//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Meadow of the South Sea // Story: The Tale of Two Sisters // by Underwood //------------------------------// The golden rays of morning peeked over the windowsill of what had once been Stargazer's bedroom—now usurped by Starswirl—gently waking the travel-weary unicorn to what felt like the first real sunrise in weeks. He remained under the plush duvet, watching the reflection of the sun off the South Sea dance across the ceiling, savouring the brisk, lightly-salted air through the ajar window. Was this what retirement felt like? He never thought he would see the day... He still hadn't, of course. The journey from Canterlot to South Sea Post had been no sightseeing trip, but a rushed emergency escape plan. Now was when the real work began, to come up with a plan to successfully counter-attack and retake Canterlot Palace from the claws of Discord. This apocalyptic calamity would be no quick fix, taking years of planning, preparation, and execution. The proper raising of the Princesses would be fundamental to their success, requiring decades of not only training, but nurturing too, like any well-adjusted foal—a task that could take longer than he had left.... The fresh sea breeze suddenly didn't feel quite as calming as it had a moment ago. With a pained groan from aching joints, Starswirl the Scholar sat up within the richly adorned four-poster bed. Stargazer had terrible taste, he thought to himself as he shuffled out of the covers in his 'borrowed' sleeping gown and night cap. All this pomp and circumstance for a pony that does nothing but stare at the sky all night, and sit at a table all day, signing scrolls he knows not what of! High Councilpony Stargazer indeed. He was no real wizard. He spent none of his time researching and testing practical magic for the benefit of ponykind like he did. And what good would he be in a situation like this, if he were here instead? Hah! Try to one-up saving the world from an extra-dimensional chaos-god! Stargazer's mansion had turned out to be well furnished and more than comfortable, despite the state of its exterior, especially compared to the group's past few nights. While being no great deal larger than the surrounding houses, the comforts of two spacious bedrooms, the large living and dining area downstairs, and the soon-to-be-renovated observation turret, were more than any of them were expecting. By some miracle, Stargazer's spare room was already laid with two beds, allowing the Princesses to share it comfortably, while Starswirl took the master bedroom, and Ustiarius was left the downstairs couch, which he had passed out on almost immediately upon entering. Last night had ended with an unexpected greeting from the nearby residents, spearheaded by Meadow Flower, who rushed through a vague introduction of all the townsponies present. The new arrivals excused themselves from the gathering with a very genuine need for rest, prompting the botanist to suggest a proper welcoming party the following night—tonight. Starswirl had politely objected to this idea, of course, but was verbally beaten into submission by her unrelenting neighbourly kindness. Thinking about this impending socialisation, Starswirl walked over to a vanity mirror on the nearby dresser and recoiled, not recognising himself at first. This is certainly not the face he would have expected to see staring back at him but a week ago. Not this face, not this house, not this part of the continent. These events had really shaken up his projected long-term life trajectory, not to mention the impact on pony society as a whole. He mused on what that monster was filling its time with as it sat upon its usurped throne, the very fabric of reality at its fingertips, distorted on a whim. He would have to begin preparations immediately for them to stand any chance against such power... Taking such a foe lightly would not only end the royal bloodline and its centuries of knowledge, but spell disaster for all creature-kind. As the still crisp sea air gently wafted at the deep-purple curtains of the house's secondary bedroom, Celestia sat bolt upright in bed with a start, eyes wide and full of an energy that had never been seen in the palace. It had been almost four days since she had last slept in a comfortable bed—albeit not quite as nice her hers back home—but that was the furthest thing from her mind right now. It wasn't a dream! Springing onto all-fours from her back in a single motion, she frantically turned and clambered over the bedside table quite gracelessly to get to the window. Pushing the shutters apart, the young Princess laid eyes on the unfamiliar townscape with the kind of all-consuming awe reserved only for foals. Facing the slope they had climbed yesterday, the view from their second-story window was breathtaking, looking down on a wash of curved and mismatched roofs in varying hues of uneven purple tiles, while the infinite expanse of the South Sea stretched out until it touched the clear blue Autumn sky. To a palace-bound filly living in a world of royalty, adventure, and unicorns, this was magic. “Blihblblblr,” Luna bubbled from her bed, her large teal eyes wide, fascinated by the reflected light on the ceiling. Celestia looked back and smiled. This was it. This was the life she had been waiting for; a grand adventure across Equestria, learning cool magic spells, swashbuckling with pirates on the open sea, soaring through the skies, skimming her hooves across rainbows without any responsibilities or expectations to live up to. Even with Starswirl here, she was free. Free. Never again would she allow herself to be locked up behind cold stone walls, watching other ponies' lives from a window with envy and longing. This was her time, and right now her sundial said it was adventure o'clock! Jumping from the table and knocking a small potted cactus off with her—which she effortlessly caught with her magic and replaced without even looking—she sped through the crack in the door and shot down the