“Dear Twily,
I hope it's not too early to check up on you and your friends. After everything that happened, I hope you'll write me as soon as you get this to let me know how you're doing. We're moving on the best we can up here. The rightful palace staff are right where they want to be, and Lieutenant Flash Sentry returned to Canterlot to make way for Lieutenant Stronghold. Cadance and I offered Flash a permanent position, of course, but he turned it down. I don't blame him, honestly, though last I heard he was looking to get a transfer. I guess he decided he's not a city stallion after all.
Anyway, now that the upper tower is finished and we cleaned what's left of the rubble from the streets, the crystal ponies are beginning to settle into a routine. And, wow, they don't waste any time! The crystal berry fields are already in full swing and other crops are popping so fast, even the most experienced farmer's jaw would drop. Cadance thinks they'll have the marketplace up and running by the end of the week.
It's all thanks to you, little sis, and the crystal ponies know it. You're a hero! In fact, there's a statue of you on Mane Street now. I thought you'd want to know.
Love, Shining Armor”
Twilight set the parchment down on the kitchen table with a relieved sigh. Oh, thank Celestia, she thought, taking a long sip of her coffee. When Derpy showed up at her door at the break of dawn, the wax-sealed envelope pinched gently between her teeth, her thoughts jumped to dark, panicky territory.
Thankfully, there was nothing but good news, even if the last paragraph brought a blush to her cheeks.
A fresh piece of parchment, a bottle of ink, and a quill flew to the table from the other room. A short correspondence wouldn't hurt, if it brought Shining peace of mind. Although the Crystal Empire had taken great strides over the past week, the same couldn't be said for her and her friends.
“Dear B.B.B.F.F.,
I'm going to apologize in advance for the short reply, but not much has happened since our return. The girls and I have been focusing on our recovery. Yet, we are settling back into our own routines.
Applejack, ever the hard-working mare, threw herself into her farm duties almost as soon as we got off the train. None of us held it against her. We were away from home for far too long and we parted ways from the train station.
Don't worry, all is well! I've been seeing them here and there all week, though I think it will be a little while longer before we plan a get-together. Rarity is a little behind on her newest fashion line, Rainbow still needs to catch up on her sleep, and Fluttershy is working up the courage to walk around in public with her... “new” mane cut.
But, never fear, I'll send you a follow-up as soon as something interesting happens! I promise!
Love, Twilight”
Ever-so-gently, she folded the parchment in half, then slid it carefully into an envelope. She secured its contents with a generous dab of wax. As she waited for it to cool, she wrote up two short notes. The first was for Princess Celestia—a polite request to make sure her letter reached Shining. The second was for Spike to send the letter and the note to the Princess as soon as he was awake.
Arranged from left to right, starting with Shining's letter, she left everything on the table for her assistant. As much as she wanted to be there to greet him, there was something she had to do first. It was something she would never mention in any letter, nor was it a task meant for the eyes of others.
She pulled sandwiches and bottles of apple cider out of the refrigerator before she made her way to the front door. She then retrieved her saddlebags, into which went the snacks. Looking over her shoulder one last time to confirm she was alone, she placed her concentration into a teleportation spell that promptly whisked her away from the silence of the library.
In a burst of purple magic, she reappeared in a vacant alleyway. She winced, for the surge toppled a garbage bin. “Shoot!” she hissed. She hurriedly cleaned up the mess—hoping nopony heard. When that was done, she sighed and surveyed her location.
To her relief, her calculations were spot-on. The alley was connected to the back of a brick three-story building known as the Stirrup Street Inn. It was a humble establishment. Humble meant cheap, of course, because the last thing she needed was an inquiry as to why she was suddenly short on bits.
She spent them on some much-needed books or tomes for her collection, was her go-to excuse. Most of the time, it was true; spare copies of “Supernaturals” didn't purchase themselves. It was certainly better than, “I'm sorry, but a friend of mine needed a place to stay.”
That would raise even more questions. The one she feared the most was, “Who?” And, Celestia forbid, no one saw her meeting up with him.
She approached the back door and knocked three times. The wait for an answer wasn't long. Soon, the door opened and a stallion, ash-coated and gray-maned, poked his head out past the door frame. “Password?” he grunted.
