In our previous volume, Arc returns to the Lunar Destiny after bringing Cherry home. Returning to Canterlot, he and his friends check in on Twilight. Finding she has neither eaten, slept or bathed since he left for the Crystal Empire. Sereb, having put her to sleep, carries her to the Lunar Destiny and puts her to bed as Arc and Ember tour the ship with the captain.
After the tour, they arrive at Light’s Hope. Arc and Sereb take Twilight back to her library. Instructing Auriel and Spike to force her to rest, they return to the Lunar Destiny. A short time later Twilight gets up and proceeds back to her lab. Spike does his best to convince her to sleep, but she begins going over some data. Agreeing to whatever Spike says, she inadvertently agrees that he’s not important to her. Angry and saddened, Spike yells at her and runs out the door!
As they return to the base, Arc enters alone as Sereb returns to the Lunar Destiny. Raven confesses to Arc her desire to marry Flash Sentry, which is why she wants so badly to recover from her attack. Heading for the Lunar Destiny, Arc reassures the nervous crew of the need to visit Abyssinia immediately. Flying through the night, they arrive at the capital city of Panthera the next morning. Landing they see no moment from the town. Entering the city, Arc and his guards find no signs of life. Approaching a house, Arc Blinks inside to find a starving mother and her sickly baby. Giving them some food, he rushes the failing kitten and her mother back to his ship. Learning that starvation is rampant, he immediately heads for the palace.
Entering the Throne Room, Arc is immediately approached by the monarchs King Felix and Queen Fiona. They unconditionally surrender to him, begging him to help their citizens! Refusing their crowns, he agrees to call Canterlot for aid. Heading back to the ship, where relief efforts are beginning, Arc opens a portal using the power of the crystal in his forehead back to Ponyville. Arriving with Sereb, he hurries to Sweet Apple Acres where the Apple family is hurriedly working to gather apples for them. They set out baskets for Arc who, after powering up the crystal in his forehead, picks innumerable apples and places them in the baskets with his magic. Opening a portal back to Panthera, they quickly push the supplies through to Arc’s squad on the other side. Finishing their task, Sereb and Ember rush through the portal! Arc follows. As he steps through, Arc collapses from exhaustion and is carried to his quarters. Meanwhile, the queen visits a rather strange creature in a back alley.
Waking up the next morning, Arc speak to the king and queen about the supplies. They inform his that, while generous, they still don’t have enough supplies for the rest of the country. Arc heads to Cherry Hill Ranch alone. He explains his desire to purchase the Jubilee sister’s cherry reserves. Ruby advises Cherry to refuse. She initially agrees, saying that their reserves are for Equestria. Arc is able to convince her to sell him half their reserves. He signs for them, opens a portal with the shrunken crates and sadly leaves. Returning to Panthera to deliver the cherry preserves, Arc asks the king and queen about the pirates. Lieutenant Spitfire interrupts their meeting to inform Arc that a small stowaway has been found. Returning to his quarters, Arc and his bodyguards wait for the prisoner to be brought in. Ember and Arc collapse to the floor in laughter as Spike is brought before them. Composing themselves some time later, he explains the earlier argument with Twilight. Arc picks up the phone to inform her of Spike’s whereabouts. He finds her unaware that Spike did not return. Angrily, Spike storms out of the room! Arc allows Spike to stay with him.
