Harbinger Rising

Chapters

Prologue
Ch1. Too Close
Ch2. The Royal Council
CH3. Best Friends

Prologue

A sweet summer breeze blew out across the serene waters of Horseshoe Lake, sending ripples along its placid surface. Celestia's sun was at its highest point in the sky, blocked only now and then by the occasional cloud as it drifted by. In a row boat down below, two young mares giggled at something the young stallion pegasus pony hovering above them has said. Two more ponies, another mare and stallion, tread water just to the side of the boat.

“I'm serious!” exclaimed the airborne pegasus. He tossed his navy mane and zipped through the air, his coat leaving a silver streak in his wake. “I could be as fast as her.”

“Not a chance,” ribbed the pale purple stallion in the water, his white mane hanging over the side of his face, soaked. “Commander Dash is the fastest pegasus alive. Why else do you think she's head of the Royal guards?”

“Was,” said the confident stallion above as he resumed his hovering.

“Give her a break,” barked his friend. “She's kind of pregnant.”

“I thought we came out here to relax,” moaned one of the mares in the boat, a bright pink earth pony with pink and orange pigtails. “Can you not stop talking about the amazing Rainbow Dash and how you're going to be way more awesome than she ever was? Besides, Jackpot, you can't be 'kind of' pregnant.” She scowled up at the pegasus above. “Come on, Eagle Eye. Can't we just have fun today?”

“Sweet Tooth is right,” said the red pegasus mare in the water. Her fiery mane hid half of her face but it was easy to see that this was a conversation they'd all had before and she was tired of hearing about it. She nodded to the pale pink unicorn in the boat and said, “Check List organized this day so we could forget about real life for awhile. So shut your face holes, get in the water, and see if you can beat me and Jackpot to the bottom of the lake!”

From the boat Check List eyed the water, then touched her pink and brown curls. “Um...I don't think so Java Jolt.”

Eagle Eye dove straight down, then quickly, before anyone could think about what he was doing or try to stop him, he was coming up again and turning the boat over. Sweet Tooth and Check List screamed as they were dumped unceremoniously into the lake while their friends could only laugh. Check List surfaced first, sputtering and crying about her mane. Sweet Tooth came up yelling, even before her mouth broke the surface of the water. She splashed Eagle Eye and cried, “You jerk!” But he was too busy laughing to respond. This seemed to stem the mare's anger and she eventually began laughing herself. It was only moments before a splashing war broke out and soon everypony was in stitches, even Check List.

As the sun began its slow decent in the sky, Java Jolt floated on her back, swimming slow circles around her friends. “You guys, can we make a pact?”

“What kind of pact?” asked Jackpot. He reached for one of her hooves and pulled her closer to him, grinning. “One that says you have to follow me wherever you go?”

“Try again, buster.” She kissed his nose. “You'd be the one to follow me if that were the case. No, I mean all of us. We've been best friends since we were just foals. Now that we're growing up and probably moving on to other things in different places, I want us to stay best friends. I mean, let's face, eventually we'll be invited to Sweet Tooth and Eagle Eye's wedding.”

“Wait,” said Sweet Tooth.

“What?” finished Eagle Eye.

“But I don't want to lose touch with you guys.” Java Jolt righted herself in the water so she could tread beside Jackpot. “Whether we end up in Canterlot, we say here in Stableside, move on to one of the new settlements or even go to Harmony. I want to make sure we get together as much as possible.”

“We will,” Jackpot promised, nuzzling her gently.

Check List nodded her agreement. “Of course we will. I don't know where I'll end up. Part of me wants to go see Harmony just to see how they live there with the dragons and the gryphons. I mean, I remember it a little from when I was a foal but part of me thinks it's really weird. Twilight Sparkle lives there and I've always wanted to meet her again.”

“Most of the Harbinger War vets still live there, don't they?” asked Eagle Eye.

“I think so.”

Sweet Tooth shook her head. “Can you imagine something like that happening today? Some huge war? Yeah that was crazy to live through but we were all so young. I don't remember much of anything about it besides the fact that I was scared and I was with Princess Cadance the whole time. Maybe I've repressed the memories, I don't know, but it doesn't feel like it ever really happened most days. And since then the closest we've ever been to a real fight was when Ocean Breeze lost the mayoral election last year.”

“And we never will be that close again,” Eagle Eye said with confidence. “Anyway, I thought we were supposed to be having fun.”

“That's right!” Jackpot let go of Java Jolt and slicked his mane back from his face. “A race to the bottom of the lake and back. Java and I made it in thirty-seven seconds.”

Eagle Eye snorted. “I can do it in-”

“If you say 'ten seconds flat' I will buck you all the way to the Manehattan ruins.”

He looked at Check List and gulped. With a self satisfied smirk, she narrowed her eyes and said. “Let's just see if you can put your money where your mouth is.”

“Are you...do you seriously think you can beat me?”

“No. I know I can.”

Sweet Tooth cleared her throat. “Does it matter? You'll both be way behind me anyway.”

Eagle Eye snorted. “Okay, let's do this.”

“I'll keep time,” Jackpot offered. “On your mark! Get set...go!” Three ponies sucked in big lungfuls of air, then disappeared under the surface, leaving Java Jolt and Jackpot above the water. Jackpot looked at his fillyfriend and quirked a brow. “Aren't you racing?”

“Of course I am.” She swam closer and snaked her forelegs around him, touching her nose to his. “I'm just giving them a head start to show them how ridiculously slow they are when I fly past them.” Java kissed Jackpot and let him go. “How does it feel to be dating a winner?”

“Go get 'em, hot stuff.”

She inhaled deeply and winked, then disappeared under the water. Jackpot watched the bright red of her coat until he could no longer see it, then exhaled and looked around. He'd always loved the lake and had so many memories of being there with his friends. There would be entire afternoons spent in the water when they had been younger, building sand castles on the shore, singing songs and sharing stories while their parents looked on fondly. Once they were old enough to go out on their own they had made the place almost their own with campfires and parties. It would always be a special place for all of them.

The summer breeze that had been playing along with them all day tousled Jackpots drying mane in a gentle caress. Then it pushed him with a forceful gust. His brow furrowed and he bore down, realizing he was drifting and wanting to get back to his spot in the water. But the wind had another idea. It gathered intensity and blew so hard across the surface of the lake that waves rose. They were small little ripples at first, then became whitecaps almost a foot high. And then the wind blew one more time, quick, icy and sharp like a slap on exposed flesh and froze the lake around him.

The once warm water was now frozen in place looking like glass that had been shattered and left in broken pointed shards. Jackpot tried to move but his withers were locked in a layer of thick ice, jagged and unnaturally strong as it cut into his pelt. The now cold water below was quickly robbing him of warmth and unkindly replacing it with sharp needling pain in each of his legs. He struggled again, straining against the ice and grunting, bleeding, panic rising in his chest. “Help!” he called to no one. “Somepony help!”

There was a thud on the underside of the ice.

Jackpot whipped his head around to see bright red hooves pressing up against the ice from beneath. Soon there were gray hooves, pale pink hooves and hooves so bright a pink they were impossible to miss joining in on the pounding.

He swore he could hear them screaming.

“Java!” Jackpot kicked his legs harder, wiggled in a continuous struggle to free himself and ignored the pain of his flesh tearing. If he could just get loose there would be a way for his friends to get free. “Eagle Eye! Somepony, push me up!”

The colorful hooves had gone and the stallion kicked his legs out, fighting uselessly. “Please, somepony help me!” Something hit his legs and he froze. Looking down, he could see his friends directly below him. Eagle Eye swam up with Sweet Tooth. They pressed up against his underbelly with their hooves, their withers, anything to try and budge him but he could not move. Tears clouded his vision when their efforts went unrewarded. Then Check List seemed to choke. Any breath she might have had left was gone and her pale body began to convulse.

