Alicorn Guard HQ
May 8, 2:58 P.M.
He didn’t know what to feel.
The past week had been a whirlwind of emotion and information to Sky. He had first gotten his headache shortly after Lily woke up, and it had persisted nearly the remainder of the week. Even now, his head felt as though it was just one rapid heartbeat from a migraine.
Princess Celestia had rushed back to Canterlot upon learning of the events that had transpired. It was only then that Luna divulged the full account of what had transpired. After Storm Emblem had attacked Nightmare Ghost, he vanished without a trace. The Nightmare withdrew from Ghost’s body and retreated back into Nightmare Moon’s broken armor. Ghost had survived, but it was discovered that in the mayhem of the Nightmare’s defeat, his horn had somehow been broken, and he had completely lost his ability to use magic of any kind.
The remaining members of the Alicorn Guard that had remained under Ghost’s control had been released upon Ghost’s defeat. None of them remembered any of what had happened, which supported Nighthawk’s account following his battle with Sky.
Discord, as it turned out, actually hadn’t betrayed them as Sky had suspected. Princess Luna had been quietly resting within a hidden chamber where it would have taken Nova hours or even longer to find her. So, Discord (being the lord of chaos) stepped in and notified Luna of an emergency within the Vault of Magic Artifacts, though he withheld any details for unknown reasons. Sky believed he was probably trying to cover his own hide by not committing his allegiance to one side or the other, but his assistance had nonetheless proven invaluable in the defense of Equestria, and for that, he was grateful.
A final bit of comparing notes and detective work had revealed the more mysterious workings of Ghost’s plot. While Ace, Scope, and Sky were dealing with the Diamond Dogs, Ghost sent Trucker, Razor, and Riptide on a supposed mission to the Macintosh Hills. However, the truth was that, through his mind manipulation, he sent them north to the Crystal Empire. There, they were to stage an attempt to steal the Crystal Heart with one major detail: their goal was not to steal it, but simply to make it appear as though somepony had tried to do so. Ghost had no desire or need to take the Crystal Heart, but he needed something to draw Celestia away from Canterlot. So, he made it appear as though a theft had been attempted without actually stealing anything. Then, when Celestia’s edict came for the Guard to mobilize, he simply recalled them back to Canterlot, and nopony suspected a thing.
It had been a masterful plan. It had not been without its risks and gambles, but as each one paid off, they demonstrated just how cunning Ghost had been in his designs.
And yet, in spite of all his talent and brilliance, he still fell just short of accomplishing his goal. And his failure had cost him everything: his position, his pride, and even his magic. He was utterly beaten.
And so it was that Ghost stood before the ranks of the Alicorn Guard and the two Princesses of Canterlot, looking dejected and bereft of all dignity. One the one hoof, he had been a monster that had caused near-insurmountable pain on numerous levels to not only Sky, but every member of the Alicorn Guard and the leadership of Equestria. But at the same time, he was also a beaten foe. Humbled and stripped of all power he once possessed.
So exactly what am I supposed to be feeling? Anger? Pity? Both? Neither?
Sky sat near the center of a semi-circle gathered around the violet unicorn. All around him, he could see the mixture of emotions upon every face. Bitterness. Betrayal. Compassion. Satisfaction. Judgment.
To Sky’s right, Celestia stood and cleared her throat. “Phantom Star,” Celestia said, sitting on Sky’s right, her face stern, “you have turned your magic against your own and plotted against the crown of Equestria. You have used your fellow guardsponies to further your own ends, unlawful as they were, and have even mastered many forbidden magics without approval. Do you have anything to say to these charges?”
Ghost’s face was neutral, but beyond the jagged tip of his broken horn, Sky could see a bitter disgust smoldering in his eyes. Celestia had been the object of his hatred his entire life because of her alleged mistreatment of Storm Emblem. So it had to have been even more infuriating for him to face her, not as the victor he had expected, but as the defeated one.
A complete silence and a disdainful glare were all the answer that Celestia received to her question. “You are held as a traitor to Equestria of the highest order,” she reiterated. “Do you understand this?”
Again, she received no response. “Very well,” she sighed. “For crimes of this magnitude, the punishment is exile beyond the borders of Equestria, never to return unless granted pardon at a future time. Do any others gathered here have anything to say before this judgment is passed?”
