Two weeks had passed since the citizens had been brought back to Equestria after the “evacuation” of sorts onto Neptune. Two weeks since they'd been working to build their lives back up in whatever way possible. Rebuilding towns, restoring vegetation soil, water sources, anything they could to get things going again. It was all the process of rebuilding their lives.

Surely, things would never be the same, but that didn't mean they could crumble along with it. It was time to move forward, to reclaim what was lost.

Twilight Sparkle was now traversing to the area of land that was once Ponyville. While it would likely take some time to truly restore it to what it once had been, what truly mattered was that it was to be livable again. She'd been going back and forth from Canterlot and New Ponyville periodically, to check on the progress of her friends. While at the same time, checking in on the town she had also once called home.

The past few weeks prior to now were truly hard times she would never forget, but at least now, she knew they could rise from the ashes. That was all she hoped for. Every now and then, it would sting her heart and she would pour herself into her studies to try distracting herself, but the weight of the events still remained. It was all part in how Twilight knew things were not the same, and never would be.

But that was life, wasn't it? Things changed in so many ways, big and small. It was all about adapting to them and going along with it. She knew that wasn't always easy, but it worked before. Who was to say it wouldn't work now?

Thousands of years ago, in the time of the Founding of Equestria, the entire country and beyond nearly froze to death due to the Windigos. That too had been a trying time for ponies everywhere, torn about by hatred, unable to do anything to fix the problem. Until the driving force of peace, harmony and friendship drove the vengeful spirits away. Ponies had adapted and changed since then.

Surely this was far more catastrophic than before, but in time, things would move along just as so. Traumatic as it may have been, Twilight didn't doubt that time would move things along, just as everypony else would. As difficult as it could be, she had faith in them, her friends, and herself.

Twilight walked along the newly made but still constructing streets, waving to everypony she passed and offered pleasantries. She came across Rarity and Sweetie Belle, who were overlooking the progress of a newly made Carousel Boutique to be built. Smiling, she trotted over to them.

“Hey Rarity, how are things?”

“Twilight, darling!” Rarity gave her a hug, smiling, “We're doing quite well. Another couple of weeks, and the remade Carousel Boutique shall be fini!”

“It's going to be great!” Sweetie Belle beamed, bouncing on the spot.

Giggling, Twilight ruffled the younger mare's curly mane, “That's great. You're sure you're all right with setting back up in Ponyville? I know you lived further off before all this started.”

Nodding, the white unicorn looked to the construction site with a warm smile, “I do, darling. Ponyville may not have the glitz, glamour, and fabulous wonders as Canterlot, or even the Crystal Empire...but it is and always has been my home. I was born here, lived a great part of my life here, and I cannot imagine being anywhere else. The entire catastrophe has left me far more homesick than I could have ever imagined. Considering the tragic loss of our parents, I felt it only best to remain here. I'm ready to begin anew once more, right here, with all of my friends close by.”

“You know...that's a good way of looking at it,” Twilight admitted with a smile.

“Me too,” said Sweetie Belle, looking at Twilight then, “I'm gonna start doing some singing, actually...”

“Really?” Twilight smiled brightly, “That's great, Sweetie Belle! Got over your fear of singing in front of a crowd, huh?”

The younger unicorn giggled, looking away with a soft blush, “Well, it's fun to do, and other ponies like it, so I'm gonna do it. To cheer everypony up!”

“Good luck with it, then,” Twilight praised, “I think it'll be great for you!

Rarity looked to her sister with a proud smile, turning her attention back to the construction workers, “How about you, Twilight? How are things back in Canterlot?”

Shrugging a little, the studious unicorn returned her attention to her friend, “It's going great. Everything is mostly rebuilt from when it first started, and the Princesses finally started holding Day and Night Courts again. Cadance and Shining Armor went back to the Crystal Empire, and are helping out to restore the city's damage.”

“Ah, I see!” Rarity glanced to the workers again, then looked back at Twilight, “And how is Pumpkin doing? That sweet dear must have been through quite a fright in all of this.”

“She's doing good,” Twilight smiled fondly, “Yeah, it was all very hard on her, but she's managing okay. I know she still misses Fluttershy, Pinkie, Pound and her parents, but she's a trouper. I try to tell her to relax, but she's still eager to learn!”