“No!” Helpless to do anything but watch, Jackpot saw one of his oldest friends sink and disappear in the inky blackness of the lake. “Check List!” Eagle Eye abandoned his efforts and dove down, Java Jolt quick to take his place in trying to push Jackpot free. Eagle Eye never came back up.

Soon enough there was only one pair of hooves pushing against him, and the effort was getting weaker and weaker by the moment. Jackpot, at a loss for what more he could do, squeezed his eyes shut and slammed his muzzle into the ice in an effort to break through. Then again. And again until the ice before him was slick with blood and somehow completely undamaged. The last pair of hooves pushing against him now dropped away and he screamed Java Jolt's name.

Suddenly she was before him, hooves and face pressed up against the ice directly in front of him. He pressed his cheek to the cold and tossed his head to clear the blood away, to be able to see her better. Her eyes were full of sorrow and he knew she felt all the same torment and confusion as he. “Java...” He choked on her name. “I'm so sorry.” In reply she kissed the ice and mouthed the words, “I love you,” before pushing away to die where Jackpot couldn't watch.

“No! Please, no! Java!” He struggled once more but there was little energy left to be spent. All around him the ice was stained and still solid. “Java,” he said once more, weak. All the adrenaline had left him and exhaustion was quickly setting in. It had been such a perfect day. He'd lived such a perfect life. How he wished he could go back and live it all again, to not take any single moment for granted.

As his head slumped the ice began to melt. Before his bleeding muzzle had a chance to hit the surface Jackpot was surrounded once more by the calm, warm waters he'd spent all day in with his friends. Now as he sank to the bottom of Horseshoe Lake he would join his friends once more and reunite with them in the afterlife.

Ch1. Too Close

Big Macintosh slowly rolled his head to the side, his muscles stretching until there was a significant sounding CRACK. It had been a very long day for the big red stallion, up before the sun rose and only now getting home long after the sun had set. He hated being away from his family for so long but there was so much work to do on his growing farm. Most days he tried to get home in time for supper but today just hadn't worked out. By now he knew everyone else would be asleep, at least they should have been, so his movements through the house were as quiet as possible. Leaving his yoke by the door once it was closed, he breathed out a small contented sigh. Tired as he was, he was just glad to be done for the day.

Dinner had been left out for him and Big Macintosh smiled to himself when he walked into the kitchen. They would never let him go hungry even on the days he came home too late to eat with everyone else. Tonight he was too tired to even think about food, though. He put the meal into the icebox, yawned and headed for the stairs. It was then that he heard her voice drifting down to him from the floor above. It was sweet, soft, and so very tender that it made him pause just to listen.

Baby mine, don't you cry

Baby mine, dry your eyes

Rest your head close to my heart

Never to part, baby of mine

Little one when you play

Don't you mind what you say

Let those eyes sparkle and shine

Never a tear, baby of mine

If they knew sweet little you

They'd end up loving you too

All those same ponies who scold you

What they'd give just for

The right to hold you

From your hooves to your nose

You're not much, goodness knows

But you're so precious to me

Cute as can be, baby of mine

Big Macintosh climbed the stairs quietly. At the end of the hall the door to his bedroom was cracked open just a bit and a light flickered to cast little moving shadows on the wooden floor. Poking his head into the room he found Fluttershy on the bed they shared together, a little red pegasus colt snuggled up close under her chin with an unruly orange mane and tail. He yawned sleepily and though Fluttershy's eyes were closed, she smiled and continued to hum. If there was any sight that could make the stallion feel better after such a long, hard day of work this was it. He wanted nothing more than to go crawl into bed beside her and hold them both but there was still one more thing to do before that could happen.

He turned away and headed down toward the other end of the house. Another door was cracked open and a light was still on, but he passed this door to head for one that was dark. Big Mac pushed it open slowly and poked his head in. The small room was decorated with hoof-drawn pictures taped to the walls, a small bookcase filled with different books, a nightstand and a little bed against the wall. On quiet hooves he walked to the bed and peered down at the lump of blankets the moved only slightly in the cadence of deep breathing. A tail of pale orange, a buttery yellow and hints of gold stuck out from the side of the bed where the covers didn't reach, and though there was little else to be shown of the body he could also see plumage from a wing so pale a yellow it could have been white. Smirking, Big Macintosh grabbed the covers in his teeth and pulled them up over the motionless body, then left to head for the door he'd passed earlier.

This room was much the same as the previous, though there were charts and writings taped to the walls instead of childish drawings. A larger bookshelf stood against one side of the wall not nearly as full, and random notebooks, hair ties and ribbons lay scattered around he floor. On the bed lay a yellow pegasus with a dark red mane and tail, streaks of light pink running through unruly curls. With her chin resting in her hooves, her attention was on a magazine laying open before her.

“You're still up?”

She whipped her head around, turquoise eyes wide in surprise. “Daddy!” Quickly, the young mare closed the magazine and shoved it under her pillow. “I didn't even hear you come in! Did you see me an' Mama left supper out for you?”

“Eeeyup.” Big Mac walked farther into the room and glanced purposefully at the pillow. “Morning Glory, do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Um...” Her gaze slide sideways before she fixed her father with a wide, innocent grin. “No?”

“Past your bedtime.”

“Aw, c'mon, Daddy!” Glory collapsed dramatically onto her pillow. “It ain't like I got school to worry about in the morning.”

“Maybe not,” Big Mac agreed, “ but you do have other responsibilities.” His green eyes went to her cutie mark, a cracked speckled dragon egg with reptilian wings on either side of it.

Glory looked at her cutie mark as well and sighed. “I know, I know.”

“How're things goin' at the rookery?”

Looking down, Glory shrugged. “Okay I guess.”

Big Mac sat and lowered his head to try and catch his daughter's eye. “Just okay?”

“We had an egg hatch this mornin'. I think it was too early. The little guy was just too weak.”

“Dragon or gryphon?”

“Dragon.”

With a sigh of sympathy, Big Macintosh kissed the top of Morning Glory's head. “I'm sorry, darlin'. I know it ain't easy when you lose one.”

She lifted her head and smiled sadly up at her father. “That's why I'm up. I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see his little body.”

“C'mere.” She scooted closer to the edge of the bed and Big Macintosh wrapped a strong foreleg around her, holding her close to him. “You got a real important job, Glory. Not just anypony could work with mother dragons and gryphons, an' they wouldn't trust just anypony with their young. I know you love it and it's your special talent, but I know there's heartache that comes with it.”

“I talked to Mama about it some,” Glory admitted, resting her head under Big Mac's chin.

“If anypony'd understand it would be her. She help any?”

Glory nodded. “Yeah. I think it's just somethin' I gotta work through on my own though.”

The stallion smiled to himself. Morning Glory was barely fifteen but there were times he would have sworn she was a full grown mare. She was intelligent, insightful, and one of the most headstrong ponies he'd ever known, something he often blamed Applejack and Apple Bloom for. But he could not have been more proud of his daughter. And she could not have him any more wrapped around her hoof. It was the joke of the family that Glory could get away with just about anything as far as her father was concerned. If she'd ever really taken advantage of that it could have been a problem but Glory never beat around the bush when it came to what she wanted. Big Mac just had a hard saying no to either of his daughters.

“I love you Glory. You know that?”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

“Try an' get some sleep.”

