//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: An Unexpected Journey // Story: The Tale of Two Sisters // by Underwood //------------------------------// The carriage shook as it clattered over some raised stones in the road, waking Starswirl from his awkward, sitting slumber. He must have been more exhausted from his exertions than he had realised. Luckily, the unicorn-to-unicorn connection he had created with Ustiarus persisted for as long as one of them was conscious, so they were still moving at a good speed. Thick, woody trees flew past both horse and cart as they sped down a remote dirt track, barely lit through the inky night by an illumination spell from their steed's horn. A pegasus or earthpony may have been faster, but unicorns had their uses too. Canterlot Town was now long gone, as were any immediate signs of the spreading corruption. Had they gone far enough? It felt as though the ends of the earth would not suffice. “Ustiarius,” Starswirl called out, trying to bring life back to his dry mouth. “How fare you?” “You wake, sire? I have been making way for a few hours now, though I still don't know where we're going.” Unicorns are said to have an innate sense of passing time, though it was something that had always eluded Starswirl. “The sun fell some time ago, but-” Just as the young stallion was about to explain, the blackness of night gave way to a summer's day in the blink of an eye. While this was a sight that had become increasingly common with the King's descent into depression, with the King no longer there to command the sun and moon, the sky should have been locked into a state of permanent sunset. Could that monster truly have control over the stars too? “As I was about to say,” Ustiarius continued, “since the sun first set, time has gone completely loopy. I have no idea what month it is anymore! I thought you said the-” “Yes, the King is-” Starswirl stopped, remembering the children were mere hooves away. “The King is, to the best of my knowledge. I fear we may have lost more than just the palace to that monster.” “What monster, sir? You mentioned something before. What happened in the throne room?” Flashbacks scoured Starswirl's mind: those haunting talons appearing from the void, the king thrown across the room, the most powerful unicorn in Equestria disappearing with the snap of a finger. The mental image of Canterlot Palace's twisted form, silhouetted against the final royal golden sunset would haunt him for the rest of his life. “It is best that you do not know. Simply know that in our attempt to right a great wrong, our hubris brought this upon the world.” “You did this?” Ustiarius spat in equal parts shock and anger. Starswirl felt the carriage slow. He had said too much. “This was not our intention. I never could have predicted that such a- such a thing could happen.” Their steed slowed to a trot, causing the wizard to panic. “Please, you must push on! The sisters-” he pleaded, turning to face the guard. “And how do I know you're telling the truth? None of us saw what happened in there. How do I know I'm not an accomplice to the kidnapping of His Majesty's children?!” The cart came to a complete halt just as the sun zipped below the horizon and the moon snaked up to replace it. “How could the heavens move like this if the King weren't still alive?!” Starswirl reeled, gritting his teeth. He turned to check on the girls, desperately hoping that Celestia had still been asleep for that. They continued to lay as they had been, with the elder sister curled around the younger, both remaining silent. He wasn't positive they were asleep, but the ex-courtier's worry was quickly replaced by anger as he turned back to the offender. “Look,” he spat, walking a fine line between whispering and shouting so that only Ustiarius would hear. “What happened in that room was an offence to the natural order of things, I will be the first to admit it. Had the Order of the Nine learnt about it beforehoof, even the King would have faced banishment, let alone me. Given the consequences, I'll be lucky if I get Tartarus after this. But what happened in there was the King's will, not mine. I did my duty as a trusted member of the court to please His Majesty, and now I am doing all I can to protect and preserve the last remaining heirs to the throne. I will accept my punishment once the princesses are safe, whatever it may be, but do not think for a second that I am not loyal to this kingdom and its crown.” Starswirl was breathing heavily, aching to explain himself, but knowing that would only put the colt in further trouble with the Order. The young unicorn remained silent, digesting the impassioned defence. He