Filing into the room, the royal party already found the classroom of foals arrayed in a semi-circle on the carpeted floor, chattering away excitedly. As Midnight Wind motioned for Lunaris and Fireheart to take the pair of seats at the front of the classroom, Strong Hoof and Midsummer Song took up positions by the door. Cobalt took just a second to decide where he belonged, then moved forward with Lunaris and Fireheart, choosing to stand guard beside the orange prince’s seat.

Midnight Wind stood before the class and smiled, the silent motion quieting the excited foals.

“Good morning class!” The foals dutifully returned the greeting, earning them a wider smile. “Today, as you can see, we have some very special guests! Queen Lunaris and Prince Fireheart have decided to grace us with a visit, so I expect everypony to be on their best behavior!”

While most of the foals voiced their acknowledgment, a filly in the front row raised her hoof, and Midnight Wind gave her a nod.

“Yes, Sunshine?”

“Are we gonna get a story?” the amber eyed filly asked.

Midnight Wind glanced back to Lunaris, who smiled and chuckled.

“Would my Queen be kind enough to give us a story?”

Lunaris rolled her eyes, a smile already on her muzzle.

“I’m not sure Midnight, do the children really want to hear one of my dusty, boring old stories?”

The unicorn school teacher said nothing, the classroom of foals quickly making their voices known in a way that made Cobalt think that it was almost routine. As the foals settled into quiet and Midnight Wind moved to sit behind her desk, Lunaris chuckled, sitting tall in her seat.

“What would you like to hear today, my little ponies?”

Immediately the young voices raised again, shouting a variety of different answers. Lunaris raised a hoof, still smiling as she gently shushed them.

“One at a time, dears, there is plenty of time.”

Sunshine’s hoof immediately popped up, quickly followed by the hooves of her classmates. Lunaris nodded to the little filly.

“What story would you like to hear today?”

“Can we hear the first Reunion Day?” the filly blurted.

A light gasp touched the air, silencing any cheer as eyes shifted to Midnight Wind. The baticorn glanced at Lunaris before looking back to the filly.

“Sunshine, perhaps try something a touch more… historical.”

Lunaris chuckled and she shook her head.

“You don’t need to protect me my dear friend. The time before the reunion was dark, I agree, but that day? That is a story I will happily tell.”

She bowed her head just slightly, putting a smile back on the nervous filly’s face.

“Thank you dear. It will be an honor to tell you of the day all light re-entered my life.”

*****

Lunaris’ eyes opened with the speed of light. She stared at the dark ceiling of her quiet, lonely bedroom. It was sparse, barely had any luxuries to speak of. A bed to fit her large size, a rug to ward off the chill, and a fireplace for the same reason. A small closet held what clothing she required for royal functions, but no more.

Such had been her conditions for a thousand years of penance.

Deserved penance.

She rolled from beneath her covers and got to the hooves, moving quickly to her bathroom. Today that would change. Motivated energy, unfelt for centuries, filled her bones. It had started a few months ago, this new, vibrant energy. Her archmage, Meridian, had finally found a solution after a millennia of research spanning all of her predecessors. She had helped each one when she could, but could only contribute so much, having to keep her ponies happy and maintain a nation alone. When she had time to give however, it was all devoted to their crucial, desperate research, and finally, finally, the effort had yielded results. Meridian had made the breakthrough in the dead of night, crafting the spell that would make her heart whole again.

Upon being woken and hearing the news, she had become near feral with desperation at having the solution so close at hoof, but her archmage was wise, and knew to advise caution. If they butchered the spell, the damage would be irreversible.

So they worked, research replaced with physical labor. The months that had passed had been filled making sure that every safety precaution was prepared. Rooms were built, fortified, warded, and then fortified more. Whole platoons of guards were hired, indoctrinated and drilled, ready to step up and keep order when the inevitable riots occurred while she recovered her magic. The spell would take all of her strength, and a weak queen drew eyes. There would be no usurpation however, no rebellion. Her allies stood ready to defend Stellaria’s borders, as did her armies. There would be no gaps in her strength, not now, not when she was so close.

