In our previous volume, Arc and his friends boarded the Lunar Destiny to bring Cherry Jubilee to her hometown for a proper burial. Arc stays by Cherry’s casket for the duration on the journey. As they arrive at Cherry Hill Ranch, he heads to the farmhouse to face Ruby. Finding her upstairs, she lunges at him, knocking the pair down the stairs! Landing, Ruby continues her assault for a time before collapsing onto Arc’s chest in tears! Apologizing for her actions, she leads him upstairs to show him Cherry’s room. Ruby admits to suicidal thoughts and reveals her father’s rope, which has been tied into a noose! Staying with the repentant sister, Arc and Ruby fall asleep in the living room in front of the fire.
The next morning Arc escorts Ruby to the Lunar Destiny. Entering his quarters, Ruby and Arc spend some time with Cherry before his squad arrives to carry her to the chapel. Then entire town comes out to support Ruby in her time of need. During the service many come forward to tell their stories of how Cherry helped them over the years. Ruby is the last to speak, inviting Arc to join her. After the service, Cherry’s casket is put back on the wagon for a final trip back to Cherry Hill Ranch. Arc and Ruby follow the wagon to their small family plot at the ranch. Setting the casket next to the freshly dug hole, the others return to the Lunar Destiny and take off as the rainclouds move in and open up. Arc and Ruby say their final goodbyes and the casket is lowered into the earth. As Arc uses his magic to push the dirt into the hole, Ruby collapses into the mud, sobbing. He picks her up and carries her back to the farmhouse as the thunder and lightning begins.
Taking Ruby into the bathroom, he lies her down in the shower and washes the mud off her dress. Removing it, he continues to clean her mane and coat before toweling her off and bringing her back to the fireplace. After showering himself, he brushes her mane in an effort to make her more presentable. Cooking her some soup, Arc feeds Ruby, after which she promptly throws up. Feeling her forehead, Arc finds her feverish. After giving her some medicine, she falls asleep, as does Arc. As he dreams, Arc finds he is a child again! Running and playing with a filly Chery Jubilee! They spend the day together! As night falls and the stars come out, Cherry and Arc return to their normal forms. They say their final goodbyes and exchange a passionate kiss before Cherry leaves to walk toward the Light.
Twilight awakens to Auriel’s voice. The demon scientist informs her she has found a way to extract the magic essence from the strange fruit that was sent to them. Demonstrating her invention, the Plant Elemental Essence Liberator, Auriel show her friend the fruits (no pun intended) of her labor before retiring for the night. As she does, Twilight begins her own experiments with the device. Arc, Derpy and Dinky trudge through the woods toward the Winsome Falls. They camp for the night.
The next morning, they rise early and continue their trek. Reaching the Winsome Falls, they spend the day playing before making camp for the night. As they sleep, the group shares a dream in which they can hear crying. Waking, Arc leaps out of the tent and looks around. Seeing and hearing nothing, they attempt to sleep again. The next morning, Arc and his family pack up the camp site and head into the woods in an effort to find the source of the nocturnal cries. Following an old road, they come to an abandoned village… and find Tempest!
As Tempest calls forth Light’s Bane, Arc attempts to summon his own weapons and armor, but fails. She informs him that magic does not work in the area as Arc motions for Derpy and Dinky to get behind him. After a few minutes of verbal sparring, Tempest calls a truce and invited the group into her home. They reluctantly agree, as a storm is moving in. She invites them to spend the night. After Derpy and Dinky retire for the evening, Tempest tells Arc the tragic story of her town and its inhabitants.
The next morning Arc and his family awaken to breakfast on the table, but no Tempest. After eating, they quickly do the dishes and head back to the Winsome Falls. His magic back, Arc opens a portal back to Light’s Hope. They find a search and rescue party gathering in the Main Hall lead by Flash Sentry and Ember. After getting cleaned up, Ember and Sereb escort Arc to his therapist session with Emerald Dream. Returning home, Arc announces to everyone the time to formulate a plan to rescue Princess Celestia has come.
Ember and Sereb head to the Golden Oaks Library in hopes of finding a spell that will allow them to appear as humans. Arc reads the book given to him by Princess Luna in an attempt to learn how to cross the transdimensional barrier between Earth and Equestria. With Dinky’s help, he learns the sigil in the book is actually a mirror image of the proper one. Casting it, he is successful in opening a stable portal. Ember and Sereb return, having learned how to cast the Lifeform Transmogrification spell. Heading to Canterlot Castle, Arc and his friends meet with the princesses in the dining room. Bringing them up to speed on his adventures and progress, he asks for permission to enlist the aid of Sunburst in returning to Earth.
Two weeks later, Arc heads to Princess Celestia’s room where the Spatial Particle Emission Arc Redirector is being built by Sunburst. The princesses and Arc speak with him on his progress. Having little to do for the day, Arc takes Dinky, Derpy, Ember and Sereb to Cherry Hill Ranch for a say trip. They spend the day baking and playing games with Ruby before returning to Derpy’s house via sigil for supper, with Ruby in tow. After eating and washing the dishes, Arc suggests they go into town for dessert. As they approach Sugar Cube Corner, Dinky finds the entire town out front for her surprise birthday party! The following morning, Arc, Ember, Derpy, Dinky, Sereb and the Mane 6 head for Princess Celestia’s room to see Arc off. After saying his goodbyes, Sunburst powers up the device. A portal forms on the platform, and Arc steps through. Before anyone can stop her, Dinky charges after her father through the portal as it closes. Arc awakens in his old backyard and looks around happily. A few moments later, he hears a small moan behind him. Seeing Dinky lying on the ground naked, he runs over to her and covers her. Picking her up, they look at the sunrise together and father and daughter.
Will Arc be able to keep it together without Cherry? And how will Ruby and Cherry Hill Ranch go on? What of the townsponies who disappeared so long ago from Stableton? How will Dinky adapt to life on Earth? And most importantly… where is Princess Celestia?!
Time will tell. Sooner or later… time will tell.