watch as the colts played keep away with her gift. Her little coltfriend yelped helplessly as they passed it back and forth - seized by the neck by a bigger stallion.

Suddenly, it went over the edge and into the water. His hoof pushed forward, before desperately slamming his elbow back - right into the gut of the big, ugly, yellow colt binding him.

He dived for the water, and she screamed - his struggling body ripped away in the tide.

Out of sheer desperation in the real world, her hoof shot forward - the elbow slamming back into the steel plate of the massive Seraph’s chest. He laughed it off, his grip tightening regardless of the thin air.

What would Tempest do?... What would…

Tempest wouldn’t use a foreleg. She’d use her hindleg, in a devastating kick - preferably at their weak point, or into a stone, or ball-

…

Pumpkin pulled her hindlegs forward towards her chest - before ramming them as hard as she could into a devastating, earth pony buck - right into the Seraph’s groin.

She heard two solid pops, as the grip went slack - and she could breathe again. Even as the world passed her by, she snapped back to the moment with a scream.

The other slower Seraphs nearly crashed into her from below, her hoof darting into her hat. A bubbling root from within, and a couple shakes of a flask, forced the bottle to shatter in her hooves with a rolling black poof. A massive tide of dark smoke engulfed the air, showering over the world in choking black vapors.

She was now, effectively, out of tricks. Hooves flailing in the air, she darted past the ship - nearly colliding with something bouncing off. Something gold, and heavy - the pommel of Sun Song narrowly avoided her face, as it tumbled helplessly through the air, much like her. Heaving fresh breath, her mind whirled.

Sword. Arin’s sword. Falling down. As Vee would say - definitely not good for the feathers.

She reached her Solar Magic out - finding it hard to target the thin object, but by sheer luck alone - snagged it in her orange aura.

Now she had Sun Song floating next to her. Yet that didn’t solve the problem of plummeting to her death.

With a gasping heave and a cry - she threw it up as high as she could in her magic, hoping beyond hope that - in some way - it helped.

“YOU CAME TO EQUESTRIA ALONE, ‘KING’ ARIN - AND YOU WILL DIE JUST AS YOU ARRIVED - ALONE!” the enraged Seraph bellowed, kicking Arin so hard in his gut that the punctured blue dragonhide tore through the multiple, small bolt holes - the Knight rolling back several hooves across the deck. His bleeding wings flapped in defiance, but another bolt pinned his left pinions to the floor through several flight feathers - leaving him struggling to break free.

Then, Arin saw it. Umbra. On unsteady legs, she quietly approached. Her horn glimmering with faint green light, her swollen, bloody face locked in a scowl - she stepped with intent, with rage. An anger he knew all too well had overtaken her.

“But I didn’t come here alone,” he said, as the Captain raised his blade to cleave through him.

Umbra sprang in a meek, but practiced leap - her horn sparking as it dove through the leather straps of the Seraph’s gear. He gasped - the air driven out of him. Just barely missing his heart and spine, the blow forced him to stumble.

Arin seized his chance to rip the bolt from his hand, grunting as his wing eventually popped free - minus a giant feather or two. With time to think, he channeled Antithesis - light flashing over his form in a chiming wave.

Immediately, he was on his feet - just as the Seraph spun and dislodged the glowing horn from his back, raising his blade to cleave his prisoner through her skull. He didn’t care for money anymore. He didn’t care for gold, or safety. No. He. Wanted. Revenge.

The Knight wouldn’t have that. His fingers shot forward, slamming into the fresh hole in the Captain’s back. The enraged Seraph howled in agony, kicking a powerful leg back into Arin’s chest when he inevitably spun around, forcing him back on his bleeding wings. The crossbow aimed forward, directly for the gaping hole in Arin’s armor - right for his heart.

“NO!” Umbra yelled - but it was too late for her broken body to act. Her horn fizzled uselessly, the magic within too distant to call when her body could hardly move. It was a miracle at all she could break out of her cell in this state.

The bolt flew free of the string, coursing through the air with deadly precision. Arin couldn’t even raise his hand up in an attempt to block it - it was simply too-

Ching!

The volley rattled off the fuller of Sun Song, the solar sword standing proud against the assault. Wedged in the wood of the deck, it gleamed brilliantly in the light of the sun.

“HAHAHA!” The crazed man laughed breathlessly, the hole sealing shut between his leather barding as his natural regeneration took over. Seraphs were fast healers, after all. “REALLY?! FINE! I NEEDED A NEW SWORD!” He dropped his saber - Arin darting a thin bolt of golden magic against the curved blade as it spun towards Umbra’s hooves. She picked it up in her muzzle, and in the same motion of the flick - he clenched his fist, Resurgence engulfing her.

The looming captain shot his hand down toward the blade in victory - Arin stumbling and crawling his way forward to meet him.

“IT’S MINE!” the Captain shouted, hand seizing around the red leather straps. Before he could realize what was happening, Arin locked his hands tight around his iron grasp.

Then, the pain started. The Captain tried to jerk his hand away from the searing, blazing hot grip - but the Knight wouldn’t relent. A howl of pain shortly followed, dropping his crossbow to pry at Arin’s digits.

One, two, three…

“I’LL… FUCKING… GAH!” He launched his face forward at Arin’s exposed hands - looking to gnaw his way to freedom. But the blade resisted - a spark of solar energy catching his oil-slick hair alight. The Knight lunged forward, seizing his enemy’s free hand to drag and pin against the pommel.

It’s funny. If the Captain had no intent of sowing harm, or stealing it - the blade would allow him to touch it. This meant that the boiling hot gold would absolutely melt him to shreds, since he had the exact opposite intentions.

Six, seven, eight…

The Captain tried to tilt the violently hot blade toward Arin’s chest. Not only did he allow this - he stepped back, as if offering the Captain to run him through. The pink ruby in the hilt shined brightly, refusing to let the point penetrate the Knight’s exposed torso - regardless of how much he struggled to push, or screamed, or stomped the floor in burning agony.

Nine-

Umbra’s new blade sunk deep into the Captain’s leather bands, his billowing brown and white wings coming to a sickening halt. Arin released his grip on Sun Song - the enraged Seraph falling to the floor in a pile - blade sticking all the way through his chest.

Panting, the reunited duo locked eyes between his twitching body, after Arin retrieved the morning blade in his grasp.

“You… came back for me,” she eventually spoke, emerald
green eyes alight with a flurry of emotions.

“Hope I’m not too late for our second date?” he laughed, spreading his arms for the inevitable.

The exhausted, bloodied dark Unicorn dashed into his winged embrace - the Seraph quickly binding her in a tight hug. Despite the blood, the sweat, the tears - beneath her ruffled fur, stood a pony he came to cherish and appreciate. Who stood by his side, through thick and thin.

“CAPTAIN!” A shout came from above - a few coughing black sooted Seraphs stumbling to the ship.

Pumpkin had done her job well. The duo gave each other a nod - Arin flashing a quick Antithesis to encompass her battered form, before they stood back to back. Surrounded by several smoke-smothered warriors bearing axes galore, the duo had their work cut out for them.

Another Seraph soon joined the mix - clutching his massive dented codpiece in agony, and fighting the urge to vomit. He collapsed against the rail, clutching a white handkerchief and waving it in submission.

“Arin,” Umbra breathed, eying her quarries in a fierce scowl, “you did bring assistance. Correct?”

“Yep!”

“Then where are they?” she asked, chancing a look back to the primed Knight.

“Fighting, dying, or dead. Let’s hope for the first one.”

Chapter 50 - Trust

Celestia ‘borrowed’ an axe from a curb-stomped Seraph, eying the sticky viscera clinging to the blade. A lull in the combat gave her enough time to ponder it, wondering just what it could be. Sap?... Regardless of this question, she shot a desperate eye to the wriggling mare, far, far in the sky.

It was nothing more than a faint orange dot amongst steel and billowing feathers, but she could see it - the distant earth pony broke her hold, crying out as she fell.

“Tempest! Vee! Do you trust me?” she screamed - hunking the axe as hard as she could into a sprinting brigand. It crashed into his plate - cleaving right through as her wings beat to lift her off.

“To the ends of the earth!” Tempest called, ducking out of the way of an impending axe swipe - spinning on her front legs to deliver a cuirass crushing buck. The crewmate went flying - falling axe caught by Tempest’s muzzle. She swung it onto her shoulder, lifting it much like she did Sun Song just a few days prior.

“Until tax season, Sun-fry! D’ohoho!” At some point during the fight, Vee found a mug of coffee, left resting on a rotten table. She kept it balanced on her head, much to the dismay of the winged defenders around. Any swing attempting to cleave her skull off of the shoulders would force her to duck. The cup floated in the air for a split second - before her neck arched back up, catching it precariously on her mane with a splash of the good stuff.

“Then I’ll be right back!” she called, blasting upwards with a powerful billow of her massive wings.

“What - hey!” Vee shouted after her - the distraction leading to a swing clipping through her Star Leather armor in a solid gash. Vee reeled in a grimace - lance swinging wildly to clatter against imposing steel. The offending Seraph fell back with a flash of wings - the disorganized soldier crashing into another man who stumbled a slash at Tempest. It simply bounced off of her Winter Iron Armor, failing to do much other than lead to a swift death on his part. All at the axe of the chipped-horn Commander.

Three of the remaining eight Seraphs took off after Celestia, leaving Vee and Tempest to fend for themselves. Surrounded, the duo panted in desperate gasps of air. The Purple pegasus was nearing her limit - the blood pooling from her chest dripping to the once polished marble tiles of the ruin beneath her.

There was a crash, as a massive, hulking Ascended burst through the door. Ten hooves tall, bald, and sporting a short brown beard - his dark eyes settled on the group. He bore no weapon, save the crack of his knuckles.

“Alright Vee,” Tempest broke between sucking breaths, “You distract the five little ones. I’ll take down the big one. Deal?”

“Will my corpse be a good distraction? D’oh… hoho!” Vee whispered, surprisingly calm despite the certainly mortal wound. She snatched the cold coffee from her head with a wing, taking a deep draw - before dropping the empty mug to the floor.

“That remains to be seen,” Tempest growled back, lowering her stance for balance.

“Cute little ponies, come to play?” The massive mountain of a Seraph laughed, giant gray wings flapping at the air. His voice seemed to carry a strong, foreign accent - even for a Seraph. Though Tempest had only met a few Yaks - it reminded her immediately of their rough and grumble nature. “Oarkin will play with you. Do not worry!”

Pumpkin tumbled helplessly from the air, shuffling her hoof through her hat in an attempt to find something to save her life. A few empty vials, a couple assorted herbs and roots - nothing. The wind snapped it from her hooves - the witchy topper trailing slowly after her tiny body.

The massive trees below quickly approached her flailing form, nothing but solid ground directly beneath to catch her.

Pumpkin wasn’t a religious type - very rarely any ponies were. But with the ground seconds away, she clasped her hooves and prayed - turning in the air to let her back meet the ground first. She didn’t want to see it coming. She couldn’t stand the thought of it. All she could do now was hope.

Celestia blazed through the air regardless of the burning heat of her magnificent wings, spinning out of the way of a sharp blast of Seraph magic. The bolt of amethyst flames crashed into a spire before her, shattering the gold point to slivers.

Bursting through the debris, the Seraphs were hot on her tail - but steadily falling behind as she had the advantage of magic empowered wings. She would fly up to lose them, but doing so would take valuable time, and achieve nothing. The flailing witch had mere seconds left before it was too late.

The green dragonhide vest across her torso, once a blessing - was now a curse. The Princess’s horn failed to seize her form, pink solar magic stuttering in flashes. Pumpkin turned in the air onto her back, approaching the massive, towering tree tops.

An aura of green magic caught her regal body, her own horn flashing to break the desperate grasp around her before it could seize her in the air. Another blast of yellow, sparkling lightning coursed through the sky - striking her wing.

She spun uncontrollable as the searing pain shot through her - righting herself before crashing through a section of old roof tiles. She was just hooves from the far outer wall, and she would be damned if this would stop her.

Her hindlegs kicked at the air, the crash enough to slow her down to the point a heavy shoulder could crash into her side. She went tumbling through the wind in a plume of feathers, yelping in pain - her back fast approaching the crumbled city’s stone barriers.

Helpless, she witnessed the deadly approach of the three Seraphs - axes brandishing, swinging to crash into her body as it met the stone barricade.

But not this day. Her weak magic flashed - body vanishing in a pink flare of light mere inches from the wall. The dogpile of ascended rammed into the heavy white stone, a trio of Seraphs tumbling to the grassy cobble far below. Aged sections of the rock collapsed after them, slamming into their broken forms and pinning them to their fates.

Arin swung Sun Song in an arc, the gold clattering against steel in a rain of sparks and solar magic. He wasn’t a great swordsman - but it hardly mattered. Without leadership, the Seraphs around struck seemingly without restraint, much to the passionate glee of a blood hungry former umbrum.

Umbra’s magic seized the hand of an invading Seraph, ripping him forward to impale him on her flashing, gleaming, emerald-swirling horn. A sick bliss coursed through her, as the fading life struggled in vain - crimson life spilling to the floor in gushes as she withdrew.

“Days of pain! Taunting! Beatings! Starvation! And this is all you have to show for it?!” she yelled, ripping the machete from the dead Ascended’s hand. She used it to clatter against an invading blade, her well trained body flashing forward in a wave of billowing shadows. Regardless of the starvation, the torture - she stood defiant. She did not break. And she would not submit.

“Come! Meet your death! Let me make corpses of the cowards I see before me!” she laughed, sinking the stolen sword through the exposed back of a brigand, who quickly crumbled before her. She slung the exploration tool out roughly in her green glow, spitting blood across her body.

In the fear she caused rippling through the soldier’s hearts, Arin managed to sink the tip of Sun Song straight through the torso of another Ascended. The blood boiled in the man’s chest, metal quickly turning red and glowing around his blade as he ripped it free of the now dead defender.

One Seraph attempted to flee - but Umbra’s coursing magic seized his chest in her spell, plucking him from the air and throwing him toward her blade. The crude machete slammed and gashed into his neck, a gurgle of blood following as the chipped blade crunched and stuck to bone.

“Yes! Yes! Let me revel in your misery! The oh-so-well deserved revenge!” she spat, dropping the corpse to the floor.

Okay, even Arin was a bit worried. He had never seen Umbra so… demented before. Then again, taking out weeks worth of pain and frustration on your captors seemed like a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

An axe meant to cleave into his broadside, but the Seraph keenly stepped out of the way of the armored brigand’s strike. And another saber found his still armored side, forcing him to grunt in frustration as it cut down into the mithril mail beneath the blue hide.

Umbra reeled upon seeing two of the last three Seraphs engage Arin at once - lunging her deadly horn into an exposed section of padding to the primary offender. Bolts of rage-fueled magic coursed and crashed into the quickly-fading Ascended’s organs, quickly tearing his insides to shreds.

The soldier fell into a twitching heap, before coming to a quiet stand still. Seeing his friend die on the spot, the massive great-axe wielder meant to flee - but Arin gave a deep gash into the Seraph’s wing, flames searing as it fell clean off.

The once twin-winged man crumbled to the floor, hands lacing over the freshly cauterized stub. Arin darted the length of Sun Song into his chest, ending him much the same as he did the other.

There was now one Seraph left - not including the surrendered, shaking husk, who struggled to pull himself over the railing before tumbling down to the mercy of the winds. He fell far - well beyond the edge of the world, as the potent magics ripped the feathers from his wings and sucked his form into the astral plane of magicless space.

The female Seraph dropped her sword, raising her hands in surrender. “P-Please, I submit! I yield!” she cried. Arin was about to accept this, and give her mercy - when Umbra seized her by the unguarded neck in arcane might and roughly twisted.

“Cowards… all of them, sniffling, mewling lambs to the slaughter.” She panted, soaking in blood. But she didn’t care. Her gaze turned back to the shocked Arin, who watched in a mixture of fear in awe.

Stepping quietly in front of him, she ripped him down by the neck of his vest with a hoof - locking her muzzle to his lips in a fiery kiss. Shocked, he dropped his blade with a clatter - the powerful Unicorn seizing total control. Her tongue swirled into his shocked maw, tasting faintly of spilled blood. Frozen to the spot, she held this kiss for several long moments - much to the total and overwhelming confusion of the former Inert clinging to her.

“I was wrong. You do know how to swoon a former Queen of my caliber,” she breathed, pulling from his now equally bloodstained mouth. He honestly had no idea what to think of that, recovering from the shock.

“Umbra, I-I’m spoken for, you-”

“I know.”

“Then… why?” He wiped the stains from his mouth, much to the mirth of the former umbrum.

“I was curious about my feelings towards you. Friend - or something more. This settles it, then. If your mind shifts from the one you call Love - consider me an option in the near, and distant, future. I am patient, after all. On more important matters…” She turned to the edge of the ship, peering over the land. “...Where are your allies? Are they not in danger?”

“Oh. Oh buck. Umbra, come with me - we’re very late.”

The Princess reappeared beyond the far wall, right under Pumpkin’s tumbling body. She caught her to her chest, the weight of the pony slamming into her with such intensity that the momentum carried her burnt body downwards - straight into the heavy brush below.

Rolling in the thick weeds and dense grass, the duo came to a halt in a pile of leaves and mud. Celestia was left gasping for fresh air, pinned beneath the trembling earth pony.

“P-Princess?!” she sparked, eyes lighting up to her hero - her savior, who raised a battered wing to drape over her form.

“Please, Pumpkin… at this point… just call me Tia, too. All of you are like family to me, after all… we’ve been through. Can’t let family… down.”

She ruffled the wind tossed mane of the little witch, giving a weak smile - before falling limp on the soft ground. Sucking in air to her lungs, recuperating from the intense exertion and magic drain.

“One moment, every-fry.” Vee panted, dragging her bag from her side - she fiddled around for several moments despite the confused glares of the Seraphs around, withdrawing a familiar thermos. Didn’t she lose that back in Driderhold?

“Aha! Still warm, I hope.” Uncapping it, she took a deep, heavy swig of the brew - humming in delight. “Ah yes, coffee does absolute wonders for blood loss.”

“Really?” one of the Seraphs asked, lowering his axe an inch in speculation. The soldier immediately on his left elbowed him hard in his leather armor, forcing him to grunt and snap back to attention.

“No. D’ohoho!”

At that, the five axes and machetes charged forward, slamming on the spot Vee just was. Just was, as in - no longer there. She popped back into existence a second later, standing on top of the gathered weapons - her wing stuffing the thermos back into her pack without complaint.

“I don’t suppose you’re all willing to take an ‘IOU’ instead of a fight today?” She smiled, dripping blood over their collected weapons. Immediately, the gaggle of Ascended each raised their deadly tools to lift her off - throwing the bumbling pegasus into the air. She winced, woozy - but fluttering tiredly on her well-groomed wings.

“Where are our fucking magic users?!” one of them grunted, billowing his pinions to strike at Vee - who keenly, if barely, dodged.

“They flew after the white one - we can handle this,” another spoke, Vee’s lance impaling him through the chest. She attempted to pull away, but it was much too difficult without proper leverage on the ground. Snarls of rage from the brigands around met her, as she was now effectively disarmed, bleeding, and on the verge of passing out.

Tempest fell back with a buck of her legs, as a heavy swing from Oarkin’s fists nearly took off her head. She flashed a bolt of chaotic lightning across his partially armored chest, currents ringing in an ocean-green nova. It fizzled out, the mountain of a challenger simply too powerful to be affected by unfocused magic - though it did leave his armor smouldering, and his beard slightly fizzled.

“You’re very quick for a small pony!” he laughed, long steps keeping pace with her. For his size, he was exceptionally fast. But the bigger they are, the harder they’ll fall - and she jumped to the air in a spinning kick of her hindleg to prove that.

The armored hoof soared and nearly struck his bearded jaw, but he was a bit too fast for the motion - and keenly stepped to the side. He caught her sailing leg as it whipped past, gripping it through the sturdy armor before whipping her body through the air. She flew hard into a nearby pillar, crumbling it to rock and dust. Bouncing across the floor, she heaved in fresh air, clawing to find purchase with a single hoof to lift herself up.

“A-And you’re… very strong, for a brute,” Tempest remarked, aching body shaking off the dust as she stood.

“Thank you. I spend a lot of time working on that. You must have done the same, small pony.” Oarkin smiled, looking over her ironclad form, spotting the blood coating her gear. “Do you need a break? I am strong, but not unfair. You fight hard. Many have died here today, because of you - and a fair fight is good for my soul.”

The Commander groaned, dusting dirt from her mane - and blinking away gravel. “Very much appreciated, Oarkin - but we both know only one of us will leave here alive. I wouldn’t offer you the same mercy.”

“Mm. True. I fight for honor, not blood or victory. Three hundred years, and I have yet to find one who could best me. I will give you a moment to breathe. Wind is good for the lungs. Then we fight, and when I win, I will bury you with the dignity a warrior deserves.”

“I don’t intend on losing. But if you insist.” She steadied herself, the Seraph crossing his arms as she recovered from the rather devastating blow. Several seconds passed, and she raised a hoof.

“Ready?” He smiled. Tempest nodded.

“As ever.”

The hulking mountain barreled down on her - aiming to crush the Commander beneath his giant, iron fists. A powerful swing down, and he just barely missed her lithe form. Even under all that heavy armor, she was agile - and neatly dodged in a short hop.

“As I said - quick for something so small,” he complimented, pulling his boulders of hands away from the now destroyed marble below - rolling his shoulders as the blood began to pump with adrenaline.

Tempest knew there was no reasonable way she could take down this walking giant. At best, she’d probably crack a bone, or leave a bruise - but without a weapon, she couldn’t do any lasting damage. Perhaps the way forward wasn’t violence, as much as she believed in her abilities.

He seemed smart. And as much ‘fun’ as it would be to make him crack the pillars around the hall - he may be more useful alive than crushed under rubble. Now, what would Twilight do in this situation?

“You know, you’re much too honorable to work with this lot.” She smiled, circling around him. Her powerful legs bucked at the floor - narrowly dodging a fast smash from the muscled giant. She made to land on his back - but a flash of his powerful wings billowed her in such reckless winds that she sailed right over him.

That’s when she noticed it. An ‘x’ of leather straps, keeping his sectioned plate together, revealed naught but a shirt underneath. A massive, glaring weak point in his armor. One she might be able to exploit, if he couldn’t be convinced.

“Oh? Why yes - I am aware! Their sneaky tactics aren’t agreeable. But it is work, and they are my people - if only by half.” He frowned, steps slowing to speak. “Why do you speak of them? Am I not entertaining to fight?”

“Oh no, you are - but even I think I’ll have a tough time breaking you,” she spoke, barreling out of the way of a winding punch - wincing as the fast strike acutely caught her back leg. She felt the armor give and crunch, the splintered metal gashing into her hindleg from the blow.

“Oarkin, I might have a better position for you - one of honor, of glory. If you’re willing to consider it?” She limped her way around the rubble, keeping her distance. The giant Seraph weighed her words, running his fingers through his black beard.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, OARKIN! KILL HER! WE NEED YOUR HELP!” Screamed a significantly smaller Seraph, who did little to aid the situation. Vee roughly kicked him with a hoof - bouncing over the winded soldier. She whimpered, as her body began to protest the action. He glared back, weighing his options.

“Honor. Glory. These are things I hold dear, and of little value among the Seraph people. They only care for victory above all else, or old ways of monarchy and obedience. I am a simple Seraph, half born of the Southern Spears - but conscripted into this battle regardless. I find little fun in robbing crypts. Tell me, what do you offer, small pony?”

Finding a break in the combat, she visibly relaxed. “We’re here to save our friend, and head back to Canterlot - to take down a vile nightmare that has stolen the throne. If she’s left unchallenged in her might, the whole world could very well fall - and the Sun may never rise again. If this happens, all creatures will suffer an eternity of endless snow and moonlight.”

He paused to consider her words. “I have seen the odd magic seeping from the East. It gives me much worry, when the sun no longer rests, either. And why do you fight this? Coin? Shiny baubles?”

“No. We do it because… there’s still hope. Hope that we can end this nightmare before it’s too late, save the land - save the world. I…” She sat down at this point, breathing in. “Even I used to think it was impossible, alone. But with the friends I’ve made, the challenges I’ve faced… I believe it can be done.”

He smiled, uncrossing his massive tree-trunk sized arms to rest them on his hips. Laughing at the thought alone. “A very noble cause! Very well then. If it is a fight this Nightmare wants, it is a fight she will have! I have always wanted to be a hero.”

He turned to face the gathered Seraphs, who cornered Vee with their gleaming weapons. The pale pegasus tilted her muzzle up as the blades and axes pressed to her throat, ready to end her life. Despite all of this, she was smug - she could finally be at peace, knowing she made a change for the better in this world.

Oarkin approached them steadily from behind - his thundering steps making the gathered soldiers shrink.

“I am sorry, rude men. But I fight for a better cause now. Grave robbing and hurting innocent ponies is not what I want from life.” He smiled - grabbing the nearest Seraph in his hand by their throat. Immediately, he slammed the poor soldier through the nearest wall - the other Soldiers taking one look at the imposing tower before them.

Like the cowards they were, they turned tail and fled - Oarkin snatching their legs in a flash of his gray magic.

“You are all very cruel Seraphs. I am not sorry for what I will do, because you all deserve it for the mothers you made cry.”

“Wait, Oarkin - please, we can talk this-”

Smash-crunch. Within seconds of gruesome pulverising, the brigands lay dead beneath him. Slammed to the floor with such intensity that even their remains hardly twitched.

“Oho! That is wonderful for the feathers.” Vee blinked - collapsing to the floor as she clung desperately to life. Oarkin dusted his hands off - just as Arin and Umbra slowly fluttered to the marble. Needless to say, they saw everything - the proud Seraph looming above them with a smile.

“You! I have not seen your face. But I know your armor, or what is left.” He grinned, approaching as Arin set Umbra down - who eyed him with murderous intent. Regardless, he reached his hand down, grasping Arin’s smaller hand in his massive bear paws. Oarkin shook his arm gently, almost enough to crack bone - but restrained before it reached that point.

“I am Oarkin. I fight for honor, and glory. Your cause is a worthy one! I wish to pulp this Nightmare in my fists, it is worthy of my time, yes. You must be King Arin! A noble king indeed, to wish to turn the crown over to the Ravens of old. How does that go, please tell me - they were kind leaders.” His joyous, genuine grin beared down on the stunned Knight, who gave a nervous laugh. After shaking his nearly broken hand, of course.

“U-Uh… well, Oarkin, it went great. A few weeks ago, I crowned their next in line, had tea and cakes… then came back to this land, the land I love. Equestria,” he eventually managed to speak, much to the joy of the mountain.

“Yes! You are good news. I like you very much; you are kind! Do you have honor, as well? You do not hurt the weak?”

“Well, uh… I think so, yes. I’ve never cheated in a duel, I work to help those around me. I’ve made many friends and few enemies. I’ve done everything to make this world a little brighter, I think. As did the ponies around me.”

“Haha! Good! Good! I am happy already. And you, little pony - I am sorry for the pain the ugly men caused. I am… not good, with your language - it is my second! But know that I am deeply troubled by the way they hurt you. I would have come to feed you, and give company - but I was tasked with clearing the way into a crypt! Grave robbing has no honor. That, and I am too big to fit in most doors. I sleep outside because of this. The stars are good here in Equestria! Better than Erenorn - though I see no Arcanis Ring.”

That was entirely believable. He’d almost have to crawl to fit into a door - and the Arcanis Ring was currently hidden behind Luna’s Magic. A faint hope that a piece of her was still there.

“Hey, Tall-fry - if you get a minute, can you stop me from dying? No rush. It’s just very cold right now,” Vee spoke from the corner - snapping Arin from the moment. Immediately, he darted for her side - casting Antithesis across her fading form. Within seconds, life returned to her body, as she struggled to stand up. It only took a little help from Arin’s hand to bring the Purple to her hooves.

Just to be safe, he cast a wave of Resurgence across her body. In return, she gave him a wingpat - the soft feathers ruffling his simple brown hair.

“Good work, Tall-fry! Much better, hmhm.”

Tempest darted to Umbra’s side - giving a warm, blood-coated squeeze. “Thought I’d leave you to rot?” she spoke, as Umbra eventually found it in her to laugh.

“As a former villain would.” The renewed Unicorn hugged on tight, legs still a little shaky from all the adrenaline and lack of food.

“...Where’s Celestia and Pumpkin?” Arin eventually questioned, as the soft clatter of hooves on stone made their way up the road to meet them. Two sets, a Princess - and her dear friend.

Chapter 51 - King

The Princess - a little worse for wear, finally limped her way up the final set of cracked, broken steps. Her right wing dragging partially over the floor, Pumpkin doing her best to help support it. The little witch had retrieved her hat - once again looking sharp under her orange brim.

“Tia!” Arin called, stumbling up from Vee’s side - catching the Princess in his arms with a flash of healing magic. Tempest was quick to follow along, scooping up Pumpkin in a gentle nuzzle. Umbra, rightly confused - stared alongside the giant of a Seraph, wondering exactly what the buck was going on.

“Please. Somepony, anypony. Explain. Why is Arin carrying Vapor Cloud’s sword? Tempest - are you infatuated with Vee’s baker? What exactly have I stumbled upon?”

“D’ohoho! There’s lots to explain, Spooky-fry! But also, lots to do. We’ve got an airship to steal. Hey Giant-fry! How’s about some grand theft airship?” The Purple clopped her hooves together, always ready to break the law when the Fuzz weren’t about.

“There is no need to steal, purple horse. I have key.” He dug around his side pouch, withdrawing a massive, seven prong trident of an ignition handle. “I am known to never lose; both things and battles. But this word… ‘Giant-fry’. It is a good one, you call me? Yes?”

“I call everything a fry, ‘Fry! Especially things I like,” she hummed, withdrawing a wing to preen. He laughed, clapping his knee with a massive palm.

“I like this purple horse! Yes, I will be ‘Giant-fry’. Come, little one - I want you to tell me many things as I show you camp! You fight bravely, and I would like to know more about Equestria. The quick one speaks many good things about this land, and I hardly see much! Only the edge, which makes me fearful.” He offered a massive hand to the lithe pegasus, who ho-hummed. Placing her hoof in his grasp, he lifted her up with ease - settling her on his massive shoulders.

Vee tested the muscles beneath with her hooves, considering the angle of her rest… and judged it… A wonderful spot to preen and neigh.

“Hmhm! Well it all started back before I drank coffee as a young smol…” she began, as the giant Seraph led her away through the ruins of the town.

“Can… Arin, do you… should we trust him?” Celestia asked, absolutely bewildered to what’s going on. Much like Umbra, who was simply lost.

“Well, he has the key to the ship, and could probably snap all of our necks with a flick of his wrist. So… probably.” The Knight shrugged, Tempest swelling with pride as she settled Pumpkin to the floor.

“Princess Celestia? I think I need to write one of those… childish friendship letters, Twilight would go on about. Or something.” The Commander smirked. “After all, I convinced him to join our cause.”

This left a very shocked Princess silent, as she weighed the words of the Commander. She couldn’t be serious, could she?

“Well Tempest, normally I would be giddy to hear this - but quite frankly, I don’t believe you. Not until you tell me how.” Celestia was quick to shoot her down, much to the mirth of the chipped horn Unicorn.

“Am I simply not valuable? I demand answers, as well - yet none offer me fulfilment. Am I not speaking clearly? Anypony?” Umbra continued, clearing her throat. “And please, please tell me we have time for a meal.”

Arin was quick to set up on the nearby campfire - skinning the hares he trapped and chopping some local mushrooms for a heavenly stew. Luckily, the White Tail spices gifted to them were plentiful compared to the rations - and soon, he had a broth boiling for the hungry dark mare.

“So to sum things up, Nightmare Moon has Canterlot - the White Tail Deer’s plane is destabilizing from the Lunar magic, I fell in love with Arin, Tempest also found love through Pumpkin, we’ve all become great friends - if not family, and finally… we explored the unexplored, and delved into the unknown wildlands of the far west to save you,” the Princess hummed, tugging her wing tightly around Arin’s shoulder. He couldn’t help but blush - scratching the back of his head with a chuckle. Celestia wasn’t even shy about it, was she? It all happened so fast, he hardly had a chance to get a word in edgewise.

“I… see. And you chose to waste all of the world’s valuable time… to save me.” Umbra blinked. Her heart felt heavy in her chest… did they really think she was that special? But another lump fit there, too - did Arin even feel the same way about her?...

“O-Of course! We couldn’t leave a friend behind!” Pumpkin chimed, much to the delight of the Princess.

“Indeed. On top of this, we knew if there was one pony capable of orchestrating Nightmare Moon’s defeat, it would be you, Umbra. Not Arin, not me - not just Twilight and her friends. You are the key to saving Equestria.” The Princess’s eyes settled across Umbra’s mildly shocked gaze - the entire party locking their sight on her, as if waiting for her to give a speech. To prove their point, that this entire journey - every step - had a purpose.

“I… I would not have the faintest idea on how to approach the Nightmare,” Umbra eventually broke her stun with a whisper. Arin cocked an eyebrow at that, taking his chance to speak.

“And you really think that matters? I think we all knew that. This entire trip was much the same. None of us knew what we were doing. We were a disorganized mess; a gaggle of idiots, held together by a common cause. Saving you. Celestia and Tempest fought on leadership, Vee and Pumpkin nearly abandoned us. By the Feathers, I rode this bucking bull of an emotional struggle from start to finish - trying my best to keep hope alive, and not be a worthless tag-a-long, and all I’ve got to show for it is dozens of leagues of distance and a few tended wounds.”

“To be entirely fair, Arin, you did save our lives multiple times. Without your healing abilities, I would have passed - along with Vee, and your lover.” Tempest sighed, slipping down to rest her chest on the floor. Despite the dust and gravel caught between her Winter Iron Armor, she seemed none-too worse for wear, affectionate nuzzles from the little witch tending to her wounds more so than any magic could. At some point during this conversation, Oarkin and Vee returned, to rest by the fire. The Purple tossing a quick pot of coffee onto the flame to boil alongside the stew, Oarkin settling a massive satchel of retrieved goods by the wayside.

“Umbra, Nightmare Moon is an emotional monster. Her weaknesses are Harmony - which we currently don’t have on our side - and banishment. If anypony is more capable of the latter, it’s you. Though this second option may put Luna’s life at risk, it’s our only choice at the moment. We have to put an end to this madness, because if we don’t - there is nothing we can do to save Equestria, my ponies, my friends. I love her to the ends of Equis, but…”

The Princess sighed; “Fate has other plans in mind. As it stands, without Twilight and her company - there is no way to rip Luna from Nightmare Moon’s clutches. We already know that anypony within her sphere of influence is at immediate risk of falling under her control, as she attempted the very same thing with Arin on the moon. With Luna’s power, this goes without question - a massive dream spell channeled through the spreading Lunar Magic could easily sway an unaware populace. And if those that didn’t submit - it’s very likely Nightmare Moon had them executed, if they had no purpose. Or worse.”

This was foreboding news for the party. Princess Celestia was willing to sacrifice her very own Sister to save Equestria… like she had done a thousand and six years prior. But this time, it wasn’t the Lunar Princess who caused this - rather the demented side of her that survived every attempt to end the foul thing. Like a parasite, it struck in the dark - and latched on endlessly to the pony who tried so hard to rid it.

“Princess,” Umbra glared, staring right through the Ruler with unrestrained contempt, “How dare you even consider Luna beyond saving. Beyond hope. Too far gone for the light. Look me in the eye, remember who I am, and tell me - she is a monster without redemption within her.”

The Princess didn’t cower at Umbra’s words, nor did she attempt to fight them. But her silence was enough for Umbra to stand on her tired legs - and approach the morning mare with burning passion.

“For years beyond my ageless eyes, I sat in the cold snow of the bitter frostbourne wilds - and I revelled in my demons. Listening to the wails of the Umbrum’s voices coursing through my soul, my being - tempting me to kill, to maim. To murder. Through your victory, and my loss - I was cast to the snow, the cold, the harsh chill. And there, I seized a gift from my kind - one which further suppressed the light. The amulet that I sense among us - the Alicorn Amulet.”

Her emerald eyes glared right through the resting Seraph, who froze on the spot. “...Really?” Arin whispered, shocked at the very thought.

“It is quite obvious who the proper owner is. It is literally color coordinated with my old armor, made of the same Shadow Iron, and fitted with a Blood Diamond, a hue I honed in my deadly eyes at the time. I used its power to cast the Crystal Empire into the Shadowfell, so that I might regain my form and strike once more, when the time was right.”

Umbra’s horn twinkled and plucked the shattered amulet from Arin’s bag, who did little to resist. “I was shocked to see Twilight had found it among the world, as at one point - I stripped it from my neck in a fit of rage, and tossed it into the snow to be abandoned. It was a tool of great power, but one of obedience to the dark voices of the Umbrum, after all. An explorer must have happened upon it, when searching for the lost Empire. I didn’t need a crutch to assert my rule, my legacy after my failure. I would seize the day, and claim dominance over the world - alone.

“And it was in this mind, a faint voice spoke. A question, an idea - a light in the dark. For a thousand years, it whispered in the distance - prodding my resolve. Seeking a crack in my stony armor, in which to spearhead into my heart. And after my second loss, Princess - that crack was our very own Knight before us. Sir Arin. My friend.”

Umbra turned again to face the bewildered Seraph, who at her beckoning - stood to his feet. She offered a hoof to his hand, tilting her head up an inch to meet his eyes once he took it.

“You were the light of hope that ripped me from that dark place. Had you not joined me, I would not have thought to consider friendship at all. I would have sought allies among the dark, other ill creatures tempted by fate to rule this realm. And I would have fallen to my old roots without your bidding. Arin, you are the light of my life. And I love you. I cherish you. I would do anything to protect you.”

At this point, he was a blushing mess. Just like Celestia, she was completely shameless to speak her heart. The Sun Princess, on the other hoof, shot a faint glare of jealousy at the dark Unicorn, who continued unabashed.

She spoke now to him, letting her feelings glow.

“Had you not tempted my understanding of the world, and pushed me - challenged me not by the blade, but by the heart and mind. I would have used you to buy my freedom, and slinked off to the shaded dark to sulk. And through you, I found hope in none other than the ill-fated Princess Luna. She told me that deep down, there was a spark of light - to hold onto it would give me the strength to fend the shadows off, and change my fate. And it did. And I did. I changed my destiny because I refused to submit to my worse half.”

She bowed her head, closing her eyes to clear her usually constructive thoughts. All of this came from the soul, the heart - and she didn’t need her mind to correct it.

“I know that deep down in that twisting Nightmare, the light of Luna still shines. The light of friendship. Of hope. And it will not yield to the rambling shadows, no matter how loud or rampant they are. Just like… me.” She turned to face Celestia again, who stared with curiosity at what she was claiming.

“I will not banish Luna to whatever demented hell you wish, Princess. I refuse. You are too quick to surrender to fear, to the dark - and this is a flaw you must correct. A leader you are, but spineless you have been. The Nightmare will not waver to cowards. And neither will I.”

Celestia’s hoof pressed to her aching heart, as Umbra muttered the truest words ever spoken to her. She… had a point. She had been a coward. Fearful. She fled in the face of adversity, and was quick to choose the path of least resistance. The whims of Nobles were often met with little challenge, the blades of dark forces rarely deflected. She thought herself a kind ruler, but perhaps that kindness… gave way to weakness.

Once again, Umbra squeezed Arin’s hand in her hoof. “There is another way - one you will not consider, as you have been too quick to claim your losses.”

Her eyes returned to settle in Arin’s own, and she described what she saw inside; “Hope. The demented dreams of the Nightmare may rule the minds of ponies now, but the light of hope still shines beneath the surface. As long as you keep hope, and fan its flames - it will grow, and overwhelm the most dire of dark.”

“The ponies. Your subjects, Princess. They can all still be saved. Turned back to the light. Of accomplishing that, I am not sure - not yet. But I have hope for a world I have come to love, and I refuse to submit to fate. We will save your student, Princess. Twilight Sparkle, my once mortal enemy - her friends, they will stand by our side once more. And with their strength, we will rear upon the hill of victory.”

The speech left the gathered crowd in silence. Even Tempest, the stalwart Commander - was left filled with pride. A song of light filled their hearts, as she drew her hooves together - and gave a rousing applause. Pumpkin was quick to join, followed by Vee - who quietly clapped her wings together. Oarkin, the mountain of a Seraph he was - did much the same, laughing in delight of the warmth filling the party. Arin seized Umbra in a tight hug; putting into words the very soul of their journey, their fight; hope.

The only pony who didn’t clop her hooves together was Celestia, who locked her eyes to the floor in shame, hiding her magenta irises beneath her pink mane.

Of all of the ponies to give up so quickly, she never thought it was her. What was wrong with her? How could she think of abandoning her Sister - the pony who needed her most right now - so carelessly? Was it the moon? The torture?

No. It was her. She looked into herself, and felt disgusted. She had never been strong in the face of adversity. And now, it showed. And this wasn’t the first time Umbra had to rip her out of the hole she was in - back during the Seraph Siege of Canterlot, she froze after their first battle. It took a stronger will than hers to break her out, and in some way - that same emotion carried on to now.

But in other ways, Umbra was wrong. She still stood on her legs, and fought to the last - the challenges behind her showed this. When Nightmare Moon first came, six years prior - she submitted, yes, but that was with the hope of Twilight ending her curse. When Cadence and Shining’s wedding was crashed by changelings - she stood up to Chrysalis, and cast her light upon her. She may have failed to save Canterlot, but the hope was still there. When Discord and his chaos returned, she had no way of breaking his hold over Equestria - but she knew somepony that did, and sent every friendship letter to remind her of that. Tirek was too powerful for her to best, but with Twilight and her friends…

“Umbra, you’re wrong.” Celestia stood - not with anger or pride, but with a revelation. “Not entirely, but you’re wrong. I am a coward. A fool. And a spineless Princess, often left rotting in a cell or swinging in a cocoon. But I am not without hope. Even in the darkest of night, I knew the most brilliant dawn lay ahead of me. I have accepted the worst, so that I may one day see the best.

“I have, for too long, let others fight my battles for me - when I am the one who should be standing to face them. It is not out of fear, but out of hope. Because I know, I can’t face these challenges on my own. And it’s this lesson that gave us - Arin, Tempest, and I - the chance to escape Canterlot to begin with. Twilight, my faithful student and protege - let us flee at the cost of her own safety, so that we may come to rescue you. Her sacrifice has given our world another chance - to take back the night, and seize the day. We could have broken her free - but the cost would have been too great to count, as Nightmare Moon would have swiftly dealt with our efforts.

“And now, at the end of this journey… I thought all was lost. I was wrong. You showed me that. There’s still light, however faint it may be - and as you said, it only takes a fan to rouse the flames. We will take back Canterlot, free Luna, and end this disaster once and for all! And I will fight or die to make this happen.”

She puffed her chest bravely, fanning her wings before the flame. No applause this time, only a laugh from Oarkin.

“Ha! You can not steal angry horse’s words. But right you are! We will fight together! I will be a hero - a great man, of great things, and the Nightmare will be…” He scratched his beard, trying to scan the word from his second language’s dictionary. “...Defeated! Yes.”

Celestia blushed, taking her chance to feel embarrassed now. Usually, she gave the best speeches. But for an odd change of pace - Umbra beat her to it. Arin rolled his eyes - tugging her over in a wing to scratch her pink head.

“I thought it was pretty, Celestia,” Arin said. The Princess rolled her eyes, booping his nose with a muddy white hoof. But before she could correct him on her name, Pumpkin’s little voice rang out.

“It’s u-um… Tia, Arin. She wants us all to call her Tia now. Though um… I-I’m not sure about Oarkin, or Umbra.”

“I will call her Tia! Not because I want to, but because it reminds me of the wine maker from my village. She was pretty like flowers.” Oarkin yammered, Umbra rolling her eyes before speaking.

“You are still ‘Princess’ to me, Princess. But… I may one day make an attempt.”

“Oh hey! Before I forget - the stew is probably done-” Arin chirped, before a bolt of emerald aura engulfed his efforts before him.

Umbra seized the whole pot in her magic, plopping down on the floor nearby as it bubbled and cooled under a quick spell from her horn. The roiling boil came to a halt, as she lifted the ladle to her muzzle - gulping down deep drags of the lovely mushroom and rabbit stew.

“...What?” she eventually asked, staring at all of the mildly upset eyes around. “Arin has a stew debt to pay me; it is only fair that I claim it now. And I have starved for far, far too long.”

Oh yeah. She did tend to his wounds for several days, out in the Frozen North. And feed him amazing, home cooked food. But… that was three years ago. Surely she would have forgotten by now?

“Just go easy on that, you might fall ill from refeeding syndrome,” the Seraph stated, relenting.

“A risk I am willing to take,” she was quick to reply, chewing through a savory mushroom idly.

Arin sighed. Well, that’s a whole gallon of good food, gone. All of that prep and culinary talent, and none of his friends would even have a taste for their efforts.

“It is okay! I bring gifts.” Oarkin smiled, lifting the heavy bag on his left - rattling it about. “Food from my camp! Many good things from the rich ponies, though not as fresh. Maybe you can make something, King.”

He offered the massive sack to Arin, who accepted it in his much, much smaller hands. He nearly stumbled from the weight; it must have weighed around seventy heaps! Almost as much as Celestia did, before her trip to the moon.

As Arin peered into the sack, his face lit up. Hardy loaves of bread, bottles of wine, cheese, wrapped parcels of smoked beef and fish - and they did still have plenty of mushrooms on hand, too. And half a sack of White Tail herbs and spices.

“I’m not a culinary genius, but I think I can piece something together. Thanks, Oarkin. You’re a good man.”

“Ah! If you think that I am good, I will not say no. I have killed many, many men.” His happy smile didn’t even crack as he spoke this, Vee retrieving her now boiling pot of coffee with her teeth - despite the flames. Luckily, only a couple bits of her purple mane smoldered.

“Hmhm. Tall-fry, you better work fast; feathers won’t grow without meat on the bones. You know what’s at stake if you don’t.”

“My job?” He smiled, rolling his eyes.

“D’ohoho! Yes, your job. Now! Snoot me up something good for lunch while I enjoy my wall staring.”

And with that, the party rested from their battle - licking their wounds, even as in the far distance, the Lunar Magic seeped over the halfway point of the Deepwoods.

Chapter 52 - Friendship Grows

Filled with food and spirits high, the party - and new guest - turned themselves to the daunting task of organizing their escape back towards Canterlot.

“Before we go, Trilvanos mentioned his grave. I’d like to visit it, I feel as if we should thank him for saving our lives - at the very least,” Celestia said, working alongside Arin to push the corpses of the now dead men from the deck of the ship. Before their journey, she would have been hesitant for a gruesome task like this, being royalty and all meant that she hardly handled bodies - but with time, she overcame that fear.

“I’ll talk with Tempest about it, once she finishes starting the engine. Oarkin probably has a good idea on where it’s at, at the very least - though we’re running short on time. I’d say we have… probably a day, maybe a day and a half or so, before the final hours are upon us. And I’d really like to not find out what will happen then.” Arin grunted, slinging a bloodied Seraph across the rail and towards the Edge.

Speaking of Oarkin, the giant Seraph struggled his way out of the tight decks below - turning his chest and crouching just to escape the doorway leading under. Covered in grease and carrying an empty barrel, he dropped the now useless Alchemist’s Fire container over the side, dusting his hands off.

“Ah! Fresh air, though the black sky scares me. I am lucky to be in better company, too! Tem… Tempurst is a good leader! And Yeen is kind to me.” He ruffled his beard, frowning. Pony names weren’t kind to his foreign tongue; he almost wished he could speak his home language. It also didn’t help that he rarely had a reason to speak, when he worked with the Seraphs.

“Tempest, and Vee. They’re both wonderful ponies, once you get to know them.” Arin smiled; he would clap the tall Seraph on his shoulder, but he’d need a step stool first.

The door to the lower deck clattered open, as Umbra reappeared. Fresh and clean after a quick scrub down, she carried two buckets of water in her magical grasp. Pumpkin followed close behind, humming as she levitated two mops to her sides in orange magic.

“This is degrading…” Umbra sighed, as Pumpkin offered her a mop. “The blood does not bother me. I see no reason to cleanse it.”

“I-It’s a um… tripping hazard, and i-it looks and smells bad.” Pumpkin frowned, holding her cleaning tool between her two hooves.

“Besides, Umbra! You were intent on making this mess earlier. You could have just snapped their necks, but you were dead set on making a gorey mess.” Arin chuckled, the former Umbrum rolling her eyes with a scoff.

“Perhaps I should wet the rags and clean you instead, loud mouth,” she hissed, dipping her tool into the bucket with a splash. It soaked her legs, but she hardly cared - swabbing the deck roughly and without precision. Pumpkin squeaked, as the wet head of the instrument slapped her legs roughly.

“Umbra, you’re just smearing it around, no - stop, here… let me help. Haven’t you mopped before?” Arin eventually offered, as the mess grew a little… unwieldy. She stared right through him in a deadpan glare, frowning.

“No. I have not. Peasant work is beneath me.” She dropped the handle, letting the lengths of cloth splatter against the floor.

“Pumpkin, may I see your mop for a moment?” Celestia hummed, offering a hoof to the little mare. With a confused tilt of her head, she pressed the pole into her grasp. The Princess set to work, scrubbing up the mess with pride. While she wasn’t particularly… good at it - she definitely put the effort forward. She may rule a nation - but she clearly proved her point. No work, no matter how simple, was beneath her when working in a team.

Seeing this, Umbra glowered - snatching the mop up in her emerald magic. “Very well then. If the Princess can stoop to such levels, then so can I.”

From then on, the duo worked almost in some sort of… weird cleaning competition, much to the amusement of the gathered group.

“Arin! Come, Tempest needs help yet. You are wanted with your skill!” Oarkin eventually spread his arms wide, embracing the air with a billow of his loud voice. “I will go wash - I like to be clean.”

Pumpkin mewled, raising her hoof to protest the two ponies mopping the deck without her. “U-Um, y-you may want to dip your mops in the water, it’s um…”

A double duo of competitive eyes reeled on her, quickly leaving her in whimpering silence. “N-Nevermind.”

Arin made his way into the hull of the ship - sunlight filtering through the canon hulls to aid the sparse lanterns around. The ship had three flights, with the engine being on bottom - guarded by a steel frame and several struts to eject in case of fire, it was protected from cannons through two heavy sets of steel plates. While it clearly marked where the engine was on the ship - it also prevented the worst in terms of damage.

Stepping into the engine hold, past a massive fuel tank and a preening Vee, who seemed to be using her feathers to clean up spilled oil - he found Tempest, belly up and smothered in grease. Her damaged armor stripped and her leg freshly bandaged. A toolkit lay next to her hindlegs, scattered wrenches and screwdrivers lining the floor. She was easy to find, as a trail of curses led him straight to her.

“For mane’s sake! You’ve got to be bucking kidding me...” she growled, the Seraph soon interrupting her.

“Uh, Tempest?”

“Ah, Arin. Good. I need you down here. You’re smart and you’ve got hands. Join me.” She scooched to the right - giving him space to shuffle in beside her. A well-sealed lantern lit up the underbelly of the massive machine, air vents on either side bringing a cool breeze - and restricted sunlight - inside in spades.

Accompanying the mare, he turned on his back with a grunt - tucking his wings in to make room. It was a shuffle and a push to get himself in, but looking up at the beast before him left him feeling a tad inexperienced. He hadn’t worked with machines of this caliber before, as he so keenly told Tempest not too long ago.

“So… what’s wrong?” he asked, Tempest giving a sigh.

“My bucking hooves are too big, that’s what. I can’t reach the final bolt here - these bastards idled the engine too long, and I have to pop out the charging crystal to imbue it with power again. Bucking pieces of… buck!” The commander snagged her hoof on a sharp corner, gashing into it. Arin clenched his fist - sending a spark of light to wash over her body with a chime of bells.

“Really, Arin? Is that bucking necessary right now? I don’t want healing magic. I want to be mad! Just… bucking pop it free, before I bash it off,” she growled, wiping the now closed wound over a nearby oily rag.

“Sorry, just trying to help. Gimme the wrench.” She plopped it in his hands, the Seraph quick to dart his nimble fingers up and snag the bolt. With how deep it was in the engine bay, it’d take a hundred small turns to loosen it, leaving him uncomfortably close for the action.

“So, how long uh… you’ve been working on airships?” Arin asked, as even the stiff breeze couldn’t wash away the sweat soon forming beneath his clothes. The engine room was just an uncomfortable place to be, especially this close.

“Since around… fourteen years old, around my birthday. I started taking part in Engine maintenance, after we snagged a ship or two from the docks in the Badlands. I had the smallest hooves at the time, save Grubber - who was simply too short to really reach in and grab anything important. Luckily, they kept a few books on hoof, giving me plenty of time for light reading to understand how these things work.”

“Huh. You know, my first job at ten years, I was banging out nails for the local blacksmith on his spare anvil. By the Feathers, it sucked. Sweltering heat, high demands, slow work… but it paid for food, as my Mother and I were pretty broke. She was a sickly woman, who still worked to keep the roof over our heads. Loved her to death, but she died during a yearly cleansing, leaving me alone. They came for the house soon after, and I was left on the streets at… fifteen? I think. Haven’t celebrated my birthday as long as I can remember; never had the money for it.”

“I stopped having birthdays when I left home. You know, it’s coming up soon - Prancetember twenty ninth. I was thinking of having a little party among my new friends, to play catch up. Since I lost hope for friendship in my younger years. After we take back Canterlot, of course.” She caught the bolt with a hoof as it fell, quick reflexes aiding her in that regard.

“If you don’t recall the date of your birthday, we can celebrate it on mine. Me and Pumpkin, you and Celestia - Vee, Umbra, we’ll find a reason to sneak out… pretend things haven’t changed, and have a quiet night on the town. Paid by Celestia, of course.” Tempest reached up, pressing her hoof to the heavy metal box - with a click of a latch, she lowered it down gently, exposing a large, dull gem.

“That sounds great, and I totally agree - but what do you mean… ‘pretend things haven’t changed’?”

“You know as well as I do, the moment we finish Nightmare Moon, our friendship won’t last, right? Come on. Celestia is going to go back to her throne, Vee will want to run her shop and focus on herself. Umbra will probably stick to you like glue as you take up Knight duties at the castle, and I’ll be lucky to have Pumpkin by my side. It’s just how the world works. Then it’s back to being alone. Friendship is a wonderful thing, but it’s fleeting, Arin.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at that, as she finally withdrew the gem in her hooves. She ignored him, tapping it to her horn as chaotic lightning coursed through the jewel for several seconds. Shining and sparkling, she eventually reached up to fit it back in place.

“What, did you finally break and realize it’s all a sham in the end, or?...” She frowned, the Seraph breathing in deep to settle his breath.

“No no, just… I’ve never heard a pony be so confidently wrong before. You know friendship doesn’t die when life gets in the way, right? If it did, I’m positive Twilight and her friends wouldn’t be able to send me to the moon on a moment’s notice. You saw how torn up and stressed she was in the library, her friends off living their lives - but in the end, when they met - that light within them never died. And that’s why they could still cast Harmony.”

Tempest held the box in place, thinking quietly to herself. “Well, how do I know they really mean it? That they really like me? That it’s all… real?”

“Well, the fact that everypony listens to you when you speak is a good sign. That I’m here encouraging you also helps, too. And the fact that you feel comfortable enough to just… open up to me like this, when at the Waterfall you wanted nothing to do with me - that should tell you how much you’ve grown.”

The scarred Commander turned to face him, smiling. “You know, you’ve definitely found a brain behind your feathers, as Vee would say, or… something. You know that, right?”

“Why thank you. And you’ve found a big heart in your chest over the days, to give me a compliment so easily. Here - let me help.”

Arin reached over her chest - plucking the four bolts from her side before quickly slipping up, twisting them taught over the threading. At least, as tight as he can, before seizing the wrench to finish the job.

“So, I guess this makes you captain now, right? I’d say you own this thing, since you’re the only one who knows how to repair it.” He finished tightening the nut, working on the next one.

“It’s an ugly ship, but I guess the title will make up for it. But I’m short on names. I don’t suppose you have any ideas, huh? I spotted a paint can in storage, and I happen to know a Princess with wonderful calligraphy skills.”

Arin thought for a moment, finishing the second bolt and turning to the third. “...Well, how about… ‘Bringer of Dawn’? That’s what we’re doing, anyway. All of this to raise the sun over Canterlot once more. I think Celestia would get a kick out of it, anyway.”

“...Very well, it’s a fitting name. It matches our task nicely.”

The fourth bolt was a bit of a problem - just like before, he had to angle and squeeze himself in, settling the nut in its place. “Speaking of dawn, Celestia would like to visit the grave of Trilvanos, somewhere in the ruins. To thank him for saving our hides, before we go.”

“I suppose a quick expedition can be arranged - we do have a mountain-sized Seraph on hoof that may know where to find it. Or at least where to look. If the old Forest God makes an appearance, I can think of a few questions to ask, anyway. It will help sate my curiosity, at the very least.”

Finished and wiggling free, Tempest offered the Seraph a rag to clean up with. The grease was thick like gel, and he was quick to accept. But something like this wouldn’t come off with scraping alone. Again, a bath was something everypony - er… everyone craved now.

“After we clear the West, think we’ll have time to stop in Silversun? We’ll need more gear to even consider taking the Castle, and the deer may have some cloven hooves to spare at the very least. That, and… I could definitely go for a proper shower right now. I still have sand in places I wish I didn’t from Crystal Horn Cove.”

“I was actually going to set course for there first - if the Feywild’s magic hasn’t been completely overwhelmed. Let’s head up top - I’m a sweating mess, and fresh air would be good for us both. By the way…”

She looked over the massive hole in Arin’s armor, frowning. “You might want to strip and switch to your old gear. Pumpkin looks cute in your green vest, true - but I think you’ll need it more than her.”

Tightening the anchor and storing some of the balloon’s helium, the ship began to sink closer to the town, at a much more manageable level to fly to-and-fro. Arin carried Umbra, who had grown comfortable with the idea over three years of living with Seraphs - and Celestia bore Tempest on her back, Oarkin guiding the way on his lofty wings. Pumpkin and Vee weren’t far behind - though they hadn’t managed to find her broom, Vee was more than happy to give her a lift.

“We had been cutting at these branches for hours - many hours! They are thick and plenty, and there are more above the tomb! Perhaps one of the ponies can open the path?” He billowed, as they approached ever closer to the edge of the world. He tilted forward on heavy wings, aiming for the floor with a beat of his powerful pinions.

Dismounting their riders, and grouped up - the seven stood at the edge of a large, vine-entwined manor of a grave. Against a crumbled wall by the Edge, massive, bushy trees had overtaken the ornate, gold-laced doors in swathes of thickets. The foliage was so thick, it took some careful eyes to even see past it into the dark.

Celestia approached first, Arin sticking close to her side - once more bearing the green vest across his chest. He fumbled his fingers over the hilt of Sun Song, considering taking the blade to cut at the trees. But he hesitated, looking over the sheer quantity of work before him.

“Well, I’m convinced this is his tomb. We’re basically in a miniature forest,” the Princess said, tilting her head to either side to try and figure a way in. “Would you like to try your hand at gardening, Arin?”

“Hmm… no, it doesn’t seem like it would work. Oarkin, about how many days have you worked on trying to clear a path through? I know we keep the sun raised, but - if you had to guess?”

The large Seraph ran a hand over his scraggly beard, thinking. “Three, maybe four days.”

“Four days, and look Tia - besides the dry branches on the floor, I don’t see a single sign of effort. It’s as thick and lively as ever. Like they never even touched it.”

Umbra approached, her horn sparkling quietly - blasting a thin wave of magic over the door. “I detect nothing save the presence of trees and nature. No spell of Regrowth, nor signs of enchantment. Perhaps there is a key?”

Pumpkin - snuggled close to Tempest’s side - spotted a familiar mushroom growing against the trunk of one of the trees. Chicken of the Woods! Digging around her hat with a hoof - she clenched a harvesting knife in her muzzle, before clopping her way over to stuff it in her pack.

But as she grew close, her Emerald Earring began to shine - a gleaming green magic that illuminated the door behind. A flash of light forced it to click open, the trunks parting or molding against the floor to reveal the wood-lined path forward, into the tall crypt. A thick marble stairway held the branches above, green leaves forming life into the still tomb.

Chapter 53 - The Edge of the Forests

Umbra’s horn illuminated the stairs down in a glowing green aura, joined by two tail lanterns and a Seraph’s Mage Light - to help brighten the looming dark. Twinkling fireflies helped spark life into the overhanging trees and thick stone walls, a cool breeze of dewy air reaching them as their journey brought them down deeper into the earth.

Bird song echoed in the far distance, chitters and squawks of critters that broke out in their musical tunes. Hidden at the edge of disaster, the beauty of this strange tomb still stood, a pillar against the end of the world.

There was little to say, as glowing mushrooms and green moss sunk into the wood, a blooming life that gave way to the wilds below. Onwards down they trekked, a brilliant light reaching to meet them.

Into the sun once more, they stood at what used to be a wide cave system deep below the ground - but now, it embraced the cleave through the earth, a wave of glowing magic intensifying the atmosphere to the point of it shining blue once again. Trees and life grew more tame and controlled, a bubbling brook - from a river above perhaps, trailing down through a stream and across the standing stone of a great grave. A memoir to a deer long past.

It was adorned in wood and gold, untouched by time - but thriving with life. Its back rested on a maple tree that shot high into the sanctuary - branches high supporting the roof, its leaves green with the essence of summer.

Dozens of birds nested in its branches, the bloom of life and trees strong enough to bear their kind for generations to come. They sang in beautiful melodies, humming a tune to the memory of the Cervine who now rested here.

The surreal beauty of this place, a testament against the end - brought calm to their hearts, as the seven souls approached the grave.

“Welcome,” a familiar yet relaxed voice called. Behind the gravestone, an elegant, pure White Tail deer, translucent in his ethereal form - stepped into view. His coat was an innocent cherry cream flecked with brown and gold, his antlers bearing red leaves upon the tips of his many, many points - like a swaying canopy. His soft voice sounded like the forested winds he once called, holding a hoof to his chest. “I am Trilvanos… but in another life, I was Lord Mapleheart. King to the old Autumn Court, before the collapse - the cataclysm of the Star’s might. I ruled these lands, long before the time of ponies and their kind - and now, I protect these wilds to prevent yet another travesty from seizing more innocent lives.”

“Lord… Mapleheart? You - you’re Aster’s father?” Celestia gasped; she knew this name now. A name which eluded her in the past - the former King, who perished two thousand years prior. Though her education on the matter was short, as the White Tail weren’t intent on sticking around pony kind… she still knew of him. The deer had been proud of his lineage, after all, and spoke highly of the great leader before her - and these very same words reached her old teacher, Starswirl the Bearded.

“Indeed, I am. Though you met me as a nature spirit - I am nothing more than an old buck, holding on to the remnants of a world he once loved. I asked to speak to you here, to give you the truth - the story of my kind, and the memory of one who cherishes you. Dawn Caller, Sun Bringer - Solar Queen… Princess Celestia. I have many words to say, as they are very well my last. Please… heed them.”

His eyes turned to the infinite void of stars - faint behind the blue atmosphere of his grove, but ever present in the shadows. He did not speak for a while, only stare - the words growing in his mind like the roots of his old trees, far beyond.

“Long ago, before the world was split in twain - I ruled comfortably in these once thinner forests. When the trees were still pleasantly short, and the will of my kin still strong - I looked over the full breath of the world, onwards beyond the void you now call ‘the Edge’; as in my time, great lands still thrived in its place. A mare much like you, Celestia, with a red mane and gallant wings - used her magic to shelter her kind far beyond. She was a powerful ruler, who encompassed all traits of pony kind - horns, wings, great strength, and a beautiful heart.”

He raised his ethereal hoof, as a red cardinal fluttered to sit upon his ghostly body. Surprisingly, it could rest comfortably on his leg - the sheer power of the former King shining even in his death.

“Upon a distant mountain, in the far Western Wilds of the Wood, your kind lived in harmony. Yet it was not to last - as all great things do, it came to the end of something worse. You see, in this time - Equis, as it’s called, held great power. And power would draw less kind hearts to seize it. A monster from beyond the stars sought to claim the souls of these kind ponies, for their spirits hold a great light. Much like I do now.”

He gave the bird a nuzzle with his elegant snout - letting it fly back to its nest. Mapleheart’s shoulders slumped, sighing. “Your mother, Celestia. Of you and Luna both. She stood against the tide of ‘the Entity’. She called upon her kind to evacuate - to travel ever East, as the eldritch laid claim to their former empire, Starlight’s Peak. A great quest, to flee death itself - and in my open arms, they found shelter. But the last to escape its touch, was your mother, yourself, and your Sister. But not without a terrible curse being laid upon Luna.”

“You see, the Entity is a disease of envy, and thrives off suffering. It craves life, it hungers for the sweet taste of it. Where there is cold and pain, it grows outwards to the light, to drain it, to suck its beauty. And it does so by strangling the very spirit out of its victims. The Great Queen Astra, in her haste to save her kin - was late to the bedside of her youngest foal. Luna herself, your Sister.”

The King turned now to face the party. “It embedded in her a seed, which would grow and blossom. Queen Astra escaped, clutching you both - but bearing mortal wounds. Ones that even with my great healing power, I could not mend. The bile of the Entity was simply this strong. Her kind fell upon my doorstep, but with it came disaster. The tendrils of the Entity sunk into the Earth, growing thick - and deep, rooting itself to the core of Equis. Queen Astra was left with no choice but to act.”

He approached Celestia now - towering over her, proud and tall as the King of Old. “Using the power of Sun and Moon both, she channeled into her Ember a powerful magic. Pure and unfouled by dark, she traveled to the heart of Starlight’s Crest - which the Entity now called home. And there, she ignited her Ember into a blazing flame - ripping the celestial bodies from their orbit, and detonating with her half the world. Her magic billowed backwards, forming the new sky we rest under today. Nearly all life was lost, as far as here - as coarse magma scarred and churned the lands to sunder. The Entity was cast into the dark of the Shadowfell, where it bidded it's time - weak and destitute. And your mother… she was lost to the stars.”

He placed a cloven hoof to her chest, his green eyes - much like Aster’s - shining. “An up and coming wizard by the name of Starswirl the Bearded, offered to raise you both under his care - and travel ever East to be free of our lands, so that we may heal. But alas, without a ruler to guide them - your kind split at the seams, forming three factions. In the recovering forest I now call the Deepwoods, a small tribe of Pegasi stayed to make their home in the boughs far above. The spirits of the trees, under the deep rooted influence of the Entity, struck out upon them in revenge of their trespass - killing many, and driving the woods into the dark. A land beyond, the great spiders sunk webs over the forested homes of intelligent Unicorns - and consumed them all, as they tried to carve wine and food without the aid of the strong backed farmers. Unwary Earth Ponies settled still, farther beyond - and perished in a great flood. The still thousands left converged into the land you now call ‘Equestria’, named as such after the great quest to find shelter there. This news reached me, as my kind found this ledge we were now perched upon inhospitable.”

“My age and stress had taken my life, and with my death - my Son rose from the ashes. The White Tail needed a new home. And with the dangers lurking in the shadows - they travelled through risk and peril to reach Equestria. I can sense the world through him, the blood bond we hold shining bright - as he gazes over my deer with love and honor.”

“To not challenge the growing Equestrian ponies to war, our arcanist channeled the magic of the Feywilds - vanishing from the world and into the forests unknown. This would be their home, and soon - their magic bound to it, acclimated by the curious power around.”

“By the time you were young and growing, Starswirl had raised you to believe whatever hopeful story he had for the disaster, as ponykind sought to cleanse the memory. From there, it’s history as you’ve acquired - as my eyes can not see beyond the world of the Feywild, the trees of my forest, or through my Son’s blood. Had they not worked together - the Entity, still empowered from the draining life, would have likely fractured the seams of the fabric of reality, and billowed forward under the tide of the looming, unbalanced magic of disorder.”

“And the very world as we know it…” Celestia whispered, shock shaking her to her core. Everything… her life, it made sense now. It even explained why her mane was pink - or red, when empowered. She was born in her mother’s image.

Mapleheart withdrew his hoof, nodding. “Indeed. And the corruption of the Entity grows farther still. I feel it in my roots; despite your mother’s best efforts, the creature dwells in the shadows. The ponies who failed to escape the Entity’s influence, had the very life and love drawn from them - becoming chittering creatures of the dark, the Umbrum. And just like the Entity, they fear the light - and want nothing more than to overwhelm it, to crush it beneath their shadowy hooves. And they will do anything to accomplish this, to suck the very soul out of a pony - to make them much like they are, husks of their former selves, obedient to the spreading darkness. It would take a momentous force to restore even a single Umbrum’s being. Thus, the Crystal Ponies were smart - and built a ward against the entity, to fend off the shadows and keep them at bay.”

All eyes slowly turned to face Umbra, save Oarkin - who had no idea what any of this meant, or what was going on to begin with. Umbra didn’t know this about herself - but it all clicked. She really was a pony at heart. An Equestrian, through and through - and the Umbrum corrupted her. Arin’s light had been enough to restore her soul, and make her whole yet again. Changed - but whole.

“The Nightmare - deep down, she still carries the light. If the Entity’s corruption has her, you need only touch it to draw it free - and break her from her binds. Time is short. If the light of the sun vanishes beyond the horizon for the final time, the veil of the shadowfell will weaken enough for the Entity to escape. Not only will the world fall under eternal moonlight, but the dark will seek out the last remnants of life in the snow - and strangle the very magic from their embers. None will survive, not even the moon-drunk monster that had claimed the throne.”

“Then we have no time to waste.” Tempest nodded, standing tall against the tide of looming shadows. “The very world is at stake. Nightmare Moon’s hold is strong - but not unbreakable. We only need to touch the light within. Thank you, Lord Mapleheart. For everything you’ve done for us; from saving us from the dark, to revealing the secrets of the world.”

“And yet I have more to give. Princess Celestia, I have walked these woods for thousands of years. But I believe that now, they no longer need a guardian. I have a request, if you will grant it.”

The Princess, still recovering from the completed story given to her, turned to face the old Forest King once more. He closed his eyes, a flash of green light swirling around his hoof. In his grasp, he held a crystalline purple flower; formed of pure amethyst and emerald, it gleamed brightly in the light, showing the expert craftsmanship of the finest precision.

“When I died, my Son left this gift upon my grave. A gift I gave him when he was born. Please. Return this to him. I had it cut from the most beautiful of gemstones, to fit upon his ear - a sign of who he was. And I feel as if he may have forgotten his roots. It will remind him. Remind him that a ruler cares not just for his deer, but for the world at large.”

The Princess delicately accepted it in her faint, pink magic. Holding it to her chest as she looked once more upon the old King. Waiting for more words.

“...I am ready to move on now. I know my deer are in good hooves. Celestia, it’s time for the old grove to see its final twilight. I have just this left to give.”

He leaped gallantly onto the stony grave of his tomb, green eyes falling over the gathered party. “May the leaves line your path ever onwards, along the path of the stars. Use it well, Princess.”

A blast of billowing wind knocked Arin, Tempest, Umbra, Pumpkin, and Vee off their hooves and feet - Oarkin raising his arms and bravely standing his ground, even as the sheer power pushed him away from the Solar pony.

The once great Trilvanos, who basked his leaves in the sun for three thousand years - swirled all of his stored solar energy forward into the morning mare. Celestia rising from the ground as light coalesced inside her chest - a brilliant gleam of magic shining through her heart. Her wings spread wide, embracing the call of the dawn’s light - her mane and tail billowing as energy coursed through her veins. With a brilliant, radiating burst of power - the world flashed white, Celestia gliding delicately to the floor unaided by her powerful wings.

Her pink mane billowed in regal waves, now a deep, rich red - her eyes shining with the magic of the old Forest King’s gift. Her horn’s golden magic sparkled once more, her power brimming at max capacity - ember strong and luminescent in her chest. Without the touch of Harmony, her mane shone ruby red - a change she was happy to see.

In absolute wonder and awe, she felt the click of flame in her chest. The ageless sun of magic welling within her. She raised her eyes to thank the kind King, who had given so much - but… he was gone.

“Mapleheart?” she asked, an eerie silence hanging in the air. The birds had stopped their songs, as the plants around them had shifted to the soft orange of autumnal hues - dead leaves falling to the floor. The sky had turned to its usual black, the atmosphere thin once again.

The great maple tree behind had its leaves fall entirely red - the Summer’s breath coming to an end. In the dirt over the stone of his grave, several small aster flowers bloomed - the autumnal flower thriving in the end of life.

No response came to her call. Mapleheart’s spirit was no more.

Feeling her power restored, and sorrow in her heart for the sacrifice he made to restore it - the Princess approached the grave. Her wing slid forward, exposing the long, pristine feathers that graced her. With a pluck of her teeth, she withdrew a flight pinion - which she then rested on his grave in a sign of respect.

“...I’m grateful, old Thinker of Thickets, Bearer of Boughs. Your gift will never be forgotten.”

With that, she turned back to the party collecting themselves - Vee didn’t bother, of course, her legs sticking straight up in the air like a goat. Somepony would get her. Probably.

“Thank you. All of you. For standing by my side, in this terrible disaster. I promise you, the darker the night - the more brilliant the dawn.”

Chapter 54 - Strength Beyond Measure

Regrouping and shaking off the dirt, the party made their way out of the now faded tomb; the branches old with age and shedding red leaves, plants and wildlife galore having shrunk back at the drain of magic. Breaking into the far light of the city, the massive trees loomed before them towards the east.

Every single one of the vibrant leaves had lost their green hues; shifting to a more autumnal, but foreboding brown. They fell endlessly from the massive branches, rays of light striking the murky floor of the dark forest far below.

“Is he… gone? For good?” Arin asked, as they took in the sight before them.

“He will carry on through us, if he is. He gave much of the life of his forest in hopes we will save the world he tended to, and the kin he cherished,” Umbra remarked, approaching the Seraph’s side. “We should not tarry. Time is a valuable resource, one we can not buy. I am ready.”

“Oh! Right, you don’t have wings.” He laughed quietly to himself, offering his hand - which she took. With a heft, she was quickly settled against his chest. Tempest joined Celestia, regardless of the pain her dignity bore from the act. With Pumpkin hopping up onto Vee’s back, Oarkin spread his wings - and the group left the abandoned Old Autumn Court to its roots.

Their hooves - and two sets of legs - soon clattered on the ship, partners quick to dismount as Tempest took charge. Umbra needed a moment to collect her belongings from the Captain’s cabin - if there were there, and left to do just that.

“Oarkin - the ignition key, if you will. And thank you.” The Commander offered her hoof to the towering Seraph, who billowed a laugh.

“It is strange to see a small pony be so serious! But yes. Here. I will work the anchor, Captain. Let us go be heroes!” The massive key was settled in her grasp before he turned to the wheel on the center mast, the Unicorn cantering quickly down the deck to the engine below - Pumpkin close at hoof to watch. With any luck, they’ll be able to move in minutes. Finding himself alone, Celestia in search of a rag to wipe the mud off of her - Arin approached a distant corner of the ship, to look over the dark sky’s edge one last time.

“Well Tall-fry, looks like we’re moving on to greener skies and bluer pastures. Or something.” Vee smiled, grasping a fresh cup of coffee in her wings. “Think I’ll make it to see the sunrise? You know, before I go to the big cafe in the sky. Or not! I’m not a cleric.”

“You’ve still got time, right Vee? You weren’t specific with the details, but… we’re not cutting it close, are we?” The Seraph frowned. Vee did mention she was kinda… well, dying. Slowly. Back before Driderhold, in the quiet moments of that fateful morning.

“That depends entirely on how many wingchops I need to give that Jerk-face back in Canterlot. I only have so much of Onyx’s magic snooted away, just like bits. Once it’s gone, so am I.”

“Onyx is gone, too?... That’s how you’ve lived so long? Through him?” He looked over his former employer with worry; how would Pumpkin handle her death?...

“Indeed, Tall-fry! I told him to protect you and help Umbra, after all. Shame it cost him his Material Plane license or whatever. I’m not in charge of him! Other things are. And those things don’t like it when he changes fate too much. Including the time I spilled my coffee, and had him rewind time to unspill it. Apparently ‘gross misuse of time control’ is illegal! Hmhm. Jerk-face Time-Fuzz, snooting in my business…”

Speaking of coffee, another sip of the good stuff soon followed. “Anyway, Tall-fry. I’ve got a few walls to stare at. If you need me, please refer to the nearest pillow. I’ll probably be there. Thinking. As per usual.”

And with that, Arin was left alone to his thoughts. A click and rumble sounded far below, as the ship gave a rumbling shake - a full cloud of black smoke billowing out of the engine bay’s vents, the machine roaring to life. The massive propellers on the back and sides whizzed and spun, before clicking at a slow idle pace. Everything seemed to mostly be in order. At least from his limited knowledge of aircraft.

It’s funny - he came to this side of the ship to be alone, but as he finally found his thoughts - Celestia’s wing scooped him up, the Princess looking a little more sanitary. She nuzzled firmly into his head, sighing. “Well. It’s time. Our journey, as chaotic as it was, is finally coming to a dramatic close; after we restock and relax with the deer, of course. Are you as nervous as I am?”

“Nervous? I don’t even want to think about it.” The Seraph ran his fingers over his spare hand. “We’re likely charging into an army we can’t kill, because they’re all innocent lives trapped in a nightmare. And sure, we make a wonderful team - but there’s only six of us. Seven, if you count Oarkin - but he’s not as close as we all are.”

Celestia’s hoof cupped his cheek, dragging him into a sweet, calming kiss. “It’s alright, Sunshine. We’ve been through worse; we’ll think of a plan.”

“I’m not hopeless, Tia. I never have been. I’m just worried about hurting another pony. I’ve never hurt a pony before. Not seriously, anyway. What if I have to kill Honey Rose, or one of the guards I used to work with? I don’t think I could ever come back from that; by the Feathers, I could hardly stand the thought of you being injured. Seraphs are one thing; so many of them are just… horrible, soulless creatures. It’s rare that we find somepony-er… someone like Oarkin who’s willing to change for the better. I know we can defeat Nightmare Moon, but… at what cost?”

At that, Celestia did relent. She hadn’t considered this part of the conflict before. Sure, they could just charge in, arrows flying and swords slashing - but knowing she had to slay her royal subjects… It struck a new fear in her heart. Everything she’s done in her long life has been for the betterment of her ponies. It’s why she was so well loved.

“I’m sure we’ll find a way, Arin.” She eventually managed to speak, “Perhaps there’s a way to break my ponies from their nightmares. I… wait, that gives me an idea.”

Celestia reached forward with her muzzle, planting a firm kiss on his cheek. “I need to find Vee. She’s good with dream magic, there may yet be a way to approach this.”

And with that, she was gone - off to find the preening Purple somewhere below deck. Tempest brushed past her with a nod as she rounded the stairs, followed close behind by Pumpkin carrying a toolbox - both taking point on the helm of the ship. It wasn’t a quality vessel that could bear a command deck like her old ‘career’ provided, and as such - she’d be exposed to the elements while she steered, and fiddled with the rusted controls.

“Arin! You read Seraph, right?” she called with a frown, beckoning him with a hoof. “It’s labelled in your language.”

Oh yeah. This was formerly piloted by Seraphs. He gave a quick flash of his wings - a powerful leap and flutter landing him close at hoof. Pumpkin had an empty page of her journal on leg, waiting for an answer.

“What’s the problem - ah! That’s… a lot of levers.” Indeed, there were around 20 different knobs and bars to pull, twist, push… “Er… from left to right, it’s… Gear, thr… throttle? Sorry, I’ve never been behind the controls of a ship before - pitch, yaw, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, choke, reverse, stall, clutch, list, doors… Why is there a lever for doors?” He blinked, Tempest was quick to answer.

“It controls the airtight doors that block access to the engine, and when pulled with choke and gear, it will break the safety locks on the hull - allowing the engine room to basically fall out of the ship. It’s to prevent a fire from taking down the entire vessel. It also shelters the fuel bay and helium canisters. You keep these drawn during combat.”

“Ah, alright… uh. Well, after doors, it’s… lock, disarm, then the two closer levers are just ‘left’ and ‘right’ - wait, don’t you have a steering wheel? Why do you need levers for left and right?”

“Those control the side propellers' thrust, and aid in hard turns. If you squeeze the trigger on one, it will deactivate the other fan - and tugging the lever itself increases the power supplied to wing engines. The ones on the exterior of the ship.”

“You know a lot about airships. Ever thought about taking it on as a full time career?” Arin shrugged, as if the suggestion wasn’t already considered.

“I may know how to pilot and service a ship, but it was more so out of necessity than desire. I’m self taught in many aspects. But… thank you. The compliment doesn’t go unappreciated.” The mohawk mare bowed her head. “Pumpkin, did you get all of that?”

“Yes, Tempest!” The little mare saluted. She tore the page from her journal, before roughly strapping it to the wheel with a familiar leather strap. Arin swore he saw it somewhere before; wasn’t that the same one wrapped around her-...

“Check if we’re safe to move - see if Oarkin needs help settling the anchor. It shouldn’t take more than a dozen hours to reach Canterlot - scout ships tend to be fast and easy to handle. Besides, I’m going to need a minute to kick the rust off these gears. This level of neglect would not have been tolerated under my command.” The chipped horn mare nodded to the Seraph. Well, it wasn’t like he had a schedule or anything… it wouldn’t hurt to do a little heavy lifting.

Joining the massive mountain of a Seraph on the main deck below, he gave a wave as Oarkin pushed the anchor’s pinwheel in slow, agonizing circles. A job like this was built for four Seraphs, or eight Inert, after all - but the fact that Oarkin could do it alone was astounding.

“Room for one more?” Arin smiled, taking a massive peg on the other side.

“Ah! Help is always welcome, King. If you will!” He gave his usual boisterous laugh, the Knight quick to aid in drawing the chained anchor from the ruins far below. It churned into place with satisfying clicks of steel, but regardless of their combined efforts - it would take a minute.

“So, why do you call me King, anyway? I gave up that title when I returned here.”

“Aha! Any friend of the Fallen Ravens is a friend of mine! They were an honorable clan, and loved by many - even as far as the South, where I lived. But I was not a wise man; I was taken when visiting my mother’s grave, in Alma Sol, several years ago. I am a man of both countries, but I had little choice. Fight for Leotoln, or fight my way home. I am a strong. But not as strong as many, many men.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Oarkin. Do you still want to go back? I could probably set something up, after we take back the castle.”

“Now? Maybe. I have much to see! Equestria has good air, and many cute ponies - now that I am free, I want to be a hero. I hear there is a place like my home - far north, in the snow. Yakyakistan! I would like to visit. They say they hold strength… er…”

He thought of the word for several moments, before speaking. “Tests! Tests of strength, yes. It’s very good for someone like me.”

“Well, I’m sure Celestia can make you a citizen too, if you’d like. After all - you should be rewarded for your help.” Arin smiled, grunting as the clicking of the anchor grew high.

“No! A hero does not work for reward. I am doing this to feel good! Like you do, when you help your many friends. You feel good, yes?” The anchor clicked into place, lodged in the center of the hull. An odd place to put it - but perhaps it had some kind of significance to its position. Oarkin waved with his hand - pointing for the smaller Seraph to stand nearby as he worked.

His giant hand seized the side of a grill - ripping it up to rest on its hinges, repeating the process with the other half on the far side. With a click of his powerful gray magic, he hefted the anchor system up - before letting it click and slam back down, a floor below. Once everything was back in place, he tossed the iron grates down with heavy bangs - clearing the top deck for the journey, and securing the anchor so it couldn’t be dropped by accident.

“I guess you’ve got a point, Oarkin. But anyway, if you feel like sticking around after this coming conflict, I’d say talk with Tia. She’ll know a few places you might fit in, besides Yakyakistan. At the very least, Equestria could always use hearts in the right place.”

“My heart is in my chest King. Do… hm. This must be a saying. I am not good with saying. Explain.”

Oh yeah. Equestrian, or on Erenorn - Sarin, is Oarkin’s second language.

“Equestria needs more heroes like you can be. That’s what I mean.” The Seraph smiled, offering his hand to the not-so-gentle giant. The mountain of a man seized it in an iron grip, billowing with laughter as he gave a very powerful handshake. Ow. OW.

“Now you speak words I like! Yes, I will talk to the ruby horse. She seems very nice. She is down below deck, yes?”

Arin slowly withdrew his absolutely destroyed hand, quietly hiding the broken fingers beneath his arm. Stifling the pain, and putting it down somewhere deep - he gave a grunt and a nod. “Yep, downstairs. Please don’t hug her or shake her hoof. She may die. Thank you.”

At that, the Knight quickly turned away, forcing himself to cast Antithesis on his smashed hand. The bones popped back into place, mending quickly. By the Feathers, if this was a hoofshake - er… handshake, a hug would be fatal. Thus the warning.

Umbra stepped free of the dim Captain’s cabin, her usual saddlebag draped over her barrel as the ship began to move. She looked a lot healthier now, and as strong willed as ever - save for her bare ribs. That would only ever heal with time. At least she didn’t scar easily.

“Hello again, ‘spooky horn’,” Arin teased, the dark mare smirking at the jest.

“And to you as well, my suicidal friend. Do not think I did not witness the hand you clasped. You are lucky to have a limb left at all, I am sure.” She tossed her mane, giving a quiet yawn as the forest creaked beneath them in the faded sunlight. Tempest was gentle on the throttle, thankfully - from the way she described the lack of care for the ship, he wouldn’t be surprised if this thing was on its last legs. He simply couldn’t see the damage, unlike her.

Celestia did note, long ago, that airships were costly things on the crown budget. Maintenance must have been the core reason.

“I was curious, Arin. Are you fully committed to Princess Celestia? Or are you simply biding your time on a final decision for your love of Princess Luna? The details of this revelation were rather… murky, when you explained it earlier,” Umbra asked, not caring to check for snooty Princesses. She was either as equally suicidal as he is when it came to emotion, or simply had too much gall to care if Celestia heard her prying about their relationship.

The Ascended grew a little nervous at the question. In truth, there were a lot of emotions there, enough to keep a therapist busy for a few months - and he couldn’t just lie to Umbra. It was near impossible; she could see right through any fib you fed her, and she was very quick to exploit that skill. And he couldn’t just walk away, either. After her stunt on this very same deck earlier, she deserved a proper explanation.

“Here. Let’s head somewhere private. Though uh, privacy is going to be hard to find on this ship. There just isn’t much room to work with.”

“Oh? If you were truly in love with the Princess, you would need no privacy to admit this. But very well, follow me. The Captain’s Cabin is still free of errant ears.”

With a flick of her tail, she turned and led the way back inside. It almost felt wrong, following her - especially because he knew their friendship actually had three years of sustenance behind it, and any point he’d bring up about staying with the Princess would be quickly dismantled. He had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be a fun talk about sweethearts. More like a direct assault about his poor judgement.

It also hurt that she pinpointed a problem with his relationship. How much love did he really have for his sunlight mare? She did push the letter, at the start… quite hard, too.

Maybe he’s overthinking things. He was just going to explain the situation to her, she would nod and say a few sagely words, then she’d let him run off with his tail between his legs. After all, it’s not like he had much choice in anything he’s done so far. Well, besides maybe what he wore in the morning… set of clothes A, or set of clothes B.

…

Arin definitely had problems. Maybe he’ll go to the same therapist Celestia will, when it’s all said and done. They could call it couple’s therapy. The door to the small cabin clicked shut behind him, plunging him into the dim light of the shuttered windows and burning candles.

This careful flight back was going to be exceptionally rough for him. He could tell.

Chapter 55 - A Heartfelt Gift

Settling into the once cozy cabin was a little… awkward. There was a lot of damaged goods rolling about - pictures stripped from the wall and crushed beneath Umbra’s hooves, journals and documents of the former Captain ripped to shreds. As if killing him wasn’t enough, she made an effort to destroy every piece of evidence he ever existed.

Of course, Umbra mentioned none of this, as he stepped through the mess to the stripped bed. Yes, she even ripped the pillowcases and sheets off, out of pure frustration. His foot collided with a large tub of hair grease, which he kicked out of the way.

“I had considered tossing all of this to the winds below. But I doubt I will stay here much longer, in this disgusting memoir to that Seraph’s legacy. But, I digress. Please, sit. Speak. I wish to be the ear you need right now, nothing more… not yet.” Umbra beckoned him with a hoof, the hard rumble of the propeller behind giving plenty of room to speak.

Sitting on the side of the bed with the former Umbrum, his mind travelled back to when she ‘found’ him in the wilds, and how she’d rest at the foot of the bed while he recovered. She only had the one bed, after all - but she was content to sleep by his side, in case her guest needed assistance. Even under the influence of the dark, a light burned within her that refused to go out.

“Well, I guess you could say our… ‘relationship’ technically began on the moon. Nightmare Moon had cursed her dreams into the same loop. She would fall asleep, wake up in the dream, and sit on the moon for a thousand years - staring at Equis. Again and again and again… any time she slept, it was the same process. Over and over. So when I found her, she was so touch starved that it was impossible to get her off of me. I mean… I could, but…”

He scratched his arm. “She needed someone. Anyone. And she knew me, and respected me - and before any of this ever happened, I’m pretty sure she had some less than wholesome thoughts about me, too, since I was dating Luna. So being there, with no one else to talk to, she kind of… leaned on me. Hard. For any support she could get. Any emotion she could feel. It was like the light of hope had been driven out of her, and she had nothing else left to cling to but me.”

Umbra nodded, frowning. “An emotion I had felt before. When I lived in the Frozen Wastes, decades of solitude left me pining for something other than business talk to purchase supplies. A part of me wanted a friend, and I found it through you, Arin. Even if the darkness fought it, you persisted.”

Arin’s voice followed shortly in a deep sigh, “Yes, but… Celestia wanted more than just a companion. It was like… there was a pit inside of her, that she needed a lover to fill. And well… she found me at the worst time. You see, I still feel… guilty, for being with Celestia in this way. But I was weak, too. Three years alone, and I only dated Luna for a few sparse… Well, it feels like days. I knew her for a bit, sure, but… I didn’t know know her.”

When his words trailed off, she continued to stare. A silent trick to convince someone to keep talking. And it worked. If anything, Arin picked it up from her.

“Anyway… I tried my best to reject her for a time. But eventually, after our escape from Canterlot - she confronted me. And I just… I needed love, too. So I relented; but only under the condition that it was a temporary affair. After we saved Luna, I would decide again on who I wanted to pursue. Since then, I’ve maybe… just a bit felt like a piece of meat to her. I mean, I do have love for her. It’s there. But I kinda felt pushed into it. And with Luna, there’s love too - but who’s to say we both didn’t change? It was also just as sudden.”

