Celestia shut her eyes, and before the breaking dawn came the light of day, over the top of the distant trees and sparkling on the shingles and masonry of Canterlot came the heavenly warmth of the sun once more. Silver Brighthoof lay by her side, half-burdened by sleep, and fully enraptured by the view.
"I've always lived for the morning," Silver said. "It always has the most beautiful colors. Red and yellow, violet and blue. Peaceful silence, wet grass. Pure bliss."
"Consider it my daily gift to you," Celestia said, looking down at Silver.
"Oh, Celestia... thank you." Silver stood and nuzzled Celestia's neck, and she leaned into his gentle touch. The scent of her perfume flooded his senses and ignited his heart. Celestia shivered at the tender brush of his lips, and her breath seized as they imprinted onto her neck. Silver's arms draped across her shoulders and back, and every warm kiss sent a hot jolt through Celestia's body. She wrapped her arms around her lover and softly nipped at his ear.
Silver could feel her hot enticing breath, and their sounds of passion added to the magical morning atmosphere around them. He finally worked his way to Celestia's lips, and they shared a deep and fiery kiss. Celestia pulled him in closer until every part of their being became one, and she felt Silver's heart beating against her chest. The world around them crumbled away, and they soared through the stars in their own universe. They would have become lost in their love, were they not interrupted by a clearing of the throat behind them. They quickly stepped back a bit with flushed faces, and saw Aurelius watching them.
"We're almost ready to leave," Aurelius said, briefly staring down Silver before walking back inside.
"Did you see the way he looked at me..?" Silver asked quietly.
"Don't worry about it..." Celestia pulled him back in and buried her head in his chest. In that moment, it felt for her as though all of time had stood still, and they were the last ones standing. Every breath he took was like the flow of a calming river, and the gentle beat of his heart like a soothing lullaby. Silver's nerves melted back away, and he rubbed his hooves across her back.
"We still should probably get going, though," Silver said. "I don't think our ride is going to wait for us."
"Just a few more moments, Silver..."
"Well, okay." Silver rested his head above Celestia's and closed his eyes.
Silver, Celestia and Aurelius arrived at the docks by Canterlot, with Lucretia following behind. The steps led through the outer wall down to a grassy cliffside dotted by trees and carved with waterfalls, populated by town residents who had caught wind of their expedition and wished to see them off. The main sight, however, was the large zeppelin anchored to the boarding ramp. A streamlined vessel of gold and oak, crystal windows and lifted into the air by a gilded capsule of helium equal in size to its load. Two large fins protruded from either side to allow for steering, along with a stabilizing fin on the back end.
"It seems we have quite the boarding party," Silver said.
"Our mission is quite inspiring to many ponies," Celestia commented. "It is no surprise to me that we would receive so many well wishes for keeping them safe."
Celestia and Silver boarded the ship, and Aurelius turned back to meet Lucretia.
"You have not left this castle in many a year, Aurelius," Lucretia said. Her bright blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and left a flutter in Aurelius' heart.
"We will be coming back, my lady," Aurelius said. He took her hooves, and for a moment their souls intertwined. He leaned in and kissed Lucretia, then stroked her mane with a smile. "I have always loved you, Lucretia. From the day we met, to where we stand now, that is one thing that has not and will never change."
Lucretia returned his bright expression and rested her arms on his shoulders. "There lies the sentimental warrior who had taken hold of my heart... go. I will be there if you need me." Aurelius boarded the zeppelin, and the anchor was set loose. Lucretia watched them depart with a serene look in her eyes, and raised her hoof to wave them goodbye before vanishing.
The craft swayed as it broke free, causing Silver to grab hold of the nearest secure object - in this case the outer railing. The ship's captain stood fast in his cabin overlooking every deck, his strong arms in firm control of the wheel.
"You cannot tell me you're afraid of flying as well!" Celestia said with a giggle at Silver.
