//------------------------------// // Storm, Sky, Sentry, and Scream // Story: The Archmage's Last Bow // by Rytex //------------------------------// The Archmage’s Last Bow Chapter 04 - Storm, Sky, Sentry, and Scream Nova Shine was standing alone in an inky void. Huh.  This was odd.  He didn’t remember falling asleep.  How had he gotten here? A minute ago, he had been on the train, chatting rather animatedly with Twilight while they both guided Gleam through “sewing” an enchantment into his old cloak, and then… Oh, right.  He had decided to take a nap given his lack of rest the last couple days.  Better to be not tired when they had their conversation with the princesses over this Level Zero imperative and whatnot. But… what was he doing here?  This didn’t feel like a dream.  But he definitely wasn’t awake either.  And he knew what the dreamscape looked like after his many trips into it with Luna.  Yet unlike the dreamscape, there were no stars, there was no color, just this eternal blackness. So…  where was he? “Where am I?” Nova blinked.  That hadn’t been his voice.  It had sounded somewhat similar to his, but it was considerably cooler in tone, and just as confused as he felt. “Hello?” the voice asked again.  “Is anyone there?” “Uhh… hi?” Nova chanced, looking around for the source of it, but it seemed to come from everywhere around him.. “Who are you?  Where am I? What is this place?” the voice asked.  Now that it was aware someone was listening to it, it seemed a bit more demanding, rather than uncertain.  It was as though the voice was accustomed to giving orders and having them followed. “I’m not telling, I don’t know, and I don’t know,” Nova answered shrugging.  “I’m as stumped as you are on all of this, whoever you are.” The voice paused for a long moment, leading Nova to wonder if this was one of the same incited dreams he’d had back when they were hunting down the Vaults those years ago.  This was clearly too real to be a random dream, this was certainly in his head as he was asleep, and the voice did sound a bit similar to him… Was it Logic, Emotion, or Snark, gaining sentience?  Oh, Faust help us all. “I apologize,” the voice said, toning down its level of demand.  “I am… unable to sense anything about my surroundings other than the fact that I am in this odd empty place, and can hear your voice.  I must ask, who are you?” “Yeah, I don’t really trust the mysterious voice in the darkness,” Nova replied, maybe a bit too coolly.  “I literally just met you all of five seconds ago.” “That is… understandable,” the voice replied, sounding amused.  “Very well, perhaps we should exchange names? That would be a start, wouldn’t you say?” “Sure,” Nova shrugged.  “I’m Nova Shine.” The voice let out a quiet hum.  “Thank-you, Nova Shine. Before I confide in you my name, I must ask.  Do you know what year it is?” “Uhh,” Nova’s brows twitched.  Why would he want to know what year it was?  For starters, which year-counting standard? “1007 After Nightmare Moon?  Uhh...” he tapped his chin, “5622 of the Dawn Standard? “I do not know what this Nightmare Moon is,” the voice remarked, “and I have never heard of this Dawn Standard.  Do you know, perhaps, the Elysian standard? What about the Roaman standard? Ab urbe condita?” “I do know that one,” Nova nodded.  Finally, common ground. But if he was asking for a Roaman standard… just how old was this voice?  “One moment, gotta do the date conversion.” “Of course, of course.” Ab Urbe Condita… “From the founding of the city,'' the city being the ancient city of Roam, which still stood in Bitalia.  That was… a little over ten-thousand years ago, right?  Yeah, now it was coming back. Ten thousand… ten thousand eight-hundred sixty-two, to be precise. Yes, now he was remembering his history. That would mean… well, no, it was probably a longshot. There were over ten-thousand years for it to be from, though if it had never heard of the Dawn standard, then perhaps it was somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 years old? And was he really assuming this voice was ancient just from the limited interaction?  For all he knew it may just have never heard of any of these date standards! ...except the really really ancient one. “It’s about… 11,869 AUC,” Nova finally answered.  “I think. I do know the Dream Valley standard, if you know that one?” “I’ve never heard of the Dream Valley standard either,” Nova could almost hear the voice frown.  “Still, if this date is accurate, then that would mean that… oh my.” “Everything alright?” Nova tilted his head. “No, I do not believe it is,” the voice now sounded equal parts alarmed and disbelieving.  “Forgive me, Nova Shine, but I cannot reveal much more about myself than I am sure you would like.  I have just come to the conclusion that our spirits have been joined together somehow. It would seem I have awakened close to ten-thousand years after I went into stasis, and some how, some way, I find that my spirit has latched onto your own.” “Wait, what?” Nova tensed, alarm shooting through him. “I… cannot say for certain.  I have not felt this sensation before, you see.  But I have read of it, and what I’ve read seems to match the current situation.  We are connected for the time being at the soulular level, but our minds remain separate.  How very interesting...” Nova was very used to that scientific edge creeping into someone’s voice, though that someone was almost always Twilight.  No matter the topic, she could find something to be intrigued about. Speaking of Twilight, however... “Yeah, I’ve only got room for one pony to join my soul to, so if you could kindly separate--” The voice chuckled humorlessly.  “Oh, Nova Shine, I am afraid it does not work that way.  We are bound together for the time being, and I can’t say I know how to unbind souls right now.  The condition should be temporary, but it would seem, for the time being, that I shall be tied to you for the foreseeable future.” Nova let out a long sigh, dragging a hoof down his face.  Lovely. Now even his privacy had been taken from him. What a lovely turnaround these last few days. “Do not sound so distraught, my friend!” the voice said, quite casually despite Nova being quite vocal about how annoyed he was.  “It is only until I know it is safe, and we discover a way to unbind our souls before I can leave you in peace. I am sure someone will have figured it out in the millennia since my apparent death.” Nova just sighed again, but relented.  If he was gonna get his soul stuck to someone else, it wouldn’t be wise to make an enemy of them.  Still… ...wait a minute did he say “apparent death” just now? “You’re reacting rather well to finding out you have someone else living in your head for the time being,” observed the voice.  “Is this, perhaps, not the first time this has happened?” “In a manner of speaking,” Nova scowled, remembering the night of Nightfall, when Harmonia had seen fit to take possession of him for that brief time. “I see,” the voice said.  “How very intriguing. I suppose it is good that only our souls are bonded, and that you have prior experience.  I have seen beings whose souls and minds were bonded before, and a loss of identity was inevitable. It is good that we both retain our individuality.  And those who are unaccustomed to it are usually quite overwhelmed the first time through.” “I wouldn’t exactly call myself ‘accustomed’ though,” Nova frowned.  “Last time it happened, it was for all of a couple of minutes.” “Very interesting,” the voice replied.  It was odd how the voice seemed sincere in those statements, as though he had an innate desire to understand everything he could. “You never told me your name,” Nova pointed out.  “At the very least, if I’m gonna have a roomie in my head, I’m not just calling you Voice.” “Oh, my apologies, you are right!” the voice exclaimed.  It made a noise of nervousness. “Nova Shine, before I reveal to you my name, I must ask something of you.  I know it is a great leap, to place trust in someone you do not know, but I must ask it of you anyway.” “What’s that?” “I… do not know if it is a safe time to reveal the fact that I exist in your head, or that I even exist at all.  Something tells me that my name may not yet have been completely forgotten, faded into the fog of time. Please, can I ask you to keep my existence an absolute secret?” “I’m getting married sooner or later,” Nova answered.  “You expect me to keep this from my wife?” “Simply?  Yes,” the voice replied bluntly.  “I know not who to trust. I do not know if others of my kind still exist, and if they do, if they seek my destruction or not.  My body was destroyed, and until I am certain that the present environment is safe for me, I wish to remain completely hidden so that my mind and soul are not.” “Fair enough,” Nova replied, bobbing his head.  It wasn’t forever. He could live with this. “Sure.  I won’t spill the beans of your existence. So what’s your name?” The voice took a deep breath, which was odd, considering it didn’t have lungs. “My name is Imperius, and once upon a time, I was King of the Alicorns.” There was an incurable fluttering in Bright Gleam’s belly that day. Sure, she had gotten to say hi to Mom and Dad, who had immediately fawned over her, done the usual things like ask if she had brushed her teeth thrice a day and dotted her T’s and crossed her I’s-- wait, no, reverse that--, made sure she was alright, all that usual stuff, but none of that had done anything to set her more at ease for the day’s big event. SHE WAS GOING TO MEET THE PRINCESSES! “Nervous?” asked Princess Twilight as Gleam quivered from head to hoof while the three of them made their way toward the house that had become the princesses’ temporary residence in recent weeks.  Nearly petrified with nervousness seemed to be a default setting for her these days. “Y-yes, Princess,” Gleam admitted, shringing into herself just a little.  “I, uhh… well, last time I saw them was when…” “When you asked him if you could be his apprentice, right?” she nudged the distracted Archmage. Master Nova Shine had seemed rather distracted ever since they’d stepped off the train, but then again, he’d been distracted pretty much all of the time since the incident in the woods with that Shimmer Envy mare, aside from just a few hours ago back in Ponyville. Still, they’d actually gotten her to enchant her new cloak!  Well, repair the existing enchantments anyway, but that was better than she’d ever done!  Master Nova Shine had been right. Weaving the magic into the fabric had been far more effective than stewing it.  Now, her new cloak’s protection spells were all in good shape, and she’d even been able to analyze the enchantments contained within with Princess Twilight’s help. All that was left was tailoring it to actually fit her, and changing its color to something more her style.  