A chill ran down Sky’s spine. He cast a quick look past Celestia to where Luna sat with her eyes cast to the stone floor. She looked equal parts hurt and ashamed by the entire scene before her. And even beyond that, Sky could read the truth written in her eyes: one thousand years ago, this would have been her sentencing. She must have thought that she had no right to say anything now.
I know better, Sky thought sadly. If anypony should say something, it’s her.
Across the room, the faces of the Alicorn Guard silently covered the entire spectrum of emotions. Trucker’s face was solemn, displaying little of his emotions. Nova was visibly upset, and beside her, Rimshot did his best to console her. Sprocket and Juggles looked on with unsettled eyes. Boulder appeared more uncomfortable than most, shuffling and twitching in his seat. Ace, who showed no ill effects from his battle with Boulder, was one step short of positively furious, while Scope merely sat with his eyes closed. And then there was Nighthawk, and Sky could see the mental battle he was fighting with his own thirst for justice and his determination to resist the desire for revenge. If anyone could understand that, it was Sky.
And still no one spoke.
What’s there to say? one part of him seemed to say. He’s getting what he deserves, isn’t he?
But as if in response, a voice that had become familiar to him rose like an echo from the depths of his memories…
“Sky Streak…promise me you’ll save him. I couldn’t bear to have my line end like this. Beyond today, he will need someone to guide him. Promise me you will save him from his own darkness.”
I did make that promise, didn’t I? Was this what Storm Emblem meant…?
“So be it. Phantom Star,” Celestia resumed, her voice clear and powerful, “you are hereby sentenced to—”
“Wait, Princess,” Sky interrupted, rising to his hooves. Instantly, every eye turned towards him in shock. “I’m sorry I waited so long, but I would like to say something.”
Celestia looked half-expectant, but it was not her face that Sky had chosen to focus on. No, it was the stunned look on the face of Princess Luna that he clung to. “As I recall, a rebellion like this was attempted once before in the history of Equestria. One that led to much heartache and pain for thousands. And the repercussions of the decisions regarding that rebellion have reached far within this land. Into hearts. Across hundreds of years. And they have reached us here.”
He gazed up into the face of the one they had called Ghost for years. “Bitterness was one of the many evils that rose from that day. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this, it’s that bitterness is a tough root to kill.” He caught the eyes of Nighthawk for a moment before the crimson-maned pegasus averted his eyes. “And I think it falls to us to stop it before it can grow any further.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Celestia asked.
“This is Equestria,” Sky said, feeling a sense of inspiration grow in his chest. “Self-proclaimed home of harmony. But not too long ago, a very wise pony reminded me that we can only be a nation of harmony when we are also a nation of unity.”
Princess Luna’s head whipped straight up with such speed, Sky almost thought it would fly off her shoulders. She looked at him in surprise, but said nothing. “And like it or not,” Sky continued, “every one of us in here is a citizen of Equestria.” He scanned the faces of the room and got the distinct impression that not everypony entirely agreed with him. “We of the Alicorn Guard swore to protect Equestria and serve its citizens as best we could. I don’t remember a provision stating that we were exempted from that vow under certain conditions.”
“There’s no need for sarcasm, Blitz,” Razor admonished.
“I’m not trying to be sarcastic,” Sky replied. “I just want to be clear. We. Help. Everypony.”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed, and Sky could almost literally see the smoke pouring from Ace’s ears. “Listen. The only difference between Ghost and myself is how we were brought up. What we were taught and what we learned. Were our places switched at birth, I’d be the one on trial here.” He looked at Ghost, and was surprised to see the unicorn’s emotionless eyes staring right through him.
“I don’t know about that…” Sprocket began.
“Well, I do,” Sky stopped him before he could go any further. “Our service extends to all the ponies within Equestria. And I can’t think of anything more disloyal or dishonorable than to see one who was named among us in need and not offer him our help.”
“He deserves his sentence!” Ace blurted angrily, jumping to his hooves. “He earned it! What possible reason could we have for wanting to help somepony who betrayed us all?!”
“I can’t blame you for not wanting to,” Sky conceded. “But we promised, Ace.” He paused. “And some of us promised more than others.”
