Sunspots

by RadBunny


Chapter Twenty-Three: New Growth

Gravestones.

As far as Celestia could see, worn, decaying markers of death spread out in front of her. The field itself was rotten, grass dead and falling to the black earth as a sickly sun failed to punch through the fog.

Three graves in front of her marked the culmination of a truth the Alicorn had known for some time, but refused to think about.

Princess Twilight.
Princess Cadence.
Princess Flurry Heart.

Luna? Where have you gone?

Tears dripped from Celestia’s cheeks, her sides starting to shake.

“I a-am the last…” she whispered, mane drooping as though soaked by an unseen rain.

The scene grew darker, a familiar swamp pushing tendrils of rot and decay into the cemetery. Before the dark tentacles of shadow could touch the alicorn, a familiar voice tore through the scene.

“Celestia!”

Celestia’s head whipped around, a familiar armored hippogriff striding through the nightmare unscathed. The shadow and decay recoiled from his glowing armor as Nacreous dashed to her side, pulling the Princess into a tight hug.

“I’m right here,” he whispered, and Celestia now sobbed fully into his now bare chest, feathers pressing against her cheek.

“Celly, you’re going to wake up now,” Nacreous continued, “but I want you to keep your eyes closed for ten seconds. Count to ten and when you open them, I’ll be right at your side. Ok?”

The distraught princess nodded, taking a few deep breaths as the world swirled about her.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five…

Soft pillows and the quiet hum of the castle was all she heard, and yet the count continued.

Seven, eight, n-

With a *POP* of magic, a familiar presence was at her side, two feather arms wrapping around Celestia’s barrel and yanking her into a hug. Sitting by her bedside, Nacreous let his Princess burry her head into his chest and cry, the King rocking her back and forth.

“I’m right here, Celly. Always.”


Celestia blinked as she woke up, her muscles aching from the awkward position she was in. Leaning on Nacreous like a pillow, she was about a third off her bed and relaxing on the hippogriff’s shoulder, her love resting on the plush mattress and only now starting to wake up as well. Before she could say anything, Celestia found herself quite occupied with a passionate kiss, familiar talons stroking through her messy mane.

The tender nuzzles that followed made the morning all the brighter, Celestia not able to resist letting out a happy hum.

“Thank you, Nacreous,” she whispered, finally rising up and stretching with a smile as a bit of her previous energy returned. “Greet me like that every morning, and you’ll be one tired hippogriff….”

“I-bwa? Huh?” Nacreous asked, blinking as Celestia suppressed a giggle.

“Don’t worry about it.”

The blush that came over Nacreous’s cheeks and his wings flaring slightly indicated he finally understood her words; as did the dopey grin now plastered across his features.

“But really….” Celestia added, hopping off the bed and pressing her head against his. “Thank you.”

“Didn’t I promise I’d be there? Nightmares or no?”

“That you did, and I do want to say a few things about it.”

“Celly…”

“It needs to be said. Maybe then I can move past it all,” Celestia whispered. She paused, taking a shaky breath. “They’re different.”

“The other alicorns? Those who aren’t yourself or Luna?”

“Yes. Not naturally born with two parents like us,” Celestia whispered, knowing tears now brimmed at her eyes once again. “And while I don’t doubt Twilight could find a way to stay ageless, I doubt she’d want that. She w-will…eventually….”

She couldn’t finish the sentence, but Nacreous lifted her chin with a tender touch.

“But never forgotten.”

The thankful tears that trickled from Celestia’s eyes said much more than any other words could have at Nacreous’s caring statement.

Neither of them said anything for a time, Celestia scooting over to rest on Nacreous’s shoulder. The sun had been raised by her loving sister, allowing her a bit of respite from a duty, no matter how regular.

“I’m not leaving you, Celestia. And I mean that in many senses,” Nacreous said finally, giving her shoulder a nudge. “I’ll come back as a Pego-Gollum if I have to. I think you do have some meetings today though?”