sighed, lowering his head then nodding. “Be that as it may, I still believe we should stop for now.” “'Stop?' We can't stop! Who knows how fast that madness travels?! We must press on!” “With all due respect, Court Wizard Starswirl, I've been galloping at top-speed for hours. I am physically exhausted, you are magically drained, and should anything catch up to us in this condition, we'll be defenceless. We need to take a break and recover our stamina.” He had a point. The wizard exhaled, trying to calm himself and regain rationality. “So what do you suggest we do?” “We stop and eat.” Ustiarius pointed forward, which Starswirl followed with his gaze. He had been so wrapped up in their argument that he had failed to notice an inn situated some fifty hooves ahead, glowing amongst the thick forest trunks. With a begrudging nod, the cart began to move towards the roadhouse and welcome respite. The exterior of the building was quite homely, standing two stories tall and quite wide, with asymmetrical extensions added when and where necessary. It was made from thick, warped wooden beams—no doubt from the surrounding trees—and off-white plaster, yellowed with age and moisture. The walls were dotted with mismatched leaded windows, allowing the orange glow of candles from within to spill out into the night, for however long that lasted. A lantern hung just outside the establishment, illuminating the modest, mudded area for parking carts, as well as the inn's hanging sign, featuring an illustration and its name, 'The Prancing Pony'. Ustiarius' logic was flawless, of course. Starswirl had been running on empty for some time now, still drained from the mirror enchantment, let alone all the spells he had cast since. A full belly and a few hours sleep would do them all good. It was starting to dawn on him that his duties far exceeded simply minding the girls now; he had to care for them... Raise them. He sighed. The consequences of what they had done would not just ripple across everypony in Equestria, but change the course of history for decades... centuries, even. He needed time to process; time to absorb. The cart pulled up to an empty hitching post just outside the inn, which the ex-guardspony began to tie it to. Starswirl disembarked and stretched out his aching legs and neck. Surely they had time to rest; Discord's influence couldn't cover the entire continent so quickly... could it? Ustiarius finished securing the cart and approached Starswirl. “I'll go get us a room, shall I?” “Wait wait wait, we cannot simply trot in and ask for a room for the Royal Highnesses.” “Why? Nopony knows who I am, and I'm sure the staff would be more than happy to serve royalty, probably for free.” “No, we cannot leave a trail of any kind for the creature or others to follow. We don't know its intentions, but they are clearly hostile, and I would not be surprised if it could command the minds of others to hunt us down. We cannot take any risks when it comes to the princesses, none.” “Alright then, what do you suggest?” “Fake names. And... um... disguises too.” Ustiarius looked at the old unicorn with a raised eyebrow. “... Really?” he asked with dry dubiosity. “Use your mind, child! Nopony may recognise a generic palace guard, but I am- was the court wizard, and these are the last remaining sovereigns of our nation! Even a backwater hophouse like this will know us the moment we step hoof inside.” The blue-maned stallion snorted angrily in response, stepping closer to speak in a hushed yet forceful voice. “Y'know, I don't appreciate the tone you take with me. Here I am, breaking my back to help you and the royal princesses, who—by the way—I also took an oath to protect, with my life if needs be. I didn't go through rigorous tests and training to get this far, just for some old hack to use me as a pack horse and treat me like a yearling!” Starswirl swallowed, wide-eyed and a little taken aback. “No- No, you are right. I have been under such stress for so long; feeling so isolated in the palace, and now all this...” He rubbed his eyes wearily. “I'm just tired, I apologise for taking it out on you. We would not be here if it was not for you, and for that I am extremely grateful. And as for calling you a colt... well,” he weakly chuckled. “To somepony my age, everypony seems like a yearling.” The young stallion's scowl softened into a wry smirk as the tension faded. “So,” Ustiarius began again, “what do you suggest?” A few minutes later, two unfamiliar figures stood silhouetted in the doorway. Ustiarius had stashed his guardspony armour outside in the bushes—which he was more than happy to do after lugging it so far—and cast a minor illusion spell