He fell back on the bed with a groan, the old springs beneath creaking as he did so. Umbra turned to face him, before curling up close to - but not by - his side. Her emerald green eyes watched him curiously, her horn sparkling as she withdrew a small locket from her bag.

“Here,” she stated, dropping it on his chest, right over his dragonhide vest. “I bought this for you. A gift. Not for a friend, but… for a Seraph I love. One I have known for three years, who saved me from a dark place.”

He lifted up the heart shaped locket, delicately crafted in a fine silver, yet tough as steel and much thicker than a bit. Roughly bigger than his thumb, but still beautiful - he smiled, clicking it open. The portrait was empty, of course, but there was an inscription on the lid.

‘A thousand years of shadows could not dull your light. A thousand years more could not fade my love. I will protect you, always. -Umbra.’

His heart melted at those words, that shined faintly in the dim light of the cabin through a gentle magic. And he just knew. Of all the ponies he met, and the two he’s loved… Umbra stood out. She has been by his side since the day they met. And she would stay by his side, until the bitter end. There wasn’t another in the world who could take her heart. He earned it. It wasn’t just given away, whether by outside manipulation or loneliness. She chose to give it to him.

And even if he decided to remain just friends with her… she would wait. She was patient. She already said that, but… it just shows how much he means to her.

“But Umbra… why. Why now?” he asked, turning to his side to face her. He couldn’t stop his hand from delicately caressing her cheek. In one of her few moments of genuine emotion, her hoof cupped his hand - embracing it.

“I had idle thoughts about it, during my tenure as your Spymaster. But duty came before love. And I knew you still had a heart for Luna; you wrote her nearly every chance you could, to keep her informed. Even if she did not write back for weeks, you… you were persistent. And it dulled these thoughts. But I never gave up. During my time back in Canterlot, I decided to embrace a change of pace. I needed a goal. Something to look towards. And I found it in love.

“Vee recommended this trinket as nothing more than a good luck charm; it is thick and sturdy, and her raven wrote within it the inscription at my beckoning. I found the words in my heart, and they came naturally. They are special to me, because it is the truth. I love you, Arin. And I will love you until my death.”

She withdrew her hoof from his cheek, a warmth filling his chest as their eyes held together for several moments more. For once in his short life, he felt like he truly found something special. Not just rushed love and needy affection, but a soulmate. And it took him three years to see that. Even with her somewhat barbaric nature and her past, she saw him as a true equal.

What had he done to deserve this affection? With Luna - it was no fault of her own. Celestia - it was what felt like thousands of years of loneliness. But for Umbra… it was his heart, his personality. Not just the fact that he was there. His ability to never give up hope. To push on in the dark, to fight against the shadows of doubt and insecurity.

Love was a horrible thing, when it was so crude. In every other relationship in the past, he was a placeholder for something else. He treated Luna’s growing depression. He aided Celestia’s overwhelming loneliness. But for Umbra, he wasn’t the solution - the missing piece. She simply wished to share the hope he’s given her. And that wasn’t something she was keen on forgetting.

Without even thinking about it, he darted in to kiss her - but a hoof roughly pushed against his chest, keeping him away.

“I was brash earlier Arin, when I kissed you. My emotions were high, and I was an uncontrollable, starved, cornered beast. I apologize immensely for doing so without your permission, and under such gruesome circumstances. But I can not hold you now, as I wish. I will not break the Princess’s heart, so close to our final battle. And I would not lie to her about my love for you. For now, Arin - simply live life. You said you would speak again about love after the final encounter with the Nightmare, and I expect you to hold this truth dear. If you decide to choose me… I can give you nothing but my company, as you have done for me.”

“...You’re right.” Arin relented, instead leaning back to slip the string of the locket over his neck. It settled low over his chest, right above his heart. A comfortable spot for it to be. “Rushing into love put me in this mess. I should think about this… I finally have my own choice in the matter, after all. For once in my life, I get to decide who I love. Umbra, I never knew how badly I needed this talk until now. Just someone to listen to me, and not just… take what they wanted from me.”

He slowly made it to his feet - offering a hand to help her to her hooves. She was quick to accept it, standing up by his side.

“And again, Umbra… Thank you. For everything you’ve done for me. I came out all this way to save you, but… in the end, it’s you who saved me. Even if I fumble my words or emotions, you’ve always been there to catch me when I fall.”

“It is what friends do, Arin. You helped teach me this. I will never forget the lessons of our past. Let us move; I desire proper rest not tainted by dangling chains or rampant laughter from outside my door. Will you help me procure a hammock to sleep?” She opened the door with her magic, billowing wind flooding the cabin. The assorted piles of trash and junk shifted and stirred in the breeze, as the ship made progress over the vast forests below.

“Of course! Before you do pass out, though, keep in mind that Nightmare Moon’s magic can find us when in the Lunar Plane, if you sleep unprotected. We’ll talk with Vee about a dream catcher for you. Besides, I’m not too far off from passing out myself.”

Stepping into the cool, whipping air - the Lunar Halo soon loomed before them, creeping ever onwards and to the far horizon. Snow would soon be ripping at the ship, a freezing blizzard that could chill one down to their very bones. The warm, early autumn winds around them would fade, and Tempest would surely need blankets to keep warm. But another question soon arose; who would pilot the ship when they inevitably craved rest? They couldn’t anchor for a nap. They’d have less than a dozen hours to both come up with a plan, and challenge Nightmare Moon, by the time they approached Canterlot Airspace.

As they turned to enter the decks below, a peculiar sight caught their eye. Oarkin was trapped in the doorway, massive wings caught on against the frame of the wall. He glowered at them both, having stumbled in the tight space and trapped himself.

“You two! Thin pony and King - pull me. I am stuck,” he growled, the frame creaking as he struggled. He didn’t want to shatter the door - though he definitely could, it might not be the best idea to damage their transport.

“Alright, alright, we’re on it-” Arin started, but was quickly cut off.

Umbra’s horn flashed, the wood cracking and creaking as it expanded and gave way - letting Oarkin slump forward, and stagger out of the entrance with a grunt. The much smaller door rattled in the wind for a moment, before the magic faded and the wood snapped back into place with splintering wood.

Well… that works.

“Ah! Thank you, dark pony. You are very kind and smart! I would have broken the door.” He went to give her two pats on the head - and when the first nearly knocked her off of her legs, she faded into shadows as the second sailed past. Oarkin hardly even noticed, as she reformed before him. Rubbing her now aching head. Ow. “By the way, King! I did not hug the tall sun pony. She was okay with just a pat on her back.”

“...I’ll go and relocate her spine. Thanks for the uh… warning. I guess.”

“Warning? Do ponies not like petting? Hm. Strange.” He scratched his scraggly beard. “Very well! I will speak with the Captain. She is a very fast horse, and I like her! Like Veen. Veen is a good pegasoos.” He billowed a laugh, turning to the stairs nearby. With massive thunks of his steps, he made his way up the flight of stairs to bother Tempest and Pumpkin.

“I worry about the decision to include him, Arin,” Umbra stated, the Seraph hot on her heels as she trotted down the steps. “How do you know you can trust him?”

“How did I know I could trust you?” he quietly replied. “It’s not like he has anywhere else to go. Sound familiar?”

Umbra blinked. “...Point taken.”

They found Celestia and Vee resting quietly in the crew’s quarters - Celestia collapsed on the floor in a pile, Vee preening feathers over her grave. It seems Oarkin had a bit too much fun with the Princess.

“Tia!” Arin frowned, jogging up to her side. He quickly slid forward on his knees, the magic-empowered Alicorn raising her head meekly to greet him.

“Ah! Arin, just who I was hoping to see. Could you do me a favor and put my bones back in place? That would be lovely.” She smiled faintly, before her head lazily fell back to the floor. He looked over her back with a worried sigh. That was a big hand-shaped bruise, right between her shoulder blades. Channeling magic once more, he cast Antithesis across her body in a flash - the morning mare gasping as her bones went on the mend.

“Better?”

“Very.” She stumbled up to her flank, flicking purple feathers off of her back with a scowl. Umbra made a clear effort to avoid the preening trash, as it tumbled close to her gray hooves. “I think Oarkin needs to mind his own strength… And Vee, could you have been a little more helpful?”

“Neigh.” The Purple stared, spitting a feather at Celestia despite her upset glare.

“Neigh as in ‘no’ or neigh as in the noise?” The Princess crossed her forehooves, leaning back fully on her rump. Her red mane billowing in magical waves.

“Neigh.”

“Arin, this is going nowhere. I just wanted to discuss my idea with her, concerning our upcoming battle. See, if Vee can channel Dream Magic, she could fade us partially into the dream realm or something - allowing us to fight the nightmares controlling Nightmare Moon’s army. But all she says… is ‘neigh’.”

“Hmm…” He hummed, scooching over to Vee’s side. He sat eye to eye with the purple horse, gazing into her irises.

“Neigh?” he asked. Maybe she just needed someone to talk to on the same wavelength as her?

“Neigh!” She nodded, lowering a preening wing. “Hello, Tall-fry. You’ve got a brain beneath the mane, I see. Lots of feathers there. What brings you to my daily preening ritual?”

“Er… just wanted to see if you’d talk with Celestia?” He smiled, falling back an inch or two to give her space. The Purple turned her head to look at the Princess, frowned, and went back to preening.

“...Neigh.”

“Uh… why not?”

“Her mane is too red now. I don’t like it. It’s the ugliest color.”

“So you won’t talk to Celestia… because her mane is too red,” Arin deadpanned. Vee nodded.

“You’ve snooted out the answer, Tall-fry. Pink? Yes. Soft red? Sure. Dark red? You’ve gone a feather too far! Princess Snooty should change it back if she wants my help. Bold of her to come into MY preening room, neigh at MY ears, with HER UGLY RED MANE, and expect me to give a snoot!”

Princess Celestia face-hooved, sighing. “This is by far the shallowest thing I’ve ever heard. Vee, I can’t control my mane color. It represents my magic, and the presence of harmony. And even if I could, I like red! It makes me feel young again.”

“Hmhm, too bad, Stupid-mane-fry. The answer is still neigh.” Vee nibbled a tiny feather off for good measure, blowing it on Celestia’s nose. The morning mare followed it up by giving an annoyed sneeze.

“As much as I would like to stay for this… amusing interaction. I require rest. Vee, will you spare a dream catcher for me?” Umbra offered a hoof forward, ready to accept her ticket to a good night’s rest.

“Sure thing, Spooky-fry! It’s free for you.” Vee’s nose slid into her resting satchel, withdrawing the relic in question to place gently in Umbra’s hooves.

“Wait! Why didn’t you charge Umbra twenty bits? Why am I expected to hoof a bill when she gets it for free?” Celestia frowned, as the pegasus raised a wing to block all the nasty red from her sight.

“Customer loyalty program, Ugly-fry. Come back after you’ve spent your life savings on herbs and potions, and a hair change, and we’ll neigh. Until then…”

She dropped her wing to face Celestia again. Eyes closed, and with a smile, she repeated herself. “Neigh.”

Fwip! Her purple wing shot back up like a barricade, one she started to preen. Celestia gave up - standing to her hooves to find a nearby hammock. There were plenty around, at least - all sized for Seraph legs, so they had a fair bit of space to them, too. Before Arin could so much as even speak, Celestia’s golden magic engulfed him - dragging him along with her for some frustrated teddy bear snuggles.

“Hey! Don’t I get a say in this?!” Arin yelped, as Celestia tossed him onto a nearby hammock.

“...Neigh,” Came the Princess’s royal reply, before jumping on top with the creak of rope. Her wings hugged tightly around Arin, as Vee snuck by to place two dream catchers silently beneath the shared hammock. At least she still cared about their safety. Or… Arin’s safety. Probably.

Chapter 56 - Fluff

Arin was the first to stir to a gentle shake from Pumpkin’s hoof. “Psst! A-Arin!” she squeaked, tapping her hooves together nervously.

“Five more minutes…” he groaned, rolling back into Celestia’s oh so cuddly and warm wings. Warm, because the air around his legs was chilly, freezing cold. He tangled his limbs up in hers, the small pony below pressing her nose into his side through the hammock.

“What?” he growled, eyes fluttering open. “What, Pumpkin?”

“T-Tempest needed a break, and um… she wanted you to drive the ship.”

“Huh? How long has it been?” He shuffled around to his legs, after fighting off the giant white blanket snuggling his chest. Celestia tried to pry him back into her grip, but when he refused - her eyes eventually split and scanned the dark, shivering just a little from the lack of body heat.

“A few hours, b-but um… it’s been a long day. We’re over Driderhold now, and it’s a bit hard to see in the smoke and snow.”

He clattered his shoes to the floor - Celestia didn’t even give him a chance to strip, after all - stretching and popping his back in the process.

“Arin? Nooo… come back to bed,” the Princess sleepily whined, golden magic twinkling as she pulled at his hand.

“I would, but our pilot needs a break. I uh… never piloted an airship before. I hope she isn’t serious about putting me at the helm.” He popped his fingers; the stirring and talking enough to wake Umbra as well - who was quick to snap out of bed and join him.

“I will assist. I see well through snow and darkness alike.”

“But what about sleeeeeep… I need a cushion for my legs, and a warmer for my wings,” Celestia continued to complain, her magenta eyes half-drawn in the dark. Arin, not wanting to argue with her - reached down and grabbed Pumpkin, tossing her to the morning mare without a second thought. Her hat fluttered to the floor, as the Princess snatched her like a hungry piranha.

“E-Eep! T-Tia! No!”

“Pumpkin plushiiiieeee… Oh! You’re all cold!” Her wings darted around the little mare, who struggled in vain at her hooves and wings. Within seconds, the Princess began to quietly snore.

“A-Arin! Y-You traitor! Backstabber! I-I can’t believe you-eep!” The big, white, fluffy appendage of assorted pinions darted around her head, Celestia nosing Pumpkin’s smaller body into her chest. “I-I won’t forget this! Tempest will s-save me!” her muffled voice screamed, before giving up. There was no way in Tartarus she’d be able to win against Celestia in a wrestling match like this. Not when Celestia was the World’s Second Best Snuggler.

Leaving the little mare to her fate, Arin and Umbra both made the journey upstairs with little delay. That is, until they stepped out into the freezing, mane-blowing blizzard. Arin sheltered his eyes, the heat driven out of him in an instant - the gray Unicorn strong against the chilling storm.

The helm of the deck held Tempest, who was wrapped in several layers of blanket from the Captain’s quarters. Oarkin must have found a comfy place to sleep - he was nowhere in sight, neither on deck or below. If anything, he might have tore his way into the cabin to stay warm.

“Arin, Umbra. Good to see you both awake for the night shift.” She smiled, forcing the Lunar Knight to roll his eyes. Luna did call her work the night shift, after all.

“Yeah yeah, I get it. Just give me the rundown on the controls so you can get to sleep.” Arin had the smart idea to dig around in his Feyleather pack as they talked, hoping to scrounge up his old winter gear. Unfortunately, either it was abandoned on the moon - likely, or too damaged and discarded by the White Tail during his capture. Also likely. He couldn’t recall at the moment.

“Very well then. You won’t have to pull any levers today - all you have to do is steer. Let me make myself clear. You are only steering the ship. Do you understand? Do not touch the throttle. Do not shift gears. If there is an emergency, draw the throttle back to neutral, pop the clutch, and at the same time - shift the gears back slowly into first. You have no reason to do this otherwise. Let me give you a demonstration. Prepare for a jerk. And pay attention.”

Her horn cackled with sparks, to keep his eyes focused. She dropped the throttle back to zero, clenched the handle and held the clutch - before quickly shifting the gears down to first. It happened so fast, he nearly couldn’t keep up.

And he didn’t have time for notes, because when it dropped to first - he nearly crashed into the floor. If it weren’t for Umbra’s quick magic steadying him, he’d have a broken nose by now. He didn’t want to pop his trusty ‘snooter’ back in place again; the last time he did was when he freshly arrived in Canterlot, and smashed his face into the marble tiles chasing after Honey Rose.

Tempest expertly shuffled the gears back, raising the throttle steadily up to match it - jerking it down with each shift. By the Feathers, how did she do it so quickly with just two hooves?

“Simple enough, right, Arin?” Her piercing ocean green eyes struck through him like the snow, making him nod.

“Yeah, simple. I guess I’ll find you if there's a problem?” Arin’s nervous laugh was quick to follow, as Umbra gently took hold of the wheel in her hooves - despite Arin supposedly being the helmsman for the night. Her unwavering eyes peered ahead in the cold, almost entirely unbothered by the soot and snow. Arin had to blink, just to keep ash out of his eyes.

“...Yes. Simple. Arin, if you crash this ship, and we both somehow survive this experience, no amount of healing magic in all of Equis will undo what I’ll do to you.”

“I uh, take that you won’t be hugging me, then? Happy we’re both still alive?” Arin fell back an inch from the daunting Commander, who quietly shook her head. The fact that she was only a couple of inches shorter than him did little to help his nerves against the threat - the Commander on eye level with Umbra.

“I’m afraid not. Now, I’m going to go find Pumpkin. The only obstacle up here is the far off mountains. I seriously don’t know how you could buck this up. So please, no surprises.”

She said that last point with so much stress on the word, that he could feel the sentence bending to support it. A verbal feat that only a pony of her caliber could perform. She offered the heavy blankets to him, which he greedily accepted - before slinking off the helm and into the significantly less freezing halls below.

“It is hard for ponies like her and myself to trust something so important to a friend. Despite the malice, consider it an honor, Arin.” Umbra smiled, unwavering in her control of the ship.

“You know, I honestly couldn’t tell on my own. She’s had little faith in us up until recently, I thought she was simply being her usual self.” The seraph gently draped the blankets over his dear friend, making sure she’s warm.

“Just because one acts naturally, does not mean they have not changed. Before your adventure, I am sure she would relentlessly pursue a task like this until it was finished, despite the physical toll. To trust your judgement and skill over her own is more than a leap of faith. It is a sign of true growth.” A stiff breeze made Umbra turn softly into the wind; instinct to fight back against the whipping air overwhelming her urge to stay on track.

Arin made his way to the edge of the ship, chancing a look down to the burning valley beneath them. The coarse smoke flooded over the rails of the ship in thick clouds, sundered through by powerful drafts of freezing snow. Even in the dark of the endless moonlight, the massive embers of smoldering trees and sizzling corpses reached his eyes; the flames below still churning with rolling intensity.

He couldn’t see far beyond the blackened air and sparks. But it was enough to make him happy. He wouldn’t have to walk through that infested graveyard ever again. It probably also burnt up those weird black tendrils, too. And once the flames settled in the far future, life could flourish anew. Nature would continue, the ashes would settle, and the flames would turn into a bloom of new greenery.

This land could finally heal from the wounds it bore. Perhaps the forced autumn in the Deepwoods behind could allow the corpses of those long dead ponies to rest, as well - as the light of the sun could will the darkness away. If and only if they could bring peace to the land.

Coughing up a bit too much ash for his own liking, the Seraph rejoined Umbra by the wheel.

“Did I ever tell you how much I hate spiders now? I used to think they were a cool, morbid curiosity - how they would ambush prey in their webs, back in Erenorn. Now? No.”

“The tales weaved of the Driderhold do not show much mercy for their kind. I personally believe that I would slip around the edges, and keep to the clearings free of their ilk. Or simply avoid the devastation all together, as any sane pony would.” Umbra offered the wheel to Arin, who graciously accepted. They had their heading; the cloudless moon, far above. It was settled directly over Canterlot, after all - and could just barely be seen in the smoke and endless torrent of cold.

Umbra’s magic shifted, dragging the heavy blanket up over his tall shoulders. With a slip of the edge, it embraced tightly around him - as his wing slid down to hug her form close. She didn’t say much about the touch - but it was graciously accepted.

“What concerns me… is this ‘Entity’, Lord Mapleheart spoke of. It sounds eerily similar to the dark presence in Copse Vale you described. It even bears the same name. You spoke of the strange Carnival there - the ponies trapped in the dark, in an endless festival. How the shadows sunk its claws into the fairgrounds whenever the illusion of safety was broken, and it flourished under fear. If it is not related, then I am at a loss.” Umbra’s eyes scanned the darkness ahead of them, concentrating on anything that may disrupt their steady flight.

“No, I know they’re related. I refuse to believe they’re not. And if those… ‘dark kin’ are somehow at fault too, and the Umbrum beneath the Crystal Empire…” Arin sighed. “This may not be our last battle. Not yet. I wonder what else is related to the Entity.”

The ship swayed from a fresh gust of smoke-heavy wind, snow skittering across the deck. Umbra thought quietly on this information, hoping to spark some fresh ideas.

“Perhaps changelings? They drain love from their prey, and they are pony-like in nature.” She thought aloud. Unfortunately, Arin had never met a changeling to confirm. Apparently, there were two species of them - the Dark Chitin, and the Gleaming Shells. Dark Chitin Changelings were still obedient to Queen Chrysalis, and did just as Umbra explained - suck love. Gleaming Shells no longer require love, and instead sustain off of normal food - much like a normal pony. Luckily, Shining Armor covered them in depth during his Knight training, much to his shame. But any failure is a chance to learn, and teach.

“Maybe. They can create more changelings through either breeding, or through corrupting ponies - just like the Dark Kin can infect ponies and use their bodies to move around. I could definitely see it being related. And draining love sounds pretty close, too. What about the undead in the lake in Copse Vale? Those have to be related. They had black tentacles in their mouths and across their bodies.”

“Perhaps. It takes a vile creature to animate a corpse. But perhaps the answer is in the Carnival itself. It exists in the Shadowfell - the same plane that Umbrum prowl. I believe Celestia stated, quite firmly - that you were allowed to enter, if you ‘bought a drink’ - or, if you fell in the lake. Was the Ferrystallion a piece of the Entity? Or a corrupted soul at it’s call?” Umbra shuffled just a bit closer, to help keep warm. Something Arin noticed, and rather enjoyed.

“I think it’s likely. Perhaps the lake itself served as an entrance into the Shadowfell - and the Entity intended to consume us along with the Carnival? I don’t think the Ferrystallion was working with the Ticketmaster. Not in the same way, at least. Though they are related, and aware of each other. This is… something we’ll never have a proper answer to, I’m afraid.”

Their conversation continued onwards a few hours more, turning slowly to more trivial things. One of which being Umbra’s cutiemark - or, lack thereof.

“If you had to choose a special talent - what would it be?” the Seraph asked, the dark gray Unicorn now pressed tightly to his side. Arin’s arm rested over her shoulder - she was, after all, around the same size as Princess Luna. If Celestia was on eye level, then she was a few inches lower - making her neck the perfect arm rest.

“One does not simply ‘choose’ their talent. The talent chooses the pony. I have only been a pony for three years; even with my knowledge, that is not much time to find the correct skill.”

“Wow, that’s a really long talent name! Would you like me to write that down, and hope it appears on your flanks for you?” The Seraph chuckled, forcing a smirk on the usually stoic muzzle of the Unicorn.

“Why yes, please do. I will even fetch thumbtacks; we will pin it on, and gaze upon its beauty. My talent; the ability to avoid questions. But I will not digress; for a less mundane task, I would wish for something related to the field of magic. Perhaps the study of ancient spells. Or, if I must limit myself to the chores of peasants - then cooking sounds pleasurable. Especially when meat is involved.”

Umbra’s carnivorous nature never faded, huh? Note to self: Never die around Umbra. She may try your meat in a stew.

“Funny, I’ve only ever seen you serve a couple things. Though they’re really delicious, how big is your cookbook?” By now, his eyes had slipped off the approaching east, Umbra’s own gaze wandering out of boredom.

“I have quite the selection beyond stews and soup, yet rarely the chance to attempt my hoof at it. I was quite fond of baking, for a while - dark chocolate brownies and rich cakes. But the ingredients are expensive, when eggs freeze in your pack or crack on your travels. I had attempted to keep chickens to offset this issue, but they died rapidly in the cold. I cook a wonderful roast, as well. I learned that after tending to my former livestock.”

“Expensive? Actually, I never asked, but… how’d you make money living in the Frozen Wastes? Surely you couldn’t apply at the local Neigh-Mart. Nor shop in the Crystal Empire - you were always kinda quiet on the issue, back in Erenorn. If you were even nearby - you threw yourself into your work back then.” Arin leaned against the strapped instructions on the wheel - staring now at the thinking Umbra.

“I occasionally took an assassination contract for the less-than-brave Nobles of Canterlot. Usually union leaders, or other ponies they simply did not wish to see on the streets. It gave me time to adopt a persona - Amethyst Amoire, which I would use to great advantage when blending in.”

“By the Feathers - you… actually, no, that’s reasonable. You were exceptional at your job, back in Alma Sol. But you killed ponies for cash? That doesn’t bother you now?” Arin let the shock leave him, now eager to probe deeper into her past.

“It did not. At the time, I lacked… ‘empathy’, as you explained to me, three years ago. Now? I do not think I could do so in good conscience. Seraphs aren’t an issue - many are deserving of death. But I do not believe I could return to my old ways. Not now. Not again. And not ever onwards.”

Her eyes swiveled back to the dark smoke before them - grimacing as her magic roughly knocked Arin to the side out from the blanket, seizing the wheel to give it a mighty, terrifyingly sharp spin towards port. The Seraph’s eyes shot forward - unable to spot the obstacle Umbra was clearly trying to avoid in the falling snow and black smoke.

She stared at the levers, grabbing Arin by the arm and tugging him forward. “Mountain! Stop! Now!” she yelled, as the rudder rolled the ship in a wide, uncontained circle - she clenched the wheel again, spinning it hard to starboard as the boat rocked and careened. Jostling in the air in bouncing swings of the balloon’s ropes.

Arin gripped the rusted controls, crouching low to keep his balance. In the pitch of the night, he couldn’t see - and quickly summoned a Mage Light to illuminate the dark. What was the order again?!

He found ‘throttle’ and yanked it back to neutral - the rust forcing him to slam into the bar just to get it to yield. How could Tempest do this so easily! Next, clutch… by the feathers, what does a clutch even do?

Finding the lever, he squeezed it tight and yanked - and… nothing. He yanked it again, twice more - nothing. Wasn’t it supposed to stop now? Why were the propellers still spinning?!

“Arin! We are not stopping! I specifically requested stopping!” Umbra growled, the mountains looming into view of the swaying ship. By the Feathers - they were bearing down on the peaks, and with the engine idling fast - they wouldn’t be able to turn out of hull-shattering collision soon.

Right! The gears! Clutch - shift down, clutch shift down - all the way to first.

Their momentum carried them forward, before the lack of power jerked the ship in a seizing rocking motion - Arin’s face crashing into the solid poles in front of them. Luckily, Umbra’s magic yanked him to his feet before he could jostle one forward - or worse, snap them clean off.

The door to the crew’s cabin bucked open, Tempest lunging on the deck in a rush - Pumpkin dangling anxiously from her neck. But, finding them not slamming into the rock of the far mountains, her shaky legs soon came to a rest - stomping her way back to the helm. Pumpkin taking this moment to shuffle to her side, following quietly along.

“Thank you, you two - but I think I’ll take it from here,” she burst, politely motioning for Umbra to move. The dark mare did so, more than happy to be free of responsibility once more.

“Hey, it could have been worse, Tempest. Sorry for waking you up.” Arin scratched the back of his head, hoping to shake off the tension and ease the Commander’s stress.

“...It’s fine. You did… admirable. I meant to navigate the mountains on my own. Thank you for letting me rest. I’ll handle it from here. We didn’t crash, that’s all that matters. And I’m sorry for waking you up, Pumpkin.”

The little mare gave a shrug. “It happens, hon.”

Arin and Umbra, no worse for wear - stepped off the helm with soft thuds on wood. Their Captain calling to the Seraph before he vanished.

“And Arin?” she said above the whipping winds.

“Yes?”

“Please refrain from putting my marefriend in the lion’s den again. She was almost smothered by Celestia’s fluff. I was almost smothered, as well. If I didn’t zap her with my magic, neither of us would have survived to tell the tale.”

Chapter 57 - Undying Loyalty

The icy winds rippled against the Castle walls, snow falling in its endless dazzle across the land. Her eyes hunted the moon, embracing its beauty and majesty. Her rule was solidified; only the faintest outliers were left, the resistance against her near futile. Nightmare Moon breathed in the delicious, magic-laden air. She ruled this world. It was hers now - only the faint sun in the distance stood between her, and total domination. And soon, it too would fall.

“My Queen,” a soft voice called; a familiar purple alicorn kneeling before the throne. She wore a heavy coat to protect her from the chill in the air, her head bowing in total respect of her ruler. The black of her corneas had shifted to a soft blue, the magic of the moon swirling dominantly within her. “I come bearing news of the Crystal Empire.”

“Oh? Have they finally surrendered to the night and its glory?” The Nightmare smiled, turning to face her loyal subject with joy.

“They are still struggling against our hold - but the magic of the Crystal Heart is fading. The power of the Empire is relinquishing with each hour, and it is likely soon that they will submit to your proper rule as the sun falls for the final time. Our enemies will be no more, and the night will truly be eternal.” Twilight smiled, lifting her head from the deep bow.

“Wonderful, my subject - but I did not instruct you to be at ease.” The Queen’s horn flicked with a casual spark of blue magic, forcing the loyal mare’s chin to the floor in proper respect of her majesty.

“I am truly sorry, my Empress. I promise to never let it happen again.” Twilight submitted; it was her mistake to assume that she could rise to meet her eyes properly. “I have other news, concerning the exiled ‘Princess’.”

The sheer amount of bitter hostility in Twilight’s voice regarding her now vagabond sister could nearly make the Nightmare blush - if a scowl didn’t take hold first. Any news concerning Celestia should be accompanied by her head on a platter, and Arin in chains. Though she hardly needed him, a part of her she couldn’t shake would cry out at his demise. The lesser half, deep below. Just another thought to be abandoned. But his body could satiate other needs - menial labor, powerful healing magic. She would find use for him yet.

“Go on. I am curious now; were my scouts successful in tracking them down? Or do they still elude me and my justice?”

“The feather trail ended in White Tail Wood. At first, it was an easy enough path to follow - but it appeared to lead north, towards Vanhoover. Our scouts were misled. They traveled far West instead.”

Vee. If there was one pony she hated on equal terms to the former Twilight, it would be her. It was not the first time Vee ruined her plans. Long ago, she founded a Lunar Acolyte who was in search of a familiar of her own - and through her, she would have escaped her banishment early. If it weren’t for Vee. The dark mare was quite surprised she could persist so long under her curse; no matter. Simple tricks would not delay the inevitable for long; but she should have predicted her excessive preening would lead them astray. A childish spell, to breeze her feathers to places beyond her own step - one she should have seen coming.

“They flee to the edge of the sunlight, then. When the moon eclipses all, it will not matter; I will find them. And I will take them in their sleep.” Nightmare Moon stepped quietly around Twilight, exiting into the grand hall of her castle.

“I will speak with my new Guard Captain, Flash Sentry, when the moment arises. I will see to it that he keeps my security tight. All entrances to the Castle should be under heavy scrutiny - the crystal caves below, as well, should not be forgotten. Until the moon takes all, I will not ease my vigil. How does the rainbow brat fair? Still struggling against my command?” The menacing alicorn hesitated by the door - awaiting her servant’s response.

“Rainbow Dash is as stalwart as the day she was captured. All of my friends have joined your cause, my Queen, save her. But she will break soon enough, I promise.”

“Very well then. I trust you will speak with her again. See to it that her struggles are futile. After all - she would fit well under my wing and command, much like you, my Subject.”

Twilight bowed at the compliment; she was obedient and subservient to the one true Queen, after all. And her loyalty was rewarded well; the most beautiful dreams came to her in her rest, and the most obedient of ponies were given the attention of their Queen, which she basked in religiously.

“Now. I will fetch my advisor - Blueblood. He was so eager to join my cause, unlike you, Twilight. I believe his words have weight in the affairs of my Subjects’ pitiful toils.”

And with that, the Nightmare vanished beyond the great doors in a flurry of jet-black wings. Alone, Twilight stood and calmly made her way towards the familiar, now blue-stained halls of Canterlot.

To the dungeon she would travel - quietly, like a spectre in the night. Her eyes adjusted perfectly to the blue flames scattering their faint light through the halls. Attentive guards paid her no attention - no salutes were given in her tribute. She was, after all, nothing more than an obedient underlying to the true Queen.

Taking the side passage down to the Guard’s quarters, she veered off the main path and into a less traveled one; the pristine white marble shifting into more roughshod stone brick as she stepped into the Jailer’s office. The stallion in charge snapped awake with a snort, but quickly fell back to his dreams without another word. Sleeping was often encouraged in the castle, after all - the beautiful dreams the Queen gave were a spectacle to behold.

Only one cell was left occupied at the moment; Rainbow Dash, the unbreakable Pegasus, sat helplessly in her chains. Her violet eyes gazing sadly at her friend, so far gone from the light.

“Hello again, Rainbow. How do you fare? Are your accommodations acceptable? I can fetch more blankets, if you wish. More food, perhaps?” Twilight gave a dim smile, her eyes holding her former friend close to her heart. She did care for her, and wanted only the best - if only she would accept her aid.

“No chance, Twilight!” Her sad eyes shifted to a glare, “I won’t break! I won’t give up on you, or the Princess! I know you’re still in there! You can hear me, right, Twilight? You’re my friend! You would never work for Nightmare M-”

The purple Alicorn’s magic zipped tightly around Dash’s snout, cutting her off mid complaint.

“I came down here to offer you food, Rainbow. Can’t we have a normal chat, for a change? I’m sure you’re tired of fighting. You’ve been fighting for so long. Surely you’d like to just sleep again? Isn’t the bed provided to your liking? I followed everything by the book on comfortable rest - excessive comfy pillows, thick blankets, a cool room… lavender scents and filling food.”

“Buck no, Twilight! I have creepy dreams when I sleep! Like I’m being hypnotized or something! Can’t you see that Nightmare Moon has done the same to you? That you’re just being controlled? Manipulated? Are you dumb, egghead?! I thought you were smarter than this, Twilight! You’re failing me right now. C’mon…” The rainbow mare sniffled, wiping a tear from her eye. She didn’t cry. She never cried. But knowing all of her friends were abandoning her… it cut deep.

The purple mare blinked - her corneas shifting to a soft black. Senses stirring as she took in those words.

“Failing you?... I… I’ve never failed at anything before. You’re…” Collecting her thoughts, Twilight’s magic snapped at Dashie’s muzzle once again - silencing her. She glared through the rainbow-maned Pegasus, her corneas shifting to the supple blue of the moonlit sky. “Silence! Don’t undermine my judgement, Rainbow Dash. I did not come here to be scrutinized! I came here to help you understand your new place in this world. Maybe some more time alone will help you realize this.”

Twilight turned on her hooves, her purple magic snapping with a fluff of her wings. “You’re just pathetic. Just like the ‘Princess’. At least you didn’t flee to the final sunset.” She spat down the hall, tail swishing in frustration. In her mind, Twilight had spent the last one thousand years serving under Nightmare Moon - in truth, it's only been several nights. Her dreams have taught her well; and she wouldn’t let the words of a ‘friend’ sway her from the lessons she’s learned. She was obedient to her queen, and that wouldn’t change.

The jail door clicked behind her as she left, leaving Rainbow Dash alone in the moonlight. The cold floor kept her awake - her meals mostly ignored, to stay alert and on edge. She wouldn’t break. If she did, nopony would be left to save Equestria. If only she could reach out to Twilight - her words worked, but she always snapped back before she could get through to her. There must be something she could do to break the spell.

If she could convince Twilight, the rest would be a piece of cake. She’d be let out of her cell, they’d find her other friends - a couple of words, maybe a cute song or two - and the Mane Six would be back in action! Ready to take down Nightmare Moon in an instant.

But her mind fell back to reality, and likely her only solution. She popped the chain off of her hoof with ease - a little trick she picked up from Daring Do to unlock shackles was to give them a solid knock in the right spot with a fork. The tumblers inside were often small and easy to force, and because of this, she’s actually been free for days. Twilight was smart, but this odd… dream brainwashing left her dull minded, oddly enough. Like her true brain was being suppressed.

The Dungeons were rarely, if ever, used in Canterlot - and it looks like the previous ‘tenants’ made a few attempts to escape. She vaguely recalled a newspaper article of some castle chefs being held for questioning here - and this cell in particular had some wear in the cobble bricks. Thank Celestia she loved to read the morning comics.

Speaking of Celestia… Twilight made a mistake. She gave her a heading - west, towards the sunset. Stuffing the pillows and blankets against the wall, and with a turn on her hooves, she bucked hard into the stone’s gouges. The dungeon wasn’t built into the earth, as this section of the castle was supported by a small island between two sets of waterfalls. Because of this, the architects couldn’t dig too deep. It helped that she could see how low she was through a window.

She was an athlete. A strong bodied pegasus, not Applejack strong - but strong. The quiet, rough thump of hoof on stone sent a crack right through the wall, muffled by the ample pillows and blankets. Her legs nearly shook from the shock, but she wouldn’t be hampered. Another kick. Harder. Desperate. If she stayed in here for another day - yes, it was still day to her, the ‘infinite night’ could go buck itself - she would lose her nerve and pass out. It may be the last time she fell asleep as Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty. And she couldn’t risk it.

Another jarring buck, the thump of the wall nullified by the sound of running water. Another. Once more. Panting now, she felt something give beyond - and she quickly ripped the sheets free to inspect the damage.

The massive block she intended to squeeze through was loose enough to wiggle and carve, split down the middle with cracks spreading out to encompass the surface. She took her overly fancy fork, gutting the cement around the stone quickly. Finding a grip, her hooves tugged roughly at the cobble - ripping a giant rock to the pillow below. It thumped through the halls, making her tense and freeze in place. If the guard heard that, she’d have to rush.

There. Light. Freedom. All she had to do was dig and wiggle herself free. It would be a tight fit for her, even with her lithe body - but she could do it. She hadn’t given up hope yet.

Forcing her mane into the muck of the mud, her hooves ripped at the roots of grass and clogs of dirt to find friction. It swiftly came, popping her muzzle - then chest and hooves free - with a gasp. Dirt clattering to the churned soil below, her hooves bucked at the stone before finally slipping free.

Panting, she had no time to waste. West. She had to travel west. As far west as she could on little sleep and food.

With a flick of her wings, she hovered above the chilly water’s edge - snowflakes plunging around her dirtied blue coat in the freezing air. She really should have brought a blanket with her - but there was no time to even attempt a blankie rescue. It was do or die!

Rainbow shot forward quietly into the night, tilting down over the waterfall, and into a great plunge. The sunset - it was her goal. She was one of the world’s strongest fliers after all, with a wingpower of sixteen and a half - it was hard to top her in raw speed on an even incline. Endurance, on the other hoof… She was more of a sprinter than a marathon flyer.

Not to ring many alarm bells - as much as she wanted to, the Pegasus steadied her flight as the ground pool far below approached. Her wings billowed in magnificent form, steadying herself in the air before taking to the cover of the trees for protection. This was a stealth mission - being caught, or leaving a trail, could end poorly for her and the Princess.

But the better question is… what was Celestia doing out in the wilds of the far west alone? Was she alone? What about that Seraph - Arin. Was he with her? She wasn’t hiding like a coward, was she?

No. She had to have a plan. And Rainbow was about to find out. Hopefully before her wings cramped up and gave out on her.

Chapter 58 - Rainbow Crash

The cold Lunar chill was easily circumvented by the pile of blankets clinging to Tempest and her small lover, the dark moonlight thick with falling flakes of ice and frozen dreams. Tempest’s eyes traveled the valley of Copse Vale, the massive lake below now only a distant memory in her mind; a doom now circumvented.

“I-I don’t believe you when you say you’ve never kissed another mare, hon,” Pumpkin mewled from her side. “At Crystal Horn Cove, I was shocked I didn’t faint after the first one.”

Pumpkin’s stuttering improved dramatically with time, along with her confidence. Simply being near Tempest gave that effect - the stalwart Commander rarely faltered in the face of adversity, and that same feeling filled Pumpkin with determination to improve her flaws.

“It wasn’t experience, my sweet. Just sheer confidence. It helps when you just melt at my touch, too - for example.”

She slid her hoof across Pumpkin’s mane, much to the sweet mare’s delight. The autumn mare’s pastel green eyes slid shut, cooing quietly at the touch. When her muzzle tilted up to meet Tempest’s soft petting, the Unicorn slid down to catch her lips in a syrupy liplock. And just like that, she was at her complete and total command.

When Tempest slid away, her little lover’s cheeks were colored a soft crimson in the faint light. And just like that, the moment was over - much to the little baker’s frustration.

“W-Wait, n-no, I wasn’t finished…” She frowned, pawing at the Commander’s leg in need.

“Nuh uh uh, my sweet. Later. For now, I should pay attention. We’re almost at the Twin Peaks, and I…”

Her ears flicked, swiveling around to the sound of something rushing through the air. Immediately, she clicked the gears and killed the engine - the airship running adrift in the billowing wind. No light save for the moon, Tempest scanned the approaching mountain with worry.

A flash of a rainbow mane and tail, as the sound arched over the hills - barreling towards them at a hard to control speed. It crashed into the silent, pitch black ship’s railing with a splintering shatter of wood. Instantly, the vessel rocked from the impact - several of the dozens of ropes binding the balloon above snapping with a crack through the air. Rainbow Dash rolled across the deck in a flurry of wings and tumbling yelps, knocking the brig’s door right off of its hinges as she slid and careened inside.

“By the stars above!” Tempest called - the wood creaking heavily as the balloon strained to keep the vessel aloft. She had no choice but to spring into action, throwing the blanket from her shoulders as she jumped to the deck below

“Pumpkin! Rouse Arin and the others - tell them to be ready for battle. I’ll stabilize the balloon. Go! Now!” she ordered, the chipped horn Unicorn leaping from the rail to the deck below. Ropes straining against the leathery fabric above, she seized several spare cords in a desperate slide against the icy deck - tossing lengths and binds around the closest stable structures she could; from frame-tied banisters to dock knobs, her hooves were quick in their action.

Now, the hard part. Securing the blimp above before it was too late. A groan gave way as another taut rope snapped - flying into the air from the released tension.

Within seconds, Pumpkin sounded the alarm below - a clatter of hooves and feet rolling out of hammocks. The Captain’s cabin door swung open with a grunt, Oarkin struggling to fit through the only exit in confusion.

Vee was the first to appear, fluttering her flapping wings to Tempest’s side. The wine-colored mare was quick to act on this, throwing an order to the pegasus.

“The balloon! Double time!” she yelled, tossing the lengths of ropes as high as she could - Vee shooting up high like an arrow to grab them. Regrettably, she had to use a bit of her magic to seize all the ties - but it only confirmed how dire the situation could very well be.

Arin and Umbra were next, followed by the groggy Celestia. Arin held Sun Song aloft, clenching it with both hands as he inspected the deck for any danger.

“Arin! Umbra! Check the brig! Oarkin, Celestia! Help me tie this down - we need strength! Pumpkin! Find more rope! Move!” Tempest snatched a far length of cable in her muzzle from Vee - throwing it loosely around her waist as her hooves kicked and jumped off the deck. Using her body as an anchor to squeeze down the cord over the quickly escaping balloon. Like a well orchestrated machine, the group set to work.

Arin charged into the shattered door, finding Rainbow Dash heaving gulps of chilling air into her sweat soaked body. Blade drawn and unsure, he approached the muck-covered pegasus. Umbra was quick by his side, horn flashing in an oh so familiar detection spell over her struggling body.

“I do not sense corruption within her, Arin. Stay your blade. She needs healing - and shelter. She will die of exposure if we do not act soon. The sweat will dry, and she will freeze beneath her fur.” Umbra withdrew the rainbow pegasus from the crumpled pile of broken boards and twisted metal with a flash of emerald magic, laying her out in the recovery position. “I will find warmth. Tend to her wounds.”

The Seraph nodded, sheathing Sun Song in a hurry. He ran his hands over her limbs and chest, finding the worst damage to be several broken bones in her wings and barrel. A hindleg was also swollen and tender, skin ripped along her side in a scarlet ribbon of blood.

With damage this bad, he started with a Blessing - a sigil of magic that amplified healing power on the struggling mare. Next, Antithesis…

Celestia’s empowered magic seized another rope - a bit unsure on how to tie it down, it took Oarkin’s booming voice to give her a hint.

“Not the rail! You want strong, sturdy wood. Frame wood! It supports much of the ship. Try the…” He idled at the thought, before the terminology sprung in his mind. With a massive finger, he pointed to a two prong hitch on the floor. “The cleats! Yes. Very strong.”

“Right!” Celestia nodded; every day is a school day, after all. Using the arms of the iron hands as leverage, she ripped her magic back steadily until the balloon above creaked taut, throwing a random knot in place to keep it down.

Pumpkin soon reappeared with more rope, the massive coils of it wrapped around her chest. The heavy weight made her stumble, bumbling about until she tripped on the ice-slick floor with a squeak. Tempest quickly darted back onto deck, after looping the length of her binds through two sections of the cannon windows. Breathing deep, she was quick to find more places to tie straps down on the port side of the vessel, the tension deflating slowly with each new rope settling in place.

Unsurprisingly, Pumpkin’s work was ignored - left to sit under the massive pile of coils, as the group settled the final on-deck binds in place.

Umbra was quick to find Rainbow Dash’s side, while Arin surged the bones back in place. With a scream from the speedy pegasus, he popped the jutting femur back into position. Her spare legs crashing and kicking at the deck in overwhelmed agony.

“By the Feathers, Rainbow Dash - what were you thinking?” he asked, using Resurgence to help stifle the coursing, molten sting shooting through her bones.

“Bucking… didn’t see… ship…” she coughed hoarsely in reply, the Seraph sighing in frustration.

“Of course not, you’re flying at night. In blizzard conditions. In unknown territory. Alone, and with no guidance. Really, the fact that you didn’t crash into the mountain first is more surprising.” Another flash of Antithesis soon followed, and he gave a nod to the dark Unicorn - who threw the blankets from above across her seizing form.

“You aren’t… hypnotized?...” she panted out. Umbra shook her head.

“If you stay out of the Lunar Magic, Nightmare Moon’s presence simply can not reach you. Curious how you are unaffected…”

“Curious?! I... I’ve been fighting… for my life!” Rainbow Dash thumped a tired hoof against the wood in frustration, Arin seizing one of her wings to inspect it in his hands.

“Any more breaks?” he asked, touching over the hollow bones with a frown.

“No. Just… give me a minute. I’m… I’m fine. I don’t… suppose you guys have… water, or… something?”

Arin and Umbra shared a look, before the dark Unicorn shrugged - trotting to fulfil her request.

On the deck side of things, Tempest seemed to have ripped the unmaintained ship into some form of stability - wiping her brow of the freezing sweat building there. Her ocean eyes gazed up at the balloon netting, sighing. Safe… for now. This ship wasn’t designed for combat nor neglect, and either of them could capture the party in a fireball. The moment she could, she was ditching this vessel for solid ground.

“Thank you, all of you. You’ve prevented a disaster here - but now, we have many questions, and few answers. Come. We either have a new ally, or a prisoner, to talk to.”

Tempest made her way to the brig on shaky legs, the adrenaline of almost plunging to the Copse Vale below simmering down with her heart rate. Celestia gave a sigh of relief, quick to follow along to see what happened. Pumpkin was still smothered in a rope, unfortunately - and quietly ignored by all, save Oarkin who pried it off.

“T-That’s it! I hate being the shortstack! W-We need a smaller pony that I can bully!” Pumpkin huffed, crossing her hooves as Oarkin readjusted her hat.

“Hush now, small one. You are safe. You did good! Thank you.” He gave her a firm pat on the head - the cute mare letting out an "Eeeep!" as he knocked her to the floor.

“...Woops.” He frowned. When she didn’t immediately respond, he just kind of… quietly put the rope back on top of her. And whistled as he walked away. If any of the other crew members asked, he was never there.

“Rainbow Dash?!” Celestia gasped, galloping into the small confines of the brig right past their Commander - quickly settling by the tired mare’s side. Umbra soon returned with a mug of hopefully clean water, in one of Vee’s many abandoned coffee cups - much to the displeasure of the Purple.

“Princess!...” Rainbow called quietly, as Celestia gently scooped the Element up in her wings for a damp, sweat-soaked hug. “Your mane! It's… red?”

“Neigh,” Vee whispered quietly, mostly out of habit - Celestia slapping her with a wing out of reaction.

“This is what it’s supposed to look like! At least, before I used the Elements to banish Nightmare Moon the first time. But that’s not the point… how did you get here? Wait - Arin, is she?...” Celestia’s magenta eyes turned to their resident White Mage, who shrugged.

“She’s fine, a little battered - but untouched by Lunar Magic. At least from what we can tell.” Arin gave his patient’s hoof a gentle squeeze, the Pegasus rolling her eyes in frustration before ripping it away. The work of a healer was a thankless job, after all.

“Of course I’m fine! I wouldn’t have been able to fly all the way here if I wasn’t!” she spat, as Umbra offered the mug to the exhausted mare. “I escaped the Canterlot dungeon to find you guys! Which was like… a terrible idea. EVERYTHING hurts! I may have hit a couple of trees in the dark, too. Use more of that healing light on me, big guy.”

Rainbow seized the cup greedily, gulping down the cool water in seconds. Arin sighed, clenching his fists in a swift cast of Resurgence.

“You flew… from Canterlot, all the way here?” Tempest stared right through her, in absolute disbelief. “Impossible. How long have you been flying?”

“For like, hours! I would have gotten here faster, too, but I didn’t want to be followed. Nightmare Moon has all my friends under some weird hypnosis! They tried to get me to join them, but like… no! I couldn’t. I couldn’t give up on Equestria! Not on the Princess! We all went up there to kick some flank and save Twilight, but the next thing I knew, I was in this… horrible dream. Like I was a foal again, and Nightmare Moon was there, and…”

Rainbow Dash shivered. “It was like she was trying to trick me into thinking she’s been this weird… ‘queen’ or whatever, since I was a filly! And I almost thought so too, but I refused to believe everything I saw about you, Princess. She like… tried to make me think you molested ponies, and banished anypony who fought back to the moon, or that you were crazy and ate fillies, and like… you had this weird thing for bananas…”

“...That… what?” Celestia cringed at this revelation; okay, maybe the banana thing was true… a thousand or so years ago, but she never touched an unwilling lover. Excessive banishment was wrong, and eating ponies… that was just a pure falsehood.

“Yeah! And this dream felt like it went on for years and years, and when I woke up, I was so mad, I punched Nightmare Moon in the face. Well, I tried to. She threw me in the dungeon in the end, and started a bunch of other… weird… things, to try and convince me to join her. Like, she tried to get Twilight to do it, and Twilight is terrible at persuading ponies. Especially me. I almost felt bad for her, because she was just… so… dumb. Like her egghead brain turned into soup.”

Princess Celestia nodded, sighing in frustration. “This sounds like sleepclopping to me.”

“Please don’t call it that, we have a Small-fry about. Right, Small-fry? ...Smols?” Vee turned to look over the gathered crowd, wondering where her sister went. When Pumpkin didn’t make a noise or say anything in particular, Tempest grew a little worried too - and broke free to find her.

“Isn’t Pumpkin like… twenty two years old?” Arin questioned. Vee raised a wing to preen, shrugging.

“I don’t keep track of her carriage license or birth certificate. That’s my filing cabinet’s fault for losing both of them. But yes, she’s twenty two. Probably.” Vee plucked a feather from her wing, quietly sticking it in Celestia’s flowing mane without the Princess’s knowledge. Celestia continued to croon over the tired Element, continuing her thought.

“As I was saying. Sleepclopping-”

“Just call it sleepwalking, Ugly-mane-fry,” Vee interrupted. Another three purple feathers slipped into the Princess’s billowing red hair. By now, Arin had caught on, and had trouble keeping a serious face.

“...Sleepwalking is an odd state between the real world, and the dream. It’s hard to explain, but it can occur naturally - oftentimes with the victim being entirely unaware that they’re still asleep. I’m assuming this is how Nightmare Moon intends to control all of Equestria. And with the abundant Lunar Magic, and Luna’s own ties to the dream realm - it’s an easy feat for Nightmare Moon to accomplish, especially on a broad scale. And with years of Luna’s magic stored away, she’ll be able to maintain this hold for… decades, even. Which is all it will take. It just takes one generation to undermine a nation, but the world won’t survive that long to begin with.”

After the seventh dozen feather slipped into Celestia’s mane, Vee had reached her quota for preening for the day… on her left wing. The fact that she switched wings and continued, nearly made Arin tear up holding back laughter - Umbra soon catching on as well. The usually stoic mare, who had issues even thinking about a smile - had to stop herself from snorting with a hoof.

“If we can’t break - can I help you two?” Celestia wheeled on Arin and Umbra, who quickly looked away to less interesting parts of the room. By now, the Princess’s entire red mane was nothing but purple feathers, and Vee had started working on her tail.

Celestia turned back to face Rainbow Dash - who was mostly unaware of the intense preening occurring just inches away. Tempest returned, with Pumpkin on her back, nosing her little marefriend in delight after saving her. Upon seeing the spectacle unfolding before them both, Tempest sat by Arin’s side, nudging him with a hoof.

Her eyes said it all. ‘What’s going on here?’

Arin steadied his breath, pointing to Vee as she basically had a stream of preening trash flutter and stick to the wavy strands of Celestia’s tail. Pumpkin lowered her hat in embarrassment, Tempest closing her eyes in an attempt not to laugh.

“I promise you, Rainbow - we’ll save your friends, and we’ll take back the Castle. You have my word - OKAY, what is SO FUNNY?” The Princess nearly shouted, in the royal Canterlot voice - Arin collapsed to the floor, sobbing with laughter. Umbra joined his spectacle with a moderate giggle, stomping a leg in delight.

When Celestia spun to face the group, her mane turned with her - the tangled pinions now facing Rainbow Dash.

“Uh… Princess? Are you supposed to grow feathers in your mane, too?...”

She froze on the spot, Vee reaching forward with a feather in her muzzle to press it into the mass of billowing red, right by her cheek. At that point, even Tempest lost her nerve - Arin banging his fist against the wall while the Commander rested a leg over Umbra's back, cracking up just the same.

“Alright, Much-Prettier-fry. I’ll help you with dream policing and all that jazz.” Vee smiled, admiring her handiwork. And thus, a sip of her coffee followed - and the party’s day could truly begin.

Chapter 59 - A Secret Best Kept

Rainbow Dash was soon carried quietly downstairs in Arin’s arms, a less-than-happy Celestia trailing close by his side.

“You’ve gotta admit, Tia - that was pretty funny.” Arin smiled, as the Princess’s magic coursed through her own hair in waves. Plucking hundreds, literal hundreds of feathers from her billowing strands with worry.

“I… I’m more worried about how her wings aren’t bald yet. How does she grow so many feathers so fast?! How! It makes no sense! I’ve been alive for thousands of years - I was there when the first issue of Pippley’s Believe it Or Else came out! And I’ve never heard of a single pegasi that could shed hundreds of feathers a day like this.”

Celestia lifted a wing, frowning. How did Vee preen purple feathers into her wing?! She’ll be feathered if she snooted those on her when she wasn’t looking. Which was true, by the way! She was feathered! Scoffing, the morning mare rolled her eyes - plucking out dozens more of the pinions, as they entered the crew quarters.

“No, please… d-don’t… I can’t sleep, c’mon big guy - keep me up…” Rainbow Dash groaned up to the Seraph, who laughed.

“It’s alright Dash. I can call you Dash, right? We’ve got dream catchers. Sleep in while you can - we should be arriving in White Tail Wood soon, to meet with King Aster and figure out a plan. Want me to wake you up for food, or do you want to rest until we arrive?”

“...What kind of food?”

“Whatever we have in the kitchen, I guess. I’m pretty sure there’s something left. Probably rations at this point, or some wild game, meat is-”

“Ew! Ew ew ew! That’s - that’s bucking disgusting! I’m not eating meat! Like, ew! Oh my gosh! Princess, how can you stand for this? That’s nasty!” Rainbow Dash nearly gagged while Arin set her tired body in the bed, the Seraph hoping she wouldn’t puke on him from the thought. Celestia could only shrug her wings.

“Before this journey, I would have almost agreed with you - the most I would touch was delicately tended eggs in the kitchens of Canterlot. Now? I believe I’m mostly over it. Ponies don’t need meat, my Subject - but we can enjoy it as an odd curiosity. Or if you’re Umbra, as a staple of one’s diet.”

“I do prefer a well seasoned steak, cooked rare, instead of peas and carrots any day, Princess Celestia,” Umbra confirmed, appearing from the dark. Celestia’s horn slammed a quarter-sized hole into the roof above - piercing into the captain’s cabin with a crash; startled half to death by the dark mare slinking in the shadows. Oarkin grunted in his half-sleep, rolling over in the crushed bed as something jabbed him in the back.

“By the feathers, Umbra! Don’t do that!” the Princess cried, wings pumping to pull herself from the wooden planks, settling her legs once more on the floor. Today was simply too much for her. First the rude awakening - not once, but three times, as Arin abandoned her in her rest, then Pumpkin was taken from her - and finally, when Rainbow Dash arrived. Then the preening incident. Now an overly shadowy mare is sneaking around in the dark to scare her. It was too much. Her scatterbrain could hardly process everything.

“Hey, that’s my line…” Arin frowned, but was unsurprisingly ignored.

“I simply wished to inform you that the engine will once again spark soon, and our journey will come to a rest in a sparse few hours,” Umbra deadpanned; she had no intention of startling the on-edge Princess, yet here she was.

Celestia raised a hoof to her chest with a deep inhale, before breathing out slowly with a wave of that very same leg. “I’m sorry. I’ve been growing a bit more nervous, especially as we approach the source of our problems. Now, let me make sure Rainbow Dash-...”

The Princess turned to the snoring mare, who swayed in the hammock contently beneath her own dream catcher. The engine roared to life beneath them, the ship humming with magic as it continued its journey beyond the Twin Peaks, and over the once distant, final road leading into the Unexplored West. Tempest reappeared from just around the stairs, holding a small lantern in her hoof.

“I’m going to need help moving the empty helium tanks to siphon air from the balloon, and settle the air pump on deck. Do I have a volunteer, or am I choosing one?”

The rest of the trip was rather uneventful; Vee needed time to think of a course of action, Umbra helped her commanding friend keep track of the balloon’s descent - and the familiar forests of Equestria soon graced the belly of the ship. By the guidance of a peculiar compass from Vee’s possessions, they had a course of action; they would glide silently over the train tracks, moor the ship in a clearing nearby - then trek on hoof towards the Pegasus Witch’s jumble of a house. With any luck, they’d return to the Feywilds by then.

From there, it would be - hopefully - easy to find the White Tail, as the veil between their reality and the material plane grows thinner by the hour.

And the plan went off without a hitch. The engine clicked off as the final barrel of Alchemist’s Fire was measured, the hull resting over a patch of dirt as the deflated balloon hung limply in the air; like a ghost in the trees, its blue tarp covered in a layer of snow - it blended in rather nicely. Now undetectable, the party gathered their scant belongings - ponies and Seraphs alike dropping to the forest floor without issue.

They gave one last errant gaze at the sun - Celestia now able to count the minutes remaining on her feathers.

“We have ten hours, until the Solar Plane ceases to exist in Equestria. Our time should be used well; to rest while we can, and prepare for the final battle.”

With little delay, and scant supplies - the party, save Oarkin and Umbra, never felt more relieved to be in familiar territory despite the strict time limit. Even Rainbow Dash seemed hopeful, but very much confused - it took a quick explanation to really fill her in on what’s going on. Luckily, she was kind of understanding of the whole debacle - it’s just another Tuesday for her. ‘Like of course there’s a secret society of deer in the woods - duh! I’m surprised Fluttershy didn’t find it first.’ - The Rainbow pegasus would yammer on, stroking her ego. She was, after all, an adventurous hero.

Already, this far from Silversun - fireflies buzzed faintly in the moonlight, lighting the forest in a spectacle of glowing flashes. Arin felt absolutely ecstatic - like he was passing through the portal into a fantasy land, mystery and magic overflowing more so than it did the realm they currently stood in. And much the same mood filled the minds around him.

Even in hoof-deep snow and freezing winds beneath the leaves, they trekked - an endless march into the receding cold, as wildlife flourished and grew abundant, despite the browning trees and freezing stems. All at once, six deer on either side joined them from the forested brush.

Umbra swiveled on her hooves, ears perking as emerald green magic gleamed across her horn. Tempest popped the dark mare’s bare flank with her short tail, frowning. With that, realizing she was among allies - Umbra relented, Oarkin giving a gentle laugh.

“So many deer! This is White Tail, yes?”

“Ambassador Pumpkin Spice! A wonderful sight to behold, and - more guests? Three, I count. A new… creature of Arin’s species, a Unicorn - and you are?...” a voice called, a familiar buck breaking into the clearing - while not as imposing as King Aster, General Falon was still a wonderful sight to behold, as he approached the group in full Feyglass Armor. Pumpkin almost completely forgot her rank bestowed upon her, not more than a week or so prior, and was taken aback to be called by name.

“The names Dash - Rainbow Dash, Second in Command to the Wonderbolts, and possibly the coolest mare you’ll ever meet.” With a puff of her chest, she gave a salute - as she rightly would, given her rank in the military. “I’m kinda a big deal, too.”

“Rainbow Dash? I’ve never heard of you. But on more important matters, we are very glad to see you, all of you. A great crisis is looming over our realm - it's been three years since your departure, and much has changed. Come. The Circlet is expecting you.” He withdrew a scroll - which fell to leaves in the open air after he gave it a flick with an ink-stained quill. Strange.

“Huh?... You… haven’t heard of me.” Rainbow Dash, fluttering her wings in the air, gawked - surely this was a prank. Like, for real. She had at least a dozen books written about her coolness, she made a cameo in one of Daring Do’s adventures, she’s saved Equestria at least a thousand times by now - she was the Element of Loyalty! Surely the word has gotten out to these… secret deer living a stone's throw away from Ponyville. Like, she could fly here in an hour from her house! What kind of rock were they living under?!

“Okay, maybe I didn’t understand you when you said they were a secret society or… something.” Dashie frowned, flapping her wings to Celestia’s side. “Like, next you’re going to tell me they don’t know what the Elements of Harmony are, or like… they don’t have radios, or something.”

Celestia smiled, rolling her eyes. To be as naive as Rainbow Dash would be a blessing sometimes. “In fact, they don’t have radios, and a great deal of many things as we do. You’ll simply have to see for yourself, Rainbow Dash.”

“What! So they’re just hiding in the trees? Like… Do they even have houses? Do they live in tents? It’s so cold - this is gonna be a snorefest!” At her complaints, General Falon fell an eye on the rainbow maned pegasus - smirking quietly as he led them north - to the refined roads of the White Tail’s lands.

The snow grew inches thinner, but still held weak strongholds of the icy powder in sparse piles as they approached the far fields of Silversun. First to loom were farms, which now held a peculiar sight - green crystals hovered above them, radiating soft, golden sunlight over the crops aplenty. There, the snow receded - fought back by the warmth. But still, not all farms were lucky to be blessed by magic - plenty of pastures were filled with struggling seeds and weak vines, the moonlight simply not enough to encourage plants to grow to their fullest.

“You see, Rainbow Dash, time in our realm passes differently than in yours. The Feywilds may slow to a crawl, or travel to a speedy gallop - nearly entirely at whims beyond our control. For now, the hours move roughly a seventh of the pace here than in the Material Plane. Though to keep things to scale, we track our time in twenty four hours periods; not by the setting of the sun or moon in your realm. There are many… issues we have faced living here. At times, we are stuck in an eternal Twilight - or caught in a long, ageless summer day. Though now, with the Lunar Eclipse upon us - the night has fallen eternal, and the magic of the Fey is depleting.”

The massive gates of Silversun soon broke the trees, looming with its intense, nature-enhanced beauty once more. Soft red shingles gleamed like bright rubies across the gold-laced sun-bleached stone, ivy tended well to climb along the swirls of branches that pressed into the brick; ageless and eternal, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but gawk. Her wings came to a flapping stop, clopping her hooves to the floor to see the firefly lit beauty.

And this was just the front gate. Vee flapped right over the pegasus, shedding a feather to twirl down and poke her nose. With a sneeze, she snapped back to the moment - rousing her wings to pump once more, and settle in next to the group trekking forward without her.

The elegant branches of the front gate’s siege ready doors creaked and groaned; allowing the party and cervine soldiers to march unimpeded into the realms of the Autumn Court. The once bustling trade district seemed a little more barren; there were less carts for food and more carts for dried goods.

“I thought the Feywilds were a land of natural growth?...” Arin asked General Falon after spotting the crystals, the deer nodding his head in sorrow.

“Indeed it is. But the Lunar Magic is soaking into our arcane laced world, sapping away the heat and strangling away the roots. We are a refined culture, and we have planned ahead in case of famine - but perhaps not far enough. The great stores of Fey magic we’ve sheltered are simply not enough to fall in line with the demand; and produce is slow to yield. You may notice snow on the occasional roof now, as cold drafts have churned in the dark. The Feywilds have always been an echo of the Prime - the Material Plane. An immaterial place that exists in magic alone, and always. But it can not exist for long in these conditions. Come.”

He ushered them forward, as passing deer caught wind of the guests. Once fearful, the White Tail’s mood had shifted with the aegis of time - hope. There was a passing murmur of hope. That the light would come again, and the snow would melt away in a brilliant dawn.

Even in the cloudless moonlight, Silversun was such a treat to behold - the newer arrivals simply taking in the sights while they could. Drinking in the beauty of nature not tamed, but embraced - and cherished. A feat that ponies have stood defiantly against; that nature should be controlled, fought back. Here, the deer had no such notion. Simply another reason why the White Tail didn’t wish to live in harmony with their Equine neighbors.

The Castle gates once again accepted them - and soon their hooves fell on the marble halls once more. King Aster treaded down the aisle to meet them at a brisk pace, accompanied by two of his most loyal bucks.

“Princess Celestia! And my young Ambassador - I am pleased to see all of you, fresh faces included - but disheartened that you lack the dawn itself. I fear that it may soon be too late for us. Please, join me - the Autumn Winds is in session for now, and the future looks grim. Perhaps you could sway the senators to relax.” He plucked a parchment from his saddle in golden magic, much like Arin’s - twirling a long eagle quill along the pages in flourishes of his delicate calligraphy. In a flash of falling leaves, it was gone - a curious spell, perhaps restricted to the use of the Fey. They saw it just earlier, at the beckoning of General Falon.

“Relax?...” the Princess questioned, sharing a worried look with her Knight. Arin simply shrugged; what did he know of deer politics? Regardless, the King - obviously unsettled - turned to lead them in less-than-patient cloven steps. His white and gold-flecked coat almost seemed - dare anypony say it - slightly, ever so gently, perhaps minutely… a teensy bit unbrushed. Which for the party, was a relatively small detail. But for any well educated deer, or the morning mare - it was a sign of disarray and unbidden stress.

“King Aster, if I may inquire… what seems to be the issue?” Celestia questioned, joining his side. The bucks seemingly allowed it, but she could feel their scathing eyes piercing her with scrutiny. As if they’d spring at any moment, though she bore no weapons to harm him.

“A great deal of things.” His calm voice seemed strained - though he carried the same powerful, forest-willing voice as before - there was a shift in his pitch, to further denote his worry. “We are on the brink of war with Equestria. Your land. Your kind. If the Feywilds fall, the Senators will demand blood - retribution for the doom brought by the Nightmare’s reckless misuse of her power. My court is in a chaos of debates and debacles, and I will not stand for this clamor for destruction.”

The Princess had to fight back a gasp, as Arin suddenly felt the eyes of the soldiers - still guiding them - dig into his skin.

“But do not fret, my friends. You are all in good hooves. My men are loyal to me, and General Falon would never strike in cold blood. I chose these soldiers to protect you. Now is not a good time to blaze my trails nor ruffle leaves - my deer are growing desperate, and it shows through politics.”

“Wouldn’t all your soldiers die if they left the Fey? From the balanced magic?” Arin questioned, much to the scathing, ‘this is no time for you to talk’ eyes from Celestia. You know what? No. He was a former King; and should be treated as an equal. He was not below the Princess, not now - not when so much was at risk.

“That’s the issue. It’s suicide. I will not send my bucks to make corpses, before joining the pile. But we are in a stalemate; I myself hold the power of three Senators, as the bearer of the Circlet - but I have fourteen individuals with the voice of my kin to argue with. As it stands, hope is fading. Fresh food is scarce. The rations are running short, and within a few scant weeks - deer will grow hungry. They need a goal. A light. Something. And your voices may be enough to dissuade them from war, and stand to the side.”

Arin didn’t like that last point. Stand to the side… hide. Did… Did the King truly wish to rot in his castle while the world fell apart around him? Why? They were going to die if they couldn’t help them - were they really going to just let him and his friends handle everything?

By now, they travelled deeper into the Grand Hall - the mighty throne room meeting them at its end. The chattering voices of politicians and Noble houses clamoring in a cacophony of displeased leaders. The regal abode had been rearranged for the meeting, with cushions aplenty surrounding the throne. Eight pillows were saved for them, four on each side of the mighty chair. He must have held them in high regard, or perhaps, hoped that their presence would support his claims for peace.

“Miss Pumpkin Spice, you are my Ambassador to Equestria. As such, you sit on my right. I do not require you to speak. Princess Celestia, you will sit upon my left - as ruler of Equestria, you will bear the responsibility for my deer’s suffering in their eyes. I know you will not falter,” he whispered, setting the tone for events as the clatter of voices settled.

Celestia’s eyes travelled the crowd of nearly… fifty six deer, with the fourteen heads sitting proudly near the inner edge of the circle. They were flanked by two guards each, and a head to the Noble house they represented sat close at hoof as an advisor of sorts. The bucks and does had such scathing, hate filled eyes - gazes she had never personally experienced before in such quantity. Not even in her own Throne Room, on Tax Day.

“This does not look good,” Oarkin whispered loudly to Vee, who was still flapping idly in the air. Holding a fresh cuppa in her hooves, she offered it to Oarkin to hold. She dug around in her bag, withdrawing a checklist.

‘Make a grave mistake.’ Check.

When she raised her hoof to receive her drink back, Oarkin placed the now empty cup in her grasp. She looked inside, frowning. Gently, the Purple put the empty mug in her bag - turning back to her list. Vee looked it over, bringing a preened feather down the list with a sigh.

‘Make another grave mistake.’ Also check.

Perhaps visiting the White Tail first was a bad idea… And definitely not good for the feathers.

Chapter 60 - Neigh

The moment the King, and the gathered ponies - all of which were in need of proper rest and a shower - sat upon their pillows (with a certain massive Seraph choosing to stand, as he was too big for the provided cushion), a roaring clamor of demanding bucks and does shouting a variety of mixed insults, pleading bleats, outcries, curses, and wishes for death upon the Princess overtook the room. Luckily, General Falon and his bucks gave some form of safety, and demanded restraint from the gathered nobles.

“Ah, it almost feels like home.” Princess Celestia sighed quietly to herself, lowering her head an inch to ignore the overwhelming voices. Tempest looked calmly around the bickering deer, scooching an inch over to whisper to Umbra.

“I have little experience in politics. Is this normal?” she asked, taking Umbra by surprise.

“You seized the throne of Canterlot at the head of an army, as second in command to the Storm King - and never, not once, participated in a council?” the dark mare deadpanned. Tempest shook her head.

“I’m more used to throwing my weight around and giving orders, not heeding advice or accepting underling’s demands.”

Umbra blinked. “You know, Tempest. That is fair. I have done much the same thing, when I ruled the Crystal Empire. But yes. This is accurate to nearly every court I have attended in Erenorn. Now, we simply wait for a deer to demand our heads roll, before they’ll boil down to a simmer and allow the Princess or King to speak.”

Vee draped a wing over her Sister, who was seated a bit too far from Tempest for her liking. If anything, Arin should be on the King’s right side - she should simply be hiding under a pillow, or watching from behind a pillar for safety. The Purple tried to calm Pumpkin, speaking quietly to her among the budding yells.

“It’s alright Small-fry. Big sister Vee has a plan. Or a deathwish! Probably both.” With that, she began to preen - thinking quietly over her checklist.

This had the exact opposite effect for the little mare, who was now worried her Sister would stir the pot, rather than settle it.

“Please, my Kin - silence. I request a rest to the ears. There is much to discuss,” King Aster called over the roar of the crowd - though his voice was strong and stern, the unrelenting chatter didn’t cease. In fact, one of the deer screamed something about how they were all going to die - and a guard had to rip a buck off of another before they clashed antlers.

“Hey! Giant wing guy! Mind telling these hornheads to shut up so Aster can speak? I’m going deaf down here!” Rainbow Dash yelled up to Oarkin, who gave a laugh.

“Very well, colorful horse! I like this plan!” He raised his leg up high - crashing his massive boot to the floor with an echoing BOOM. Several cracks were soon seated in the tile, as the entire room shaked - the Castle coming to a dead silence instantly.

Arin rolled his jaw, rubbing his ears in pain - the sound alone sent a terrible ringing through his skull, as all eyes fell on the ten hoof tall giant of a Seraph.

“Too much talk! Listen to deer King.” He glared, daring anyone to challenge him. The stunned hush that took the crowd gave King Aster a chance to speak.

“Bucks and does of all boughs, we have come to a court not to discuss death - but to cherish life. Petty bugling will solve little of our issues. The magic of the Feywild is thinning - and soon, may very well cease to be all together. We stand on the cusp of a great tragedy; when our realities collapse, our presence will be unsheltered to the world, and on the doorstep of a great Nightmare. To send bucks to their death in defense of Silversun is pointless; it will cause naught but bloodshed, when this tragedy can be prevented all together by the rise of the sun.

“We have in our midst the Caller of Sunlight, and figurehead of the Equestrian Empire - Princess Celestia. Her and her allies seek to end this eternal night, once and for all.”

“Her? The one with the red hair?” a voice called; a blue dressed doe standing from the herd to speak; “She’s filthy! She bears no crown, no regalia! I see no ruler; only a lost mare covered in muck and ungroomed! These are the Equestrians who fight against nature’s call, yet can’t tend to themselves? Barbarians! All of them!”

Rainbow Dash had half a mind to dart forward and buck that doe in the face - but restrained herself; she’s sat through several press conferences before, and the Guards don’t like it when you lay a beatdown on a very obnoxious pony. Or in this case, deer.

Another voice called; a towering buck, with lavender entwined in his antlers. A running trend among the gathered diplomats was clothing; while many were barren three years prior, the sucking cold had brought a need for fashionable warmth. His robes were short to the legs, and he seemed to call many heads to swivel to his attention.

“The Equestrians are scattered and weak, King Aster. We can challenge this ‘Nightmare’ and claim the remaining world for ourselves. Many would die - but our Kin will grow ever onwards, into the eternal twilight of the Fey. If your father had acted swiftly, and challenged the ponies of Starlight’s Peak several thousand years ago - we would not be in this disaster. Perhaps it is time for your antlers to fall, if you can not see this!”

A dozen gasps met the room, but twice as many cheers and assorted noises for justice rang out. But even at his zealous speech, General Falon raised a hoof - twelve arrows soon centered on the prideful buck.

“You may kill me, King Aster, but my point still stands. The Equestrias are not fit to rule the Prime. Not anymore. And the fact that this… Princess, who can’t even claim a proper title to ownership of her lands - sits upon our leaves, is proof of this. Where is her army? Her ponies? Do they not care about their own plight?” By now, his glare unwavered even as he faced certain death for his treasonous claims

“We do care! I care!” The Princess challenged, her horn sparking with golden frustration. “I have travelled to the ends of Equis to bring a sliver of hope - our last defiance to Nightmare Moon’s control. I have challenged death itself in the Lights of Life, fought through the hordes of spiders in Driderhold, and nearly perished to the Dark Kin of the Deepwoods - to stand here before you, and I will not be called incompetent! Not now, and never again!” She roused from her pillow, King Aster bowing his head to General Falon. The buck, seeing this, clicked his tongue - and his bucks fell into place at the edges of the crowd.

“Ha! Your Kin could barely survive the ‘great quest’ here, to the safety of the land you now call ‘Equestria’ - yet here you stand, claiming you’ve visited the Edge? Let me guess - you also stood upon the grounds of our ancestors - no no, the old Autumn Courts? What proof do you have?” the lavender buck called, his purple eyes unwavering.

Vee leaned over the Rainbow Dash, whispering quietly to her ear. “I don’t like his purple. It’s not purple enough. Hmhm. Bad for the feathers.”

“Literally who are you?” The pegasus grimaced, steering away in confusion. “And why do you smell like coffee?”

Celestia’s horn glowed, weary eyes of the gathered bodyguards falling across her as she slid free a small, crystalline, jeweled flower. The aster glowed brilliantly in the dim light, a faint magic within stirring as she raised it up.

“This. I bring this as my proof. Of not just our journey, but of the spirit I spoke to. Lord Mapleheart wished for me to return this to his son, King Aster.”

The Princess turned to face the stunned King, gently levitating it into his magical grasp. It floated before him, the relic of his past sending his thoughts reeling.

“He spoke of the darkness that pervaded this world, in a time before my birth. A great evil, a vine-ridden beast from the darkness of the astral plane. The Entity, and how it claimed the old world - and my mother, Queen Astra.”

Aster faltered, hearing the name of a mare he once knew. Who he knew very well. Whose likeness now stood before him, her visage he recognized as she spoke with a flame in her heart. Before things came unraveled at the seams, and the old leaves fell.

“This darkness settled over the old lands of Starlight’s Peak, and sought to drain the very light from every creature. My Mother, the Queen - challenged this dark, but at great cost. My Sister, Princess Luna, was tainted by its touch. Many ponies died in their escape, becoming the Umbrum spirits that haunt the shadowfell. Its influence spread deep and far, into the very core of our world. In an effort to stop the tide. In the end, Queen Astra channeled the light of Harmony itself into her Ember, and ignited the Entity in a blaze of unadulterated pure magic - sacrificing half of our world to kill this parasite, stopping the very sun and moon in the sky as a result.”

She faced the crowd, voice unwavering as she spoke; “Had she not sacrificed herself, none of you would be alive today. The Entity would have consumed all of us, pony and deer alike - and all the other creatures of our world. We would be a wasteland of death, and despair. And through my Sister, a piece of this abomination lived on - growing on hate, on envy, waiting to sprout. And it did, forming the darkness of Nightmare Moon. A thousand and six years ago, I channeled the power of Harmony to banish her from our world. And now, she’s back. And without mercy.”

Voices spoke quietly in the crowd, a murmur of fear. Still, Celestia went on. “Nightmare Moon is, by definition, a creation of the Entity - and a piece that seeks to bring it back. The Entity is still here, in an echo of our world - the Shadowfell. The dark, dead plain of pain and suffering. Of murky decay and rot. As the Feywilds weaken, the Shadowfell grows - and soon, its presence will mingle unbidden with the Lunar Plane’s seeping magic. It will cross over into our reality - and all life will perish. It wants us to fight, to die - to create more spirits for the harvest. It craves disharmony, and death.”

“The Princess is right,” King Aster nodded, “many of you have not seen the truth she weaves, but everything she states is mere fact. Our enemies are not the Equestrians. Throwing our lives away in a pointless war, a spat of revenge for our fates - will only feed the creature. We must preserve our lives, and stay here.”

At that, Celestia rounded on the great buck. Her magenta eyes glowing; “King Aster, I do not wish to say this… but you are wrong.”

A wave of chattering calls broke out in the crowd - the Princess had challenged their King, and many were appalled she would do so. Especially in the halls in the Autumn Court, during the Autumn Winds, no less!

“In my travels, I found signs of life - of a hope long past, that ponies could survive the old Empire’s collapse. First, I saw it in Copse Vale - an old town, submerged in the waters of a flood. A path had formed, heading ever West - into the remnants of a ruin scattered by giant arachnids, who poached the very lives of ponies seeking shelter there. A river carried onwards, a path further west still - to the Deepwood, where more ponies died sheltered under the boughs of massive, ageless trees. All ties led back to the old Autumn Court, where ponies traded and made merry with deer long past - do you not recall this, King Aster?”

“I…” King Aster hesitated, before giving a slow nod. “I was a young buck. Yes. But pony traders flourished from the commerce grown under my father’s rule. But I do not see how this statement changes anything; my deer do not work with ponies, not at this moment. We shelter our own lives first, and protect our kin.” His head fell back, as Celestia pushed the onslaught.

“A wrong path, one your father believes you’ve stumbled upon. To submit to fate so eagerly, to give up - and sit on your throne, while others do the dirty work… It is something I would do. I would have done. But no longer. King Aster, you are a coward. But a kind King, one often trampled over by the voices of your nobles, and thrown to the wayside in times of a great crisis. You are just like me, before I changed. I learned that standing idly by will render no aid to your friends - and it took many near death experiences to accept this.”

She faced Arin, holding a hoof over her heart. “We stood over the lake, in the clutches of a trap - undead clawing at our hooves. Arin had been ripped under the tide, and would surely die if I stood by and did nothing, only watch and hope that others would dive to rescue him. In this panic, I found I was the only one left who could reach him in time. So I dove down, and I fought back the horde - and saved his life. The light I cast upon the world gave Vee the chance to save Tempest, who had been dragged down as well.”

Her eyes turned to Tempest and Pumpkin, on Aster’s right and Arin’s left - “Pumpkin and Tempest both. Had I not fought back the fear of being captured by spiders, you two would have both been envenomed, and devoured. From there, your courage in the face of your greatest fears saved the pegasus we all know and love.”

The Princess nodded to Vee, who spat a feather at her, mouthing the word ‘neigh’.

Finally, on the little Pumpkin - her gaze settled. “Had I abandoned you, like any desperate mare would - we would have fled to the dark. But Tempest’s voice kept my wits together, to bring the light - and bide our time for a moment more, until Pumpkin’s timid words could convince Lord Mapleheart’s druidic form to open the branches. In doing so, the sun could flood the Deepwood’s roots - and our lives were saved. In every moment, friendship bloomed. Something that no amount of cowering could buy.”

Her eyes swiveled to her friends gathered, heart open and seeing the light they each gave. “All of your strengths supported me; I had known what friendship was, but I had never felt it so strong until you’ve all come into my world. You’re all like family to me now, and I would die to protect you.”

Once more, her gaze fell to the silent King, who watched on in a whirlpool of feelings. Finally, all of her thoughts came to the massive buck, the one she was trying to convince.

“Your father, Lord Mapleheart, had seen your actions led astray. And wanted me to speak to you, to bring you back on the trails he tread. That hope, friendship could still bloom between ponies and bucks. That offering a hoof forward in a time of need, was worth more than its weight in gold. That when times were tough, true friends would stand by your side to support you, and that they would never give up hope. Aster, by sitting here behind your walls, in the twilight of the Fey - you are giving up that light for the illusion of safety. And if you listen to your nobles, and slay ponykind out of spite - you are no better than the monster that lurks in the dark.”

“Then what would you have me do, Princess? Send my bucks to die; all just to help you? Any of my deer who tread the material plane will perish shortly afterwards. There is nothing I can do to aid you beyond food and shelter.”

“Oho! But there is!” Vee smiled, a mess of feathers beneath her pillow. Her smug disposition drawing all eyes on her as she preened, Celestia sparking to interrupt her.

“Not now Vee-mmf!” Vee’s magic stuffed a bunch of feathers into the red maned mare’s muzzle, the Purple leaning forward to whisper the dreaded words to her.

“Neigh.”

This bought her just enough time to speak, standing from her pillow to approach the room. Celestia coughing and gagging fitfully, her magic pulling out a wad of the purple pinions.

“I am Vee-Ness, Pegasus of all things witchery, brewer of the bean and a master of all things dream related; an insomniac of the highest caliber and a connoisseur of purple. I am also a witch pony, who draws magic from the moon, and I bring good news!”

In the quiet, she spoke. “You’re all going to die! Later. Not now, but eventually! Which is good, because it’s not soon. Soon as in a few days or whatever, d’ohoho! Instead, I propose a solution to your magic allergies and all that jazz. Have any of you considered a temporary contract with a creature who could supply the magic you need to not drop like feathers?”

“Hey, little mare. Uh… Pumpkin Mice, or whatever. What’s she yammering about?” Dashie questioned. Pumpkin blinked, raising herself up from her cowardice, her hat popping off her eyes with a confused mewl.

“She… she’s following her plan?...”

“What is this nonsense? Who is this… pony who stands here as if she’s entitled to speak to the Circlet? Guards - be useful and seize her,” the lavender antlered Buck sneered, leering at the sight of the very well groomed pegasus. Well, at least her wings were groomed. Of course, General Falon gave no such order to act - and the Senator’s own guards were too cowardly to follow his command. A doe from behind - a representative of the house he was elected to lead - jabbed him with a hoof to be quiet.

“I literally just introduced myself, Jerk-face. Where’s your brain beneath the mane? Anyway! Hmhm. As I was saying. My magic comes from two sources; the moon, and my familiar. A familiar is a witch’s tool to great power - as it allows me to channel curious other magics and live long enough to sample all the coffee. Binding to a familiar is easy! All you gotta do is snoot up a fine magic thing to neigh to - make a little contract, and tada! You’ve got all the magic you need.” Vee nipped away a feather, blowing it at the glowering buck on his cushion.

“A familiar?” King Aster questioned, tilting his head. Though he had been treated crudely, he would not back down now. Not with a solution showing itself present. “Please, explain. How will we find enough familiars for all cervines? What creature of the Fey can exist in both the material plane, and the wilds in which we shelter?”

At that, Celestia’s ears perked up; “Breezies. Breezies often travel through Equestria, and are filled with Fey magic. In fact, they collect pollen in Equestria, to convert into power for the fey.”

“...Breezies.” The King frowned, repeating the word again. Sliding back in his throne, thinking quietly. Perhaps there is hope. “Breezies…”

General chatter soon followed, as Vee stared right through King Aster. Preening away another feather or three, giving her usual ‘hmhm’ when thinking. “Breezies will work. Good job, Ugly-brain-mane. I almost want to talk to you now.”

“Really?” Celestia smiled, turning to face the Purple with hope; hope that she’ll finally give up her stupid reasoning and be friendly once more.

“No.” And with that, Vee fluttered her way back to her seat - Pumpkin immediately seizing her in a hug.

“Y-You did good, Vee!” She smiled, the Purple nodding.

“I always do good, otherwise the Fuzz wouldn’t have warrants for my arrest! Wait… that makes no sense. Hmhm.” She questioned her own insanity for a moment, nosing into her bag to find her checklist.

‘Neigh a bunch.’ Check.

Chapter 61 - Rest While You Can

From there, the rest of the Court was rather straightforward - King Aster brought the session to a slow close, settling the major problem of immediate invasion with a vote. What was once a stalemate of seven to seven, with three undecided - now gave way to a full fifteen to two. At such a balance, direct military intervention was called off, and new plans had to be drafted and deliberated upon. Of which, Princess Celestia - the now brave leader of Equestria, and Vee - the strange mystic pegasus - would have key roles in their creation.

For the time being, this gave the other six party members a bit of freedom in the Castle; from Celestia’s estimation, counting the one hour that passed traveling to Silversun on hoof - they had roughly nine hours remaining. Which meant they could spend at least a week with the White Tail comfortably, an hour traveling back, two to three hours flying as quickly as they can to Canterlot, and three hours gate crashing.

So because of this, their first day was spent relaxing, sleeping, and recuperating - steeling themselves for the preparation ahead.

Until they had the full support of the White Tail, it may be impossible to lay a siege to Celestia’s stolen home. At least Aster was kind enough to grant the party rank of Royal Heralds; and as such, were granted small medallions bearing the Circlet’s Mark. This would allow them to shop locally, if needed - all on Aster’s budget.

Under Tempest’s orders, these six days would be spent preparing for their assault. Arin, a well trained Lunar Knight - was assigned to work with General Falon on piecing together an entry plan for his bucks. He had a clear idea of the Castle’s layout, including hidden entrances, weak points, escape tunnels, and the Castle’s typical evacuation plan. On top of this, Arin was aware of the Guard’s defense formations, and could help construct a way to counter this.

“You know,” General Falon began, “This would be considered exceedingly dangerous to share this information so freely with us, if we had the intent on taking Canterlot in the future.” He stated in their first meeting. He had a fair point; every piece of knowledge Arin outlined could inevitably be used against them, if the White Tail decided to go to war with the Equestrians.

“You’re right. And in any other time, this would be considered high treason. Let’s just hope that King Aster intends to keep the peace, after he and his Circlet agree to help us,” Arin stated, using a quill to circle another key entry point on the rough castle layout he put together.

“On a personal level, Arin. My closest bucks and does would lay their lives on the line to save their kin, clearance or not. Under my guidance, I would refuse to stand idly by while you and our allies challenge the looming threat before us. If we have to run to the fields of battle, unaided, unarmored, and into the magic of certain death, just to give even a single glimmer of hope of survival for the White Tail, we would do so without hesitation. Let us hope it does not come to that.”

From this point onward, a new bond was struck between the General and the Knight; a common cause that outshined their differences. The Seraph saw a light that burned inside this deer, hard to spot - but radiant and beautiful, none-the-less. For whatever Falon cared for, it was his world - and he would not let it perish.

Elsewhere in the Castle, Umbra and Pumpkin Spice worked with Tempest in the creation of a deadly weapon that could give them their victory; Banishing Orbs. Crystalline, onyx imbued shells, that contained intense magic and a variety of alchemical components, refined down into a swirling mass of green and black fury.

“Commander Tempest,” a Castle Magi called, the robed doe bowing her head in respect. “I must notify you of the limited resources of the Alchemist’s Hall of the moment. We simply lack several of the ingredients you need for these ‘weapons’ of yours. Perhaps you should turn your attention to the commerce sector of Silversun, for any missing reagents you may need - as the Circlet simply doesn’t have stock in our boughs.”

“And the Circlet can not send a Magi to collect these ingredients from the private sector?” Umbra challenged, cocking an eyebrow. The doe shook her head.

“A poisoning attempt several decades prior targeted at the former General Tanon prevents the Circlet Magi from purchasing goods locally in the use of alchemy or brewing. All of our reagents must be naturally harvested or cultivated on our own. With tensions as they are, it would be unwise for the Circlet to take the risk, as a lot of the blame is centered once more on our lack of military action.”

Tempest tested the weight of an incomplete orb, the interior swirling in a hazy blue. This simply wouldn’t serve their needs. With a sigh, she nodded. “Very well. Pumpkin, I believe this is a job best suited for you and I. Umbra, you know the beginning steps quite well by now - prepare several more shells for our return. The charging process takes three days, and there’s a moderate chance the magic could corrupt and instead become harmless sludge.”

“This trade is not my strongest ability, but I will manage. Do not tarry long, we still have much to accomplish.” Umbra nodded to the couple, before settling into the process of delicate work.