The shower was at a perfect temperature, as always. Her bathroom was unfortunately not allowed to be non-luxurious. Modern plumbing forces perfection, and though she had protested, her guards and royal technicians did not give her a mere punishing powder room. They had provided a top of the line royal bathing suite, and though it was an act of rebellion, she knew it came from a place of loyalty and love. She could not punish devotion, and her penance was soon to end anyway. What use came from punishing a minor crime of love?

She twisted the dials to ‘off’ and dried herself, quickly donning her royal attire. The guards were statuesque as always as she left her room, falling in quick step as she all but jogged to the royal kitchens. She was sure she looked ridiculous, but perhaps some of her excitement was visible in her steps, because the guards flanking her seemed almost happy to be moving through the castle at a run, rather than the slow, plodding that normally graced her mornings.

Her kitchen staff were already lined up as she arrived; her morning meal prepared and plated before them. Unlike usual, however, where she stormed through and snatched up whatever pastry was prepared to taste like ash in her mouth, today she paused, not giving her carefully buttered bagel a glance as she met her head chef’s eyes.

“Is everything prepared? Our pantries have been filled and the list of potential dishes reviewed?”

The unicorn bowed her head.

“Of course, your majesty. All produce has been purchased fresh this morning, and we are in talks with the bat ponies of Fruity Fields for regular shipments of mangoes.”

Lunaris did something that had truly been a rarity over the last thousand years. She gave the unicorn a genuine smile.

“Excellent.” Looking at her staff, she continued, her tone bright. “Thank you all for this effort. I pray that it is not in vain.”

Her magic seized her breakfast and she was on the move again, leaving the kitchens with a wave of dismissal. Her steps carried her toward the prepared casting room. In her path, however, were yet more of her servants. She paused as her secretary, Indigo Waves, stood ready with her clipboard.

“Construction is already underway?” Lunaris asked, taking a quick bite that consumed half of her bagel, its buttery taste barely savored as she swallowed it down.

“The first rooms should be ready within the year,” Indigo said, adjusting her glasses. “If all stays on schedule, the entire dungeon will be complete on the prince’s eighteenth birthday.”

“And Miss Ocean Breeze?”

“Locked in a designing fervor.” The teal bat-pony smiled, glancing at her clipboard. “She’s already ordered all the materials, and her trees are coming in nicely.” She blushed. “She has also already taken measurements of those among the castle staff that will assist you in welcoming in these new changes my Queen.”

Lunaris grinned down at her secretary, faint thoughts of seeing her clad in her new uniform skirting across her mind, but quickly pushed aside. There would be time for such things, but not now. She had focus now.

“Excellent,” she purred, laying her wing across Indigo Waves’ back. “And new staff? Are you finding ponies willing and eager to work in my dungeon?”

“It’s a bit slow for the moment,” the secretary admitted, a blush on her cheeks at the intimate contact. She pressed on, however. “Once word gets out and ponies start seeing Miss Breeze’s designs, however, they shall flock to you in droves, your Majesty.” She blushed further. “I-including myself, if you’ll have me.”

Lunaris chuckled and nodded, giving the mare a pat before retracting her wing. She’d been at her side for some time, and had she been like her old self, she imagined she’d ravage the nervous little thing nightly. Such rewards she did not deserve, however.

“It is as expected then, you have my thanks for taking care of these matters while my attention is elsewhere. Rest assured you shall be rewarded in time, and will certainly remain at my side in the days to come. Now go! I must focus, and can no longer spare thoughts to anything other than the spellcraft.”

Indigio nodded, offering a silent bow before slipping away. Lunaris took a breath, then strode onward, no more ponies blocking her path.

She had one last stop before reaching the spell room, and it broke her heart this time just as it did all the others. Her hooves carried her to a quiet, warm part of the castle. The carpet was plush, changed yearly in case some blessing or miracle liberated her from her penance. Nothing had yet occurred, however, though hopefully it soon would. Her heart ached with the thought that it may not, but she would endure.

She slipped past the pair of guards standing at attention, opening the door and slipping into the dimly lit room. It was a perfect reconstruction of his original room, and though the window was covered with starry curtains, they could be thrown open to see the same city he’d fallen asleep to all those years ago. She slipped to Fireheart’s bedside and sat, staring into the crystal with tears in her eyes.