Giggling, Rarity shook her head with amusement, “Oh, that sounds quite like a certain unicorn I know!”

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up!” Twilight rolled her eyes, but didn't hide her smile.

“Truly though, I'm certainly glad you're making it through all of this, dear,” Rarity grew serious once more, but with a hint of a smile, “I was truly worried for you all this time. Though it's not to say I didn't have faith in your abilities, far from it. I just worried for all of you, and I'm grateful we all made it.”

Twilight nodded in agreement, nuzzling Rarity lightly, “You're right, me too. I'm sad we lost Fluttershy... But we did all make it, and I'm glad we're rebuilding what we lost.”

“Yes... Fluttershy...” Rarity's azure eyes pooled with tears as she looked down a bit, “I miss her dearly.”

Twilight nodded in agreement, “Me too.”

Sweetie Belle came back over to them then, poking her sister, “Rarity? The contractor wants to talk to you about the upstairs.”

“Oh, of course. I'll be right there, sweetheart,” said the purple-maned unicorn, shooing her sister away, “I'd better go then, Twilight. Perhaps we could catch up later over some tea?”

Twilight nodded, “Sure. I'll meet you back here later this evening.”

Nodding, Rarity smiled at her before she followed after Sweetie Belle to the construction site. Twilight watched after them for a few moments, taking in the progress of the shop/home a moment. The downstairs was already finished, except of the needed paint job to come later. The upstairs was insulated, it just needed the walls put up, as well as the insertion of the utility links, wires and pipes. A few ponies, pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies alike were working on it then, noisily.

Twilight then headed off in the direction where the newly reformed Sweet Apple Acres was going to be.

The surviving members of the extended Apple family were gathered alongside Applejack, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom. Twilight could see that they were raising the barn, which was halfway done at this point. She smiled yet again, glad to see that they were all still moving along and trying to restore their farm.

Apple Bloom and Babs Seed were tugging on a rope together with all their strength, trying to keep themselves from sliding across the ground despite the resistance. Approaching slowly so as not to startle anyone, Twilight observed for a moment, her eyes landing on Applejack.

The orange mare took notice of her, and smiled around the rope she clenched in her teeth. “Howdy, Twi!”

“Hey Applejack, I see you're all raising the barn!” Twilight smiled at her friend, “Can I help?”

“It's awright, no need! 'Sides, Ah'm sure ya came ta talk an' see how everythin's goin'!” Applejack tugged the rope further back.

Twilight watched as they managed to raise the walls of the barn, keeping it all in place. Satisfied with yet another job well done, the Apples dispersed as they took a little break. This gave Twilight the opportunity to chat a bit with Applejack as they walked around the property, observing all that had been done in the past couple of weeks so far. Some trees were restored, some seeds having just been planted, and it seemed that the soil was usable for growing yet again.

“Ah gotta hand it ta tha Princesses fer helpin' restore our soil,” Applejack remarked, “It's been a tough time restorin' everythin', but with all of us workin' tagether, it's been a breeze. Ah'm jus' glad we all made it through.”

“I guess your extended family are staying here for a while?” Twilight queried.

Applejack nodded, “Their respective hometowns 'round Equestria are still bein' restored, too. Appleloosa's been repaired, though. Ah might go on down there after all this is done ta help out.”

“Did the buffaloes make it?”

“From what Braeburn told me, some of 'em actually did. Chief Thunderhooves an' Little Strongheart are still alive, tryin' ta regroup tha herd. Tha settlers are re-plantin' all the orchards, still tryin' ta give tha buffaloes their space ta stampede.”

Twilight smiled, “That's great! I'm glad things worked out between them and the settlers again, after what happened last time.”

“You said it, Twi! Tha past fifteen years had been great fer all of 'em, an' Ah'm glad they're managin' ta restore what they once had,” the farm pony agreed with a big grin of her own.

“Good, I'm really glad to hear that. So, how's Apple Bloom holding up?”

“She's doin' awright, an' cheered right up when she saw Babs was okay! Still her favourite cousin ta this day!”

Giggling, Twilight glanced over at the two younger mares, seeing them engaged in a conversation against a bale of hay.

