//------------------------------//
// Eternal Truth 
// Story: Final Reign 
// by Lise 
//------------------------------//

	Not a single guard stopped Applejack as she made her way to the tower. Nor did they follow her up the dark staircase. Now she stood at her final destination—the Princess’ chambers—watching what was left of Celestia wither away.

"Princess..." Applejack slid a hoof along the alicorn's mane. Once it shone with the colours of the rainbow; now it was clear as ice, just like the rest of her body. "Why didn't ya tell us?"

" 'Cause she wanted to protect you," a voice said behind her. 

"Big Mac?" Applejack turned around. It had been months since she had last seen her brother. Ever since he had moved to the palace the two had been distant. "Ya knew?" The last time they had talked she had yelled at him, shouting that he had chosen his no good lover over what was right. 

The stallion sighed. He had lost weight since their last meeting, lean and muscular, more like a trophy than an actual pony. Yet he also seemed tired—Applejack could see it in his eyes.

"Why did you have to do it, sis?" he asked, refusing to move beyond the threshold. "Didn't you get plenty? I made sure that Blue gave you triple rations of sunlight, double the water. Sweet Apple Acres was the envy of Equestria, the best orchard there could be."

"Ya tellin' me Ah should be grateful?" Applejack snapped back. "Ya ain't been to the farm for years! And don't ya be sayin' otherwise! What do ya know about what's happenin'?"

"You really should have continued drinking." Big Mac stepped over next to her, and Applejack caught the faint odor of sweetish perfume, the same she had smelled during her talk with the Tyrant. The thought made her stomach turn. "You never thought why the farm was doing so well, did you?” her brother asked. "Crops have been dying across Equestria, businesses failing, yet the farm survived."

"What’re you sayin'?" Applejack narrowed her eyes. "Doin' well, ya tell me? Applebloom has been breakin' her little back so there's enough food on the table! The entire family is! Just because ya gave a little more sunlight doesn't forgive—"

She stopped. The conversation was pointless. Ever since Big Mac had become the Tyrant's lover, things had been strained between them. At first Applejack could drown her grievances in drink, but as time went by even that wasn't enough. The more Big Mac went to Canterlot, the more he became like the Tyrant: his way of speaking, his attitude, his view of things. Applebloom was all that kept what was left of the family together. When Blueblood declared he was rationing sunlight, that was the final straw. Applejack had never looked her brother in the eye since.

"What will happen now?" Applejack whispered, stroking Celestia's mane.

"I don't know." Big Mac moved away. "Until today, I had convinced Blue that you were no threat. You and Applebloom were to be protected and receive special treatment. Sweet Apple Acres was to become the only—" he paused, glancing at Applejack over his shoulder. "The last orchard in Equestria. The two of you would have been happy until it was over."

"And now? Can't Applebloom—" 

The stallion shook his head. Too late The unspoken words echoed in the room. Applejack knew she would be killed the moment she left the room, and Sweet Apple Acres would fall to ruin soon after. 

"Big Brother, please," Applejack pleaded. "Applebloom is still so young. Ain't there something that snake wants?"

"I've had to openly oppose Fancy Pants for the increased sunlight rations," Big Mac said. "He's not one to forget. And even if he did, Blue won't accept it. He listened to me once. If one sister could attack him, what would stop another?"

"How did things become so dang bad, Big Mac?" Applejack looked down. "We defeated monsters, bucked villain's teeth out, and I reckon we saved Equestria ten times over."

"Sometimes there just ain't no saving, little sis," her brother said beside her—her real brother, not the trophy-pony the Tyrant had turned him into.

Applejack looked at him with a tear in her eye. For the first time in what seemed an eternity she felt her bother there—the big brother who protected her, who was always there no matter the hardships to come. The grief of Rainbow Dash's death had blinded her to that, but at least now, at the end, she got to see the truth one last time. 

"Ain't there a way to help her?" Applejack asked. She wanted to hug her brother and cry until everything vanished, but she couldn’t.

"There..." A moment's hesitation crept into Big Mac's voice. "Nothing alone can change his mind, but two things might be able to."

"Two things?"

"The first will cost me a lot," Big Mac said slowly. "The other will cost everything, as it did Pinkie Pie. Are you sure you want to? If I talk to him we won't be able to change our minds… ever. And it won't be pleasant."

"Don't ya hold that talk to me!" Applejack tried to put up a smile. "There ain't anypony that can take more unpleasant stuff than me! If it'll save Applebloom, I'll march through Tartarus itself!"

"For Applebloom, so will I."





Blueblood sat on his throne as his latest archmage approached, carrying his new crown on a velvet cushion. The young unicorn was a prodigy, his skills far surpassing those of his peers. He was far better than the last archmage, even if he was no Twilight. A shame that his life and magic would be drained after the ceremony.

"Everything went without a hitch, My Prince." The unicorn bowed, levitating the cushion with the crown in front of Blueblood's hooves. "I've taken the liberty of testing it and can assure you it works perfectly."

"Yes, yes." Blueblood yawned. "Good work. Go see Fancy. He'll know what to do with you."

Beaming with joy the unicorn bowed again, then eagerly trotted out of the throne room. A pity his career didn't last long, Blueblood thought. The Prince found it daunting to bring each new archmage to speed. Maybe it was time to drop the act and announce he was an alicorn to Equestria? With luck, that might diminish the assassination attempts.

"I must admit, you surprised me, lover." Blueblood levitated the crown in front of his face. It was made of white gold, unlike his current one—simple and elegant, like the sun itself. "So cold and calculating. I'm starting to fear I've might have made you too much like me."

"I do what I can, Blue." Big Mac emerged from behind one of the columns. "Isn't that why you love me?"

"Maybe." The Tyrant brushed a speck of dust off his new crown. "Or maybe Fancy is right, and I truly lose my judgement when talking to you." He glanced at his concubinus—the only pony in Equestria who loved him. "You were wrong about one of your sisters. Why should I take a chance with the other?"

"Because of what we gave you, Blue." Big Mac smiled.

"So you say." Blueblood placed the new crown on his head. "Tell me, do you love me wholeheartedly and without reservations?"

"Yes—"

"He's lyin', " the crown said, its voice ringing with the Honesty it was made of.

"—but I will," Big Mac finished.

The crown remained silent. Prince Blueblood smiled. Yes, for my promise to your youngest sister, you will. Both of you will.