He took a deep breath and stepped into the midst of the half-ring of onlookers. “Ghost,” Sky said, and the unicorn’s eyes locked onto him.
“Do you pity me, Blitz?” Ghost muttered. His eyes darted around the room for a moment, taking in the faces of his accusers. “Do you feel sorry for me?”
Sky narrowed his eyes, hoping to convey a sense of stoicism with his words. “Yes. I guess I do.”
“Then you’re wasting your time and energy with that,” Ghost retorted, his nostrils flaring with each word. “I don’t want your pity, nor do I need it. Save your compassion for the weak. I have no use for it.”
“See? Take it straight from his mouth!” Ace shouted. “He said it himse—”
But without looking, Sky quickly raised a hoof in Ace’s direction, silencing him with the gesture. He returned Ghost’s cold stare, but somewhere around the edges of Sky’s face, lines of care were laced with sympathy. “You may not care for pity or compassion, and I honestly didn’t expect you to. But beyond that, there’s something that you still need, whether you want it or not.”
“And that is?”
Sky took another step forward so that only a few inches separated his face from Ghost’s. “Equestria cannot be united until rifts between us are filled and the walls that divide us are torn down. Maybe that’s not much of a reason,” Sky continued, noting Ghost’s exasperated expression, “but it’s a gesture of goodwill that I offer to you. Your family did wrong to you, and you only passed on that wrong thinking it was right. And I want to do my part to make sure that the wrong never haunts you again.”
He closed his eyes, took another deep breath, then released it through his nose. The next thing he was going to say might have been the hardest thing he had ever done. But in his heart, he knew that he had no other option. It was the right thing to do.
He reached out and laid his bandaged leg on Ghost’s shoulder. The unicorn regarded it for a second curiously, then looked again into Sky’s face with a look of distinct confusion. “Ghost,” Sky said, opening his eyes, “I forgive you.”
All around him, Sky heard a crowd of voices all gasp in unison. Even Ghost, who had shown next to no emotion up to this point, couldn’t hide his surprise. “I want to help you,” Sky continued, “in any way I can.”
But Ghost’s surprise evaporated within seconds, replaced with a heartless chuckle. “Blitz, I can’t tell if you’re really that naïve, or if you just have a terrible memory. But have it your way. Forgive me if you want. You won, after all,” he added with a sneer.
“Enough, Phantom Star,” Celestia commanded. “Blitz,” Sky heard her say, and he turned to face the monarch, “what would you have me do? You cannot deny that he has done many terrible deeds, all deserving of a severe punishment. If you do not believe that exile is a proper sentence, then what do you think is?”
Sky shuddered on the inside. Whenever he heard Celestia speak so formally, he couldn’t help but envision her as the mighty warlord of old, along with all her glory, splendor…and terror. He swallowed, attempting to ease his nerves. “Princess, if I may be so bold, was it not another exile that was the cause of all this in the first place?”
Celestia and Luna exchanged surprised glances, but quickly looked away as an uncomfortable silence fell. “Perhaps so,” Celestia answered, in a more subdued tone, “but you still have not answered my question. What should we do instead?”
“I’ve been to his home in Vanhoover,” Sky answered. “Why not let him return there, just as his ancestor was permitted to do?”
“His ancestor had done nothing near as heinous as Ghost has done,” Cubic replied. “Not to mention that we know of countless tomes and volumes of forbidden magic contained within the walls of that home. I do not think we can afford to trust such devices to one so untrustworthy.”
“I’m not saying we let him go back scot-free,” Sky countered. “By all means, those books should be confiscated and sealed away. They’re dangerous…I don’t need to read them to know that. Being around them was unsettling enough.” He shuddered for a moment, remembering the dark sensations of Ghost’s home. “But he already has somewhere he can call home. We can watch him; post a guard to make sure he behaves himself, whatever you like. But I’m sick of seeing the repercussions of the mistakes of one thousand years ago. Storm Emblem was pardoned and forgiven. So was Princess Luna. And I’m going to see to it that after Ghost, nopony needs to be forgiven because of that fateful night.”
“That is easier said than done, Blitz,” Celestia admonished.