“But what 'bout you, Twi? This had ta hit ya tha hardest, didn't it? 'Specially with that there woman, Ascentia?” Applejack said, looking at her quizzically.

“...Well, it hasn't been easy trying to adjust to everything since then. I mean, it was just so... Overwhelming. Yet that doesn't even describe it. I feel as if my entire perception of reality was...smashed with a hammer and then thrown into a blender, then hit puree,” Twilight sighed, shaking her head, “I don't even really know what to think anymore. And Ascentia... I can't...I just can't hate her for any of this. I know what she did was wrong, I know she is somewhat responsible for it all... But I don't hate her. I just can't hate her. I can't even say it's her fault, because it isn't. She didn't mean for this to happen. I know we don't see eye to eye on some levels, but I know she's not evil. It just all got out of hoof.”

Applejack nodded slowly, placing a hoof on her back, “Ah hear ya, Twi. It ain't always easy when someone in yer life does things like that. Ah can see why ya cain't hate her. Ah don't really know much o' her mahself, but Ah'll take yer word fer it. Haven't we all had someponies in our lives who're...well, different, an' have done some things, but we cain't hate 'em fer it?”

“Sure we have, it does happen,” the studious unicorn agreed, “I guess she's just...one of those kinds of friends. A friend who although you can't ignore some of the things they'd done, you still care about them. Because they're still your friend.”

“Ya know, Ah think that's a good way ta put it. Sometimes we do have friends an' family members o' that sort. But it don't matter, 'cause in the end, yer still a family.”

Twilight smiled a bit, looking at Applejack, “That's true. Ascentia and I just have this...strange connection, I don't even really understand it myself.”

“Ah noticed, we all did,” Applejack remarked with a chuckle, “Considerin' ya actually hugged her before she left.”

Cheeks turning pink, she nudged the orange mare lightly, “Oh, stop it.”

“Awright, no more teasin',” Applejack said amiably, “Things goin' awright in Canterlot? Ah see ya still went back there.”

“Everything's okay. I've been working a bit with the Princesses on rebuilding the systems we had in place before,” Twilight shrugged, “I'm still training Pumpkin, and boy she's still doing really well! One of these days, she's going to surpass me, I just know it.”

Applejack snickered, “They always do say that tha student surpasses the teacher!”

“Yeah, I know,” Twilight playfully rolled her eyes, “Anyway, Cadance and Shining Armor went back to the Crystal Empire some time ago. Last I heard, everything was fine, they're just rebuilding some of the damage that was done there. Nothing major, like they said before, and there seemed to be no casualties.”

“Right, that's good ta hear,” Applejack tilted her omnipresent stetson hat, “As ya can see, Ponyville's doin' awright. It's been bustlin' with activity since we got back!”

The lavender mare smiled at this, “I know! I'm so happy to see that. I almost feel like it was back fifteen years ago, you know? It looks a little different, sure, and it'll still take time to fully restore, but it's already coming together!”

“Eeyup! It sure is, Twi. An' ya know, Rainbow Dash has been doin' okay. She's been comin' down here ta help sometimes, 'specially if we needed some extra weather help.”

“Really? That's good. The last time I saw her, she just walked off because she was looking for a new location to build her house. I haven't seen or heard from her since then. Are you sure she's okay?”

“Trust me, she's fine. But sometimes...when Ah look at her, she seems kinda lost an' distant,” Applejack admitted, looking morose, “Ah think Fluttershy's passin' is still hittin' her hard.”

“...Yeah...it has,” Twilight sighed, “How did you guys find out? I didn't get a chance to ask.”

“Well, it was before ya came ta join us back on that there frozen place,” Applejack said thoughtfully, “Ah was with Rarity an' Rainbow, we were talkin'... Then that guy, Matthew Ryder, Ah think, along with Princess Luna, came ta tell us tha news. It was horrible, an' Ah couldn't believe mah ears..... Fluttershy, dead? Murdered? Those words just didn't belong tagether in a sentence.”

“I know...I couldn't believe it when I found out, either.”

“Yer tellin' me. Anyway, after they told us what happened ta her... Rainbow just went crazy. She actually feel ta her knees and yelled 'no'. Remember that one time Spike was tryin' ta get us ta save Rarity, he failed, an' then he yelled out a big 'no'?”