"I'm not afraid! Just, getting a feel for it!" Silver let go of the railing and began to step towards Celestia, but the constant rocking of the ship tossed him off balance. "Why can't we keep our hooves on the ground?"
Their ride leveled as it took its main course, and they began to ascend higher into the heavens. As they began to reach the clouds, a shield of iridescent magic appeared and encircled the ship before becoming invisible.
"What's that for?" Silver asked.
"So we may still breathe," Aurelius said. "At this height, the air is too thin for land creatures. It also helps for inconvenient weather." The cloud layer surrounding them shifted out of their path, and left a layer of condensation over their shield. "Have you found your footing, Silver?"
"Yeah..." Silver tapped his hooves at the deck. "I think so."
"Good. Follow me." Aurelius led Silver away from the clouds and sky to his cabin above deck. It was a home away from home - a well-made bed lay at the far end of the warmly lit room with red linens and mahogany wood. A desk was seated beside the bed with a neatly arranged stack of parchment and an ink well with a quill waiting to be used. A single cross-hatched window filled the room with daylight, and candles gave light to the corners of the room not touched by the sun. Another door could be seen ajar, partially revealing a lavatory. The room was also furnished by a dresser and couch, and various decorative items and paintings added a touch of homely flavor to the space.
"Wow, this is really nice for a ship! What did this cost you?" Silver asked as he looked around.
"I own this ship, actually," Aurelius said. "My only cost was to pay the captain and crew who run and maintain it, as well as our food and supplies. If you think this is nice, you should see the room I have reserved for you and Celestia."
Silver's heart fluttered with excitement. "Oh, I can't wait! Can we go take a look now?" Silver smiled at Aurelius, and he tapped his front hooves back and forth.
"In good time," Aurelius said with a chuckle. "For now, we have an obligation to meet." Aurelius opened a panel of the side wall with his magic, revealing an array of bladed weapons secured to the backboard. He selected a medium sized steel sword and inspected it, then presented it to Silver. "Have you used one of these before?"
"I've held one before, but never used it..." Silver studied the weapon, and eyed the markings on the hilt and blade. A strange writing, in a seemingly dead language. "What is this writing on the sword?"
"That is Old Ponish. This sword once belonged to Lord Cynefrith, Thane of Suthermearc which spanned the southern half of Equestria one thousand years ago. Although his tribe and us Imperials had our differences, they were cast aside once the Empire died. He was a friend to me, and I promised that I would care for his blade. The writing says, 'From the arm of Equestria to the sting of my steel, may your enemies know no mercy and may your name be unforgettable.'"
"Wow... and you're letting me use your friend's old sword?"
"Hm, when did I say that?" Aurelius teased.
Silver blushed. "Oh, w-well, it just seemed like you were about to-"
"Here, see if you can hold it." Aurelius smiled and handed the sword to Silver.
Silver clutched the handle between his teeth, thankfully softened by wrapped leather. His strength made the task simple, and the sword's craftsmanship was so elegant and precise that balancing it was no challenge whatsoever.
"Very good!" Aurelius said. "Although, higher quality blades such as this are designed to be easily wielded by anyone. Carrying your weapon is only one thing, though. Being able to use it effectively is another entirely." Aurelius withdrew another similar sword from his own personal armory on the wall. "Come, let us see what you can do."
The pair returned to the outer deck, where the clouds had darkened and begun to pour rain onto their magical barrier. Aurelius stood at the opposite end of the deck, with some distance between himself and Silver. "Alright, Silver Brighthoof," Aurelius said firmly, "Hit me. If you can." He took a firm grip of his chosen sword with his jaws. Silver trembled slightly, having never been challenged before. What if he couldn't, or worse, what would happen if he did manage to strike Aurelius?
Silver took a deep breath, and clutched the Thane's sword. He eyed his waiting target, and then charged. Aurelius lowered his stance and spread his hooves a bit, and with one swing and a loud clang Silver's sword flew from his grip. Silver stopped and looked back to watch it clatter across the deck.