staircase, her small hooves click-a-clacking across the polished wood floor as she went. Jumping off the bottom step, she had intended to make a sharp turn but instead landed on a small rug, sliding right across the room and into a pile of cardboard storage boxes in the corner. Undeterred, she dug her way out and leapt over to the large, comfortable sofa where Ustiarius was sleeping. Trotting right up to him, she stood on her hindlegs and began to rock his torso, trying to rouse him. “Uncle Oosty! Uncle Oosty!” Groggily, Ustiarius forced his lids open, blinking one eye at a time. Everything was a blur as he struggled to find his bearings in the unfamiliar room. His neck was stiff, his hooves ached, his back hurt, yet it had still been one of his better nights' sleep lately. With the world around him finally coming into focus, it didn't take long to find the source of his disturbance. “Uncle Oosty! Come on, I want to go out! Let's go out!” she continued, like a tiny off-white version of his staff sergeant back at the barracks. “Wuh? What? Princess?” “Come on, Uncle Oosty! I want to go outside! Let's go! Get up!” She began to bounce with youthful exuberance, pummelling his chest with her hooves, knocking the breath out of him. Did she say uncle? He could understand her butchering his name, but they barely knew each other, why would she call him that? Before he could think on it further, another unintentional thump refocused his thoughts. “Oof! Okay, okay, I'm up, I'm coming.” Celestia sprung from the couch and ran to the door, bouncing up and down excitedly like a puppy. Ustiarius wearily followed her out the door and was immediately blinded by the low-hanging sun, forcing him to squint behind the protection his hoof. “Where do you want to go first, Uncle Oosty?” She looked up at him, face beaming. Just saying his name was almost as much fun as walking through a real-life town. “Uhh... I'm not sure, I know this place about as well as you. I suppose we could try asking Ms. Meadow Flower for a tour or something?” “Really?!” Her eyes sparkled at the notion of a guided tour as though it were a carnival attraction. This seemed like an overreaction to her new uncle, but who was he to quell the magic in a young filly's heart? “Sure, why not? She seems the type to do something like that on a whim. Oh, but we can't let- Uh-” He knelt down, beckoning the Princess to come closer, which she did. “We can't let anypony know who you really are, like Starswirl said,” he whispered. “So what name do you want when I introduce you?” “Hmmm,” she pondered, tapping her chin with a slightly dirty hoof. “Summer Twinkle!” “Summ- Isn't that a fictional character?” “Yeah! I read all her books, she's great! So strong, and confident, and always having great adventures. I want to be like her when I grow up, but Uncle Starswirl says that adventures are for 'lay-folk without responsibilities'.” “I- I can't call you that, Your Maj-” he paused, checking their surroundings before speaking even quieter. “Your Majesty, nopony would believe that was your real name. You need to pick one that doesn't draw any attention to you while you're here.” “But I like that one! It's a good name! Strong. Confident. Adventureful!” She finished her objection with a stubborn pout. “Princess, please, something more... you. Something you won't forget.” Still pouting, Celestia sat down and crossed both her legs as she thought. Something like her... Celeste? … Elly? … “Tia.” “Tia, huh? Short, simple, memorable; sounds good to me. And you're happy with it?” “Yeah. I- I think Queen Mummy called me that when I was a filly.” “Oh... Well, then it's perfect.” He smiled awkwardly, unfamiliar at dealing with upset foals. He couldn't deal with his own issues, let alone anypony else's. “Alright Tia, let's get to it, shall we?” “Yeah.” She had become quite melancholic; it was like night and day from how she was just a moment ago. As she stood up, her head remained low. “Hey now...” He bit his lip. Now what?! “Do you, uh- Do you like tea?” “It's okay.” “How about biscuits?” “Biscuits?” She perked up immediately, ears alert. “Well, anyone who serves tea has got to have biscuits to go along with them, right?” He was only guessing of course, but as a smile began to spread across the little filly's eager face, he knew he was on to something. “The mare we're going to see loves tea, so she must have an amazing selection of biscuits, right?” He really hoped his bluff proved true. “Really?!” She was practically drooling at the thought; it had been so long since she last tasted something sweet. “Yeah! Let's go see her, alright? I'll make sure you get to pick first.” She whooped and began to gallop around him in excitement. Ustiarius smiled as he continued towards the gourd-shaped hut of the botanist, praying that Meadow Flower did in fact have some tea biscuits. Back at the house, Starswirl had spotted the two leaving from the sisters' bedroom window while checking on Luna, and was now eating a hearty bowl of hay downstairs. It wasn't gourmet, but it had a long storage life, which he suspected was the only reason it was in the pantry. Stargazer likely never touched the stuff when he was here, keeping it for emergency use only. After a deservedly slow morning, it was finally time for him to unpack. The wizard effortlessly levitated his enchanted trunk and brought it outside the house, placing it before the seaward side of the house, at the top of the slope. With a sour glance up at Stargazer's observatory, Starswirl opened the chest and took a few steps back. The box slowly began to vibrate, then shake, rumbling against the sparsely-cobbled dirt floor. As the trembling increased to the force of a Yak stampede, an explosion of light burst from the void within, sending with it a stream of large, grey bricks. The blocks flew toward the existing tower and began to encircle it, stacking up layer-by-layer at a steady pace. Starswirl's horn emitted its familiar white glow as he conducted the process like an orchestra, pulling bricks from the