“I will.” They parted but not before Big Macintosh placed one more kiss atop her head. Smiling, Morning Glory watched her father leave before plopping back down on her stomach and pulling her magazine free. It wasn't anything scandalous but she was always a bit embarrassed about looking through the old fashion magazines they had at the library for borrowing. Clothes and jewelry had never been her thing, she worked in a hot cave where she sweat through her coat most days, but it was nice to look at how life had been before she was born. Things seemed easier somehow, more superficial. She'd heard many stories about the famous Rarity and the unicorn's love of everything fashion. She knew how much her mother and her mother's friends had loved Rarity, and what an important role she'd played in equestrian history, but something told Glory that she wouldn't have really gotten on well with her. There were far more important things in life than looking good.

After a time her eyelids began to droop and she closed the magazine for the last time, setting it on her nightstand. With a whisper of breath she blew out her lantern and crawled under her covers. As was customary every night she said silent prayers to thank the Creator for her day, for everything she had, and the family she knew she was blessed with. And as was also customary every night she began to fall asleep before her prayers were even finished.

CREEEEEAAAAAK

It was a sound that would send most fillies screaming but Morning Glory groaned quietly and covered her face with a foreleg.

Clip clop, clip clop. Little hooves crossed the wooden floor in a tell-tale rhythm before they pressed down on the side of the bed. “Morning Glory?” came a high pitched whisper. “Are you awake?”

“I am now.” The elder sister rolled over onto her side to stare into the big green eyes of her little sister. Her tri-colored mane was a mess and hung about her face and head in tangles that hid all but the tip of her little horn. Glory lifted up the corner of her blanket and nodded. “Come on.” Not needing any further invitation the little filly climbed up onto the bed, her tiny wings flapping until she was up and snuggled under the covers. Glory tucked the blanket back down around both of them and sighed sleepily. “Solara, you have to stop doin' this.”

The small alicorn frowned sadly and looked up at her sister. “I know. But I had a bad dream.”

“That's what Mama an' Daddy are for, silly filly.”

“But they have Bailey Sweet in there.”

“He's still a baby, he ain't gonna care if you go in for snuggles.” Solara offered no rebuttal, only snuggled closer to her big sister. Despite her initial annoyance at the all too familiar intrusion, Glory smiled and wrapped her forelegs around the little filly. “Wanna tell me about your dream?”

“Princess Celestia ate me for supper.”

Glory bit down on a giggle and hugged Solara tightly. “That's the third time this week. Sugar, you know she won't eat you, right?”

“I know,” the filly whined. “She's too nice to eat me.”

“An' she loves you almost as much as Mama does.”

“I don't want Princess Celestia to be my mama.”

Glory nuzzled her sister. “She doesn't have to be. It's your choice. If you don't want to be her successor then you don't have to be.” Pulling back slightly, Glory moved down on her pillow so she could rest her forehead against Solara's and look her in the eye. “Lara, nopony would think any less of you, not even the princess.”

“I know.” Solara looked at Glory with worry in her expression. “I don't think I'm princess material.”

“An' why not?” Glory huffed. “I happen to think you'd make a great princess! 'Sides, think of all the cool stuff you'll get to do! You'll have ponies waitin' on you, answerin' to your every beck an' call. You'll get to raise the sun each mornin' an' see everythin' that happens with all your little ponies.”

Solara's withers lifted and fell in a shrug. “Maybe. But then you wouldn't be my sister anymore.”

“I will always be your sister,” Glory promised. “I'm always gonna be here for you, Lara. Ain't nothin' gonna change that ever. Hear me?”

“Yes.” The pale filly gave a quiet sigh, then gasped as her eyes went wide. “I almost forgot! Somepony's throwin' stones at my window again!”

Glory snorted. “You're gonna have to work on that accent if you're gonna be a princess.” She kissed Solara's forehead before pulling the covers back and climbing over her to make her way to the window. Careful to be quiet, she nudged the shutters open with her nose and leaned out to look around. A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips and she rested her chin in her hooves to watch the pegasus stallion down below. He was a dark navy blue with a mussed mane and tail of an even darker blue and white. On his flank was a white crescent moon that was partially covered by a gray cloud.

“Hey, dummy,” Glory called in a quiet voice. Eyes the color of sapphires darted toward the sound and Glory chuckled. “I switched rooms, remember?”

“Whoops.” He gave a crooked half grin that only looked slightly apologetic. “Sorry.”

“Don't apologize to me, apologize to Solara.” He inhaled as if to get ready to belt out an apology and Morning Glory waved her hooves. “Not now! Geez, Dark Cloud. One of these days you're gonna get me in so much trouble.” Ducking back inside, Glory looked at her sister still under the covers. “I'll be back in awhile, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Cover for me if Daddy pops back in?”

“I always do.”

With a grin, Morning Glory climbed up onto the window ledge and jumped into the air, her wings flinging wide to catch the current of the night winds. Dark Cloud spread his own wings and quickly joined her in the sky. Together they flew away from the farm and from the dotted lights of Harmony to fly toward the Coltorado Rockies where Canterlot Castle was nestled into the mountainside. Even in the dark they could see dragons coming and going from their own settlement far on the other side of the mountains. Their forms were so massive that it was impossible to miss them or mistake them for the gryphons that took up the rest of the mountain caves. Some of the dragons were nocturnal and it was these that came and went in the dead of night.

Without a word to one another the two pegasai headed for a specific spot, an outcropping on a curved portion of the tall mountains that made a wide flat ledge that faced Canterlot from several thousand feet away. This platform was usually dark and unoccupied most of the time. It was not a good place for a gryphon nest because of the fierce cross winds that blew during storms, and dragons preferred their caves. But for ponies seeking a secret place to meet it was perfect. Tonight the outcropping was not entirely dark. A fire had been built and as the two pegasai drew closer they could see another pony already waiting for them. “Looks like Wild Hope beat us,” Glory said, tucking her wings in to descend.

“Of course she did,” grumbled the stallion.

Wild Hope looked up when she heard the other two approaching, heavy-lidded rose hued eyes reflecting the firelight. Glory landed first and embraced her, always happy to see her best friend. When Dark Cloud landed he glanced toward the castle behind them. “They're going to see the fire, you know.”

“They always see the fire.” Morning Glory shook her head and moved closer to the flames to get warm.

“You worry too much, Cloud,” said Wild Hope. She brushed long rainbow colored waves from her face and smiled at him, draping a pale blue wing across his withers in a sisterly side embrace. “Besides, your mother is the princess of the night. I have a feeling she's known about us meeting like this for a long time.”

“If she has she's never said anything to me about it.”

Wild Hope laughed quietly. “That's because she's being nice. Come on.” She retracted her wing and joined Glory by the fire. Dark Cloud shrugged and did the same.

“How's your mom, Hope?” Glory asked. “For a mare who's known for being all over the place I haven't seen Rainbow Dash much.”

“That's because she can hardly move these days without my dad making a big fuss or the boys being under hoof. Dad told me once that Mom never wanted any kids and soon enough she's going to have her fourth!” Hope smiled to herself, her gaze held captive by the flickering flames. “I hope it's a girl. Not that I don't love Palette and Aero but a little sister would be nice.”

“It ain't always nice,” Morning Glory argued.

“Having little brothers isn't always nice, either,” giggled Hope. “Just wait until Bailey Sweet gets a little older. You'll see.”

“Aw, Bailey'll be fine. He's too sensitive to be rough an' tough like Aero an' we know he won't be like Palette.” As soon as the words were out Glory gasped and looked at her best friend, eyes wide. “I'm sorry, Hope. I didn't mean nothin' by that.”

Graciously, Wild Hope gave a small smile. “I know. It's all right.” Clearly wanting to change the subject, the pale blue pegasus looked across the flames at Dark Cloud. “What about you, Cloud? Since we're talking about siblings, how do you like having an older brother? Neither of us knows what that's like.”

The stallion shrugged. “It's cool, I guess. Pipsqueak's always been an awesome brother. You know he dominates at hoofball, hence his cutiemark.”

“Hence,” Glory echoed teasingly.

