Shadows of the Past

by Valtyrian

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Original Character, My Little Pony: A New Generation, Main 6
Length: 6208

During the siege of Canterlot. A deviant pony leads a small battalion through the Everfree

This story takes place in the same universe as Temporary Rules and has been created with permission.

While watching over the kingdom for Twilight. Celestia and Luna have found themselves at the forefront of a war with a small army lead by three pony leaders who want to go back to the old days where the tribes are separate.

One pony, with his lackies, leads a small battalion of mechanical pony centurions through the Everfree forest. Drawing the attention of its guardian who chooses six mares to be his champions and deal this army it's downfall.

Published 2022-03-06 03:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-03-10 03:35:51 UTC

Until the Night Falls

Sergeant Thunder Thrust grumbled as he marched his way through the forest. If he knew how different this place was from Bridalwood, he wouldn’t have accepted this mission. He wanted desperately to take part alongside Alphabittle in the attack on the main gates. However he was given different orders.

“Go ahead of us and circle around cutting through that forest next to Canterlot. You take them from behind and cut off any pony escaping. Use any force you deem necessary. And if you find the Princess’s student, take her prisoner! After the throne is ours, you can do as you please with the little girl.” Alphabittle said during the planning stages. He knew Thunder’s tastes, no matter how horrid they were.

Thunder grinned at that thought. It actually made this mission bearable. He had seen pictures of the princess’s student, and she was certainly a looker for a girl her age. Oh the plans he had for that little Pegasus girl.

Behind him marched three hundred fifty Centurions and a few of his most trusted soldiers. The mechanical army cleared the trees like cutting grass. Despite the clearcutting, he felt it was taking forever to go through this dark forest. Thankfully it wasn’t long before he saw a broken down old castle come into view. Over the wall he saw a large crystal fort.

“Hmmm I wonder what that is, A guard post? Heh, that’s most certainly will put a dent in our plans if it is. Weatherbe!, go check it out.”

With a salute, a small Pegasus flew off. Weatherbe circled a few times before landing back in front of Thunder.

“It looks like it sir, a large tree with a crystal shack. It looks perfect for watching everything for miles. But, I can’t tell if anyone is in it.”

“Well, regardless. We can’t take any chances.” Turning to his army Thunder smiled. “Centurion, destroy that tree. Kill anything inside it.” Thunder ordered pointing his hoof out before turning back to his scout.

“We can’t have anyone alert Canterlot we’re going this way.” A grin crossed his lips as he saw the Centurion’s fire-covered steel cannonball strike the large crystal tree, shattering it into pieces.

“Good job, let's go.” Laughing, Thunder lifted his head with pride as his small army continued onward through the forest.

Three shadows moved faster than the light could capture into the courtyard of the once Castle of the Two Sisters, stopping only once they reached the now destroyed Treehouse of Harmony. The shadowy fox leaned over and shifted the pile of crystals with his paw.

“Oh Haku, I’m so sorry. I know you didn’t like her much, but she was a tree under your care. And you did care for her.” The long shadowy dragon wrapped her forelegs around the fox’s shoulders, nuzzling his neck with her head

The large kitsune growled as he felt the cry of his downed trees, even. He felt his blood boil, even the soothing touch of his mate couldn’t cool it. He wanted to dash out and tear that pony appart. But that wouldn’t solve his problem. The metal army behind him would only go wild and he couldn’t have that.

Putting his paw down on the ground he felt the vibrations come from Canterlot. The screams of terrified ponies. While he cared little for ponies in general, life itself was precious to him. He did have a soft spot for the two sisters. After all, their first rule was within his forest until neglect and jealousy tore them apart.

“Indeed, Even I’m disgusted at this wanton destruction. This fight isn’t fun anymore, I am so over it. So what do you want to do?” The floating mismatched shadow grumbled. The glare from both the fox and dragoness got him to back up a bit.

“They don’t leave this forest alive.” Haku held out his paw and with a word the crystals blew away, leaving six multi-colored shards, each one as large as an apple.

The mismatched shadow’s eyes widened. “Those are…!”

“I thought you’d recognize them. You’ve felt their sting more than once.” His paws reached down and gripped two of them. “Ponies thought they were long destroyed, even their own owners. But what was created can never be unmade, only transformed. Harmony saw to that. She knew the world needed these defenders. For all the years they worked, they have been unbeatable.”