seemingly infinite abyss of the chest and guiding them towards their new home. The pieces soared, twisted and dived into the shape of a new, yet familiar stonework tower. As the new walls rose, the old observatory began to fade away, swapping places with the ex-courier's superior refuge. As the light faded and the chest came to a rest, Starswirl opened his eyes and nodded at a job well done. Significantly larger than its predecessor, the large, granite tower contrasted against its curved, purple and cream surroundings like a sore hoof. Closing the lid on his magic box, the wizard returned inside, feeling as though the world had just been made a tiny bit better. “It's an awful confusing situation, 'must admit,” Meadow Flower sympathised as she and Ustiarius continued their tour of the town. Celestia zipped from point to point around them, eagerly inspecting all the new sights and smells as closely as possible, paying little heed to the adults. “I suppose it is, or would be to an outsider,” Ustiarius nodded, lying through his teeth about their origins, while equally paranoid about exposing himself as the mare she had met before. “Basically, they had to return to Cant—er, Ponydale—urgently to attend to... the business with the little ones' parents. No foal should have to be around that kind of stuff, so we were allowed to use the house for as long as necessary. Keep their minds off things, you know?” “Oui, yes, it's a terrible, awful thing to lose one's parents so early.” She sighed, genuinely upset as she watched the small filly flit around. “They need to keep their innocence for as long as possible, pauvres tites bêtes.” Ustiarius felt somewhat guilty for distressing her, but it's not like he was lying about that part. Swept up in all the stress of escaping the castle, he had almost forgotten that the girls had only just lost their father, and their mother not long before that. Royalty or not, this was world-shattering for the girls, who certainly hadn't come to terms with it yet. “I couldn't agree more,” he mumbled, his mind wandering to darker, more personal thoughts. “Oh, but where is my mind? I'm supposed to be giving you folks a tour of our little hamlet!” It was forced, but her homely positivity was a breath of fresh air to the stallion nonetheless. “Here, you'll like this, little one.” The group had come to the end of the road, effectively on the opposite side of town to Meadow's apothecary, right next to the short, sandy shore. “This here's Fizzleberry Farm. I can tell you the Berrytwist family has been an absolute joy since they moved in to our little community!” Celestia tilted her head. “A farm? What do they make here?” The guardspony raised an eyebrow. “Isn't it kinda close to the water?” “That's the thing! Seems the Berrytwists have been a family of agriculturalists for generations and needed help with a new flora genus-” She stopped, met with two blank faces. “Oh, uh, new plant species.” “Thanks,” Ustiarius smirked. “See, they cross-bred these special seeds, but no matter what they did, they just couldn't get them to grow. Water, snow, sand, you name it, they tried it. Short of dropping them into an active volcano, they journeyed here to South Sea Post, and lo and behold they grew—just like that! Turned out what they needed was a high concentration of salt in the air and water! Isn't that fascinating?” “Pretty weird, yeah,” he smiled awkwardly, not quite sharing her enthusiasm. The farm was a rather quaint bungalow, featuring little in the way of distinguishing features, not even a sign. Some sort of ponymade irrigation system linked the shore on the left of the house to a paddy on the right, where rows upon rows of small green bushes sat. The plants were about chest height, featured thin, curly tendrils, and sported bunches of small, purple berries. It was a uniquely peaceful sight to watch the greenery sway and the shallow water ripple in the sea breeze. “But that's not all, mon cher! Those little berries you see do the most curious thing; when added to freshwater, they fizz! Something to do with the sodium reacting to minerals from mountain springs. It really is a groundbreaking discovery! Just think of all the applications that could have, from washing clothes to tingly drinks. Something like that could put South Sea Post on the map! I mean, we already are on the map, but you know what I mean.” “Drinks? You'd drink something that moves on its own?” “Sure! It's all natural, after all, with a bit of biochemical engineering. What's the harm?” “I want to try!” Celestia shouted, excited by the thought of magic water. “Oh, I don't think that's a good idea, Ce—uh, Tia. Starswuh-” Oh no, what was the name Starswirl used the day before?! He had been so exhausted that everything was a blur. “I- uh- I mean, I wouldn't want to step on your guardian's hooves.” “Booo!” She stuck out her tongue before turning and running off to explore the paddy field. “She is a spirited one, isn't she?” Meadow Flower smiled, warmed by old memories. “She reminds me of ma petite chérie.” “You have a foal? I'm sorry, it didn't look like anypony else lived at your place.” “Oh, oui, though she's not so little anymore. Barely a mare, but she will always be my little filly in mon cœur.” “Oh, I see. She moved out, then?” “Oui, she always had a powerful wanderlust, much like this little one. Such a kind, compassionate little thing, obsessing over hurt ponies and wildlife alike. You wouldn't believe some of the animals she brought into my apothecary!” She chuckled to herself, though it was bittersweet. “What... happened to her?” he winced, expecting the worst. “Oh, nothing bad, mon ami, nothing bad. She was so eager to see the animals of the world; cure all of life's ailments.” Her sadness faded to a warm glow of pride. “Despite my selfish objections, she up and left for Elysium-knows-where. Such a strong head on those small, blue shoulders... Makes a mother proud.” Ustiarius breathed a silent sigh of relief. He had heard too many tragic stories already. Meadow Flower caught