Ignoring her, Cloud gave his customary lopsided grin to Wild Hope. “Pretty sure he's going to ask Dinky to marry him soon.”

“I love weddings,” sighed Hope.

“It's about time we had some excitement around here.” Morning Glory ruffled her feathers. “I always hear about all these adventures Twilight an' all the others went on an' almost wish somethin' like that would happen to us. You know, just to stir things up a bit.”

Hope shook her head. “Things were different back then. Ponies haven't seen enemies of that magnitude since the Harbinger War. That was back when the Elements of Harmony still existed and were needed to help protect the world. Our biggest threat these days comes not from unknown entities but from small moments of disharmony among the different races and ourselves.”

Dark Cloud frowned. “I wouldn't mind an adventure or two. It would be cool!” He thought a moment, grinning. “What if the Elements still exist and they're just waiting somewhere to be found again? Maybe they were meant to be passed down to the next generation but something happened to them when the war broke out!”

Blinking, Morning Glory's brow furrowed. “So you're sayin' because my mama had the Element of Kindness, I'd have the same one?”

The question made the stallion chortle. “Uh, no! If anypony had the Element of Kindness it would be Hope.”

Glory's ears flattened. “Beg your pardon?”

“Seriously,” Cloud continued, unaware of Glory's irritation, “sometimes I think you two were switched at birth. Hope is gentle, sweet, caring, compassionate and beautiful like Fluttershy and you, Glory? You're-”

“I'm what?' the mare growled, getting to her hooves. “Abrasive, irritatin', hot-headed an' brazen?”

Now Cloud looked a little uncomfortable. “Well...yeah.”

“An' certainly not beautiful.” Angry now, Morning Glory spread her wings and took off into the night leaving a very confused stallion looking after her.

“I never said that,” he muttered, scratching his chin. He looked at Wild Hope in defeat. “Why is it she ends up hating me at the end of every single conversation we have?”

Hope gave him a sympathetic smile. “Because somehow or another you manage to insult her.”

“I didn't say she wasn't beautiful!”

“You didn't have to.” She sighed quietly. “You've got to learn to be a little more sensitive, that's all.”

He frowned. “Well I don't want her to think...”

“What? That you like her? Celestia forbid!”

“It would change our friendship!”

“Not if she felt the same way.” Hope shook her head. “You two make love so complicated.”

Cloud recoiled. “I never said I loved her!”

Smirking, Hope nudged him with a wing. “Once again, you didn't have to.”

The stallion groaned and ran a hoof over his face. “I'll never win.”

Once again seeking to change the subject, Wild Hope sat beside Dark Cloud and nodded in the direction of Canterlot. “How are things at the castle?”

Cloud shrugged lazily. “Okay, I guess. There's some big meeting tomorrow. I heard my mom and Aunt Celestia talking.”

Raising a brow, Hope looked at him. “What kind of a meeting?”

“Dunno, but I think Gorlois and Synge are going to be there, too.”

“The gryphon king and the dragon queen?” Hope blinked, impressed. “The four rulers. I wonder if that means a second alicorn has been born somewhere.”

Dark Cloud shrugged again and moved a hoof over the ground in a light scuff. “I don't think so. Pip and I would know. I mean, I would hope my own mother would tell me if her successor was born and the clock was ticking down her last days. Besides, do you think they'd meet with the dragons and the gryphons because of it?”

“Well a new equestrian ruler would be working closely with them as well. It would make sense to involve them in the process.” Hope looked in the direction Morning Glory had disappeared. “Maybe Solara's made her decision.”

“I'm such a foal,” groaned Cloud, making Hope laugh quietly.

“Go say you're sorry.”

“What if she throws something at me like she did last time? I had a knot on my head for a week!”

“And you deserved it.” Playfully, Hope nipped at his ear. “Go get your brother's hoofball helmet and then go say you're sorry.”

With a growl, Cloud poked a hoof at the cutiemark on Hope's flank, a heart with wings on either side. “You and your stupid peacemaking talent. Fine, I'll go. But if I end up in the hospital you better come visit me and bring me comics.”

“I promise,” the mare laughed, then shoved her friend playfully. “Go!” She watched him take wing and chuckled at the sigh she heard before he flew away. Now alone on the rocky shelf she stayed where she was, eyes trained on Canterlot. Though it was late there were still lights blazing in windows all throughout the capital city. The things of royalty and everything that went with it were never things she'd really concerned herself with even when her mother wasn't pregnant and still leading the royal guards. Still, this meeting sparked a certain amount of curiosity within her. Like the others there were definite moments of longing for something new and exciting to happen. Being the first foal born after the Harbinger War, she'd been raised on stories of adventure and danger all her life. Morning Glory and Dark Cloud had been born shortly after and they heard all the same stories growing up together. It was why the three of them were so close. Too close, she sometimes felt.

With a deep breath in she turned and pulled a bucket full of rain water from the shadows. Tipping it so the contents spilled out over the blazing fire, a thick smoke lifted into the inky night sky as the flames died down. Canterlot looked watery and surreal through the haze, almost otherwordly. And then there was a distinct flash of magenta magic on the highest balcony of the castle. Wild Hope jumped through the smoke and narrowed her eyes, straining as though she could possibly see the unicorn she knew the magical burst belonged to.

“Why would Twilight be at Canterlot at this hour?”

As welcoming at Princess Celestia was, Hope knew it would not be polite to simply drop by and she wasn't nearly as crafty as Dark Cloud or Morning Glory when it came to spying. Or Jubilee for that matter, Pinkie Pie and Braeburn's eldest. She could easily go home and mention something about it to her mother who would no doubt figure out some way to get some information, but Hope knew if she got her mother riled up about anything her father would not be happy. Besides, Dark Cloud was right when he called her the peacekeeper. She didn't rock the boat, she was the one to still the waters. It would be best to just forget she'd even seen anything and ignore her curiosity. If something was going on that she needed to worry about she would find out in due time.

Once the bucket was set back to where it belonged the pale pegasus extended her wings and took to the air to head for her home among the clouds.

Ch2. The Royal Council

The sound of Twilight's hooves trotting across the polished stone floors of Canterlot castle echoed around her. During the day there was a never-ending bustle of activity that made it seem less empty and cold, but when the hour was as late as this and there were only a scant few guards to patrol the halls, Canterlot almost felt spooky. Still, Twilight kept her gaze forward as she navigated the familiar corridors and passed through doors that the night guards pushed open for her. She was not royalty herself but since the end of the war she, as well as the rest of her friends, had been treated with no less respect than the princesses.

“Psssst! Twilight!”

The purple unicorn stopped mid step and looked around, eyes wide in surprise. There was nopony to be seen, not even a passing castle guard. Then she saw it, a quick movement in one of the shadows. Twilight narrowed her eyes and blinked. It was hard to tell the Shadow Guards apart from one another when they had their armor on but the voice was too familiar to mistake. “Graffiti?”

“Over here!”

Twilight looked around once more before heading toward the young dark gray mare hidden behind a tall marble pillar. She wore armor that was a size too big for her and when she moved, her helmet slid down over her yellow cat eyes so she had to reach up and adjust it constantly. Her wings, bat-like in appearance, fluttered in frustration at her sides before tucking themselves close to her body. “What are you doing hiding over here?” asked Twilight, her voice low simply because Graffiti had spoken so quietly.

“I saw you teleport in and snuck away from my post to come find you.”

One of Twilight's eyes narrowed. “The job of an intern is to learn exactly what their chosen vocation entails. I don't think sneaking off is a very efficient use of your time. Besides, you know the princess probably already knows, right?”

“She's too busy. That's why I wanted to come find you.” The young pegasus slid her helmet off and the magic surrounding her fell away to reveal a rather normal looking pony. She shook out her light blue mane, trying to unstick bits of hair that had matted to her pale gray coat with sweat. “She and Luna have been in the throne room with Gorlois and Synge for hours.”