Master Nova Shine was right. Navy blue didn’t really go too well with her pink and gold. Navy blue… gold… Princess Luna and Princess Celestia…  SHE WAS GOING TO MEET THE-- “So why didn’t Sir Spike come with us?” she asked, hoping this would at least keep herself distracted. “Please don’t call him ‘Sir Spike’,” Princess Twilight rolled her eyes. “The last thing he needs is a title like that going to his head like it already does in the Crystal Empire.” “Sorry,” Gleam winced.  “I won’t do it a--” “No no no!” Princess Twilight cut her off.  “Sorry, you didn’t know. I’m not chastising you or anything.  I’m just ribbing on my Number 1 Assistant a little bit.” “Oh,” Gleam let out a sigh of relief. “Gleam,” Princess Twilight draped a warm wing across her back, “relax!  Just because I’m a Princess and he’s the Archmage doesn’t mean we’re super-serious and you have to meet our minimum requirements to stay his apprentice or anything,” she nudged the distracted Archmage again. The distracted Archmage simply frowned at the ground, his eyes glossed over. Princess Twilight cleared her throat.  “I said,” she nudged him again, speaking slowly for emphasis “‘just because I’m a Princess and he’s the Archmage doesn’t mean we’re super-serious and you have to meet our minimum requirements to stay his apprentice or anything.’”  The archmage didn’t seem to hear her. “Nova!” Princess Twilight barked. “Hm?” Master Nova Shine returned to alertness suddenly, looking around wildly.  “What’s going on?” “Encourage your apprentice.” “Right,” Master Nova Shine nodded.  “Good job, Gleam. You’re doing awesome.” Princess Twilight covered her face with a wing and sighed, while Gleam giggled.  She knew her master wasn’t super serious all the time. If anything, he was probably the goofiest stallion she knew, and given everything that had happened in the last few days, she didn’t mind him not paying much attention.  She wasn’t some needy filly that needed constant care. Princess Twilight, though… There were rumors at Celestia’s School.  Gleam attended the main campus, which was more of a boarding school, but the satellite campus in Lower Canterlot city limits was for students staying at home, and Tango Foxtrot said that everyone knew how Princess Twilight had been a student there once.  She’d apparently aced the entrance exam. She’d been the standard every other student was compared to in her first year.  She had been Princess Celestia’s personal student, and there had been no shortage of mutterings and hearsay about just how book-devoted she was. According to Tango Foxtrot, who had heard it from Minty Twist, whose best friend Garnet Sheen had been told by Terra Stella, Twilight Sparkle had even wanted to marry a mathematics textbook.  She’d drawn a face on it, brought it to class every day, and Tango Foxtrot even swore that Minty Twist said Garnet Sheen had been informed by Terra Stella that she’d even been seen trying to feed the textbook during lunch! Well, her master was good at maths… is that why Princess Twilight likes him so much? Focus, Gleam.  Focus. She was just so by the book that Gleam always expected her to be super-straight-laced and allow absolutely no deviation whatsoever. And she was mostly right.  Princess Twilight had indeed more often than not served as the straight mare to Archmage Nova Shine’s goofiness, and from what she had seen, Princess Twilight was also very much a checklist type of pony, doing things in a mostly-rigid order and a well-defined set of steps, compared to her fiancee’s much more fluid approach. So whenever she said “Hey, we’re not super serious,” Gleam only half-believed it. “So why isn’t Spike joining us?” she asked again. “A Level Zero imperative situation is never a good place for a baby dragon,” Princess Twilight frowned.  “Starlight and Rarity are looking after him. If we need him, we can pop back into Ponyville or ask them to come on up.  Something tells me we won’t need him though. Ah, here we are.” They had come upon a manse that stood off just outside of the city proper, in the direction of the castle.  A small manse in comparison to Upper Canterlot in general, but much larger than anything Lower Canterlot had to offer.  The marble walls were bare, there was almost no amethyst or gold decorating it, and the edges were painfully straight, compared to the much gentler curves of Upper Canterlot homes.  Two thestrals wearing Knightmare Brigade armor flanked the doors. It was apparent to anyone that this house was hastily constructed to house the diarchs in the aftermath of the Terrible Trio’s attack. Said Terrible Trio’s statue was visible in the Canterlot Castle gardens not far away, something that elicited a shiver out of her at the sight of it.  The snarling visage of Queen Chrysalis, the cowering pegasus filly Cozy Glow, and the towering Tirek, frozen forever in their last acts terrorizing Equestria… Master Nova Shine was staring at the statue as well, she noticed.  His look was wistful, and she noticed it seemed to be directed, of all places, at Queen Chrysalis’ lunging form.  Why? “Watch out!” *BAM!* “Ouch!” yelped Gleam.  “Ouch!” yelped a voice that wasn’t Gleam. She had been so focused on Master Nova Shine and he had been so focused on the statue that they both had run right into the wall of the house. The thestrals flanking the doors, smirked.  “Nice,” one of them said in a cool, feminine voice. “Shut up, Crisium,” Master Nova Shine snapped, rubbing at the side of his head that had taken the impact, where a very ugly bruise was already starting to form.  How hard had he hit the wall? “Like master, like student,” the other thestral grinned, observing as Gleam vigorously massaged her now-pounding head.  Was there a bruise there, too? “Truly, she is your pupil.” “You can shut up too, Frigoris,” Master Nova Shine glared at him, the effect lessened considerably by the bruise. “Are the princesses inside?” Princess Twilight asked, letting Gleam and Master Nova Shine massage their heads and nurse their pride in peace. “They are expecting you, yes,” the other thestral nodded.  He trotted over and pushed open the door. “As well as… ah, someone else.” Master Nova Shine frowned, but didn’t press any further.  Instead, he did that eye-narrowy thingy he always did when he was using his Spidey Sense, or whatever it was called.  Gleam didn’t know what its name was, but it let him see magic and ponies and, well, anything really. It was like Spider-Mane’s Spidey Sense, so it just kinda made sense to call it that? His eyes bulged, and without waiting for her, he bolted inside, leaving a very confused Twilight and Gleam sitting there, blinking dumbly. “Uhh, what was that?” she asked. “No idea,” Princess Twilight replied, before she closed her eyes and started to concentrate on something.  Gleam was about to ask why when Princess Twilight let out a gasp, and dashed inside right behind Master Nova Shine. “Uhh… okay?” Gleam tilted her head in complete confusion now.  “What’s going on?” she asked one of the thestrals. The thestral named Frigoris just shrugged.  The other thestral--Crisium, was it?-- decided to answer instead. “Stormlands emissary,” she grunted in a low voice. Gleam felt a prickle at the nape of her neck at that.  A Stormlands emissary?  As in, THE Stormlands? Now it was her turn to gallop inside.  The halls were bare, so she paid them no mind, but it only hit her a few paces in that she had no idea where to go.  The blue glow coming from one of the four different branches in the path, however, made it pretty easy to follow. Gleam followed her master’s magic and soon found herself in a bare sitting room, with a pair of couches, an easy chair, a coffee table, and a hearth.  Princess Twilight was trying to restrain her master, who was looking daggers at a mulberry mare sitting in the easy chair. Her mane was a pink mohawk, and her tail was the same shade, except cut to a practical length.  Her eyes were a light blue, with her right eye having a thin scar running over it. She wore blackened steel armor branded with the Storm King’s mark on her flanks in place of a cutie mark. But the sight she would never forget was the broken horn on her head. Bright Gleam knew this mare.  She’d had nightmares about that horrific day, when this mare led the charge of the Storm King’s forces, trapped the Princesses in that twisted magic stone, and hunted Princess Twilight to the ends of the earth. “Tempest Shadow,” she whispered, feeling herself tense up. Tempest Shadow’s ears flicked when Gleam whispered her name, and she cast her gaze over to her, looking completely and totally indifferent to having the Archmage prepared to incinerate her on the spot.  As her cold eyes locked onto hers, she felt a shiver creep up her spine. “It’s okay,” Tempest Shadow said, her quiet and surprisingly deep voice somehow the loudest thing she had ever heard.  “I’m not here to hurt you.” “Then what are you here for?” demanded Master Nova Shine, his hair starting to move as if the wind were blowing it.  But… why? He was indoors, why would his mane move like that? “What’s the Storm King’s top general doing back here?” “She is part of the Level-Zero imperative, I’m afraid,” came the most reassuring voice she had ever heard.  The familiar kind, motherly voice of Princess Celestia sounded behind her, and Gleam tensed up for an entirely different reason that was also pretty much the same reason in a different way. Princess Celestia is right behind me! she internally screamed. “If you would be so kind, Lord Archmage,” she added, her voice only just putting enough emphasis on it to remind Master Nova Shine who was in charge, “stand down.” Master Nova Shine did just that.  The mane-blowing ceased, his horn stopped glowing, and he gave the Princess a curt nod.  Tempest Shadow’s eyes had, mercifully, now moved to meet the Princess’ eyes instead, but Gleam still felt rooted to the spot. Why is she here?  Why did I get brought along?  Am I about to screw up again? IN FRONT OF THE PRINCESS!? “And you,” something warm fell over her back, “must be Bright Gleam.” Gleam suppressed another shudder.  That had to be Princess Celestia’s wing.  Princess Celestia had draped a wing over her back! “Y-y-yes ma’am!” Gleam shrunk down underneath it. Princess Celestia broke into a titter, failing to stifle a giggle with her hoof  “Oh dear, you remind me so much of Twilight when she was your age. Was this on purpose, Nova?” “I have no idea what Twilight was like that young,” Master Nova Shine shrugged.  “So no, not intentional. Anyway,” he gestured over to Tempest Shadow, “what’s she doing here?” “Perhaps you could ask her that yourself?” Princess Celestia suggested.  Gleam was sure she was giving him some kind of meaningful look, or perhaps a raised eyebrow. “...right,” Master Nova Shine frowned.  “And where’s Luna?” “She won’t be along for several minutes, as she’s currently in contact with the Crystal Empire over something relevant to today’s conversation..”  Princess Celestia’s wing was now gently easing Gleam forward toward the couches. Please don’t make me sit next to Tempest Shadow…  “Time is of the essence.  It is time to bring you up to speed.” Fortunately, Princess Twilight took the spot next to the Storm King’s general.  As soon as she climbed onto the couch, Gleam let out a breath she didn’t even know she had been holding.  