herself lost in nostalgia yet again. “Ah! But where are my manners, rambling on like that out of the blue? Shall we move on?” The ex-guard nodded and followed obediently, heading back towards the town square with Celestia following up the rear in her own time. “If I may, without meaning to upset you, how long has your daughter been gone?” “Oh goodness, barely half a year yet, though it feels longer,” she mused, only too eager to talk to somepony about these things, it seemed. “She never did have strong ties to this village; too remote, sparse wildlife diversity, no real position for her to fulfil besides being my apprentice... Her instincts always were more t'wards the animals than the plants, and no doubt 'came sick of my botanic gris-gris.” She chuckled, though the joke was lost on her audience. “She would oft' ask me of times back on the bayou and why I left, eyes all a'wonder...” “So you moved here, then?” “Oh oui, cher, we all did! South Sea Port has only been around as long as we have, though that's longer than I wish to dwell on. Much like little Brook, the swamp grew too small to contain me and I sought the frontier. It was by chance I came across a supply caravan heading to a new settlement, and it sounded so excitin' to be a part of something so... permanent, that I hopped on, and the rest is history. I found purpose here, helping the village prosper, keeping ponies safe; I finally felt like I was needed. And it was so different from the bayou: desolate, dry, quiet...” She trailed off for a moment, lost in thought. “Of course I understand how mon bébé felt, needin' more, feelin' that itch in her hooves. Ever since she left I've felt that same call back the bayou myself.” Her gaze drifted towards the oceanic horizon as she murmured wistfully, “Il y a pas mieux que chez soi.” “So you think that's where she went? Why not go after her, if that's what you want?” “This trading post managed without me in the beginning, and I daresay it would continue in my stead, but I can't just up and leave my duties. As a healer, my conscience wouldn't allow it.” Before realising, the group had crossed the town square and was already standing in front of Meadow Flower's apothecary. “Oh, back already? You must be awful thirsty after all that listening. Please, come inside and I'll brew you up some tea.” “Uh, sure, thanks.” Ushering Celestia ahead of him, the two followed their host into the shop and made themselves comfortable in the waiting area while Meadow Flower retreated into the kitchen to prepare. Ustiarius had been so nervous in his mare-form the last time he was here that he had failed to fully appreciate the décor of the room. It was lavishly adorned with exotic plants and what he assumed were keepsakes from the bayou, wherever that was. Each corner of the ceiling had some sort of ceremonial mask hanging from it, between which hung various vines, ferns, and other living accents. The building had a heavy, earthy smell to it, mixed with the fragrance of her myriad herbs, which complimented the natural shapes of the wooden furniture around them. The only other house he had entered in this village was Stargazer's, yet even he could tell that this was not the common interior design of a coastal pony. Celestia seemed to be sharing in his awe of their surroundings, as she was actually sitting still for once, head tilted high and mouth agape at the ceiling's intricacies. “Here we go,” Meadow Flower cooed, entering the room with an entirely different tea set from before, gently setting it on the coffee table between them. “Tia, do you take sugar?” Ustiarius noticed that the princess hadn't responded to her new name, either distracted by the curios or not recognising it, prompting him to knee her in the ribs. Momentarily startled, the small filly shot him a vicious glare as the botanist repeated her question. “Tia, dear? Sugar?” “Yes, please,” she replied politely, putting her royal composure training to use, at least until she remembered the promise from earlier. “Oh, but the- Where-?” She looked up at Ustiarius, her lip quivering. With a slight smile, the stallion turned back to their host. “I'm sorry, but I don't suppose you have any biscuits to go with the tea? I fear I skipped breakfast, but I don't want to ruin my plans for lunch.” “Oh yes, of course! How rude of me not to offer. Give me just one second-” She was already in the kitchen before finishing her sentence, rifling through various tins and boxes. Celestia beamed at the guardspony, and it wasn't long before Ms. Flower returned brandishing a plate of various biscuits arranged neatly in a fanned circle. The princess could barely contain herself, clopping her hooves together in excitement before launching onto the plate the moment it was set down. Sweet treats were a rarity back at the palace, as were many luxuries after the Queen's passing, forcing the Princess to rely on those smuggled in for her by staff. “Goodness! One'd think you'd never been fed!” Meadow smiled as she retook her seat. “Speaking of which, where do you get groceries around here? The house has some provisions, but the kids need more than stale oats and hay.” “Why of course! Mr. Finch runs the local farm and produce store, I'll introduce you at the welcoming party tonight!” There was an awkward pause as Ustiarius processed what had just been said. “I'm sorry, party?” “Bien oui, the welcoming party we spoke about last night! Do you not remember?” While Celestia nodded knowingly, a cold sweat formed on the stallion's brow. He was having a hard enough time keeping this charade up around one pony, let alone an entire village's worth. “Oh don't worry about it, cher, you won't have to lift a hoof, it's in your honour after all. Just be there and I'll introduce you to everypony, you'll be just fine. They're a friendly, accepting herd... mostly.” “Mostly?” “Every town has their eccentrics, you know? Goldcrest Finch can come across a bit... grouchy when you first meet him, but I'm sure he's kind deep inside. Probably. He was never the same after