Celestia blinked, having completely forgotten both the meeting and what it entailed.

“So, Nacreous, please don’t be mad.”

“That’s not a good start.”

“But do you remember the Shadow and Windigo? How I said they appeared to be changing? Things have progressed a bit, and Luna had an idea….”

As Celestia relayed the information, Nacreous’s left eye twitched slightly, the hippogriff smacking a set of claws to his face with a groan.

“You really need to tell me these things.”

“I know, I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” Celestia replied, the exasperated hippogriff’s ears perking up.

“Oh?”

“Well, half now and half later.”

“Sunspots, I love you but it is still too early for me to think straight. Half now and half when?”

Celestia decided to have a bit of fun as she donned her regalia, giving her hippogriff a kiss as she trotted towards the door.

“Well. That’s half now. The other half has to wait.”

“….until?”

“Well, if we’re abiding by our personal beliefs and rules, it has to wait until after a certain wedding ceremony.”

The flabbergasted hippogriff’s jaw dropped as Celestia sauntered out the door, her laugh echoing down the halls as his wings snapped out.

That laugh only intensified as she looked back to see Nacreous pulling a large bucket of water out from a storage portal and dumping the contents over his head with a grumble.


“Thank you for coming, Gelliana,” Celestia remarked to the rather small gryphoness who sat across from her at the massive conference table. “You know, I’ve been following your work ever since you developed the herbal countermeasures to the Fire Lung disease, and I have to say I’m extremely impressed, both with how you used our funds and your personal research.”

“T-thank you, Highness,” the gryphoness stammered, her mottled brown, white, and black feathers fluffed slightly under apparent stress. The white and grey gradient around her yellow eyes gave the gryphoness a permanent fierce look despite her apparent discomfort, colors shifting to more brownish-tan shades down her shoulders and hindquarters. While her proportions were the same as any other gryphon, the half-spotted gryphoness would struggle to look most pony stallions in the eye with her diminutive height.

“Still a few nerves? We have met a few times; you don’t need to be so formal you know.”

“Sorry, C-celestia,” Gelliana added with a sigh, smoothing down her feathers as best she could. “You know how I get so flustered…”

Celestia stifled a laugh, simply nodding with a smile to the Herbal Apothecary.

“You remind me very much of Fluttershy, so it’s no trouble at all. The main reason I summoned you here was to discuss some more research options. The outbreaks of Fire Lung demonstrated that we are woefully unprepared for such a disaster. Now, while Princess Twilight will be handling things in the future, I was hoping to get you the resources necessary to develop further countermeasures to various pathogens.”

The gryphoness’s ears immediately flicked up, Gelliana clearly a bit more focused on the matter.

“Really? I mean, your letter mentioned something about further research, but it’s still just me in my own private greenhouse, I’m not sure how much I can help…”

Her voice trailed off as Celestia waved a hoof, nothing but compassion in the alicorn’s gaze.

“Gelliana, you’ve done incredible work,” the Princess said softly, immediately making the gryphoness’s feathers fluff slightly. “You may just have your herbalist shop and greenhouse, but the research you’ve done has helped our own labs in leaps and bounds. I’m not looking for research papers but practical results. You’ve done just that, so don’t sell yourself short.”

“I-um, t-thank you,” Gelliana whispered, rubbing a forelimb with a set of claws as an embarrassed smile slid onto her face.

“So, if you are alright with it, I’ve drafted up some potential projects and funding. If they require more expenses, just let me know. I don’t want to swamp you, but just perhaps provide some side projects.”

Looking over at the levitated-over list, Gelliana’s wide grin indicated she did indeed approve of Celestia’s ideas.

“There is another matter, one that is a bit unusual,” Celestia admitted, floating a scroll over. “Principle Starlight Glimmer has agreed to be your aid in the matter. It is optional, but I think it would be very beneficial for many reasons.”