The dragoness reached down and with her claws gripped two more. “Indeed. Even when failing, they always got back up again stronger than before.”

“And I'm living proof of that. I know what you're after, and it will break universal law here.” The mismatched shadow gripped two crystals, with a claw and paw. “Not that I mind. You think we can pull this off?”

Haku licked his lips as he glanced up at the full moon. A shimmer from it told him all he needed to know. “With her help we can. And she has never once let her little boy down.”

Sumi and Discord looked at each other then nodded.

Lifting the six gems up the trio started to chant.

“Moon above with earth below, Go forth now and let chaos sow!” The Crystals held with in the paw and claw of the draconequus erupted in colors of Pink and Red

“Water’s wave with tempest rage, Release all memories trapped in your cage!” The Crystals held with in the claws of the dragoness glowed brilliantly in colors of Blue and Orange

“As bright lights shine and spread shadows fast, Bring you now echoes of the past!” The Crystals held with in the paws of the Kitsune blinded the surroundings with two shades of Purple but one swiftly turned to Amber

When the light finally faded the trio looked at the sight before them. Six ponies stood proudly, their bodies obscured by the light emanating from their necklaces. The Trio knew instantly retribution for this destruction was now in safe hooves.

Growling with fury, Thunder kicked at another tree. Pushing through he let out a sigh of relief. Finally out of the forest he saw the back path up the mountain where Canterlot was built. With ponies already running out he let out a wide smile.

“Finally.” Turning to his two lackeys. One Pegasus and one Earth Pony, he would be grateful when he was done working with them. “Now the fun begin’s boys. Remember, no prisoners save the Princess’s student. Kill everypony else. Now… Charge!” He thrust out his hoof as the two dashed forward yelling as their pony Centurion’s kept pace behind.

Thunder had little respite as he saw a speeding shadow of a pegasus, leading a rainbow speed trail, strike the ground, producing a rainbow colored shockwave that leveled a whole line of Centurions. That same shadow, without missing a beat tackled his Pegasus lackey sending him flying back over the forest till he disappeared.

Looking to the side another shadow wearing a stetson hat, swinging a rope with its tail. In seconds his Earth Pony lackey was bucked back into the forest. The rope on the mare’s tail wrapped around one centurion and with a grip she spun it around taking out another line. Once done she took up position next to the rainbow haired mare.

Growling he sent a powerful blast from his horn. No mare was going to make a fool of him, especially not a Pegasus and earth pony. It wasn’t until a unicorn with long purple hair joined that his magic was derailed by a flying piece of gem coated silk.

Thunder’s eyes widened as he saw three identical strips of silk circling her body. A loud roar came from his left, twisting about, he saw a pink haired Pegasus mare laying astride a large black bear as two smaller ones started to make quick work of more Centurions.

What the buck is going on here? Where are these bitches coming from? Thunder screamed in his head as another Pink haired pony bounced and blasted another line of his mechanical soldiers with a large cannon firing… cake batter. With his eyebrow twitching he started to back up until a sixth pony showed up. She walked with the air of a princess, her crimson hair flowing down from her head as that amber horn glowed brightly.

Thunder had never taken anything from any female before. He was not about to be sent packing by these six.

“Take them all!” he called out to his remaining Centurion’s. The mechanical soldiers ran out firing their steam blasters.

He did have to admit that these six mares knew how to fight. Backing up slowly he watched as they pooled their talents in ways he never thought possible. One by one each of the Centurion’s fell to skill and magic. Or ripped apart by a large bear while the yellow Pegasus called out for them to be careful.

“Give up now. You stand no chance.” The amber unicorn smiled as she stepped forward. “Surrender now and you will be shown leniency.”

Grumbling he had less than a hundred of his pony shaped constructs left. Taking a deep breath he stood up straight and regained his confidence.

“I’m not done yet. We still outnumber you.” Thunder laughed like a crazed pony.

Shaking her head the amber unicorn just sighed. With her horn glowing she lifted her head.

“Ponies of metal strong and true. Make this army bust a move!” As her horn glowed she started to sway back and forth as her party pony friend started to play music. And as if on cue each one of the remaining centurion’s started to glow and move to the unicorn’s actions.