his daughter left.” “Seems to be a theme around here,” Ustiarius mused without thinking, reaching over for his cup. “Why'd she leave?” “She wanted to join a sky-pirate crew like her old man. Living on the frontier brings out the adventurous side in ponies, y'know?” The guardspony had chosen a bad time to take a sip of his tea, almost immediately spitting it out in surprise. “Sk- Sky-pirates?” Thoroughly unimpressed, Meadow Flower reached over to a jar, took out a hoofful of some unknown powder and sprinkled it over the mess, quickly absorbing it. “Yes, sky-pirates,” she continued. “Some ponies just don't like to live under Canterlot's rules, so they move out here and live as vagabonds and thieves. I certainly don't approve of such things, but the appeal of adventure across the wide, blue sky of Greater Equestria isn't lost on me either.” She sighed. “But those days are long past me now.” Feeling an intense aura, Ustiarius looked down at Celestia, who was practically glowing with excitement over the mention of pirates and adventure. “Those two grew up together, you know. Meilleures amies through school.” “Who's that?” Ustiarius asked as he smiled politely, gingerly replacing his cup on its saucer. “Our daughters, Meadowbrook and Skylark. You never would have thought, looking at them, but you know what they say about opposites, oui?” Meadow Flower leaned forward, poured herself another cup and offered the others more, which only Celestia accepted. “But the older they got, the more restless they both became. Adventure was calling, and eventually it pulled them apart. As worried as I am for ma petite chou-fleur, I know she is a good girl, doing right in the world; but Skylark... I can't begin to imagine how worried Finch must be, 'specially knowing the dangers himself. So give him a chance when you meet him, yeah? We all have our stories.” Ustiarius nodded. “I appreciate it. I—uh—wish the best for both your daughters.” “Merci beaucoup. Forgive me, I just get so passionate when it comes to my little one, I'm sure you understand.” The two looked down at Celestia, who blinked cluelessly. “Oh, no, no-no, I'm not- We're not related or anything, I really am just the driver,” he blustered, “And, well, foalsitter right now, I suppose.” “I do not need a foalsitter,” she pouted. He laughed awkwardly, wanting to put as much distance between himself and this topic as possible. “Honestly, we only really met a few days ago. Besides, I'm not old enough to be having foals. I only just joined the guar—” Oh no, what was he doing? Don't make up more details to remember! “—uh—guild... of drivers. Drivers Guild.” “Oh? I did not know you had unionised,” Meadow mused, though was quick to get back to what she was really interested. “But do not be embarrassed, love sometimes comes slow, but it also comes fast for some. I would not find it strange for a fine, young stallion such as yourself to have sired foals already.” “OKAY, THANKS FOR THE TEA, WE NEED TO BE GOING NOW,” Ustiarius squawked as he grabbed Celestia and pushed her towards the door, his face glowing red. Meadow Flower was a little taken aback, but smiled coyly as they left. “Alright, mon amis, see you tonight!” “YUP, BYE!” Ustiarius pushed Celestia all the way across the town square and up the hill to their house, despite her protests, before having to catch his breath. “What was that about?!” she turned to him, fuming. “N-Nothing. Adult stuff. You'll understand when you're older.” “What?! But I want to understand now!” “Uh- Ask Starswirl.” “Lame! He won't tell me! You suck.” Celestia spun around and stomped towards the house before quickly coming to a halt, looking up. “Uncle Oosty, what's that?” The guardspony caught his breath and looked at where she was pointing, only now noticing the huge, grey, cobblestone tower sticking out of their house like a sore hoof. “What in Equestria?” It was bizarre to see that familiar Canterlot architecture here, so far away from home and so at odds with the surrounding buildings. He wondered how this monolith to their true origin was Starswirl's idea of keeping a low profile, but he dared not argue with anypony who could summon such a structure out of thin air. With a sigh and a shrug, Ustiarius led Celestia back inside the house. He hadn't been able to properly appreciate the comforts of their new home yesterday, but its sunken lounge, high ceiling, and open-plan kitchen/living area—like you might find in a north-equestrian chalet—was clearly the product of high-society money. He'd barely had two bits to rub together his whole life until enrolling in the corps, and this was way nicer than the barracks. Too nice... “Starswirl? You here?” he called out, not finding him downstairs. No response. Celestia gasped. “Maybe he's up in the new tower? Can I go?! Can I? Can I?!” With a bemused smile, the guardspony nodded and Celestia shot upstairs—or at least tried to, as the steps were slightly too high for her, and her light hooves kept slipping on the polished wood—with the stallion in tow. “Uncle Starswirl?” Celstia cautiously asked as she pushed his bedroom door ajar, peering through the crack into an empty room. While the room itself was unremarkable—though lush—what really caught her attention was the cobblestone archway in the corner of the room, which hadn't been there yesterday. “Woah...” The two ponies gingerly entered the wizard's room and trotted towards the portal as though it led to another world. “Wait, this isn't-” Ustiarius' jaw slacked as he peered up the hollow spiral staircase, recognising the view from inside. “He didn't-?” With a shrill shriek of excitement and clapping of hooves, Celestia dashed up the stone stairs, eager to see the familiar sight at the top. Reaching the top, the two ponies found themselves in a small, slightly ovoid studio lined with books, and a large rug of the royal crest covering the central floor. Near the middle sat a somewhat familiar back, hunched over a small wooden desk as pages turned and a quill scribbled. “Uncle Starswirl!” Celestia