A tiny smile stretched at Twilight's lips with that memory, “Of course I do. So I guess...she did that?”

“She did. Real loud, too. 'Specially since she was askin' if Fluttershy was safe. After that, she was goin' nuts, and then ran off ta be alone. She came back eventually, an' barely spoke a word. But then she asked Princess Luna if there was some way they could bring back Fluttershy. Heh...No wonder, Ah'll be lots o' ponies asked them that! Course tha Princess said they couldn't do that. Then ya came over, then ya left, an'...after it was announced that we were goin' back, Rainbow refused an' then ran off. Last Ah saw her before we came back here ta Equestria, she was bein' dragged over by her tail.”

“Why did she do that?”

Applejack shrugged, “Ah don't know. We tried askin' her, but she didn't say a word ta either of us. Ah don't know what happened or why she ran off, though.”

“Oh,” Twilight nodded, and looked straight ahead, “Maybe I'll ask her once she's cooled down a bit more. She is taking this the hardest, I imagine. Fluttershy was her oldest friend, after all.”

“She is, sugarcube. She's takin' it purty hard, but she's tryin' ta be strong,” said the orange earth pony, sighing a bit, “But Ah hope she'll be awright. That's all Ah'm hopin' fer.”

“So am I,” agreed Twilight, giving her a nuzzle.

Applejack smiled and nuzzled her back, “Well, anyway, Ah gotta thank ya fer stoppin' by, Twilight. It's been a while since we'd seen ya. Will ya be in town awhile?”

“Yes, I'll be around for a day or two, depending if I can stay anywhere,” Twilight nodded, “I'm meeting Rarity later on, actually. Do you want to come?”

“Maybe, Ah'll see if Ah can get off workin' 'round tha farm a bit,” Applejack shrugged a little, “If ya wanna hang 'round here, yer welcome to. Perhaps later on we can go see Rarity tagether.”

Twilight considered it, “Sure, I'll stay around here for a while, then. Now I know you all tend to go things the old-fashioned way, but if you do want a little extra hoof, I'll help you guys. Really.”

Laughing a bit, the farm pony gave her a hug, “Awright, Twi. You win. Ah'll let ya know if we need a little help. Thank ya kindly, nonetheless.”

“You're welcome, Applejack,” Twilight hugged her back, “I love you girls, and I'm glad we've all managed to work things out since the...well, ascending doomsday, for lack of a better term.”

“An' we love ya too, sugarcube,” Applejack pulled away, smiling warmly, “We're glad ya made it. Ah know we lost a lot o' ponies, but at least some of us still made it,” she looked back over her shoulder at the farm, smiling warmly, “An' Ah'm glad we're all here again, makin' things right.”

“...Making things right, that's a good way to put it,” Twilight followed her gaze, exhaling.

Applejack continued to walk alongside her before she spoke up again, looking curious. “So, what's doin'? What're ya gonna do now, Twi?”

For once, Twilight had no definitive answer. It seemed obvious, she still had Pumpkin to train and grow as a unicorn, but she didn't know what else there was. The past few weeks prior to now were far from small events she'd only barely remember in a few months time. No, they had been a huge impact on her life that she'd never expected.

“I don't even know right now, Applejack,” the unicorn responded after a few moments, “But you know what the scariest thing about all of this was?”

“Tell me.”

“We're not alone. I mean, ever since the beginning of ponykind, even before the founding of Equestria, there has always been one question. What lies beyond the sky? Beyond the atmosphere? We see all of the stars, the constellations, the moon at night. We've made theories about there being distant places out there, that the universe is a lot bigger than we think it is. We've even theorized that we're not alone. And now...now that we actually know for sure, have seen it for ourselves in so many ways...”

Applejack placed a hoof on her back, “Ah think Ah see what yer sayin', Twi. Now that it's certain that we ain't alone 'round tha universe, yer not sure what ta think.”

“Exactly! I mean, I've read in books about what the Val'Kyr were like, and what they did, extensively. And now...now I know we're not alone. What else is out there? What happens now? What else are we going to find?” Twilight looked up at the cloudy sky, as if trying to seek answers.

