After lashing out on his parents for keeping him in the hiding, Dusk returned to the summer house, taking a towel to dry himself clean. After cleaning his mane, he tossed away the towel with frustration and headed to his room, laying down on his bed and staring up at the ceiling.
Now that he was calmer, Dusk could feel some remorse for the way he had spoken to his parents. It was not their fault what happened back in the past, what caused him to get separated from his brother and sisters. However, the frustration of being put aside while his parents try to solve the problem could sometimes be so overwhelming that would cloud his love for them.
Dusk got up and walked through his room. It was decorated with posters from the things he loved: fictional characters like Daring Doo and Smash Fortune, hoofball stars, current and old, that he loved, including his great-uncle Shooting Star. But there were also framed newspaper articles referring to his siblings, like Star defeating Ten-Tails and how the twins were able to free Neverland. On his bedside table there was three framed photos: one where Dusk was with his parents, one with Star and the twins and the other where a four-year-old Star was a one-year-old Dusk.
His parents’ sermon and the image of seeing Star in pain were constantly invading his mind, preventing him from thinking in another thing. Despite knowing his parents were right, Dusk couldn’t help but trying to know his siblings, especially Star. So he decided to go to the citadel, but this time he would make sure he wouldn’t get to close.
Making sure his parents had already gone, Dusk teleported, appearing at the entrance of the citadel. After that, he headed towards the museum. Despite not being his favorite place to be, he got to know about the exposition about the Great War, what would be an opportunity to get to know Star better. But, for his surprise, when he arrived at the entrance of the museum, he found Timber sleeping peacefully at the entrance.
“Oh no…” Dusk said. “If Timber is here, then… Star must be too. Okay, Dusk, calm down. As long you two don’t meet and get close, everything will be fine.”
Taking a deep breath, Dusk advanced towards the entrance. When he was close to Timber, the timberwolf rose his head and look at the young colt. Dusk became a little uncomfortable with that, but decided to not pay that much attention. And so he got inside the museum.
Entering there, he became astonished by what he saw. The foyer was round, having halls heading to different parts of the museum and banners hanging from the ceiling announcing the new exposition about the Great War. At the center of the foyer there was also a big statue. At the first glance, Dusk thought that it was his mother, but when he got a closer look he noticed some differences and then realized that it was Princess Aurora, the Light Kingdom’s first ruler.
Dusk was left amazed by all that that he left himself be moved by his legs without his brain commanding them. Without realizing it, he was now at the Equestria exhibit. Because his parents used to live in Equestria, Dusk was very familiar with its history and recognized some of the displays, like tapestries representing special events in the history of Equestria such as: the rise of King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia, the rise of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as rulers of Equestria, the defeats of Discord and Nightmare Moon, the rise of his mother and her friends as the holders of the Elements of Harmony and her turning into an alicorn and crowning as a princes. Copies of the elements were also exposed there, along with some other precious parchments.
Not only that, but there was also tapestries of heroes from the old Equestria, along with their respective symbols. One of them was Star Swirl the Bearded, where he had a bluish gray coat, a white and arctic bluish gray mane, dark grey hooves and brilliant gold eyes, along with his cloak and pointed hat with bells. Dusk knew that he was his mother and brother’s idol and he could understand why, as Star Swirl was the greatest name when it came to magic in all Pony World. But there were also other heroes beside him.
Another was Rockhoof, a great hero that was able to save his village from a volcano by making a trench with nothing, but a shovel and his own strength. He was an earth pony of a very big size with a pale, light grayish cyan coat with a light cyanish gray muzzle and a valknut as a Cutie Mark, light opalish gray hooves, a moderate gamboge mane with a light gold highlight and grayish blue eyes.
There was also Flash Magnus, a pegasus member of the Cloudsdale Royal Legion, famous for his bravery that had led him to save some of his comrades from dragons, with nothing but his fireproof shield. He had brilliant amber coat with a blue feather and mountains as a Cutie Mark, moderate amaranth mane and brilliant turquoise. He was also wearing his armor of the Royal Legion.
Mage Meadowbrook was renowned as being one of the greatest healers of all time, being also known as the Mystical Mask because of the mask she used to wear while healing the ailing, what caused her to be part of the pony folklore. She had a light cerulean coat with her Cutie Mark covered by a greenish dress, a pink and moderate scarlet mane and brilliant turquoise eyes.
Another legendary pony was Mistmane, an exceptional unicorn sorceress who gave up her beauty for a friend and her village and dedicated her life to spread beauty throughout Equestria. She had a light mulberryish gray coat with a cloud of mist as a Cutie Mark and lighter shades on the tips of her horn and ears and hooves, a wavy mane with gradients of grayish arctic blue to turquoisish gray and grayish turquoise to malachite greenish gray and pale, light grayish cerulean eyes.