Oarkin, across the way, had little to do. He was no commander, nor an alchemist - he was a fighter, a warrior! And now... a participant in a chess match against a fawn, outside the Castle Walls and near the bubbling brook of the river. Chess was a universal game, apparently - though here, it was called a different name: Knight’s Challenge.

The young glasses-bearing fawn nosed a small pawn forward, humming adorably as the giant of a Seraph pondered his next move; her gaunt cheeks turned up in a happy smile. Strategy was not his forte - and he cursed silently as the little deer put him in check.

“You’re not very good at this, Mister…” The timid challenger frowned; her name was Calia. This was her third game against the Mountain - and he had already laced his fingers together in concentration, hiding his moustache and beard behind his digits as he thought. She was hardly more than ten years old… and he was somewhere along the lines of three hundred. Yet here, with all of his experience and knowledge - he could not best her.

As gently as he could, a skill he was working on, he moved the King; a small buck shaped piece with two giant antlers into the castling position. It was a bit late to castle, but it gave him a moment of reprieve. On top of this, the little doe allowed it - even though it was against the rules to castle a king in check. She allowed it after his first game, when he somehow lost in under five moves.

Yet somehow, the fawn saw this coming - and nosed a Rook across the board with a bruised snout, and took his pawn in front of his King. He went to contest this with his sturdy antlered ruler, but the tiny doe shook her head.

“Nuh uh! You can’t put the King in check!” her cheery voice came, stifling a little giggle. His elbows sat on his crossed knees, a bead of sweat dripping down his bald head. He held his cheeks in either palm, beard crushed beneath his focused grasp.

“Blayd…” he whispered, in Skrit - the language of the Southern Spears. He moved a far left pawn forward, pressuring Calia’s king-side, but he forgot about his unprotected queen. Gently, the fawn nosed her own queen forward - seizing the piece with a quiet smile.

Oarkin sighed, and with a small flick of his finger - knocked his Aster-shaped piece to the tiny tiles, giving the victory to the little doe.

“Yay!” Calia cheered, stomping her thin hooves in delight, the bandages she bore stuck tight to her fur. Her oversized cracked glasses bouncing across her little bruised snout, much to the disgrace of the unbeatable soldier. His wings gave a frustrated flick. Surely he could best such a weak creature like her? She barely had meat on her bones!

“Again,” he said, firmly - trying his best not to break the small pieces with his massive hands while he realigned them for another round. She gave an absolutely heart melting smile, before nodding happily.

“Okay! You’ll get me this time, I promise!” Her little hooves clopped together, using her small teeth to set the pieces in place faster than his massive digits would allow.

Oarkin had a feeling that this optimism was well wasted on him, as he rolled his head to pop his neck, dry off the sweat, and focus.

Of all the most awesomest awesome ponies in probably the prettiest place around, Rainbow Dash found herself quite alone, and bored without anypony to hang out with. Normally, in a situation like this - she’d sneak off somewhere to read an adventure novel, or pull a few pranks - but she couldn’t read deer books. And, no matter how sneaky she was - the White Tail had extremely keen ears. They heard her coming a mile away, which felt totally unfair. She couldn’t even fly up on them! And the old ‘bucket over a door’ prank didn’t work - they were fast, too. And even the most nerdy looking doe had the reflexes to catch a falling bucket in their weird… eye glowy magic.

Magic! They all had magic, too. The bucks would have their antlers glow weirdly, and the does would shine their eyes - and things would just happen! At least, most of them did. Some either didn’t use the stuff - or didn’t bother to learn it.

Maybe she could find a familiar face to prank. Or at least hang out with. Aha! A target!

A purple pegasus enjoyed a casual flap through the halls of the castle. The very tall halls, covered in branches galore. A perfect place for Rainbow Dash to silently hover above, like an assassin - and drop down to give her a good jump. The flap of Vee’s wings would help muffle her own, as the pegasus sipped away at her coffee.

Flying in the dark of the arched roof, she slowly inched her way down to the busy purple, who seemed to be reading over some kind of scroll. She occasionally muttered something about feathers and checklists as she did so - and that’s when Rainbow Dash decided to strike.

Dropping down, she meant to snap at the flapping witch with her tail - but the feathery pegasus was simply unbothered by it. Wait, no… she missed? How did she miss? Regardless, Vee didn’t notice - and continued to ho-hum about her drink.

Maybe a good pop on the ears would work, and make her jump. She’d probably drop her coffee! As sneaky as ever, Rainbow Dash hovered right above her purple mane - whacking her hoof softly at the unguarded appendage.

It sailed right through, not even touching her.

“Huh?...”

“Hmhm? Oho! Hello, my very unpreened Rainbow-fry. Can I help you?” She stopped to look up, smiling dully as she settled to the floor. An amulet bounced on her chest, shining a soft purple.

“How… are you a g-ghost?”

“D’ohoho! You’re right! I am a ghost. Later, at least. But not yet! I’m simply trying to figure out how to apply wing chops to the cops, without cracking too many skulls. Much too much preening to do, much too many noises to neigh at does and bucks. Not good for the feathers at all, hmhm.” She slurped away at her cup - flashing a wing to slap Rainbow Dash across the face. Instead, it sailed right through harmlessly - save for an electrifying tingle. Dashie flinched, falling back out of reflex as her wings gave a flap to stumble away.

“D-Don’t do that! That’s weird! You’re weird!” the Element exclaimed, jumping to her hooves at a safe distance. Her eyes were like pinpricks, hoof holding her thumping heart as she fought back her fears. She hated ghosts. Or… spooky things. She loved to dish it out, but she had problems taking it at times.

“Hmhm? Wow, Jerk-face. I didn’t spit in your coffee this morning! Because it’s not morning. It’s still night. Which is bad. Hmhmhm…” Vee lifted the amulet from her chest - tossing it haphazardly into her bag. “Back to the wall staring I go. If you need me, too bad, I’m busy. But if you still need me when I’m not busy, I charge twenty five bits an hour for neighing, fifty bits for master preening lessons, and one hundred bits for looking at my pristine feathers. Because I’m broke.”

Vee brushed right past her with a clop of her hooves - cupping her coffee graciously in her wings. Rainbow Dash simply scooted out of the way of the purple enigma, who then proceeded to turn down the hallway, and towards the local deer library. Even though she clearly didn’t read White Tail, either.

“...I miss Pinkie Pie. She’d hang out with me. I’d even take Egghead right now, even if she’d just talk about books or… whatever.” Rainbow sighed, once again stuck with nothing to do. Disheartened, she turned down the short, curved corridor she came from - back towards her small, but elegant room.

Dare she say it, but she almost missed the boring paperwork at her office in the Wonderbolts Academy. Looking over new recruits and signing off on waivers was better than sitting around with nothing to do. Well, at least she had her own bed. Might as well catch a nap while she waits on food, or something to happen. She’ll feel better later.

The Princess rubbed her aching temples, sighing in frustration. Her and King Aster had decided on some privacy, to speak quietly among matters pertaining to their most recent meeting. They agreed to meet in his private chambers, to keep prying eyes and ears quiet among the chatter. Of course, like all things beautiful - this room was richly so, though not to an extreme as the rest of the castle. It seemed more modest compared to her own guest lodging, in fact. But preferences were preferences.

“Princess Celestia, I feel as if we’ve tread the wrong branches from the start. Perhaps I have been naive in the past, but… are you sure this will work? I fear for the lives of my cervine, and would do anything to protect them. It’s why we came here, away from the Edge. A place of safety and shelter.”

“King Aster - may I call you Aster? You may call me Celestia if you’ll spare me this - but I trust my friends like I would trust my now former student. When can we expect a response from the breezies? I know most speak Fae - but there are a few who can read, and speak, Equestrian and Cervine among them, I’m sure. I recall a letter from Fluttershy, speaking of one of their leaders - Seabreeze. They at least understand pony talk. Surely they will be willing to help?”

Aster sighed, “The magic of the fey is odd and growing weak; but a response will surely grace my ears soon, I hope. You see, in the Feywilds, distance is merely a concept unless strictly contained; with the right guidance, one can span the vast entirety of the world in a few scant hours, as long as you dwell within the thickest of its magical flora to benefit from the effect. As I have no contact among the breezies save your word, and only the faint idea of their whereabouts - I have sent a party of scouts to scour the wilds for their secretive hollow. And pertaining to your request regarding names… I… suppose you may.”

“Wonderful! Now, we need to talk a bit about the past. This is… important to me, and not the world, Aster. But… Did you know my mother?”

At that, the King froze; he didn’t like to speak of the past. Leaves grow ever upwards, after all - on strong roots, of course, but…

“Yes. I knew her. In fact, I was born around the same time she came to be, as a foal of another red maned mare before her. I knew Astra quite well.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? We spent a week together - you even called me by your side just to speak of trivial matters, near daily. But you never thought to share this with me? Why?”

Celestia wouldn’t back down from the assault - her deep red mane flowing down her side, as the King found it hard to maintain eye contact.

“I… perhaps I was hasty to leave the roots of my past so far behind. But… I had a fair reason, Celestia. It's… not something I wished to speak to you about. It is a painful memory for me. But…”

He gathered his courage, plucking the jeweled flower from his ear to gaze upon it once more. Golden magic twirling the relic of his past, the memories dear to him “...I loved her. But she never shared that love with me, no matter the gifts I gave, or the sweet letters I sent - she found love through a simple gray Unicorn. The pain of this hurt my heart greatly. And I saw her, through you. In Equestrian time, Celestia - I am not more than… one hundred years your senior.”

“This… that answers so few questions, and gives me many more to ask. You loved her? Why would you choose to abandon pony kind if you loved her so? Your father sought to build trust with us, and grow by our side - but you… you simply fled. Why would you do this? For what purpose?” Her eyes softened, her heart sending a pang for the old King. She has borne the same fate with many lovers in the past - but all died to the flow of time, not an untimely demise.

“I have two reasons to give for my flight. Firstly, and most importantly - the land we found perfect for our home was simply too close to your own, and we would be surrounded by Equestrians within a few decades. If we chose to stay, war would be inevitable - as at the time, all sentient creatures were struggling. Secondly, I... felt guilt. For your kind. Of all the strife and pain, Equestrians had suffered the most; and we were powerless to help. At every turn, your kin would perish to the terrible nature of this world, or to the Entity’s influence. I did not wish to be seen as uncaring - I was anything but. For the greater good, we strayed into the Feywilds - and there we stayed. As such, many saw ponies as a threat, and it soon became a part of our culture. Outsiders were not allowed.

“And for the love I held… I sent her many letters; poems and sweet songs… yet she found interest in a court unicorn. I even met you and your sister - your pristine white coats and pink manes were absolutely adorable. You were twins, after all.” He gave a sad smile at the memory, but what he just described caught Celestia by surprise.

“Luna is blue. And she’s my younger sister by… well, at least a few years… it was… our youth was rather hazy. Neither of us have a splendid memory on the matter.”

“No, I’m quite certain you were both white and pink, the first time I saw you both in your cribs. Alicorn blood is strong, after all. Once the Entity came, I never saw either of you again. Not until now, of course.”

Celestia turned away in thought, wondering what this could mean. Perhaps this has something to do with the Entity’s influence - maybe a lingering effect of its corruption. Or something else entirely; perhaps she had a third sister? No. That wouldn’t make sense.

“There is more to this than even both of us can decipher, Aster. For now, let’s let sleeping diamond dogs lie.”

Chapter 62 - Troublemakers

Vee snooted along the library, her expert eyes plucking book after book from the shelf. Hey! She didn’t order squiggly gibberish in her study-books! She’ll have to read them later when they release a purple legible version. But just so she doesn’t forget, she started the tedious process of marking the most interesting pages with spare feathers, so she’ll remember the best spots for reading.

“You! What are you doing?” A jerk-face doe spat, peaking her head down the aisle. Hhmhm! Being an extremely valuable coffee drinker and savior of all creatures, Vee decided to handle this professionally and with tact. By panicking, dropping her coffee to the floor and spilling it over a dozen books.

She tossed the tome in her hooves into the air, dashing heroically for the window before the Deer-Fuzz could snatch her for questioning. She’ll never talk! Never!

Of course the window was locked, good thing she brought her trusty lockpick. Which was another book she found on the shelf. She used it to calmly unlatch the window’s hook on top. What was she, a vandal who smashed glass without reason?! Neigh! With the window open, she darted outside - before hucking the hardback through the pane to avoid White Tail late fees. The perfect distraction for her daring escape! Glass flew in brilliant shimmering pieces, bouncing around and coating the floor inside - and a couple shards even managed to bounce out into the grass below.

Luckily, they never caught her name! They’ll never know it was her. Probably. If worst comes to worst, she’ll stake a local preening booth at a restaurant until she loses the heat, or until she’s banned for stealing all of their sugar packets.

Fluttering her amazingly beautiful wings to the floor, she snooted around her bag for that old ‘give me free stuff’ badge that Gold-Antler-fry passed around like coffee cakes. She had things to buy, and discounts were always welcome! She should use this responsibly, and as such - headed straight to a local coffee shop to sample the product. Since she lost her old mug, fending off the evil librarian from making her do less important things, like ‘cleaning up her mess’ or ‘not preening’, she’d need a replacement! After all, she had important enchantments to weave and snoot up, and materials to stock up on, too.

Arin sighed, rubbing his temples free of the stress of the last few hours. He was not a military expert; a month’s worth of training three years ago was hardly enough to be of extreme use. But still, his information was valuable, and it helped him set goals for his week here, too. General Falon had promised some desirable training directly under his command, to help solidify the Seraph as part of the Cervine’s command structure. He’d need to learn new terms, formations, and even new abilities to work in-hoof with the White Tail, and he was eager to see what the buck had planned.

His training would start tomorrow, when the General could organize a team course for the Knight. He’d be working with another buck, apparently a very special one - to study restoration spells to greater effects for his first day. After that, he’d be under the guidance of Falon proper.

Curious beyond belief to explore the town, and eager for some company - he followed sparse directions to the Alchemist’s lab. Celestia was undoubtedly busy, handling the more democratic side of things with the King - so he’d have a day to hang out with his old friend Umbra.

He peaked through the lab’s doors, finding the black maned mare very much alone. She swiveled a strange orb in her magic, inspecting it closely - the dark interior swirling with a blue fog. There were around a dozen more surrounding her on the nearby table, a spent burner and a multitude of herbs and jewels coating the workspace in clutter.

“Pst! Umbra!” Arin called, her ear swiveling towards him. A quick smile formed on her lips, turning to face the Seraph.

“What a surprise, I see you have an eye for exploration. What brings you here, Arin?” A smile tugged her cheeks, as she quietly set the small orb onto a work cloth, the Knight slipping inside with a brush of his wings.

“Well, I was thinking about heading into town to work on that exploration skill you just mentioned - and probably grab a bite to eat. I’d love some company, if you’re interested?”

She perked up at the request, a faint blush forming on her cheeks. “Are you by chance requesting a real second date, Sir Knight? If so… I believe I could be persuaded. I do not suppose you are in the mood for coffee yet again?”

Arin chuckled, as Umbra made her way to his side. “I think I’ll pass. I’d like a bit of time together - just us. No castle, no responsibilities, and I’m pretty sure coffee attracts a certain witch I’d like to avoid for my own sanity. Besides, today may be the last day we could do this together here. I’ve got a full schedule, and I want to spend as much time as I can with you before… well, you know. Just in case all of Canterlot burns down from our fight, heh.”

“Oh? Is that the reason? You are not worried of the most dire of outcomes?” Umbra questioned, as they made their way down the short, easy to navigate halls of Aster’s abode. He slid his fingers down her exceptionally soft coat, smiling.

“I have faith in our team. But I have significantly less faith in the structural integrity of Canterlot.”

The duo finally breached the majestic doors out of the Autumn Court, breathing in the cool night air. A chilly breeze pressed Umbra to Arin’s side, even though she could tolerate the cold quite well. It was a nice feeling, one he was happy to share.

A strange sight caught their attention on their left; three bucks chatting quietly over gleaming shards of glass; a groundskeeper buck plucking debris from bushes and flora alike. Several purple feathers lined the ground, a smashed window above showing signs of a struggle.

“Think we should intervene?” Umbra asked quietly. Arin shook his head.

“For once? No. If they needed help, they’d find us. For now, just smile and wave.” He grinned, raising a hand at the bucks - who stared awkwardly back at the duo as they passed into the city proper.

Free of the castle, the rich air felt wonderful on the skin. Not sure where to start first, the duo headed towards the west - past Oarkin, who sat speaking quietly to a little fawn. Once more, the duo waved - and he returned it with a mighty fist in the air. A sign of respect in the south of Erenorn.

Passing into the old town market, they basked in each other’s company - taking in the beautifully rich scenery. The stone blended into soft red and gold lined paths, autumn colored trees hanging over the jewel streetlights that blended a swath of multicolored lights into the world. Gold, orange, red, the occasional green and purple - each lit up the world in a beauty that was hard to describe. The far sound of the waterfall fell softly over the hush of the once bustling streets; while plenty of shops were open, few struggled to carry more than a sparse soul or three perusing their wares.

The path trekked upwards in a slight incline, directed along a mountain slope. Here, a magic root twined bridge held over a bubbling creek, that garnished the roundabout of townhome shops with fresh spring water. The path continued down farther, into more residential homes of the lower end of Silversun; large trees winding onwards to both support homes as natural spines, and dot the streets in shade that whittled away the moonlight.

“I have a question, Arin,” Umbra smirked, looking up to his eyes. “Can either of us actually read their language? Because I have no idea what any of these signs say.”

Oh. Right.

“Well, I would expect there to be outdoor seating for a restaurant, if there uh… are any open. It’s hard to tell. I know that farmers typically stock half of their produce for the residential sector, and the other half is for commercial - with food growing scarce, it’d be reasonable to say that most of it is being directed towards home use. Here, this place - it looks open,” Arin gestured to a nearby jewelry shop, that much was obvious - with beautiful bracelets, earrings, trinkets, and necklaces gracing the storefront, it might be a good place to start. “We’ll ask for directions, and enjoy the scenery in the meanwhile.”

Umbra gave a soft laugh; “Or perhaps you’re more interested in a ring of sorts?”

The Seraph nearly panicked at that accusation; but she relented with a bump of her barrel against his side. “Lead the way, sir Knight.”

“R-Right.” Arin chuckled, scratching the back of his head; if she kept this up, he’d develop a bald spot. Nervous habits were hard to kill, after all. Holding the door for the gray mare, she stepped inside the cheery light of the jewelers - a bored buck perking up at the sound of guests. He checked his wrist watch - perfect! An hour before his usual early close, plenty of time to help them find what they need.

“Ah! Welcome, welcome! To Belnian’s Baubles and… cross my branches, what are you? And a pony! Is this a robbery?! Are you here to besiege my wares?” The tall buck slid back against the far shelf of his shop, pink eyes wide. His short antlers nearly clattered against the wall, just barely missing several prized necklaces that dangled there unguarded.

The mystical wares of the clean, condensed business lined the cases and walls on displays and behind glass panes; the beautiful gem-stone encrusted accessories shining with a radiant light in the warmth of the far fire. A chandelier of sparkling flames radiated a supple glow across the polished wooden floors, ornate green and gold carpets breaking the monotony of beautiful planks into rich spaces, graced by pleasant carvings bearing rings and loops galore.

If every shop was as beautiful as this one, Canterlot would never compare. Several thousand years or more to refine Silversun’s allure was enough to leave the newer pony capitol to shame.

“We’re uh… guests to the royal circlet,” Arin said, withdrawing his medallion to flash at who was undoubtedly Belnian. Upon seeing the token, he visibly relaxed - stepping back to the counter to greet his new, potentially infinitely wealthy customers with a smile.

“Aha! I see! Have you come to browse my livelihood? I offer all kinds of services - from jewels and gem cutting, locket crafting, amulet imbuing, and most importantly, lavish jewelry. I suppose you’re after the latter?”

“Actually, no, we’re - wait, you said locket crafting, right? Does that mean you do portraits as well?” The Seraph smiled, sharing a warm look between him and the Unicorn to his side. Her heart swelled, green eyes shining to meet his golden irises. The buck caught on in a moment, giving a heartfelt sigh.

“Ah, young love. It reminds me of my youth. I do, in fact. I have just the method for it, as well - have you heard of magic sketching? It’s a quick process, where I imbue a thin gem with a flash of light - and it captures several moments inside, as if reliving those seconds eternally. I can assure you a hundred year warranty on it, as well - if not more, if you’re willing to embellish yourself?”

The Seraph didn’t even hesitate. He’s known Umbra for far, far too long to say no - and quickly lifted the silvered locket from his neck, offering it to the buck. “If the gem color doesn’t matter, give me something to match her eyes.”

“Oh! It doesn’t, the gem simply holds the magic - and replays the memory endlessly. Let me see if I have something cut in my boughs, and I’ll piece together a splendid visage for you.”

He held the locket in his magical aura, his small antlers shining dimly much like a Unicorn’s horn would. Arin offered his hand to Umbra as they waited, the somber mare taking it in her hoof’s grasp. Their eyes locked, as if searching for something - something they’ve both found. A feeling Arin had trouble finding before, a true emotion.

“A deep emerald, and - ah! Hold that pose, don’t move. You two look stunning together, let me just…” Belnian raised the heart shaped emerald up, a flash of pink light encompassing them both. Before Umbra could react, Arin slid down for a gentle kiss at her nose - leaving her stunned.

“Arin…” she warned, but kindly relented her stern demeanor, if only just. Instead, a soft smile followed. “And I thought I was the clever one, between us.”

“Is that an insult, or did I simply prove you wrong?” He winked, a gentle flick of his wings following. By the Feathers, he should slow down. With his luck, Celestia would wander in and find them. And he simply didn’t want to hurt her like that. In fact, he still wanted to talk with Luna, too, but…

Umbra really captured something neither of them could, and he just wanted to prove it.

“And… done! A splendid job on my part, but I can’t seem to read the inscription inside. It looks to be in some kind of… foreign language. Strange.” The necklace floated in a dim pink glow, returning to Arin’s palm. “Now, if you’ll let me see that mark, Heralds, you two can be on your way.”

Arin nodded, placing the gold, near saucer size symbol on the table. The buck quietly hefted it in his magic, withdrawing an invoice; with a firm press of the round charm, a fresh sear burned into the page, the parchment detailing the services he rendered for the duo. Gently, he slid it forward - levitating a quill and inkpot for the Knight’s signature. Arin placed the newly updated locket in Umbra’s hooves, so she can inspect the handiwork while he signed.

“You know, three years ago, I heard word of several ponies - and a strange creature - entering Silversun. Was that you, by any chance?” He asked, as Arin flashed his name in Equestrian across the page. He would write it in his home language of Sarin, but… well, he’d be the only one who could read it. Save maybe Oarkin.

“I was the strange creature, yes, though my friend here wasn’t with us at the time.” He turned down to look at his doting guardian, stooping an inch to gaze at the gem as it recreated the moment in a flash of gleaming magic across its surface. The duo peering into each other’s eyes, a sweet love that was instantly recognizable - and at the very last moment, Arin darted down to kiss her shocked nose.

“Say… I don’t suppose you could make us another locket, can you?” The Seraph asked, Umbra’s eyes lighting up.

“Arin, you do not have to do this to please me. I am simply happy to be by your side.”

“I’m not doing it to please you, Umbra. I’m doing it because I lo-… I cherish you. As a close friend.” He ran his thumb over her cheek, the tall unicorn knowing exactly what he meant. “You’ve been by my side for three years. I want a piece of that by your heart for many more.”

By the stars, the Seraph already had her heart - but that poetic comment was weakening her resolve to keep him faithful to the Princess. Perhaps in a moment of weakness, she smiled and nodded. “...Very well then. I will trust your judgement.”

The buck nearly melted behind the counter, leaning over a cloven hoof to stare. You could almost see the little romantic hearts bubbling above his head as he watched. “Ah, I live for these moments. I think I’ll have something prepared for you tomorrow around this time, to match the first locket; a special treat. Young buck, let me see your eyes - gold, correct? Perhaps a citrine would fit, or a honey topaz…”

“Citrine,” Umbra stated firmly; “I dislike topaz jewels keenly, after a recent incident in Canterlot. If… Arin is okay with that.”

The soft blush on her cheeks was absolutely stunning compared to the usual expressionless gaze she held, and he stroked her cheek again. He couldn’t help but think how soft her fur was - like pressing one’s hand into a pile of dark, rich ash, or perhaps a living shadow.

Belnian sighed in delight, the tender moment filling his heart with joy. He couldn’t hold back a smile as he spoke; “Of course, madam. I will see to it-”

BANG!

A set of hooves kicked in the door with a rush, Arin and Umbra jumping into a defensive position as Sun Song ripped from its sheath - gleaming violently with cackling, flaming, solar energy. Umbra’s horn glowed a radiant green, before her snarl of a glare died and returned to mild annoyance.

Vee stepped into the store, preening a wing quietly as she stared ahead; a trail of feathers left in her wake. On her back rested a small barrel labeled in Cervine; the extremely happy pegasus marching quietly forward before finally spotting Umbra and Arin staring dumbfounded at her.

“Ah! Hello Tall-fry! And Spooky-fry! A wonderful surprise!” Vee ho-hummed, plucking an empty coffee cup from her unpreened wing. With a hoof, she reached back to turn the handle on her portable barista - overflowing the cup to the brim with fresh, piping hot - do I even need to tell you? It’s coffee. It’s always coffee.

Arin groaned, slipping sun song into it’s royal red sheath, as Umbra went on to the offensive.

“Vee. Seriously? Of all of the shops you stumble into-”

“I trotted for a change, but you’re not wrong. I am usually very stumbly. D’ohoho~” Vee dropped another feather, as Belnian finally recovered from the heart attack.

“My door!” he yelped, for good cause. The door, which he labeled ‘pull’ for a reason, was nearly knocked off its hinges when it wouldn’t give for Vee’s snoot. He then saw the massive coffee stain forming beneath Vee. She didn’t fully close her tap, and it was spilling all over his carpet. “My RUG!”

“Oh hey, Deer-fry. I need all of your jewelry. This is a robbery. Except I’m paying you in a magic give-me-free-things coin. So really, I’m robbing Aster. It’s okay, he doesn’t know it yet, hmhmhm~” She placed the Herald’s mark on the counter, staring straight through the tall buck without question. Perhap out of pity for the jewelcrafter, Arin reached forward and squeezed the knob shut on the keg.

“I-I… you what?”

“I’ll take this, this, this…” Vee used her magic to start grabbing random necklaces from the wall, preferably the purple gemmed ones first - then the green, occasionally a cheeky blue or orange. But never the red. Red was bad for the feathers, after all. By the time she was done, she had a literal pile of beautifully designed amulets in front of her. Which she then proceeded to throw over her neck, one by one. The buck gawked in absolute shock as she basically just paid his mortgage off.

With blazing speed of his magic, he struggled to keep count of all the product going out - quickly creating a receipt on the longest piece of parchment he had, and the smallest hoofwriting he could manage. By the time Vee was done, she was absolutely covered in bling.

“Vee, don’t you think you’re overdoing it?...”

“You’re right, Tall-fry! I need a new watch, too. My last one turned into a winged frog.” Her hoof glowed - unstrapping the small wrist watch on the buck’s leg - making him shout.

“Hey! That’s mine!”

“Herald~” she chimed, waving the coin around. This level of smug should be absolutely illegal. Umbra simply stared on in absolute shock as the sheer amount of gold on the pegasi’s neck outweighed the barrel of dripping coffee, Vee’s hindlegs hefting from the floor from the weight of it all. How was she still standing?

With a growl, he simply added it to the list of costs - a literal fortune by now, as Arin and Umbra quickly made their way to the door.

“I believe we forgot to ask for directions…” Umbra frowned, when the duo quickly abandoned the scene of the crime.

“No we didn’t. Just follow the coffee stains. That’ll lead us to food. Let’s uh… go, before Vee bankrupts Aster.”

By the time Umbra and Arin had reached the now coffee-less restaurant, Vee was waddling her very richly endowed flank out the door, the buck slamming it shut behind her. Not before pinning a hastily drawn doodle to the front - ‘BANNED’; with Vee’s extremely smug smile haunting the page, crossed out with a line. The door then proceeded to fall inwards, smacking the floor with a fwump. The hinges finally gave out, it seems.

Funnily enough, it was the third poster banning Vee from somewhere in Silversun that evening alone. And truth be told, it probably wouldn’t be the last.

Chapter 63 - A Hero

Tempest led the way south through the gardens and into the more front facing new-town trade district. Pumpkin stuck close to her side, humming quietly in delight as they set about their work. The couple had their directions to follow, along with a list of ingredients the wine-colored mare constructed that morning.

A banishment orb was a multi-step and vastly difficult construct; partly an arcane infused outer shell, to an interior filled with swirling smoke - a perfect ball was black and green. It can penetrate magical barriers, and when it shatters - the target is turned to onyx.

The main component they were searching for was magma essence; a condensed, sparkling red powder that could easily catch flame, if even a minor magical spark was induced. It would boil near instantly when put in water, but when suspended in a non-flammable balanced pH solution, you could infuse it with wraith oil to help neutralize the flame aspect, then flash raw magic into it to produce a black, tar-like jelly. From there, you would boil it down over a few days, and smoke in several uncommon herbs for the petrifying effect.

Once you had a powder, you’d scoop it into the arcane orbs, and basically shock it again with unfocused magic; which Tempest had in spades. After a few days to settle, you’d know if you had a viable product.

In Equestria, these ingredients were highly illegal for the civilian sector. They were volatile in the wrong hooves, after all. But the White Tail had no such laws; the only problem was they were hard to come by, especially the magma essence; it had to be taken from fire elemental spirits, typically in extremely inhospitable regions.

The new town section of Silversun was just past the old town wall; cities like this typically had multiple barriers that dictated the age of them. The older parts of town were closest to the center, while each new layer grew outwards until another wall was required for safety. As a population grew, the need for housing would send buildings on the outskirts of the safety of the gates- much like the distant farms are currently situated. Canterlot City had one wall, for example, as it was only around several hundred years old; Silversun had two.

Pumpkin nosed gently against the distracted Commander’s side, pointing a hoof at a duo of large wagons blocking the sidewalk. It was quite obvious to see that they dealt in the matters of the arcane, as the sheer stock they carried stretched out partially into the street. On a soft cushion in the center of her sprawling wares, sat a single doe - the other caravan tended to by another, taller doe who seemed busy tinkering with… something, from behind her wagon’s window. Regardless, balms and oils galore lined their wares beneath a large maple tree, and it was an obvious place to stop.

Approaching through the clutter, the doe smiled at her new guests - setting her gold hair filled brush to the floor. “Aha~ Welcome my new guests, to Madam Eve’s Gypsy Arcanery.”

She delicately withdrew a cup of tea, sipping pleasantly at it. It was a bit worrying, the doe’s yellow eyes and warm sunlight coat gave off an… odd energy. One the chipped-horn Unicorn couldn’t place just yet.

“Thank you, for the kind greeting. But we have little time to chat. We’re here looking for some alchemical ingredients.”

“Ehehehe! You’ve come to the right place, definitely. I have much to browse, and much more to brush. Let me know if you need help finding anything,” Eve replied, yellow eyes shining as she lifted her tea to her lips.

“Psst! Hey you! Small pony, come here~” a voice called; the other doe, fondling pieces of magical charms, caught sight of Pumpkin - and wanted to talk to the little witch. Sharing a look with Tempest, the Commander nodded - letting her run off as Tempest spoke with the… strangely familiar doe.

“What’s a cute little pony like you doing here in White Tail lands?” the tall deer asked, her short green hair cut in a butch pattern. The strange cervine leaned over the side of her wagon’s window, eying her oddly. She didn’t look like the other deer, actually… She had a red coat, and was missing a lot of the white colors the cervine typically wore on their tummy. Her soft red eyes were also a little more almond shaped and layered in a thin shade of green eyeliner; perhaps she was foreign?

“W-Well um, we’re looking for some reagents…”

“My my~ Reagents? Why don’t you come inside and tell me more - I might be able to help~ I’m Bastrii, by the way. And you are?...”

“P-Pumpkin Spice!” She smiled innocently, raising a hoof to her chest; looking up to the tall doe with a smile. Bastrii licked her lips, waving her inside with a flick of her cloven hoof.

“That stutter is absolutely adorable, cutie~ Well, come along then. I have much to show you~” She gently closed the window to her cart, flicking a latch over it. Wouldn’t want anydeer intruding on their privacy, would she?

Pumpkin had a strange feeling, that perhaps entering the wagon wasn’t the greatest idea. The tall gypsie doe appeared by the heavy door, smiling and beckoning her to join her. “Follow me Pumpkin, I won’t bite. I promise.”

She cast a worried look to Tempest, who continued to speak to the other doe over her list. Eve would occasionally nod and sip her tea, the rattle of her glass breaking their quiet conversation when her spoon gave it a swirl.

“Well? I don’t have all day, you know.” Bastrii tapped a hoof impatiently against the floorboards to her wagon, until - despite the little mare’s best judgement - she relented, and clopped her little hooves inside.

“Why do you not go home, little one? We have played many hours now. You are not tired?” Oarkin asked, as he darted a Knight forward to take a rook. The tiny doe frowned, hiding her eyes beneath her short tuft of scraggly hair.

Her voice came in a small, fragile whisper, “I don’t like my home.”

“Oh? Explain.” He frowned; he looked over her again, perhaps a little worried. He had a large heart, after all - even if he was a menace on the battlefield.

When she didn’t immediately speak, those feelings of his grew a little deeper. His gray eyes scanned over his little friend, seeing the bruises and marks she bore. Instead of answering him, the tiny fawn nosed a castle gently to the left - taking his knight. How did he not see that one coming? He nearly pinched his nose in frustration, until her little voice broke that thought.

“My dad hurts me.”

…

At those four words, his muscles tensed with such ferocity that you could almost hear the potent fibers beneath the skin straining. His once soft features tightening as he stared at the board. “Why.”

Before she could respond, a blue aura surrounded her - ripping the little fawn from the board as a tall buck quickly approached. Covered in dirt and carrying a heavy satchel at his side, he threw a scornful glance at the Seraph as he walked away.

“Calia, I said I wanted you to stay home. Why won’t you listen to me? Am I not clear? Stay away from… whatever that thing is.”

“B-But…”

His magic seized so tightly around her snout that the tiny fawn whined in pain, dragged alongside her father in the dim moonlight. “You know what this means. Shut your mouth, you weren’t like this before your mother passed. Why can’t you be good for five seconds? Is that too much for you?”

Oarkin had to fight every single notion of justice in his body, to not use his immense strength to crush the very life out of the buck, and save his little friend. But for once, he was powerless to help. If he did as he pleased, the little one would surely be scarred for the rest of her life. Furthermore, it would put their mission to save Equestria at risk; they needed the aid of the White Tail, and murdering a buck in the streets for no other reason than a fawn’s words would bring them no aid. As much as a mountain he was, and the towering strength he carried in his fists - they would need the support of the White Tail to fight this… ‘Nightmare Moon’. That much was clear.

But he couldn’t abandon the little fawn to her fate. He wanted to be a hero. And if he wasn’t a hero to those he cared for, was he even worthy of the title?

He stood up upon his towering legs. Slowly, as quietly as the ten hoof tall giant could - he followed a safe distance behind. He even stripped his shoes for a bit more quiet - as odd as it would be. The father and daughter headed west, into the old town - the buck scolding her with every step of the way.

“Welcome to my humble abode, little pony.” The doe smiled, clicking the door shut behind her guest. Pumpkin gave a quick look around Bastrii’s home, frowning. While it had plenty of decor, it had little in the way of merchandise to sell. In fact, the gypsie quickly withdrew a second pillow, tossing it to the floor as her cloven hoof fiddled with the small wood stove on the left.

“Er… B-Bastrii, I um… I don’t h-have much time to chat. We really n-need to work on our project…” Pumpkin mewled, even as the doe waved her to sit down. Well, her lil’ hooves were a bit tired… and it was comfy in here, as the tall doe lit several candles.

“Oh please, we all deserve a little rest, cutie. Take a load off~ Let’s talk about something fun! Like, say… mm… something intimate.” Puffing her match with her lips, the small wagon was now pleasantly lit with flickering flames. She even managed to light a couple over her luscious bed, to fully illuminate the room in soft orange.

“I-Intimate?” Pumpkin squeaked, growing nervous. Maybe Tempest should be here…

“Yes! Intimate. You are exceptionally adorable, after all.” The doe scooched her pillow close with a flick of her red magic, settling in much too close to the tiny mare. “Besides, I know that tall pony is busy speaking with my mother… how about we look over what you’re really after. I can read you like a book, after all.”

Pumpkin gulped. She could?

With a flash of red magic, the deer slid a drawer out from under her bed. Within seconds, she had a small display set up, shocking the smaller pony as she looked it over.

“You’re a submissive, I can tell. And that cracked horn unicorn - she’s definitely your dom. Am I wrong?”

“W-What?” Pumpkin blushed, as a row of collars dangled before her. There were plenty of… other toys, as well. In fact, some of them looked similar to…

“H-How d-did you k-know?”

Bastrii rolled her eyes, lifting a mirror up in her red aura. A faint bruise from exceptionally rough tugging could just hardly be seen through her fur. “Garbage collars leave marks, cutie. I’m the only trader you’ll find that carries an inventory like this one; after all, I’m one of the rare Red Tail you’ll stumble across in Silversun. And Red Tail are a lot less prude in our interests.”

“What?...”

Pumpkin simply couldn’t snap out of the moment, her jaw refusing to lift from the floor. It took the rattling handle to snap her awake, as Tempest made her way inside with a call.

“Why are you in-...” She looked over the variety of wares presented before her Pet, stepping into the cabin with a clatter of hooves.

There was a moment of hesitation, as she took in the sight before her. Her left hindleg then slowly reached out - catching the rim of the door with her hoof, before flicking it shut behind herself. Maybe they had a moment to do some… much needed shopping.

The deeper west you went, the less refined the buildings became; more shoddily appointed and roughly constructed, this was truly the old roots of Silversun. The only reason this section still stood at all was a testament to the sheer age of the city; a value Oarkin would normally appreciate. But now? No.

At some point in his spying, the giant heard a shatter of glass faintly from beyond a corner, and felt it along his feet when he later stepped across the remnants of a wine bottle. Of course, his heritage gave him thick skin - so it was merely crunched beneath him. But it was a worrying sign. In his society, all children are treated with love and respect - the Southern Spears valued blooming life as much as they did honor, and a freshly broken bottle of spirits gave ill news.

He kept his ear to the alley as he rounded the bend; by now, he was hopelessly lost in the corridors of Silversun’s aged past, but it hardly mattered. He had wings. He would simply fly past the trees, as soon as he could gather their whereabouts.

“Cross my branches, Calia - your worthless hide couldn’t even prepare dinner before you disobeyed me and ran off to the streets. You are NOTHING compared to your mother - you hear me?!”

Soft sobbing broke his heart to pieces, knuckles turning white in his fist as he listened through the door. How could this injustice stand? Did the King not care for his kind? An echo of slurring cervine curses met his ear, occasional thunks of movement breaking the father’s voice. Shattered glass soon followed, Calia’s scream breaking his resolve.

“Calia?...” the slurred voice spoke, in a quiet, guttural voice. As if he was choking on something. “Calia, speak to me. Get up. You’re fine. It…”

Silence. Something Oarkin didn’t want to hear. Not now. He couldn’t even hear the faint cries of the fawn’s voice anymore, only the soul numbing silence.

Before he could even barge in to save her, the door swung open - the buck dashing down the road in a frenzy. Alone, save the alcohol in his pack. This saved the deer’s life, for had he not ran - Oarkin would have crushed the door to wooden shards, and caved in his skull.

In a rush before the father could return, he squeezed himself through the small doorway into the buck’s home. Disaster. Like a tornado had ripped through the dirty dwelling, shattered glass of empty wine bottles and broken furniture lined the floor, the sty of the abusive father leaving little hope for the fawn he barely knew.

There, in the corner, lay Calia’s broken body. And for the first time in three hundred years, the giant of a Seraph felt true and total defeat. Not at the edge of a sword, or through silly games… but the crack of his heart, as he picked up the now corpse of the little fawn. Her glasses shattered to pieces; a large shard of glass poking through her wine-covered chest where her Father smashed her beaten form. It struck deep, not intentionally - but it hit her tiny heart.

For once, he put forward every bit of gentle effort to handle his little friend, his first tears in a long time falling across her fur. Clutching her to his chest, his vision blurred. He failed her. He failed the little friend he made. Had he only seen the signs in their short time together…

No. He would not let this pass. King Arin could save her. He was a White Mage. White Mages could heal, they could resurrect the dead. He would treat her. He would save her.

His massive, powerful wings spread wide - crashing through the mess of planks and wood, as his strong legs kicked through the floorboards - bursting through the roof in wind whirling beats of gray wings.

He wanted to be a hero. A hero for Calia. And he would be.

Arin and Umbra returned from their night out, swaying happily against each other in the cool air. The castle soon beckoned their approach, the Seraph yawning after a long, and mostly quiet day. Using a stretch as a reason to spread his wings, Arin sneakily dragged the pinions over his very close friend. Much to her blush and stare.

“A bit close, would you not agree?” she teased, much to the mirth of her companion.

“Not close enough, really. Are you saying it’s a bit too hot out for a little warmth from your friend?” He ran his hand along her oh so luscious mane, sighing in content. She looked so much better after a quick shower, and her hair - by the feathers, it was so poofy now. Just the right amount of volume.

“I suppose you carry truth to your words. It is cold. Though perhaps not terribly so. I am rather attuned for it, still. Have you forgotten where you found me?”

“Like a flower in the endless snow, your memory is a beautiful landmark in my mind.” He mentally patted himself on the back for that one, much to the surprise of the former Umbrum. For once, he had absolute confidence in his voice - and this felt natural to him. He was speaking to possibly the closest pony he had in this world, and they both knew that.

The silent guardian bucks watched their approach, their ears swiveling to the skies much like Umbra’s did, just now. The heavy beats of wings dropping the Mountain of a Seraph before them, his massive weight crashing down as gently as he could before them.

And like all good things between the Seraph and his former Umbrum, they must come to an end.

Chapter 64 - PDA

“Save her.”

Oarkin demanded this with a trembling voice, looming over the smaller Seraph with a chaotic mix of emotions. He was shaking in rage, fighting back every urge within him to give chase. “Save my friend.”

“What?...” Arin fell back an inch, as the giant knelt before him. By now, the guards had caught on that something was amiss - spotting the small fawn dangling broken in Oarkin’s hands. The senior of the two nodded to the other as the spare galloped to find aid.

“By the Feathers! Oarkin, did you do this?!” Arin was left in shock, the larger Seraph spitting curses in Sprik above him. Umbra approached the resting body of the small doe, shaking her head.

“No. It looks as if she has been trampled beneath cloven hooves. Look - bruising.” Indeed, there were dozens of cloven-hoof shaped marks lining her body, enough to almost leave the former King sick.

“Save. My. Friend.” Oarkin’s feathers began to raise in rage, as Arin quickly guided him to lower the fawn to the floor to inspect her wounds. The most jarring of which was a massive shard of glass, penetrating from the fawn’s chest, directly into her…

Arin sighed, closing his eyes. He didn’t know how to cast a full and proper Resurrection; at least, he didn’t have the experience for it. Simply put, it was hard to find sentient creatures willing to be killed for him to test his magic. He gingerly shed the fragment of glass from her chest, demanding the two make space for an attempt at the ritual.

“How long has she been dead?” he asked quietly.

“Not more than five minutes,” Oarkin stated, ignoring her blood on his hands to the best of his ability.

That was bad, for a multitude of reasons.

“I have only brute forced revivals once before, during my ascension. I have never been able to attain that level of strength again; I will try my best, but…”

He raised his left hand into the air, channeling healing power from his ember. A mystic tome took shape in his grasp; translucent and ghostly, as if he was giving a sermon. This was the problem. For every several moments a creature has died, you need to channel a new glyph of healing; each took a page in this tome, the being’s very own Book of Life. It would undo the damage, much like antithesis - and essentially rewound the killed creature’s personal timeline. It basically ‘filled the gaps’ where their life ended, and where it would continue.

For every single page summoned, incurred a new toll from the caster. The first was simple; a small magic cost, and could be used to bring back the freshly dead with ease. This could be brute forced by an inexperienced white mage, up to two or even three pages even - without the need of the proper spell, if you had a sheer quantity of magic at your disposal.

The second page was a challenge, as the magic grew wilder and unfocused across the forming parchment - you were essentially “magically” rewriting the last few minutes of their death. Without a catalyst, this would typically be enough to leave the caster breathless at Arin’s level. It was also dangerous; if the spell failed, the book would close and backfire - injuring the caster in a wave of wild magic. Another reason why White Mages rarely help others cheat death to this extent.

The third page of Resurrection, the one this little fawn would undoubtedly need - cost more than just magic. At this level, failing the ritual would do more than just injure him; the very book could incinerate, making further attempts at reviving her impossible, even for an Arch Druid. And there were six more sheets after that you could fill with glyphs - but to write said glyphs, you needed material components to afford the spell’s magical call, and the stakes simply grew higher with each forged fiction you wrote in their book.

He finished the first page with relative ease, as King Aster made an appearance - led by the same armored buck who left just moments prior. He saw what was happening, and made a rush to join Arin’s side - much to the White Mage’s discomfort. He took in the situation, assumed the worst - and quickly interrupted Arin with his own glyph; a flash of a charm that stunned the seraph, a blast of magic knocking him back from the failed spell.

“KING ASTER! What are you doing!? You could have killed him!” Umbra demanded, jumping quickly to the reeling Seraph’s aid. His skin was seared with energy, temporarily blinded by the light. The former Umbrum gingerly embraced him, glaring pure malice at the white and gold buck. Oarkin, too, had to restrain himself from attacking, cursing more foul words in Sprik.

“A spell of this caliber should be handled by a Grand Master; I apologize, Sir Arin. I will aid you in a moment. Had you persisted, there would be no hope for this fawn.” The King sighed, weaving his own version of the spell with the green glow of his antlers. Unlike Arin’s attempt, which was ghostly and frail - this new book was glowing, tendrils of white energy reflecting the pure innocence of the spirit before him. Within seconds, he turned the luminescent sheets, resting his hoof on the third while the intricate glyphs formed beneath his touch.

With a brilliant flash of light, a shower of golden green sparks - and the singing chime of a great bell, Calia’s eyes cracked open once again. Her flesh knitted quietly, her soft, confused whimper drawing Oarkin’s approach. The volume of her life fluttered into fragments that faded in the wind, swirling over the breathing fawn once again. Immediately, the King rounded on Arin, his eyes gleaming at the potential before him.

“When General Falon requested I train you, I had assumed he meant tomorrow.” King Aster frowned, great antlers sparkling to green life again. That very same spell Arin had mastered, Antithesis, enraptured the knight’s form - ripping him from the pain with a masterful ring of a bell. The bubbling burns closed and vanished nigh instantly, fresh breath drawn into his lungs.

Despite his help, Umbra glared - leaving the King sighing. He didn’t mean to be so brash. But action had to be taken, especially to protect the lives of his deer.

“Guards. Speak with Sir Oarkin. I wish to know who caused this incident, so that they may be brought to justice. Arin.” His green eyes took in the Seraph with hesitation. “Tomorrow, you will train with me. I can not have you tending to the dead or dying without proper instruction. Your magic is strong, but in short supply. I will see to it that you make the greatest use of it. And again… my apologies.”

He bowed his head, turning to face the fawn, still clutched gently in Oarkin’s grasp. “As for you, little one - what is your name?”

Calia blinked at the towering King, freezing on the spot. “C-Calia.”

Aster nodded to the kneeling Seraph’s eyes, as if speaking to him. With a frown, Oarkin relented - giving the fawn to the massive buck. In Aster’s gentle magic, he lifted her to rest over his back; perhaps the safest place in all of White Tail Wood.

“Let’s find you a warm bed to rest in, food for your belly, and a toy to play with. How does that sound, Calia?” He smiled, much to the confused fawn’s delight.

“I-I get to stay in the Castle?...” Her little voice cracked in a sniffle, her much-too-thin body curling up to stay warm. She had no idea what happened - things were dark and… now she was here. Safe, gently held by King Aster.

“I don’t see why not! Let’s make you nice and cozy, and find you a hot bath. Would that be nice?” He turned to face her, letting her hide under his boughs.

“I have no idea what just happened.” Arin frowned, standing up with the aid of a dark hoof.

Umbra watched them go as Oarkin stood, talking quietly to the guards. “I do not wish to find out for myself. Here; let us find your room. We should try to put this behind us for now. You probably require rest after the event.”

Exiting the shop with a smirk, Tempest stepped in stride next to her little lover; who bore a spectacular new piece of equipment. A claret colored collar, of course - leaving the small pony an absolute blushing mess.

“T-Tempest, i-in public?...” Pumpkin mewled, bouncing the uninscribed tag in her hoof; feeling the gold rattle against her chest. She had to make an effort to keep her tail low, the sheer humiliation nearly overwhelming her other emotions. The lil’ witch could almost feel foreign eyes crawling all over her body. Well, if there were eyes around her to watch. It was getting rather late, at least so she thought. She lacked a watch to tell, and the endless night made keeping track of time… difficult.

“As I recall, a certain little mare of mine wished for it to be enchanted to never come off. Are you going back on your word? I would relent if you truly desired. It’s a simple magicless collar at the moment, after all - there’s still time to back down, if you really wanted.” She eyed her dominantly, taking the little mare’s breath away. And Tempest had so much confidence in her words, because she knew she was right. Pumpkin never stood a chance.

“G-Gosh darn it…” She whimpered; it was true. She did ask for this. And she really wanted it, as a fantasy… but actually wearing a collar in public was a bit intense for her. Especially when she had trouble making eye contact with ponies as it was. “Y-You’re right…”

“‘You’re right’ who?” Tempest whispered, leering over her with such authority that it made her melt. Partly from the taboo shame of it all, but also because it hit every single nerve in her body, in all the right ways.

“M-Mistress. Y-You’re right, Mistress,” Pumpkin whispered, much to the delight of the tall Unicorn.

“Good girl.” A soft kiss on her neck soon followed, right over her new, soon-to-be permanent accessory. But almost in revenge, Pumpkin tilted her muzzle up and locked lips with the tall Unicorn, melting into the syrupy kiss.

“Hey now you two, keep the public displays of affection down to a minimum. I’ve got a business to run here! You’ll attract all the right clients,” Bastrii called, leaning against the doorway with a smirk. It took every fiber of their beings to pull away from the kiss, the doe chortling from the scene.

“Tails, mares. Tails! Don’t let the bucks get the wrong ideas now.” Bastrii fanned herself with their signed invoice; it wasn’t a large payday, but coin was coin.

Pumpkin squeaked; she hadn’t realized it, but she was flagging again; the strands of her autumn tail nearly flicking over her back. She had to fight back both the blush and heat of the moment, Tempest nibbling roughly at her ear from the side of her hat. This, of course, did not help. In fact, it made things so much worse - as she almost lost control again.

“Okay, last warning. Seriously. Go bother my mom or something. I’m going to get the water bucket if you don’t. This is a threat.”

At that, the stalwart Commander relented, pulling away to snap her tail against Pumpkin’s exposed flank. “Come along now, Pet. Umbra is probably bored to death, and we still have sho-...”

Entering Eve’s caravan, Tempest stopped herself short - as Vee, covered in quite possibly a life saving’s worth of jewelry - stared down a very smug looking Eve.

“Sis?...” Pumpkin squeaked, hiding behind Tempest in an attempt to mask the collar on her neck. The Purple raised a hoof in intense concentration, silencing Pumpkin in her tracks.

“Coffee.”

“Tea,” Eve corrected, with a prideful puff of her chest - swirling her cup around with a silver spoon. Out of habit, she lifted her brush to groom her long golden hair, the loops on either side bouncing.

“Oh no.” Tempest’s eyes widened, the realization dawning on her. “By the Stars, Pumpkin. There’s two of them.”

“W-What? I don’t…” Pumpkin frowned, as Vee continued to calmly speak to the Red Tail Deer before them.

“Preening.”

“Mm… brushing, ehehehe~” She tilted her head up with a smile, “You’re an odd mayfly. Mm… Purple-fly, perhaps.”

“That’s Purple-fry to you, Loop-mane-fry! I don’t wanna hear it! No snoot!” Vee turned her muzzle up, huffing.

“Snout,” Eve corrected again.

“Snoot!” Came the Purple’s retort.

“Let’s just find another vendor.” Tempest sighed, wishing to stay as far away from the twins. But before she could get a single step away, a yellow flair of magic tugged her by the tail back to Eve’s pillow. Much to her displeasure, of course.

“Nuh uh uh! I’ll be destitute if you run off, Stern-fly,” the Gypsie puffed, Vee wrenching her attention away to watch the action unfold. “I’ve got taxes to avoid, and tea to purchase. Get over here, I managed to find your wraith oil and magma essence. They were both exactly where I left them. Inside my wagon.”

“Wait wait wait - firstly, destisnoot. We all know you’ve gotta snoot the bits in the pockets or else it doesn’t make any sense! Or I don’t make any sense. Probably. Secondly, you said something about avoiding taxes… perhaps I misjudged you, Loop-fry.” Vee’s angry glare died, and was quickly replaced with her usual tired, unfocused stare. The attentive doe smiled, rolling her hoof around in thought.

“Mm… perhaps. I am, after all, an expert gypsie of the highest degree. I think I could spare a lesson or two, if…”

Vee raised her golden credit medallion up from her pouch, Eve’s eyes lighting up.

“Now that is something I’d be willing to bleat about. But first, the less important business. Here you go, you two - highly dangerous and unsupervised alchemical components. Don’t drink it or whatever, it’s really bad for the hair.” Eve essentially tossed a gift bag towards the duo, Pumpkin just barely managing to snatch it in her muzzle with a jingle of her claret colored collar. She wiped a bead of sweat from her eyes, the bottles uncracked. If they would have mixed now, they’d have nothing to face Nightmare Moon with.

Tempest, with a sigh of relief - quickly offered the Herald medal to the doe - who signed off on a short invoice, before leaving the duo be. Fixing her tail with mild frustration, the Commander was simply happy to be free of the two crazed… gypsy-witches.

“Come on, Pet. Let’s head back to the lab, then the bedroom. You already know why.” Tempest smiled, leaving her lover a blushing mess.

“Y-Yes Mistress,” her tiny voice soon followed, the mare’s soft nose burrowing into Tempest’s side. The lewd tension between the two was extremely high by now, thank the Stars they had their own room to share.

Arin threw himself in bed, not before sharing one last hug with Umbra in the hallway. After a long, very stressful day, it was nice to finally have some peace and quiet. At least until Celestia would eventually find him, that is. He still remembered the last time he spent a full week in Silversun with her; he was shocked the bedframe lasted that long. While it was extremely pleasurable, it didn’t feel like it came from the strongest bond.

Instead, he reached for his new locket, clicking it open to watch the short memory repeat itself. Umbra’s eyes were filled with so much genuine love for him - how could he have been so blind to it before? He never even saw the signs. At least, not with his eyes settled on Luna.

Another wave of guilt hit him; because Umbra admitted those feelings started as early as… well, at some point in Erenorn. Back when she worked as his Knight and Spymaster, standing tirelessly by his side to keep him safe. Or putting her very life on the line to be a knife in the dark, so he could sleep soundly at night.

She loved him, in her own unique way. Perhaps that’s why it was so hard to spot. She wanted nothing more than to protect him; like he was her own ray of hope in the dark.

His eyes were dry, and began to falter in the comfort of the night. Tired arms sagging to his chest, too lazy to strip his shirt and old dragonhide vest - he fell into a much needed doze, before finally succumbing to sleep.

Not more than an hour later, the door cracked open yet again; the exhausted Princess slipping inside. Seeing Arin already asleep, she made an effort to keep quiet so as not to disturb him. The fact that he still wore his clothes confirmed that they both had a rough day.

Celestia approached the bed with quiet steps of her hooves, placing a leg over the sheets to slip in - but stopped herself short. The dim gleam of magical light caught her eye, some kind of trinket flashing against Arin’s chest.

Curiously, she lifted the locket up - gazing at the moving picture within. It seemed to be some kind of old picture of Arin and Umbra, probably back when they were in Erenorn-... No. It wasn’t. On Arin’s waist - a familiar blade. Sun Song. He leaned in for a sweet kiss on Umbra’s nose, the warm hoof holding, the loving emotions… she felt a pit form in her stomach.

She didn’t know what emotion overtook her. Jealousy? Obviously. Anger? A little. Sorrow?...

Her heart ached. She loved him, right? She gave him love, all the love he could need… correct? Was it not enough? Was she simply not good enough for him? One of the two Rulers of Equestria, a loving soul - she gave him money, power, citizenship, and… surely love. She gave so much to him, everything she could within the castle walls and on the road. Was it not enough?

What was she doing wrong? Or… maybe she wasn’t the issue. Maybe it was him?

No. It wasn’t him. He put his life on the line to save her sorry flank off the moon, when he had zero reason to. In fact, he could have rightfully stayed in Erenorn - yet he came back. He gave everything to this land, just like Twilight did. And he loved her, he… loved her. On her request.

It was never him. It was her. It always came back to the sunlight princess; every pain in her life started from the same source. Her. And she even knew this; her past self would have disagreed, and simply called her sorrows flukes or uncontrolled fate. She made so many mistakes, yet she never learned. Not until… not until now.

She clicked the locket shut. You couldn’t buy love. In fact, she’s always tried to do just that; gifts, luxuries, generosity after generosity… and she would pin any of her past lovers down at the end of the day, and use them for a quick ride to satisfy her bubbling lust.

Maybe Nightmare Moon was right about her. She did molest ponies. Not… intentionally. But… It's hard to say no when your lover is a giant, greedy, horny Princess. She really did need therapy, but… she was much too late for that. For this.

Turning to the door, she gave one last pained look to the lover she failed; what was one more mistake to the endless pile she amassed? And with that, the door clicked shut behind her. Leaving the Knight to his rest. Talk would come. For now, she… needed a new place to sleep. Aster did mention that the Castle had one more spare room, yet untaken when he assigned spaces for them. Perhaps it’s still available?

Chapter 66 - Severing Ties

“Well, she’s not in the throne room, library - and yes, Vee, she isn’t hiding under your bed like the boogie mare. Let’s just check in with King Aster; Celestia probably… ran off to look for me, or something - he’ll know where she went.” Arin sighed, leading the way past Vee’s humble feathery abode towards… well, what would have been the nearest guard for guidance, if the trio didn’t bump into General Falon in the halls first.

“Ah! Arin, spectacular. I wished to speak to you concerning a report I received earlier in the twili-... moonlight, by the boughs, that won’t change. Regardless, the document mentioned a young fawn, Calia, was it? I just spoke with her, and I wanted to collect your recount of the events before I started my search for this ‘Oarkin’ creature.”

“Seraph, he’s a seraph like me. Mostly, at least. Anyway, I’ll be able to help you if you can help me. See, I’ve got two extremely annoying alarm clocks here-”

“Neigh!” Vee chirped, staring through the General rudely. As per usual, to be honest.

“Bleat~” Eve also followed, nodding her head with a delicate bow.

“Yep. These two. They’re looking for Celestia, for… the Feathers know why-” Arin was cut off by a chirp from the Purple, in a familiar ‘d’ohoho’.

“You see, we need a snoot that can sneak a book or thirty from the local royal deer library, and could also waste her snooty-stupid-red-mane magic on making them readable for my purple eyes. For purple reasons!” Vee flapped her wings majestically to air out her pinions for the preening, before doing just that - more preening.

“Aha, and I’m here because Purple-fly paid me. And I’m poor. A bag full of Points is always welcome.” Her magic poofed a small, mostly empty bag of diamond shaped gold ‘Points’ into her cloven hoof, bouncing it around a second before stuffing it in her mane for safe keeping. And brushing. Always more brushing.

Arin rubbed the sand from his eyes, before picking himself up enough to speak. “Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted - I need sleep. And if Tia can distract these two, so be it.”

“Ah, very well then, Sir Arin. Let me lead the charge - I will grant your wish, and you will grant mine, and we will both find solace as it beckons us. This way.” He bowed his head, turning down the roundabout hallways to guide them to Aster’s door.

“All I know is, Oarkin made friends with a fawn, and I guess she got hurt. I don’t think he’s the kind of Seraph to injure anyone who doesn’t necessarily deserve it, though. In fact, he joined our cause to be a hero.”

“I see. And you suspect no foul play on his part?”

Vee flicked a feather onto the floor - much to the glare of Falon as they walked. “Hmhm! I’ve known him for a few neighs, and I think he’s pretty alright. Applied a few wing chops to the bad guys, gave us an airship. Respectable! If new. Though first neighs aren’t as good as two thousand or so, and if he has plans to put more feathers in my wings he better snoot them somewhere else!”

“And here I am, feeling completely left out!” Eve called, fluttering her eyelashes. She always looked so relaxed! Even if the end of the world was weeks away. At least, for those in the Feywild. “But they sound like a good buck in my book.”

“I can only hope. I have my bucks on the lookout for her father - the culprit, from Calia’s words. Apparently, this abuse has trailed a path through her life for the past few years, and has simply gone unnoticed by neighbors and guards both. It is disheartening to see it among our kin; but alas, bucks are not great caregivers to the young. Simply put, while we have come far as a civilization - some instincts are hard pressed to flee our minds. For a buck, they are best suited for supplying food and shelter to the does, while the does are best at raising fawns. A simple balance, and the pinnacle of most societies to this day.” Falon stopped quietly by the door to Aster’s chamber, to answer the last few questions the trio may have.

“But I see plenty of does working, too - some are even among your men-er… bucks.” Arin prodded, curious for knowledge.

“There is still freedom in our world, Sir Knight. I am merely pointing towards our less civilized past; we have grown much since then. Much like Equestrian society, there are no lessers beneath the boughs of White Tail trees, simply the old nature of which we were guided. Some rejected sentience, and rejoined the wilds to serve the old roots - while the rest of us moved ever onwards into the twilight. Now, I must take my leave. Thank you for your time, Sir Arin.”

At that, he left the trio at peace - before swiftly turning to find his way to the foyer proper.

With a few quick knocks to the door, a roused green aura tilted the knob - inviting them inside. King Aster greeted them with a hardly restrained yawn, before realizing he was facing royal guests. Straightening up, the King snapped his eyes open and quickly formed a smile.

“Ah, Arin - you’re early, I do believe. And… Vee, along with - who are you, exactly?”

“Greetings, your Majesty. I am Eve, a friend of Vee. I’m simply here for Points.” The red tail bowed her head, leaving Vee flapping her wings and checking her watch. She had things to snoot up! Magic things! Like more shopping; enchantment costs money or points or… something! Especially if you didn’t want to use your own magic!

“I’m just here to dump these two on Celestia and… well, at this point, grab breakfast. But since you’re my trainer - I was wondering who it was going to be, after all, before the fawn incident - I think I’ll just stick with you and shrug it off. By the way… have you seen my Princess? She didn’t come to bed last night.”

At that, Aster moved out of the way of the door, showing off the morning mare lying by the still crackling fire. She had a bundle of pillows curled up against her chest, one between her hindlegs, a bunch of padding for her wings to snuggle… she looked obscenely comfortable, and quite possibly - still asleep.

“She discussed with me some… interesting tales last night. I believe it’s time that she rises; would you prefer if I rouse her, or?...” The King raised a cloven hoof, awaiting Arin’s decision.

“D’ohoho! Don’t worry about your pretty horns, King-fry! I know just what to do to wake up Ugly-mane-fry.” Vee flapped herself in with relative ease, all eyes curious to see how she’ll go about stirring the sleeping Princess from her nap.

Landing on the comfortably soft pillows, the Purple cleared her throat - leaning down to Celestia’s marshmallow ear. And in the softest whisper, Vee spoke;

“Neigh.”

Celestia’s eyes INSTANTLY shot open in aggravated annoyance, quickly running her hooves through her hair just in case Vee snooted more preening trash inside. Checking her wings over once, then twice - a third on both sides, the Princess flicked her tail around to be extra sure Vee didn’t sneak feathers into her fluff.

“Vee! Can’t you let me rest for five minutes? And furthermore - oh! Arin, it’s… you.”

The Princess hesitated, seeing her Knight peeking in through the doorway. With a flick of her wing, she invited him inside - her spare hoof gently shooing Vee away as she stood.

“Arin, we need to talk. It’s… about us.” Came a sigh from the Princess, drooping her ears. “I don’t suppose you have a quiet place for us to chat in private, do you, Aster?”

The Kingnodded, bowing his head. “I’m afraid that during these hours, no place is private save my chambers. At your request, I may usher our guests to the halls beyond - lest you believe it safe we tarry?”

Princess Celestia hesitated at the question, her eyes looking towards Vee and Eve - while she could trust Vee to only blabber about it at the worst of times, she had no clue who this other deer was. “I believe that would be for the best. You may stay if you so desire, Aster. But… this is between me, and Arin.”

At this point, the Seraph in question was growing a little uncomfortable. He had a feeling in his gut that he knew where this was going - but regardless, he steeled his nerves and readied himself, as the trio of regal, less regal, and definitely not regal creatures funnelled out of the door; giving Arin and the Princess some much needed privacy.

“Er… I feel like I know where this is going. All I have to ask, Tia, is… well, why?”

“You’re quick to assume, my Knight, but you’re right. I believe it’s time that our relationship comes to an end. I’ve had my fill for the while, and I’m feeling more confident in being alone. If you so desire, I can keep this between us - and you can hide this from Luna, though I doubt a secret of this caliber will stay safe for long.” Celestia bowed her head, before standing straight to keep her confidence in check.

“That’s… nice and all, but I think you avoided my question; I also have no intention of lying to Luna. I simply know that’s not all of it. Just the other day, you were all over me. May I ask what changed?” By now, Arin had crossed his arms - his wings defensively curling over his shoulders, an instinctual response to a bad situation. It did hurt, that things were moving in this direction - but he had to know.

“Arin, I will say this with love and respect, and I had no intention of seeing this, but… I was attempting to join you in bed last night, when I happened to spot the locket on your chest. I’m not angry, and I hold no ill will against you - but our relationship was simply a temporary arrangement, until you could find your special somepony. And while it hurts that I was not your first choice, I’m pleased to say that Umbra will be a far better fit than I. In truth, I don’t think I could ever hold the same bond you cherish with her.”

At those words, she picked herself up - despite the pain in her chest, and locked eyes with the Seraph. “I still care deeply for you, and… all of these words come from a good place. I’m happy you found your love. I don’t wish to hold you back; if anything, this has been a humbling experience for me. I’ve seen all of the ways I’ve failed you, not as a friend - but as a lover. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I l-... I thank you.”

The seraph had trouble figuring out his emotions from this revelation. He did care for Celestia. He said it before, there’s love, just like with Luna - but…

“...I understand, Celestia. I’m sorry it had to come to this so soon.”

At those words, the Princess gave a sad smile, locking eyes with her now former love. “Tia.”

He perked up, as the duo quietly approached each other. Not as lovers, but as what they’ve been from the start; friends. Their wings, hooves, and arms squeezed each other close - cheek to cheek. Arin couldn’t help but turn in, and give his now former love a sweet kiss right on her smooth fur; a last sign of love that he graced her cheek with.

“Thank you, Tia. For being the understanding mare you’ve always been. It hurts to end it so soon, but… again, thank you.”

“No no, thank you, for-”

“Nuh uh, you’ve said ‘thank you’ a million times for… well, everything. I’ve been thanked enough. For once, let me be grateful.” He scratched his fingers along her scalp, a soft purr from the Princess following the motion.

“I don’t suppose we can still occasionally snuggle? You’re the perfect size for me, after all. And… scratches are always welcome.”

He couldn’t help but laugh, falling back an inch to rest his forehead against her own. “Well, only if Umbra agrees. But I wouldn’t be against it. You are the world’s second best snuggler, after all.”

Celestia’s soft giggle was all he needed to hear, closing his eyes for the last minute they held together.

“By the way, you are really good in bed,” the Princess teased, “I don’t suppose she-”

“I think she’ll definitely be against that; I don’t even think we’ll reach that step for a few more weeks ourselves. I think for now, loving one pony is enough for me. I’m still surprised I’ve dated both you and your Sister. Who’s next, Twilight?” His chuckle was more than enough to rouse the mood, stepping away with one last squeeze of his wings.

“By the way, Arin, Twilight is still single,” the Princess teased the Seraph, tracing his chin with the bend of her wing.

“Now you’re pushing your luck. Let’s head out - we’ve got a lot to do today. I’m pretty sure you have to continue to sway the courts, and help Vee with… whatever, I have to train with Aster - we have to spend what time we have wisely, because we’re not getting a second chance again.”

Calia stirred quietly in her sleep, suppressing a faint whimper as her very mind fought with her body in her rest. It only took a knock on the door to rip her from her terror-filled slumber, her heart pumping away adrenaline as she snapped awake in a cold sweat. Seconds later, the knob turned - revealing the careful gray eyes of the giant Seraph from earlier. Instantly, she buried her fear deep - a habit, a hard one to break, but still there.

“Good morning, Calia! I bring food! Gifts! Toys! Good things for you, I hope.” He smiled, stooping to fit through the thankfully buck-sized doors; they had plenty of spare room for a deer as tall and wide-antlered as King Aster, making it easy for him to duck down and slip inside. Unlike the pony-made Seraph ship, the Autumn Court was built for creatures of his stature.

“M-Mister Oarkin!” Calia squealed happily, at seeing her new friend. Several seconds of thought turned inwards, as she organized her thoughts. Was this a dream? She was here, in the castle… King Aster had promised to make her happy; was this what he had in mind? Seconds later, she bounced up onto her much-too-thin hooves, baby blue eyes shining up at him as she stumbled and threw her little body into his grasp.

“You saved me, Mister Oarkin!” she cried out, sniffling away happy tears; clutching and squeezing him as tight as her tiny body would allow.

Despite Oarkin’s usual crushing grip, he did everything in his power to relax his hands and pull the little doe in - trying hard not to drop the massive tray in his right hand.

“Be slow, little Calia! I have things! Many, many things - look! I do not wish to drop them.” He smiled, holding the overly happy fawn to his chest. He motioned to the giant bowl of oats and grains, corn and diced pumpkin, figs and pine nuts galore - everything fresh he could find, including…

“Acorns!” the fawn squeaked, seeing the tiny bowl of the smashed nuts glimmering - it was no rumor that deer loved acorns, especially once you cracked the shell and rinsed away the bitter flavor overtop. With a sprinkle of sugar and a dollop of wild honey, they made a wonderful little treat - perfect for a hungry fawn.

Oarkin set the bundle of joy on the bed, resting the silvery platter at the foot. She immediately dove right in, munching and snacking at the little bowl of nuts. Occasionally wiping away a few tears, or bumbling her thanks. Within seconds, it was gone - much to the humor of the giant above.

From his side, Oarkin pulled a small sack of toys free - reaching inside to withdraw the first gift. Her own Knight’s Challenge set, of course! She was so excited, she nearly choked - bouncing around on her cloven hooves, frolicking on the bed in joy. But her hunger bested her, quickly forcing her little snout into a pile of oats - then the pumpkin, then - well, everything!

To her, every second of this should be savored, enjoyed; happiness was a rare gift for the fawn, and Calia wanted to make the absolute best of it. It’s like she finally had a chance to be herself, the youthful spirit she hid away at home - and all of those years of frozen, untouched happiness could finally melt away.

The Mountain began to line up more toys, despite his growing smile. A big bunny plushie, something to squeeze and hug when she rests. A tiny bow set, like the big deer used - a toy, of course, but still. She marveled over it, flicking her nose over the string with bouncy legs. If the adorable fawn didn’t stop being just that, Oarkin may pass from a cute-induced heart attack.

She bleated adorably, leaping up into the Seraph's arms again - much to Oarkin’s joy. Bleating and hugging on as tight as her little legs would allow.

“Y-You got all of this?! F-For me, M-Mister?!” she stammered in excitement, scrambling up to hug his giant neck. As soft as he could, and with a single finger - he pet Calia’s short silver hair, his smile so strong that it grew taut against his cheeks.

“Of course, my little friend! You have been kind to me. I will do the same! Not many would talk to me, for I am a very big man! So of course I am happy to help.”

Finally, after several minutes of far too much hugging, the little fawn fell back onto the bed. Her light body hardly made a dent in the sheets, as she searched around for her cracked glasses. Finding them nearby, she quickly fitted them on - looking up to Oarkin with a smile.

His heart ached, seeing the little fawn so thin and weak before him - but still so strong despite the pain she’s endured. He sat down by the bed’s side, sighing.

“Calia, my friend. You have been through so much; and yet you are still here. You have been very strong! Very strong. I know the big buck would ask you - Aster, he is a good King. But I must know! Do you want to stay with your family? Do you have other deer you call home with?” He waved his hands, as if trying to piece together the sentences into some form of sense. Sarin - or Equestrian, was not his first language; and since he rarely had a chance to speak, it was a struggle to do so freely. Calia caught on, and shifted uncomfortably in the sheets - her little light blue eyes falling to her cloven hooves.

“I don’t have any family left. J-Just my dad,” her voice came; her mood turned right on its head in mere moments. The Mountain sighed, stooping down to sit on the marble floor. His gray eyes searching hers, as their long talk would inevitably begin.

Chapter 67 - Definitely Not Good for the Feathers

Celestia, despite Vee’s neighing and whining for books - needed to attend to her morning rituals first. Namely breakfast, always breakfast. To the Princess, it was quite possibly the most important meal of the day; after all, it happens in the lull of the mornings. When all of the bustle of her home would seemingly stall, awaiting the Princess to challenge the concerns of her ponies.

Now, it was her faint solace against an exceptionally annoying Pegasus, who made it a point to neigh every minute she delayed the inevitable. This, of course, made the nearby Seraph - resting across the table from her - smirk.

By now, others had made an attempt to seek sustenance; that being Tempest and Pumpkin, who chatted quietly over alchemy and magic, books and reading… calm things. Umbra made an appearance as well, and she was quickly beckoned to Arin’s side. He engulfed her with a single wing, much to her shock - but seeing as Celestia didn’t challenge this, they began to whisper quietly to themselves

“Neigh.” Vee poked, sipping at a fresh cup of coffee, and preening more trash to the floor.

Celestia sighed, sitting on Aster’s right. By now, Eve had thankfully abandoned the group to… run off, and do her own thing. More likely, she’s sipping tea and napping - something the doe was undoubtedly fond of. This meant that instead of Eve joining in the constant, slow, and agonizing ‘neigh’ assault with the occasional ‘bleat’, she only had to contend with one voice bothering her.

“Ah! Advisor Briar - just as expected,” King Aster called, as a young buck joined the small dining hall, carrying with him a dozen receipts and letters. The newcomer was more on the lean, short side - sporting a red scarf to go with his soft brown eyes. He had six points to his antlers, as well. He appeared to be either young, or meek.

Regardless, the buck bowed, before speaking in a cracking voice. From the sound, he was definitely young - perhaps in training?

“The twilight greets you well, your Majesty - er… if the twilight was here, of course. I believe I requested an audience with you concerning a few recent… bills, per say. From a selection of your guests?”

At that, a few too many eyes peeked up from their meals and conversations, and Vee - in the middle of a neigh - suddenly went quiet.

“Oh? Of course, I granted them herald tokens to spend wisely on materials for the upcoming battle. If the Point count isn’t too high, summarize it for me - I have much to attend to today, training Arin for a proper role as a White Mage.” The King nodded towards Arin, as the big buck sipped graciously on tea. Something he had a penchant for, much like the Princess to his right.

“Well, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’ll start with the lowest cost, and work from there. To begin, we have an invoice for products sold concerning… toys. I believe this is for Calia, our newest guest until we can safely turn her over to an orphanage. Ninety points.” Briar sighed, shaking his head as he turned the page.

“Aha, I see - I believe our tall guest Oarkin grew fond of her. I’ll hold a private audience with him, concerning her fate. If, of course, I can not garner information regarding her family tree.” Aster chewed quietly on a piece of toast, as the Advisor continued.

“Well, the next purchase is a two part receipt; from a Redtail named Bastrii, we have less than dining table appropriate purchases. Simply put, your highness, the total is around two hundred points for… what boils down to essentially bedroom toys.”

At that, Celestia, Arin, Umbra, and Vee all turned eyes to the collared Pumpkin, and the somewhat defensive Tempest. She didn’t speak, but her eyes did challenge their own, as if saying ‘so?’

“...An odd purchase, but reasonable in the light of blooming love.” Aster raised an eyebrow, but continued his meal without much pause beyond that. Apples, quite possibly a favorite among dear; and when sliced and broiled with brown sugar and cinnamon, were simply impossible to resist. In fact, apple and cinnamon were some of his favorite scents and flavors, after all - along with vanilla.

“From the same group of receipts, another three hundred points went to alchemical ingredients. I believe this has a part in our recent short supply of private components.” Briar turned to the next page, shaking his head as the prices only went up.

“Acceptable. I believe Tempest here has a hoof in our alchemy lab, with Pumpkin and Umbra serving as aides for the process.” He nodded to the still blushing duo - Tempest was simply relieved she didn’t have to argue about their less-than-wholesome purchases.

“Next, we have an invoice from a jeweler, concerning the purchase of some fine accessories - I tied this one with a restaurant’s bill concerning two meals, as the requests here seem related. In total, four hundred points - save a few in detail. I placed this set higher, because the items requested were for two memory infusions, a silver locket, and two heart shaped jewels. It hardly seemed… necessary, your liege.”

Aster’s eyes slowly turned to Arin and Umbra - the Seraph extremely interested in his food. Umbra simply gazed back - she seemed inclined to defend her reasoning, at least.

“...Very well. I am aware of this circumstance. Continue.”

Vee stuffed a bunch of feathers quietly into Celestia’s muzzle, much to the confusion of the hungry mare; her toast falling to the plate unfinished and her tea un-sipped. All eyes were simply distracted, curious to the final price tag for Vee’s debauchery - and none noticed as the Pegasus carted away the struggling Princess to do her bidding. Even with Celestia’s overpowering magic, Vee’s shushing noises gave her just enough time to drag the sun-fry out before she coughed up the worst of the feathers.

“...Thirty thousand five hundred points in jewelry, followed by five hundred points in coffee barrels, coupled with a final one thousand points for mana gems and herbs, several angry letters, a demand for a watch to be returned, and two complaints issued to the Autumn Court regarding property damage - with further invoices requesting another six hundred points for a door and carpet, and three hundred and fifty points to cover replacements for damaged books and broken windows.”

King Aster spit out his tea, choking hard as one of his gallant, royal hooves smacked against the table. The toast and cup floating in his green magic clattered to the plate, ruining his breakfast in one fell swoop. When his coughing and wheezing didn’t stop, Arin quickly realized he was legitimately choking - and jumped the table to assist, much to the ire of the distant guards, who nearly charged in to rescue their King.

Arms locking behind the giant buck’s back, Arin quickly squeezed - freeing his lungs of the blockage in several sharp tugs. Aster was left panting and teary eyed, wiping his muzzle and nose in the stunned silence that followed.

“I hope… that you are joking, Briar. That’s nearly enough for a small house in the Eastern Districts. And if you are joking, that is in exceedingly poor taste.” Aster’s emerald green magic seized the stack of receipts with worry, his head falling when he read each item off to himself. Who needs one hundred and twenty necklaces, bangels, and - did this pony really steal a deer’s watch?!

And there, before his very eyes - the Herald’s Seal, marking the page as finalized and paid for by the Circlet. His cloven hoof crashed into his face, slumping over the table.

“Who,” his voice followed. It wasn’t a question - it was a demand.

“Oh! U-Um… would you look at the time! M-Me and Tempest have to leave. N-Now!” Pumpkin grabbed her lover’s hoof - tugging hard enough to snap Tempest out of the quiet daze she was in.

“That’s right! Pumpkin and I - we er… have to… tend to the Banishment Orbs.” Tempest sparked, trotting quickly to match Pumpkin’s near gallop-like pace. Within seconds, they were both gone, leaving Umbra and Arin to foot the bill. Or in this case, meet Aster’s stare.

“And Arin, I believe we both have to visit a non-descript storefront in town. Immediately.” Umbra’s magic swirled in her emerald aura, before a brilliant green flash of light teleported them both a short ways out the door. Before Briar or Aster could blink, they were both alone.

The King sighed, turning to Celestia’s empty pillow - then, his ruined meal. Maybe the pony Princess was right. He really is a bit too… meek, for his liking. This would have to change.

“Briar, please summarize the expenses for me - a net total. I believe I know the mare responsible. Format the final few receipts into one invoice, and bring it to my boughs the moment you are able. I will find a time to turn this debt over, once I find an opportune moment. For now, I need to prepare for training - once Sir Arin returns from his escapade, of course. You are dismissed.”

With a graceful bow, King Aster stood and made his way back to his chambers. He needed to gather his wits, and prepare a few tomes for the trip. He had a place in mind for study, and he would need to steel himself for Arin’s lessons. It has been much too long since he had a proper student; healing magic was less useful among the long lived deer of the Fey, who were safe in their strongholds - and as such, he was one of the few Masters of the long respected art.

Arin’s pace kept in tune to Umbra’s as they had eventually settled into a slow walk.

“So, the Princess ended her relationship with you, because she thought I was better attuned for it?” Umbra had to stifle a giggle; Celestia was very hard pressed to admit defeat in such a fashion, but… knowing she one-upped her old rival, really set a light burning inside her soul.

“Really? I feel like that’s what I got from all of it. Or… something. She didn’t want to stand in the way of our love, and she felt like she didn’t love me the way I deserved. Really, your guess is as good as mine.”

“So… does this mean we are, as one would say - an item?” Umbra’s green eyes gleamed up at Arin, as he made sure to run his right hand down her back. He couldn’t help but smile; despite his heartache, her words gave him hope that maybe, this is for the better.

“Well, I might be convinced… I don’t know, do you think you can swoon a Seraph?”

The now repaired door to the jeweler’s shop swung open at with a flick of Arin’s golden magic, the green rug once interred in the main foyer removed to be washed. The floors, while beautiful, felt bare and exposed without the sea of emerald and gold.

“Welcome to Belnian’s - oh! It’s you two! Splendid, I had just finished the locket, and I was just about to make my way to the Courts to find you. All I need now, is another memory to capture, and your beautiful citrine and silver memento will be ready.” His pink eyes gleamed softly, raising a small jewelry box into the air at a touch of his magic. Gently, he lowered it into Umbra’s awaiting hoof - her own aura flicking the lid open to reveal the craftsmanship stored within.

The duo both inspected the Jeweler's handiwork, a warm smile sprouting between Arin and Umbra both. Of course, it lacked a meaningful inscription, but that could be changed later. Happy to see the beautiful piece nearly finished, her horn sparkled - levitating the box back to the buck’s hooves.

“Now, if you’d like, I can either attempt to copy the emerald’s memory into this new citrine - or, we can start fresh. What do you two say, hm? Think you could share another lovey dovey look for my magic?”

Arin offered a hand to the mare - his mare, with nothing but warmth and love in his heart. The reformed umbrum quickly took the offer, as their eyes met again.

“Beautiful, now, don’t be afraid to touch her mane, young bu- er… thing? The picture moves, you know.” Belnian levitated the locket into his pink aura, withdrawing the partially fastened citrine with ease. The little yellow heart floated in front of him, watching the duo to imprint this magic within.

And just like before, one of them seized this opportunity to share a kiss - but to Arin’s surprise, it was his loving shadow. Umbra’s soft lips pressed to his, taking their first, real liplock. Not in the heat of battle, but in love’s embrace. Her spare hoof gently draped around his neck, a blissful sigh from the lovestruck buck following as he channeled the new memory into the gem.

By the time he finished, Umbra withdrew from the intimate smooch - eyelids parting to look at her lover. Her soft hooves rested against Arin’s armored chest, their breath mingling in this magical moment.

“Did that swoon you, Arin?” The unicorn spoke in a sweet whisper, drawing a smile from her Seraph.

“By leagues and clouds.” His nose bumped hers, an affectionate nuzzle soon to follow.

Belnian took several moments too long to stare at the couple, antlers sparkling softly to create the illusion of hearts floating above his head. “Young love is such a wonderful thing. Is it safe for me to assume I’ll be receiving a wedding invitation?”

“Huh? W-Wedding?” Arin stammered; they had just started dating! It’s a bit too early to assume Umbra would even be half-way interested in a w-

“Possibly, in the future. If… Arin would like to commit himself to me, one day soon?”

Thank the feathers she said it first. While he knew Umbra quite well, he had a thousand years of secrets to discover - and many tender moments to share. “Well, you do know how to swoon Seraphs, so… it’s not unfair to assume.”

Her soft voice came in a pleasant giggle, before letting her weight sink down to the floor. Belnian was sad to see the lovely moment end, but was happy to see the couple getting along nicely. “I do adore weddings; remember me when the invitations go out. Well, with this infernal night…”

Belnian sighed, tilting his head towards the window. “Hopefully it will end soon. Wedding bells chime brighter in the twilight.”

The couple didn’t let on that they were some of the few looking to bring peace. Instead, Umbra and Arin both gave their farewells, and returned up the street; East, towards the castle.

“Vee, I swear on the Stars, and all things I find sacred - the next feather that goes into my mouth will be the-mf!”

Vee, peaking around the corner - managed to stuff another purple pinion into Celestia’s disgusted muzzle with an idle hoof. The Pegasus was intent on watching the library, having donned a sneaky witch outfit for the job. That would be nothing - because she didn’t have clothes. Instead, she was wearing a moustache. An essential tool for any witch that didn’t want to be recognized.

“-Blech! What did I just say! Besides - why do you need me to check out books for you! Just go in, and-”

Another feather, followed by a wretched glare from the morning mare. She heaved, as the coffee flavored pinion tickled the back of her throat.

“Shut your snoot, Disgusting-mane-fry! You wanted to not stab ponies, you’re gonna get unstabbing magic! Just keep the neighs down!” She hushed with a wing, gently tickling the Princess’s nose in the process. Celestia sneezed quite adorably, but otherwise continued to scowl at the Purple.

“Fine.” The alicorn corrected herself, speaking in a whisper. “What books do you want me to get?”

“Go to the evil librarian, and neigh about something, like your ugly mane. And how to fix it. That’s all I need. I’ll handle the rest. We’ll meet up in your room, got it?” Vee preened away another pile of feathers, staring absentmindedly through the Princess. When Celestia went to speak, Vee shoved another feather into her mouth.

“Sorry. Habit. Shouldn’t have let your snooty snooter catch the feather if you didn’t want it.” Vee raised her wing back up, preening away idly in thought.

“I’m going to banish you. So. Hard. If you do that again,” Celestia said; an idle threat she would use in the courts when she didn’t get her way. She stopped saying this once Twilight picked up on it at a young age - hopefully by now that attitude didn’t carry over to her adult self. It’s not like Twilight would banish a pony for treading on her nerves, now that she's a princess - but still, it was a small fear of the ruler.

“Great. Fine. Whatever. Let’s just go.” The Princess led the charge, drooping her ears in annoyance. Vee was much too bossy today - actually, Celestia preferred it when she was nothing more than Pumpkin Two. Vee must really hate the color red.

Chapter 68 - Realm of the Forest King

“Ah! Arin, there you are. Come come - we have much to discuss.” King Aster bowed from his throne, as the Seraph reappeared at the end of the entry hall. The large buck carried with him a satchel of goods, bare of his usual regalia; quite possibly the first time Arin has seen him without his jewels. Instead, he bore a simple gold, ruby, and fire opal circlet on his head in its place, which fit snug between his antlers. Umbra gave the Knight a quick nod from his winged side - before turning to depart.

“Wait!” Arin called after her, looking to the white and gold buck for confirmation; “Can Umbra come with us? I could use some moral support. I’m not the best healer, as much as I’d like to be.”

The King stepped down to join his student, thinking in idle contemplation. His majestic voice eventually broke the silence, nodding as he agreed. “If she has no prior engagements, I see no reason why she can not join our expedition. We will be in the company of several Elite Bucks this eve; we are treading beyond the castle walls, to a favorite grove of mine. The journey is short, and we have plenty of knowledge to review before sleep beckons.”

Umbra’s smile soon returned, as she rejoined her partner. “I believe I have no calls to beckon me.”

“Wonderful. I’m quite eager to move myself - I have not left the safety of Silversun in… quite possibly, decades. Perhaps it was during my last visit to the Halls of Spring, near what Equestrians call ‘Hollow Shades’. Alas, idling about the past will solve no problems; to the south.” Aster’s long stride set him on a brisk pace into the entry hall proper, the duo quick to fall in line. Before they even realized, they had been surrounded by six guards, led by General Falon himself.

“By the feathers; how do you do that?!” Arin nearly clutched his heart, as he realized just how quickly they were ambushed. Even Umbra, the usually perceptive mare - was nearly caught unaware. Her ears had twitched just a moment too soon - and she raised a brow in confusion. The throne room was bare of souls - wasn’t it?

Falon gave a small smile, falling back to step in stride with the Seraph. “Have you by any chance considered that the branches of trees above us - the roof of the Throne Room, may share burdens beyond leaves?”

The General raised his left leg; a small bracer gleamed with three emeralds in a point. Confused, this did little to convince the Knight. He turned back to gaze at the branches lining the roof; indeed, there were large gaps where an agile buck may be able to stand… but their hooves were so dainty! How could they even crawl up onto the-...

When he turned back, Falon was gone. “What the?...”

Umbra bumped his side with a hoof, pointing with her horn at the buck far above. He watched quietly from the heavy branches of the Court’s throne room, marbling quietly at the stunned Seraph below.

“Arin, please - keep in stride with me. We only have one day; we mustn’t tarry.” King Aster pulled Arin’s gaze back towards him - and when his eyes flicked back to the boughs of the throne room, General Falon was gone.

“Boo.”

“BY THE FEATHERS!” Arin fell right on his wings, the feathery appendages flapping noisily against the floor. The usually mirthless general couldn’t help but chuckle; the struggling Seraph quickly righted to his legs with Umbra’s help.

“A strange enchantment; I am assuming it is a specialty of the thicket battalion to produce a grappling hook such as the one you carry on demand?” Umbra gave the amused buck a curious eye, as Arin stilled his beating heart. Their pace soon resumed, quickly rejoining the King’s side.

“Indeed, though it is not entirely restrained to our corps. A more common version is often granted to field legionnaires when travel is key. Though it lacks two of the primary enchantments my own battalion carries on our own bracers to allow us to move so quietly among the boughs. The rest is intense training, often spanning years, to achieve such refined grace.” The moonlight yawned before them, as the now small herd - with a Seraph and mare in company - graced the entry gardens once more.

Continuing south, the King began to cover the full course he planned for today; including light study sessions for the following evenings.