"Try again, and this time tighten your grip just a bit. Not too tight, mind you."
"Right..." Silver retrieved the sword and came for Aurelius once again. This time he clenched his teeth over the sword's handle, and with another loud clang he found that he was still holding onto it, but the contact had sent a powerful vibration that shocked his skull and rattled his teeth. He dropped the sword and grabbed his head, eyes tightly shut.
"I said not too tight, Silver. And don't tighten your neck as much during the impact; you will want a way to redirect it so it doesn't travel straight through your skull. I will give you a moment to recuperate, and if you'd like we can try again."
"Okay... okay, I'm ready. Let's try again." Silver picked up his sword, and Aurelius took his position. Silver started for his position, but suddenly turned and lunged for Aurelius. Aurelius was briefly startled, but kept his guard up and managed to block every one of Silver's swings and blows. The metallic clangs drew Celestia's attention, who returned outside to watch. Their swords locked together, and Aurelius pushed Silver to the ground.
"Come on, quit fooling around and hit me!" Aurelius shouted. Silver panted and stood himself back up. His brow furrowed in frustration.
"This isn't exactly a fair match, Aurelius," Silver said. "You're way more powerful than me!"
"You have yet to see my power, Silver Brighthoof. Perhaps we should duel with my sword of choice?" Aurelius drove his steel blade into the wooden deck, and a fiery light sparked from his horn. A great blazing sword materialized and lit their surroundings, wielded and manipulated by magic. Silver was left speechless, and took a few steps back.
"See?" Silver said. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I can't do magic. Can't we stick to weapons I can use?"
"My young stallion, you carry the Amulet of Magnus around your neck! It can sense danger, and if you can learn to speak to it, you can perform acts of magic as well. It calls to its wearer, and you need only heed its call. Close your eyes, shut away the outside world, and listen for it. Let your needs be known."
Silver shut his eyes and began to search through his mind. Images fleeted of Aurelius and Celestia, as well as Canterlot and his home. His mind wandered and shifted of its own accord, until he was finally able to calm and clear it. A faint whisper could be heard from the recesses, a soft voice that grew closer as he focused on it. The voice echoed his name, and Silver could hear it more and more clearly. Come to me, he thought. Bring me the help I need. Fight with me, and give me a blade to match my opponent's.
Another large sword of a deep blue magical energy appeared before Silver, startling him out of his meditative state. The amulet he wore was glowing brightly, and he found that he intuitively knew how to handle his new blade. Silver was breath-taken by this new feat, and could only gasp and smile as he swung the sword to and fro. "Whoa, Aurelius, look! I did magic!"
"My father's artisans knew what they wrought when they forged their arcane crafts. It will serve you well, indeed. But for now, you must focus. Get a feel for your new blade, and let me know when you are ready."
Silver tested the energy sword out for a few moments, and then steadied it. "Okay, I'm ready."
"Alright then." Aurelius took his stance. "Hit me... if you can."
Silver paused, and then charged at Aurelius. Their swords crashed together, creating a burst of violet light particles and crackling sounds with every clash of their blades. Even with this new advantage, Aurelius could still easily block Silver's every move and demonstrated a masterful skill at sword fighting.
He pushed Silver back again, who only growled irritably and came back for more. He swung his sword madly and clumsily at Aurelius, and was denied every time. Aurelius parried Silver's sword out of the way and sneaked in a hard kick, knocking Silver to the ground and leaving his magic weapon to dissipate. Silver panted heavily and tried to stand again. There was a familiar metallic taste in his mouth, and he spat a bit of blood onto the deck. Aurelius dismissed his own sword and stood over Silver's weakened body.
"You have much to learn, Silver Brighthoof, but be grateful that you have me to help you." Aurelius extended his hoof, and Silver took it. Celestia came to his side as well to help him back up.
"I knew I would be bad, but this feels embarrassing," Silver said as he stood. His knees trembled, but he remained strong.