“That's King Gorlois and Queen Synge to you, Graffiti.”

“Nopony's been allowed in or out and – shoot!” Her helmet slipped out from under her feathered wing and fell to the floor with a clatter. Twilight watched the younger mare scramble to pick it up and gave a small shake of her head. Graffiti was quick, adventurous and brave like her father, Spectrum, but she had a tendency to be as clumsy as Raindrops, her mother. “Twilight, I think something's up.”

“Like what?” the unicorn asked patently. “There's been peace across the world for the past fifteen years. You're here almost every night, Graffiti. You know Princess Celestia holds audience with the rulers from the dragon and gryphon clans quite frequently.”

“But not together, not with Luna.” Graffiti's pink eyes widened. “You should have seen how serious the day patrol was when we came on shift. All of the interns were told to wait down the hall while the night guards were briefed and everypony has been walking around on edge all night.”

“Then you should probably get back to your station before you're noticed to be missing.” A frown tugged at the corners of Twilight's mouth and her brow furrowed thoughtfully. The big meeting wasn't supposed to be until tomorrow. It made Graffiti's worried expression even more dramatic.

“Do you know something?”

“What?” Twilight blinked, then shook her head and smiled like a mother with her own child. “Of course not. All I know is that the princess wanted to see me so I should hurry up before I'm much later.”

“Good luck, Twilight.”

Pressing the helmet back down over head head, Graffiti's form and color shifted back into that of a Shadow Guard. She gave the unicorn a nod before slinking off into the deeper shadows of the castle. Sometimes Twilight found herself amazed all over again at the changes to the world since the Harbinger War. Since the beginning of ponykind it was only a stallion who could hold such a position of honor as to guard and protect those who sat on the throne. It was Rainbow Dash who had changed all that. She was the one who led the army that day, had organized points of attack and implemented militaristic strategies nopony else would have thought of. Princess Celestia asked her to help her find the most suited for the life of a guardspony and Dash had insisted that mares be given equal opportunity as well. And so, appointed new Captain of the Solar Guards herself and replacing the injured Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash was the first mare among the privileged few and paved the way for so many others like Graffiti.

The sound of a deep laughter rumbled down the empty halls, a sound like thunder on a warm summer night. Twilight couldn't help but smile to herself, recognizing the rich bass of the voice of the king of gryphons. Well if he was laughing that was a good sign, wasn't it? She glanced after where Graffiti had disappeared, then headed once more for the throne room.

Light spilled out from beneath the tall double doors two stoic guards stood blocking. They only had to see Twilight coming before their horns glowed with an ethereal green light and the doors were magically pulled open. A cool breeze rolled from the brightly lit throne room and Twilight entered, wondering how all of Equestria could be dying of heat-stroke in the humid summer yet the temperature around the sun princess was always perfectly refreshing.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia greeted evenly as the unicorn approached. “Forgive me for summoning you at such a late hour.”

“It's all right.” Twilight bowed before the princess, then rose and looked at the dark brown gryphon to her left with a respectful dip of her head. “King Golrlois.” She repeated the gesture to the large sapphire dragon on her right. “Queen Synge.” From a smaller seat beside the throne Celestia occupied came a very loud and rather deliberate cough that made Twilight bite on a smirk. “Princess Luna.”

Luna waved a hoof, a teasing smile on her lips. “Please, Twilight. How many times do I have to tell you to drop the 'princess'?”

Celestia gave her younger sister a meaningful side-eye before focusing her attention on Twilight. “I hope we did not disturb your evening?”

“Not at all. Clover and Sweet Dreams were asleep already, and Lucky Star is spending the night at Applejack's with Cortland. I was just up reading.”

“Of course you were,” said Luna evenly, though there was laughter in her dark eyes.

“Luna, please.” Celestia's quiet warning was enough to make the moon princess sit a bit straighter in her throne.

Twilight looked back and forth between the sisters, the small interaction between them making her nervous for reasons she couldn't find. “Is...everything all right?”

“Twilight, I've asked you here tonight because I need you to do something for me.”

“Of course, Princess. Anything.”

Celestia seemed to frown for the quickest of moments but her usual serene expression returned before Twilight could question it. “I was hoping you would be willing to go on a trip to Stableside and speak with some of the ponies that live there. As you know it is one of our older establishments; quite a few veterans of the Harbinger War built the small town from the ground up and many would be glad to see you again.”

Twilight nodded with enthusiasm. “I'd love to go to Stableside! Who am I to be speaking with? Am I going to teach or to give a talk? A magic demonstration? Do they have promising young unicorns you want me to recruit for magic school? Oh, I've always wanted to recruit young unicorns for magic school!”

“I am afraid it is not quite as much of a leisurely trip as that.” The quiet gravity in Celestia's tone made Twilight pull back her enthusiasm. Once more the princess frowned but this time she did not try to hide it. “There are five young ponies there I would like you to make contact with. All of them were alive during the war but they were very young and I am not certain you would remember them.”

Twilight grimaced. “Unless they were unicorns...” She'd spent a great deal of time with the unicorns just learning magic in the days before the war. Theirs were names she would never forget.

“Only one, though she may have been too young to be a student of yours at the time. He name is Checklist.”

“It doesn't ring a bell.”

“Well she remembers you. That is, she did.”

“Did?” Twilight's brow wrinkled. “I don't understand.”

“She has stopped dreaming,” said Luna. “I cannot visit her when she sleeps.” The alicorn looked at Celestia and added, “My sister cannot see her either.”

Surprised, Twilight looked up at her beloved mentor. “But...but you can see-”

“Nothing,” confirmed Celestia. “She still lives, as do four of her friends. But like Checklist, they cannot be seen either.”

“I'll go right away!”

“There is more.” With a graceful incline of her head, Celestia looked to Gorlois. “If you would be so kind as to share with Twilight what some of your ilk saw.”

The old gryphon took in a slow, deep breath and nodded almost lethargically. “Of course.” His deep voice was as slow as his movements, colored by a thick accent. “It was several weeks ago, but the temperatures were still much the same as they are now. You may or may not be aware but the caves of these mountains are filling up rather quickly.” From across the room Synge made a noise of agreement. “I sent several small groups out to locate different areas that would be good for starting our own colonies. While not all of us wish to leave there are those that would be happier to have roosts of their own, ones they would not have to share with big dragons and little ponies. Please take no offense.”

“No offense taken,” offered Celestia. “Please, your majesty. What was seen.”

“Yes, yes, what was seen. During a return flight back to these mountains from the area that was once known as Galloprey, my gryphons paused for a time of rest in the woods that surround Horseshoe Lake. They chose to stay closer to the heart of the woods rather than stay near the water itself simply because they wished to have peace and not be disturbed by a small group of ponies already there and enjoying themselves in the water. While they were certainly well isolated by the tall trees it was not impossible to escape all sound. Laughter and voices could be heard for quite some time until all of the sudden they stopped. It was of no concern for my kin, they simply assumed the ponies to have pulled out of the water and gone home. Then there was a cry. I am ashamed to say my gryphons did not respond as quickly as they could have. By the time they had risen above the treeline and could see the water, they found it completely frozen. And then, in a blink of an eye, no ice at all. No ponies, either. Just a boat, and nothing more.”

Twilight's brow was furrowed in thought. “Could your gryphons tell if the ponies in the lake were arguing or not?”

“They said they heard much laughter.”

“Not Windigos then.” The unicorn turned to Celestia and Luna. “Has anything like this happened before?”

“Not in the written history of Equestria.”

Looking back and forth between the gryphon and the dragon, Twilight asked, “What about your histories? Have you ever heard of anything similar?”