The small orange colt’s chest rose and fell steadily, as it had for a thousand years. His sleep had never ended, and after a month, she had him put into a stasis crystal, to ensure he would survive the centuries it had taken to figure out how to free him from his endless, dreamless sleep. The greatest consequence of that was she was no longer able to fear his soft fur, no longer able to hug him tight and promise that all would be well. She had been unable to touch her son for a thousand years, and he had remained asleep without her touch for the same. Her hoof clinked lightly against the crystal as she fought her tears.

“Soon, my darling little fire. Soon I shall hug you and you shall feast on whatever your heart desires until your belly aches. Soon.”

She kissed the crystal above his head, then turned away, taking a few shaky breaths as she stood, looking around the room. There were a few runes carved through the ceiling where the magic would pour through to release him. She triple checked the safety runes before trotting into the hall, unable to look back, lest she become trapped at her son’s side again. Standing in the corridor, she closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.

“I want triplicate guards on this room during the ritual, with medical staff on hoof, and I want the castle cleared to this room. I will be along as soon as I am able.”

The guard on the left saluted.

“It will be done, my Queen.”

Lunaris nodded, opening her eyes, her tears dried.

“Good. There will be consequences if I am delayed for even a moment from being at my Fire’s side.”

She then trotted toward her final destination. The walk took her long strides no time to conquer, and she barely even remembered it, having taken the route a hundred times. Instead of simply barging into the casting room however, she took great care to open and shut the door with all the gentleness of a butterfly. It wouldn’t do to disturb any of the preparations. The room was lit primarily by crystals, but around the summoning circle sat seven candles, while at the center, Meridian seemed to dance, a quartet of brushes in her magic, painting runes onto the floor as she moved and twirled about. Lunaris watched for a moment, briefly staring at her archmage’s rump before catching herself.

‘Focus,’ she thought to herself, fortifying her thoughts. Out loud she said; “Is it ready?”

Meridian nodded, doing another spin, the brushes following, dipping into the glowing paint sitting in her hoof.

“It has been since yesterday my Queen. You needed rest, however, and I wanted more time to fortify the room, hence the delay.”

Lunaris’ ears flicked off time, and she sputtered.

“What? I could have had my little flame back yesterday?”

Meridian turned, her brushes still furiously working as she stared Lunaris down.

“No. If we get the slightest thing wrong with this spell, the only way the slumber ends is with death and pain. You are the primary caster, so you must be at your best. You’ve been obsessing ever since I told you I figured this out.”

She smiled and strode from the circle, the brushes floating to rest in a tray off to the side. Meridian nosed her chest, and Lunaris returned the gesture, pulling her archmage close and resting her muzzle in the mare’s mane.

“I love you, my Queen, and I promised all those years ago that I would return your son to you.” Meridian continued to nuzzle her chest fur. “I refuse to let anyone stop me, including you, but you have rested, and I am ready for your order. All is prepared.”

Lunaris sighed, drinking in the mare’s scent. She was a beautiful thing, and had long been one of the only bright spots in her self-imposed misery.

“Thank you my friend,” she murmured. “I knew you would be the one to solve this for me, and you will have my gratitude for the rest of my days. Words can never express how much this will mean to me if we succeed.”

Meridian clicked her tongue and pulled away, a twinkle of offended mischief in her eyes.

“When we succeed, my Queen.” She turned, flicking Lunaris’ nose with her tail. “Have a touch of faith.”

Lunaris wanted to jest with the mare, wanted to smile and tease and boast about how easy this would be, but she knew it was to be anything but. She would be functioning largely as a battery for Meridian, who would be guiding the spell through the intricate runes carved into every surface of the room, even the ceiling. It was going to be an unimaginable burden on both of them, but she would endure. Such was nothing to spending another moment without her son.

Meridian barred the door and trotted to the opposite side of the circle, turning and facing her.

“When you are ready, my Queen, step into the center of the circle and start feeding your magic into the runes.”

Lunaris nodded and did as she was bade, moving to the center of the circle. She spread her legs, tensing her muscles before focusing her eyes on Meridian, a determined look on her face.

“Let us begin.”

