The Equestrian Nor'easter chuffed steadily along its rails, through snow-buried valleys amid sparkling white peaks. And from her seat in the forward passenger car, a flame-maned pony stared out through the window in awe.
"I see now why you said to dress warmly," said Sunset Shimmer. She looked across at Princess Twilight, seated opposite her. "It's amazing anypony could even get this far north. Let alone live here year round."
"It's just till we reach the border of the Crystal Empire," Twilight replied. As usual, the lavender alicorn was making good use of train-time by going over a checklist with Spike. "And then you'll be pleasantly surprised. The Crystal Heart's magic is really powerful."
"It has to be," said Starlight Glimmer. The purple-maned unicorn flipped open a guidebook to a two-page spread, showing an aerial view of the Empire's city center. Hundreds of crystalline houses, shops, and other structures arranged on a hexagonal grid of streets, reminiscent of a snowflake. And all of it centered on a single ice-white spire. "The Empire covers a lot of ground, so it takes a ton of power to keep it livable. The love and allegiance of an entire dominion. It's amazing that a simple love charm could be harnessed to refract and multiply the good feelings of the Crystal Ponies, and turn that into a shield that protects their entire nation. That's some serious magic."
"It is cool." Sunset agreed. Then she tapped a hoof on the picture. "And the Palace in the center, it's obviously the spell's projector."
"What, really?" Starlight blinked. "You can tell that just by looking?"
"Sure." Sunset nodded. "By the shape, see? The legs and spire are all alysoid curves. Plus it's why the castle is ten times as tall as any of the other structures. It acts as a kind of antenna, and its shape gives the shielding spell geometrically perfect projection."
"Woah..." Starlight stared at the picture as if seeing it for the first time. "I never realized that. I thought it was just built that way because, well... it looks nice!"
"It does," Sunset agreed, "but engineering doesn't have to be ugly. Form follows function. Am I right, Twilight?"
"Absolutely!" Twilight grinned. "Though I say that in full awareness I live in a castle shaped like a tree."
Sunset grinned back. Then she looked at the guidebook again. "And this castle," she said, "looks a lot like the Eiffel Tower."
"The what tower?" Starlight asked.
"It's a monument in the human world, in a city called Paris. Never been there myself, but it's pretty famous, and I might want to visit it someday. The way Paris is described makes the city itself sound almost magical..." Sunset smirked. "I wonder if there's something Gustave Eiffel didn't tell anypony -- I mean, anybody -- over there."
Then her grin faded. She looked at Twilight again.
"You're sure it's okay? Me just dropping in like this?"
Twilight nodded understandingly. "Cadance has always said we're welcome anytime. We don't need to ask permission. And she knows I'm coming for a visit, so it's not like it's a total surprise."
"It's just... I haven't seen her in a while. Not since we were both at Celestia's school. And for her, given the time differential, it's been even longer."
Starlight shrugged. "Well, it was a long time for me and Sunburst, too. But we got our friendship going again. With a few hiccups, I'll admit."
Twilight beamed. "Cadance loves it when we show up unannounced. She says the surprise brightens her day, gives her an excuse to break out of the daily routine. And on top of that, she's just really nice to begin with."
"Oh, I do recall that," Sunset agreed. "And I really hope this goes okay." She stared out gloomily at the passing snow-covered landscape. "The last thing I'd want is to be an unpleasant nuisance."
Spike waved a claw. "Aw, you'll be fine, Sunset! And if you have any problems, just say you're with me. Spike the Brave and Glorious is a name to conjure with in these parts."
"We know." Starlight rolled her eyes at Sunset. "He makes sure to remind us, every time we come here."
Wending its way through snow-covered fields and dark tunnels, the train eventually reached the border of the Empire. There was a brief wash of prickling disorientation, as the train passed through the immense shimmering barrier of the shield itself...
... and suddenly it was a bright, warm summer day outside. The train was chugging through a picture-perfect landscape of green meadows, leafy trees, and sparkling crystal monoliths. Twilight and her friends quickly divested themselves of their winter wear, repacked their carryalls, and then stared out through the windows as the elegant spire of the Crystal Palace itself swept into view in the distance. Eventually, the train pulled to a halt at the Crystal Empire station. The three ponies and dragon stepped out onto the sun-baked wooden platform.
And found a guard detachment in glittering silver regalia waiting patiently for them.