“Once,” admitted Synge, her whispery voice thoughtful. “But many things were happening all at once. Fire from water, snow from sand. It was a war among the dragons.”

“And nothing else out of the ordinary has been reported to have happened,” injected Luna. “Tia-my sister and I have been keeping a close watch on Stableside to be sure.”

Celestia sighed quietly. “To be fair, no one seems to know of the incident at Horseshoe Lake.”

“If it was over in an instant, I'm not surprised.” Twilight shook her head and turned worried eyes to Celestia's face. “Checklist and the others, her friends? They were the ponies in the water that day, weren't they?”

The sun princess nodded gravely. “We believe so, yes.”

“Well that settles it then. I'll go tell Clover what's going on, then I'll go get the girls and-”

“Twilight.”

The unicorn looked up at Celestia, surprised at being interrupted. “Yes?”

“Both Fluttershy and Applejack have young ones at home. I don't think it is the best idea for them to go with you. And Rainbow Dash is in no condition to go anywhere.”

Twilight blinked, reevaluating. “Okay. I'll get Pinkie Pie to come with me. Her kids are older and maybe Merry May or the Doctor and Scribes would be willing to come. I bet if I asked-”

“Twilight.”

Her ears drooped at being interrupted a second time. Something in the gentle tone was reminiscent of being corrected when she was a filly and it made her stomach knot. When she spoke again her voice was a hesitant higher pitch. “Yes?”

“This is not a task for the remaining Elements. I know it is what you are used to, but even if all six of you were still alive today and did not have families at home counting on you, it would still not be a task for you.”

“But, then...” She didn't understand. Before the war it had always been the six of them that took on these kinds of tasks and adventures. True, it was still hard to think of Rarity not being a part of it, and yes she could understand Applejack, Fluttershy and Dash not being able to join her. “...then who am I supposed to take?”

Celestia said nothing for a moment, only looked at Twilight with that same compassionate patience she always had. Then, with a very small smile she said, “I trust you will figure it out. You will leave first thing in the morning.”

“In the morning! I have to figure out who I'm taking tonight?!”

“Sister.” Luna's brow was drawn and her gaze was far away. “I believe-”

“Yes,” said Celestia quickly, her eyes also taking on a glazed look. “I believe you are correct.” She blinked and the slight smile she'd worn before grew as she looked at the exasperated Twilight. “It is time.”

“Time?!” Twilight all but yelled. “Time for what? I have no idea who I am supposed to take!”

Luna chuckled. “Not for you, Twilight Sparkle. For Rainbow Dash. She is about to have her fourth.”

The unicorn exhaled. “Oh, good. Wait, now?! I have to go!”

Without so much as a word of goodbye, Twilight's horn lit with a pink glow that quickly surrounded her body. She was gone with a POP! leaving the four rulers to chuckle after she had gone.

“I feel it,” Luna said quietly. She looked at her sister, a mixture of sadness and excitement in her expression. “Did you feel it before Solara was born?”

Celestia nodded mutely, then rose to her hooves and bowed respectfully to Gorlois and Synge. “Thank you for joining us tonight, you majesties. I wouldn't wish to keep you from your families any longer and it appears we have somewhere we need to be.”

“You will keep us updated?” asked Synge, rising as well.

“Of course. For now we must bid you both a very good night.”

The sisters stood side by side and waited patiently for their guests to leave the vast throne room. Once the doors were closed and they were alone, Celestia looked at her sister. “When Cadance was born I felt nothing. I thought it may have been that I did not know her family, was not as close to her physically when she was born. But when Solara was born I felt as though I had aged. It was not the same as it was the days leading up to the war or even the days of rebuilding afterward. This was a tiredness I had not known before.”

Luna looked at Celestia with sympathy. “Tia...why didn't you say anything? The entire time you kept up with your duties, held audiences. You never showed how you were affected.”

“Because that is what a ruler does, little sister.” Celestia smiled wearily. “It may still be years before we are finally permitted to rest. What would be the point in acting any differently? You've seen how timid and afraid Solara is. She may not decide to take my place.”

“I don't believe you would have felt what you did if that were true. She is still young yet. There is time for her to decide.”

“My point exactly.” Celestia titled her head slightly. “What do you feel?”

Looking down, Luna thought a moment before answering. “Like I've lost a part of myself.”

“A hollowness.”

“Yes.” The younger alicorn looked up. “What is that?”

“I believe it is the knowledge that we have finally come to a place in our lives where we have true friends and family. And soon we will have to say goodbye. We have said it may times to our subjects over the years but they never meant as much to us as these ponies do, and we were never the ones to do the leaving.”

With a sad sigh, Luna leaned her head against Celestia's withers and Celestia draped a wing across Luna's back. The night princess whined softly. “I don't want to leave my sons. I don't want to leave Pinkie Pie. She was the first pony to truly give me a chance.”

“There is still time, sister. Solara must agree and Rainbow Dash's child must grow old enough to agree and be taught as well.”

“Either way, we will have to say goodbye in the end.”

Celestia nodded solemnly. “Yes, we will have to say goodbye.”

“Isn't it strange? We have both felt a longing for the end for many years and now that it seems a possibility we want to hold onto the time we have left and make it last.”

“Come. Let's go meet this child who may very well be one of the next equestrian rulers.”

CH3. Best Friends

Twilight hurried into the large waiting room of Harmony's hospital. Several ponies took up seats here and there, most of them with drawn, tired expressions. At this time of the night if they were waiting for a friend or loved one it probably meant something serious. Normally Twilight would have been a bit more compassionate and a whole lot more curious, but she was on a mission. Her dark purple eyes swept to the back of the room and found three of her four best friends waving her down to where they waited.

“I got here as fast as I could,” she told them, trotting down to meet them. “I was up at Canterlot when I found out and wanted to go home first to tell Clover.”

“Good decision,” said Applejack. She set aside the magazine she'd been flipping through and glanced at the foal tucked into her Pony Bjorn to make sure he was still asleep. “Ain't no tellin' how long it could be.”

“I'm so excited!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing. “Another new baby! I LOVE new babies!”

Fluttershy sat and tucked her one wing in close to her body. “Why were you at Canterlot, Twilight? If you don't mind me asking, of course.”

“Princess Celestia wanted to talk to me.” Twilight glanced down the length of the waiting room and noticed Wild Hope for the first time. The young pegasus sat with her back to the group, her gaze out the window and into the dark. “If Hope is here and Soarin is with Dash, who's with Palette and Aero?”

Applejack grinned. “I told Pokey he could handle 'em.”

Twilight's eyes widened. “Good thing Lucky Star and Cortland are there.”

“Actually,” piped Pinkie, “they're not there. They're here. Well not HERE here, obviously or you'd be able to see them because they're not invisible. Unless!” She gasped and grabbed Twilight by her withers. “Has Lucky learned an invisibility spell? I want to be invisible!” Letting go of her friend, Pinkie turned in circles. “Lucky, I want to be invisible!”

Ignoring the excited pink mare, Twilight looked past her to Applejack. “Why are they here?”

“You know these kids,” smirked the earth pony. “One of 'em goes somewhere the rest have to go. Remind you of anypony?”

Fluttershy smiled softly. “That's what best friends do. Morning Glory wanted to be here for Hope as soon as she heard.”

“Which meant Dark Cloud wanted to be here,” added Applejack.

“Jubilee was still awake when I got the news.” Pinkie stopped sniffing around for invisible ponies and straightened. “Of course she wanted to come, too!”

“An' ran right to my house to tell Lucky an' Cortland which led to us findin' Hope an' me offerin' Pokey up as a foalsitter.”

Pinkie nodded. “Braeburn went over with Spice Drops to help.”