“Well,” the orange earth pony began after a few moments, “Ah sure as hay cain't say fer sure. But Ah do know that whatever comes, we'll jus' have ta cross that bridge when we get there. Sometimes in life, unexpected things come 'round, big er small, an' we ain't always prepared fer it. Like when somepony dies, ya know? Death is still somethin' we don't fully know or understand. When it happens, it's all over. Ya cain't reason with it, fight against it, it just happens when it does.”

Considering that for a few moments, Twilight looked at Applejack, then to the sky once more. It was true that many unexpected circumstances of all kinds could occur in your life, and you were never truly prepared for them. Twilight knew she had not been prepared for the impending doom that had befallen Equestria, and had to endure the events that followed because of it. Nopony had a plan of that calibre, it was something you had to see and truly experience before you could properly prepare for it.

It was funny. A common practice was preparing for certain kinds of disasters, such as your home burning down or even a natural disaster gone out of control. Yet, in something as big or catastrophic as a doomdsay, Twilight could see that even the Princesses themselves were not prepared for it. Whoever could have been? What happened had occurred with no warning. An honest mistake, to be sure, but still a catastrophe when executed in full.

“You're right, Applejack... Nopony could prepare for something like that. Even if we knew about that kind of disaster beforehoof,” Twilight agreed, kicking aside a stray twig in her path, “Then everything in between. Like that God, Athena. Applejack..did you ever think there was some kind of a divine being out there? Far beyond the ground we stand on?”

Applejack frowned a bit, then shook her head, “Ah cain't say that Ah have. Ah guess it jus' depends who ya ask. Some might say they believed in it, others might not. But it wasn't fer sure either way, at least back then.”

The unicorn shook her head, “I know. Even I wondered it myself. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are the rulers of day and night, and the rule over Equestria. That's kind of like having Gods to look up to, right? Yet...it isn't the same.”

“How do ya mean?”

“Well, they're actually here. Real. We can see them, hear them, speak to them, touch them... We know they're there. They listen. They're actual real ponies, alicorns. They're actually here...” Twilight murmured softly, “...That God, Athena...was a mystery for a long time in many worlds. No one could prove her existence. All they could say was that she was like an imaginary friend.”

Seeming to catch on, Applejack stopped in her walking, “Ah see what ya mean. Ya cain't see it, hear it, feel it, er nothin'. Like an imaginary friend, right?”

“Yes, that's just it. And they had their theories about what she was like, what she did, what she looked like, whether or not she was male or female. Like an imaginary friend. You weren't right or wrong, and you couldn't prove it either way. Because they weren't real. They couldn't be proven.”

“...Ya know Twi, this is real deep... Ah'm not even sure what ta think!”

“...Neither am I, Applejack. Neither am I,” Twilight looked up at the sky again.

A couple of days later, upon her return to Canterlot, Twilight sat in her study as she tried to reflect. Her visit to Ponyville had been nice, there was no doubt about that. She'd even shared a meal with Rarity, Applejack, and also Rainbow Dash as well. It felt surreal, to all be together as friends for the first time since the return to Equestria. Not to mention, the fact that there were now only four of the Elements of the Harmony still alive. However, they chose not to make mention of this. Especially since Rainbow would instantly clam up if Fluttershy was ever mentioned by name. In respect, as well as to avoid an hour-long crying jag they didn't want to face right now, they avoided that topic.

Now she was back in Canterlot, if for nothing else than to try to figure out what she was even going to do next. If there was anything further. Twilight just didn't know what. There was still a lot of time ahead of her, especially with her newfound knowledge of things, but why was it so difficult to think things through now? To plan ahead, to have her mind grasping on what she could do to further her studies. There was so much, yet, so little.

'I want to move on with my life, I really do. I just wish...I knew where to start. I mean, it's going fine now, isn't it? So what's the problem? Is it because I don't have any long-term goals? I just....I don't know. Rarity is trying to rebuild her fashion line and home, which is something she can fall onto. Applejack and her family are rebuilding Sweet Apple Acres, which means they can get back to farming again. Rainbow Dash is trying to move on with her life, for herself, for all of us, and Fluttershy. But what about me? I'm moving on, I'm ready to continue living my life, but... What's next? What about when I have nothing more to teach Pumpkin?'