Gelliana’s eyes narrowed, then she looked up with a confused expression.

“An aid? Who is Icait? Onyx?”

Taking a deep breath, Celestia laid out the changed Windigo’s situation (after a promise of secrecy of course,) and then pointed to the parchment.

“Luna and I think having her run the small-town library, and help you, would be a very valuable experience. A reformed Windigo? Who would have thought?” Celestia mused. “But do not mistake these plans for complacency. A full complement of guards from both Emperor Thunderwing’s kingdom will be standing by, along with Legionnaires and Lunar Nights. If this Onyx and Icait seek to do harm, they won’t be able to even think it before we act. Starlight Glimmer will be overseeing the magical locks to make sure they’re in check, as well as be the primary contact.”

Celestia paused, taking off her crown as a simple gesture and looking at the gryphoness.

“If I’m being honest, Gelliana, there is another aspect of this outside of helping these two acclimate to society,” she admitted. “Luna says the Windigo is…” the alicorn searched for the words, finally smiling gently. “She says Icait could use a friend. If this is not something you want to do, just let me know and I’ll shift this plan to someone else.”

Gelliana swallowed nervously, reading over the parchment again.

“So, basically have Icait help me in the greenhouse, and interact with this ‘Onyx’ as well?”

“Yes. Starlight will be aiding him directly, as he seems to have the most trouble acclimating thus far. They’ll be assigned to stay within Tall Tale unless otherwise allowed.”

The gryphoness shrugged, an unsure but sincere smile flickering at her beak.

“I’ll do it. I’m nervous about it, but not as much as I thought I’d be. I mean, they’re going to be questioned by you two before all this, right?”

“Extensively. Even a hint of ill intent and they’ll be locked here in the castle.”

“And guards will be on station? Not sure if the daggers I have will be of use against a Windigo.”

You have daggers?

Celestia blinked, but nodded in surprise.

“Yes. Whenever she is in the vicinity, they will be less than fifteen seconds away unless you, or Starlight Glimmer says otherwise.”

Gelliana nodded firmly, a bit more confidence entering her frame.

“Well, I think having another friend would be a really nice thing,” she said, seeming to think out loud. “So, I’ll give it a shot. I’m not sure why me, but…”

“You’re a kind, patient, and cheery individual among a lengthy list of other positive qualities,” Celestia replied firmly with an endearing smile. “I think you’ll be perfect.”

“Hey, Celly? You-oh! Sorry,” Nacreous winced as he poked his head into the room. “Didn’t know you were still having the meeting. Schedule must be off…”

“No worries! I was just finishing up with Gelliana here; the morning announcements and court ran a bit late.” Celestia remarked, Nacreous waving to the surprised gryphoness, her confidence having vanished like fog in the morning.

“Ah, you’re the one who helped provide the herbal countermeasures that aided in boosting the cure, right? Quite incredible work, especially since it took a while to even synthesize my cure. To find herbs that aided it in such a short amount of time is rather fantastic,” Nacreous mused, only now noticing the gryphoness seemed rather nervous. “Sorry. Bit too much?”

“A b-b-bit,” she whispered, only managing to meet Nacreous’s eye once as Gelliana bowed her head in respect. “H-h-highness.”

“I appreciate the gesture, but if you’re on first name basis with Celly, same goes for me,” Nacreous grinned, a bit of concern entering his gaze as the gryphoness nodded curtly.

“I’ll wait for you in the halls, Celly. Nice to meet you, Gelliana.”

“L-Likew-w-ise,” she stammered as Nacreous took his leave. Celestia didn’t comment on her speech, instead neatly wrapping up the parchment in a folder and sliding it over with a smile.

“Thank you for taking these projects on, I do look forward to what you come up with. Some of them are open ended, so have some fun!” Celestia explained with a smile, the gryphoness seeming to settle down slightly. “And I’ll send you more details with Icait and Onxy’s arrival. All you’re doing is help her acclimate, minimal contact with Onyx for now. So, no worries. Just be yourself, that’s all I’m asking.