on himself, turning his midnight-blue mane brown and hiding his horn. Nopony would have recognised him to begin with, but the old wizard had insisted. Recognising that his disguise had to be more elaborate, Starswirl had dipped into his enchanted chest, swapping the creased court vestments he wore for his aged Faust's Academy for Magic and Learning alumni robes. He wasn't the sentimental type, but these robes were a fond memory of academic excellence, even if he had far surpassed those accomplishments now. Despite the rich tapestry of reds and astrological symbols, any unicorn could tell you that its elementary design was far more suited for a student than a pony his age—particularly the bell hanging from the end of its long, conical cap. Starswirl loathed bells and wasn't a big fan of red either, but he needed to be seen in something he would never wear again. To complete the ensemble, he conjured a fake beard that hung loosely from his chin, and turned his coat a light olive-green. The disguise was far from ideal, but his magic reserves were so low he couldn't even perform a full-body illusion, so it had to do. After packing a bag of essentials and slinging it on his back, the two were ready to head in. The proprietor of the establishment stood behind a rustic bar, made from similarly thick and warped wood as the exterior of the building, lined by similarly gnarled and cracked stools. She was wearing somewhat worn rags, the kind you might see on a peasant, with messy platinum blonde mane in a bun, and an apron as stained as the floorboards they were standing on. This place was perfect, nopony would ever suspect they were here. “And how may I help you two fellas?” The middle-aged mare looked up from the bar as she wiped it down with a ragged cloth. “Funny weather we're having today, ey?” “Quite,” both ponies replied in unison, before pausing to glare at one another. The elder unicorn continued. “We would like to solicit food and lodgings.” “Would you now?” The mare chuckled, amused by the stranger's phrasing. “What he means to say, Miss,” the younger unicorn cut in, “is that we have coin and need of the 'artiest of meals, and a few 'ours rest. D'ya 'ave room?” Starswirl was impressed by the young stallion's initiative of faking an accent, which hadn't even occurred to him. It must be the exhaustion. “Aye, that we do, my lovelies.” She swept her hoof through the air, calling attention to the long, largely empty drinking-room. A few rough-looking ponies dotted the area, hunched over and drinking in silence—no doubt regulars. “Take a seat and I'll be right out with some grub.” The barmaid turned to leave through a curtained archway behind her. “Uh, ma'am?” Starswirl interrupted. “If it's all the same to you, we would like to deposit our luggage first.” “Right y'are. Room three is available, if you're lookin' to share.” “That will be fine, thank you,” he replied with a forced smile. She eyed him for a moment, not used to seeing such an odd couple in this neck of the woods. Most of her patrons were farmers, lumberjacks, or ponies trying to escape the stresses of their lives, not... whatever these two were. Still, coin was coin, and they didn't seem the dishonest type. She reached under the bar and produced a large, iron key that she slapped onto the counter. A wooden fob was attached to it, upon which was burnt the number three. “Up the stairs, straight ahead, and second on your left. I'll leave your food on that table there.” The matron pointed towards a table by the door, then smiled once more before disappearing into the back room—presumably the kitchen. Ustiarius picked up the key with his magic just before Starswirl hurriedly kicked him in the ribs, gesturing to his currently invisible horn. Despite it being invisible, its magic aura still emanated from where it should be while in use, prompting him to relinquish control of the object to his elder. The two incognito unicorns made their way up the stairs to their left and found their room with ease. This inn was the epitome of rural living: thick, cracked beams of wood as far as the eye can see, aged stains, creaky floorboards, and the dank musk of ale and cider in the air. Starswirl crossed the small room and carefully placed his bag on the bed before loosening its binds. “It's safe now, girls.” A mass squirmed within the velvet bag, eagerly trying to find its way out. After a moment, Celestia's head emerged from the wrinkled sack, miniature tiara askew and nose scrunched, soon followed by a rather surprised Luna cradled in her foreleg. “Was that really necessary?” she glowered, clearly not in the best of moods since the nursery. “This is not how princesses are