And also Somnambula, a pegasus hero full of hope and optimism that was able to save the prince of her birthplace from an evil Sphinx, being able to solve the creature’s challenges with nothing but hope, while using a blindfold. She had light scarlet coat with a gold necklace with two pearls on each other and covered by a linen dress, a dark arctic blue and moderate turquoise mane decorated with a headdress crown and grayish blue violet eyes.
Advancing, Dusk ended up entering in the Light Kingdom exhibit, where there was a scale model of the Light Castle at the center of the room. The castle, at that model, was with its form during the Light Kingdom Recovery Day. Dusk’s sigh was kept on that model for a moment, as he had never seen the castle like that and wondered how it was like seeing the light wings appear on the castle, while being filled with its immense light.
After some seconds, Dusk moved away his eyes from the model and analyzed the other displays. There was also a copy of the figure in relief of Princess Aurora and the Generals of Order and the Solar Crystal and the Jewel of Life that were inside of their respective glass case protected with defensive magic. Tapestries telling events of the Light Kingdom were also there, like its founding by Aurora, as well its fall and reawakening, where his mom and dad were pictured.
There was also a tapestry describing the destruction caused by the General of Chaos and his defeat at the hooves of Star. Looking at it, Dusk became filled with pride for having a big brother like that, capable of becoming strong enough to face such powerful foe. But then he became saddened at the thought of not being able to be near him.
It was then that he reached the Great War exhibit. The exhibit possessed many instruments that were used during the war, like the sealing cloth, the devices used for communication squad and some weapons, but also a photograph with all the five units before the war started. One of the walls was covered by a tapestry describing the battle of the Alliance against Ten-Tails, Grogar and the General of Chaos, with Star leading the Alliance in combat. But the crown jewel of that exhibit, was an obelisk at occupied the central place of the room, with it being a memorial for all the ones who lost their lives in combat.
When Dusk was about to get in, he noticed Star there, looking to the tapestry of Ten-Tails. It was a good thing Dusk stopped himself, as he didn’t want to cause a similar situation as the one that happened at the party last time.
Star was looking to the tapestry of Ten-Tails, remembering the battle that decided the fate of the world. In his mental plane with Kurama, he said to the tailed beast:
“You know, it’s hard to believe that has already passed one year ever since the war ended.”
“Where did that came from?” Kurama asked. “Uh, I hate when you get nostalgic.”
“Don’t forget that many have given their lives to protect me and this world… including Thunder Night and my great-grandfather” Star said. “That is something I’ll never forget.”
It was then that slight pain in his chest distracted him. Star wondered where that came from. But something distracted him from that, as he then found himself surrounded by young light foals. They were fans of him.
“I’m sorry for this, my prince” a light mare, who was probably their caretaker, said. “But when they saw you… Well, they got very enthusiastic.”
“It’s okay” Star said. “It’s nice to see young foals as enthusiastic as these ones.”
“Prince Star Knight, can you tell us what exhibition you like the most?” a young filly asked.
The others agree with that question and also wanted to know about it. Star smiled, touched by their innocence and admiration. He looked to their caretaker who nodded to him in agreement.
“Well, if you really want to know, there’s a place in this museum that is my favorite” Star told. “Do you want me to show you?”
“Yes!” the young foals exclaimed.
And so Star guided the foals and their caretaker throughout the museum. Dusk, steered by his own curiosity about his big brother, decided to follow them. It didn’t take long for they to arrive to a part of the museum where there was two doors, one golden and one blood red, between the doors there were two big statues, one of the Lord of Order who was beside the golden door and one of the Lord of Chaos who was beside the blood red door. The foals got a little intimidated by those statues.
“Does anypony knows who are these?” Star asked.
Despite a little hesitant, a young colt rose his hoof and Star motioned to him.
“They are… the Lords of Order and Chaos.”
“Precisely” Star said. “They’re the ones who rule over both Order and Chaos.”
“They look scary…” another filly commented.
Star gave a chuckle and said:
“Perhaps, but that may be because they are the rulers of Creation and Destruction. But they are also the reason why we have these two exhibitions: the Hall of Heroism and the Hall of Villainy, the places where are recorded all the heroes and villains in the Pony Reality. Why don’t we take a look inside?”
And he headed towards the door that led to the Hall of Vilainy. The foals, a little hesitant, followed him. Once they got inside, they became astonished for what they saw. They were in a very long hall, decorated with many statues, all representing known villains of the Pony Reality: Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysalis and her mutants, King Sombra, Fire Punch (sided with all of his forms), Krylock, Shadow Claw in his form with the Lunar Crystal, Pandora, Oogie Boogie, the Gorgons, the Harpies, Cyclops, Acromantula, Kraken, the Trix, the Sirens (which also included Moonlight), Kurama, the Queen of Hearts, the Wraith, Flame, the Snow Queen, Perfect Scales, Rothbart, Bug-Bear, Ulysses, Grogar, Arimaspi, Kelp, Hepheus as the General of Chaos, Tirek, Scorpan, Ten-Tails, the Dark Mistress, the Smooze, the Shadow of Neverland and Captain Hook and his pirates. Some of those statues were black, while the others were white.