“No!!!” Thunder back up more until a thick vine, shot from the forest, grabbed on to his left back hoof. Falling back he looked over his shoulder as three more vines shot out and wrapped around his remaining hooves.

“Looks like someone wants to have a word with ya.” The orange earth pony smiled, bumping up her hat a bit.

“OH yes, and I don’t think it will be pleasant darling,” the white mare sighed as the sky blue mare came up next to her.

“Yeah I don’t want to imagine what’s going to happen to you.”

Thunder clawed at the ground as he was slowly dragged back toward the forest.

“I hope he’ll be at least a little kind. I hate to see anypony suffer. Even ones like you,” the canary yellow mare rested her head down on the black bear’s back.

“Even those of us who live near it know better than to harm anything in the Everfree,” the Amber unicorn just looked to the forest. Deep in the shadows she saw the twin amber eyes of it’s guardian.

“It’s one party I know I never want to be invited to,” the pink pony just sat next to her friends.

The six mares watched as the arrogant, destructive stallion was dragged into the thicket.

“Common girls, let's get to the palace. No point sticking around here.” With her horn glowing the amber unicorn walked with her friends toward Canterlot. Behind her the small army of spellbound centurions followed.

The sun slowly rose in a small secluded section of the Everfree Forest. Forestsong sat between a set of trees. Watching as his forest slowly began to wake. Already new trees were growing in the path that was created by the invaders. In a few days it would be as if it never happened. Next to him, on his left, rested a blue and white dragoness. Her head nuzzled on his shoulder.

Sitting on the large fox’s right sat his long time friend. Both Forestsong and Discord turned their heads to look behind them. Strung up between two large trees hung Thunder.

“I spent a thousand years as a statue, I think that might be a kinder punishment.” Discord crossed his front arms and huffed. “I know it's your forest, but no matter how many times I've seen you do this. It makes me shudder.”

“You don’t have to stay, you know. I never forced you to watch it.” Forestsong shook his head with a smile.

“Well I do like to watch you work. You certainly made this spell your own.” Discord nudged his friend. “But, I think this time I’ll skip it. I’m sure I’ll be needed at the palace any minute now.”

“Any opportunity to give the Princess a headache right?” Forestsong smiled.

“You know it. Ta.” In a pop Discord disappeared.

“I still have no idea how you can deal with him my love,” the dragoness sighed as she ran her claw down her mate’s chest.

“We’re just compatible. We’re both creatures of chaos, mine is just a bit more orderly than his.” The dragoness nodded.

“Well I'll let you work. I’d rather not be here for this. Just, don’t be too extreme.” She smiled lovingly before diving into a shallow river and vanished from sight.

Turning around to face the source of his internal rage. Forestsong swifty slapped the stallion across the face. “Wake up.”

“Ghh. what?” Looking around Thunder tried to move but found his hind legs bound tight and weighted to the ground. His front legs stretched out and securely bound to two trees. Looking a lot like a T shaped cross. “What's going on? Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?”

“OH, I know who you are.” Forestsong stood on all fours and came up. His eyes level with Thunders. “You're the monster who killed my trees. And now, you shall share the fate of those who came before you.” Gesturing to the left and right the large fox smiled.

Thunder looked where the large creature indicated and immediately felt sick. He wasn’t just in a forest. But in a forest of trees, that all shared a similar look. Each tree looked to be growing around a pony. He wanted to believe they were just expertly carved. But by the blood flowing down from his ankles, he guessed they were all in this same situation.

“Please.. No.. oh please don’t do this.” Thunder tried to struggle but the vines that held him had no give. They may as well have been made of steel and not plant matter. From the ground a small tree started to grow upward, once it reached his hooves the bark started to grow around them. “No OH gods please NO!!”

Forestsong looked on without mercy or pity. He gave a quick shrug before turning and walked into the shadows of his trees as Thunder’s unheard screams echoed across the forest.

Reunited and it feels so... wierd.

Twilight humed as she and Pearl walked up the walkway to her throne room.

“To think, the Everfree Forest has a guardian.” Celestia repeated for the seventh time since Twilight and Pearl came out of that forest.

“Indeed sister, I guess even after all this time it still holds secrets that we will never unravel.” Luna looked out the window. The moon slowly came into view as the sun was setting. “We knew there was a power deep inside of it. But to think it has a form we can commune with.”