“I c-can do that. And the p-projects look fun! The first few especially looked interesting,” Gelliana mused, taking the folder as Celestia’s horn ignited with a flash.

“Do let me know, there’s some enchanted parchment to communicate with me in there too. Back to Tall Tale?”

“Yes please. It was nice meeting with you again, Celestia,” the gryphoness replied.

“Likewise, Gelliana. Take care. And thank you.”

The gryphoness vanished through the portal, Celestia nodding once and going to meet Nacreous.

“I hope I didn’t scare her,” he frowned, wings slumping at the thought. A kiss quickly brightened his mood, the pair now walking down a hall towards the gardens.

“Oh, it’s not you. Gelliana is much like Fluttershy, sort of,” Celestia explained. “She was like that with me the first time. She’s a complete sweetheart and a brilliant herbalist, but sometimes she shuts down when meeting new individuals. Did you know, Gelliana is even a bigger romantic than me? A total softie.”

Nacreous let out a soft *snrk*, looking over to Celestia who simply nodded.

“It’s true! I’m surprised a knight in shining armor hasn’t rescued her from the greenhouse yet! That whole thing obviously doesn’t help her anxiety when meeting attractive creatures who happen to be male. And you being you doesn’t help the intimidation factor.”

“Intimidating? Me?”

“Oh, shush you,” Celestia giggled. “But being so small, seeing another, normal-sized male gryphon would be, from a simple size perspective, rather nerve-wracking especially if you already have social anxiety.”

“So, meeting me, a king, big hippogriff…”

“You just overloaded her. Just be glad I can handle you,” Celestia grinned, Nacreous reaching up to give her ear an affectionate nip with his beak.

“Hmm, we’ll see about that.”

Celestia’s mouth dropped open in shock at the same time her wings flared out, a smug grin returning to Nacreous’s face. The Alicorn immediately summoned a single, large item as the alicorn’s entire face blushed a bright pink.

*SPLASH!*

“THAT’S FREEZING! OH MY STARS DID YOU MELT A GLACIER?!” Nacreous gasped, shaking free of the water that now soaked the two as Celestia laughed.

That was for the both of us, you evil tease,” the alicorn replied triumphantly with a smile, Nacreous still not able to resist a grin. “But I really should have expected some payback after my antics this morning.”

Nacreous chuckled with a nod.

“Antics indeed, somebody woke up hot blooded, not that I’m complaining. Well, for now at least. That said, hmm, you pull off the wet-mane look really well,” he said with a wink.

“But enough of that, I wanted to take you somewhere special for our date today,” Nacreous said, putting aside the teasing for now. “It’s…” his voice drifted off, the wistful look in his eyes cluing Celestia in that wherever the destination was meant something important indeed. Even as she dried them off with a spell, Nacreous seemed lost in thought.

“I’ll explain once we get there.”

As Celestia stepped through the portal Nacreous summoned, she looked around curiously at the grassy beach, sand spreading out in parts as beautiful, pure waves rolled in with a steady, thunderous cadence. Various palms and other trees grew across the beachside field, and a large wooden and thatched hut was visible farther down the shoreline. Dead ahead, however, a large object sat nestled in massive metal bracers.

“A ship?” she asked, looking around further. “And where are we, Nacreous? This place is beautiful.”

“It’s my island.”

Celestia blinked, pointing a hoof at him. “Your island? You own an island?

Nacreous nodded, gesturing around as he sat down on the grass, demeanor relaxing as he took in a breath of salty air.

“I wanted to tell you a bit about my growing up,” he began, scooting over to hold Celestia’s hoof tenderly. “You shared something very difficult with me, and while I appreciate your sensitivity about my past and coping with the passage of time, I’d like you to know a bit more about me.”

Celestia gladly snuggled up against his shoulder, melting ever so slightly as Nacreous spread a wing over her.