“So, what do you think?” Star asked.
The foals took some time to answer that question, but then one of them said:
“It’s a room filled with bad guys.”
“Yes, but is much more than that” Star said. “Each of this statues represent a certain period of our history. Dark periods that are still part of our heritage. And from some of them, new legends, new heroes were born. But there’s another reason why this exhibition is one of my favorites. Do you see how some of the statues are white and the others are black? Do you know why is like that?”
The young foals traded confused looks and then nodded negatively their heads. And so Star explained:
“The white statues represent the villains that were reformed or have found redemption. That gives her a nod that even villains can still become good. That even if we’re lost in the darkness, we can still find our way back to the light.”
The foals became awestruck with those words and then started to look around more closely, especially the white statues.
“So, may we continue?” Star asked, with the foals agreeing.
They advanced to the end of the corridor, where they found a golden door.
“The Halls of Heroism and Villainy are enchanted to not only grow in space to accommodate their statues, but also to connect each other” Star told. “No, it’s time for the Hall of Heroism.”
And they got in and, if the foals got impressed with the Hall of Villainy, they got even more impressed with the Hall of Heroism. The statues there were golden and represented the great heroes of Pony Reality: Princess Aurora, the Generals of Order, King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Ingrid, Star Swirl, Rockhoof, Flash Magnus, Mistmane, Mage Meadowbrook and Somnambula, Twilight and her friends, Shining Armor, Cadance, Blue Sword, Star Shield, Spike as the Dragon King, Gael, Shadow Claw, Thunder Night, Star and Kurama, Moonlight and, most recently, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Midnight and Sunny.
“As you can see, we have many of the heroes of the past and present” Star said.
“And you’re there too” a young colt said, pointing to his statue. “Is that why you like this place?”
Despite that question caused Star to drop a laugh because of the excitement the colt had, the caretaker said:
“Come on, now, that’s not a question that you make to someone like Prince Star Knight.”
“Oh, it’s okay” he said. “I can understand why he made that question. In part, that’s one of the reasons, but it’s not the main one. Sure it’s good having our deeds recognized, but it’s not the most important thing. It’s showing respect for the ones who sacrificed many things to keep the peace we have. That’s why I love the Hall of Heroism. It honors everyone that made our lives safe and free from Evil.”
“Wow!” the young foals exclaimed.
“So, I hope what I showed you can inspire you to be the best ponies you can be” Star said.
“Yes!” they exclaimed, while exhibiting wide smiles.
“Thank you very much, Prince Star Knight” the caretaker said. “You clearly made their day.”
“It was a pleasure” he replied.
And so he saw the caretaker and the foals moving away. After that, he looked up and saw Thunder Night’s statue. A smile appeared on Star’s face, as the words he had just said to the foals echoed in his head. Thunder Night had saved his life and his mom’s, sacrificing his own. For that, Star would always make sure that his sacrifice would never be in vain and that he was honored because of that.
It was then that he looked and saw him… the colt he had met at the party and then saw in his mirror, looking into his statue. Wanting to know who he was, Star approached him.
Dusk kept looking to Star’s statue, which was besides Kurama’s. He could’t believe how much of a hero he was. Not only he had defeated the one who had destroyed the Light Kingdom, but he also defeated the Lord of Chaos, sealing him in his own dimension and stopping Ten-Tails. He looked around and also saw his sisters’ statues, the ones they earned for helping saving Neverland: Midnight for defeating the Shadow and Sunny for saving Midnight and Tinkerbell and helping restoring Neverland for what it was. With all that, Dusk wondered if he too would be there, if he had lived with his family.
He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn’t notice Star approaching him. The older brother extended his hoof and said:
“Hey, you…”
But when he barely touched him, the same thing happened like in the party of the return of Neverland, with Star being pushed back against the ground and with a great pain on his heart. Seeing what happened, Dusk panicked and said:
“Oh no… Not again! I have to… I have to go now!”
And he ran away, getting out of the Hall of Heroism, while Star tried to get up, holding his chest. The same thing had happened. But what was going on for him to get hurt whatever he touched that colt?
Dusk was able to get out of the museum as fast as he could, but doing that caused some suspicion to Timber, but the timberwolf remained where he was, as he was obedient to his owner. Arriving to a nearby alley, Dusk stopped to take a deep breath, but seconds after doing that, he heard a voice saying:
“Hello, Prince Dusk Storm.”
He turned around and saw…
“Mirror Coat?” he asked. “How did you…”
“Little prince, I’m the General of Knowledge and, since your parents already know you very well, they told me to be attentive for the eventuality you get to the citadel” he replied. “But I honestly didn’t expect you to come soon after they went to see you at Bright Shore.”
“You’re gonna tell them, aren’t you?” Dusk asked.
“That’s a silly question” Mirror Coat said. “And the reason for that is that you know I must tell them. And they also requested me to take you to their presence.”
“Oh great…” Dusk said, sarcastically.