Aether and Rarity went to go report what happened to Sapphire. Sapphire wasn't happy about what they told her.
Aether sighed when he saw Sapphire's reaction. "I'm sorry Sapphire. It's worrisome to say the least. Now that Phantasia knows where the South Gate is thanks to this Sandy Fire, he'll Probably find out where the other Gates are."
"I know," said Sapphire, "that's a big worry to have."
"So what can be done about it?" Rarity asked.
"Not much at the moment," said Sapphire, "all we can do at the moment is put the Guardians on high alert. Once that happens, their training will be more intense. I will let Master Shi know about this. Sooner or later, there will be a battle over the Gates to gain control over Equestria and Princess Twilight will have no choice but to step down and hand the throne over to the enemy."
Aether was stunned by this information, "And just give up? That's it? But why? Just because the enemy gains control over the Gates doesn't mean Princess Twilight would have to stop ruling! That's just…"
Aether trailed off not wanting to finish his thoughts out loud. The fact that Princess Twilight might have to step down from the throne if the enemy gains control of the Gates, Aether couldn't fathom the idea of that happening.
"So has this happened before? A ruler of Equestria stepping down from the throne as a result of an enemy gaining control of the Gates?" Aether asked.
Sapphire sighed, "Sadly, yes, it happened right before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna took the throne. The other Guardians and I had a war to take back control of the Gates. That's how the Wendigos came about when the Founders of Equestria were fighting about who should own the land when there was already someone ruling over it. They failed to take that into consideration. The founders of Equestria actually sent scouts out just like Phantasia did and found where the Gates were. There was a war over the Gates and the ruler had to step down from the throne and hand it over to the Founders of Equestria.”
"That was when I came on the scene. I was a newly picked Guardian for the Center Gate. At that time, the Guardians were gearing up for another war. But I didn't want that to happen again, because it would mean driving out every single citizen that was in Equestria at the time. That's just what the Founders of Equestria did to found Equestria in the first place. Most of the citizens that were in the land that became Equestria are still in exile, in villages on the outskirts of Equestria because of this. That's why the Appointment Ceremony was held there.”
"A lot of the Guardians are still angry that we didn't war against Equestria so we can take back the throne from the Founders especially when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna started ruling. Honestly, I don't blame them for wanting another war. But festering a grudge doesn't help things. The original Guardians don't realize that if they keep nursing this grudge, more unstable magic can come about."
Upon hearing this information it made Aether livid with rage. How could this happen? So Equestria was founded based on a lie? Aether looked over to Rarity and thought, So, if Equestria was founded, and the holiday that was made to celebrate the founding of Equestria was a lie, then what about the Elements of Harmony? Were the Elements based on a lie too? Is everything here just one big lie??
Rarity shook her head as if she knew what Aether was thinking, "I'm not sure Aether if the Elements of Harmony were based on a lie, just like the founding of Equestria, and I’m not sure if the holiday that celebrates it were based on a lie. Who knows what Star Swirl the Bearded was thinking when he created the Elements of Harmony? Maybe he wanted to right a wrong that was done based on friendship? I don't know."
"So are you going to tell Princess Twilight or the other Guardians and the other Elements of Harmony bearers about this?" Aether asked. "Can Rarity and I tell them about this?"
Sapphire shook her head, "No Aether. This is sensitive information. I won't tell them and you two won't tell them either. That's because you don't have a choice in the matter."
She pointed a hoof at Aether and Rarity's cutie marks, they were glowing again.
"What's going on?" Aether asked. "Why are our cutie marks glowing?"
"It's all part of protecting the Gates," said Sapphire, "if word gets out that two have told anyone about this information, it could disconnect your magic from your Gate that you're guarding. It's nothing personal Aether, it's all part of doing the job. Just look at my cutie mark, it's the same thing for me."
Aether and Rarity's jaws dropped when they saw Sapphire's cutie mark glowing in the same manner that theirs were.