The guards approached as a group, and bowed formally. Then they all turned and stared at Sunset. "Excuse us, ma'am," the senior guard asked. "Are you Sunset Shimmer?"
"Uhh..."
"Don't worry, Sunset," Spike said. "I got this. Hey, guys!" he called to them, strutting forward. "It's me! I'm back!"
"Hello, Spike," the senior guard acknowledged readily. Then he looked straight past the dragon... at Sunset.
"Umm, yeah..." she replied cautiously. "Sunset Shimmer, that's me. Is... something wrong, officer?"
"Not at all, ma'am," the guard said. "We were asked to extend a special welcome to you on your arrival."
And together, the guards all bowed their heads to her respectfully.
"Woah, thanks." Sunset smiled at her friends. "I guess Cadance must already know I'm here, huh?"
"No, ma'am," the guard replied smoothly. "It's one of our standing orders. Princess Twilight," he went on, looking to her, "with your approval, we'll escort your party to the Palace."
"Thank you, sirs," Twilight replied readily.
Arranging for their luggage to be brought ahead, and with the honor guard accompanying them, the party set off walking along the sandy, hard-packed hoof-path leading towards the city center. And Twilight gave Sunset an encouraging smile.
"Told you! Cadance is really, really nice. And she loves letting ponies know it in unexpected ways."
In the Audience Hall of the Crystal Palace, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza -- or Cadance, for short -- stood tall and regal upon the high platform of the Purple Amethyst Throne.
To either side of the pink alicorn were numerous crystal guard ponies, scowling fiercely, ready for action at a single word from their beloved sovereign. Sunburst was present as well, and the tan, ginger-maned unicorn exchanged a friendly nod with Starlight as Twilight's group advanced up the carpet. Sunburst's amber magic gently rocked a floating bassinet, in which Princess Flurry Heart lay sleeping.
Then Twilight, Starlight, and Spike all stepped to one side, allowing Sunset Shimmer to step forward and nervously approach the Throne.
"Princess Cadance?" she called up. "I hope I'm not intruding. I just... wanted to say I'm sorry for letting our friendship fall by the wayside. Back when we were at school, you know? I'd like to make up for it if I still can. And I hope we can be friends again."
Cadance stared down at her, seemingly struggling for words. Then she trotted straight down the Throne's ramp, threw her forehooves around Sunset, and hugged her tightly.
"I'd been hoping you'd come to visit someday, Sunset, ever since I heard you were back. I've missed you!"
"Wow. Same here." Sunset looked stunned but pleased. "It just took me a few bucks upside the head to finally realize it."
Cadance laughed. Sitting back, she looked Sunset up and down. "And you don't even look all that different. While look at me! I'm a full-grown mare, with a family. I'm jealous, Sunset!"
"Time works differently, across the mirror portal," Sunset acknowledged. "Though I'm not sure I'd recommend it. You can easily lose some of the best years of your life that way..."
"Well, it's wonderful to have you," Cadance said. "And I do hope this isn't a flying visit, because we have so much catching up to do. When Twilight wrote that you'd started coming back through the portal, I was really tempted to invite you to visit straight away. But..." She shook her head. "I didn't want you to feel pressured. I wasn't even sure you'd remember me."
"Are you kidding?" Sunset shook her head. "Princess Celestia may have been my teacher and mentor. But you helped me find my way around, Cadance. You introduced me to everypony, helped me fit right in at the School. I owe you big time for that! I'm just sorry it took me this long to realize it."
"I owe you, too," Cadance said. "When you left the School, I lost the one friend I felt I could really talk to. About stuff, like you know, being a seriously over-powered alicorn?" She smirked. "And I lost the one friend whose opinion I felt I could trust implicitly, without question."
"Who, me?" Sunset smirked.
"Oh, yeah! For instance, do you remember that time we all went down to the lake for a picnic? And somepony'd brought along a guitar and was playing it, and you were nodding along to the music, saying how good you thought it was..."
Sunset stared at her. "Tell me you didn't go out and buy a guitar, and learn to play it?"
"Of course not! But it did get me thinking about music, about how little I really knew. It made me want to pay closer attention, read up, learn more. And that's been helpful with raising Flurry Heart. She's very musically inclined!"
Hearing her name, the baby alicorn opened her eyes, looked up at Sunset, and gurgled adorably.
"Oh, yeah," Sunset said. "Born opera star, if ever I saw one."