bounced over to him, surprising him enough to almost tip his ink over as she stood on her hindlegs to see what he was doing. “Celestia!” He leaned back on his stool, brandishing an uncharacteristic smile. “I did not hear your return.” “You're looking chipper, Starswirl.” Ustiarius approached the centre of the room, having never been allowed up here before. “How in Equestria did you do this?” “Of course. One is never quite as relaxed as when in the space of one's own creation, at least that is what I have found.” “Yeah, that sounds like you.” “As for the 'how', I did not rise to my position for lack of merit. My chest was enchanted to not only collect my possessions, but every brick and tile of the tower itself. I could not risk losing a single page of my work to whom—or what—ever tried to claim it.” “I'm surprised the King gave you permission to steal an entire turret of the castle.” “It was an emergency measure, of course. Should the worst happen, I trusted that the King would understand.” Both unicorns paused for a moment, the King's death still fresh in their minds. “Well, the worst happened,” he mumbled, turning back to his work. Celestia backed off from Starswirl's workbench and ran into the side-room that was once his bedroom. “Where's your bed?” “Still in the chest. The bed downstairs is far nicer, so I felt no need to compromise. I have heard that it is better to separate where you work and relax, so we shall see if these claims have any validity. It seems less convenient to me, but never say that I am not open to new experiences.” “Hah!” Ustiarius couldn't help but laugh at that statement, earning a glare from his elder. “This is amazing, it looks just like your tower back at the castle.” Celestia wandered back in, craning her head to look at every inch of the wooden beams above them. “That's because it is, my dear, every brick and book, down to the very dust.” Starswirl tapped the excess ink off his quill tip and settled back into his work. “Now, if there's nothing else?” “Well, if I may ask one thing-” The guardspony scratched his neck, already anticipating a scolding. “What is it you're doing here?” “What am I doing?” Starswirl raised his head, though remained poised over his table. “Research. Study. Documentation. Is it my duty as the guardian of the Princesses—nay, as a guardian of Equestria—to do everything I can to banish Discord and regain control of Canterlot, for all of ponykind. I must read, note, cross-reference, and tabulate all possible solutions to this situation. Not every book here will be useful, but I have accumulated some of the rarest and dangerous tomes in all of Equestria, so I am confident that somewhere within these pages is an answer. Somewhere.” “Wow... How long do you think it will take?” He swallowed, dreading the answer. “How long? Years. Decades? It's impossible to say. The answer could be on the next page, or in a book I have never seen before. But I truly believe that it is here, somewhere. Books hold the answers to everything in this world, whether it is in their words or in your heart, and I know that I will find the answer to this. I must.” “D-Decades...?” Ustiarius suddenly pictured himself as a single, middle-aged pony, living with a century-old stallion and two teenage mares, breaking out in a cold sweat. No thank you. “And let us not forget my duty to tutor the Princesses on top of that. It may be more responsibility than any one pony could handle, but I shall rise to the challenge. For Equestria. For the King and Queen. I would sooner die than let anypony down.” “You're a good pony, Starswirl. I'm sorry if I ever doubted that.” Starswirl remained silent. With an understanding nod, Ustiarius returned to the stairs. “Starswirl...” Celestia spoke up, her head low and voice serious. “Thank you.” The wizard finally turned towards his audience, bowing to the small filly. “Anything for you, Princess.” Celestia smiled gratefully and met Ustiarius at the steps. Halting mid-step, the guardspony stepped back and looked back at Starswirl. “Don't forget, the townsponies are coming over tonight for a welcoming party.” “They're what?” His face immediately soured, clearly having forgotten—or repressed—his last interaction with the group. It was amazing that somepony this introverted had become one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. “Yeah, remember? The apothecary, Meadow Flower, said that she would introduce us all.” “Ugh! I do not have time for such trivialities!” he spat, turning back to his workstation. “Like it or not, Starswirl, if you're planning on living here, you're going to have to interact with these ponies. You're not in the palace anymore—well, not the rest of it—you won't get things handed to you on a silver platter. If you want food, you're going to have to go out and buy it yourself, so it would help to know who sells it, right?” A frosty silence permeated the room as the wizard tried and failed to rationalise his way out of this social commitment. His hoof grated against the wood grain in frustration. “What time?” “Um, around sunset, I suspect. She wasn't specific. Don't worry, we'll come get you when ponies start to arrive. Make sure you're presentable.” “Yes, thank you, I am quite capable of looking after myself with your instructions.” Ustiarius snorted out a chuckle and continued down the stairs with Celestia to check in on Luna. Openly irked, Starswirl tapped his quill against the side of the ink pot in frustration. For all his mastery of literature and magic, why did the thought of other ponies continue to cause him such... anxiety? He was better than them. He had status, power, experience, and yet... Gritting his teeth with forced concentration, the ex-court-wizard hunched himself back over the scroll he had been reading before the interruption. In truth, it was unlikely that he would find anything useful in his library, given that he had already read everything here at least once and didn't recall a single instance of the name 'Discord'. Could it have been forbidden knowledge, locked away in the palace's vault? If so, there was no chance of recovering such information now, but it did give him an idea about cross-referencing the log of items interred there. With a frustrated sigh, Starswirl rolled the parchment up with his magic and returned it to the bookshelf, accidentality disturbing a neighbouring book. With a raised eyebrow, the unicorn removed the dislodged tome and brought it down to eye-level. 