//------------------------------// // A Fox's Reunion // Story: The End of The Long Road // by Cobalt the Kitsune //------------------------------// ~~~ 3,000 years earlier ~~~ A young adult alicorn glided silently in the night, low and hidden in the shadows of the Castle grounds hiding from the Moon’s light. He didn’t want to be spotted, by anyone, not by guards, not by servants, not by his sisters. Equestria was becoming boring. It was becoming tame. He couldn’t stand that! He needed to get out of here. Landing near by a wall, he picked up his saddle bag that was packed with all that he’d needed, food, gold, a sleeping roll and maps of all the known world, which he had hidden in a hedge. He quickly shinched the bag around himself before once again setting out, this time meaning to get beyond the walls of his gilded cage. Getting ready to take of at his full speed, he was stopped by an old wise voice coming from behind him. “So that’s where my all maps went...” “Starswirl...” Cobalt said before turning about to face, the bearded stallion. “I’m not your student anymore...You can’t stop me from leaving this time. You don’t have the right.” “No I can’t” The elderly wizard said with a sigh. “But I will ask you to reconsider! Equestria is still a fledgeling nation. You were a good student, though you pretended to be apathetic. You would make a great leader.” “No...trust me Equestria is much better off without me.” He said sighed as he hung his head and once again tried to turn away again and prepare to take of. “My sisters are better off without me.” “Are they really?” Starswirl asked, before two younger ponies stepped out from behind the the bell trimmed cape. “What’s going on.” The adolescent Celestia said wiping sleep from her eyes. “You know I don’t like being awake after I set the sun.” “A-are you trying to sneak out again...” A filly luna said, staring up at her big bother with eyes as wide and as gleaming as the full moon. “Wait a minute.” Celestia said, noticing how well packed he was this time. “This isn’t one of you week long trips...you're going away for real this time...” The little sisters were looking up at him, hoping their big brother won’t leave them. They always thought how silly he was of talking about leaving one day and seeing the world, but even than he was the only family they had. He was looking into their tearful eyes, knowing well that they didn’t want to believe he was leaving them... But this was his choice. “You two...You two are stronger than I am.” Cobalt said with a sigh as he tried to justify himself. “You’ll both make great rulers...I’d just get in your way.” “That’s not true!” Celestia plead as she seized on of her wings. “You are the strongest of all of us! You always have!” “Perhaps in sheer power.” Cobalt said as he took his wing back with a curt move. “But...In emotional equanimity, in level headedness, and in patience? Of all the things that make a good, kind ruler I am quite weak. This is a peaceful place Tia. These people don’t need power to defend from outside attack. These people need a kind healer to stitch the wounds between the races.” “Where will you go!?” Luna said her eyes still looking up at him pleadingly as she trotted up close to him. “To The Crystal Empire first...” He said simply before shrugging. “Then...who knows.” “There’s no way to convince you to stay?” Celestia said with a sigh, seeing that there was no way to stop him. He shook his head no. “I-I’ll try to keep in touch...” He forced the corners of his mouth into a weak smile as he backed away from his sister. He took off with a thunderclap, and was gone. ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ “What are we going to do with you...” Celestia said, pacing back and forth in front of her brother. He was sitting on the polished floor of the throne room, surrounded by tapestries and stained glass windows that adorned the walls. Cobalt opening his mouth to say something, but was quickly shushed by his sister. “You don’t get to talk yet.” “With all do respect Princess.” Twilight said, stepping forward to advocate for Cobalt. “He is your brother. As family, shouldn’t you be overjoyed to see him?” “Ohhh I don’t know how to feel!” Celestia said, a fire flaring in her mane as her temper did, making Twilight step back in surprise. She didn’t think she ever saw her mentor truly upset. It was a little...scary. “I for one am glad you are back.” Luna whisper to him as she gave him a small embrace with this wings. “Thanks Lulu.” Cobalt returning her whisper and embraced. The still steaming Celestia trotted up right to his face. “W-Why didn’t you contact us? You didn't write a single letter!” “I-I often meant to.” He said looking at his hoofs ashamedly. “I would often find baubles and trinkets in markets I’d pass through...I’d buy them because they’d remind me of you. I mean to send them to you...so you could see where I’ve been...You can see how that worked.” “Well...I guess we should find some way of introducing you to the Equestrian people again.” Celestia said with a sigh, working herself down. “I guess tomorrow will be as good as any...” “Princess.” Twilight said respectfully. ”Perhaps we should inform Princess Cadence?” “Wait Princess who know?” Cobalt said, feeling absolutely out of the loop. With two new Princesses, along with all the other changes he felt so ignorant. “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza Is the current ruler of the Crystal Empire.” Princess Celestia explained to her brother. “Cadence as I know here used to be my foal sister.” Twilight said a note of pride entering her voice. “She’s actually married to my brother.” Cobalt cocked his head a little. “Hun... I think I’d like to meet her...” “Well, it would be better if we went to her. She’d still be tending to her foal.” Luna explained. “Flurry Heart has been the first true born alicorn in living memory.” Cobalt sat up and took notice. “That is something special...” He never heard such a thing since his sisters were born. Thinking it would be impossible for another one to be born, he thought they were the only ones. “Perhaps, if we knew Cadence’s parentage, it be less puzzling.” Celestia said with a sigh. “You see, Cadence became an alicorn, like Twilight. She was an orphan pegasus raised by earth ponies, before she ascended.” This gave Cobalt obvious pause. “Impossible...” He muttered under his breath. “Well I suppose we should set off to The Crystal Empire as soon as we can.” Luna said stretching herself out a little. “I suppose that means