Unable to stop herself from chuckling quietly, Twilight shook her head. “Those poor stallions, having to watch three very energetic boys. Should I go back home and wake up Clover again? He could take Sweet Dreams over there and help. Where's Big Macintosh?”

“He worked too long of a day to be able to stay awake for much,” said Fluttershy quietly. “He's home with Solara and Bailey Sweet.”

Applejack waved a hoof. “Don't wake anypony up again, Twi, especially your little girl. They'll be fine.”

Nodding, Twilight sighed quietly and sat herself beside Fluttershy. Her eyes wandered, settling eventually on Fluttershy's side. Her coat had grown over the area where her wing had once been but there was a slight puckering to the skin underneath and the color was paler than the rest of her fur, like somepony had stuck a patch over the spot that had been damaged so deeply. It always made Twilight a little sad to see, though Fluttershy had adjusted better than anyone expected. Her mechanical wing helped, of course, though it couldn't have been an easy transition. But Fluttershy had handled it with her usual grace and quiet thankfulness.

“What's taking them so long?” Pinkie asked, blue eyes trained on the door and brow furrowed.

“Foals don't just pop out, Pinkie,” Twilight reminded. “You should know, you've had two!”

The pink mare giggled. “I don't mean Dashie and the baby. I mean the snacks!”

“Snacks?”

“Oh yes,” said Fluttershy, “the others went to the vending machines. Poor Hope is so nervous for her mother, they thought some snacks might help distract her.”

Twilight looked around her friends once more. Wild Hope was in the exact spot and in the same position she'd been since Twilight got there. Getting back to her hooves, she decided to go talk to the young mare herself instead of just talking about her and waiting for anypony else to try and help her feel better. Twilight curved her lips up into a smile as she drew close to the window and sat beside the pegasus. “How are you doing, Hope?”

The heavy-lidded pony turned rosy eyes to the unicorn and offered a strained smile in return. “I'm all right. How are you, Twilight?”

“Couldn't be better.” Twilight looked outside as well and found the source of distraction. While they were all apparently supposed to be getting snacks, there were five ponies outside doing rather amusing and silly things. Morning Glory and Dark Cloud were forming the night clouds into different shapes before making them dance through the sky. Down below was a peach colored earth pony with a blonde and pink mane, a cutie mark of a bitten into apple on her flank. She and another earth pony, a lanky handsome stallion with a coat the color of creamy coffee and a wavy mane and tail of blonde and silver, a cutie mark of an apple and an apple slice on his flank, took turns grabbing apples from a bucket and chucking them into the air.

“Why are Jubilee and Cortland-” Twilight's unfinished question was answered in the form of an explosion. Apple chunks and sparks flew through the sky and every pony outside laughed, cheered, and applauded for more.

“Lucky,” Twilight muttered.

Sure enough her son was out there. He stood off to the side with a grin on his face and concentration in his blueish purple eyes. His gray-lavender coat and his spiky black and blue mane and tail were covered in sticky bits of apple, so much so that it was hard to see all the stars of his cutie mark, even the biggest, most prominent one. His horn glowed with a blue aura of magic and another apple exploded above them. With a wide smile on his face, he turned to look in at Wild Hope. Seeing his mother sitting there next to her, a look of deep disapproval on her face, his grin immediately faded. The others noticed his change and turned as well. Just like Lucky, they came down from their silly high just catching Twilight's raised brow.

“Don't be mad them,” Hope begged quietly. “They were just trying to take my mind off of things.”

Twilight's lips were pursed and she sighed through her nose. “Inside,” she mouthed. “After you clean yourselves up.” She didn't have to be able to hear them through the thick glass or even have to read their lips to know they were all grumbling as they headed out of sight. Twilight turned her head to look at Wild Hope and noticed, perhaps for the first time ever, there was worry behind the usually serene

expression. “Everything's going to be fine, Hope. Your mom's been through this before. She's knows what she's doing.” The pegasus nodded mutely and Twilight's brow furrowed. “Is there something else bothering you?”

Hope shook her head and forced a small smile but her lack of an actual answer only made Twilight press harder. “We're all here for you. You know that, don't you? We're all family and family helps each other when help is needed. If you need somepony to talk to I've been told I'm a very good listener.” Hope glanced at her and Twilight rolled her eyes. “Okay, nopony's ever actually told me that. In fact I've been told I don't listen well enough, especially when something else is on my mind. But when you're trying to understand text and spells that are over a hundred years old you need every bit of concentration. Some ponies are just rude and impatient, and...” Another look from Hope had Twilight catching herself. Her ears dropped and an embarrassed smile crept over her lips. “Okay, so maybe I haven't always been the best listener. But I can try now.”

Taking a breath in, Hope turned to fully face the unicorn. “She's an alicorn, isn't she? The new baby, I mean.”

Twilight blinked in surprise. “What do you...I mean, it doesn't have to be a girl. Before Celestia and Luna it was a male and a female alicorn, but that's beside the point. Why would you think that?”

“I saw you teleport to the castle tonight. Please don't be angry. I was up in the mountains with Glory and Cloud, and before I left I saw your magic. And then I went home and Mom was in so much pain...”

“Oh, Hope.” Twilight shook her head and touched a hoof to Hope's cheek. “No, sweetheart, I'm not mad. The princess asked to talk to me about something completely different. My reason for being there had nothing to do with your mother. You have my word on that.”

Relief washed over the younger mare's face. “Really?”

“Really. Having a foal is painful, trust me. But I know she'll be okay and everything is going to be fine. Pretty soon you'll have a brand new baby sister or brother and all of this worry will be something you look back on and laugh.”

Hope hugged Twilight. “Thank you. I was really worried. I know it's important that another alicorn is found and that the princesses are tired, but I wouldn't wish that kind of life on anypony, let alone my own sibling.”

Twilight pulled back and nodded sadly. “To live beyond the years of your family and your closest friends wouldn't be easy for anypony.” She glanced behind them to where Fluttershy sat talking quietly with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. “If Solara decides to study under the princess and chooses to be her successor it won't be easy on anypony, especially Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. Fluttershy's already lost so much.”

“Morning Glory pretends she's happy for Solara and supports her but she doesn't really want her to become the next Sun Princess.”

“Of course she doesn't.” Twilight gave a sad smile. “But somepony will have to take her place eventually, and no matter who it ends up being there will be heartbreak.” She took a cleansing breath. “Let's not talk about that now though. This is a night to celebrate, not to be sad!” She wrinkled her brow and looked toward the doorway. “Now where is my sticky son and the rest of the troublemakers?”

On cue, five young ponies came trotting into the waiting room, all laughing quietly until they saw the adults. Lucky had a magical grip on a variety of junk food items and floated them over to where Hope and Twilight waited. Morning Glory nuzzled her best friend and Cortland hugged Wild Hope from the other side. Twilight took a few steps back as Lucky, Jubilee and Dark Cloud began divvying out their sugary booty. It was impossible to stay mad or even a little irritated at the group, watching them come together to cheer up a worried friend. They all cared for one another so deeply, it was obvious in the way they laughed, talked, even touched to offer comfort.

“Amazin' to watch, ain't it?”

Rejoining her friends, Twilight nodded. The four mares watched the children, all of them no longer foals but not quite adults. “I don't think I ever noticed before this moment how close they all are.”

“They would do anything for one another,” agreed Fluttershy. “Even Cloud and Glory.”

Pinkie Pie snickered. “Those two will get married someday. Just you watch.”

“So will Cort and Hope,” teased Twilight. This drew a frown from Applejack.

“Yeah, what about Jubilee an' Lucky?”