Unfortunately, someone noticed. “Are you afraid?” Tempest asked, giving Gleam a once-over and frowning as well.  “I promise, I am not here to harm anyone.” “So why are you here?” asked Master Nova Shine.  “Twilight told me you’d gone back to spread the message of friendship or something a while ago.” “A convenient lie,” Tempest admitted, her expression unreadable.  Twilight shifted uncomfortably beside her. “It was the only way to allow me to leave Equestria in peace following the invasion.  In truth, the Stormlands were in turmoil, and command over the Storm King’s armies fell to me after his petrification and shattering.” Her head lowered, something Gleam never thought she’d see.  The General of the Storm King… sad? “I had no desire to become a leader when serving under him.  All I wanted was my horn back.” This was punctuated by a few blue sparks flickering from her horn stump.  “That has, unfortunately, proven impossible, but as news of the Storm King’s defeat began to spread, many conquered provinces in the Stormlands began to rise up and cause trouble.  I had to take up the mantle to keep the peace.” “So are you the Storm Queen now?” Master Nova Shine asked, frowning. Wait a minute.  Gleam scrutinized his face. Hadn’t he had a bruise on his cheek?  If he had, it was gone now.  Maybe it had just been an irritated spot. Not important, Gleam. Focus! Tempest shook her head.  “No, Lord Archmage, I am not.  All I am doing is keeping the peace, and negotiating with the various provinces directly while I cede power back to them.” “You’re giving countries their land back?” Twilight asked, mouth parting. Tempest shook her head.  “Not exactly. Whenever the Storm King would invade, it would be a total conquest.  He would annex entire nations.  I am simply undoing the process.  It will take time, but the many nations the Storm King swallowed in his bid to conquer the world will be free lands once again.  However, in the meantime, we have been met with difficulties, and one of those is the reason for my visit today.” “Did we lose any land to the Storm King?” Master Nova Shine glanced over at Princess Celestia, who shook her head. “None that still resides under the banner of the Stormlands.  No, the problem she has brought to my attention is one the two of you will have a personal interest in.” Master Nova Shine’s eyes narrowed at that, and even Princess Twilight looked surprised.  Gleam didn’t know why she would be shocked. She was a princess. Didn’t she have a personal interest in basically every problem Equestria had, or something like that? “As you might expect,” Tempest bowed her head, “citizens of the Stormlands, particularly the involuntary citizens, have risen up to try and accelerate their liberation, despite my best efforts.  Many have engaged in acts of vandalism or otherwise have attempted to target the Storm Legion in an attempt to make their feelings known.  A large problem we have been dealing with lately is a problem with thieves.” She took a deep breath, clearly pausing to collect her thoughts, as well as to give the ghost of a grimace, before she continued. “The Storm King liked to collect trophies of his invasions and would ferry them to Storm’s Eye, which was his seat of power.  Lately, however, many of these trophies were stolen by zealous resistors and revolutionaries, if they felt I wasn’t returning them to their rightful owners fast enough,” she sniffed, the faintest scowl crossing her face.  “However, I kept Equestria’s trophy under the tightest possible guard, and was fully intending to deliver it back to Princess Celestia in person due to just how dangerous an artifact it was.” “And it was stolen,” Gleam finished, seeing where this was going. Tempest gave her a smile, the first real show of emotion she;d seen from the mare all day.  “Yes, Lady Bright Gleam, it was stolen.” Gleam didn’t know how she was supposed to react to being called “Lady Bright Gleam,” and she decided she hated it.  She wasn’t any noble… was she? She didn’t want to be a noble, she just wanted to be a great spellcaster like Master Nova Shine! “The artifact that was stolen from you was in our possession once before,” Tempest continued, unaware of Gleam’s current existential crisis.  “A pony that was under our domain once was able to infiltrate our high-security vaults and stole the artifact in question, bringing it here to Equestria.  However, rather than attempt to use it, our sources informed us that he attempted to sell the object, which meant that he was unaware of its true power, else he likely would have kept it for himself.” “Wait…” Master Nova Shine whispered beside her, his eyes widening ever so slightly.  “I… I know this story…” Gleam looked over to Princess Twilight, who didn’t seem to be having the same realization as Master Nova Shine.  Instead, she was paying rapt attention to Tempest’s account. “Someone purchased the artifact before we could take it back,” Tempest continued, “and before we could locate them, the artifact passed from their hooves and we lost track of it entirely.  We did not encounter it again until the Invasion of Canterlot, where the Storm King was pleasantly surprised to discover it within the castle’s Treasure Vault. It was immediately repossessed and taken back to Storm’s Eye, where it has remained until its more recent theft.” “You say you kept it under the tightest possible guard,” Master Nova Shine pointed out.  “Did it just disappear? As in, no changes in the guard, no assaults, nothing like that?” “Nothing,” Tempest shook her head.  “The thief and how they were able to get in and escape, is completely unknown to us.  All guards were interrogated thoroughly, none were slacking, there was no overt attempt…” she scowled, “it was as if they weren’t even there at all.” A flash of understanding crossed Master Nova Shine’s face at that, and he grit his teeth. “Envy…” he growled. “But I am more concerned about the artifact that was stolen,” Twilight said, with a look of unease on her face.  “What artifact was it?” “The artifact in question was the Gem of Soul.” No one moved, no one said anything after that.  The name of the artifact held considerable weight, and Gleam felt a prickle at the nape of her neck, but she still didn’t know what this Gem of Soul thing even was.  Why was it so dangerous? “Never heard of it,” Master Nova Shine said after a long moment, frowning.  “Twilight?” “The name sounds familiar,” Princess Twilight furrowed her brow and tapped her chin, “but I can’t think of where I’ve heard it before…” “Perhaps you know it by another name,” Tempest suggested.  “I believe it is also referred to as the Alicorn Amulet.” Master Nova Shine gasped, his eyes bulged yet again, and he bolted to his hooves.  Next to Tempest, Princess Twilight had stiffened suddenly as well. Princess Celestia must have already known this, because despite her uncomfortable look, she did not seem surprised. “You lost the Alicorn Amulet in the invasion, and you didn’t think it was a good idea to tell me?” Master Nova Shine thundered, glaring at Princess Celestia. Gleam winced as a shadow of anger crossed the Princess’ face at his accusation.  Oh, this wasn’t going to be good... “Peace, my Apprentice,” came a considerably softer voice from somewhere behind both her and her master. Master Nova Shine simply scowled as Princess Luna entered the room, a grave look on her face.  “We’ve talked about this,” he growled. “She’s about to take over your job for you,” he jabbed a hoof at Princess Twilight, “and I’m supposed to be there as one Equestrias best defenders and spellcasters when we’re needed, not to mention I’m going to be able to support her.  An amulet as powerful as that one, accounted for yet missing this whole time? That’s unacceptable! The secrets and lies MUST stop!” “You are in no position to demand we turn over all of our knowledge and state secrets, Nova Shine,” chided Princess Celestia, and Gleam was surprised to hear just how calm she was, as though she were merely explaining why the sky is blue to a curious child.  “Lest you forget, although you are equal with us in many ways, you are still a subject. You are no ruler, you are no general. And although you will soon be wed to Princess Twilight, you would do well to remember that you are not one of us.” Rather than allow Master Nova Shine to retort, something he looked dangerously close to doing, Princess Luna decided her best course of action was to steer the topic of conversation back to the purpose of their visit.  “In any case, if we must return to that discussion, we will return later.” “Count on it,” Master Nova Shine said, a steely look in his eyes, before he took the initiative in steering the conversation away.  “So, it’s been stolen, and I think we have an idea of who’s behind it.” “The shadow known as Envy, yes?” Tempest met Master Nova Shine’s gaze.  “That is the Princesses’ working theory. Oh yes, I know who she is,” she added, with the tiniest of smiles at his surprised look.  “They showed me a diary of some kind, and explained that without it, I wouldn’t be able to remember her name or any significant details about her.  Based on previous incidents involving her, it would make sense for her to steal the amulet, given recent history, and give the evidence, or lack thereof.” “So Envy stole the amulet,” Master Nova Shine sighed, sitting back down and looking weary.  “Again. She didn’t have it when we encountered her a few days ago, so when was it stolen?” “Six days ago,” replied Tempest. “So she had it, but didn’t use it,” Master Nova Shine dragged a hoof through his mane.  “She went easy on me.” “Easy’s not the word I would use,” Princess Twilight commented, with a nervous glance over at Gleam. Gleam shuddered.  The mare had no qualms about turning right around and trying to disintegrate her where she stood.  She hadn’t been having nightmares, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t think about it. “And this brings us to the business I have just spoken at length with Cadance about,” Princess Luna said grimly, taking a seat on Master Nova Shine’s other side.  ”There was an incident in the Crystal Empire yesterday which we are still gathering information about.” Princess Twilight and Master Nova Shine both stiffened. “Is everyone okay?” Princess Twilight asked, jumping to her hooves.  “Are Cadance and Shiny alright!?” “Flurry Heart!” Master Nova Shine exclaimed.  “Is Flurry Heart safe!?” “None of your relatives were hurt,” Princess Luna spoke over them in a calming tone, but it still carried just a hint of unease.  “However, we do not yet know everything about the attack.” “And that is why we have decided to send the three of you,” Princess Celestia finished. Wait. Did she just say the three of them? “Me too?” Gleam asked, blinking several times over the next couple of seconds. “Yes, Apprentice Gleam, you too,” Princess Celestia smiled sweetly at her. Wait.  Princess Celestia had smiled at her.  THEY WERE SENDING HER ON AN OFFICIAL-- A gentle hoof touched her shoulder, and her eyes snapped sideways.  