“I’d love to hear anything you’re willing to share.”

Nacreous gestured out towards the ocean with a set of claws as he began.

“I was raised by my Aunt and Uncle- I think I told you that. Never knew my parents. But we were Thunderwings, that was our clan. We lived on the ocean border, and I grew up with the waves and the sound of seagulls.” The hippogriff now grinned as he spotted a distant wall of thunderclouds.

“We guided ships into the harbor, tending to the lighthouses along the coast. I’ve sorely missed the ocean, and my dreams are after sailing the high seas. That big monolithic thing set in those metal crossbeams? It’s a boat I’ve been building for…probably a few decades. Constantly modifying, upgrading; I want to show you the inside when we wander down that way.”

“A boat? But what is that look for?” Celestia asked, Nacreous gesturing to the distant thunderstorm.

“Can you teleport us to underneath that storm? I want to show you something first.”

In a flash, the pair were standing above the water, a simple spell as furious gales and waves lashed around and below them.

“There’s a reason my last name is Thunderwing,” Nacreous chuckled, heaving himself into the sky and directly into the black clouds above.

“What in the world…?”

A bolt of lightning crackled across the sky, and Celestia felt her mane stand on end. It was only a brief glimpse, but she saw a familiar figure diving towards it.

With another flash, the lightning soared towards Nacreous like a magnet, wrapping the hippogriff up in a charged embrace. Seemingly unaffected, the King’s speed increased exponentially, blasting across the entire length of the storm in a fraction of a second.

Once she saw him flying at a normal pace at sea level, Celestia teleported them back to the shore as she stared at the hippogriff in shock, his fur and feathers still prickled and smoldering slightly.

“You can ride lightning!?” she asked, Nacreous laughing as he nodded.

“Sort of,” he admitted, smoothing down his figure as best he could. “I helped with the lighthouses for a time. In bad storms, our clan went out to boats caught in the gale and re-directed the lightning away from their masts. We are like Pegesi in that respect.”

Celestia reached forward and prodded her hippogriff’s chest with a hoof, shaking her head with a huff.

“You are still full of surprises it would seem,” she said incredulously. “How have I not learned about this before? You mentioned something about it a while ago.”

“Just never came up. But I’m happy to share a bit more about myself with you, as always.”

Of course, such words immediately made Celestia’s heart melt, Nacreous holding her hoof with a familiar and loving smile.

“Want to see the inside?”

“Need you even ask?” she countered with a grin.

Entering the wooden ship, Celestia’s head was on the swivel the entire time. It was, for all intents and purposes, a massive yacht. Everything was built to accommodate a large body size, ranging from the white-walled rooms, the stairs, even the steering wheel. The wood ranged from white to dark mahogany, every room seeming to vary from location of the materials but keeping the same rustic yet streamline style. Crystal lights and gadgets were everywhere, be it a distilling sink, shower, or navigation chart. It was a wonder of engineering, and the love that Nacreous had poured into the ship definitely showed at every turn and corner.

“An observatory? Greenhouse? Five rooms you haven’t decided on? This is incredible, Nacreous!” Celestia gushed as she wandered the hall as her love glowed with pride.

“I haven’t decided on a name yet, but it’s been quite the project,” he admitted.

As they continued to explore, Celestia took note of a few things. A larger than normal bed, even for a creature of Nacreous’s size. Certain oddities were here and there, things that made her heart start to beat a little bit faster at every notice.

Two toothbrush holders.

Benches built for more than one creature.

An observation deck far too large for a single individual.

As they stood on the prow of the ship and looked out towards the ocean, Celestia reached over to hold Nacreous’s claws, the hippogriff looking over her curiously.

“Nacreous?”

“Hmm?”

Celestia gestured to the mostly-completed ship, a tender smile now on her face.

“You built this ship for two, didn’t you? I get the feeling you could have finished it long ago, but you haven’t.”