“To begin, we will turn our attention towards the most immediate flaws in your approach. I believe the key element you are missing, my student, is your inability to ‘connect’ with your patient’s magic ember. Namely speaking, there are two parts to restoration magic; the power and knowledge of the caster, and the astral connection all spirits share. The more zealous the spirit, the more potent the effect.”

“Wait, so… I’ve been doing it wrong this entire time? Or… something?” Arin frowned; he felt somewhat accomplished with the success he had, when he studied on his own. But none of the Court Mages of Alma Sol, nor the Archdruid Healers, or Grand Priests spoke of a connection of this sort.

The group rounded a bend towards the western districts; ignoring the town homes, they led a trail towards the old housing district. There, many deer heads bowed and clamored at their King as they passed - curious eyes following the armed Seraph and gray pony while they travelled. Umbra paid them no mind; she had experience with this kind of treatment from her time in Erenorn, after all.

“In practice, yes. You have probably been taught to brute force the spells, expending copious magic and resources to restore life. In truth, that’s the old methods of teaching, something my Father was quick to correct in his musings. You see, the soul within your body - the Astral form you take upon in your dreams, it is the true form of your being. By channeling magic into the wound, using your experience and knowledge - you can knit the flesh at a high cost. But, if you instead turn that same magic inwards, and embrace the spirit’s bind to their magic ember, you essentially are granted a mold to fill; which intensifies the healing effect.”

The massive gates of Western Silversun loomed before them, the original entrance to the now sprawling civilization behind that had soared into life over the thousands of years it stood. And it looked the part, too - the stone here was smooth and washed by rain, weathered from the ages - vines and leaves lashed into the marle with ferocity, almost hiding the golden swirls of old architecture behind the natural beauty of life.

The Guards at the gate bowed in kind, as the group of nearly a dozen tread beyond the Castle walls, and into the White Tail’s forest. Here, the King pushed onwards along an old deer trail north; the party quick to follow his lead.

For a while, the ancient buck was silent - simply guiding them along the old path. The only sound seemed to be coming from both the pony and seraph , as the occasional overgrown fauna ruffled their fur and flicked against their skin. The King seemed entirely unphased by the bush; in fact, the leaves seemed to bend at his step, parting with respect as Aster trekked onwards.

“Hey, Falon - why do the bushes do that? And the branches, too.” He pointed to the stepping King, the General making a quick effort to quell his curiosity.

“All plants bow to the Forest King in his realm. Even the very trees sway for him. In other words, Aster’s control of life and growth is very powerful, much like his father. It’s part of the crowning ceremony’s bond.”

“Ah, this makes sense. When I was an Umbrum, the shadows would relish in my very presence, often coalescing at my whim to blot out the light,” Umbra said quietly, much to the worry of Falon. When she saw his eyes grow concerned, she made an adjustment to her statement; “Of course, that is my past self. Now, I stand boldly in the light as a true pony. My history still gives me some of the shadow’s power, but nothing more.”

“It is strange to think that even an Umbrum can change; in my study of your former kind, I found that nearly none of the remnants had an astral body left to cling to. Much like the Dark Kin of the Deepwoods, the spiders of what Celestia calls the Driderhold - and undead themselves, lack an astral form.” King Aster frowned, drawing another question from the Seraph.

“Is there a difference between an astral form and a soul?”

“No; in truth, they are one in the same. When you sleep and dream, your spirit temporarily wanders the dream realm; think of this not as the spirit plane, but an echo of the Prime. In truth, the stars themselves are where the soul lingers when you pass. I had spent many twilight’s eve garnering this knowledge through the careful eye of my father.” Aster paused at a cut in the clearing, and with a careful thought - continued north, along the route less traveled.

“I see…” Arin rubbed his head; his kind knew little of spirits or souls, only the pieces that they deemed most essential. “So, what exactly is a soul, then?”

“Like many things, it’s a mirror of your physical body - or with time, the physical body is the mirror of the spirit. While the being you are is the creation of flesh and bone, it’s made in the image of one’s soul; and souls change with time, to mimic your growth. There is a medical side, as well - it’s not all magic, nor is every word I speak fact. But we are not speaking of surgeries, as healing is primarily the restoration of one’s body through the astral form. Think of it like a light you host inside of you. When you die, the light begins to drift to the stars; Resurrection calls the spirit back to the body. The longer the time between death and the present, the more intense one’s call must be. These are represented in one’s Book of Life.”

At the end of Aster’s explanation, Arin simply wanted more knowledge, as the topic became intense. “That explains so much… is that why Seraphs have trouble casting a three page Resurrection? And why does it take the shape of a book?”

“The spell itself can have an infinite number of forms, depending on the Caster’s own beliefs. If you had never seen a book, you would instead summon what you believe is the best way to store knowledge - a slate, or even what you believe a mind would look like. And yes, this is part of the cause; without a proper connection to another’s ember, the spell must be forced. This is why your magic seems in such short supply - if anything, it’s much the opposite. You have an abundance of magic welling within you, Arin. You are simply not efficient in its use.”

“...And one day of training is enough to make me proficient at… whatever you’re going to teach me?”

The group finally broke into a small clearing, at the sound of a babbling brook and a tumbling waterfall in a crook of the Smokey Mountains. The wildlife here sung in long calls and chirping songs of birds, the tiny meadow running fresh with small rabbits and squirrels. Umbra eyed one with hunger, and perhaps sensing the danger - the little bunny fled. The pond itself of which the small waterfall filled was pristine and clear, fish of all shapes and sizes swimming in the untouched waters. Fireflies buzzed happily, bees tending to flowers in the quiet of the moonlight. The very flowers leading in glowed softly in the dark, giving the spring an otherworldly feel.

“It’s beautiful,” Arin said, as the bucks surrounding them broke for the edges of the woods. Within seconds, and with curious flicks of their wrists - they had nearly effortlessly vanished into the branches of the thick trees. Not a leaf fell from their act, hardly a breeze stirring the leaves. Umbra was simply surprised that the air was somewhat pleasant here; not a flake of snow had lined the floor or tumbled from the sky.

“This is a natural treasure of the Fey. Here, our ties to its magic are at their strongest; beautiful landmarks shine brightest in the wilds, and thus, they stand undaunted by the aegis of time, and are of great importance to our world. In the Prime, these simple spots are beautiful bastions of natural growth. And as such, the bonds between the Prime and Feywilds are actually powerful, serving as a portal between our worlds, when one stares deep into the pool. This is where few ponies often tread into the Fey, and unguarded as they are, they likely perish as prey to the many great beasts that prowl these woods. Thus, the need for the Battalion thicket; and why trespassers are interned for a year, to teach them the vast importance of staying out of our affairs.” King Aster approached the water, turning to face the Seraph and mare with grace.

“Why not just send them back, then? Why imprison them at all, if you intend to release them?” Arin crossed his arms, the King simply shook his head.

“We used to let ponies return with proper guidance immediately, but this led to small groups wishing to venture into our world to explore. Thus, a punishment - often given with a chance for rebuttal, was deemed necessary. We do not torture or kill innocents; my kin are kind, and respect all life. This is why the accommodations in our cells are more than fair, and the period is often long - with few interactions, to further invoke the sense that ponies do not belong. Those who stay the full year are often released with a firm warning - any who return will be slain, with whoever graces their company at the time.”

Arin felt a little nervous at that; did they really kill second offenders on sight? What if somepony - someone was a repeat offender unintentionally? Like Pumpkin - she often explored these woods to forage for local herbs, as she once stated at the beginning of their journey.

“What about those who live in these woods, and find themselves here unexpectedly?”

“Ah, I believe I know who you speak of. This is why I granted Pumpkin - the mare often spotted in my lands in the briefest of flashes - the title of Ambassador. In truth, her exploratory nature had led to many sightings, but no captures in the past. And knowing of her plight to save our world, I decided to grant her clearance to be here, seeing as she had the chance of visiting again regardless of my wishes or not.”

So many questions! But before Arin could ask a dozen more, Aster raised a cloven hoof. “Now, I believe it is time we focus on your healing capabilities. Let’s start with a simple exercise; what do you call your strongest healing spell? Explain how it works.”

“Er… Antithesis. It allows me to heal a pony’s wounds quickly at a short distance, if I know what’s wrong - or if I’m feeling wasteful, crush bones.” Arin loosened his shoulders, preparing for practice.

“A good name from your world; it explains simply what it does. I have this very same spell in my repertoire - though my father named it Balance. When you connect to the creature’s magical ember, the distance should be significant - how short is your range?”

Arin frowned, turning his lead to the left; looking at Umbra. With a single step to the right, he raised his hand at the somewhat bored unicorn. “About here.”

The King was definitely not impressed. “In Equis tongue, five hooves? I… that is exceedingly low. Perhaps one day simply isn’t enough…”

The King turned to the pool, raising a hoof to his chin. Where does one even begin with this? It took him a moment to come up with a plan, before stepping back into the lake.

“Close your eyes, Arin. We will practice the basics first. By my boughs, please be a quick learner.” The buck whispered the last part to himself, mostly - but still, Arin could hear the flustered King above the waterfall’s light crash.

This didn’t give him much in the way of hope. Regardless, he was quick to obey, doing just that. The calming meadow was plunged into darkness, leaving him standing idly in the moonlight.

“When you connect to an Ember, you’re seeking a source of magic - not to drain or squeeze, but to embrace gently. Use your catalyst - for us bucks, it would be our antlers, or ponies, their horns - and grow power within it. Then, simply wave it forward, and listen with your spiritual self. Even in the dark, you can sense an ember - and softly cup that flame in your magical grasp. I say be gentle, as pulling at another’s ember will move you towards them, not the other way around. As you are essentially binding your physical self to their spiritual body, albeit temporarily.”

Obeying the King’s advice, he tried to do just that. Instead, he slapped his glowing hand into Umbra’s very sharp horn when he waved it around, just as the dark mare stepped towards his side. Instantly, his eyes shot open - having punctured a fine hole through his palm from the unexpected contact.

“By the Stars! I’m sorry, Arin. I did not intend to interfere; I simply wished to stay close.” Umbra frowned, reaching a hoof forward to cup his injured limb. Aster, seeing this, flashed his version of Antithesis across Arin’s form - and instantly, the pain vanished. This gave him time to think, and question once more.

“Wait, Aster - when I’m doing this… I’m trying to connect to a creature’s ember? Is this how unicorns could tell I had magic, forever ago? This spell… it doesn’t exist in Erenorn. Our court mages know nothing of it. Even our priests seem simply unaware - why?” The Seraph looked over his palm, staring in curiosity. “This spell could tell I wasn’t truly Inert, yet… not a soul in my world had developed this technique.”

“I do not know of your realm’s magic, Arin. But to connect to another’s ember, it typically requires an understanding of emotion; zeal, spirit, empathy, and so forth. These are key traits to feeling both magic in a creature, and in channeling life. The greater one’s spirit, the greater one’s potential in casting healing magic. It’s why potential may shift with time, or stress - it takes a truly innocent heart to be able to wield the light so brazenly.”

Arin went silent; he was innocent? How? He didn’t feel innocent. How did this relate to him in any way? He’s killed Seraphs before, several in the past - he’s laid with both Celestia and Luna in the pursuit of love. Sure, he was naive, and emotionally dim at times - but innocent? What constitutes as innocent?

When Aster saw his hesitation, the buck’s green aura tilted Arin’s chin up to face him, encouraging him with a kind smile. “Let’s embrace this in a new light. Ponies are naturally susceptible to the magics of love, friendship, and hope. It’s why they’re so quick to join at times, or hold their spirits high in the dark - and make friends aplenty, as it was in times of yore. Before the Entity fell on the world, of course. This abyssal monstrosity brought disharmony, and split the once unified Starlight’s Peak into the three pony factions, that eventually reformed sometime after their great quest to the East - under Equestria’s Banner, Celestia and Luna’s rule.

“For unicorns, detecting magic within a short range is almost as natural as breathing - but from the history you’ve told me, of your land and Seraphs… They are broken and split at the seams, unable to settle and flourish like ponies have. You are nothing like your kind. A rarity I assume, to grow in such a spectacular fashion. To feel this light within another, do not focus - much the opposite, in fact. Let your mind wander, question, grow - and feel the world as you would see it in your eyes. Umbra, I ask that you give Arin space. Now, let’s try again.”

This… would take a while.

Chapter 69 - Nice

Rainbow Dash yawned tiredly from a seriously comfy branch she found hanging around the throne room or… whatever. Deer castles are weird. Curvy halls, big bucks jumping in trees, rattling her branch - at least she managed to convince some doe… they’re doe's, right? To give her an awesome blanket and pillow. She totally needed to catch up on some heavy z’s, and there wasn’t a better spot than either a cloud, or a branch, or… well, anything off the ground. Pegasi loved heights.

Well, maybe except Fluttershy. She was afraid of flying, clouds, her own shadow, lightning, foals in Nightmare Night costumes, Princess Luna…

Really, if she had to make a list of ‘things Fluttershy would wet the bed to’, she’d need a scroll from Canterlot to Ponyville long, and probably like… ol’ egghead to write it all down.

Regardless, Dash was hungry. And bored. And sad. And a lot of emotions she didn’t wanna talk about to anypony but her favorite Tortoise at home. What really got on her nerves was that the cold made Tank hibernate early! Lousy good for nothin’ Nightmare Moon.

Flapping down from her super secret hiding spot in the Throne Room’s branches, she could only wonder what time it was. Definitely food time, so really - question answered, now to kick back with some donuts and teach some deer how awesome she was.

Her awesome ears you wrote that down, right? Yes, I did, Dash - oh pumpkin seeds, I’m writing my thoughts down again! picked up on some pony talk, and she swooped in for some eavesdropping. Something about… snooting, and books. But one voice caught her ear in particular; Princess Celestia! Celestia was kicking it with that weird pegasus, and she just had to know what was going on.

“Hey Princess!” Dash called from above, flapping her wings quietly to stay afloat, “Didya miss me?”

“Shhh!” Celestia’s horn flicked gold, as she quickly tugged down Dash with a glare. “We’re trying to be on the quiet side, Rainbow - but yes, I did. Thank you for stopping by. You missed breakfast.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault that weird-o kept slapping me with her wing in my sleep! It’s like, totally not fair!” She pouted, crossing her hooves - but with another tug of golden magic, the Rainbow maned pegasus was forced to walk by her side.

“What are you even doing, anyway?” She quickly fell in line with the now regalia-less Princess What’s a regalia? Dash, please - keep on track. Ugh! Not again! This is the final draft! Her shorter hoofbeats cantering to keep up to Celestia’s longer stride.

“We’re after some research materials, and Vee needs me to distract the librarian and translate the books… so things are about to get a little flashy.”

“Flashy? Hehe, if you needed a distraction, you should have just asked me, Princess! Expert flier, second in command to the Wonderbolts - did I mention awesome?” Rainbow polished her hoof against her chest, as the Princess shushed her - entering the library properly now. Can we just skip to the part where we kick Nightmare Moon’s flank? I am going to… I don’t know what, just please - FOCUS! Cloverhoof Publishing, please expunge these quips as you see fit.

The librarian doe - a bit too scrawny, really, she needed to work on that - looked up from her books at the large Princess. What do you mean, describe her? Ugh, fine. She had like… a short mane with curls, and stuff. And… What if I can’t remember what she looked like? It’s not entirely accurate, remember what you can ...glasses? Yeah, she totally had egghead glasses.

“Can I help you?” she asked, as Celestia cleared her throat.

“I am Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria and its provinces. I have a vast array of books in my castle, and I wondered what kind of knowledge bucks and does have gathered over the decades to amass such a large selection?” The Princess smiled, as Vee quietly snuck past her and to the far shelves.

“Yeah! I bet you guys have a ton of action adventure stuff! Have you heard about Daring Do?” Dash chirped, geeking out maybe just a bit.

“Daring Do?... You mean Daring Deer, right? Our selection doesn’t carry much in the ways of young deer books, but I do believe we keep a copy for notoriety sake. I’ll find it in just a moment for you. But to answer your question, Princess, our library includes hundreds of tomes from the Old Courts, some written by ponies themselves! I think I have my favorite, right here-”

The doe turned around to the selection she kept behind the counter, giving Celestia a chance to turn and flash her horn in a wave of radiant light. A soft “neigh” followed, as Vee gave her thanks - plucking books to shove in her satchel. Who needs that many books? Vee didn’t seem like an egghead, more like Pinkie Pie on coffee.

The doe returned, after scanning her inventory to find a small diary in her red glow. She plucked a book from the shelf, smiling as it floated to the counter.

“I found this old journal in one of the unpacked storage chests. It’s been sitting here for centuries, and for good reason! It’s written in Equestrian, and not many deer care, need, or know how to read it. Looks like somedeer dropped it in a fire, so I spent dozens of twilight’s eves patching it together, to broaden our stock on pony affairs. I’m afraid that very few deer have any interest in the matter, though. I think only a few dozen actually read Equestrian, and there’s no big rush to hunt down knowledge on it, anyway. It’s my favorite because I did a good job on patching it up, and I think it looks pretty good on a shelf.”

Celestia looked curiously over the blue diary, inspecting the star on the front. It was a rather beautiful book, too - in fact, it reminded her of…

She flicked the cover open, her eyes widening in shock. ‘Property of Starswirl’.

“I don’t suppose I may check this out, Miss?...”

“Bramblebush! And I don’t see why not; just promise to bring it back in good condition. Now, let me find that copy of Daring Deer for you, Miss?...”

“Uh, Dash! But don’t tell anypony I stopped by. I don’t want ponies getting the wrong idea. Uh, or deer. By the way, you heard of the Wonderbolts, right?”

“The what?” Bramblehoof prodded, as Celestia clutched the missing piece of her life to her chest. This could explain everything.

“Oh c’mon! They’re like, the coolest and fastest pegasi on the planet! How have you not heard of them? What kind of rock do deers live under?!” Dash clopped her hooves on the desk, the doe shushing her with a glare. As Rainbow began to yammer on about flying and airshows, Miss Bramblehoof’s eyes wandered; disinterested in the topic.

Vee quietly attempted to tip-hoof her way out of the Library’s door - probably ‘cause somepony put some iron bars on the windows, for some reason - when the Librarian caught sight of her.

“HEY! YOU! YOU BROKE MY WINDOW!” Bramblehoof shouted, Vee giving a quick d’ohoho to compensate.

“Young doe, don’t you mean to keep quiet? This is a library after all.” The Purple chirped, wiggling her fake moustache before attempting to sip her coffee - wait, she didn’t have coffee coming in, where’d she get that from? Anyway, she sips the coffee - Dash, please word this better - stupid quill! Stop writing! Don’t - ugh!

...The pegasus sips her coffee, forcing the moustache to fall right off into her cup. Vee whinnied, somehow not recognizing the now incredibly mysterious mug in her hooves - and tossed it behind her into the safety of the nearest bookshelf.

“PREEN IT!” the Purple yelled, much to the ire of the doe - who leaped the counter to give chase as Vee darted through the halls. Celestia and Rainbow Dash just watched the two as they rounded the corner out of sight.

“What?...” the confused Rainbow whispered, forcing a sigh from Celestia. With a gentle pat on the back from her majestic wing, the Princess decided on the best way to explain what she just witnessed.

“Imagine Vee is like Pinkie Pie, except Pinkie Pie never sleeps, drinks coffee, and preens. That’s all you need to know, Rainbow Dash.”

“T-That… Princess, that sounds like a nightmare.” The awesome pegasus nearly cowered at the thought. Pinkie Pie was already a hoof full and a half - now she comes in purple flavor? Definitely a scary idea.

“Maybe it is, Rainbow Dash. Maybe it is.” Celestia turned the book up in her grasp, thoughts whirring at the possibilities of the truth. The history. The light this book holds; once she reads this, she can finally finish the mystery of her past, and uncover the truth of Equis’s forgotten years.

Arin sighed; by now, even King Aster - the epitome of patience among his kin, had sat down. He held a book quietly in his magic, reading through the old pages seemingly out of boredom. The Seraph continued to waste his magic, swinging his hand around like an… Well, really, he felt like an idiot at this point. A very frustrated idiot.

“What am I doing wrong? Like, is there some kind of glyph you’ve forgotten to teach me? Or is this some weird exercise to test my patience? If so, I’m not sure how this is supposed to help me be a better healer.”

Umbra, who was rather patient herself regardless of the creeping boredom - sighed. “Even I had the potential to master this spell by instinct, Arin. When I was still an Umbrum. And as I recall, Umbrum don’t have souls.”

“That is still debatable, Umbra. It is likely you had a soul, it was just extraordinarily faint and weak. It’s unnatural for a full Umbrum to bear any spirit at all, this is true - as they are at the total command of Shadow Queen Rabia. From my assertions, she follows the Entity’s whims - so likely speaking, you were a newly formed Umbrum. Quite possibly a pony that had their soul drained, but not fully consumed - leaving you nothing but a wisp of your soul’s former glory. Arin’s healing magic likely anchored the piece of your spirit to the Prime, and reformed your body and soul on the spot of your demise. Or, your experiences had led to that piece of soul growing large enough to make you whole. At least, this is what I can assume from Arin’s tale.”

Aster turned a new page in his book, as Umbra prodded his vast mind for new knowledge. “Then am I truly the same being I was before the change?”

“That is entirely for you to decide. Do you believe your soul swelled with light and hope, or do you believe the light was given to you by Arin’s magic? It could very well be both. It isn’t an exact science; there are many possibilities to consider.” The King sighed, closing the pages before flashing his magic across the surface. “Perhaps I will schedule another day of training, Arin. In four hours, you achieved nothing. And there is still much to cover.”

“Well, why does this even work? Why is it easier to cast magic on the ‘astral’ body, over the material one? When I cast Resurgence, the magic hardly breaks the skin - and it patches up wounds just the same, albeit slowly. What’s the difference?” Arin crossed his arms, but not before finding a seat on the meadow floor to relax.

“The astral body mimics the physical one, and vice versa. Your body is merely a husk; it is flesh and bone, and is naturally inert without an ember residing inside. Your astral body, on the other hoof, is essentially raw magic - and represents your memories, your emotions, and the shape your physical body would be inclined to take with time, if possible for it to do so. The astral body can not be destroyed; not by normal means. It can be damaged, or banished - but outright destroying it is near impossible, as it represents a piece of the Fabric of Reality. It can have its essence drained and consumed, or the form of it can be claimed - but it can not be broken, only temporarily disabled.

“A spirit promotes many things; it naturally boosts healing and growth. It ties your mind to the physical realm. It nurtures your very existence, and it's magic fights to hold on to its shell - for magic based creatures, this increases their life span, and helps repair catastrophic damage as quickly as it is able. This is why a pony like Princess Celestia can recover from starvation in a few weeks time - her spirit is powerful and rich. You, as well, are quick to recover, as your astral form is empowered compared to something like a less sentient creature; a bird maybe, or perhaps a feral deer. From my understanding, Seraph’s have grand souls - this is why wounds can knit in minutes for you, or less when under duress.

“By empowering the spirit, not only can you heal wounds from a far greater distance - but you can do so without direct knowledge of their damage. This allows a druid to weave mending spells in mere seconds, without putting themselves in harm’s way. An art likely forgotten by ponykind, in favor of more traditional medicine - as Unicorns often wasted generations of magic turning the Sun and Moon before the Twin Princesses rule. Very few had the magic to spare to study healing, even in times of great peril.

“Thus, you avoid brute forcing the spell, allowing natural magic to perform at its own volition. I will note, however, that healing in this method can not restore loss of limb; not without an exceptional power source. Furthermore, long lost appendages can not be restored without a fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh level Resurrection spell - of which are near impossible to perform without the right reagents, and the remnants of the limb or corpse itself. Only a seventh level Resurrection can restore a body with no piece or corpse on hoof, and that only applies if the spirit is available - and agrees to the resurrection. Typically, one can assume one hundred years to be the absolute limit in restoring a creature.”

Arin sighed, waving his hand around again like it would help. At the trees, where the bucks were likely hiding - at Aster, Umbra…

...Umbra. He felt something. Like a warmth inside of the dark mare’s body. Curious, his mind wandered over this feeling, as his lover perked up in confusion. Rubbing her chest.

Gently, he held on, and gave it a little pull - expecting his telekinesis to probably tug on her hoof, or her tail - instead, he nearly stumbled. His eyes snapped open as her emerald magic grasped his form, righting him in mere moments.

“What? Huh? How?” Arin looked to Aster for confirmation, the buck giving a nod.

“When you touch another creature’s astral body, you are essentially holding a fixed point in space; the spirit can not be ripped from the flesh without proper spells and rituals. Your ember expects to cast Levitation on the object - instead, it fails, and you are instead moved to the soul’s location. Of course, this only functions if the spirit is willing, the distance is close enough, and you can ‘cusp’ their soul. Only those adept at healing can perform such magic. Before you ask, Resurrection is a ritual that attempts to bind the creature’s spirit back to the flesh; if successful, the soul snaps near instantly in place; like a puzzle piece. You are not moving it, it is moving itself. Which is why it’s difficult for the uninitiated to perform.”

“So when you fail a level three resurrection…” Arin began to ask, but the buck was faster.

“You sear the binds with magic, and the soul is unable to be called again.”

Right. He knew that. But as he understood it, his people believed that the soul could be moved - it was much the opposite. The soul moves itself, you can simply beckon it. The differences in understanding were rather… severe.

“Tell me Arin, what other spells do you know - and their purpose? Since the definitions may be different here.” Calmly, he approached the Seraph - towering over him by a solid head, his green eyes tilted down to meet Arins, not more than a few hooves away.

“Uh… Well, you know Resurgence and Antithesis - I have Blessing, which is supposed to clear curses and improve healing. It’s a sigil spell, too, so… if sigils work as I think they work, then uh, yeah.” He scratched his head quietly; he really didn’t like being put on the spot like this. “I kinda know Mana Barrier. It’s supposed to be like… a shield of sorts, not a channeled barrier like the Princess can cast. But it’s hard to do for me, and not very effective. I basically have to be standing on top of the target for it to work. Then there’s… Mending Wave? It’s like resurgence, but for a group. The thing is, I have to channel it on myself, and it’s hard to do when I’m stressed.”

“Blessing sounds like an incomplete spell, at least to me. Much like Antithesis, you should be able to invert it to stun your enemies, and weaken their concentration. My version is called Mirrored Light, and follows much the same sigil - but simply inverted. I have it here, in my old study journal. I used my magic to translate it to Equestrian, since I have a history of writing to-... To the ponies of old. The rest, we can simply combine with Soul Sense, the name I gave for finding another’s spirit. My notes contain many more useful spells, as well - that you should practice during your tenure here, if you find them compatible. The point of this training was to see if you could reach out to another spirit other than your own. And now that I know you can, I am able to trust this knowledge to you, Arin. As I know it is in good…”

Aster paused, thinking quietly. “...They aren’t talons, are they?”

With a stretch, Arin waved his hands around, much as he’d been doing all night. “No, they’re hands. Nifty things, though it’s weird how pony and deer hooves can just… grab stuff, without fingers.”

“Ah yes, hands. Of course. And that is again, at the touch of magic. Simple, correct?”

“Yeah… simple. I guess.”

Chapter 70 - History Aplenty

Oarkin slapped his knee in laughter, recalling his times in Erenorn for the little fawn. “You see, he was a big man! But my father was not bright - he was a true Southern Spear, who had little magic. Unlike my Seraph mother! My mother was the smart one. She taught me the ways of the world, how things worked - simple things! But my father, he was good. He taught me to stand up for myself, to look after the weak and be kind. He was a funny man! Very funny, I miss him.”

Calia’s soft hooves had wrapped tight around the bunny as Oarkin told her about all the places he’s been, his family, his home - he kindly left out the men he’s killed, the battles he’s won, and instead gave her the good side of his life. She listened on until noon, asking cute questions - about the strange horses of his world, or the sentient cats. The talking giant birds. The speaking serpents. But in the end, she wanted to know more about him, her hero.

“He laughed at many things, from the small mistakes to angry men. None could scare him! He found happiness even when times were rough, because he had my mother, and he had me. You remind me of him! Very kind man, gave much to those who needed it. I wanted to be like him when I was old and bearded. And no matter the bad, he saw the good! And he was merry. The word… jovial! Yes, in Sarin. That’s it.”

“So what happened to him, Mister Oarkin?” Calia rested her chin on the top of Hoppy - the name she came up with - her silvery blue eyes gleaming. At that, Oarkin fell a little quiet. His usual mirth dimming.

“He passed as he lived. You see, Erenorn is not a good place to be. With many good things, there are many more bad - and his love for my mother was something Seraph did not like. They called me foul blood, because I was half of her - and half of him. On a cold winter night, many of the bad Seraph came to our little town - Altai Krom, with the worst… ah, intentions. Proklyanite ikh, they brought magic fire, during our moon festival. My mother died to daggers in darkness. My father passed when his throat was slashed. I was only forty, and lived close by. I hurt many bad men - but I had to help the molodoy, the young - and I brought them to safety.

“My father died a hero, and so did many others. The Seraph found my mother - and thought she was a soldier, and took her body to be buried in Alma Sol. It was rough times for all, and…”

He sighed. “I wanted to do good. I trained. I grew strong. My Southern Spear blood - it gives me stony skin and strength, but I am unable to heal quickly like a Seraph. Instead, I have magic. It is simple magic, but… it is good. In the two hundred fifty years of my Mother’s death, I went to visit her grave. There, by Alma Sol - I was captured in a… proyekt, a draft. I look like a Seraph, and they took me as one - though very tall. There, I was made to fight. Simple things, first - beasts and monsters that hunted Inerts. But the Far Reaches did not like the Southern Spears, and soon, I was forced to hurt my own people.

“The mages made me work, or die. Southern Spears are strong against many things, but spells - good ones, with skill - can bend or break us. We are a people without magic; only immense strength. This is why we fight.”

At that, he ended his explanation with a pat on his legs; as if brushing off the dirt. A habit he grew accustomed to in Seraph lands, as he often had to kneel on the floor; chairs were rarely in his size. Standing up to full height, he grabbed the chess set - or Knight’s Challenge, for White Tail - and set it on the bed.

“Calia, you are very brave. You do not cry, why? Tell me.” Oarkin frowned, setting the pieces together as quickly as his large fingers would allow. The little fawn smiled, her eyes lighting up.

“Because my mom told me, that no matter what happens - there’s good in the woods, and she’ll be watching from the stars to make sure I’ll see the twilight again. To always be happy when I can, because you never know when your happiness will turn to moonlight. Dad… he wasn’t the same when mom passed. I used to make him breakfast to cheer him up, but… all he wanted was more wine. Especially when we couldn’t sell any more pumpkins, and we had to leave the farm. Now, we live here and he works making metal things. Sometimes, he would become really sad, and cry that mom was gone - and… he would drink. And he would get angry. I knew that wasn’t what he wanted to do, but he hurt me.”

Calia rubbed her small cloven hoof along her much too thin leg, settling her nerves. A turn in her mood soon settled in, as her voice grew small and weak. “But mom was right. I should be happy when I can, if not - what else do I have? I don’t have… I…”

For the first time since he found her, tears began to trickle down her cheeks. A timid bleat followed, as she began to shake, clutching Hoppy close.

With soft shushing noises, the giant seraph scooped her up in his arms, holding the little fawn to his chest. Though this little doe was small - her heart was big, as big as a mountain. She had been through enough. Her hero was here. That is what matters most.

Celestia secluded herself in her once shared bedchamber; she locked the door, fitted a chair beneath it, then finally latched and shuttered the outside window. She wanted no distractions. Now, it was just her, and her past. And nopony would take that from her.

The last thing she wanted was Vee, or Arin - or even Aster trotting in with questions and needs unmet. They could wait.

She turned to the first few journal entries, reading quickly and quietly to herself.

Moonday, 6th of Neighpril, 67 -

That’s odd - the date begins at nearly seventy years. But by all Equestrian calendars, he would have been banished to the mute between planes - Purgatory, by then, when he and the Pillars of Equestria imprisoned the Pony of Shadows. This may imply that when her mother took the throne, this could have been a new era. She was around the age of one hundred when the Entity came…

My research into the planes surrounding the Prime has been relatively unsuccessful, as few historians kept notes regarding Queen Laurel’s disappearance. From what I can gather, during Laurel’s battle with Grogar, she channeled an immense power and attempted to end him and his foul magic from all of Equis. But he somehow escaped this event, and her spell failed catastrophically - a green crack in the sky formed, and Grogar used his power to banish her to this new… dimension, perhaps. Before fleeing far, far East - to his homeland.

I originally believed that Queen Laurel had been thrown into one of the many outer planes surrounding ours - but this is strictly not the case. It appears to be some form of powerful teleportation magic, or perhaps a tear in reality itself - and the effect launched Laurel into another world, far beyond our magic’s reach by our current understanding.

Queen Laurel… would this be Celestia’s grandmother? And what he described, the Green Scar - Celestia was sure of it. This would mean that Queen Astra took the crown after her own mother’s disappearance. This journal doesn’t state when it began - Starswirl was still young when he taught her and her sister, but this would imply Astra was very young when she started her rule, and he might have been born during her reign.

I shared this information with Queen Astra - curse her name, a foul wench to think I am too young to study this! But I digress; she was saddened to hear the news, regardless. I will continue my research into this ‘dimensional rift’ of sorts, in the hopes of one day being able to summon, or even teleport, Queen Laurel home.

Before Arin's arrival, she received a letter from King Leotoln - and it mentioned a red maned mare. This could have been Queen Laurel, her grandmother, from the history books. Arin also spoke of sentient animals in his world… and the magic of Equis gave critters varying levels of intelligence - does this mean that Seraph and Pony magic are one in the same? It is likely - Arin’s potential shows this. Could Queen Laurel still be alive? If Leotoln sent a letter and mentioned her in some light, he might have assumed that the Princess would know about her own history. Though nearly no historical accounts exist; simply put, she only vaguely recalls the notion.

The next few journal entries concern the development of a few techniques to teleport vast distances, including what looks like to be the first iteration of the Portal Gate spell - he was an expert on this subject, once Equestria was established. This would explain why. He simply didn’t study it on a whim, he was trying to bring Astra’s mother home.

The journal entries were sparse - the occasional page had been cut and torn loose, or even with the librarian’s repair - was simply impossible to salvage. The next legible and useful entry was five years later, it seemed.

Twinsday, 20th of Neigh, 72

I can not believe that Astra; she has stolen my heart. It delays my studies by the hour, with mere thoughts of her - how could I have been so blind?

...Starswirl fell in love with Queen Astra? And - wait… Lord Mapleheart, he said… Astra fell in love with a simple gray unicorn. Could… Could Starswirl be her…

I have spent many a year by her side, at first as an apprentice - and now, a partner. And soon, my wife. She will outlive me, to see eternity of course - but my heart will burn for her, for decades to come. I did not expect her to propose to me the very idea of us coupling; it had come from the dark like a knife! If anything, I will continue to search the stars for Queen Laurel - not to replace Astra, but to free her from the throne so that we may revel in love unbidden. I have a few theories I’d like to attempt; using the distant powers of the astral plane, I might be able to channel a summoning spell. A beacon of light. I must simply find the alignment of stars necessary to amplify this magic, to call to our missing Queen - and it will reveal her to me - no, to us both.

A beacon of light. Hope. He hoped to find her, that beacon would be just that - a ray of hope in the astral plane. The Entity is attracted to hope, light, love, happiness… the positivity of a soul. Could this be what brought the Entity to Equis in the first place? It was a creature of the stars… But what was its goal? The Entity’s true purpose?

She flicked the pages forward - she’ll come back for the tiny details later, but for now, she wanted truth. All of the truth. The full story.

Windsday, 7th of Prancetember, 88

I am a father now. Two lovely twins, both sisters - we have already found the perfect names for them. Astra is named after the stars - so we named them Celestia and Luna, after the sun and moon both. Celly and Lulu. Tia and Moony. They are beautiful; a mirror image of their mother, bumbling and sweet and - by the stars, I am smitten with them. Absolutely stunning; Lulu even has my eyes! Though Alicorn blood is strong, so of course they would have the same white coat and pink mane of their mother. I never once thought we would have foals. In my youth, when we first met - I despised her! But she swayed my heart. I was persistent, and demanded no such fillies to grace our sides, not yet; but she convinced me… again.

They are the light of my world, and of Astra’s. She fawns over them, and her attention - once focused on saving her mother - has strayed. At least the White Tail were kind enough to send gifts aplenty to mark the occasion; Prince Aster himself arrived, to see the newborn Princesses. I am unsure of him; he sends many letters to my wife, my love - since before we even engaged, and still, he persists. She is my starlight. You may not have her. Though I marble at the thought of the stuttering mess of a buck’s attempts at courting her. Had I not relented to her love, she may very well have taken his offer.

Tonight, I am once again channeling light through the stars. A curious sight graced my telescope; a new constellation, a tri-colored band with several silver points forming the ring. I believe I will call it the Arcane Ring; it seems to channel my magic extraordinarily well, and could even find our long lost Queen. With some dimensional calibration, it could even pierce new layers of the planes we know, and find her in whatever fold she may lay. I will call upon my wife’s help for the spell - her power and ties to sorcery could very well be what we need to find her. This will brighten the shining star of her spirits, I’m sure of it.

Celestia flicked the page, worry settling deep in her heart. She already knew what would come of this. But she had to be sure. The page was written in a rush, the ink running in spots and the page frayed with age and wear.

Sunday, 7, Cloptober, 88 -

We called. It came. Lulu, my sweet, my favorite… I… She found you. Strangled by the black tendrils in your crib. It… it did this to you. Astra delivered you and your sister to me, and you… by the stars, you hardly looked alive. Your skin was blue, your mane had lost its luster - it felt like I was holding a corpse. What did it do to you? Celly, you were spared, but… had Astra not arrived, and fought hoof and nail to save you, I would have lost you, my Lulu.

My wife… her eyes are gone. The black tendrils bore them out of her skull. She cries out of the corruption inside of her. Even King Mapleheart and his magic could not save her. The black tentacles spear ever deeper into Equis.

I had managed to use my studies of teleportation to save as many ponies as I could. Astra… no matter her wounds, she would not relent. She can not see, yet with magic - it allows her to see our very souls, and she flies now to defeat the… it is a monster without name, without cause - an entity that prowled the stars. And she goes now, draining the sun and moon of its strength, to charge her magical ember with the magic of light to destroy this creature once and for all.

I am so tired. I have saved thousands, teleporting them halfway around the world to the Autumn Court - but dozens of thousands more had been lost. Their very astral forms devoured, leaving nothing but these… shaded husks, shadows that were quickly absorbed by the beast itself, and plunged deep into the stony ground. Or worse yet, these… heart beating corpses, lacking eyes.

It is midday, yet it is the pitch of night - a freezing wind billowing over the leaves of the refugees resting here now. With Astra’s power rising, I feel the very earth beneath my hooves shaking and churning as this Entity burrows ever deeper into our world.

None must know that it was our folly that brought this disaster upon the land. Especially Celly and Lulu. I will tell the deer simply that it came in search of souls - a lie, yes, but… if they learned that we were in-fact responsible for this…

At this point, it seemed Starswirl realized how grave keeping this evidence was - and he tossed the book into a flame. For whatever reason, it must have been rescued by another; Starswirl would have let it sizzle and turn to ash in the flames, as was the smart thing to do.

That librarian, who couldn’t even read Equestrian, restored as much of it as she could. Had King Mapleheart found this book, the remaining Equestrians would have been murdered in the streets.

...She knew what must be done. Her horn lit the fireplace up in a swirl of flames, reading through the scant pages to memorize as much as she could as she approached the fire; the good, the bad, the boring... Every bit of it implicated Starswirl as the villain, and she would not let his memory… the memory of her father, be tarnished. He was not an evil stallion. Neither were the victims of this catastrophe.

Regardless of the dozens of spells listed in the book, and the vast importance in history - some pieces were definitely better left forgotten. But why did he not tell her of the Entity? She could have researched it, found its origin, sent explorers to…

Celestia would have discovered it still existed. And she would have been foolhardy enough to try and fight it. Starswirl hid this from her so she wouldn’t reawaken the Entity.

The flame crackled, as she turned the book over the broiling heat. The journal quickly catching flame, the damning pages soon alight in a blaze. Hopefully Miss Bramblehoof was forgiving of her ‘clumsy’ hooves.

She could leave nothing to chance; if she took a few pages as keepsakes, Twilight may one day find them - and attempt to use magic to restore the book in its entirety. This would be damning to Equestria’s relations with… every creature, deer, griffon, dragon, rainbow chitin changeling - if they discovered that Starswirl’s mistake had cost half the world, and now - Nightmare Moon’s rule. This would undoubtedly cause mass conflict.

Times change. Hiding from her issues will solve nothing. Hoping others will fight in her stead will simply lead to the world’s demise. They would have to stand tall against the dark, and win. They must destroy Nightmare Moon, or risk the burrowing darkness’s wrath.

Hopefully, her plan would come into action; the remnants of this world depended on it. Thankfully, few knew what she meant when she said she had a plan; maybe this was for the best.

“Hmhmhm! Oho! Yes, hm. I see,” Vee said, preening new feathers into the pages for safe bookmarking. This translation spell was neat! Definitely a brain beneath the mane play, on her part. Maybe she can wiggle some purple pinions into the snooty princess’s soupy mind.

She closed the book on deer planar understanding. Of course, none of it was useful, it had nothing to do with her problems! But a good book to stare at and pretend to sleep to, none-the-less.

Vee sniffled her snoot, ears perking up and feathers giving the good tingles. Hm. Book. Yes, very book! It was very book, somewhere nearby - and she needed it to be book here, not there. Perhaps she sniffed up the wrong section of literature. She put her trusty snooter to the floor, a wave of ‘hmhm’s following.

“D’ohoho! That’s the good wing tingles,” she said, being an expert on all things good for preening. Vee began to flap her amazingly pristine and well tended wings out from Rainbow Dash’s room. What? She had to hide from the fuzz! Also, there wasn’t enough purple on Rainbow-fry’s bed. And she volunteered to help, so of course she had to show her thanks!

The coffee stains were accidental, of course; some days it was hard to balance a mug on your head, after all. Like today. And yesterday. But not the other day, that was a good day. Ah yes! Back to snooting. Down the left hall, hmhm - to the right, back up! You’ve gone a snoot too far! There we go. Umbra’s door. Oho! Yes, she can snoot up the knowledge from here.

Her sniffly snooter (though not as snooting as Ugly-blech-mane) sniffed under the door expertly, before using a wing to slowly, gently, quietly slap the door open with enough force to rattle the hinges.

“This is a robbery! I’m here for the book!” the Purple proclaimed, standing valiantly in the door like a true hero would. Arin nearly fell off of Umbra’s bed, losing his place in mere seconds as Umbra stared curiously at the intruding purple. Of course, she heard her coming. It was hard to sneak up on the dark mare.

“Vee, I require that guests knock before requesting entrance to my chambers.” Umbra glared, resting by Arin’s side as he studied.

“Yeah! By the Feathers, you’re going to give me a heart attack! You and the deer both!” Arin sighed, holding the book close to his chest. “How’d you even know - you know what, don’t tell me. Just get out. Go. Shoo. Scram. Go bother Tempest and Pumpkin or… something. This is important.”

Vee, being an expert on all things and everything, especially things she’s not - stared absentmindedly through Arin, preening away annoying feathers.

“Hm? Oh! Yes! Too bad, Jerk-face! Gimme the book, I need it for purple matters. Very purple matters! The best kind of matters, the ones you wouldn’t get. I can snoot up things others can’t, because they’re not purple! Hmhm!”

Arin and Umbra shared a very worried look, before Umbra nodded - turning her horn towards the tome to levitate to Vee’s grasp.

“Please, Vee. Return it in good condition. It’s Aster’s,” Arin said, now empty handed. “Which means no coffee stains, no scribbling in it, and if I find you with a box of crayons - especially purple crayons, I’m taking it away from you.”

Chapter 71 - Purplesmart

“Welp, there goes my night.” Arin frowned, running his hand along Umbra’s back. She closed her eyes, almost like a cat would at the affection - a warm smile creeping up on her face. “I don’t suppose you’re in the mood for cuddling, huh? A nap would be wonderful right now.”

“...I do not understand. I have heard the word before, but what is this… ‘cuddling’ ponies speak of? Is it what the Princess did to you, against your will? Holding you in her hooves?” Umbra’s smile shifted to a worried frown; she didn’t want to hold Arin against his will. She saw him as a true equal, and… she never wanted to take that from him.

“Huh? I mean, yes and no - cuddling is a loving gesture between two individuals who care for each other immensely, but uh… it’s not a sexual thing; you just curl up and hold on. Snuggling is the part where a couple… you know. They hold each other, and do less than wholesome things.” Arin scratched the back of his head; it was hard to think that Umbra, despite her thousand years of life, had never even thought of embracing another. Or did she?

“Have you ever thought of like… loving anyone else before? Or am I really your first?”

At the question, Umbra looked a little… embarrassed, her eyes falling to the sheets. “It is not a thought I could reliably attain when fighting the Umbrum voices clawing at my mind. When they were quiet, I would use those moments sparingly - to turn to civilization for niceties, and sustain myself. If I was not careful, I could expose myself to the world.”

Arin pulled himself onto the bed after stripping his armored vest - laying his head against the soft pillows, inviting her forward with a wave of his arms. Her blush grew, as she eventually turned from the door - stepping on the sheets to her lover’s arms.

His wings slid out, the soft feathers wrapping sweetly around her back as she laid down on his chest. Luckily, her time in the comfort and safety of Silversun led to a rather quick recovery on Umbra's part; her once exposed, bony ribs were already covered by natural pony softness and fluff again. Nose to nose now, her locket pressed to his own - golden eyes gleaming up at her emerald irises

“Several years ago, I never thought I’d find love,” he whispered, stroking her cheek with a thumb. She settled in rather nicely, feeling… comfortable. Warm. Cared for. An emotion she hadn’t felt in over a thousand long years, since she was nothing more than a foal.

“Several years ago, I never thought love would fall at my hooves,” she whispered back, as the Seraph gently guided her body to lay against him. He gently bumped her nose, arms helping guide her - until they lay on their sides, facing each other fully.

Their breathing mingled, as gently - they both met in a sweet, soft kiss. A supple touch that filtered out their thoughts into quiet. Arin wasted a flick of his magic to draw the sheets over them both, simply keeping his closest friend - his shadow, warm. Their eyes drew closed, Umbra’s hoof chancing a gentle, caring stroke of his cheek. Simply feeling him against her, made the thousands years alone seem that much longer.

How could she go so long without this? She felt like she was blind, or… stupid. This was so natural, so warm - so sweet. It filled parts of her soul she didn’t know she had, as his hands did everything in their power to keep her safe.

This is what she was missing. Love. Love. And with every touch he gave, she knew it was the piece she needed to fill that hole in her heart. This is where she belonged; next to him.

Arin felt much the same; for years, he had whittled away hours for love that had none of the depth of their relationship. He was blind, too - young, inexperienced, her ‘fledgeling’ she would call him, as he was still growing and learning. To finally, finally have someone to hold on such a close level, it really filled a hole in his heart.

He had everything he wanted now. Here. In his arms. Everything else - it didn’t matter compared to his sweet shadow.

She may be a thousand years old, but nearly every year of that was spent hardly in her own control. Now, she was experiencing life for the first real time; she was growing, right alongside him.

“I love you, Umbra. I should have known this years ago,” Arin said in regret, holding her so sweetly in his hands. By the Feathers, he could stare into those wonderful eyes for the rest of eternity.

“And I love you, Arin. I was blind myself; do not take all the blame on your own withers,” she agreed, the former Umbrum’s cheeks no longer blushing. Umbra was simply… happy. Content. Warm and full of light, her heart steadying in her chest. It almost felt like she could cry, as all of these amazing emotions - every single thought she had, suddenly bore fruit. Centuries of solitude, and it finally… It all led to this.

The warmth and comfort surrounding the two beckoned sleep; and as close as their bodies would allow, they began to drift. Steadily, quietly… deeper into the comfort of each other’s gentle hold, until the mute of unconsciousness took them.

By the time dinner came, there was a gentle knock at the door to rouse the duo from their rest. Umbra was much too happy to even consider letting her lover go, so with a lazy flick of her horn - the door opened, revealing Pumpkin.

“Arin? A-Are you in here?” she asked quietly, pastel green eyes gleaming from the doorway. The seraph’s hand lazily drifted up, giving a small ‘mhm’ to greet her.

“Did you take one of our Banishing Orbs? T-They’re not ready yet, and they’re pretty dangerous… I-I’m sorry to interrupt!” she called quietly; it was awkward talking to two cuddling ponies! Especially since… Well, Arin was still dating Celestia, right? Was this a platonic cuddle?

“Hm? No. I’ve been with King Aster - now Umbra, the whole time. If anything went missing, check with Vee. She seems like the one most likely to take something.”

“T-That’s the thing - we did. And she said no. Also, it’s um… dinner time, you two. I-If um… okay, I-I need to know! Are you still with the Princess?” she called to Arin, rightfully confused.

“Nope.”

“A-Any reason?...”

“She ended it.”

“...Why?”

“Ask her. Tired. See you at dinner.” Arin yawned, and with a flick of the wrist - his magic gently closed the door in front of her. Gently - he wasn’t trying to be rude, he just didn’t feel like talking about things that didn’t concern him at the moment.

“Umbra, are you hungry?” he asked quietly, burrowing his nose into her mane. By the Feathers, she smelled wonderful - deer shampoo always smelled good. For now, the scent of cinnamon and blackberries greeted him. Deer loved cinnamon, apparently. Then again, deer naturally loved a lot of things - vanilla, apples, acorns… Aster did go on in length about it, during supper a few weeks ago, back when they entered the Fey for the first time. Though a curious note he added was that wild deer hated cinnamon. Strange how sentience changes things.

“Starving. And I’m tired of berries and sugary cakes. I crave meat. I don’t suppose we could go hunting sometime soon?” Umbra asked, her nose nuzzling deeper into his neck. He smiled, stroking over her cheek; there were quite a few key traits she didn’t lose in her transformation to a pony, and a carnivorous attitude was one of them.

“General Falon and I are training tomorrow outside of Silversun’s walls. I’ll see if he’s okay with me leaving a few traps here and there for some small game, or about plucking a couple wild rabbits from the brush. Or, if you’d like - you could come with?...”

“...I don’t see why not. I have little to prepare for the upcoming battle, so perhaps training with you will suffice.”

Vee held the glowing green and blue orb in her wing; yes! Wonderful, a day or two more, and it’ll be ready. Shame she couldn’t tell Pumpkin about her plan. Mostly because she didn’t have one; it was simply on her checklist.

She weighed it quietly, before gently sneaking it back into her bag. Hmhm. But now, the book. She snooted long and hard for this! Like, five minutes, really, which is a very brisk flap! Vee had never been a patient purple, after all.

She licked the tip of a fresh feather, before flicking it idly over the pages. Chapters on techniques, pages on spells, all of which were healing - blech! That magic tasted yellow, or green… maybe red, or white. But not purple. And she wasn’t here for magic. She was here for knowledge! It puts feathers in the brain, clears up the brain soup - definitely what she needed.

Astral Body; aha, what she was looking for. You see, for the non-witchy folk out there, the spirit is also a representation of your dream self. When you dream, your soul drifts away, connected by a thick tether that keeps it snooted in place when you wake up. Have you ever been woken up abruptly? You snap awake! That’s because your snooting spirit needs to come back quickly some nights. Ever dreamed about falling? That’s the soul tumbling back to the body~

You’d have to be certified dumb not to realize how important astral projection was! D’ohoho. Hmhm… yes, this book was definitely good for the feathers. Everypony, take a wing and preen - Vee was going to learn you some knowledge. Do I have to write it like that, Vee? Yes, Small-fry.

This book says that the soul is a fixed point in space - it is, this is true! If you’re trying to touch it in the Prime. Hmhm… but here, Resurrection; the process of glueing it back in is… partially right. Maybe. What is she, a soul expert?! Actually, Vee is!

When a pony dies, the rope connecting the soul and body snaps; the spell is really mending that rope back together, which is why you simply ‘wake up’ when you’re made not-dead, d’ohoho~ But… it puts things in a fresh perspective!

You are a material thing calling an immaterial concept. Perhaps trying to wing chop Lunar Magic was wrong - they could still be killed from the blow, and that wasn’t good for the feathers.

She snooted idly through the pages, stopping at a translated spell, Mirror Light. Oho! This magic is definitely purple flavored. And now, the page was coffee flavored. Because she spilled her coffee. Nopony will notice a couple drips here and there, it makes the paper smell good.

Hmhm… If Blessing a creature infused them with an amplification of healing magic, then Cursing them did the opposite - but how it did so, as described, is weird.

By amplifying the shell of a soul with a White Sigil, you in turn make their spirit positively inclined to accept healing magic more fluently; but by reversing this process and casting a black sigil, the victim instead finds their soul unguarded. This weakens the soul’s echo, thins the String of Life, and makes the target susceptible to injury. Casting a black sigil, in turn, stuns the physical body - yet only for a moment, as the spirit is forced to recover.

“D’ohoho, deers got brains beneath the manes! And good coffee. Hmhmhm~”

If one could weaken the soul with a black sigil, that means that the soul can be directly targeted to begin with! Which is… common sense, for a Unicorn. They have the fancy magic, after all.

Maybe instead of trying to knock the magic out of a pony, why not slap the soul? You can’t kill a soul. It’s indestructible; you can disrupt it, of course… ah, but that would still mean you have the body to deal with.

Unless…

Vee preened away a few feathers for safe bookmarking, spilling another few drops of coffee on the page. She had a feeling Tall-fry was going to be mad with her, but it’s not her fault! Coffees are afraid of heights, after all. And Neigh-mart managers. Especially Neigh-mart managers.

“Hmhm. Yes! Wonderful, great. Good. Synonym for amazing. Also amazing, just in case.” Vee finished her surprisingly empty cuppa - oh. She knocked it over. No wonder! She couldn’t read coffee-nese. Nothing a few feathers won’t fix.

Yes, this is definitely the right course of action. Don’t cry over spilled coffee, after all. She’ll have to say sorry for damaging the book. Tall-fry said no crayons, too - she’ll write her apology in marker, instead. Aha! This page has plenty of room for scribbling.

Sorry your book decided to fight my coffee, we both know who won. Sincerely, Vee.

That will do it. The feathers will soak up the coffee, and Pumpkin will throw away the evidence - oh, right, Pumpkin is off being an adult now. Shame. I am literally right here, Vee. Listening to you - pumpkin seeds, I’m writing my thoughts again!

And with that, Vee turned to the massive pile of treasure on her desk. And the dozens of mana gems she got from Eve, too. The good ones! She didn’t have the magic to waste on enchanting a hundred necklaces! What is she, a purple with wings and a horn?! Those probably don’t exist! Or something. She doesn’t read the news!

Just the important part! Like the comic section! And local sales on coffee!

Regardless, the Purple will need to get in contact with Eve. She’ll need to find their target dummy, too - and if Twinkle Crash or whatever her name is wasn’t available, a certain Ugly-mane-fry was!

Chapter 72 - Family

After dinner, Arin and Umbra returned to the comfort of their shared bed to finish the night out with more cuddling. Once ‘morning’ came, General Falon - in full combat gear - had led them both to the tightly knit training grounds southwest of the Castle’s wall, granting Arin a new bracer fitted for his right wrist. It was much the same as the one the buck in front of him bore, with three jewels fitted on the face. It also served as a perfect vambrace, to protect his arm from accidental string snaps.

The first thing Falon did was show him how to operate the grappling hook mechanism; a simple spark of magic was enough to force the enchantment to release its stored tendril. Which was a crucial mistake on the Seraph’s part, as he curiously aimed his arm at a local tree branch.

The green vine-like magic rope shot forward, locking onto the wooden limb - Arin wiggling his arm to test the weight. Unfortunately, whatever he did caused the bracer’s magic hook to reel in and tug him head first to greet the canopy - sending him crashing into the thickest branch with a resounding CRACK!

The wood splintered and shattered, the remnants falling to the floor with him in a rain of tree gore, browning leaves, and small patches of snow. Luckily, Umbra was exceptionally quick minded, and saw this coming a league away. Her emerald aura immediately caught him, Arin’s wings billowing and blasting wind in a confused recoil from the pain.

By the time he was set to his legs, his hands had shot up to rub the massive knot forming over his skull, groaning in pure agony.

“By the feathers, I think I compacted a disk in my neck!” he cried out, running his hands hard over his short, brown hair - feeling the quickly swelling lump settling in on top of his skull. Urgently, he cast Antithesis on himself, grunting from the exertion. Without solar magic to balance the moon’s energy, healing magic was costly. It didn’t help that he still lacked the proper skill to target his… soul, or whatever.

Immediately, Arin’s neck popped - and he fell to his knees to recover. It took several moments too long for his nerves to settle, Umbra approaching his side. Falon, on the other hoof, stood back to have a bit of a chuckle at the new ‘recruit’. Seeing bucks, does, and now Seraphs crack their heads would never get old.

“It’s alright, Arin. At least you don’t have antlers; it’s all fun and games until one hangs by the horns for several hours too long. Do not worry about mastering the art of branch bolting, it’s more suited for the untamed wilds than it is for castle halls. Instead, we’re going to cover the more practical uses of having a vine on hoof to swing from, and why nearly every warrior in the Fey carries a bow. Stay here.”

The buck turned towards the nearby city’s wall, stepping toward the assembled training dummies. They seemed rather old and worn out; untended and unused for… probably three years, and left to the wilds to be reclaimed. Much like the walls farthest from the gate, vines and brush grew wild along the white stone here - and upon the hay and wood training constructs.

“We’re going to try something much simpler to start; instead of grappling a target that won’t move, we’re going to focus on a less sturdy object. Do you see this mock buck? Draw your bow - hold it in your left hand properly. Let me be clear when I say this; you will harm whatever you latch with your hook. So this technique is not for saving allies, as in a panic - you could quite literally rip out their throat. Luckily, the enchantment will fly for your intended target, so it’s not likely you’ll hit a friend when you attempt this.”

General Falon’s hindleg kicked hard at the target, dislodging it from the creeping vegetation. It took several more rattles to lift it from the floor, before it could rest on its proper legs once again. With that, he stepped clear of the area - closer to Arin to speak freely.

“What we’re attempting here is a technique meant to incapacitate your enemy and trip them. There are a few things to keep in mind while we practice this; the vine hook is immaterial to nearly everything except your target. Simply put, if you latched the tail end of your grapple into an object, the vine itself will pass through any object that isn’t magically dense. Trees, branches, ponies, deer - this enchantment is to prevent obstacles from whiplashing your body into terrain, or dislocating your hoof. It also prevents non-enchanted weapons from cutting through the vine itself.

“What you’re attempting is a two part process, and is so simple that even I managed this on my first attempt. Then again, I excelled in my training - maybe you will do the same. First, you will launch your hook into the target; nearly anywhere will do as long as it hits. In the same motion, pull the grapple taut and reel in your vine - a spark of magic will do this, so it’s second nature to do so subconsciously. Third, and this is important - use your magic to release the dummy before it drags it all the way in.

“This will put even the most stalwart creatures off balance, if not outright ground them. From there, it’s a simple matter - with the same arm, quickly aim an arrow and fire.”

“Er…” Arin frowned, “Should I nock an arrow first, or?...”

“...Nock the - Arin, the jewel on your bow transfers arrows directly from the quiver, to the string. Not only that, but it allows one to quickly infuse arrows with enchantments, and if no arrows are present - form magical bolts on the fly. You were instructed to use this, weren’t you?” General Falon raised an eyebrow at the Seraph; surely Arin was competent enough to know how to use his gear.

“I uh… may not have heard the first part. I was a bit distracted…”

The buck sighed. Of course he didn’t. “Very well then. From the top, listen please. Grapple target. Pull target. RELEASE hook. Shoot arrow. The reason why the bracer is on your right hoof, is because that is your naturally strongest limb from archery practice. In fact, the very bone itself has grown to supplement this - meaning that it can withstand a lot more force applied to it. Keep this in mind. Now, let’s see this in action. Remember, this is the easiest technique to master - so have confidence.”

Umbra’s hoof falls broke the snow as she approached near his right side. Keeping at least a few hooves distance for arm movement. Her green eyes locked with his own, giving the Seraph an encouraging nod.

With just a bit more confidence, he cast the magic propelled hook for the old buck construct, latching the tip into its chest. With a yank, he tried to draw an arrow in the same motion - but forgot to unlatch the hook.

The now charging dummy crashed into him - breaking his nose in the process; grunting in pain as he fell to the floor, dummy crushing his chest. General Falon and Umbra shared a look, before sighing quietly to themselves. The gray mare twinkled her horn at the wooden target, lifting it off the pinned Seraph - before helping Arin stand with a single hoof.

Groaning, Arin cracked his nose into place - before casting Resurgence over himself with the chime of bells and a flash of light. Luckily, the upgraded Sonata was extremely sturdy due to the Feyglass improvements, otherwise he’d need a new bow by now.

Falon’s magic twinkled, quietly resetting the wooden ‘enemy’. He was by no means upset; he was very patient, in fact. Once it was settled in place, and Arin had recovered - his eyes fell on the Seraph one more time.

“Again.” He pointed towards the fake buck, as Arin readied himself for another chance.

A bit embarrassed for failing an apparently simple task, the Seraph steadied himself for another round.

The vine lanced forward with surprising speed, crashing into the wooden buck. A firm tug knocked it to the floor, before the vine released - disappearing into the bracer once more. With surprising speed, he managed to draw an arrow magically to the string - on his first attempt, no less, take aim, and fire.

It crashed right into the mock buck’s back, the Seraph giving a surprised, yet confidence smirk.

“Okay, I can definitely get behind this idea now.” Arin smiled, his eyes lighting up as he looked to Umbra for approval.

At first, she didn’t react - it wasn’t in her nature to be overwhelmingly positive, but when she saw his hopeful eyes - a small, genuine smile was quickly returned.

“You did well. For a fledgeling, I suppose,” she said, that grin on her muzzle growing wider as Arin gave a chuckle in reply.

“Big talk coming from my sweet shadow; you’re in cuddling distance, you know that, right?”

At that, her cheeks went red. But her grin didn’t falter, in fact - her green eyes twinkled. “And you are implying that you are not? Do not take me for a mare unwilling to show public signs of affection.”

The large buck apparently didn’t expect this, and with a blink - he resettled his thoughts, turning to face the Seraph once more.

“Arin, please concentrate. You did it once. Considering how your previous attempt left you grounded, I wouldn’t celebrate just yet.” Falon dimmed his spirits, but he didn’t let this humble him too much - it felt good. He never knew a vine could be so useful! But, speaking of ropes and vines...

“Oh! Before I forget, Falon - Umbra and I were curious if we could lay a few small game traps out; she’s nearly a carnivore when it comes to food, and I’m quite the meat eater myself.”

At that, the buck raised an eyebrow; “If you so wish, though I believe it wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to pluck a hare from its burrow. We should focus on the important matters at hoof. Arin, your father must have taught you well about footing in battle, at least? You look ill experienced for the task, being on two legs - surely he gave you instruction on battle stance? You said yourself you were King once, as I recall dimly from our meetings.”

Oh no. Falon didn’t know about his full past. Then again, he dined with his bucks and does elsewhere, so it was reasonable to assume he wouldn’t hear much regarding his history. Save the few tidbits they shared when discussing battle strategy.

“My dad tossed my mother and I to the outskirts of Milla Serine when I was hardly more than a newborn. He then had my mother killed, for what reasons I’m not sure - he was the very same Leotoln who tried to overthrow the Princesses, not more than a few years ago. I grew up without a father figure in my life, and my mother was rather sickly - so everything I know is mostly self taught. So I can’t say I’ve ever had much of a family to begin with. I don’t suppose you’re much the same, huh?...”

General Falon frowned, his heart reaching out to the poor Seraph. “My father died in battle when I was hardly more than a yearling. My mother later remarried to a rather nasty buck, who later divorced her and took our land through a devious prenup. My mother later adopted trading to house us, and fell in line with a caravan to Goldmoon Fairglades, the Redtail Capital. This led to disaster, as that very same group never returned - swallowed by the wilds and lost to the ages, or a meal for a wandering beast. When she passed, I had nothing left, and was forced to roam the streets alone. It was only by good graces that I managed to become a soldier, despite my young age.”

He lowered his head, giving it a shake. “General Tanon took me in as one of his own; he adopted me outright, after my first few weeks. This was… ninety years ago. Unfortunately, tensions were high between the civil sector and the Circlet, as more disappearances in the thickets laid the blame on the lack of patrols. Eventually, he was forced to break a riot - dozens of his rangale received nasty wounds, and as was protocol at the time, took healing serums to restore their vitality. Unfortunately, the castle alchemists had acquired a shipment from within the city walls - and with a bitter populace, and an inexperienced magi, a widowed herbalist gave them angel trumpet roots instead of chamomile. When infused into tonics, this would outright kill a deer within minutes. Needless to say, there were no survivors.”

He turned his eyes to the stars, sighing in frustration. “I know your pain, Arin. Maybe one day, when the tensions between ponies and deer have eased - I could bear that same torch my father held aloft, and let you be a part of my family. If you’d like.”

At that, Arin was left in shock. The buck hardly knew him, but the amount of trust he laid on his shoulders - just now, in this very moment… it left him speechless.

“Why?” was all the dumbstruck Seraph could manage to say, as the buck turned once more to face him. Even Umbra was caught unaware by the kind hearted gesture; she raised her leg to her chest, stunned at just how big the buck’s heart was.

“Arin, you have trusted me with literally everything a General of my stature could ever want, to take Canterlot in a siege. Every hidden detail, guard formations, armor weak points, defensive tactics - all of this, in the hooves a lesser buck, would be used to bring your country to ruin. And you did this not in stupidity, but out of faith in my bucks and does - hope that we will do everything in our power to help save the world, even at the cost of Equestria itself. My father - Tanon, who I consider my own blood, reached out to me when I had nothing but a few friendly faces around me. And I see before me not a Seraph, but a buck alone in this world - looking for a hoof to take his own, and give him a home.

“If we stand upon the hill of victory, you will be welcome at my table any time. Not as friend, or ally, or royal guest - but as true, blood family.”

Arin had no idea what to say. He respected the tall buck before him, bonded with him - he knew Falon was a great leader, with a kind heart, willing to throw his life on the line to save his deer - but… could they really see each other as family? Arin wasn’t a cervine, by the feathers - he wasn’t even a pony, he had two legs, arms, wings… yet they both had the same soul, in some way.

“Are… are you sure?” the Seraph asked, a strange feeling tugging at his chest. Like his very heart was fighting to escape. Despite their differences, Falon - he wanted to give him something very few could. A hearth. A home. Family. And all of this, because Arin had nothing else to his name - only the friends he made, and the loose ties to a job he once held. But this… this was a foundation. A rock. Something you couldn’t buy - a piece of him he knew was missing, but… he never thought he could find.

“Tanon gave me this when I had nothing save the fresh faces of recruits around me to call allies. If he had never opened up to me, and given me a place to call home - I might never have excelled as I did. It only takes one act of kindness to inspire many more; something that King Aster shines at, and who I respect immeasurably.”

Arin rarely cried. It wasn’t a trait of Seraphs - it was often seen as a weakness, especially among Inert. But with this heartfelt gift… it… he couldn’t help but tear up. He came here to train and find skill, instead, he found the third and final piece of him he so desperately needed. First friendship, then love, now family.

Before he even realized it, he wrapped his arms around Falon’s neck, squeezing him close. The tall buck gently rested his head on Arin’s shoulder, a leg pulling him in close.

“You hardly know me,” Arin whispered. Fighting back the tears, trying so hard not to break.

“I know your heart; I’ve seen it with your words, your past. It’s in the right place, just like mine… Son.”

At that, he sobbed. He never had a father before. He never had anyone before. He had always been a misfit trainwreck strung along by fate and lacking so many parts to a whole. But here, in Equestria - he found everything he ever needed, and more.

“T-Thank you, Dad.”

Chapter 73 - Progress

The next five days were rather straightforward; Rainbow Dash was exceptionally bored, and bothered (or wing slapped) a lot by Vee. The purple pegasus seemed to simmer down, as she turned her expertise to action; enchanting necklaces galore in an attempt to find the perfect spell for the battle. Oarkin spent his hours talking with Calia, and growing close to the little fawn. Celestia joined Aster in arguing with smaller groups of deer, to buy time for the Breezies to be found and Vee to patch together a plan.

Arin spent every waking moment he could learning about healing magic from a nearly coffee-ruined book, practicing grappling techniques, and putting his spells to good use when he would inevitably smash his head or fracture an arm on a tree with his new gadget.

The banishment orbs left untouched by the still at-large thief turned out rather nicely, with four successes counted among the ten failures. They even had time to craft new potions for Pumpkin’s use, which would be fitted on a bandolier around her chest.

Umbra would occasionally spar with Tempest, a great way to pass the time with fresh bruises and the occasional broken bone Arin could practice mending. They were exceptionally violent, but it fit them well. The deer were even kind enough to give them a full score of blunted weapons to practice with.

Pumpkin spent her days writing her book on their adventures with verve; her energy budding as the chapters flew with the stroke of her quill. Of course, it was all a rough draft - and it would need a lot of refining to really hammer in. Princess Celestia did mention a couple of ponies with a knack for editing, at her behest; she’d have to contact Nickleshine and Storm Leaf both to look over their adventures. Perhaps she should interview Arin, concerning his tenure as Luna’s knight - it could help her story. If anything, it was more writing, something she was fond of. Her spare time besides this was focused on weaving together a new broom, something Vee had to help her with occasionally, or Arin could assist by whittling it down with his experience in woodcrafting.

General Falon turned out to be an amazing teacher, and with his new bond with Arin - had a lot in common with him. The buck took up many small jobs here and there to make ends meet, when living with just his mother - he had a vast array of skills, and knew the value of a hard eve’s work. Within the first few days, Arin didn’t even find it awkward to call him father - as sudden as it still was for him to have a family now. Even if it was just him, and well… Falon.

Eventually, the others caught wind of this little revelation, most taking it well - save for King Aster, as he one day called the buck to his side during the party’s lunch.

“General Falon, I have heard a curious rumor among our guests; do you really intend on adopting Arin into your family?” the regal buck prodded, unsure of how to even address this.

“Yes, your majesty. He has a kind heart, and we share much in common. I would love to guide him as my own kin.” The General proudly raised his chin to face the King; he did so with respect, and just a bit of authority, as well.

“I don’t know how the courts could process this; it could quite possibly be the first case of a White Tail trying to adopt a non-citizen; a loophole that’s already patched in our legal system. Arin, you are an Equestrian, correct? By law?” His calm voice came over the quiet hush of whispers, as his friends quieted down for the more important conversation. Princess Celestia cleared her throat;

“This is correct, Aster. I had granted him citizenship as an Equestrian citizen three years prior, in our time.”

At that, King Aster was left at a loss; “It is strictly written that Equestrians can not attain citizenship by any means through our court system. This is to prevent bucks and does from taking in ponies as children, allowing them entry to Silversun by law. As the laws currently stand, I can not legally grant you the right to his bloodline. But, times do change. After the coming conflict, I will see to it that Equestrians are once again allowed in the walls of Silversun, despite the ancient laws I helped embed in our society.”

His eyes fell to Celestia now, speaking quietly among the now cheerful ponies. “This is, of course, a hard promise to keep - I will have to attain the votes of at least the vast majority of senators to strike an agreement. If it is at all possible, I could use your strong voice to help sway them; you have been a boon by my side, Celestia.”

The Princess smiled, bowing her head. “If it means a brighter future for Equestrians and White Tail both, you have my support.”

Oarkin cleared his throat, turning eyes to the giant who rested next to the little fawn; by now, she would have been turned over to the small orphanage nearby - if it weren’t for his pleas not to let her go. She was still thin and weak, and even though they found her a fresh set of glasses - the giant feared for her safety.

“I want to adopt Calia.”

The little fawn bleated, hugging tight to Oarkin’s side in sheer happiness. Two in one day! Even Vee, preening away among a pile of books - seemed happy from all of the family bonds being made.

“I-...” Even King Aster, who had almost thought it likely - didn’t see this coming. “...I will try my best to make that happen, if she really is in good hooves, Sir Oarkin. Are you an Equestrian citizen as well?”

Celestia shook her head. “He has no ties to any country, at the moment. Save the Far Reaches in Erenorn.”

“Then it can be amended, as well. Once a proper investigation takes place, and we are able to determine the best outcome for her safety, I am sure Oarkin will be a fine choice for her - again, later on. For now, we have more dire things to attend to; that being the potential end of the world. Times are looking… rather bleak, at the moment, for us.” He sighed, slumping his large antlers forward. The jeweled aster resting on his ear shifting in the light.

“We still have no idea where the breezies are, and the time for action is fast approaching. This twilight is the last court you all will be able to attend, and-”

“Wait, breezies? Like, the little… tiny, itty bitty pixie things?” Rainbow pointed her hoof at the king; “I wasn’t paying attention. I, uh, may be kinda bad at that.”

“Rainbow Dash, have you paid attention to literally any of the court’s problems, or?...” Arin prodded; even Falon agreed with him, at rest by the Seraph’s side.

“Why do you even ask? It’s not like you would know where to find them,” the battalion leader pushed, unamused eyes glaring right through her.

“Uh, of course I know where to find the breezies! I’ve been to their secret hollow or… whatever, once with Twilight. I know exactly where it is, we all flew there together.”

“...You knew where to find the breezies this entire time, and you are telling not just the deer who desperately need this source of magic - but every defender fit to challenge Nightmare Moon, that you simply didn’t… pay attention, to quite possibly some of the most important days of all of our lives.” Tempest glared, Umbra joined in too - both former villains scowling down the Element of Loyalty with absolute authority. It took Pumpkin’s soft hoof to snap the former commander out of her deadly gaze, but still, the point was made.

Celestia intervened, hoping to ease the rising tension at the dinner table. “Everypony please, settle down. Let’s not point hooves. Rainbow Dash is not at fault; I have received many a letter detailing her… less than attentive nature. Rainbow, if you hold the key to finding the breezies, it may be best if you aid the White Tail in searching for them before it’s too late.”

The King recovered from this late news, pinching his snout with a cloven hoof in frustration. “General Falon, do I even need to give instruction?”

The buck shook his head, not even bothering to hide his glower at the lack of discipline from the ‘hero’. “No, my liege. Rainbow Dash, come with me. You are being conscripted into our service until further notice.”

Falon gave a nod to Arin, who agreed that this was the best course of action - before seizing the Rainbow maned pegasus in his green magic. Despite her very vocal concerns, she was swiftly ignored by all, save Celestia.

“The fate of Equestria, nay - all of Equis, rests in your hooves, my last Wonderbolt. Go with great haste.”

“Neigh,” Vee said from behind her book fort, strictly out of habit.

The wriggling mare stopped her struggle, saluting to her leader with respect; “On it, Princess! You can count on me! Now, let me go, ‘kay? I can fly on my own without your magic, uh… General Deer.”

“Falon.”

“Whatever.” And at her request, she was released from the buck’s hold to flap by his side once more.

“Hmhmhm! Oho, yes, this should work…” Vee neighed quietly to nopony in particular, using her pristine, very well groomed, and outright dazzling wings to brush apart her cluttered books and scrolls; tumbling papers and scrapped sigils falling to the floor, as she lazily nibbled a piece of chalk between her teeth. Despite King Aster’s requests to not practice magic at the table, she couldn’t be stopped - quickly sketching several markings in a quick circle. A sapphire brooch fell upon the wood with a clatter, drawing Tempest’s curious eyes to watch the process as Vee dabbled several tiny mana gems around the exterior. Along with a few other components; stardust, a pinch of desert crystal powder, and other magic attuning components that would hopefully render the desired effect.

“Your Sister has been busy these last few days, Pumpkin. Has anypony translated her crazed gibberish into a common tongue yet, or are we still in the dark about that?” Tempest poked, interested in her witchery.

“I think she’s looking for a way to both incapicitate and protect those who fell under Nightmare Moon’s influence. I’ve seen her in this mood before, when she restarted her hunt for an infinite coffee enchantment.” Pumpkin chewed on a piece of toast, as Vee’s snooter nestled in the last of the ingredients.

The Purple’s eyes flashed, lighting the spell into fruition - unfortunately, it instead backfired. Knocking the mare back with a flurry of pages and spilled coffee, scorching the fine maple table in the process. The Purple was left with a blackened snoot, and a cracked sapphire in her brooch.

“Perfect! Catastrophic failure; my favorite. If my favorite was bad. And things I didn’t like. D’ohoho~” She didn’t let the disaster get the best of her, regardless - and took a wing to preen and a wall to stare blankly at. Contemplating many things. Coffee. Sigils. Runes. Inscriptions. Just kidding, it was more coffee.

“Celestia, I do believe this is going to cost my sanity.” Aster rubbed his hooves along his aching migraine; though much was accomplished during their tenure here, it was likely that they would run out of time before the key pieces would fall in place. And if this occurred, the group may have to charge in with nothing save the hides on their backs.

“You and I both, Aster. You and I both.” Her spirits dropped, as things started to look bleak. Tomorrow was their intended day to depart. With the Feywild’s magic depleting, the night growing ever darker - they may not be ready by then.

Arin was still struggling with his new techniques; and it wasn’t even something he could abandon, to stick to his old roots. They needed both as much magic as they could get, and the Seraph needed the mobility White Tail tutorship could provide - his wings were terrible for tight corners, and a grappling hook could work to both boost his speed, and alleviate his weaknesses. On top of that, his new position in the ranks required movement; he was going to play a crucial support role for the party, as one of the few healers left fit to face the shadows.

Umbra and Tempest were powerful fighters, but they were completely limited by the fact that their methods were brutal. And often fatal, as well. If they were left to terrorize the battlefield, the corpses would pile up. And with the world as dark as it is now, this could very well grant the Entity the power to puncture the thin veil of the Prime, and reappear in mass - which would kill them all.

Pumpkin was ready, but she was also their primary disruptor; meaning at best she could buy time, and had no ways to directly engage Nightmare Moon or her corrupted troops at all. So if she had no front liners to make use of her smoke and clouds, she was effectively useless.

Oarkin, too, the force of nature - the mountain, the towering winged warrior, was useless without a way to safely incapicitate and decommission soldiers and ponies alike.

Finally, there was Celestia. She had quite possibly the most daunting task of all; she was the only one capable of facing Nightmare Moon directly. Arin couldn’t fight her while under the Oath of Nocturne, Tempest would be taken down in one attack due to her lack of a magical barrier, and the fact that she was grounded did nothing to help. Umbra could leap far in her shadow form, but heights were the main issue here; meaning Nightmare Moon could simply fly out of range.

Vee would be the only viable choice to assist her in this endeavor, but she insisted her magic was limited. Thus the use of mana gems to circumvent enchantment costs. This would mean that she, too, was vulnerable to a killing blow without the use of arcane power to block or evade damage.

“Tempest, let’s assume we don’t have the assistance of the deer, nor ways to safely indispose ponies. As a military leader, what would the strategy be?”

“Well… ‘Tia’, by the stars it feels weird calling you that, but if you insist - our best bet would be to find a nice set of blades to impale ourselves on, and hope our souls escape the clutches of the Entity’s black tendrils before it finds us.” She finished her buttery roll quickly; she had paced her eating since Driderhold, but food rarely lasted more than a few moments with her regardless. Unfortunately, her words only brought more misery to the red maned Princess, who slumped.

“Wonderful. Now, could you lie to me instead? I would prefer that over the truth right now.”

“Of course; we’ll simply crash through a window, blast Nightmare Moon with every single Banishment Orb on hoof, wake the Elements while Oarkin distracts an entire army for us, and have them cast Harmony on your Sister. Hundreds would surely die, some of us would as well - but Equestria would be saved for several minutes, until the Entity broke free. Then, we’d all perish. But we’ll all be remembered as heroes, for the few who lived more than a few days after, I assume.” Tempest stared blankly through the Princess, crossing her hooves in thought. “But you’d win the battle, that’s for sure.”

“Thanks, that didn’t help at all.” Celestia used her golden magic to push away the plates and food in front of her, before falling limply over the table. She had that creeping feeling again; the same one she had, after the Crystal Heart was stolen three years ago. They had tried their hardest, but they were bested at every turn. The party seemed mostly unphased; like they didn’t even realize how dire things were.

Umbra stood up from Arin’s side, quietly cantering towards the defeated Princess with worry. She sat her flanks down, reaching a hoof forward to urge her to sit up.

“What, Umbra? Leave it. It’s over. Unless Vee pulls off a miracle, and Rainbow Dash reappears with every single breezie in tow - there’s no hope.” She faced the former villain with a broken heart. Immediately, and much to Celestia’s surprise - Umbra seized her horn and dragged her close, eye to eye with the alicorn.

“Get yourself together. This is the second time I have done this for you, but regardless - I will say it again. We need you, Princess. You are the one pony who can face Nightmare Moon. I can not hope to do it, neither can Tempest, Arin - even Aster is no match for her. If you falter now, leader or not - none of us will survive. I am no queen, nor a commander - but I can see that you’re doubting not just yourself, but all of us. We need you. Equestria needs you. Equis needs you. Are you going to sit here and abandon all hope - and let your mother die in vain? Your sister perish in the dark? You will let your friends, us - all of us, the ones you call not just companions, but family - die for nothing? Or are you going to straighten your back, raise your head high - and challenge these overwhelming odds?”

Her grip slackened, allowing Celestia reprieve and distance - as the whole table went silent to face her.

“Well? Tell us now. Are we all going to die here, clutching each other in our hooves because you think there’s no chance? Or are we going to piece our hearts together, and face this challenge as a team?”

The Princess reeled from Umbra’s overwhelming hope, as she made it to her hooves. With everypony awaiting her answer, food left forgotten and Vee left snooting gems in the quiet - she finally settled her nerves and spoke.

“Umbra… you’re right. By the stars, how are you always right? We can do this. All of us, together - working as a team, we can face Nightmare Moon, and we can take her down. I have been weak willed since this journey began, and I can’t let my doubts cloud our days. As I’ve said before… the darker the night, the more brilliant the dawn. Thank you, all of you, for standing by my side.”

“D’ohoho!” Vee called, raising a topaz amulet in her hoof; the gem within glowed with a soft light, the now channeled magic glimmering in faint sparkles. “This is very good for the feathers. Hmhm! Pumpkin! At attention!”

Vee rooted around in her nearby bag, settling the gem over her neck as Pumpkin made her way around the table to her Sister’s side. With a curious salute, the little witch answered the call.

“Y-Yes Vee?”

“Does this smell like dream powder to you?” Vee said, before puffing a small cloud at Pumpkin. She sneezed, coughed - then eventually slumped to the floor. Sleeping soundly on the spot.

“Hmhm! Now, the fun part.” Vee raised a wing, much to the ire of Tempest - who darted around the table to her lover’s aid.

“Vee! What are you doing to her-”

SMACK!

Vee whacked Pumpkin hard with the feathers on her wing, so hard in fact that it could definitely shatter bone. Vee was rather surprised she didn’t crack the stone beneath her very well preened - and slightly sooted - wings. Yet… Pumpkin didn’t snap awake. In fact, her body faded in place - a now ghostly visage sleeping where she lay now.

Tempest froze, seeing the ghostly image of the little witch slumbering in a mute void - falling back an inch in terror. The small pony’s ethereal hindleg kicked adorably in her rest; she would have been making the cutest noises by now, if she could be heard. “Pumpkin?”

“Relax, Stern-fry! She’s perfectly fine. More than fine, in fact! Because she gets to sleep, and I don’t. Hmhm! This calls for a celebratory coffee~ Ugly-disgusting-vomit-mane-fry! You have your solution. D’ohoho~”

Vee raised the necklace off her neck with a single feather, ho-humming her work with pride. She was an expert of all things sleep related, after all. And an insomniac of the highest caliber.

All eyes left unattended were soon settled over the now sleeping ghost-mare, Celestia trotting by her side to wake her. Her hoof slid right through; missing the little witch entirely, like a spectre.

“What did you do?...” the Princess whispered.

“I killed her! Half way. Maybe! I simply switched her astral body with her physical one. Look! It even shows her lil’ hat, definitely my finest preening. Also, neigh.” She waved her hoof through her Sister, plucking some much-too-dirty feathers to float right through her.

“Is she… what? How do you bring her back? Vee - did… is this permanent?” Tempest glared, raising a hoof to prod at the Purple’s chest. She gave an all too familiar ‘d’ohoho’, staring right through the rage-building mare.

“Of course not, Invade-my-personal-space-fry! Once she wakes up, she’ll switch places again. Probably. Or not! The spell works only while a pony is sleeping, after all. I think. If not, well… who knows! She isn’t dead. Just not breathing! There’s a big difference, hmhm. Oho! This should do very well against a dream walking pony. They’ll be ghost-fries until the lunar magic is gone, then they’ll wake up - remember everything, and come running with apologies and coffee… gifts, bits~ Tax relief~”

The insane pegasus began to idly chatter about the good wing tingles, King Aster thinking quietly over the effects of the spell from nearby. It really strained his knowledge of all things restoration, but… it seemed promising, up front.

“This could work, by my belief. They are essentially immune to physical harm in this state, and can not be killed by normal means - not unless Nightmare Moon were to channel her mind into the dream realm to target them… What I worry about, is the fact that their physical bodies are now in the same slice of reality that the Entity came from. The dream realm is a shared space of the astral plane; it could very well claim their physical form, leaving their spirits marooned in the Prime.”

“Oho! I thought about that, as well, King-fry! It turns out the Entity isn’t in the Astral plane. It’s stuck in the shadowfell! Which means that they’re immune to all things soul drinking, probably. ‘Cause I saw that jerk-face in the Carnival! He was there, with his weird black tendrils and angry noises, making nightmares come to life and all that jazz.”

Arin coughed; “I think I saw it, too - haunting Driderhold. All of that death and destruction likely weakened the planes, allowing it to pierce the earth and strangle the trees and roots. It would make sense.”

“And it made its home in the Deepwoods, at the roots of the great trees - farthest from the light. There, it corrupted the spirits of the felled great woods, using them to possess the now long dead pegasi,” Tempest finished, piecing the last of the story together. “By all accounts, this would imply that this darkness is too close to breaching the Prime. My study of banishment doesn’t stretch this far - what do you think, Umbra?”

“A telling sign is that the Entity’s influence has begun to crop up in other places through history, as well. I had spent many moons researching the darkness during my insanity, hoping to garner effective tactics to take the Crystal Empire back. The Changelings came from directly south of Canterlot - the Umbrum from the northern wastes. The east once held Grogar, where he eventually traveled to Equestria to claim dominion - he called forth great power, using his Bewitching Bell to summon monstrous abominations to prowl the world and kill ponies that dared to live in the mild safety Equestria. Arimaspi, a creature of evil intent, sought to disrupt the Griffon’s lands by stealing their precious Idol of Boreas - a ploy the Entity would likely endorse. Hollow Shades, where the pony of darkness had arisen - was left a ruin, a husk, after banishing this dark fragment to purgatory. Even the attempts to later rebuild it failed miserably.

“All of this began to encroach on the edges of the world, leading closer inland - ever onwards towards Mount Celeste. Canterlot. Where you live, Princess. As we know, the entity burrowed itself deep into the roots of Equis, and when Queen Astra used her magic to destroy it - she failed to do so properly, and took half the world with her. Which means that over the course of centuries, it's been festering beneath the surface. Growing upwards, steadily, and into the realm of the Shadowfell, where it tries to drain lost souls of their power to break its banishment.

“All of this, every piece of evidence - every war and battle that has ever occured in Equestria, has been an attempt to claim one throne. Yours, Princess. Because that’s what the Entity wants; the heavenly mountain, the heart of Equestria. The capital. Why do you think every single battle has been over control of your home, save the few attempts I made to secure the Crystal Empire? Because with Canterlot in foul hooves, the Entity could likely burrow up, sprout free, and hold total dominion over the land.

“This may very well be why it crashed into Starlight’s Peak. It had the greatest source of harmonious magic on Equestria, at the time. And now, Canterlot is directly above it - where thousands of ponies are now ready for the harvest, controlled by Nightmare Moon and willing to throw themselves to the slaughter.”

An uncomfortable quiet fell on the table, as Arin stared at his lover in shock. “You… knew all of this?”

“When I came to stay at Canterlot, besides the scant pictures I had - why do you think I carried mostly books? Adventure novels? No. Knowledge is the greatest source of power, my fledgeling; I have always aspired to know my enemy. I simply didn’t see the connections until now.”

Chapter 74 - Connections

By the time Pumpkin snapped awake - thankfully unharmed, back in her body - her plate had already been taken away, and the group was preparing for the inevitable voices of angry deer. Following lunch, the senators gathered for Court - fifty six bucks and does, all of which were already starting their usual bickering even as they lined their pillows. Luckily, a lot of the ire wasn’t focused on the group in this case; instead, it seemed to be between themselves.

Alone, Aster wouldn’t stand a chance to quell this kind of chaos - luckily for him, he had a Princess on hoof that was well suited for the job, having dealt with more problems than he could ever hope.

“Bucks and does of all boughs, please - be seated. Court is now in session once more, and as such, I require silence.”

Of course, few actually paid attention to the gentle buck, but for a surprising change of pace - his voice came in a loud roar; like thundering leaves in a storm, he called - “QUIET!”

That… was definitely not like him. Tempest leaned over to Pumpkin, the ambassador having once again taken her proper place at Aster’s right. In the call to find seating, the commander made extra sure to snatch a seat closest to her mare. “I don’t suppose you gave him Zerker Pedals?”

Pumpkin shook her head at the question, a bit worried at the change in demeanor; he was usually a lot more… sensitive. But the confidence was welcome, as many eyes that once challenged their King now fell back in a curious fear.

“I have led our deer trails for thousands of years; and I will not sit idly by as your voices ignore me like a flower in the wind. We are here to discuss solutions, NOT create more issues!” At this demand for peace, the usually quite gold-flecked buck simmered down, easing his shoulders with a deep breath.

“My guests have spent their time here wisely, preparing themselves for the battle to come. I count among my boughs fourteen heads of noble houses, with their senators in check. I expect that by tomorrow, I will have fourteen battalions fit for battle at my General’s command, as we stand on the precipice of disaster. We can not let this night become eternal. If we falter, the Entity WILL claim us, our souls - and breach Mount Celeste in a bid to drain the astral bodies of all creatures, deer included, of their light.

“The winning conditions for our enemy are simple. If the Lunar Halo, as Arin calls it - touches the far horizon, the sun will most likely fall beyond the reach of magic. It will be impossible to restore the light. Furthermore, if too many creatures die in this battle, the miasma of the Shadowfell will take the Mountain - and the Entity will have the strength to punch through the fabric of our reality.

“Our guests have prepared a way to counter this second condition. Through the use of enchantment, Vee - who I once believed was deranged in some manner, had crafted a spell capable of reversing a creature’s astral body with their physical one. This magic allows us to incapacitate creatures without rendering them liable for circumstantial deaths; taking enemies out of the fight until the lunar magic is expelled. It also prevents the Nightmare from simply rendering them unconscious again, and at her control.