'Star Swirl: The Forgotten Mentor' was etched across its dull, tattered surface. Ah yes, another joke-gift from Stargazer in a petty attempt to rile him up. This book was no unofficial memoir, but rather the autobiography of a very different pony from the pre-Equestrian era, and mentor to Clover the Clever. With a bored disinterest he rested his head on his hoof and began to flick through the pages. Much like the first time he read it, he suspected that Stargazer had put little more thought into this jab than the title itself, despite the alleged cost of this obscure item. Its contents were typical for the life of a teacher, and far less interesting than his own, if he did say so himself. However it was not one Star Swirl's accomplishments that caught his eye, but one of Clover the Clever's, written about in the epilogue. Apart from having a hoof in the founding of Equestria as they know it—or knew it—Clover was also known for taking down a particularly dangerous sorceress, Mistress Moneta, and sealing her power away in another dimension. While the story itself was of little use to him and their current situation, he couldn't help but draw parallels between recent events and the details listed in this book, namely the use of a magic mirror. It couldn't be the same mirror, could it? He knew the King's mirror was an ancient artefact, gifted to Gusty the Great upon her ascension to the throne as the first Princess of Equestria and passed down through the generations, but he never imagined it might have been used as a portal before their fated attempt. This latent calibration could have been the reason his spell had the unexpected results it did. He closed the book, his face blank as he processed this new information. If he knew the full history of the mirror and its creation, perhaps there was a chance of using it as a weapon to send Discord back to the dimension he came from? Clearing everything off the small workbench, Starswirl pulled down every available text he owned on the mirror, despite having already researched them thoroughly for the King's purposes, but now searching for specific references to other texts and Clover the Clever's involvement, which he might be able to hunt down somewhere in Equestria. It wasn't much, but it was a start. The rest of the day rolled along with little to note, until a knock at the door announced the arrival of the welcoming committee. Ustiarius tasked Celestia with fetching Starswirl while he ushered the guests inside. He felt guilty admitting it to himself, but he didn't recognise a single one of these ponies from the night before, so it was a good thing Meadow Flower was treating this like the first time they were meeting. “Bienvenue! Welcome! Happy house warming!” the now familiar voice of Meadow Flower called out as she entered at the head of the pack. After catching Ustiarius off guard with a hug, she looked around the spacious interior with awe. “I've peeked through the windows before, but it's so much more beautiful from the inside! How nice it is to know ponies in high places!” Ustiarius chuckled awkwardly, having never even heard of Stargazer before yesterday, let alone know him. “Shall we wait until Custos Greymane arrives before we begin introductions?” she continued, waving for the other townsponies to shuffle in. “Who?” he asked without hesitation, having never heard the name before. “Your partner? The pony you arrived with?” She looked confused, wondering if she had misremembered his name from yesterday. “O- Oh!” They had only been here a few seconds, but a cold sweat was already forming on his brow. This was exactly the kind of trap he had dreaded falling into. Words escaped him as he tried to formulate an excuse for this lapse, though a timely and welcome distraction came from the upper floor in his moment of need. “My ears are burning,” Starswirl called down as he made his way to the staircase, Celestia in tow. “I do apologise for keeping you waiting.” “Ah, Mésyé Greymane! C'est ça, we were just waiting for you to begin introductions, please think nothing of it.” Starswirl joined Ustiarius at the base of the stairs, while Celestia jumped down onto the sunken sofa, watching keenly from the background. “So with no more ado, Custos Greymane, Cestus Hippos—” As the name left her mouth, Ustiarius still couldn't believe Starswirl had named him the night before without his consent. “—allow me to introduce you to Rosebud and Greenhoof Berrytwist of Fizzleberry Farm.” The two nearest earth ponies nodded politely. Neither of them were particularly striking; Greenhoof had a brown coat and blue dungarees, sporting a hearty beard, while Rosebud was a pale yellow, had a bun of bright green hair, and peered from under a large straw sun-hat, behind thick-lensed glasses. “Goldcrest Finch,” Meadow Flower continued, directing her hoof toward the next individual. “Purveyor of the local goods shop.” Finch was a brown, middle-aged pegasus with a sour expression. Grey and balding on top, the stress lines around his face spoke to many sad tales untold. Ustiarius recognised his name from earlier as the father of Skylark. “Tammy Applecore, headmare and sole teacher of our local school.” Mrs. Applecore was tall, thin, tight-lipped, and emanated an especially strict aura. She stepped from behind the shopkeeper and gave the pair a curt nod, followed by a silent, judgemental looking-over. “Don't let her demeanour scare you, oui? She might look sour, but she can't hide her sweetness from the children.” The earth pony pushed her half-moon glasses up her muzzle, seemingly flustered by the comment, but remaining