Master Nova Shine was there, giving her that same look he always did when he knew she was working herself up. “Deep breaths,” he said in that same calming-yet-encouraging way he always said it.  And as always, she sucked in a breath, held it for a few seconds, and then let it out again.  And as always, those few seconds proved to be exactly what she needed to calm down and stop going into an overthinking frenzy. Why was her master so good at this?  Did it have anything to do with Princess Twilight’s “Twilighting”? “Thanks Master,” she smiled sheepishly. “No problem,” he nodded, giving her a fond look. Gleam noticed Princess Luna broke into a wide smile when she saw the exchange.  She’d have to ask why. Did it have something to do with her? Or Master Nova Shine? ...well, duh.  Of course it did.  But… what was it? “Due to your involvement,” Princess Celestia continued, as though the interruption hadn’t happened, “the best place for you until all of this is resolved is to be by your teacher’s side.  Yes, you are more likely to be near any conflict,” she conceded with a dip of her head, “but you will also be surrounded by ponies capable of protecting you far better than you would be elsewhere.” “Just… try to stay away from that conflict, if you can,” Princess Twilight said, giving her a stern look.  “You’re lucky to be alive, Gleam, and we don’t want to press that luck.” She felt that sheepishness creep in again.  Really, what had she been thinking back then?  It had been something that even Master Nova Shine and Princess Twilight had dashed off to confront.  She really should have simply stayed put. But… the whisper.  There was that whisper that clearly had wanted her to go.  She had thought of it as a figment of her imagination at first, but then it had whispered louder.  She could remember hearing it plain as day. Directing her to the school, through the grate, through the cave, out into the forest, and finally upon the scene of the confrontation. What kind of figment of the imagination could give her exact directions to someplace she didn’t know? “Yes ma’am,” Gleam bowed her head. “So, your mission in the Empire is simple,” Princess Celestia continued.  “Investigate the attack. If the cause is more mundane and something the Crystal Guard can handle alone, report back.  However, if the cause is what we fear, and the Alicorn Amulet is present…” “Neutralize Envy, recover the Amulet if possible, return back here,” recited her Master, dipping his head rhythmically.  Gleam giggled to herself. Her master’s tic of head-bobbing when he wanted to memorize something was kinda silly. “Yes,” Princess Luna nodded.  “If additional help is required, we have alerted Lord Star Swirl to be prepared.  But other than that, what happens in the Empire is in your hooves.” “Understood,” Master Nova Shine nodded.  “When do we leave?” “Immediately,” Celestia replied, gesturing with her hoof back out into the city.  “A Wyvern-class airship is waiting at the military skydocks to ferry you north.” “A moment before you go, however,” Princess Luna cut in, as the three of them stood up.  She gave Tempest Shadow a brief nod, leading Tempest to bow and trot out of the room (and by the sound of things, out of the house without so much as a goodbye), leaving them alone.  “We have an additional recommendation to make as well.” “Oh?” Princess Twilight seemed interested in this.  “Is this about--?” “Yes,” Princess Luna cut her off.  “Archmage Nova Shine,” her voice gained an air of formality, “we are giving you an additional order.” Master Nova Shine blinked.  “Uhh… okay? What’s the order?” “When you have an opportunity in the Empire, you are to pay a visit to the Shrine of Black and White,” Princess Luna announced, standing tall and proud and making quite a show of delivering this news.  Gleam had to stifle another giggle. Quite like her own Master, it seemed that his master had her own flair for dramatics and ceremony. “Alright,” Master Nova Shine nodded again.  “Beat Envy, bring back the Amulet, visit the Shrine if I have a chance.” Princess Luna smiled disarmingly at him, before trotting over and draping a wing around his shoulder.  “We felt it was best, given your recent struggles. The Shrine is a place of rejuvenation and healing, but you will be tested, Nova.  It is an opportunity to better yourself in preparation for what the future holds, but such an ordeal is not to be taken lightly.  As we said,” she added, patting him on the breast, “an order to visit, but a recommendation to undergo the trial.” Master Nova Shine nodded, though Gleam didn’t miss the frown on his face.  Not to mention the distant look on his face. And also the glossing-over of his eyes. Oh, he was probably going to run into something on the way out again. “Your ship awaits,” Princess Celestia said, gesturing out the door once again.  With that, the three of them stepped out and began to make their way toward their ferry. As the trio trotted away from their home, Luna couldn’t help but feel her mind drift back to the uneasy look Tia had earlier.  It had seemed innocuous, but with someone like her sister, who had practiced the art of the Queenly Mask, a small slip like that meant it had caught her completely off-guard. “Pray tell,” she leaned over and muttered, too low for any of the retreating ponies to hear, “what is on your mind, sister mine?” “In a moment,” Tia whispered back, giving the trio a half-hearted wave as Twilight glanced back at them.  The two of them watched as Nova, Twilight, and Bright Gleam trotted off. In only a few moments, they were gone into Upper Canterlot, trotting toward the airship that would ferry them northward.  Once they were, Celestia stepped into their home, cast a spell that sent a shimmering wave of golden energy all around both of them, and then the Queenly Mask dropped. Celestia sank to her knees, a look of sheer horror crossing her face, her chest heaving, and a hoof pressing against her heart.  Before Luna could say something, Celestia let out a pained moan. Luna’s mouth fell open. Never before had Tia reacted this badly to something!  Just what was wrong? “Tia, what is the matter?” Luna asked sharply, her body tense and her wings unfurling, ready to flap and take her where she needed to go. “No!” Tia thrust out a hoof and caught her by the barding.  “Nothing-- nothing is wrong. Not with m-me.” “What is the problem?” she asked, kneeling down and looking her sister in the eyes.  It was unnerving, seeing her like this, because despite having the faintest of pink shades in her coat, it was still possible to tell when her sister had gone pale.  Only she hadn’t just gone pale. She had gone stark-white. “The fading bruise…” Tia whispered, a pained look crossing her face.  “It’s… It can’t…” “Tia, what is it?” Luna gripped her hooves.  “What bruise?” Celestia took a shuddering breath.  “Nova Shine walked into this home with a blackened eye, Luna.  And by the time you arrived, the bruise had completely faded.” And then told her exactly what she did not want to hear. “The oversaturation has started, Luna.  There can be no doubt.” The bottom dropped out of her stomach.  At once, her strength left her, and for a few moments, the world spun around her. No… no, that cannot be  That CANNOT be! “But I thought…” she breathed, the world still reeling, and she had to struggle to stay upright, “I thought we still had years until… until it began.” “I thought so too,” whispered Celestia, covering part of her face with a hoof.  “All of the calculations, all of the observations… and we were wrong!” Luna was at a complete and total loss.  This couldn’t be happening. There was no way it could be happening so soon!  Not now, not immediately before their retirement! Not so soon after his Ascendancy! “The secrets and lies MUST stop!” “We have to tell him,” she stated, feeling tears sting the corners of her eyes.  “We have to tell them both.” “No,” Celestia shook her head.  “Not with Envy--” “Tia, they both deserve to know!” she snapped, glaring at her sister, though the effect was ruined by just how desperate she must have looked. Celestia didn’t respond.  Instead, her head drooped, and she blinked back tears of her own.  “You’re… right,” she finally croaked. “It is their right to know. But not now,” she added quickly.  “Not today. When they return from the Empire would be best.” “Agreed,” Luna nodded tersely.  “He has enough to worry about as it is, especially with him making a visit to the Shrine.” “Luna,” Celestia sniffled, “is it… wrong of me to be this affected?” Luna shook her head.  “Neigh, sister mine. You care about him, as do I.  We will always have our favorites,” she added, and she was sure Celestia heard it.  The faint crack at the end as she failed in that instant to keep it together. “There’s still a chance, though,” Celestia said, and Luna was startled to hear a pleading note in her voice.  As though it wasn’t true but she wanted it to be.  “He… can ascend.” “But will he?” Luna asked grimly.  “Would he accept that mantle, and the responsibilities that come with it?” Celestia had no answer.  The question hung in the air, feeling as though it were the heaviest question ever asked.  Luna wanted to believe in her pupil. She wanted so desperately to believe that he would prove himself willing and worthy… ...but she couldn’t.  Worthy? Most certainly, though perhaps there was still some ironing-out to do.  Willing? Certainly not. No, his desire to be master of his own fate, free from the chains of responsibility as much as possible made that quite clear. “Your faith in him has been rewarded many times, Luna,” Celestia blanketed her little sister’s back with a wing.  “Perhaps… perhaps it will be rewarded once more.” Luna could only hope so. The airship was a modern wonder of engineering. While zeppelins had held the de facto monopoly on air travel for the last several decades, thanks in part to being easy to produce and easy to maintain, the innovation brought about by brilliant minds from among the dragons, the hippogryphs, and defectors from the Storm King’s army allowed the Equestrian Peacekeepers to develop something new. Nova Shine stood at the very edge of the top deck of this new Wyvern-class airship, feeling oddly at peace with the world around him.  The airship was like a large sea vessel refitted for the sky. Great masts rose from the ship’s body, with rigging there to catch the air.  Pegasi manned it in the interest of safety, zipping around and adjusting ropes and rigging as needed. Great wings extended from the sides of the ship, the better to allow the ship to turn.  But most distinctly, a large metal ring vertically-encircled the ship, with slots cut into it. In each slot was a glittering red crystal, and from each crystal, a jet of fire burst forth, pushing the airship along.  The sails directed the ship, the wings stabilized it and aided in turning, and the flames propelled it. He smiled as he simply experienced the airship in its full glory.  The Dragonfire Ring in particular had been something Twilight, Starlight, and Star Swirl had collaborated to make.  