“Now, we are awaiting word of the return of Rainbow Dash, who happens to recall the location of the Breezy’s secret hollow. With any luck, we will have their magic to keep the White Tail alive, until we can either restore the Feywilds - or acclimate permanently to settle in the Prime once more.” He ended this statement with a bow of his antlers, giving the floor up for questioning.

“This is madness! The Entity has long since been destroyed - your words are as empty as your promises for peace! I studied the matter, to be sure of it!” One of the golden haired bucks called, gray strands lining his short beard. Celestia nodded to Umbra, as the duo stood to confront the room.

The shadowy mare spoke first - a plan quickly forming to take down any doubts. “What you read was simply outdated; understanding changes with time and study. If you had recalled our previous meaning concerning these issues, you would not have been so daft as to proclaim this as insanity. Princess Celestia, if you will, summon for me the illusion of Equis’s known lands.”

The Princess nodded, and did just that - her golden aura twinkling as she willed the sight into existence. It was exceptionally well detailed, a floating half orb that showed Canterlot in the dead center. Arin instantly recognized it; the very same image you’d see from the moon. She had seen it for thousands of years, when caught in endless nightmares - of course it would be a perfect, pristine recreation of the half sphere they stood upon.

Even Umbra was a bit surprised to see just how detailed it was; several unsure voices piping up from the crowd of gathered White Tail she walked quietly around it.

“Let’s start historically, from every threat we’ve been able to note across all of Equestria. We’ll begin with the oldest, and move onwards from there.

“As Equestrians settled into Equestria, Grogar - a powerful lord of dark minions, stalked the land. Drawn to peace, he sought to inspire fear in every single pony’s hearts - for what reason, none knew at the time. He was eventually subdued, as his power came from the Bewitching Bell - a powerful artifact that could turn even the most vile of nightmares into reality. As I see it, these abominations are likely pieces of the Entity itself; and Grogar wielded a calling charm of its power to try and claim as many lives as he could for the Entity.”

She tapped her hoof to the far east; where his kind likely came from, close to Griffonstone.

“Next, we have the Pony of Shadows; a small pony had inherited the might of darkness to challenge his once friends. The Pillars of Equestria channeled a spell to seal him in purgatory, saving the land from darkness. Likely, the Pony of Shadows had the same goal - wreak destruction unbidden in revenge, in spite… in envy. This cost six great lives their peace; and Hollow Shades was completely wiped out. Attempts to recultivate the land in the Prime have failed; the darkness is simply too strong, and its ties to the Entity beckon darkness.”

Another point on the map that Celestia marked with a glow.

“Discord is said to have appeared here, first - in what we call the San Palomino Desert. His control of Equestria was immense, yet his final battle - with Celestia and Luna both - was held in the far, far south, past the Appaloosan Mountains. While he is now an ally - none have caught sight of him for the last several weeks, as he appears to have temporarily receded into his home in the Elemental Chaos.”

A soft flick of Celestia’s horn, and another point gleamed on the half sphere.

“A thousand years later, Nightmare Moon’s first defeat in the Everfree Forest.”

More points were added, as Umbra began to rattle off villains and locations.

“The Umbrum in the North, the Changelings in the Everfree, Aramaspi’s abandoned lair, the shadow bugbears in the far North East, the Carnival in Copsevale, Driderhold, Deepwoods - every single one of these places, either has a direct tie to the Entity and its power, or saw an odd, nearly unexplained event occur in the past few thousand years. Look at this map, all of you - tell me, where is the one spot where an event has not occurred?”

There was quiet murmuring among the deer, a discontent that roused steadily from their voices. Of the senators, one eventually spoke; “Mount Celeste.”

“And in nearly every single one of the newer attacks, the goal was to take this Mountain. Would any of you have the faintest clue why?” Umbra pointed a hoof at the single peak in the center of the world, awaiting a response.

“Get on with it! What’s your point?” The bearded buck glared, crossing his forelegs.

“Mount Celeste is in the dead center of what’s left of Equis. Every single point on this map is a place the Entity may have marred with its touch. The points grow closer with time, each showing a trail that falls ever onwards to the center of our world. The Entity is burrowing up. It was not destroyed, as Queen Astra likely banished it instead. It was simply too powerful to be incinerated by a single Alicorn. Instead, her final flash cast it into the Shadowfell, as her magic evaporated billions of beings - from trees to rabbits, birds and bees - in mere moments. The intended effect of her magic was death - and the closest she could manage was the realm of death.

“In the Shadowfell, heat is unnatural - even in the depths of Equis, where the molten core blossoms in the prime, it is nothing but a demented hollow. I may be one of the few beings alive who naturally know this, from my time as an Umbrum. It dug its damaged roots back in, spread its tendrils wide and unseen - and began to creep through stone and bedrock, upwards through the other side. Why, we can only assume is the draw of life - or perhaps to root itself on the centerpoint of the remaining world, to spread its creeping tendrils far and uncontained.

“Regardless, a great evil is situated here - unseen to the naked eye, but growing stronger as the world suffers and dies to the cold. If the sun is completely ripped from the world - nothing can contest the lunar magic flowing, and it will finally sprout into the frozen prime, to claim its prize. Every soul, every tendril of life - sucked dry, and left to rot.”

“Then what can we even do about it? Charge in, die to the latent magic - and feed the Entity its meal?” A senator broke in a panic, as much the same emotion started to well from the crowd. King Aster’s voice called with authority, speaking over the clamoring White Tail with power.

“I vote we wait until the Breezies arrive, before committing to battle. Charging in to die to the toxic air is simply going to free this creature from its prison. The White Tail have the resources and time to spare for this endeavor - and it will give our reserves days to prepare for war. Under the guise of the Feywild, we can travel quickly to Canterlot - and stand against the dark.”

Celestia was quick to speak, even as ten cloven hooves shot up to agree - “Aster, for my party, we simply can’t wait. Every day we spend here, is minutes we need to dismantle the gates, and give your bucks the chance they need to get into position. Canterlot is mostly tamed fauna; the Fey simply wouldn’t exist there. As such, you would likely phase into the Prime along one of the mountain paths - putting you and your deer in our time.

“By my understanding, we have eight hours remaining in the Material Plane - allocating time for travel in our airship, we should arrive with simply three hours to challenge Nightmare Moon. If we had hours more, we could take a safer, stealthier approach - but that simply isn’t the case. If we spend another week here, our hours to fight will shrink by a third, as traveling up the mountain - even at a gallop - could take hours depending on when you’re forced into our world.”

The King was soon cornered by fate, and found it hard to come up with the words to soothe their worries. “There is much truth to your words, but there is little else we can do to aid you. Additionally, our magi need time to create the enchantments necessary to join you in your battle, once Vee produces the schematics - lives must be preserved at all costs. We are forced to meet you halfway; If we are lucky, and by my branches I hope we are - our appearance will be opportune.”

And with that, a final vote was held - and the first ever count of fifteen hooves broke the chatter in mild excitement; or, seventeen votes - as Aster’s counted as three. Surprisingly, every single deer gathered could agree on this: fight when it was safe to do so. Even the lavender horned buck, quick to speak for Aster’s demise - reluctantly submitted to saving the world.

From this point on, the last of their stay was dedicated to three things; Vee sharing her enchantments with the Court Magi (and staining their robes with coffee), the party members receiving their final sets of gear and equipment for the fight, and Tempest constructing the final variation of their battle plan.

To start it off simply, Arin had to undergo a few major adjustments. Since he was no longer going to stand in the front line, he turned Sun Song over to Tempest; who gratefully accepted it, after the Princess reorchestrated the knighting ceremony. Instead, he was gifted a new sidearm he could appropriately use - an arming sword. An upgrade to Sonata was soon to follow as well. Astral String; a costly material that prevented blades and most magic from snapping it. Other than that, his armor would have to carry him. The final improvement came in the form of a shield, fitted along his left arm; it traveled from shoulder to wrist in overlapping segments. Smaller than a buckler overall, but suited for parrying errant blades that may close in on him.

Shields were uncommon among ponies and deer alike, as it often blocked the eyes when held in the muzzle. But when clasped in a hoof, it was also less effective - as blades often required two hooves to swing; a small shield like Arin’s was the most common. Unicorns also had little use for shields, as magic barriers were more effective. The only time a full sized shield could be useful, was during a front line march, or when a pony had no combat ability what-so-ever.

Oarkin had little use for deer weaponry and protection, and simply requested that Calia be taken care of in his absence. King Aster obliged the request, promising to keep her safe in Silversun Castle until his return. Regardless, the armory managed to produce a few massive pieces of Feyglass armor for him, which fitted snugly against his body - but avoided the wings to grant him movement for the battle to come. Incorporated into his old armor, and with a few pieces spared to increase his resistance to refined magic - he was near indestructible.

Celestia was granted a new set of leather and plate, specifically constructed to insulate against Nightmare Moon’s freezing lunar magic. She no longer needed a foci to channel spells, as she carried essentially three thousand years of sun energy inside of her - but outside of the touch of the solar plane, casting her magic would be costly. It would quickly add up, so a simple golden halberd was rendered for her personal defense. It reminded her of a time long past, the buck in charge of the forge even spent an evening to garnish the pommel with her cutiemark; a detail she didn’t miss.

Tempest had a few modifications to her armor; she would be facing unicorn, earth pony, and pegasi alike - so a helmet was crafted to essentially make her a walking tank. It trailed down her neck, connecting with her chest piece in a new set of shoulder guards. Along with the damage to her winter iron pieces repaired, it was further insulated against the cold and Nightmare Moon’s magic with leather - and four armored slots were quickly fitted to host the Banishment Orbs she crafted with the aid of Pumpkin and Umbra.

With Sun Song at her side, she was likely to catch more than a few eyes on the ground. Carrying the blade basically marked her for death, as she would be seen by the guards and soldiers as a personal guardian to Princess Celestia. In their twisted minds, all fighters present would want to claim this victory for themselves - to achieve the praise of their queen. This wasn’t even an assumption; from Rainbow Dash’s accounts, obedient ponies were given the most beautiful dreams in their rest, and killing her would likely award them high praise.

Umbra had a simple request; leather and winter iron armor, much like Tempest’s, save a much higher focus on mobility. Tempest’s strength came from her vertical movement, while Umbra’s came from her shadow form - and weighing her down both slowed her rolling shadows, and made the spell more costly. She also requested a simple weapon, one that held great importance to her; a mere farming tool. A scythe.

For whatever reason, few were sure of her choice - save Celestia, who saw the heavy curved blade resting upon her shoulder once more. To the Princess, it was almost daunting to see her in full combat gear, as it reminded her of their battle in the Crystal Empire, centuries ago. And at Umbra’s defeat, she banished the realm into the Shadowfell with the use of the Alicorn Amulet. It was only by the graces of the Crystal Heart and the hope of the ponies there that it survived for so long.

Pumpkin had her position completely reconsidered; instead of generic leather, she was fitted with highly magic resistant cloth; it would be hard for an earth pony or pegasi to grab her, but a Unicorn could snap her up with ease otherwise. A set of mithril chainmail fitted snug under her shirt, and her bandolier was filled with oddly constructed bottles. All she had to do was pop the cork down past the rim - which would puncture the thin glass layer between the two chemicals - and throw it. The majority were smoke inducing sizzle potions, but several were designed to flash and blind ponies. She carried one last concoction at the end of her belt; a rolling black bottle, with flames appearing and stifling in waves. Highly explosive, wherever it crashed. And one final blue flask, which she stored in a necklace around her neck; a gift from Vee herself, in case of emergency. What it was, the Purple wouldn’t say. ‘It’s not even for you, Smol-fry. You’ll know when to use it, and who to give it to.’

Vee was a curious feat; much like Pumpkin, she carried several bottles, but these were stored in a small plated bag at her side; she intended to be in the middle of battle, or at Celestia’s aid - as Arin would be tending wounds on the ground. Because of this, she would likely receive injuries from the front; so keeping highly dangerous alchemical components close to her heart was a death sentence. And nothing would upset Nightmare Moon more, than seeing Vee flapping around unbothered by her terrifying aura. So she was considered a second high profile target; much like Celestia, she was gifted magically resistant armor to block some of the worst of it, but any direct attack would likely be fatal.

Magic or not, the Pegasi had brittle, hollow bones as is her birthright, and one concussive bolt of power could shatter her ribs and send her tumbling - even if she bore a heavy plate cuirass. Instead, a bracelet of protection was gifted, from the royal armory itself - one click of the jewel, and an ethereal barrier would spring up from her hoof to serve as a short lived shield. Pointless for long encounters, but it could save her life in the moment she needed it.

With this new gear, General Falon made sure to catch Arin’s attention - and guide him out to the training field one more time.

“I want to review what I’ve covered with you before you depart tomorrow, my son. Do you feel comfortable with the grappling hook yet?” he asked, his soft green eyes catching Arin’s golden irises. The inch-smaller Seraph nodded.

“I think I have a good handle on it, but… I’m worried. What if my mind locks up, and I forget what to do? And I just… crash into a wall, or worse - knock myself out?”

“There is a point in one’s understanding where your confidence falls, and insecurity shines. When you approach a new skill, most deer tend to grow confident in their own ability to do it well. Yet once they actually work in the field, they quickly realize how bleak their knowledge is on the matter. From there, confidence begins to grow again - as they learn new techniques, and master the finer points of the craft, their insecurity falls away and one would soon master the art.

“I call this the Novice’s Valley. You start off with burning confidence, and quickly fall into a void of insecurity - before rising steadily with your experience. You are well past the deepest point of the valley now, my son; you just said so yourself. Have a little faith in the skills you’ve developed; I know you’re a quick learner. Because on your first day, I lied to you.

“One of the harder techniques is combining a grappling hook with the use of your bow. I intended to crush your confidence early, so that we could work on building it back up - but you are a natural at this. Compared to some of the deer I’ve trained, you’re quite possibly the most adept; as few had the hoofwork necessary to combine two weapons into one.”

“But… I’ve broken several bones, shattered a dozen branches, and I’m pretty sure I concussed the ability to do simple math out of my mind. And you’re really saying I’m a natural?” Arin scratched his head, as the buck laughed quietly to himself.

“The training for the Thicket Battalion spans over three years. If we had another week of practice, I would say you’re eligible for promotion into my own ranks. You’re a very fast learner. I know you may think I’m a wonderful teacher, son, but in truth, I’ve been gifted an astonishing student.”

Arin couldn’t help but give a genuine smile, before throwing his arms around the tall buck. Falon was quick to hold on to his adopted family, the Seraph thanking him for all he’s done.

“Thanks Dad. I… I really needed to hear that.”

A small chuckle soon followed, as Falon’s eyes turned towards the snow-stifled fauna all around.

“Now, let’s see your branch bolting in action. Then, we’ll move on to bush bounding, and tree turning. Alright? I’ll stay with you, every step of the way.”

Chapter 75 - The Plan

By ‘morning’, there was still no word from Rainbow Dash. She was fast; but breezies were anything but. In fact, she probably had to cart them around by the hundreds on her back, and while amusing to imagine - it was bad news for the party and deer.

Tempest eventually gathered her team and fifteen deer - including Arin’s father and King Aster, eying them all from beneath her helmet. They had stolen the Throne Room to speak, a roughshod map of the castle - compliments of Arin and Celestia - laying on the floor in detailed flicks of the quill. Every entrance, every doorway, every window; all was marked, secret passages included.

With a flash, the winter iron helm was settled by her side, calming her nerves to speak.

“If we had more time, we could attempt to take a less direct route - but it’s likely we’ll have to be straight forward. We are a team, and everypony has a job to do. Our first mission is to breech Canterlot Airspace - the darkness and snow gives us cover from all eyes excluding Nightmare Moon’s, and with her sight most likely settling on the western horizon - we’ll have to keep low, cut through the train pass of the Smoky Mountains, and approach from the North West.

“We’ll be exposed within the last few minutes of ascension, at which point Arin, Vee, Celestia, and Pumpkin will abandon the ship to fly in and try to storm the castle from the Guard Barracks. It would be the easiest point of entry; anypony inside would be resting, unarmed, and in short supply, as she’s likely keeping the majority of Celestia’s elite guards on high alert across the castle. Additionally, the stairway leading up is built in the reverse of a usual defender’s passage; instead of ascending in a clockwise spiral, it moves counter clockwise - this is due to the fact that if guards were needed in the upper halls, they should be able to fight there way past intruders looking to barge down into the barracks. This is the only stairway built in this manner, the lowest point in the castle directly beneath Nightmare Moon, and the one point where our backline could sneak inside. This means that our balloon can reach it first, over the points guarded by eyes and the mountain’s walls.

“The sturdy construction of the barracks means it is also fortified against Nightmare Moon herself; and with it being situated so low in the castle, it may damage the supports if she attempts to blast away sections of the wall to target you. Oarkin, Umbra, and I will bring the balloon around, and catch her eyes - leading her away towards the front gates. We’re going to make a lot of noise, Princess - because we’re going to crash Bringer of Dawn right into your Entry Hall.”

“You can’t be serious?” Celestia pointed an armored hoof, “That… you wouldn’t even shatter the bridge, if it was drawn shut; and even if it did, you’d have to crack the iron grate, and the heavy oak doors behind. The previous flaws that King Leotoln exploited were likely amended by modern architects in the reconstruction, as well! You would simply sink your ship, Tempest.”

“I didn’t say I was going to ram the gate - I’m going over it. But the engine is not. I’m going to disengage the engine’s safety locks, and drop it like an explosive battering ram against the drawbridge - the detonation will likely shatter not just the bridge, but that gate as well, leaving nothing but the sturdy oak doors left. Then, Oarkin and Umbra will cut the balloon, and we’ll let the hull of the ship crash in full force into the throne room. Oarkin, your job will be to grab us both with your magic, and bring us to ground level inside of the castle. From there, you’ll use your immense strength to keep those doors shut, when the battering rams come. Umbra and I will guard you when this happens. Understood?”

The giant Seraph scratched his beard, thinking quietly; “Are the ponies going to try and break the door?”

“They’ll have a rough time crossing the moat, but it’ll likely take minutes for a siege engineer to drop a replacement. I know my enemies; Nightmare Moon is expecting us to not give up without a fight. In fact, she’s probably at war with the Crystal Empire, if the Crystal Heart is still strong enough to ward off her Lunar Magic. They would be the last bastion of resistance in the coming dark, but with hope fading fast - they may fall soon, too. Tia, send Princess Cadence a letter. Give them something to hold on to. Hope. Anything. Just don’t let their light fade; the Umbrum will escape if that happens, and they’ll wreak havoc on the world if they do.”

A murmur formed in the crowd, as deer and pony both chattered over the coming battle. Celestia bowed her head, sighing in agreement. “She’s right. Nightmare Moon has learned from her mistakes. If she has a military, she’s going to use every soldier she can to secure her rule. Once the moonlight fully eclipses the far horizon, she’ll have no need for them - but it wouldn’t matter anyway. By then, with no solar light left to counter the Entity’s whims, it will break into the Prime, and claim every soul gathered there.”

“This is why our support - Tia, Arin, Vee, and Pumpkin, are going to not raise the alarm. Nightmare Moon will likely fly to the front of the castle, and with the hole in the courtroom and soldiers rushing to the sound - she’ll take her throne once more to defend it. By the time she’s settling in her seat, every interior force will be facing us three down. Arin, Vee, and Pumpkin - flank them. Princess, it’s all on you to challenge Nightmare Moon alone. If the Elements of Harmony are in the castle, once we clear up the guards - Oarkin will hold the door alone, as the five of us will split up to find them, if they don’t converge en masse on us from the attack.

“From there, it’s a waiting game. We’ll have likely thousands of zealous acolyte soldiers looking to take us down from outside the walls - and without proper leadership due to the effects of dream magic dimming their minds, they’ll be dead set on attempting to crack the final door inside. We’ll still be at high risk of stray pegasi and reinforcements from airships landing on balconies and platforms, but the majority of her ground troops will be trying their hardest to take the Castle’s entryway, instead of breaching unguarded windows and wailing on the walls with full siege gear.

“The deer are key in this. Those doors will break. And if thousands of blood lusted ponies surge inside, all is lost. It doesn’t matter how many we take down - we need a full fighting force to keep these forces out of our manes. General Falon - any news at all?”

The General shook his head with a sigh, “None yet. But our bucks are fitted for war, and Vee has been kind enough to write down this… Familiar Binding process for us, which we’ve translated to deer.”

“D’ohoho~ It’s nothing, Arin’s-father-fry! By the way, that’s definitely weird on the feathers, calling you that. So I won’t! You’ll just be General-fry instead.” Vee waved an expertly preened wing at the tall buck, who smiled and rolled his eyes - despite the many glares of the confused deer all around. ‘When did General Falon adopt this… creature?’ Was the thought that definitely plagued their minds.

“Falon, there’s two routes you could take - the front entrance, which will be a bloodbath as you’ll be outnumbered and surrounded, or at the base of the mountain - I’ll let Tia explain.” Tempest nodded to the Princess, who turned the massive map over. With a strike of the quill, she quickly doodled the shape of Mount Celeste, marking a point where a river formed.

“This is Canterlot Falls; behind it is the old entrance to the Manastone Mines beneath the mountain. Great power used to radiate from beneath here, until Starswirl the Bearded formed a single crystal seed from all of the gathered magic within. This seed would later grow to be the Tree of Harmony - but this is irrelevant. When I set Mount Celeste as the throne of Canterlot, these mines had fallen out of use - and as such, I instead had architects reform it as a secret escape route in case of siege.

“I know I told Luna and Cadence of this entrance - but it’s right at the edge of White Tail Wood. With deer skills and stealth tactics, and brush thick and plentiful - it’s a simple task of subduing the defenders, and taking the side path behind the frozen falls. It would be hard to navigate without guidance, Falon - but I have a simple formula to rely on in case of emergency. At each turn through the winding tunnels, ignore the signs and posts that give false guidance - they will instead turn you around, and bring you back to the front. When escaping, it would be easy to recall ‘right right left’ - two rights make a left. Going in reverse is just that, reverse - ‘left left right’, two lefts make a right. If at each split in the road, you follow left, left, right - you’ll arrive beneath the throne room in an hour, especially if you take the second elevator.”

“Left, left, right - second elevator. Impossible to fail; how large is this elevator?” Falon prodded, wanting every detail he could gather.

Celestia thought quietly to herself, before rolling her hoof in a circle; “A third of the size of this throne room, capable of carrying thousands of heaps of weight. It was built originally to move dozens of minecarts full of heavy gems upwards towards the growing Canterlot, so the weight limit is rather absurd. It’s safe to assume that over one hundred bucks at a time, armed and laden for battle, could both fit and ride upwards - and the ride is rather short, too. How large are your forces?”

“Each Senator is in charge of a Noble house; and each house holds a battalion of seventy two soldiers. We would have at least one thousand battle ready warriors fit for battle; at who’s order should we charge in?” Falon awaited her answer, but surprisingly - Arin interrupted.

“At mine. Shining showed me the secret lever used to release the latches, and raise the podium - while Celestia is fighting Nightmare Moon, I’ll pop the hatch; if you see the light of the moon and hear the clatter of steel on steel, charge in and fight to the last. We’ll need all of you to form the line that keeps the Equestrian armies at bay, and help defend the Castle.”

“W-Wait, if the deer are going in through t-the um… back, why do we want to weaken the front gate?... Shouldn’t we um… close it? And stuff?” Pumpkin spoke up quietly; she was the ambassador, after all! Her words had weight. Right?

“Two reasons; if we don’t give the army in front a clear and easy way to funnel in, they’re going to besiege the castle - possibly killing hundreds of deer, and us in the process. On top of this, we need to limit the amount of active bodies on the ground - the more ponies turned incorporeal, the less chance of the Entity showing itself early. Using the castle as a focus point chokes their forces, and makes Equestrian numbers worthless. If the deer came from outside the castle walls, they would be flanked on all sides, and slaughtered. This is a bid for time. Defeating Nightmare Moon will clear the dream immediately; ending the war in a second.” Tempest gave her lover a gentle smile, before nodding toward Arin.

Arin flipped the map back over, pointing out several of the side passages of the castle with his well educated eyes. “I went over this with you before, Falon, but if we can hold the castle, every hallway becomes a chokepoint and funnel; you can fall backwards to any position in few numbers, and still prevent even a full battalion from seizing the halls.”

Tempest took the lead once more, motioning towards the throne room. “Tia, once we’ve restored Twilight and her friends to sanity, I’m going to signal you with a burst from my horn. Your duty is to lure Nightmare Moon back inside the castle, and keep her preoccupied once again. With Harmony, we can banish her once more to the moon - and free your sister, as well.”

“Understood.” She bowed her head, as the last few details were ironed out; places where deer could gather, rally points, Nightmare Moon’s tactics - but one last question came to mind.

“If Nightmare Moon could knock a pony unconscious with a single wave of her horn, couldn’t she simply… render our entire fighting force asleep with a single, mass spell?” Falon pressed, a few murmurs of agreement following. At that, Vee gave her familiar ‘d’ohoho.~’

“Ten snoots ahead of you, General-fry! I went ahead and ordered five massive barrels of coffee in advance from one of the local cafes and all that jazz. A couple spells and a bit of magical tampering, and you’ll be snapped awake for days to come. Like me! Always awake. Unless I’m pretending I’m not. Which I do when I don’t want ponies to bother me.”

“I knew it!” King Aster called; the first time he spoke since the meeting began. He may be a leader, but just like Celestia - battle strategy was not his forte. “I questioned how one could drink so much coffee in such a short period of time! You had this planned from the start, am I correct?”

“Hmhmhm!~ Always a snoot ahead of you, Golden-fry~ But yes! It’s not for me. Well, maybe some of it. I have a special brew in mind for the seven of us charging in first, to keep the chill away and make the preening good. D’ohoho~” She nosed into her satchel, withdrawing a familiar bag of the good stuff - marked by Celestia’s cutiemark, Vee restrained herself from drinking the five thousand bit bag of Royal Coffee Beans all in one day, just to share with her friends.

“A pot of this will make you smell colors! Oho, yes, it’s good. Mm. Strong, expensive, delicious, and life saving against angry moon horses who wiggle the stars in all the wrong ways.” Her wing wrapped around it protectively, as Celestia caught sight of her special stash. The other wing being nibbled and preened on, the Purple turned towards the Princess with her distant gaze.

“Neigh.” Vee spat a feather hard enough to bop Celestia’s nose, the Princess rolling her eyes in frustration as the pinion tumbled to the Purple’s hoof.

“So, we’re just going to all… drink from barrels of coffee before we leave the Fey, or?...” Falon prodded, Vee brushing away the feather with her other wing.

“Exactly, General-fry! You’ve got a good brain beneath the mane, I see. Don’t worry; the Purple has your back! Not really. I can’t hold your back, and nopony gives me special princess rides for free.” She hmhm’d in her insanity, making no sense, as per usual.

“...Right.” Falon shared a look with his son, who simply shrugged; it’s best not to question her madness.

The war council broke as the ponies and seraphs readied their spirits for battle, General Falon leading them through Silversun’s front gate himself. The buck stepped in line with the young Seraph, as the crunch of intruding snow fell much too quickly underhoof in the dark.

“Our time together has been short, Arin - I know. But you’ll always have a home here, among my boughs. Please, be safe. Your skill will guide you. Stay confident in your abilities even when doubt claws at your mind. Understood?” the buck said; he really did treat him like family, and it showed.

“I will. And with my friends by my side, my team - I know they’ll be there to help me should I fail.”

Falon smiled, stopping at the edge of a clearing; fireflies buzzing once more around them, signifying their approach to the far corners of the feywild. “I have one last thing to give you, Arin. Something only a buck of your skill is worthy of.”

His antlers glowed green, turning to a small satchel at his side. In his aura he bore a medal; a mark. It was a simple cloven hoof print, with a bow and heart resting across its surface.

“In the battalions, bucks and doe's who have mastered sets of skills are given specific titles regarding their proficiencies. There are Darkrunners, warriors proficient in close range combat. Spelldaggers, magi who bear powerful magics to disrupt and control the field. And Primevals; the roots of our armies, they are the potent archers that make up the majority of our forces. Confessors, who are the rare healers among our ranks. But there is still one class that is beyond extraordinary, and incredibly difficult to come across. Rangers. Healers who have mastered the bow, and move with such grace that they are single hoofedly the figurehead of an army. You, Arin. And do you know why I believe you’re fit for this title?”

In the Seraph’s stunned silence, the buck pulled a chain from around his neck; the exact same medallion now resting against his own Feyglass armor. The only difference between the two badges was that Falon’s had two golden antlers, signifying his ties to leadership. “Because you’re just like me. Like father, like son.”

Falon drew the small chain of the badge tight, draping it over his son’s head with pride. It fit just above his heart locket, sized perfectly for the new soldier. “Rangers, as rare as they are, are often battalion leaders. As they have mastered the most difficult skill of any creature; bringing light to the dark. Turning despair into hope. And you’ve proven that you’re ready for this title.”

“I…” Arin held the badge of honor up, the seal shining dimly in the moonlight. “You… I thought… you’re… you’re a ranger? I… you think I’m ready?”

“We keep our marks beneath our armor, so that if we perish, we can be identified by the tag by those who find us. But yes, to both of your questions. I am a Ranger. And you are ready. As I’ve said before… have confidence in yourself. And your skill will shine. The potential has always been inside of you.”

By now, the rest of the party had stopped at the edge of the clearing; turning to watch the duo as their faded bodies flash in and out of existence; between the Prime, and wilds. Like twinkling stars, they watched as Falon and Arin hugged one last time.

“I will be there, as quick as my hooves will carry me - once the breezies arrive. Understood?”

The Seraph nodded, wiping away a tear. This buck had really touched his heart, in the scant few days they’ve shared. “Understood.”

“Goodbye, son.”

“Goodbye, dad.”

Chapter 76 - First Impressions

The journey back to the ship was made with verve; a spirited jog that cut the miles to ribbons beneath their hooves and feet. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find their lightly snow dusted ship. Due to the effects of the Feywild, the engines were still warm and easy to turn over.

Inflating the balloon took only some patience, as the ship soon graced the sky low, and angled north; to the cut in the mountains. With the whirling propellers rattling quietly, and the gears set, they charted their path around the mountains. It was… mostly uneventful, but a bubbling energy pumped into the party’s veins. This is it. Everything they’ve worked for was coming to a close, and the looming moonlit castle seemed like a daunting task.

Under the cover of the mountains, and in the quiet of the still falling snow, they pressed on - this close to the Unicorn Range was barren of even the most rural houses, and it was the perfect angle to cut under the view of Celestia’s stolen home.

“Do you really think she’s just… standing there, on your balcony, watching the sun set for the final time?” Arin prodded his former lover; and in response, she gave a cruel laugh. Like life itself told a joke at her expense.

“She’s probably practicing her monologue as we speak. Don’t put anything past her; Nightmare Moon is the alter-ego of my Sister. And as mature as Luna may pretend to be, she had idle fantasies of knights and castles with all the grandeur a fairytale life could provide. In some way, when none of what royalty gave her fit the bill, she became the stereotypical villain of the old fantasy novels she once cherished. She was tired of playing nice, and if playing nice wouldn’t give her what she wanted - then being ‘mean’ would. Nightmare Moon may be a fragment of the Entity, but she still holds pieces of Luna’s old self within her. And now, my sister is trapped inside.”

Umbra soon joined them, carrying her scythe across her shoulder in a hoof. “I recall in our battle long past, that Nightmare Moon stirred within her long before you banished her, Princess. When you lay defeated at my hooves, it was Nightmare Moon’s power that gave her the upper hoof to strike me down. Even with the Alicorn amulet, I was no match - and thus I cast the Crystal Empire into the shadows in a bid for time.”

The red maned mare sighed, bowing her head. “And now, we both stand beneath her, Umbra. Though we were enemies at the time, in the end, both of us were in grave danger. Even now, this plan - as foolhardy as it seems, may be our best chance at saving Equis.”

Umbra rested her head against Arin’s side, watching the stars twinkle among the snow. With his hand stroking through her mane, she felt a thought enter her mind; one she’s been entertaining for several days, since Falon brought Arin into his herd.

“Celestia, am I a citizen of Equestria?” the former Umbrum asked, at which point the Princess turned to face her properly.

“It can be arranged; I would have done so three years prior, if Leotoln didn’t have other plans for me. If you’d like, I could also have researchers investigate your history - perhaps you have distant relations, somewhere in the far north?”

Umbra shook her head, her green eyes settling on Celestia’s light magenta gaze. “I am content with who I am, thank you. I do not need old heritage to find peace; the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.”

It had been quite a while since the Princess had heard the full and proper saying; most ponies tend to state quite the opposite by shortening it down. In fact, those who try to denounce one’s friendships with the newer, shorter version of the statement alone seem to always be on the less than kind spectrum. In the end, it is not the circumstances of one’s birth that defines who you are, but rather what one does with the gift of life itself.

By now, Pumpkin had appeared on deck at Tempest’s command, turning the helium pumps on at full blast. “Stupid airships,” she mumbled, “why can’t we all ride brooms, or… have… stupid wings… hmf.”

She yanked the cord, the small engines on the pumps sparking and crackling to life. Quickly, she rejoined her lover to stay warm - despite the fact that Tempest was basically a walking suit of armor. Perhaps it was because Sun Song gleamed gently at her side, a soft heat rolling off of it despite the bitter cold.

Their attention turned to the castle far above them, obscured by the balloon. Tempest had cut the engines down to a crawl, drifting ever higher like a spectre in the night. Oarkin watched as the dimly lit stone of the mountain’s cliffs passed them by, speaking quietly to Vee - who preened at his side.

“Strange. I had never been so close to the castle before! Only seen it, from the north. It is much more… ah, blyad - imposing than I would have thought!”

“D’ohoho!~ It’s a big one, that’s for sure. Psst! Giant-fry, do you hear that? It’s the sound of the good stuff below - it's boiling. Oho, I’ll be right back~ Tell the other fry’s that the beans are ready for the sipping.”

Vee quickly flapped her way down the steps, after Oarkin waved the spare ponies - and former King Arin - to gather around him for a drink. Hot pints of coffee were carried up on a platter by Vee, who silently passed the piping hot wooden tankards around with an excited ‘d’ohoho’.

“Oho, I’ve been waiting for this moment for weeks!” she chimed, settling on her hooves. She had already added cream and sugar to everypony’s drink, to save them the hassle - along with a couple bits and baubles of witchy herbs to spice things up.

“Blech, Vee, you know I hate coffee…” Pumpkin frowned, holding her mug beneath her. Even Tempest chanced a second away from the wheel, to take a cuppa for the road.

“It’s alright, Smols! Everypony is entitled to wrong opinions. Now drink your beans, it’s good for your heart!” Vee quickly gulped down a big glug of the piping hot drink, groaning in bliss. Celestia definitely had good tastes in coffee. Maybe she could forget her ugly mane! Before you ask, Vee wouldn’t - but there was hope!

“Is it really good for one’s heart?” Celestia questioned, after taking a deep drag from her drink.

“No. D’ohoho!” Vee poured from a spare pot on hoof, stomping a hindleg quietly to the floor in bliss. She had to fan away a soft blush forming on her cheeks with a wing, too. Apparently it was that good. “Aw yis. Mutha. Buckin’. Royal coffee. EXCEPTIONAL for the feathers, oho~”

Arin knew it was the quality stuff; he brewed a couple cups for himself before, but… in Vee’s expert hooves, dare he say it - he almost had to punch something. It just… it was amazing. This stuff could probably keep him wired for a week, with… whatever she added, and the flavor was almost malty and chocolatey, rich, deep… absolutely stunning.

“Po per’yam,” Oarkin whispered, downing the entire pint in one go. “Small purple horse, marry me. If you make this every day, you are a beautiful soul.”

“D’ohoho, I’m in a relationship~ The relationship is with coffee. My first love, and my last~”

Celestia coughed and sputtered, stopping mid drink to pull out a very long purple feather from her maw. Umbra nearly choked on her cuppa, as Celestia threw it to the floor.

“VEE! You put that in there on purpose!” The Princess glowered, as the Purple in question smirked. She withdrew a wing, blocking her sight from all the ugliness before her as the dreaded words came from her mouth.

“Neigh.”

The Princess’s nostrils flared, but eventually - she dropped the case, as they were finally falling in line with the lowest platform. The waters from the falls had long since frozen over, leaving an eerie quiet that hung in the air.

“Tia, Arin, Pumpkin, Vee - positions. Finish your drinks and prepare yourselves. Oarkin, Umbra - we’re going to catch a lot of eyes, prepare yourselves for a fight. We’re about to-”

A gold clad pegasi landed with a beat of his wings on deck, scanning the crew members in confusion with his blue tinted pupils. “I believe this ship is off course, you’re supposed to…”

His eyes fell on Celestia, and with a panicked yelp - attempted to bolt into the air. But Arin was a mile ahead, and instinctively shot his vine hook towards his target; the hook hit hard, denting the guard’s chest armor before the Seraph yanked roughly with his dominant hand. The pegasus missed the beat on his wings, and crashed to the floor of the deck - Umbra stepping in with a precise slash from her scythe to end his calls.

The necklace beneath her armor gleamed slightly, as the spectral being of the pegasi gazed up at them in terror. Immediately, he tried to attack like the cornered soldier he was - but his hooves harmlessly swung right through them, as if they weren’t even there. When he realized that he couldn’t do anything but panic - his wings spread and he darted into the dark - vanishing in mere seconds.

“Celestia’s team! Go! He’s going to find a pony with half a brain, and the alarms will ring. MOVE!”

Arin, Vee, and Celestia spread their wings wide - Pumpkin attempting to hop on her broom before quickly realizing… She's a solar witch. And her power came from solar magic; none of which was present.

Celestia stalled in air, and turned her horn to the crafted pommel; in a flash, she cast a quick enchantment to give it life, and the little Pumpkin mare darted into the sky after them.

The group of four landed on the iced gardens in front of the barracks, Arin stopping them from barging in as he pressed an ear to the door.

All was quiet. Not a soul stirred within. Gently, he tried the handle - and it gave with little resistance.

“Vee, in front. Celestia, behind Vee. Pumpkin, in front of me. Be silent. When I clench my fist, we move.” Arin raised his hand, as the alarm bells above the castle began to ring in defiance to the quiet night air. If any guards were sleeping, they would soon be roused by a bell pegasi for battle. With the door cracked open, and his ears straining to hear in the quiet, he waited for the flapping of wings to follow.

He quietly turned the door open, just as an armored pegasus came rocketting down the stairwell. “AT A-”

Thunk. Sonata flashed an arrow into the Elite Guard’s neck, and with a sparkle of Vee’s enchanted bangle on Arin’s wrist, the pegasi turned into a spectral ghost of himself. He didn’t even notice, as he continued to yell and scream in pure silence.

Arin stepped into the room with an arrow drawn, but found no other guards standing to face them. A few turned over in their deep sleep, an array of snores meeting them.

With a clench of the Seraph’s fist, the party quietly sneaked their way up the stairs, despite the near invisible ghost swinging invisible hooves at them. When nothing worked, he darted up the stairway in total silence - just as the party broke into a dead sprint. Or… well, gallop, for most.

Tempest gave the wheel a dramatic spin as she gave a call for more helium - Oarkin gently turning the knob to max.

“Keep your magic at the ready! Guard the balloon until my call!” The Commander billowed, as the rough winds picked up with their speed. They shot high into the air at the push of the propellers, just as more pegasi began to swarm the balloon. At the call for alarm, they took their spears in hoof and flew in a battle formation, quickly spotting the ship from above.

“Barrier!” Tempest called, Umbra’s horn flashing with emerald light as magic began to encircle the balloon.

“I do not know how to do a barrier!” Oarkin shouted in his thick accent above the whipping winds, grabbing his head in panic. “I only know telekinesis!”

The helmed commander shot her eyes to Umbra, who grimaced as twelve spears darted at random into her magical shield. She fought against the intrusion, but the strain quickly showed as her stance widened.

“Oarkin! Knock them out!”

That, he could do. And without spilling blood, with the small purple horse’s magic! Oarkin billowed his massive wings, taking off like lightning over the massive balloon, turning to fly in line with the ship. Immediately, his gray swirling hands shot forward - grabbing several pegasi in his magic, and dragging them close.

“You have picked wrong side. I am sorry,” he said, before crashing his fist into the lined up skulls - turning several new spirits to the wind.

The last five, seeing their allies turn to ghosts before them - regrouped for a spear wall. Something Oarkin laughed about.

“You are very brave to face me! I have killed many men. But come! Fair fight or not, I love a challenge.”

And with that, the last group of stallion soldiers charged in unison; their wings billowing to keep up with the ship and Seraph both.

Just before impact, the back of his hand flashed with such speed that all five poles shattered into wooden splinters - before that same hand rushed forward to crush the throat of an intruding pegasus. His necklace flashed, and the guard turned into a ghost right before his eyes - before fluttering away uselessly in the wind.

The four unarmed pegasi crashed their hooves into Umbra’s magic - before kicking off with a buck of their legs, darting for the safety of the open skies. Within seconds, they were out of range of the mountain’s magic - which was fine. He wanted more ‘friends’ for the fight!

As Oarkin landed, Umbra shuddered and eased her magic’s protection, stumbling to the edge as they raised above the flattened land of Canterlot’s valley. Her eyes widened in shock; much like the Seraph War, thousands of tents lined the now thoroughly trampled valley - nearly every single Equestrian soldier -- possibly more than several thousand -- had marched on Canterlot to defend their ‘queen’.

“Tempest? We may have an issue regarding this strategy.”

“There’s an issue with EVERY strategy! Both of you - get up here, and ready your magic. On my call, snap the strings and get ready to fly.”

Just as Umbra and Oarkin both followed her commands - a single set of dark, ebony hooves touched down in front of the wheel. Nightmare Moon gave a mirthless smile before them, as the airship began to barrel towards the castle unimpeded.

“My my! What do we have here - a once great Queen reduced to a mere shadow of her former self, a disgraced commander with no army, and… you are?”

Despite the overwhelming aura of pure and unadulterated terror radiating off of her in waves, the three hardly wavered before her might. Nightmare Moon’s eyes settled on Oarkin’s, the much too tall mountain of a man giving a laugh.

“I am a man of many names! A mountain, a pillar! The block which crushes puny Seraph, the hammer that forms the steel! But you, evil horse, can call me a hero. For I am going to break you. Like a chocolate Kot Kit wafer from Altai Krom.”

Nightmare Moon was immune to all forms of intimidation; simply put, the nightmare would not falter to idle threats. But, her lesser half, still clinging on to light despite the clear fact she lost - recoiled in fear of the giant man. A simple memory came to mind; one of Luna struggling for breath beneath the large Leotoln… hm. No matter.

In this single moment of hesitation, Tempest knew she had to act, and fast. Not only would this moment end in seconds, but the Castle was approaching - and if she missed this chance, they wouldn’t have another. With expert speed, she shot her hooves in a swift motion - tugging the Doors lever down to the second click, before ripping the choke and gear levers down as well.

Instantly, a dozen chings rang out across the hull, as the heavy iron engine room plummeted like a rock to the Castle’s drawn gates. The ship immediately began to lose its forward momentum - shooting straight up from the lack of weight keeping it steady. The entire deck violently rocked and seized, Oarkin, Umba, and Tempest lurching to the wheel to keep steady. The Nightmare was caught by surprise, and lost her footing - just as Oarkin’s leg came up in a swift kick to punt her off the ship. The whipping winds sucked the black alicorn under the exposed hull, as her wings fought for balance.

“NOW!” Tempest called, as Umbra’s horn and Oarkin’s hand shot forward - smashing, slashing, and severing the rough ties they pinned to the wooden hull, before the giant seized them both in a gentle hug and spread his wings.

A world shaking BOOM caught them in the blastwave, as the magic charged engine below erupted in a deadly explosive; fueled by helium and alchemist’s fire. The hull of the ship crashed down into the reeling Nightmare Moon - pinning her beneath as it fell from the sky like a rock. Before her horn could flash and teleport her away - the roof of the castle met her blackened armor, her spire flaring in a barrier at the last moment to prevent certain death.

The drawbridge and gate was destroyed, the oaken doors the last barricade left for the castle as Oarkin quickly tilted forward - bringing his friends into the fortress’s interior with a flurry of his wings.

Chapter 77 - The Battle, Part 1

A world shaking BOOM rattled the halls of the castle, just as the Purple pegasus rounded the corner into the main hall, another deadly crash following moments later. The Princess’s magic reeled her back to the stairway, as several unicorns shot down a nearby set of stairs with swords clutched in their magic’s grasp. The blue flames of the castle corridors gave the four cover, as Arin launced his silent hook over the tall Princess, and around one of the dozens of pillars lining the halls.

His legs caught the firm marble support, as he hung sideways by the short length of the hook. Cutting some slack, he quickly threw a length of the vine around his waist- propping himself up like a sentry. He even had the slack to grab his bow; finally, after a week of training, he mastered Branch Bolting.

The Princess watched this in shock, but quickly recovered as a late set of soldiers galloped past. Arin drew Sonata, and like a violinist - plucked the astral string silently, the soft thunk of flesh turning unicorns and earth ponies both into their spirited forms, thinning the herd of seven into three, who stopped in their tracks when they noticed the lack of hooves behind them.

The standing ghosts saw their ethereal bodies in confusion, the thin, ghostly outlines immediately rousing panic from the remaining three unicorn guards.

“What the b-”

Thunk. The two remaining sets of eyes honed in on Arin above, as he readied another arrow. A second too late, the armored stallion roused his barrier - the arrow diverting and gashing deep into his skin.

Wait. He didn’t turn into a ghost. In fact, he began to spew blood in a geyser, what-

Slowly, his form shifted from solid to transparent, as the life faded from his body. The Unicorn raised his hoof from his neck, the blood vanishing from sight. Unsure, Arin checked his bangle - yep, still gleaming and magical. How exactly did this spell work? It hardly made sense!

...It was Vee’s magic, of course it didn’t make sense. But the distraction gave enough time for the final guard to blast the idle Seraph down with a crack of his horn - Arin grunting as refined lightning crashed into his dragonhide vest. Losing focus on his vine, the magical hook vanished back into the bracer, as voices trailed up the guard barracks from behind. He tumbled to the marble fall below - his landing softened by the cushion of his feywild leather pack. Despite the fact that he could definitely hear glass crunching inside. Woops.

With little choice, Celestia darted around the corner - exposing herself with a flash of golden magic. As much as she didn’t want to, she bolted a flare of flames into the once loyal Unicorn, catching him by surprise as he turned ghostly like his allies around. Upon seeing Celestia, the several shades panicked and fled deeper down the halls - towards the sounds of growing fighting.

“Vee, Pumpkin - out of the stairs! Now! Prepare to fight!”

The two witches nodded, as Pumpkin mounted her broom and took to the air. The Princess helped her former lover to his feet, as no less than twelve stallions rounded the corner and into the hall proper.

Instantly, Pumpkin chucked a fizzling black potion at the crowd, as Vee darted into the chaos with her lance in hoof. The Princess was close behind; swinging her halberd down with a sickening thump into the fog, sending another pony to the dream realm.

Hacking coughs of freshly armored stallions gave Arin little clues in where to aim - until Celestia fell back with a billow of her massive wings. Catching three armored outlines of gold, he nailed one directly in the head - turning the corrupted warrior into a ghost.

Vee spun her lance wide, catching another hacking soldier in the neck. A pegasi quickly caught on - and used his wings to breeze away the smoke. With the fog clearing, and Celestia charging for another slash, Vee yelped as a well trained blade found her neck and gashed deep. A splay of her blood shot into the cloud, reeling as the crazed witch fell back.

Arin spotted this, as the Purple began to stumble and fade before his very eyes - and focused on the astral form within her body. He’s been training for a week straight to make this work, and he would murder Aster if he couldn’t pull it off now.

With a flash of light and chime of bells, Antithesis mended the damage in a split second - righting Vee to her hooves instantly. She clutched her lance again, and spun hard into a potent, spearing thrust - right through the offending guard’s chest, just before he could land his blade in Celestia’s unprotected wing.

Arin fell back with a flurry of his wings, as two Unicorns charged blindly at him - blades landing where he just stood. Falling back to his Knight training, he shot a bolt straight through the innocent pony’s neck - leaving him clutching his throat as a ghost. The other disorganized Unicorn quickly formed a barrier, galloping in a rush to catch the Ranger with his magic-lofted blade.

Withdrawing his arming sword, Arin easily knocked the blow to the side with his shielded left arm, and slammed the blade hard into the barrier. When the barricade refused to fall from a piercing thrust, the Unicorn’s head turned - meaning to round the golden sword back and lunge for Arin’s throat. The battle ready Seraph saw this obvious motion coming, and just like his duels with Shining Armor - he caught the weapon with the tang of his blade, and with a twist, wrenched it from the Unicorn’s magical grasp.

Disarmed, the Unicorn dropped his barrier and flashed his horn in an attempt to bolt a blast of magic at Arin’s unprotected face, but Arin knew he would do this, and just.. Stabbed him through the neck with the White Tail sword. The gold clad warrior fell back, as a spectre of his former self.

By the time the smoke cleared, the panting ponies gazed at all the corrupted spirits turned docile, as some attempted to swing their nearly glass-like blades through the Princess. When nothing happened, they dropped their transparent weapons to the floor - and bolted.

“Move!” Celestia called, swinging her halberd over her shoulder in her magic. In a fierce gallop and sprint, the four made their way towards the roaring battle taking place further on.

Several seconds passed, as Tempest, Umbra, and Oarkin stared at the heaving mass of debris. Nightmare Moon wouldn’t die that easily - it would take more than a few tons of wood, chains, canons, and airship equipment to keep her down for long.

“I will crush her. Simple.” Oarkin cracked his fingers, but Umbra darted in front of him with a swing of her scythe.

“No! Stick to the plan; she is stronger than you think. Do not underestimate her.”

A soft laugh began to emanate from beneath the rubble; dark, starry smoke flooding out from the cracks and crooks of bent and splintered wood.

“Entry hall. Now,” the Commander demanded, drawing Sun Song to rest over her shoulder. Just in time - the moment they blazed through the Throne Room’s doors, a dozen guards stampeded to meet them from both directions.

“Oarkin. I know you want to kill Nightmare Moon. Buy us time. Hold the throne room’s doors. They’re likely reinforced against magic, and if you didn’t notice the freshly installed bars on the windows - that room is a cage and a death trap.” Tempest growled, as she turned to face the six guards filtering in from the east. Umbra swung her scythe in a wide arc of Emerald magic; but perhaps she wasn’t intimidating enough, as the elite warriors before her hardly recognized the threat they faced.

The former Queen of the Wastes channeled her inner spirit, and with a flash - her eyes gleamed fierce red once more; a flare of billowing green shadows erupting from her eyes. She couldn’t corrupt her horn, that was impossible as a Unicorn - but her unwavering battle stance billowed with power, as the stalwart and well trained stallions stalled and fell back an inch.

“If it is death you wish, then it is death you shall have. Come. The shadows beckon,” Umbra sneered, pooling her ancestral magic across her form in wafting darkness. Tempest steeled herself, and seeing Umbra’s magic flare - she decided to put on a show much the same.

“Come! Face me! The Champion of the Sun!” she called, clutching Sun Song with strength and determination. Her horn began to cascade lightning in a shimmering aura, leaving Oarkin to decide.

Obey orders, or challenge the Nightmare alone. In the end, he came here to be a hero. And a hero wouldn’t let Nightmare Moon a chance to rest. He knew of his abilities. He was undefeatable; a champion, a warrior of the highest degree. None could best him in a fair fight. Save perhaps a small fawn with a knack for Knight’s Challenge. Tactics weren’t his strong suit.

Before the duo even realized what happened, Oarkin walked into the threshold of the room with a billow of his mighty gray wings - just as the doors snapped shut in a blue aura.

“OARKIN?!” Tempest called - and in that distraction, a pegasi steeled his nerves and darted in - swinging his blade in an arc. Tempest narrowly dodged the swipe, countering with a spinning buck of her hooves, using the gleaming gold blade as leverage against the marble tiles. Instantly, the Pegasi’s armored chest was crushed hard - before he fell back in a ghostly heap.

“Only one with a death wish would try to take this castle alone. Stand tall, Tempest - we must stick to the plan until Celestia arrives. I will defend you. Hold the front gate.” Umbra hissed quietly, forcing the Unicorn to growl in frustration.

“Very well then, if you believe you can take a small army on your own volition, I will not stop you.” Tempest sheathed her blade, much to the confusion of her adversaries. The remaining five stallions attempted to charge forward, as a dozen more soon arrived on scene - Tempest jumping high with a mighty kick of her legs. In one elegant leap, she landed at the base of the stairs, as she bolted for the rattled door. Already, she could hear the sound of shouting outside - soldiers attempting to build a makeshift bridge across, for easy access to the castle.

With the Throne Room’s door sealed in magic, Oarkin was likely to face his demise without aid - but there was nothing they could do. Umbra swirled shadows around her - leaping in billowing darkness towards the gate, where the guards quickly converged to take down the ‘Champion of the Sun’.

“Ah. Just what I wanted. A jester for my court, for you are a foal to challenge me alone,” Nightmare Moon’s voice called from the flooding, starlit shadows. A laugh shaking the Mountain to his core.

“Tell me, miscreant - where is Arin? My ‘King’, if you will. I have use for him yet, and it would be lovely if you would speak before your demise.” His battle hardened senses searched the lunar darkness around him, trying to locate the single source of the noise - but all he could feel was the wave of magical terror flushing over his powerful form.

Regardless, he did not let it shake his roots. He has seen worse, at the hands of Seraph Mages. “Come face me, coward. I am not here to fight. But to kill.” He said, his thick accent strained against the forced fear.

“Oh? So am I.” Nightmare Moon whispered into his ear - immediately, he reeled around to break her face in half - but all Oarkin struck was shadowy darkness. The laughter began once more, leaving him unnerved as he turned steadily around to pin her location down.

“Enough.” He said, and with a powerful flash of his wings - blasted with might against the unending starry shadows. But no matter how much force he put into it - only the darkness prevailed, leaving him marooned in the night’s embrace.

Oarkin has killed many men in three hundred years; plenty bad, some good. But here, he wasn’t fighting a man. He was fighting a nightmare. And his confidence began to falter. He cast his telekinesis forward, in an attempt to find something to grab - but he only managed to find spent wood and stone in the dark.

Spent wood? The hole above. Simple - he will fly up, and lure her out. He turned his head up, and stooped to catch the wind deep in his wings - and that’s when he felt it.

A cold blade, lodging deep in the barding between his wings. The mountain stumbled, gasping out in agony as Nightmare Moon retrieved the massive bastard sword from his back; her old blade, reforged properly, from a time long past. When she was nothing more than a voice in Luna’s mind - a mirror of the pony she could be.

Oarkin collapsed; how could he have been so blind? The one part of his body without protection… and he was dull enough to enter the darkness, under the moon - where this creature was strongest.

Three hundred years of battles, wasted.

“Aw, poor thing. Confidence is a slow and insidious killer, after all. I once thought too, that I was indestructible. A foal I was, but no more. I learn from my mistakes; mercy is no longer an option. You would see it too, if I did not just deal a fatal blow. Oh, but of course - you’re a seraph. I don’t want you to stand back up on me; let’s make sure you won’t.”

She rested her bastard sword against her back, and instead withdrew Nocturne - her pretty little arming blade.

“Curious, your body hasn’t healed just yet. Perhaps you are too big for such a talent. No matter.” The frozen blade slammed down into Oarkin’s heart - ice crashing through his chest in tendrils as the dying seraph moved no more.

“Splendid! After all, a pretty little shadow once told me, in an age long past - that stabbing anything in the back was a beautiful way to make corpses. I will have to thank her...” She flicked her lunar-charged blade free of frozen shards of blood, Nightmare Moon’s sparkling blue eyes turning towards the door that swung open at her command.

“...Personally.”

Chapter 79 - The Battle, Part 3

General Falon clicked his tongue at the edge of the clearing, sharing a gaze with his new companion; Glimmergale. The little breezie nodded and chattered in faespeak, before begrudgingly fluttering down into a tiny winter iron pouch on the backside of his feyglass hood.

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings lazily by his side, as King Aster sprung up from the bushes; dozens more deer soon to follow. The highest ranks, of course, as the Thicket Battalion’s Leader slid back the leaves of a large fern to gaze at the frozen waterfall in the far distance; the fireflies around them marking the edge of White Tail Wood’s Feywilds.

“I don think ye rightly know what yer doin’!” Seabreeze whispered hoarsely to several of the other breezies, using King Aster’s branch-like antlers as a base of operations. “Ya can’t just split off from ‘em deer and think they’ll be fine! Stick with yer partner! Shoo! Scram! It’s this or freezin ya right tookus off! And don’t ya dare let me catch ye flappin’ them gums or stretching ye wings when we get roight up there! If the ponies catch on, yer all dead! Ya hear me?”

The annoyed breezies shared angry glares with their leader, speaking amongst themselves in their unique language. King Aster couldn’t help but share a quiet laugh.

“It’s no fun leading a nation, Seabreeze. I think we can both agree.”

“Agree?! Ya darn frolickin’ cloven hoof baskets couldn’t have found us sooner?! Breezies need the Feywild, too! We can’t stand the freezing snow and chill of winter! If that Rainbow didn’t show their snout I’d be pure foamin’ lookin’ for gravesites! Bu’ carry on, ya walkin’ tree branch.”

Aster really didn’t know if Seabreeze was thankful, or mad. Probably both. The little breezie quickly settled inside the King’s own small nook, the tiny insulated home designed to keep them safe - and out of the eyes of prying ponies. By now, they were stepping on snow and dead leaf both, as the trees above had started to shed their once green bounties. A very bad sign; they may have trouble recovering once this cursed night is over, or outright die from the deep chill.

“Drink.” A roaming deer offered the king, bowing his head. A small flagon of coffee, mixed with a potent cocktail of herbs to keep even the most lazy buck awake soon graced the king’s now armored hoof. He sighed, lowering his ears. Only a few select deer had a taste for the stuff, as the potent flavor was often rough on the tongue. Thus, it was hardly served at his table.

Regardless, whatever Vee’s ingredient list did to it would probably make it worse. He pinched his nose with a small flash of magic, and took a sip. Then a gulp. Actually, he downed well over half the mug in seconds, quite satisfied with the robust flavors.

“I expected far, far worse.” The gold flecked buck cocked an eyebrow in confusion, quite delighted with the taste. Instantly, he perked up - a shiver running up his spine as tingling energy shot through his body.

“Ay ya bloody root, share!” Seabreeze squeaked, fluttering out of his hidey hole to rest by the rim. All around, the dozens of wartime deer also had more than their fair share of little breezies sipping from their mugs; a few doe even giving adorable ‘d’awws’ at the sight.

The king marbled quietly, as he tilted the mug to reach Seabreeze’s lips. Of course, the tiny pixie gave a pleased groan, sipping a few drops up in seconds. By the time he had his fill, he looked plump with the drink, and definitely wouldn’t be sleeping for the next few twilight eves. Or… moonlight eves.

King Aster finished his mug quickly, as many flagons were soon left abandoned on the snowy floor. The wooden cups could be retrieved later - and it hardly mattered if they left clear signs of trespass. The battle was now. And there was hardly any more time to waste.

“Once we pass these fireflies, we’ll know for sure if this pony nonsense is fatal or not,” a Lavender flowered buck said, holding his chin high. Both General Falon and King Aster’s eyes fell on the buck with annoyance, and for once, the King decided not to let this transgression go unheeded.

“Senator Lavendale, your cynicism has been a sting at the Circlet for decades. You forget what we’re fighting for. It’s not just the Fey, but the entirety of Equis - and our very souls. Without our aid, toxic magic or not - the Princess and her companions will die, and so will we. I trust Vee’s judgement like I would trust your words - not because I want to, but because I have no other choice. Now, learn your place. In this struggle, we are all a team. And every part of this team must function as a singular unit.” Aster loomed over the smaller buck, his eyes picking the Senator apart.

“When did you grow antlers, King Aster?” Lavendale spat, “why don’t you cower, like that pathetic Princess said? Are you trying to prove you’re capable of leading? Is this mock determination nothing more than a ruse to have us killed? Or are you simply foolhardy enough to take these ponies for their word?”

“Actually - no. I have a clear understanding of pony and deer intentions, Lavendale. And I think it’s time I challenge you on yours. General Falon - raise your amulet.” Aster nodded to his military leader, who curiously lifted the small bronze and emerald Dream Catcher amulet from his chest. Enchanted to prevent pony death.

King Aster lifted his, as well. He nodded to another buck, as several more necklaces raised up to meet his eyes.

“Well, Senator Lavendale? Are you joining this battle to save the world? Or are you after petty revenge? Did you think I wouldn’t spot the missing chain from your neck, especially when you challenge me at every step of our trails?”

King Aster needed to say no more, as twelve bows raised to meet the traitor’s antlers.

“We have no time for ceremony or trial. Instead, let’s see how deep your foul mind has plotted for this endeavor. Any buck not wearing an amulet to prevent bloodshed is intent on taking innocent lives for no other cause than petty hatred, and are both unfit for the battlefield - and my courtrooms. I accuse you, Senator Lavendale, of high treason - an attempt to not just undermine my leadership, but to also end the very existence of both Silversun and Equis, as we know it.”

A quiet stir of voices soon reached their ears, as the news passed on beyond the branches and bushes - as other deer were soon checked for their enchanted amulet.

“Very well then, Aster. If you do not see the might we carry, then so be it.” In a flash of Lavendale’s hoof, he attempted to fire his grappling hook at the King - but Rainbow Dash was leagues ahead of him. Instantly, her wings flashed - empty mug tumbling to the floor as her powerful hindleg crashed right into the traitor’s snout - several arrows whizzing right past her, and into the trees among them.

“Haha! I knew you were bad news; I can smell disloyalty miles away.” Rainbow Dash beamed, standing on top of the dazed bucks chest - polishing her hoof proudly. “Y’know, Element of Loyalty? Second in charge of the Wonderbolts? And totally awesome?”

King Aster didn’t even flinch from the entire charade, as loyal bucks quickly swarmed in - Rainbow Dash flapping her wings proudly back to King Aster’s side.

“Thank you, Rainbow Dash. You did a noble thing.” The gold-flecked buck bowed, sharing a small smile with her. “You prevented a death here. Had the arrows landed, the Entity could thrive off of his death - and any who share his ideals, who would inevitably fight against us.”

Rainbow Dash puffed her chest, “Don’t mention it, King! Well, actually - do mention it. I won’t say no to a trophy or medal, either.”

She chuckled quietly to herself, as no less than two dozen vine bound bucks were dragged forward through the brush, all from the Lavender Battalion. King Aster sighed, shaking his head.

“Now we need to devote resources to bring these traitors to court - we hardly even have the cell space for all of them.” Aster rubbed his quickly forming migraine, before turning a glare to settle on Lavendale.

“Falon, find twice the loyal soldiers to cart him to jail. And before I forget - bind his mouth shut. I don’t want him convincing others to defect to his cause, either. Oh, and before I forget…”

King Aster gave a short whistle - Seabreeze’s snout appearing from his comfy little sanctuary behind the King’s helm.

“Ay ya tree branch, I’m tryin’ to get this book - oho! Some nasty bucks flappin’ their gums, ay?” Immediately, the little breezie flew out into the cold, landing right on the regal king’s nose. He wiggled his snout adorably, as the breezie fluttered forward to give him some space.

“Seabreeze, see to it that these traitors go without companions.”

“A cut in thar contracts, ay? Hoho~! Don’t they know tha ya can’t get a second? One contract per soul! That’s the rules! Even if all we as’ is for some foamin’ fire and warmth. Alroight! Ya chatterin’ nutters, break it up!”

Dozens of the little breezies hiding in their safe pouches sprung up, squeaking in Faespeak over the discomfort of the cold. The loyal bucks quickly detached the lil’ homes from the traitors - passing the winter iron pouches into a pile. General Falon nodded to a doe, who gave an adorable bleat - scooping the little breezie holsters up to rest on the side of her armor.

“Come on, you little cuties! We’re going back to the Castle!~” she cheered, as no less than four dozen hoof-picked bucks roughly roped down their prisoners - and trotted back along the woods. The tiny pixies cheered at their good fortune, and all quickly settled in their little homes for the time being.

“If the Feywilds fall, King Aster - it’s very likely that those bucks will die in their cells,” General Falon offered his advice, “Will you accept that responsibility?”

“Perhaps they’ll realize the error of their ways if it comes to that; but yes. We’re lucky there’s enough Breezie magic to sustain all deer sheltered under our boughs, as is. I had known Lavendale to always stand against me; but I didn’t realize it was to this extent, until he tilted his chin up. His pride was quite honestly his downfall; I wouldn’t have spotted his barren neck otherwise.”

King Aster shook his head, as the last of the drink was finished among his bucks. “Steel yourselves, all of you - this is the first time in millenia White Tails have entered the Prime, and it may very well be the last. Falon, at your command.”

The General bowed, clicking his tongue - “Vines out. With haste!”

The travel gear flashed in a flurry of hundreds of enchanted bracers; the deer launching themselves in momentum carrying gallant leaps across the forest floor. Bounding the distance in seconds, they crashed into the frozen clearing and through the faded barrier of the fey; fresh, freezing air stinging their lungs.

Yet none felt sick, even as no less than hundreds of deer bolted over dozens of stationed guards.

They didn’t expect this - but neither did the ponies, as bucks a plenty spun in the air and launched volleys to crash into the Managem Mine defenders. Instantly, dozens of spirits sprung up as tents were pincushioned in a blaze of unbridled forest ferocity.

General Falon landed with an elegant stride, as a few of the lucky armored pegasi that escaped the first volley darted for the air - shooting up high to alert the others of an invasion. Several vine hooks caught them by the legs and wings - ripping them back down to crash into the frozen river pool at the base of the iced falls. They, too, were nothing more than target practice for the elite warriors, their spirits flapping in terror on the ice - yet safe from harm.

“Lanterns! We move into the black of pitch!” Falon called, as dozens of lanterns sprung flames upon the deer’s sides - galloping towards the side path of the frozen falls. They were now in the Prime’s flow of time, and hardly had a chance to breathe or think - only move.

The troops funneled in quickly behind, as Aster and Falon led them along a short path in the cliff’s side - and just as Celestia described, lay a tunnel behind the falls.

“Why is there always a secret grotto behind waterfalls?” General Falon questioned, as King Aster gave his knowledge on the matter.

“Oftentimes, they’re naturally formed - aquifers are filled with shifting and churning stone, and they may block or seal in old paths in favor of new ones; this may have just been a babbling brook at one point. It’s likely that these mines were formed in ages long ago, through nutrient rich waters that led to the formation of crystals.”

“...I did not expect an answer, but thank you,” Falon stated, as they darted into the stony earth. Barreling upwards into the mountain, he and his bucks quickly followed the advice given to them; left, left, right. And vast progress was made in minutes.

“It simply reminds me of an old waterfall, near the old Autumn Courts. Our kin stopped there, once before - on our journey east.”

From that point on, the rest of the journey was made in relative silence; only the unrestrained hoof falls of the cloven deer filling the silence, as Falon ignored another sign pointing right - and instead went left, along three sets of rails.

“Here! The elevator, right -”

A chain from far above crashed and rattled along the chamber with haunting echoes, just as they arrived. A pegasus’s voice laughed in the dim moonlight, unable to spot the now hundreds of deer eyes down far below, prowling in the dark. Illuminated by the faint gleam of their lanterns.

“...Does he really think that’s an obstacle?” Falon raised an eyebrow, as he lifted his bracered hoof on his right wrist. Many other deer chuckled quietly to themselves, doing much the same - this was common gear to White Tail soldiers. Rainbow Dash gave a mock yawn in response, flapping under the long elevator shaft in boredom.

“...I’ll wait on top for you guy-”

Fwoosh! Falon, Aster, and several other deer launched their vines into the first section of support beams, springing with vast agility up along the tunnel with ease. As they went, they stripped their gleaming lanterns - leaving golden light shimmering up the tunnel, illuminating the gems around and filling the passage with light.

“Hey! Wait! I’m supposed to be the fast - ugh, nevermind.” Dash rolled her eyes, her brass necklace rattling as she shot up high into the air - blazing past the deer as they climbed with ease. Several hundred hooves of distance fell between her, and the slowly clamoring lights far below - as she settled up top to wait.

Here, a short tunnel with old minecart rails broke off into multiple closed off caverns, leading a short way into the open Throne Room. Rainbow Dash gave a curious look around past the dias, spotting the massive remains of Tempest’s old airship cluttering the marble tiles. A giant hole fitted in the roof, and just through it - Dash could spot flashes of light.

She watched the show, as Princess Celestia occasionally swatted her Halberd at Nightmare Moon with ferocity, before falling back out of the massive lunar blade’s reach. Each time, Nightmare Moon only got more upset - attacking with wild abandon. Was… Was Celestia toying with her?

Right. She was distracting Nightmare Moon. Maybe she could help? No - stick to the plan. Maybe…

“Ugh, waiting is boring. Can’t they move their flanks any faster? This is taking too long! I should be out there, kicking flank! Not… sitting around, waiting for some deer to scramble up a ledge!”

“I know, it’s terrible Rainbow Dash. We’re not as vertically inclined as you,” General Falon said, quietly entering the throne room behind her.

“Exactly! They’re - AH!” She bolted up into the air, Falon shushing her quickly as he scanned over the rubble surrounding them. Deeming it safe, dozens of his highest elite soon joined him - followed by the King himself.

“The moment we open that door, we could be either setting pleasant eyes on our allies, or gazing upon a herd of pony soldiers. I need at least a hundred sets of antlers to form a line, and I won’t have that for a few more moments.” General Falon inspected the throne room further, grimacing at the… not so amazing decor.

“The stained glass is… acceptable, but who would install metal bars across its majesty?” He frowned; at least it prevented unwanted intruders flooding in. But in that same light, this entire room was a cage; if it weren’t for the massive hole from the crashed remnants of the ship, they would be trapped here.

“The decor is… definitely in need of an update.” King Aster frowned; how could a pony live like this? Stark white, boring drab, dull colors… the Princess was right. She really did need to do some remodeling.

“How can you be talking about something as boring as this right now?! We should be out there, fighting!”

“And we will be, in… five, four, three, two…”

Several dozen bucks were soon counted in the throne room, General Falon giving a single nod and a hoof forward.

“For the Fey, for the Land, for the King and Court!”

The deer roared in a battle cry, gallantly pummeling their hooves forward in a mighty dash for the entry hall’s closed door - Rainbow Dash joining them with a flash of her tail - crashing through the massive obstacles with all of her might.

Chapter 81 - The Battle, Part 5

Vee snooted snootily along the much too blue hallways of Canterlot. Hmm… coffee, coffee. No, not a bean in sight. But in smell? Probably! Maybe. If there was some of the sacred brew, it was this way - yes, to the left! No, not that left, jerk-face! My left! Hmhmhm~

Dining room. Oh yes, a good start! Definitely a place to check - as she found a nearby cart with lots of free sugar packets to quickly pour in her bag. But serious matters, first! Wait, no, second - it had the little cream cups, too. She’ll be feathered if she didn’t dump all of this into her bag. D’ohoho~

But back to snooting - she ran her nose along the floor quietly, until a little door to the kitchen blocked her way. Oho? But it wouldn’t open to her snooting. Of course, the only solution was to give it a strong buck of her hooves - sending it right off the hinges, wonderful! Good work Vee, just like a proper heroic witch would do.

“Hey! I didn’t order a floor door - oh! A new pony!” A squeaky, hyper voice chimed - a poofy pink maned earth pony bubbling up at the sight of Vee. “Wait a rootin’ tootin’ second - I know you! You visited Ponyville five years, nine months, and thirteen nights prior! And you ESCAPED MY WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PARTY!”

Pinkie Pie immediately darted forward, reaching to grab the purple pegasus in her hooves for a tight hug. But that was a snoot too far! Nopony invades Vee’s personal space! Not unless she invaded their personal space first! Because all space is her space, especially in her shop, ‘cause she paid for it.

The pegasus darted above the hugging hooves with a quick flap. “One moment, Pink-fry. The coffee… it compels me.”

In seconds of Vee’s expert snooting, she found just what she was looking for - the clearly unprotected cabinet to the sacred stash of coffee. Gasping in delight, her snoot edged forward to open it - but the cabinet shook against her nose. Of course, it was locked. Good thing she keeps her trusty lockpick on hoof! Wait. No. She didn’t have any books nearby to use. But her eyes settled on the curious Pinkie below, hovering an inch down.

“You’re a pink one, right?”

“Yeah-huh.”

“Oho! Perfect! Do you have a stash of lockpicks on hoof, in case of lockpicking emergencies?”

“You bet your flank I do!” Pinkie Pie dug around in her mane, humming happily as she plucked a set of lockpicking tools from her mane.

“Oho! I like you already, Pink-fry!” Vee chirped, nearly drooling as she floated back up to the much too secret cabinet, ready for her payday. The Purple then remembered she didn’t know how to pick locks. In fact, neither did Pinkie Pie. Instead, she opened the small satchel to find a nice, big hammer labeled ‘Lockpicker 5,000’. Perfect!

SMASH!

The cabinet door fell right off, several bags of he royal coffee now resting in front of her. Gently, she snooted the lockpick back in place, and gave it back to the Pink.

“D’ohoho!~ Thank you, Pink-fry!”

“No problem, Purple-fry!” Pinkie smiled, as the pegasus snatched all of the coffee to drop right in her bag.

“OH! DO YOU WANNA HELP ME MAKE CAKE FOR THE ETERNAL NIGHT VICTORY CELEBRATION!?” Pinkie bounced up excitedly on the tile floors, her blue pupils and irises gleaming brilliantly in the moonlight.

“Hmhm? Oho! A splendid idea! But! Also terrible. Maybe. Probably! Instead, can you tell me if this smells like Dream Powder to you?” Vee offered her hoof - Pinkie Pie immediately diving her nose in for a sniff.

“Hm… yep! That’s dream powder,” the pink pony chimed, flashing a wide smile.

Vee waited patiently for Pinkie Pie to fall asleep. Then she remembered; technically, she was asleep. Just sleepwalking. I refuse to call it sleepclopping, Smols.

“Oho! That’s bad for the feathers. Hmhm. How do I wake you up… Aha! I know.” Vee dug around in the Pink’s mane - regardless of the earth pony’s giggling. She rummaged through it, ignoring the party streamers, cupcakes, and massive party canon that somehow fit inside - until she withdrew a small book. She flicked it to a random page, clearing her throat with a cough.

“‘Twilight Sparkle becoming an alicorn was a terrible decision on Hasbro’s part, as it essentially made her an immortal Princess that would watch all of her friends die; while good for pony merchandise sales to small children, it was the first nail in the coffin for the brony community as some outright refused to acknowledge it happened’,” she read. Pinkie Pie’s eyes immediately cleared up in seconds - from light blue to a nice sentient black, she blinked away the sleep with a frown.

“Huh, what… hey! My book on Fourth Wall secrets! And -... oh no. Oh no.” She pressed her hooves to her temples in terror, screaming.

“NIGHTMARE MOON IS BACK! AND IT’S ONLY CLOPTOBER FIRST! AHHHHH!”

“Please don’t call it Cloptober, how many times do I have to say that?” Vee frowned, shoving the book back in Pinkie Pie’s mane. The Pink pony stopped in the middle of her panic, snapping to a smile and a giggle.

“Woopsie! Sorry pony-I’ve-never-directly-met-before!”

“Oh no, please - continue.” Vee began to preen quietly, as Pinkie resumed her screaming. During this time, the Purple set to work brewing up another batch of coffee to keep the Elements awake. Ooo!~ Can I be a strikethrough, tooooo?~ Pinkie, no!

FWOOSH!

“Oho! That… sounds terrible for the feathers.” Vee whispered, as she felt a thin wave of magic tickle her snoot. One she didn’t like to feel, at all. The bad kind of magic. The green kind. Wait, green magic was okay. It was red magic she didn’t like to feel, hmhm.

Arin sighed, as he carried the bloody-nosed pony down to the dungeons; swiping the jailor’s keys from the desk with a second thought. The last thing he needed was Flash waking up, and somehow throwing himself behind a shieldwall to give more orders. Just as he was dragging the unconscious stallion through the center hall - a peculiar sight caught his eye in one of the cells. Wait… was that a seraph? No - it… what?

“Hey! You! Are you an Inert, or a wingless Seraph? Why are you wearing a green mask?...” Arin called, as the green faced… seraph? Turned to face him.

“The fuck’s a seraph? No - better question, the fuck is a human doing here?! Shit, am I being saved from crazy horse land?!” The green-masked man shot up, darting to the bars of the cell. “Dude, the hell is up with you? You’ve got wings?! I want fucking wings! No fucking way, holy shit!”

“One moment.” Arin turned to the nearest empty cell that didn’t have a giant, gaping hole in it - and tossed the unconscious Flash inside. An angry grunt met his ears as the downed pegasus rolled across the floor. Free of the burden, he faced the ‘hu-man’ clutching the bars, crossing his arms in confusion.

“I am a Seraph from the world of Erenorn, hailing from the land of the Far Reaches. And you are?...”

“I’m Anon, legendary alcoholic and local terrorist of Ponyville. I guess I come from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Used to be a janitor for a shitty kids animation company and local browser of dank memes on 4chan. I guess you’re not a human, after all - some kind of bullshit horse nonsense, I guess.” Anon rattled the door, staring through his green mask for mercy. He was sick of sitting on his ass in the cold.

“Uh… sure. We’ll go with that, Anon. What are you doing here?”

“Well, after a wine-binge with my only friends - alcohol and Berry Punch - I got sick of it being winter too damn early. That, and Berry Punch started to get all crazy about fuckin’... Nightmare Moon, or something. So I came up here to throw a bitchfit and demand more neetbux. One ass kicking later, and I’m here.”

Either Anon didn’t realize that Nightmare Moon had taken over, or he was outright immune to dream magic. Either way, he seemed entirely awake and cogent enough to consider his release.

“...Right.” Arin scratched his head, wings flicking in contemplation. “If I let you out of here, you’ll probably die, Anon. I don’t suppose you’re a fighter?”

“When I’m drunk off my ass? Yes. When I’m sober? Not so much. Tfw no alcohol. Dude, just let me out - Moonhorse can’t be this fuckin’ stupid. Maybe I can talk some sense into her, you know? At the very least, I can steal a bed that doesn’t hurt my ass. I’ve always wanted to poke around Sunhorse’s room, too. See what secret dildos she keeps in her drawers.”

“Er…” Arin hesitated with the key in hand. Well, the human didn’t have to fight. But maybe a few creature comforts were something Anon could find on his own. The deer wouldn’t shoot him on sight, at least.

“Just stay out of the entry hall, and try not to get yourself killed. It’s a warzone up there.” He clicked the keys together - jiggling the lock as it gave way in a moment’s notice. The anonymous man nodded his thanks, before jogging up the corridor.

“See ya, birdman! Have fun doing whatever.”

What a strange, strange creature, these… ‘humans’ were. But before he could contemplate it any further - the world beneath him began to shake.

FWOOSH!

Instantly, he felt the tingle of nature magic soak into his skin; eyes darting open as he realized what just occurred.

“The Feywilds…”

Tempest’s armor rattled as she hesitated by the library door - leaning an ear in to listen. Crying? Why?...

Gently, she pulled the handle - slipping inside with a flick of her short tail. She lifted the visor from her helm, taking in the dark halls around her. Unlike before, with the moonlight streaking in brilliantly - thick curtains had been draped over the windows, shutting out all light save a single burning candle.

“Twilight? Are you okay?...” Tempest called quietly into the dark, the small form of the alicorn shifting as silence followed.

“Go away,” came a sniveling response.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Princess. Talk to me.” The commander spoke quietly, stepping to the familiar table they sat at, not more than a few weeks prior. Or a week, in Twilight’s time.

“I’m a failure. I failed Nightmare Moon - I let Rainbow Dash escape, I couldn’t even find where the traitorous Princess went… I’m useless. I… I don’t deserve these wings.”

At that, a pit formed in Tempest’s stomach - as she reached for the candle with her teeth. Quietly, she lit several more across the way - bringing light to the shadowy dark.

She almost wished she didn’t. Twilight had plucked every feather from her wings - flight feathers included, leaving behind nothing but large, purple nubs. Blood had spilled as a result, as the thick pinions had a high demand for energy - leaving the pillowcase beneath her smothered in crimson.

“By the stars, Twilight, why?...” Tempest approached quietly, before her flanks fell to the floor. Mere inches from her former rival, the tall Unicorn gently offered her a hug. Twilight refused, turning away.

“Just stop. I’m a failure. I… I couldn’t do one simple thing. I-I… I’m not worthy of wings, I-I shouldn’t be here… let another loyal pony serve. I deserve to die…”

Tempest wanted to just… grab her, and snap her out of it. But that wouldn’t work - not now. She needed a gentle touch, she needed… a friend.

“You’re not a failure, Princess Twilight. I’ve studied everything about you, to find your weaknesses - and in my time, I rarely found any. As every mistake you’ve made has been a stepping stone for your success. The friendships you’ve made, Twilight, have been the hallmark of your character. Don’t you remember?”

When no response immediately came, Tempest pushed on; thankful she had been observant of her enemies long ago. “In your fight with Chrysalis, you saw through her disguise - but nopony believed you. Regardless, you didn’t give up hope. You pushed on, with Cadence by your side - and you and her both managed to expel the changeling invaders and save the wedding. Remember that?”

A sniffle, as Twilight turned an eye to face her.

“When Discord reappeared and sought to bring chaos, you and your friends - you all failed. But a stream of letters came back, to remind you of who you are. Of every piece of your past you were built upon - the bedrock of your lessons. And it worked, and your hope helped save your friends and gave you the chance to take Discord down once more. You recall this, too, don’t you?”

“I-I… I recall.” Twilight faced her, the blue in her eyes fading.

“And when Tirek seized all the remaining magic of Equestrians, and everything seemed to be lost - you had a choice. Give up all of the alicorn magic in Equestria for your friends, or keep it - and watch them suffer. And you chose your friends. You were there for them, you gave everything for those you cherished - and the Tree of Harmony gifted you the power to defeat Tirek, and return magic to the land. Right?”

“Y-Yes… Tempest, I…”

“And now, everypony needs you again. The world needs you. And do you know why?”

The quiet alicorn looked deep into those ocean green eyes, before a faint flash cleared her own irises of the lunar magic deep within. She nodded, jumping forward to engulf Tempest in her hooves. “Nightmare Moon is back. And we have to defeat her again.”

The Commander hugged on tightly, nodding. “You do remember, Twilight. You remember who you are. And why you deserve those wings.”

Before the moment could carry on, the castle beneath them shook.

FWOOSH!

“W-What was that?!” Twilight squeaked, as Tempest felt a faint wave of Fey magic tingle over her sensitive horn.

“Something bad, Twilight. We need to get to the Throne Room, now.”

Chapter 82 - The Battle, Part 6

Pumpkin darted over the bush and trees of the garden, pointing to the far off forest clinging to the cliff. “There!” she cried to Umbra far below - the Unicorn swirling her shadows along the path and into the woods; approaching the clatter of an ax on wood.

The little witch hovered high above the celestial gardens, scanning for signs of anything - and she spotted it. A single squirrel, still struggling in the cold snow - darting towards the shade of a tree.

With little other options, she brought her broom low, landing on the chilling ice. There, among the frozen fronds of a pond of frigid fauna, lay Fluttershy. Around her sat a multitude of exotic freezing animals - monkeys, sugar gliders, a family of hares and strangely enough - a bear cub, most of which were too far gone for aid. The royal gardens were well known for their exotic species, almost like a zoo. She sniffled quietly, stroking softly over a frozen songbird that simply didn’t move.

“Fluttershy?”

The pegasus didn’t respond, shaking her head in the cold. She wore a rough jacket, stitched together quickly by Rarity’s undoubtedly overworked hooves.

“Just leave me alone… P-Please.” The pegasus mewled pathetically, wiping away tears. Leaves all around had turned a sickly brown from the forced freeze, life struggling in the chill of the much too early winter.

“M-Miss Fluttershy, your friends need you! The animals can wait!”

“NO! THEY CAN’T!” she shouted, her eyes turning to a powerful stare that left the tiny mare frozen in place. “I won’t leave my woodland critters to freeze in the cold, e-even if Nightmare Moon thinks they should stay out here! If they stay, I stay! I-I…” She began to cry again, as the bitter snow leached away the warmth.

Recovering from the deadly gaze, Pumpkin unfroze herself from the ground - approaching the pegasus again.

“Nightmare Moon is making it snow, Fluttershy! We can fix it! I just need your help!”

“Don’t lie to ME!” The overwhelming stare returned in full force, petrifying the little mare in her shaky legs. “You think you can just come out into the gardens, and make me give up on these poor little animals, you’re WRONG, MISSY!”

By now, Fluttershy had made it to her hooves, staring the tiny witch down with every fiber in her body. “I have NEVER lost an animal to sickness! To the cold! I have done everything in my power to save EVERY creature, and I won’t let you tell me the Queen of Equestria is to blame for this cold! NO! It’s the evil Princess Celestia!”

The gaze didn’t waver, as Fluttershy tried to overwhelm Pumpkin with her gaze - and despite her best efforts, her intimidation was failing.

“N-No. It’s not Celestia.” Pumpkin mewled, wrenching her eyes away from Fluttershy’s. She instead looked at the Pegasi’s chest, regaining her growing confidence with each word. “Princess Celestia would never harm an innocent creature, M-Miss Fluttershy! You know that! Think! When do you take care of your animals? At night? No!”

“It’s not NIGHTMARE MOON’S fault Princess Celestia won’t raise the sun!” Fluttershy tried to catch her gaze again, tilting her head left then right to lock her in eye contact.

She needed confidence. She needed to break out of this! She needed… To be more like Tempest.

Her eyes fell to Fluttershy’s in a deadly glare, stepping forward until she was nose to nose with the Element. “Fluttershy! She’s going to kill us all! You, your animals, your friends! You remember your friends! You remember who you are, I can’t tell you! Remember! Please!”

Suddenly, a freezing chill of pure lunar energy cut through the sky - both of their eyes turning to face the action. Celestia darted out of the way of the blast - but Nightmare Moon was nearly as quick as her - and the sharp angle forced her to miss.

The beam fell across the land - cutting through two of the towers and part of the guest wing with ease - crashing and pouring over the distant mountains before it struck something far beyond.

FWOOSH! An eruption of green light shot out across the world - billowing the frozen branches and churning the pond into crackling shards of ice. The animals she once protected cried out in pain, as a part of the magic they held shattered into pieces. Instantly, the creatures there - huddled for warmth - collapsed on the spot from the dastardly effect of collapsed magic.

All animals were bound to the feywild. When a piece of it is damaged en masse like this - effects were obviously not healthy.

“Don’t you see, Fluttershy?! Nightmare Moon doesn’t care about your animals! She doesn’t care about anypony! Celestia is fighting for our lives - all of us! R-Remember!”

The gentle pegasus turned to the swiftly freezing corpses of the once clinging-to-life animals, none of which were ready for the weather shift. Her mind reeled, surrounded by death and decay on all fronts.

“Don’t you see, M-Miss Fluttershy? If Nightmare Moon cared about your animals, she’d at least give you the means to protect them! She wouldn’t destroy dozens of leagues of forest! S-She wouldn’t break the Feywild into pieces! F-Fluttershy, please! Think!”

The pegasus faltered, her irises slowly shifting to black. Her head fell, wings raising in warning as a bubbling rage fell in her chest.

“She… killed them…” the gentle pegasus spat.

“Your friends are waiting for us, in the throne room. L-Let’s go, Miss.”

Umbra dove through a nook in the trees, shadowy essence reforming into her body as her ears scanned for the sound of a chopping ax. There, she heard it - just beyond the brush.

“Applejack,” Umbra stated, cutting through the black vines and leaves around her with a single stroke of her scythe. Black vines? A telling sign of their fate, if they tarry.

“Why, if it ain’t…”

Applejack gasped, raising a hoof to her chest. “Q-QUEEN UMBRA?!”

“Relax, Applejack. I am an ally now, as you likely recall. I come here-”

Before she could finish that sentence, a massive block of wood came rocketting for her - her reaction dimmed by just how unexpected the attack was. She couldn’t even form into her shadow self, as the log crashed into her chest and sent her flying into a nearby tree.

Reeling from the surprise blow, an expert flick of a rope locked her to the trunk as the next log came hurtling towards her. This time, she narrowly avoided what would have been a concussion - or worse, a crushed skull - by stepping into the shadows, breaking free of her bonds instantly.

“Wretch! I am here to help you!”

“Yer’ lyin’!” Applejack snarled - kicking up another log to buck powerfully at Umbra. In response, the gray mare slashed her scythe straight through - stepping out of the way as the next one shattered into frozen splinters against a dying tree.

“If I were lying, I would have cleaved through you in the dark! Miserable creti-”

Another log was narrowly deflected by the haft of her scythe - Umbra sprouting up a barrier in front of her. “Why are you attacking me, you curr?! I helped fend off the SERAPH INVASION!”

“I rightly don’t recall yer hoof in that, yer highness, but I do recall you snappin’ up the Crystal Empire in yer dark hooves!”

Three more logs were bucked with such speed and ferocity that even her powerful magic cracked against it - she was strong, but very few were Applejack strong.

“YOU LITERALLY SAW ME LEAVE CANTERLOT CASTLE WITH SIR ARIN!”

“I saw a UNICORN leave, not no Umbra! When Twilight gets here with Rainbow Dash and them, I’ma blast you back to the dark where y’all shoulda stayed!”

That’s it. Umbra was patient. Umbra was very patient. But apparently, not patient enough. Tired of the charade, her magic seized Applejack’s forehooves - dangling her right side up, just as she had been not more than a week prior in her time.

“HURT ME ALL YA LIKE, I WON’T BREAK! I’MA BIG MARE! I FIGHT TO THE LAST!” Applejack kicked and bucked her legs, growling in frustration. Her hindlegs were where the strength was - but forehooves? Not so much. Though they were pillars of power, of course.

“Look me in the eyes, Applejack. My green eyes. I am an Umbrum no more. I fight for Equestria and my friends. You are the element of Honesty, you can see as such - correct?”

“I see a dirty dark pony tryin’ to torture me for whatever dangnabbit reason she has! Yer in the wrong Castle, Queen! The Empire is up north.”

Umbra eventually seized her by the tail instead - much to the disapproval of the powerful mare, as she locked eyes with the apple pony.

“Applejack. Lies are for the guilty. I do not lie. What do I gain from this - all of this? You are not this dim. Listen to me. Please listen, thine ears are as strong as the heart beating in your chest. I am here to help you.”