"No, I mean she likes music," Cadance said. "So I sing to her, and take her places where there's good music to listen to. And I think it really helps her learn to be more even-tempered and not quite so fussy."
"Glad I could help, even indirectly." Sunset nodded. "Only, a word of advice? Don't ever take her to a shopping mall. A hundred straight plays of the muzak cover of Dancing on Moonbeams would kill any appreciation of music she has. That and working in a sushi bar -- I speak from experience on this."
Cadance eyed her, puzzled but amused. "I'll definitely bear that in mind. Oh, and by the way, this is Sunburst. He's been very kind in accepting the role of Royal Crystaller for little Flurry."
Sunburst resettled his spectacles, and smiled warmly. "Pleasure to meet you, Sunset!"
"Likewise." Sunset tilted her head, curious. "Uh, fill me in... Royal Crystaller?"
"Yep." Sunburst grinned. "It's apparently an extremely important role in Crystal Pony society. Though a little hard to define..." He considered it briefly. "Kind of like... godparent, baby-sitter, and magic tutor, all at the same time. And there's a fair bit of geomancy involved. Like talcum powder spells," he added sheepishly.
"Sunburst handles it ably," Cadance said. "Shining Armor and I couldn't ask for better. And Flurry's really taken to him."
At the moment Flurry Heart was distractedly sucking a hoof, but Sunset decided to read that as a casual, indirect sign of approval.
"Speaking of Shining Armor..." Twilight glanced around. "Where is Shiny anyway? I was hoping to catch up with him myself."
"He's on maneuvers." Cadance made hoof-quotes, rolling her eyes. "It's what he calls leading the troops on patrol outside the shield, watching for threats from the Northern Wastes. After what happened in Canterlot during Tempest's invasion, he still feels guilty he wasn't there to protect me. I keep telling him it's ridiculous, but what can you do? It's his way of coping, so I let it be. He should be back before too long, don't worry."
Then Cadance looked at Sunset again. Pensively, as if debating something. "Sunset," she finally said, "I was going to bring this up later, but maybe now's as good a time as any. There's actually another important role in my Court, for which I need to appoint somepony I really trust. And until you walked through those doors, I didn't have a clue who to ask. But knowing you as I do, I really think you'd be perfect for it."
"Oh?" Sunset replied cautiously. "What is it?"
"Royal Sorcerer," Cadance said. "Again, it's a little hard to define, since it's part of the Crystal Empire's history. As I understand it, it's a trusted advisor and expert in research magic, who guides the application of spellwork in the Empire."
"Kind of a... Grand Vizier?" Sunset attempted to mime craftily stroking a beard, then realized it wasn't working so well with hooves, and gave it up.
"Hopefully a little more benign than that," Cadance replied. "But it is a position of great influence and responsibility. It's more than merely a Court wizard, more than just a senior research fellowship. It's somepony who sets the tone for the entire Empire in the arts and sciences of spellcasting. Somepony who leads by example, shows how magic research should be applied, in order to better ponies' lives here."
Sunset stared. "And you think I'm the right pony for that?"
"Absolutely." Cadance nodded. Then she shrugged helplessly. "I've done my best to establish a magic research program for the Empire. With Twilight helping from afar, and Sunburst contributing what time he can, we've made a good start. But my subjects have been asking me when I might appoint a Royal Sorceror, to lead the work. It's important to them for some reason. I haven't delved too deeply, for fear of giving the impression I'm not in favor of the idea... because I am! It would make the work mean so much more to them, honoring their traditions while at the same time bringing their research efforts firmly into the eleventh century."
"Hey, no argument here," Sunset agreed. "And I'm flattered that you're offering this to me, sight unseen."
"Not entirely sight unseen," Cadance said. "Twilight's been kind enough to share some of your adventures beyond the mirror in her letters to me. And I admire the pony you've become, Sunset. You're a source of strength and confidence for your friends, while at the same time remaining honest with yourself about your abilities. You're a natural leader, but you do it by guiding others, helping them to find their own answers. You're a good advisor and mentor. That's what made you seem an obvious choice. To say nothing of magic skill and power, which we both know you have."
Then Cadance looked worried. "I hope I haven't rushed things? Landing this on you so suddenly, when you've only just arrived?"
"Hmm?" Sunset blinked in surprise. "Oh no, not at all. Don't misread my silence. I'm totally open to the idea. I just think I'd want to understand the responsibilities a little better first. Because you know me, Cadance... if I'm gonna take on something like this, I want to do the best job I can. Starting with understanding just what it is that makes a Royal Sorcerer so important to the ponies around here."