Don’t I know it, he thought. “I’ve learned that most things worth doing are that way, Princess.”
“I must agree with him, sister,” Luna said suddenly. She looked somehow…different than Sky seemed to recall having seen her over the past few months. It was not the innocent look of the Luna that Storm Emblem had known, but it was not the troubled Princess of the Night that Sky had spoken with numerous times over the past two years. It was a new Luna; one that had moved beyond both innocence and pain and found a new identity: one of peace. “The seeds of hatred have been allowed to grow for too long. I suggest we plant anew: let us sow the seeds of mercy and forgiveness, and be done with hatred among our subjects once and for all.”
Celestia seemed to smile to herself. “When you put it like that…”
She looked down at Ghost, whose disinterested visage had persisted in the midst of all the debate concerning his fate. “So it is decreed. Phantom Star, your deeds here will not be forgotten, but neither shall you be held accountable for them at this time. You shall return to your ancestral home in Vanhoover, where you shall either prove that these ponies’ willingness to forgive you was well-founded,” gesturing to her sister and Sky, “or that you are beyond redemption. Should it be the latter, I need not tell you that judgment shall come swiftly. Do you understand this?”
“The decree, yes,” Ghost said, though his voice lacked the disdain of his previous responses. “Though I can’t say I understand the reasoning behind it.”
“That’s exactly the reasoning behind it,” Sky answered. “Because we want to make sure that everypony understands what it’s like to be loved as a friend and be a friend in return.”
A shadow passed over Ghost’s face. “Hmph,” he said, spinning and walking towards the exit, where two royal guards awaited.
But Sky wasn’t about to let him go so easily. He reached out and wrapped his leg around Ghost’s and spun him back around until they were again staring each other in the face. “Listen, I know you probably think this is all about shaming the defeated enemy, just like you think that’s how it was for Storm Emblem,” he said in a voice low enough so that only the two of them could hear. “But I’m trying to do this because of Storm Emblem. Because he asked me to save you. And that’s what I want. It’s what both Luna and I want.”
“And how does that help, Blitz?” Ghost countered angrily, but in an equally hushed tone. “Storm Emblem basically disowned me and named you as his heir! How could I expect any kind of ‘well wishes’ from a pony who would look on me and refuse to acknowledge me as his descendant?!”
“Weren’t you listening?” Sky barked back, tightening his hold on Ghost’s leg. “He called you his son! He didn’t disown you! He just wanted you to understand that there’s more to being an heir than blood!”
“It doesn’t matter anymore! Storm Emblem is gone, and everything that his descendants have worked for has burned to ashes. All you’ve done is change the place where I will live out a meaningless existence. So, thanks for that,” he added with a sneer.
“Then leave the ashes,” Sky challenged. “Storm Emblem did. And he left a legacy that you can still live out and honor.”
Ghost did not respond, though the look in his eye was one of mild curiosity. “You know the story of Storm Emblem better than anypony,” Sky said. “He lived out his days in peace. You’ve been haunted by the past for too long. We want you to find the same peace that he did.”
Ghost snorted again and shook his head. “You’re bound and determined to ‘save’ me, aren’t you?”
Sky nodded. “Yes.”
Quickly, Ghost pulled his leg free of Sky’s grip and turned around. “Then you’re just wasting your life. There’s nothing here to save.” With that, he walked out of the chamber, escorted by the two royal guards, leaving Sky where he stood.
“There’s no saving him, Blitz,” Ace said as he approached on Sky’s left. “He’s just too far gone. Has been for too long. Just let him go. Equestria will be better off without him.”
“Maybe,” Sky admitted. “But it would tarnish the nature of what we stand for if we were just to let him fade without trying to save him. And I believe that mercy can reach anyone. They just have to reach out and take it.”
“Do you honestly think he will?” Ace asked, looking surprised.
“That doesn’t matter,” Sky replied, looking his commander in the face. “I can’t base what I do on whether or not ponies will accept them or not. I’m just supposed to do what’s right.”
“Speaking of doing what’s right,” Celestia’s voice echoed through the chamber, drawing Sky’s attention to the Princess of the Sun, “that brings us to another critical decision we must make.”