“Yeah I don’t think that would be wise.” Pearl sighed as she leaned back up against a pillar. “I felt nice and cozy there. Like I was back home, safe and sound. But, Twilight here was so fidgety I thought she would just up and leave without me.”

“Well we should try sometime. Perhaps there’s a way we can improve relations with him. Show him how far we ponies have come.” Celestia looked out the nearest window toward the forest.

“That’s something I’ve thought of myself, however I think he’s happy so long as ponies stay clear of his forest.” Twilight closed her eyes and rubbed her temples with her wing tips. “At least now I have answers to questions I thought were impossible. For now we need to set stricter laws regarding the safety of that forest. I felt his power just from a look he gave me. I doubt anycreature could stop him if he lashed out at ponies. Even if all alicorns came together like we did with Tirek.”

Luna and Celestia both nodded in agreement.

“Why don’t you two get some rest. Anything important we can handle in the morning.” Twilight gestured for a guard. “I would be glad for your help in the rebuilding.”

“And we would be glad to be of assistance Princess.” Celestia smiled as Twilight giggled. “Good night Twilight.”

“I think I shall remain awake.” Luna stood straight and looked out the window over Canterlot. “Most unrest has befallen ponies these last few days. So I shall patrol the dreamworld tonight, and probably for as long as it takes till those involved are no longer plagued by dark shadows.”

Twilight nodded. “I would appreciate it, Luna. I tried a few times in the past, but I don’t have the talent for it that you do.”

Luna gave a small bow and left to head toward her old room. As Celestia left for hers.

“Well Pearl, I think you should head on home. Your family will want to know about your new friend.” Twilight rested her wing on Pearl’s shoulder. “I’ll come by tomorrow and try to smooth over the frightening details.”

“Thanks. I get why he saved me. But I'm still wondering why he went out of his way to ensure my parents would also be saved and safe in the forest.” Pearl folded her front legs on the window as she looked at the tree tops.

“Well, what we know about Eastern Dragons is that family is very important in their culture. And I'm willing to bet it might be the same to his kind as well.”

“But how can we really know that?” Pearl looked up into her teacher’s eyes.

“Because I caught the far eastern accent in his voice as he talked.” Twilight chuckled as she watched her student slap her own forehead with her hoof.

“Gahh I should have guessed that.” Pearl groaned. “Well I’m going home. Take several aspirin and get some sleep.”

Twilight sighed peacefully as she watched her student walk off. Turning on her hooves she continued onto her throne room glad that the chaos of the day was finally over. She was only steps away from the doors when she found her Night Guard breathing heavily in a paper bag.

“Shadow Weaver? What’s wrong?” Twilight came up and knelt down by the batpony. “You look like you just saw a ghost. Take a few deep breaths and tell your princess what happened.”

Breathing heavily into the bag, Shadow lowered it slowly. “You have… guests.”

“Guests? Could you elaborate?”

“I wish I could, princess. I’m still trying to process what happened.”

“Well, take it slow. Just tell me what happened.” Twilight lightly rubbed Shadow’s back helping her to calm down.

“Well I was just coming onto my shift when these six mares came up the walkway. One of them leading a whole battalion of those pony Centurions. At first I thought it was another attack, thankfully with a command from one of the two unicorns they all shut down. I thought hey, I guess the princess’s night might get a bit interesting.”

Twilight nodded slowly. Sitting there next to Shadow as she continued.

“As they came closer I thought they looked awfully familiar. Like I had seen them here every day sense I started my assignment here at Canterlot. I told them you hadn’t returned but they just told me that’s okay and barged into your throne room. Well I went to stop them when I caught sight of the stain glass windows and realized I had seen them every day.” Looking up at Twilight, Shadow gulped. “The same six mares who blatantly barged past me were all in those windows. And each one was sporting a necklace with apple sized gemstones in the shape of their cutie marks.” Shadow blinked as she saw Twilight’s eyes widen.

“Princess?” Shadow barely got another word out as Twilight got up and dashed through the double doors.

“Yo Twilight, was wondering when you would finally show up!” Rainbow Dash smiled. “You know It’s not nice to keep your old friends waiting.”

“Cut her some slack Rainbow, She didn’t know we’d be here.” Applejack lightly cuffed Rainbow behind the head with her hat. “ Hey Twi, long time no see.”