we’ll miss out on the Dessert Competition.” Celestia said already longing for the missed cakes she would have indulged in. Mr. and Mrs. Cake, from Ponyville always made a good showing, but there were so many talented bakers all over Equestria. Missing out of all those wonderful confections would be devastating. “Don’t worry.” Twilight says gently putting a hoof on her mentors wing to comfort her. “I’m sure Pinkie will make lots of cakes if we get her to throw a ‘Welcome Home’ party for your brother.” --- --- --- The Royal Car, despite being furnished very plushly, was uncomfortable to Twilight, who had always ridden in the public cars with the general population. Cobalt as well, seemed none too pleased at his situation. “Isn’t this a bit...much?” He asked as he looked about all the trappings in the car. “Our subjects like to keep us safe.” Luna said as she lounged in one of the couches provided. “A private train car is a good way to do that.” “But it’s rather...Opulent...Don’t you ever worry that you're being a burden to the people?” Cobalt prompted. He was used to living ruff, and without much. Being thrust back into this world of excess drove him out of his element. “Yes,” Luna said honestly, as she looked out the window. “I do worry about how that the lifestyle Celestia and I affect our people. That’s why I try to be the kindest ruler possible as well as one that can be relied upon to face outside threats.” “Well I agree with Luna about trying to repay the people, I don’t feel burdensome to the people. Our allowance, upkept of the castle, and state dinners, not only make up a small portion of the taxes levied on our subjects, but arguably benefit them as much as us?” Celestia said, adding her side of the argument. Luna seemed a bit inflamed by her sister's response “You really mean housekeeping for rooms in a castle that the majority of the time go used is a benefit to the people?” “When we need to use those rooms to host foreign ambassadors or peace conferences yes!” Celestia reply, her voice getting heated. The sisters began to argue, and Cobalt’s ears drooped a little. “I-I didn’t mean to spark contention...” “Umn Cobalt.” Twilight said feeling uncomfortable as the two princesses argued as well. “Perhaps we should take a walk down the rest of the train, give them time to work this out between themselves...” Cobalt looked at his sisters once again and sighed. ”Right, That should be good.” As the two alicorns excited the royal car, this time Cobalt having his wings out in the open. Ponies muttered as they walked down the train ilse. They didn’t know who this new alicorn was, did he ascend like Twilight or Cadence, or if he had some other origin. The whisperings made him blush and shift his wings uncomfortably. “So...” Twilight starting, hoping to take his mind off everything that was going around and also to sate her own curiosity. “So Cobalt...What exactly are you in charge of...as a Prince or whatever your title is.” “I don’t have a title.” Cobalt said simply. “I don’t want one. As for what I’m in charge of well... I’m the lord of the sky and the wild things beneath it.” “Does that mean you could be responsible for this wild weather?” Twilight asked hoping for an easy explanation for this crisis. “Well no...” Cobalt said, sad to let the younger alicorn down. “I haven’t inadvertently caused weather events since I was a foal...” “Oh...Well at least you’ll be able to help us.” She said smiling, not wanting to give up hope. He smiled back wanting to feed the spark he saw in her. “Yeah I think I will.” The two of them soon arrived at the caboose of the train, Cobalt stepping out onto the platform there. Twilight paused for a moment. She watched the night air blow through the stallions wild main, and plushly feathered wings. His sharp features, his intelligent eyes, Twilight would be lying if she had that it didn’t have an...impression on her. Eventually she stepped out to be with him under the canopy of stars. “So...” She started, as she put her hooves up on the railing of the platform. “In all your travels did you ever...well.” “Did I what?” He asked as he turned his eyes from the sleepy, darkened countryside to the lavender princess, causing her to blush a little. “Well did you ever meet...” Twilight had to break away from his gaze to finish. ”meet some special somepony.” Cobalt chuckled a little and smiled. It was one of those smile were a friend would mention something that happened long ago in jest, but it still stings for you. “Once...a few decades ago...but...” He also turned away, looking down at the quickly receding tracks. “She’s gone now...” “I-I’m sorry.” Twilight said, putting a comforting hoof on his wing, which he shrank away from. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories...If you want to talk about it sometime...my castle doors are always open.” She looked at him with caring eyes, no longer thinking about romance, but of true friendship “Thanks.” Cobalt said giving another week smile to The Princess of Friendship. “I have no doubt that you’ll be a good listener.” Hearing somepony clear their throat behind them, both alicorns spun about to see the royal sisters standing there with wide, cocky smirks plastered on their faces. Apparently they had gone out to find where their brother and little student had went of too. “H-Hey this isn’t what it looks like.” Cobalt said defensively, as Twilight grew as stiff as a board and as red as a cherry. What did this look like to her mentor? Would she be in trouble for trying to make a pass at her brother? “Oh yes?” Celestia said as she made parchment, ink, and a quill appear.  “I’m sure Twilight's friends would love to know what it doesn’t look like.” “Give those to me!” Cobalt demanded, boldly as Celestia began to scratch out the letter. “You stopped being the boss of me 3,000 years ago.” Celestia said saltily, as she hovered the letter writing equipment out of Cobalt’s hoof-reach. Cobalt dove for through the air the parchment. Only to have his sister teleport it, and herself back a few feet. “If you want them you’ll have to catch me~” She said before sticking out her tongue playfully with a wink. Seeing what she was doing Cobalt smiled happily and charred after her, having her giggle as they ran back into the train, waking some of the sleeping passengers with their rowdy game. “Hey, wait for me!” Luna said, not wanting to miss out on the fun following after them, leaving Twilight, still frozen like a statue on the train’s platform as the door locked closed behind her.