Sky hurried back to his place beside the Princess as the semicircle reformed. “Word of the battle over Canterlot has spread throughout Equestria, and with it has gone news of both pegasi and earth ponies that are capable of using magic. As of right now, I have received numerous demands for an explanation. The Alicorn Guard has always existed in secret as a temporary substitute for the protection of the Elements of Harmony.” She let her head fall, and her voice grew softer. “I should have brought an end to the Guard when the Elements returned. But then Blitz acquired his power, and I began to wonder if that was a sign that the Elements and the Alicorn Guard were meant to exist together: in harmony.”
Luna placed a sympathetic hoof upon her sister’s back, who sighed in regret. “But I was wrong. I never worried about using the Elements of Harmony, but the thought of a group of ponies, many of whom should not be able to use magic, using magic to protect Equestria? My fears misgave me, and I decided not to reveal the Alicorn Guard. And as such, I achieved nothing: all that remains are questions and mistrust.”
She raised her head, and tears were visible in small pools in her eyes. “And now, I have but one option: I must answer the questions I feared. And the Alicorn Guard can exist no longer.”
A collective gasp rose from the group, though Sky merely snorted softly. He had suspected this was coming. Ever since he had fought Ghost’s controlled minions over Canterlot, he knew that the Alicorn Guard would never be the same, if it would even exist at all. “The Guard was built upon secrecy, but Ghost forced our hoof,” Celestia continued softly. “The secret is out, and the Alicorn Guard must disband. I am sorry.”
A silence fell upon the group. It was sad, but also contemplative. The lives of each pony gathered in the room had been dramatically changed in one small statement. What came next? What would the following days hold? Would Equestria accept them with their unique abilities, or would they be shunned as unnatural freaks?
Another voice cut through the silence. Sky looked up in surprise to see Nighthawk, a look of sadness on his face, but a familiar glimmer in his eyes that Sky recognized.
Hope.
“Princess,” Nighthawk began, “what if we could continue the Alicorn Guard? What if we didn’t have to disband?”
But Celestia shook her head. “No, Nighthawk. There are too many questions being asked for the Guard to continue to function in secrecy. We have no choice but to terminate its existence.”
“Perhaps I misspoke,” Nighthawk replied, undaunted. “The Alicorn Guard was based upon secrecy: a secrecy which has been shattered. But why disband the group entirely? I think we all agree that all of us make a good team. We have a good thing here. Why destroy the group when we could just…repurpose it?”
Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “I’m listening.”
“Equestria will find out about our existence. Fine. But why should that mean that we can’t continue to do what we’ve always done? I guess…why should secrecy matter? Blitz is right,” he said, nodding to Sky with a knowing smile. “We’re guardians. That’s what we do. We should keep doing it.”
“I admire your determination, but do you think that the citizens of Equestria are ready for you? You are quite…strange, in no uncertain terms,” Celestia explained, her face betraying an unspoken apology. “Twelve of you shouldn’t have magic in the first place, and even the five unicorns here possess magic beyond what they should. I fear that your lives would be lives of involuntary seclusion. It is not unusual for ponies to shun those things which they do not understand.”
“But Solace,” said a new voice, and Sky followed the voice back to the mouth of Trucker. “I think I speak for everypony here when I say that throughout our tenure within the Alicorn Guard that we’ve already endured a sense of isolation. All that secrecy…we weren’t able to be open with our friends and family. We could never be as close as we wanted to be—always forced to hold something back. In a way—for myself, at least—I’ve become used to feeling alone.”
A stunned expression came to Celestia’s face, only to be replaced moments later with a look as though she was going to cry. Her lip began to quiver as she brought a hoof to her mouth. Trucker appeared aghast as he watched Princess Celestia break down from his words. “Wait, no…I—I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant—”
“I get it,” Sky said. His eyes drifted across the room, and he could see the flustered looks on each face, mingled with the guilt of knowing that they couldn’t deny the truth of Trucker’s revelation. “It’s like what you told me, isn’t it, Princess? How when you try so hard to lead in such a way that it helps everyone, it makes it that much more painful when you find someone that it hurt.”
“Yes,” Celestia sniffed. “But I also told each of you when you joined the Alicorn Guard that its foundation was upon teamwork and dependency on others. I told you to spend time with your friends and families so that it would make you strong for those times you could not be with them. But at the same time, I’ve robbed each of you of that very privilege. How could I not understand? I’m so sorry!”