supposed to be treated!” “I'm very sorry Your Highness, but we must not let anypony know you are here. Your safety is our utmost priority.” Starswirl's answer was sincere, though he spared no time to give it directly, instead busying himself around the room by closing curtains and checking cracks in the walls. “Was it necessary, though?” Ustiarius muttered to himself as he stood in front of a small, slightly grubby mirror, dabbing at his brown fringe. Starswirl continued, shooting a quick scowl towards the ex-guard. “If there is one thing I have learned from all my years of experience with the unknown, it is that you are better safe than sorry.” Hah! If only he had remembered that when it had mattered. “Celestia, we are going to return to the bar for our meal. I shall send you food as soon possible, but please remain as quiet as you can, we still do not want anypony knowing you are here. Look after your sister and feed her what you can, but keep your eyes open for intruders. We shall not be long.” Celestia pouted, but he knew she understood the severity of the situation, nor could he blame her for feeling scorned. With a regretful nod, Starswirl made for the door, carefully peaking around its frame to ensure no pony saw in while they exited. The two adults made their way downstairs and sat at a worn, warped table, upon which lay two steaming plates of hearty rural food. It was not a glamorous meal: thick hunks of boiled vegetables, a slab of cheese, and half of a head-sized bread roll; but it was filling and warmed them to the core—just what they needed. Their stools wobbled beneath them as hunger consumed their thoughts, though Starswirl was prudent enough to ration parts of his meal under the table as he ate, covertly teleporting them up to their room for the children. This kind of food wasn't suitable for Luna at such a young age, but it's not like there were any wet-nurses around here—at least none of a repute he would care to risk—so Celestia would have to improvise. She was smart and resourceful, so she would know to purée the food with her magic before feeding it to her. A short time later, the two stallions leaned back on their stools; full, content, and ready for a proper night's sleep. “Y'all done?” the barmaid called from over the counter, currently in the process of wiping down some wooden mugs. “Yes, quite,” Starswirl replied with a content sigh. “Thank you.” “T'was a grand meal fit for any traveller, ma'am,” Ustiarius spoke with a smile as he collected their wooden plates, almost forgetting not to use his magic, before delivering them to the bar. “Couldn't have asked for better.” “Hah! Flattery and good looks might work on some, but it won't get you free bed and board here, love.” She smiled wryly, having expected their payment a lot sooner than it was coming. “Oh! Yes! Of course! Uh...” The young stallion was clearly not carrying anything on him, and knowing the true contents of Starswirl's bag, he knew there was none upstairs either. With a slight smirk on his face, the elder wizard approached the bar, levitating his hat and drawing a small pouch of coins from beneath and placing it in front of the matron. “I do hope this will be enough to cover our costs and your kind hospitality...” Starswirl leaned in, lowering his voice. “And perhaps leave you forgetful of who you saw today?” Ustiarius rolled his eyes. Way to be incognito. “In my line of work, a good memory gets you in more trouble than good, hun. No extra charge.” The tired-looking mare took the coin-purse under the counter, presumably emptying it into a coffer. “Anything else I can get you lads?” “N-” “Actually yes, please,” Starswirl interrupted. “A warm mug of milk would be ideal to aid my sleep, thank you.” The owner nodded with a gracious smile and retired to the back room again. Whether Celestia was successful with feeding Luna or not, at least he would be sure she ate something this way. Starswirl returned his lighter purse to his hat while the two waited in an awkward silence, making sure to leave two more coins out as a tip. When Luna's drink arrived, the two bid the kind mare goodnight and returned to their room. Entering room three with the same caution as he had entered, Starswirl was met by the sight of a very messy Celestia, with quite some splatter over the surrounding silken bag and bedsheets. She seemed to have fed herself well enough, though perhaps the gentle separation of food molecules was still a bit beyond her. He sighed, placing the warmed mug on the nearby set of drawers and pulling out his pouch, emptying its remaining coins onto the counter as recompense for the mess. At least she had tried to feed Luna... “Do not worry