Twilight sighed, turning another page of her book. It wasn't even for research purposes, it was a Daring Do novel. The very last one that was published about twelve years ago, before the author had decided to move on to other writing projects. Daring Do and the Menacing Phantom, which for some odd reason, had a familiar ring to it. Still, all she could think to do was to escape into the world of fiction.

Try as she may, it was all she could think to do. The studious unicorn, usually so eager to learn, especially with the Canterlot Library at her disposal, felt so lost. All she could think about were her friends, the past events, the very elements that came with it. All of it.

“Tch...if Ascentia were here, I bet she'd say, 'You know Twilight, you shouldn't rush just because you can't think of any long-term plans at the moment. I'm sure there were many a time in your life where you didn't have long-term plans',” Twilight mumbled to herself in a silly excuse imitation of Ascentia's distinct accent. “Come on, I usually have at least some certainty as to what I want to do! 'Yes, that may be, but to reach that goal, you usually need a set of steps to take.' And that's what I'm trying to figure out! 'You need to relax. You're overthinking it.' No I'm not! I just don't know what to do right now!”

Twilight slumped over her book, groaning.

“Ugh...this is impossible!”

“Not really. You just need to think of these ideas with a clearer head,” Ascentia said matter-of-factly.

Twilight paused, then turned around, seeing the very woman on her mind standing close by her. She wasn't even sure how or when she got there, or even why she was there. While their parting hadn't been unpleasant, she was certain that her words were to be taken to heart. In fact, she didn't even feel surprised or fazed. Ascentia approached her, kneeling down beside her.

“I wish I could, but I don't know how I'll be able to,” Twilight sighed, shaking her head, “How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough to know that your impression of me needs work. But that's all right. I'm not exactly going to critique that. It's not important,” the Val'Kyr replied, “You seem to be stressed.”

“You can say that again. I don't even know what to do now,” Twilight looked back at her book, marking her page and closing it with her magic.

Ascentia shook her head, “You don't have to. You're only in the early stages of moving on with your life. In that time, often you feel lost about what to do for the future. But that's where you just have to slow down, relax, and take your time with that.”

“I'm trying, really!” Twilight said, facing her now, “But it all happened so fast!”

“A lot of things feel that way.”

“But this is huge!”

“It is, but don't you see? You're all still moving along with your lives, rebuilding what you had,” Ascentia gestured to the nearby window, “I've seen the progress you all made.”

The unicorn looked out the window for a moment, then back at her, “You're right, we are. And I'm so glad for that. I help any way I can. But beyond that, I just don't know where I'm going. What I'll be doing when things are more settled, when Pumpkin has grown past needing me to train her. What then?”

“Didn't Applejack earlier say that sometimes, you just have to cross the bridge when you arrive to it? Why don't you just do that?”

“It's silly to go into a new path without a map.”

“True. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the journey and take chances.”

Twilight and Ascentia regarded each other for a few moments, not saying a word. A small smile then overcame the unicorn's face as she slowly relaxed herself, letting the wise advice sink into her mind. She was told many a time that she needed to take chances and not have a set plan for everything in life. Maybe it was time she just let things happen as they come here and there. It wasn't a bad idea. Sometimes she'd had to do it, and any time the results were rewarding, she could see it didn't always mean an unorganized mess.

“You know, I missed having you around, Ascentia,” Twilight admitted with a small smile.

Ascentia chuckled a bit, “I can tell.”

“So why are you here? I thought you said...well, to ensure that I don't see you again.”

“You know why I'm here, Twilight.”

The unicorn blinked, confused, “No...I don't think I do. You just appeared out of nowhere. Like the first time you came back.”

“That I did,” Ascentia shrugged a little bit, standing up again, “But there are reasons for things, you know. Sometimes you just know, even if your conscious mind can't comprehend it.”

“I still don't understand why you're here. You can be straight with me and stop pouring riddles all over,” Twilight stated, her patience beginning to wear thin.

This of course, didn't faze nor deter the woman in the slightest. In fact, she seemed to be amused by all of this, as if Twilight were funny to her. However, within a minute or so, she sat down on a chair, motioning for the unicorn to come sit near her. It was then that the mirth faded, but a small smile remained.

“I just wanted to see you,” she said.

“...Oh...” Twilight murmured, looking up at her, “Why? Are you not allowed to be here?”