"Well," Twilight suggested, "there must be some reference works on the subject we can consult. I can help you there."
Spike snorted. "Like you were going to let anypony else do it."
Twilight frowned at him. "And we can also talk to the ponies here, get their opinions without making it seem so much like an official inquiry."
"I can help with doing that," Starlight offered. "I was hoping to do a little sightseeing anyways. So it'll make a good excuse to get out there and mingle."
"Hey, I'm with you," Sunset said. "I wanna see as much of the Empire as I can while I'm here. So it seems like between the four of us, we should have the bases covered, so to speak."
"Thank you, all." Cadance smiled at them. "But please don't feel you have to rush out and get started right away. Get settled in first, have a look around, while I wrap up the last few audiences here. We can chat more at dinner this evening. Sound like a plan?"
"That works for me," Sunset agreed. Twilight and Starlight both nodded.
"Wonderful. Chief Seneschal!" Cadance called.
"Highness?" The sky-blue crystal mare bowed respectfully.
"Please show our guests to their rooms." Cadance smiled at Sunset. "And Sunset, do let me know if there's anything you need. It is so good to have you here."
With the Seneschal leading the way, the group trotted out of the Hall together. And Spike gently elbowed Sunset.
"Heh! You were actually worried she wouldn't remember you."
"How wrong I was," Sunset agreed. "You know, Spike," she added, a little somberly, "you never really deserve your best friends..."
Telling Princess Twilight not to research something was a little like the old adage about sitting in a corner and not thinking of an Ursa Major. The lavender alicorn immediately vanished off to the city's immense library with Spike in tow, promising to be back in time for dinner. With Spike rolling his eyes and whispering "...sometime next week" under his breath as he followed her out the door.
Once Sunset and Starlight had gotten themselves unpacked and settled in, they grinned at each other, then headed straight out as well to see a bit of the city and talk with its inhabitants.
They visited several small shops that sold curios and crafts, and sampled the bizarre-looking -- though quite edible -- local cuisine. Sunset particularly wished she could introduce Canterlot High School's cafeteria to the concept of crystal corn. The angular cobs looked at first glance like one could break a tooth on them, yet they were indescribably buttery and crunchy. "It'd be even bigger than tater tots," she joked with Starlight. "And that takes doing."
They toured a museum devoted to jousting legends of tournaments past, and then just strolled around the city center, marveling at the glittering, multifaceted buildings. Sunset had thought that once you'd seen one huge pile of carved crystal, you'd seen them all. Yet the architects of the city had somehow managed to make each structure unique, while at the same time exactly suited to its location. It was like an ant's-eye view of an immense, intricate jewelry setting, every turn revealing some new crystalline marvel. The overall effect was a vista that seemed entirely unplanned, yet perfectly organic -- a subtle yet pleasing feeling of constant agreeable surprise. Sunset found herself falling in love with the place. It just felt comfortable and familiar, like a timeworn scarf or set of hoof-socks, or a long-forgotten memory of an old home town.
And too, she found the Crystal Ponies unstintingly welcoming, though a little surprising in their speech and mannerisms. But not too surprising, Sunset sternly reminded herself, for a nation that's been locked away under a curse for a thousand years.
In particular, she was amazed the Crystal Ponies still spoke something reasonably close to modern Ponish. But then she reminded herself that it wasn't modern, really. Princess Celestia, over her thousand-year reign, had provided a consistent linguistic measuring rod, an example to follow. The nobles had respectfully emulated her, and the commoners the nobles, with the result that the "Princess's Ponish", as spoken by the Crystal Ponies, was relatively unchanged. Apart from the occasional modern coinage or idiom, which they simply took in stride.
And the Crystal Ponies themselves were one and all helpful and very talkative, particularly when Sunset or Starlight brought the conversation round to the role of Royal Sorceror -- at which point there was no stopping them. The very idea seemed to hold a kind of mythical, mystic fascination for them. Almost as if having a Royal Sorceror once again would somehow make everything just perfect, in an indescribable way.
"I recall my grandpere, talking about those days," one amber-maned shopkeeper told them. "Before the Mage Wars, he said it was. And you could just see his face light up, remembering those times. It'd be so nice to have things that way once again. Especially after, well..." She shivered. "You know."