Fire Crystals normally let off fire everywhere around them, but in those slots, it focused the fire into one direction adding plenty of propulsion force the other way.  To see something like this in action made him feel so proud of both her and himself by proxy just a little. To think that a mare capable of this had chosen him out of everyone to spend the rest of her life with?  It was one of many times where he couldn’t believe his luck. Air travel had always been something of a novelty to non-pegasi, but now, flying at speeds faster than any but the Wonderbolts were capable of matching for long periods of time, Nova knew air travel was going to be something he made sure to do more often.  Not just because of the simple convenience of it, but because this… this was his element. The howling wind ruffled his hair, the pleasant chill made him feel alive, and the magnificent wild blue yonder stretched out in front of him.  Clouds passed beneath the airship, the Equestrian countrysides passed beneath them, and the white snowy fields of the Crystal Empire lay up ahead.  If he squinted, he could see the faint glimmering of the Crystal Spire. The sky truly was where he belonged. ...it may have also helped that wind blowing like this made his Archmage’s cloak flap behind him at top speed as though he were a dramatic figure in a book. Twilight stood somewhere behind him, watching and waiting for something they both knew was going to happen.  It seemed she couldn’t resist the conditions out here either, as she had her wings flared out and was lazily letting them glide up and down on the wind as it passed.  Aside from the aeronauts, it was just the two of them out here. Under normal circumstances, he’d have a guard or two with him, and she’d have at least four given her status as the crown princess.  But not now. Nova had made sure of that. He didn’t want anyone interrupting him or spoiling his fun. Without warning, he leapt forward, diving straight off of the ship, cape vanishing behind him in a flare of blue light. For future reference, don’t dive off the bow of a ship.  You’re likely to get hit by the craft continuing in its direction with you now in its way.  Fortunately, Nova had thought of this possibility, and had put something of a protective bubble around himself so as to keep his body away from the ship itself and allow him to freefall without getting slammed into. The next few seconds were a blur as he spun wildly, his body turning and twisting while he struggled to right himself, but once he turned his head upward to stare at the distant horizon and kicked his back hooves behind him as far as he could, he stabilized, plummeting belly-first. The initial feeling of vertigo in his stomach had him laughing as he sped toward the ground below him, but it was gone in moments.  The wind turned harsh as it whipped him in the face and sped past him. Ahead of him, the ground rushed toward him at top speed, but he had no cares about that.  His heart was pounding in his ears, he was taking great heaving breaths as adrenaline started coursing through him, and in an instant, every worry was wiped away. There was nothing, only bliss. It felt like he was flying!  It almost felt, for the briefest moment, like he had wings too, and was giving Rainbow Dash or Twilight a run for their money, blazing through the sky as though he were made for it, or it was made for him.  It almost felt as if he were flying forward just as much as he was flying downward.  That was how strong he felt in the wind: as if it could carry him anywhere he wanted. This was home.  The sky was his. The speed, the wind, the cold… it was nothing short of exhilarating!  He could have spent forever, in this state alone, and he would be happy for every second of it.  Yet the ground continued to rush upward to meet him as gravity pulled him downward. Just after he passed below the clouds, however, he felt the warmth of a body on his back, felt a pair of hooves wrap themselves around his middle, felt a number of spells weave themselves around the both of them to join them together, and gently, he felt Twilight start to ease him out of his freefall. It took a few seconds, and he was still well above the ground, but not long after she first caught him, she how had him firmly secured to her belly and was carrying him back up toward the airship in the distance, her powerful wings seemingly unimpeded by his extra several pounds. “How was it?” she asked, resting her chin on top of his head.  It was hard to hear her over the wind. “I can’t even describe it,” he replied hoarsely.  “Breathtaking, to say the least. It was...” he took a shaky breath, “...wonderful.” “You remind me of Mom,” she chuckled.  “Don’t go jumping into any Neighagra Falls barrels now, you hear me?” He said nothing.  Instead, he opted to press his head just a little harder into hers, which got him a pleased hum.  That moment of freefall could have lasted forever, but he felt that here, now, in his element and in the arms of his mare, he could be happy even to the heat death of the universe. Moments like these were ones he would always treasure. When they finally touched back down on the ship deck a few minutes later, Twilight taking the time to undo some binding enchantments she'd used to ensure he never slipped from her grasp, Nova immediately wanted to do it again.  And indeed, he reflexively took a few steps toward the ship’s edge before Twilight’s favorite leash spell kept him from going too far. “No no no no,” she almost sighed.  “You’ve had your fun. Now we need to go make ourselves presentable to meet Cadance and Shiny.” “You need to go make yourself presentable,” Nova snorted, taking in the state of his fiancee.  Her mane was, naturally, windswept now, with ends poking out everywhere, and her bangs hanging in front of her eyes  It looked even untidier than his normally was. In contrast, somehow his mane seemed neater after his skydive, if his reflection in a porthole window was anything to go by.  Or perhaps it just fit him better. “I’m perfectly fine as I am.” Twilight rolled her eyes.  “How is it that I have to put time and effort into styling my mane, coat,and tail just to be presentable, but you can just jump off an airship and still look perfect?” “You look perfect too,” Nova turned back and gave her a quick peck right on the nose, which caused her to squeak.  “I like this look.” One of the deckhands very loudly made retching noises, but Nova ignored him. “Anyway,” his horn shone, and her mane was instantly styled back to its usual look, as though she hadn’t just jumped off of an airship chasing after her thrill-seeking fiancee, “there you go, love.  Back to boring old normal.” She rolled her eyes again, but gave him an affectionate nuzzle all the same. “In all seriousness, though,” Nova frowned, trotting back over to the rails on the side and looked down, “I think my Wind Elemental-ness or whatever you call it is getting stronger.” “Your alignment?” Twilight asked, watching him.  He could see her wings shift, as if she believed he was about to vault himself off again.  He wanted to, but there would be time for that later. “I guess,” Nova shrugged. “You should know that word,” she trotted over and gave him a swat with her tail.  “You’re the Archmage now. It’s a pretty fundamental concept, and you should know how to talk about it.” “Eh, I’ll learn later,” he shrugged again.  With a flash of light, his cape appeared around his shoulders once more.  “Maybe if it gets strong enough, I’ll get something like how you can turn into a great gorgeous flaming ragemare.” “What makes you think your alignment has gotten stronger?” she asked, blushing under his praise. “When I was falling there,” he recalled the sensation vividly, “for a moment… it felt like I was falling forward.  Like I was actually flying, and not merely falling.” “Momentum from the ship,” Twilight patted him on the back.  “I had to account for it.” “No, I mean,” Nova shook his head, “different than that.  It felt as if the winds themselves were carrying me forward.  I was still falling, but I was also… not.” Twilight hummed to herself.  He felt a bit sheepish even as he thought about it.  Had it just been his imagination? Had he just been caught up in the heat of the moment? “Excuse me, Lord Archmage?  Princess?” Nova looked back to see an orange earth pony wearing a white uniform with dark blue pants.  He was wearing a simple white seapony’s cap, and adorning his breast was a blue insignia featuring a silver eagle with wings spread, and three red downward-facing chevrons.  He stood at attention and saluted the both of them. “Yes, uhh…” Aegis had this rank, didn’t he?  “...Staff… sergeant?” The earth pony shook his head.  “That’s the Army, sir. We’re the Aerial Navy.  It’s Petty Officer, First Class.” “Ah, my mistake, Nova dipped his head.  “I’ll memorize the ranks one of these days.” “Understandable, sir,” the petty officer dipped his head, but otherwise kept right at attention.  “Captain Gale says the E.A.S. Ember should be landing soon and would like you to step inside so we can begin landing procedures unimpeded.” “Gotcha,” Nova nodded, before starting to trot back inside.  “Thanks.” “Yes sir,” the petty officer saluted again. “Dismissed,” added Twilight hastily, at which the petty officer finally moved again, trotting into the ship through a different entry.  “You’re going to need to make a habit of doing that now, you know?” she lightly brushed his side with a wing. “I forgot,” Nova admitted, smiling wryly.  “Not used to holding military rank.” He shook his head.  “Welp, let’s go get ready to meet our niece and in-laws, shall we?” The Empire was as exquisite as ever. On this particular chilly evening, the sunset caught the Spire in just the exact way to where the very air around them seemed to thrum and shimmer with dancing light.  As Nova glanced over at his wife-to-be, he felt a certain hitch in his chest as he always did on particularly beautiful nights. It was just like it had been in Trottingham those years ago.  The light caught her perfectly, framing her in such a way to make her appear to be glowing, and just like it had the first night he had seen it, he once again felt the butterflies flutter inside of him. Twilight, meanwhile, was giving him a knowing smile.  “Trottingham flashbacks?” “Trottingham flashbacks.”  Nova leaned into her. “You know me too well.” “I should certainly hope so,” came a different voice, which instantly caused Nova to go a little pink at having been caught in a somewhat intimate moment. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, with Flurry Heart riding on Shining’s back, were standing at the base of the exit ramp from the airship.  Cadance and Twilight immediately ran up to each other and started doing their Sunshine dance. Nova and Shining bumped fists as they always did, and at once Flurry began to squirm on her daddy’s back as she saw her favorite aunt and uncle. “Unca Noba!” she called, trying to sit up and reach for him.  “Unca Noba!” “Flurry!” Nova descended on his future-niece, lifting her up off of Shining’s back and setting her on his own.  Flurry laughed and clutched at his neck somewhat tightly, the earth pony strength evident as ever. Nova even lightly bucked, causing her to squeal with laughter and clutch even tighter.  “Oh, you’ve gotten so big!” “As eager to play with our kid as ever, I see,” Shining observed. Nova shrugged.  “I’m not apologizing.  You know me and kids.” Shining smirked.  “I’m not asking you to apologize.  It’s nice to have her favorite foalsitters around, and it’s even nicer that they’re free.” He gave Nova a light bump.  Flurry clutched at him again as she was jostled, and she giggled. “Yeah, well,” Nova let his smile fade, “business before pleasure.  Is everything alright up here?” “Outside of the sudden security concern,” Shining frowned, and the four of them turned and began to stroll out toward the Crystal Spire from the plaza in which the Ember had landed, “no, there hasn’t been anything wrong.  The Crystal Guard are on high alert in case something is amiss, but up until Princess Luna told us the two of you were being sent up here, we didn’t know that it was this big of a potential problem.” “We just thought an investigative team and a Healer or two would be sent up here and that would be that,” Cadance added, sliding in step next to her surrogate brother.  “Auntie Luna must think it’s something particularly dangerous if she’s sending another princess and the new Archmage.” “What are we potentially dealing with?” Shining asked. “Envy,” was Nova’s reply. It could have been his imagination, but the air around them seemed to get a bit chillier the moment he said it. “And who’s the filly?” Cadance asked, glancing behind them, where Bright Gleam was following along, looking around the Crystal Empire with wide eyes and a hanging jaw.  Nova noticed she seemed particularly fixated on the (many) statues of “Spike the Brave and Glorious”. “Gleam?” he called behind him. Gleam jumped, before scrambling to fall into step on his other side, between him and Shining.  “Sorry-Master-I-was-just--” Nova bumped her, which elicited an “Eep!” from her, but did its job in shutting down her apologetic spree before it could really begin.  Flurry laughed. “Bright Gleam,” Nova leaned his head in her direction, “this is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the First of Her Name, Princess of the Crystal Ponies, and of the Frozen North, and of the White Mountains--” “Princess Cadance is fine,” Cadance interrupted, rolling her eyes.  “Or just Cadance. He calls me Cadenza just to annoy me,” she bumped Nova.  “Point is, I don’t really like using titles between friends.” They passed into the Crystal Spire and immediately began to make for the nearby infirmary.  The transition from the chill of outside to the warmth of inside couldn’t have been more apparent. “And Cadenza,” Nova continued, “this is Apprentice Bright Gleam, the First of Her Name, Student of the Great and Powerful and Full Of Himself Archmage Nova Shine--” Gleam giggled, and Flurry giggled because Gleam giggled.  And then Twilight giggled because Flurry giggled because Gleam giggled. The only ones who didn’t laugh were Nova and Shining, but neither could really hide their grins, though Nova’s turned into more of a wince as Flurry grabbed his ear and gave it a solid yank.  Apparently his grunt of pain was funny, because she burst into a renewed fit of giggles. Unfortunately, the levity died almost as soon as they entered the Crystal Spire’s infirmary.  There was only one occupied bed out of the two rows that were each pushed up against a wall. The moment Nova laid eyes on the stallion, he stiffened, any trace of a smile or even a good mood vanishing instantly. Flash Sentry was sitting up in the bed, looking bored, but hoofing through a magazine. He didn’t look like he belonged here.  Quite the contrary, he looked perfectly healthy.  No bandages were wrapped around anywhere, he looked perfectly alert despite the boredom, and he didn’t seem to be in any discomfort that Nova could see.  Perhaps his internment in the infirmary was merely precautionary. At the sound of the door opening, Flash looked over, surprised to be receiving visitors this late.  And the moment his eyes fell on Twilight, he brightened instantly. “Princess Twilight!” he sat up just a bit straighter.  “I didn’t know you were coming up here.” Almost as if she could read Nova’s mind, Twilight slipped between him and Shining and curled a hoof around his.  Nova felt no shortage of savage delight as Flash’s face noticeably fell. “Princess Twilight and Archmage Nova Shine are here to investigate your attack, Sergeant,” Shining stepped in.  Sentry nodded to his captain, before glancing right at him. Nova met his slightly-confused glance with an icy one of his own, which seemed to add to Sentry’s confusion.  “I know you can’t remember anything, but try to answer their questions as best you can.” “Sure thing, sir,” Flash saluted from his bed, a quick and crisp action that somehow annoyed Nova even more. “Here, I’ll take her off your hooves.  Gleam, would you like to see where you’ll be sleeping?” Cadance asked, her sky-blue magic lifting Flurry off of Nova’s back and setting her on Cadance’s own.  Flurry protested, but resigned herself to not getting to hang around her favorite aunt and uncle until after going to bed for the night. Nova did make sure to turn around and give her a little wave, which she gave right back. “Sure thing,” Gleam nodded, following Nova's BSBFF.  She hadn’t brought any luggage because she didn’t anticipate needing to bring any clothing, but Nova was sure she was going to regret that tomorrow.  The Crystal Empire’s winters were notoriously cold, as was to be expected of a place located within the Frozen North. As the three mares trotted out, this left Nova alone with his fiancee, her older brother, and the stallion who quite clearly had a thing for her. “So,” Nova trotted over and took a seat on the bed next to Flash, who shifted uneasily as he got close, “can you tell us anything about what happened?” “I… can’t,” Flash answered, setting the magazine down.  “The last thing I remember is marching down the hall where I was attacked, and the next thing I knew,” he gestured lamely at the infirmary in general, “I was in here.” “So you don’t remember anything at all?” Nova asked. “Nothing, sir.” “Okay,” Nova gave a curt nod.  “Which hallway was it?” “I can show you tomorrow,” Shining answered, trotting up and standing next to him.  “What’s odd is, the alarm system is designed to detect any intruders and make a screeching sound in each sector the intruder is detected.  But…” he frowned, “it only went off in exactly one place, a section of hallway well into the castle.” Flash nodded.  “My squadmates told me they found me lying there, twitching and dead to the world.  They brought me in here, and then I woke up. And now,” he rubbed at his head as though he had a headache, “I can’t remember anything about it.” “Nothing at all?” Nova asked, just to clarify.  “Not even a hint, or a feeling?” “Nothing,” Flash shook his head.  “You know how sometimes when you forget something, how you can remember something else about the memory and that might cause it to come back?  Like,” he scrunched his nose and thought about it, “like you forget a time you visited your grandma, but sometimes if you just focus on this smell that you can’t ever forget, it brings the memory back?” “I know the feeling,” Nova nodded. “I can’t remember anything,” Flash shook his head again.  “Nothing at all. No sights, no smells, no weird feelings or impressions, absolutely nothing!” Flash had gone pale, and he was starting to hyperventilate, sweat beading on his brow, and he was starting to shift uncomfortably. “Do you have any idea how terrifying this is, sir?” he asked, his voice shaking.  “What else is missing? Did I forget anything else? Will it happen again!?” “Flash, stop,” Twilight stepped forward, staring down at him with concern.  “Focus on the here and now, alright? Tell me five things you can see.” Flash took several deep breaths, before looking around the room.  “I see… I see beds, I see nightstands, I see…” he swallowed, and Nova could sense him calming down by the second, “...I see the Archmage, I see Captain Armor, and… and I see…” he trailed off going pink.  Nova didn’t need to hear any more to know what he was about to say there, and he felt his jaw clench reflexively. “Four you can touch,” said Twilight.  Flash listed basically everything about his bed.  Twilight continued with what he could hear, then what he could smell, then what he could taste, and by the end of it, Flash let out a deep sigh and fell back against his bed. “I’ve been having nightmares about it,” he admitted, wiping back his now-sweaty mane.  “Princess Luna hasn’t visited to help, but it’s only been three days. Hell, I’ll settle with just having someone go into my head so they can tell me just what all the thing that attacked me messed with.” “I can do that for you,” Twilight said, stepping forward again, her horn already lighting up.  Nova felt his jaw clench even harder. “No,” he finally said, somehow managing to keep it from being a growl. Twilight and Shining both looked over.  Both looked wary. Maybe he hadn’t kept the growl out of his voice after all. “No?” Shining asked.  “Why not?” “I’ll do it,” Nova stepped forward.  “I have more experience going into ponies’ minds than you do, thanks to Princess Luna,” he explained, hoping she would buy the explanation, even if it wasn’t the whole truth.  The whole truth was, he was getting tired of his fiancee and Flash schmoozing right in front of him. “Not to mention, I can place a nightmare guard spell in your head.” Flash looked relieved and fell back against the bed.  “Thank-you, sir. You have no idea what this incident has done to me over the last few days.” “I can hazard a guess,” Nova replied, stepping up to Flash’s bedside.  “I've had a few friends who’ve experienced similar incidents.” If you could call an entire town, plus Trixie, a few.  And then there was Zecora after the attack she’d had in the woods… He leaned his head down next to Flash’s temple, and his horn shone blue.  At once, there was a sort of rushing sensation, as though he were falling, but distantly in his head, he could still feel his hooves on the ground. Blackness clouded his vision, and the falling continued despite feeling his body as it remained solidly on the ground.  It was an odd sensation, but it was over almost as quickly as it began. Nova now felt himself standing on something, despite being in an environment where everything around him was inky blackness.  Sitting in front of him now was a great glowing star-like nexus of warm light. Nova trotted forward, the problem immediately becoming apparent the moment he set eyes on it.  There was a portion of his mind that looked broken. If the nexus of light were glass, this would have been a gaping hole in the side.  No doubt this was where Envy had broken into his head. This wasn’t a wound he could magically close, not by a long shot.  