“It's not an issue of that, Twilight,” and that was all she said on the matter, considering the silence that followed.

Exhaling, the small unicorn decided not to press further and simply opted to lay her head on Ascentia's leg. For whatever doubts she may have had, it didn't overshadow the warm spark of happiness. Her eyes closed when she felt the familiar hand gently run through her mane.

“I'm sorry, Twilight.”

Even though she didn't elaborate, Twilight smiled a bit, “...I know.”

A few moments passed, before a chuckle sounded from the deep-red-haired woman, “You know, Twilight, you still owe me some stories. We haven't had much chance to talk further.”

“Owe?” Twilight laughed, unable to help it, “So you want to sit back and listen to me ramble on about random events in my life?”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, 'scentia, I guess you'd better make yourself comfortable! Telling stories and lecturing are some of the things I do best.”

Ascentia opened her mouth to answer, but that was when a knock sounded on the door. Startled, Twilight snapped her gaze toward the door and went over to it, feeling a nervous stab in her gut. What would the princesses or the royal guards say or do if they found out Ascentia was there? Or did they know and that was why they were knocking now? She didn't want to lie, nor did she want to give Ascentia away...what was she to do?

“Twilight Sparkle?” Came the voice of Princess Luna, “Twilight Sparkle, are you all right? You've been in there ever since you came back. Is everything okay?”

Biting her lip, Twilight turned to where Ascentia sat, “I should see the Princess, I need to-”

But Ascentia was no longer there. It confused the unicorn for a moment, especially since the chair wasn't where it had been. What had happened? Did she leave? But not out the window, so that meant it was likely she'd teleported when Twilight had her back turned.

Yet, Twilight felt a strange feeling in her heart. It felt even more as if Ascentia had never even been there to begin with.

“Twilight Sparkle? Who are you talking to?” Luna asked from the other side of the door.

“...No one, Princess,” Twilight opened the door with her magic. “I was talking to myself.”

The Princess of the Night strolled in casually, looking around the room before she faced the unicorn, “I see... Well, Twilight Sparkle, I was just about to go for a stroll in the garden before upon raising the moon. Would you like to come along?”

Twilight smiled, glad for a chance to get out for a little while and clear her head, “Sure, Princess. That'd be nice.”

Once more, Twilight looked back to where she was certain Ascentia had been, still seeing no sign of her having even been there. But maybe it was best not to overthink it, either way it happened. Getting no clear answer, she followed Luna out the door.

In the castle garden, Twilight walked alongside Princess Luna, neither of them having spoken since they'd come outside. However, the small unicorn's mind was abuzz with questions, to which she was unsure about voicing them. What was there to say? And what did Luna want? It wasn't uncommon that Luna had taken Twilight along on some excursions, they'd even had some fun trips together over the past years. But now, with everything having changed so drastically, it still left her wondering what was next even between them.

Twilight looked up at the regal, dark alicorn, recalling Ascentia's term in describing her. A zoroth. A steed of darkness. Considering Luna's colouration and being the Princess of the Night, it made perfect sense. While she was sure none would likely use it now, it was likely to catch on sometime.

Seeing her look, Luna turned her head to face her, “Is there something on your mind, Twilight Sparkle?”

“...You have no idea,” Twilight responded vaguely.

“Bit for your thoughts?”

“Well... I don't know. I guess I'm just...wondering what happens now.”

“Whatever do you mean? All is restoring to what it once had been. There is not much question to that, except to move forward.”

Twilight shook her head, “I know that. I just mean, after all of that. Especially with what I'll end up doing in time.”

“Ah,” Luna looked at her again, a small smile crossing her lips, “It is not my place to say, Twilight Sparkle. It is something you will have to see for yourself. But in time, you shall be ready.”

“Ready for what?” Asked the unicorn, intrigued.

“As I said, it isn't something I can tell you right now. It's not even that easy to explain, all things considered. But when it comes, you will know.”

As much as Twilight wanted to know more, she decided not to press further. But she did wonder if Celestia would tell her anything of it. Then again, seemed it seemed like such a big secret that she herself had to find out, it was unlikely.

“In the meantime,” Luna spoke up, derailing her thoughts, “you still have Pumpkin as your apprentice. I must say, she is doing very well. You must be very proud of her.”