"Do not be embarrassed. After all, you are an earth pony sparring with an ancient and powerful alicorn. When you consider that, you actually did very well for your first fight with me."
"I think you did wonderfully for your first time as well, Silver," Celestia said. "But I could tell you were frustrated."
"Indeed," Aurelius said. "We are done for today. We will start again tomorrow, and until then I want you to think over our fight today, and look for areas where you might have fallen astray. Sword-fighting is about looking for gaps in your defense and closing them. At the same time, it is about looking for and taking advantage of gaps in your opponent's defense." Aurelius then took his sword and returned to his cabin.
Silver searched for the Thane's sword, and spotted it on the other side of the deck. He lifted the sword and stood it up against the outer railing, eyeing its intricate markings before resting his arms on the rail as well. He looked out to the brightening clouds around them, deep in thought. He could feel the bruises forming on his body, and his stomach tied at the thought of what would come the next day.
Celestia joined him and rubbed his back. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've just been pummeled by a hard dose of reality," Silver said. "I've always imagined myself as a decent fighter, but now it's been made all too clear that I don't know the first thing. I hope I can live up to your father's expectations."
"I know you will," Celestia said, caressing Silver's chin. "And I think my father knows you will, too. He would not have bothered to help you if he didn't."
Silver looked to Celestia, and a grin formed on his face. "Thank you, Tia. You always seem to know what to say." He leaned forward and gave her a kiss, then turned his attention down below, at the tiny farmlands and patches of woodlands skipping across their view. "Where do you think we are right now? I never bothered to find out how fast this thing goes."
"It does move pretty fast," Celestia said, looking down with him. "We can find out where we are in the map room. Come with me."
Celestia led Silver below deck to a large room below the living quarters. The room was darkly lit aside from a few candles and the pale light of the holographic round map table in the center. The map displayed a geographic map of the lands surrounding them, with their ship as the central focus and markers for nearby cities and landmarks.
"Wow..." Silver said, resting his front hooves on the edge of the map table and taking in all of its details. "You'd think something like this would be with the captain."
"This one is for visitors. The captain's map is in his cabin and has much more information." Celestia examined the map as well, and nodded. "It looks like we're approaching Fillydelphia."
"Wow, that was fast," Silver said. "But isn't that east of Canterlot? I thought we were going south."
"We are going south, but the ship always makes stops at nearby cities for fuel. We will likely only be there for ten to twenty minutes."
"I guess that makes sense. I've never been to Fillydelphia before... do you want to watch the approach with me?"
"I would love to."
The couple returned to the upper deck and headed to the zeppelin's bow, but their view was unfortunately obstructed by clouds too stubborn to clear out. Silver let out a sigh. "Never mind, I guess."
"It's alright. We'll be able to see the city once we begin descending."
"Hey, do you hear that?" Silver could hear a distant sound ahead of them, like the far-away cry of thunder.
"It sounds like a storm is ahead..." Celestia spotted flashes of warm light below the cloudy blanket in the distance, each flash accompanied by the same sound.
"That's one strange storm... Maybe we should see what Aurelius thinks?"
"We'll find out what it is either way, once we descend below the clouds."
"I'm going to find your father," Silver said before taking off to Aurelius' cabin. The airship indeed began to descend as it came close to Fillydelphia, and they became immersed in a billowy fog. Celestia had a distressing feeling, as though a distant terror dwelled beneath their comfort, as if a spawn of devilry awaited in the city. She heard the thumping of hooves, and turned around to see Aurelius and Silver running to her side.
"You said you saw red flashes followed by thunder?" Aurelius asked.
"Yes. We thought it might be a storm, but we felt otherwise."
"There is no storm in this world with red thunder," Aurelius said in a somber tone. "Only the fire storms of the eastern serpents." They descended below the clouds, and the landscape became clear. Fillydelphia lay dead ahead, but it was not the shining healthy city known to all. Smoke rose from many of its buildings, and a flying shadow could be seen above.