about that, young one. I had some milk prepared for Prin-” He stopped himself, once again paranoid about being overheard through the warped wood and plaster. “For your sister.” Celestia huffed in response, turning away from him. With a sigh, Starswirl removed his hat and placed it on a rack by the door. “Ustiarius, would you mind waiting outside for a moment?” His tone was low, like the weight of the world had suddenly crashed back down on him, despite having seemed so briefly content downstairs. Ustiarius knew this was a conversation he had no right to be a part of. “Uh, sure. I'll guard the door. It's what I'm good at, after all.” The former guardspony cracked a wry smile, attempting to lift some tension before exiting the room, closing the door behind him. Starswirl turned back to the young princess, whose attention was now on her younger sister, attempting to look busy to avoid her mentor's eyes. “Celestia...” The small filly puffed out her cheeks and scowled in response, pretending to ignore him as she tended to Luna. As mature and intelligent as she could be, she was still a child, and Starswirl truly wished for that to last for as long as it could in this situation. He walked over to the bed and sat on the floor beside it, with their heads now roughly level. “Celestia.” He waited a few moments for a reply, but he didn't get one. He wasn't angry at her, he didn't want her to feel that. If he felt anything, it was guilt. This was all his fault, one way or another. He should have said no. He should have died before letting the King attempt this dark magic. He should have apologised sooner. “Are you angry at me for yelling earlier?” “You shouldn't shout. I don't like it when you shout at me,” she mumbled, still pouting and looking away. “I'm a princess, you know.” “Yes. Yes, I know.” He sighed, removing the poorly conjured beard from his face before rubbing his eyes. “That is why I shouted. It was very important that we escaped quickly, and I- I had no time to explain. I suppose- I suppose I let my fear get the better of me.” Silence hung in the air as the princess's face relaxed into sad contemplation. “You were scared?” “Yes... Yes I was. I did not realise just how scared I was. I have been scared for quite some time, ever since- well, since your father has not been himself.” “After Queen Mummy died.” Her ability to see through his words caught him off-guard yet again. He never could have imagined a child to be so astute prior to meeting this shining example of young royalty. There was still hope for the future as long as her course stayed true. That was his responsibility now. A moment had passed while Starswirl was lost in thought, accidental affirming the filly's fear with his silence. The princess continued to face away from the wizard, her cheeks now red and eyes filled with tears. “And now- And now Daddy is too, isn't he.” There it was again, the bluntest of strikes straight to his heart, just like in the nursery earlier. As the princess began to quietly sob, a lump rose in Starswirl's throat, causing him to falter for an answer. While unaware of the context, the younger princess's eyes also began to tear up, prompting the elder unicorn to placate the situation quickly, before two wailing children brought every patron of the inn down upon them. There was only one thing he could do; one final solution. “Yes.” Starswirl looked down at his hooves, gritting his teeth as though the word had physically pained him to utter. Shattering a child's innocence like this almost felt criminal, but these were dire times. He wished her childhood could last for as long as any normal filly's, but she was not 'any normal filly', she was the next Crown Princess of Equestria. If their survival in this new world required a more mature bond between them, then the sooner she understood the gravity of the situation, the better. Seeking to understand her feelings to this forthrightness, he gently placed his hoof on her back and leaned around just in time to see her emotional dam burst. With lightning reflexes he didn't even know he had, Starswirl erected an emergency soundproofing bubble around them, just large enough to fill their small, ramshackle room. This was absolutely the last of his magic for now; one last hurrah thanks to the hearty meal he just had. He could already feel his consciousness fading, but right now he had a job to do. Celestia's wails reverberated around the magical sphere they were in, the kind that could only come from the broken heart of a parentless child. Even the stoic Luna began to whimper, shedding her own, tiny tears. Starswirl couldn't have felt more like a monster if he had tried. Deeply unsure of how