"King Sombra," Sunset said sympathetically. "I hear you. From what I've heard about him, almost anything would be better after that."
Other Crystal Ponies that Sunset and Starlight spoke to said similar things. It seemed to be a very deep-seated and cherished memory, a longing almost, amongst the ponies for a time when things were just somehow indescribably better. And in which, it seemed, the role of Sorcerer somehow played a major part.
Sunset found herself intrigued. And wondering how she could ever measure up to such a need as that.
Late in the afternoon they returned to Sunset's room in the Crystal Palace, and they found that Twilight Sparkle had also returned. She and Spike had loaded the table in Sunset's room with historical volumes, scrolls, and other artifacts.
And Twilight had a worried look on her face.
"It took some digging," she told them, "A lot of digging, actually. But I was able to find a few references to the previous Royal Sorcerer. And just look who it is!"
She pointed to a page with a hoof. Sunset read it... and she whistled softly.
Starlight was reading over her shoulder. "Sacanas?" she asked. "As in, Staff of Sacanas? As in, the artifact that Tempest used to steal the Princesses' magic and by the way nearly conquer Equestria? That Sacanas?"
"Is there another one?" Twilight asked. "But yes, it's the same pony. Sacanas apparently was Regent and Royal Sorceror for Princess Amore, way back in the days prior to King Sombra's takeover of the Crystal Empire. And that's not the half of it. I had to dig for some of these references. It seems that right after the Wars, there was a deliberate purge of any mention of Sacanas in major history texts and scrolls. There isn't even a picture or description of the sorcerer anywhere. Just indirect references in personal journals and economic reports. And of course a few artifacts laying around, causing trouble. It's as if the Crystal Empire was determined to forget Sacanas ever existed!"
"Why would they do that?" Starlight stared at her. "Everypony we've talked to today made it sound like having a Royal Sorcerer again would be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Why would they want to forget Sacanas?"
"Because," Twilight said uneasily, "Sacanas was a virulent tribalist. I mean, scorched-earth variety. The kind of pony who felt that unicorns were the only true pony tribe. That pegasi and earth ponies were somehow disfigured mutations, and should be treated as entirely separate and lesser species. And that unification of the three tribes into what we know as Equestria was the worst offense possible. As if treating the three tribes as equals somehow sullied what it meant to be a pony."
"Not cool," Sunset agreed. "How did somepony like that get into power here, anyway? I thought the Crystal Empire's whole deal was love itself as a source of shield magic?"
"Sacanas was also a seriously powerful mage," Twilight said. "A unicorn whose magic reserves and skill with spellwork alone could rival even alicorns like Celestia and Luna -- or me! Whatever Sacanas wanted, apparently, there weren't many ponies who could stand in the way... or even object."
"But the Crystal Empire," Sunset pointed out, "it turned out so... nice! At least until King Sombra took over."
"Yeah..." Starlight agreed. "With somepony as nasty as Sacanas lurking behind the scenes, you'd think this place would have sunk into the worst kind of tyranny possible." She looked uncomfortable. "Kind of like me and my village..."
"That may have been Princess Amore's doing," Twilight said. "The history books are very clear about her. In temperament she was reputed to be the embodiment of caring and love itself. And her magic was the equal of any alicorn, even though she never became one herself. "
"Well, that's a relief, at least!" Sunset said.
Starlight nodded. "I'll say! Hey, I wonder how Sacanas felt about alicorns? Given they're a melding of the attributes of all three tribes... doesn't that pretty clearly throw a shoe into tribalist dogma?"
"I did come across something on that. Let me find it." Twilight sifted through a stack of journals, pulled one out and opened it to a bookmark. "And it was said the Regent's dislike of alicorns," she read, "was rage beyond fury. For, in taking back the mutation to increase their power, they had corrupted forever all that was good and pure in the unicorn... the one true species, the one right and proper bearer of Harmony itself..."
"Ugh..." Sunset drew back, disgusted. "Even at my worst, when I was so wound up with my need for revenge, I still believed Princess Celestia was an example I wanted to live up to. Even as I tried my best to surpass her." She shook her head. "I can't believe the ponies we talked to today want somepony like that back in power! I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable taking on this role now."
The ponies looked at each other uncomfortably.
"So... what do we tell Cadance?" Starlight asked. "She's so convinced this is the right thing to do for her subjects. Maybe, uh..." She shrugged. "Maybe we just shove all these books back on the library shelves, and tell her it's not on. That we don't think it's such a hot idea after all?"