Twilight pulled the door open with her magic. “It's Twilight,” she retorted, bemused. “Are you ready to go?”
Rolling his eyes, he emerged from the building—his sparse luggage levitating behind him. Draped over his body was a black cloak that barely touched the ground. “You're no fun.” Still, he went in for a brief hug, which she returned. “But, yes, I'm ready.”
“Excellent!” She smiled. “It's been a while since I've been to the old castle, though, so my aim will be off.”
“I survived nearly a month in the lifeless tundra of the Frozen Wastes, my friend. If I have to take a leisurely stroll through this 'Everfree' of yours, then so be it.” His eyes roamed over the structure behind him. “Although, I must admit I enjoyed my stay here. I've never before talked with ponies so obsessed with a customer's comfort.”
“You don't have to leave if you don't want to, Sombra.”
He dismissed her words with the wave of his hoof. “As much as I appreciate your generosity, Twilight, I will take no more of your bits. You've done more than enough for me. Besides, I look forward to an abode where I don't have to conceal my identity for hours on end.”
Her smile grew. “Well, when you put it that way... Stand close to me, and stand still.” She closed her eyes as an arcane aura encased her horn. It soon spread to cover their bodies. Then, in a flash, they were gone.
The high-pitched screams of metal wheels signaled the arrival of the Friendship Express. Ever the punctual operation, the locomotive screeched to a halt in front of Ponyville Station at exactly nine o'clock—startling the majority of the ponies who awaited it so patiently. Yet, that didn't stop the exchange of passengers as soon as the doors slid open.
Mayor Mare tapped her hoof in rhythm with the song she was humming. She was in no hurry to be anywhere in particular, other than where she currently stood. Even if it weren't her duty to greet every new resident of her beloved town, she'd be there anyway.
The instant he stepped off the train, she knew she had the right stallion: pegasus, orange coat, two-toned blue mane, and (most importantly) a cutie mark depicting a blue shield with a lightning bolt on it. “Excuse me, Mister Flash Sentry?” she called.
His ears swiveled in her direction before the rest of his head turned to look at her. Grinning, he outstretched his wings and used them to propel himself into an excited jump. “That's me!” he exclaimed. “You're Mayor Mare, I take it?”
She shook his hoof. “Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, Flash.”
“Likewise!”
“Come, come! Allow me to show you to your new home.”
“But, what about my—?”
“Oh, don't worry about your belongings. I rallied some volunteers to take care of them for you. I promise they're in good hooves.”
“Wow, that's super nice of you.”
She chuckled as she began to lead him off the wooden platform. “Well, it's not every day a little town like ours receives somepony of your caliber, Mr. Sentry.”
“Oh, please, just call me Flash.” The stallion broke into a trot until he came to walk alongside her. As they entered town, he whistled. “I knew Ponyville was beautiful, but sweet Celestia, pictures do not do it justice.” And he poured over many, many magazines that held the small town in high regard. More than once was it awarded “Equestria's Most Beautiful Small Town.”
Now that he saw it with his own eyes, the reason was obvious. All it needed was a princess or two and some snobbish elites, and it had the chance to rival Canterlot... On second thought, he mused, the absence of the latter made it a little better than the Capitol.
Canterlot Royal Guards were the best of the best when it came to public safety. Yet, their hard work and sacrifice was often lost on those whose wealth led them to believe the academy-trained ponies were a complete waste of taxes. Flash wished he never once was accused of being nothing more than an overpriced statue clad in gilded armor.
He shook his head to rid himself of the negative thoughts. It would be different here. Ponyville was a small town, full of small-town ponies, where there was no risk of changeling invasions or power-hungry unicorns with magical amulets.
And, above all else, Ponyville was home to her.
Sombra marveled at the dense vegetation that surrounded them. “What is this place?” he muttered. He looked to the sky, only to find he could not see it. The canopy was just as thick.
“This,” Twilight replied, “is the Everfree Forest.” She slowly spun around. “From the looks of it, we're near Zecora's hut.”
He raised a brow. “Ah, yes, now I see.”