to improve the situation, the ex-court wizard climbed up onto the bed and cautiously placed his hoof on her shoulder. No sooner had he touched her, the small filly spun around and buried her face in his chest, muffling her sobs as she desperately clung to him for comfort. Starswirl found himself paralysed by uncertainty, still deeply uncomfortable around children at the best of times, let alone now. With the same trepidation one might expect from interacting with a completely alien species, the grey-haired unicorn awkwardly patted the filly's head, murmuring an uncharacteristic 'there there' under his breath. The embrace lingered for longer than he would have liked, but having been the instigator of this upset, he felt no right to give any less than she demanded. As the princess's sobs subsided and she slowly released her hold from his now-sodden chest, Starswirl knew there would be no better time than this to levy their situation upon her. “We have all lost a great deal, and you more than most. Your parents were a beacon of hope and prosperity for Equestria since its very conception. They were not only your parents, but the architects of pony culture as we know it today. Canterlot was the guiding star of morality and hope that all of Equestria looked to for guidance, but...” He sighed. “Canterlot has fallen. Now the duties of the King, the Queen, and Canterlot itself fall squarely upon you. You are the elder sister, and now you are the matriarch of the royal family; you must be brave and strong, not only for Luna, but for all the ponies in your queendom.” “I- don't- want- to be- queen!” she shuddered out between sobs. “I know. I know it is bitterly unfair that such a burden should fall upon such small shoulders—and I will do everything I can to ease it—but you have always been heir to the throne of Equestria. It was always your destiny to become Queen, along with your sister” “I don't want a destiny! I don't want to be Queen! I want to go home, with Mummy and Daddy!” Her eyes began to well up again, to which he could only sympathise. “I know,” he sighed, stroking her mane again. “I know.” Ustiarius had been waiting outside the bedroom for quite some time at this point, taking the opportunity to watch the unusual celestial activity from one of the hallway's leaded windows, and giving a brief, awkward nod to a musky, grizzled workhorse on his way to his own room. The rapid sunrises and sunsets made the wait feel significantly longer than it had been, compounding his exhaustion from the long journey and leaving him close to taking a nap right there in the corridor. With a small creak, the door to their room cracked open behind him, unlatched from within by Starswirl's magic, ushering the guardspony back inside. As he closed the door behind him, Ustiarius was met by the unexpectedly paternal sight of Starswirl and Celestia embracing on the bed. He didn't understand the situation, nor did he feel it was his place to know, but he was worried nonetheless. “Is everything alright?” “Yes, everything is fine,” the wizard replied. “As fine as it can be. We must rest for only as long as we require to make it to safety.” His voice was softer than usual, not wanting to disturb or scare the fillies. The guardspony scratched his head, replying in a similarly hushed tone. “But I still don't know where we're going, Starswirl. Do you?” Starswirl looked down at Celestia, who had exhausted herself to sleep. He gently lifted her from his chest and placed the young unicorn next to her sister, folding the bedsheets over to cover them with his magic. Satisfied they were comfortable, Starswirl walked over to Ustiarius and spoke in a whisper. “I have an idea. Stargazer the Spectacled frequently bragged to me in unsolicited scrolls that he had properties throughout Equestria. He took pleasure in believing I was a captive within the palace walls.” He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his muzzle, already frustrated at the thought of that pompous windbag, Stargazer. “Anyway, there was one particular property he mentioned in the far south-west of Equestria, just beyond the Arimaspi Peaks.” “The Ari-?! Starswirl, that's the other end of Equestria!” “Quite. Hopefully it will be a sufficient distance from Canterlot to protect the princesses.” “And what if it isn't?” “Then nowhere on Terra is safe. Our destination is a coastal village, so we can charter a boat and escape beyond Equestria if we must, but I fear that if the corruption can spread that far, then fleeing any further shall be fruitless.” Ustiarius sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, overwhelmed by the scope of the situation. “And this Stargazer guy won't