“Then give us that chance,” Nighthawk said, walking forward until he stood directly before the Princess of the Sun. “Every one of us would gladly offer our lives to protect Equestria. That hasn’t changed. But if unity really does make us stronger, then wouldn’t we all be better off without the secrets?”
“Nighthawk’s right,” Trucker agreed, coming to the orange pegasus’ side. “Let’s give the citizens of Equestria what they deserve: the protection that you’ve always wanted them to have, but also the right to know the truth.”
Sky’s gaze was drawn away from the softly crying face of Princess Celestia into the beckoning gaze of Princess Luna. Within her eyes, he could see a distinct message: You have something to say.
He did. It was true. It had almost become a running joke: in dramatic moments, Sky always had something to say. It was almost as much a calling card for him as “that stupid grin,” as Scope referred to it.
But this time was different. He shook his head and raised his hoof, gesturing back to the Princess. Luna’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment. He could’ve sworn he heard her voice in his head saying, “Me?!”
Yes, Princess. I could say it, but I’m not the pony that should say it. That right belongs to you.
Her gaze faltered for a moment, fighting yet again with the pain of her past that clung to her like a parasite. But she quickly raised her head again, and any trace of doubt she had was gone. “We have all made mistakes in the past,” she began quietly. But every head in the room turned towards her, perhaps sensing the weight in her words. “And some here have made more than others. But those mistakes have no bearing upon us now. We need to leave them behind. Let this be a place where we release our feelings of guilt and cast our mistakes aside. I have my own mistakes which have plagued me since my return. But here, at this place where so many of my faults converged yet again, nearly to our ruin, I lay them down. I am determined to live free of the guilt of my past. No pony else views me with guilt for my past—I will join the ranks of Equestria and live as I truly am: forgiven.”
Her eyes locked with his as she finished, and he didn’t need to hear a single word to understand what her face was saying
“Now you have something to say.”
Yup.
He stepped forward. Every motion was involuntary: he didn’t need to think. “I’ve let my anger get the best of me. And I’ve caused pain to so many of those that I love with my poor choices and inability to control my emotions. But they love me just the same. They don’t see my mistakes when they see me: they see a friend that they love being with and having around. My faults are part of me, but they don’t define me. So I leave them here. I’ve been forgiven. So I’m gonna live that way.”
A gentle, warm feeling seemed to whisk about through the air, dispersing the sadness and bringing a smile to every face. “I’m a lot like Blitz,” Nighthawk said with a sigh. “I was so determined to be the best that when that distinction was challenged, I made it my goal to make it as hard as possible for that pony to surpass me.” He looked at Sky, and a familiar peace shone from his face. “But, when that same pony had the chance to exact a revenge that I deserved, he found a better way. He spared me. He showed me mercy when I had no right to receive it. And now, I gladly follow him for it.” He trotted to Sky’s side and gave him a friendly nudge. “I lay my jealousy behind. Because I’m forgiven.”
“Um…”
Sky watched as Hobo stepped forward, looking rather uncomfortable as the center of attention. “I’ve been awfully rude to a lot of you guys recently. When, uh…like when I was, uh, working on the shooter. I guess I just got so focused on it that I forgot my manners.” He looked around at his comrades nervously until his eyes drifted to where Juggles and Sprocket stood side-by-side. “And Juggles…” he began.
But she stopped him. “Hobo, you don’t need to apologize to us. It was sweet how you kept asking me out, even though Sprocket and I are together. We never took any offense to it.”
“But I should have respected your relationship, and I didn’t,” Hobo pressed. “I…I was jealous, too. I was jealous of you, Sprocket. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” Sprocket said, stepping out of the semicircle and giving the orange unicorn a pat on the back. “We’re friends, Hobo. And I know you’d do anything for me, just like we’d do anything for you. So if you feel the need to apologize, then we feel the need to forgive you.” He smiled down at Hobo, who slowly offered a sheepish grin in return.