Applejack weighed her words like the living lie detector she was, forehooves crossing over her chest. “...Alright, Umbra. What’re you tryin’ to help me with?”

FWOOSH!

A crackling wave of energy cut through the air with a rattle of the earth, interrupting Umbra’s levitation spell as Applejack fell to the ground. The Fey had fallen, Umbra already knew. Dropping her would have been a fatal mistake for the unicorn, if AJ didn’t restrain herself from bucking a new hole in her chest.

Not out of trust. But because she finally realized, if Umbra wanted her dead - she would have been dead a hundred times over by now. And the fact that she’s telling the truth gave just that much more hesitation. Instead, their two met eyes - green on green, Umbra standing half a head taller than the blue collar pony.

“Listen to me as I say this, Applejack. The very world is in danger. I am as honest as a soul can be - Nightmare Moon has deceived you and your friends to stand against those who wish to save it. Princess Celestia is not your enemy. Understood?”

Umbra’s black irises met Applejack’s blue, as a hesitation filled her soul. Umbra wasn’t lying - but she had to ask.

“How do I reckon you haven’t been misled yourself?”

“You do not. You just have to trust me. Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy - they are all counting on you. Dare I say it - I am counting on you. Please.”

The Farmer pony’s eyes faltered - closing her eyes to think. The truth…

And when those irises shined again - they were a soft black. The light of the moon reflected off of them, as she gave a nod and fixed her hat.

“Alright. I reckon ya got some nerve to come out here like this - yer right. I’ve been sleepin’, it seems.”

“By the stars, I am grateful. I do not believe I could take another piece of lumber to the chest.” Umbra relaxed, giving an exasperated sigh. “Come. The throne room beckons us.”

FWOOSH!

All deer in the halls cried out, as pain hit them from within. Aster reeled, feeling his magical ember shuttering at the magical backlash.

“The fey has fallen! Steel yourselves for what may very well be our last battle!” Falon called over the pain rising in his heart. By now, the last of the deer had lined the walls, pillars - some even hung from the ceiling like sniper decor, dozens of Darkrunners and Spelldaggers lining the carpets in. More, still, stayed in reserve in the throne room - guarding it as a bastion of their safety, and the ultimate fall back if all is lost.

BOOM!

The door fell to splinters around Oarkin’s shoulders, as a massive boulder was narrowly avoided by the deer frontliners. The magi - amulets gleaming - lifted the rock and roughly tossed it back into the invading army, as it crashed into the temporary bridge before being knocked from the moat.

The giant turned to face the thousands of stallions and mares charging forward with spears drawn.

“Oarkin! You’ve done your part! Protect the throne room!” Falon called, the giant Seraph - having learned his lesson - nodded, billowing his massive wings behind. Knocking several of the uninitiated ponies to the floor, many more tumbling into the frozen, rock laden moat.

Once he vanished with a slam of the oaken doors, the first volley of arrows soon launched with unmatched accuracy - taking down no less than two hundred armored Equestrians in one volley. The Darkrunners in lead charged for the approaching front line - giant blades swinging in wide arcs over their shoulders to turn ponies into spectres on the battlefield. Before their ranks could split apart, an armored doe called for a retreat for the castle walls - dragging in another fresh wave of disorganized ponies for the slaughter.

By now, the charge of her corrupt army far below caught Nightmare Moon’s eye - a victorious laugh swift to follow.

“HAHAHA! The gate has fallen, PRINCESS! Your friends are as good as dead!”

In Nightmare Moon’s mirth - Celestia took her chance to dive for the soon-to-be plummeting Rarity, the quick dash forcing Nightmare Moon to do much the same; onyx bat wings pummeling the air to catch up in a flurry of falling snow.

Celestia used a trick from Pumpkin; distract her enemies and wing it. Her horn flashed in a brilliant spark of radiant light - engulfing the dark mare in a blinding burst. Even with a magic barrier, Nightmare Moon couldn’t stop the max intensity ray from completely stunning her in air. She cried out, her slits turning paper thin to block out the light.

Celestia had just seconds to save Rarity, as those blue irises saw that darting Princess coming for her. She screamed, and let go - tumbling from the air in kicking, bucking hooves.

“And… gotcha!” Celestia shouted, holding the marshmallow pony in golden magic. “You’re safe, my subject.”

“Don’t eat me! I’m not a smooooore!” Rarity began to sob, eyeliner running down her cheeks.

“I would never hurt you, Rarity! You used to be a guest at my castle, the Galas! You designed wonderful dresses - remember? For your friends!” The Princess spoke quietly, steadying her wings to bring her and her ‘maiden’ ever lower. Before she could get far, a blast of chilling lunar ozone crashed into her exposed back - dropping the once again screaming unicorn in agony. This time, though - her eyes had shifted to their usual black, as Rarity awoke in terror.

Celestia’s armor fell to shreds around her, having absorbed all of the magic it could - leaving her wings frozen and stiff. She beat them to the best of her ability, just as Rainbow Dash appeared from the rubble and - without a moment to spare - saved Rarity from her certain demise.

“HOW BRAVE YOU ARE, SISTER!” Nightmare Moon laughed, as Celestia crashed to the roof in pain. She rolled to recover from the likely deadly fall, clattering her legs against the stone to wrench herself standing once more.

With a flash of her horn, the ice melted off - clutching her halberd tight in her magical grip. She only had one last move up her sleeve - something she developed herself; a solar flash, like she used at the carnival. But she couldn’t use it. If she did, it could very well be her last.

Behind her, the hole in the Throne Room yawned - she chanced a curious look inside, as Rainbow Dash settled the last of the Elements together. Her eyes met with Tempest’s - who stopped herself short from blasting a firework-like arc of lightning into the air, to signal her return.

Celestia gave one last shot of her magic, a blast to buy her seconds at most - as she vanished back into the throne room. Nightmare Moon was hot on her tail, and with a desperate flash of her solar magic - threw a barrier in the massive hole leading inside.

Nightmare Moon, in her frenzy - smashed a blast of pure lunar power hard against the unwavering shield. Her mind was so full of bitter spite that she didn’t want any other entrance inside, in this heart stopping moment. She wanted Celestia dead. And she wanted to see that smug look on her face vanish when she cracked her magic to golden shards.

Chapter 83 - Final Hours

The white Alicorn crashed roughly into the floor, grunting as Arin’s magic flashed over her in a quick, ranged Antithesis. Immediately, the six elements rushed to her aid - her horn still radiating energy as she held off Nightmare Moon for another spirit-crushing blast of lunar might.

“Princess!” Twilight cried, dozens of reserve deer taking aim at the barricade above them; no less than a hundred now lined the corners of the room, ready to protect the party in a moment’s notice. Oarkin kept his gaze locked to the door, just in case the worst happened and the soldiers outside could break through the White Tail Line.

“I’m alright, Twilight - but I believe now it’s your time to… what happened to your wings?”

The purple Alicorn sighed, clasping a hoof over her eyes in shame. “Nightmare Moon convinced me to pluck them clean by my own muzzle. I don’t know how long it’ll take to grow back, and it’s too late now.”

“Hmhm! A bad case of feather abuse will do that to you! You should stop by my shop sometime for a bottle of Feather-Free Flight Fixer! Don’t worry, beautiful Purple-fry, I got rid of the infinitely growing feather side effect forever ago from the brew, when I found it was permanent! D’ohoho~ Let me check my bag later, I might have a spare bottle!”

Celestia glared up at Vee, before rolling her eyes to gently hug her former Student’s side. “It’s okay. You don’t - hrg…” She faltered, horn flickering as Nightmare Moon crashed into the barrier with Nocturne, the powerful Lunar magic cracking the shield. The morning mare was quick to repair the damage, before turning back to Twilight. “You don’t need wings, you have your friends by your side. You know exactly what to do-”

“Tia! Nightmare Moon! She’s moved to the entry hall!” Arin called, pointing to the giant hole above. The distracted Princess didn’t even notice as her corrupt Sister came to her senses, and gave up the charade. She must have taken notice of the Elements gathered by her side.

Oarkin hesitated at hearing those words. He was ordered to stay here and guard the door, yes - and he failed last time, but… Last time, he fought her alone. This time would be different. He would have the backing of several hundred deer, ready to challenge her.

Before Tempest could order that he abandon the idea, he burst through the doors once again, and into the entry hall to challenge fate. He wouldn’t lose hope; this time, with an army at his side, he knew he could not lose.

Nightmare Moon snarled in frustration when her Sister hugged tightly over her now disloyal subjects. If that crying piece within her had relented, this little hole in her leadership wouldn’t have existed to begin with. But she stayed her blade, and Luna’s pleading voice.

She could not afford them the chance to regroup. Where were her soldiers?! They should have taken the castle back by now! Surely Flash Sentry wasn’t that daft to fail her in such spectacular fashion?! With his mind intact, no less!

Her wings flashed - barreling over the front gates to inspect the entry hall; the immense damage from trebuchets had left peeling stone crumbling around the shattered-ice moat, but otherwise - she could only see no less than a few dozen… four legged defenders. Deer? When did the deer -...

That city. In White Tail Wood. Her Sister found the old deer fortress, hidden by magic of some means. She would take it from them, after her victory here was assured. She flew above the surging crowd of Equestria’s bravest, entering the Entry Hall with a sneer. Both blades cleaving through the air in tow.

Her ponies, seeing her take the lead - slowed to await her command. But when she stopped just past the front gate, hesitation caused a few of the less brave brainwashed stallions and mares to slow, causing a jam of bodies unable to decide what to do - some spilling for and tumbling into the ground, causing more problems as ponies came to aid them in the crush.

Nightmare Moon looked on in absolute shock around the room. It’s like she entered a hunter’s lodge, hundreds of bucks and does resting from the walls by ivy vine enchantments - bows by the hundred aimed at her billowing black bat wings and armored body.

“Surrender, Nightmare Moon! And you will live to see another twilight’s eve!” a giant gold flecked buck called, resting a massive bow by the bottom anchor in the floor. A single, giant spear of an arrow was aimed for her chest - a deadly bolt that could shatter her body to splintered pieces.

Her other half reeled in terror at the prospect of turning into a pincushioned corpse, causing her to hesitate in the air.

BOOM!

The Throne Room doors threw open with such intensity that she was left in fear; her mind running with thoughts of Leotoln as the massive mountain stood alive before her. He said nothing. He held no hesitation. Instantly, his hands shot forward - grasping her entire form in silvery magic - smashing the Nightmare’s ebony form with such strength that her own power was nearly strangled out of her.

“NOW!” he roared - and all bucks present released their volley into the singular point in space; hundreds of bows twanging, Daggerspells bolting arcane waves in an attempt to cast Silence over her magic - Darkrunners fending off recuperating soldiers from breaking their line desperately.

Even with the front line’s ability to quell the numbers, they were out of their element - with no trees or brush to bolt into, wounds began to stack without backup. Dozens soon began to fall, much to the panicked bleats of their kin. Vine hooks darted forward to latch at their armor, tugging the downed bucks out of the way.

The final arrow launched from King Aster’s massive greatbow, the weapon meant to pierce the steely hide of flame wielding dragons - and crashed into Nightmare Moon’s magic faltering armored chest. Her weapons spun in the air, as the strike range true. The Nightmare cried out, the sheer power of the singular arrow sending her flying out the front gate - rolling and crashing into her far army behind. Mares, stallions, siege engineers - it did not matter. Any that attempted to catch the porcupined ‘princess’ were roughly stabbed by hundreds of blood stained arrows - as she came to a fatal halt on the floor.

There was a quiet on the battlefield on all sides, as all eyes left in this cold, bitter world fell upon Nightmare Moon.

No celebration was given just yet. King Aster seized this lull - and jumped the railing, to come to the aid of his dying bucks. Calling his Confessors, his antlers flashed in Mending Wave - bringing the near dead back to their cloven hooves in seconds; he felt an immense drain on his ember from the act alone, as his Feylight energy had long faded. He found one of several dead bucks, and closed his eyes. A radiant, ethereal book glowing before him as he channeled magic into the first page of Resurrection.

Just as he brought one of the dozens dead back to life, a cackling laugh broke the looming silence. Aster’s gaze slowly turned to the shifting mass of shadows beyond the tides of still ponies, ripping herself from the pool of blood she made. Her armor spent, rent, crushed, punctured, and fractured - her horn spiraled in demented moonlight.

“Fine then! If you wish for me to embrace the stars - then so be it! You will all embrace the moon in kind. For eternity.” Her bat wings spread to engulf the air - flying high into the sky to hover far above the castle she once called home. She gave one last look to the dying sun - laughing in absolute bliss.

She would not lose now. She wouldn’t perish under their assault. She had learned her lesson. If tact would give her no results - then the scorched earth will. Her horn swirled with Lunar energy - the moon painted red as she ripped it from its place in the stars. Her ember flashing in daunting power within her chest, as the intensity of the act echoed across the sky in deadly, magical waves.

What was once an hour of distant sunlight now became minutes, as the moon fell ever closer to Equis. The earth below began to rattle and shake, the Nightmare’s eyes settling on the glowing red orb approaching the land with haste.

The dreaming ponies stopped to gaze at the red orb in wonder; petrified as the swirling magics echoed in their mind. The deer watched on in terror, as dark, whirling power began to shatter windows in a billowing intensity. From the roots of the gardens, sprang black vines - that latched on to whatever they deemed fit. Pulling. Tugging. The ethereal creature they belonged to shuttering - flashing in and out of reality far, far below.

“TWILIGHT AND FRIENDS! MOVE!” Tempest screamed, as the ponies began to gallop past the stunned armies. The earth rattling beneath their hooves in each desperate bound. All at once, the dream realm shuttered and fell - as even its magic was encompassed by the seeping darkness, reality crying out as the thinning veil of life whimpered at the moon’s majesty.

Celestia, Arin, Pumpkin, Vee, Tempest, and Umbra - in a frenzy of wings, hooves, magic, and a broom - rushed to join them, as the Equestrian soldiers began to snap awake one by one. Seeing the massive ball of death rocketing towards them, they attempted to gallop and scream for the hills; the ponies scattering in seconds through sheer terror.

Now, all hope lay on the shoulders of six ponies, that stopped far below the moon-drunk monster billowing her bloody laughter in the sky.

In a shimmering haze, they joined together - calling upon the magics of the world. But none came. Why? WHY?

“What’s wrong?!” Celestia called, landing roughly to the floor in a pump of her wings.

“I-I don’t - I don’t know! The magic isn’t there! A-And without wings, there’s no way Harmony can reach her this high!”

“It is not there because it does not exist!” Umbra’s shadowy stampede came to an end, her eyes glaring up at the creature tartarus bent on destroying the world. “The planes have fallen! There is no balance left in the world - no harmony! LOOK!”

Her hoof fell to the distant horizon, as only a sliver of the sun was left among the bountiful, swirling stars.

At this point, Falon and Aster joined them, the shaking stones far below nearly throwing the grounded party off balance.

“Celestia!” Aster called, nearly crashing into her side. “The Elements!”

“The magic is gone, Aster! There is no Fey - and in seconds, there won’t be a sun! The balance is no more!”

The King began to panic, as Seabreeze clung on to his antlers for dear life.

“I cannae believe ya dragged me outta me hollow for this nonsense ya bloody doughtnut!” He cried, facing the moon tumbling towards them.

“Celestia, Aster - you two are bastions of your realms! You both can grant the Elements the balance needed to call Harmony once more!” Umbra declared, stomping her hoof. The two shared a look of pure desperation - nodding to each other.

“I never thought I’d die side by side with a pony,” Aster whispered softly, his magic welling within his ember in green light.

“How about side by side with a friend?” the Princess said quietly in reply, as she summoned the last of the sun within her chest.

“Aye. I can do that.”

Their magic beamed in reply, before showering Twilight and her anxiety riddled friends in glimmering gold and green. As a result, Aster’s white coat shimmered and faded to a soft brown, and Celestia’s brilliant red mane was reduced once more to a soft pink. Immediately, they attempted to channel Harmony once more, but…

“It’s… it’s not enough!” Twilight cried, tears welling in her eyes. She really was a failure, at the worst of times, too. And now, she would pay for it, in the loss of the lands she loved.

“No.” Arin frowned, shaking his head. He pointed to the scattering army that ran for Canterlot City’s protective walls. Among them, the forms of flashing spirits settled back into reality; unharmed, just as Vee promised. “The dream realm is no more. The ponies are waking. Solar, Lunar, Fey, Shadow, Chaos… but you lack dreams. The astral connection. Soul. Tia, you told me about the planes of magic, back during our time on the moon. And there is one more we’ve been neglecting… that I have been neglecting. That I once claimed unimportant, three years ago. Luna’s plane; not the moon… but one of dreams.”

“I…” Celestia faltered, raising a hoof to counter his argument - Arin wasn’t a mage, he… She thought he didn’t know that much about magic. But he’s grown so much. He’s changed in so many ways. And of all the experts gathered here, he was the only one who remembered the smallest detail, from a mare he once loved.

“Arin is right. We need Luna right now, to cast Harmony. Unless?...” Celestia’s eyes shifted to Vee, who shook her head.

“Nuh uh, Sun-fry - nice mane, by the way - but I’ve snooted out the last bits of my magic myself. Also, I’m an expert on dreams ‘cause my soul is partly ripped from my body - so I dream walk easily. Bad feathers with ol’ Scary-horn, and all that jazz. I’m all moon power otherwise.”

“Then we need Luna. And there’s only two among us that can reach out to her, deep inside Nightmare Moon - Celestia, and Arin. If there’s a way either of you can convince her to give up this insanity, it would be through both of you. You two are our only hope. Go!” Tempest called, pointing to the crazed alicorn above.

Celestia, magic spent and exhausted - gave one last request. “Arin, I used all of my magic on this. I can’t fly. You’ll have to carry me.”

The Seraph gulped; it was a long way up to Nightmare Moon. Seraphs were slow climbers, he could never make it. Aster, in his exhaustion, saw this hesitation - and gave one last bit of advice.

“Use your magic to seize her spirit, and pull yourself, Arin. There’s still a soul in her, I can feel it - fighting for life. Go.”

“And remember to bring the light within you!” Falon called after them both. “And good luck, my son,” he said quietly, much to the confused noises of the mane six - save Rainbow Dash, who was already aware of this odd… predicament.

In a flash of his brilliant wings, Arin darted high into the sky at the pump of his pinions, reaching a magic gleaming hand to grasp over the weak soul within the Nightmare.

Chapter 84 - Run

The distant bell of Canterlot’s Clocktower chimed at the strike of the hour, as a soul chilling silence filled the freezing air high above. With the momentum of his magic, Arin fluttered his wings to stabilize not more than two dozen hooves from the onyx mare - his wings beating to stay aloft.

“Nightmare Moon, stop this madness! You’ll kill all of us - and for what? Petty revenge?” Celestia called out, the dark alicorn laughing much quieter now as her blood stained magic wrenched the moon from its orbit.

“The world will die today, Sister. Isn’t the moonrise beautiful?”

Celestia ignored the question, sighing. “Luna, I know you can hear me in there. I need you to stop this, please. If not for me, not Equestria - then for Arin, for love.”

“There’s no room left in his heart for her! I am not daft, Princess! Umbra has claimed his heart, as I-... As SHE knew she would!” The snarl that met the solar mare was enough for Arin to scowl in frustration. His wings pumping to keep them aloft, as Celestia refused to relent.

“Then why won’t you just kill me instead?! Take ME Nightmare Moon, but spare the world!”

“PFFTHAHAHA! I WOULD, CURR! YOU WRETCH! WHORSE! But your little Sister won’t let me! No matter HOW HARD I TRY!” The dark mare emboldened her horn’s potent magic, her chest gleaming a deep, rich, starlit blue as she poured every fiber of her other’s soul into the moon.

“That’s it. I’ve had enough of this!” Arin gently motioned for Celestia to crawl onto his back - to which point she refused.

“No! I can’t let you kill her, Arin! She’s still my Sister! I won’t!”

“I’m not going to kill her! I was going to check my bag for something to knock her out! That isn’t an arrow, like a pot or… something. Like you did on the moon; it could work! Probably! Don’t you trust me?!”

The Princess settled her gentle magenta eyes on his own, before sighing. “If words can not reach her…”

Arin flicked the giant alicorn over his back to settle between his wings, turning his hands into his satchel. He stopped, carefully withdrawing a few ketchup stained glass shards - the label sticking to his hand. He read it over, a rather curious name to give ketchup… one he recognized, from what feels like months ago, from Vee’s shop.

“I have an idea. It’s stupid, Celestia. But it’s the only thing left that could work. Luna is still in there, Nightmare Moon can’t hide the light of her spirit - and she sees everything Nightmare Moon sees. We need a violent reaction from her, enough to weaken their bond - so that I can cleanse this curse with Mirror Light.”

“I… what’s your plan, Arin?...”

“You’ll have to trust me, and simply play along. Remember what you told me at the Carnival about your acting?...”

“It’s terrible?”

“The other thing.”

The morning mare blinked, recalling a key detail about her sister. But why wouldn’t he just… tell her the plan? She could improv so much better if she just had a few seconds to think.

“Fine, Nightmare Moon!” Arin called, “if you want your sister to die so badly, I’ll do it myself! If you stop this madness - your night can last forever! There’s no need to kill us all!”

Wait. Celestia didn’t like where this was going. Especially as Arin tugged her back to rest against his green vested chest.

The Nightmare’s magic, despite her overwhelming urge to bring about the end of Celestia’s world - stopped. The moon groaned in the sky - tumbling steadily down, but for the most part, stalled without her power ripping it free from its astral roots.

“HAHAHA! REALLY NOW?! BETRAYED BY YOUR VERY DEAREST - N-No! Don’t! QUIET! BY THE ONE YOU GAVE HOPE TO! A HOME! ARIN, PL-”

The Nightmare forced her blood dripping muzzle away from the sight, snarling curses to herself as her wings faltered in the air. “SILENCE!”

Arin gave Celestia a look, a firm glare - was… was he really going to?... No. He wouldn’t. Best… best to play along.

“Oh noooo! My friend! He is… going to betray me!”

Immediately, the voice inside Nightmare Moon went haywire - despite the fact that Nightmare Moon deadpanned, turning to face the duo with absolute annoyance. To think that these two thought of her so lowly to fall for such horrible acting.

“You’re a foal to believe I-... A-Arin, y-you… l-let her- SERIOUSLY, SHE COULDN’T ACT HER WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG?! HOW ARE YOU… Buck it! I am DONE with these games!” The dark mare snarled, lifting her hooves to the sky as the magic began to gleam once more - but again, her eyes fell to Arin, as he lifted up something… it looked sharp, probably.

“NO! ARIN! DON’T HURT MY SIS-” Nightmare Moon slapped herself hard, spitting up blood. “It’s NOT even a KNIFE! SILENCE!”

Arin quietly ran the broken ketchup bottle along Celestia’s neck, spilling the Royal Blood brand tomato sauce along her fur. Immediately, the Princess nearly giggled from the tickling sensation - before throwing her head back in mock pain.

“I! Oh no! I am dying Luna! Save meee!~” Celestia nearly snorted, as Arin lifted the ‘dying’ mare up. Showing off all of that lovely sticky redness in the dark.

“TIA! CELLY! NO!” Nightmare Moon cried - as perhaps the strangest occurrence yet to date followed. What looked like the shape of Luna, her light blue mane - tried to pry herself free of Nightmare Moon’s body, in a thin, ghostly, spectral form. Instantly, Arin shot his hand forward - targeting the spirit of the struggling alicorn.

Nightmare Moon screamed in frustration, clawing at the shape - her horn twinkling to abuse her astral powers to try and plunge her back in. And there, Arin saw it.

Her ember. Luna’s ember. A gleaming point of light. He closed his eyes, and with a flash of spiraling sigils - Blessing engulfed her spirit, and in the reflection of her soul, Curse enraptured Nightmare Moon in a potent stun.

The magic surged through her ghostly form, and she ripped herself free - fading into existence as the small, blue maned Alicorn he knew and loved, falling on pointless wings to the grass far below. Nightmare Moon, her form frozen stiff - began to tumble to the ground as her body fought to break the short lived petrification.

But she couldn’t. Nightmare Moon had no soul. She was a creature of the dark, a shell - and lacked an ember of her own making, only the faint mimicry of one. With the remnants of the power she stole, she began to struggle weakly as Arin plunged to capture his first lover in his magic, Celestia clutching tightly to his chest as they fell.

Luna’s eyes shot up to Arin, the still very much alive Celestia filling her wings to deepen their dive.

“S-SISTER?!” Luna called - just as Arin seized her lithe form in his faltering telekinesis, struggling to straighten his wings and break the winds beneath them. He grabbed a hold of the blue mare, and not more than a hundred hooves from the ground - two sets of regal pinions engulfed the chilly winds, like a giant, fluffy duo of parachutes.

“Luna! Oh Luna! Thank goodness you’re alright!” Celestia cried, wiggling in Arin’s hold to seize her smaller sister close - forcing her snout right into the ketchup.

Luna, being a bit of a ketchup addict, might have given it a lick. Or seven… teen. Much to the worry of her older Sister, just as they touched down once more. Celestia’s fluff now clean of the red stains.

Already, not more than a dozen hooves beyond - the cruppled form of Nightmare Moon had slammed into the dirt. Blood pooling around the shell as whimpers of pain soon met their ears.

The moment Luna was on her hooves - she was beset by the colorful rainbow of the mane six, crying out happily at the rescued Princess. Celestia, thinking she evaded the hug pile, was reeled right back in by a powerful tug of a lasso; the ponies hugging on as the last edge of night gleamed on the horizon.

Before the cuddle pile could drag in more susceptible targets, the world churned and shaked - immediately breaking the moment as the pile of equines split, giving Luna fresh air to breathe once more.

“Lulu! We need your magic to banish Nightmare Moon, once and for all - and end this terrible night!” Celestia whimpered, shaking the tired blue alicorn by her shoulders.

“Huh? I-If you insist, Sister - who am I sharing it with?”

Celestia pointed a hoof dully at the mane six, her blank stare carving right through the rescued mare.

“OH. Right. Yes! Of course!” Luna’s dim ember gleamed in her chest, and despite the overwhelming exhaustion - pooled her Dream Magic deep into the six ponies. By now, their hearts were alight with thrumming power - balanced magic radiating off them in waves, as all eyes fell on the pathetic, crumpled darkness before them. Even in these circumstances, last words were necessary - not for tactics, but for the heart and soul.

“I-I…” The black alicorn spat, blood choked and trembling. “I-I don’t… s-suppose… you consider… mercy, an option?...” she pleaded, beaten and bashed within an inch of her life. She still had dozens of wooden shafts sticking out of her from various points - and the remnants of Aster’s dragonslayer arrow protruded from her destroyed, caved in armor. At that, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie gave their verdicts, in that order.

“Eeeenope!”

“I’m afraid not, darling.”

“Pffthahaha! Yeah right!”

“I-I um… d-don’t think so, M-Miss Nightmare Moon. N-Not after what you did to all of those defenseless animals.”

“In another world, yes. But after the vast destruction and wanton rampage - and the sheer vile, wicked nature of your heart? No.”

“I ‘unno, what’re you offering?”

“Pinkie Pie, seriously?” Rainbow whirled on the bubbly pony, who shrugged her shoulders - hooves splayed in the air.

“Hey, worth a shot! You never know what’s in the mystery box until you peek. But in that case… nopey-dopey! Back in the moon you go.”

“Curse you… a-all of you… especially you, Arin. In common tongue… FUCK… YOU…”

Arin rolled his eyes, and deployed his most deadly move by far on the near paralyzed alicorn. A tactical snoot boop, right to the snout. Hard. The jarred Nightmare spat up blood, reeling in pain as her nerves sparked and rattled.

“Twilight is going to banish you. Twilight is going to banish you, so hard.” He smiled, stepping away from the broken mare. At that, distance was made - Oarkin, Umbra, Tempest, Vee, Pumpkin, Celestia, Luna, Aster, Falon, Arin - they gave her a wide berth, as the mane six gathered their power within themselves.

Their eyes flashed a deadly white, but Nightmare Moon wasn’t going to just take it lying down. Even though she was clearly paralyzed - her faint lunar magic had just enough strength to rip an arrow from her neck, and gash it deep into her veins. The last of her crimson blood spilling in a pool around her - choking up the final desperate breaths of air, as her life began to fade.

“Wait - NO! STOP!” Umbra realized, much too late - as the wave of Harmony began to spiral into the starlit sky. Before it could even tilt down to strike its target, a dozen black vines sprung from the ground - ripping the failed seed back into the rumbling earth.

The essence of Nightmare Moon was gone moments before Harmony wiped the slate clean. A churning groan from beneath the ground filling the air with horror. Celestia turned to face Falon and Aster, her light magenta eyes quivering as she gave one piece of advice. Not just to the deer - but to everypony.

“Run.”

And they did. They ran back to the halls of the castle, as massive, mountain sized tentacles broke through the ground in a rapid ascension; the deer soldiers within seeing the danger and fleeing back down to the mineshaft - but the Entity was there, as well. A thick tentacle vine had sprouted - seeking the light of souls, hungry to reap its patiently awaited reward.

Huddled in the castle, Celestia turned her eyes to her student. Their lifeline. The last pony alive that could save the valiant defenders, before it was too late.

“Twilight. Form a mass portal gate at the mountain’s peak - where the knights trained. Teleport Aster, Falon, your friends, the deer, and yourself to the Smoky Mountains Leyline. Do not question it. Do not hesitate. Find chalk, and go.”

“But Princess-”

“YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE CAPABLE! GO!” the Alicorn shouted, leering over Twilight with absolute authority. The plucked pony galloped towards the library with friends on her tail, as another massive tentacle sprouted from the depths of the mountain, seeking a foothold in the hills to help retch its body free. Huddled by hundreds of panicked deer, Celestia turned to Tempest in a hurry.

“Gather these soldiers and lead them to the Mountainview; the peak of the training trail. Through the main gardens! It’s the highest point, the safest point. Head EAST, keep your eyes to the trails for potholes - understood? Pumpkin, Vee - give her direction from above, GO! RETURN WHEN THEY ARE SAFE!” the Princess commanded, but not before ripping Sun Song from Tempest’s side.

“Tia?!” Tempest called, but the Princess pointed her hoof and billowed.

“GO! ASTER - FALON! DEERS ON HER AND THE WITCHES! FLEE!”

As the thousand heads began to funnel out in a rush, Celestia searched the floor for Nocturne, and seized it in her teeth - the blade relenting to her touch.

“Luna. It’s time we reclaim the fraction of power we stored in these swords long ago. We need to bring the dawn. Understood?”

“I-... yes Sister.” Luna nodded, the duo quickly raising their blades up to their horns, as Arin and Oarkin watched; growing antsy by the moment. Umbra hesitated as well, aimless and without direction - as the once pristine blades quickly lost their luster, before turning to a drab gray. Like the very life had been sucked from them.

The difference between the duo was immediate; Tia’s mane glowed again, and Luna’s hair grew slightly twinkly - but otherwise, not much else changed.

“You three, on us. Umbra, we need your expertise. Oarkin, your strength. Arin - you’re our healer. We don’t have any time. MOVE!”

“Where are we even going?!” Arin called as the small party galloped into the Throne Room in a blaze of hooves and armored boots - the massive, wriggling tentacle of pitch blackness crashing into stone and wall, shattering pillars alike. It had sprung from the mines, far below - hungry for prey, for its feast.

“Luna and I will bring the sunlight, and end this terrible curse - Arin, Umbra, Oarkin - destroy this tendril, and clear a path. We have to find its heart. It must have a heart. Somewhere. And if it’s sprouting from beneath Mount Celeste - its torso will be in those crippled tunnels. If it reaches the surface, we’ll never kill it - it will have total control of its body! Now, MOVE!”

Celestia flicked her abandoned halberd off the Throne Room floor, passing it straight to Oarkin. He held the weighty, long haft in his great fingers - testing the supple weight of it.

“This… will be a fine topor.” He laughed, despite the ebony fleshy tendril lunging to swipe at the grounded trio. His lightning fast reflexes whipped the blade forward - gutting a massive gash in the wriggling vine, as Celestia and Luna both took to the air.

Chapter 85 - Wind Blade

Umbra’s scythe swiped at the black tendril, cleaving through the black-spurting flesh with ease. It wriggled in agony, as her shadow form spirited her away before it could lunge for her. Oarkin darted forward with a powerful beat of his wings - splitting the remaining length in twain.

Arin clutched his arming sword at the ready, as the massive vine whipped at the air spewing thick lashes of its blood.

“Surely this is not all?” Arin asked. Umbra shared a look with him, before motioning with her horn to look outside. Dozens more black vines - each nearly the size of the mountain - had ripped through the shaking earth.

“Oh. Right.”

The deep, rich Lunar magic above began to dissipate in clearing streaks of the sky. Without Nightmare Moon’s essence keeping the fabric of reality ripped to shreds, it could naturally begin to mend itself - but not quick enough for Celestia, who struggled to move the last inch of the sun free of the horizon, and into the sky that so desperately needed it.

“Sister! Together!” Luna called, as she pushed the moon away and lowered it far east; Celestia grunting as the blue alicorn’s magic - empowered by the excess lunar power - helped cup the last inch of the glowing ball of flames far in the distance. Together, the sun peaked from the abyss of the astral plane, and began to climb high into the sky once more.

Daylight. Fresh, glorious, warming sun - it rested far overhead, as the world began to wash in its majesty. Celestia nearly gasped in this warmth, the last moment of respite before plunging into the dark once more.

She held the dull blade by her side, turning to face Luna with worry.

“What you see here is the same abyssal monster that killed our mother, Luna. Starswirl - he’s our father! I learned this from his first journal, that he burned before the great quest east. The pony refugees settled in this land, and he obscured this history from us both, because he and Queen Astra - they summoned it, by mistake.

“Luna, this creature - when it crashed into the world, it captured you, as a foal, and planted the seed of darkness that became Nightmare Moon! We are twins! Identical twins! But the Entity’s corruption turned you blue, and ripped your soul partially from your body - giving you the ability to dream walk! This is why your magic can enter the dreams of others! Vee, that purple pegasus you saw - Nightmare Moon attempted to do the same thing to her, to devour the light of her soul - but she failed, and cursed her instead!

“Every vile thing that has happened in Equestria, has come from the Entity - including threats once unknown! The Umbrum, possibly Changelings, the Pony of Shadows, hundreds more - the effects rippled across our land and weakened the natural barriers between the planes! This is why Tirek appeared! Discord! The Wendigoes! The sun and moon - they lost their natural orbit, because our mother drew from their power in a final attempt to DESTROY this creature!”

Celestia panted, wild eyed as the Sun once more rested directly overhead.

“Then how do we defeat it?!” Luna called, the morning mare quick to reply.

“I have a plan!”

Immediately, Luna’s eyes widened in terror. Only she knew what this ‘plan’ could mean; because Celestia would say this when she had no idea what to do. ‘I have a plan’ was code for ‘hope and pray’. She was never a step ahead, not once in her life - the imbalance in the throne room, the constant threats plaguing the lands left unchecked, the fact that she couldn’t even best a single threat on her own in her long life - she only had the strength of others to support her, and little more.

Her Sister only had blind hope. However faint it could be. That giving what you can back to life, sharing warmth, mirth, happiness with others - it was the only thing she could do.

“Come, Lulu! We have to at least try!” Celestia called, darting down into the churning earth - landing in the throne room once more.

“I… we’re doomed,” Luna whispered, beady eyed - but followed close behind, regardless. Better to die with dignity than without.

Umbra yelped as a black vine lashed blindly at her, several thinner tendrils springing up from the shaft unbidden. Her armor cracked as her bones shattered - scythe sent flying only to be caught by Luna’s magic.

Arin darted his hand forward, engulfing her soul within his magic grasp. Like a bolt of lighting, he flew towards the tumbling shadow, scooping her up in a flurry of wings. Antithesis chimed, the radiant bell of healing mending the crushed bone and organ alike.

Luna spun the scythe in a quick circle, slashing hard at a black tentacle. Dark blood churning in sick pumps in the air, as the dissolving mass of flesh wriggled pitifully on the floor. In a flash, another tentacle came to it’s aid - the blue Alicorn’s magical barrier springing up at the last moment. It slammed down over her guard, the sheer weight and power shattering the arcane barricade instantly - as her body bounced from the concussive blow.

Airborn, the same tentacle whipped hard at her barrel - slamming into the stunned Alicorn’s chest with a groaning slam. She flew out of the throne room in a tumble, smashing the railing and plummeting to the entry hall with a rumbling of stone. Coughing, Luna spat up a wad of thick blood from her muzzle - struggling onto her dainty legs. There, she saw it - Dreamcutter. Her old blade, that Nightmare Moon had dropped in the cervine volley.

Arin set Umbra down with a quick nod, flashing Resurgence over her form as a goodbye gift. His wings billowed to Luna’s aid, but in that same moment - a thin, black vine seized his leg. In a yelp, he instinctively shot his grappling hook forward at a nearby rail - reeling at the magic enchantment with all of his might.

His muscles began to sear and burn, leg threatening to give out before the ripping force severed - Oarkin laughing amidst the doom.

“HAHAHA! GARDENING! NOTHING MORE, KING!” he called, giving Arin his chance to escape.

Celestia swung the now simple blade with abandon, her sparkling red magic cleaving through thinner vines with ease. Even without magic, the sword was still razor sharp - maintained by the magic now gone. But this was a losing battle. Even as Umbra found her scythe again and swung in fury, for each vine they lobbed off - another appeared. And without a way down into the depths of the Managem Mines, they likely wouldn’t be able to find the center of this wriggling mass. There has to be a way to beat this… thing!

Arin’s wings flashed, landing by Luna’s side. Instantly, Antithesis engulfed her form with the ring of a bell - the mare springing to life and into his arms.

“Arin, my Knight! I’m so sorry!” she cried. “For everything I’ve done! I’ve said! I have been a horrible lover to you!”

“And I’ve been much the same, Lulu. I… may have abandoned our love for another.” He frowned, as Luna seized the towering Dreamcutter in her magic.

“And? It is common for stallions to seek harems for their own herd, is it not? Or… did this change, during my banishment? I have been rather… daft, when it comes to many things...”

“...”

Arin didn’t know how to respond to that right now. Their talk could wait. That bombshell could wait. In fact, all of that could wait. What’s more important was saving Equestria - no, Equis from certain demise.

“We’ll talk later! Throne Room, now!”

And with a flash of wings, the duo quickly sought to return.

“IT IS NO USE, PRINCESS TIA! TOO MANY VINES!” Oarkin billowed, his massive wings beating out of the way of another crashing tendril. Another snatched his leg - ripping the giant to the floor before throwing his body into the sky. With a crumbling BOOM, his iron body slammed into the shattered wreckage of Bringer of Dawn, putting a massive dent in one of the surviving canons.

“Ow,” he groaned quietly, as Umbra severed the intruding vine. Freeing the Mountain before he could be slammed again.

Canons?

“The airship! The canons - they’re still here!” Celestia called to Umbra, who faded into shadow to avoid another swipe; but it did nothing. The tentacle slapped her shadow form back into physicality - the shattered-armor mare tumbling out of the way with a grunt. She attempted to right herself onto her hooves, but an intense, lightning jab of pain stopped her.

Umbra lifted her gray hoof, the bone shattered and broken, puncturing her skin and fur alike in a gush of blood. Her body refused to move, as the damage began to make itself apparent. She was down, too.

A crashing tentacle sought to swat the former Umbrum like the fly she had been - but Celestia darted in at the last moment, cutting hard into the massive length of twitching, writhing, black flesh. Sun Song, even in its faded state - slid right through the tendral, the wigglin mass flying off to crash into the barred windows.

In this mild victory, came defeat - as a second wretched vine slammed down over the morning mare - pummeling her into drifting consciousness. The marble tiles groaning beneath her.

Before the final blow could be struck, a call rang in her ears - as a figure appeared on the throne room’s roof; right through the massive hole in the ceiling. A buck, flanked by a chipped horn mare, a tiny floating earth pony, and a coffee sipping pegasus.

“Aster?...” Celestia whispered dully, before Vee fell from the ceiling in a wild frenzy of her lance - severing the tentacle as Luna and Arin reappeared, what would have been moments too late. All at once, the buck and two mares fell into the massive hall - a flash of a vine grapple hooking the loose rebar above, as General Falon swung gracefully into action. With a flip, he landed with trained confidence - a surge of Mending Wave falling across their forms, despite the massive magic cost.

In seconds, Celestia was on her hooves - Oarkin struggling to do much the same, as his lower recovery ability cost him now.

But for Umbra, the damage was too great - and her body refused to budge, even as a tentacle seized her in a powerful, swirling grip. A new vine appeared, looming in front of her green eyes. It split at the tip, revealing three, fleshy, drooling black tentacles that yawned with an odd, fetid light; sickly gray and blue twirling within the mouths of the beast’s feeding cords.

It lunged forward - but a moment too late, as an arrow from Sonata shot true - slicing right through the smaller black mass with ease. Luna flashed Dreamcutter with all of her might - the massive bastard sword swirling with faint frost in her hooves, as the sword crashed through the black flesh of the Entity’s tentacle.

Umbra fell into Arin’s awaiting arms, a chime of bells rattling not from Arin - but Falon himself, as the Seraph and Shadow met eye to eye.

“I love you,” Umbra whispered.

“I love you too,” came Arin’s reply, as he gently rested her on the floor once more. Luna raised an eyebrow, offering the scythe once more to the newly restored Umbra.

“So you truly invited her into your herd, Sir Arin? I find her… acceptable,” Luna said, raising a curious eyebrow - anypony willing to fight for Equis was a pony worth accepting into her long life.

“...What?” Umbra questioned. The Ranger rolled his eyes.

“Again, we’ll talk later, Luna. For now, let’s just… save the world. Okay?” At that, the trio was ready for battle once more - prepared.

“Tempest!” Celestia called, dodging out of the way with a beat of her wings. “The cannons! The airship’s cannons! They’re still - hrg! There!”

Tempest nodded, her tactical eye scanning the rubble as Oarkin finally managed to dislodge himself from the loose boards. A dented canon - it will do. But a single cannonball would be worthless, unless…

Like the storm she was named after, she galloped into action - bucking the prepared armament with her immense strength. Spinning on the wood and debris, she aimed the iron chamber at the mass of tentacles - checking the barrel for powder. Empty - but…

“PUMPKIN! AT ATTENTION!”

Tempest called to the idling mare, who quickly darted down in the power of the sunlight. “Yes Mistr-erk… TEMPEST!”

“Explosive Potion! Now!”

“H-Huh?! RIGHT!” Pumpkin withdrew the large, secure bottle from her side with her teeth - the dominant mare gripping the cork and plucking it free from the short neck. Above, a tentacle was narrowly batted away by Luna’s Dreamcutter, as Falon leaped to Arin’s side.

“Did you miss me, Son?”

“To the edge of the world and back, Dad!” Arin laughed, as the duo focused on support - Oarkin and Umbra cleaving through a twin set of vines with halberd and scythe alike. Yet each time, more would come - hungry for a meal, as one of the mountain sized tendrils from outside began to yawn and waver.

And like a falling tree, the mass of flesh fell over the living quarters of the castle - ripping Celestia and Luna’s home down the hills with ease, leaving nothing but the throne room, the remnants of the dungeon, the dining hall, the library, and the scant studies and lodges along the the Castle’s event quarters left.

In this moment, Arin thought quietly to himself, wondering if that Anon fellow survived the crash at all. If he was even still here. He did wander off on his own…

For the others, a new panic set in. This changed things. Because there were two more of these massive, towering pillars of corruption looming above - over the entry hall, and finally - the long throne room.

“Dad. If we don’t make it out of this. You’ve been a blessing to me,” Arin whispered, the old buck chuckling in response.

“You’re a Ranger now, son. Pessimism isn’t one of your traits. Keep hope, even in the face of adversity. Your battalion - no, your friends depend on it.”

Tempest filled the last of the ash-like brew into the mouth of the canon, shooting her hoof forward in desperation.

“Broom, and hat.”

“B-Both?...” Pumpkin mewled, but gingerly took the orange brim off of her head - pressing the wooden cleaning tool into her Owner’s grasp.

“I need a ram rod, Pet!” At that, even Tempest blushed, rolling her eyes. “Just… We’ll wash it later. Together. Okay?”

Quickly, the wine-colored mare fitted the hat over the broom’s bristles - and with a compacting shove - rammed the powder in. She wouldn’t have a cloth filler - but hopefully, the alchemical concoction was strong enough on its own to suffice.

And from her side, Tempest withdrew one of her two remaining Banishment orbs - the small ball fitting perfectly inside the canon. And with its ability to resist magic, it might even survive the blast! Hopefully.

Vee’s coffee was swatted from her hooves nearby - the purple mare frowning at the spilled exceptional drink on the floor.

Her purple eyes slowly trailed up the mess on the tile, to the writhing tentacles before her. At that, she tightened the grip of her lance. “You’ve gone a snoot too far, Entity!” she growled, spinning the shaft effortlessly above her head - before striking out with ferocity at a tentacle sneaking up on Tempest and Pumpkin both.

And when her pointed weapon didn’t work to stab away her problems, she withdrew her most deadly weapon of all. Her right wing.

“Omae wa mou, shindeiru,” Vee said, before raising the deadly appendage up. And with a flash of surprising - and rather terrifying strength that nopony could expect - she sliced through not just the massive black vine, but the tiled floor, the distant oak door at the end of the throne room, and into the now crumbling foyer. With a shockwave, several of the tentacles reeled from the coursing power of the mighty blow, freezing in contemplation of the overwhelming damage.

In this quiet lull, all eyes fell on Vee - as she raised the nearly ruined wing to her muzzle for some quiet preening.

“What? No point crying over spilled coffee. Unless you spilled mine. Then you’ll cry. A lot. Or not. Probably.”

“YOU COULD DO THAT THIS WHOLE TIME, AND YOU DO SO NOW - OVER A SPILLED DRINK?!” Celestia cried out, as Vee gave her a careful look with her expert, heroic, and oh so purple eyes.

“Well, Sun-fry, I can only do it twice for comedic effect per year. Why do you think I preen twelve hours a day?! Because I want to?! ‘Cause I do. Also, the feathers won’t stop growing, might as well put them to good use. D’ohoho~”

Luna paused, resting Dreamcutter over her shoulder. Even the Entity seemed to delay its onslaught, recovering from the blow. “Sister, I like this pegasus. Can we make her a Princess, as well? She is purple, much like Twilight - surely they would get along.”

“...Please don’t encourage her, Lulu. Please.” The morning mare hid behind her wings, before Tempest snapped out of her daze - and aimed the cannon for the temporarily relenting mass of tentacles plunging out of the mine.

And without further ado, she blasted the banishment orb from the iron chamber - an ear ringing BOOM shaking the room as instantly, a MASSIVE plume of corruptive black and green smoke engulfed the base of the black flesh.

Immediately, a groan from beneath the stone caused the Entity to rip its damaged appendages down, free of the tunnel in agony. Heaps of its long flesh turning to stone at the concoction’s touch.

And just like that, their path forward was revealed. Down, deeper into the depths of the heavenly mountain - and into the hell that undoubtedly awaited them.

Author's Note

Chapter 86 - Down into the Dark

“Tia, why did you send the Elements of Harmony away?” Tempest questioned, the party gazing deep into the dark crafted caverns far below. The small lanterns once lining the sides of the chasm had notably been crushed, along with the elevator’s rigging and supports. Leaving it likely dangerous to push into the Managem Mines.

“It’s all part of the plan, Tempest.”

Luna glared at her sister in fear of that; in other words, ‘if we die, they’re Equestria’s last hope’. Tempest - unaware of the grave danger they were in, rolled her shoulders and nodded to Oarkin. “Very well. I trust your judgement, but I still believe they could assist us now. If you will, Great Seraph - carry me. I don’t think I’ll survive the fall.”

“Very well, Tem…” He scratched his beard, trying hard to speak the name. “...Tempest! Aha, I learn after all. Your names are strange on my tongue. Come. The Mountain does not bow to the dark or cold.”

And with that, the giant gently placed the tall Unicorn on his shoulder, but not before Tempest seized her little witch as well. Dirty hat in-tact, and broom stored for the moment - with a jump, they began to slowly flutter down the wide tunnel.

“Falon, why are you here? Where’s Aster?” Arin eventually asked, once their path was revealed, and they began the trek downwards into the scratched tunnel proper. The buck sighed, slumping his shoulders between casts of his vine hook - as Arin carried Umbra down on stiff wings. Just above, Celestia and Luna engulfed the air in their royal pinions, fluttering gracefully ever downwards.

“Aster has fallen ill without the vast magic he carried in his ember. He is currently resting under the aid of no less than two dozen breezies. I am afraid that if I continue to cast magic as I do now, I may suffer much the same fate. But it is a risk I’m willing to take. As long as Glimmergale holds on, I should be fine.”

From the back of his hood, the tiny breezie popped up from their protective winter iron shelter. They looked sleepy despite the coffee, and chattered quietly in Faespeak - before sneaking back inside for more rest.

“It saddens me to hear this, Falon - I’m sure it must be hard on the deer,” Celestia called from above.

“Not so much once traitors were rooted from our midst. If you had not snapped sense into Aster a week prior, we might have all died to the Entity long before Nightmare Moon’s defeat. You gave him the confidence to challenge his own Senators, something the stress had sapped from his boughs as of late.”

Vee had managed to flap her wings down without help, despite one having the feathers left an entire mess and nearly destroyed. The moment her hooves touched down, she started preening once again - she had to snoot the bad feathers out so the new ones would grow in, after all. But she noticed something peculiar, as the group reformed as a singular unit.

“Hmhm? Sun-fry, do you smell that? It’s definitely not good for the feathers, whatever it is.”

Celestia paused to sample the air, shaking her head. “I don’t smell anything…”

Umbra settled on the floor, faint echoes reaching her from the tunnel beyond. Immediately, bad memories came to mind - as voices whispered silently within her. She recognized them all too well, something she thought had long since been abandoned; her Umbrum hive mind. “It is not a smell, but it is indeed something foul. I can hear them. The voices of the lightless shells of spirits, deep within… but why? We are hundreds of leagues beyond the domain of the dark forces pervading the Northern Wastes. I should have no connection to Umbrum, yet…”

“And I should have no bond between the Nightmare, either. Yet we both stand here, Umbra. It will be a test of our wits. I will not let the Entity have me again. Even now, I feel familiar pangs of her power, echoing down the caverns.” Luna joined her side, giving a nod.

Umbra sighed, collecting her wits; the group of eight sprung lights galore from their magic when available. Celestia and Luna, a gold and blue gleam - with a green orb sparkling from Umbra’s own spire. Arin lifted his palm up - summoning Mage Light to do his bidding. Oarkin had no such light spells, as he only knew simple levitation - his ancestry made it hard to wield magic, even if his power was strong. Pumpkin and Vee lit tail lanterns, the little mare floating quietly alongside her lover and sister both. Tempest’s cracked horn gleamed in a fractured nova, helping bring light to the dark. Falon’s antlers shined a bright green light.

Before they ventured deep forward, weapons were renegotiated. Luna wielded her blade, Nocturne, once more. Tempest was granted Sun Song, while Celestia had her favored Halberd returned. And Oarkin was left with the mighty bastard blade, Dreamcutter. The last of the preparations made, they steeled themselves - Tempest taking point, Arin and Falon claiming the rear. The two Princess stuck to the middle, in their weakened state, under the protective gaze of Oarkin, who was pleased to find plenty of room for his tall head.

“Which path should we follow? This place is a maze, Sister - and the rattling earth does little to soothe Our nerves.”

At that, Celestia couldn’t immediately answer. Thankfully, Tempest - being the expert tracker she was, called their attention.

“We follow the marks of the stone; where the tentacles have strayed, they jarred pointed gem spires free of their roots - but only in one direction. I will guide us. But I can not assure our escape, Princess. It will be up to chance.”

Celestia nodded; “If there’s time, we’ll try to form a Portal Gate and escape. If not, well… I guess we’ll ‘preen it’.”

“Wing it works too, Sun-fry - but some days you wing, some days you preen. It’s all about what’s on the checklist.” Vee d’ohoho’d, smiling - she was definitely rubbing off on her, no matter how much the Purple annoyed the Princess. Maybe one day, the alicorn will start cleaning up her feathers, too - blech! Vee had noticed at least thirty unsnooted bent pinions in her white wings. Definitely a sign of neglect, her wing license should be taken away. And Pumpkin’s carriage license should be found. Probably.

The tunnels began to lead ever downward, Tempest occasionally stopping to read the markings on the floor in the assorted lights - the occasional jagged stone leading them down a bend in the path.

More than several times, something slithered in the dark before them - vanishing into fresh holes in the tunnel. Downwards they crept, a sense of dread welling in their stomachs.

Tempest ordered another stop in a turn of the mine tracks, her eyes peering at the ground for clues. Falon hesitated behind - drawing Arin’s eye as the Seraph brought his glowing mage light to flutter in the darkness behind the party.

There stood a pony. Not a unicorn, or pegasus - just a simple earth mare. Her eyes closed, as she whispered faintly in the dark, head hanging low in sorrow.

Falon made to approach her, but Arin’s hand stopped him right in his tracks. “Don’t.”

Oarkin turned his head, as the duo hesitated. His eyes fell to the little mare, beaten and broken with ruffled fur and a boring gray coat. When the Mountain moved, Celestia and Luna did the same - the rest of the group’s eyes falling to the little pony in the shadows.

Umbra froze on the spot, drawing the massive scythe tight in her grasp. “Everypony. You do not see what I see. But if you did, you would all turn tail and run. Now.”

Luna blinked her eyes - dimming her horn as her gaze shifted to familiar slits, peering in the dark. She fell back in terror, bumping into the confused Pumpkin and Vee both. “W-What is that?!”

“It is a small horse, nothing more. But it is strange it is here.” Oarkin said, as Falon and Arin both drew bows - danger sense running wild as adrenaline spiked in their blood. The quiet of the tunnel began to fade, as more voices joined the single mare. Gray bodied ponies stepped into the edge of the light, first a pegasus - then a unicorn. Their closed eyes hung low as the whispers picked up, in a strange, foreign language.

Vee, having learned her lesson from her encounter in the Deepwoods - gently plucked a flash vial from Pumpkin’s bandolier. She popped the cork down, and gave it a shake - before gingerly placing it in Tempest’s - the stronger pony - trusty hooves.

The armored commander flexed her leg and threw it hard, deep into the upwards climbing tunnel. It shattered in a flash of white light, illuminating dozens of shadowy ponies in the darkness.

All at once - the dark mumbling ponies tilted their heads up. Eyelids opening to expose their missing, blackened sockets. Then, the whispers stopped - as they all let their jaws fall open.

Instead, one sound filled the cavern. A sick and disgusting noise, like an echo through the ponies before them. A single heartbeat, a connected mind - the Entity’s heart that pumped through them all.

The army of husks did not walk, nor attack - they simply began to drag along the floor towards the group, stiff muscles unmoving as the Entity’s pull drew them deeper into the tunnels.

In absolute and unbridled terror, a call to run came from the commanding Unicorn - as they bolted deeper into the dark and gloom of the foul-scented mines. Behind, the heartbeat grew closer - as Arin made the terrible mistake of looking behind him.

They were gaining on them; black sockets and bloodied tongues repeating that disgusting rhythm.

Thump-bump. Thump-bump. Thump-bump.

Out of desperation to not fall to the horde of tainted soul-husks, Arin reached his hand forward - using his astral connection to tug his body onto the back of Oarkin’s. His vine grapple shot back, seizing Falon by the jerkin - and yanking him on top of the massive Seraph. Oarkin nearly spun around to punch them, but seeing Arin’s wings flapping to find balance - quickly adjusted his gait to keep the two Rangers steady. His large hands sliding back to offer hoof holds and places to stand.

“Falon! Shoot! Oarkin - I’m going to point out a weak section of the tunnel, smash it as we pass!”

The reeling buck nodded - facing the haunting spectres with his bow. With expert precision and years of practice, he began to thin the herd - the arrows landing quickly into the once lively corpses. But it was a tide, a wave; an endless surge. And even with his trained eyes for labor, Arin was having trouble seeing the mine’s walls in the dark - that is, until the tunnel began to tighten around them, narrowing their path and forcing claustrophobia to flourish in the beating gem halls.

“WHAT ARE THESE CREATURES?!” Luna screamed, in her Royal Canterlot Voice - Celestia’s magic zipping her lips shut.

“Husk! Shells! Ancient ponies that had fallen long ago, their souls ripped from their forms and their bodies animated by the Entity! The Umbrum are spirits drained of the light - these are bodies ripped free of their souls!” Celestia yelped, a split in the path ahead looming before them; illuminated by the echoes of their light refracting from the crystalline quartz and mineral-laced rock.

Tempest had to make a call. Fight, split up, or run down a tunnel at random. And with the redesign of the maze-like structure following Celestia’s architectural advice - the wrong path would loop back into the herd of echoing husks. So splitting up wasn’t an option to begin with.

“Pumpkin! Fly ahead - look for signs that we’re on the right path! Anything!”

“Why m-me?!”

“Your broom doesn’t rely on horizontal space, Vee can’t fly well - and the Princesses wings are too big - GO!”

The little mare threw herself forward on her broom - speeding off ahead into the dimly lit crystal hollow. And there, she hesitated at the fork.

Both sides looked identical! Purple and blue stone, purple and blue - wait! Feathers?! Pink feathers, on the right side! Not gray! They were frayed and worn with age, as if they’d been sitting here for years!

Either a pony went down this path once, or came from it - regardless, it didn’t matter! It was the only sign she had.

“R-RIGHT!” Pumpkin called, before Tempest jumped and grabbed her - slinging the little mare over her back. The witch’s hoof shot forward, cupping her broom in her returned solar magic - stuffing it in her hat as the pace doubled. With a path to follow, the blind gallop turned into a full on stampede - and in that dark, Arin spotted it.

“There! Oarkin! That wall! It’s slumping - it’ll collapse!” Arin threw his magelight towards the rock, before spinning to face the dark. Using his vine hook to stay on the sprinting giant of a seraph.

He drew Sonata, and pulled hard at the astral string - a pillar of flame erupting in his grasp. The coursing fire shot forward into the crowd of heart-beating husks, exploding in an arc of flame, igniting several of the unwavering corpses that only seemed to grow enraged. The arrow’s light was enough to give Falon guidance, as the buck popped three arrows into the faltering mass. Each shot didn’t claim a body - simply slowed their movement, sending them back into the crowd.

Oarkin’s fist swung at the wall, as they darted down the tunnel - rock groaning and cracking along the stony face before the roof collapsed; sections of old gems caving in onto their path - locking them inside the mountain, free from the corpses for the moment.

Panting, the worn down party’s hoof falls slowed, as they clearly lost their followers. At least, for now. A few other feathers lined their path, Celestia plucking one from the floor to gaze at.

“Cadence’s?...” she whispered, as the tip naturally color shifted to a soft purple. Vee gave it a sniff, ho-humming quietly.

“Hmhm! I’d say around… five years, maybe five and a half? Fell right off! No snooting needed.” Vee clutched the feather in her teeth, giving it a gentle lick. “Hmhm… yes, it tastes a bit like your hair, Sun-fry. Definitely alicorn related, though not as strong.”

“Princess Cadence is a half alicorn, much like Twilight. Her blood will give her magic, size, stature - but she is still limited by age. Immortality can not be so easily obtained. And… wait, you tasted my hair?”

“Plucked a couple of the nasty red strands for purple reasons, d’ohoho~ You don’t mind, do you, Sun-fry?”

Celestia glared right through her, as Luna shushed them - her ear flicking up.

“The heartbeat… it continues farther on. But it isn’t approaching Us.” Luna frowned, as Umbra held her aching head. Arin fast approached her side, running his hand along her withers. Worry filled him to the core, as his lover struggled against unseen forces.

“We are getting close. I feel it. It is deeper within…” Umbra stared blankly down the hall, sweat dripping down her body. Again, that feeling of unease began… but this time, it came from the dark mare herself.

“Umbra, you’re still with me, right? You’ll be okay?...” he asked, tilting her muzzle up to meet his eyes. She nodded softly, giving a weak smile.

“It is… clawing at my mind. I thought myself free of the dark - but… perhaps I was wrong.” Umbra shook her head, “I should stay here. If I persist, I may lose control - unicorn or not, I am still tied to it by ancestry, at this point.”

Luna too, looked pale - Celestia joining her side with a white wing, engulfing her in its comfort. She said nothing, only understood the pain she was facing right now. At least she was free of the Nightmare’s embrace, for this moment.

“And you are above it, Umbra. We need you. I need you. If we leave you here, we would be a crucial member short - please. Just… Come with us. You’re stronger than the shadows. You’ve proven that time and time again. And I’ll be by your side, every step of the way.

“I…” The dark mare hesitated, locking her green eyes with her lover. Eventually, she gave a soft nod. “...You are right. Nopony should be left behind. I will never forget the light, Arin.”

Luna perked up, rubbing her aching head. “And I will do the same. If Umbra can be strong against the tide, then so can I. Let us move. I wish to be done with this, I crave sleep beyond reason.”

“D’ohoho!~ You and me both, Moon-fry! I haven’t slept in seven hundred years! Ish. What do I look like, somepony who keeps track of time?!” Vee waved her hoof around, the ‘purchased’ deer watch ticking on her leg. Right above her shield bracelet, too - she hasn’t used it yet, surprisingly.

And so, the party travelled deeper into the looming dark. Tunnel widening with each step they took.

Chapter 87 - Apologies

The chasm of the caverns began to split and grow, a bottleneck of the path carving deep under the mountain. Here, it blossomed into a massive cavern; rusted iron tracks ripped apart between the massive gorge in front of them. A dark crevice, a split in the earth - where something had been settling deep into the roots of Mount Celeste. The darkness had seemingly grown into a thick fog, a potent stench of decay sucking the very light from the ambient air.

“The shadowfell,” Celestia whispered, ripping a torn piece of her armor off to cover her snout, though the idea was quickly abandoned; the foul of death had left the air destitute of hope. And still, that sickening thump-bump echoed from the cavern walls.

“I do not understand what we are fighting; but I can feel the pain swirling around us. Calling. I hear her voice once more, echoing in my mind. Like a siren in the night; I feel weak.” Luna hid beneath her hoof; all while Umbra had fallen completely silent. Growling in frustration, a near beastial snarl.

Arin stuck close to her side, as thick tentacles churned in the tunnel behind. And within a single draw of breath, the choking vines had left them trapped in this hellish arena. Oarkin, Falon, and Vee threw their gaze back to the collapsed tunnel they came from, sharing a fearful look.

“There is… no turning back, now,” Luna whispered hoarsely, before a bone-chilling laugh began to pour out of Umbra. All eyes fell on the shadowed mare, as her stumbling body rippled with darkness. A shockwave of her red-churning power fell across Arin’s body, rattling his armor as the group were knocked back as a whole; the ledge cracking beneath her might.

“Haha… HAHAHA!”

“UMBRA!” Arin called, as the former Umbrum’s eyes shined a crimson red; this was no illusion. A murderous intent had welled within her, the shadows rolling in her majesty. Luna cried out, as Celestia seized her in her wings.

“Don’t you DARE let her win, Lulu! Hold on! Luna-!”

Nocturne lashed out at Celestia, gashing deep into the morning mare’s side. A crimson trail of blood arched in the air, the sunlit Princess falling back with a yelping flurry of wings. Umbra’s horn shimmered red, as her scythe came down hard at Arin - the blade catching into his mithril armor beneath the green dragonhide. The tool pinned his arm, hooking his left wing as he was thrown with such ferocity that he almost dropped his bow.

“ARIN!” Falon called out, as the Seraph went rolling across the far ledge and into the darkness situated far below. He jumped for the rocks in desperation to hook his son with his vine, grunting in agony as a horn caught his barrel instead. He shuddered and fell, struggling for breath as blood pooled in his right lung. The haft of Umbra’s scythe clatted against his antlered skull, knocking the reeling buck unconscious.

All of this occurred, in less than five seconds. One party member missing, one dying, and another gravely wounded. Tempest didn’t expect this betrayal, and froze - as the Unicorn and Alicorn rounded on the remaining ponies and giant Seraph.

Oarkin did not hesitate. He moved first, and without call - punched the closest corrupted pony, Luna, right between the eyes with such strength that he was surprised her skull didn’t turn into jelly. She crashed into the far wall, stunned as her magic crackling horn sparkled in a deep, familiar blue.

Vee drew her spear to fight, wide eyed from shock - but she was much too late. The coffee crazed pegasus found herself on the business end of the deadly scythe, her bracelet flashing a protective barricade in front of her.

This lasted one crazed swing, before the magic shattered into sparkling purple pieces. The scythe rounded back, crashing down into Vee with a spill of blood. She fell to the floor, terror flooding her features as Umbra went to finish the job with a final slash of her curved tool.

Oarkin had seized Luna against the wall, gripping her horn in a titan’s grip as she struggled to break free in her bloodlust. Nocturne flashed, gashing into his side - but was ignored by the massive Seraph. He simply growled in frustration, the pain simply fading into the background of the throbbing heart’s echo.

“L-Luna… p-please…” Celestia whispered, in a pool of her own blood. All at once, Luna’s eyes flashed; and her struggles stopped.

“I-I…” Luna whispered, “I-I won’t! Not again!”

With that, her barrier flashed into reality - knocking Oarkin onto his back as she fell into a pile on the floor, sobbing in fear, pain, and clawing madness.

Tempest crashed into Umbra’s side, the snarling Umbrum swirling her scythe around to catch the commander off guard - but Tempest saw this coming, and bucked the deadly tool out of her magic’s grasp. Her sparkling, fractured horn began to charge with a cascading current of voluminous light, but Umbra simply faded into the dark. Her shadows twisting through her friend, as the reawakened umbrum reappeared on the far side.

Umbra seized her scythe from the air, bringing it down hard on the trembling Pumpkin Spice just beyond. The mare yelped in agony as it cut through her chest - and she was left in a rugged pile on the floor.

Tempest cried out in terror, a pang of terrible fear ripping through her - as her glimmering fragment of a horn launched a bolt of explosive lightning at the crazed shadow.

And Umbra simply stepped to the side, as it crashed into the still recovering Oarkin - right between his shoulders, coursing through the unprotected hide with such ferocity that even his natural magic resistance couldn’t shelter him from the blow. He crashed into the fading light of Celestia - seizing as his nerves were burned with magic-fueled sparks.

Umbra whirled the back of her heavy blade into the helm of Tempest, shattering the metal to shards, as the commander fell - battered, broken, and unconscious. Bleeding from the now massive wound in her head, and likely to pass without immediate medical aid.

A grappling vine seized Umbra’s armor, as Arin reeled himself over the ledge - his left wing nearly sliced clean through. Feeling the grip on her armor, as Arin rocketed toward her with surprising speed, she once again turned to shadows. The hook snapped back at Arin, forcing him to tumble and roll to the ground, belly side up and exposed.

Umbra’s scythe raised up, and came crashing down - bashing into the struggling Seraph’s chest armor; failing to penetrate the sturdy construction. He raised his arms to defend himself, but it did nothing - as the blade cleaved right through the flesh and bone of his limbs alike, the Seraph yelping in bloody pain as a hole opened in his dragonhide - the small, heart shaped locket exposed to the dying light of magic and lantern both.

At that, Umbra’s deadly scythe slowed and stalled, seeing the gift she gave now slathered in Arin’s blood. Panting, her bloodlust came to a halt - a piece of her fighting for control. Gently, the hooked point pressed to the little keepsake, popping the lid free.

‘A thousand years of shadows could not dull your light. A thousand years more could not fade my love. I will protect you, always.’

The green magic swirling from her red irises faltered, eyes flashing green as she saw the little memory gem flickering with a vision of their past. When Arin kissed her nose, holding her elegant hooves so sweetly. His eyes full of love, of life.

And those very same eyes gazed up to her now; no fear polluted his sight, nor hate… He lacked malice for her acts of treachery, or sorrow for his fading life. Instead, there was love. And hope. Even in this endless dark, as his friends lay dying around him - he whispered to the mare he cherished.

“I still love you, and I always will, my Shadow. I’m sorry.”

Tears began to fall from her eyes, as she realized what she’s done. She lifted the scythe high into the air in swirling red magic - before throwing it as hard as she could into the abyss before them. The bloodied weapon twirled and spun into the dark, before vanishing into the void.

Arin’s gashed and destroyed arm raised up - shaking as his blood spilled to the stone beneath them. He cupped her cheek, as her eyes began to fade to a soft green once more. A sob followed shortly after, as the Seraph tried to call his distant magic.

He was so tired. So weak. Light headed from the blood loss, he felt himself being pulled away into the calling darkness.

But the light wouldn’t fade that easily.

Mending Wave erupted from his closed fist - and in these last few moments, he watched as his arms began to knit before his very eyes. His wing churning and struggling, snapping back into place before collapsing in Umbra’s hooves.

All at once, life began to surge into the ponies, seraph, and deer - Tempest snapping awake first, as her eyes settled in the dark. All sights fell to Umbra, who had ripped her own necklace from her neck - holding the two lockets together to watch the memories flick before her eyes.

Falon lifted himself from the massive pool of blood he left - panting in desperation as his own antlers flashed in a radiant light. Another Mending Wave encapsulated the souls here, filling his veins with fresh warmth.

Glimmergale cried out from the pouch on his helm, the drain being almost too much for the tiny breezie - who complained about the lack of balance in the world in Faespeak.

For several moments, the party stared on in terror of Umbra, who clutched at Arin with desperation. Seeing the threat no more, the moment could pass and the urge to fight could build once again; they could not fault each other for the cruel game of shadows they’d been thrown into.

Tempest immediately stumbled to Pumpkin’s side, grabbing her mare tight in her hooves. At every step, she has failed to protect her; no more. She was no Knight. No guardian. That would have to change, as the little mare whimpered in pain in her grasp. Soft words and sweet kisses were shared between them, reminders of what they’re fighting for.

Celestia gently seized her sister in her hooves, holding on tightly with faint whispers and promises - memories of the past to keep her sanity in check. Oarkin rolled over, aching as Vee offered him a fresh cuppa to calm his jittery body.

The buck steadily approached Umbra; there was no hate here. Only understanding, as he rested by Arin’s side.

“I’m sorry…” Umbra whispered, but Fallon shook his head.

“You did no wrong.”

“I almost killed all of you.”

“The Entity is simply that powerful,” Falon continued.

“We could have all died.”

“Yet here we stand,” the General finished, as Arin pressed his face into her chest.

“I’m just happy I didn’t lose you, my little Shadow,” he said, as their bodies mingled in a powerful hug. Feeling the light within her, his nose bumping hers before claiming each other in a soft kiss.

And yet… still…

Thump-bump. Thump-bump. Thump-bump.

Luna eventually pulled herself together, dropping Nocturne to the floor.

“I am… finished with this… nonsense! SHOW YOURSELF, COWARD! Face Us! We will tremble on our hooves like foals no more!” the lunar mare demanded, her eyes haunting the dark for the shapeless creature - the massive beast that loomed in this giant cavern.

A shuffling of stone - no… a groan. A faint, moaning billow, that picked up in strength, as hundreds of millions of voices cried out in one - the party immediately reeled, as a sick miasma of raw, unbridled terror coated their very souls in trepidation.

A flash in the dark; a wavering hum of power… as slowly, a single, massive, lake sized eyelid cracked before them. Slick mucus fell in strands as the gigantic, ebony-churning void of darkness raised, revealing a pearly blue cornea that shined with the reflections of an infinite number of trapped souls.

A pillar of darkness in reality, the ending of the light - the Entity revealed itself, in true and proper form. The black tentacles in the daylight far above found their source, as a giant, fleshy, rippled body of smooth black flesh formed in the size of a metropolis here in the caverns - resting in this grave it had claimed as home, merely a dive away from the heavenly mountain’s peak. The wriggling tentacles of the darkness clawed at the stone and earth far above, churning the castle of Canterlot to shreds as it tried to peel itself free of its earthly crypt - yet could not. Not yet.

Not while the sun still shined, and the light of hope burned within these precious few.

In this echo, the world eclipsing reflection of an endless stream of stricken astral fragments torn asunder from their bodies - a single point of light still shined within. A single star in the dark of the infinite void of space.

“Mother?...” Celestia whispered in horror.

“I feel it - the dream realm?... It… is inside of the Entity… how?...” Luna whispered, as a hesitation loomed in the air. At that, Celestia’s mind clicked.

“It’s not evil. Not intended to be evil. It didn’t start as… this. Whatever this is, its purpose has been corrupted - the Entity… it’s the result of when good intentions lead to bad results. The souls inside, look - they’re unharmed. Untouched. It has the ability to split the soul into pieces, but…”

Celestia paused, as Umbra took the conversation’s lead.

“It takes the light of a soul, and leaves the darkness. The clamoring haunted form. Our ill wills, and black hearts. This cuts the spirit in half - the light, and the dark. The light is what the Entity claims, and the shadow - is the result. Umbrum. Here, this close, the darkness around it flutters to the remnants of Luna and I’s souls, seeking refuge in plenty.”

Vee nodded sagely, recalling the books from the White Tail library on Planar Travel, and the Book of Vitalism that detailed the essence of vitae, the very same tome Aster gave Arin to study healing magic from.

“Sun-fry and Spooky-fry are both right, and there’s more to this than what even I know. But Entity-fry here isn’t intentionally trying to break worlds apart. It’s not the problem, it’s the wrong answer TO the problem. And the problem? Was death.”

“Then this thing… what is it really?” Falon pointed with worry, as Celestia thought back over their journey; specifically, to their first encounter with the Entity.

“...It’s an afterlife, I think. A magic-made home of spirits. It’s a misguided result of untested spells, a creation or… something.”

Vee blinked, as she realized much too late what this meant. “I know what the Entity is. Because I’m bound to one of its distantly related kin, Onyxinoborus.”

“...Onyx?” Pumpkin mewled, and Vee nodded.

“Onyx is his short name, yes. But you see, he is a Fateweaver. He controls destiny, through the power of the astral realm, and can bend reality to fit his whims - this is how our shop moves, it’s its own plane of existence, under his command. This is why he can exist in all planes, as well - because he can dream himself there, at any time. His kind, they come from their own created plane - they call it the Nest. They serve as guardians of souls, ferrying them to the afterlife - and hold immense power.

“But they’re not natural. Fateweavers are created by death. When a surge of souls perish in one spot, but have no planes to travel to - they float around in one place, with nothing to preen or coffee to sip. When this occurs, the astral body’s latent healing magic will spawn a new Fateweaver into reality, to lead them onwards - but each vary in strength depending on the mass of the collected soul’s energy. And in return, the Fateweaver cuts their ties to the Prime, and leaves the dark energy they bare behind. This is the Universe’s solution to excess souls, and keeping the balance across reality. This is why there’s the Feywild - an abundance of life - and the Shadowfell, an abundance of death. They exist to balance each other out.

“The Entity is a Fateweaver, far overblown beyond its roots, and now seeks an infinite amount of souls to fulfil its duty. The Carnival in Copse Vale - the Entity was intent on claiming them for itself, but their abundance of light and life energy kept it at bay, until Celestia’s magic could lead them to the stars. For what purpose it seeks new souls, I’m not sure. But it is definitely not good for the feathers.”

At that, all eyes fell between Vee and the Fateweaver, and finally understood why they were afraid. It wasn’t because it sought to destroy them - their bodies were reeling at the prospect of their own mortality.

“It exudes death, and holds life. It carries the light, by darkening the world around it,” Luna whispered, as the swirling eye faced them down. The caverns began to rumble, rocks falling to the stony floor as its massive tentacles far above squeezed at the earth. Seeking to break it.

“Then what of the corpses that haunted these tunnels? This… sickening heartbeat?” Falon asked.

“Every creature must possess a heart, even if only mimicry to represent its core. The Fateweavers take the form of creatures they find familiar; I assume this Entity saw a great, vast number of deaths all at once. Like the collapse of a planet; it couldn’t choose a form, so it became this shapeless… mass, instead. The bodies… well, they’re just what happens when a corpse is exposed to the shadowfell for too long; but it’s obvious the Entity has control over it in some way,” Vee gave her answer.

“Then how do we defeat it?...” Tempest questioned; “If it breaches the surface, it can grow and swell on life; how do we even kill this thing?”

At that, Vee dropped her head, thinking. Even as vines slowly began to gnaw at the platform they rested on, she didn’t panic. Bags under her eyes, and a distant smile, she faced the Commander once more.

“I don’t suppose you snooted away any extra banishment orbs for later, did you, Stern-fry?”

Chapter 89 - Death

Arin awoke to the strangest sight on his chest. A black cat. It stared directly into his eyes, and gave a meow.

“This one clings to life yet,” it called, before stepping off of his simple shirt. The Seraph groaned, looking up to the night sky. Night? No, day - but…

A rich blue had fallen over the earth, as spirits swirled endlessly into the sky around him. All around, his friends lay unconscious - several more black themed creatures - some of which he couldn’t even describe - prowled the land unbidden.

Before him, Queen Astra sat and spoke calmly to a large, robed figure. Skeletal in appearance, the seraph-shaped creature bore his own scythe, and dark, skeletal wings. When Arin blinked, he shifted forms - standing as a robed alicorn among the snow.

He slowly sat up, as Twilight spoke to a black-furred mouse floating in the air, who seemed willing to share information with the Princess. Anon had long since passed out in the snow, the rest of his wine leaking to stain the ice around him.

“What’s going on?” Arin called, eventually stumbling to his feet. He stepped in front of the ghostly hooded alicorn, who shifted into a Seraph upon seeing him.

“Hello, Arin of the Far Reaches,” the creature said, with a chatter of bony teeth. “I must thank you, personally, for ending this charade. These souls can finally rest. Thanks to you, and your allies.”

The Seraph blinked, rubbing dirt from his eyes. “Who are you? And exactly what was that thing, anyway?”

“A cancer. A dangerous thing among Fateweavers, likely to occur when a plane-stricken world collapses. For our kind, the only solution is to grant solace to those who fall to its influence after the fact - and wait for it to burst, when reaping too many souls from the stars. Fateweavers can not destroy each other. And for a name, I am the leader of my kind - I am Death. I am the one you call when you pass on into the afterlife.”

Arin blinked. Death? He was talking to death himself? Or… herself? Itself?!

“Y-You… you’re Death.”

“Correct, Arin of the Far Reaches. At a travesty this large, it is only fair that I see to the safe return of souls to the weave of reality. But there are choices I must make, especially among two souls that stand before me.”

At that, from Astra’s right side - Vee poked her head forward. Giving a soft neigh in greeting. Her spectral body shone much like Astra’s, a spirit of her former self.

“V-Vee?...”

“Greetings, or… well, goodbye, Tall-fry! I think. D’ohoho~”

Death raised his scythe, clattering the base of the pole to the ruined floor. “These two have sacrificed much in the aid of souls. I believe they are a force good for this world, wouldn’t you agree, Arin of the Far Reaches?”

“I-... yes, of course!”

“Then I believe they are fit to stay. I can not return their bodies to them - but I can offer this.”

From his sleeve, he withdrew two small charms. Tokens of Death himself, his bony fingers carved into the set a dozen sigils in foreign runes. Gently, the skeleton dropped the charms into Arin’s hand.

“These runes would look beautiful etching their Liber Vitae, Arin. Keep them for the material cost of resurrection. Especially for Vee-Ness of Equestria. She will need a new body, as well - Equestrian souls aren’t meant to stay in their shells for seven hundred years. Now…”

Death raised his hand, summoning forth a black raven bound in chains.

“I believe I am in need of a watchful eye here, in case things run awry. Onyxinoborus, your sentence has been served, as your meddling has saved me more paperwork than I’d like to admit. Even if the souls before me had to have extensions granted several times to their lives because of your meddling.”

The Raven croaked - flapping his wings to rest on Arin’s shoulder with a thankful bow. Free of his chains, and simply happy to be in this world again.

Nearby, Oarkin watched with wonder at the mass of souls being counted by Fateweavers, as Falon did much the same. They spoke quietly to a single astral body - a buck, donning the very same armor the young General wore. A Fateweaver sat by his side, the cat from before - who groomed itself quietly, reading over an endless scroll.

“Arin of the Far Reaches, I am grateful for your help,” Death continued, “and as such, I’m willing to offer you a gift, and something invaluable.”

He drew from his sleeve a small hourglass - gleaming dully with gold light, before placing it in Arin’s hands. No matter what direction the Seraph shifted it, the massive pile of sand stayed at top - a near invisible grain of sand falling to the bottom.

“This is your Fateglass. When the last grain falls, you will perish. I have gifted you the maximum life your kind is allowed without aid; one thousand, one hundred, eleven years. You are not immortal, of course - but you will stay young and fit, until the last grain of sand falls to the bottom. At which point, you will pass on without pain to the Nest.”

Arin held it closely, like at any moment, it could shatter. A breathless chuckle came.

“Do not fret. It is merely a representation of how long you have left. Even if it's lost, you will find it in your hands the next time you awake from pleasant slumber. Do not worry about the end of life, but rather, the life you have now, Arin. I have done much the same for the ponies gathered here; long lives are assured.”

“Now, you may make one request of me, for ending this charade before the paperwork shattered my table. What is it that you wish?”

Arin held the hourglass in front of him, eyes wide with wonder. He could ask for… anything. Money. Fame. Wealth. If it can be granted, it could be his. He could live the high life for all eternity, if he so desired.

But he didn’t want that. No. He wanted something money couldn’t buy. That fame didn’t flaunt. He wanted time.

“I don’t want to outlive my friends, can you fix that? And… make sure King Aster doesn’t die until he’s ready, if that’s possible. I think my dad would never recover if the King moved on.”

Death gazed at the Seraph, offering his boney hand forward - requesting the hourglass silently. Gently, Arin put it in his grasp - as the ageless being flung his palm forward; summoning each of the pony’s long lives to float steadily before him. He weighed them each in his hands, glowing light flitting between the glass with ease.

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of Equestria are special cases, sir Arin - they exist as long as their element stretches onwards, much like Queen Astra of Starlight’s Peak. I can not adjust their lives; they are infinite. This request you’ve made is… special. Pumpkin Spice, Vee-Ness, Fizzlepop Berrytwist, Umbra, all of Equestria’s realm - I can not go above the limit of their natural life. What I can do is split yours in twain - and you will perish at the same moment as the rest.”

“Split it, then. A world without my friends is a world not living in.”

At that, Death sighed - withdrawing a literal stack of paperwork from his sleeve. He pulled the first page with a flick of his wrist, settling the page to float before him. His bony digits plucked one of Onyx’s feathers, the raven croaking - before offering Arin the quill.

“Your new lifespan will be one hundred and eleven years, Arin of the Far Reaches. Are you sure you wish to persist? General Falon of the Feywilds - the buck you claim your father will die before you, by eleven years. Keep in mind, I am speaking not from the date of your birth - I am renewing your life at zero. Meaning that you will die one hundred and eleven years from the moment you strike your name. Do you accept these terms?”

Arin closed his eyes, nodding. “I accept.”

“Then sign here. By the way… Umbra, of Equestria. If you were ever wondering over her exact spirit; I took the liberty to restore her soul to its proper splendor. The Entity had devoured all but a single fragment, which had blossomed well under your guidance. When you pass, I believe we may have business in the far future. Fateweavers are born of death - but perhaps I need a Lightbringer to quell unruly kin. I don’t suppose you would be interested?”

Arin flicked his hand over the page, as the other ponies came to in the chilly snow. Pumpkin almost had a panic attack, when Vee’s body was stiff and lifeless against her - but was quickly quieted by the astral pegasus herself, who simply laughed it away with an all too familiar ‘d’ohoho’.

“...I could never do it alone, Death. I would need my friends to stand by my side, every step of the way. And that’s not my decision to make. Maybe when we’re all standing at your… desk, or whatever-”

“It is a desk, yes. A very rich mahogany.”

“...We’ll all consider it.” Arin laughed, as Umbra crashed into his side - seizing him so tightly that he nearly fell to the floor.

“You survived, my fledgeling!” she called, much more cheery than before. By the Stars, Death, what did you do to her?!

“Uh… yeah, we all did. I think. Did we?” Arin looked to the cloaked being - who simply nodded beneath his hood.

“Even the purple one.” His teeth chattered, as Vee butted in.

“Especially the Purple one, thank you! Tall-fry, don’t resurrect me just yet - I’ve got some snooting to do now that I’m a ghost.”

Death chortled, “I would advise against this, Vee-Ness of Equestria. Stay near those talismans. They are what’s binding your soul to Prime, at the moment.”

“C’mooon, Death-fry! Just a little snooting.”

“No.”

“Oho! But what if Small-fry bakes you some cookies?” Vee’s hazy wing seized at the little mare, barely able to pull her Sister in against her spectral body.

“...I have heard many tales woven by Onyxinoborus concerning these… ‘cookies’ in his internment. But alas, your spirit may wander for eternity if you stray too far, Vee-Ness.

At that, the Purple pouted, lifting a spectral wing to preen. Feathers falling and fading beneath her ghostly aura, hohumming about things being bad for the feathers. Pumpkin simply snuggled on, as Queen Astra turned to face her children. Celestia and Luna stood in front of them, sorrow in their eyes at her mother’s fate. They didn’t know she was about to be resurrected, as tears began to fall freely between the Princesses.

“I am sorry, my foals - I could not be there in the moments it mattered most. But I will be there, by your side - forever onwards. I promise,” she said, holding a pearly white hoof to her chest. Vee complained about that, too - why did Astra get to be all glowly and white, while she was a ghostly form!?

“Y-You can’t leave us, Mother!” Celestia whimpered, heartbroken at seeing the spectral figure stand so close to death. Assuming the absolute worst.

“We hardly know thee! Do not abandon us yet!” Luna called, as Astra gave a fake sob.

“I promise, I’ll be by your side always. As long as you do not stick me in a retirement home, and pay for my lodgings.”

“You can’t go-what?” Celestia flatlined, mid sappy-tears. Astra’s smile grew very wide at that, her magenta irises gleaming.

“Gotcha.”

“...Sister, you are right. She is our mother. And thou are not leaving?” Luna poked her hoof, sniffling away the last of the tears.

“Mm, no. I’ve only lived for a hundred years or so - but I’ve been trapped in basically the most boring place in the universe otherwise; the Entity’s version of purgatory. At least they had cards. By the way, I despise cards. Used to love them, but if I have to play G’lo Snarlak with another alien… thing, I’m going to start a seventh ghost riot.”

Celestia and Luna blinked in absolute confusion. She really just… sat around, for three thousand years, dead, playing… cards?

“...That sounds horrible.”

“But hey! I speak Binglon, Melvish, and Twemer now, so I’ve got that going for me!” Queen Astra laughed, “but seriously, I will snap if you bring me to a card table. There will be no survivors.”

At that, Celestia and Luna’s laughing trailed off with worry, sharing a look. What were they getting into, exactly?...

And as they thought the world was recovering, a figure darted from the rubble - nightmarish, hooked blade clutched in his snarling teeth, Flash Sentry’s eyes gleamed with murder. His wings pumped with intensity towards the group, aiming to take down the Seraph who’s beaten him at every turn.

“Nope! ‘Fraid not, Angry-fry.” Vee said; she had returned to her body just before the assault, and snooted up the untouched Banishment Orb in her ghostly grip. With a simple toss of her wing - she clocked the pegasus in the face, knocking him to the floor in a whirl of green and black smoke.

Within seconds, there stood an obsidian statue of the defeated Guard Captain, Death looking on in confusion.

“A friend, I assume?” he asked, stepping without sound towards the now captured spirit.

“Anything but. Greedy bastard almost had us killed, if it weren't for the deer. He was working with Nightmare Moon and the Entity in the end.”

“I see. Wonderful. Flash Sentry of Equestria. Do you have plans for him to recover, or should I claim his soul now?” Death asked, inspecting the curious stone before him.

“...That’s up to Celestia, really.” Arin shrugged. The Princess stepped forward, thinking quietly over the imprisoned pegasus.

“You know, ponies are going to want somepony to blame… I think it’ll be easy enough to get him to talk, too, and tell us about whoever else was working with Nightmare Moon. I think he and his ilk should stand trial. And it will prevent Luna from receiving death threats in the mail again.”

“I never received death threats?” Luna questioned, as Celestia giggled.

“I had your mail sorted, so you only received the best of the best, Luna.”

“...Oh, it is ON! I had wondered why I received so many letters regarding my flank!” The Lunar Princess growled, much to the joy of Queen Astra.

“Oh yes, you two are just like me.”

Author's Note

I wanted the story to end on a happy note. So. This is what I decided. I really could have just killed off half the characters and call it 'the end', once the few survivors escaped - but... I didn't want to do that.

Thank you for sitting through this massive pile of words. I'm sorry if it just wasn't that good.

Chapter 90 - Chaos

With the souls leaving, and Death no longer needed - Arin found it incredibly quick and simple to resurrect the duo before him. The charms were like… spiritual vouchers, that acted as thousands of bits worth of material components, and as bodies for the Queen and Vee - who once again stood fresh faced and cheery before them.

Instantly, Astra was pinned to the snow in a mighty hug from her daughters, as Vee was scooped up by Umbra, Tempest, Arin, and especially Pumpkin - who locked on like a little sister piranha. But instead of hungry nibbles, she gave soft, sweet, happy nuzzles and sobs.

Falon stood by Arins side, Glimmergale’s tiny snores following from his little pouch on the back of his hat. “I’m proud of you, son,” he said, after Arin wrenched himself free of the tight hug.

“Who was that deer you were talking to?...” Arin asked, as the General gave a small laugh.

“The buck who adopted me, Arin. General Tanon. I asked for a chance to say goodbye, and… well, Death obliged.”

From that point on, things just happened too fast to recount - the party had nowhere to go, as the castle was completely leveled - so of course, they decided to march through the streets of Canterlot, leaving Twilight to her frenzied quest for knowledge. Despite the fact that nearly every soldier and guard had ended up there, on top of thousands of formerly brainwashed ponies. In seconds, they were swarmed by crowds of commoners, warriors, and reporters alike - cameras flashing, voices calling, shouts of delight and mirth at the hero’s appearance.

The list of questions that were asked were entirely ignored, as Celestia - confused for a new alicorn at first due to her pink mane - simply responded to the tidal wave of demands with an upturned snout.

And for now, the only answer they could get from her was one cursed word: ‘Neigh’. And then, a scroll would clatter on her head in a puff of smoke - which she would stuff in her bag for later. Not just one scroll. Dozens. More than dozens. At one point, Arin nearly tripped over several that fell all at once.

Their first stop was a nearby doughnut shop. In which the incredibly strange party decided to just… have a sugary meal, despite the fact that they were covered in blood, sweat, and Entity gore. And with the endless stream of souls still swirling up into the stars outside, it was hard to get the shop owner - Joe - to serve them.

“Just put every eclair on the table and nopony gets horn poked,” Celestia joked, as she pointed a hoof at the absolutely overwhelmed shopkeeper.