His face flushed in a blush, the hippogriff nodding once.

“Yes,” he whispered.

Her chest swelling with affection, Celestia scooted to rest on his shoulder, her voice soft and loving.

“I’d very much like to be that creature to explore the seas with you,” she whispered.

“I think you will be.”

His immediate response made the Alicorn sniffle softly with a smile, claws squeezing her hoof.


Shifting clopped his hooves together nervously, levitating a small box out from his side satchel.

Is it too soon?

We see each other every day now that the crisis has calmed down. We can even have dates every-other day, if not each night.

I just…

He took a deep breath, trotting down the hall towards Luna’s room in the castle. It was nice to be back in Canterlot and a schedule resembling some normality. No more mountain fortress (under extensive repair to say the least,) just his usual duties in the city. However, he wanted to do something special for this.

Shifting paused, looking at the note on Luna’s door.

‘Already at the fortress. Thought I’d get a head start on looking over the repairs, as you suggested! Meet you there.

Love,

Luna.’

It took only a moment to teleport to their previous temporary home, Shifting looking around the scaffolding and mountains of dry concrete.

No, this won’t do.

“Shifting! The repairs are coming along quite nicely if I do say so myself,” Luna exclaimed, wrapping her Commander up in a hug as he chuckled.

“Indeed, but there is one area I wanted to show you. Up near the top.”

“Oh?”

Shifting nodded, seeing a rather curious glint in Luna’s eye. She knew something was up; the Knight had been on edge for a solid week….

Oh, but does she know why?

I doubt it.

The teleportation spell dropping them perfectly on a small grassy ledge, Shifting took a deep breath of the mountain air, gesturing over the forest spread out below, a beautiful night’s sky shining above them.

“I found this place when looking over the repairs and thought you’d like it,” the stallion explained as Luna nodded, shoulders relaxing as she took in the peaceful scene.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, Shifting snuggling up against her shoulder and eliciting a happy hum.

“Well, I’d say you and your work makes it doubly so.”

That got an affectionate nuzzle from the Princess, Shifting not able to resist a grin.

“Why are we up here, Shifting? I know something has been bothering you,” Luna asked softly.

Of course, she could tell.

Shifting shoved down the butterflies in his stomach, scooting a step away to look at the Princess.

“Not so much bothering, as much as on my mind.”

Just show her already.

“Luna, I may as well say this before my voice f-fails me,” Shifting said, emotions already starting to close up his throat.

Levitating out the small wooden box, Shifting carefully opened it and passed it over to the Princess. Her eyes widened, a hoof reaching up to cover trembling lips as Luna stared at the bracelet set within dark violet cloth.

The silver band shimmered in the moonlight as though made of stars. Crafted neatly into the metal was an hourglass and a beautiful reflection of what now was spread out before the two. A small forest, moon, stars, and mountain. The trees on the metal actually waved in an invisible breeze, two small figures visible in the meadow.

“S-shifting…” Luna whispered, looking up to see her stallion taking her hoof in his.

“Luna, for a thousand years I had hoped somepony would continue to me throughout time, to be my friend,” Shifting whispered, his eyes watering. “And now I have so much more. You’ve been there for me, even during that trying millennium. I want to be there for you, with you for even longer.

Will you marry me?”

“Y…y…” Luna could only get out the first letter of her answer before darting forwards and wrapping Shifting up in a hug, tears running down her cheeks as she cried into his shoulder. The kiss she gave him seemed to make the stars light the entire sky, overflowing with as much passion and love as Luna could convey.

As her tears abated, Shifting pulled back ever so slightly and rested his forehead against Luna’s.

“I never did hear that answer….” he teased, Luna sniffling and pulling him close again.

“Yes, Shifting. My answer is a thousand times yes.” She then paused, reaching up to caress his cheek with hers. The words that left her lips made the stallion finally burst into quiet tears as they enjoyed each other’s embrace.

“My Timeless Knight…”