“In deed darling, I have to say I love decore you have going on. It could use a bit of a touch up here and there though.” Rarity chuckled as she hoofed a banner.

“G.. Girls. How.. what?” Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head rapidly. Opening them again she found six of her closest friends looking at her like the last five hundred years hadn’t happened.

“Was this a good time to come by?” Fluttershy meekly stepped forward. “Sunset said it would be okay but I thought with all you had going on and all.”

Twilight stood there, mouth agape as she turned her head toward the throne and saw Sunset Shimmer standing there. A few scratches here and there but otherwise just as she remembered her. Looking back all of her friends were sporting similar scratches over their bodies. Except for Fluttershy and Rarity who seemed mark free.

“I don’t… I don’t understand. How is this possible. You all are supposed to be dead. I buried you all myself. I spoke at each of your funerals. I cried for weeks over each of you.” Twilight slumped down as Pinkie Pie and Rainbow moved up and helped Twilight back up.

“That was really sweet of you Twilight. You’ll have to tell me what you said, I never heard what went on at my funeral.” Pinkie Pie cheerfully grinned. “Not that I could have that is.”

Twilight felt as if her head was about to explode when a familiar laughter emanate from her throne. Looking up she gulped and felt her blood boil. Sitting there all smug and munching on popcorn was Discord.

“You should see your face right now Princess. Not the look I was expecting but this is so much more entertaining.” Discord laughed as he shoved another fistfull of popcorn into his mouth.

"Discord. If this is your idea of a joke. I am not laughing,” Twilight growled out and started to slowly stop her way to the throne. “This time you have gone TOO FAR! And you can forget about being a statue. I'll just go for unexisting you!"

"Oh come now, Twilight. We’ve known each other for hundreds of years now." Discord floated up and laid out on his belly looking down. “Would I really do that to you?”

"Yes. You've told me, more than once, that bringing the dead back to life is one of the few things you can't do. And according to my research it’s impossible, so you can just send these illusions away.”

“Oh Twilight, dear dear Princess Twilight. You are right, I can’t bring the dead back to life. But you're wrong to think that this is my handiwork. This is what most would consider a gift.”

“A gift? Who would be so cruel as to conjure up illusions of my lost best friends.” Twilight huffed and puffed heavily as her friends gathered behind her. She watched as Discord landed by Sunset and ran his finger over a red scratch making her wince loudly.

“Hey!” Sunset pushed the draconequus away.

Discord just laughed and flicked his finger at Twilight, several drops of blood landing on her snout. “Use your head Twilight, I know it’s been a while since you were a science nerd but Illusions don’t feel pain, or bleed.”

Twilight looked at her snout and saw the red drop that was there. Already she could smell the iron and looked at all six of her friends. Rainbow and Applejack both shared marks on their bodies that were smeared with dried blood. She could even smell the sweat on their bodies. “This still makes no sense. The dead can’t come back to life, it’s impossible. Even for you!”

“Well, you're right, and you're wrong.” Discord walked forward slowly. “Yes it’s true I can’t raise the dead, at least. Not by myself.” He slowly bowed himself. “I did have help. Or rather somefox needed my help to do this.”

“Well if this wasn’t you. Who…” Twilight stopped as her brain finally caught what he had said. “Fox?” Twilight looked at her friends who all shared a knowing look. They all nodded together before returning their look back to Twilight. “Then this is…”

“Forestsong’s work. Well not his alone, not even he can raise the dead. It was a collaboration of sorts. Between him, myself and another. Order, Chaos and Balance.”

“When the three work as one, miracles can be achieved or something like that.” Twilight looked at her friends. All six were Miracles to say the least. She wanted this deeply. Tears welled behind her eyes as she remembered all the joy and happiness they shared together. And the pain of losing them as they aged.

“Look Twilight.” Discord sighed and rested his lion’s paw on her shoulder. “Why don’t you go talk to him. I can send you there if you like.”

“Twilight. Go. Forestsong will have the answers you’re looking for. We’ll hold down the fort just like old times.” Sunset smiled.

Standing up she walked over and hugged the amber unicorn tight. “One thing? How did you get here and not Starlight? I would have expected her.”

“Well long and short of it is, she was offered to come back but opted to stay where she was. So I took her place. I hope you're not too disappointed.”