Her magic was easy to call as usual, was easier than it had been in the last thousand years, in fact. She’d been preparing for this moment, drawing in and lashing out with her magic, making sure her internal stores could handle the strain she would demand. And so far, they did as she summoned as much magic as possible, sending it in a trickle toward Meridian, who’s own horn was shining with light, sending the thread into the runes. The room grew brighter as rune after run charged, slowly carving through the circle and beginning the upward spiral.

Lunaris felt sweat build on her pelt as she continued building and distributing her magic. The slightest mistake in the push and pull would spill disaster. Meridian, at the very least, would be reduced to ash in an instant. Likely the guards outside the casting room as well. A good portion of the castle would likely be leveled, even with the layers of protection spells. And her Fire… He would either be trapped, or the spell would lash out and would destroy him as well. The blue alicorn grit her teeth. She’d be damned if she allowed something like that to happen. So she endured and kept precise focus, even as her petral melted away, turning to slag at her hooves, her fur aflame with magic.

Her muscles started to burn as well as the spell reached the runes at the top of the room. Her limb ached as power searched desperately for new paths to move about as every vein became filled to the brim with magic, and her horn started to glow from the heat alone. Meridian let out a moan of pain, quivering in her place as she spoke.

“W-we are close, my Queen. A m-moment more while I direct the spell….”

Lunaris growled her acknowledgment, arcs of power spitting off her horn. Meridian winced as one carved a gash in the wall beside her, but she continued guiding the spell without pause, and the runes all started to glow brighter and brighter, filling the room with blinding, prismatic light.

With a sharp crack, Lunaris sent the last of her power through the exchange, a white hot bolt of lightning rocketing into Meridian’s horn. The mare cried out in pain, but the magic quickly leapt at the runes, filling the room with white light that blinded them both.

Lunaris panted, her tongue fat and dry as she tried to blink away the afterglow in her blind eyes. She felt hot, as if she’d been stuck inside an oven, inside and out. She didn’t dare move, her hooves feeling melted to the floor as her sight returned. The first thing she did was locate Meridian. She smiled when she found the mare still on her feet, similarly blind and struggling not to collapse on her quivering legs. Lunaris tried to reach out with her magic, but bit her tongue as pain shot through her scorched horn. Glancing up found the limb blackened and dark, and she grimaced. That had been a risk, but testing her legs, she could still feel the touch of magic, faint though it was. She sighed with relief. It would return in time, something she had in abundance.

“Archmage,” she croaked, her throat similarly scorched. “Do grace my ears with that marvelous voice. I would hate to curse my kingdom with losing such a beautiful singer.”

Her ears flicked as a dry, wheezing chuckle was her answer, and Meridian collapsed in place, laughing.

“No, my Queen,” she giggled. “Stellaria is not bereft of my caterwauling yet.”

Lunaris clicked her tongue and took a step forward, squeaking as her aching muscles screamed their protest.

“You know what I have said about self-depreciation.”

Meridian snorted and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

“Mmmm, something about not liking it. You say such silly things sometimes, my Queen. I can’t remember them all.”

A trace of worry lanced through Lunaris’ chest, and she took another step toward the mare.

“Stay awake, my friend. I need you here.”

Meridian huffed, but one eye opened, squinting at Lunaris.

“I didn’t expect to still see you here, my Queen. S-should you not be running to Prince Fireheart? I have done my duty, I… I have given all my effort to fulfill my promise. Y-you should go and see.”

Lunaris took a third step, then a fourth. The motion hurt no less, but became easier with momentum. She crouched beside Meridian and nosed her side, looking for injuries other than burnout. She considered the mare’s words for a moment, and found a sense of… security. Like she knew what was waiting for her in her Fire’s room. She had waited for him for so long, she knew he would do the same.

“I will not lose a friend as close as you,” she mumbled. “I will not let your final gift be death, just when you have given me back what is most precious to me, so do chin up. You look prettier when not so dour.”

Meridian coughed, giggling and shaking her head.

“Backhanded insults? Oh my Queen, you stoop.”

“Guards!” Lunaris called over her shoulder. “Bring a nurse!”

Meridian winced.

