In the previous volume, Arc returns to Light’s Hope to transfer his current forces, friends and the Mane 6 to Canterlot Castle. Informing them of the current situation, he tells them of his decision to assume the throne as per Celestia’s Order of Succession. After meeting with the doctor with Twilight and going over the princesses’ condition, Arc takes Twilight aside to tell her the truth about her friend and teacher’s whereabouts. She does not take it well.
After visiting the Royal Secretary, Kibitz, Arc orders him to announce and organize a speaking event to be held in the Canterlot Town Square as soon as possible. Arc flies there aboard Celestia’s chariot, pulled by his own squad. At the speech, he informs the nation of Luna and Cadance’s condition and announces his own new role in the hierarchy. Doing his best to calm those assembled before flying off to Ponyville to take care of the next item on the royal to-do list… the dedication of the Little Hooves Orphanage.
Arriving at the orphanage, Arc gives a short speech on the importance of education. Afterwards, he enters the building with the others to a small luncheon. Heading to the matron’s office with the Hammers, Arc speaks to them privately before opening a portal to Canterlot Castle for them. Sitting down to rest in the office chair, Coco Pommel soon enters with the new school teacher, Cheerilee. Upon seeing Arc for the first time, she faints! Arc carries her to the adjoining quarters and speaks to Coco Pommel about her condition while they wait for Cheerilee to wake up.
The Mane Six, with blood samples of the princesses, head back to Ponyville aboard the small airship, the Blitztorte. Meanwhile, Arc flies back to Canterlot to meet with General Virtuous Lance and Lieutenant Spitfire regarding national security. They advise Arc to organize a preemptive strike on the Everfree forest and its denizens, lest they take advantage of an invasion. Arc refuses, citing such actions would amount to genocide. Twilight returns to her library and explains the situation to Spike and Auriel. As they are about to get to work, there is a knock at the door. A delivery pony gives Twilight a package. Inside she finds a Dragon Fruit along with a note instructing her to study the enclosed fruit, while keeping her findings secret. As the delivery pony leaves, he heads for the Everfree Forest. As he approaches a robed pony, his disguise fades to reveal his true identity of The Dark One.
As Arc returns to Princess Luna’s room, he finds the Hammers visiting with her quietly. They notice a strange but subtle smell on her skin and breath. One that they smelled many years ago in the Everfree Forest. A dangerous plant know as Sanguine Azolla! Rescued by a zebra named Zecora, they promised to never tell anyone of how she had helped them. After promising to allow the pair to join the expedition to the Everfree Forest when the zebra was located, Arc heads to the Royal Office to take care of the paperwork that had backlogged when the princesses began shirking their duties. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of signatures required, Arc contacted Sugar Cube corner for a very special item… a rubber stamp. As he stamps papers instead of sighing them, they notice that many of the papers are duplicates. He completes the paperwork and heads to the Audience Chamber to meet with the Town Council.
Entering the room, he is introduced to Fancy Pants, Minuette, Hoity Toity and Pony Joe. They advise him on the unrest in the city and how his earlier speech did indeed help to soothe their fears. As they speak, Captain Decimus bursts into the room! He is horrified to see Arc sitting on Luna’s throne! Arc informs him that he is a legal citizen and orders him to take a vacation. The council and Arc formulate a draft letter to send to the neighboring countries asking for peace. As he completes his duties for the day, Arc retires to his room for the night. As he sleeps, he dreams of Canterlot in flames! The Dark One appears to reveal to Arc the possibility of this future. When he awakens, Arc finds Tempest sitting on his balcony.
Arc invites the intruder inside and sits down with her. She asks about her sister’s condition and requests that Arc help her return home safely. He agrees and Tempest leaves. Arc gets dressed and raises the sun before heading to the Dining Room. He speaks to Raven about the incident and does his best to console her. Telling her of his future mission to the Griffon Kingdom, he does his best to put her mind at ease. As breakfast is served, Shining Armor and Trixie arrive. As they eat, Arc asks the noble stallion to be his new Captain of the Royal Guard. Shining Armor agrees as long as Trixie is allowed to be his lieutenant. Arc leads the pair to Luna’s room to speak to Doctor Whooves before beginning audiences.
The first audience is of a couple who wants a divorce. A stallion named Searing Bolero was caught in the arms of another mare. His wife, Aqua Serenade, had run out of the house to have revenge sex with whomever would take her! Their daughter, Cheery cries on the floor as they argue. Taking the filly to his office, Arc asks her a number of questions regarding her parents and their relationship with one another. Calling the couple into the office, Raven arrives with the divorce papers. Before Arc can decide who the filly will live with, a Royal Guard arrives to inform him the Councilpony Minuette has information on the audience. Admitting her, Aqua Serenade accuses her of being the one to ruin her marriage. Minuette admits to having come to the house, but only to deliver a present to her brother. Mortified at her mistake, she and her husband do their best to come to terms with the situation. Arc tells them to go home and talk it out amongst themselves.