From their distance aloft, Aurelius could see the calamity before them - a great horned fire drake from the east had set upon this peaceful city along the shore, and set their ramparts aflame. Their homes lay in ashes, and even with arrow after arrow he would not relent his attack. For this ancient city was nothing to the scaled creature, who saw only arrogance and oppression in every fearful eye below his watch.
The dragon gave mercy for one fleeting moment as he lifted his glistening crimson form back into the air. With one majestic swoop, he returned for more, and a storm of wind and fire erupted from his maw. None in his path were spared, not stone nor wood nor any breathing soul. The shadow of the flame dragon fell upon the ground, and marked the doom of anyone among who felt its chill.
"A dragon?!" Silver cried. "Is there no end to our enemies?"
"There is none," Aurelius said, a hint of anger seeping from his voice. Aurelius watched the destruction unfold, and his wrath grew. "I will stop this. Both of you, wait here."
"I want to help you," Silver said. "I have the amulet-"
"No!" Aurelius barked. "You will stay here. You cannot fly, and you are not ready." He leaped from the comfort of his airship and unfolded his wings, ignoring Celestia's concerned protests, and aimed to meet with the dragon. The grand scale of the drake engulfed much of the town in ruin below him, and Aurelius seemed minute in size by comparison.
"HOLD!" Aurelius bellowed, his voice reverberating across the nearby mountaintops. The dragon stopped in his tracks and faced Aurelius, each flap of his mighty wings creating a gust of wind equal to his stature. The flame in his eyes rivaled the glow of Aurelius, and seethed with malice.
"Well well, the Bright Lord has gifted me with his presence," the dragon said in his own growling voice. He dropped from the air and perched over the town he had destroyed, and buildings crumpled below his feet with every step. "Is it all you had expected, filth? One favor for another, our paths equaled. Your world burns, as ours burned many days past."
"We made peace with your kind long ago, dragon!" Aurelius shouted, his voice augmented by magic. "Begone, disobedient worm, and return to your hole!"
"Oh, but I cannot do that," the dragon said. "Our Dragon Lord is weak, foolish to trust you crawling things. It matters not to me what vile oaths you made with our elders. You wretched vermin will burn, and you shall not stop me. This is only the beginning, and only your end!" The dragon gave a thundering roar as his jaws came alight, and a blast of hot flame rocketed towards Aurelius. A shield of light spread from Aurelius' horn and kept the dragon's breath at bay, but not without a visible struggle. Celestia and Silver watched from the safety of their ship, and both felt a strong urge to come to his aid.
"I don't understand," Celestia cried. "We have had peace with the dragons for over a thousand years!"
"If it's not one thing, it's another," Silver said. "This dragon is probably - or perhaps hopefully - a rogue."
"I'm going to help him." Celestia leaped as well from the zeppelin and soared through the sky to take Aurelius' side. The dragon lifted his attack in response, and his reptilian eyes darted back and forth between them both.
"And who is this, your daughter?" the dragon asked. "Tell me, filth, how shall you challenge me after watching your precious offspring die?" The creature launched his breath attack again, but this time targeted Celestia. Aurelius panicked momentarily, but Celestia was not defenseless. She formed a shield of her own, a brilliant spread of auroras that stopped the fire in its tracks. The dragon gave them his all, but they were not swayed. Exasperated, the dragon shook its head and unleashed a furious cry that shook the very foundations of the world around them.
"You have no place here, snake!" Aurelius boomed. "Go back to your home, return and face the ire of your masters!"
"You fools!" The dragon lunged towards them, and they darted out of his reach. His claws lashed into the nearby mountain and shore chunks of rock from its peak. "Did you think your arrival was unexpected? Did you not think I knew you would try to stop me?!"
The dragon continued to try for them, and so Aurelius and Celestia began leading him out and away from the ruined embers where the city once stood. The dragon had foregone his flight due to their size, and instead clawed at the earth and tore away at the mountains and woods to keep up with them, once or twice losing balance and falling before pulling himself back up.