mind you staying in his house?” “I expect this disaster will be keeping the Council of the Nine quite busy, so I'm sure he won't mind if we—uh—'borrow' his accommodation while we're there.” The guardspony smirked, amused by the vindictive pleasure Starswirl seemed to be getting from this rivalry. It was a childish malevolence he had never expected to see from him of all ponies. Ustiarius was no stranger to mischief before joining the guard, and he could think of much worse alternatives to squatting in some pretentious aristocrat's holiday home. Settling down for the night, the two unicorns levitated the room's spare blankets and towels into makeshift bedding on the floor, between the bed and the door. A few minutes of silence passed, yet despite the ponies exhaustion, neither had fallen asleep as immediately as they had expected. “Starswirl, what happened in the throne room?” It was a question that had plagued him since leaving the palace, upon which his trust of the elder wizard balanced precariously. He genuinely wanted to believe they were on some just crusade, yet so far the only evidence he had seen of Starswirl's story was the erratic movements of the sun and moon. The ex-courtier took a heavy breath as he considered his answer. “It is a long story, and one I simply cannot tell you for your own safety. I already fear that the Council will have my head for what I have done, and I cannot knowingly put you in the way of retribution you do not deserve simply from aiding me. The less you know, the more lenient they will be once this is all over.” “That's not- That's not fair!” His whispers became angry hisses, remaining wary to not wake the princesses. “I've come this far, I've already put my neck on the line for you. Just tell me what happened!” “It's not- This is-” Starswirl fumbled, desperately wanting to unburden and explain himself to the young stallion, though fearing the consequences. He grit his teeth, battling the inner demons that raged inside his mind. “There was an... 'incident'. The King...” “Yes?” “The King ordered a—well—he... He had good intentions, he just wanted to-” This was proving much harder than he had anticipated. He supposed that he was still coming to terms with the events himself. “The King sought to right a great wrong, in which I aided him. However, instead of bringing about a deserved happiness, he called forth a great sorrow.” “The Queen?” Starswirl didn't acknowledge his question, hoping to leave what plausible deniability he could. “A monstrous beast appeared, altering the very fabric of reality around it... Twisting. Warping. It- It stole away the King's magic, then made him disappear entirely.” “Disa- You're saying the King is gone? Gone-gone? Just like that, it-?” “Yes. That is why I ordered the evacuation. A power like that is unrivalled, we had to save as many as we could from the initial corruption. Elysium only knows how many made it out like we did.” “Flash Magnus is one of the greatest guards in the palace, he aced every exam in the academy. If anypony could get everypony out of the palace in time, it's him.” There was a conviction to his voice that settled Starswirl's worries by a fraction, though the reality of the situation remained bleak in his mind. “I hope you are right. This is why these two fillies are so important. Not only are they the only heirs to the throne, but they are Equestria's best hope for becoming the alicorns we need to fight this menace.” Ustiarius pondered in silence for a moment, his exhaustion completely banished by this conversation he had been eagerly awaiting, despite its sombre mood. “But if the King wasn't strong enough to fight off the monster, then what hope do these two fillies have?” “That-” Starswirl sighed. “-only time can tell.” “Just how long are you planning to stay away from Canterlot?” “As long as it takes to raise the two saviours of Equestria.” Despite the determination in his voice, the wizard's mind was shadowed in doubt. He was desperate to believe that the King had been too weak in mind and body to repel the invader, and had he been himself, that monster—Discord—never would have succeeded. Of course, none of this would have happened in the first place. Another moment of silence fell as the two began to finally get comfortable on the hard, wooden floor. There was an odd tranquillity to the room, between the gentle breaths of the children, to the clacks and creaks of hooves on wood downstairs, despite both stallions' minds racing over thoughts of the end of the world. “But how do you fight a monster that can steal away your magic?” Ustiarius wistfully asked, aware that there was no answer to be had. How indeed, Starswirl thought.