Sapphire sighed, "Yes I know, it's a hard thing to do. But if I tell anyone this information it could break my magic with the Gates as well. I had a feeling something was up when I felt my magic acting strangely right after I got the alert about unstable magic. Guarding the Gates is a hard and dangerous job. We can not let the Gates fall into the wrong hooves. Ever since the war with the Founders of Equestria, security measures have been heightened. Especially with stuff like this. If we even try to tell someone about this, whether it be by word of mouth or written word, your magic will erase it before anyone can see."
Aether looked away. "I see."
Aether and Rarity could tell that Sapphire was visibly upset by this because she had tears in her eyes and she was shaking with anger. She composed herself. "Sorry about that, but sometimes I wish I was never picked for this job for this very reason. It's time for you to go."
Aether and Rarity nodded. They turned around and left. Once Rarity and Aether left Sapphire's place, Aether was very disturbed by this.
Aether frowned, "I know this is upsetting and all but to wish that you weren't picked for such an important job as Head Guardian? Then again, I guess such a position as hers has it’s tolls."
"Don't worry about Sapphire, Aether," said Rarity, "she's a strong pony. I know how the stress of being a leader for something can be high. I know because I'm the head of my Fashion Empire. Coming up with new designs all the time can be quite stressful despite it being my special talent."
Aether sighs, "Yeah, it’s just surprising. But I guess because you can't share information with ponies," said Aether, "that's got to be weighing on her."
Rarity sighed and nodded, "I know but there's nothing we can do about it Aether. Well I must be going back to the boutique, where are you going to Aether?"
Aether thought about it and he wasn't sure that he wanted to be anywhere except guarding the South Gate at the moment. "You know what? I think I'm headed back to the South Gate for now."
For some reason, Rarity gasped at this, "What? You're not going to the East Gate to be around Melody?"
Aether shook his head, "Not for the time being. Besides, Sapphire's going to be putting everypony on high alert now, and more than likely I'll see Melody at the training arena again. Master Shi is going to push us even more in training I imagine. I hate to think of how many more laps she's going to make us run around the track after training again."
"How many does she make you all do after training?" Rarity asked.
Aether groaned, "200 laps."
"Wha-" Rarity’s jaw dropped. “Seems a bit overboard if you ask me darling, I’m sure they have they’re reasons, however drastic they may be.” Rarity said.
"Yeah tell that to Master Shi. That's her special talent you know, training Guardians to make sure they're ready in case a war breaks out." Aether responded.
"Oh well," said Rarity, "until the next time we meet, do take care Aether."
“I’ll be fine.” Aether said. Aether and Rarity nodded at each other. Rarity then gave Aether a hug and he headed back to the South Gate.
* * *
Once Aether and Rarity left Sapphire's place, Sapphire went to her bed and cried her eyes out in frustration. In knowing that there could be another war on the horizon to gain control of the Gates and the possibility that Princess Twilight might have to hand the throne over to Phantasia was unsettling. The last thing Sapphire wanted was another war, that's why she had urged the rest of the Guardians that were with her to seek peace with the Founders instead.
As she was crying her eyes out, there was a gentle knock on the door. From the sound of it, the knock on the door was her energetic assistant Tumble. Sapphire dried her tears and answered the door. "Hey Tumble, how's it going?"
Tumble smiled, "Well I just came to tell you that I sent word to the Guardians to put them on high alert. Since you didn't tell me the reason why, all I could say to them was that those are my orders from Sapphire."
Sapphire smiled when she heard Tumble speak. It always made her laugh when Tumble spoke because Tumble would speak very fast and she always seemed happy around her.
Tumble paused, "What's wrong Sapphire?"
"Oh nothing," Sapphire lied, "I'm just stressed about Phantasia that's all."
Tumble raised an eyebrow, "You’re stressed about that? Because you look upset right now. It doesn't seem like the Phantasia situation is all that you're upset about."
Sapphire sighed, "I'm sorry but I can't tell you right now. Actually, I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you."
"Oh," said Tumble, "okay, I understand. Just because we're friends doesn't mean you have to tell me everything."
Sapphire nodded, "Yeah, so what else did you need to speak to me about?"