His mind would have to heal naturally. Still… how had Envy broken in? Nova probed forward with his mind, and at once, his vision was filled with images, memories and memories, as he accidentally brushed one such glimmer of light… Flash and a young amber mare with a red and gold mane and bright teal eyes were cuddled together under a tree in what looked like Canterlot.  She seemed to be a few years older than him, around Cadance’s age, but they clearly had a special bond, and Flash wouldn’t trade this moment for the world..  Flash said something he couldn’t hear. The mare smiled and snuggled closer. “What?” Nova asked aloud as the memory cleared, but another one took its place. Flash was sprinting through the halls of Canterlot Castle at full speed, even using his wings to propel him forward.  No, no this couldn’t be happening! Guards all around him shouted at him to stop, but he paid them no heed. He wove through the castle, turning left, then right, then left, then left again, hoping beyond hope he was going the right way.  Then he burst through a door into an odd, cluttered room, in the center of which stood a giant mirror made of crystal. But no sooner had he stepped through the door than he saw her standing there. The same amber mare from before snarled at Princess Celestia, who was also in the room, and before Flash could call out to her, she dashed through the crystal mirror as though it weren’t even there.  Flash cried out and blasted himself forward as quickly as he could-- *CRUNCH* “Agh!” Flash yelled in pain, collapsing to the ground.  The mirror had suddenly become solid, and he had flown into it at top speed.  Princess Celestia looked stunned and completely heartbroken by what she had just seen, but she had enough presence of mind to scoop him up in her magic and begin ferrying him to the infirmary at top speed.  Flash never made it there, however. His vision faded completely in moments as he lost consciousness. Nova shook his head wildly, starting to withdraw his probe.  This amber mare had been the weakness Envy had exploi-- Flash was curled up in his room, crying over a picture of the mare-- “STOP!” Nova forcibly pushed every thought away, pulling the probe free and once again clearing his head.  “Okay. So Envy broke in through this particular sore spot in Flash’s memory. Let’s make sure she didn’t take anything besides the attack.” Nova had to be careful not to let the various thoughts and feelings floating around Sentry’s head overwhelm him.  Exploring a mind like this represented a major risk to one’s identity. If they let their target’s mind overwhelm theirs, it could cause a severe identity crisis that could have catastrophic side-effects on the one being overwhelmed’s psyche.  Reciting his thoughts like this focused him, and helped to keep his thoughts his own. Acting a lot more carefully this time, Nova sent forth the probe yet again.  This time he took great care not to touch any of Flash’s memories lest they fill his head like that again.  The last thing he needed was to damage Flash even more by accident because he had panicked over seeing something he shouldn’t have. Finally, he located Flash’s damaged section of his memory stream.  The absence of links between several memories made it apparent, as well as the shadowy residue left behind.  It was definitely Envy, then. She wanted them to know she’d done it.  She could have closed up this wound and left nothing behind, but she’d left it all here for him to find. Nova felt himself blow out a shaky breath through his nose in the real world, and began to withdraw.  Flash was fortunate. Envy had only taken those two memories. Had any more been taken, and there would have been a lot more damage for him to follow. With a quick burst of light, Nova cast a nightmare warding spell on Flash’s psyche, the better to help him rest instead of being haunted by these implications and fragments. As he withdrew, however, his probe accidentally grazed one more memory tied to the cluster of memories centered around that amber mare. Flash was older now, a recent recruit to the Crystal Guard.  He was standing stock still, guarding some door he’d been assigned to keep an eye on.  Sure, it wasn’t as eventful as announcing Princess Twilight’s arrival to this Princess Summit, but he was looking to make a great first impression on Princess Cadance and Captain Armor. *BUMP!* “Wah!” yelped a familiar voice from his right.  He looked down to see… To see her. Princess Twilight had accidentally run into him again, just as she had the first time he’d seen her. Flash smiled, amused, as she blushed. “We’ve got to stop running into each other like this,” he extended a hoof.  The expression alone reminded him so much of… of her.  Of Sunset.  Of course, this was already adding to the fact that she was also Princess Celestia’s student, just like Sunset, and she had been-- The real world returned to Clarity as Nova fully withdrew himself from Flash’s mind. “Done,” he stated, his voice barely managing to keep a lid on his anger. “What did you see?” Flash asked, sounding hopeful. “Good news and bad news,” Nova stated, turning away to hide his scowl.  “The good news is, that’s all she took and I’ve put the nightmare guard in place.” “Thank-you,” Flash almost sobbed the line and the relief he was feeling couldn’t have been more obvious.  Despite his complete and total infuriation, Nova couldn’t help but feel… good. He actually felt good about helping the stallion he hated more than anyone else in Equestria right now. “The bad news is,” Nova replied harshly, “your psyche’s pretty messed up, and it's going to take some serious work to patch it up.  I’d suggest going and seeing a shrink for the next several weeks.” “Oh,” Flash said.  “Thank-you though, sir!” “Please don’t,” Nova snarled, already trotting out.  “Just get better so I don’t have to come back here.” He didn’t wait for a response.  Instead, he shoved his way out the door, startling the pair of guards flanking the entry, and stomped off. “Nova, wait!” Twilight was catching up to him now.  Oh good. Just what he needed to feel better about what he just saw. “What’s wrong?” she asked.  She was cautious now. Good.  Maybe she’d back off when it became clear he didn’t want to talk about it.  “What did you see?” “Enough,” he growled, continuing as though she wasn't there. “Nova, what’s going on?” she sped up to keep pace with him, even trying to stop him by stretching out a wing to impede him. “Nothing,” Nova snarled, shoving past her.  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Twilight flew over him, landing between him and the way forward and pushing him back.  “Nova, what is it? Please talk to me!” With a quick burst of blue light, Nova simply teleported onto her other side.  He could also sense Shining was now following them, though he was keeping his distance, watching how things played out.  Twilight continued to try and get Nova to stop and talk to her all the way up to the residential level, but he continued to press past her, getting more and more infuriated the more she wouldn’t let it drop. “Did he have some kind of secret or something?” “Stop trying to hinder me, Twilight,” Nova shoved past her even more roughly.  “I’ve done everything I need to with him. He’s on his own now.” The commotion caused Cadance and Gleam to poke their heads out of Flurry’s room. “We need to make sure he’s fine, though!” Twilight protested, looking completely baffled by his sudden lack of compassion.  “He’s a victim, Nova! We both need to make sure he’s able to recover after Envy’s attack!” “Oh, I’m sure you’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Nova demanded, seething.  “Getting to spend this whole trip fawning over the stallion you’d rather be with, is that it?” The realization dawned on her immediately.  She knew what had upset him now. The same thing that had irritated him when he’d learned he was Cadance’s guard at the Star Swirl Festival three years ago.  The same thing that had angered him after her visits to the human world. The same thing that always pissed him right off whenever she came back from a trip to the empire.  “Nova, no, that’s not what I meant at all! I only meant--” “You know what?  I don’t care,” Nova just threw up a hoof in disgust and cut her off.  “He still clearly hasn’t let go of you and you’ve done nothing to put a stop to things.  Why should I stand in your way? Clearly, it’s what you really want.” “What!?  No, I--” “Because if you really wanted him to stop, you would have made it clear he was crossing a line!” The hall had gone deathly quiet.  All eyes were fixed on both of them.  His blood was pounding in his ears, he felt ready to tear down a mountain, all he could do was focus on the startled purple pair of eyes in front of him. “Nova, I swear, I didn’t--” “WHY DON’T YOU JUST GO FUCK HIM ALREADY IF THAT’S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT!?” His scream echoed around the hall until it faded into absolute silence.  You could hear a pin drop. Cadance looked stunned. Gleam’s eyes were wide and her mouth hung open.  Nova himself regretted the words the moment he’d let them slip, feeling a hitch in his gut the moment the final word passed his lips.  And Twilight… Twilight’s expression had just fallen into disbelief.  She didn’t look as stunned as Cadance, or as appalled as Gleam.  But she just stared at him, almost uncomprehending were it not for her eyes.  Her eyes, normally vibrant and carrying that spark of light within them, seemed to… fade right before his eyes.  Nova would rather have been thrown into the depths of Tartarus for all time than see that expression on Twilight’s face once. And he had just made it happen. Without another word, she turned around and trotted away.  Where, he didn’t know. All he could do was watch. He wanted immediately to say he was sorry, to call after her, to beg her forgiveness. Hell, he would have prostrated himself entirely. But his hooves were rooted to the spot, and all he could do was stare as she marched down the hall, took a turn, and left his sight. Something grabbed hold of a hoofful of his mane, and he yelped as he was dragged across the hall.  A door was thrown open, and he heard the clopping of hooves and saw the white of Shining’s coat, just in time before he was hauled in. Shining shoved Nova into the empty room none too gently.  Nova stumbled but managed to keep himself from falling over, only for Shining to step forward and shove him again.  Nova fell on his ass this time, and as he started to stagger to his hooves, he heard the door shut and the lock click, and a wave of blue magic sweep across the-- wait… Shining had pink magic. Nova looked up to see Cadance standing there, staring down at him with the most disappointed expression he had ever seen on her face.  Not once in the ten years he was under her watch had he ever seen her look like this, and for some odd reason, seeing this expression on her face crushed him. She knew he was better than that.  He knew he was better than that.  