“O-Of course, Princess Celestia, I’ll uh… get right on that. And… put it on your… tab. After I wake up from this dream.”

Despite the fact that a hoard of reporters, bystanders, and nobles had taken to the street to see the solar Princess once more, along with… pretty much all the other strangeness of the group, some royal guards managed to snap back to their senses long enough to break up the mess, as a single familiar mare bucked down the door to the donut joint.

“ARIN!” Honey Rose called, the still body of Vapor Cloud resting on her back. The Seraph was neatly ripped from his bar stool, tumbling to the floor as Honey Rose stood over him with a glare.

“FIX! HUSBAND! NOW!” she howled, gently dumping the still shape of the Guard Captain onto the floor. The necklace Pumpkin left still shined, as Arin curiously inspected the wound.

Oh. Right. Nightmare Moon’s freezing horn. With a flash of Blessing, he followed the spell with a swift cast of Antithesis - forcing the stallion to shudder and gasp in pain, shivering on the cold tile.

What followed was a romantic reunion of deep, warming kisses between the two. The party’s tale was quickly shared, moments and dramatic pauses included - a catchup that was simply impossible to cover in a few short sentences. Unfortunately, Celestia and Luna had to break it up as the time turned into hours.

“I’m afraid there’s no castle left to call home, Sir Vapor Cloud. And right now… My Sister and I need personal time to recover from this. All of this. So if you’re still willing to work, I need trusty guards to patrol the ruins for looters - keep the ill wills of others at bay, and-”

“Of course I’ll do it, Celestia! I failed you. Hard. I should have been there from the beginning! I could have kicked that Entity’s ass if I hadn’t been stupid enough to just… charge in. I forgot the number one rule; walk, don’t run. Besides, I’m going to uh… need a paycheck now. To kinda afford a house for Honey and I. Nightmare Moon made some serious cuts to our pay, I don’t suppose you’ll revert that?”

“I will, my Subject. Now, I have one important question to ask. Would you like an eclair?”

And as they finished up their meal, and stiff muscles had a chance to relax - they broke free into the crowd once more, now flanked and guarded by dozens of recovered royal guards. Like a parade through the streets, the shock and awe of the returned Princess caused quite a stir, until they found themselves at a familiar shop once more. The plan was simple; stop by Silversun for a quick chat, establish peace, then steal Twilight’s castle as a temporary base of operations.

She probably wouldn’t mind. Right?

“Hohoho!~ How the coffee is in the other boot! Now wipe your hooves! This is my house!” Vee gave her trademark ‘d’ohoho’ as Onyx flicked the shop back into reality proper. And with a trample of hooves, they reappeared in White Tail Wood - like they never even left.

“Oh? Your father would have loved to see this - he studied interdimensional travel for ages looking for my mother! It really was his passion, and-” Celestia interrupted the more-than-chatty Alicorn with a nuzzle to her neck.

“Mother, we both know. He taught us personally, though… he may not have let on about the full history. For obvious reasons.”

“Yes yes, I get it - I am wise beyond my years, I’m just happy to have family to talk to again. You don’t understand how terrible it is, swirling around in a boring mass of souls. Every astral day, we’d all… reawaken with our effects restored. Meaning if you were absorbed with a deck of cards, you had your cards back - even if you loaned them out. Some of us were lucky, and had toys, or pages of blank paper and quills to write with… there was one creature - an alien of sorts - that had a sandwich. Do you know how many fights broke out over that reappearing sandwich, every day? I lost track. He would trade it for whatever he wanted. He lived a good life. And by the stars it looked so good after a thousand years of nothing. Sure, we did not hunger - but remembering a taste… that was an experience one couldn’t simply buy.”

Umbra gave a chortle, radiant green eyes shining as they trotted casually through the snow-melting woods. “It sounds like you had quite the experience.”

“Experience?! I hated it. Some creature had this weird box, with little hooks you put in your ears - and it would play music. And she would let you listen to it if you had a sword made of magical beams to trade. Ugh, I just… I hate all things sciency and spacey now. It was too much. You know what I crave? I want to stare at like… a pony working a loom. Or making a pie. That sounds great right now; boring simplicity. Something familiar. And water! I miss drinking water so much - the next fresh spring I find, I’m going to throw myself in and roll around in it.”

“Mother, please don’t do so in front of King Aster…” Celestia frowned; she wanted to impress him, not… Well, scare him.

“...About that! I wanted to talk to him about some… strange poems he sent me, before I went ‘nuclear’ as one of those aliens would call it - he did know I was married. Right? I - you know what, I should remain silent. I have been brewing over the last few years of my life over the wrong topics; I should instead focus on you two. Celly, Lulu - how does a vacation sound? The courts are surely delegated well to handle your absence for a month or two - correct?”

When Celestia and Luna didn’t immediately respond with reassurance, the Queen flatlined.

“They are delegated. Right?”

“...Perhaps ‘delegated’ isn’t the right word. You see, Starswirl wasn’t the best at giving… leadership, advice, per say,” Luna chuckled quietly.

“They’re a bucking disaster and a half, I hate it, I hate it, it should all die in a fire - I want to retire,” Celestia stated firmly. When the two other Alicorns gazed at her in shock, she simply rolled her wings. “Sorry, I changed after our little quest. I’m not going to obscure the truth any longer. Ruling is terrible for the feathers, as Vee would say.”

“I…” Luna frowned, nodding; “I agree. Ruling is horrible. I will not suffer another night of it, when I could be happily nestled in my herd. Right, Arin?”

“By the Feathers, PLEASE, wait until later! When we’re alone! I… I need to think about some things, Luna.”

“He loves me,” the Lunar pony stated to nopony in particular. Or… really, she reassured herself on that matter. It almost sounded like denial, to the other two alicorns - but… details, details.

After a few hours of quiet chatter among the Princesses, gentle words being shared, and warmth blossoming anew among the flowers - Falon managed to lead the party back to Silversun, breathing in a saddened sigh of relief.

“Home. But at what cost?” he asked, as Arin rested his hand over his withers.

“Any price is worth paying to say you have a home, dad.”

Umbra pressed her head to Arin’s chest, giving a content sigh. “And a home is where your heart is, my Fledgeling.”

Passing through the beautiful, ornate gates once more of Silversun granted the party a very wide array of emotions. For one, panic - lots of panic. Simply put, the deer did NOT like the wave of… well, everything washing over them. Moonlight, then sunlight, then… souls spiraling off into the sky, on the distant mountain. Really, the only creatures not panicking were the breezies - which clung begrudgingly to antlers and manes, chattering in their usual Faespeak about work conditions and union rights.

Of course, all of the battalions had purpose once again - and that was keeping the peace. A lot of peace. Some deers thought the world was ending, and attempted to break into shops - others were crying in the snow. Really, it was chaos.

Thankfully, King Aster was there - giving orders despite the fact that his antlers were covered in bored, sleeping, or all around annoyed breezies. His coat once again shone a soft white, with thin gold flecks reappearing - but it would be a few days more before he could really enjoy the perks of powerful Feywild magic.

When his green eyes settled on the tall alicorn stepping between Celestia and Luna both, his pose faltered - and he fell back on his flanks. Like he’d seen a ghost. Well, in truth, he wasn’t very far off...

“A-Astra?...” he whispered, as the once again living mare took in the uncontrolled herds around her, approaching after she ran a hoof along her red mane.

“Yep, that’s me, heh… good day, Aster. You look… well?” She smiled, at which point the King jumped forward to catch her in his hooves.

“You’re… alive? Real! This is real! By my boughs, I… I thought you died!”

“I did! But I got better,” she teased, gently wrenching herself free with a none-too-friendly ‘get out of my personal space please’ shove. “I believe we came here for several reasons, though I think first and foremost you should speak with my daughters. And well, not me. Please don’t write to me, either.”

At that, King Aster blushed - hiding his eyes beneath a hoof. “I knew my poems were bad, but… were they really that ill-fated?”

“Yes, and I considered a restraining order against you. Thankfully, I didn’t need it.”

A little heartbroken, the buck picked up his pieces and put the emotions back where they belonged - back inside, as General Falon fell in line next to his king.

“Should I call for the Riot Guard, your majesty?” he asked, giving an encouraging smile to the taller buck. Of course Aster nodded - and from there, it was all bureaucracy.

They rested for a night or so in Silversun, at which point Astra - still filled with donuts - crammed in enough cake to make even Celestia worried, who was very well renown for her syrup drinking habits.

Oarkin and Calia were reunited - the giant Seraph more than happy to have his soon to be daughter by his side. Of course, the Circlet was a living nightmare for Aster; but thankfully, Celestia, Luna, and Astra were there to help it make sense.

It was finally decided after enough back and forth to saw through a log, that the White Tail would not just ally with Equestria - but possibly join together, sometime later, as one united nation. This being mostly due to the fact that Equestria had around seven times the population of White Tail, if not more - and also because King Aster received letters of distant White Tail settlements near the edges of the Everfree appearing next to Ponyville, or even Vanhoover. Keeping some form of border would just be impossible. And with the magic of the Fey now fluttering across the world, the grass seemed just a bit greener. Of course, some lands were keenly unaffected - the Redtail fortress of Goldmoon managed to stay clear of the radar, as their section of the Fey was distant enough to have its own wells and springs of natural magic.

This feat was not done in one day, of course - but dozens of sessions, none of which are worth covering for any sane pony. This was the work of deers, and democrats - nobles and bureaucrats, Circlets and Crowns, and in truth, it’s boring paperwork not worth dictating to the pages.

For now, there were more important things - the Nobles of Canterlot quickly called for an election following Luna’s rule, at which point Celestia was forced to work - alongside her mother, of course, and Luna. And seeing Princess Celestia’s name on the ballot quickly changed their minds - there was no way in Tartarus they could democratically steal the throne with her massive approval rating. Especially as Topaz Jewels, Goldhoof, and Silverbit were brought to trial.

Along with Prince Blueblood - who was revealed to be the figurehead of their operation, after a little prodding from a rebellious ‘Knight Captain’ - and Flash Sentry, for working hoof in hoof with Nightmare Moon himself. Really, it was a mess; but with Umbra’s evidence brought to light, it really became clear just how deep the treachery ran.

Especially when Celestia declared them working to bring about the end of the world, and the return of Nightmare Moon. Publicly, of course. A lawyer would easily dismiss this claim with a lack of evidence - but still, their public opinion tanked so far that it didn’t matter anymore. Especially when the damages began to rack up.

Queen Astra, newly returned, may have also lied a bit saying she saw Nightmare Moon working with them - I mean, who would question her? ‘How did you witness this?’ ‘I was floating around in soul jelly, it was quite the feat to not spot it - prove me wrong’.

So really, the Princesses and Queen ramrodded the blame on these five individuals - which may have prevented more riots. The world was kinda a mess for at least a week or two.

But all of that was irrelevant to the present; the party, after recovering and all thoughts of the future cast aside, needed to celebrate their victory. It had now been three days since Canterlot’s collapse, and Twilight Sparkle - the Princess of Bookworms - er, Friendship, was so kind to offer them the keys to her castle. Mostly for work related reasons - but that didn’t prevent a certain Pink Pony from throwing a ‘WELCOME BACK FROM THE DEAD AND HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY EVERYPONY AND ALSO YOU SAVED THE WORLD’ party.

It… was a bit of a mouthful. And the banner was really long. But, some wind down time was greatly appreciated. Pumpkin and Tempest had birthdays that fell just days apart, too - along with Arin throwing his hat in the ring, declaring his birthday to be ‘Prancetember 30th or whatever works’ - our story continues on this very same night, Cloptober 4th.

Please don’t call it that, Smol-fry.

Chapter 91 - Celebration

It feels like it has been seconds since the incident, yet it was three days ago - and already, our group was beyond done with all things ‘newsworthy’ and ‘interviews’. In fact, Celestia had a wonderful idea for dealing with reporters.

She gave Vee a pair of red tinted glasses, and would shove her into any reporters that asked for an interview. It went exactly as you’d expect. Lots of neighing.

And that was all behind them now - the small celebration they managed was all they needed to shirk off their duties, and pretend that the world wasn’t beckoning for leadership to swoop in and bring total normalcy to the land.

Twilight’s castle had been adopted as both their garishly ugly home, and the temporary headquarters of command while plans were reconsidered for a new Castle. But tonight, none of that mattered save the sway of the live music. Surprisingly, Pinkie Pie managed to snag a local griffon band for the celebration - but there was one issue.

“What do you mean your throat is sore?!” The blue griffon hissed quietly off mic to his female vocalist, the equally blue mare coughing quietly before hoarsely whispering back.

“I don’t know! I think I forgot to wash out my cup yesterday.” She frowned, as Twilight bounced excitedly nearby. Her favorite band! BYOB! Bring Your Own Bluebird! Her favorite! Yet she couldn’t help but listen in, excitement sparking in her eyes.

“Ohmygosh! Mordecai - I know ALL of your songs! I listen to you and Twinkle Star in the shower EVERY DAY!” She bounced, flapping her purple wings. The blue griffon’s ear twitched, wheeling over to look at the purple princess. Something about her voice just fit, and he could definitely use some aspiring talent.

“I don’t suppose you know how to sing, Princess Twilight? I could use a little help up here, y’know.”

The stars sparkling in her eyes were enough to light up a room, as she hopped up on the temporary stage. “I-I guess you could use a wish right now, huh?!” She clopped her hooves together, as the singer chuckled.

“Funnily enough, I was planning on starting my set with Airplanes. I don’t suppose you know all the words? I’ll handle the rap - you sway some hearts with the chorus. Sounds like a plan?”

“OHMYGOSHYESTHISISALMOSTASGOODASTHATTIMEIWENTTOTHATBOOKSIGNING-”

Mordecai chuckled at the starstruck Princess, as he waved to his band to start. Already, ponies and Princesses alike - Seraph and a few deer - were enjoying the drinks and show, as Twilight picked up the first chorus perfectly.

“Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? Because I can really use a wish right now wish right now wish right now~”

It was quite the scene to watch, as Arin lounged in a seriously comfy chair built for his size. He had to thank Applejack’s sister for the handiwork put into it later, it made his night.

Umbra rested by his side, curiously inspecting her drink.

“I do not understand. It is called punch. Yet I do not feel as if I have been punched. Is this a misunderstanding?” She frowned, swiveling her crystalline glass around.

“Oh! My bad, your spooky shadowyness! Totally forgot to add the secret Pinkie Pie ingredient to any good ‘You Saved the World’ party.” Pinkie withdrew a cooler from underneath the table, as Umbra raised an eyebrow.

“And that is?...”

“Copious amounts of Hasbro approved mystery ingredients! So… alcohol. Lots of alcohol. Duh!” Pinkie withdrew a large bottle of Everfree from the icy tomb, uncorking it to add to the bowl.

And she added a lot to the red drink, mind you. At that, Umbra tossed the old crystal cup in the trash - and withdrew a fresh glass, giving the refined punch a curious sniff. Then, of course, a taste.

“By the stars, this could kill a mare.” She glared at the mug, as Pinkie Pie giggled and snorted.

“Oh right! Gotta balance it out with more fruit and sugar - be right back!”

At that, the duo were left alone, Arin marbling quietly as yet another fancy cup was chucked into the nearby garbage.

“Aha! Arin, wonderful - just the Seraph I was looking for!” Princess Luna approached, a warm smile on her face as she beckoned him with a hoof. “Come! I wish to speak with the - in private, if I may be so inclined?”

“Uh, of course.” Arin shared a quiet look with Umbra, before curiously prodding. “I don’t suppose Umbra can come with?”

“...I suppose, our conversation pertains to all participants. And now that our royal duties are done, and the night is once again unburdened with demands - we may have a very crucial conversation. Would you not agree?” She smiled, joining Arin’s side as Umbra flanked his left.

He had a feeling that tonight wasn’t going to be all fun and games. Especially as Luna led him to the nearby balcony, the music echoing through the Castle doors as they sat in the now healthy moonlight.

All around, the snow had mostly managed to melt - leaving only a few scant traces in the large plowed piles across Ponyville. Here, the trio looked over the railing across the quiet village, lights peeking through the soft night as the world tried to wrench its sleep schedule back into the norm.

“I wish to speak of us,” she started, but Arin was quick to question it.

“Us as in you, or us as in… both of us.”

“I believe we both know I have little to say for myself. I will not lie, Arin, my mind is fraught with anxiety and stress - but I did not wish to speak of my troubles. I wish to know… are you still my knight?”

Arin frowned, twiddling his thumbs quietly. “Not exactly. No.”

“...I see.” Luna frowned, her eyes turning to the stars and sky. Keenly avoiding the moon - as she’s spent the last year or so staring much too long at it.

“...Do you still hold your heart steady for me?...”

Arin knew this question would come, and he found it hard to prepare for it in advance. He’d have to give his best efforts, and with Umbra’s reassurance at his side, he knew it could be done.

“I… Luna, when you said some… horrible things about us, about our relationship. I was devastated. Beyond hurt. I had waited three years to see you again, and I know those words didn’t come from your heart, but… I couldn’t handle it anymore. I was lonely. Twilight and her friends needed me to save Celestia, as well - and she had been through a lot over the past three years. So what started as heavy flirting on her end became… forceful pleas for affection, and attention. And I relented.”

The Lunar Princess trailed a hoof over her leg, knowing full well what he meant. “...I can relate to her plight. Upon my return, I refused to leave her side for… what was very well close to months. Not until I regained the confidence to stand upon Our own hooves, upon the eve of the Nightmare’s demise. Did the… You… did you?...”

He didn’t want to say this, but it had to be said. “Yes. I was lonely, and heartbroken, and… it came from a good place, on her part - and it was only a temporary thing, until she was able to stand on her own four hooves, but… I did. Well, more like… she did. She’s very, how do I say this… possessive. And needy, when it comes to her affection.”

“I understand, Sir Arin. Know that I am not envious. Those emotions were mostly a part of Nightmare Moon and her remnants. I do not hold anger in my heart for what’s done - only sorrow that I could not provide the love we both so desperately needed to share.”

Arin reached over, running a hand through her mane quietly. She didn’t respond, only stare at the distant ground far below. Pony and deer alike clamored for entrance, blockaded by a now much larger Spike - who worked security pretty well for the party goers.

“It’s not your fault, Luna. I was the weak one, in the end. But I’ve found love with Umbra, true love. I don’t know how to explain it, but… I didn’t see it until we rescued her from the Edge.” His spare hand reached over, thumbing over the quiet mare’s ear. Strangely enough, she embraced the affection with adoration - her cheek pressing into his hand with absolute certainty. And he knew this was right.

“I do not suppose I may make a request, Sir Arin?” Luna asked, as Arin released his grip to rest his elbows on the railing.

“Yes, Luna?”

“One day soon… will you share love with Us once more?”

At that, Arin’s eyes fell upon Umbra’s. His own answer would be no, mostly. But he wanted to be sure his lover agreed with him.

“I do not mind.”

“I’m afraid I can-wait, what?” Arin swivelled back to Umbra, who cocked an eyebrow at the Seraph.

“There are many aspects to love, my Fledgeling. I have love for you, and love for myself - but I know that the circumstances of our communion are not opportune for Celestia and Luna both, who wished to hold you close. If they so desire, they may have you - but only once more. In the end, you are still mine, and I am not privy to share you freely. I agree to this as an act of mercy, not submission, my Love.”

Arin was still shellshocked from the revelation, as Umbra’s gaze didn’t falter. “...You’re serious?”

“I would rather the need for your affection be rid of their mind at one last embrace. But not tonight. Not now. I… this is hard for me to say this, but… I… I want to…”

She blushed, running a hoof along her leg. Was… Was Umbra being bashful?

“Luna, I think our conversation here is done. I believe I’m needed somewhere else. Are you uh… happy? I guess?”

“Pleasantly satisfied that the outcome was not as terrible as I expected; this is more than I can hope for. If you are willing, Arin, this would ease our heart. When you are ready.”

At that, and with a bit more hopeful confidence in her step, she let the duo be for the evening - turning back to the party as Twilight finished belting her heart out with the band. Dozens of cheers rose from the ponies and deer from the song’s end, just as Arin closed the door shut behind her. Even with it snugly resting in place, he could still hear Oarkin’s deep laugh as he bounced his soon-to-be daughter in his arms.

Gently, he took Umbra’s hooves, warmth in his heart as he shared a deep gaze with his Shadow.

“You didn’t have to do that. I was actually going to say no, but… all decisions regarding us are shared. I’m actually shocked how big your heart is, Umbra.”

“In truth, I do not wish to give you up, Arin. You are mine, as I am yours. But I am patient, and I’ve learned that the love we share is more powerful than anything Princess Celestia or Princess Luna both may muster. Arin, I… I am ready. For the next step in our relationship. If thou are comfortable and willing-”

Arin dove in, his soft lips locking to hers in sweet passion. Immediately, his hands locked tight around her - reeling her in close as her own shocked hooves quickly did much the same. The kiss that followed was deep, intense, and oh so sweet - a passion that had grown like flame between them over the years, as tongues met and loving voices followed.

Before Umbra even realized, Arin’s wings shot out - engulfing the air as he tugged her into his arms. With powerful, lifting beats - the Ranger soared into the sky, to a window housing their guestroom. From then on, the party was a dull mute - a silence in the night, as their love soared beyond words.

Back in the main hall, Celestia and Aster - the buck having recovered well over the last few days - chatted in one of the corners of the room, enjoying the ambience and comfort of each other’s voices. Strangely enough, their pillows were just an inch closer than one would expect.

Queen Astra spoke quietly with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor - who took a train just to be here. They were absolutely mesmerized by the Princess’s mother, who went on about tales of Starswirl and the old Starlight’s Peak with a soft smile on her cheeks.

“You know, I think it’s high time that I fall back to my old job of ruling. Unlike my daughters, I have not just my experience ruling on my own - but knowledge from leaders, kings, presidents, and politicians from distant civilizations. I think I could seriously improve our societal architecture far better than my sweet Celly can - I’m sorry, but her delegation skills are just awful!” Queen Astra sipped at the extremely boozy punch, completely immune to the effects. That, or she wasn’t showing it.

“I… are you sure you’re up to the task, Queen Astra?” Princess Cadence asked in shock, as the now Prince Shining Armor nodded in agreement.

“It’s quite a workload, and Princess Celestia and Luna have both ruled for thousands of years. Do you think you could fill their horseshoes?”

“Fill them? Youthful spirits - their hoofbeats are nothing compared to my regal stride. My cutiemark - three falling stars, it symbolizes not just my ability to control sun, moon, and stars alike - but the fact that I singlehoofedly united the three pony factions together, something even Queen Laurel - my mother - couldn’t do on her own.”

At that, the two shared a shocked look. Maybe it’s something best to see, rather than hear.

The deer senators - all thirteen of them, as one had been imprisoned and left to die for betraying the crown - had their own table, speaking quietly with several assorted pony nobles from Canterlot. Only the ‘engaging’ ones were invited - friends of Princess Celestia, who had a good hoof in politics.

Twilight’s friends chatted quietly, bubbling with excitement from their own table when Twilight reappeared. BYOB started up a single from their set that didn’t require a backup vocalist - so she was free to wander around for the time being.

And all around her, Luna found herself… alone. She had her own quiet table in the corner, looking at a familiar blue cupcake with little moons sprinkled on it. Pumpkin and Arin had went for another round of baking before the party, with Umbra’s help - and made a lot of treats to celebrate her freedom and their victory. Yet it felt like a lot of ponies and deer avoided her like the plague, as if she’d grow fangs and bite in a moment’s notice.

“Ay! Moonbutt! Room for one more?” A masked figure called, staggering just a bit from his heavy punch. Regardless of Luna’s opinion on the matter - Anonymous crashed on a spare pillow across the table, smiling through his mask.

“‘Sup? Wait, shit - you look sad. Is everything alright?” he asked with genuine concern, as Luna perked up.

“I am fine, Anonymous. Thank you for-”

“No bullshit, Moonbutt, that doesn’t work on me. What’s up? Talk to me about it. I’ll listen, it’s not like any of these other chucklefucks care that I helped rescue all of you from the mines. I mean, Twilight did the heavy lifting. But she’d never have found you if I didn’t spring into action.”

Anon took a quick swig of his drink, forcing a sigh from Luna. Fine, if he wants to be her shoulder to cry on - she’ll take it. It’s not like there’s anypony else around to give her attention.

“I will be short, then, Anonymous. I had loved Arin deeply, but Nightmare Moon’s actions costed Us the relationship We wished to cherish. I’m afraid that now, I’m entirely alone - once again, my reputation is stained in blood, and I am lucky to not be hanged for my evil half’s actions.”

“Shit. That… that’s actually worse than I thought. Sorry for my language, but I didn’t realize your problems were that bad. I joke that I’m a local terrorist and all, but like… I still have friends. Can I get you a drink? We’ll talk it out.”

Did Anonymous just apologize for swearing like a sailor? That was near shocking to the Lunar mare, who had heard nothing but rumors of his foul, unapologetic mouth. No amount of friendship lessons had changed him, yet… here he was, showing genuine concern for her.

“...A drink would be lovely, thank you Anonymous.”

“Yeah, don’t mention - I’ll be right back.”

Chapter 92 - Loving Shadows (Clop)

Author's Note

And with this chapter, I consider this story "done enough".

I'll come back later and add an epilogue, when the motivation is there. For now, enjoy. And thank you for reading this far.

Chapter 92 - Loving Shadows (Clop)

Arin rolled onto the bed with Umbra locked tightly in his arms, tongues meeting each other in boiling passion. Hot breaths soon followed, as the Seraph slid over his unicorn lover with bliss. Immediately, she was left a hotly blushing mess - her green eyes nervously peering into his own from the sheets.

“I am… I wish to do this. But it is my first time even… considering the act, my Fledgeling,” she whispered, seemingly uncomfortable in her own skin. “...I never thought I would come this far.”

At that, the Seraph bumped his nose to hers - running his fingers along her cheek. “And I’ll be here, every step of the way. We’ll stop at any point you’re uncomfortable. Would you like me to lead, or?...”

In her past, Umbra would have just taken full control - it was always her decision. But now, she knew better. She lacked experience, knowledge, and… well, she wanted them both to revel in love equally. As intimate partners, not just… an overbearing horny mare, or a submissive pony unable to guide their approach.

“...You may start. But I wish for us to both enjoy it. I may be inexperienced, but I want nothing more than for us to be satisfied with the results,” she gave a rare smile, emerald magic flashing to pop the buckle off her lover’s pants. Immediately, the Seraph chuckled - nosing into her neck.

“What is so comedic, Arin?...” came her voice in a huff, the shadowy unicorn just a little unsure of herself.

“Don’t worry about it. Relax. You’re just… adorable. It’s hard to explain it, but I’m telling you - experience isn’t everything.” He leaned back, stripping his jerkin and shirt with ease - he still needed new clothes, but that could wait - and dropped his boxers. For the first time, Umbra was allowed to really take in her Seraph.

“I expected less.” She blushed, averting her eyes from the nudity - it felt odd seeing him without clothes. Especially because he was already… how would she word it, stiff.

“Wait, you thought I was going to be small or something?”

“Perhaps. I am… unsure, of how large stallions should be. But I was pessimistic to assume you would be less than sizable. It… is daunting, to be sure.”

His eyes perked up, repeating himself. “Relax. I’m going to love you sweetly, my Shadow. I promise.” He gently slid over the bed, kneeling between her legs before softly hefting her flanks up - exposing her sweet, untouched slit. The little button within winked up at him, as Umbra hid behind her hooves - she had never done anything like this, and being so exposed… it felt unnatural for her.

Gently, Arin burrowed his tongue into her slick slit - eyes sliding shut with a moan. Wild blackberries - his absolute favorite. His writhing appendage twisted deep inside of her slick walls, humming happily as he set to work.

Umbra’s hoof fell from her eyes, and into her poofy mane. Her left hindleg giving a soft kick at the budding pleasure. She… had never even felt something like this before. She was not one to touch herself, in her dark times - but this feeling…

For the first time, she gave a sensual, genuine moan of pleasure - as Arin curved and flicked up against her winking button. Cheeks gleaming with embarrassment as her lover took it slow, and sensual. Each flick of his tongue dragged wetly over her folds, the sweet mare giving gentle calls from her muzzle.

“A-Arin…” she whispered, forelegs pawing at the sheets beneath her. The Seraph winked at her, slowing down to speak.

“Yes, my sweet?~”

“I-I feel… strange. As if there is a pressure building up inside of me… is this natural?”

At that point, the Seraph chuckled - flicking his tongue hard over her sweet button. A hindleg kicked out in shock - tingles trailing up her spine as his hot breath teased her slick lips. “Only one way to find out, Umbra~ Do you want me to stop, or?...”

“N-No. Resume, please.”

At that point, his tongue burrowed as deep into her slit as he could manage - twisting and rocking against her inner walls with absolute love and affection. The effect was immediate - her adorable noises rose in pitch, her muscles began to tighten and shake. In seconds, her soft, practiced voice called out, as her hindlegs seized tight around Arin’s head on instinct.

Umbra nearly ripped the sheets beneath her, as the Seraph struggled to move. Her thighs pinning him to her sopping wet cunt as he desperately flicked his tongue against and nipped her button with affection. The clit caught between his lips as he gave it smooth, spiraling circles.

“A-ARIN!” She cracked, sawing her hips hard against his face. Cooing in a shaking mess beneath her lover, as he managed to pull himself free of her smothering depths.

They each drew heavy breaths of fresh oxygen, as their eyes fell on each other. Chests heaving for wind, the Seraph dragged his pole gently between her thighs.

“Was that… an ‘orgasm’, as it is called?” Umbra shuddered, basking in the afterglow.

Arin couldn’t help but laugh. A thousand years old and then some, and still - clueless. “Yep. Now, what would you like to try next?~ We can skip the rest of the foreplay if you’d like, or-”

“No! I… I wish to taste you, as well, my Fledgeling,” she sparked; standing to her hooves. “If… you believe I am able to provide.”

At that point, Arin slid back against a bundle of pillows, jutting length bobbing in front of him in excitement. “You’re more than capable, my Shadow.” His gold eyes gleamed down at her, as the former umbrum sat between his legs.

She eyed it curiously, a gentle hoof rubbing against it - feeling a bit insecure. This was all new to her, after all - and she wanted to make a good first impression.

“Do I use my hooves, or magic, or?...”

“Your mouth. Tongue, lips, throat - but no teeth.” He smiled, though a quick thought cropped up in his mind. “But if you’d like to try magic, I… Well, I’ve never had anything like that before.”

At that, her horn sparkled dully - engulfing his length in her gleaming aura. Gently, she gave him a tingling pump of her magic, gauging his reaction. Her eyes watching her actions unfold before her very eyes.

Instantly, a jet of pre soaked down his cock - the dark unicorn curious. Did that injure - no, he would have said something, of course. Perhaps she needed more confidence.

Gently, her maw engulfed that twitching cock - flicking her tongue softly over the Seraph’s throbbing head. The taste tingled on her buds, reminding her curiously of… something strong. Salty. And for her palette, it was perfect; salty and savory were two of her favorite flavors, as she quickly dove her muzzle down to engulf every inch of his throbbing dick.

Arin cursed, as she deepthroated him in one motion - taking his turn to rake the sheets beneath him, as she sampled his flavor. She seemed… curiously excited about it, beyond just looking to satisfy him - as if she truly enjoyed his taste. Immediately, his hands slid forward - cupping her ears and giving them affectionate scritches - her eyes nearly crossing when he found the perfect spot to itch beneath her fluffy mane.

In seconds, she picked up a loving rhythm with her mouth. Umbra’s soft muzzle engulfed his twitching shaft in long, fluent strokes - the Seraph cursing the fact that a pony’s natural gag reflex was severely limited. His breath hitched, as she drew back until the tip of her tongue swirled over his head - looking for more of that potent flavor on her tongue. And she found it; beads of precum pumping into her muzzle, eyes drawing shut as she suckled hard. Tongue lapping over his dick with affection.

“F-Fuck, Umbra, slow down, that… B-By the feathers!” he hissed between breaths, as she cracked an eye up at him. An emerald green eye locking on to his golden gaze with absolute authority. Right now, she wanted her Seraph’s ‘orgasm’, and judging the fact that his muscles were tensing - she would have it very soon.

Her horn flashed, pumping along the base of his shaft as she worked the tip, eager to taste her lover’s seed. Her own voluminous tail had flicked over her back by now, enjoying every second of this budding love immensely. Arin’s voice turned to soft growls and gentle pleading for more - then less, and once again a call for her tongue… then to ease up. She didn’t relent, finding her own stride and abusing it to great effect.

And with her magic tingling over the tip, his cock twitching in her muzzle - she felt a change. Pulsing heat… bubbling up along that swollen dick. Umbra’s tongue grinding wetly into the base of his helmed head, as she locked eyes with her lover.

The first thick ropes of seed splashed into her mouth with surprising force, Arin calling out her name with gentle bucks of his hips as she savored that flavor on her tongue. Yes, that was exactly what she wanted - salty, slick, and fluent… She actually enjoyed the taste, beyond all reason, even as it coated the back of her throat.

Gulping down her lover’s load, Umbra pulled back to lock eyes with Arin. Confidence surging as the Seraph gasped for breath.

“F-Fuck, Umbra… you’re sure this is your first time?” he whispered, eye twitching as she dragged her tongue gently along his still stiff length.

“Indeed, it is. But it seemed so natural. If I did not enjoy your taste, I would have surely struggled. Yet… your flavor is so strong. Salty. I adore it.”

She encircled the tip of his length with her muzzle, suckling the last of his pre from his twitching shaft - the Seraph grunting when his hips sawed into her maw. Eventually, she pulled away - cheeks a dark red from the act, as Arin leaned forward.

“Give me your hooves,” came his soft voice, breathing deep. Immediately, the former umbrum compiled - her tail flicking with lust as the Seraph pulled her chest to chest. Here, her longer neck gave her a bit of a height advantage, as her cunt angled over his slick cock. With his hands on her bare flanks, and nose to nose with her - they shared another sweet kiss. Tasting a bit of each other in the delicate liplock.

“Ready?” Arin asked, eyes locking with his Shadow’s, hearts beating in tune.

“As I will ever be.”

And at that, with just a slick prod of his twitching cock, she sunk right down. Arin took it slow, as her voice caught in her throat - the strange, nearly alien sensation filling her body as she settled in.

“A-Arin…” she whispered now, eye to eye with the Seraph. Equals. His cock fit snugly against her cervix, as the dark mare rested her nose against his own.

“Umbra~” came his reply, as he rolled his hips up into her. The slick friction of her cunt engulfing his length perfectly; tight, wet, and oh so hot. She was just his size - perfectly deep, soft and pliable… the smooth friction and heat of the moment building quite nicely.

“I have thought of this day. For a while now,” Umbra eventually whispered, as their bodies stayed close - sharing these deep, pleasant, and sensual strokes. Arin’s soft voice not far behind.

“You have?... How long?”

“A year.”

“...”

Arin dragged both arms sweetly around her waist, a pang of guilt flashing in his chest. “I should have seen the signs.”

“There were no signs to give. I hardly had a life before I met you. I had no idea how to express my love, Arin.” Umbra locked lips with him softly, as they settled into the shared heat.

“And now, you do. I love you, Umbra,” he whispered, pulling from the kiss.

“I love you too, Arin. I will be by your side, always.”

At that, she dropped her hips down - shuffling her weight back to plunge that twitching dick in deep against her cervix, letting his ropes of pre spill inside of her in potent waves. The response was immediate, as her lover grunted in pleasure - squeezing tightly around his mare, thrusting upwards to meet her.

They began to work steadily into each gentle push of their hips, Arin’s face buried into her exceptionally soft fur. Enjoying every deep row inside, the Seraph’s cock burrowed in against her plush walls - lust soaking into his swollen orbs just below.

“Fuck, Umbra, you’re so… tight,” he whispered between sensual kisses - gently bouncing his lover in his lap, as she worked to rock her hips much the same.

“You are simply impressively endowed, Arin. As… odd as that is for me to say.” A small laugh followed, as each deep slam spread her slick walls apart. Voice hitching in another pleasant moan, as her lover took her virginity.

At that, they shared another kiss - hooves in hands, eye to eye, the Seraph was testing his endurance. “Lay back for me. Things are about to get intense.”

And she did just that; hilted by the Seraph, he quickly readjusted. Arms holding her close, as their lips met again for another deep, tongue swirling kiss. Hips free to move and hearts fluttering, he set the pace much higher - much to their rising lust.

The slick suction of her folds drew his cock in to the root, grunts of satisfaction following every deep slam as a familiar pressure began to build between them both. By the time he was hammering her cunt with deep lunges, she felt confident enough to speak.

“Arin, I-I wish to lead.”

A bit surprised, he relented - stopping his pace with shared draws of breath as Umbra urged him to lay on his back for a change. “Just relax, my Fledgeling. I wish to love you fully.”

She winked, poking at the fact that he wanted her to relax, not more than a few dozen minutes ago. Mounting her lover, her hooves rested on either one of his shoulders - Arin’s length prodding deep inside of her cunt. Eager to show what she had in store, her hips began to flex and pump - ramming his cock deep inside of her sweltering folds. So much slick marelust had accumulated by now, that each ram was a well-lubed glide - her voice picking up into a cute moan as his shaft slid against her button.

Even he found it hard to control himself, shuddering as his hands rested on her powerful legs. The once deadly Umbrum now seized total victory, as her pleasantly hot folds clenched and milked his dick for his quickly building orgasm. Nose to nose, he traced that wonderfully soft fur again - growling and groaning as his orbs began to churn with fresh seed.

“I-I’m close, Umbra - do you want me t-”

“Quiet Arin, let me…” Her own voice cracked into a deep, rumbling moan, a bit of her more hostile self showing as the dark unicorn seized her lover’s hips in her magic - hammering her flanks down with baited breath. Umbra’s lungs fought for fresh oxygen as the pleasure began to peak.

In seconds, her rising voice cracked into a wonderfully hungry moan, before turning into a full cry of bliss - the intense waves of pleasure washing her mind away as her Seraph broke. His hands seized tight around the snarling mare, a nearly beastial gasp following as he drove up into her sweltering insides - legs shaking and body bucking as thick ropes of fertile cum pumped deep into her womb, their limbs quickly darting around each other as their lips met again.

The kiss that followed was more than desperate - it was outright starving for affection, as the two came hard - lances of seed pumping inside of his partner, and needy moans being paid in kind as they embraced each other tightly in the now comforting moonlight. For several long moments, the intense love was ladled on without restraint, the two grinding, cooing, and moaning for each other. But even in this blissful moment, the intensity caused Arin’s cock to grow sensitive, shuddering and quaking beneath her.

“F-Fuck, Umbra, slow… slow down, b-by the feathers~ Relax!” he whispered between deep gasps, as his Shadow gave every bit of affection she had to spare.

“Never. I am going to cherish you until the day I die, my love - I refuse to let go. You are mine, and I am yours, and… I wish to hold you, always.”

The admission of love was rather intense - as he held on to the now clingy mare with affection. Catching his breath, and letting the waves of pleasure settle, he relaxed into her tight embrace. “Hey, hey, calm down… I’m not going anywhere.”

“But you could. You could leave me, for all I have done in my past.”

“And I’m not. I’m staying by the mare I love.”

“I almost killed you, not more than three days ago…”

“And I’m still here. And I still love you. I’ll always love you, Umbra.”

She locked eyes with her Seraph, tracing a now free hoof along his cheek. “How am I to be sure?...”

Gently, Arin’s hand reached up - holding the heart locket he gifted her in his palm. “Marry me. And we could be each other's forever.”

There was a quiet that followed, as Umbra weighed her heart. Feeling all of the emotions swirling inside, the stain she has been on this world once before - the past filled with death and demise.

“I… I have taken innocent lives. I have slain plenty for little cause than my own survival. The blood on my hooves is immense, and the suffering I caused immeasurable. But you… you have done none of these things. You have never hurt the undeserving, nor enslaved the lives of young and old alike. You are… you are above me, Arin. Are you sure that I am the one worthy of being your mare? Not just for the night - but for eternity?”

“I don’t see a demented ruler trying to claim her throne. I see a pony who loves me, a Unicorn who faced down the very darkness of her soul to save me. You’re not a villain, Umbra. Not anymore. You’re mine. Please. Marry me?”

The former dark mare hesitated, green eyes watering at how beautiful the Seraph’s heart was. After all she’s done, both for good, and evil - he sees her as nothing more than his lover. And with that, she relented.

“I will, Arin. I will.”

And before they knew it, the second round began in full - this time not just in lust, but in deep, overwhelming love. A burning passion for each other that couldn’t be quenched. They shared beautiful words of assurance, sweet nothings that meant everything in these hip shaking, love filled moments.

And for once, Arin, didn’t feel the slightest hint of discomfort with the act. It wasn’t a much-too-quick relationship, like with Luna - or a needy agreement, which he had with Tia. But a truly mutual feeling, a respect for one another that couldn’t be bought, forced, or rushed.

Chapter 93 - A Full Hearth

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Prologue

Six years ago, a spark of magic saved the world of Equestria from the clutches of a Nightmare. This spark later grew into a powerful twinkle - a star, Princess Twilight Sparkle. But before that twinkle flourished, her magical talent shined. Through a spell gone wrong, she inadvertently summoned a creature from another world - a human who referred to himself as Anonymous.

This tale is not about him, and his mischievous nature - but of another creature, from a far distant land. The resulting magical hurricane from the inexplicable summon alerted the distant kingdoms of Erenorn of Equestria’s existence. There, a King sought to make ties to this world - and disturb the natural peace that resided. For he was a greedy Ascended - a winged Seraph bearing magical gifts, like many of his kind. Save the weakest few; our protagonist.

In Arin’s tale, we followed his growth under the caring guise of the Two Princesses - as first a friend, then a Knight - and finally, something more romantic. But all of these feelings were built and schemed by the very same Seraph who sent him there. An unwanted bastard of the King, Arin was a magicless Inert. He bore no arcane power, nor wings - like plenty few beneath the legions of Leotoln’s iron rule; the King who stole the throne of the Far Reaches.

Leotoln had intended to use Arin as a figurehead of Seraph rule - the Inert’s demeanor asserting that they were a kind, gentle race, who had the best intentions at heart. Had this succeeded, Leotoln’s forces would have been able to assassinate Princess Celestia, free the Umbrum Army, and simply watch as Luna’s leadership would falter. Under a magical influence, she was charmed - and would have likely married the unwitting Inert.

The ponies in kind would innately trust Seraphs; and would submit to their own demise, thinking they were in good hooves. Had this plan succeeded, Equestria would cease to be, as the Seraphs would assert their total political dominance over the realm.

All of this was thwarted… by a scrap of luck. A missed bolt. A failed assassination plan, all because Arin bore a lost dignitary’s armor across his torso - thus saving Celestia’s life, and alerting the two rulers to malevolent forces lurking in the dark.

This was the first failure of many to follow. Three Seraphs were tasked with derailing a train, and ending the lives of Princess Cadence and Shining Armor - but this plan too, was thwarted. In the wreckage, Queen Umbra - an Umbrum of the dark armies lurking beneath the Crystal Empire - intercepted the assassins, and took their very lives in the snow. Finding Arin’s body, and needing a bargaining tool to escape her own pursuit - she captured him, and tended to his wounds.

During his tenure in her snowy abode, his words were able to sway the Umbrum into embracing the hope and light within her, and seek redemption. Through painful reflection, she managed to stifle the hive of voices clawing at her mind - and seek repentance. She returned Arin to the company of his lover, Princess Luna - before slinking off to tend to her own matters.

Upon the return to Canterlot, the Knight - assisted by Vapor Cloud, another guardian tasked with personally protecting Princess Celestia - helped uncover a plot to charge vast amounts of power north, into the Crystal Heart. Through theorycrafting, planning, and simple clues - they had enough reason to dip below a free weather storm and seek confirmation.

This led to the reveal of the truth; had they not braved the storm below, King Leotoln could have very well forced the Crystal Heart to become overwhelmed with mystical might, and explode in a deadly wave of potent, world changing magic. But alas, this failed - and instead, a contingency plan was put into place.

The Crystal Heart was empowered, then stolen, leaving little hope for victory. The morale of her ponies were breaking and cracking, as faith in peace became a fragile rumor at best. Turn coats were among them - nobles who craved power, or feared the Seraph’s might - and many more commoners who lost their trust in a faltering government. At the very least, they had a new ally to join them - the now former Queen, Umbra.

With little options left, Princess Celestia declared war. And a battle for the Capital - the Seraph Siege of Canterlot - began. Leotoln, using the power of the Crystal Heart - recreated the very same accident that alerted him to Equestria’s presence in the first place; the Green Flash. It shattered the sky, and allowed his armada of airships to grace Canterlot Airspace.

Had Twilight Sparkle and her friends - along with the aid of her Knight - failed to close the crack in reality, it would have been a total victory on the Seraph’s front.

But still, a terrifying battle lay ahead - and in the ring of cannonfire, hope began to fade. The Seraphs resorted to deadly, terrifying crimes to claim control - burning the fields of Canterlot Castle in swathes of flame, destroying scout ships without warning or cause - all to insure their victory. Hundreds died beyond count, as many more were routed - or retreated to the castle, to make their last stand.

It was here that our hero - Sir Arin, made a grave mistake. He charged the King - his father, in a flurry of rage. The result was instant. He was impaled on his spear, and tossed to the side - bleeding out regardless of his Seraph blood, and losing life fast.

The brave stallions and mares of Equestria’s military fought for their country - and there lives. At the very last moment, their last chance of success erupted from the sky. Twilight and her friends, channeling the power of pure magical Harmony, erupted a mighty blast to encompass King Leotoln, and Umbra - who sacrificed her life to prevent him from escaping.

Umbra passed, but Leotoln used the Crystal Heart to store the light of Harmony within. The Princesses retreated - Luna clutching onto her lover for the last time, before the Seraphs pinned them to the Castle Throne Room.

In their last stand, Vapor Cloud was disabled - Luna was knocked to the far wall. And in a moment of gleeful victory, Leotoln charged Harmony within his Crystal Heart spear with a wonderful idea. Another thousand years banishment, for the Lunar Princess.

To save her Sister from reliving that fate, and without thinking - Celestia threw herself in front of the blast, before being ripped out of this world. She was banished in her stead.

Luna, with one last spell - sought to enter Arin’s dreams one last time. And in this faint magic, she called out to him - and it was enough.

The dormant ember within his chest stirred, and he was able to fight once more. His powers awakened, he stood with a beat of glorious, mighty wings. He had ascended. Leotoln sought to kill him with harmony, but he withstood the blast - and even absorbed it into his powerful Ember.

He turned the magic back on Leotoln, and in one fatal moment - ended the war with a shot from his bow. Harmony’s might poured off of him, channeled through the reclaimed crystal heart. With the knight’s magic touch it turned into healing magic, closing wounds and restoring limbs, and even brought back the most recently deceased. Equestria had triumphed - and Arin used his title as Prince to both ascend to King of the Far Reaches, and command a withdrawal of Seraph forces.

Using his title, he sought to restore peace to Erenorn - and with Umbra by his side, he did just that. Leaving Princess Luna to govern Equestria and tend to her ponies, Arin spent the next three years trying to find the old blood of Alma Sol - the Fallen Ravens, to once again lead his people so he may one day return to his new home - Equestria. In doing so, a Civil War sparked - delaying his return until order could be restored.

Now, a new day has dawned. And soon, a new story would unfold - one that traveled the road long abandoned, into places even I could never imagine. I write this prologue now - to transcribe what I’ve learned to paper, and to help bring this understanding to light.

For now, dear reader - the tale winds ever onwards. And it starts much the same way it began. In a throne room, on another tiring, boring day in the castle - as the Seraph himself would tell me, down the many roads we all walked.

Please, enjoy.

~Pumpkin Spice. Author and baker, brewer of potions, wife to an unerring storm, and devoted friend to Arin, the mighty Knight who stood against the dark.

Chapter 3 - Perception

The following night was filled with seething silence from Luna, a rage Arin did not want to be the victim of. Though they finished dinner in peace (with less delicious food than Arin recalled), Luna marched off alone to her bedroom.

Strange. At first, she couldn’t get enough of him. Now, she wanted him out of her life. He knew it was trying times at best, and he also knew what Umbra did was rough and… not like her, at all. If anything, he’ll give her that date, and the dark mare would settle down. Until then, there was nothing he could do but wait.

He made his way steadily up the stairs. It’d be rude to just barge in through the balcony, but he needed to make sure Luna was alright.

Arin gave the study door a knock. A minute passed, and no reply came. Fidgeting with his wings, he knocked again – flicking his feathers out of nervous habit. When no response followed, he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise – and he tried the lock. The door wouldn’t budge.

Another red flag. Luna didn’t lock her door unless absolute privacy was required. Pressing his thumb over the keyhole, a bolt of magic scorched through the lock – a trick he picked up from Umbra after misplacing his keys in Alma Sol.

With a click, the door opened. Luna was sitting behind the window of her balcony, staring at the moon in pitch darkness; taking in the features of her sister’s visage gracing the surface. Unease washed over him. He felt that familiar sense of dread welling up inside, something he couldn’t place stirring his sixth sense. Like something was stirring in Luna he couldn’t place.

“Luna? Are you alright?” His footfall across the threshold from the door broke her from her stupor, and the sense wavered. It’s like just the words alone were enough to keep the peace, and she turned back to face her Knight.

“Arin!” She scowled, glaring daggers at the Seraph. “What are you doing here? Perhaps I wasn’t clear with my intentions. You are not welcome in my chambers tonight.”

“Oh.” He frowned, feeling a little heartbroken at that. “Is it because of what Umbra did? I… well, I didn’t have anything to do with that, Luna.”

She ignored the question, turning her eyes back to the window. With a flash of her horn, the door slammed shut in his face – nearly knocking him to the floor. Okay, maybe he deserved that. He didn’t realize Luna would be so… jealous.

It didn’t seem like her at all. But, times change. Stress was mounting. Let her be angry, she’ll stew for a while before that sweet, loving mare would come back. Right? He did just… let it happen, after all.

The couch it was. Luckily, Luna’s study – just in front of her chamber doors – offered plenty of acceptable lounging. A few low chairs (ponies loved their near-ground seating), large pillows strewn about. A fireplace to keep warm on cold nights, and books galore to keep even the most idle minds interested.

Stripping his gear, he decided to throw himself onto a nearby cushion. Legs a bit too long, they found themselves resting on the carpet. Of course, there was another problem. His wings.

He always had trouble finding a comfy position for his wings. He used to be a back sleeper, before he met his Princess. And now that he Ascended, every position came with some form of discomfort in the morning. Luna’s body helped – she was a good arm rest, not to mention fluffy, warm, and sweet.

Idle thoughts turned to hours – and before he knew it, he was dozing fitfully in dreams of the past. He couldn’t help but recall the fight with Leotoln now – and his mind reflected it. Luna calling out to him for help, as he lay by that serene lake on the verge of death.

He snapped awake to the afternoon sun in his eyes, rolling off the pillow with a sigh. It hardly felt like he slept at all. Popping his back, and with a flick of his wings – he was dressed once more, looking to the massive, old-fashioned clock for the time.

Late. Not a good sign, especially if he wanted some form of peace in this castle.

He plunged towards the front gate a few moments later after finding a window to soar from, a beat of wings more than enough to stir up a proper landing. Umbra was already waiting for him, studying the Seraph as she always did.

“Sorry, couldn’t sleep well last night. I uh… missed breakfast and lunch, it seems. Let’s just head out. I’ve still got some bits from the last time Celestia gave me a check, so we should be covered.”

She said nothing, only nodded with an unreadable expression. Umbra joined his side, as they started on foot and hoof towards Canterlot proper.

“I apologize for asking you on this date, Arin. But I had good reason for it; two, in fact,” Umbra said, her eyes scanning for any ears that may catch her words unbidden. Luckily, the path to Canterlot from the castle was usually devoid of traffic, save for when Day Court was in session. And from the looks of things, Luna must have delayed, or even cancelled it.

“A good reason, besides pissing off my girl… mare… marefriend? Is that what you call it? Yeah, you sent her into a mood I’m not very fond of.”

“Good. More of a reason to keep you away from her.” She spoke with a slight disdain, enough to catch Arin off guard.

“Do you seriously think pissing me off is a good idea for our little date here, Umbra?” Arin started, but her green magic shushed him in an instant. He fought her aura with his own magic – and would have won that little magic duel, too, if her words didn’t cut him off.

“We are being followed, Arin. Let us play along for now.” Her eyes flicked behind her, the magic fading from his lips. Surely, he’d have noticed first – he was trained for this, after all. With a tilt of his head, he could just catch the softest hoof fall in the grass. Yet nothing met his eyes.

“Keen. Better ears than me, that’s for sure. Alright Umbra, you’ve got a point. Where are we going?”

“I have an idea. A place with noise, lots of noise – we need to talk, and the Castle simply isn’t the place to do it.”

Their journey turned to silence, as they approached the hind gates of Canterlot. Two silver armored soldiers stood guard – and saluted Arin as he passed. Good. He was worried that maybe Seraphs had a bad name following the war. It seems that wearing his royal armor gave him some form of recognition, and would keep the worst of prejudice away in city limits.

Strange. He only ever visited Canterlot under Celestia’s supervision, when he was still injured from his imprisonment in Erenorn. His training sucked away the rest of his time here in Equestria, leaving him little room to grow outside of those pristine white walls, though the now banished Princess intended for him to explore at some point.

The cobble road seemed a little rougher since the last time he set foot here, too – a few errant pieces of trash littered the streets, lack of attention starting to crop up among the homes. A few buildings had maintenance left forgotten, and less smiles were seen among the populace too. Though it was still a shining example of a wondrous, well designed city, it was starting to show neglect in its earliest stages.

The eyes that followed Arin and Umbra as they walked weren’t forgotten, either. Some looked to him with appreciation, keenly aware of who he was. Others showed signs of worry, and a select few saluted him as Luna’s Knight. These were mostly city police and guards. Regardless, it was better than some of the looks he received back home, before his ascension.

They made their way down main street, before Umbra took a sharp left down an alley. Her keen ears swiveling, eyes scanning – until they popped out onto a Farmer’s market. Fresh produce in stalls sat in an open pavilion, dozens of shoppers taking to the works of their local earth ponies.

“I don’t think the trade square is a good place to have a conversation. Not unless you want someone to listen in,” Arin said quietly to Umbra.

“You and I have two different definitions of noise. For you, it is sound and speech. For me, it has always been magic.”

Unsure what she meant, he stuck by her side as Umbra clopped through the streets. Stall after stall, groups of ponies pointing or speaking in hushed whispers. The crack of a radio nearby caught Arin’s ear, and he used it as an excuse to look behind him. Still, nothing. And now, he just couldn’t hear the clop of a second set of hooves – there were simply too many of them all around.

Umbra stopped before a local shop, the heavy iron sign above the door catching Arin’s eye. ‘Vee’s Magic Emporium and Coffeetorium’.

“A magic shop? Really?” He frowned.

“A coffee shop. A perfect place to speak quietly without worry among friends. But there is another reason why I chose this place.”

The door clipped the bell overhead, as they made their way into the mostly empty, purple-themed cafe. Lining the walls were dozens of magical trinkets and baubles to stir the imagination, curtains galore to keep the sun at bay and the mood low. Behind the counter, an extremely purple pegasus sat lazily on her pillow, preening her wings. She wore a black witch’s hat, coupled with an extremely fashionable lantern at her side – no, wait, it was on her tail!

“Welcome to my shop – Oh hey, it’s Umbra. And you’ve brought a very Tall-fry with you. Welcome back,” what was apparently Vee said, before plucking a tiny, bent feather out of her wing. “I don’t suppose you’re here to snoot up some coffee or books this time, are you? It’s been five years since we’ve had a chat, d’ohoho~”

Arin turned to the dark mare, a bit shocked. “You visited Canterlot as an Umbrum?”

“I have visited many places without the Princess’s knowledge. Vee, we are in need of sanctuary from prying eyes and ears. Would you mind?” She nodded to the Pegasus, who rolled her eyes.

“You say that every time you come here. Pumpkin! Blinds, please.”

“What? Again? You can’t keep dragging the bird bath in the lobby, Vee, it’s not legal or healthy, and it’s supposed to be for the birds!” An orange hatted, equally witchy mare peeked her head from around the corner. Her red and brown mane fell over her eyes, and with a puff from her lips to blow it away – she gawked at their guests. “O-Oh!… R-Right away then.”

Darting into the lobby, the smaller witchy pony quickly shut the blinds, locked the door, clicked a button – the wrong button, as a sparkly orb dropped from the ceiling. She righted her mistake and pressed the right button, and a soft thrum shook the now deathly quiet cafe, the thin light from outside vanishing in a heartbeat.

And just like that, she vanished to the backroom. Watching quietly from behind the corner to the kitchen, flour on her nose from her work. Despite her best efforts to be stealthy, it seemed Pumpkin’s hat gave away her position.

“You’ve got about ten minutes there, Spooky-fry. Can’t keep the store on magic lockdown for fun, y’know. Something about fire safety codes and the fuzz banging when I leave it shut for a week, all that jazz.” She waved a hoof about, before staring blankly at Arin.

“I’m a fan of the get up, by the way. But you seriously need more purple,” she said nonchalantly to the Seraph, who gave a very bewildered ‘thanks’ before joining Umbra at a nearby table.

“So… is that why you chose this shop? Blinds?” Arin asked, sitting on an orange cushion. Umbra took the purple one, after removing what seemed to be a dozen feathers from the top.

“Vee sells magical artifacts, and to keep in line with safety regulations, a cafe of this caliber needs a magic blockade to prevent any unwanted discharges of product. Because of this, you can not eavesdrop through magical means when the barricade is activated. Which for Vee, is just about thrice a day. Accidental or not, it has become a useful tool for when I need a place to speak with an ally.”

“And she just… let you do this, back when you were a danger to society.”

“I typically bribe her with a rare, northern coffee for her silence on the matter. I have known her for well over two hundred years, since she lived in Vanhoover. Some witches are long lived, after all.” She straightened her back, before turning back to the topic at hand. “Arin, I sense a malevolent presence interfering with Luna in some way. A gnawing darkness, hiding within her.”

Arin stared for a moment, unsure what she’s playing at. Is this even a date?

“How can you tell? First you’re an expert in harmony, now you’re an expert in disharmony, too? I’m gonna need a bit of an explanation here, Umbra. It’s not that I don’t believe you or anything, I just need more details before I commit. You have never lied to me before.” Arin raised an eyebrow, but was at least willing to entertain the thought. Luna did seem to be acting… strange.

“It is not that I am an expert, but I had a hoof in many dark dealings. And while it is not exactly the Umbrum’s presence I sense pervading Luna’s mind, I do feel a dark presence similar to it. My history has given me an extreme sensitivity to magic, and I am sure that I feel something within her growing.” She said, tilting her muzzle up with absolute and unshakable confidence.

“What, like… Nightmare Moon?”

Umbra closed her eyes, reviewing the signs and symptoms. “It is not impossible. As I last recall, Nightmare Moon was destroyed by harmony – but that same destruction could have instead been a proper banishment. I even passed Twilight a letter on the matter, back in the library - and she agreed. We later discussed this further, when privacy was attained.”

“Okay, hold on. What’s the difference between a banishment and a proper banishment. Things are becoming a bit… convoluted here, Umbra.” Pumpkin reappeared by their side, offering two cups of coffee and a fresh batch of spiced muffins in a faint orange aura - wasn’t she an Earth pony? Gingerly, they accepted both, before the mare darted for the counter again – watching with enraptured interest. Vee simply wing patted her as she obviously eavesdropped on the duo.

“A normal banishment sends the entire being to a plane of your choosing. But a proper banishment is often given another name, in some circles. That would be an exorcism, through either religious pursuit or magical force. When done properly, it will spare the creature, but abscond wickedness. If the creature is entirely vile, and no plane is chosen for the banishment – it instead imprisons the entire being in stone, or outright destroys them if they lack a proper body to sustain themselves. This is why the Elements have never given entirely consistent results; every cast of Harmony has the same effect, the accuracy of the effect is left to the strength of the source.” Umbra sipped at her cuppa properly, enjoying the robust taste. It was cooling rather quickly, after all.

The entire time, Arin was just idly eating his sweet, buttered spice muffin. Finally, when she went quiet, he took his chance to speak. “So. Care to explain how you know the difference here, or?…”

“Who do you think banished the entire Crystal Kingdom out of the mortal plane? Not through harmony - but through other forces, of course.” She said bluntly, nibbling at her muffin.

“For once, I am giving speculation. But my thoughts are backed by the Princess’s recent behavior, and the presence slowly awakening within her heart. The Lunar plane is entirely unexplored, and no scholar alive nor dead has details to its existence. If Nightmare Moon was truly exiled, then she resides there – trapped for eternity, with no host to possess.”

“Well, Celestia is there too. Right now. So she could be possessed by Nightmare Moon, right?”

“Wrong. You have a simple understanding of magic, for that I apologize. I should have guided the process in Erenorn, not the court mages. For every spell, there is an element – and it must come from a plane of magic to exist. Imagine the life flow of the universe, as a fabric that binds our reality together. This fabric has layers – and when a Unicorn casts a spell, it draws from one of these layers.”

“So like when Leotoln opened the ‘Green Scar’ – that did something to the fabric of reality, and allowed him to open a portal to and from Alma Sol. Right?” He said, giving an example he could recognize off the top of his head.

“Correct. The more powerful the magic gathered, the more damage it may impart on the fabric of reality. While raw magic is wild and untamed, Harmony is balanced and refined magic – and thus, it is the perfect antithesis for disharmony. This is why Harmony has little use beyond banishment; it does not target a specific layer of the fabric, rather all of them at once in a clean cut. When cast on you, it will burn and sear – but it can’t throw you into a different plane of existence, as your magic is still considered harmonious in nature unless the caster was able to fully inflict the spell, without resistance. That’s why you could wield Harmony through your body; you are in tune with it. Much like Twilight and her friends are, as you are strong enough to absorb it without long term consequence.”

Arin leaned back in his chair. “So does that make me special, or?…”

“Not particularly. Even I may hold harmony in my magic ember now, as I am no longer an Umbrum. I would surely die afterwards, but it is possible that any creature of a morally good alignment may brandish its effects in some way.”

Twiddling his thumbs, Arin gave another nod. “Alright. So. How is this affecting Luna in the long run? And how can you even tell?”

“You will see the results yourself, is the only thing I may honestly say. Luna is losing her magical spark, as if she’s being drained of energy. And in its place, malice is flowing. Few may have noticed, as it has been a slow process. I saw it first, when I stepped into the throne room just before you landed; and again, when I asked so bluntly for your company. She had the look of murder in her eyes, one I know all too well. I’ve seen that same look before, ages past when Nightmare Moon took over her form, and attempted to destroy me.”

“Then why not tell me this in the castle? Or better yet, to Luna herself?” Arin finished his mug with a swig, the dark mare stepping lightly with her response. She elegantly traced her hoof over the rim of her mug, thoughts coming to life.

“It is not something you face with direct confrontation, unless the being in question is ready to accept the truth. Much like a possession, those affected by it hardly notice the difference between their normal selves, and the shift in their mood. I would know personally, as I have felt the clawing voices in my own mind before. For years, they ran rampant through my soul – and now, I am here. I found the light. The hope. And I am… content with it. Additionally, you are under the highest form of scrutiny, among all guests of Canterlot. Now, as for our date, the second reason why I wanted time alone with you…”

She nodded to Vee, who – with a flick of magic from her hoof (wait, hoof?) the switch to the cafe’s safety barricade flicked up.

Umbra tossed the remains of her – thankfully cooled – coffee against Arin’s face, splashing down his front and leaving him soaked in brown, right after the blinds to the street rolled into place.

“What! What the hell, Umbra! What was that for?”

“I think we should just stay friends. For now. You obviously don’t know how to woo a mare. Luna will be pleased to know, I am sure. Maybe she will feel hopeful for some sense of normalcy.” She said this without a lick of emotion, staring deep into Arin’s soul. “I will forgive you, with time. But Luna will not. Tread lightly, until I may find a solution – and try your best to keep her happy and well.”

Umbra nodded to Vee – who nodded back – before darting for the door, leaving a dumb founded Arin rooted to the spot.

Pumpkin returned, scratching the back of her head with a hoof, the bill hovering before her… she was an Earth pony, how did she have magic, too?

“That’ll be um… ten bits. H-Here.”

Gently, the small witch stuck the receipt to his coffee soaked face, the sticky drink binding it to his cheek in an instant.

“I’ll u-um… Let Vee check you out. I-I’m Pumpkin Spice, by the way! It’s nice to meet you, er… important K-Knight, sir.”

Arin just stared right through her, as she slowly shuffled her way into the kitchen. After a moment to dry off with a few spare napkins on the table, he made his way to the counter.

“Rough day? D’ohoho~ Of course it was. My shop is open any time. Except in the mornings. They’re not good for snooting up sleep, with all the birds singing in my bath.” She plucked the receipt from Arin’s face with a purple haze of magic – tapping the buttons on her register while Arin fished ten golden coins from his pocket. And another five for the tip jar, it’s not like he had any real use for bits anyway.

“I don’t suppose you sell magic cleaning products, huh?”

“Oho! Brave of you to assume I have clothes to begin with! But I think you should let those stains set. After all, Umbra decided to paint you for a reason, Tall-fry.”

She scooped the coins into her register. “But! I do have brains and feathers, in both spades and on the floor. Actually, I mostly just have feathers on the floor. The spades of brains doesn’t make much sense, since I keep spare brains in jars for potion reasons. If you ever need a piece of pumpkin pie, or simply the opinion of a seven hundred year old mare, I’ll be here. Snooting up pretend sleep and coffee both.”

“I’ll uh… keep that in mind. I don’t suppose you two – yes, you in the back – will keep this behind locked doors, huh?”

“My feathers flap for no one. And if Pumpkin doesn’t want an angry wing chop to the throat, her gums will take a vow of silence. As with all special guests. Isn’t that right, Smol-fry?”

The mare peaked her head up from behind the serving counter, nodding. “Gotchya Sis! Will do.”

“Very good. By the way, Stains – that Unicorn that’s been following you buzzed off about a minute ago. Keep an eye out for invisibility spells like that, they’re common among the less winged folk. You can be invisible, you can magically muted, but you can’t be both.”

“Vee, how-” Arin went to speak, but a single purple wing flapped away the words.

“Vee-Ness, blue boy. It’s Vee among friends. Or at least with Umbra, suppliers of fine coffee.”

“Alright Vee-Ness, how do you cast magic without… y’know. A horn.”

“Trade secret. Can’t have the non-witchery kind learning the purple arts for fun and all that jazz. You’ll have the ugly red ones running amok, making a mess of reality if you did. Which isn’t good news for preening, makes the wings sticky with cotton candy.”

Vee was a handful and a half. Clearly insane, but there’s a method to her madness. If Vee knew magic – then Pumpkin did too, by default. Regardless, his time here was up. Maybe in the future, he’ll swing by for more… sage-like wisdom. Or another exceptionally delicious muffin. If baked goods like that were the norm, there would be no wars.

Chapter 13 - A Work in Progress

Umbra walked casually down the streets of Canterlot; she had donned her all too familiar disguise once more, Amethyst Amoire. Today wasn’t a tactful espionage at a dinner party; in fact, today was more so a business visit with a certain Lawyer’s office.

Silverbit had a reputation in dealing with the classy, and this is where her former regality shined. Other methods had proven… ineffective, in extracting the information she wanted. Initially, she browsed his home at night for incriminating evidence, and yet all she could come up with there were a variety of letters and complaints addressed to a multitude of agencies and individuals. Most of which were over the most trivial of matters; if there was an offense, he took it.

She assumed that being argumentative came from his history of being a talented, generalist lawyer. He had a wide scope on his craft, and he used it to an expert level to twist and strongarm the world into fitting his vision; or more commonly, his clients visions.

And one set of clients were particularly vile in nature; the stray Seraphs of Leotoln’s army. At least, not them directly - but he assuredly had a hoof in the distribution of the land title deeds used to house the abundant lightning towers, the sentencing of less than honest workers on their way out of prison, and of course sweeping dirty money under the rug - the list of crimes he was surely guilty of far outweighed any positive notions he granted society as a whole. If there were any to begin with.

If only she had the proof. And the last place she could reasonably check… was his law firm. Typically, she’d stop by in the dead of night, snip a few strings - and call it when her hooves clutched something incriminating. But there was a problem with that notion.

He had more hired thugs than the Castle had Guards. She had a few inklings why - when he basically used them as brute force to get his way, at any given time. A pony wanted help with a case? They would instead have plentiful help with the door, if they lacked the coin to back their request. Investigators snooping? A broken nose and charges for trespassing were common.

She needed a two fold plan, and the right idea came to mind when she ruffled through his garbage for information. Besides the fact that he had… strange tastes in food, he also had a cat. A cat she now held fast asleep in her overly gaudy purse-satchel, that bobbed at her side with each step. Not her usual choice in a bag, but it fit the role she required nicely.

The key here was to avoid detection while placing her bait. A clearing on the sidewalk gave her a moment to slip down an alley - just out of sight of any witnesses and security that might grow curious.

She peaked an inch over the stone brick wall, spotting the old stallion hammering away at a typewriter. His brow was furrowed in frustration, undoubtedly threatening legal action against the nearest bush or… whatever wronged him that day.

Preoccupied as he was, and with few eyes to catch her in the act - she stealthily lifted the house pet in her temporarily purple magic. Gently, ever so slowly - she brought the cat up and over towards a nearby tree.

With the purring feline happy on a branch, she cleared her throat and withdrew a massive, gaudy jewel necklace - something the element of Generosity would surely adore. It clipped on with ease, a vial of lipstick circling her lips as shades settled over her eyes. Soon, she wore a light summer dress, a soft purple to accent her gray.

Now, the hard part. Pretending to enjoy a conversation with the most insufferable pony in the world.

She approached the firm with a sway to her hips, two stern looking stallions standing idly at the door; a strap against their chest and a pair of shades each, staring her down. She nodded her head with a simple ‘Gentlemen’ before slipping inside unmolested.

She found herself in a mostly marble lobby, fake plastic plants and smooth jazz echoing from a small record player to her left. The chairs and decor were rather drab, but they served their purpose - and probably hadn’t been replaced in decades. Misers were sharp with their coin, after all.

Approaching the reception, Umbra dressed down the plump lady before her with her eyes. She tilted her head forward, fake purple irises catching hers before she spoke with mild disdain.

“Give me Silverbit. I have urgent legal matters to discuss, and make it snappy. Well? What is he paying you for? Just to gawk? Move,” she snapped, with an annoyed flick of her ears. The exasperated chubby mare restrained herself from rolling her eyes, clopping down the hallway haughtily.

She returned moments later with Silverbit in tow, still fuming over whatever issues had bothered him at breakfast. “Ma’am, I don’t believe we have an appointment, do we?”

“Appointments are for the poor, and I am not part of that rabble. I’m looking to divorce my husband and sue for custody of our colt, and I need a talented lawyer to rob him dry.” She used her twinking purple horn to heft a massive bag of… well, rocks from her saddle-purse, before dropping it carelessly back inside. They jingled just like coins, thanks to a little enchantment - and Silverbit was none the wiser.

His eyes nearly flashed with cheer as his mood shifted to money. “Oh! Yes yes, of course - appointments aren’t needed for you, Miss?...”

“Amethyst Amoire, heir to the Rolling Gold Fortune,” she stated her alias with dignity, brushing past the old stallion with indifference. “Don’t waste my time. Move your hooves, or I will move them for you.”

“Cherry, clear my two o’clock immediately - if he wants to challenge the possession of his yacht so badly, he could afford my retainer.” He nodded to the rotund mare, who sighed and rolled her eyes. She really wasn’t paid enough for this. He simply refused to retire, and pass the firm down to his son - who was slightly less terrible than him.

Silverbit hobble-rushed to meet Miss ‘Amethyst’ at his office, clicking the handle for her and inviting her inside. She brushed past him like any regal mare would, not once uttering her thanks.

Finding her seat in front of his desk, her eyes worked double time to check the assorted ledgers and books on the wall behind his chair; the office was cozy for sure, a mahogany desk breaking the massive row of shelves behind in twain. He lacked filing cabinets here; he had a thing for beauty in his work, and he meticulously organized his tomes to match his collected demeanor.

The old stallion’s chair creaked as he took his familiar position at his desk, pushing his typewriter to the side. “I’m happy you chose to visit me today, Amethyst-”

“Miss Amoire, I do not spit your name with disgrace, you will not mouth mine with impunity.” The stallion slid back a bit at the intimidation; it wasn’t often he would falter, but something about Umbra’s piercing glare had that effect on ponies, even when hidden behind a pair of shades.

“Yes yes, my apologies Miss Amoire. May I ask, who recommended me to you? Surely you may afford me some simple pleasantries?”

Umbra froze for a split second; she didn’t expect this question. In a list of ‘things she would be asked’, ‘who referred her’ didn’t come up. And it’s not like she had a massive repertoire of names to work with, either.

“A friend at the Topaz Jewels soiree, just the other night. He seemed keen on recommending you in particular, for reasons he deemed ‘explicit’.”

“Oh, but of course Madam - my apologies. Now-”

Meow.

“As I was saying, I’m happy you chose me, I have an extensive history in divorce-”

Meow!

“...Divorce proceedings, with a success rate of-”

MEOW!

His head darted to his left, eyes making contact with his cat in the tree. Immediately, he bolted to his hooves, gasping. “Mr. Snookums!” he barked, his rolling chair clattering against the bookshelf.

“If you’ll excuse me one moment - Daddy is coming, sweetie!” he called, hobble-clopping his way to the door, seizing his cane along the way. The door clicked shut behind him, and instantly, Umbra set to work.

The first thing she did was ignore the back wall - too obvious. A stallion like SIlverbit had things to hide, and the obvious wouldn’t jump up and bite her like it did at the Topaz Jewels estate. Her horn glowed its natural green, tugging quickly - yet quietly - at wooden drawers. Pens, pencils, a single crayon - papers and empty forums, useful things for a lawyer perhaps, but…

This drawer was too shallow. She hefted the several journals and folders from the bottom, giving the wood a knock. Definitely hollow - and thin, too. She tilted her head to the left - the right, looking for a keyhole. Her hoof sliding over the bottom until she felt the small circle. A flash of her horn, and without even seeing it - it clicked, the false bottom popping open an inch.

Her magic raised the thin wood, lifting four small journals. She didn’t have time to read too deep into them - a couple flicks to make sure she grabbed the right books, and her horn flashed. Four duplicates were dumped in the drawer unceremoniously, a camera slipping free of the satchel on her left to take a picture of the books - and the fake drawer - before stuffing the assorted junk back into place.

Her ears swiveled to the door, the faint chatter of the babbling Silverbit echoing through. He bounced ‘Mr. Snookums’ up and down, babbling in baby talk to the small calico cat.

She clicked the handle out of his office with an exaggerated huff.

“Oh, Miss Amoire, I’m sorry for the delay-” he began, but she quickly shut him down.

“Apparently my money has no value to you, Silverbit. I was wrong to trust just a single testimonial. You lack the professional attitude I desire to assure my winnings. As for you, Cherry-”

She lowered her glasses, staring into the pink mare with her emerald green eyes. “You need to work on your greetings. Good day to you both.”

With a flick of her shades, she stomped her way out of the door. Miss Cherry watching her go with hesitation. Were… were her eyes always green? They were purple, weren’t they?

“Of course. First, the trash stallion refused to take my old sofa - and now, I lose my payday.” With a sigh, he set his sleepy kitty on his shoulders - stomping back to his office to concentrate.

“Sir?...” Cherry called after her boss, the older stallion clacking his cane in the doorway.

“Yes yes - just uncancel the appointment. Whatever! I’ll get his yacht back if it will line my pockets,” he said, waving his cane at her.

“No, not that… that mare. Her eyes changed color, I’m pretty sure,” she said down the hallway, confused.

Silverbit’s heart dropped, a cold chill running up his body. Without another word, he closed the door shut behind him - canter-wobbling his way to his desk. His cat jumped onto the papers gathered, narrowly missing the inkwell there.

He immediately ripped the right drawer out of his desk, slipping a key from his belt to rattle the lock. The false drawer popped, revealing four small journals.

Gray, red, blue, green. That… was wrong. Red, blue, green, gray. Always red blue green gray. RBGG. He would never put them in any other order but that.

With a turn of his chair, his horn glowed and dragged the typewriter forward, forcing Mr. Snookums to jump out of the way.

‘Dear Sir Topaz Jewels, I request your knowledge on a certain mare who apparently attended your private Gala just the other day… perhaps one with a nose too keen for my liking…’

Umbra sighed, tossing the gaudy jewelry and roughly cleaning the makeup from her muzzle. She felt like a jester in that gitup; a fool. But, a successful one - as the King’s ransom was now hers. Now, all she had to do was find her way to the castle. A dropoff of the last few documents, and Canterlot would have the resources to make a full bust on their entire operation.

In truth, she cared little for the logistics of it all. The real reward was seeing a plan come together; a piece of tyranny unwound. She found it… satisfying, now, to actually play against those who deserved it. Her keen eye for detail was a beautiful tool, one she refined over a thousand years of lurking, study, and practice.

Curious, she turned her eye to her bare flank. Despite all of her success, as a hero - a force of good, she still felt hollow. Like pieces of her life had yet to fall in place. She had friends now. Actual friends. Arin was by far the closest - but Vee, Vapor Cloud, Honey Rose, she could even say Celestia and Luna had accepted her at their table. But… she wanted to be complete. Whole. And it was hard to claim you were happy when you lacked a destiny.

“Ah, Umbra. Just who I was looking for,” Tempest said, catching her in the hall. “And in good timing, too, I take it. I always seem to catch ponies when they have thoughts left untapped.”

Umbra lifted her tired head from the floor, giving a short nod. “A good eye to see such weakness.”

The wine colored Unicorn gave a soft, methodical laugh, stepping by her side. “Needing a friend isn't weakness, Umbra. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but one I think I took to heart. Now tell me. What’s on your mind?”

Perking up at the pleasant company, she confided in the redeemed Unicorn. “I feel… hollow. Incomplete. While I have accomplished much, I lack a purpose beyond a tool. And it is… I will not say unbefitting; it is disheartening. I feel as if I have no destiny. A cutiemark is what makes a pony whole, yet…”

Tempest coughed, rolling her eyes to her own flank. “Forgetting something?”

But of course. She wasn’t the only one without a mark. “Perhaps for a moment, yes.”

Tempest’s mind slipped away from talk to concentrate, trying to think of a way to approach this situation. She was not Twilight, that was for certain - and this needed some kind of tact. Even if she wasn’t entirely convinced about ‘friendship’ and the works, it did play its part.

“I’ve been an outcast for as long as I can remember. I’m never going to scratch your age, but… I’ve felt that same pain. I’ve buried it, and tried to hide it - and it never goes away. You really can’t just… magically cure it. But, I’ve learned that the friendships I make can help alleviate it. Or… something.” She waved her hoof in a circle, trying to imitate the Purple alicorn in some way.

It… didn’t really work. But Umbra chuckled regardless.

“...And I thought that my grasp of friendship was weak. Perhaps I am not as far gone as I believed. Thank you, Tempest. You have been a boon.”

“You’re… uh. Welcome. Yes.” The wine mare gave an unsure smile, contemplating whether she should be offended or not. “I’m still learning. I’ve always been a skeptic on friendship, along with many other things - so whatever I share with you is a work in progress.”

“It is still pleasant that you put forward the effort. I am patient. My time will come, and I will find my place in the world. Perhaps when the Solar Princess returns, she may have ideas that could aid my journey. I do wish to be… ‘normal’ one day. Whatever that may entail.” They reached the war room’s door, Tempest turning to face the mysterious mare.

“Umbra, normal isn’t what the public thinks, but it’s what your friends accept. Oh! That was a good attempt on my part. I’ll have to share that with Twilight later, after I finish my job hunt.” The former Commander gave a confident smirk, holding the door open for the gray mare. “Maybe I’ll have a little more luck when Arin brings the Princess home.”

Umbra stopped in the doorway, a tinge of sadness making her lock eyes with Tempest. “If,” she said, before vanishing inside. The click of the door followed, leaving Tempest alone - save for the sparse few guards that patrolled the halls.

“Yes… right. If. If Celestia and Arin return.”

Chapter 29 - Sunrise (Clop)

Having stripped his clothes and joined the Princess in the shower, they started off with a much more slow, sensual kiss. Gentle hooves and hands searching each other’s bodies, as the sweet embrace deepened with each inch travelled. Celestia used a hindleg to kick at the foreign shower controls - and was lucky enough to click something useful on the third bump. Warm water soon rained down upon them both from either ends, cascading pleasant heat onto the duo locked in passion.

He held one hoof in his hand, the other was draped softly around his waist. Fingers parted through her regal pink mane, straining out the year’s long buildup of residue that the waterfall from the other day failed to blast off. Her voice cracked into sultry moans, the sensation nearly overwhelming after such a long period of loneliness. Both hooves had found themselves around him now, as his hands scratched at her scalp with much needed care and affection.

For once, he took charge - and slid his tongue gently into her maw. The soft mare gasped as he claimed her muzzle; her tongue was more than quick to react, burrowing inside of his mouth in return. She eventually managed to hook her hoof into the handle of the wicker container, dragging the vials to her side.

“I need this as much as I need you right now. If you wouldn’t mind?...” Her eyes gleamed with passion, nose to nose with her Seraph. Rolling his eyes, he snatched a bottle at random - which Celestia quickly corrected with another.

“I think this one is shampoo.” She frowned, looking over the label. Deer writing was strange, but with a bit of guesswork, they managed to find the right order. If only she had enough magic for a quick translation spell...

Arin dumped a handful of the sweet, cinnamon and apple scented mixture into his palm, running lathered hands down through her pink strands. The first pass drew out a literal hand full of hair, which he looked at with worry. Celestia blushed, frowning.

“Sorry…” she whispered. But the Knight could only laugh.

“No no, it’s fine - let’s focus on cleaning you up, then we’ll move on to more intimate things. Alright?” he asked, and the Princess nodded. Her smile soon returned, and he worked on stripping the dead hairs from her mane.

It was a slow, arduous process - his fingers catching at knots, which were gently pulled away. Being careful not to clog the tub, within minutes a literal ball of hair stuck to his fingers. Even Celestia looked worried, but three years without a proper bath would do that to you. The best she had was endless snow and her tired hooves, after all. Or one trip down Canterlot Falls.

With the worst part over, she rested her head under the heavy blast of rain - letting Arin work lathering suds in deep to her tail. When he stooped down to focus on the lower strands of her hind hairs, Celestia flicked her tail tauntingly - showing off her supple lips beneath the rain. She originally did it just to tease him, but the Seraph took it more as an invitation. A quick run down with soapy hands was unnecessary preparation, but gladly accepted.

Celestia had to restrain a whiny as his eager tongue burrowed into her folds; lapping deep inside with twists and flicks that’d stun even an ageless mare like her. Sure, she’s had several lovers of all shapes and sizes - but she hasn’t been touched in years, a fact he was keen to abuse.

“I-I thought you wanted to take it slow?” She gasped, as his teeth seized at her nub. Her wings arced and tensed in the hot water, both forehooves clopping against the tile wall to give her legs room to spread. He pulled away, bubbly-coated fingers seizing both flanks tightly.

“Sorry, you asked for it.” He chuckled, and with a tug of his digits - his tongue pillaged her depths once more. The furiously blushing mare dropping her chest lower. Letting the full curve of thin body show, as he swirled soap covered hands along her cutiemarks.

By the Feathers; even now, her taste was still as sweet as he’d expected. Soft, supple, vanilla flavors mixed with morning dew. Why were ponies such amazing things to taste? Better yet - why did he imagine her tasting just like this? Her voice was already starting to peak, her hips sawing back against his lips in desperation. It hadn’t been three minutes, and she was already at her limit.

And he stopped. Her hooves dragged so hard at the tile, that scratch marks had formed in the stone. Her head tilted to let a pleading pink eye meet his golden irises.

Considering how desperate she was, how pent up from the lack of love and touch from the years - any sane man would pop her off. But no, it had to be special. If she wanted to cum from anything but her hooves, she’d have to work for it. In fact, he wanted to see just how desperate she really was, if she was this keen on smothering him with or without consent.

“Let’s wash down that rough hair of yours with some conditioner. Wouldn’t want your hair to get all dry and frizzy, after all,” the Seraph chimed, taking the next bottle from the row. Her eyes fell back to the Seraph with shock, trying to entice him by wiggling her flank. All she got in return - and what she rightfully deserved for being so aggressive with her affection, was a rough spank on her sunny cheeks.

Shivering now, Celestia resisted the urge to whine - but couldn’t stop herself from gazing longingly back at the man tending so gently to her tail. His fingers combed away the last of the foam, drizzling showering rain across the now pristine pink mass as his clean fingers gave a firm, slick slide over her desperate sex.

“By my Sun, if you don’t take me soon, I-I’m going to-”

“You’re going to what?” he chided, fingers pulling away from her dripping marehood. She resisted the urge to growl, a tiny nicker from her tongue forcing herself calm.

“I’ll snore in my sleep.”

“I’d like to see you try, I’d stuff your muzzle with something to keep you quiet.” He winked, twisting two digits into her sopping wet folds. But, he wasn’t intent on finishing her. Tia’s hoof stomped against the floor yet again, as he found both hands filled with sudsy conditioner once more.

“Surely you of all ponies can be a little more patient, hm? Let’s condition that sad mane; it needs love, too,” His smug grin ended much too quickly as she spun around - kneeling to catch the head of his stiff cock between her lips. Her not-so-happy glare staring up at him, her deadly sharp horn forcing him back against the far wall and into the chilly embrace of the stone.

“Well? You said you wanted to condition my mane.” She winked, swirling her tongue in fine twirls around his domed cock; the odd shape of it leaving Celestia curious for more. But she restrained; he’d have to earn it now. Hands seeping into her pink hair, he began the slow process of beautifying the once regal alicorn.

And with this new position, she relented - as his fingers scratched along her scalp and ears, her soft lips would edge an inch lower, before pulling away when his mind wandered. Fingers forced to work, her soft maw was absolutely heavenly when hugged tightly over his twitching manhood. She really did have thousands of years of experience - the tip of her tongue a soft point of pressure that wedged and squeezed at all the right spots; swirling under the helm of his cock with wonderful intensity. Eliciting excited moans from her lover, yet never once pushing him near his peak.

It was a steady pleasure that built up in his loins. When his hips pumped forward in an attempt to take her maw, her head would fall back - smiling at his hungry grunts. When she went deep and his fingers began to slow, her muzzle would twist - arching his back in a needy growl. He fought the urge to grab her by her mane and rut her maw like she so desperately deserved, instead opting to indeed, take it slow.

Her pink eyes were absolute pools of beauty, once upset mood changing to one of more soft, subtle joy. Simply happy to please the Seraph who brought so much happiness to her world, even if it was just a simple pleasure.

Finally, his hands fell free of her thoroughly treated mane - her maw popping off his aching dick to turn towards the primary shower head. Feeling her tail dart and flick against his sensitive cock was a hard sell on mounting her - but as both hands clamped down on those still recovering flanks, she flicked her gaze back towards him. Her tail immediately clasped her sopping wet slit in its protective hold, an exceedingly smug grin filling her features.

“Oh no!~ Surely you of all Seraphs could be a little more patient. I have wings that need tending, wouldn’t you agree?”

He had never wanted to slap his past self so hard before. But he started this game, and she was going to finish it. Grumbling, he seized the bottle of shampoo once more. Gladly dumping a palm full of it into his hand, he started the daunting task of scrubbing feathers.

Thankfully, he had three years experience to work off of, fingers whittling away the dirt and grime with expert precision. She seemed to just be melting at this simple touch, his digits finding the core flight muscles in her wings and pressing in. By now, she was putty. Soft, malleable, and in a few minutes - she would be exceptionally clean. Sliding his hands down the length of her wing’s femur, he pinched stiffly at the root - making her gasp and shudder.

“By the Dawn, Arin - I’m convinced you’re better than the Lotus Sisters by leagues and clouds. H-Ha…” She neighed under her breath; unlike Luna, who restrained these natural sounds - Celestia embraced them when she could.

“It’s a perk of having giant wings and tiny fingers.” His voice echoed softly against the soothing water as he tended to his lover in a steady rhythm.

With her pinions running under the nozzle proper, and Arin having given her fur a quick wash down - her attention turned to her unclean lover. “I do believe it’s my turn~” She blushed, running the drooling head of the shampoo bottle over her soft hoof.

At this point, Arin was having second thoughts about this. Regardless of how soft she was - those were still hooves. Rough, faintly magical, and sometimes able to stick things to them like glue - hooves. Perhaps seeing his nervousness, Tia leaned in close - planting her lips on his firmly.

“Don’t worry. I’m going to go slow, just like you want. Relax. Breathe. I’m not going to hurt you.” She brought the sudsy hoof to his head, and bowing down before her - let that gentle hoof press into his skull.

He somewhat expected hard edges and rough skin; but the entire hoof was nearly featureless, besides a soft pad towards the center. Even without fingers, it was easy for her to lather up his ‘mane’ - albeit a bit… odd. It was like someone was rubbing the palm of their hand on him softly, in smooth circles. In fact, he was tempted to try it himself - just then, to test his theory.

Now that he thought about it, it felt more like an extremely careful massage. With short hair, it was definitely an improvement over normal hands. The Seraph gave a soft moan, letting the Princess have her giggle at his reaction.

“And… there. Now let’s soap you down, and preen those wings.” Her nose bumped his, before catching the Knight in a delicate kiss. Tongues gently stroked each other as her body leaned in close. Tia’s chest brushed against his twitching dick, hands pulling her closer in still.

The Seraph soon found himself losing control - tempted to grab the Princess, towel her off, and cart her to the bed. But he fought on bravely, even as she pulled away to stare into his eyes. Both hearts fluttering in their chests, each moment as sensual as the last. Her hooves were just as careful on his feathers, and she, too, was a quick worker. Slipping in the occasional kiss and flick of her tongue, his teeth countered with a nip to her neck. When it came down to the full body exploration portion of his wash, she was very thorough. Almost to the point of discomfort, as her hooves seemed intent on touching, feeling, and even pinching certain parts of him.

Finally, they clicked the shower off - the tightening of the knob ending the soothing, and extremely arousing experience with the warm, foggy, sauna-like air embracing them. Towels were had, and used on each other - until Celestia opened the door to the bedroom proper with a hoof.

A wing guided the Seraph forward, soft kisses urging him on first. The Princess’s eyes twinkled as her gaze drank in her Lover, and with perhaps a moment of hesitation at the thought of the cool air - he laid himself flat on the bed.