silent. “Next are Hook, Line and Sinker, our fishing siblings extraordinaire.” On cue, three stout stallions in yellow macs pushed their way into the room, knocking the preceding ponies further towards the stairs. As they entered, each threw back their hoods and introduced themselves. “Hook!” the eldest yelled, revealing himself as a seafoam-blue, eye-patched unicorn, with a thick, orange beard reaching the floor. Celestia's eyes sparkled as his pony stormed in, looking as close to a pirate as she was likely to see. “Line!” the second echoed, showing himself to be a slightly lighter blue unicorn with neatly trimmed facial hair and sculpted cheekbones. “Line! I mean, Sinker!” the third fumbled, momentarily getting his hood caught on his horn. Clearly the youngest of three—not much older than Little Cobb might have been—he was fresh-faced, and crowned with an untidy mop of bright orange hair. The three's dynamic was immediately apparent, though they felt more like characters from a stage play than actual fisher-ponies. “Pleasure to meet ye, neighbours!” the first hollered, already causing Starswirl's ears to ring. “Me and me brothers spend more time out on the sea than at port, but when we heard you's was havin' a welcomin' party, well we couldn't say no to spending an extra day ashore! Yarhar!” Celestia's eyes were practically popping out at this point. He was talking just like Silver John, a pirate in one of her smuggled-in fictions back at the castle! “Be your stay short or long, every pony in this town is family,” he continued, “so if you need anythin's doin, you ask ol' Hookeye, Jawline and Dipper, yar? Yarhar!” “Dipper?” Ustiarius asked, confused. “Why is your nickname 'Sinker'?” The youngest pony scratched his mane awkwardly. “That's on account of I can't swim, sir.” “You fish on a sea boat, but cannot swim?” Starswirl spoke up. “That seems foolhardy.” “Aye, reckon it is, sir, but fishin's in me blood. Family business, see? Can't let a little thing like-” “Yeah, yeah, enough of that,” Line interrupted, peering around the room with a look of disappointment. “I heard there were mares here, but I only see stallions, what gives?” Ustiarius glared at the similar-aged unicorn. “Our fillies are not fit for your intentions, but even if they were, it would do you well to treat mares with a little more respect.” The teal unicorn raised a well-trimmed eyebrow to this with complete disregard, before rolling his eyes and settling down to general disinterest of the situation. “Quite,” Meadow Flower resumed, clearing her throat. “And last but by no means least, we have our lookout, who keeps watch over our little town day and night, Bluebeak.” Starswirl, Ustiarius and Celestia were all shocked as the looming form of a griffon squeezed its way through the door, hidden by the ponies preceding it. As its name suggested, it was a large, weathered, blue-hued male. As it approached the two unicorns, Meadow could clearly see them recoil. “Now-now, dear friends, please. We are a long way from the politics of Central Equestria. While the monarchy may hold on to the grudges of the past, down here, we're of a more forgiving sort. Vivre et laisser vivre, oui?” The two ponies looked at each other uncomfortably, having both been raised in a society that vilified griffons for the ancient war and banished them from the kingdom. Celestia cowered below the ridge of the sunken lounge, having only read about griffons in books before. They were a lot bigger than she had expected. Bluebeak snorted disdainfully. “It's the same from every pony that ends up in this backwater town, you just can't let go of the past. That was generations ago!” Starswirl and Ustiarius looked at each other, unsure of what to say. “Tch, whatever. Doesn't bother me none.” The griffon turned and left, barely a minute after entering. “Bluebeak, wait!” Meadow Flower pushed past the other ponies and galloped after him. “Don't mind him, he's always grouchy,” Line smirked. “Typical griffon, right?” Ustiarius frowned, wondering if Canterlot's pony-only policy was something he should have questioned before now. “Don't you worry,” Hook bellowed, “Meadow Flower will sort him out good and proper. She has a way with folk. Now who's ready for some grub?” “I hope you weren't expecting us to cater,” Starswirl replied, “because you'll find that the best we can offer is some stale hay and water.” “No, of course not!” Greenhoof spoke up for the first time since arriving. “This is your welcoming party, so the food is on us,” Rosebud continued. “I do hope you'll try one of our special, fizzy home-brews!” Ustiarius forced an apprehensive smile before the group were ushered outside, where everything had been set up prior to their introduction. The flat, grassy area behind their house had been decked out with tables, sheets, an array of vegetables, and firepit for barbecuing them. As Hookeye took the helm as cook, Meadow Flower came around the corner looking dejected, with no Bluebeak in sight. Ustiarius immediately felt a stab of guilt and approached her, away from the core of the group. “Meadow Flower, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-” “Non, no, it's okay, I should have known better than to invite him without warning. It's just—to me he's just another pony, savoir? I keep on forgetting that outsiders don't see him the same way. Like Hook said, we're all family here, even Bluebeak, though he might not admit it himself.” The ex-guardspony sighed just as a group of five more ponies rounded the corner, catching his eye. “Woah, more?” Meadow turned to face the new group. “Ah, oui. I thought it might be overwhelming if you met the entire town at once, so I staggered the groups.” She closed her eyes, letting out a slow, meditative breath. She reopened her eyes, prepared to deal with the task at hoof. “Don't worry, the first group were the main names you need to know around town, everypony else are farmers, family members, et cetera.” She waved to the new arrivals and beckoned them over. “Come, let me introduce you.”