She shot him a playful glare. “Zecora is a friend of mine.” She carefully jingled a turquoise chime that dangled above her head. “She hung these chimes a mile from her hone in every direction. They can be heard from a great distance, so ponies unfamiliar with the forest can find her.” She lifted a hoof to point towards the east, where the dim glow of lanterns could be seen. “Then, you just look for the lights, and there she is! Going straight north from here will take us to the castle.”
Sombra followed her gaze. “She lives here? Strange. I thought this was a place of great peril?”
“Well, she's from Zebrica, and—”
“She's a zebra?”
“Is that a problem?”
A small smile tugged at a corner of the stallion's mouth. “No, of course not. I've never before met a zebra, is all.” When his friend began to lead him deeper into the darkness, he followed without hesitation. “All I know about them and their country is what I read when I was young.”
The tip of Twilight's horn sparked into an intense glow—one that easily illuminated their way. “You sound like you were interested in more than just magic.”
“I was, and I still am. There is much to learn about this world we live in, besides magic.” He paused. “I missed one thousand years, Twilight. There is much more for me to learn, and perhaps even more on which I need to catch up.”
Twilight swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. “One step at a time, Sombra,” she whispered. “Let's get you settled into the castle, first.”
They walked in silence. It was probably for the best, as it suddenly dawned on Twilight there were potential threats lurking in the shadows. The last thing she wanted was another grisly encounter with a cockatrice... Oh, Celestia, what if Sombra ran into one while she wasn't with him?
“Um,” she coughed. “Just out of curiosity, how's your prowess when it comes to using magic defensively?”
“I'm more than capable of defending myself, if necessary.”
“Well, it might be necessary.” Her ears folded back, snug against her head. “I forgot to mention all the creatures who live here.”
“I'm listening.”
“Timberwolves, manticores, ursas, cockatrices... to name a few. I'll bring you books on them, if you wish.”
“I'm familiar with these beasts, my friend. There's no need to worry. I don't think they'll bother me unprovoked.”
“Yes, well—”
“If it will make you feel better, I'll take the books.”
She exhaled. “Thank you.”
When they finally came to the bridge, Twilight took a deep breath and pointed to the dilapidated structure in the distance. “There.”
Her companion slowly walked up beside her—his eyes wide. “By the stars,” he whispered.
“What's wrong?”
He looked down into the crevasse over which the bridge precariously hung. “This... This didn't exist when I was last here.”
Twilight looked at him with a start. “You've been here before?”
“Of course.” Cautiously, he placed his left hoof on the bridge. The aged wooden board creaked under the pressure. “This is Roan, Equestria's capitol. Well, it used to be, but I guess that's no longer the case?”
Twilight said nothing. This was entirely new information. The extend of her knowledge regarding the ruins ended at the fact that the Princesses once lived there, and it was where Princess Celestia chose to hide the Elements of Harmony.
With that thought in mind, actually, it made sense. “A lot can change in a thousand years,” she whispered, following Sombra across the bridge.
He nodded solemnly. “There was a city here, once upon a time. There was never a forest, nor a fissure. Roan was a magnificent place, full of exquisite architecture and vibrant life.” The wooden doors of the front entrance screamed in protest as he pulled them open with his magic. He gazed into the silent gloom of the interior. “Now, it seems this castle is the only thing left.”
Twilight followed him inside. She flinched as the doors howled shut behind them, yet she continued forward. The emerald glow of Sombra's magic breathed life into nearby torches, causing them to burst into flame.
Their light revealed a large chamber. The floor was home to overgrowth and rubble. Stone archways leading to staircases lined the left and right walls. Above them dangled the scraps of long-forgotten tapestries. Only the two in the back, the left one dark blue and the right one golden in an obvious representation of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, were potentially salvageable.
“The main hall,” explained Sombra. He looked over his shoulder at Twilight and he smiled. “Crowds wanting to see the Princesses for themselves would always gather here to await the opening of their respective courts.” His smile faltered, but only for a moment. “It's a shame, to see such a magnificent place so... abandoned—forgotten.”
Twilight gently touched his shoulder. “You sound like you missed this place.”
He sighed. “A long, long time ago, I called this place home.”