The next evening at dinner, Arc receives an invitation to Panthera, the capital of Abyssinia, from their king and queen. After discussing the idea with General Virtuous Lance, he agrees to go. However, reading the next letter, his finds the leadership of Yakyakistan to be somewhat less… understanding, and much more threat filled. Still wishing to broker peace with the Changeling Empire, Sergeant Sandstorm Mirage volunteers to carry a letter to Queen Chrysalis.
After speaking alone with Raven, he learns of her suicidal thoughts. Arc orders her to undergo professional therapy, to which she appears very afraid! Not wanting her to be alone, Arc takes her back to Derpy’s house, where they spend the night. The following night, Arc sleeps in Princess Celestia’s bed as per Shining Armor’s recommendation. Waking, he hears the sounds of crying. Looking around, Arc notices Ember and Sereb are missing. As are the guards outside the door! Proceeding to the room next to his, Arc opens the door to find Princess Luna lying on her balcony, sobbing. As he attempts to comfort Luna, she reveals that she is a prisoner along with Cadance in the Lunar Realm. Bringing them up to speed on the state of affairs, he does his best to assure them that he will find a way to save them.
As he awakens from his trip to the Lunar Realm, Sandstorm Mirage hurries in. The sergeant informs him that the Baltimare Courthouse is aflame! Getting up, Arc, Ember and Sereb rush to Baltimare. Finding Flash Sentry and the mayor, Duke Carleon, the proceed to the Town Hall to speak of the event. Escorting Cerulean Skies home, Arc helps her change the bandages around her midsection. She informs him that her sister Tempest had been there earlier that night to share a meal with her. Arc dismisses the idea that Tempest was the cause of the blaze.
As he gives audiences, a Royal Guard reports that Sunburst has discovered the location of Zecora. Arc returns to Light’s Hope with Sunburst. Meeting with the Lead Sage, Twilight, Flash Sentry and the Hammers, he briefs them on Zecora’s location before sending them to the Everfree Forest. They reach the hut as several large Cragadiles close in around them! The next thing any of them know, they are inside the small hut. Twilight is the first to awaken, unable to move. She explains her intention to Zecora, who reveals the secrets of Sanguine Azolla to her. Returning to Ponyville, Twilight becomes suspicious of the Hammer’s past. Not learning anything from Pinkie about the Hammers, she returns to the library to find that Auriel has made an amazing discovery! In addition to the Dragon Berry having latent magical power, she has found that ALL Equestrian fruit has some degree of magic to it.
Twilight and the Hammers board the Blitztorte to return to Canterlot. One the trip, Twilight again asks them about their past. Returning to Arc, Twilight reports her findings. As soon as he sees the picture of the Sanguine Azolla, Arc’s face burns red with fury! Marching straight to Captain Decimus’ quarters, Arc orders Viktor to pick the lock. Failing, he then instructs Xenos to break the door down! Sadly, even the might of the great stallion is not enough. Furious, Arc lunges at the door himself! He rains blow upon blow on the door as Arc falls to his knees, breathing heavily. Calming himself, Arc is able to negate the ward with his own magic before breaking down the door. Finding the room booby-trapped, Arc’s squad secures the room before finding the rest of the evidence removed. Looking again at the picture of Sanguine Azolla, Arc declares Captain Decimus a traitor and orders Shining Armor to bring him in.
As Arc and Twilight make plans for her to visit the Lunar Realm, Arc sees the stained glass windows of several of his exploits. Escorting Twilight to his room, he allows her to sleep in his bed in an effort to grant her access to the Lunar Realm and Cadance. As evening falls, Arc is notified of a therapist named Emerald Dream’s arrival at Ponyville Station. He immediately heads there to meet her and lead her to Light’s Hope. After introducing her to Raven, Arc leaves and returns to Canterlot Castle. Entering his room, he finds Twilight asleep. Awakening, he asks her about her visit with Cadance. Twilight shakes her head, as she was unable to enter the realm. Arc lies down next to her, with Silver Hammer at the foot of the bed, in an effort to help them enter.
The trio successfully enters the Lunar Realm together and meet with the princesses. They are happy to have company. Telling the monarchs what they have learned about Sanguine Azolla and their investigation, they reveal to the princesses Captain Decimus’ involvement and the proof of his treachery.
Where did Captain Decimus obtain Sanguine Azolla? What was his plan? Will Arc be able to hold the land together as well as keep their enemies at bay? How will the changeling queen react to Arc's olive branch of peach? What of the fruit in Twilight’s possession and Auriel’s research? Will Twilight be able to find a solution before it’s too late? What of Judge Hawthorn? Did the Dark One have any involvement in this? And what of Tempest?
But most importantly... how is Cherry handling the news of Arc's new position?
Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.