Sky’s heart swelled in his chest. This…this is what it means to reconcile the past with the future. This warm feeling…it’s the expression of the bonds of love between us: the love that looks past our shortcomings and sees each other as the special ponies that we are. That’s the very essence of forgiveness. It’s believing in the good instead of focusing on the bad. I finally understand that. His eyes drifted again to the form of Princess Luna. And I think she does, too.
“Well,” Celestia said, rising to her hooves and wiping her eyes, “this took a dramatic turn…but one for the better.” She stepped forward, smiling at every pony as her gaze swept across the room. “Every one of us has our mistakes that haunt us, and we could be here for days talking about them. But I have a better idea.” Her horn lit up, and a circle of light appeared on the floor in the center of the room. “You, the Alicorn Guard, all swore your oaths when you joined, vowing to uphold the principles of harmony and to protect this land from any that dare threaten it. And you all have performed admirably in that regard. But here, if I may, I would ask that you take one more oath—one that my sister and I will join you in taking.”
“What is that, Princess?” Nighthawk asked.
“I propose that here, in this place, right now, we make a solemn vow to leave the guilt of our past mistakes behind. We have all seen the trouble that comes from dwelling on the darkness of our failures. We may never be free of our shortcomings, but we do not have to live in fear of them.” She shook her mane, and the glowing circle shimmered in response. “Our friends show us love that is stronger than our guilt and fears. So, at this time, I ask each of you to take this oath with me: that no longer would fear and pain have dominion over us, but that the love and joy we share with others would guide us and protect us from those feelings that would cast us under the shadows of doubt.”
“I’m in,” Sky said without hesitation, placing a hoof within the glowing circle. “You don’t need to ask me twice.”
“I’m done with my jealousy and anger,” Nighthawk said, adding his own hoof to the circle.
“I’ll take the harmony of my friends over guilt and bitterness anyday,” Trucker agreed.
Soon, the circle was filled with the seventeen hooves of the Alicorn Guard. “The upcoming days will undoubtedly be difficult and bring many changes to each of us,” Celestia said as she and Luna hovered above the shining circle. “But we will face those days together. And we will face the challenges to come with our friends by our side. And should we stumble, we know that our friends will be there to pick us back up again.”
“We are done with fear, guilt, and bitterness,” Luna said, her horn igniting, matching her sister’s intensity. “They are laid to rest. Long live harmony!”
“Long live harmony!” everypony shouted.
A brilliant blaze of light burst from the circle, consuming the chamber. As it subsided, Sky found himself staring at an amazing new sight. Where the circle of light had once been, a large etching had been carved into the stone surface. As they all stepped back, Sky ascended to get a better look.
It was a perfect circle, and all around the edge, he saw the shapes of seventeen familiar cutie marks. And in the center, side-by-side, were the equally familiar cutie marks of Princesses Celestia and Luna. And in the midst of all of them, seven short words were written. He smiled as he saw them.
“What’s it say, Blitz?” Ace asked from below.
“It says, ‘HERE LIES OUR GUILT. LONG LIVE FORGIVENESS.’”
“I think you mean, ‘It reads,’ Blitz,” Scope corrected.
“Shut up, Scope.”
“You will have to answer many difficult questions in the coming days,” Celestia said as she and Luna gracefully returned to the ground, “but I believe that none are as deserving as the answers as your families and friends. They deserve the truth, and I’m sure you would like to tell them.”
“Your oath of secrecy is hereby nullified,” Luna said. “You may speak openly of everything. And it may be that this is the end of the Alicorn Guard. However,” she added with a twinkle in her eye, “do not be surprised if all of you are summoned by the Council in the coming weeks. There are some oaths you still must fulfill.”
“Yes, Princesses,” they all said with a bow.
As he lifted his head, Sky knew that a new age had begun. No more secrets. No more isolation. The world was different…and it was all for the better. Every face in the room reflected the newfound joy and excitement they all felt. The next few days would be tough, sure, but he wasn’t afraid. He had nothing to hide. For the first time in nearly two years, Sky finally felt free.
He thought of his parents. His friends in Foalumbus, Coltlanta, and Cloudsdale. He saw Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. He saw Lily. And he thought of how liberating it would be to finally bare his soul to them and tell them everything he had wanted to let them know for so long.
He cast one last look again at the giant stone etching and grinned.
Long live Harmony.
THE END