Twilight shook her head. “Of course not. Celestia will be glad to see you as well. For however long you all have. I’ll be back.” Turning to discord she smiled. “Alright, if he’ll see me, I’ll go and to think I just came back from the Everfree Forest.”

With a grin, Discord snapped his fingers and Twilight vanished.

Forestsong growled as he moved closer to his pray. His slow and careful steps betraying nothing of his approach. Kneeling down his rear slowly shook back and forth before he pushed off with his hind legs and pounced on his target. Pinning her to the ground as he stood on all fours over her.

The kitsune looked deeply into those aqua green eyes that shimmer like gemstones as he felt her caws trace up his chest. Her growling echoing his own as she wrapped a hind leg around his waist. Leaning in Forestsong kissed his beloved mate passionately on the lips as he felt her pull him down.

Breaking the kiss he started to bite playfully along her neck before a familiar pop and a swift squeak came from behind the couple. Sniffing the air he found the scent of a familiar pony.

Tsunami Rose lifted her head and sighed before dropping looking her mate in the eyes. “Haku, remind me the next time we see Discord to pull his head off and shove it down a pit.”

Forestsong let out a similar sigh to his mate and sat up, smirking at the dragoness he loved. “Not exactly where I was going to shove it. But I guess it’ll work.” Leaning in he kissed her lips softer this time and jumped down off their marriage bed and looked at the half frozen alicorn. “Hello Twilight, nice of you to pop in. Please follow me,” he stated in passing, walking out a large set of double doors.

Twilight just stood there with her mouth agape. A bedroom twice the size of her throne room was the last place she ever thought to find herself. And she certainly didn’t expect to see what she just saw. Her eyes shifted left and right at the mixed decor. Looking at the dragoness on the bed she slowly started to come back to her senses.

“I would follow him Princess, it can be easy to lose yourself in this place.” Tsunami waved her claw at Twilight before picking up an old copy of Daring Do.

Quickly turning about she ran out the door and quickly caught up to Forestsong who seemed to have shifted in size. Before he was nearly twelve hooves in height but now she was certain he was her height.

“I am so sorry. I…” a tail swiftly slapped itself against her mouth.

“It’s not you who should apologize. It’s not your fault that Discord popped you into my bedchamber. In fact I was expecting your visit. Just not this soon.” Moving into a massive library Forestsong sat himself up next to a huge desk. Twilight watched as he ran his paw over one small section that had a set of initials carved in it. Leaning in, she saw that they were SW.

“I would have thought you would be spending time with your friends. How often do ponies come back from the dead?” With a smile he looked at Twilight.

“Well. It’s just.. Why? I thought at first Discord was playing the cruelest joke he has ever played. Then he tells me you're responsible for this. What kind of joke are you trying to play on me by doing this?”

Forestsong sighed and looked back at his big brother’s old desk. His paw lightly caressing the old wood. “No joke Twilight. Yes I would have played a joke or prank on you, it's in my nature to do so. And I might in the future. But this, no. I’m being sincere.”

“Okay. if this is not a joke. Are they really my friends? Or is this some kind of trick that will fade?”

“Do you know the story behind this desk?” Forestsong smiled as Twilight shook her head.

Twilight looked at the desk, it was certainly no different then anything she hadn’t seen before. Walking up to it she saw the wood had seen better days. It was old. Probably a few hundred years old if not more. She ran her hoof over it for a moment before feeling a jolt of magic shoot through her. Pulling back her hoof, Twilight looked at Forestsong.

“Yes, it's imbued with magic. This desk was once a tree that grew in my family garden. Every year we would gather under it and watch the cherry blossom’s bloom.” A soft tear came to his eye as he related the story. “Well one day, father took on an apprentice. A unicorn of all creatures. Like my friendship with a pegasus, most of our family thought he was wasting his time. But father saw something in him. A talent of sorcery. Unmatched by any other of his kind.”

Twilight smirked as she looked at the desk.

“Well he kinda grew on the family, oneesama most of all. Well one day, during a spell flinging session with father. Oneesama walked past him in her best kimono, she moved so seductively that he couldn’t help but look at just as he released a blast of magic. A blast that destroyed our cherry tree.”

“That couldn’t have gone over well.” Twilight sighed wondering what this had to do with her friends.