Sereb sniffs out the pirate stronghold and returns to Panthera to get Ember and Arc. Donning special protective gear to protect themselves from the gas, Ember enters the base disguised as the queen while Arc take care of the tanks outside. Entering the pirate leader’s office, Ember comes face to face with the Storm King… and the queen of Abyssinia! Grubber bangs on the office door. As he enters, he informs the Storm King that the tanks of gas making material are missing! Running out to find them, the boss closes the door behind him. Arc reveals himself and decloaks. After a short discourse, the Storm King escapes down a chute and activate his base’s gas jets, killing his own troops! Sereb bursts into the building to carry Arc to safety as Ember flies the queen out! As they escape the base, Arc quickly opens a portal. Stepping though it, they arrive back on the Lunar Destiny. Rushing to the Bridge, Arc orders the crew outside, other than medical staff, to return immediately! Taking off, they ship flies back to the pirate base just in time to see the Storm King’s ship take off. Firing projectiles of the gas toward Panthera, Arc orders the missiles shot down. None make it through. Holding up the last bomb, the Storm King attempts to ram the Lunar Destiny to at least be rid of Arc and his friends! Arc and Thunderlane pull off an insane game of chicken, jumping over the enemy ship and dropping onto its backside to demolish the engines. Landing to survey their own damage, as well as the enemy vessel, the Storm King emerges and challenges them. Arc’s squad takes him on and knocks him off a cliff.
As Stellar Flare examines the ship, Arc, Ember and Sereb reenter the pirate base to look for clues. Accidently setting off an alarm, Arc and company are surprised to see the gas jets from earlier spewing fire! As the base burns around them, Arc once again sprouts two golden wings just like during his first battle with Tempest. Grabbing Ember and Sereb he smashes through the roof and flies them to safety! They return to the ship and take off. As they hover nearby, Arc performs a simple funeral ceremony for the dead soldiers before Blinking down to the surface. Placing a strange sigil on the ground, he calls forth the Marquis and asks him to destabilize the ground under the base. He does so, and the base sinks into the ground.
Grubber and the Storm King are saved from the fall by a dark portal opening below them. The Dark One and his so-called allies approach and offer him a position. The Storm King accepts. Arc and his friends board the Lunar Destiny and return to Canterlot. They head for Shining Armor’s room to inform him of their return. However, when Arc goes to check on the princesses,
Doctor Whooves informs him that their vital signs are off! Heading to his room, Arc askes Sereb to cast a sleep spell on him. Doing so, Arc is able to enter the Lunar Realm. Everything appears to be distorted! Hurrying to Luna’s room he finds them despondent. Bringing them up to speed on his actions, they confess their current inability to hear what’s going on around them, and Luna’s trouble in holding her realm together. Returning, Arc continues his duties as best he can. Coco Pommel calls to inform him that Dinky needs to speak to him. Sadly, she tells her father of Derpy’s illness, and that tonight is conferences. Arc volunteers to meet Dinky at Light’s Hope. She runs out the door to meet him!
Arc arrives at Light’s Hope and meets Dinky. They walk home to take care of Derpy. Arc helps her into the shower and begins to make supper with Dinky. After eating, Arc and Dinky head to the New Beginnings Orphanage. Meeting with Cheerilee, Arc learns that Dinky is the smartest student in her class. However, she’s been wrongly accused of being a bully by Diamond Tiara.
The next morning Arc returns to Canterlot Castle. He finds Spike in his room, sleeping. Arc takes him to the dining room for breakfast before introducing him to Lead Sage Sunburst. Assigning Spike to him in an effort to get the office cleaned up before calling Twilight to see how the cure is coming along. Informing her that the princesses are beginning to weaken, Twilight asks him to come and get them. Arc heads to Ponyville with Sereb. On the way to the library, Kibitz calls him on his earring to tell him about an attack on the castle!
Meanwhile, Shining Armor along with the Royal Guards and Arc’s squad prepare to repel the invaders! Monsters shamble toward them, but are dispatched by the troops. A robe stallion approaches, revealing himself to be Captain Decimus! He raises his fallen troops and they again stand at his side. Arc approaches from behind and, with his troops help, knocks the enemy through a portal to Tartarus. Unable to recall his warriors, Decimus faces Arc in one-on-one combat. Arc emerges victorious as Decimus surrenders. Stabbing him with his Spear of Righteousness, Arc throws him into the air and blasts him with a VERY powerful fire spell!