Twilight made a face. “Okay, let's not talk about that. Nopony is marrying anypony else for a long, long time.” She watched her son specifically for a moment. When he laughed his eyes crinkled at the edges, just like Clover's. He took a bite out of something chocolate and stuck his tongue out in disgust. Jubilee, right beside him, gobbled it up promptly and grinned wide and innocent. It only made the young stallion laugh. It was then that he turned, as if sensing eyes upon him. He met his mother's gaze and gave her a tentative smile, asking without words if she was upset with him. But Twilight's smile was warm in return and she gave a small shake of her head. Of course she wasn't. How could she be?

Suddenly the energy in the room changed. A collective gasp was drawn and all of the ponies at the front of the waiting room, sad or not, dropped themselves to the floor in a bow of respect. Princess Celestia dipped her head to them before moving closer to speak words of comfort. Luna all but ignored them and headed for the group at the back of the room.

“Luna!” exclaimed Pinkie, throwing her forelegs around her best friend.

Twilight's brow wrinkled. “Luna?”

“Hey, Mom.” Dark Cloud trotted over with a mouth full of chewing gum. “What are you doing here?”

“I knew it.” Wild Hope's voice was tremulous and soft, but it was hard to miss. From amid her group of friends she looked at the night princess with sad eyes.

“We cannot be certain until the foal is born,” Luna told her. “It is possible an alicorn is being born elsewhere as we speak.”

Hope's expression did not change. “Possible,” she repeated. “How likely?”

Luna glanced behind her to where Celestia was comforting a pegasus stallion. “Not very.”

“But it is possible,” Cortland pressed, rubbing Hope's withers.

Morning Glory smiled at Hope. “An' if it is an alicorn, you got me to talk to. Best friends, remember?”

As if finally realizing what was going on, a look of understanding crossed Dark Cloud's face and he rejoined his friends, leaving the adults in their own clump together. “Did you know when I was as the palace tonight?” Twilight asked, hurt.

“No. Well, not entirely. Perhaps a little bit.”

“How can you 'little bit' know something?” The unicorn scowled. “You either knew or you didn't.”

“It is not as simple as you would think, Twilight. It was not until after you left that I felt it.”

“Felt what?” Applejack asked.

“A shift in my magic. It was something like the breaking of my bond with the Elements of Harmony after Tia and I used them to capture Discord, and again when I was freed from the power of Nightmare Moon.”

Fluttershy's eyes were wide. “Like you lost some of your magic?”

“For lack of a better description, yes.” Luna frowned. “And a certain emptiness.”

The meaning of a new alicorn being born, even if it wasn't Rainbow and Soarin's foal, settled on all of them. Pinkie's tight hug around the neck of her best friend slowly loosened and she sagged into a sitting position beside the alicorn. Her blue eyes filled with tears, not the silly, over-dramatic kind she was famous for, but real tears that spoke volumes of her sorrow.

“Oh, Pinkie Pie.” Luna lowered her head and nuzzled Pinkie's wet pink cheek. “Please don't cry. This means nothing.”

“It means you're going to die!”

“Shhh.” Luna soothed as much to calm Pinkie as to try and keep the mare's voice lower. “Yes, I will pass on, as will Tia. But not for many years to come. It takes a great deal of time to train new rulers. There is a good chance that you will die before I do. The same can be said for my son.” Luna wrapped a hoof around Pinkie and pulled her into a tight hug, glancing over her head to take in the solemn expression on Dark Cloud's face. “Please stop crying, Pinkie Pie. You are the one pony I cannot bear to see sad.”

“Only if you Pinkie Promise to let me die first!”

The other three shared looks that said, 'Oh, Pinkie,' but Luna smirked. “I can't make that promise, Pinkie, but I will try my hardest to let you die first.”

Twilight looked at the children again and found Wild Hope doing her best to keep herself from crying. She and Dark Cloud sat closest together, both saddened over the news for different reasons. Their friends were all silent now, but all found a way to be touching them, as though their physical contact could somehow keep the two together if not make them feel better. For some reason it reminded her of the day she'd watched Spike and Rarity buried. She, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie had clung to one another and mourned together. They shared laughter and they shared the deepest pain. And looking at the group of young mares and stallions, something clicked into place.

She could see them as the next generation of the saviors of Equestria. Wild Hope, strong, caring, sympathetic. She would definitely be the Element of Kindness. Dark Cloud, not the brightest of the bunch but honest to the point of harshness at times, the Element of Truth. Morning Glory, who loved her family and friends with such a fierceness, would do absolutely anything for them, would be the Element of Loyalty. Loving Cortland often put the needs of others before his own and never complained, his joy coming from giving to others and making them happy would be the Element of Generosity. Jubilee was just like her mother in that she loved to make ponies smile and bring sheer to their lives. She was an obvious choice for the Element of Laughter. And then there was Lucky Star, her own son. Well he was all of those combined in Twilight's eyes. Was it fair that he should be the Element of Magic by default, because there was no other unicorn in the group? And his being the only unicorn made the group itself imbalanced.

“Twilight.”

The unicorn blinked and looked for her mentor, her voice breaking through Twilight's daydreaming. Locating her to the side of the waiting room, Twilight excused herself from the group of her friends and trotted over the where the sun princess waited. “Something tells me you have found those that would make your company in Stableside.”

Twilight turned her head toward the children again and nodded slowly, unaffected and used to the uncanny way Celestia just seemed to know things. “I think so. But it doesn't make sense. It's imbalanced. There's only one unicorn.”

“Imbalanced to you, perhaps. Part of having faith, dear Twilight, is trusting even when something doesn't make perfect sense to you.”

Looking up at Celestia, Twilight shook her head. “I don't think it's an issue of faith, Princess.”

“Don't you? Is is my experience that everything comes down to faith. Faith that there will be another day, another hour, another minute...another breath when I next breathe in.”

“They're not ready.”

Celestia's eyes twinkled. “Is that what your head tells you?”

“My head, my eyes. Look at them! They're barely out of their foalhood, all of them. If this situation in Stableside is as serious as some of the things my friends and I have faced...”

“And what does your heart tell you?”

This was always a question she hated answering. After the war when Twilight really began spending time with Celestia, becoming more her companion than a young student, it was a question the princess often presented to her when a big decision needed to be made. It required thinking with emotion rather than logic, and not a thing the cerebral unicorn was fond of doing.

“My heart tells me their bonds will never be stronger than they are at this very moment.” She tried to shut her brain off and simply feel. “Look at the way they all sort of move as one. They're comforting one another without words or anything. When one moves one way, another moves to compensate. For each weakness there is a strength in another pony and for every moment of doubt there is courage in one another.” Twilight felt her throat tighten. “They love each other dearly, better than I think even we, their parents, have ever really understood.”

“You have always had those same ties to your friends, Twilight. Do not discount that.” Celestia smiled patiently. “It was your friendship, those unbreakable bonds that first united you to defeat Nightmare Moon. It was your bonds that allowed you to overpower Discord and Queen Chrysalis. And without the strength of your friendships, the way you each moved and compensated, offered strength when there was weakness, showed courage when there was doubt, the Revenant would not have been slain.”

Twilight bit her lip. “Does that mean Lucky really is the Element of Magic by default? Because I don't think-”

“The Elements are no more, Twilight. This new world has no need of them.” The princess shook her head. “You're thinking too much.”

“But if there is a new enemy and we don't have the Elements or something comparable-”

“Faith.” Twilight's mouth opened slightly as things fell into place and Celestia nodded. “The Creator knows, Twilight. And has made all things to work for our good for those that would have faith and believe.”

Color seeped into the unicorn's cheeks and her ears folded back. “I guess in all the time I've spent studying I've forgotten the one thing I really should study over and over.” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We'll leave first thing in the morning. But, Princess, can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course.”

“Mind helping me convince their parents that I'm not drunk on cider when I ask to take their eldest children with me on a potentially dangerous mission in a town they've never seen before?”