Octavia sipped some tea that she found some after rummaging for an hour in the mostly empty library. Not Earl Gray, mind you. The sun goddess forbid that she actually found anything tasty. Just the generic, mass produced swill that the common ponies passed off as tea. But tea was tea, and after the day she had, any tea was better than no tea at all.

"You know, we've been here for two hours. Don't you think its time we go out and find the princess?" Hugin landed on table right in front of her. Octavia took another sip. The teas wasn't that bad, if you you ignored the raw acid feeling it gave you.

"The princess should be on her way … ."

Maybe if she added some sugar? Or some lemon? Or maybe both? Would it work with some cinnamon?

"Octavia … ."

"No." Octavia set down her cup. "I will not leave until the princess has arrived in the town." She glared at the crow. "I've had enough misfortune for one day."

"Don't you think you're being a bit harsh? They were only doing their jobs."

"I don't consider electrocuting ponies a job … ."

Hugin winced at that. He could still feel his wing a bit numb from the zapping. Octavia lit a couple of candles. It had gotten surprisingly dark for a summer. The sun went down early this time.

"Look. I don't want to be here either. I really don't." Hugin said. "But don't you think it will impress the princess a little bit, if you actually mingle for a bit? You might help yourself doing it."

Octavia pondered his words. He did have a point, whether she liked to admit it or not. The princess would really like if she mingled for a bit. But if she took too long, it would seem as if she was enjoying it. And that would give the princess the wrong idea. She made a decision.

"Alright. Lets go out for a while." Octavia walked to the door. "But only until the princess gets here. After that, we go to her immediately."

Even with the early sunset, the town was in full activity. Ponies walked, trotted and ran everywhere. Friends, family, lovers. All of them enjoying the celebration. A particularly affectionate couple walked in front of her, blushing and whispering sweet nothings to each other. It seems that somepony would get lucky tonight.

"All these ponies are so enthusiastic about the celebration." Hugin commented from her back. "No wonder the princess chose Ponyville to hold it this year."

"If that would be the case, why not Manehattan, or Fillydelphia? Those two are also quite lively around this date." Octavia replied. The last rays of the sun disappeared, making the lamp posts the only source of illumination, though it was long before candles were lit all over the place, allowing Octavia to check upon the different activities that were prepared for the night, all of them somehow related to the intellectual side of life, such as Guess the Spell, Equestrian Trivia and the ever popular contest of hoof made art. The last one was perhaps the least related to the whole festivity, but it was Octavia's favorite.

After all, she made art with her hooves.

"I would like to see the show." she asked the owner, who led her in front of a small stage where three tables had been set. To her surprise, the participants was none other than Minuette and Berry Punch.

"Hey Octavia! Here to watch?" Berry asked as she placed a large jug of punch on her table. The sight of it brought a small sense of nausea to Octavia. Minuette brought out a rather fancy sand clock, complete with a self-turning mechanism.

"I thought it was supposed to be hoof made." A voice called from the crowd. Octavia could recognized the elegant voice of Fleur. In fact, the tall unicorn rather stood out from the rest of the ponies.

"It is hoof made." Minuette answered. "Just because I'm a unicorn doesn't mean I don't know how to use my hooves."

Granted, that was new for Octavia. In her experience, unicorns tended to sacrifice hoof work in exchange for skills with magic. It was rare to see a unicorn use their limbs for work.

"Check it out sis! A competition!"

Two very recognizable pegasus dropped in front of the crow. Octavia didn't have to make much effort in remembering them. Cloudchaser and Flitter stared intently, awaiting for something interesting to happen.

"What are the odds of the five ponies we met, meeting in a single spot?" Hugin asked Octavia. Meanwhile, the judge started inspecting the sand clock. It wasn't long before he moved on the jug of punch.

"Thirsty? Have a sip." Berry offered.

"May I have some?"

The faces of the entire population of Ponyville looked to the sky in shock, as their ruler, Princess Twilight, descended from the heavens, landing right in front of the crowd. All of the ponies bowed down, from Minuette, to Berry, from the twins to Fleur. All of them except one. Octavia trotted to her teacher. Hugin was on her back.

"Good evening Octavia! Are we too late?" She asked cheerfully. Octavia, for all her frustration with her, couldn't help but to smile back. The princess always managed to put anypony in a good mood.

"No princess. You are just in time. Hugin and I have finished with preparations."

"Excellent! Don't want be tardy now? So where are your friends?" the princess fluttered her wings. The smile disappeared from Octavia's face.

"My friends. Well, we need to talk about that." Octavia took a step forward. "It is rather important. I believe my task has been completed and I would like to return to Canterlot."

The princess didn't say anything for a few seconds. Octavia could swear that the eyes of the princess went misty for an instant, suddenly appearing very tired, but it soon vanished. Her mentor gave a long tired sigh.

"Tell you what … ." The princess smiled. "Let me do the ceremonial speech. Then we'll talk about this — situation."

"Eh … ." Octavia was unsure how to answer, given the earlier image that she had had. "Sure. Thank you princess." And with that, her mentor flew off towards the Town Hall, where a podium was already set for her. Octavia hesitated before a small prick on her back brought her back to reality. Hugin was getting impatient. Blasted bird.

"We need to get going Octavia."

Silently, the mare walked with crowd, soon arriving in front of the hall. Murmurs and whispers were heard before the princess shushed them with a flap of her wings, at which point, all of the town paid close attention to her.

"Ponyville — My little ponies." Princess Twilight started. "Nearly a thousand years ago, destruction and hatred threatened this land. The monster known as Warlock Stallion, my own brother, swore to bring upon us an age of war and despair … ."

A minuscule red light flickered above the crowd, too high for anypony to notice. The princess carried on with her speech.

"His power was great. His anger, unmatched. No matter what we did, he would simply plow through. No force could rival his power. Not the dragons, not the soldiers, not even I myself." The last part elicited a quiet gasp from the crowd.

"All seemed lost. Until, through careful research and dedication, the Elements of Harmony were discovered. Powered by the love, trust, and friendship of this land, the elements overpowered this monster, and vanished him to the stars … ." The princess pointed a wing towards the beautiful night sky. Octavia barely noticed when Cloudchaser landed besides her.

"She's something isn't she?" She asked. Octavia didn't answer.

"Since then, harmony and peace have reigned upon the land, all thanks to the ponies who, many centuries ago, dedicated themselves to gather this power, and allow me to best my foe, and punish my brother for his actions."

Octavia stared intently. She was completely focused on the princess, on her words. On her graceful form. On the red light that was slowly floating right above her, as high as the town hall. What was that?

"Today, we honor the lives of the ponies who, through their investigation, their dedication and their loyalty, allowed me to harness this power, for it was thank to them that this golden era, arrived. An era of harmony, friendship and peace!"

"No!"

The entire town went silent as the voice echoed through the town square. Not two seconds later, a mighty beam of pure magical energy impacted the princess, sending her crashing through the wooden floor. Octavia could feel the heat all the way from where she stood.

"Princess!"

Ponies cowered, ran, or fell flat on their haunches as the smoke dissipated. From the smoke, a loud beating of wings echoed, blowing the dust away. Octavia was frozen in horror and concern as a mighty figure stood before them. Blood red in color, his purple mane flowed like blood gushing from a wound. His horn was as sharp as blade, while his muscles were visibly strong enough to shatter steel. His hammer and sword cutie mark represented the nature of the monster who had arrived.

"I," the stallion landed right in front of the crowd, "am the Warlock Stallion!"

Octavia couldn't move a muscle. She was petrified!

"And I have come to wage eternal war!"

Author's Note

Oh boy...