"That's not the truth," Sunset said. "I may not be Applejack, but I don't feel comfortable with even white lies here. Not with a friend like Cadance. And I think..." She paused, looking sad. "I think we should tell her what we've found out. Put it all on the table. Maybe together we'll be able to come up with an answer."
The others nodded. There didn't seem much else to do.
Cadance listened attentively, as they went over it at dinner that evening. Shining Armor had not yet returned, and Flurry was being put to bed, so it was just the four ponies plus Spike seated around the table in the royal dining hall. Even the servants had been sent from the room, so that the group might talk freely.
"I see..." Cadance said at last. "And I certainly understand your reluctance, Sunset. But perhaps I can offer an alternative perspective on my subjects' wishes, based on the research I've been doing on their culture and history."
With her magic, she summoned over a book from a nearby shelf. Then she eyed Twilight with a mischievous smile. "I know I always said no reading at the table when I was foal-sitting you, Twilight. I trust you can forgive me this once?"
Twilight nodded, grinning.
"This is the historian Pearl Quill," Cadance went on, "writing in a time before Sombra, before the Mage Wars, before everything. When the Empire was relatively new, and nopony knew what lay ahead:
"... and such is the love and light that permeate this great land of ours, a land secured for us by our beloved Princess, and her ever-watchful Regent, that we live in a veritable golden age of happiness. And few can question its source: Princess Amore, who inspires warmth and kindness in all within the charmed circle of her realm. And her Sorcerer, who created the enchantment that allows the Crystal Heart to magnify the Princess's love for us, turning it into the shield that protects us. Much as the Regent protects and guides our Princess: her advisor and guardian, ever faithful and true..."
"Hang on a minute," Starlight objected. "You're saying somepony as twisted as Sacanas created the Crystal Heart spell itself?"
Cadance nodded. "Sacanas was no slouch when it came to magic. While we might find the Regent's opinions repugnant, it doesn't tarnish the result. The Crystal Heart was created to protect Princess Amore, and by extension her Empire. And so it does, because of the good feelings of its inhabitants. As well as my own, now that I'm their new Princess and have become the focus of their loyalty. And how does the saying go? If the Empire is filled with hope and love, these things are reflected across all Equestria..."
Cadance closed the book, returned it to the shelf.
"The Crystal Ponies are simply remembering a time when there was a balance here, a balance between a Princess who embodied love itself, and a Sorcerer who used magic and skill to create a means to harness that love, and turn it to immense good. And if my subjects believe my appointing a Royal Sorceror would recreate that in modern times, I think that's to their credit. They've rightly left Sacanas's opinions in the dustbin of history, while retaining the memory of the good that came from the Royal Sorcerer's abilities."
"I guess nopony is so evil," Sunset said, "they can't get it right once in a while, even if just by accident." She smiled at Twilight. "Or with a little help from a friend."
Starlight smiled at Twilight as well. "No argument here!"
"So... okay," Sunset went on. "Ignoring who the Royal Sorceror was for the moment, the Crystal Ponies are looking for somepony who can help keep this place the warm, friendly, welcoming land that it is. Somepony who can guide the use of magic to help defend it, and keep it a source of love and light. And by doing that improve the lives of ponies all across Equestria." She nodded. "That's a tall order... but it'd be a pretty cool job, too."
Cadance nodded. "I'd been wracking my brains trying to find somepony who would have the skill and perspective to do that. Sunburst is a possibility, but he's busy looking after Flurry Heart. And I can't ask Twilight, in part because I know she has big plans for this project she and her friends are working on... some kind of school, I hear?"
Twilight looked innocent... with a smile on her face.
"So when you arrived, Sunset," Cadance went on. "It felt like the answer had presented itself."
"Because I'm flawed enough to be able to get it right?"
Cadance laughed. "More like, you have experience, let's say."
Sunset sighed. "I'm honored, Cadance. And normally, I'd be all over this. I love a challenge. But... I'm not sure I can leave CHS and all my friends over there just yet. There's still Equestrian magic on the loose. And we found these geodes that might help us harness and control it. I still need to figure out how that all works, and..." She shrugged. "I'm just not sure I'm done there yet."