“Not so loud…”

Lunaris smiled and nosed the mare’s singed mane. The pair of them would likely have short manes for a time, their hair blackened and brittle. A small price to pay, however. The guards charged into the room, and a trio of nurses were at her side in an instant, one trying to nudge her away, while the other two rolled Meridian onto a stretcher, preparing all manner of implements to ensure she survived as painlessly as possible. Meridian’s eye still focused on Lunaris, however, and the alicorn stroked her mane once before pulling away.

“Rest well my friend. You shall be meeting my son soon, and I need you at your best. He has an affinity for pretty mares.”

Meridian snorted and clutched her ribs.

“No more jokes, you sweet old blueberry. It hurts to laugh.”

The pair shared a giggle, then with a nod from Lunaris, she was carried away. The nurse beside her nosed her neck, and Lunaris looked down at the little unicorn, who smiled.

“I can’t imagine you’re going to let me take you to the healing ward?”

Lunaris snorted and shook her head.

“No. I must go to my little flame. He will wake soon. I can feel it.”

“And carrying you, is of course, out of the question?”

Her pride burned at that, but… there was something else. She needed to carry herself through one last trial, one last act of recompense. She needed to walk to this side, even if she was in agony the whole time. She shook her head again.

“I will walk. The prince will see his mother arrive on her own two legs. It wouldn’t do if he worried.”

The nurse nodded and sighed, looking toward the guards.

“One of you prepare the way. The other, press against Queen Lunaris’ side. We shall carry her only if need be.”

Lunaris let out an amused snort as the pair instantly obeyed, with one darting out the door again while the other pressed against her left side. She hissed in pain at the contact, but gave the worried looking bat an affirming nod. The nurse pressed against her right, and they both looked up to her, awaiting her word. Gritting her teeth and bracing herself, she gave a nod.

“Let us begin.”

The walk started slow, but though it caused her suffering with every step, their march steadily sped up, her limping steps gaining strength with every hoof fall. Lunaris grunted, winced and moaned, utterly ashamed of how much she relied on her pair of servants to carry her onward, but every time she glanced at either to see if they looked down on her frailty, she found nothing but worry and care, the pair all but bleeding their desire to whisk her away on some stretcher, to get her to safety and treatment. She couldn’t help but smile, and on one particularly rough stumble, she nosed the guard, trying to convey her thanks as he kept her held up. The bat slowly smiled back, and she noticed a particular waggle in his tail as they continued the journey.

As ordered, the halls were clear, and the same pair of guards were waiting outside Fireheart’s bedroom. To her surprise, however, they were not at their usual attention, but focused on something inside the room. Lunaris brushed free of her helpers with a mumble of thanks, her hoofsteps quick as she found the strength to push herself onward. She brushed past the pair, her muzzle bared in a snarl as she beheld a room full of her guards simply sitting and doing nothing. As she started to bark at them, the words died in her throat as she looked toward the bed.

Tiara sat in the center of the bed spread, a small orange bundle snuggled against her chest, and the freshly returned alicorn smiled at her, her expression earnest and smiling.

“Hello Lulu.”

The words were soft, spoken without a hint of malice or anger, and Lunaris felt her soul crush to bits at the sound. She was unworthy of her sister's love, of her sons. Looking down she found her fur completely blackened, with blood dripping gently from the myriad of wounds she’d ignored, no doubt shrapnel from the spell. Tears filled her eyes and she choked, turning her head away from the shining, pristine glory that was her sister returned and her son freed. Ugly sounds rose in her throat as all of her pains made themselves known, and she took another step back. She needed to flee, to not pollute this perfect scene any longer.

As another hoof fell back, soft, amber magic surrounded her battered body, and she was dragged forward. She let out a cry and tried to shield herself with her wings.

“Don’t look at me! I did this! I’m not worthy of your love, of his!” She wriggled, trying to get free even as she was pulled inevitably closer. “Let me go! I-!”

Warm, fluffy wings embraced her, and an equally warm muzzle rested on top of her head, nosing her charred mane.

“Shh, none of that,” Tiara murmured. “I have seen how you have suffered, my beloved sister. I am here to put an end to that, if you’ll have me.”

Lunaris looked up, her eyes filled with tears as she beheld her sister returned. She searched desperately for the lie, for the cruel joke of the fates that would see her cast into the dirt, her son stolen from beneath her. She found only love and kindness, and it broke her. She burrowed her muzzle deep in Tiara’s chest fur and cried.