“Not at first, but after a week he came to us with a gift. This very desk here. Crafted by his own hooves, from the tree that was destroyed.” Forestsong smiled as he remembered the day. His claw lightly tracing the initials on the desk just like on the day he first carved them. “He wanted to make sure that it’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain, that something good came out of that destruction. I still remember sitting next to him as he read me stories while he worked.”

“That’s a sweet story, but what does this have to do with my friends?” Twilight felt her heart tug in her chest. She could picture a young fox sitting up against a stallion behind that desk.

“Your Treehouse of Harmony is dead. It was lost when an invading army marched through my forest.”

Twilight’s head turned toward Forestsong so swiftly she actually heard and felt the pop. “What!”

“They were going to invade from the other side of Canterlot. The pony, and I use that term loosely, in charge was going to kill every escaping pony and capture your apprentice. What he was going to do to her made me sick to my stomach.”

“Was that why you guided her into your forest? To keep her out of his reach?” Twilight watched as he nodded. His paws reached for a picture and looked at it tenderly. “Then your gesture means more to me than I ever thought. What happened to him?”

“He suffered the same fate of those who harm my forest. Albeit a bit slower and don’t ask, because you do not want the answer.” A look in those deep amber eyes kept Twilight from even thinking of asking. “Anyway he also ordered the destruction of the crystal treehouse. I didn’t care for it. I hated the day oniichan planted the original tree. But she was a tree in my forest and I nurtured her out of my respect for him.”

Blinking Twilight looked at other pictures around the library. Many of them held photos of various kitsunes of different hues of fur color, but only one showed a small green fox sitting in front of a familiar gray pony with a blue cloak.

“I wasn’t about to let Harmony’s death be in vain. And I knew I had to pay you back for your efforts in protecting my forest from the Life Eater. So I thought to kill two birds with one stone.” Twisting his paw upward he showed a green sphere with a swirling amber mist. “This stone.” Dropping it in her hooves, Forestsong leaned back against the desk.

“Between myself, my mate and Discord we opened the spirit world. Called on my mother to allow passage for six souls with the message. ‘Twilight Needs Help’. Those six were eager to answer the call. I used the memories of the Elements of Harmony to fashion bodies for them. My mate poured their memories from birth to death into those bodies. And Discord made Illusion into reality. They are living ponies, just not permanent ones. Not yet.”

“What’s missing?” Twilight looked at the sphere in her hooves.

“That.” his paw pointing at the gemstone. “That stone contains my gift to you and them. A gift of Immortality. They will share the same lifespan you do. They won’t be invulnerable, but they will endure forever. Just like us.”

Twilight cradled the gemstone like it was a newborn foal. Or something more precious. “Why? Why would you do this?”

“Because I owe you, the world owes you a debt that can never be repaid. And we know what it is to endure for centuries while watching those we love die.” Forestsong tossed his photo along the floor and slid in front of Twilight.

Twilight looked down and gasped. It showed Forestsong as what she could only guess was a teenager. And next to him was Pearl, the two sharing an embrace one would only think was beyond friendship, laughing at something only they knew about. How well she knew her student and that girl in the picture was Pearl and not just someone who looked like her.

“I watched her die, Twilight. I held her elderly form in my arms. I offered her immortality so many times. And each time she refused me. You know that pain more than anypony else. You held them in your arms. And more than once I wished someone would give her back to me.” Forestsong took a long deep breath. “Every few centuries I meet someone like her, but it’s never really her. Something is always different. And again I have that chance once more with Pearl. I might never share the same friendship with her that I did with my old friend. No creature can give me her back. But I can give you them.”

Standing up, Forestsong walked to the window as the moon shone over his forest. “Take that gemstone. Shatter it in their presence and they will live again. And never fade to age. Or don’t and they will fade by the time the sun sets leaving only their elements behind. The choice is yours Princess. But either way my debt has been paid and Harmony’s death was redeemed by their defense of my forest.”

Twilight tried to talk, but her words failed her. She turned around to see Discord standing there silently. Walking up to him the pair shared a look and vanished from the library.

Author's Note

I do not apologize for the heart tug. it was intentional. This story is far from the cannon universes for both Pearl and Kohaku. so many retcons. but thats what happens in other universes. so feel free to read about Kohaku on my page and Pearl on Mystic's page.