"I understand," Cadance said. "And I certainly wouldn't ask you to leave a task you thought you needed to finish. But maybe a part-time role is a possibility? You could visit us, whenever you have free time from your studies, or in case of dire emergency. As I recall, even Star Swirl the Bearded was known to disappear for weeks at a time, yet he somehow managed to serve as court wizard for Celestia and Luna."
"Maybe," Sunset allowed. "Though the commute might be a problem. It's a long train-ride from the portal in Twilight's castle."
"As I understand it," Cadance said, "Twilight was able to reactivate the portal using the link between the journals you and she use to write back and forth to each other. And you've recently had to replace that journal with a new one."
"Yeah. Having an experienced pen-pal I can ask for advice," Sunset said, smiling at Twilight, "means I tend to run out of pages pretty quick."
"So perhaps you might be able to create a second portal," Cadance said, "located here in the Empire, via the journals you're using now."
"Which... we happen to have with us." Twilight levitated her copy from the carryall sitting beside her chair.
Sunset smirked at her. "Tell me you didn't have this all planned in advance, Twilight."
The alicorn shrugged. "Never hurts to be prepared. And with Starlight's help, duplicating the mirror portal's hardware and spell framework shouldn't be too hard."
Starlight smirked. "Like the saying goes, the insanely impossible just takes a bit longer."
"Cadance, I would love to be able to visit here regularly." Sunset nodded. "And if I can be of any help to you, I'm all for it. So... let's give it a shot. See if we can make it work."
"Wonderful, Sunset! And as I said," Cadance reminded her, "there's no pressure to make this a full-time job. Whatever you feel you can do, whatever you feel you have time for, will be more than enough."
Sunset smiled. "You know, that's the weird thing about friendship? The more you tell somepony they shouldn't feel obligated to do something, the more they feel they ought to, just to be a worthy friend!"
"Well, don't feel it's something you have to dive right into. I'm just letting you know the door's open. And whether it works out or not, I want you to know how glad I am to have my old school friend back. And how welcome you'll always be here."
"Huh!" Spike scoffed. "Nearly as welcome as Spike the Brave and Glorious?"
"Let's... not get carried away," Sunset said. "Maybe after I've saved the Empire from imminent destruction a couple of times, huh?"
"Hey, no worries!" Spike flexed his knuckles. "I can give you a few pointers there..."
Later that evening, Sunset was seated on the balcony in her room, alternating between gazing out over the hundreds of twinkling lights of the city, and reading through one of the journals that Twilight had gathered, using the soft glow of a luminance spell from her horn.
"Sunset?" called Twilight, looking in through the door from the hallway.
"Out here, Twilight," Sunset answered, turning a page.
"Still at it?" Twilight trotted out to sit down next to Sunset.
"Yeah. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around Sacanas being the Regent to somepony like Princess Amore. I mean, how does an unstoppable, unhinged, overpowered psycho like that not grab power and take over? Why didn't this place just turn into a tyranny from day one?"
"As I said, Princess Amore might have had something to do with it. She might have balanced out whatever bad influence Sacanas had on this place."
Sunset shook her head. "That's not enough, Twilight. Nice doesn't automatically win. Not unless it's really persuasive. Soft power, they call it. Like when you were able to talk Starlight out of destroying Equestria's timeline. Or help get me straightened out, for that matter..."
"There's usually some redeemable quality in any pony," Twilight said. "We're all ponies, we all have similar needs. You just have to dig deep, find it and encourage it. Help them to see it themselves, see that it's something valuable and worth sharing. And that it's theirs, personally, so that it's something that makes them feel good about themselves. That way, they never want to give it up."
"True." Sunset nodded. "But apart from skill with magic... and like, crazy inventive genius..." she mused, "what was there in a monster like Sacanas that was worth keeping around?"
A thousand-plus years ago...
Through roiling, ice-white clouds, the fleet of armored black airships skulked like leviathans. They appeared briefly, half-glimpsed like looming predators. Then faded, slipping back into the swirling mists.
Aboard the largest of the airships, the flagship, a tall, stern maroon unicorn stood watch near the prow railing. She was clad in polished black mage armor, gleaming and new, her double-bolt mark emblazoned on the flank plates. On her forehead, her sword-like horn sang with a clear, clean, shimmering electric-blue magic.
And in her eyes, there was only cold, scheming death.
Behind her were two of her looming eldritch servants. They edged closer, put together massive paws that could have crushed a pony's skull, and bowed obsequiously, servilely. They awaited the command of the pony whose power had called them into existence... and who now barely tolerated them.