And he’d fucked it up anyway. “I never thought you would ever cross that line,” she said, her voice as cold as the wind had been when he’d dropped out of the sky earlier.  But unlike then, when the cold had been invigorating and welcoming, this chilliness was nothing of the sort. Nova suddenly felt he could no longer meet her eyes, and instead the floor suddenly became very interesting to him. “Do you have any idea what you just did, Nova?” she asked delicately. “I’m pretty sure I just ruined four years of engagement,” he replied flatly, feeling a stab of pain in his gut at the memory of her expression... Cadance tilted her head, though her disappointment started to shift into anger.  “No, I wouldn’t say that.” “Oh, so it’s worse,” his head sank. “No,” Cadance shook her head.  “I don’t think you’ve destroyed your relationship with one careless scream.  But you have damaged it significantly.” “I haven’t destroyed it but I’ve significantly ruined it.” “Oh stop,” Cadance snapped, scowling.  “No, I don’t think your relationship is gone.  But you’ve just put yourself into a position where it very well might be if you screw up this badly again.  And if I were you,” her voice was almost scathing now, “I would stay the hell away from her until well after tomorrow.” “Goes without saying,” he grunted. Cadance glared at him, her expression half anger, half overwhelming disappointment.  Nova knew which one hurt him more to see. “Tomorrow, Twilight and I will talk about this, and I will see if I might be able to fix everything you have done your best to shatter this evening,” she turned around and began to leave the room.  “And as much as I love you, LBBFF, I’m not doing it for you.” Nova said nothing.  He was too busy trying to banish the image of the look on Twilight’s face with no success.  It was going to haunt him, from now until the end of time itself. All the better so that he never did it again. “Shining will be predisposed, given tomorrow’s his day to drill the Crystal Guard,” Cadance continued.  “So with that in mind, as a ruling member of Equestria,” she turned to give him a flat look, “you are hereby ordered to serve as Princess Flurry Heart’s foalsitter tomorrow morning and afternoon.” Nova almost brightened.  Was… wasn’t this supposed to be a punishment of some kind? “This isn’t a punishment, but neither is it any kind of reward,” Cadance frowned.  “Flurry will probably take a long nap tomorrow while you’re watching her. I would suggest you take the time to properly reflect on what you’ve said and how you might be able to repair things.” Nova nodded. “I’m sorry,” he managed to croak. “I’m not the one you need to say that to,” Cadance stated.  “And I don’t think you’ll get an opportunity to say it until tomorrow at the earliest.” And with that, she walked out, leaving him there to himself.  After a long moment, Nova also left the room, practically stumbling his way out as he found that the last place he wanted to be was anywhere near here. With that in mind, he practically galloped his way out of the castle, searching for the first balcony he could find.  Somewhere, anywhere out of the way, where he could be alone. He found his way out to a balcony, before practically collapsing onto the cold hard crystal and assuming the meditative lotus position purely by reflex.  The cold outside now matched the inside. Bitter. Biting. Isolating. Nova began to channel magic in him, trying desperately to control his breathing as Twilight’s pained face once again burned itself into his mind.   “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he moaned. He wasn’t sure how long he was there, repeating “I’m sorry” to himself while he slowly regained control over himself.  All he knew was that he remained unable to banish the image of Twilight, hurt and crushed. Something brushed up against him and he jumped.  How had he not sensed them approaching? “Are you alright, Master?” It was Gleam.  The pony he least wanted to see him like this, including Luna, Twilight, and anyone close to him.  Not her, not the filly who thought the world of him. “Didn’t think you’d want to call me that anymore,” he admitted softly, smiling humorlessly.  “Not after what you just witnessed.” Gleam replied by sitting down next to him and giving him a sort of nervous glance, and Nova felt himself sag.  What had he done? He was this filly’s hero, and he had just given her a massive reason to loathe his very existence, at the top of his lungs. “How did you even find me?” he asked. “I… listened,” she answered, sounding just as nervous as she looked. “Guess I wasn’t exactly trying to hide, was I,” he sighed.rubbing his face with a hoof.  “Gleam, have you ever heard the phrase ‘Never meet your heroes’?” “Mm-hmm,” she nodded. “What do you think it means?” “I always thought it meant something like you might embarrass yourself,” she shrugged.  “Like the time we met after your Ascendancy, or when you came to accept me as your pupil.” Nova shook his head.  “It’s because you see your heroes with your own eyes, and not as the idealized versions of them you have in your head.  And the pedestal you put them on will break. And tonight, you got to see me for who I really am.” She stared at him.  Nova could only wonder what was going through her head right now.  Was this the part where she was going to ask not to be his apprentice anymore?  Or maybe she figured she was stuck with him until the Envy business was finally taken care of. Her horn flashed green and the Night Master Cloak he’d given her draped itself around her shoulders, and she leaned against him. Under normal circumstances, Nova probably would have broken down right there.  Instead, he felt… oddly peaceful. Almost as if her very presence there was telling him that it would be alright in the end.  That no matter how badly he screwed up, she would always see the best in him, even when he couldn’t see it in himself. As it grew later and later, and the weather got colder and colder, Nova knew there was no longer any putting it off.  With a sigh, he stood up. Gleam scrambled to her hooves as well, the oversized navy-blue Night Master cloak she was wearing making it a little difficult for her.  Nova gave her an affectionate nuzzle, and with a sad smile, he sent her off to bed so he could do what he needed to. After giving himself some time while she scampered off, he too stepped back into the warm confines of the Crystal Spire, and slowly plodded his way toward his and Twilight’s shared guest room… though for how much longer would it be shared?  The mere thought caused him to freeze up at the door, nervous at what he was about to face. No matter what happened after tonight, he needed to apologize.  He needed to spill his heart out to Twilight and accept all of the blame.  There was no way around it, and the longer he let her hurt, the more he knew he was the one twisting the knife. After a long moment steeling himself to face her, he finally pushed open the door and slipped inside.  It was a fairly spartan room, with only a king-sized bed, a dresser, a window with a stunning view of the city at night, and a bookshelf stuffed full of things Shining and Cadance clearly thought they would enjoy if they ever found time to relax on this business trip.  She was lying on the bed, facing away from him, but when he stepped in, she stirred. He said nothing, not even when her ear twitched and she shifted to glance back at him.  Her expression was stony, but he could still see some of the hurt in her eyes from what he had said.  She hadn’t cried-- if she had, it would have absolutely broken him to know he’d done that--, but she hadn’t been unaffected by his careless words. “Hey,” he whispered in a low voice, looking away like he always did.  “I… I know that I’m probably the last pony you want to see right now… and that just saying sorry can’t undo what I… what I said…”  She shifted, and he heard a sniffle. “But… I…” He couldn’t get it out.  The moment he tried, he choked up entirely.  He needed to apologize, he needed to beg her forgiveness, but the moment he tried to, he couldn’t. “I’m sorry,” he finally forced out past a half-sob.  “I regretted s-saying it the moment I did a-and I’ve hurt you and I’m just so sorry!” “Nova,” she said, now looking at him a lot more fully. He didn’t respond. “Get in bed.” He saw her lift the covers.  The action stunned him to the point where he fell right on his haunches. “But… aren’t you… angry at me?” he asked, still not meeting her eyes. “Oh, I am,” she replied, her voice even.  Controlled.  “Completely furious, as a matter of fact.  You didn’t mean what you said, I know that, but you still said it, and it hurt.” Her earlier expression once again filled his thought, and he sniffled. “But…” her tone was gentler now.  “But I know you’re hurting from what you said too, and you’re going to punish yourself for it like you always do.  Like you’re doing right now by not looking at me.” “But after what I said--” “Nova, just stop.” He did.  It cost him every ounce of his willpower, but he did fall silent and let her speak. “Look,” she sighed, “You haven’t been in your right mind.  You’ve been drinking, Envy has you completely on edge, you’re still afraid of how you will perform as the Archmage, our old lives are about to end, and all of that has turned you into a mess.  Frankly,” he could almost hear the tiny smile that graced her face, “I think having Gleam around may very well be the only thing keeping you from having a breakdown.” “Twilight, stop!” Nova pounded on the floor.  “I said something horrible to you, it hurt you deeply, and now you’re acting like nothing has happened--” “Nova,” she cut him off.  “You are not forgiven.” Oh.  There it was. “Not… not yet.”  She shifted, the covers of their bed rustling.  “I’m… we’re both going to need time to get over what you said.  That doesn’t change the fact that I love you, and you are hurting, and everything has just come together in the worst possible way, and the last thing you need right now is to be alone, but… it still hurts.” “Did… did you send Gleam after me?” he chanced. Twilight nodded slowly.  Nova felt a spring of gratitude and warmth well up inside of him, and with it, a fresh regret that he had said something so thoughtless and hurtful to this perfect mare. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, feeling tears sting his eyes.  “I’m so fucking sorry--” He felt himself be pulled off his hooves and into the bed, and the next thing he knew, he was under the covers and was being snuggled up to her.  Immediately, Nova was aware that he had been placed with his back to Twilight, opposite of most nights. Despite this, her hooves pulled him close and held him tight, and she rested her head atop his own. “We’ll get through this,” she promised him, whispering into his ear.  “We need to trust each other, but we will get through this. How had he ended up with her?  He had just demonstrated that he in no way deserved her, and yet here she was anyway. That simple realization was enough to make him cry himself to sleep that night, even as she held him tighter than ever.