She didn’t know how long she cried, but Tiara remained quiet through it all, her hoof gently brushing the blue alicorn’s back, humming a nothing tune as Lunaris cried herself out. Once she had, Lunaris hugged Tiara tight, still hiding her eyes in her sister's fluff.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I… I’ve missed you so much. I… I was scared you would hate me.”

Tiara clicked her tongue and her hoof shifted to Lunaris’ mane, brushing it aside gently, tucking the damaged strands behind her ear.

“Never,” she replied. “I will love you forever more, and nothing would ever change that.” Her breath warmed Lunaris' neck as she nosed her again. “I have missed you too, sister, but I am glad for my return, if only to lift the burden of guilt from your shoulders.”

Lunaris sniffled, wiping her eyes with a soot covered hoof, some of her guilt already lifted.

“Not quite yet, but soon. I have much more to apologize and atone for.” She finally mustered the courage to look up into Tiara’s eyes. “But I will do both, and I have built the nation I so desired. Stellaria has, like its queen…” She choked up again, and her eyes fell to the still sleeping orange colt. “...has been missing its heart. I… is he awake?”

Tiara smiled and nosed her neck.

“Let us see.”

Lunaris felt her heart leap as her sister nosed the orange sleeping bundle of fluff, felt it crumble with joy as a hoof rose and slapped blearily at the offending muzzle.

“Five more minutes…” Fireheart grumbled, his voice still squeaking with foalhood.

Lunaris snorted, her tears spilling over as she smiled. Tiara chuckled and leaned back as Lunaris finally took back what was hers. She rested her nose against Fireheart’s pristine orange fur and closed her eyes, her body relaxing wholly for the first time in a thousand years.

“Whatever you like, my love,” she whispered. “I have built this all for you, and in time, I will give you yet more.”

The orange bundle rolled over and hugged her nose, nuzzling her dreamily.

“I love you Mama,” he mumbled.

Lunaris sighed, her heart filled with joy.

“I love you too, my little flame.”

*****

Lunaris shook herself, taking a deep breath as she paused in her tale. She wiped her eyes, chuckling lightly.

“Apologies, my dearest subjects. I’m afraid that tale tends to make me a touch emotional.”

The replies were mumbled and supportive, and as she wiped the tears away, she found the arrangements in the room had changed since she started. Everyone, including her guards, were sitting before her. The foals were a mixture of teary and jubilant, mostly leaning toward the later with the conclusion of the tail. Midnight Wind and Cobalt were sitting beneath Midsummer Song and Strong Hoof respectively, the quartet teary and clearly taking comfort in one another. Last but not least was the prince himself, and as soon as her eyes fell upon him, his tears spilled over, and he leapt forward and into her waiting hooves. Lunaris hugged him tight, planting a kiss in his mane as he nuzzled her chest. She sighed and rocked him back and forth.

“Good boy.”

He poked his head out of the hug and smiled up at her.

“I love you Mom.”

Lunaris smiled back and planted another kiss on his forehead.

“I love you to Fire.”

He purred and settled against her chest. The heartwarming action earned a few ‘dawws’ from the foals, while also sparking her guards into action. Midsummer Song and Strong Hoof stood, trotting back over to their stations. Cobalt looked back, looking like he wanted to protest, but quickly thought better of it, slouching in place and looking ashamedly at the carpet. Midnight Wind giggled and nosed him back toward his original seat, then trotted to her desk. Lunaris glanced at the clock on the wall, then gave her a smile and bowed her head slightly.

“Apologies. I seem to have taken most of the afternoon.”

“I don’t think anypony is protesting, your Highness.”

She looked toward the class and quickly received the dozen happily chirped answers of the foals. Lunaris chuckled and bowed her head to the class as well.

“You have my thanks. I’m afraid at my age, I get a touch sentimental from time to time.”

“Class is dismissed early,” Midnight Wind said. “With no homework! Enjoy the day, and I will see you all bright and early tomorrow!”

The foals cheered, and Lunaris continued to smile, looking down at her favorite colt in the whole world.

Author's Note

Meridian

Assistant Indigo Waves