"Maintain course and speed," she snapped coldly, not looking round. "We will make use of the cloud cover until we clear the northern range. Then bring us about northwest, for the caverns in the Crystalline Mountain. We'll hide there until we know we're not pursued."
The servant on the right rumbled and hooted worriedly. And now Sacanas did look round, with a glare that made the furred behemoth hunch fearfully.
"You'd best hope we were not followed," she growled. "I don't have to tolerate failure! And if there is an airship back there, tailing us..."
She came about, her face set, merciless and grim. Her voice hissed sharply, like a blade unsheathing.
"Bring... it... down!"
The servant drew back, concerned. And Sacanas snarled, disgusted by the show of weakness, of mercy.
"You heard me! No survivors! No witnesses! GO!"
Bowing anxiously and repeatedly, the furry servants backed away. Then they turned and hurried off, their large feet thumping heavily on the deckboards. Shifting to aerial forms as they ran, they spread broad wings and took to the skies. And as they went, they summoned others, forming up into an implacable winged armada and flying off into the mist, to carry out their mistress's orders.
Sacanas snorted in disgust, and swung back to the railing.
The things we have to put up with, she thought sourly. One day... one day soon, I'll rid myself of them. Of all of them! All the lesser creatures who would stand against me. They shall bow, kneel, serve my will. And then...
Her teeth gritted in cold, heartless fury.
... then I shall annihilate them.
She paused. Her expression softened, just a bit.
And then maybe... just maybe... she will finally be safe...
Behind her, the door leading below-decks cautiously creaked open.
The maroon unicorn swung her head round to look over her shoulder. And smiled kindly, comfortingly.
"It's all right, Princess. It's safe to come up now."
The gold-cloaked, rose-maned filly glanced about nervously, then trotted over to the railing. Hooking her forehooves over it, she peered out at the roiling clouds, the ghost-like airships escorting them.
"Why did we have to leave in the middle of the night?" the Princess complained. "I thought you said I should stay in bed until morning."
"To throw them off track, of course. They'll believe you've been kidnapped, but they won't know by whom." She smirked proudly. "And as your guardian and protector, I of course had to immediately set out to find you..."
She bent her head to whisper in the filly's ear.
"How fortunate I already have, hmmm?"
The Princess giggled. "It's like a game. Like hide and seek?"
"Yes, Princess. With one important difference. They shall not find us. None will think to look this far in the eternally frozen north. The memory and fear of the Windigoes is too fresh in their minds."
"But you're not afraid, right?" The Princess smiled up at her. "You're not afraid of anything!"
The unicorn was silent for a long moment, staring down at her.
"I gave up fear a long time ago, Princess," she said, "when everything else that mattered was taken from me."
Then she drew herself up, proudly and fiercely.
"And that is why," she went on, "I shall see to it nothing happens to you. We shall found an Empire of our own, you and I. In the Frozen North, where nopony ever comes... save for those select few whom we shall allow. I shall place a shield around it, so that you will always be safe, from the weather and from any... inferior creatures who would try to harm you. The lesser ponies, who think themselves our equals, the earth ponies, and pegasi..."
Her teeth ground. "And worst of all, those accursed alicorns, who would set themselves up as our masters." She snorted, aggressively. "Hmph! They are unworthy of our loyalty."
Regaining control of her temper with difficulty, she smiled again.
"And you, Princess, shall rule over a land eternal and unsullied, a land that reflects your kindness and love. As is your rightful due, as Royal Princess of the Unicorns."
"Wow..." the filly peered off into the distance, as if trying to see the promised Empire through the swirling mists. "I just hope I can be a good Princess, and make everypony feel welcome and happy and loved and safe and..."
"I'm sure that you will," Sacanas interrupted softly. "Much as you did for me, when nopony else would have." She smiled fondly down at the Princess. "You are a truly special little pony, you know that? There is none like you, none in all the world."
"And you'll teach me? How to be a sorcerer, I mean?" the filly asked. "You said I could be both, right?"
"Of course. That is, if you'll still have me as your regent and tutor."
"You bet!" The Princess smiled up at her. "I love you, Auntie Secanas!"
Eyes welling with tears, the most powerful sorceror in the world bent her head to nuzzle the filly's mane.
"And I you..." she whispered, her voice catching. "My little love... mi amore cadenza..."
The End
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro.
No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series.