Hurrying to the princesses’ rooms, Arc approaches Twilight and Auriel. They report the cure will be ready for final testing in about an hour. Arc rushes to his room to sleep and enter the Lunar Realm. Entering, he finds everything in shambles! Forced to Blink into Luna’s room, he finds her weak and barely able hold the crumbling realm together! Telling the princesses they are only an hour from the cure, Luna informs Arc she cannot hold on that long. Arc promises to find Princess Celestia, or become Equestria’ king if he cannot. Returning the real world, he runs to Luna’s room to find Doctor Whooves and a nurse trying to resuscitate the princesses! With no time to properly test the cure, they inject the princesses and hope for the best! Cadance opens her eyes, but it is too late for Luna. Arc gives up the power in his armor’s healing enchantment and uses it to bring Luna back from the brink of death! Ordering Kibitz to set up a public speaking event, Arc announces the recovery of the princesses to the entire realm.
As the weeks passed, the princesses regained their strength. Enough so that they could accompany Arc on a short public appearance. As they returned to their rooms, Luna watches Cadance and Arc ahead of her. Turning to the doctor, she commented on their supposed relationship. The morning of the Grand Galloping Gala, and Arc’s final day as Lord Regent, arrived. After enjoying breakfast with the princesses, Arc returned to Ponyville with Twilight. They agreed to meet at Light’s Hope later that day. On the way back to the library, Twilight couldn’t help but wonder who Arc’s date for the evening was. Running to get Auriel, the pair shadowed him all day, trying to find a clue, to no avail. Later that day at Light’s Hope, the Mane 6 attended a small memorial with Arc and Dinky to wish Arc’s departed mother a happy birthday.
Arc went inside to change into his gala outfit. His date, Dinky, arrived shortly thereafter and the group took a portal to Canterlot Castle. Heading for the Ballroom, they went their separate ways. Dinky and her father headed for the refreshment table. Dinky spots Cherry and Ruby enter the Ballroom. She and Arc walk over to say hello. After exchanging pleasantries, Dinky asks Cherry to dance with her father. Cherry agrees and the pair head to the dance floor. As they enjoy a slow dance together, Cherry invites Arc to her house the following week for supper. While she does not remember him, Cherry expresses an interest in learning more about him in hopes of one day remembering him. Arc agrees. After the dance, Arc meets up with the princesses. They walk over to the stage and the ceremony commences. Kibitz approaches Arc with their crowns. Recrowning them princesses, Arc removes his own crown and puts it on the now empty pillow and steps back as Luna and Cadance again sit on their thrones. As the crown applauds, Cherry leaves the room for some air. Arc returns to Dinky and the pair head for the castle gardens. The princesses follow him a short time later along with Sereb and Ember who are guarding them. They all enjoy the cool air and conversation together. Meanwhile, Cherry walked the halls alone trying to make sense of her thoughts and feelings. Suddenly a robed figure grabs her and puts a knife to her throat! Throwing her off the balcony overlooking the ballroom, she crashes into a table below, sending dishes flying everywhere! The Mane 6 help the guards evacuate the guests while Shining Armor and Trixie hurry over to help the victim! Arc tells Ember and Sereb to stay with the princesses and Dinky while he rushes inside. Seeing Cherry lying there, he leans down to her! She warns him of the assassin just in time for him to call forth Eidolon’s Ward! Failing to shoot Arc, the assassin flies at him in an effort to finish the job! At the last second Arc turns and buries one of his magic blades in his assailant’s gut! Throwing him to the ground, the errant general begs for mercy. Arc puts a magic blade through his heart and ends the matter. Turning back to Cherry as Doctor Whooves runs up, Arc waits as she is hastily examined. Shaking his head, the doctor administers a powerful painkiller, allowing the pair to say their goodbyes. Cherry smiles at Arc as her memories come back to her. She and Arc share a kiss as she passes away.
Is Arc really done ruling? Are Abyssinia’s troubles over? And what of the Storm King and Grubber? Are the princesses really ready to again lead? What of Ruby? If she was upset when Cherry lost her memory, how much more so for her sister’s death? Will Arc be able to cope with the loss of his true love?
Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.