Celestia, warm hearted and beyond pent up - trailed after him. She did have a preference after all - the frogs of her hooves catching his hands as another syruppy liplock quickly took the stage. Tongues dancing to the rhythm of their hearts, damp body heat shared. Fur and skin slipping between each other.

Not daring to release her iron grip on his hands - she guided her hips back and down. Her horn rested on his shoulder as she lined them up, under her eye’s careful supervision. The tip of his helmed dick slid between her slick, wet, and oh so needy folds - the cleft of her cunt smearing a trail of lust down along his rigid tool.

“Ready?” she whispered into his ear, the Seraph’s wings splaying out before engulfing her. The Princess’s own pair did much the same - leaving them both in a world illuminated by only the cracks in mane and wing both. Her eyes absolutely glowed down at him, and the Knight gave his reply with a kiss.

“As I’ll ever be,” he whispered. Without a moment’s delay afterwards, the soft, slick lips of the Solar Princess engulfed his twitching length, both parties shuddering at the long overdue feeling. It was such a strange sensation, letting the Princess overwhelm him like this - but it was what she wanted. She wanted to pay back all of the love, affection, and more importantly - hope, he had given her. And with their hips locked together, the pulse of his dick stretching her tight walls - she had the perfect tools to do just that.

With a practiced surge of her hips, she pumped his cock along her wet tunnel with care. Inner folds tight with the heat of exertion, she made an effort to wiggle her hips - seizing the twitching girth inside with bliss. Her hooves left the palms of his hands - instead opting to squeeze his chest in a less-than-strangling hug. Her grip hugging under his wings, their tongues meeting in another battle.

And with each flick inside each other’s maws, her flanks rained down another satisfying slam; soft grunts mingling with gentle moans from the Princess.

“Gods above, I’ve fantasized about this day since our stay in the Crystal Empire. I won’t lie, Arin, I was more than envious of my Sister for finding your heart first. I was outright jealous. To this day, not spending more time with you was my second biggest regret,” she said between controlled breaths - keeping her hips low to grind his dick inside of her sopping marehood.

“Let’s not bring that up right now, Tia. It… definitely feels wrong, while we’re together like this.” He blushed, averting his eyes. This was, after all, somewhat wrong. Luna could still be saved. Right?

She nodded her head, slowing the steady pumps of her hips down to a stop. Resting his heavy cock within her - a hoof flicking the pink mane out of her eyes. “Do you want me to stop?”

“...Yes, actually. Because it’s my turn.” He grinned - his right wing flicked hard against the bed - arms tackling the Princess to her side as a battle for dominance commenced. One in which the healthy Knight came up on top, hilted within his alicorn lover. They were panting now, as eyes met and held. With a frenzied slam into her quivering cunt - the sweet Princess beneath him quivered. The firm grip on her shoulders was the perfect leverage to slam and buck his hips into her body.

While he couldn’t go as deep as he could with Luna - due to the size difference - he could be much rougher. And with these gruff slams, he found her button - the soft, squeezing flesh of her cervix, that just barely cupped his tip, and sucked at his head. Her hindlegs were hiked up, bowling her hips into the air to meet his own in another frenzied slam.

“F-Fuck, Tia…” he growled, the Princess’s soft voice lost to sweet, passionate gasps.

“I swear on my Sun, Arin - you better cum inside of me.” She hooked his head with a hoof, glaring into his eyes as her desperation found the better of her. Mumbling and nickering faint swears beneath her breath, the steady, overwhelming lust bubbling in her loins coupled well with the pounding throb of his dick.

He had no intention of ruining her fur, after a shower like that - and he made doubly sure to seize her hips. “You don’t have to ask me twice,” he snarled, their sex quickly becoming rough and hungry. Within seconds, her voice switched to growing, rising gasps - speech clawing at the air as her tongue lulled free. Not a single sound from her muzzle was discernible, save for the soft whinnies for more and harder.

Finally, she reached her peak. Her wings crashed and slapped roughly against the bed - knocking a lamp to the floor with a clatter. Her voice cried out as a violent orgasm wracked her body - her hindlegs squeezing his hips so roughly that he honestly had trouble pulling away. Every fiber of her being - from her twitching hooves to her trembling wings - went mad with pleasure. Her hooves raked down his back hard enough to leave bruises. She didn’t bother to control the volume - she couldn’t, even as a rough, annoyed bang from a neighboring wall echoed through the chamber. And as her cunt milked his twitching, pummeling dick - he broke.

The combination of taunting, teasing, and now rough fucking broke his endurance in half - and his strong hips settled in one last deep thrust. His aching cock stirring her lust in inch-deep slams, as the first mighty, pent up rope of cum slammed into her belly with enough force to make him falter.

Collapsing on top of his mare, his Sun - his heavy jewels churned with each rope of seed he spilled inside of her. In all of his years, he had never came this hard before. The foreplay was absolutely overkill. Grunting and shuddering over the Princess’s twitching form, he couldn’t stop his teeth from seizing roughly into her neck. Suckling on the sensitive flesh, urging the last of his cum to shoot deep into her waiting womb.

“B-By my Feathers…” He gasped, pulling his mouth from her now bruising skin. Their rough panting mingled together, as he slowly lifted his chest off of hers. Happy smiles all around, sweat dripping and hearts melting - they shared another passionate kiss.

“That…” She heaved, lungs clawing at fresh air. “That was the best I’ve ever had, by leagues and clouds. You… by my Sun, I don’t even think a stallion could hope to compare.”

Tia’s compliments didn’t fall on deaf ears, the satisfied Seraph holding himself within to take in her divine beauty. “I won’t lie, Tia… that was worth it.” He breathed, tracing her happy cheek with a thumb. Her charming looks, especially after that wonderful experience - left him dumbstruck.

“I think I like you better with pink hair.” He smiled, combing his fingers through the drying mane. Tia giggled, using a wing to bat at his side playfully.

“Oh shush, you. You’re lying.”

“No no, it’s the truth. You look stunning.” His warm smile held, gentle and sincere. At that, the Princess melted - relaxing fully in his arms.

“This is what I looked like when I was a foal, as I was still growing into my power. By the time I was in my early one hundredth year, it was a sparkling, near crimson red. It took well over a few thousand more for it to develop into the flowing mane my subjects know and love. In fact, it happened right as I banished my Sister to the moon. It served more as a grim reminder of what I’ve done than it did a symbol of strength. Secretly, I… Well, I had a distaste for it. But you can’t dye away magic; I’m almost glad to see it pink again.”

She took his hand in a hoof, urging him to lay next to her. He did so, and with nose to nose, she continued. “I’m happy you like it. It’s… part of the real me. Who I am beneath the crown. I wish I could keep it this way. Or at least, the royal red I had so many years ago.”

Lacing another kiss, Arin smiled. “Maybe it’ll stick like this?”

She giggled. “One can dream. One can dream…”

Chapter 44 - A Storm to Remember (Clop)

Pumpkin helped brush the last of the muck from Tempest’s tail, the quiet Unicorn blushing at the soft, supple affection she gave. The attention to detail wasn’t missed, as Tempest soon turned back to face the little mare with warmth in those ocean-green irises. Their gaze held for several moments, now sparkling clean and tended to.

Perhaps to prove a point, Tempest lifted her right hoof towards their sheltered tent - aiming at Pumpkin’s newly refined hat. She furrowed her brows in concentration, channeling her innate bond with solar magics to embrace it in a thin, wispy orange. Steadily, the lightweight hat began to hover through the air, the delighted duo watching its progress.

And just like that, it faltered and fell into the water, two thirds the way across.

“You did amazing, Tempest!” Pumpkin chimed, as Tempest scooped up the hat in her hooves. “M-Much better than I could have ever hoped for, after a week of practice. It took me months to lift a feather…”

“It helps that I understand magic instinctually. It’s… difficult to focus more on the ambient auras around me, but with a little practice, I might even surpass my mentor.” She smiled, using a hoof to clean off excess droplets from the brim. She tilted the hat forward, spotting the familiar leather strap Pumpkin used so many times to bind or lash something together floating near the top. Her hoof plucked it from the mare’s hat, much to the confusion of the ‘Small-fry’.

“Er… do you need that for something, Hon?” Pumpkin questioned, her sparkling emerald irises trailing the strap innocently.

“...I’m thinking about it. We both share a similar interest in… literature. Correct?” Her hoof tightened over the belt, a thought coming to her mind. One that floated along her ideas before, but had little time to embrace.

At that, Pumpkin blushed. “W-Well, um… y-yes.”

“You’ve mentioned the other day that you thought that I was… ‘dominant’. Or am I mistaken?” By now, she hovered ever closer to her prey, stepping through the inch deep water to circle the little mare. A pony who was now blushing furiously, her tail peaking an inch higher than she’d intended.

Tempest pressed to her side, whispering softly into her ear. “You were right, Pet. I am… extremely dominant.”

She circled the strap around the smaller mare’s neck in a solid tug, Pumpkin’s tail darting up into the air immediately - flagging her submission to the tall Unicorn. Tempest couldn’t help but grin, pulling the makeshift leash hard.

Now chest to chest with the little mare, she peered down into Pumpkin’s soul. Piercing irises seeking to claim her property, a firm, unyielding kiss soon following. The smaller pony whimpered, her muzzle taken - and overwhelmed - in mere moments. The tight bond of her leash forcing their lips to seal, that kiss to grow increasingly more deep and challenging.

By the time it broke, Pumpkin was a panting, mewling, submissive puddle in her hooves, her hindlegs shaking from the sheer intensity of it all.

“...Call me Mistress, behind closed doors,” Tempest declared, her plaything shaking with excitement.

“Y-Yes Mistress,” Pumpkin whispered to meet her expectations. Tempest’s smile was more than enough of a reward, as she led her by the leash towards the tent.

“From now on, you obey any and all of my commands without hesitation. If I demand your attention - you will give it, no matter the circumstance. You are my pet, and you will give me the respect I deserve. Understood?”

Pumpkin shuddered, dripping with need at the mere thought of submitting to the powerful mare. Those beautiful eyes struck every fiber of her soul, and left her basking in her presence. “Yes Mistress, I-I am meant to serve you, a-and only you,” she whispered, much to the delight of her Owner.

“Good girl,” came the reply - leading her into the tent. The soft ground beneath the heavy blankets and sheets were perfect for what she intended - cutting slack on the leash, the dominant Unicorn laid across their bedding. Posing for her property, letting Pumpkin’s soft eyes soak in her beauty. Tempest shifted, laying across her side with authority.

“Join me, Pet,” she stated, and Pumpkin quickly did just that - shuffling into the sheets while pressing her chest to her Owner’s, the firm tug of the leash instantly seizing her in another mouth-claiming kiss.

Even when laying like this, Tempest towered over her, so much so that the tiny witch’s heart nearly stopped in its chest - fluttering in submissive bliss.

For some reason, when she dreamed of this day - she thought of it with a stallion, never another mare. But… Stars above, it felt so right. Tempest’s spare hoof trailed over her body, touching, teasing, and stroking her soft, freshly cleaned fur. Taking every bit of her smaller form for granted - as the kiss soon failed to meet her demands.

“Attend to my needs. Do well, and you will be rewarded.” Her Mistress smirked, after breaking from the soul-claiming liplock. Pumpkin struggled to catch her breath, but was more than eager to obey.

“Y-Yes Mistress! T-Thank you, Mistress.”

Tempest shuffled her back against the pillows to rest on her flanks, her unyielding gaze captivating the submissive mare. Pumpkin ladled on the affection with sweet, tender, body tracing kisses. The Unicorn’s legs spread wide as the lil’ witch dipped ever lower, exposing her soft, supple lips. She was gushing lust nearly as much - if not more than her Toy. A very welcome sight, for the tiny virgin mare.

A soft hoof from above cupped her autumn-colored mane, dragging her nose into her slick, wet cleft. Immediately, Pumpkin’s hips gave a tiny buck - breathing in her scent. Sweet like wild berries, and hints of sour, shocking tingles that made her own sex drool down her thighs. She dug her tongue in deep, curling within her Owner’s insides with absolute desperation.

The Pet wanted to taste her, to feel her - to give every bit of pent up affection welling in her chest to her Owner. Eyes sliding shut, she trailed her soft tongue over the stern pony’s insides with gentle care.

Tempest couldn’t hold back the moan building within her, resting her hindlegs over Pumpkin’s back and shoulders. The witch was more than eager to burrow her muzzle in deep, and drink her lust - twirling her tongue fluently over her slick, soaking folds. As inexperienced as she was, she had years of knowledge to work with.

Finally, all of her ‘recreational reading’ could pay off - the small mare pulling back an inch to grind her tongue firmly into Tempest’s soft, winking button. The response was immediate; the warrior’s hoof tugged hard at her mane, forcing her snout right back inside of her thick cleft.

“Now now, Pet. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself, or I will smother you.” The unicorn cracked an ocean-green eye to gaze down at her Toy, who wiggled her flagging tail in delight at the mere thought.

“...You’d like that, wouldn’t you? What a slutty fuckdoll you are,” Tempest growled, “very well then, my Toy. You asked for it.”

With a powerful kick of her legs, she spun over - taking Pumpkin’s cute face with her as the mare’s heavy weight sunk across her muzzle. Pinned beneath her Mistress, the smaller pony had no choice but to hook her legs onto Tempest’s hips, and set to work.

“Make me cum, and I’ll let you breathe,” the Commander warned, stroking a hoof through her Pet’s mane. Shuddering beneath her, her property accepted her place - diving her tongue into Tempest’s sweltering hot folds, drinking in her slick flavor with soft, gentle lashes of her tongue. She mumbled happily below, circling her taste buds along the width of her Owner’s insides. When there was a chance to gasp for air, she greedily took it - her body fighting against her lungs for more fresh oxygen.

And just when her soft, deep slashes of her tongue would relent, Tempest would shift her weight just enough to force air into Pumpkin’s lungs, the Unicorn’s legs shuddering and twitching with budding lust.

“Come… on… almost…” Her voice grew strained and pitched, her hoof mashing the little mare into her cunt, panting breath hitching as her orgasm built to a fever pitch. “Y-You… a-adorable… slut!”

With a cry and a buck from her legs, the dominating pony came hard - shaking and rocking her hips above the drowning mare, who finally used her Owner’s orgasm as a chance to seize her button between her lips. The effect was immediate; Tempest nickered and whinied, horn cackling with sparks that quickly diffused into the air, a foreleg stomping the floor around her Pet’s lust-soaked face.

The body-wide orgasm left her shaking, coming down from the high with hoarse huffs and snorts, pulling her quaking weight off of Pumpkin with a moan.

The little witch basked in the flavor, taking deep, desperate draws of air. Hindlegs twitching, heart hammering, and oh so horny, the earth pony squeaked as a firm tug of her leash dragged her body into Tempest’s hooves.

“You did… admirable. Worthy of a reward, I believe.” She whispered into her Toy’s ear, their hot breath mingling together in this magic moment; Tempest considered the best way to please her Pet.

If only there was a ‘toy’ store nearby, to pick up on some much needed ‘equipment’ for the job.

“I don’t suppose of all the things you keep in that hat of yours, a ‘strapon’ isn’t out of the question?” Tempest smirked, dropping the act for a moment just to tease the little witch.

“W-Well…”

Tempest blinked. “...Do you seriously carry a strapon with you everywhere you go? For what purpose? Why?”

Pumpkin plucked her hat from the side, blushing as Tempest squeezed her close. She gave a small, nearly invisible zipper on the inside a tug - pulling the toy in question out with a huff. Several inches long, but strangely… not in the shape of a more socially acceptable stallion’s length. It seemed to be more along the lines something ambiguously close to it, with three straps to situate it tightly against one’s lap. It also had an oval shaped bead, that connected to the base of the toy - to help share in the lust the dominant would give to their lesser.

It was… worrying, that she kept something like this on her person at any given time. But not entirely out of character, perhaps, considering the books she read. Tempest may or may not have entertained the thought of keeping something private with her, years ago.

“W-When we were in Silversun, I may have made… a secret request to one of the maids for help. Needless to say, I was given um… this. I-I never thought it would have any use, besides maybe as a weird… souvenir, from the White Tail.”

“Did you really think that highly of me, at the time?” she questioned, her teeth nibbling softly on the mare curled up against her chest. Pumpkin found it hard to speak, cooing from the gentle love.

“I-I… w-well, I’m quick to crush, but… something about you felt different. I knew, I just knew… you’d be the one.” She blushed, as the Unicorn tilted her muzzle to meet her own. A softer, more intimate kiss followed - sharing this feeling with her little Pet.

“I had an inkling since Silversun that we would be a good match, my sweet. But I didn’t know for sure until you kissed me at the Carnival.” The wine-colored mare pecked her nose in a tender smooch, seizing the appendage in her hooves. “I’ve never been attracted to stallions, after all; while we’ve read all the same books, I saw it from a different perspective. Something about you just… caught my eye. My interest. It’s why I agreed to study with you, to spend more time together. It was never about my broken horn. I wanted to know you.”

Her eyes locked to the submissive mare’s gaze, stroking a hoof against her cheek. The admission of love left her speechless, unable to do anything but sniffle and wipe away a tear or two from her cream coat.

“I love you, Tempest,” she whispered, just as her lover finished slipping the toy between her long legs - the soft, magic bead pressing into her slick lips before vanishing inside. Tight and snug, the tall Unicorn shared another kiss with her witchy lover.

“I love you too, Pumpkin. Now, where were we…” she whispered, once again seizing the leash in her hoof. The small mare moaned, feeling the weight of the toy dig into her belly. “Ah yes, your reward.”

Without bothering to restrain herself - Tempest tossed the witch onto her back - towering over her lithe form with a smirk. The toy dangled freely between her legs, as she drank in the autumn mare with uncontained lust. This is exactly what the Unicorn wanted. Full, complete, and total control. And Pumpkin was just oh so willing to give it all to her.

She thought to start things off slow, so as to not overwhelm her little plaything just yet. After all, the fun had only just begun. Her firm nose laced sweet kisses along the mare’s chest, licking curiously along her now well-tended fur. The warmth of her hot breath soaking into her body, the needy pony giving a whiny for more.

Of course, this adorable noise was rightly ignored. She would pleasure her property at her own pace - Tempest would not be swayed by beastial grunts. But, perhaps some pleading was in order.

“Use your voice, Pet. Beg for your Mistress, and I may relent.”

Pumpkin shuddered, her soft hips sawing and bucking at the air, her lust boiling within her. “P-Please Mistress, I-I need t-to cum-”

Tempest yanked hard at the leash, forcing her plaything to squeak as the leather creaked in her iron grasp. “I can’t hear you through your stutter. If you want mercy, then beg properly.”

Her irises burned right through her submissive with sheer, overwhelming dominance - the little mare almost cowering beneath her. Taking a deep breath, and trying her best to settle her shaky, needy legs, she made a second, much more refined attempt.

“Please Mistress, let me feel you, may I please… nn… embrace your touch? Your soft tongue? I want to submit to you, g-give you my body. Let you have me, control me, use me. I… I want to be yours~”

The Unicorn made a show of sliding her hoof along her Lover’s sopping wet folds, Pumpkin’s breath seizing in her chest at the gentle touch. They’ve hardly started, and she was already on edge - just the friction alone was enough to leave her body twitching.

Seeing her squirm in her hooves was enough to finally sway her, her leash bound leg darting down - lifting Pumpkin’s head to watch. Using both hooves, Tempest gingerly spread her Pet’s soft lips, that dominant tongue of hers gliding over her gash at her leisure. But after one swipe, she stopped - perking up.

“My my Pet, you’ve been hiding something from me,” came her whispering voice, biting her lip. “I never thought you’d taste this sweet. Gods above, I couldn’t imagine mares actually tasted close to their namesake. I thought it was all just… some form of rumor gone wild.”

“You t-taste like tingling wild berries,” Pumpkin offered, panting. Now curious to her own flavor.

“And you taste like… I can’t believe it, but pumpkin pie. I honestly never knew it would be this… accurate.”

...Was Tempest a virgin, too? Actually, with her attitude, military history, and scarred disposition, this wasn’t really much of a shock. But it seemed so… natural for her to be dominant, like she’s done this a thousand times over.

Before Pumpkin could even think about breaking their little roleplay any farther, Tempest locked her muzzle fully to her slick, wet folds - tongue burrowing deep to really sample her flavor. The leashed mare nearly rolled her eyes back into her head - her hips buckling in a desperate, mewling whimper. “M-Mistress!” she called, the little forehooves originally curled to her chest darting to the sheets below, knotting them in her grasp with mewling, desperate, intimate whines. “B-Buck! M-Mistress!”

Tempest only tugged harder on her Toy’s leash, her own slit drooling down the length of her strapon. The oval bead within her cunt vibrated softly at the sensation, and a hungry urge built up within her loins. She pulled her tongue roughly from her Toy’s supple folds, flicking it against her winking button as the panting, mewling, desperate mare pleaded for more.

“Moan for your Mistress, Pet. I want to feel you seizing with every inch,” she demanded, her hips shuffling forward to guide the oddly shaped tool against her Pet’s quivering cunt. “Gods above, you look absolutely adorable beneath me. This is where you belong, Pet. Under me. As my little fuckdoll.”

“H-Ha! Yes Mistress! I-I’m your slave, y-your toy - you own me! B-Buck me, please! I-I beg you!” Her hips strained, the soft slick hug of her inner walls suckling at the dildo’s strange head, until Tempest finally related.

In one deep slam, they both seized - the Unicorn above closing her eyes as the strange ovular bead within her began to shake and vibrate intensely. Like she herself had been penetrated, almost. Her lips met her Pet’s, as they both shared in this groundbreaking moment. Within seconds, Tempest worked her hips up into a steady, rugged rhythm, fully stretching her fuckdoll with every lunging thrust.

That already deep kiss became overwhelming, as Tempest sought to fully claim her pent up pet - her tongue burrowing so deep inside of her mouth, she could hardly make an effort to fight back. She balled up her Toy’s makeshift leash, forcing her little fuckdoll deeper into the claiming kiss. Her hips sawing and rutting firmly into that slick, sopping wet cunt she now owned.

When the kiss broke, Pumpkin was a timid, mewling mess - a rope of saliva snapping between them.

“You’re mine, Toy. My property. From now on, every night that I demand it - you will be my plaything. Do you understand?” she growled, hips bucking so hard into the little mare that her voice could only come between needy gasps.

“Y-Yes Mistress!”

“Who owns you, Pet? Say my name!” Her spare leg roughly slammed into Pumpkin’s bare flank, before seizing her waist - helping force every lunging, body claiming slam into her dominated cunt.

“T-Tempest Shadow! H-Haaa!~ Tempest Shadow owns me! I-I’m Tempest’s property! I-I’m her toy!” she screamed, as every hoof, every limb they had to spare - darted around each other. A duo of cries definitely broke through the waterfall’s heavy crashing waters outside, as both ponies came - hard.

Tempest was unabashed with her teeth, seizing her Property’s shoulder in a dominating bite. Pumpkin’s tiny voice cracking into the most adorable, sweet, brain-rattled mewls, as she submitted her very soul to the unicorn above her, who drove the last three inches of that length into her belly again and again. Their hips buckling and slamming roughly together, lust dripping and drooling across the blankets and mares as endless tides of pleasure shot through their cores. Desperate, air sucking gasps soon followed, as it took several seconds for the nearly mind melting bliss to slowly fade, and the lunging, womb-kissing ruts to finally stop.

Tempest simply gazed down at her little lover, who slowly recovered enough to settle her sights on the Unicorn above. Their breath mingling, sharing in this newfound light.

“...The moment we seize victory in Canterlot, I’m buying you a permanent collar,” Tempest confirmed, much to the joy of her timid plaything.

“O-Only if it’s enchanted to n-never come off,” she whispered back.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Pet. But I, too, like to live dangerously. I’ll consider it.”

“P-Promise?” Pumpkin asked with hope, her emerald eyes gleaming like stars into the oceans of love above.

“Promise.”

Chapter 65 - Mirror Image

Celestia, under the permission of the Guards - placed several quick knocks at the sleeping King’s door. After hunting down the head of housekeeping, she was quick to learn that the spare room was seized by a small fawn. For what reason, she was unsure - but it meant she needed guidance on where to rest now. After all, it would be rude to barge into Vee or Tempest’s room to swipe their undoubtedly stained beds. Vee’s with coffee. Tempest’s with… well, other things, between her and her mare. Because she could hear it, walking down the hall. Did they have to be so loud?

Within moments, a green aura seized the elegant knob in a turn. A heavy eyed buck revealing himself from behind the wood, a tad worried to be awoken in his rest. Expecting General Falon, he was a bit shocked to find the Princess standing there instead.

Quietly, he ripped the warm sleeping cap from his head - tossing it to the side before she could hopefully notice. She did, of course - but she’s seen worse.

“Celestia, what brings you rapping upon my chamber door this late in the eve? Is there an issue my staff can not handle?” he asked quietly, and the Princess simply shook her head.

“I’m just… over reacting, as per usual, it seems. I had spoken with the head of housekeeping, and I was surprised to learn that you had no spare beds left. I… well, I need one.”

This staggered the buck for a moment, who closed the door to shed his incredibly comfortable pajamas in peace. It was uncouth to present himself in such a way, after all. In a flash, he opened the door fully once more - inviting her into his chambers to speak quietly.

“If you’re simply in need of a place to rest, I may offer my own bed to you. But, if you need an ear to listen, mine are always open.”

The Princess graciously accepted the invitation, slipping in to speak with the buck in private. She had a lot to discuss, and a mind like Aster’s may be her best bet to find solidarity.

The soft comfort of his chambers once more felt warm against her coat; the burdens of the day seeping away as he offered her a position by the dull hearth. She had only spent a scant hour or three here before, discussing their plans to find the breezies and speak of her past. But now, it offered a new comfort - a fireplace quickly lit with the spark of twin antlers, a soft bow motioning to a nearby pillow for her to rest. He did much the same with his own pillow, blinking away the last of his sleep.

“So. As you may have rightly guessed, over the scant time I’ve had with the former King Arin, I’ve been… attached, per say. I am sure that you’re aware of the… noise we’ve made here - in your halls, of course.”

“An echo I have tried hard to ignore, Celestia. But yes, I am aware.” The King nodded, a bit dimly - but he was still interested. “But please, go on.”

“Our relationship started just after we fled the castle, and… well, it was done so over a spoken agreement. You see, Arin is actually my Sister’s Knight. And though he has love for her, the Nightmare’s influence has corrupted her emotions and made it difficult to return his love, after his time away in Erenorn. So a contract of sorts was struck; we would share each other temporarily, to help quench our combined loneliness - and in return, he would be… non-committal, per say.”

When Celestia hesitated to speak onwards past this point, Aster took this as a notion to continue his questioning.

“Non-committal - as in, an open relationship? Like a harem? In old times, both bucks and stallions would often usher several does together, to help raise the population in times of decline. I would not expect one such as you to be privy to an arrangement of this sort.”

“N-No, not a harem - more like… he wished to speak with Luna still, after we reclaimed the throne. And he would decide who to love then. I was fine to accept this, at first… but…”

She closed her magenta eyes, feeling the light of the flames warm her fur. “I did not expect to be challenged in my love so soon, Aster. You see, Arin - he has a close bond with the gray unicorn we rescued from the far west. Much closer than both my Sister and I combined could ever hope to achieve - he… he basically pulled her from the darkness of the Entity. She’s a former Umbrum, now turned pony. And ever since, she has spent the last three years by his side. And now, there’s this… spark, between them. And it’s pulling him away from me. Which is silly to say; he was never truly mine to begin with, but…”

“But you still feel enraptured by him.” He frowned, green eyes settling on the flames. “I know the exact pain you describe. It… occurred almost exactly the same, between your mother and I. Save the fact she never returned my love to begin with. You are lucky to be given this grace, in my eyes. It’s something I was never offered the chance for. In all of my long years, I may be King - but it is by title alone. I never once sought the comfort of another deer. I could not. I was… and still am, smitten. By the pony who looks just like you, and gave you life.”

At that, Aster’s head fell forward. Keen on inspecting his cloven hooves for the time, a new silence soon followed.

“You never loved another?” the Princess eventually spoke, gazing up from the flames at the lonely buck not more than a couple hooves away.

“I could not. I’ve been smitten since the day I met her.”

And with that, Aster picked up the quiet conversation into the long hours of the night; his long years behind him guided his words, speaking quietly of the mare he once knew. Of course, it was mostly ramblings of her visits to the Autumn Court, or other such tales - but it was a pleasant conversation for the morning mare, one that helped settle the hole in her heart. But, no amount of words could stifle the growing urge to sleep, and as such - she interrupted him with a quiet yawn.

“I do love hearing about my mother, Aster - it’s good for my soul, but I think we both need our rest. Do you mind if I, and please don’t mention this to Vee, but… do you mind if I snoot up some pillows? I believe I’ll stay by the fire tonight. It’s quite cozy, and the flames will help ease my soul.”

“...The use of the word ‘snoot’?” Aster fanned a leg towards her, curious. “But yes, I suppose you may. I intended to be a gentle buck and offer my bed, but if the flames can inspire a calm mind - then I will lavish your request thusly. One moment, I will send a guard to fetch more bedding.”

He stood and stretched his long, regal legs, and feeling quite comfortable - snatched his comfy pajama hat to stuff upon his head once more. Celestia had to restrain a giggle at just how goofy it looked - but none-the-less, the minutes passed and ample sheets and cushions were delivered. Enough to put a pillow fortress to shame, no-less.

“Now! I do have business to attend to tomorrow; I believe my advisors wished to speak with me regarding some recent purchases on behalf of the crown, and I will need a clear mind for the task. May the twilight slumber soundly for you, Princess.”

Aster bowed his head, leaving the Princess to the comfort of her newly assembled pillow-nook.

“Aster?” the morning mare called after him, as he flopped on the bed.

“Yes?”

“Thank you. For everything you’ve done for us. I can’t stress this enough, but-”

“Princess, I do not wish to downplay your thanks, but this is the seventh time today alone you have greeted my kindness pleasantly. Please, slumber beckons”.

Celestia rolled her eyes, but gave in. She really did have a habit of saying thank you much too much for her own good, it seems.

Settling into the warmth of the pillows, her eyes lingered over the fire. She weighed her heart in kind, trailing her mind over the jagged thoughts that rested there. Perhaps today wasn’t a great day, not for love - but for knowledge. She learned many things, both about herself, and those she cherished.

Did she feel anger, or jealousy? Yes. But she can let those both go; it’s time she stood on her own hooves. Arin is young, and in less-than-pleasant terms; by technicality, far beneath her. Perhaps the love she sought wasn’t true at all, but rather a pain she intended to stifle and quell with warm feelings and open hearts. Just as the much less experienced seraph predicted.

Aster’s kind company helped ease her mind tonight. Had she trudged the path before her, she might have done something brash - which was much too much the norm for her, lately. Now, she should think for herself. Relying entirely on others to stand would only weaken her growth. She was a Princess. A ruler. A friend to many, and now - stronger in the face of adversity.

When the morning came, a quick conversation with Arin could help ease the last of her pain, and it would be just what she needed. Besides; not many will live to eternity like her. Pursuing Arin would do nothing but waste his preciously short life, in comparison to her own.

Perhaps there is another she could love, when the time was right. And maybe, he’s closer at hoof than she once thought.

Dash snored fitfully in the dark; after all, she had a couple days of sleep to catch up on. And she was enjoying it, too - until a purple wing slapped her against the face so hard, she nearly rolled off the bed!

Clutching the sheets and rubbing her cheek, she glared up at Vee. “Hey! What was that for!? What did I do to you?!”

Vee took the same wing, preening it in thought. “Hmhm. No, definitely not good for the feathers, Loop-fry.”

“Mhm? I was sure that would work. It’s alright, my extremely well preened friend. Plenty more experiments to run, bleats to be had. Let’s try the other one.”

Dash wheeled around to face the doe who snuck into her room alongside Vee, yellow mane on gold coat with lemon eyes… what the hay! What was going on here?!

“WHO LET YOU TWO IN MY ROOM!” she yelled, the yellow Red Tail withdrawing a hoof full of sand to blow quietly in Dash’s face. The rainbow maned Pegasus coughed, sneezed - then passed out with a happy, content snore. A single hindleg bucking at the air in a wonderfully deep sleep.

“D’ohoho! Dream powder, I see! You’re awfully smart, Loop-fry. I’ll have to add that to the list of ‘things I need to carry at all times’.” Vee smiled, sipping her coffee. With a flick of her wing, she tossed the enchanted necklace around her neck to the floor; she didn’t need worthless magic that didn’t work!

“Mm, why thank you, Purple-fly. You’ve got smarts to go along with the arts, after all.” The doe winked, Vee fitting the next necklace along her neck. Surely this one would work.

SMACK!

“Guh!” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and fluttered off the sheets, shaking her mane free of the powdery blue streaking her head. “Who! What! Where?!”

“Mhm, no, that didn’t work either. But it did make her forget what happened, at least. Maybe we need to bury our snouts into a book or two, Purple-fly.” Eve slid the brush free of her golden hair, using her magic to pluck a wad of the stuff and dump it on Rainbow Dash’s bed.

Vee preened a wing, losing several more feathers in thought. Dashie, perhaps realizing now would be a good time to run - darted for the door. For the time being, Vee let their overly sleepy test subject flap off - it was volunteer work, after all.

“Oho! Yes, books would be good. When are they releasing the purple friendly version of them here in Silversun, if you don’t mind me asking?” Vee wiggled a feather between her lips as she spoke over the trashed bed, Eve giving her trademark laugh.

“Ehehehe! Don’t worry, Purple-fly! I am an expert at all things literature. Unfortunately, I am banned from most bookstores and libraries as well. Those dumb-bucks and dim-does have a thing against excessively beautiful hair.”

“Hmhm! And purple feathers! Luckily, I have just the mare for the job! And her name is… Hmhm.”

Vee thought quietly for a moment, stroking her chin with her feathers. “Ah! Yes! Pumpkin Two. Or something. Tall, ugly-mane, loves long speeches and being snooty.”

“Mhm. I don’t like her already. Does she have blue hair? I hate blue. Not light blue, just excessively blue. Makes me bleat in disgust.”

“No no, red - such an eyesore! Dark, disgusting, blech! Almost burns the coffee, that color. D’ohoho~ Maybe I was wrong about you, Eve! We make a team!” The Purple led her way to the door, nibbling away a stray feather or two for preening sake.

“Just a team? I guess we’re not a good one yet, ehehehe~” The gypsie tagged along, a trail of loose hairs following in her wake. “Now, where to find this ‘Pumpkin Two’ I wonder?”

“Oho! I have a wonderful idea - let’s find the second tallest ‘Fry I know, if we don’t count Blech-disgusting-red-fry in the polls. He’s got a brain beneath the mane! He’ll know where she went.”

“Mhm? Smarts for the arts, I see! I like it, Purple-fly,” the doe chimed, hovering her cup in golden magic. “Now, let’s make our escape before a buck or doe from beneath the boughs put their snouts in places they shouldn’t. Wouldn’t want another wanted poster with my name on it, after all.”

“Oho? I have three warrants, Loop-fry. How many did the Fuzz snoot under your hoof when you weren’t looking?” Vee asked, emptying her final cuppa of coffee from the barrel. Sadly, she must have drunk it all! Or that cafe ripped her off and gave her nowhere near enough.

“Aha, that’s where we differ, Purple-fly. I’ve got six; three for using a local fountain to wash my mane, and the rest are concerning the massive amount of unpaid wagon tickets I’ve been unfairly assigned. It’s targeted, I tell you - my cart is innocent!”

This brought a rousing array of familiar, witchy and gypsy laughs - Pegasus and Red Tail both chattering away the neighs and bleats until they could knock on Arin’s door. By knock, Vee meant open - swinging into the elegant entrance with a flap of her wings.

“Tall-fry! Wake up! I need your tracking skills to locate the Terrible-yucky-mane-fry!” Vee snooted snootily, her snoot snooting with sniffly snoots up to the sleeping Seraph’s bed. Snoot. Vee, please don’t write your own lines here, this is the copy I’m sending the publishers. Neigh, Small-fry, deal with it. Stop!

Arin’s eyes split open at the call, rolling over into the sheets to greet the Vee as he would a new day. By gently forcing her away with a single hand, grunting. “Please, by the Feathers, just five minutes, Vee.”

“No dice, Jerk-face! Outta the bed! We’ve got a Snooty Princess to annoy!”

With a grunt and a roll of his eyes, the Seraph struggled onto his tired legs. Yawning, Arin flicked and stretched his wings in a tired flap - blinking away the last of the not-so-deep-sleep. How long had it been? Is it morning yet? Better yet - how could he tell? He didn’t feel incredibly well rested. Perhaps a scant few hours short of a proper rest; or, the magic from the day before really took it out of him.

“Why can’t you find her yourselves? She’s probably off… bothering the King, maybe stealing cake from the kitchen or… whatever. And… Vee, who is this?”

“Aha! You look to be a tall mayfly indeed. Purple-fly was right about you. If you’ll just hurry along and hammer your hooves, we can be on our way.” The doe smiled, focused eyes settling onto the standing Knight.

“What time is it?” He scratched errant itches along his arms, wiggling his nose in frustration.

“Time for you to get a watch, Tall-fry. But! It’s morning. Probably. I don’t know, I don’t read deer! Eve, what does my watch say?” The purple raised her hoof, much to the rolling eyes of the Red Tail.

“Well, considering how you woke me up from my beauty sleep not more than a few hours ago, Vee, it’s around… nine fifteen. Mm. I’m late for my morning tea with my daughter. I don’t suppose we can blaze this path a little faster, mm?”

“That’s right, flap to it! Move move move!”

“By the feathers… there’s two of you,” Arin whispered, sullen that he has to handle twice the Vee - but now in deer flavor. With nothing left to say and no explanations given, he lazily trotted - by the feathers, he walked to the door, and into the beautiful halls once more.

Chapter 78 - The Battle, Part 2

BANG

The heavy Oaken doors took another rattling crash, as the Tempest dug her hooves deep into the cracking tile. Above her, the massive blockade bar yawned and creaked, straining against the clattering blows of the ram outside. Even with her immense strength, she was one mare against an army.

Umbra fared no better; as the sole defender keeping Tempest from being overwhelmed, her scythe couldn’t reap souls fast enough - especially against dozens of skilled opponents. Even with her shadow form, the guards flanked her sides and would catch lucky blows against her deer forged armor. The links of winter iron shattered as her flesh bruised below, and she would counter each hit against her with another potent slash, before fading into shadow once more.

This was a losing battle; but if this door fell, they would stand no chance. Already, brave soldiers crashed through distant stained glass windows, seeking to claim their victory against the few defenders left. The tide was endless, as pegasi - and a few brave unicorn and earth ponies - managed to bolt inside.

The glowing blue Throne Room doors shimmered and stopped - cracking open steadily, as a single victor soon followed. Nightmare Moon herself, who watched the pitiful display with morbid curiosity.

Tempest growled, as a spear prodded at a gap in her armor - snarling, she lanced a bolt of radiant, unfocused lightning into the crowd. Before she could even attempt to fight back against another intruding soldier, another BANG rattled her body to the roots, straining her struggling form further. And that’s when she saw it; certain death stepping casually toward them - down the steps, her old blade in glimmering blue magic.

“Oh how adorable. Just three? Surely there are more of you, and - my my! I do recognize you, Tempest Shadow. It was hard to tell under all that armor; I had assumed it was you. You were so quick to escape the first time! And now here you are - tell me, you didn’t really come here alone, did you? Against several thousand soldiers, and Queen included? Only Arin would be foolhardy enough to face me, like he did his father. Where is he? My ‘little snookie pie’? My ‘sweet angel’? Surely he flaunted me, like the true prize I am.” Nightmare Moon’s fangs gleamed, as guards parted for her approach; a single flick of her wings made the fighting stop, as she intended to handle this on her own.

Umbra heaved fresh oxygen into her aching muscles, her red eyes and green tendrils fading as her body struggled to keep up with the immense demand of fending off an entire castle’s worth of guards. She saw the old blade gleaming in her old enemy’s hold - Dreamcutter, and knew she was in trouble.

“You can’t… have him,” the gray unicorn growled, refusing to give up hope, “he’s… mine.”

At that, Nightmare Moon paused - as the piece within her cried out in pain. It was enough to make her recoil, a single hoof reaching up to clasp her aching skull. “N-No…” her whisper came, in such a soft and innocent voice. For a brief respite, her eyes shifted between slits and familiar pony irises - until it finally settled on the overwhelming evil.

“SHUT UP!” the Nightmare billowed, charging blindly at Umbra. The dark mare’s form shifted to shadows, as the blade sailed past her; no matter! Nightmare Moon had seen this trick before. And if there was one pony incapable of the same little magic show, it was Tempest - who was now left completely unguarded.

An orb crashed directly into Nightmare Moon’s onyx armored chest, gasping as obsidian began to blossom and grow in its place. The swirling green and gray mists soaked into her form, her body swiftly turning to stone from the seeping magic.

She faltered, panic settling in - but corrected herself. She wasn’t her snivelling lesser half. Her horn flashed - turning to starlit shadows as she slid free of the spell after a brief struggle. Gasping fresh air from her freed lungs, Nightmare Moon glared daggers at the struggling Commander.

The scythe came down hard at Nightmare Moon’s neck - but with a flash of her moonlit barrier, she keenly deflected Umbra’s attack.

Another orb shattered against her - forcing a growl of frustration as she shifted into her starlit form to escape the clenching stone once again. At this point, she grew tired of the charade - and stayed in her pooling darkness, blade gleaming violently as she aimed to cut Tempest down to size.

Then. A flash. A brilliant, radiant ray of golden light crashed down upon her; her shadows forced to coalesce as her horn flared into another powerful barrier against the onslaught.

As the spell ended, a distinct, budding, and oh so enraged malice filled the air. A terror so strong that even the two reformed mares both froze in fright, as the blackened Alicorn turned her eyes up to the beating wings of her sister. Except her mane… it was now a gallant red. Curious, but none-the-less, it will simply look pretty on her corpse.

“You…”

Celestia took a page from Vee’s book, and gave a confident smirk. “Me.”

Another blast of golden, radiant magic crashed into the roof above, just as Nightmare Moon flashed her wings to charge after her. There was one pony left in all of existence that could distract her from petty revenge, and that was her Sister.

Just as her starry blue tail whipped out of the hole, the panic ended - and three plumes of smoke erupted in the quickly recovering guards. Pumpkin flew overhead, taunting the unaffected pegasi on the edges of the disorganized crowd with a raspberry. The effect was immediate; she had six heavily armored soldiers chasing her through the air, as the lack of leadership among them meant few had a proper target to focus on.

In the smoke and coughing, Vee flapped her pristine, and only slightly bloody pinions to the floor - giving a simple ‘oho’ on the landing.

“So, looks like my favorite customer wants to join the loyalty program, hmhm?” Vee teased, poking Umbra’s wrent armor with the haft of her lance.

“Only if it comes with a discount on cadavers.” The shadow gave a weak grin, just catching sight of Arin as he blazed into the throne room. Immediately, she slashed at a coughing stallion’s throat - turning him into a spirit in mere seconds.

“D’ohoho! I don’t sell black market goods anymore! Not since Pumpkin came around. Why do you think I’m always broke? Hmhm~” Vee gasped as a guard managed to land another hit on her - even if the stallions lacked focus, they were still elites, and the massive scarlet ribbon along her side proved that. She wasn’t a frontliner, like Tempest or Umbra - where was Oarkin?!

“Don’t suppose you’ve seen Giant-fry around? You know, before I-” She dodged a prodding spear, and her next slash failed to land as the offending Pegasus cleanly stepped to the side of the amateur blow. “-bleed out! Not good for the feathers.”

“He’s dead!” Tempest called, snarling as a Unicorn darted in to land another successful hit - right in the joint of her armor. Before she could enact her retribution, he smartly stepped back - her bucking hindleg just hardly missing him.

“For now, Stern-fry! We’ve got a healer, d’ohoho~”

Arin drew his palm up, channeling healing magic into his hand. Oarkin was only freshly dead, but by more than a minute. A level two Resurrection would be costly - but would give them their Mountain they needed.

He summoned forth the giant book representing the Seraph’s size and life - unseen winds billowing to blank pages galore. Arin held his confidence high, as the sigils sprung to life before him; flooding the first page in seconds. The second was more complex, but with his practice - it, too, filled with delicately crafted runes and healing knowledge.

The book burst into a flurry of sparks, settling in his palm before he shot the gleaming magic forth to encompass the Mountain. Instantly, his target gasped for life - Oarkin’s wings flapping idly at the floor, as if he snapped awake while tumbling from the sky.

“It is here! I have seen it! It is beneath us! The Entity!” Oarkin cried, scrambling to his feet. His panic turned to confusion - fear, worry, then back to more confusion, as his eyes settled on the smaller Seraph.

Arin held back a grimace; if he could see the entity, but couldn’t be harmed by it, it’s likely very close to crashing into existence.. Or, something. He wasn’t the best when it came to magic. But he couldn’t let on just how dire this news probably was. Instead, the Ranger cleared his throat, cocked an eyebrow, and smirked. “And? Tell me something I don’t know.”

“It… you… wait, I am… alive? Strange - I have not lost before.” Oarkin eventually said, settling on his back to reel his thoughts back into place.

“As much as I’d like to let you rest up, Oarkin - I need you to hold that gate. Somepony will tell me later why you’re in here, alone, and dead - just get going, now.” Arin commanded like a former King would, withdrawing his bow once more. With no time to waste, he raised his right arm and latched the ethereal vine into the far pillar; throwing himself towards the throne with haste.

“I… yes, door. I have learned from my mistake. Blyad, I will help.” The massive mountain of a man quickly billowed his wings towards the entry hall, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. Anyone would be rightly shaken after seeing a swirling mass of dread tentacles looming beneath your body, as your soul floated off into space.

Arin’s hand searched dumbly for the lever, at the back of the highest platform - and with a cheery exclamation, the Seraph gave it a firm tug. Instantly, the dias creaked and groaned, sliding along two large rails; powered by gears and churning with an ancient mechanism, the entrance, or for the deer - the exit, to the Managem Mines appeared.

The old wood steps creaked as he took a step down, snatching a rock from the roughly crafted tunnel below to plunge into the gears above. Hopefully, if a stray guard or two attempts to close the dias - this would buy them some time. Simply put, you’d need at least six standing soldiers to attempt the feat.

“General Falon! Dad!” Arin called, hoping for a response. Nothing.

A crash and frenzied yelling drew his eyes towards the entry hall. That… did not sound good.

The Princess cleanly dodged the swirling beam of raw lunar might on massive pumps of her wings, twirling around the steadying power of her Sister’s magic. She spun her golden Halberd in an arc, shooting through the air like an arrow to land a cleaving blow against Nightmare Moon.

The morning mare cried out, as the massive bastard sword - Dreamcutter - slammed forward in a powerful lash, the golden haft of her halberd ringing as she was thrown backwards - spinning uncontrollably from the blocked blow. Her barrier flashed into existence at the very last second, as another beam rammed into her form.

“I don’t see any Elements, SISTER! Where’s your trump card now?!” Nightmare Moon billowed, as Celestia teleported out of the lunar blast’s endless stream. She reappeared right behind Nightmare Moon, who easily deflected her rushed attack - and spun with both Nocturne and Dreamcutter in magical grasp.

Celestia, like Arin had learned from Vapor Cloud - bucked both hooves hard into the corrupt mare’s chest - buying distance and time, but little else than that.

“Luna! I know you’re in there! I can feel you stirring! Fight! Don’t give up hope!” Celestia’s voice called, as Nightmare Moon churned wind and snow alike to spear forward. Borrowing another tactic from her friends, Celestia rushed against this attack to meet her - and with a single jab of her pointed halberd, fell back in a flurry of wings. Just like a certain Purple Pegasus would.

The move caused Nightmare Moon to stall - raising her guard. Expecting her Sister’s inexperienced onslaught to continue, she lost her momentum, glaring pure hate at the solar princess as she fell back from the cut of her blade.

“Fight me like the foal you are! I will NOT be mocked by retreating slashes and simple hoof play!”

Mocked? That was exactly what she needed. Celestia swirled her halberd in a wide arc - resting it on her shoulder. She cleared her throat, turning her head away from Nightmare Moon with a pout.

“...Neigh.”

At the odd behavior, Nightmare Moon questioned her Sister’s sanity - and shouted a dumb question. “...Neigh as in ‘no’ or neigh as in the noise?...”

“Neigh.”

“...” The lunar mare had enough; charging forward in a pump of wings, she sought to impale the impudent alicorn on her magic gleaming Nocturne, but Celestia simply… teleported a safe distance to the side, smiling.

“Neigh!”

“SHUT UP!”

The massive doors leading into the castle creaked and groaned, shuddering with the next swing of the ram, before it suddenly… stopped. Tempest breathed a sigh of relief, sweat pooling in her armor - until a massive, clattering CRASH of a trebuchet’s stone slammed into the imposing barrier; the wooden barricade bar above shattering to splinters as the cracked-horn Unicorn tumbled to the floor.

With a gasp, she narrowly avoided a Unicorn’s crashing blow from a sword - instead taking a staggering gash from a pegasi’s falling spear. The strike was true, and cut deep into her armor - right through a gap in the plate and into her left lung.

Her horn flashed in radiance, cackling lightning shocking the pegasus down to the core. The soldier flew backwards - but his racial resistance spared his life, as the act caught the attention of Umbra and Vee both.

The armored shadow twirled in her darkness forward, narrowly deflecting two blades aiming to claim the blood-choking Unicorn. But a poke lanced into her side, and finding a gap in her armor - rammed deep into her chest; taking her right lung, much like Tempest lost her left. She, too, was down.

“T-TEMPEST!” Pumpkin cried, faltering in the air to try and draw a smoke vial - but she clearly forgot she was being pursued. A blade landed cleanly into her side, the little mare crying out as it cut right through her magically resilient, but utterly weak cloth armor. She tumbled forward - crashing into the door before landing roughly on her back - crying in agony.

Vee, blood loss swiftly becoming fatal, stumbled as another blade crashed into her now thoroughly bloodied barrel. A blade Umbra would have caught - but in this moment, her eyes wavered, and searched for her friends.

Pumpkin, dying on the floor before her - bleeding and crying from a nasty, life-leaking wound in her stomach. Tempest, clenching sun song in her teeth to tiredly deflect blows from the floor, as blood fell to the marble from both her chest, and her muzzle. Umbra, weakly struggling to stand - as her shadow form faltered, just as her armor took another rough jab.

A blast of wind from behind turned her fading eyes once more to the towering form of Oarkin, who puffed his chest proudly, before immediately swinging at several of the closest - and quite possibly, most dangerous unicorns. The now spectres faded to illusions, leaving a gap in the remaining guard’s front line.

“COME! FACE THE MOUNTAIN!” he billowed, stepping into the crowd of mostly pointless blades - each spear and sword clattering against his armor uselessly, or failing to puncture deep into his skin as his magic grabbed at random golden-clad guards to use as maces. He swung the soon-to-be ghost at the crowd, turning the unfortunate pegasus in his hand into a spirit as several more in front of him did the same.

Vee collapsed, fading in and out of consciousness - as Pumpkin weakly crawled to her side. Blood spilling in droves from their combined wounds, the crying earth pony nuzzling her Sister’s cheek for what may be the final time.

The door behind them began to yawn and churn, as dozens of soldiers pushed at the Castle Gates to seek entry. Oarkin heard this - and flashed his wings with every bit of immense strength he was renown for - and forced it shut for a moment more. His reward? A spear aimed for his barding, which cut a deep into his back - but narrowly avoided anything fatal.

And just as the light began to fade from their eyes - a flash of gold followed. A wave of mending power coursing over them, as Arin gently drifted from the sky.

In seconds, Tempest and Umbra caught their breath - shakily making it to their hooves as arrow after arrow shot through the scant few remaining guards. Without the call for crossbows, the defending royal guards were left with nothing but spears and straight swords - leaving them woefully unprepared for the Ranger’s assault.

“Oarkin! Door!” Arin stated again, bringing the blood lusted Seraph back to the moment. Immediately, the Mountain’s massive wings flashed as he jumped backward - just the rest of the party came to their hooves, blade, spear, and scythe held proud in their grasp.

Just as things started to look in their favor, a familiar Pegasus from Arin’s training days reappeared from the Throne Room, closing the door behind him; proudly sporting Nightmare Moon’s own personal Knight’s armor, a hooked blade resting on his shoulder as he settled to the floor of the entry hall. Flash Sentry?

“Hello again, Arin! I don’t suppose you remember me?” Flash called, as Arin rolled his eyes and popped an arrow for Flash’s neck. The pegasus easily dodged the attack, his black pupils shining in mirth.

“Flash Sentry… you’re awake?” Arin glared, as the Nightmare Knight gave a short laugh.

“Of course I am! Nightmare Moon couldn’t have all of her soldiers be bumbling idiots. She needed a few of the more loyal ones to stick around, and lead an airship of reinforcements to the nearby platform! It also comes with neat perks; like the respect I deserve, and my training put to its full use. I even had the foresight to cut the elevator’s cords after you; after all, you left the Throne Room unguarded.”

Arin flashed a few more arrows into the gathering crowd of silvered soldiers, panic settling in as nearly seventy fresh faces began to gallop down the halls, turning down the steps to join the condensed group.

“Stallions, shield formation!” He called, as the roughly few dozen remaining Elite Guards fell back - Unicorns sprouting a magical barricade between him, and the now re-energized party.

In a disorganized frenzy, the guards were at their weakest - but when the pegasi’s spears settled in the imposing magic wall before them, Arin knew they were in trouble. Especially as common soldiers galloped in, fresh magic horns joining the barricade in seconds.

Oarkin groaned, as another slamming rock from the trebuchet rattled the door. He stumbled forward - before quickly retaking his place as their last stand against utter defeat.

“Now, the only question is… who were you trying to invite to our little ‘Gala’, sir Arin?”

Chapter 80 - The Battle, Part 4

Arin didn’t immediately respond, as Tempest’s thoughts reeled in desperation. They needed a plan. They needed something. They needed soldiers, backup, they-

The Ranger bumped her side with his elbow, giving a little cough. From behind the conjoined barrier before them, Flash Sentry - the traitorous Pegasi - couldn’t spot his movement, but he quietly lifted his right arm.

The bracer. His enchanted bracer. The jewels gleamed softly, reminding her of a very important detail.

White Tail had grappling hooks.

Tempest froze - then relaxed on the spot, regaining her confidence at a moment's notice. She lifted the helmet’s visor off of her muzzle, showing her dominant glare as she strode forward - mere hooves from the deadly reach of the spears.

“I’m so glad you asked. Flash Sentry, is it? I’ll be happy to tell you - at the cost of your complete and total surrender.” She didn’t even smile when she said this, only glare right through him with an unwavering will that couldn’t be shaken.

“Oh? Are you sure we can’t just… talk this out?” He laughed, stepping down the last few steps in stride, head held high above the dark armor he wore. “It’s not like you’ll be going anywhere, anytime soon. Unless you count a body bag, of course.”

“Oh goodie, a fair fight. Here’s the deal - I need all of you to drop your arms, please. Or we make this difficult. For everyone.”

“Don’t make me laugh - what are you going to do, bleed out on my army’s spears? Decorate a pike with your head?” Flash chuckled in confidence, as another rattling BANG shook the door. The hinges cracked as stone fell from above, coating their Mountain in a fresh layer of debris - a large chunk of stone bouncing off of Tempest’s armor.

“Oh, I was hoping you’d choose difficult. Oarkin! Wings!”

The struggling Seraph bolted forward as the party split - a massive billow of his powerful pinions shaking the courtroom in a riptide blast of disorienting winds. Immediately, all pegasi were knocked to the floor - Flash Sentry included - as several unicorns faltered and fell back, barrier weakening.

Tempest flicked her visor down again and grabbed the rock that nailed her plate with a single hoof - jumping high over the staggered unicorns as all at once, the party fell into action. Her leg kicked the stone as hard as she could manage into the group - a few off kilter Unicorns darting to the side to avoid the lethal boulder hurtling towards them. A silver soldier failed to react in time, and stood up as nothing more than a useless spirit.

Arin’s vine latched into a far right pillar - wings billowing as he used the hook to make a normally impossible turn for his massive wings - spiraling around the crowd as spare bolts of magic cleanly missed him. He drew the blade at his side, aiming to impale the winded Knight Captain with his blade - but Flash recovered quicker than he thought, and managed to pump his wings out of the way of the deadly blow.

Pumpkin ripped two vials from her sash, and with a double click of glass - tossed them into the stirring crowd before jumping for her broom - Umbra’s magic forming a barrier between her and a scant few spells that would have made contact.

With her Sister in the air, Vee shot after her - batting away a pegasus with the haft of her spear, and spinning to catch another of the recovering guards in their chest.

The chaos was perfect for the Umbrum, who was completely unaffected by smoke and shadow both - her emerald aura swirling over her scythe as she stepped into the disoriented and coughing soldiers, cleanly reaping souls aplenty.

Flash Sentry stumbled out of the way as Arin dashed into another well timed slash - the Pegasus using his teeth to clutch at his hooked blade and deflect the blow. But Arin had grown immensely over the past few weeks - and just as Flash made distance to fly, Arin would pop an arrow into his plate. Just like the now former Seraph Captain would do to him, not more than a week ago.

“You’re a menace who lacks empathy,” Arin growled, not in anger - but righteousness. “A Knight fallen far from his duty! You submit so eagerly to Nightmare Moon - because you can’t succeed on your own merit, only when others fall do you thrive!”

Arin’s leg kicked out hard at the plate, staggering the Knight Captain with his ferocity. “You’ve worked only for your own ill-gotten gains, at the cost of other’s efforts! And you stand here now, calling this your victory!? A disgrace!”

He flashed another arrow - the last from his quiver, before roughly parrying Flash’s blade with his shield. His arming blade darted for a gap in his armor - the pegasi desperately twisting out of the way before it could strike home.

“I worked for everything I have now - and I learned from my failures! But you - you never learn, and you never will!”

A pegasus shot forward to come to Flash’s aid, spear in hoof - but Arin knew this would happen, and launched his vine into the Knight Captain’s chest. The staggered warrior stumbled back, before Arin reeled him in - throwing the black armored pony into the intruding guard with every fiber of his strength.

The duo crashed into the floor at the bottom of the stairs, Arin panting in frustrated exertion. “Ponies like you are what plague this society. Greed. Envy. Jealousy. The want for more. I would have been happy living in a shack in the woods - I would have been happy with just the clothes on my back! You are no better than the Seraphs of my world, Flash Sentry - and if the world wasn’t on the brink of total collapse, I would kill you like one, too.”

Arin stepped over the winded Knight Captain, roughly yanking his mane up to rest eye to eye with the traitor.

“This isn’t over. I almost wish you were asleep, so I could impale you on my sword.” the Seraph snarled, popping his knuckles before roughly dropping Sir Sentry to the marble floor.

WHAM!

Arin’s armored fist collided hard with the once cocky soldier’s face, leaving Flash entirely unconscious on the tile. Just to be sure, he gave two more swings - maybe a third, but that one was simply out of spite. And the fact that his pretty little muzzle lacked a few teeth afterwords felt really good.

Above, Vee growled as another pegasus soldier caught her pristine wing with his blade - forcing her to crash and roll across the stairs. Before the same sword could impale her, Arin’s right hand shot forward - the vine hook lancing through the air to seize the intruding Pegasi’s hoof in a gush of blood. He yanked back hard, grounding the soldier with ease before drawing his bow again.

With a glimmer of magic, he formed an ethereal arrow and shot it forward, creating a ghost of the would-be murderer.

Without ammunition, he’d have to waste precious magic to be useful from afar. A flash of Resurgence caught the panting Vee, the witch nodding her thanks before she quietly flapped back onto her wings, to chase down some annoying Pegasi.

Turning back towards the now thinning crowd, their team had managed to clean up nicely. But there was one cruel problem; massive fractured heaps of stone from a local trebuchet had managed to form solid holes through the oaken barricade, and several hinges were snapped clean off. Oarkin had to resort to using his magic to force the left door in place, as it had long since given out.

Another rattling BANG of stone on wood followed - a chunk of the castle’s fortified walls crashing in on itself, exposing a wagon sized hole on the leftmost front. Immediately, dozens more soldiers barreled through the fresh entrance, the frozen moat making it relatively easy, though somewhat risky to cross.

In seconds, they would be surrounded. And even as Umbra, his shadow - worked tirelessly to thin the crowd, Tempest was struggling to keep up with the demand - blades and spears rattling off her armor with few finding their mark.

“Falon, Aster, please - hurry,” Arin whispered. And almost like a gift from lady luck herself - the throne room doors slammed open in a flurry of hooves, bucks aplenty pouring from the chamber in droves. Rainbow Dash took to the air above them, before crashing into a gold helmed guard without worry of prosecution.

“Aw yeah! I’ve been looking for a good fight since the Changeling Invasion!” she called, easily dodging a spear to retaliate with a strong buck of her hooves.

“Falon!” Arin called, as the General darted forward to hug his son softly.

“Arin, you’re alright! By my boughs, I was worried - and…”

He turned to the likely dozens of transparent spirits floating through the room quietly, many sharing angry glares with the party - a few more in shock as the deer ran amok through the entry hall.

“...I see you’ve been busy. That… how many?”

“I have no idea, but I don’t suppose you have a quartermaster with arrows to spare?”

Falon quickly nodded, reaching into a feywild leather satchel on his side. “I thought I taught you better than to prowl the battlefield lightly armed! What were you thinking, son?” The buck laughed, hoofing Arin a fresh quiver of the deadly ammo.

“I tell you what I wasn’t thinking about. Running out of arrows, dad!” They shared a laugh, keeping their spirits high as no less than a hundred bucks - and more, began to trickle in. They lined up in the main hall; lancing arrows into the disorganized and soon spirited Equestrians. Dozens flocked to the side passages, bows in hoof - plenty more securing themselves to rafters and pillars around the towering archways by the aid of their vine hooks.

Even King Aster made an appearance, galloping to join the duo as arrows rained on the straggling soldiers from all around. Pumpkin squeaked from her broom above, as an arrow narrowly missed her cheek - taking out the pegasi behind her with expertise.

“We’ll hold off the dull minded armies - I’m not sure what these… ‘Elements’ are good for, but if they can defeat Nightmare Moon - you and your friends will have to find them,” King Aster stated, a massive greatbow settled over his shoulders. The arrows themselves almost looked like giant umbrellas! How could he even pull that thing back?! Could he pull it back?

“On it! Umbra! Tempest! Vee! Pumpkin! Let’s regroup!”

Sweat-dripping sighs from the two frontline mares soon followed, Vee flapping tiredly to the floor before them. Pumpkin settled in next to her armored lover, as Umbra did much the same - letting the adrenaline dissipate enough to think. Rainbow Dash, seeing them huddle up - flapped her wings in too, ready for the plan.

“We need to find the other Elements of Harmony. They’re likely somewhere around here - doing what, I’m not sure. Does anypony have any ideas?” the confident Seraph asked, looking to Tempest for guidance. Tempest, in turn, let her eyes fall on Rainbow Dash - as all five the party soon did the same.

“Uh, what? Why are you all looking at me?”

“Rainbow Dash, you were imprisoned here. You’re the one most likely able to tell us where to start looking. What did Nightmare Moon do to your friends?”

“I… hm.” She paused, letting her slightly slower brain catch up to her lightning fast body. “Well, I know Pinkie Pie was working in the kitchen… At least, I could tell from the cupcakes Twilight dropped off at my cell. Applejack was doing… I think she was chopping trees on the hill for firewood, ‘cause it was super cold in the castle. Fluttershy is probably like… outside, too, helping the animals hibernate. Rarity was forced to go make winter gear for everypony. Twilight… I don’t know. Probably the library. Nightmare Moon was weird. She wouldn’t hurt us, for some reason - though she definitely thought about it. A lot.”

Arin knew the Elements well enough to come to a decision, settling his thoughts as he gave guidance. He wasn’t a leader - but he knew his friends well, and the strengths they carried. So before Tempest could offer any suggestions - he took the lead, and spoke first.

“Okay, kitchen, library, gardens, forest, and… Rarity could be anywhere. Rainbow, you’ll have to search every spare room for her and her sewing shop - if you come across any guards, you know what to do. Pumpkin, if Fluttershy is in the garden - you’ll have an easy chance spotting her on your broom. Go with Umbra, she’ll be able to defend you if there’s trouble - and can show you around the castle. Umbra, Pumpkin could easily spot Applejack in the forest - you’re fastest in your shadow form, find her and grab her. Tempest, you’re on alicorn duty; she’ll likely listen to you, as somepony she’s reformed. Vee, sniff for coffee - you’ll find the kitchen in minutes, and grab Pinkie Pie. I’m going to bring our traitor here to the dungeon. Any objections?”

“I couldn’t have worded it better myself,” Tempest said, smiling at the Seraph with pride. “I was going to order the exact same thing. Now, Falon - are you sure your forces can handle this? We spotted several thousand Equestrians haunting those grounds. Even if you funneled them in, that’s seven ponies for every deer you have - and none of you can risk dying. Are your bucks prepared?”

By now, over a third of the White Tail forces had stormed in; many more grappling along arm rails and drawing their bows with freshly fitted arrows, ready for combat.

“Every buck and doe beneath my boughs are trained to the highest degree; our fighting force is small, but highly skilled, and long lived. And you have two Rangers on your side - one of them just so happens to be our King.”

He nodded to King Aster, who swelled with pride; he was proud to carry that title.

“If any deer die, we will both work tirelessly to resurrect them on the spot. Once the door falls, expect this to be a quick victory on our parts.”

“I trust it will be.” Tempest bowed her head with respect, before throwing her hoof into the circle of her friends - and Rainbow Dash.

Arin, Umbra, Pumpkin, Vee, and Rainbow Dash joined the call. “Ready? Meet in the throne room with your elements! And break!”

They threw their hooves up, before splitting in a rush. Vee put her snoot to the floor in search of the sacred bean, Pumpkin floated up to the air as Umbra led the way - rocketting in her shadow form towards the Celestial gardens. Rainbow Dash began the boring process of scouting rooms, Tempest jumped up the flight of stairs with practiced ease - and Arin seized the unconscious Flash with a flick of his grapple. Dragging him along the way towards the dungeons.

“ENOUGH WITH THESE GAMES, SISTER! FACE ME AND DIE!” Nightmare Moon called, flashing the Slumber spell across Celestia for the seventh time. Not even a yawn! Nothing! She was immune! Snarling, she charged forward for another blow at Celestia, but the sun princess was ready to contest it with her halberd.

But Nightmare Moon saw this coming a mile away, and twirled the tang of her blade around the golden haft of Celestia’s weapon - with a practiced flick of her magic, she disarmed Tia with ease. The golden weapon was sent spinning through the air far, far away.

This did nothing to stop Celestia - who spun with a flick of her wings and landed two solid kicks from her powerful legs. A trick she picked up from Tempest, as she dented her cursed Sister’s chestplate and landed a jarring blow against her unsuspecting cheek. The sheer strength of it rattled Nightmare Moon to her core - her jawbone jarring out of place as the Princess shot forward for her halberd - seizing it once more in her magic.

“YOU WRETCH! YOUR WHORSE! YOU ARE SCUM, THE MUCK BENEATH MY HOOVES!” Nightmare Moon screamed, after fixing her jaw with an aggravated click of her magic.

“There’s no need to use your Royal Canterlot Voice, dear sister!” Celestia giggled, spinning the golden blade in her. “Whatever happened to the martial master you claimed to be? Yet you can’t even best me - an untrained, pampered foal who spent her life on her golden throne. I guess Luna is the stronger half, Nightmare Moon. She would have defeated me ten times over by now.”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes gleamed a deadly white, as rage boiled within her core. That… was not a good sign. Perhaps she touched a nerve. A really, really strong nerve.

Immediately, Celestia’s wings billowed in a frenzy as a beam of concentrated lunar malice seared through the sky in icy blue - the Princess narrowly avoided the magic as she was forced to dart down for speed. The blast just narrowly missed the mountain - but the new angle was going to be her downfall. Magic scorched through the halls of the castle’s housing wing - cutting through her own tower and a few of the guest wings with ease - destroying a swathe of the distant woodland in absolute destructive might.

From this, several things happened, much, much too quickly. The vast destruction eviscerated a frozen path through the trees towards Silversun - and traveled leagues beyond, a distant river erupting in splinter ice. Immediately, a world shaking FWOOM followed, as a blast of magic from the wilds crashed into them - rocking the duo in the air and sending them tumbling.

By the time they recovered, a curious sight greeted the Nightmare. An entire civilization, far in the distance - had seemingly sprung up before her very eyes, leaving her dumbstruck as Celestia watched on in horror. In one move, Nightmare Moon destroyed the last fragments of the Feywild’s power - plunging the Autumn Court into the prime.

“By my very stars, what?...” Nightmare Moon gazed on in shock, rage temporarily forgotten as the sight befell her. But another thing drew Celestia’s eye, as her room in the castle fell to absolute shreds - crashing down into the guest quarters.

In the spare guest tower, where Umbra had once claimed her abode - came a small scream, a little white pony clinging on to the railing of her partially collapsed structure. Rarity! What was she doing there?! Sure, it was the same guest tower she stayed in years ago, before Twilight’s birthday party - but - why there?! Why NOW!?

She billowed her white wings forward to catch the flailing unicorn before she fell, but Nightmare Moon crashed into her side - her blue horn hooking into Celestia’s armor with a furious pounce.

By sheer dumb luck, the potent magic coursing through that deadly spike caused the arcane reflective armor Celestia beared to reject it - instead forcing a massive bruise into her white furred side.

“You will NOT ignore me! I may have spared them, but their lives are NOT for you to protect! I will… They...” The Lunar pony’s snake-like eyes flicked back to Luna’s own, before the slits returned once more. Nightmare Moon snarled, catching Celestia’s side with a gash of Nocturne - but once more, her cloth armor cleanly deflected the blade, giving Celestia time to make distance.

Tia remembered all too fondly of a time long ago, in the Young Flyers’ Competition, when Rarity - the very same Unicorn before her - nearly plunged to her death. But this time, there was no Rainbow Dash to save her.

Chapter 88 - Reunited

The churning tentacles tore at the platform collapsing beneath them, as the echoing wail of the Entity grew harsh on the ears. Vee pointed to the massive orb before them and gave only one hint. Not an instruction, but a reminder of an old saying. “The eyes are gateways to the soul, Stern-fry.”

At that, Tempest nodded - coming up with a quick plan. Already, fresh, small tentacles had begun to erupt from the creature before them - writhing down to face the party. Umbra helped Arin to his feet, as the Commander prepared orders. But first, she began to strip her wrent and broken armor, freeing herself of the heavy weight. Pumpkin set to helping her, quickly undoing the last straps in less than a moment’s notice.

“Vee, is your left wing as strong as your right?”

“Hohoho!~ Is coffee good with crunchy marehooves? The lovely, delightful, toasty dipping sweet?~ Of course, Jerk-face! I’ve been preening it for seven hundred years, after all.”

“Good. Arin, you’re with me - I need your wings and hook to get close enough to its eye. Falon, you’re our healer on the ground. Celestia, Luna, and Pumpkin, you’re our air support. Vee, Oarkin, and Umbra - hold this ledge; we don’t know how far down this goes, but it’s certain death down there, along with the fact that this may still be our only way out. The moment it starts turning to obsidian, Vee - wing chop with your left wing at the eye. Ready? Move!”

Tempest jumped right over the smaller of the two Seraph, banishment orb now clutched tightly in her tail. With a hoof, she hooked herself tightly over Arin’s back - forcing the Ranger to stumble forward at his new backpack’s weight. Arin nodded, flashing his right hand up into the air - as a powerful vine launched forward into the doming cavern’s ceiling.

With speed, they took to the darkness - Arin’s magelight fluttering in the distance after them.

A tentacle darted in to try and seize at the mass of life, but Umbra’s horn flashed - searing it with sizzling arcane energy. It hesitated, giving Oarkin enough time to lash out with the halberd - slicing it in twain.

For some reason, Umbra seriously regretted tossing away her only weapon. But regrets would be paid in blood, for now - all they could do was guard their damaged, crumbling terrace.

A single lash of a tentacle nearly sliced Pumpkin in twain - if it weren’t for Falon’s vine hook ripping her out of the way, to let it swat harmlessly at nothing instead. The gushing blood from the wound he caused was quickly plugged with a wave of Resurgence, as he darted a trio of arrows into the wriggling mass; before bounding to Pumpkin’s side.

“Are you alright, Ambassador?” He offered her a hoof, which she gently batted out of the way. She wouldn’t cower; not anymore. The courage Pumpkin showed made Falon chuckle, her collar rattling as she made it to her hooves.

“I’ll be fine, Mister Falon - and I think I have an idea.”

Pumpkin, seeing the creature’s vines hesitate at Umbra’s light, withdrew a stun vile - and hucked it hard at a massive tentacle that had come to life before them. Instantly, it shattered in a blinding flash - the fleshy cord hesitating momentarily.

Celestia and Luna both seized this moment, taking to the air to slash through the wavering black mass. Nocturne and Sun Song collided with a flurry of sparks, not as enemies - but as a meeting of harmony within the darkness. The lashing vine fell to the shadows far below, as more swirling flesh began to shoot forward to reach them.

Vee lunged to Umbra’s side, giving her familiar ‘d’ohoho’.

“I am sorry for harming you and your Sister, Vee.” The unicorn sighed, back to back with her old potion supplier.

“First one’s on the house, Spooky-fry! Coffee under the snoot,” the witch said, spinning the haft of her weapon through the air - deflecting several smaller vines from lunging forward and seizing the Umbrum. “Though I expect you to put a hole in your ear after that one.”

“I’ll consider it after we escape here, alive, thank you.” Umbra chortled, horn flashing in the shadow - teleporting them both out of the way of a charging tendril. It crashed into the far wall, as massive stones began to hurtle from the ceiling. Celestia and Luna both landed to the floor in a flurry of wings, and sharing a nod with the former Umbrum - raised a shimmering red, green, and blue barrier above to deflect the falling doom.

“...The Arcanis Ring.” Luna gasped to herself; a unity of the three ponies brought together formed a mimicry of the old constellation in the sky; the very same one Luna wiped from Equestria’s sight, every night. “It… all makes sense now.”

“Luna! What are you talking about? It’s just some magic! There’s nothing here-” Celestia sputtered, but was quickly cut off by her little sister’s voice.

“No! You don’t understand… the Arcanis Ring is a three color band in the sky. Red, Blue, and Green. Arin told me that they represent something in Erenorn - they are of great significance to seraphs! I understand now!”

The churning stone above fell to the last, the cave roof finding some remnant of stability. The lunar Princess turned to face the trio, her eyes gleaming with reeling thoughts.

“The dark of the soul, the light of its remnants - and the bond they form. Umbra, you are the dark - I am the light, and Tia… you’re the entirety.”

“...And this matters now, HOW?” Celestia pointed, narrowly slashing a probing tentacle with her lifeless blade.

“I don’t know! It’s just a thought!” The Lunar Princess dove out of the way, as Nocturne went flying over another rushing tentacle. The sword was knocked free from her grasp by the surging flesh. Umbra caught the magicless blade instantly, slashing right through the hungry vine with a powerful flash.

In the distance, Arin pumped his wings as the mass of tendrils sought to catch the duo; the imposing eye of the Entity traveling along its fleshy body to watch them. They spiraled around the cavern, attempting to close in - but each attempt was met with another lash of a tentacle.

Arin’s grappling hook seized at another blackened pillar, launching them forward with speed even he doubted he could match on his own. “Tempest! I hope your plan works!”

“If it doesn’t, hope for something better!” The chipped horn Unicorn ducked beneath another swipe at the duo; Arin’s hand launching forward to hook around another length of ebony flesh, this time using the momentum he gathered to wrench his body around; tree turning, as Falon called it. At such high speeds, you’d have to break a gallop to turn so sharply. But being able to pivot around a point in space, like a tree, meant that no matter how much momentum you had - you were in full control.

With such blinding speed and momentum, Tempest nearly had to strangle Arin’s neck not to fly off - as they darted towards the unwavering eye with crackling, ripping air.

A tentacle sought to slap them away with force, thick and black; if the Seraph didn’t stop, he and Tempest both would die. His fear built in his chest, as he realized now that he was far out of control; an arrow in the dark, rapidly approaching their demise.

His old self would have billowed his wings, and attempted to stop.

Instead, he knocked Tempest’s hoof off of his back, eyes flashing at her with one word. “Go.”

The Commander’s legs tensed hard, before kicking with all of her might into the Seraph - bolting above the lashing vine as Arin was knocked down beneath it.

This was it. The moment of truth.

Tempest’s body spun in the air, tail whipping the banishing sphere far above her. Years upon years of training. Hours of refining her step, of finding her form - and it all came down to this one powerful buck of her hooves.

And the limb crashed hard into the glassy exterior, all of that momentum from the flight combining with her trained prowess in one ringing clash of hoof on glass. It spiraled through the air in a flash of crackling green lightning, before slamming hard into the center of the Entity’s iris.

All at once, every tentacle, every piece of flesh - shuddered and fought against the impending stone, as the fog turned obsidian across the iris.

Arin hooked on to that very same vine that sought to bat them away, and turned upwards towards the now falling Tempest. And with surprising grace, caught the commanding mare in his arms - just as Vee took her chance. Aiming a pristine, beautiful, and oh so well preened wing high into the air, judging the distance with a hoof and flick of her ear - she shot her last perfect pinions down with a blade of wind cleaving after it.

The air shuddered and sparked, as the Pegasus dumped all of her strength into her final hurrah. The cleaving air spearing forward in a blast of feathery, crackling gales - her left wing falling to shreds from the devastating attack.

The tendril Arin had seized onto split in twain, before the wave crashed into the shifting stone. A FWOOM of sound reached them, as the creature reeled in agony - stone rumbling far above, crashing around the darkened chamber in chaos.

Vee preened her now destroyed wings quietly, as Arin and Tempest returned to the platform - panting in desperate drags of air.

Thump-bump. Thump-bump.

What was once a terrifying undertone fell loudly along the caverns, as from the twisting soul mass now stood a single, blackened point in the center. The Entity’s heart now lay exposed, a fragment of light escaping the darkness in a desperate flurry of its growing wings.

It fell into the shadows, before reappearing several moments later - as none other than the ghostly visage of a red maned alicorn. Her eyes fell along the party before her, wings catching the air to settle on the stone.

“M-Mother?...” Celestia whispered, as Luna looked on - confused.

“I look nothing like her,” she said, hesitating as her older Sister teared up by her side.

“But you did once, my Lulu,” came Queen Astra’s soft voice, a harmony that filled the air despite the looming dark. She gently approached, gallant wings shooting forward to engulf them both in her spectral body. Immediately, the two Princesses cried out - hugging tightly over the magical form before them both.

“Mother!”

“M-Mommy!”

They both sobbed, Umbra snorting as Luna called her ‘mommy’. Oarkin clapped his hands at the delightful reunion, laughing with joy.

“It is a family! I am happy to see good things here.” He smiled, as Tempest rejoined Pumpkin’s side. Unfortunately, Arin had it a little rough - panting on the floor as his wings ached fiercely; the sheer verve of their attack left him grounded. Falon fell to Arin’s side, bumping his head against the Seraph’s.

“You did amazing, Son.” He smiled, hugging him softly with a hoof.

“Thanks… Dad. I don’t… suppose you have… a glass of water… on you? I don’t think… I can handle… another cup of coffee.”

Falon laughed, digging in his feywild leather satchel to withdraw a canteen. “I thought I told you to come prepared?”

Arin drank deep from the reserve, before falling back to the floor with a splash. “I did!.. Kinda.”

“Mother, I can’t believe you’re still here! After all of this time, you… I know everything, mother. Everything. I can’t say how, or why - but… I know Starswirl is our father.”

At that, the spectre blinked - pulling back to share looks with her offspring. “Luna always did have his eyes, after all - but… did he not tell you? Tell the world?”

“No, Mother. And for good reason.” Celestia pointed to the Entity, its heart beating still. “That would have found the light much sooner, had we sought to challenge it before.”

Queen Astra sighed, drooping her wings. “Perhaps he was right. I was outmatched on my own. I should have never sought to defeat it without aid. Yet here you all stand before me - I may not know all of your names, but I see heroes. And… a deer. Are the deer still allies with us, after all this time?”

“We are now. King Aster has declared it so,” Falon called from Arin’s side, as the queen took in the two Seraphs among the party.

“And these creatures… I know what they are. They are… much like ponies. I had met a few among the countless souls within the Entity. It is a curiosity how two had found themselves in your midst.”

Her eyes settled to the two ponies against her chest, a sad astral wing trailing along Luna’s cheek. “I could not protect you, my little Lulu. This is why your fur is blue, your body stunted - and… so much more.”

“It is what it is; I am this now, though I have been… envious of my Sister, until recently.”

“It was never you, Luna - Nightmare Moon is a piece of the Entity’s darkness. She amplified these thoughts within you,” Celestia whispered, nosing her smaller Sister’s cheek. Luna sniffled, simply happy to see the pony who birthed her.

“I hate to say this, my children - but our time here is short. The Entity will heal - it is only a matter of when. I know of no way to destroy its heart; it is a soul of its own making, and no amount of sunlight nor moonpower could tarnish it. You must flee. Find new lands to settle. And keep the light strong.” Queen Astra sighed, her eyes trailing over the prison she’s been trapped in for over three thousand years.

“I don’t think so, Astra. We’ve come all this way - there’s no chance I’m leaving without a dead Entity as a reward.” Arin groaned, standing to his legs. “I won’t give up hope yet.”

The Queen faltered, as the Seraph challenged the very dark that plagued the universe, unfaltering as he seized Sonata.

“There is a way to destroy it!” Luna called, jumping from her mother’s hooves. “Arin! You can do it with Harmony! Just like Leotoln! You can turn its heart to crumbling stone!”

“A thing we lack in heaps and spades.” Tempest pointed her hoof, but Celestia interrupted her. Breaking from her mother’s comforting wings, to face the ponies before her.

“We did lack. Not anymore. I see elements of harmony, standing now before me - undaunted by the dark; pillars of energy that refuse to give up hope, even in our darkest moments.”

As quiet confusion fell on the ponies before her, the sun princess continued, “I see honesty within Umbra’s heart, a bastion of fortitude and resilience. Kindness within Pumpkin, who gives her all to those she cherishes. In Vee, I see laughter - a cheery voice, a warm smile, and an endless amount of sass. In Luna… there is loyalty, despite the dark forces that clawed at her - she would not give up on us, on me, to allow Nightmare Moon to win. And myself, generosity unbidden - had I not spared every expense, every piece of me along our journey, and given my all to come to my friend’s aid - none would stand here now. But there is one more pony, among us, who has discovered the magic of friendship.

“And that pony is Tempest. Fizzlepop Berrytwist. A once fallen unicorn, now shown the light - you stand here now as the culmination of your lessons from our journey. Despite your missing horn, you hold the magic of friendship inside of you, Tempest. Every mistake you’ve made has been a new stone in your foundation - and you’ve grown to be a true leader.”

The five party members gathered, save the lunar alicorn - who hesitated.

“A-Are you sure, Sister?” Luna asked, hoof to her heart. Quen Astra enshrouded her with a wing, nodding.

“If you stand here now, despite the Entity’s call and promises, then you truly are a pillar of loyalty. I may not know what this ‘harmony’ is, but… perhaps its strength is needed here.”

At her mother’s encouragement, Luna sniffled - and joined the party.

“Our magic may be weak, and we’ll never shine compared to Twilight’s call of power, but… it will be enough. It is enough,” Celestia said, “Falon, give Arin room. And Arin… remove your vest. You need to absorb as much of this as possible.”

Tempest hesitated, now at the head of the group - flocked on all sides by her friends, and in this dark abyss - she closed her eyes. Thinking.

Pumpkin had given her lessons on planar alignment; how through one’s meditation, you could draw from elements beyond your own. Her mind turned inward, steadying to the beat of the Entity’s heart. Closing her eyes to focus, and reach out to the embers surrounding her. Like she would, when grasping an object in levitation - these five points anchored her body in place, as a light began to emanate from their chests.

She felt the spirits around her, gathered in the quiet as Arin awaited the magic’s touch. And when her eyes split open - they gleamed a brilliant white. A well of magic formed inside of her, as Tempest called the light to launch upwards.

A faint ray of cascading, balanced magic raised into the sky - before pouring over Arin’s welcoming body in a beautiful ray. The Seraph’s magic drained ember swelled with the power collecting there, gasping as his wings shot upwards - shining brilliantly in a ray of focused light. His eyes gleamed silver now, as the sparkles of energy soaked into his skin.

Immediately - all six ponies fell to the floor in desperate draws of their breath, eyes fluttering shut from the immense drain of power, Vee suspiciously still in the dirt.

Clutching Sonata in his hands, he felt the welling power surge and sear through his skin once more. The Entity felt this magic - as it struggled to preserve itself, to prevent its own demise. The rocks above tumbled and fell in heaps, as an avalanche of stone began to rain on the small platform.

Queen Astra saw this - and with a radiant flash of magenta magic, a barrier sprung up around them - shimmering with her astral body’s power.

With the barrier in place shattering the massive heaves of rock, he couldn’t possibly aim for the black heart swirling within the Entity’s massive core. He needed to be brave - and push beyond, into the falling, churning collapse, But doing so would kill him - unless…

The one spell he needed now; Mana Barrier. A passive defense to impending doom, he pulled his hands up - and targeted the souls of the gathered party, shimmering silver clinging to them, just as well.

“This mine rail implies that the path continues beyond. I will meet you all there - gather there, and run once I shatter the Entity’s heart.”

And with that, he shot through the magenta barricade above, as Falon and Oarkin began to collect the collapsed forms of their friends. Astra’s body fading with each second she channeled their last line of defense.

Arin soared high into the sky, blinded by dirt and gravel that fluttered helplessly through his protection. A boulder crashed into his wing - reflected by the barrier he wore like a coat, as he spiraled up to face the heart directly. Forced to close his eyes, he relied on Aster’s teachings to see - the massive well of power drawing his aim to the abyssal creature’s ghastly heart.

He drew his right arm back, forming the shape of a radiant arrow, his spiritual gaze locking to a single point in space. The world fell to black as he focused on the amalgamation of the crooked heart hammering inside the Entity’s core.

Breathe in. And release.

A thread of silver light formed between him and the fluttering, throbbing vessel. Bullseye.

Unlike with Leotoln, where a hole formed in his chest - this time, the entire organ popped, trapped energy rocketing outwards in a violent pulse. A wave of souls churned and fled - millions of spirits flocking to the winds, as the Entity reeled in its death throes. Small beams of light from the sun fell across its rock-smashing, earth-churning form, as holes in the caverns above formed when the massive tentacles withdrew.

Queen Astra nodded to Falon and Oarkin both, carrying the unconscious forms of the party across their back and in their arms. “Go now, friends. There is no hope left here.”

Astra pointed to the silver-coated Seraph and buck, who nodded - Falon giving her one last look before jumping for the cliff’s edge. On his back, lay the unconscious Pumpkin and Umbra - roughly strapped together by an old leather bind he found in Pumpkin’s hat. Vee, Celestia, Luna, and Tempest were simply carried in Oarkin’s mighty arms.

With a flash of his hook, he seized a wriggling, shuddering tentacle - the limb twitching hard enough to send him flying over the massive chasm. Rocks and stones clattered off the Mana Barrier, as Oarkin’s powerful wings beat towards the far side.

Arin fell from the sky, spent. All of his power, his magic - gone. He didn’t even have the strength to lift his hook for a body saving tug.

He did well. He saved the world, not once - but twice now. He rose from a Knight in Equestria, to a King in Erenorn. He loved two Princesses, and a shadow turned to light. Mended wounds, and saved lives.

He’s achieved everything an Inert could ever hope and dream of, and more - and he did so, at such a young age, too. He could be at peace now.

“Come now, poor child. I will carry thee,” a voice said - before his body was snatched from the air in a glowing purple haze. Queen Astra floated above, with gentle beats of her wings. “You have done what I could not. It would be a shame to see you perish here, at the cusp of your greatest victory.”

And with that, Arin lost consciousness.

And before he knew it, he rested on the spirit mare’s back. They landed just as Oarkin and Falon did - Mana Barriers galore shattering from falling rock and churning stone. The tunnel on this end of the massive rocky arena curved far upwards - a ramp that would have likely spirited gem-filled minecarts across the gap. Cloven hooves, feet, and spectral wings brought them up the winding tunnel, Astra’s spiritual barrier deflecting rocks and stone galore as Arin watched from her back.

And soon, they found themselves at the end of a long tunnel; a small chamber of purple and blue crystals, where dozens of pink feathers lay. Behind, the last of the rock collapsed in - as a flash of purple light appeared before them.

“Hey jackasses! Guess who’s back with Purplesmart!” Anon called, leaning against the re-feathered alicorn with a half empty bottle of wine. Completely sloshed and bubbly, proud of his work. Queen Astra approached the duo, as Twilight dashed forward to give her a hug.

“Princess Celestia, I-!” She fell right on the floor, as Astra looked on curiously.

“A half blood. Much has changed since my death, I see.” She smiled, offering a hoof to the smaller pony. Twilight took it, as she finally found purchase in her astral grasp. Without focus, things could just… fall right through the spirit, it seemed.

“Huh? You’re not… you’re not the Princess?” Purplesmart asked, as Astra shook her head.

“I’m afraid not. My child is resting here, in this giant’s kind h-... they’re not hooves. His… grasp. Yes.” The Alicorn giggled quietly, despite being dead.

“I… you… what?!” Twilight spouted. “This is amazing! YOU’RE PRINCESS CELESTIA’S MOTHER?! THAT MEANS YOU’RE PRINCESS LUNA’S MOTHER, TOO! I NEED TO WRITE THIS-”

Anon tugged hard at Twilight’s tail, having faceplanted to the ground much the same as the Alicorn did just moments prior. “Twilight, I’ve got chalk in my pocket. I’m also happy to see you. Wanna fuck since it’s the end of the world?”

“...Is this the same type of creature as the one on my back, or?...” Astra smiled, as the mountain finally fell still.

“N-No, he’s a human who spent a lot of time on this place called ‘4chan’, and I really don’t want to talk about him now. Anon, thank you for carrying the chalk, and telling me about the mines. Astra, if you will - I need to form the portal gate to bring us to safety.”

“Oh, did my husband Starswirl pass on his teachings, finally? He was such a card, never one to share his secrets with anypony unless I prodded him.”

“YOU… IS STARSWIRL CELESTIA AND LUNA’S FATHER?! OH MY GOSH! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS, I-”

“Purplesmart, why’d you build a school of friendship if you never actually teach sex ed there? That’s the best kind of friendship.” Anon laughed, spilling wine - the destroyed Castle’s alcohol - over his mask.

“...WE’LL TALK LATER! Chalk, Anon, now.”