“I am,” the lavender mare said, “It's really a privilege to be her teacher. I never thought I would teach a unicorn much like Princess Celestia has taught me. But even now, since I started, I still can't believe it.”

The dark alicorn nodded briefly, facing ahead of them as they continued to trek along the garden, “Indeed, even my sister can barely contain herself as she observes you teaching your apprentice. It makes her quite proud, Twilight Sparkle.”

Touched, Twilight felt her smile grow as a warm feeling overcame her body, “Thank you, Princess. I'm glad to make her proud, I really am.”

“And you have made me proud as well, Twilight. For especially in how you handled this entire situation that had plagued us a few weeks ago.”

A cold yet confusing wave washed over the small unicorn as she stopped dead in her tracks, “...What? But, Princess Luna... I didn't...it was... I didn't even do anything!”

Luna turned around, having walked a few paces ahead, “You truly underestimate your power sometimes... But nevertheless, you have proven yourself quite well in those darker times. You still held your head high, and even traversed danger to seek out the Outlander.”

“I was...well, she was my friend, I couldn't just let her get in trouble again!”

“Indeed. You did far more than you think you did, even then.”

“Princess Luna...” Twilight slowly approached the night Princess, “I really don't understand what you're trying to tell me.”

“You don't have to,” Luna held up a shoed hoof to silence her, “All I ask is that you believe me when I say this.”

As much as Twilight couldn't understand, she did know better than to think Luna would say such things if she didn't mean them. Retracting, she nodded slowly, managing a smile. She then continued their walk, following alongside the alicorn.

“Well then, Twilight Sparkle, are your friends...the remaining Elements of Harmony, doing well?”

Glad for the change in subject, Twilight's mood lifted, “Yeah, they're doing fine. Applejack and her family are still reworking to restore Sweet Apple Acres, and Rarity is rebuilding her original shop. Rainbow is...well, from what I've seen, she's trying to move on. But....well, yeah.”

Luna understood, nodding, “She has indeed taken Fluttershy's death very hard.”

“...How did she die, Princess? You saw it happen, right?”

“I did. We had all been locked in the cell, guarded by those...things. Fluttershy, terrified, was crying because of it. I could not blame her, the poor thing was so scared and uncertain. That one dastardly outlander was annoyed by her crying, but try as she may, she would not cease. He eventually killed her by throwing her to the wall. Her skull cracked... And she was dead before having even hit the floor.”

Twilight felt a stinging in her gut at the awful feeling. To think that something so quick, yet painful, had been all it took. She lowered her head for a moment, closing her eyes. Fluttershy having been murdered was an unbelievable notion, something you just didn't piece together. Yet, Pinkie's murder a few years earlier was about the same calibre. Who would kill somepony so sweet and fun? Twilight knew that answer. Someone who could. But never stopped to think that they should.

“Fluttershy was indeed...naive in all of this, as I'm sure you saw,” Luna murmured, looking down at the unicorn then, “Most would say that only the strong survive, and that may be so. “

“...She didn't deserve that, Princess. She deserved a lot better.”

“Indeed she did, Twilight Sparkle. But alas, there is nothing more we can do.”

Twilight thought for a moment, getting an idea, “Well, maybe we should do a search for any of her remains. Then we can hold a funeral, bury her here in Canterlot. We can have a memorial for her.”

Thoughtful, Luna peered up at the sky for a brief moment, and then nodded, “Perhaps such a thing can be arranged. A good plan. It will give you and your friends a chance to honour her memory.”

“You're right, it will. And I think it'll give Rainbow a sense of closure,” Twilight added, “I think she just needs a chance to say goodbye. We all do.”

“It is settled, then. I will inform my sister of this plan, and we shall see what we can do,” Luna told her, nodding with approval.

“That'd be great, Princess. I think we'll all need it.”

Author's Note

So this takes place a couple of weeks after the last chapter of "Doomsday Ascending", and obviously before the epilogue. Twilight's uncertain, but is moving on with her life as best as she can. I guess I kind of imagined that this is what she'd be going through by this point in time or so.

Oh, and the scene with Ascentia? Yeah, you can decide if it really happened or if it was all in Twilight's head. That was the intent, anyway.