"That was it," said Tumble, "I'll see you around then. Bye Sapphire!"
Sapphire snorted as Tumble bounced out the door happy and without a care in the world.
* * *
When Aether got back to the South Gate he was surprised when he saw Melody and Fluttershy waiting there for him.
"Oh Hey, what’re y'all doing here?" Aether asked.
"I just came to give you something." Melody said.
Fluttershy nodded, "From the looks of it right now, you look upset. So, you can use the company. What's wrong Aether?"
Aether sighed, "I wish I could tell you, but I can’t say. " Still, Aether’s heart was warmed by the sentiment and company. “Thanks for coming though.”
"Oh, I see," said Melody, "anyway, I brought some sheet music with me and before the whole Phantasia mess came into play, I still want to write that song with you. That is if you want to."
Even though Melody said this in her usual monotone voice, Aether smiled at the thought of being able to write a song with Melody. True, her voice was flat and monotone most of the time, when she sang she sounded like an angel.
Aether nodded, "I’d love to."
As soon as Melody took out some sheet music, she jotted down some notes. Aether and Melody began the first stages of writing the song, and in that brief moment of time Aether began to forget about earlier, once Aether and Melody got to work on writing a song, it made Aether feel joyful, distracted, but happily distracted from things, and certainly much better than before.
* * *
When Melody arrived back at the East Gate, she wondered why Fluttershy said Aether was upset about something. On top of that, Aether said he couldn't tell her or Fluttershy what was wrong.
Well, at least I made him feel better writing that song. It needs some tweaking to make it sound good enough to record it and play it in front of our friends. Melody thought.
In seeing that she was alone for the time being, she could show as much happiness about helping Aether feel better when he was feeling down as she wanted.
Melody could tell by the feeling of the beads she had pinned to the sheet music which one had the song Aether and herself recently worked on and was written down on. Right when she was getting ready to work on it, she heard her sister Apple Bloom call out to her. "Melody? Are you there? If you are, I figured I'd stop by to spend some time with you."
Melody rolled her eyes, put her sheet music away and went outside her room. I don't know why I gave Mom and Apple Bloom the keys to my house. Why can't they understand that I can take care of myself? I'm a Guardian for crying out loud!
"Oh hey Melody," Apple Bloom said, "what's up?"
"Hey Apple Bloom," Melody replied, "nothing much except that Guardians have been on high alert because some unstable magic has been detected at the South Gate."
"What?" Apple Bloom gasped. "Okay this job is too dangerous for you. You need to-"
Melody groaned, "Come back home? Seriously? I took the job of my own free will. Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I have to be underneath Mom's thumb all the time. I'm getting tired of ponies thinking that I need help all the time. I've done fine without help graduating high school and I didn't need help when I got my cutie mark. Oh and one more thing I didn't need help when Sapphire picked me to be a Guardian. So I think I can take care of myself."
Apple Bloom composed herself, "Fine. I understand." She chuckled. "You know what? Applejack did the same thing to me when I was a filly! I guess she rubbed off on me when I got older. You're right, you've been on your own for a while now. Well, you're doing just fine. Don't worry about Applejack, she'll understand sooner or later."
"Let's hope it's sooner." Melody said. When she realized she was starting to show some emotion she kept it in check by going back to her usual monotone voice. "Anyway, what did you have in mind for spending time with each other?"
"Well, I was just thinking we could sit around the fire and have some hot cocoa and just talk." Apple Bloom said. "You know, because it's always winter time here. Honestly, I don't know how you stand it being so cold over here everyday."
Melody shrugged, "It doesn't bother me anymore even though I've only been here for only a month now. I guess I just got used to it quickly."
"Huh," said Apple Bloom, "interesting. Don't worry about the hot cocoa or the marshmallows, I brought some with me."
Melody nodded. "Okay, sounds good."
So, that's what Melody and Apple Bloom did. They made hot cocoa and marshmallows. They sat around the fireplace and just gave each other updates on what was going on with them, all the while listening to the blowing winds of winter that was happening outside.