"You have nothing left, Bright Lord! You are but flies to me, locusts to be crushed under my wings!" The fury in this fire drake's eyes smoldered with intensity, but suddenly dissolved and gave way to both wonder and fear as his gaze shifted between them. Lucretia materialized her appearance behind Aurelius and Celestia and flew in front of them, bearing an furious face of her own.
"Lucretia-?!" Aurelius cried in shock, but was stunted into silence by a blast of sound and light from Lucretia's horn. The dragon instantly fell stunned and visibly tortured by immeasurable pain as he shrieked, writhed, and shouted into the sky.
"You are NOTHING to us!" Lucretia shouted. Her deepened voice sent a chill down Celestia's spine, and Aurelius could only watch silently. The ground quaked below them, and the sounds of many thunderstorms filled the sky. "We came before you, we will come after you, you have no place to defy your Lords! Go back to your home, dragon, and never return, or we will DESTROY you!"
The magic attack was mercifully lifted, and the dragon gave one last cry of pained defeat before scrambling back into the air and flying away as fast as it could. The beast made one last took at Aurelius, his face twisted with indignance and vengeance, and disappeared into the horizon. Lucretia panted heavily, and the anger in her eyes subsided.
"I cannot begin to thank you, my love," Aurelius said, swooping to support Lucretia's weakened body, "but you do honestly scare me sometimes."
"He will return, Aurelius," Lucretia said softly. "A Changeling swarm is easily quelled, but there are few things in this world can stop a rogue dragon. I will watch the skies closely during your travels, and do what I can to keep Vilmareth at bay."
"Vilmareth?" Celestia asked.
"That is his name..."
Aurelius and Celestia escorted Lucretia back to their zeppelin, and Silver, having seen the entire ordeal, ran to meet them.
"What in the world was that?!" Silver said. "One moment it looks like both you and Aurelius are done for, then Lucretia comes out of nowhere and suddenly that dragon runs home as fast as he can!"
"Never underestimate my wife, Silver Brighthoof," Aurelius said.
"I must return home," Lucretia sighed. "I will be watching you all from afar, and if you ever need me, I will know."
"Thank you, my lady," Aurelius said. They met each other's eyes longingly for a moment then, before sharing a kiss. Lucretia smiled and wrapped her arms around Aurelius, and he returned the gesture as she de-materialized.
Silver looked up to the captain's perch, and could see his sullen face from beyond the window. He began to turn the ship away, causing Celestia distress.
"Wait!" she cried. Celestia ran to the captain's cabin. "We need to land at the city, we need to search for survivors!"
"Celestia, no one survives a dragon attack," Aurelius said. "There are no survivors, and we haven't the time to look in any case. We need to keep moving."
"A great landmark of Equestria has been set to ruin, scorched by the vengeful wrath of a mighty serpent, and you would have us turn away and shut our eyes to it?"
"Fillydelphia will be rebuilt. Equestria has taken worse hits than this. Much worse."
Celestia began to breathe more heavily, and her eyes ran with upset. "But, but we can't just-"
The zeppelin by then had made its distance from the ruined city, and Aurelius took Celestia in for a tight hug. "I know how you feel, my dear daughter. I feel it too. The cries of a thousand souls, all made silent by an unforgiving evil. But you must understand that there are some things that cannot be reversed. Some things that cannot be justified. I have seen many dragon attacks, and I have faced the serpents of the eastern lands. They leave none alive. All we can do is carry on, and keep moving forward."
Celestia sighed and returned her father's love. Silver stood at the railing nearby and stared at the smoldering wreckage, his unmoving steely eyes hardened by the disaster he had witnessed. "So that's it then," he said. "No more Fillydelphia for my generation. Mark my words, the new Fillydelphia will have a grand monument in memory of this tragedy."
Their craft made its way southward to Baltimare, and the remnants of Fillydelphia grew smaller and smaller until it became a speck on the horizon. Celestia joined Silver in watching the city before leaving for their cabin.